"Take care, Tae."

"You too, Jeongguk."

Not even a half year later Taehyung receives pastel pink envelope in his mailbox. He opens it carefully, seeing the beautifully written letter inside.

A wedding invitation.

He didn't need to read the names to know whose wedding he was just invited to.

Till the last day Taehyung still hasn't decided whether he should go or not. A part of him wants to go, really wants to see Jeongguk again. He wants to see him happy, see the beautiful bunny smile shining on his face, even if he knew it wouldn't be him, the reason behind his smile.

On the other side, he's scared to see him by the side of the woman he chose to spend his life with instead of him. The woman who came after him and made Jeongguk fall in love with her.

His Jeongguk was in love with someone else, the thought still seemed so weird to Taehyung.

He was so scared, he knew going would be a way of self-destruction. And he knew going meant stabbing his already bleeding heart once more.

Who even invites their ex to their wedding? And mainly since Taehyung isn't just any other ex, he is THE ex.

He knew it would hurt like hell, if not worse. But he was ready to tear himself apart if it'd make Jeongguk happy.

He wondered why Jeongguk had invited him. Maybe to rub it on his face, to show how happy he is even without him.

But after all, Taehyung knows him and knows that does not sound like him at all.

Maybe he thought Taehyung would not show up, thought it would just be polite to let him know.

In the end, no matter the intentions, he still got hurt.

He felt so stupid. Did he really think Jeongguk wouldn't get married if it wasn't with him?

He really was that stupid to hope for such a thing. But what could he say, he was still hopelessly in love.

At the day of the wedding, Taehyung gets to the venue which is already pretty full. He is not early, but not late either. He came just in time to vanish if he regretted coming in the first place.

As he stands outside, he's looking through the window and spots Jeongguk's parents. His mother looks as healthy as ever and he can't help but smile. He also sees Jimin with Hoseok, standing by Jeongguk's father and laughing with glasses of wine in their hands.

Jeongguk must be somewhere around here as well, probably talking to his friends.

Taehyung stays at his safe place, alone until Jeongguk's mother sees him and waves at him, rushing to him. He waves back and doesn't walk away even though he really wants to.

In a second, Jeongguk's mum approaches him, sympathetic smile on her face, just like he remembers her.

"I didn't think you would come, Taehyung, but I am sure you weren't sure either," his mother tells, "Although I admit, it is really nice seeing you."

"You too, Ms. Jeon, you look really beautiful," he smiles at her warmly.

They look at each other for a second, silence falling over them.

"You were like a son to me" she pats him on the shoulder.

"I always thought it would be you," she says in a softer voice, almost looking sad.

"So did I," Taehyung says with a weak smile.

"Is Jeongguk around here?" he asks.

"Yes, he'll be out in a minute. Don't forget to catch him before the ceremony starts," she smiles at him one last time and with a kiss on his forehead, she leaves.

It was nice seeing her again, but thankfully, he's left alone.

Before the ceremony starts, Taehyung takes his time to outside for a quick smoke, inhaling the fresh air.

"Since when do you smoke?" the well known voice sounds from behind him, making Taehyung freeze on his spot. He doesn't turn around at first, too shocked to hear his sweet voice again.

He wasn't ready to meet him.

But Jeongguk doesn't give him the time as he doesn't wait for Taehyung to face him but walks in front of him instead, hands folded on his chest as he stares at him.

He takes his time to let his eyes fall on Jeongguk, taking him in. He looks ethereal in his black suit with little sparkly diamonds on the neckline and a minimalistic flower clip on the side of his hair, so beautiful.

The sight in front of him is everything he's ever imagined and dreamed of, yet he's not his to observe.

As he's been staring for too long, he realises he hasn't even answered Jeongguk's question, he only shrugs his shoulders, making the younger frown.

"I didn't think you'd come."

"Me neither," he drags out of the cigarette.

"But here I am."

"It looks weird," Jeongguk mumbles.

Yeah, it indeed is very weird. They both look awfully uncomfortable.

"Yeah, never thought I'd see you marrying someone else."

"What is that supposed to mean, Taehyung?" Jeongguk steps up, ready to protect himself.

"Nothing, just...I always thought it would be us," Taehyung mumbles, letting the cigarette hit the ground and stepping on it. He does no longer have the courage to look at Jeongguk.

"Yeah...me too. Not even that long time ago."

Jeongguk sighs as he gets no response from the older.

"And during all those years you never asked me to marry you."

Taehyung's head immediately shots up, eyebrows furrowing.

"You know I wanted to."

"No, I don't."

"I had the rings ready."

He sees the change in Jeongguk's expression, sad eyes staring back at him.

"Yeah, me too. But the timing didn't work out."

The older shakes his head.

"No, Jeongguk. It was us. We didn't work out, but we could have."

Taehyung barely has enough time to notice the sudden changes in Jeongguk's expression and gets a bit startled when he starts crying and hitting his chest.

"How dare you Kim Taehyung?! How dare you come here and tell me all of that?!" he screams, but Taehyung only lets him hit him again and again, taking it all.

He wraps his arms around Jeongguk's shaking body, pulling him back to his safe place. He lets Jeongguk cry in his arms.

"Shh, it's okay Ggukie," he whispers words of comfort into his ear but Jeongguk only breaks away from his arms and hits him again.

"How can you say that! You let me break up with you-"

"Does it matter? Does it matter now, Jeongguk? You are the one getting married today," he says pathetically as he looks around and sees the venue full of people.

"Don't you dare make me the one to blame! If you only told me sooner-"

"I did not come here to hurt you, Jeongguk. I just wanted you to know that letting go of you was one of the hardest things I was forced to do," he managed to get out, even if it hurts, hurts so much.

"And I am happy...I really am as long as you're happy, even if it's not with me. I will never stop loving you and you will always have home in my heart," he says in a weak voice, taking Jeongguk's face into his hands.

"Now go and be happy," he kisses his forehead and Jeongguk closes his eyes to feel every bit of it. The last touches from Taehyung.

Their tears keep rolling and Taehyung can't take his eyes away from Jeongguk. He looks breathtaking.

The kiss lasted for way too short, and in no time, Taehyung is leaning away from Jeongguk, making him miss the feeling of his soft lips on his skin.

He is left chasing after his lips.

"Go, Ggukie," he smiles one last time.

Being pushed, he does as he's told and starts walking away. He turns back one last time and sees Taehyung's eyes still filling with fresh tears.

He wished he could just run back to him and stay. Taehyung wanted it too. But it wasn't that simple for them.

He looks at Taehyung one more time, for the last time, and this time, leaving him has never been harder.

Taehyung is sitting at the very back, far from his members and anyone he knows. Everything is ready. They are all waiting for Jeongguk and his future wife now.

When the music starts everyone turns around. Jeongguk slowly makes his way to the alter, shining like an angel that he is.

Soon Jiae also walks in with her father by her side. Jeongguk gently kisses her hand and the ceremony starts.

For the whole time, Taehyung imagines himself standing at the alter, him being the one holding Jeongguk's hand, saying "I do". He'd say it all over again and again.

But he is not there and Jeongguk is marrying somebody else.

He sees a woman next to him softly sobbing at how romantic it is. Taehyung hands her a tissue and smiles.

At least Jeongguk looks happy, and Jiae looks very much in love with him too. And just like Taehyung said, as long as Jeongguk's happy, he will be happy too.

Right after Jiae says her 'I do', it's Jeongguk's turn and everyone waits impatiently, Taehyung mainly.

"Do you take Park Jiae to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

It's quiet.

Jeongguk looks around the venue, as if searching for someone until his eyes settle on Taehyung.

They stare at each other, communicating with their eyes and the time seems to stop.

With an encouraging smile, Taehyung nods.

"I do."

"I now announce you husband and wife."

The two kiss and at that moment audience erupts in cheers and claps.

Taehyung claps too.

And that's the way it was. He walked away, Jeongguk is not his anymore. But he loves him still. And he forever will.

The moral of their story is that sometimes, love means letting go, even if you want to hold and never let go.