Chronograph | Kim Taehyung

01

!PLEASE. If you're here, but haven't read Hourglass, please read that one first! It's gonna make your life easier (not really but you get what I mean, since this is a sequel/extended version)!

Also, this will be short and fast-paced, as not to bore anyone out.

— ॔ —

"I don't care."

Your voice echoed inside my head, and I wasn't sure if it should break me or not.

How you were selfless enough... to love someone like me.

Someone you weren't even sure of,

If she'd still be here the next morning you wake up.

It had been a while since I started this stupid, selfish idea. A week since you found out about my condition.

Until this day, a part of me still regretted lumping you into this silly wish of mine.

If only I hadn't been impulsive. If only I hadn't mustered the guts to ask you out that day. If only—

"Eumin."

You snapped your finger in front of me, cutting me out of my thoughts and I turn my head to you.

"Is anything wrong?" You examined my face with concern. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

I simply shook my head and gave you a small smile. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

You slumped back on you chair, heaving a soft sigh and crossed your arms. There went your stare again, and I wasn't sure anymore if I find it cute or annoying since you practically did that every time we were inside the library.

But I'd sure get impatient as always and slap my notebook on your shoulder so you'd stop staring. Then you'd laugh because you knew why I did that.

You'd tell me later on that there was nothing to be insecure of.

It surprised me,
that after a month, you're still here.

Sometimes I couldn't help but doubt if all these were still real. That maybe my mind was messing with me.

But every time you held my hand with your warm ones and give them feathery kisses, I'd be assured that this was still reality.

Though sometimes I wish it were a dream...

So you won't have to go through the pain when my actual time is up.

Time at school had never been the same anymore. We took turns over whose friends we'd eat lunch with.

Sometimes it's with your group. They'd talk about the funniest and weirdest things, and not a single boring day had gone by with them.

They often point it out. How they still doubt you sometimes for the drastic change. How you stopped switching girlfriends so suddenly.

And they threatened to end your life if you decided to go back to your old ways. They never favored it anyway.

Other times it's with Shina, my best friend.

She understood why the times I spent with her had lessened. But to make up for it, we'd bring her with us for ice cream. Some days we'd hit the pizza parlor.

Like your friends, Shina had threatened you as well. But it was funnier.

She literally shoved that pizza knife to your face, warning you of how she wouldn't think twice if you hurt me.

But even so, with or without threats, I knew you, Taehyung. I knew you wouldn't hurt me.

But I had to admit your reactions were always priceless. Like a lost, confused puppy.

When not in school, we often went out for dates. Mostly afternoon walks. And you'd take care of me as always.

We'd always bring a camera with us, take pictures of anything, and after that, we'd write our thoughts for each photo.

But I took one of you in secret. And I broke our promise that it should always be the two of us who'll write on them.

I'm sorry for that, oops.

But I have a good use for it. I promise!

Besides, you looked really happy there. And I wish you'd always find reasons to be happy.

During those dates, whenever my chest tightened without warning, we'd stop whatever we were doing, and you'd attend to me, holding your hand out.

I'd give you a tight squeeze. A meaningful one.

It had been a thing between us, as if to say 'I'm okay.' But to me, it also meant 'thank you, I love you.'

And I hope those words get across you, Taehyung.

And I know it did.

The smiles and hugs you always gave me told me so.

Though I'm sorry I didn't often tell you that in person. Because I just couldn't help but get scared.

I didn't want you to get more attached. Well at least not with my words.

How conflicting, I know.