SHARING THE CREDIT ✓

QUINCE

15 // DOMESTICATED LOVE = AMOR DOMESTICADO

Farah sighs.

she stands on her hotel balcony as a cigarette is held between her lips. she plays with it, biting and fiddling as it stays unlit. her eyes look down and around as she watches the morning of Spain come to life for the day. pedals of bicycles, chatter of foreign couples, paddles of canal boats and the remote crunch of bread is heard. she feels peaceful despite not sleeping.

as always, Taehyung spots her. Farah's eyes meet his at exactly the right time as she looks down from her balcony and he looks up from the paved street. tan orbs of past wistfulness and forlorn exploration wave at each other as their hearts contract.

"it's 9:11." the male writer mentions with his hands in his pockets, bracelets circling his bony wrist. there's a coat draped over his shoulders, one that is far too warm for the weather. he's dressed smartly but more comfortably today morning. the baggy attire suits him as his bandana acts as a belt.

immediately, Farah's taken to the past as a memory visits.

Taehyung wraps his arms around Farah from behind, hair tickling her neck as their laughter fills the air. lips brushing earlobes, cold, hooped earrings and smiles against skin feels are the moments to remember. the ambience is one so easygoing, the couple don't want it to ever end. they can't sit or stand still. they can't not touch each other and it's an issue. in this moment, permanence is the goal but it's impossible.

"come here." Taehyung pushes Farah's hair behind her ears, delicately kissing her aching eyelids. "it's 11:11 somewhere and i'm wishing for you all the wonders in the world."

Farah kisses him because her wish is standing right in front of her. if he's happy, she's happy.

now it's 9:11, four years later.

present Farah snaps back to reality and when she looks back at Taehyung, she can't remember what his lips felt like against her forehead. she feels suddenly disturbed over the fact that she can't remember.

Taehyung mentions how he's going out for a walk this morning.

Farah nods, too busy looking at his lips. full but dull pink, dipped at the top but circling to form an imperfect heart. does he still make eleven:eleven wishes? she wonders. does he have constant flashbacks? how did he cope without her for four years?

"you've always liked balconies."

Farah seizes the edge of the balcony when another memory appears.

for fuck sake, stay steady.

Taehyung pushes Farah's head gently until she gathers the meaning of his gesture. she lies her head on his lap, eyes staring up in love.

it's a typical evening in Farah's house. they're alone together and Taehyung has time. the boy balances a book with one hand, fingers flicking the ancient pages as he reads to her. the rough edge to the paper goes well with his voice, slow as he takes his time. his voice is gentle to the ears, like the waves of an ocean or the birds in the trees. it's natural and it brings joy the way a baby's first cries brings joy to a pained mother. relaxing deep tones of soothe, imitating meaningful words off pages that don't belong to them but wished they did.

Taehyung's other hand combs through Farah's black hair, playing as he does. his fingers are delicate in manner as he pushes her hair back, stroking her forehead occasionally. he twirls strands, straightening the edges unconsciously as he focuses.

Farah just listens as she watches her lover dressed in beige.

at one point, emotion filled and cunning Taehyung stops reading and looks down at her unexpectedly. he catches her staring gaze and she almost flinches at the severity. "i just love you so much." he chokes, breathless at the sight and existence of her. they both knew their love would hurt one day.