Author's POV: 

"We all came from there and we all will return there.." 

That was what people said. To not be too sad about someone's loss. But was it possible? Even though we will meet our loved ones again, after death, in a better place. That wasn't what would hurt us, but the separation for a long time. Who knows how long that time would be? 

Being separated from someone who you've lived with, and got uncountable love and care from was the worst. 

You were blankly sitting there as Taehyung frowned asking, "What's wrong?" His expression became a little worried seeing your dreadful expression. It felt surreal, you couldn't believe that this could happen. The atmosphere felt different... like a dream. Maybe if you woke up, you'd feel better. But how could an awake person wake up? 
"Love?" Taehyung asked, holding your hands as the phone was in your hand, resting on the pillow beside you. You looked at Taehyung as he looked at you, confused, and worried.

"T-Taesshi..." You spoke out, half breathed as he asked, "Hmm? Are you okay? Who was it?" 
He side-eyed your phone screen realizing it was probably your mom. He took the phone and spoke, "Hello?" 
You were looking at him, stinging pain in your heart, making you gulp. Taehyung's expression changed as he looked at you. He hung up and immediately hugged you, tightly yet delicately. He knew you were going to shatter, you were already shattering. 

As soon as his warm body made contact with yours, your eyes started shedding tears. You closed your eyes, your heart aching too much as your atmosphere went quiet. He held you, quietly and mumbled, "It's okay..." 

It wasn't. Not at all. 

He knew it wasn't okay either. He knew you weren't okay and saying it was okay would never fix this but that was all he could say. It was your dad, not just anyone. It was a great loss, great grief. It was the fact that you had lost him forever. 

---Time skip 

You looked at your father's face. He looked angelic while sleeping. 
"He won't even wake up again.." Your mom mumbled and cried, she was in great pain. You just stared at him, crying. Taehyung stroked your back slightly as your mom and Jungkook were being comforted by Mr and Mrs Kim, Mina. Mina came towards you as you hugged her. She was crying. Your father was like her other father. 
Taehyung stared at your father with teary eyes. His heart was aching as well, seeing everyone's state. 

Everyone in the room was crying. The nurses stood at the corner of the room quietly. 
"The burial.." Your mother mumbled as Mr Kim said, "I'll handle those... don't worry.." 

---------

Time passed by, and you weren't crying anymore. You could call again but you didn't. You were tired. It had been 6 hours. The burial was in process, your dad was going to be buried at dawn, tomorrow which was a few hours ahead. 
You all were in the hospital's hallway. You looked at Jungkook who was sleeping and then at Mina who was taking care of your mom along with Mrs Kim. Mr Kim was outside, taking care of the burial and stuff while Taehyung insisted to stay with you. 

You looked down, a tear escaping your eyes but as soon as it could fall on your lap, you felt a warm hand wiping off the tear from your cheeks. You looked beside you to see Taehyung. He put your head on his shoulder and said, "It's okay. Cry all you want, my embrace is open for you."
"I m-miss him... I c-couldn't even s-say a proper goodbye.." You said, remembering the last time you talked to him. You regretted not giving him a tight goodbye hug and a lovely warm 'I love you, dad'. 
You thought you could do it the next time you met him but the next time never came. Regret was the worst emotion one could feel. Because it has no remedy, no fixing. 

"I'm sure he knew what you wanted to tell him. You should tell him now, he's in that room, right?" He asked as you looked at him saying, "B-But he won't answer me..."
"At least he'll hear." Taehyung said, with a soft comforting smile. You could see his glossy eyes and look down.
"It's better late than never... it's okay. Maybe he won't be able to answer but he'll still hear, right? That you love him... that you really care about him... and that you want him to be fine... far away from here. Isn't it better and less regretful?" He asked. He was right; it was better late than never, but the pain wasn't mild. 

You got up and walked towards the room as he followed you. He waited outside as you were alone in the room with your father. 
You sat down, staring at your father's face. 
"Dad..." You spoke out and bit your lips, trying not to cry. 
"I'm sorry.. I am late again. Like I was late to exams in school... wishing you on your birthdays... I'm late again." You said and gulped, breathing out. 
"I really... r-really love you, d-dad. I h-hope you're o-okay there as you go... T-Take care there. H-Have your medicines o-on time. Or I'll r-really s-scold you. T-trust me I will.." You spoke out, stuttering in between due to your cries. Your heart was aching so much. 

You held his hand and said, "L-let's meet later... I'll m-make sure... I g-go to heaven with you. And I'll b-bring all of them w-with me. Till then, w-wait just a little, ok-kay?" 
As soon as you finished the words, you burst into tears. Your silent cries were no longer there, it was audible. You were in pain, how could it not? 
Taehyung immediately came into the room hearing your cries and hugged you as you were crying. 
"Hey..." He spoke in a shaky voice and patted your back as you were crying. He looked at your father and looked down, patting your back. 

It was pain, losing a loved one was not easy. How could our lives go on without them by our side? 

---Next morning 

You sat beside Jungkook at the funeral. Everyone was coming and giving you both and your mother some comfort.

"I'm so sorry for your loss."
"May he be granted heaven."
"May he be safe there. He was a good man." 

These were the lines you'd heard. But none of them felt real. Did anyone really care at all? 

You looked to the side to see Taehyung greeting some guests. He wasn't even smiling while greeting them. He looked... sad. Unlike how you had expected him to be, he wasn't smiling at others with those fake smiles as everyone did. You looked to the side to see some of your relatives, talking among themselves. Not a hint of sadness, yet they were the ones who always sucked up to your father when he was there. 

You were staring at them but slight confusion took over you as you saw Taehyung walking towards the group, talking. They all looked embarrassed and walked away. You saw Taehyung sighing as he looked at you, his expression changed. He slightly smiled at you and walked towards you asking, "Do you want to cry?"
You just stared at him blankly, he knew you did. 
"Don't care about them. They're losers..." He spoke, crouching down and eyeing those relatives as you looked down saying, "Dad should've known..." 
He stroked your hair saying, "He will... I'm sure." 

"Why do you say you're sure?" You asked as he said, "I talked to him once."
"About what..?" You asked, in a low voice. He smiled painfully and said, "He taught me what life is." 
You just stared at him before looking away, closing your eyes. He hugged you, again as you cried in his embrace. He knew that no words could comfort you. If anything, just a warm hug would make you feel safe. He knew it well.

---Afternoon 

"Mrs Kim, please eat something." Mina pursued your mother who shook her head, looking down.
"Mom.." Jungkook mumbled, sadly. Mrs Jeon just cried again saying, "How can I...? He's... He left me. He's so m-mean.. he s-said he'd b-be here forever.." 
"Mom..." Jungkook tried to pursue her as Mrs Kim said, "Please eat dear.." 
"Noona hasn't eaten either. Mina noona either." 
"You neither." You said in a low voice. 

"No one ate. No one in this room ate. But is this going to continue? I'm sure Jeon would never want the entire family to starve." Mr Kim said, bringing in a bag of food. 
"I don't have an appetite.." Your mom said. Mina just looked down, and Jungkook sighed. Mrs Kim also looked down, not knowing what to say. 
"Love... you know your father hates it when you don't eat..." Taehyung said as you spoke, "Stop blackmailing." 
"I'm not. He asked me to take care of you all, so you all don't starve and become like this... do you want me to fail? He might disapprove of me later..." He said as you looked down saying, "I don't feel like eating.." 
"I know." He said and added, "But you have to, dear.."

You looked at the food in his hands. He was looking at you, desperately. His face looked desperate as if he'd do anything for you to eat. You heaved out a short sigh and looked down saying, "Mom... didn't eat yet. Jungkook or Mina didn't either... you didn't either. No one ate.." 
"That's why... we have to. I can't believe my eyes... the Y/N who eats 5 times a day has been starving since last night... I really don't want that. Please eat, love... please? You have to eat and feed everyone else too right? If you don't eat, no one else will..." 

Taehyung was so gentle, soft, and convincing yet trying his best not to push you too hard. You gulped and said, "Mom... Jungkook, Mina... mother, father... please eat. Father's right, dad wouldn't want us to... starve."

You felt Taehyung softly caressing your hand, it felt soothing, so soothing. You never expected this comfort from him, this love and care, this softness. You knew he was really... a man but you didn't know he'd stick to you like this, heck, the entire Kim family was sticking to your family. It felt so warm, you could sense why your father really wanted you to marry him, he did have a great eye after all.

Some time passed by and everyone was eating, little by little, a little forcing included. But, no one wanted another one in the family to pass out or get sick. Maybe the grief of losing a loved one is immeasurable, but that's the time when we needed to be together, as a family, supporting and helping each other.