My alarm sounds promptly at nine in the morning, jolting me out of my deep sleep as I frantically try to find my phone to shut it off. I turn back into Taehyung's arms to see that he is already awake.

"What time did you wake up?" My voice was raspy with sleep.

"I haven't been to sleep." He says as he looks over to me and I notice the dark rim around his eyes.

"Baby...why didn't you wake me? I would have stayed up with you."

He smiles fondly at me and rubs his thumb over my cheek. "You were pretty worn out after our...seaside adventure."

It was true. Taehyung had to drive us home and I even fell asleep in the car. I'm pretty sure he carried me inside because I don't even remember walking in or undressing myself.

"Fuck!" I exclaim. "I have to finish packing!"

I lift up to jump out of bed, but he grabs my arm and pulls me back down. He points over to the zipped up suitcases by the door and looks back over to me.

"Already done. I packed everything for you, even though I wanted to unpack it all once I was finished."

My eyes bounce between the suitcases and Taehyung. This is all too real now. This is it. This is the last time I will wake up in this house and with him. This is the last time he'll pull me back into his arms so he can snuggle me a little longer. A small tear begins to roll down my cheek. I quickly try to wipe it away before he notices.

But it's too late.

"I know baby. Me too. I cried all night while packing." He says kissing my wet cheek. "What time do you have to leave by?"

"I have to be registered into the dorm no later than three." I say pulling myself tighter into his arms.

He nods as he wraps his arms completely around me. "So let's stay like this for as long as we can. Just you in my arms and alone in my room."

"I love you and I miss you already." I say as I nuzzle into his neck.

"I love you too and I'm going to miss you every second of every day."

"You better do well in school Kim Taehyung. Don't go flunking classes and taking longer to graduate."

He shakes his head and squeezes me a bit tighter. "I have the best motivation to do well."

Hours later, we force ourselves out of bed and get dressed for the day. Since I have my own car, Taehyung will ride with me to the university and Uncle Kim will follow behind us to make sure I'm settled before...before leaving me.

I take a deep breath to calm my racing heart before starting the car but my hands shake so bad that I can't even find the ignition.

"Do you need me to drive baby?" He asks as he watches me drop the keys back into my lap.

I nod and pass him the keys as he meets me at the driver side door. He lifts my chin with one finger and kisses my lips gently.

As I sit down in the passenger seat he grabs my hand, looks down at my ring and then back up to me.

"Forever yours, okay?" He pauses for me to respond before putting the car in reverse.

"Forever yours." I reply as my voice cracks.

The entire drive to the university was in complete silence. Not even the radio played for the hour long trip. Taehyung refused to let my hand go, squeezing it tightly and running his thumb back and forth over my skin.

We pull up to the university dorms and park in the designated area. Uncle Kim meets us at my car to help with my bags and follow us inside.

"Hi! Freshman?" The cheerful young girl behind the desk beams.

I nod.

"Okay! Sign here. Will you be needing the boys dorms?" She asks Taehyung who just silently shakes his head.

"Ava Young?"

"Yes." I respond with a monotone. She probably thinks I'm such a cold hearted person with no personality but today I just can barely get by. I hope I'm not making an enemy already.

"Okay. Your Resident Advisor will be Christina Plume. She's not here today, though. You'll be on the sixth floor. Room 613, Suite B. You'll need to meet up with Christina tomorrow. She's in room 601." The pretty brunette advises as she hands me a key on a lanyard decorated in the school logo and colors.

We all ride up the elevator in silence. Taehyung holds me from behind with his chin resting on top of my head. Once we reach the sixth floor, there are a ton of freshman running around trying to get settled in. Many females whisper and give Taehyung glances and today, it bothers me as I know it's going to be so much worse when I'm countries away from him.

I snap my head to begin to say something when he grabs me and pulls me into his chest, stopping halfway in the long hallway.

"Hey," he whispers for only my ears, "I haven't ever paid any attention to other females since I met you and even before. Do you really think I'm going to care about their looks and advances now? Now that I'm so deeply in love with you?"

I shake my head and look up to him with my eyes glistening.

"Now quit trying to get yourself kicked out of school on the first day." He smiles down at me. "You better do well in school. Don't go taking longer to graduate."

I smile and shake my head as he uses my own words against me. Only he could do that kind of thing and not piss me off.

We enter the room and set my bags down. My roommate hasn't arrived so I get first choice of the beds. I choose the one by the window and sit down on the uncomfortable mattress. I would do anything to go back to Uncle Kim's with Taehyung right now.

Speaking of which...

"Here you go Uncle Kim." I hand him the house key he lent me months ago.

"No, that's yours. My home is open to you whenever you need it. I mean that. And you better call me!" He playfully scolds.

I smile and put the key back on to the key ring. Taehyung looks around at the empty room and sighs.

"I'll give you two a moment alone, but before I go, I wanted to give you this." Uncle Kim hands me a small envelope. "It's not a lot but I know you'll need help getting by before you can find a job. I've also paid for your meals for the semester."

I look in the envelope to find multiple one hundred dollar bills and a handwritten note that I'll read later. I jump up and throw my arms around Uncle Kim's neck. He didn't have to do anything for me and I never expected it but the fact he's making sure I'm taken care of makes me forever grateful for him.

Uncle Kim holds my hands for a second before nodding and excusing himself from the room with a deep sigh. Placing a hand on Taehyung's shoulder for a moment before exiting.

Taehyung walks over to me and pushes me up against the wall, searing a passionate kiss upon my waiting lips. He kisses me better than he ever had and by the time he pulls away, my head is spinning and my heart is pounding.

"Last chance. Say the word." He says with hope laced in his tone and filled in his eyes.

"I really really want to..."

"But you can't." He finishes my sentence for me.

"You deserve to go to a good school without worry of how to pay for it or how to pay it back. Without worry of where your next meal will come from. We'll do our best to make it work." I promise as I grab his face and pull him down to me for one more kiss.

Uncle Kim knocks on the door to tell Taehyung it's time for them to go. He kisses me again and then all over my face and my ring and put his ring to my lips as well. We wrap each other up in a tight embrace as I grab onto his shirt and tears stream down my face.

"I love you." He whispers.

"I love you more."

"Impossible." He shakes his head as he pulls away and walks to the door.

He looks back as he steps into the hallway and mouths forever yours to me before it shuts.

And it happens. The thing I've been dreading. The quiet settles in and looms over me like a dark cloud.

I'm alone.

I lay down on the unmade uncomfortable mattress and begin to sob into my arms. I hadn't felt this alone since I met him. Since the sun finally started shining. Before him, I was fine with the quiet. I welcomed it over my dad's degrading words or my moms tears. But now I know what love feels like. Not only to be loved but to love another and I feel like he was just torn from my heart.

I hear a text message notification a few minutes later that snaps me out of my breakdown. I grab my phone to check it.

Taehyung ❤️:
사랑해

I snap a quick photo after I wiped off my tears and told him I loved him too.

Taehyung ❤️:
I'm proud of you for reading that 😉
Keep studying.
I want our kids to be bilingual.

Yes sir 😘
Text me when you two
get home. I want to know
you're ok.

Taehyung ❤️:
Are you ok?

I stare at his response trying to decide if I tell him the truth or not. I must have taken too long when he texts me again.

Taehyung ❤️:
Me either. 미안해

What are you sorry for?
It's not your fault. We had
this already planned before
we met.

Taehyung ❤️:
I know...but still...

Roughly an hour later, Taehyung texts me, as promised, to let me know they made it home safely.

We continue the day sending each other selfies and random photos. I send him pictures of my bed after I added the sheets and pillows and the little printed photos of he and I on my cork board. He sends me photos of his dinner and where he's leaving the little thank you present we got for Uncle Kim to find tomorrow.

He tells me that Uncle Kim got him a rental car to drive up to the airport in since he won't be able to take him in the morning. Apparently it's a pretty nice car for a rental.

Taehyung ❤️:
Are you sleepy?
It's getting really late.

No. I can't sleep anyway.
The bed is empty without you 😩

Suddenly my phone rings with a call from him instead and I'm too excited to hear his voice.

"Hey." I croon as I answer the phone.

"Hey yourself. What are you doing?" He asks, his voice soothing to my soul.

"Laying here. I was just texting you and browsing Instagram."

"I miss you." He states with a saddened tone.

"I miss you more. What are you doing?"

"I'm taking a drive. I felt too lonely and couldn't sleep."

"I can relate. If I wouldn't get in trouble for leaving so late, I'd probably be out driving too."

"Well, I'm glad you're not." His voice sweet and sincere.

"Why is that?"

"Because I'd be driving for nothing. I'm outside."

My eyes go wide as I look out the window and see a car pulling into the back parking lot.

"Black car?" I ask watching it park.

"Yep."

"Baby...I told you, I'd get in trouble if I left." I pout.

"Then sneak me in. Come on, you're in college. All of the other girls are doing it." He tries to cutely persuade me with a wack pickup line I'm sure he's heard other guys say.

I giggle. "Stay in your car. I'll come to the back door."

I hang up the phone and sneak off to the elevator. I reach the lobby floor and peek around in hopes no one else is around. I think I'm safe to exit and begin walking towards the back door with the lightest footsteps I can manage.

"Ava?" The same girl from this afternoon calls out behind me.

Shit! I shut my eyes tightly as I slowly turn around. What do I even say?

"Going to meet your boyfriend?" She asks with a smile as I face her.

There's no sense in lying at this point.

I nod.

"Well, I'm not your Resident Advisor. She's not even here tonight. I'm just another student. Bring him in, but try to be careful that others don't see you before visiting hours. I'm Megan by the way." She smiles and extends her hand out for mine.

I shake it and bow, giggling at how that's now a habit of mine.

"Thank you!" I quietly say with a bright smile.

"Don't mention it. You both looked so sad earlier. I hope this helps." She smiles back at me before turning to walk away.

What a sweet girl. I'm going to see if she'd want to hang out one day. Maybe I could at least buy her lunch or something to thank her.

I make it to the back door and wave my hand for him to meet me. He quietly gets out of the car, locking it from the door so it doesn't beep and dashed across the parking lot.

We both laugh at our horrible renditions of Mission: Impossible and give each other a quick peck on the lips.

"I thought you got caught. I was about to call but I wasn't sure if I should." He whispers in my ear.

I pull on his shirt so that he can lean down and I can whisper into his. "Well, I technically did. Megan, the girl from earlier, caught me but she's cool. We just have to be careful not to be seen by anyone else."

He nods and we make our way back towards the elevator. We see Megan and she smiles at us. Taehyung bows to her with his hands clasped together and whispers thank you before getting on the elevator with me.

As soon as the doors close, he peppers my face with as many kisses as he can before we reach the sixth floor.

The doors open and I grab his hand as we proceed to sneak down the hallway as quiet as we possibly can.

I reach the door and pull out my key to unlock it and just as I'm lining it up with the keyhole, we hear a door down the hall open up and multiple girls chatting and laughing.

Our eyes grow wide and I quickly turn the key and door handle. Taehyung pushes me inside to avoid us being seen and closes the door. Once we both see it's fully shut he grabs me in a tight embrace, both of us beginning to laugh. I can feel his heart thumping against my cheek and I wouldn't be surprised if he felt mine against him.

"We really need to quit doing things that might make us get in trouble." He chuckles as he reminisced about the first night we met.

"Okay Mr. Sneak Me In Then." I smile up at him.

"What can I say? You're a bad influence." He winks and turns to lead me to my bed as if I didn't know where it was. He lays down and pulls me into him.

"What time do you have to be at the airport?" I ask as I look at the time on my phone.

It was already two in the morning. I'm surprised he's even still awake with having been up the night before.

"I have to be there at eight." He says yawning.

"Do you have your suitcase with you?" I ask smiling at his heavy eyelids.

He nods.

I set my alarm for seven, connect it back to the charger and place it on the nightstand. Covering us up with my blanket and nuzzling myself into his warm arms, we both begin to drift off to one last sleep together in the security of our embrace.

"Good night baby." I whisper as I kiss his lips.

"It's a good night now that I'm back with you." He says yawning one more time before exhaustion takes over him.

*

The alarm sounds way too soon and Taehyung groans loudly in annoyance until I laugh and cover his mouth with my small hand. He must have forgotten where we were.

"Sorry!" He whispers and pulls me into him to hold me tight.

"Tell me not to go." He says quietly.

"Don't go." I respond with a smile and he knows I'm not being serious. Even though I half am. I know he should go but if he were to refuse to leave, I wouldn't stop him again.

He sits up and stretches his arms and sighs out softly. "The last good sleep I'll get in the next few years."

"Same baby." I rub his shoulders and kiss his temple. "Come on. You'll miss your flight."

We sneak back down to the lobby. Hoping to avoid any prying eyes. Luckily no one was up or at the front desk and we were able to make it out to the parking lot.

"I love you. Text me when you get to the airport and before you take off. Just text me all of the time." I say through the tears forming in my eyes. God, I hope I can quit crying eventually.

"I love you too and don't worry. You're going to be sick of hearing from me." He wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me into his frame as he sears the final kiss on my lips.

His tongue caressing mine in the most sweet, yet erotic way and leaving me breathless as he pulls away.

"Don't forget me." He whispers with his forehead pressed to mine.

"Don't forget me." I smile as I kiss him one more time before he gets into the car.

I shut his door and step back into the empty parking spot beside him as he backs out and and drives away. Tail lights being the last thing I see before he rounds the corner. I shut my eyes tight and gather myself together to at least make it to the sidewalk where I begin to cry.

"Hey...everything okay?"

I look up to see Megan coming back from a morning jog. Glad that it wasn't someone I hadn't met yet.

"No." I sniffle and watch her as she sits down next to me.

"Break up or is he going to another school or something?" She asks rubbing her hand over my back.

"Another school." I say with my voice cracking.

"Well, there's always holidays." She tries to offer a ray of hope.

"In South Korea." I explain.

"Oh...I'm sorry. Do you want to talk?"

I nod and we head back inside.

At least I may have made a decent friend to help me through this.