The Proposal

1995

It took him almost a year to think thoroughly about asking his long term girlfriend about marrying him. Is this really what he wanted? God knows he tried it a lot of times already but he mostly chickened out.

Asking a proposal to someone isn't that fucking easy but tonight he was determined to do it. He reserved a seat on the finest restaurant in the city and prepared everything he will say to her. It was now or never.

Because damn forbids him but his strange feelings for his friend is somewhat getting stronger. He needed to get that out from his system because any possible time right now? He will lose his fucking mind.

Taehyung wore his best suit and even went to the hair salon earlier to have a new haircut. It was all well planned and it was going smoothly, the only thing left to do on his tasks is to fetch Irene at their house.

And the brunette who's standing on his doorstep right now is not on his list and more definitely not a part of his plan. Taehyung's eyes were wide as saucers, he didn't expect the sudden visit of his friend after the few months of avoiding each other for an unknown reason.

"Lalisa..."
There's something in her eyes that he couldn't read. She was different not in her appearances because she still look radiant and beautiful like she always has but her eyes. It was as if she longed for him within those months of being apart.

"Do you happen to know that someone?" Taehyung shot her a confused gaze meeting her solemn ones. "Do you think he will really come to show me how that thing works?" And then it hit him, Lisa has been holding the words he says to her. She has been waiting, of course... because even with the coldest and toughest heart, we humans are all curious of that little thing called 'love'.

"Will it be magical like in the movies?"
She asked him with a tight lipped smile as her gaze dragged down to the bouquet of red roses in his hand.

Taehyung gulped, he hesitated wether to hide the flowers on his back or do nothing at all and the brunette is asking her about magic... damn nothing of that is real but being with the right person alone gives you the perfect illusion of fantasy.

That's what he wanted to say and he also wanted to stay but he can't. Because wanting her in the first place is wrong. They are friends, he can't risk their friendship and then he is also friends with her boyfriend which makes it more sucks.

"Lalis... why are you really here?"
Taehyung sighed, as he felt his head throbbed so he pinched the bridge of his nose. All this planning and her showing up almost ruining everything he had perfectly planned gives him headache and he hated it. But he also fucking hate the fact that he misses her so much, all he wanted to do is pull her close and wrapped his arms around her tiny body. So that's basically double shit.

"Taehyung, what is love?" She asked seeking for an answer but Taehyung couldn't give her anything because the truth is there isn't any right answer about that. There's a lot of ways to show, and put up with words but none of that thing is the right answer, because 'love' alone have a wide variety of expression. It has a lot of meaning, it has a lot of explanation, but when you wanted to sum up with one answer? There is no answer but her. Love is the person you love.

"Lis, can't we talk for another time? I really have to go."
Taehyung look at her apologetically as he passed through her but Lisa held his hand. Stopping him to move away.

"He will ask me."
She look at his eyes. Doubt and filled with curiosity. She doesn't love him. She even asked what love is. She was seeking for an answer he couldn't tell.

He's a coward. A jerk who can't stand up with his own feelings.

"What?" His dumb self asked.

"Jungkook invited me for dinner and Rosie told me that he asked Bambam for help yesterday because he wanted to propose."
That explain why she was also dressed up right now. She's wearing a simple white dress and didn't even made an effort with her makeup and hair but she was still the most beautiful person in his eyes, which is bad. Really bad, he is about to ask someone to marry him yet here he is head over heels for this girl standing in front of him.

Lisa took a step closer, too close for his liking. As he unconsciously held a breath from their proximity.
"So I was wondering... that person you're talking about? Do you really think he will still come?"
She was inches away from him and when her other hand found its way to his cheek, Taehyung's eyes automatically closed.

God, he wants her and he was losing his mind.

But he got woken up from his silly thoughts when his phone in his pocket suddenly rang.

Taehyung take off her hand on his face and took his every strength to avoid looking at her at all.
"I— I'm sorry, Irene is waiting for me." He said taking a step back.

Lisa nodded and gently let go of his hand.
"Of course." She whispered softly like she was trying to convince herself.

A slow smile worked its way across her face but it didn't reach her eyes. What was she doing here anyway? Asking for those things with an already committed man? It was selfish and careless.

Taehyung turned his back and it took every strength in his body not to look back on her.

He drove his way to Irene's and fetch her, he greeted her parents and such as they both went together to the restaurant. The drive to the place was silent and Taehyung thoughts were occupied, he could only nod his head when Irene tells something to him and that wasn't even the plan, he should make her feel special tonight but instead he is thinking some other girl.

Taehyung shake his thoughts, he forced himself to focus on his girlfriend and only her. So when they reach the restaurant he held her hand and escorted her all the way in. They were smiling to each other, laughing at one's another jokes when Irene suddenly made a halt.

"Isn't that Jungkook and Lisa?"
Slowly, he look at the two people whom Irene's been pointing at. His jaw clenched and avoided his gaze to not linger more to the two figures.

"When is that?
Because he better hurry.
I don't know when Jungkook
is gonna propose
but I won't ever say 'no'."

Those words rang inside his mind, as he caste his head down and stared at his feet instead.

"Babe? Are you okay?" The raven haired girl tilt her head and look at her quiet boyfriend. Worry lines written on her forehead as she touched his arm to wake him up from his deep thoughts.

"Huh? Y-yeah. Of course. We should also go to our table." Taehyung forced his lips to smile and pulled Irene closer to him as he guided their way to the table he reserves for them.

But the foolish stubborn side of him made a quick turn and take a glance back at the brunette's that has been occupying his dreams, resulting him with sleepless nights.

He saw how Lisa stood up from her seat, but what surprises him is how Lisa look at him like she already knew that he has been there or maybe fate has been playing with him.

So before anything could happen worse, Taehyung take his eyes off the brunette and proceeded on walking. Lisa scoffed at this as she shake her head in disbelief. What was she expecting anyway?

"Tae, are you really okay? You've been so quiet since earlier." Irene asked the moment they took a seat on their reserved table. She was holding the menu and a waiter is serving them some red wine on their glass.

The girl sighed when she received no reaction from the lad. Irene gently dismisses the waiter to leave them alone for a moment. She reached for his hand to steal his attention away from his thoughts, Irene gave him the warmest smile as she caressed his hand.

"Is there something wrong? You're making me worried." Worry lines marred on her forehead, Taehyung slowly shifted his gaze on her as he gulped the forming lump in his throat.

He can't believe he's doing this. He can't believe he'll hurt someone who's been loyal and true to him but that's what just life is, sometimes we don't really get what we want. Sometimes the people we like just don't like us back as much as we like them.

Taehyung didn't even blink, he just let out the words before he could have the chance to take it back.
"Let's break up."

A pure shock of horror struck the raven haired girl. Her grip on his hand loosened as she suddenly felt suffocating. She was having a panic attack, Irene started breathing so hard and she barely couldn't stop the tears that came out through her glassy eyes.

Taehyung on the other hand was alert, he stood up from his seat and kneeled down in front of her. He get her both hands and tried his best to comfort her.
"I'm so sorry, Irene. I promise it wasn't really you. I messed up. This is all my fault, I'm so stupid—" He didn't got to finished his sentence when Irene asked him 'why?' her brows were furrowed confused.

"Why? What did you do?" A stream of fresh tears got out from her eyes, she's severely on an epic emotional heartbreak and she's in need of answers.

"I..." He was hesitating and Irene doesn't have any patience for him right now, as much as possible she wanted to get away from this place.

"What did you fucking do Taehyung?!" She didn't even care if people start whispering at them, that's even the least of what she cares right now.

Taehyung tightly closes his eyes as he castes his head down to rest on the top of their hands. He doesn't have the strength to look at her but Taehyung needed to at least be honest, so with a deep sighed he slowly lifted his face.
"I fell in love."
Yes, he really does.

Irene's furrowed brows went even more deeper. What Taehyung says didn't sit well on her.
"You fell in love? What are you trying to say? You cheated on me??!"
She gasped, unbelievingly.

"No! It's not like that. I didn't cheat on you, Irene." He was fast to correct her, Taehyung even lift his both hands to disapprove on what she thinks.

She was getting angry more than hurting at the moment, Irene stood up and caught everyone's attention inside the restaurant.
"Then what?! Explain it to me, Tae? What is wrong?!" She shouted, desperately.

Taehyung dust his pants and also stood up. He stared at Irene and tried to approach her but the girl take a step back, clearly not wanting to be touched by him again.

He nodded his head understandingly and meet her glaring gaze.
"I accidentally fell in love with someone that's not you." He finally said his feeling without fighting back but her furious look turned gloomed.

How come you fell in love with someone else if you already have someone in your heart? Unless that someone didn't really loved the first person that much or that someone just simply fell out of love.

Either way, it was heartbreaking and painful. Irene just let her tears roll down her cheeks as she stared at the man she loved for three long years.

"There's no such thing as 'accident' Tae. Because if it is? You wouldn't allow yourself to feel it, you should've avoided it as soon as possible, but you are aware and you didn't do anything to prevent it."