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“ Let’s break up.”
“Okay,” Tang Bo whispers, smiling and relieved. Chung Myung noticed the lack of tears from his face compared to his own.
He looked at the puddle on the ground and noticed how it wasn't raining. Why was his face soaked then?
A month, 5 days, 2 hours, 10 minutes and 2 seconds went by.
That’s how long it had been since their interaction. After that disaster of an event, nothing happened. Both had gone back to their normal daily lives: Chung Myung to his sect and Tang Bo to his family- and woman.
That’s right , ChungMyung thought. He has a woman .
ChungMyung curled up in his bed even further, tears welling up in his eyes at the remembrance of the news. Tang Bo (His Ex. ChungMyung still couldn’t believe it,) had brought it up to him so suddenly. At that time, ChungMyung laughed at him with his stomach hurting and head thrown back. Then, he noticed his ex -boyfriend’s face.
He sniffed. He never thought Tang Bo could look at him that way.
ChungMyung was the one to break up with him. He didn’t know whether he would’ve handled it well in any other cases. If Tang Bo had been the one to utter the words… Chung Myung is sure he would have broken down. How could he risk looking more pathetic than he does right now?
In the midst of his self-deprecation, he couldn’t hear the banging on his door as Chung Mun repeatedly slammed his fist over and over on the poor thing.
“Chung Myung!!” His Sahyung screamed, “Stop rotting in your bed and come out!”
The yelling only made ChungMyung feel worse– he knows how much this is affecting his sect. For goodness sake, he was one of the elders! It was undeniable that this was an inconvenience to Mount Hua. Even so, ChungMyung couldn't do anything but lay in his bed with bundles of tear tracks running down his red cheeks. He bit his lip until it bled and another round of aggressive knocking echoed through ChungMyung’s room.
He yelled back at his Sahyung, “Go away, will you?! I’ll be out in a few!”
“You’ve been saying that for almost 2 months now, ChungMyung!” He could hear Chung Mun hesitate even through the door, “...I know that what happened with Tang Bo was awful- but, please? The Sect needs you,
I need you.”
Chung Mun stood outside, waiting for 2 minutes– 3… 4… At the 5th minute mark, Chung Mun sighs, knowing he lost today’s fight. As he turns around to succumb to another day of missing and grieving his lovely Sajae’s companionship, he hears a sound.
Slam!
At the sudden noise, Chung Mun jumped. He quickly turned around and there–
ChungMyung stood, dishevelled as expected, with his head down while his bangs covered his face. His whole body trembled and, oh, Chung Mun thought. His Sajae was crying.
Immediately, the Sect Leader of Mount Hua rushed to comfort his precious, precious Sajae. His little brother- his baby . He wrapped his arms around the boy in the instant. They made contact, tightening his hold. He hoped to the ancestors listening in heaven that ChungMyung knew how much his Sahyung loved him. Chung Mun himself couldn’t help but let out a few stray tears at the thought. Does he even know? He placed a big hand on the back of ChungMyung’s head and waited. Waited until the shaking of ChungMyung’s frame lessened from the slight jumps caused by his hiccups–waited until the first few drops of tears turned into a waterfall that soaked Chung Mun’s uniform.
“Oh, my Sajae, ” Chung Mun mumbled, “What has he done to you?”
ChungMyung sobbed in response.
He croaked out, pathetic as he imagined, “He left me,” ChungMyung exhaled roughly, “He left me and I don’t even know what I did wrong -!”
“Because you didn’t do anything. It’s not your fault, Myung-ah, it never was.” Chung Mun closed his eyes and prayed that the anger bubbling up inside of him would never ever be released because he doesn’t know what would happen to the Tang Family if it does ever happen.
Once again, Chung Mun is reminded that if he could, he’d burn down the world for his Sajae.
ChungMyung shook his head, still tucked into the crook of his Sahyung’s neck, denying that he was not at fault, because he was . Why else would Tang Bo– the man who said that if he could, would string up the stars for him, the man to give him promise after promise and fulfil every single one of them– would choose someone else other than him?
ChungMyung’s cries renewed then. He chose someone else, was he really not enough–?
“Stop it,” Chung Mun said, interrupting his thoughts.
“I know what you’re thinking, you fool . Nothing that you’re thinking right now is true. Listen to me,” He brushed ChungMyung’s head off his shoulders and cupped his cheeks with his own rough hands. He paused for a moment, blood immediately boiling at the misery painted on ChungMyung’s face. That bastard did this. He made a mental note to call Chung Jin later in his office.
Chung Mun wiped the tears that kept falling from his Sajae’s eyes. “No man is worth these tears, you hear me? Not even that stupid elder from some stupid poison wielding family. You yourself only referred to him as a leech right?”
The joke earned him a teary snort from ChungMyung. It makes the older smile.
“Then, don’t let your heart break for him any longer.” Chung Mun kisses the forehead of the man he raised since he was a mere baby, his baby , “Don’t worry, Myung-ah. Sahyung’s here.”
For the first time, since the day Tang Bo left him–ChungMyung felt calm.
Chung Jin never felt rage until today.
Today , when he found out what exactly happened between his annoying, stupid, reckless Sahyung and that- bastard !!
Today, when Chung Mun revealed this news to him, Chung Jin almost broke the damn table in front of him because how could that piece of shit ever even think of breaking his Sahyung’s heart?
No, he didn’t just think. He did it . And Chung Jin swore on his dead mother’s grave that Mount Hua will never forgive him for it.
“Sect Leader, there's no other way.” He stared at his older Sahyung, “We need to kill him. I’ll gather the troops, every single person with the family name ‘Tang’ will be eradicated from existe-”
“Enough.”
Chung Jin slammed his mouth shut.
Chung Mun sighed at him, rubbing his temples in exhaustion. “While I agree with your stance, I don’t think causing unnecessary issues between both groups would be a smart choice.”
“Unnecessary issues– Sahyung! That snake-like asshole broke ChungMyung- Sahyung’s heart!” Chung Jin scowled, remembering how Chung Mun described how his young Sahyung was in a state of literal misery.
“If I were you, I would have already burned their names from history –”
“–And that is why you are not in charge here .” Chung Mun interrupted his second foolish Sajae once again. “We need to think reasonably.”
Chung Jin clicked his tongue, outwardly expressing his disagreement with his Sahyung’s words.
“Sect Leader, with all due respect, the Dark Saint already threw the chance of us being ‘respectful’ at him and his god forsaken family when he took in a woman, while still dating ChungMyung!!” he shrieked, “On top of that, he doesn’t even care! It’s all too obvious from the fact that he’s already gone and spread to the whole region of Sichuan that he’s marrying that- that WRETCH!!”
“Chung Jin, Sajae- deep breaths. I know that this situation infuriates you, I feel the same. There is a line that shouldn’t be crossed- don’t look at me like that! You know I care about ChungMyung, but-”
And as if Chung Jin is set in rebelling against Chung Mun today, he tells him, “Do you though?” the younger scoffed. “Because it’s as if you care about some stupid reputation rather than our youngest’s heart being broken.”
Never mind that he wasn’t even the youngest anymore.
“- And don’t say that you do care ! If you did,
You wouldn’t be just sitting here in front of me instead of doing something about it.”
Before Chung Mun could even retort, Chung Jin angrily stood up from his chair and rushed outside, slamming the door at the Sect Leader’s face in the process. Chung Mun only looked at the scene with a heavy heart and tired eyes.
Looks like he has a mountain of duties to tend to today.
First and foremost, what was that about marriage again?
Tang Bo feels… (?)
He feels like he’s in heaven. Floating through cloud nine and laying on the fluffiest sheets in the world—
The woman that he loves the most is right here, in his arms , fitting perfectly like she was made for him. Like a puzzle piece, who’s found his perfect match, his right arm circled around her tiny waist, while his left brought his woman's gorgeous raven hair up to his lips, to give every strand a gentle kiss.
(He doesn’t address the slightly uncomfortable feeling of holding such a petite woman like her. She’s special–and though his body was too used to the muscular stature that… he had, Tang Bo is sure that he’ll get used to the feeling of her body pressed against his. Temporary issues are only temporary after all.)
He hears her giggle and suddenly, he could hear the wedding bells ringing in their wedding. He could picture her dressed in white, him in his signature colour–picturing them as a happy family. Tang Bo looks at her and he feels complete ; a person, someone special, someone whole–
He thinks. He feels all this. So why does he also feel oh-so empty?
It’s funny. The statement alone contradicts his entire opinion, and the feelings towards the woman he swore to marry, he knew. He knew this was stupid, because how could he be empty when all he’d ever felt was joy and fulfilment from his woman? His .
The empty shell of a man repeats these words over and over again in his head. His woman .
He ignores the feeling of blank nothingness that comes along after it.
“Dearest,” His woman whispers, running her nails along his sharp jawline, “Are you okay?”
His woman.
( “Hyung-nim!” Tang Bo had once yelled after Him . The man doesn’t turn around.
“Ack- wait for me, my love!” Tang Bo yelled again, trying to keep up but failing. The nickname spills out of his mouth like second-hand nature, which was probably the reason why He paused. Tang Bo blinked, looking at the tips of His ears and grinned.
They were flushed .
How cute, Tang Bo thinks, feeling like he was on top of the world.)
“My love,” He says to her.
She remains staring at him, and when he shifts his gaze to the delicate pair of ears that dawns the side of her head, he doesn’t see red .
“Yes?” Her sultry voice chirps.
Tang Bo smiles, kisses her soft lips, and soon after, the lights go out.
(Tang Bo feels . That’s enough for him.)
“You FOOLISH MAN!” A cousin of Tang Bo hisses.
The addressed individual merely puffs smoke from the pipe he holds lazily. With the other hand, he holds the most gorgeous woman he has ever laid his eyes on. Tang Bo smirks when the gaze of his relative lands on the person cuddled up against him.
“What? Jealous?” Smugness in his tone, he points his pipe towards his cousin, “C’mon, don’t be! you’ll find your woman eventually, too, cous’.”
The smug smile on his face falters when he hears the other’s next words.
“As if I could be jealous of a man who’s destroyed his own life ,” The young Tang chuckles, void of emotion. “To pick a whore over The Plum Blossom Saint. Did your dick make that decision for you?”
The elder’s blank look morphs into an angry expression as his lover sobs in humiliation. Holding her close, Tang Bo sits up from where he was propped up on his bed. His robe falls seductively and, though this would have made the many members of the Tang family normally get flustered at the vulnerable look of their elder, their heart could only generate disgust. Once the pride and joy, now reduced to a stain on the Tang name.
“Do not talk about my wife-to-be with such a tone,” Tang Bo says sternly, narrowing his eyes as if to shrink an insolent bug. Yet, the one whom he sees as nothing more than a pest stands his ground.
No longer intimidated due to the pure anger rushing through his veins, the young Tang spits back.
“Oh, so I can’t even speak the truth anymore? You know for yourself that she’s just a whore. Both of you are whores–” A dagger flies back past his cheek. The cut that came from it bleeds slightly.
The Tang looks at his cousin with disdain, his equally green eyes not backing down when faced with those that could be compared to a snake’s.
“I am Tang Bo , The Dark Saint of the Tang Family,” The man snarls, “If I want to change lovers, I will . I do not need your permission- I DO NOT NEED ANYONE'S PERMISSION!! ” He screams, startling both the woman beside him and the other members of the Tang family in front of him.
And before the boy with a brave soul could speak up again, another elder held him back with a hand on his shoulder. The young Tang turns, betrayal evident in his features.
“Elder, why are you holding me back? Can’t you see how this is affecting our family!? Mount Hua is at a risk of starting a war over this!” ‘A war?’ Tang Bo scoffs dismissively. He remains silent.
“I know that, but what do you want the Dark Saint to do? Get back together with the Plum Blossom Saint? That’ll cause another shitshow, you know this you brat!” The elder screamed, hitting the young Tang over the head. “Now, apologise!”
The boy stays quiet. At this, the elder sighed in resignation and shifts his focus on gathering the bits of favour the Dark Saint still has left for them.
“I am sorry for this boy. He really doesn’t know his manners,” He bowed.
Tang Bo laughed. He can’t help but reply with a snide remark.
“Looks like he got it from somewhere , seeing how you all barged in like bulld into my quarters. Don’t you folks know ; I am trying to spend time with my beloved at the moment–
Especially since our wedding is so near?”
Words uttered by the elder had the other jolt back in shock. There was never a mention of a wedding. He mentions his thoughts out loud, hoping that it was all a mere joke.
Alas, the ancestors were not on his side today.
Tang Bo beams, causing everyone else to recoil in disgust. “Yes! A wedding, for me and my beloved.”
“A wedding-?” A retired Elder sputtered. He had been silent throughout the whole scene, opting to watch from the sidelines as he is no longer a man who makes decisions, but–” Tang Bo-yah, a wedding?! ”
The Dark Saint rolled his eyes. “Hey. Who are you to address me so loosely, huh? And yes , a wedding, how many times should I repeat it before you all get it through your thick skulls?” He scoffs, “To think that everyone in KangHo knows except for my own clan members… Tsk. Ah, this irritates me–should I just put the notion in for you?”
At the threat, there was nothing to do but stay quiet. The one who made such an effect, merely smiled at this.
“Tell the servants to prepare the wedding. I want it prepared and finished in approximately 5 months . We shall celebrate early, a new era of my love,” He declares, pulling his soon-to-be bride closer to him. Such an action garnered more subtle glares. Alas, what can one do?
Every individual in the room bowed.
“Yes, Elder.” Nothing was said after.
The wedding shall commence.
If one had to ask Tang Bo if today was his happiest moment, He would have no choice but to stay silent.
Because if he were to open his cursed mouth, only lies would drip like a leaky faucet.
“ Here ye, here ye ! What a splendid celebration, Elder Tang!”
A drunken guest, particularly a noble that Tang Bo has a sudden feeling of disdain against, hiccuped. The man was audacious as a storm chaser–evident with how he carelessly slung his arm around Tang Bo’s shoulders.
The elder shivers at the disgusting sensation. He was never quite comfortable with others touching him. Except for him her him.
Smiling as handsomely as he can, he responds to the so-called compliment.
“I thank you for attending the event. Although, may I suggest getting some fresh air before the actual ceremony starts? You seem to need it.”
Although his words may seem merciful, his demeanour stated otherwise. Kick this bastard out before I kill him , his eyes said. The pair of pupils wander and deliver the message to a pair of guards nearby. Hurriedly, they do as told.
As the commotion takes place, Tang Bo finds himself in silent disarray. The main celebration hasn’t even started, and yet some lowlives had already tarnished the vision he had for his wedding. Worst of all, not long after the first man came and caused trouble, multiple more had gone to follow the idiot’s footsteps.
Fucking hell , Tang Bo seethed to himself. Does the Heavenly God have a grudge against me or something?
Thankfully, his soon-to-be wife seemed to catch on to his anger. As a result, she knew exactly what to do and–
She touched his face .
Dread immediately filled Tang Bo. In that moment, nothing felt more disgusting than how her cold, callous-less fingers touched the outline of his jaw. He looked at her, slowly moving his head.
“Darling, are you okay?” She murmured to him. Her beautiful face scrunched up in concern. It terrified the Tang that he couldn’t respond to that worry.
“We’ll be walking down the aisle soon…”
He hears her whisper to him. But how could he focus on the words she’s spewing when he can barely get over the nausea overtaking his senses?
(It was never like this before. Not with him. Why was this happening on the day they were to be wed?
Everything is going wrong. Tang Bo feels–)
“I’m fine. Let’s just get this over with.”
She doesn’t comment on his tone. He doesn’t acknowledge her face full of obvious hurt.
The doors open ; the music starts–
and Tang Bo feels nothing. Nothing, but disgust.
…
The ceremony went by like a memory. Similar to a foggy flashback that seemingly every character in a romance novel has, to develop said character.
Strange how it had a contradictory effect on him though. Maybe Tang Bo was cursed after all.
After the vows were said and a kiss was shared, Tang Bo had thought that the indifference he held to his now-wife would dissipate. He was proven wrong when he couldn’t even touch his own damned lips, afraid of again experiencing the rough, chapped feel of hers.
It was awful. Everything was awful –he’d repeated this sentence so many times, he might just go crazy. It was even worse when, for some odd reason, the woman he loved the most in the world turned into someone he couldn’t even face without having the urge to vomit.
“Dammit…” He chuckled. He swore he could feel the wind pick up, the freezing cold temperature causing him to shiver. Crickets chirped as he leaned against the railings of a bridge at the garden the house had.
“That bastard would probably make fun of me if he ever saw me like this–”
“No, I won’t.”
Huh. Speak of the devil…
“Pft. Did you follow me here or something?”
ChungMyung looked at him with a blank stare. Tang Bo didn’t look back.
Of course he knew who the man was just by hearing his voice. He’d heard it basically all his life at this point. It was not because he’d kept hearing him in his dreams to the point of fearing to even sleep. No, why would it be?
He stared at his reflection on the water below.
… His heart ached.
ChungMyung sighed in the silence. “I didn’t come here to fight… nor do whatever you think I might do. I was just assigned to bring you back inside.”
“Ugh, why?”
“What do you mean why?” Tang Bo could hear the frown in his tone. “Obviously, your… wife. Is looking for you.”
“No, I meant, why send you ?”
“...Why- why not? ” ChungMyung pretends to not have stumbled in his words.
“Plum Blossom Sword Saint, you are a fool .”
“ Excuse me?”
“Why do you think they sent you , a man I recently left, to take me back inside?”
“...”
“God, your stupidity knows no bounds!” Tang Bo can’t help it–he yells. His hands come to grasp the side of his head, irritated at how moronic this stupid, lovable man is. Fuck, it angers him.
“They sent you out here to mock you, you–!” In the midst of his yelling, the dagger-wielder turned around furiously, intending to scream, and yell, and just vent out the overwhelming feeling in his chest.
… But no such thing occured.
Because as soon as Tang Bo had turned around, he could sense nothing and everything at the same time.
ChungMyung stood there, dressed in the most delicious, noble-looking clothing Tang Bo had ever seen. His hair was gorgeous under the moonlight, sparkling against the shining rays and his eyes – fuck, his eyes –glistened with just the right amount of unshed tears.
Being met with a view he had never seen before, the idiot felt his limbs go numb–yet could also feel the obvious sensation of his heart dropping to his stomach, which also erupted with the fluttering of butterflies. Everything and nothing indeed .
He’d almost forgotten that he was at his own wedding.
ChungMyung looked at him, and smirked. “Finally turned around to look at me, huh?”
“I,” Tang Bo was a fool. “I…” A fool rendered speechless.
“Don’t worry, I’m not here to convince you to come back to me, or something like that. We both know that I’d only come due to Sahyung Sect Leader’s request.” He also begged for ChungMyung not to go, but whatever.
“No, it’s. I’m-I wasn’t thinking–”
“Stop.”
Tang Bo obeyed.
“You…” ChungMyung clamped his mouth up, before sighing.
“This is your wedding , you idiot. Stop thinking of unnecessary things and go inside. Your wife is waiting for you.”
“But, I…” Tang Bo doesn’t even know what he was trying to say. A little between ; I want to explain and I want you to touch you , maybe.
ChungMyung puts a hand up.
“I said, enough. What’s done is done–what has happened, has happened. We can’t change the past, you know that.”
“... I do.” fuck, he does .
“Don’t fret about such meaningless thoughts now. I’ll find my love as you have found yours. So let’s just move on, okay?”
A pause.
“Okay.”
A smile directed at each other and that’s it. The finale.
Tang Bo pretends not to notice the taste of bitterness in his mouth as they walk side by side, back inside the hall where his wife was waiting for him.
–While they did so, Tang Bo cursed his mind for the imagination it had come up with.
( He and ChungMyung, hand in hand, in the robes they picked out for one another. Cheers filled every corner of the hall when they came to view. At this, they turn to each other slightly, smiled,
and walked down the aisle. Together.)
“Please see that this will be the last meeting I, and the rest of the sect, will hold, with any members of the Tang Family.” Chung Mun smiled cruelly.
Tang Bo gulped in pure, genuine, fear .
“Aha…” Tang Bo tried to calm the heavy atmosphere in the room by chuckling lightheartedly. Although, it only served to make Chung Mun’s already narrow eyes look even sharper.
“Sect Leader, I don’t think this is necessary at all–”
“But it is necessary though? ” Oh, Ancestors all mighty, please help me survive through this– A tear ran down Tang Bo’s cheek. However, it remained undetected in the eyes of Chung Mun, who only saw the suffering the Tang inflicted on his ‘ Precious Baby-Sajae .’
He tilted his head in a frightening way that ChungMyung’s imitation was laughable as a comparison. “Do you think this is funny to you, Elder Tang?” He mumbled. Tang Bo shook his head fervently, a constipated look on his face.
“No, Sect Leader–”
“So why do you keep smiling?” Oh. Was he? Tang Bo brought a hand to his face, as though he was surprised that he had been grinning. Why was he grinning?
He hears the man in front of him huff, likely irritated at how dazed he seemed. “... Hmph. Since you are too distracted to focus on our conversation, let me just cut to the chase then.” Chung Mun paused to take a sip of his tea. “My declaration will not be compromised, even if you yourself beg me. I don’t intend to associate myself with people who have no guilt playing with my Sect Members’ hearts.”
Right. “ChungMyung?” Tang Bo’s dastardly mouth opens.
“...You are smiling again, Elder Tang.” A sour look forms on Chung Mun’s face, before he coughs as an act to remain polite–but no matter. Tang Bo couldn’t, quite frankly, care less about what the other man felt when his own feelings were threatening to burst out of stomach, right this second.
God. Is it normal for a married man to act this much of a dog in heat, just from hearing another man’s name?
Tang Bo’s heart drummed, ached, and thrived .
“Ahem!” He coughed to ignore his possible heart attack. “Right- Well. Hm. ChungMyung. ” A crooked smile twitches on his face. “How– ahem,” He stammers, pulling at the collar of his robe and looking side-ways like a maiden in her stage of incredible shyness.
“How… is he?”
A tick quickly pops up on Chung Mun’s forehead. How the fuck do you think– He interrupts his own thoughts. Deep breaths, deep breaths .
“I fear I don’t see a relation of this topic to our discussion?” He smiles elegantly.
“It was merely a question, connected to our main issue.”
“...” Chung Mun swore to kill this bastard. “I didn’t bring up any issues , though? I only laid the facts, Elder Tang.”
Tang Bo, careless as he is, smirks. “Well, the Sect Leader was quite vague with the whole ‘ playing hearts with my Sect! ’ thing. Consequently, I had to bring up my own conclusion.”
“And that conclusion involved ChungMyung-ah?”
“He was the only one I- oops I mean ‘the Clan ’–” Tang Bo made air quotes, and Chung Mun’s temper did not last long. “–played with, right?”
And who was anyone to blame Chung Mun for lunging at the Tang?
The proud, esteemed Sect Leader of Mount Hua gripped the bastard’s robes uniquely–as though it was trash and an item being threatened to be stolen from him, at the same time. Furious eyes looked at the surprised, green-coloured ones in return. Normally, the one called ‘ The Dark Saint ’ would not be afraid of a man not even a little bit near his level–but Chung Mun’s building contempt was pouring out intensely, to the point a lion would back off, afraid of the pain that the man could inflict at any moment.
“You are lucky, lucky I say , to even utter his name. Do not use that benefit as though it is mere garbage given to you,” He hissed at Tang Bo, raging eyes filled with hell fire.
“You set foot into Mount Hua–a betrayal to ChungMyung I will never forgive myself for ; the same thing ChungMyung did for you, into his heart. And what do you do? You do the same damn thing , leaving shitty footprints on a privilege you don’t even deserve, trashing it as you go.”
“...I didn’t ask for this–”
“But you did!! ” Chung Mun shouts, and Tang Bo does nothing but take it.
“You did . You asked for it–you asked for him. You took my Sajae, my baby, my ChungMyung , and you left him just like that. Left him, and turned him into the shell of a man he is today.”
Tang Bo averts his gaze to the floor, shame filling his entire being, only intensifying when he remembers the wife he had back at that cold emotionless house.
“And the worst part is, I don’t even know why. Why? Was it just a sick prank to pull on him? He let you in his heart and you didn’t even have the decency to break it off before you went whoring yourself out to some girl you met once?”
Tang Bo winced.
“I am… allowed to love. Whoever I want.” He mumbles, an empty look in his eyes, and a heart that, too, doesn’t even believe him. Yet it was enough to make the Sect Leader pause.
“...Yes,” Chung Mun whispers. “You are.” He loosens his grip and stands up.
He fixed his robe and turned away, presumably to resume writing his letter to the Tang family.
Before so, Chung Mun paused. “Do not show your face here any longer,” He says after a minute of silence.
“Deliver the same message to your family. These are my last requests from you.”
Tang Bo resists the urge to reach out.
Instead, he laughs at the absurdity of it all. Hah, he chuckles. Even after cutting you off, you still control my life in so many ways, Hyung-nim.
What a poison to behold.
“ They call her beautiful, but all she sees is a replacement. “
Does Bo-ya really love me…?
A girl with a sullen look, sighs to herself, walking down a path in a forest she is not familiar with.
Her clothes of nobility drags against the dirt and grass, but she finds in herself to not care. Her mind was occupied, taken by the thought of a possibility that her husband may no longer love her.
She let out a shaky sigh, trying to convince herself otherwise. “He told me he loved me… but–” She bit her lip so as to not let out a whimper.
…
“Hahaha! What a catch you got, Bo-yah!” A presumably close ‘friend’ of her husband exclaimed, grabbing at her waist.
At this, she smiled, a twitching grin that blatantly showed her annoyance to his touch. She redirects this expression to her husband, who she coincidentally caught staring at her. An earnest expression took over his face.
He merely ignored her plea. Whipping his head to face his old ‘friend’, he ignored his wife in the arms of another.
In hindsight, it should have been obvious from there on.
His next words were her last straw.
“Yes…” She remembered how he smiled so beautifully at her then. The same sweet smile that gave her hope into a next life. With that same, stupid, smile, he utters a sentence that became the scissors to match with her thin string of sanity.
“Her pink eyes always shine so prettily.”
…Her eyes were hazel.
“ NO! ” The poor, pitiful girl screamed, the birds flocking away as an effect. She hears their singing fade, tears running down her cheeks, and God , isn’t she just the perfect picture of misery?
“I’m sorry, I'm so sorry….” She hiccuped. If her apologies were to the birds, or to herself, there were no answers given.
The silence of the forest did not help her concerns, either.
With a shaky sigh, and messed up make-up, she continued onwards on her path. What else to do but walk, anyway? Her heels dug into the heels of her feet, but she paid no mind. Like a wanderer with no destination, a state familiar to a zombie, she dragged her legs to nowhere.
The forest was vast and deep–a terrifying location to be in, especially for a timid woman like her. Her heart pounded, senses aware of the trees that trapped her in their shadows, and a buzzing noise that never seemed to go away. It was like a maze ; one that was dark, with no ending in sight.
But within such a scary place, it won’t be long until the girl who wandered, will find something that’ll capture her attention.
The girl stumbled upon..
u-upon….
…
A…A princess?
Before her, was a princess– ah, wait. She eventually notices that the ‘princess’ in question looked to be a boy… However, while he does indeed have the features of a man, he also looked to be the prettiest view she’s ever seen. That should count as a qualification to be a princess, right?
If it didn’t, maybe the various kinds of animals surrounding him would do the trick.
Entranced, she approached the sleeping beauty, almost enchanted ; like a sailor to siren. Up close, she can see his plump, flushed skin, with the sunrays that fell on his cheeks only serving to make them have a heavenly glow. She hovered above him, looking down to see the longest eyelashes ever, fluttering prettily against his cheek bones.. Truly a princess indeed…!
Wow, she gaped at his looks. Which noble house is he from?
Suddenly, his eyes fluttered open, pink eyes scanning the area before landing on her. “ Ah! ” She yelped, cheeks flushing—
Pause. Wait. Rewind.
‘Pink eyes’
Oh no .
The girl froze as the princess–no– The Plum Blossom Sword Saint , arose from his nap. She trembled, watching the honourable swordsman stretch and release the tension in his muscles.
“Puwah!! Ugh, my muscles are killing me–who dared to wake me up from my meditation?!”
Meditation?! She screamed internally, almost bursting into tears. That’s even worse than simply waking him up from his nap!!
(He was lying.)
“I-I…!” She stuttered out, moving to her hands and knees. “I’m sorry, Sword Saint!!”
The Sword Saint sighed at her antics, still not properly looking at her. “Ugh, it’s fine, it’s fine!” He turned to finally face his interruptor. “Just–”
And silence. It was like the world paused with its turning, only resuming when ChungMyung had said the rest of his sentence.
“Just… get off the ground… Miss Tang,” He scrambles to help the girl off her knees, who didn’t miss the way he flinched when he heard the words ‘ Miss Tang ’ fly smoothly out of his lips. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t do the same.
“Hays, what are you even doing here? A bandit could snatch you up!”
She hears him huff irritatingly, but she pays no mind at his tone. Instead, her main focus is directed at how this man– who she stole her husband from –wasn’t letting off any kill intent, nor giving her a gaze of disgust she was so used to receiving back at the Tang Manor.
“Okay, this is getting weird. Why are you looking at me so intently??”
Oh. She hadn’t realised she was staring at him.
“Why aren’t you mad at me?” She blurts out before she could think. Her face flushes red in embarrassment, mouth opening to rephrase her sentence–or better yet, take it back.
But before she could do so, she heard ChungMyung say, “ Why would I be? ” A genuine look of confusion painted on his pretty face.
The girl paused.
“My husband left you for me,” She emphasised her words, ashamed to make such a noble man relieve his possible trauma. But it was just so irritating .
Immature it may be, there lives a horrible feeling inside of her chest that is so, so bitter at how the man Tang Bo left for her, was looking to be doing well. While she…
She’s.. .
“He did, didn’t he?” ChungMyung hummed, only continuing to guide her towards a home she is not welcome in. “But what does this have to do with me hating you?”
Is he stupid? “Are you stupid?”
Ignoring his muttering of ‘ hey, I think I heard that before… ’, the girl in green continued talking. “He left you for me ,” She reiterated, her bitterness seeping into her words. “Isn’t it only right for you to hold contempt against me..?”
The silent ‘ Everyone else does ’ was not disregarded.
At her distressed state and pathetic question, ChungMyung sighed. How a girl his boyfriend chose over him appears more pitiful looking, was beyond him.
“Well, it’s not like you were the one in a relationship with me. It was that idiot’s choice to leave me, you didn’t have anything to do with that.”
He had joked, a sharp smile on his face, his eyes crinkling at their corners, and the woman could only think of one thing to describe such a sight.
Beautiful …
She still didn’t understand why, but she can tell that he ‘forgave’ her. The lingering sense of bitterness in her body immediately vanished once she realised so, and she couldn’t help but tear up at the waves of relief that crashed through her.
Accepting his answer, both of them didn’t dare break the comfortable silence that surrounded them as they finally arrived at the Tang Manor. She walked slowly towards the house– not her home –with a heavy heart but delighted all the same, to have spent her time alongside ChungMyung.
Maybe with this, she could finally make a good decision, for once in her life.
She glanced back, a concentrated blank look on her face as she spoke. The man before her mimicked it.
“I love Tang Bo.” She looked away. “And I don’t regret marrying him, even now that we had this conversation… but for what it’s worth–
I’m sorry.”
Not turning back, she stepped into the house and the deserving coldness that came along with it.
Chung Jin had been waiting hours for ChungMyung to arrive home, regretting every moment that led up to this.
It was already a miracle when he allowed ChungMyung to go out for a stroll. Chung Jin would never admit he was soft, but with his young Sahyung shooting his adorable puppy eyes on him, how could he say no?
Now the little shit was making him wait? Stupid Sahyung and his idiotic recklessness!!
His eyes glared at the gates of Mount Hua, an obvious fury flaring within. His foot tapped against the pavement, annoying the others, but who cares about them when ChungMyung isn’t home yet!!!
The worried glances of his Sect members wasn’t helping either–it only served to flare up his anxiousness about letting ChungMyung go off on his own. Yes, he knows that he’s being unreasonable, Chung Mun-Sahyung, but who wouldn’t be, when there’s a high chance of ChungMyung running into that bastard again?
“That wasn’t my fault!” Oops, did he say that outloud?
“I just wanted to uphold our reputation!! and besides, I fixed it!” Chung Mun huffed, irritated at the fixed stare his Sajae gave him while emphasising the last word in his previous sentence.
Pretending to look ashamed, which Chung Jin doubts Chung Mun fell for, he looked away from the annoyed Sect Leader. He instead continued to watch the gate of his beloved Sect, if only to catch a glimpse of his beloved Sahyung.
“You know, he won’t come back any faster, even if you wait for him like an overprotective father.”
“Don’t you have somewhere to be? Fuck off.”
Okay, so maybe he’s a little bitter at Chung Mun for the wedding incident.
The sun was already setting when Chung Jin heard the familiar heavy footsteps–accompanied by loud, indignant groaning and a smell of alcohol that wafted in the air–and he’d be lying if he said he didn’t leap towards the gate with an ecstatic look on his face.
Opening the doors and letting its hinges slam with a thud, Chung Jin couldn’t help but breathe a deep sigh of relief when faced in front of the stupidest man on earth. God, he loved him so much.
“Sah–!” His voice faltered. “–...yung?”
No , Chung Jin thought, panic crashing in like a tsunami at the tears and red rimmed eyes that adorned his precious Sahyung’s face.
ChungMyung, in his part, only blinked in shock. “Ah, Chung Jin?”
Before he could even ask any more questions, the said person rushed towards the speaker, a look in his eyes that only should have been directed at Sapa bastards. Chung Jin was enraged .
“I told you,” He lets out with a shaky breath, thumb wiping away the leaky tears that continue to drop from his eyes. His hands were gentle, in contrast to the tense feeling in his heart. “I told you to never speak to that bastard again.”
ChungMyung whined– augh, adorable –fussing away from his hold and completely oblivious to the seething of his Sajae. “What are you even talking about!?”
“You met up with him, didn’t you? That’s why you’re crying?? Ugh, I knew I shouldn’t have let you go off on your own!”
“Wha- crying? I’m not–!”
“Yes you are- don’t hide your face from me!! ”
As if embarrassed, ChungMyung went from slowly turning his head away to facing back towards his stubborn Sajae. Chung Jin would have melted at the adorable sight presented to him, if only his anger didn’t consume every fibre of his being at the moment.
“Look at you,” An exhale left his lips as he caressed his knuckles on his pitiful Sahyung’s wet cheek. “What happened to you, huh?”
And he breaks.
His poor, poor Sahyung wastes no time in tucking his wet face into the crook of Chung Jin’s neck, letting out a shaky hiccup. Normally, Chung Jin would have been delighted to have the other be vulnerable with him–because honestly, it is such a rare experience–but his main concern right now is to get ChungMyung comfortable and safe and happy .
The first thing Chung Jin did was drag the idiot to a secluded place. What better than the Sect Leader’s room, right?
(They got a glare as they barged into his house, but both elders were already too familiar with his antics to know that it was full of fondness and affection. So sappy, Chung Jin almost rolled his eyes.)
“I’d have carried you, but you’re too damn beefy.”
“You’re just jealous I have muscle, you jerk…” ChungMyung hiccuped.
While pampering the reckless idiot, Chung Jin’s anxiousness ceased. Seriously, if someone told him 30 years ago that he’d be rid of all worries just by seeing his stupid Sahyung, he’d knock that person down. Unfortunately, life changes a man.
“Now,” He started, giving a warm cup of tea to the sniffling elder. “Are you going to tell me what happened?”
He stayed silent after that. So did ChungMyung, but no worries. Chung Jin would wait even after the world ended for ChungMyung to tell him his issues for once.
A few moments pass in comfortable silence and, okay, so maybe Chung Jin was overexaggerating the ‘world-ending’ part. A familiar itch of Irritation filled his nerves again, but before he could open his mouth, ChungMyung spoke first.
“I stumbled upon Mrs. Tang today,” He recalls, voice hitching at the honorifics. His hand reaches up to rub at his puffy eyes and Chung Jin had never wanted to hit a woman until now.
“So? What did she say?” Kind words hiding the murderous intent he felt.
ChungMyung hesitated. “... There wasn’t really anything that happened extraordinarily.”
He figured as much. If something did happen, the world would have been in chaos. Chung Jin doesn’t voice these opinions out.
“I guess I’m just. Ugh. You know…” ChungMyung shifted uncomfortably, trying to blink back fresh tears.
“I’m realising that yeah. After all those years, it really is just over.” A shaky sigh left his lips.
“Just like that. It all went poof. And, I know it isn’t my fault–Chung Mun-Sahyung reiterated that too many times for me not to remember–but everytime I think of him and what happened between us, I just feel like maybe because I didn’t try enough.”
Chung Jin watches as more tears leave ChungMyung's eyes.
“Did you know that he brought me flowers every other week? And now that I see those same, damn lilies, I feel like going insane. And it-it’s the worst. Because aside from plum blossoms, lilies are my favourite flowers.”
He paused. “ Were .”
Just like that, sobs wracked his body until he was having a hard time breathing. Nothing could replace how much he loved Tang Bo. He was like glass, and once he broke, ChungMyung was left to step on the pieces.
“And-and I kept thinking. Maybe if I was like that woman, that girl, maybe, maybe , Bo-ya wouldn’t have left me.” He swallowed a cry. “But then I heard her voice and I knew then, she was everything Tang Bo wanted. Everything that wasn’t me. ”
She was pretty. She was gentle. She was kind–
“I thought I had erased it from my memory then. The way Tang Bo had decided what his ideal type was ; I had foolishly thought it was going to describe me,” ChungMyung chuckled dryly. “He had mentioned that she needed to be strong.”
She was a she.
In truth, he had never gotten rid of that memory. A deep insecurity was laid onto his brain then. Maybe everything started from there.
Maybe, maybe, maybe.
Chung Jin took another look at his weeping Sahyung and, without another word, rushed to engulf him in a hug.
“Sahyung, my Sahyung .” ChungMyung wailed like the idiotic child he is. “You moron. You absolute moron– how could he do this to you? ”
Chung Jin felt him clinging onto his clothes like he was a lifeline. His heart broke all over.
“It was my fault, wasn’t it?” ChungMyung sobbed. “Oh God, I ruined everything!! ”
You didn’t. And I’ll spend every moment of my life making sure you think that as well.
As ChungMyung continued to mutter incoherent false statements about how all of it was somehow his fault, Chung Jin pulled such lies apart. His whispers of comfort battled with ChungMyung’s own chants.
Every memory, every emotion, and every string attached to the man that broke his heart snapped, one by one.
The ground beneath him was cracking ; the surrounding area was demolished into pieces.
The only other thing to do was rebuild.
Tang Bo was perfectly fine with strolling around with his wife–only to make her happy.
Although, from the looks of it, she was far, far from happy.
(Of course it was like that. She never wanted to go on this stroll in the first place! Men and this husband of hers, seriously…)
They were having an awfully boring walk. It was full of awkward silence from the both of them, though that part was due to how they both do not like starting conversations on their own.
Of course, it was not to say they weren’t having fun. Nothing in spending thousands of won screamed ‘I’m in misery! ’–plus, Tang Bo wouldn’t dare call spending time with his beloved wife.
Sorry, ignore the way the phrase ‘beloved wife’ itself caused vomit to boil up in his throat.
Anyway, It was supposed to be a break for both of them. After coming home suddenly, his wife never seemed to be the same. Sure, she still touched him (Which, frankly, he should ask her to stop doing,) and, yeah, she still paid attention and did her duties as a member of the Tang Family–but that was it. It was like the heartfelt woman he married was replaced by an empty shell of a girl, who simply did paperwork and acted as if merely laying a feather-like touch on the skin of her husband poisoned her.
(The irony . Hypocrisy?)
Honestly, as ashamed as he feels, Tang Bo hadn’t even noticed. This was only gathered by him from word of mouth. In fact, this supposed break wasn’t even his idea! If he had a choice, he’d stay in his room locked up.
But alas, ‘appearances needed to be kept up’ or whatever that old hoot told him.
“Are you having fun?”
He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard his wife’s voice. A tight knot formed itself in his stomach as he realised that he didn’t feel anything for it.
Too much was changing. It was repulsive.
“I am.”
“You don’t seem like it.”
He frowns at her insistence. Stubborn one, she is.
“–and now you’re scowling,” She scoffs. When did she learn to be this observant? Usually, she’d sit quiet and follow anything given to her. “May I remind you that you were the one to invite me on this walk of ours?”
If she noticed his scowl becoming more of a glare, she didn’t say anything.
“I’m perfectly fine. It’s a great day out, just a little hot.”
She doesn’t say anything after that.
Their stroll continues like normal. Far too normal, in Tang Bo’s opinion. The market was lively and the townsfolk were happy. It was like they were the only two who seemed not to be. Now aware of the fact that they stick out from the crowd like a sore thumb, they continue onwards.
Of course, even comfortability was never an option for the Tangs.
One thing about Tang Bo was that, no matter where and no matter how–his eyes would always, always stray towards ChungMyung. It was a habit that he had gotten the first time they went out together, and even now, he still follows that same pattern.
Evident with how the moment he sees those familiar beautiful black locks pass by the crowd, his gaze locks in.
He could tell that his wife saw alike, her eyes also wandering to the same direction as his is. What he doesn’t know is why .
They’ll have a conversation later.
For now, his whole being is focused on ChungMyung . ChungMyung who looks far healthier than the last he saw of him, as well as happier. Tang Bo ignores the bitter taste in his mouth that screams ‘ He’s like that because you aren’t beside him anymore. ’
He watches as the Sword Saint is immediately surrounded by people who adore him, despite not knowing him. His face looks so damn uncomfortable that It makes the elder Tang snort–ChungMyung was never fond of being fanned over. Then and now, he never truly changed, huh?
A smile stretches his face. His wife stays silent.
By now, they’ve completely stopped walking, opting instead to be a spectator at the view called ‘ChungMyung .’ Reasons both because he was easy on the eyes and that his face was so red, it was amusing. Never changed indeed.
Suddenly, a hand slithers around the beauty’s waist. His grin drops.
He thinks he might just be going insane, but he trusts his eyes more than anything. Every nerve in his body tenses at that bastard presses his disgusting self against ChungMyung . There was nothing else to do but stare.
Even with his blood boiling and mind fucked beyond belief, Tang Bo’s eyes catch the asshole’s dirty lips press against the side of ChungMyung’s head and, okay fuck it.
He pounces at them.
More specifically, him . Who does this bastard think he is? Tang Bo thought, teeth grit and fist raised to just have one hit at the dickhead who would dare take what’s his?
(He forgot he wasn’t. Not anymore. How fortunate–he would have broken down sobbing if he did remember.)
As expected, the audience screamed. ChungMyung’s exclamation stood out, like he does–
“What the fuck??” Shit, even his voice was still pretty.
“ Holy shit, is that the Dark Saint?” He could hear the others, even through the bloody squelch of his punches making contact with the stranger’s face.
“ He’s messing up that poor guy’s face!!”
“Someone stop him!”
“Who can? ”
“...Nevermind, let them be.”
The crowd steps back, allowing ChungMyung to act.
He screams, shoving Tang Bo away from the poor man. “You idiot , what are you DOING?!” ChungMyung moves to examine the victim’s face, a look in his eyes that makes Tang Bo feel angry just because it wasn’t directed at him.
He could feel slender hands grab at him, and he instantly could recognize that it was his wife. It didn’t make him calm down.
ChungMyung whips his head to look at him, finally. “You…” He pauses. “Why are you even here?”
Tang Bo answers truthfully.
“We were just passing by.” Until I saw you.
“And… nothing else? No, wait, wrong question.” ChungMyung is visibly annoyed–Tang Bo could tell. Actually, everyone else can too, but he likes to think he’s special, okay? “What is wrong with you?? Why are you attacking us unprovoked??”
“I wasn’t attacking both of you, I was only attacking him.”
“That doesn’t make it any better! He’s escorting me, you dumbass!”
Nevermind. Screw being special, he should just kill everyone here and then himself. “You could have called me.”
“You’re married. Focus on your marriage!! And that’s not the point!!”
The onlookers watch their back and forth. Frankly, Tang Bo could care less. His heart is still beating with the adrenaline of seeing another man with ChungMyung. The fact that he was reminding him of his marital status–that, now that he’s seeing the truth to how he feels, was just a stab at the heart–didn’t help either.
“It kind of is, if he’s touching what’s mine.”
He could hear a pin drop in the silence. His wife’s hand is no longer in contact.
ChungMyung’s eyes widened, his next words being stuck in his throat. He must be surprised. Funny–He should’ve known Tang Bo was always one to make impulse decisions.
Without any warning, ChungMyung suddenly grabs Tang Bo by the loose end of his clothes and makes a run for it. Dust covers the area due to ChungMyung’s feet, as well as Tang Bo’s long legs, drag on the dirt, causing them to spew in the air. The group of people they left behind in their trails, shout in annoyance, eyes aching.
Tang Bo couldn’t help but laugh. Nostalgia feels his every being and, god , he missed the pure excitement from just being with ChungMyung. It’s been months since he’s gone and left without it–the worst mistake of his life.
No matter. He’s here to correct it.
In a matter of seconds, he’s pressed against the wall and being glared down by ChungMyung. For a second there, he forgot he had a wife.
(Actually, he’s only remembering that now, he thinks.)
“What is your issue?! ” He growled. Hot , was all Tang Bo could think.
Thankfully, he still had his sanity, and the will to think properly. “I don’t have an issue,” He pretended to scoff.
“Yes you do, you’re acting like this in public . We live in the same damn country, dumbass. If you’re going to do this every time you see me, it’s gonna cause some issues!”
“Why are you even in Sichuan? You live in Shaanxi!!”
“Stop changing the damn subject. What possessed you to hit my escort?!”
“Okay, hypocrite. Can you not call him escort? It’s pissing me off.”
“What? No, ew–I meant that he’s accompanying me, you fool!” ChungMyung’s face turns red. “And what do you mean pissing you off?!”
Tang Bo huffs, rolling his eyes. With a sweeping motion, he pulls ChungMyung by his wrist, pressing himself close to him.
“I meant what I said. It’s only been a few months. Surely you haven’t changed your mind about loving me forever— ?”
BANG!
…
The Elder Tang freezes. Glancing to the side of his head, he sees an iron-clad fist, basically inserted into the damn tree. What the fuck? He goes to exclaim his thoughts to ChungMyung, only to see tears dripping down his cheeks.
“What the hell is the matter with you?” ChungMyung whispers.
“Huh?”
“I said, what the hell is the matter with you?” He repeats.
“...I don’t know what you mean–”
“YOU KNOW DAMN WELL WHAT I MEAN.” Tang Bo’s ears ring at the intensity of his voice. ChungMyung’s eyes continue leaking.
He hisses out, “You fucking asshole–you’re married . Do I have to remind you of this everytime we come across each other? Why do you keep playing this game with me?!” His breath is hitching. Is he actually gonna cry in front of this bastard? “Why are you doing this to me…?”
Tang Bo’s frozen. For the first time in his life, he doesn’t know what to do. ChungMyung is breaking , right in front of him, and Tang Bo feels useless for having loved him for years, only for those years to be as useful as him when it comes to times when ChungMyung is vulnerable.
“You have a woman,” He reminds him. “Please don’t break her heart like you did with mine.”
Tang Bo hesitates. He opens his mouth.
"I think I like her– A lot. But," Tang Bo bit his lip. "I never knew her like I know you."
ChungMyung almost laughs in disbelief. Did he even listen to him?
He repeats, "Know me?"
"Yes," Tang Bo had the audacity to reply. "I do know you."
"Hah! Don't be fucking foolish. Know me - You don't even understand me–!?"
"I do. I understand you- I know you ,
All my life, I swear I do."
ChungMyung pauses. He looks at Tang Bo and he feels lightheaded. The man opens his cursed mouth once again and ChungMyung rushes to interrupt him,
"You're insane," He mutters, almost snarling. He hates his heart for aching at the man who made it feel that way in the first place.
Tang Bo only continues. "I know you- because in every place, in every situation, in everything, I see only you. I know I broke your heart once, but I promise, if you let me in again, I’ll be better. I’ll divorce her. Please, please , give me a chance again. I didn’t mean it, I miss you, I love you, I–”
"Stop."
"... What?"
"I said stop."
"But-but ChungMyung, I-"
"Can you just stop?!" ChungMyung screamed. Tang Bo had no right to look that shocked.
"I'm tired. I'm so, so fucking tired. I was a fool to look behind it in the past, but now that I genuinely have no shit attached to you, I feel like I'm free–"
“–But at the same time, I am suffocating ." Tang Bo lightened up. ChungMyung smiled bitterly at this–because this was the look that made him fall in love in the first place.
Now it was being directed at his own suffering. How hilariously ironic.
"We've been in this– push and pull relationship for far too long. I have loved you for decades. From the moment we met, to until now, I have loved you to the fullest."
His heart was beating too fast. He can't breathe. He doesn't know if it was fear in his stomach or vomit.
"ChungMyung, please, I love-"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP. God, I told you to stop! Why can you never listen to me?!"
"I-I'm sorry baby-"
"Don't, don't, don't . DON'T call me that. Only people who have loved and love me can call me that. And you- you have never loved me."
"Yes I have!"
ChungMyung outright laughs. "No you fucking haven't. Did you really think giving me flowers everyday was enough to show how much you loved me? Newsflash asshole ; Just because you do one good thing for me, doesn’t excuse you going off and flirting with other women.”
Oh .
“Yeah, oh, asshole. You think I didn’t know? Fuck you and you’re bullshit, God, I don’t even know why I’m crying infront of you,” ChungMyung cursed out, sobbing inbetween words.
Tang Bo's heart breaks. But it wasn't enough compared to the pieces that were left in ChungMyung's chest.
“We’re done. This shit is done. It has been done. I beg of you, just let me move on.”
There was nothing else to say. ChungMyung has had enough. And maybe it was pathetic of him, but Tang Bo cried . At the finality of it all, tears streamed down his face, like a waterfall flowing down in a sea of his sorrows.
"I'm so sorry," Tang Bo pleads, dropping to his knees and grasping at ChungMyung's pants like a man dying. "I'm so, so sorry." He doesn't ask for forgiveness. He already knew he didn't deserve it.
The day ended just like that. With ChungMyung looking down at Tang Bo, contrasting emotions in his eyes that only served to make them look emptier than when Tang Bo last saw them. What he wouldn't do to get back the sparkle in those pupils.
As the sun set, both men returned to their respective houses. Nothing changed ; nothing remained the same.
They walked like wanderers through the night.
🐍
Months later, the Demonic Sect appeared. If someone would ask anyone else, they would say that it was the most horrific moment in all of history.
For Tang Bo, he considered it as it was shown to him ; The Heavenly God's Last Blessing.
As he lays there, all bloodied and a sword through his chest, there was only one person that occupied his mind. ChungMyung . His heart was failing and yet, all he could think about was the regret he felt. How funny, to think a hole through his torso would be less painful than thinking about what he put ChungMyung through.
His eyes wandered. That habit of his really... He didn't stop his gaze from settling onto the renowned man of his dreams.
Blood is oozing out of him at a fast rate. His breath is becoming shallow, and his entire body feels numb. But his eyes are focused, only on him.
"Hyung-nim," He weakly calls out. The man doesn't hear him, of course, too busy looking more alive than last time.
That was fine. It was fine.
Maybe in the next life, Tang Bo wouldn't have fucked up. Maybe, ChungMyung would have forgiven him. Maybe, Tang Bo wouldn't be drowning in guilt due to his own actions. But for now, he will gladly go to his deserving spot in hell.
See you, Hyung-nim.
Maybe next time, I'd be able to tell you that I love you.