A Midsummer Night's Dream
© 2022 BTS My Love All right reserved.I fled from the blaring car horns and bustling city center to a beach where the gentle sound of waves could be clearly heard. In the dead of night, when people had left, the sea pierced my stuffy chest, but at the same time, it vividly brought back painful memories I longed for and never wanted to recall. Shameless bitch, you don't deserve to be hurt. What right do you have to forget? Live your whole life in hell, remembering every single detail vividly. Do you understand? Another me, hidden deep within, cried out.To be honest, I might have wanted to recall my memories with him like this.
One warm, sunny summer day four years ago, I felt it was too much of a waste to just laze around at home, so I carefully began to wake Taehyung, who was sleeping soundly next to me. "Taehyung," "Oppa," "Baby," "Honey," I called him, even using titles I rarely used. Still, when he didn't move, I kissed him in succession: forehead, eyes, nose, and lips. Only now, with a squint, did he open his eyes and smile.
"Let's go see the sea"
"Suddenly the sea?"
"Today's weather is perfect for going to the beach."
Tired and exhausted from work, I didn't notice you longing for rest, and I nagged you, tactlessly, to go to the beach. You smiled brightly, showing no sign of fatigue, and agreed. I, still immature, simply loved going to the beach with you. Like a fool.
As soon as we arrived at the beach, the cool breeze that greeted us and the happy laughter of children running around in the sand gave us a feeling that good things were ahead.
"Yeon-ah, let me take a picture for you."
"No, I don't want to take pictures alone today. Let's take pictures together."
We've been together for two years and six months now. Wherever we went, he'd always take a picture of me first, then take a picture of us together. Even when he chose food, he'd ask me first, and when he ate, he'd watch me take a spoonful before eating. For Taehyung, it was always me first.
I captured all the memories we shared together in a photo album called "My Everything." The day I went to pick up the photos from the studio, I cried for a long time when I saw the last photo in the album, the one taken at the beach. You and I looked so happy in the photo, it hurt so much. I knew it was all my fault.
That day, couples stood out on the beach. Seeing them looking happy made me feel good. For some reason, I felt like playing childishly today. Taehyung was staring blankly at the ocean, so I lightly kissed him on the cheek and cast a "catch me" spell. He looked flustered by the sudden physical contact, but a smile spread across his face and he chased after me. Even though I was a track and field player in school, I was a fast runner and quickly fell behind Taehyung. However, Taehyung, the grandson of an athlete, easily caught up with me and hugged me from behind.
"You seem to be running faster. I barely caught up."
"Tch... lie"
"It's not a lie, it's the truth, it's true."
I couldn't help but smile at Taehyung, who was hugging me from behind and giving me a look that begged for my trust. Seriously, there wasn't a single unattractive part about him that I didn't like. I released my hug and gently cupped Taehyung's cheeks.
"Okay. I'll believe you."
I used to live with the thought that without Taehyung, I wouldn't exist. Now, I'm just an empty shell. I can't do anything.
The bright sun that morning had vanished behind clouds, and as dark, black clouds began to gather, the people on the beach began to leave one by one. The once bustling beach had become deserted, and the only people left were Taehyung, me, and the child who had come with his mother. The child's mother, as if preparing to leave in the chilly weather, was packing up her bags, and the child was playing near the sea.
The rain began to pour down, and the once calm waves began to crash. It happened in an instant. In the blink of an eye, a child playing near the beach was engulfed by the waves. The child, desperately trying to save himself in the frigid water, cried out for help. Taehyung grabbed the child's mother, who was running towards him, calling his name. He grabbed the child's float and tried to dive into the water. I caught Taehyung.
"T, Taehyung. Let's call our person, okay?"
"Seyeon, it's too late to call anyone."
"But this is too dangerous. You could be in danger too...!"
"Yeon-ah. I promise I'll be back. I love you, Se-yeon."
"N, me too.. love you Taehyung"
So I let go of Taehyung's hand. At that moment, I shouldn't have let go. I had to be selfish and hold on until the very end. A liquid, unidentifiable as rain or tears, continued to trickle down my cheek. Taehyung, with his skilled swimming skills, searched for the child in the churning waves and used a tube. Just as he was about to retrieve the child, a swift wave came rushing in and forced him to push the child toward the shore. The child's mother, who had been waiting near the shore, held her in her arms and cried.
The child returned safely to his mother's arms, but Taehyung, who was supposed to come out from behind, was nowhere to be seen.
"T, Taehyung... Taehyung...!!!!! Taehyung, Taehyung....!!!!!"
I ran into the sea, my mind racing. It was none other than the child's mother who caught me. She said it was dangerous, and that I needed to find someone and bring them to me. Unable to do anything, I just cried out to the sea. After that, I lost consciousness.
When I opened my eyes, I was in a room with a pure white ceiling. As soon as I woke up, I looked for Taehyung. I couldn't find him, and I thought I was going crazy. The door opened, and the child's mother came in and said, "Thank you so much, and I'm truly sorry." She said the police were mobilizing all their resources to find Taehyung.
Without giving up hope, I begged and begged. Please, save Taehyung, let him come back alive. But contrary to my fervent prayers, I never saw Taehyung again.
The words you said you loved me, the warmth of your hands as you held mine, the embrace you held so warmly still remain vivid in my mind. I couldn't believe you were no longer by my side. For the next three years, I lived without knowing if I was alive or dead. Thinking of the efforts of those around me and Taehyung, I slowly found my way back to my daily life. As I busied myself with life, I began to slowly erase from my memory the last memory I had of Taehyung: the beach.
Then, the beach came back to me because of the photo I took with Taehyung. My heart sank as I remembered how I'd held onto that photo every day, crying silently. How could I have forgotten? If only I hadn't suggested we go to the beach that day... Taehyung would have been smiling brightly beside me.
I'd come to the beach in the middle of the night, blaming myself. As I recalled that moment, the tears I'd barely managed to hold back began to pour out uncontrollably.
"Uh, ahh... Taehyung... Taehyung..."
As I sobbed, I felt a presence behind me. I turned around to see a man walking toward me. It was dark, so I couldn't see his face clearly. As I drew closer, the moonlight illuminated his face, and I felt my breath catch in my throat.
"T, Taehyung..."
"........."
"Tae, hyung...!!! N, it's you, right, right...?!"
"Seyeon, am I too late?"
"Sorry I'm late."
I hope this moment isn't a sweet midsummer night's dream...