Intro

The rain hammered against the cafe window, a relentless rhythm that mirrored the beat of my heart. Across the table, Chanyeol's laughter echoed, a warm sound that usually brought a smile to my face. But today, it felt distant, muffled by the storm raging both outside and within.

We were on a date, or at least an attempt at one. After months of stolen glances and lingering touches, we'd finally taken the plunge, venturing into the uncharted territory between friendship and something more. Yet, the ghost of the past loomed large, casting a long shadow over our tentative steps.

Taehyung. His name, a whisper on the wind, a constant ache in my heart. His sudden disappearance years ago had left a gaping hole in our lives, a wound that time refused to fully heal.

The world around me dissolved into a kaleidoscope of memories.

Sunlight dappled through the leaves of the park, casting playful shadows on the grass. A younger me, sat on a swing, kicking my legs listlessly. A shy figure approached.

"Can I... can I play with you?" he mumbled.

"Sure!" I chirped, a wide smile spreading across my face. "Come on, I'm Y/N and this is Chanyeol," I gestured towards the boy sitting beside me, engrossed in a book.

The shy boy, his name whispered as Taehyung, slowly joined us, his initial awkwardness melting away as we shared stories and laughter under the warm summer sun.

The flashback dissolved as abruptly as it appeared, the cafe reappearing before my eyes.

"Y/N, are you alright?" Chanyeol's concerned voice broke through my reverie.

I'm fine," I murmured, my gaze drawn back to the window. "Just... lost in thought."

The rain continued to fall, a melancholic melody against the backdrop of the city lights. I knew the past wouldn't be easily outrun, but I also understood that moving forward meant embracing both the joy and the sorrow it held.