SANA'S POV

"Congratulations!" Kookie and the gang congratulated the two after the event. I stayed silent.

Tae walked towards me and hugged me.

"Congrats," I awkwardly greeted him. He sensed that there's something wrong.

"Hey, guys, we'll just talk privately." The gang nodded and I took Tae outside the venue. He looked at me and smiled. "What's wrong, squirrel?"

I honestly don't know how to say this to Tae. This is a very important matter.

"T-Tae..." I held both of his hands. "...your g-grandma died." As soon as I say this, a tear from his left eye fell.

I hugged him and let him cry on my shoulder. Hearing his sobs make me cry. He loves his grandma so much.

The gang saw us and was about to walk towards us, but I prohibited them. It looked like they knew what I was trying to say so they left us.

Tae stopped crying and escaped from my hug. I took my handkerchief and used it to wipe Tae's tears. He looks so pitiful. His eyes and nose are red.

No matter how much I wipe his tears, they keep on falling and falling. He can't stop crying. This is a lot to take in for him.

He didn't say anything. He just continued on crying until he stopped. Honestly, I really don't want him to stop because it's hard to keep your emotions inside. Even though you have to be strong on the outside, you still have to let your emotions out because that what makes you strong. It means that you're a normal human being. Getting hurt physically and emotionally.

But seeing him this way, makes me so unsure. He acted this way when he lost his grandma and it hurted me to see him cry. If I will leave him, he will act this way again. And I cannot let him cry like that again.

I am torn between my parents and Tae. I don't know what should I do.

But that's not important right now. I have to comfort Tae. I will not think about it for a minute.

*

"Congrats, Tae!" Kookie greeted Tae, but he didn't even bother to look at him. I gave Kookie a meaningful look and he got it, so he walked away from us.

Throughout the day, I didn't leave Tae's side. Even though we're just sitting inside our classroom and doing nothing, I didn't leave him. I don't want to.

Everytime I get hungry or what, I'll just text Momo or Kookie to buy me some food. I tried sharing my food with Tae, but he's not giving me his attention.

It hurts, alright, to get rejected, but I'll just understand Tae. I will never get tired of understanding him although he looks so scary and his aura is fearsome today.

THAT is just for today.

I'm fearing that Tae will continue this kind of interaction between us.

"Tae," I called him, but he didn't bothered to take a glance. "C-Classes are already dismissed, d-do you want to go home now?" Of course, I got no answer from him.

He's just staring somewhere. His face is expressionless and his eyes are blank. I can see no emotions from his eyes, but I feel the heavy burden that he's carrying. I want to atleast help him with the weight of that burden. I can't stand seeing him in a way like this. I would rather be with the annoying Tae than with this scary Tae.

He suddenly stood up and grabbed his bag. He wore it and left me. I followed him and reached for his wrist while he's walking. His pace is getting faster and faster. I am being dragged by him.

Until we reached the building. He opened the door and banged it. I got shocked, but I just sighed deep and entered my room.

I showered and went to the building's kitchen to prepare dinner for me and Tae. I just cooked simple meals for us and went upstairs. I knocked on the door, but he didn't open it.

Gratefully, the ahjumma opened it for me. I thanked her and entered Tae's room. He's covered with a blanket and I can hear his sobs. I placed the tray aside and walked towards him.

I sat beside him and caressed his hair. He's still crying.

"Tae," I called him. "Eat dinner. I placed it on your bedside table. We'll go to your grandma after dinner. Okay?" I kissed his cheek. "I love you." I was about to stand up, when he held my hand. He looked at me with his red eyes.

"Stay with me, Sana." I smiled at him and stayed.

*

As I promised Tae, I took him to his grandma. I asked her sister first where are they. I got astounded when she said that they are in the funeral homes.

I told Tae about it and he didn't react. I was expecting him to cry or something, but no reaction was given to me.

We went to the said funeral parlor. Tae's hand are shaking, so I held it tightly. I looked at him as we enter through the doors.

And there is his grandma, peacefully lying on the coffin. Forever.

I saw Tae's sister sitting on the chair. She noticed us and gave us a hug. Just like Tae, her sister's eyes are now red and swollen. Even their noses are red.

"I'll be waiting for you outside." I kissed him on his cheek and was about to walk away from him, but he held my hand tighter.

He didn't say anything. He just dragged me towards the coffin.

"G-Grandma," Tae's voice cracked. "T-This is Sana. The love of my life." I looked at him and he's beginning to cry again. "I-I promised you that I-I will i-introduce you to my wife-to-be i-if I would ever find her," he continued. "I already found her, grandma. But life is cruel for taking you from me. I wish you c-could see us right now. Because i-it's so hard for me to accept that you're already gone." Tae hugged the coffin and cried.

This very emotional scene touched my heart.

Tae continued on kissing and hugging the coffin. He would say that he has the greatest grandma ever. Words that will fill his grandma's heart if she's still alive.

Little did I know, I was already tearing. Tae loves his grandma so much.

I was distracted when Tae's sister held my wrist. It looks like she's trying to tell me that we should go outside and let Tae talk to their grandma. So we exited the room.

*

Throughout the whole night, I stayed with Tae. Even though I am really sleepy, I tried to stay up all night. I'm afraid that Tae would leave me here.

He slept on my lap. We're still inside the funeral parlor. I asked him last night if he wants to go home, but he refused.

"I will stay with grandma." He said. I respected his decision, so we decided to sleep here instead. I also insisted that I will be the one that will guard the parlor because unnie is already tired. She agreed and she went home.

And then, after some time, a little boy--2 years younger than Tae, entered the parlor with an old man.

I knew that it's Tae's little brother and his grandpa. Of course, tears were shed. They noticed us and Tae introduced me to the both of them. I am glad that they accepted me with no hesitations.

Now, I realized that I am loved by Tae's family even though I have still not yet met his dad. I knw that he won't introduce me to him because he hates his dad so much.

Tae moved and opened his eyes. I looked at him and smiled.

"Good morning." I greeted him. He wiped his eyes first and sat down properly. He yawned and stretched. "Breakfast?"

He looked at the wall clock. It's already 7:56 AM and we have no time to prepare for school.

"Go to school. You're late." He said. It's an order from him, but I will not follow him.

"I will not go to school today." I smiled at him. "I will take care of you."

His eyebrows crossed and looked at me, "Take care of me? I'm not a 5-year-old kid, Sana. I can take care of myself, so please attend to your own needs first." He's mad.

I sighed deep. I gotta control my emotions.

"One more thing, can you please stop acting like you're my mother? You always tell me to do things! I told you, I'm not a kid anymore." What is he saying? Is he out of his mind?

I stood up, "Then what do you want me to do? I'm just worried of--"

"Then stop worrying!" He cut me. "I'm still alive! Don't worry about me!"

"What do you want me to do, Tae? Wait for you to die before I worry?" I said. "If that's what you want, okay! I'm not hard to agree with!"

I walked away and went to the dorm. I prepared myself to school although I know that I will be extremely late for the next classes.

--*

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