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January Requests
ENTRY #3
Heartbreak Anniversary — Choi Seungcheol (Requested)
Summary: Seungcheol comes home drunk on their anniversary, and it's more than enough to push Dahyun off the edge of their relationship.
*TWICE exists in this timeline, but Dahyun isn't included.
✧*̣̩⋆̩☽⋆゜
"What are you planning for your anniversary?" Irene asked as she took a sip of her wine.
Dahyun and her were eating dinner at a five-star restaurant. Although they were celebrities, actors had more freedom roaming around town unlike idols. They could comfortably waltz into establishments without people crowding them or without cameras being bashed into their faces.
"Anniversary?" Dahyun looked up from her plate. She was slicing a piece of steak. "I still don't know," she shrugged.
Seungcheol is a busy person. He's the leader of a popular boy group. He writes and composes his own music. He has various endorsements. He barely has any time for her.
"You don't know?" Irene's eyebrows furrowed. "It's already the 17th next week."
Dahyun chuckled.
Right, she gave Cheol her answer on the 17th because it was the name of the group and at 8:08 PM because it was the date of his birthday. Dahyun liked jokes like that.
"He's a busy guy, 'Rene."
"And you've been dating him for almost three years."
"Dating an idol is difficult, Bae," she replied in a hushed tone. She can never mention his name like that. She wouldn't want to ruin his career.
Unlike Seungcheol, she couldn't become an idol. She began acting at the young age of 5. She tried auditioning for entertainment companies at the age of 13 just for fun, and unexpectedly passed all three major companies before training in between her relaxed acting schedule.
Her career at that time wasn't as packed as it was now. She was a child, of course. So, she had the opportunity to join the company's survival show with the benefit of having her makeup and styling prepared by her own team. But unfortunately, she didn't make it.
She could catch anyone's eyes because of her energy, but she lacked in singing, dancing, and rapping. Dahyun knew that. She only joined because she was bored. She still had a safety net if everything else failed. And now, her acting career was flourishing.
Dahyun had her shows and movies hit number one internationally and domestically. She had endorsements with big fashion houses and famous makeup lines. And she had a long line of castings to pick and choose from. Dahyun had everything she wanted and needed except for a public relationship.
"So how did you celebrate your second anniversary?"
"Facetimed." Dahyun casually sipped from her glass while Irene grimaced. "We didn't have the time. He was having a concert, and I was shooting with Eunwoo. It was all we could do."
"What about your first then?" Irene rested her chin on her palm.
"Home dates. We couldn't risk it."
Irene groaned, rolling her eyes. "The idol industry sucks."
"Says you," Dahyun snickered. "You're in a group, sub-unit, and you're a soloist, too."
"Well, with this company dispute, I'd rather pack up and go. Fulltime acting would fit me, no?" Irene twirled her hair and winked.
"I would have to fight you for those gigs then."
"As if. You're as popular as Suzy, little Nation's First Love."
"Same to you, Aphrodite." Dahyun giggled.
"Cheers?" Irene raised her glass.
"Cheers."
As their dinner night came to a close, Dahyun went back home with her manager. She was supposed to just hail a cab, but she was instructed by her company to call if she had places to go to with news regarding stalkers circulating.
"I'll pick you up at 8 tomorrow, Miss Kim." Her manager informed her. She had morning shoots with Taehyung who decided to delve back into acting as soon as their group activities were temporarily halted.
"Yes, much appreciated. Thank you. Have a good night." Dahyun smiled and waved at her before she entered her room.
Dahyun owned a penthouse at Seoul Trimage Forest. It was worth around 1.6 million won with the apartment consisting of three rooms and two bathrooms. It even had a beautiful view of the city and of Han River if she were to simply sit back on the couch.
Dahyun placed her Valentino purse on her vanity as she walked inside her room. It was the largest of the three. Obviously, she had to get a king-sized bed, too, but Seungcheol never slept in with her. He was always so busy with work that he often forgets to text her at all.
"What should I do?" Dahyun was now sitting in the bathtub with her hair tied up and her dress in the hamper.
Dahyun already did movie nights. She baked with him. She cuddled with him. Dahyun bought him every single thing he could have wanted and needed over the past three years. So, she was in a stump.
She couldn't take him outside for too long because his fans could easily recognize him. She couldn't head to his company without a disguise too because her bare appearance would cause a commotion.
"I'll just do nothing," she slid her back down the tub until she was submerged up until her mouth.
She's learned to lower her expectations. Maybe she could say that the bar is already in hell, but Seungcheol wasn't bad. He's attentive. He's chivalrous. He's a good guy to be around with either as a friend or as a lover. It's just that his career occupied much of his time.
"Oh," Dahyun suddenly hoisted herself up. "I got it. I'll take him to my parents."
It might be odd to say, but her parents never met Cheol. The only person that knew that much about her relationships was Irene, and well, her brother, Mingyu. She never intended on telling him honestly with how overprotective he can get, but they got found out when he found an out-of-work photo of her in Seungcheol's phone.
And this is just one of the things she won't tell Mingyu. She wanted it to be a surprise, both to her lover and her family.
So, she immediately got to planning once she was through with her bath and her skincare routine.
She'll take him to Busan. Her mother informed her recently that they travelled to their grandparents' village to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Then, she'll have all sorts of food prepared prior for their trip. She'll make them, of course. The effort makes it even more special.
But she had to know his schedule first.
"Honey," she uttered once he picked up her call.
"Why did you call so late? I've been waiting for you."
Dahyun smirked. He's playing again. "Me? Late? I thought you weren't out till 12."
Seungcheol laughed. "Yes, yes. I'm still here at the practice room. Why did you call?"
"Hm... I missed you. Not." She teased. "I just wanted to know when your free day is next week."
"Let's see..." Dahyun could hear him softly breathing while he went to check. "18."
"Ah," she saw it coming. "What time will you end at 17?"
"I'll be done by 6 PM."
"Okay, can I come over by 17 then? I want to sleep over."
"Aw," he cooed, "my baby girl needs cuddles. Drop by any time, and I'll be there at 7 PM sharp. We'll eat, cuddle, watch movies. Anything for you. I love you."
Now that was settled, Dahyun only needed to fix her schedule. She'll do whatever recording she had to do from the earliest to the latest time possible, do grocery shopping and cooking in her free time, and head to his apartment with her luggage.
She had everything figured out.
"Busy day again tomorrow?" Taehyung was dressed casually and was sipping on a cup of tea when Dahyun was just doing last checks on her things.
"For you maybe," she gave him a sly grin. "I have a day-off."
Taehyung was her co-star for the historical romance drama they were filming. And ironically, he was her ex, too, when he was five years in his career.
"Want to go on a date with me then? A friendly one, of course, right after my schedule. I end by noon."
This was the nth time Taehyung has hit on her. He didn't know she was taken, given how careful she is around the press. But his and her relationship went public. And there, she was able to witness how relationships in the idol industry were handled horribly. She had to sue everyone who created malicious content.
Sp, Dahyun wondered whose brilliant idea it was to pair them together. It's not that she minded working with a past lover. It's just that she's worried about how it'll look like to the press. She doubted netizens would have good comments. But Taehyung didn't seem to care.
"No, thank you, Tae. I just want to cuddle with Ahri." Dahyun zipped up her bag.
"Aw, Ahri? How is he?" Taehyung got to know her dog because she brought him to her home and to her filming set once. But now, he only got to see him through her social media posts.
"Still doing magic tricks, Taehyung. I have to go," she waved him off before he could even think of offering her a ride home. "See you next week."
Dahyun rushed home that night. She had to sleep early to wake up even earlier for her long list of preparations.
And so when the 17th came, she instantly began cooking one dish after another. If she wasn't busy cooking, she was cleaning. And if she wasn't cleaning, she was picking out her outfits from her pajamas to her dresses.
Dahyun can certainly say that she ran herself ragged this time. Of course, she wanted the best for her boyfriend who regretfully hasn't greeted her yet.
A part of her was thinking that he might have forgotten, but she was trying to shake off these thoughts by claiming that he was just busy, that he was just trying to get the day over with just so he could be with her.
By 5 PM, she was wearing a red dress. She was meticulously doing her makeup, one that wouldn't budge no matter how steamy the night gets.
And by 6:30 PM, she was on the way to his apartment with her car. She was already recognized long ago by the staff. But with the village being the haven to idols and world-known celebrities, they kept their word. They never revealed anything about her.
Carrying baskets worth of food, she treaded down the hall with a big smile on her face. She was excited to show him everything and have him taste the food she made. But as the time went past 7, her smile gradually dropped.
Seungcheol wasn't coming home. Yet, Dahyun still waited and waited until the clock struck 3.
Seungcheol forgot.
Dahyun was beyond disappointed. She was upset. Her heart felt heavy, and her stomach was bubbling with anger.
"My god," she covered her face with her hands and silently screamed into her palms. She hated it. She felt like a fool. She shouldn't have bothered. Seungcheol was just going to flake out on her—
"Oh hey." The door opened, revealing the man she was waiting for, Seungcheol, except Dahyun was no longer pleased. She was just about to leave. Her patience had already run thin.
"Where have you been?" She asked, harsh. Her eyes were stinging with tears. She was frustrated.
"I was drinking out with the boys—"
"With your members? Cheol, you were supposed to be home by 7. And what time is it now?" Dahyun waited for him to answer. Seungcheol was still clearly out of it. He was fumbling with his phone after failing to read his watch.
"It's past 3 in the morning, Cheol. Do you not know what day it is today?" Dahyun's voice rose. She was close to her breaking point.
"It's the 18th," he still looked so lost. He didn't have a single clue.
"It was our anniversary yesterday, Seungcheol! I swear to God I thought something bad happened to you, but here you were drinking. You didn't even text me at all."
The world seemingly stopped. Dahyun only stared at him with bloodshot eyes, and Seungcheol only gazed at her, shocked. He was still letting everything sink in.
He forgot.
"Well? Are you not going to say anything? After I waited for so long, my eyes were about to turn white—"
Seungcheol grasped her hands, but Dahyun stepped back and forcibly pulled away. "Don't touch me. You smell like booze. How many did you drink? 8? 10 bottles? You look like a mess." Her eyes darted from his face to his attire and vice versa. It seemed like he got ran over with how disheveled he looked.
"I— Dahyun," he stumbled over his words. "I'll make it up to you—"
"Make it up? Choi Seungcheol, you're all talk!" Dahyun never expected one last mistake to push her off the edge.
"You said you'll come home by 7. You said you'll sleep over at my apartment. You said you'll visit me at work. You said you'll go with me to Han River. You said—," Dahyun breathed in deeply and furiously wiped away her tears.
"Honey," her voice softened as she held back a sob, "my heart hurts."
Dahyun could imagine that she looked so heartbroken with her glistening eyes, with her tearstained cheeks, with her red nose, and with her swollen lips.
Dahyun never complained. She always responded with an earnest smile and a soft 'it's okay' whenever things didn't go her way. She didn't want to add to his burdens. She didn't want to seem like a liability to him, but she didn't know she was unhealthily bottling up her feelings. And now, her cup overflowed.
She blew up in front of her boyfriend, Seungcheol.
"Baby, I'm sorry. I, I'll buy you whatever you want. Food? Clothes? A new friend for Ahri and Kkuma?" He tried encircling his arms around her waist in an attempt to calm her down, but Dahyun only writhed away.
"Seungcheol," she cried, "you don't get the point!" Her eyes were burning with both rage and hurt. "I don't need all that, I need you!" She was clutching on her collar. All the yelling and crying made it much harder to breathe.
"When is the day that I'll have you all to myself? When is the day I won't be worried about cameras following me? Seungcheol, I've grown so paranoid trying to protect the both of us."
It was a known fact inside the industry that she had some sort of a sixth sense with how fast she's able to detect cameras, but that skill never came from a good place. She was far too traumatized with her dating 'scandal' with Taehyung.
"I'm sorry," Seungcheol didn't know what to do. They've had their fair share of arguments here and there, but they were all petty. They were all resolved by the end of the day, but this? It was beyond his control.
They were teetering over the edge of their relationship.
"I was busy," but he only added fuel to the fire.
"Busy? Busy?! What am I then? Am I jobless enough to care about dates? About today?" She gestured to the room, and Seungcheol noticed just now the decorations in his apartment and the now-dark candlelit dinner in the kitchen.
"Seungcheol, I did everything I could to get off work to be with you. All I wanted was to be with you comfortably," her hands moved down to her chest and clawed back all the way up. Her fingernails were dragging against her skin and creating red marks.
Seungcheol immediately took a hold of her wrists and pressed her right against his chest. "Sssh, sshhh." He felt Dahyun's body tremble against him. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, don't hurt yourself please."
He wasn't aware of her tendencies. He wasn't aware of the stress their setup was causing her. He didn't know. He should have known better. Seungcheol felt as if he's failed her as her boyfriend.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he apologized repeatedly. He didn't want her to see him breaking as well, so he profusely blinked his tears away. Dahyun needed him, but he was also the cause of the pain.
"I'll be better, please. Don't leave me." He begged; his left hand snaked around her waist and his right found its way to the back of her head. He did not want to let go.
"Honey," one hand was on his chest and the other was now cradling the side of his face. Dahyun was staring at him with both love and despair.
And there, Seungcheol was afraid of what she was about to say next. There was not a speck of hope in his lover's now-dull eyes.
"Dahyun, I love you." It was the truth, but it was also a desperate attempt to turn things around.
"My love, let me go. We'll only hurt each other more."
Dahyun honestly found it selfish of her to make him choose; it was either they go public or they breakup. She chose the latter. She'd rather ruin their hearts than their careers. Seungcheol was happy with just his members and his fans. He'll be able to pick himself up because he was doing just fine before knowing her.
Maybe if she wasn't Mingyu's younger sister then this entire mess wouldn't have started.
Dahyun's phone suddenly rang.
"Hello?" She didn't bother looking at the caller ID. She simply brought it between her shoulder and ear before continuing to rummage through her purse.
"Hey," speak of the devil, it was her brother.
"Oh," her brows twitched upon hearing his voice. "What do you want?"
"Hey, why are you talking to your brother like this? What did I do?"
"Learn to credit me in your photos next time," she took out a bottle of lip tint from her bag and retouched before quickly holding her phone properly this time. "Anyways, what's up? I'm just about to leave."
"To where?"
"JYPE. Chaeyoung asked me to do TikToks with her."
"Ah," Mingyu groaned. "I told you, you should have been an idol."
Dahyun grew silent. "No," she quietly chuckled. "It's too messy."
It's been two months since they split.
"So, did you only call to annoy me? Chaeyoung is blowing up my phone with texts. She's excited to mix tequilas with me."
"You drink that much now?"
Dahyun rolled her eyes. She's sensing the impending nagging. "No, I'm going to die if I do. Now, what is it really? Chaeyoung is already spamming the GC."
"Seungcheol is sick. Come here."
Girlfriend duties. Sibling duties.
Dahyun didn't get to spend the entire afternoon goofing off with Chaeyoung and Somi because Mingyu was threatening her with a brand-new Louis Vuitton handbag on the line. She could afford purchasing one herself, but what's better than a free bag?
Visiting her boyfriend ex-boyfriend.
She never told Chaeyoung her whereabouts.
Dahyun headed to their dorm in the matching pink sweater outfit Michael Kors gave her on her first gig. Well, if she was going to check up on him, she might as well look cute and comfortable doing it. But 12 other boys greeted her the second she punched in the code and unlocked the door.
They were all staring at her like she was the woman of the hour.
"Um, hello?" She awkwardly greeted them with a bow. "I thought you guys were at practice."
"Oh yeah, yeah, we were just waiting for you to arrive." Seokmin smiled at her and was the first to lead the others out the door.
"I already cooked, so just feed it to him when he wakes up. The medicine is on the counter, and everything else he needs is in his room. Good luck." Mingyu patted her on the shoulder before walking past her.
Not a single person in that group was acting normal at all.
But Dahyun shrugged it off and put down her bag. It was already 2 PM.
"I should go check up on him." She muttered to herself before taking cautious steps towards his room. She felt like she was doing something illegal.
This was her ex for god's sake. She wasn't sure on what he'll feel about her if he sees him in his room.
Dahyun opened the door painfully slow. Seungcheol should have felt her presence already with how long she took just to enter his room.
He was asleep.
Dahyun inched closer to his bed. Seungcheol's hair was permed. She wanted to run her fingers through his locks, but she instead placed the back of her hand against his forehead.
He was hot.
He still is, just not in the same sense.
"Poor puppy," she mumbled. His cheeks were flushed red, given his temperature. "I'll be back." He couldn't hear her, but Dahyun always announced every time she was leaving to get something.
Now, she just came back to place a wet towel on his forehead.
"I miss you," she brushed his hair out of his eyes then gently caressed his cheek. This was probably the first and last time she'll get to be this close to him in years. She might as well savor it, but Seungcheol roused awake.
Dahyun couldn't move from where she sat. She was sitting right next to him on the edge of the bed. Her feet were seemingly frozen in place.
"Hey," his voice was hoarse and raspy. He was still adjusting his eyes to the bedroom lights. "I missed you," he cracked a smile and slowly reached for her hand. She was mere inches away from his face anyway.
Seungcheol's hand felt warm on hers. It was the fever, of course, but she was reminded how comforting it was to hold his hand. Dahyun didn't pull away nor get up when he placed her hand back on his cheek.
"Hey," he repeated. "It's nice to see you here. The boys brought you here?" He softly rubbed her palm with his thumb.
"They set me up," she joked and found the strength to lightly rub his cheek again. "I missed you," she quietly confessed. He'll probably forget.
"Come back to me then?"
Dahyun smiled softly. She wished it was that easy. "It's the fever talking, Cheol. I'll be back with your food."
Dahyun took her time heating up his food and setting up his bowl. She was contemplating her entire visit here.
"This is so stupid," she gently slapped her cheeks. "Wake up," she glanced down and continued stirring the pot of soup.
Dahyun shortly felt a pair of arms behind her. It made her heart jump. It was Seungcheol. There was no other person.
"You're not hallucinating," Seungcheol reassured her as he planted his chin on her shoulder. "I missed you," he kissed her jaw.
"Seungcheol, you're sick," she only craned her head away, but it only gave him more space.
"No, I'm not," his warm breath fanned her skin. It was making her feel dizzy.
"Seriously, Cheol," she turned the stove off and turned around to check his temperature herself. He was cool.
Dahyun gaped at him. "What?" She felt him from his forehead to his jaw. His temperature was perfectly normal.
"They blasted me with a hairdryer."
"Oh my god," she facepalmed.
They literally set her up.
"Are you mad?" Seungcheol didn't sound concerned. He was laughing actually.
"Yes," Dahyun was out of reach again. "No," she moved away from the stove. "I hate my brother."
"But do you hate me?" Seungcheol placed his hands on the counter on either side of her hips, trapping her.
Dahyun only stared at his eyes, pouting. "No..." She covered her face, muffling her voice. "Why?" She was cornered.
"Can we talk?"
Suddenly, she found her hands wrapped around his neck and his on her hips. "Cheol, we're slow dancing."
"Just to ease the tension." Their bodies were slowly swaying in the kitchen to the tune of his soft hums. "Just to keep you close." He slightly pressed his hands deeper into her hips for a moment. "I missed having you like this."
Dahyun remained. It was difficult to think and formulate the right sentences when she was consumed by him, by his perfume, by his presence, by his warmth.
She missed him. She missed being in his arms.
"I missed you." She replied. She was sure now that Seungcheol won't forget. "I'm sorry for being selfish."
"You were having a difficult time. I understand." Seungcheol rested his chin on top of her head. "I'm sorry for forgetting."
"— a lot of things."
"Yeah." Seungcheol held her a little closer. "Will you still give me another chance?"
Dahyun closed her eyes, thinking. "It'll be difficult, but I want you back in my life."
"Our fans are a little more understanding than others. They were waiting for dating news from any of us."
Dahyun chuckled. "Seems like a fun bunch. Do you think they'll accept me?" She moved her head back and tilted her head up at him, causing Seungcheol to stand back up straight.
"They will." He kissed the crown of her head. "Are you sure though?" He wanted to make sure that she was genuine, that this was out of her own volition, and not whatever Mingyu possibly bribed her into.
"I am," Dahyun pressed her cheek right against his chest. "Mingyu must have told you how miserable I was."
"Maybe, he must have told you about me too," he chortled. "But any where's a good place as long as it's with you." He moved his hands up to her face and cupped her cheeks. He was staring at her lovingly, the complete opposite of the drunk heartbroken mess he was two months ago. "I love you."
"I love you," she smiled. "Let's be better this time."