and then I leave without a trace
This stranger, standing before you, felt hauntingly familiar yet so distant. You looked at him, hoping to feel anger, to be resentful, but deep inside, something stirred — a yearning that hit you like a wave, one that you couldn’t control. It was as though you had finally found the missing piece of yourself, the one thing that could make you feel whole again. But it was strange. It felt unreal. You knew his birthday, his favorite color, the inside jokes that used to make him laugh, yet you didn’t truly know him anymore.
Your eyes locked with his, and in that moment, the unspoken yearning between you was palpable. Despite the space of eight feet between you, it felt as if you could feel the heat of his presence, the pull that had always been there — the desire for his touch, his warmth, after being apart for so long.
“Y/n?” Yuta's voice broke the silence, as he finally recognized you.
You turned, willing yourself to walk past him, to bury the past, to ignore the emotions that were flooding back. But before you could leave, he was at your side, desperately trying to reach out.
"Hey, wait up!" His voice trembled with something you couldn’t place, something you didn’t want to feel.
You took a sharp breath, forcing yourself to stay strong. "Quit it, Yuuta." Your voice was cold, but it cracked with the emotions you were fighting so hard to keep buried. "You have a girlfriend."
His eyes dropped, but his voice was steady when he spoke again. “I know. But can we at least talk? I want to be on good terms.”
The words hit you like a punch. Your chest tightened painfully, and every instinct told you to shut down, to push him away. But your heart refused to listen. You managed to choke out a few words, frustration seeping through.
“Why? Why now? You’re the one who ended everything. I’ve moved on, Yuuta, I finally—”
He cut you off, his voice shaky, raw with emotion. “I’ve missed you, okay?”
The words were like a wrecking ball, breaking through everything you had tried to suppress. A lump formed in your throat, the weight of the past crashing over you. It felt like your heart was on the verge of tearing itself out of your chest.
“I missed you too.” The words tumbled out, and as soon as they left your lips, the floodgates opened. Tears blurred your vision, and the overwhelming thought that ran through your mind was simple: I wasn’t fully over him.
“I know this is my fault, and I want to make it right, Y/n. I’m sorry for all the pain I caused you. Please, just... please forgive me.” His voice cracked, raw and vulnerable.
You tried to hold yourself together, but it was too much. You whispered, your voice barely audible, “I’ve already accepted that, Yuuta. You don’t need to apologize. I just want you to come back. Come back to me.”
Your tears fell, each drop a reminder of the love that still lingered between you. He reached out, cupping your face gently, his touch so familiar, so tender. "Don't cry, Y/n, please..." His thumb traced away the tears, his chest tightening as he held you close.
But there was something stopping him. Something that choked him up before he could say the words you both desperately needed to hear.
“I wish I could just tell you that I want you back, but...” His voice faltered. “I can’t just leave Rika. It wouldn’t be fair. It would be selfish of me.”
His words hit like a dagger, but you saw the agony in his eyes. He was torn. The weight of the world seemed to rest between you, and in that moment, as the sunset bathed you both in golden light, you understood — he was torn between love and duty.
He pulled you into his arms then, the familiar warmth enveloping you in a way that made everything feel right again. It was comforting, but it hurt. So badly.
“Please, when can I feel this again?” he whispered into your ear, his voice thick with emotion.
You closed your eyes, letting yourself feel him, the only thing that had ever felt like home.
“I’ll try... I’ll try to talk to her. Please, just wait for me. Don’t give up on us.” His words were desperate, filled with the hope that maybe, just maybe, things could be different.
You nodded, unable to speak. The streetlights flickered on, casting a soft glow as the world around you dimmed. You held him tightly, refusing to let go.
“Text me, okay?” he said, his voice breaking as you slowly parted ways.
With one last, lingering look, you nodded. You couldn’t promise him anything, but you could wait. Maybe, just maybe, this time, you both could find your way back.
notes: IM SOOO SORRY FOR THIS CHAPTER (i poured my heart and soul onto this) and im also sorry for not posting as much, its currently spring break and i still have a handful of things I have yet to finish (kill me). Anyways, thanks for reading !!.
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