"What We Could've Become" | Lily x Male Reader

String lights shine overhead around the wedding venue. Soft jazz music is played by a live trio beneath a tent of dangling flowers. Guests mingle, laughter hovers in the air like blossoms. Lily is poised and beautiful in an emerald green dress. She stands beside the bar, drinking from a champagne flute.

Her smile is gracious. Rehearsed. She's made the rounds all day.

Then her breath hitches.

Through the grass, near the edge of the dance area, YN steps into sight—wearing a somewhat rumpled suit, his hair longer than before, his usual quiet peace to his presence. He's talking in mid-sentence with someone, his soft laughter filling the air. But his eyes search the party—and find hers.

Both paused. Their stare filled with unspoken longing brought by the aftermath of their shared unfortunate memories.

“Of course he’d show up.” Lily muttered under her breath, leaning away from her crosshairs before returning to view his stunned reaction.

Meanwhile, YN told the exact same thing as hers. It’s natural for either of them, they can agree that it’s been two and a half years since they’ve last seen each other. Thankfully, this time… they don’t look so fragile and unpleasant to endure.

They hesitate. Neither moves. YN adjusts his jacket, takes a small breath, and starts walking toward her. Lily straightens, unreadable. She doesn’t look away despite panicking inside what she should do as he approaches.

He stopped a few feet apart from her chair. Their height leveled, allowing them to deeply connect in their gaze and peek into the eyes that upheld the same experience they suffered.

“Hey.” He was the first one to initiate, snapping themselves out of their senses.

“H-Hey.” She took a beat.

“After all this time, you still look… exactly the same.” YN smiled genuinely.

“Well for me, you don’t.” She contradicted.

“That bad?” His eyebrows raised at the sudden comment.

“No. Just... different. A little softer, maybe.” She shrugged as she softly replied, a hint of smile appeared on her lips.

There was a pause. The silence is heavy between them, but not cold.

“I- I didn’t know you’d be here.” YN still manages to get the flow of their conversation going.

“It’s Bae’s wedding. Of course I’m here. She introduced us, remember?” Lily mocked him like she was surprised he didn’t caught it that easily. Thinking that he may have forgotten it like it was nothing kinda scratched her heart that was supposed to be fully healed after several years and it annoys her.

“Oh, right.” YN didn’t deny about that, and the following had Lily proved wrong. Mentioning the pronoun ‘us’ not because of something random, but referring to that one particular and unforgettable memory that opened a chapter of their life altogether, beats him.

“I- I mean, she told me you might come, but I didn’t let myself expect it.” he elaborated to avoid making her come suspicious.

“Well... surprise, I guess.” Lily answered nonchalantly. There was a long look between them again.

“Can I buy you a drink, or is this where you vanish politely?”

“I already have a drink.” She wiggled her wineglass filled with ice and martini intentionally without glancing at him.

“Then maybe just a few minutes. No pressure. Just... catch up.” He replaced the invitation for a clearer purpose.

“You really want to do that? Open that box?” Lily doesn’t need to specify it, he know what she’s pointing at.

“Honestly? I’ve been carrying the box around for years. Might as well look inside and well, if you would mind… join me through it.”

Lily decided to consider him, then gestures to a small table off to the side, beneath an olive tree wrapped in fairy lights.

They sat. The music swells in the background. Laughter echoes distantly. But here, it’s just them.

“So... music teacher still?” Now it’s Lily’s turn to start.

“Yeah. And a band on the weekends. Mostly weddings, actually.” He replied calmly.