𝓚𝓲𝓶 𝓙𝓲𝓷𝓱𝓮𝓮

11.43am
Taehyung wrote:

Meet me at the rooftop, we need to talk.

ɪ ғᴜʀʀᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ʙʀᴏᴡs ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ as I felt my heart pounded at the last four words of the text. A few seconds later, I found myself typing back a reply under the table so that Miss Chae wouldn't notice my negligence on her class.

11.45am
I wrote:

Well, sorry Mister, but I'm in Miss Chae's class, and you're supposed to be here too.
We've English next.

11.46am
Taehyung wrote:

It's important, Jinhee.

I rolled my eyes mentally and looked out of the window as I could exactly imagine how Taehyung would say those words with his intense eyes along with his deep suave voice, which would slowly weaken my whole being and in the end, I would fall for him. Letting out a silent sigh, I sent my reply.

11.50am
I wrote:

Fine.

After Miss Chae dismissed the class, I quickly stood up to leave the class, afraid that Mr Stefan would come in anytime. In the meantime, I managed to catch the quizzical looks from Suzy and Soojung too, but I just smiled mysteriously at them before I completely left the classroom.

Along the way there, I kept wondering what would Taehyung want to talk about. Was it about Hara? Or he finally decided to tell me about Kwon Mia? But upon asking myself that question, I let out a bitter smile subconsciously, because the latter would seem like so impossible to happen for now.

I had finally reached the rooftop. Taking a deep breath, I twisted the heavy doorknob and pushed it with all the strength that I had. The cold keening wind of winter immediately hit my face and instinctively, I squinted my eyes while wrapping my brown coat closer to my body.

I searched for the sight of Taehyung, which he would usually be on the wooden bench there, sitting or sleeping. But strangely, instead of seeing Taehyung, I just saw a pilled up frozen snow on the bench. I raised my brows in wonder at such sight. Is Taehyung trying to pull a prank on me?

Click!

A frown found its way across my face as I turned my body around when I heard the sound of something was locked. I froze there like a confused statue, taking a moment to process everything into places. Pulling my brows together, I slowly made my way towards the rooftop's door, and realization finally came down to me. Oh God, don't tell me..

I tried to twist the doorknob, and just like what I'd thought, it was locked. Great.

"Taehyung, stop playing wi–" I stopped half sentence as my brain started to think hard. Taehyung was never the type to pull on pranks on anyone, especially not on me, and with that, I knew who was standing behind the door with a victorious smirk on her face.

"Goo Hara, I know it's you! Open up!" I shouted out angrily as I banged on the cold metal door with my fist. When I heard a woman's scornful laugh on the other side, I knew I couldn't be more wrong.

"Well, it's too late to know now." I heard Hara retorted with an amused snicker. "You're so easy to be deceived, Jinhee. I thought you were smarter than this." She faked a disappointed sigh, obviously mocking me.

"What the hell, Hara? What do you want?!" I yelled violently as I slammed my fist once again on the metal door because I was freaking annoyed right now. But then my hand got hurt from the impact that I let out a hiss while glaring at the innocent door, imagining Goo Hara's arrogant face on the other side.

"You know what I want, bitch. I want Taehyung, so I need you to break up with him." She simply said, and I rolled my eyes in annoyance. I already had enough problems with Kwon Mia, and now she wanted to add herself to the list?

"Can you stop being desperate, Hara? Taehyung will never love you no matter how desperately you wanted him to love you back!" I spoke out and emphasized the hurtful truth for her so that she would just stop being stupidly stubborn in holding onto her feelings.

I felt bad for her that her love had to be a one-sided one, but I was sure as hell that I was not in the position to make all the decision, because it was all up to Taehyung. Even if I break up with Taehyung, I know he would never return Hara's feelings, simply, because he was still stuck in his past.. so what's the whole point?

"Shut up! I don't care! I want Taehyung, and only him! He's mine!" She screamed continually, stubbornly, and I could just scoff at such behavior. She wasn't just being desperate, but she was obsessed with Taehyung as well.

"For God's sake, Hara. That's not gonna happen." I told her affirmatively after I exhaled a few breaths to calm my nerve down.

"So, you're saying you won't break up with him?" She asked.

No. Maybe, she was threatening me now.

"Why do you think I'll break up with him just because you locked me up here? I'm sorry to disappoint you, Hara, but I'm not afraid of what's gonna happen to me, and I'll never break up with Taehyung just because you said so." I said vehemently as I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to sound obstinate.

I wanted to prove to her that I wasn't going to back out, that I wasn't like any weak girl that she thought. But then, after a few minutes later, I found myself rubbing and hugging my arms because I was starting to shiver as the winter wind seeping through my skin.

"Wow, Jinhee. I'm impressed that you've decided to choose Taehyung over your own life. But, too bad.. Taehyung wouldn't be able to know all of this, because you're going to die soon, and no one will know, except for me, of course." She said maliciously, adding a few evil laugh at the end of her sentence.

I didn't make a comeback, because for some strange reason, Hara's mean words managed to silence me as my mind went wandering for a moment. I'm going to die soon..?

Dying without learning the truth about Kwon Mia. Dying without getting the missing pieces of my past. Dying without getting back together with Taehyung. Dying without seeing the boys' debut. Dying without having a chance to fight against my father. So, in the end, I would just die with nothingness in me? Would that really happen?

"It's so hard to breath, isn't it?" Hara teased as I could imagine she had her arms crossed over her chest, smirking and enjoying every second of torturing me.

I huffed out a cold breath and looked around my whalebone-white surroundings, and as if the fate was testing me and decided to be on the evil side that day, I saw the snowflakes started to fall from the sky. Just like what Hara was greatly expecting, I felt my breath hitched from the cold. Great, just great.

"Hara, isn't it suppose to be you to have a hard time breathing right now?" I asked her emotionlessly while sliding down the metal door in despair. I knew there was no use in asking Hara to open up the door, she wouldn't listen to me anyway.

"Huh? What do you mean? I'm perfectly fine with warm hot packs in my pockets." She intentionally bragged and laughed out loud like a crazy hyena.

"No, urm, I mean.. your face is having a hard time to breath now, because your make up weight a lot. Give 'em a break." I said casually, attempting on insulting her, yet I didn't hear anything other than her confident scoff.

"Just say whatever you want, Jinhee. It's going to be your last moment anyway." She said rather calmly, and like a childish kid as I was, I felt disappointed that I didn't manage to snap her anger out that day. At least at my last moment, I wanted to see her being annoyed, being irritated, like how she had always been.

I stared at the unholy mixture of shale-grey clouds and pasty streaks of the skies above while my mind went blank. I didn't feel like arguing with Hara either, so I just shoved my hands inside of my pockets to find some warmth, but I flinched in surprise when I noticed there was something inside. I took it out and.. it was my iPhone.

Slowly, a smirk spread across my lips. I unlocked my phone and the first person that popped into my head was Soojung. Suzy was probably focusing on the lecture, while I knew Soojung would be sneakily texting Namjoon. So, without wasting anymore time, I quickly touched the calling icon, because I would die soon if she didn't answer my call.

I waited for the line to connect, and it ringed for four times, until the line abruptly ended. What the heck, Soojung?! You rejected my- Wait, no.. She didn't reject my call.. It's just that.. my iPhone is dead.

I just stared at the black pitch screen of my smart phone as I turned speechless and frozen again. This situation was just too cruel, because it had just proven more to me that the fate was really serious in taking my life away. Feeling empty and lifeless, I just threw away my now useless phone to the side as I exhaled out a hopeless sigh.

I let myself linger in the silence of the freezing winter before I found myself asking, though I wasn't so sure if Hara was still there. "Why do you like Taehyung so much?"

There was a minute of silence, before I heard she answered in a serious tone. "I don't like him."

My brows knitted at her answer. "Then?" I asked, confused.

"I love him."

Her cliché answer immediately made my eyes change from shining in anticipation to pure bored blank. But still, I asked her again, "Okay. So.. why?"

"He's the reason that I'm still alive right now." She said, her voice sounded so genuine, as if there was a hidden meaning behind her words.

I stayed silent while pondering on her cryptic words. Did something happen between Hara and Taehyung before? Taehyung had never mentioned anything about Hara, and I found it a little surprising that they had a little history together.

But then, what do I know? I never knew about any women that was related to Taehyung, not Hara, and certainly, not Kwon Mia..

When I heard the clicking of her familiar heels echoed away, that was when I knew that Hara was determined to freeze me to death. She was serious, while I had a little hope that this was just her little torturing game, that at least she had a little humanity left in her. And at that moment, I couldn't help but to feel my heart dropped a little in disappointment.

Two hours had passed, and I still stayed in the same position which was leaning against the very same door. I hugged myself even tighter as I just had my brown coat to warm myself up, at the same time, I shrugged off any snow that landed onto my shoulder and my hair, but when suddenly I touched on something metallic on my hair, my frozen mind managed to melt out a fantastic idea.

I stood up and rubbed my cold hands together to emanate some warmth and strength. Then, I pulled out the bobbypin from my hair. I gave a strong stare at the bobbypin, as if it was my last hope to live.

Then, I approached the door, and like how I did it easily in the past, I picked on the lock of the door, waiting patiently to hear that familiar sound that I had always found intriguing my inner sense.. And, within five seconds..

Click!

I smirked when I heard that particular sound of victory. You're so dead, Goo Hara. Payback time. I twisted the doorknob and was about to push it open, but I couldn't. I mean, I have tried, but it just wouldn't open. What the hell?

This time, instead of pushing the door, I grabbed the doorknob with my both hands and shook it rather vigorously, in the meantime, I heard something was clanking loudly on the other side. That was when I learned that all my effort had gone wasted, because Hara might have chained the doorknob onto something. Dammit, Hara.. She's not as dumb as I thought she was.

For the second time, the fate was trying to warn me again, that I was really going to die in this very place covered in white. I squatted down and covered my face in my folding arms hopelessly. I couldn't think of anything more as I felt exhausted from trying to escape. I peeked around the icy surroundings and thought that I might as well just imagined that this was my heaven.

I didn't know how much time had passed, but all I knew was that I was slowly dying as the frosty winter squeezed me to death. I blinked my eyes slowly as I could literally feel my blood flow constricted in my whole system, while my heart rate was beating ferociously against my chest. Soon after, I bit my lips hard as I started to feel my body shivered violently.

I tried to move away from the freezing metal door, but I couldn't because I had lost all ounce of strength to even make a single small movement. I stayed numbed there, immobile, motionless as I was now covered in snow. In my confusing state, I managed to catch the glimpse of the sky's color and it was haunted with darkness and emptiness of winter's night, just like the feelings I had at that moment.

I closed my eyes as I shuddered to the coldness that started to fill in my lungs. I guess this was it. In just a few minutes, everything was going to end. My life was going to end, and strangely, at that last moment, all I could ever think of was the images of him — Kim Taehyung.

His breathtakingly good-looking face..

His teasing smirk..

His sharp and intense eyes..

His deep and gentle voice..

And I thought of something that I needed the most at that moment — his warm and pleasant embrace.

My brain went wild for a moment as everything about him flooded into my mind's feed. Nothing but just all of Kim Taehyung. I was starting to imagine that if he saw me in this state, maybe he would run up to me with his worried face, and he would panic, and he would take off everything just to make sure I was covered in warmth.

"Jinhee! Are you there?!"

There you go, my mind was playing tricks on me as I heard his rough, yet gentle voice was calling me repeatedly, almost desperately.

"Jinhee!"

Urgh, stupid mind. Just stop playing with me.

This wasn't some cliché romance story, this was just a story of my fucked-up life, of me running away from home, of me unexpectedly met my happiness here. But because I was doubting too much on someone that I truly loved, so maybe this was what I truly deserved. So, he wasn't going to be here. I just knew that.

"Jinhee, look at me!" I heard his familiar voice again, and I was about to curse my mind for being stubborn, but somehow, I felt the pain when he slapped my cheeks a few times. So, ever so slowly, I flickered my eyes opened, and I saw the real him.

"Fuck! Jinhee, why are you so cold?? Just what the hell happened to you?!" I heard him shouting like crazy while moving here and there, doing this and that, saying this and that. It all happened in haphazardness.

"Taehyung.." I found my voice breathless, suffocated, yet I was glad that I still can call out for his name.

Upon hearing my voice, his whole movement abruptly stopped as he stared at me in surprise. I blinked my eyes again, and the image of him became crystal clear. His expression was a canvas of worries while I found his dark brown eyes shimmered, as if he was trying his best to hold back his tears.

"J-Jinhee, can you hear me?" He asked in a rush tone as I could feel he gently placed my head on his lap. In a swift motion, he took off his winter coat and scarf and put it on me, just like what I had imagined that he would do.

I just watched him silently as he removed all the snow from my hair and clothes. His breathing was heavy as I saw cold smoke puffing out from his mouth. His nose and ears were red, but he couldn't seem to care about all that.

"You're really here.." I forced every word out as I looked at him through my half-opened eyelids.

"Of course I'm here to save my girl, pabo yah. Fuck. I swear I'll kill whoever did this to you!" Taehyung shouted out in anger and frustration, at the same time, he was also panicking because he kept touching my face to feel my temperature and I heard him cussing all over again, probably because I just stayed frozen in his embrace.

I wanted to look at him much longer, but soon, I found my vision turned blurry again. My eyelids became heavy and I felt my body weakening, so I didn't have any choice but to just close my eyes.

"Jinhee, don't close your eyes! Come on! Stay with me!" He pleaded almost desperately, and I felt him picking me up effortlessly from the cold ground, finally entering back the school building.

Holding me in his strong arms, I could feel Taehyung was struggling while he was running at his fullest speed. I didn't know what he was trying to do. I didn't know where we were heading to. Because at that particular moment, I didn't care about anything. I forgot about everything.

About Hara who almost succeeded in killing me, the morbid curiosity about Kwon Mia, the fear towards my father, the confusion about my memories. Somehow, everything had gone faded like how I wanted it to be. But the only thing that stayed in my mind was Taehyung, and the strong affection that I had towards him.

"Taehyung.." I called him out weakly, almost inaudible, so I wasn't so sure if he could hear me. But when his rushing steps started to slow down and stop, I couldn't help but to feel a little rejoiced inside, because I was thankful that I still had the chance to tell him that..

"I love you, Taehyung.." I confessed, and with that, I felt my heart sighed in relief. My world began to spin around as I could hear the faint sound of Taehyung calling my name in the background, but in the count of three, I finally shuddered into unconsciousness.

✿ ✿ ✿

I opened my eyes slowly, and welcoming my view was a strange site. Plain, white ceiling, a simple white chandelier, clean white walls, pure white curtains. Looking into the scene more, even my pillows and beds were white.

Shit. Am I really dead?

"Eomma! Angel unnie is finally awake!" A girly child's voice screamed.

I slightly turned my head when I felt the right side of the bed moved, and I saw an innocent little girl, propping her hands onto her chin while her big shining eyes staring at me in fascination. I blinked at her in wonder, and slowly, her lips stretched into a wide grin.

"You're really beautiful, Angel unnie." She said while smiling sweetly, and her small hands playing with my hair mindlessly. I just stared at her hesitantly, and I have come to realize that she was wearing a white dress too.

Holy shit. Is this really heaven? She even called me an angel.

I found myself sat up in panic, and suddenly I felt the sharp pain electrified throughout my whole body while my head was in a daze. Huh? If there was pain, then I'm not dead. This is not heaven.

I heard calm footsteps, and the door opened, revealing a beautiful looking short-haired woman, probably in her mid 40s, holding onto a tray of food as she approached my bed.

"Sohyun honey, you shouldn't shout so loud, we've a patient here." She slightly scolded the little girl with a frown, yet the little girl just giggled with happiness.

While I mentally huffed out a relief sigh because at least, the elderly woman wasn't wearing anything white. She wore a simple blue dress with pastel pink apron tied around her waist.

"Eomma, mianhae~ But I've been waiting so long for Angel unnie to wake up." The little girl hugged her mom's waist and did her little aegyo. Her mom couldn't help but to let out a smile at her cuteness.

"Alright, alright. You should call your oppa now and tell him about Angel unnie, okay?" The eomma asked the little girl kindly. The little girl nodded at her mom, and soon, she scampered away in small footsteps, but not before smiling at me again.

After the little girl had gone away, the elder woman turned to look at me, and I found myself staring back at her in confusion, because it was weird that she only remained silent as her round eyes fixated on me, so long, and her gaze reminded me of the first time when I met Taehyung.

"I'm sorry.. but who are you..?" I asked in a weak tone while crooking my forehead a little. I scanned the foreign place, still in confusion and somehow, fear started to form inside of my heart, so I removed the white blanket away from my lap.

"Omo, I'm so sorry dear." She apologized when she saw me scooting away from the bed. She probably only realized that she was staring at me so long and it scared me.

Feeling sorry, she quickly set the tray on the table beside the bed and took a seat next to me. A reassuring smile attached on her lips as she gave me a concerned look.

"Thank God that you're awake. The doctor said that you need a lot of rest, so you can just stay here for the night." She explained as I was looking so lost. Stay here? I don't even know where I am right now. And.. doctor?

I tried to recall the last time I was conscious. I remembered the school's crystalline-white rooftop, the almost hurting extreme coldness, and Hara's evil voice immediately echoed in my mind. She locked me up there, and I lost consciousness. And after that, someone came to save me. Was it.. Taehyung?

"I made you some food. Are you feeling better right now?" The elder woman asked as her lips slowly drawn into a motherly smile.

Upon seeing her preparing the food for me, I found my heart softened, because like I said before, I always had a soft spot for a mother. And even though she was a stranger for me, I guess she didn't look dangerous to me.

"Thank you, Ma'am.." I muttered softly as I slightly bowed at her with a weak smile.

I was expecting to see her friendly smile again, but then, she looked slightly surprised by my words, and I noticed her champagne-brown eyes started to get teary. She then looked away and covered her mouth, trying to hide her sudden uncontrollable emotion, while I was befuddled by her reaction, and strangely, I felt guilty because I made her feel emotional.

"Ma'am, I'm sorry–"

"Jinhee!" A rushing footsteps could be heard and the door slung opened with a thump as it hit the wall.

I was shocked by the loud entrance of someone, as well as the elderly woman, but I was more surprised to see that the particular someone was Taehyung, who was standing in front of me now while having trouble to catch his breath.

Once his worried eyes landed on me, he didn't waste any more time as he walked towards me and instantly engulfed me into his embrace.

"Jinhee-ah.. " He whispered against my ear, and I heard he let out a shaky sigh silently. I stayed frozen in his embrace, didn't really know what to do, but the butterflies were slowly forming in my stomach, and I found myself smiling a little as I was covered in his familiar warmth. So, it was really Taehyung who had saved me.

I wanted to return his hug, but then I saw the elder woman standing there with an expression that I couldn't decipher. She didn't look mad, she just looked sad, but at the same time, she was smiling pleasantly too. Wait, if Taehyung is here, means she is..

My eyes widened in panic and I felt my cheeks flushed in embarrassment. I took back my whole intention of hugging Taehyung, and I found myself breaking the comforting hug abruptly, making Taehyung surprised my sudden action.

At that moment, I couldn't care less of Taehyung as I immediately shot up from my sitting position and bowed ninety-degrees to the older woman, who now I had known as Taehyung's mother.

Bitting my lips out of embarrassment, I said, "I'm sorry, Mrs Kim. I didn't know that you're Taehyung's–"

"It's okay, sweetie." She cut me off with a light laugh as she placed an assuring hand on my shoulder. "I'm going to leave you guys here and make our dinner." She beamed a meaningful smile at the both of us before she turned around to leave.

Dinner? How long did I actually lose consciousness?

"No, Mrs Kim, I think I should get go–"

"That's absolutely nonsense, Jinhee. You're so pale and weak. At least, have some dinner with us, okay?" She tried to convince me over the door with her sweet smile, which made it even more difficult to reject her offer.

I hesitantly turned around to look at Taehyung for an answer, but then seeing his puppy eyes didn't help at all. So, I faced Mrs Kim again and ended up nodding in defeat. Satisfied with my response, Mrs Kim finally closed the door with a happy smile, leaving Taehyung and me inside the room.

"Taehyung, you're unbelievable!" I whisper-yelled at Taehyung as my quick hand found its way slapping his arm. But instead of whining out in pain, Taehyung who was still sitting on the bed just stared at me in surprise, probably didn't expect for my energetic side.

"I seriously can't believe you. Why did you bring me to your mansion? What happened? And, that elderly woman earlier.. is that your mother?" I shot him multiple questions while at the back of my mind, I remembered he once told me about his home in Gangnam Village.

"Wow, Jinhee. You sound so hella fine right now." Taehyung faked a surprised look as he pretended to scan my whole figure.

I crossed my arms lazily and glared at him, which only made him grin even wider. But what Taehyung said was kind of true though, because if I was not mistaken, I had just faced my near-death experience only a moment ago.

"Look at you blushing. Are you perhaps nervous meeting my mom?" He teased as he gently pulled me down, making me seated on top of his lap. For a second, I felt my heart skipped a beat by the close proximity between us.

"Of course I am, pabo." I replied defensively as I scooted away from his lap to the side. But Taehyung didn't give up as he placed one leg on the bed, trapping me at the right corner of the bed.

Taehyung then looked at me, suddenly serious. "It was alright to meet Yoongi hyung's dad, even Hoseok hyung's, Namjoon hyung's and Jin hyung's mothers, so why not mine?" He sounded upset as he ruffled his brown hair, but his intense eyes never left mine.

"Obviously, because you're my boyfriend." I told him as those words just blurted out spontaneously. The next second, we were both muted by my bluntness as we looked into each other's eyes in surprise.

But Taehyung was fast enough to recover from the surprise, and I saw his significant smirk slowly spread across his lips.

"What? Can you repeat it again, Jinhee-ah?" He smiled teasingly as he inched even closer, leaving me with no space to escape, and I could have sworn I heard my own frantic heartbeat.

"Go away, you pervert!"

No. It wasn't my voice that spoke out those words. It was..

"Ouch! What the– Sohyun!"

What was unfolding in front of me was the innocent little girl circling her small arm around Taehyung's neck and they were shouting incoherent words to each other. The little girl who was called as Sohyun must be Taehyung's six year old little sister.

"Don't bully Angel unnie anymore, you hear me oppa?" Sohyun warned him with her tiny finger as she climbed on top of Taehyung's stomach. Taehyung groaned in pain as he was now lying flat on the bed, looking all worn-out from the fight. Even his brown hair stuck out in all directions because of Sohyun's strength.

"Sohyun ah, she's my girlfriend, for God's sake." Taehyung huffed out a tired sigh, but he didn't look like he was angry or something, he just genuinely smiled at Sohyun as he gently caressed her silky wavy hair.

"Angel unnie is your girlfriend, oppa?" Sohyun asked innocently with her natural pink lips pouting. Taehyung nodded and a wide grin formed on his face.

Both Sohyun and Taehyung darted their gaze on me at the same time. Sohyun was looking at me in wonder, while Taehyung was holding onto a teasing smile, and I felt the blood rushed onto my cheeks again.

"Then.. do you love Angel unnie?" Sohyun asked again, maybe that was what wondering in her mind just now. Upon hearing Sohyun's inquiry, my heart palpitated even more in an irregular beat as I also waited for Taehyung's reply.

For a moment, Taehyung was taken aback by his little sister's question. He then looked at me again, and his expression turned serious. Silence filled the air, and I seemed to have lost track of time as we locked in gazes silently.

"Of course, I love her. She's my favorite girl ever." Ever so slowly, his lips curved up perfectly into one of his sweet smile, not to forget, he also sent along a mischievous wink at me.

I think my mouth popped open for a few seconds as I was left speechless at his meaningful words. And I could literally feel my heart burst into a mass of raging female hormones.

"Hmm, I don't understand.. But anyway, Angel unnie do you love Taehyung oppa too?" Sohyun removed herself from Taehyung and ran to me. Then, she naturally rested herself on my lap and looked up to me. I found myself smiling at her. Sohyun was seriously an adorable little girl.

"Sohyun-ah, if I tell you, will you keep it as a secret?" I asked her with a wide smile.

"Of course unnie, you can trust me!" Sohyun exclaimed as she patted her chest confidently.

"But, I want to know too." Taehyung suddenly interjected as his lips formed into a frown now. But soon, he was suddenly scared when Sohyun sent a death glare at him, but it was actually a cute glare and I found myself holding back a laugh.

I whispered the secret to Sohyun, and when I finished the last word, Sohyun had her shoulders up as she giggled with excitement.

"Sohyun ah, promise me that you won't tell Taehyung oppa about this, okay?" I reminded her as I held out my pinky finger. She nodded and clasped her pinky finger with mine.

"It's a promise!" She stood up and kissed me on the cheeks before she whizzed out from the room, shouting, "Eomma, I just shared a secret with Angel unnie!"

I let out a laugh at her cuteness, and I heard Taehyung laughing along with me. He then propped up his head against the bed sheet and looked at me with his eyes glinted in happiness.

"What?" I asked him, dropping my smile all together.

"Can you call me that again?" He asked with his teasing smile unwavering.

"Call you.. what?" I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"Call me oppa." He let out a wide grin as he raised his eyebrows in anticipation.

I was taken aback by his sudden favor, and I didn't even realize that I just called him 'oppa'. But anyway, I just smiled innocently at him, saying a firm, "No."

"Honey, please."

"No."

"Baby girl."

"I said, no, Taehyung."

"Sweetheart, just for once."

"For once and last?" I made a deal with him.

Taehyung frowned as he seemed like he hated the 'last' word. But after a few minutes of consideration, he ended up shrugging in agreement. Swiftly, he sat up from his lying position and closed the distance between us, and I felt my heart pounding again, because he was staring straight at me, waiting for me to speak.

I inhaled a nervous breath as I said every each word quietly, "Thank you for saving me again.."

"..oppa."

I couldn't help but cringed at that mild endearment. I thought Taehyung would tease me again, but he just looked at me sincerely and his pink lips bore a meaningful smile.

"I told you I'd always protect you from anything." He said as he tucked a loose hair behind my ear. His voice sounded so serious as he muttered those words.

"We promised to stay together no matter what happen, didn't we?" He reminded me of our sixth promise as he grew his arms around my waist and locked me into his pleasant embrace.

"And Jinhee.." He whispered against my ear.

"Hm?"

"It won't be the last time, because the next time, I'll make you call me 'oppa'." He said huskily as his lips tilted into a playful smirk.

I took a moment to process his words carefully, and when I understood the hidden meaning behind it, my eyes rounded in bewilderment.

"Yah, Kim Taehyung!" I was about to hit his chest for being too casual about it, but Taehyung was fast enough to dodge and he let out an amused chuckle before escaping out of the room.

✿ ✿ ✿

It was an hour later, I found myself sitting on the Kim family's dining room table. Taehyung's father, Taehyung's mother, Taehyung's little sister, and Taehyung himself were all in front of me as we were seated around the dining table. Never in my wildest dreams have I ever thought I'd be having dinner with Taehyung's entire family in their beautiful mansion in Gangnam village.

We said our greetings, pleasantries, and blessed the food. Soon, I heard the clinking sound of the utensils from others as they started eating, and weirdly, I just found myself staring at the variety of foods presented before me. At that moment, I just felt so strange and unreal, because I haven't really wrapped my head around the actual situation.

I peered over my lashes and saw Mr Kim and Mrs Kim were putting foods in each other's bowl with warm smiles, as if knowing what their partner's favorite side dishes were. On the other hand, Taehyung was helping Sohyun patiently with her chopsticks, and seeing how adorable Sohyun was putting her whole effort in learning, it just made Taehyung smile even more.

Though Taehyung's family was like any other wealthy family surrounded with the maids and bodyguards, but they were certainly different in the many aspects. Like how Mrs Kim cooked the dinner herself and the way she treated the maids in her house generously. Like how Mr Kim talked to the bodyguards in a respectful way. Like how Taehyung and his father engaged in a conversation like they were best friends. And like how Sohyun was like a little angel who always entertained the elders, and the other workers inside the mansion.

I let out a smile as I observed the beautiful scene playing in front of me. What a close-knit family. And I thought this kind of scene only existed on television.

"Jinhee, what's wrong? Do you not like the food? Does it taste weird?" Mrs Kim suddenly asked worriedly when she noticed I haven't touched the fresh-cooked dinner. Now, everyone had their attention on me, and Taehyung had the same expression as his mother.

I shook my head with a contented smile pasted on my face. "No, Mrs Kim.. your cooking looks really delicious and tempting, it's just that.." I trailed away as I knew I couldn't continue the next few words.

It was my first time eating a proper homemade meal by a mother.

My first time eating on a normal dining table, not the long one where we would distant so far from each other.

And my first time witnessing the real definition of a happy family.

"She's probably just shy around us." A calm gravelly man's voice could be heard. I looked up to see the owner of the voice, and it was Taehyung's father.

"You're.. Kim Jinhee, right?" Mr Kim asked me in slight hesitation, and I noticed that his eyes darkened with a little sorrow, as if he was holding back onto saying something.

I simply nodded to his question with an attempt of looking all calm and collected. Somehow, I dreaded the moment talking to Mr Kim because I had just learned that he was the South Korea's Defense Minister, and he was also a former Army general who served as the 40th Chief of Staff of the South Korea's army.

But it was not about the noble position that he held onto that I was scared of, it was more of what's the relation that he had with my father. Because I was pretty sure that he would know my father, and if luck was not on my side, they might have a close relationship, much to my dismay.

"Your name sounds familiar, young lady.. Who's your parents?" Mr Kim asked again as his eyes glistened with curiosity behind his glasses.

I clenched my fists under the table as I felt cold sweats started to form non-stop on my temples. It was totally different this time when Mr Kim mentioned about my parents because I felt a whole new level of nervousness circulated in my system.

"Yeobo, I think it's better not to pressure her with any question.. She's just recovered from her unconsciousness.." Mrs Kim cut in while giving a disapproving look to her husband.

Upon hearing Taehyung's mother words, I silently puffed out a relief sigh and my chest felt a little lighter as Mr Kim had finally removed his curious gaze from me.

"Alright, alright. Let's not ask any more question.." I heard Mr Kim let out a laugh as he nodded at his wife's request.

There was a moment of silence in the dining room, and somehow, I felt like some eyes were watching me secretly, but as I held up my head, I saw none of them were looking at me as they busied themselves munching on the foods. I don't know. Probably, it was only my imagination, or maybe it was just the product of my nervousness as I was now being in the scrutiny of Taehyung's parents.

"Before we ended our dinner session, mind if I confirm about one thing?" Mr Kim suddenly spoke out, and I snapped up to look at him anxiously. What is it this time.. Don't tell me he already figured out something about me.

"Are you guys dating each other?"

I blinked a few times upon hearing that unexpected inquiry from Mr Kim as he was looking at Taehyung and me alternatively. Taehyung and I exchanged a surprise look for a long moment, before we faced Mr Kim again.

"Yes, dad. She's my girlfriend." Taehyung replied without any hesitation as he smiled warmly at me. I dropped my gaze to my fiddling finger as I felt my cheeks heated in embarrassment again.

Even though I felt shy, but I forced myself to look at Mr Kim's reaction, and just like Taehyung, he was smiling too. "Take care of her, son."

But I couldn't explain the hidden meaning behind his sad eyes as he was looking at Taehyung helplessly, as if he was trying to tell his son something, but he ended up keeping it to himself.

A few seconds later, Taehyung's parents left the dining table and they gave me one last look, but this time..

The look of guilt was visible to me.

✿ ✿ ✿

"So, what happened? Why did you go to the rooftop?" Taehyung asked in solemnity as he looked like he wanted to know the answer so bad.

We were leaning against the balcony of the guest room as I have decided to stay for the night in Kim's mansion due to Mrs Kim's convincing kind words, and I could not, for the love of God, reject her pleas.

"I was bored because you guys weren't around, so I skipped Mr Stefan's class and went to the rooftop secretly to find some peace." I lied right on the spot, and wow, I think my acting has probably improved because Taehyung seemed to believe in my lies because rather than giving me a skeptical look, he just had that blank look.

But, it was true though that I was bored and upset because the boys weren't in school much these days due to their constant practices.

"But how did you get locked up there?" Taehyung asked again as his forehead knotted in wonder.

I let out a sigh, rolling more into my character, "It might sound stupid.. but I was tired, so without knowing.. I fell asleep there. And by the time I've woken up, I found the door was locked." I explained nonchalantly, while Taehyung was glaring at me, probably because of my clumsiness that he would always remind of.

But we all knew that actually, it was all just a pure lie.

"I guess the security guard locked the door without knowing that I was there. So, don't kill the security, he's just doing his job." I looked at him with a serious expression as I was reminded of his words at the rooftop when he said he will kill whoever locked me up there. And for a moment, I feared the word 'kill' whenever it came out from him.

Taehyung frowned at me, but slowly, he let out a helpless sigh, "Gosh, Jinhee. I don't know what to do with you anymore." He moved closer and pulled me in by the waist. Gently, he dropped his head on my shoulder and there was a moment of comfortable silence between us.

"I was so worried when Soojung told me that you went missing in school. They said you left in between the classes and never returned. So, after practice, I went to search for you with the other boys.." His voice sounded deep in the dark night as we just stayed in the same position, and knowing that he was so close to me, my heartbeat never slowed down.

"I searched everywhere for you.. but you were nowhere to be found, until I went to check the locked rooftop. Do you know how scared I was when I saw you were covered in snow? Not just that, your body was freezing, your lips turned purple, and you weren't even breathing properly, so I was fucking scared.." He tightened the hug and pulled the back of my neck, buried me deeper into his chest.

"I panicked, and I wanted to bring you to the hospital, but I remember you once told me that you hated hospitals.. So, I could just think of bringing you home and let my family's personal physician to check on you. Thank God, you're all fine now.." He let out another soft sigh, and we lingered in the particular moment as our hearts pounded against each other's.

"I'm sorry.." I apologized, but it wasn't because I made him worry, it was more to sorry for lying to him. No matter how evil Hara was, I just couldn't bring myself to tell Taehyung the whole truth of this incident. I just wanted to deal with her on my own.

"You really need me by your side, don't you?" He pulled away slowly, and I saw his lips quirked up into one of his breathtaking smile. Upon hearing his teasing words, I found myself smiling back at him. For a long moment, we just stared into each other's eyes, appreciating every sparks that kindled.

Though, I wanted to ask him about the meaningful stares that his parents were giving me, but at the same time, I think I knew what those stares meant for, that it must have related to the mysterious girl.

But again, every single time I was reminded of her, Min Yoongi's words would cross my mind and fix the insecurities in my heart.

'You're certainly Kim Jinhee! Mia is dead, and you're here with us!'

I guess, at that moment, that sentence was the only thing that mattered to me, the only thing that helped me to hold my ground, the only thing that made me realize that the future is much more important than the past. And some people said that, sometimes it was easier to leave the question up in the air than for it to be answered.

"I have always wanted you by my side, Taehyung..." I whispered softly and smiled warmly at him.

Upon hearing my unexpected reply, Taehyung was a little surprise at first, but slowly his gaze turned gentle as he pulled me closer again, and this time, I found myself closing my eyes as I felt his lips slowly danced against mine.

And just like that.. everything seemed to be miraculously melted away in slow motion, leaving Taehyung and I in our own magical world.

»»————　A/N　————««

I'm sorry for the long wait. In return, a long chapter as always!

I swear I did try my best to find the right time to write, and I write everyday, even just a paragraph. I'm a full-time student, a part-time performer and author too, but despite all that, I'll put my studies as my top priority first.

So, I hope you guys won't pressure me to update because I want to enjoy writing, not feeling pressured. Morever, it's our Taehyung that I wanted to focus on and it will take some time. Please be kind, and I hope we can help each other out in the future 🌸🌸

Thank you for 135K reads. I appreciate every support from you guys!
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Much love,
lynie

Little Sohyun, Taehyung's sister <3

♡━━━━━━━━━━━━♡

𝓣𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮𝓻

"I was too depressed, too broken, and people told me that I've changed completely into a different person."