Present.

38 | "Your worries are mine."

Nina and Taehyung didn't put any labels on their relationship, they were just going with the flow. Their day and night and everything in between were filled with each other's presence. They walked around smelling like each other. They taste like each other. Wanting each other. The flow was fairly simple, just them meeting after work, going on dinner dates, spending some quality time together where Taehyung would play with Nina's cat— Leote hadn't approved of Taehyung yet— hear her talking about her day, the all-juicy gossip about the office, about her fictional boyfriends.

Witnessing Taehyung sauntering around in the living room in his boxers, flaunting his rigid thighs and with his arms full of her cats triggered a ball of warmth and fascination in Nina's chest. Sometimes, she would just sit at the kitchen counter in her silk lingerie and watch the shirtless Taehyung fix midnight snacks for her which included sharing lots of heated neck kisses.

And they had all kinds of sex they could do. Hallway sex. Car sex. Middle of the night sex. Shower sex. The best part was the morning sex. Sometimes Nina would open her eyes at the sight of his face buried between her legs and the evidence of her pleasure smearing across his lips. Sometimes, while chanting 'I love you' in her ear, he would fuck her balls deep against the kitchen counter. By the smirk that his mouth carried, she knew he was watching her breaths stutter, her sanity withered and her falling for him a little deeper.

And even though Nina miraculously, impatiently, sloppily let him take her, it wasn't enough for him. Even she had tasted Taehyung again and again, the softness of his lips, the texture of his tongue, the throaty rumble escaping his chest. It wasn't enough for her. Nina wanted him more and Taehyung gave her more. Taehyung wanted to own more of her so she started giving him more of her every day. At this point, the line of sane and insanity had blurred. Love and lust had melted and formed into something potent that it became hard for them to go another day without each other.

Butterflies flared in Nina's chest every time she caught Taehyung waiting for her office parking lot. No matter how busy he was after his work, no matter how weary the lines of his face were, he would approach her and wrap his arms around her waist with a cheery smile. A smile that was only reserved for her.

Her heart thrummed when he kissed her as soon as she opened her door and found him standing there. Nina appreciated how in her anxious moments Taehyung would just sit by her side and wouldn't pressurise her to talk about her feelings. In some way, Taehyung understood that Nina didn't like talking when she was down. Naturally, he was a persistent man and liked to know everything yet he was waiting for her to lean to him first. Baby steps, a slow process but their relationship was progressing.

Taehyung didn't start the topic of the marriage and Nina didn't see any problem hanging the ring around her neck. Taehyung was learning to understand her, he was learning to be patient with her. Bit by bit, somewhere in those moments, he was thriving inside her, dwelling at every chipped part of her heart. Taehyung had assured that he had no problem waiting for her. He promised that he would make her fall for him all over again and Nina wondered how in-depth in love she could go. He was already etched in the marrow of her soul, how deeper did he desire to sink?

Taehyung: Are you still in the hospital right?

Nina: Yes, but I'll be leaving soon.

Nina sighed, rubbing her thumb on the screen as she recalled the conversation they had a few days ago. Taehyung had decided to cover all the expenses of her Aunt Lea's heart transplant surgery. No matter how much Nina denied it. No matter how much she opposed the idea and let the remorse plunge its blade deeper into her skin. No matter how many times she uttered the lies that she didn't need help, Taehyung was rooted in his decision like a brick wall.

"You need to understand that I don't want your help."

"And you need to understand that you don't have to deal with every problem alone, red. I am here for you and I will always be like a goddamn shadow. I know that you like to be resilient. You prefer to pick your own battles. You like to solve all your issues on your own and I respect you from the bottom of my crooked heart but sometimes it's okay to stop and rest. When life gets fucking difficult, you can always dive into my arms. You can always show your vulnerable side to me baby, always. Please let me help you. Please let me be here for you for once." 

In the end, Taehyung managed to show empathy without wanting anything in return. According to Taehyung, whatever he did wasn't for the sake of kindness, surely not for her aunt Lea.

Everything he had done was for Nina. He had just one priority and duty and it was to make his precious lady happy. Nina wasn't sure if letting him carry her duties was a good idea. Her whole life she took care of things herself, she had never asked anyone's help despite the clouds of her life getting darker. It was not a concern of pride, she did whatever seemed natural to her.

She desperately hoped that none of her worries became his too though she was aware that Taehyung didn't want to just hold her, he wanted to own every worry and anxiety along her heart. They even had a heated discussion over it and at last, Taehyung agreed to let Nina spend the savings she had for this day. 

Taehyung : Thank you for letting me kiss your tits this morning, they are so perfect. I miss them already.

Nina's ears buzzed with energy, her cheeks scorched with utter shame as her hormones went overdrive. Taehyung's straightforward fashion to express his aroused emotions would cause her demise one day because oh my god, how much she loved his dirty talk. Nina cleared her throat, feeling a wanton sensation spearing her pussy as in the process she nearly smashed the keyboard in embarrassing haste.

Nina: You are unapologetically shameless.

His reply was quick.

Taehyung : You call me shameless but I call this appreciating the beauty of my beloved.

Nina: So charming, you are fluttering my heart.

Taehyung : Yeah so, I just want to bury my face in your perfect tits again or between your legs, I'm not picky at all. I'll take whatever you offer.

Nina still could feel the sore sensation between her legs by the way he took her in the morning right before leaving for work. One peck should be enough, then it turned into a kiss, then a brutal tongue-fucking down to her throat that led them to something more. The clothes were on the floor and he was ramming inside her, digging out every ounce of pleasure as he could.

Nina: Homie, you need to calm down.

Taehyung: I'm your future husband, just watch how I'm gonna marry the shit out of you.

Nina: Romantic, indeed. I'm giggling and kicking my feet right now.

Taehyung : Soon you'll be crying out my name and it'll not be from the pain but the pleasure.

"You must really like him."

"Huh?" Nina's eyes rounded when she yanked out from the utopian trance as realization loomed over her. She was in front of her aunt, in the patient ward and blushing insanely under her scrutiny. "He is intolerable but likable sometimes and I'd do anything for him." Oops, that slipped between her lips as she clamped them shut.

"Who is the guy?" Nina plummeted deeper in shyness when Lea let out a hearty laugh.

Oh yeah, Nina didn't tell her aunt that Taehyung was the guy Nina was seeing these days. She was searching for the right time to tell her and maybe this was the perfect moment. See, everything was going so fine. Way too fine.

"I want to thank him myself, you should have brought him with you." The flimsy cloud of age took over Lea's face in the form of delicate wrinkles. The sunken cheeks and pale skin recited the tale of her illness yet the smile on her face couldn't hide her beauty.

"Sure, he is busy. Maybe next time." Nina squinted when Lea's knowing smile broadened. "What?" Nina was bewildered upon witnessing the flecks of amusement in Lea's eyes.

"Nothing, you always look weary and worried as if you are walking out of hell but these days you are glowing, you smile when you speak, your eyes are sparkling. Aw, the effect of love. It makes me so happy seeing you brimming with life." Lea took Nina's hand in her, squeezing it and soon fuzzy warmth invaded Nina's body.

Nina had always said that she wouldn't fall in love again, it was an ought that she took and had refused to break. Then she realized she fell instant and all over at the exact moment Taehyung barged into her life like an uncontrollable hurricane. The love she held for him was clinging to her bones, melted into her essence and flowed in her veins like an endless addiction. 

She might not be ready to confess to him or perhaps she was. However, a greedy part of her was still bearing on the past and yearned to see him work harder to win her trust back. Before dedicating her whole existence to him, she needed him to assure her that he wouldn't break her heart again. A little more assurance — and something told her that Taehyung would do anything to shield her heart from even simple nicking.   

"The best part of your life has been wasted because of me, you have forgotten to take care of yourself. It must be so hard right? You never get time to sit and relax. You are always working hard and never taking rest and all because I get sick and become a burden on you. An obligation that you have to carry on your shoulders. I make everything worse for you. Because of me, you stayed by my side when the girls of your age lived their life to the fullest." Lea's voice wrecked with stark trembles, her eyes were red-rimmed and Nina's chest tautned for the woman.

When Nina got into college, they were struggling and she had to take numerous part-time jobs. The rundown apartment in a dingy neighborhood with chipped walls, broken windows, and a cup of ramen noodles as sufficient food wasn't helping the situation either. Saving every single penny was important and it made her bitter with life even more. From childhood Nina had never expected life to be rosy and sickly sweet, thorns and pain were part of it yet in the frailty of her situation she longed for serenity.

Just the way the river never stays the same, Nina believed that one day her life would change too. Maybe not rapidly or drastically but she promised herself that she would un-suffocate herself from the crises occurring in her forsaken life. No matter how tiny the achievement would be, she was going to celebrate it. Now she was self-dependent, freed from most of the hardships. She could afford things with her own money and she didn't have to think too much about paying the rent or the food on the table. She was doing fine and it was an accomplishment.

However, somewhere, she craved a life that would make her see the beauty of this world. A life with a man who effortlessly awakened all her hushed-up fairytales.

"That's not true, your whole life you made sure that I dwelled comfortably in my skin, you took my parents place and didn't leave my side, you stick to me no matter what then how can I leave you when you need me. I would do so much more if I could. You aren't just my aunt, you are my refuge. When I see you, I look at my mom." Nina tugged the frail woman for a bone-crunching hug as Lea silently wept on her shoulder. Nina wondered what moved the woman to tears though she couldn't do much but wait for her to pour whatever was bothering her.

"I made a mistake in the past, my sweet girl. The guilt is eating me inside." Lea pulled away, tears clinging to her cheekbones as Nina swiped her thumb over them.

"Is there something bothering you? Do you wanna talk?" Nina asked, her voice was as soft as petals.

"Aren't you such a sweetheart? Always ready to listen, always caring." Lea lovingly patted Nina's cheek, smiling through the tears. "I'll tell you when I've enough courage, only if I live." Lea scrunched her nose when Nina unleashed a grunt of disapproval.

"Of course, you'll live and you'll stay with me for a long time." Nina had the whip of promise in her tone.

"Let's hope for the best, why don't we?" Both jerked their heads at the male voice and Taehyung was standing with his mighty presence. A smirk nestled the corner of his lips and he gave her a wink that went straight into her heart, causing her to fumble with her fingers like a teenager.

"Y-you? Why?" Lea's throat felt like sandpaper, and she had a hard time convincing herself that Taehyung was in front of her. The 18-year-old boy had grown into a charming man, even untouchable yet he still wore his arrogance like a crown. Like a Kim. Taehyung resembled so much his father, it was bone-deep terrifying.

The past that Lea was running away was standing in front of her in the flesh. The idea of the possibility of Hyeon getting Nina sickened her. It made her livid.

"This can't be real." But it was inescapable. The validity of the situation coiled around Lea like ivy. She swallowed thickly when Taehyung leaned down and Nina offered her lips to him, they softly greeted each other with a kiss.

"What are you doing here?" Nina bit back a smile when he circled his arm around her waist, closed his eyes, and sough out as if she was the ease he needed to breathe properly. "I thought you were at work." Hot waves of rousing tension throbbed inside her gut until they triggered her usual response— a rapid heartbeat, and a dry mouth.

"I was." He opened his eyes, only to find her longingly staring back at him.

"I assume you were busy." Nina flattened her palm on his chest, tapping her index there for a second. She loved knowing that his heart — according to him black and dead and crooked — beats for her. It was so crystal clear, right off the bat that Taehyung was something that she couldn't bear to lose again.

"Busy for others, not for you." Taehyung chuckled at the more-than-obvious blush on her cheeks. "I couldn't focus on work, it's your fault." She went silent for a moment, just watching the way his broad shoulders eased under his leather jacket and the sexy smirk that had her literally fanning herself.

Nina could tell him the same. The situation of her heart was extremely chaotic, undeniably frenzied. All she could think about was Taehyung, even working in the office, she would lost in his thoughts. She would imagine how his lips splayed for a rare smile. How his hair had grown out and kept falling over his brows. How every muscle of his body rattled and deliciously shifted when he dicked down her and brought her to sweet orgasm or how the one brush of his fingers against hers sent a surge of chills skating down her spine — Nina didn't see herself complaining. 

"How is it my fault that you couldn't focus on work?" Nina flicked her brows up.

"Your thoughts crowded my mind. I was surrounded by people but the need to see you was so strong, I couldn't stop myself from walking away from them. Looks like there's no place for me out there." His eyes softened, and his fingers drew gentle circles in the groove of her waist. "You made me like this."

"You should focus on your work and stop walking away from people with this sappy excuse." Nina jabbed her index on his chest, concealing the shy smile demanding to claim her lips.

"Sappy? It wasn't an excuse, don't hurt my feelings." Taehyung grunted.

"He is that guy you are seeing?" The astonishment had tightened Lea's tone, the fright in her eyes made Taehyung's mood light up with delight. Oh the thrill of seeing the fear, he could feel it tingling in the tip of his fingers. "The heir of the Kim empire." She spattered through her teeth.

"The one and only." Taehyung coolly husked, although there was no pride. For the world he was the heir, in reality, he was the biggest opposer of his dearest asshole daddy.

"And we are doing more than seeing." Taehyung declared without any shame as he met her dirty glare with a cheeky grin.

Taehyung approached the woman with Nina cradled into his arm as it didn't look like Nina wanted to pull away either. She had leaned her head against his shoulder and stared at him through her lashes. Nina was sure tiny hearts were generating above her head.

Other hand, Lea could glimpse at the whirlwind of craving in Nina's body language as if nothing and no one matters in the world but him. It physically emitted from her that she was thoroughly drowned in Taehyung, exactly the way she was years ago.

"How are you doing, ma'am or should I just call you aunt since we are soon going to be a family?" Lea scowled, her eyes drilling holes in the man's face who was wearing a devil-may-care expression. The suave charm, the untouchable aura, it reminded her of those men who thought the world beneath them but she had the haunch that Taehyung was worse beyond her thoughts.

"Family?" Lea deadpanned, her stare cutting through his wolfish one.

"Yes, didn't my baby tell you that we are going to get married?" Taehyung feigned a shocked expression, he entwined his fingers with Nina's and kissed her knuckles to give Lea an exhibition of their overflowing affection.

"What are you trying to say?" Lea was flabbergasted, she tried to stifle the trembles weighing down on her.

"I declare to the whole world that you are mine and you didn't bother to share this news with our dearest aunt? I expected you to be fast, darling." Taehyung grinned without showing his teeth, a mischievous twinkle occurred in his eyes, seeing a contemplating expression stretching across Nina's face. 

"Or are you ashamed of me?" Nina's heart climbed to her throat at Taehyung's irrelevant conclusion.

"Maybe that's why you don't let me post our pictures? What's the reason you don't associate with me in public or outside your house?" The playfulness in his tone took a turn to razor-sharp. He didn't mean to ruffle her but seeing her flustered and speechless was a different kind of fun, although he expected her to wipe the sudden doubt taking place in his head.

"Because associating with you in public and posting pictures with you brings me attention and. . . '' Taehyung maintained a blank face, suppressing the laugh that was tickling his throat. "You know I'm not comfortable with that." Nina recalled that last time when the social media gave her particular attention thanks to Taehyung. Let's just say Nina didn't much enjoy it, she was comfortable in her calm bubble. 

"But that doesn't mean I'm ashamed of you. Never.  And trust me, I had no intention to hide you from my aunt, I was just waiting for the right moment." The desperation lashed her every word, soothing the wrinkles occurring in Taehyung's heart as her fingers tightened around his hand in a promising grip.

"Mhm, I trust you." Taehyung brushed his lips against her knuckles again. "I was just teasing you, do whatever makes you happy. I won't make you do anything that will affect you in a bad way."

"What marriage?" An urgency and edginess in Lea's tone that didn't go unnoticed by Taehyung as Nina snapped her neck at her Aunt.

"Oh, it's kind of complicated."
God, she nearly forgot that she was standing in front of Lea. That's what happened when she was with Taehyung, everything blurred in the background and only he would be luminous in her sight.

"But we are building our relationship and it's going pretty well, better than I expected. I really, really like him." Nina's fingers gripped the pendant and the ring around it captured Lea and Taehyung's attention, spreading Taehyung's lips for a smile.

"Yeah, I can see that." Lea slowly let out.

"One day I'll have to get married anyway." Nina glanced down at the sparkling ring and her heart thumped in her chest.

"Yes, of course, but are you sure about…this?" Lea grumbled, the detaste was there but Nina was deaf to that.

Nina simply darted back at Taehyung, her eyes had a cluster of emotions. Was she truly sure about Taehyung? Her heart melted when Taehyung leaned on her, brushing the back of his hand over her cheek in a comforting manner. Yes, she had pondered about it a lot and concluded that he was the only one who could understand everything without her uttering a word. They might have been separated all these years but the embers were always there and when they crashed, it burst into a full-fledged fire.

"Relax." Taehyung was gentle and way too gently cupped her face. There were rare touches from him, he was always fierce with his grip and hold, sometimes ruthless and Nina liked both sides of him but she loved the softer side of him more.  "Remember, I'm willing to wait for you so take your time. Torture me all you want." He scrunched his nose, playfully pinching her cheek.

"I'll make sure to torture you entire life and enjoy every second." She answered him, mirroring his expression as Taehyung turned at Lea with a haughty expression sculpting his face. 

"She said 'entire life' and I think you've got your answer." The golden of Taehyung's eyes turned icy. "It looks like you have lost your niece to me." Taehyung chuckled but Lea had picked the threat in his undertone, she felt the dark energy creeping out of him.

The mere sight of Lea filled Taehyung's veins with unspoken rage. Nina was the sole reason for suppressing his animosity for that woman. Letting Nina know about his father's disgusting intentions towards her wouldn't change anything. Though Taehyung believed, that if she found out that her dearest aunt was involved in his sick plans, it might destroy Nina wholly and he would willingly take a knife in his guts, but wouldn't be able to endure witnessing the tears in Nina's eyes.

Sometimes you have to hide certain things to see your people happy and Taehyung was merely protecting Nina's heart from breaking.

The silence was tainted when Nina's phone began ringing as she took her phone out of her purse. "I need to take this call." She briefly glanced at Lea, though her eyes stayed on Taehyung a little longer.

"Sure." Taehyung's gaze softened when Nina kissed his cheek and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind.

"You aren't good for her." Taehyung slowly, in the most bored expression, scrutinized Lea.

"I don't remember asking your opinion." Taehyung's expression didn't alter, same as lethargic. He flicked his eyes to look around at the ward as if finding something worth wasting his time on.

"I'm her aunt, I know best for her." Lea tiffed, her throat flexed for a feeble gulp.

"An aunt who had traded her to my shitty excuse of a father for millions. Allow me to be blunt. You used her as a pawn, just a mere source of money, you were dishonest toward her so stop pretending with your false care and affection." The glow of Lea's eyes depleted into darkness. Her lips parted then closed without a word.

"Yes, I know. I always knew." Taehyung tipped his chin and moved toward her in leisurely slow steps. Under his shrewd eyes, Lea sensed suffocation crawling inside her lungs. Every step of his had so much controlled power, Lea knew that he wouldn't mind using that power on her.

"I realized the mistake before it was too late and fixed it, I saved her from that man." Lea spat, her grip tightened around her wrist as her eyes wobbled against his.

"But you couldn't save her from falling for me." Taehyung's grin turned vicious, he clenched and unclenched his fist on his side while looking down at her through the slope of his nose.

"Falling for you? You must have manipulated her, tricked her into thinking that she is special to you. Right now she is blinded by your charm and false promises." Taehyung finds her accusation humorous enough to unleash a laugh.

"You don't know shit." Taehyung didn't expect anyone to understand his raging need to keep her and he wouldn't go around explaining his raw emotion to everyone. Nina was the color of his bare world, she was the warmth, she was his gravity and sobriety and everything in between.

"What kind of game are you playing?" Lea flashed him a curt look.

"There's no game. The day she stepped into the Kim mansion she was mine already and your opinion on this won't change a single fucking thing, Aunt Lea." The woman let out a gasp when Taehyung's hand wrapped around her throat, his fingers digging her pulse point as he tilted her face up and glared down at her in severe contempt.

"Now don't make a noise and attract attention, otherwise I won't hesitate to snap your neck." A dangerous growl breaks between his grinding teeth.

"You are a monster." She quivered under his punishing hold, clawing his arm while her eyes popped out, wide and fearful.

"One man's monster is another man's beloved." Taehyung quoted out. The menace was evident in his face as his jaw set tight. "She knows what I feel for her and what I'm capable of. She had picked my monstrous parts and embraced them with a smile." Taehyung didn't put enough pressure on her windpipe. Killing her wasn't the plan, no matter how much he desired to but he used enough strength to leave her struggling and begging for every breath.

"I can ruin you and the blind trust she has in you but I won't. She loves you more than anything and as much as I hate the idea of you being an important part of her life, I can't see my Nina going heartbroken. Seeing you breathing and functioning properly makes her happy. If she finds out that you sold her when she was just 15, I can't imagine what pain she would go through and I refuse to see her in pain. The hell will freeze over before I let anyone hurt my red." Taehyung jerked her back in her place and calmly pulled his hand back while eyeing the frail woman regaining her breath.  

"I'm not pleased with the way you stole her from me. You took her from me." Taehyung's fingers itched to end her right here and there but he could only do that inside his head.

"Shut your nonsense! She wanted to leave too and I had to save her from the scoundrel father of yours. She was heartbroken and lost that night, she didn't tell me anything but I got the hint that it had something to do with you. I couldn't lose the chance, she was complying with my decision to leave the mansion so we left without saying anything." Lea's shoulders hunched down in defeat, she rubbed her throat and cursed under her breath. If only she wasn't blinded by greed, if only she could go back and deny the deal between her and Hyeon.

"So you're saying whatever you did was for her sake right? Then do one more favour to her. Don't come between us because if you do it, I won't just reveal your true face to Nina but I'll also rip your heart out of your chest, yeah the new heart that we are getting for you." Taehyung was speaking in such a polite manner that it didn't sound like he was threatening her for her life.

"Let's be happy and give us your blessings like a good aunt." Taehyung's face lightened with a smile when he heard the door opening and shutting sound, the clicking of Nina's sandals.

In five minutes, Taehyung revealed his true side to Lea, and the woman was left appalled and shaken, wondering how Nina managed to love this monster anyway.

"What are you guys talking about?" Nina wrapped her arm around Taehyung's waist, flashing a curious look between Lea and Taehyung who was beaming at her.

"Oh, nothing darling." Taehyung swathed his arm around her shoulder, pressing her closer to his side and suddenly, all the anger that he had dissolved upon having her closer. "I was telling Aunt Lea that I can't think about losing you."

"Oh." Nina blinked back at him and then Lea who forced a faint smile. "I'm not leaving you." Nina mumbled, dropping Lea's heart and filling Taehyung's chest with a tornado of emotions.

"That's right, you are never leaving me." He kissed the side of her head, staring at the path of Lea's soul.

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