Past

48| “Reading is hot girl shit.” — facts.

“Why are we in a club?” Perplexity crossed Nina’s face when they walked past the entrance of the club. Her eyes hopped at the crowd and then at Taehyung who was turning his head left and right as if looking for something — or someone.

“Don’t stress your pretty head. I wanna show you something and after that, if you like we’ll leave.” Taehyung shoved his hands inside his pockets and uttered in lazy calmness, flashing one of his cocky smirks at a few onlookers.

So sure, so confident as if he owned everything and everyone there, radiating the god-like ambiance and imperious nonchalance. And beside him was standing Nina with an unapproachable aura and cut-throat stares, getting suffocated by the strong stench of alcohol, sweat, and body incense.

Nina proceeded to scrutinize the club as if she would just dare to blink and the crowd would drown her. Neon blue and red lights shrouded the dome structure of the ceiling and the smoke lingered on the floor. Bodies were moving, slithering and some even grinding on each other carelessly as the loud music matched the drastic beats of her heart.

When Taehyung opened the car door for her, disappointment gripped her insides when she saw the bar. She didn’t expect Taehyung to take her out to a club,  especially when it was a well-known spot for the students. She thought of something else. Something simple, calm, and sweet… and alone time, with just them together.

“Or?” Nina blurted out, earning his attention. Taehyung turned his body at her, avoiding the voices calling his name. “Are you going to embarrass me in front of the students here?” The mere thought of turning her suspicions into reality laden her stomach with churning anxiety.

“What are you saying, why would I do that?” Taehyung found her suppositions completely ridiculous, he couldn’t find his laugh at it as it didn’t seem humorous to him at all.

“Why would you?” Nina repeated the word, mock delighting her tone. “Did you forget what you did all these years? Your records aren't that fascinating, Mr. Kim.” The bitterness in her expressions was like acid flooding in his veins as the new shame seized him by his throat and nailed him to the ground. So much that he couldn’t meet her eyes.

“No, I didn't take you here to embarrass you, Nina.” There was a fragile pressure on her name as she could hear the gloom melting in the flimsy sound of his breaths.

Nina began to believe him because even if words could lie, the look in his golden eyes couldn’t. They were always honest, even expressive beyond words and that was one of the things that always pulled her in. It was obvious that he was ashamed, guilty, and on top of that, desponded by the hands of his actions.

But she was hurt too. Maybe the wounds weren’t open and searing anymore, but that doesn’t mean they faded away. Suddenly, the memories gushed open and unsettled her with bitterness at the fact that Taehyung was just there being an onlooker while everyone humiliated her. When he could be her white knight, he decided to just sit on his throne and watch her misery. So yes it doubled her pain in some crinkle pockets of her soul and caused her not to hold back her spite.

But then again she couldn’t deny that, seeing him in distress, wrenched something deep within her in agony. It was a dangerous game to love this man. It was as if Taehyung was holding a knife against her throat and in his maddening craving, she would tell him exactly where to cut, where to make her hurt. and when she would bleed, Nina was sure there would be no blood— only his name would be oozing out of the wound.

“It's stupid, you’ll laugh at me.” Nina shook her head, mentally punching herself for even speaking the thing out loud. Would he care? Or would he just taunt her with his typical, suave expression?

“I won't laugh unless you want me to, red.” Taehyung inched closer with tensed muscles. Their forehead grazed as he stayed like that and suddenly the music,  the world, and the chaos were muted in the background.

“Tell me not to smile and I will obey you without thinking.” His voice was the only thing she could hear. Nina swore she could count how many times his chest fell up and down with every frantic breath. She could measure the millimeters between their lips. She could gauge how many times the muscles of his jaw flexed.

she could only feel him.

“Just tell me why you would think something like this. The things you believe are stupid and not worth speaking out loud are legit meaningful to me. I want to know. I want to figure out whatever traps in your mind.” The fierce sincerity in his tone liquefied her stirring anxiety.

Nina bit her tongue and looked at the crowd. For a beat, she envied the people surrounding them. They were happy, living their life without caring about another next minute, so careless and cozy. And here she was wallowing in anticipation, still holding her defensive walls higher and tighter. Why couldn’t she simply stop worrying about the relentless cage of routine and allow herself to enjoy time like them? Why couldn’t she just permit Taehyung to cup the wary pieces of her?

“So.” Nina cleared her throat and folded her arms across her chest, unintentionally offering him a subtle view of her cleavage that Taehyung didn’t mind staring at a little longer.

“I read a book.” Nina's voice quivered with hesitance, even so much that when he hooked his index finger under her chin and tilted her head up, it suspended her breaths.

“What book, baby?” His baritone voice was flecked with curiosity. Their eyes got lost in each other as his thumb continued the maddening back-and-forth motion.

Back and forth. He went on and on, searing her heart in the process.

“A romance book.” Nina grabbed his wrist, moving it away from her face but as relentless as Taehyung was, he put his arm around her waist, tugging her closer. 

Fuck the world, they could only watch. The moment was there and Taehyung wouldn’t let anyone wreck it.

“A romance book… and?” He was gravely serious, waiting for her to continue.

“So in that book, the main characters were enemies and they hated each other, like a lot. But they were also attracted to each other. The push and pull was quite intense.” Nina’s fingers twitched to ease the adorable crinkles occurring between his brows.

“Like us?” Taehyung’s chuckle was throaty and rumbling, it was a happy sound.

“The male lead was an asshole like you.” Nina eyed how the dazzle in Taehyung's face vanished. “But he was a hot asshole with all that charm and charisma.”

“He’s a hot asshole? So you meant to say, I'm not hot?” Taehyung narrowed his eyes, his tone was accusing. “Wait… you find another guy hot.” Nina was this close laughing at his moody huffs and puffs. His jealousy was so evident.

“He is fictional.” Nina grumbled.

“He’s a guy.” Taehyung concluded.

“Will you let me continue?” Nina gritted her teeth and Taehyung nodded. “And then his friends made a bet to him about making the female lead fall for him.”

“What?! Really?” Taehyung gasped and Nina nodded in a way as if they were solving a crime case. “Red flag.” Taehyung added it with a nose scrunch.

“I know right, I was so frustrated throughout the book.” Nina’s frustration was there but the sparkle in her eyes concealed that. “So the male lead made her fall for him. He was all flirty and kind and nice and then.” Nina paused for dramatic effects. “He took her to this party which his friends hosted and humiliated her in front of the whole damn school. Made fun of her,  broke her heart, and left her all devastated just because he didn't want to lose the bet. Can you believe it?” Nina’s eyes rounded in astonishment.

“I wanted to strangle that asshole but what to do, sadly he’s just ink on paper.” Nina stared at him and found Taehyung's face morphed into a cold sculpture. He appeared greatly apathetic, blank even. “What happened?”

“I'm upset.” He sneered, his fingers flexed around her waist.

“About the book?” Nina swallowed, waiting for him to bark a laugh and call her dumb and delusional and every kind of offensive remark. Although he didn’t say a word. He didn’t look like he was in the mood to smile.

“No, I'm upset because you think I would do something so ridiculous like this to you. Betting, pranking, and breaking your heart by humiliating you? Are you kidding me?” He was infuriated and the ticking of his jaw wasn’t easing. The dark ambiance radiating out of him dipped under her skin and ran through her like a razor-sharp blade.

“Don’t blame me.” Her lips— that Taehyung believed were made to kiss by him— moved slowly and he reminded himself that he was the reason for the quiver in them.

“It's just… hard to trust you sometimes. Put yourself in my shoes once in a while and you’ll understand it’s not that easy. I was always the target of pranks and humiliation so when suddenly everything is going fine, I tend to feel this way. I’m scared that what if it’s all a joke and you would do something to hurt me…” She grabbed his arm. The more she pressed her fingers around his arm, the firmer his grip around her waist went.

“You won’t do that right?” The hope and plea glossing her eyes snapped something rooting inside Taehyung’s chest.“Say something.”

“You are right, can’t really blame you when I'm the one who messes up big times but  you need to know that I won't do this kind of shit to you, baby.” He twirled her loose hair around his index finger, tucked it behind her ear and then softly toyed her lobe between his fingers.

“But I might humiliate other people for you.” A slow devilish grin swept across his lips and she knew that the easy-going, cocky asshole was back to chase away her trickling anxiety.

“I don’t want you to humiliate anyone for me. Why would you do that?” Her eyebrows crinkled.

“Because you are important and I love to put some people into misery.” Nina only paid attention to the term ‘you are important’ and it took everything inside her not to tackle him and bruise his mouth with her kisses.

“Aren’t you going to make fun of me for reading romance books? Normally boys do that.” Nina raised her chin, ready to bite him back if he dared to taunt her for her hobbies.

Reading brought her comfort— not only that, but it was her great escape. She was deaf to the world when she was immersed in the pages. Why would you waste your time worrying about the asshole-ish world when you can just simply read? Also, romance books had raised her standards so high and she wouldn’t let anyone make her feel bad about it.

“No. Why would I make fun of the things that bring you joy?” Taehyung couldn’t understand the reason for her unease, she seemed to coil in it and it was seeping out whenever she talked.

Nina was a girl who would hold her ground no matter what. She would battle her way out of every chaos which was highly admirable to Taehyung. However, at some moments, she would also lose herself in her own head, in her own bubble, so deeply that she would just blur into the silence and prefer to stay quiet.   

“So, you don’t think reading romance books is a waste of time and I can be delusional for making scenarios in my head?” Nina’s eyes were rounded, not being able to swallow his answer. “Even Ji-hoon says that I need to stop drowning in them.”

“I’ll not shame you for what you like, Red. You have a romantic soul, you love the idea of two people falling in love and finding a home in each other. Which is incredible. Why would I judge you for being a lover? Why would I judge you for being so endearing?” Taehyung spoke in a way as if he was talking to a child and all Nina could feel was her bones dissolving in the flesh.

The moment was better than anything. Better than the urge of sex. You can fuck anyone but with whom you could slow down and talk about books?

“Mhm, not even if I defend a fictional character as if my life depends on it? Would you not find it strange?” Nina couldn’t believe that they were honestly discussing her bookish traits in a fancy club where people step in to be wasted… not talking about stories.

His words, his voice, the way his lips moved, the way he fought the smile— everything was stunning. She didn't mind if Taehyung thought her childish for obsessing over books, because at least she was able to pull that expression on his face. That dazzling and innocent one. And you know what else was stunning? Him answering her every question without offering a speck of annoyance. Him kept staring at her lips and then focusing on her eyes. Him holding her closer— so yeah, everything was stunning.

“Defend a character? You’ll do that?” His lips stretched for a smile. Every time they talk, he gets to know something about her and it makes him draw to her even more.

“Damn, you girls are hardcore about your fictional husbands huh?” Taehyung’s eyes were teasing.

“Yes or no?” She mirrored his expression.

“No, red. I won’t find it strange.” He threw his head back and chortled, not at her question but at the way, her eyes were focused and patient and full of longings. She wanted to touch him, fully and completely and Taehyung hated the fact that she was resisting herself.

“Now don’t make me flick your forehead.” He lifted his fingers and brought it to her face as she squinted her eyes, waiting for the flick… it never came. Instead, he tapped his index on her nose.

This guy… this unbearably beautiful man would be her welcoming demise.

“And I'll knock some senses into that bastard Ji-hoon if he makes you feel bad about your romance books.”

“You won’t do such things.”

“Can’t promise that.” His shoulders tipped up for a shrug, ignoring the invisible daggers she was flashing in his direction.

“Stop glaring at me, red.” Taehyung leaned closer and pressed his lips against her ear. Not just speaking the words but stealing a kiss of mischief too. By the simple act, an explosion of emotion swirled within her and she hardly defied the urge to break into a smile.

“Okay.” Nina noticed how Taehyung’s face was ablaze with emotions, a refined whiff of craving and insatiable hunger.

He led her through the crowd, protecting her from unnecessary touch or push. Her spine straightened when his arm wrapped around her stomach. Every hard muscle of his chest pressed against her back as his breaths prickled the side of her face.

“I’m again in your arms.” Nina spoke loudly so Taehyung could hear her. The way he was holding her indicated that he had no intent to let her go and Nina learned a long time ago that she didn’t want to be free from his clutches either.

“Yes, exactly where you belong.” His breath danced on the shell of her ear as he spoke. Then the music drowned their silence as they reached the other side of the club.

Nina spun her head back, shocked to find him staring at her already. From the moment they walked out of Kim's mansion, Taehyung couldn't keep his eyes off her. His fingers kept sliding in her hair, in the pounding pulse of her neck, her thighs as he couldn’t stop kissing her knuckles through the whole car ride. Every brush of his fingertips was delicate, maddening, and possessive as if he was engraving every shiver rising to her body in the wall of his brain.

It felt too good to be true and if it was indeed a dream, Nina did not want to wake up to reality.

“Taehyung?” Nina glimpsed at a group. They were from Kings High, wearing shell-shocked expressions on their faces upon seeing Nina in Taehyung's arms, the golden boy of the school. Where the pretentious girls were whispering to each other while gritting teeth and biting lips. The boys appeared absentminded as they had their wolfish eyes set on her as if they had never seen a girl before.

“Is my dress revealing… showing lots of skin?” Nina looked down at her dress, flickered her eyes at the boys for a beat, and then again at her dress.

It was short, swishing around her thighs whenever she ambled. It wasn’t an issue. She was comfortable and felt beautiful. The thing was that she didn't wear her usual stockings and hoodie so her legs and cleavage were on display. Nina was used to staying in her solacing bubble, in her own shadow. She was the red riding hood of the school, hidden away from observant eyes. Right now the attention was like a dark smoke stuffing her chest, pricking her ribs and sickening her entirely.

“Don’t worry about the dress baby, you can wear whatever the fuck you want. I'll maim every motherfucker who would simply dare to look in your direction.” Taehyung flashed a look full of malice and threat, like ‘Don’t mess with my girl’ and Nina found nothing but a ripple of butterflies bursting in the pit of her stomach and fleeing in the direction of her chest.

Nina smiled to herself. Someone was protective. No idea why that made her so happy.

Taehyung’s gaze slid to her face, neck, and finally, the dress modeling around her breasts and stopping at her thighs. His cold fingers were taut around her waist, restraining the animalistic urge that was ripping his inside as if barbed arrows growing there, leaving him bleeding with carnal energy. Nina was his and Taehyung wanted to fuck her on top of the nearest bar to prove who even dare to look in her direction with lusty intent.

“And why worry about it when I'm going to wreck it later? Just so you know, I would rather have you naked… ” The smirk on Taehyung’s face shines with pure wickedness.

Nina stared at him, her heart was caught between awe and lust. Fondness and affection. Deep within her, a carnal burst happened upon noticing the predatory glint prowling in his gazes. She just wanted to eat him up…

“How do you always say improper things? In which nook of your head do they come from? Do you take classes for that?” Nina was astounded. The reddish hue illuminated her cheeks and crawled to her ears.

“I give those improper classes. Last time I checked, I'm the coach in this field. Art of seduction ain’t an easy game.” The playfulness and smirking glint weren’t gone, nonetheless the gruffness in his tone had inflated. His fingers continued caressing her waist in a sensual rhythm.

“Wow, so charming.” Nina taunted him.

“Don’t do that.” His demand was piercing and his hungry eyes stayed on her mouth.

“Don't do what?” Nina was startled when his lips hovered just above her ear, then his mouth tracing the outline of her lobe.

“Your grumpy glory energy turns me on, unless you don’t want me to drag you in some corner, tear your panties off and fuck you hard and raw, tone it down.” His lips dropped on the side of her neck, darting his tongue out, he took a long lick and bit behind her ear.

“Oh?” The sound that left her was something between a mewl for more and a groan of shame. Her breaths tripped in her throat as he tilted his head, letting her peek into the darkest — and oh god,  prettiest still — eyes ever.

“Oh yes.” He stared at her for a beat too long. It was as if he forgot everyone else was there, watching them immersed in their world.

“You are so…” Nina was breathless just at the thought of him doing all those filthy,  wanton things that he had crammed her head with. The vivid image of him pinning her to the wall, shoving her panties aside, and just ramming into her greedy pussy with his cock reeled in her head. 

“Dirty?”

“Yes.”

“Never said I wasn't.” Taehyung rolled his eyes. A weird expression covers her features, almost like solace, or intimacy. And just to see that same look on her face, Taehyung would go through hell if he needed to.

“Why do you like Ji-hoon?” They reached upstairs. His hands never left hers but she could tell his grip was tense and his shoulders were strained under his shirt.

“Why do you wanna know?” Nina was fully curious at his hurried question.

“Answer me.” Taehyung pressed his lips on the side of her head, luring her for a deed that she had full desire to commit. The kiss was profoundly sweet, endearing but also possessive and antsy as if he was letting her know that she had consumed every waking second of his life. And Nina understood, so well that her very being was weakened with the urge to soak into his heat. 

“Why do you adore him so much?” Taehyung didn't bother to conceal the agitation spiking his undertone. His face had lost all the playfulness and he schemed ways to kill the ji-hoon name of worm crawling on the surface of their relationship.

“Because he has a kind heart.” Nina spoke in a ‘duh’ tone.

“Oh puh-lease.” Taehyung snorted.

“He helps me when I need him, like in studies and sharing notes. He tells me jokes which aren't funny but I appreciate the efforts. He listens to my rants and he also made a playlist for me, that was so sweet of him.” Nina genuinely smiled, showing her pearly set of teeth. The heart-swooning smile couldn’t wither the envious sensation Taehyung was going through.

“I can do all of that. He ain’t special.” Taehyung used his bewitching tone that Nina was certain resembled the devil’s when he was enticing people to sin.

Nina bit her lips to quell the playful grin, trapping the love-sick sigh in the back of her throat when he planted a soft kiss under her palm. Still sulking. Still jealous but didn’t forget to shower her with his wild affection. Nina was sure she wouldn’t be able to stand on her feet without craving his touches.

“He is a good guy.” Nina added, instead of confessing the fact that she wasn’t as free in Ji-hoon’s company as she was with Taehyung. 

“Good guys don’t make your panties soaking wet, baby.” He rasped against her knuckles and a slow smile pulled in the corner of his lips. It was one of those cheeky smiles that could be seen on a villain's face after conquering the girl.

The lusty spark beneath his lashes seared itself through her body, thrummed the rush of her blood, and settled the dewy moisture between her thighs. Nina had to admit that this man’s charm was dangerous and she was not just falling, but stumbling and pirouetting in love. 

“Are you guys done eye-fucking each other?” Both were startled at the gruff voice and they snapped their attention at Namjoon and then at Jungkook who was holding his head, positively drunk.

“Good to see you here Nina.” Namjoon smiled, his dimples carving his cheeks and greeted him. Namjoon was one of those students who were actually nice to Nina and so winsome that Nina couldn’t conceal her admiration. Taehyung side-eyed them, he cleared his throat and put his hand on Nina’s waist, tugging her closer to his side.

“Bro, I get it.” Namjoon chuckled.

“Redhead?”Jungkook’s eyes were half opened and he blinked several times to look clear. “Oh, redhead! You are with my douche friend?” Before Nina could reply,  Taehyung butted in.

“Yes, she is with me. Her name is Nina. Don’t stare at her for more than two seconds.” Taehyung was gritting his teeth but Jungkook appeared serene, even blank. If the stench of liquor wasn’t reeking out of him, Nina wouldn’t know he was drunk.

“Meh.” Jungkook rolled his eyes at his friend and lazily smiled at Nina. “You can do much better than that. What did you like about his unlikable character?” A groan escaped him when Taehyung jabbed his stomach.

“I think you should go home now, kookie.” Taehyung glared at him.

“You sure you wanna be in his company?” Jungkook asked Nina, jutting his chin at Taehyung. “Feel free to knee him in the crotch if he upsets you.” Nina chuckled beside Taehyung.

“She doesn’t need your advice.” Taehyung lifted his chin.

“She needs it because she is dealing with an asshole like you,” Namjoon added and Jungkook slapped his chest with a laugh.  He stumbled and Namjoon grabbed him by his shoulders before he fell flat on the ground.

“Don’t listen to them.” Taehyung glared at his dearest friends and glanced at Nina with such softness, that Jungkook and Namjoon were physically cringed. “Only listen to me.”

“Don’t look at them.” Taehyung scowled at his friends and then turned to Nina with puppy eyes. “Only look at me.”

“Don’t give them your attention.” He gritted his teeth at his friends and then beamed at Nina. “Only me, I'm the biggest attention seeker, give your all attention to me.”

“What brain damage are you going through?” Namjoon gagged.

“Gross. Good thing I'm drunk and won't remember all this shit in the morning.” Jungkook shook his head and walked past them, not bothering to glance back at Namjoon who was following him behind.

“Now what?” Nina mumbled, acknowledging her surroundings. The upstairs setting was completely different from the downstairs. It was vacant and radiated a cozy atmosphere. Purple and red neon lights were casting over the lengthy settees, along the wine bottles decorating the table as the abstract paintings ornate the walls. She realized they were in the VIP section of the club.

Nina turned to Taehyung who was watching something in the farthest corner of the room. There was a girl on her knees, her face buried between the guy’s legs and her head was bobbing up and down by the way he was clutching her hair. At first, she found it uncomfortable to watch some couple exhibiting their blow-job session, then she was startled when the guy lifted his face and in the faint light, she could recognize him.

“Ji-hoon?” Nina blurted her thoughts loud and then realization rumbled over her head, the girl was Aria.

“Is your best friend, good boy Ji-hoon fucking your enemy behind your back?” Taehyung gasped, slapping his hand over his mouth. He was just being dramatic.

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I'll try to write short chapters.  The thing is that when I write about them I tend to keep going and i think it's boring  ...