*Tae PoV*

*three hours later*

It's been surreal. I've pinched my own arm at least six or seven times, unable to believe that things have been going so well, but to be honest, even if this was a dream, I didn't want to wake up.

Everything about spending time with her felt so perfect, I never felt the need to act like something I wasn't, never felt the need to keep my wall up as tall as I had all these years.

After she helped me get down from the tree in the park, we'd left and walked back to her apartment, which took us almost an hour, but not before she went and talked to the two kids in the park as well as their parents.

Once again, I had found myself thinking about how good she was with kids, how great of a parent she'd be in the future-

And every time I broke off there. I had never, never thought about the girl who I'd want to be the parent of my kids- that was weird, right? 

But when I saw the way she spoke to them the way she smiled at them, and made them feel so safe and happy, I couldn't help myself, and ended up giving myself a big mental slap.

This girl will be the end of me, I swear, I thought to myself as she walked towards me with a bowl of food.

I was sitting on the floor next to her couch, and she sat down beside me, both of us facing the TV. A few months ago I would have turned the TV on, but now I wouldn't even think twice before choosing to talk to her instead.

When we had come back, some time around six thirty, she had given me some jasmine tea since I didn't like coffee, had gone inside and changed into her adorable home clothes, and began to make dinner for herself and her brother. Or so I had assumed, until she took out three bowls and filled up one with food for me as well.

I took the food without complaining, because I was hella hungry, and I knew if I didn't eat soon my stomach would betray me and growl obnoxiously loudly.

Taking one single bite of it, I knew my hunger was going to be satisfied- not only was there a pretty big quantity, it was rich and tasty as heck.

She finished eating in silence, and y/n began to clean up quietly and efficiently while I finished my food. 

She had put everything inside except for her brother's food which she kept in a heat-proof container so it would stay hot for when he came home and to eat it.

I was just scraping the bowl clean when she sat down beside me once more, closer than before.

I thought about what Jungkook had said before, about making a move on her while I had the chance. If I waited too long, she was sure to find someone else, and although it wasn't assured she'd even look at me now, it would be better if I made my move while I still had a chance, however small. 

But how? I'd never done this before and I had no idea what she liked in a person. So ask her, dumbass.

"Hey y/n?"

"Hm?"

"I know this is really random, but I have a question."

"Okay, go ahead," Taking her hair out of its ponytail, she shook it open and ran her fingers through it a couple of times before retying it.

Once more, I looked away so as to not make it obvious how transfixed I was.

"In dramas, I feel like the guy always makes the first move. Do girls never make the first move?"

She laughed lightly. "Every girl is different, Tae. I'm sure some of them would be confident enough to make the first move. I personally could never, but not everyone is the same. It's like asking someone if flowers are a good gift to get a girl. I don't know, honestly. Some girls think it's too cliche and too basic, but I love them. Each girl is different." 

She turned to me. "Why do you ask? Is there someone on your mind?" She wiggled her eyebrows.

"Just wondering," I replied, looking away so she wouldn't see the redness on my face.

"Tae?" She asked softly, gently.

Oh fuck fuck fuck don't give yourself away.

I turned towards her once more, doing everything in my power not to pull her closer to me. Our faces were just inches apart, we were breathing the same air.

Don't look at her lips don't look at her lips don't look at her lips.

This girl is ruining me.

"Yeah?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. My mind was on nothing but her now, every little thing about her.

A little smile broke out on her face. "You got a little something there," she lifted her hand to the corner of my lips, pulling the sleeve of her T-shirt to wipe it, our eye contact not breaking even once.

She pulled her arm away slowly, but the distance between our faces never increased. If anything we were closer now, closer than before.

I was debating over what to do, but before I could come to a decision, she scooted closer to me and lay her head on my chest, curling up her legs in front of her.

Whoa whoa whoa.

"Hey Tae?"

"Hm?"

"You know those kids we saw at the park today?"

"Yeah? They were so cute."

"Right?" She looked up at me, her head still resting on my chest. "So cute. I can't wait till I have kids I love them."

"Yeah, I'm sure. I was actually thinking earlier, you would make such a great mom, I-" I did not just say that.

She realised it too, and her eyes widened, her ears flushing. But there was a little smile on her face too, so maybe I didn't mess it up too bad.

"You were thinking before, huh?" She asked me teasingly, but there was no mistaking it- she had been caught off guard by it too.

Did that mean she liked me? Not necessarily.

But it also didn't mean that she didn't like me, right?

So if she's a teeny bit flirty, I can be flirty back. I think.

"Don't go there, y/n" I leaned down a little closer to her face and I saw her get redder and redder, but she still maintained the challenging teasing look.

"Or else?"

"You don't wanna know." Where did that come from? But it sounded okay, not too awkward or random.

She laughed. "Oh shut up, Tae. You're so dramatic."

"Make me." I spit out without thinking, mentally slapping myself as soon as the words came out of my mouth.

She opened her mouth to say something more when the locks on the front door started clicking and we jumped apart, just in time for when the door swung open to reveal her brother walking in with a bag of groceries.

"Hey guys," he said, obviously oblivious to the sexual tension between his sister and I right now.

"Hi, hyung," I said, trying my hardest to sound as not-awkward as possible. I cleared my throat, not looking directly at y/n.

"So, um, I'll see you tomorrow, then, um, for the- the party, okay?"

"Uh, y-yeah. Yeah. See you. Bye." She walked behind me to the door as her brother went to wash up, totally unaware of the awkwardness levels being through the roof.

"Wait, Tae."

"Yeah?"

"How- how are you getting home? It's already dark out."

"I'll take a bus and then walk," I replied, not sure where this was going.

"Oh, um. Okay. Be safe, text me when you get home." She looked down.

Then, faster than I could comprehend, she went up on her tiptoes and gave me a little kiss on my cheek, light as a feather and quicker than I could react.

Then, before I could even open my mouth to say anything, she had shut the door of her apartment, leaving my standing in the hallway with the goofiest smile on my face.

*** 

*y/n PoV*

Ohmygod oh my god oh my god.

What just happened? What did I just do?

I shut the door behind me, sinking to the floor and burying my face in my hands. What did I just do? Just because we had one slightly flirty conversation exchange it didn't mean he would have been okay with that- what did I just do?

My brother was still in the bathroom, so I took advantage of the time to compose myself. No big deal, right? I mean, it's not like I've never given any of my friends a peck on the cheek before.

But this felt so different.

No.

It had felt different for me. Who said he had ever even thought of me in that way? He is totally onto me, I thought. There's no way I haven't exposed myself by now.

"Hey, y/n?" My brother walked out of the bathroom, pulling on his home tshirt.

"Yeah?"

"I don't have to go to work tomorrow, you wanna watch a movie or something?"

"Sure. Here, I made you dinner," I said, walking over to the heatproof container and handing it to him.

"Thank you so much," he patted my head, and I pushed his hand away. "So, what do you want to watch?"

"Uh, I don't know. You choose." Honestly, I was just glad to have a distraction and to not need to make conversation right now. My thoughts were too muddled at the moment.

"Uh, how about..." he went on to list a couple of movies that he wanted to watch, and I nodded along, trying to appear as enthusiastic as I could for his sake. I think I detected that I was a little closed off, though, so he patted my head and brought a pillow and blanket from my bedroom so I could lie down on the couch next to him while we watched.

"Last day working with the kids really tired you out, huh?" He joked, filling a mug with hot water and putting a tea bag in it. He passed it to me and I sipped on it quietly, nodding.

That wasn't quite the truth. But I guess it'd take me some time to figure out what the truth was myself.

***

It took me a second or two to figure out where I was when I woke up in the morning, but eventually the disorientation wore off and I figured that I must have fallen asleep where I was on the couch, and my brother didn't want to wake me up.

It was one of those rare times when I was awake while he was still asleep, so I got up and folded up my blanket as quickly as I could. It wasn't until I got to brushing my teeth that my mind was functioning properly and I realised that today was the day of Rina's party.

And what happened last night.

I kept insisting to myself over and over that it really wasn't a big deal, but my stomach would begin to explode with butterflies every time I thought of seeing Tae again.

Today is about Rina, not you, I told myself. No matter how uncomfortable it got with Taehyung, I would not let that get in the way of her enjoying herself and having a good time.

I was free until lunchtime, after which I would go to Tae's house to prepare everything for when Rina would come. There wasn't much, so I could push it as much as possible so I would have to spend as little time there as I could.

In the meantime, I baked three batches of cookies and went to the convenience store to pick up all of Rina's favourite snacks. I brought them home and arranged everything in an old wicker basket I had bought a few days ago, and, wrapping the handle with some pieces of cloth, I put in a couple of flowers as well, from a lady who was selling some at the end of my street.

Once I was satisfied with how it looked, I put my little card in an envelope as well, and stuck it on top.

My brother made lunch for the two of us in the meantime, and as he laid the table I picked out an outfit to wear; I'd change after I ate my lunch.

It took way longer than usual to decide and I eventually ended up with a pair of washed- out jeans and a light blue tshirt over it. Good. Nothing over the top, but comfortable and practical.

I lay them out on my bed before going over to eat, and once I was done I slipped into the new set of clothes before picking up Rina's gift and calling Yoongi.

This was the perfect excuse for me to not have to spend time alone with Taehyung; I could say that I needed a ride, and that way Yoongi would be with us too. I felt bad for using him like this, but I really didn't have by other alternative right now.

*** 

"Hey," Yoongi said, as I opened the door the shotgun seat and slid in.

"Hi," I smiled at him. He was dressed in a pair of black jeans and the red hoodie which I had gifted him for his birthday.

"Hey, so listen, y/n," he glanced at his rear view mirror before switching to the next lane.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry this is so last minute, but I have a couple of errands to run, so can I drop you off at Tae's and then just go to the convenience store real quick?"

Why is this happening to me?

"Uhm," I bit my lip. The last thing I wanted right now was to spend more time alone with Taehyung, but if I said anything, Yoongi was smart enough to know that something was up. "Yeah. If you like, I could come with you." Please say yes please say yes.

"Awh, no that's totally okay. I'll drop you off and leave. I'll be back within half an hour though."

"Okay." No this is not okay ughhhhh.

He dropped me off outside Tae's and I was seriously considering just running away, not going into the house. But my plans were ruined when Taehyung swung the front door open and waved at Yoongi driving away.

And then he started walking towards me.

Ah, firmefeewoejf . What do I do? What do I doooooo?

Act natural.

"Hi," I called out, walking towards him with a smile plastered on my face.

"Hey," to my surprise, instead of looking irritated or uncomfortable, he grinned at me and pulled me in for a quick hug.

I smiled when he let go, but didn't look up to meet his eyes. I was already blushing furiously. "So should we set things up??

"Oh there isn't much to do, really. It's four right now," he glanced at his watch. "So Rina and the others will be here in about half an hour. We just need to take the drinks out of the fridge and put them in the ice cooler and keep the food inside," he said, gesturing towards the boxes of food that were piled up on his front porch, and grabbing my hand to take me inside.

"Kim taehyung!"

He whirled back around looking alarmed. "Yes ma'am?"

"Did you order the food already?"

"Yes."

"Why- ugh!" I resisted the urge to facepalm.

"What?"

"We literally said we would split the bill!"

A look of realisation graced his features, and he grinned. "Hey, it's no big deal," he patted my head and slung his arm over my shoulders. "If you really really want, you can just transfer me half of the money. But really, y/n. It's not a big deal."

"Nah. I'm transferring it right now." I pulled out my phone and within about a minute I had transferred him the money. "There. I hate being in debt."

"Okay, now are you gonna come inside or do I have to pick you up and take you?"

"I'm coming, I'm coming," I smiled. It was clear that he was aware of how uncomfortable I had become after what I did yesterday, and he was just trying to diffuse the tension.

And really, I didn't mind these flirty interactions. Each one made me feel so giggly and blushy inside, and more than anything it gave me hope. So what if I got my hopes up and heart broken? It was totally worth the fun. 

A/n: I'm sorryyyyy my work is deteriorating so bad lol but please please please do read on I promise better things are coming :)

I love you all have a great day or night wherever you are <3