Drabble #35

drabble #35

taehyung x reader || romance, fluff || 599 words prompt: are you warm enough? warnings: none rating: g tags: strangers to lovers, bookshop!au

It was an atypical late afternoon at the bookstore. The autumn sky outside was painted in a beautiful orange and pink gradient, as if a rain cloud had dissipated and wetted the sun, applying a natural filter to the entire scene.

Taehyung was organizing the poem's shelf when he heard the doorbell announce someone's presence. The boy leaned back, still holding his favorite Moon In Soo book, and saw a girl with wet hair and clothes approaching the counter.

“Hello” she said.

“Welcome.”

“May I use your phone?” she asked, hugging herself.

Taehyung paused for a moment, confused by the question, making her blush.

“If not that’s okay, I don't want to bother.”

“Sure, here it goes” he handed the device to the girl, taking a few steps back and returning to the shelf he was organizing minutes before.

“Hi, it's me. My car broke down, my phone died and I need a ride home. Can you come and get me?” Taehyung heard her say, "But why? You work nearby" she asked the person at the other end of the line, “I'm soaked and cold from the rain.”

After a long pause she finally replied, “I understand. What if I wait for you?” and it made Taehyung's heart drop because obviously she needed help and the person didn't seem to care.

“Right. See you later” she ended the call and turned back to the counter, reaching out and handing the phone back to Taehyung, “Here. Thank you so much.”

“Wait!” he shouted, watching the girl walk towards the door, “I just made myself a cup of tea. Would you like some?"

“It’s okay. I have to go”

“Are you sure? You can stay a little longer, call someone else...” he looked at his feet, putting his hands in his pockets.

“I don’t wanna bother.”

"You are not bothering” Taehyung quickly looked up, meeting her eyes with an assuring expression, “I was about to close the bookstore.”

“So early?” she asked.

“It was a slow day, only two people came around noon. I think the rain scared everyone away.”

The way she laughed in response made Taehyung believe that he could help in some way. At least distract her a little from her own bad luck.

“I'm going to get more water. Please, sit down and make yourself comfortable.”

Taehyung came back minutes later with not only the teapot and a cup, but also a blanket over his forearm and a portable heater dangling in his right hand. He approached the mystery girl, now sitting on the leather sofa next to the door, and placed the items on the small table in front of her.

“What is it all this for?” her eyes widened, going from the table to Taehyung and from Taehyung to the table again.

“I thought you might be a little uncomfortable, so I brought some things to help” he smiled sheepishly, “Here is a blanket and there is chamomile tea over there. I'm going to turn on the heater too, just in case.”

An overwhelming sense of gratitude washed over the girl. She had no idea that there were still such nice people out there. The fact that not only he brought her tea but also other things to warm her, made her tear up.

Taehyung adjusted the heater next to her feet, opened the blanket, and placed it on top of her legs, respecting a safe distance between them. He then sat on his heels to calmly pour the tea.

"Are you warm enough?" he asked as he turned and handed her over the hot mug.

08. hanging by a thread | reliability • kth

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pairing: taehyung x reader word count: 2.909 genre: drama, light angst rating: pg-13 warnings: cursing au: ceo/office trope: enemies to friends to lovers tags: ceo!taehyung, office!au, best friend!yoongi, unresolved emotional tension, mutual pining, slow burn crosspost: ao3

summary: tae is conflicted between following yoongi's advice and respecting Y/N decision to move on with another man. which one will he choose?

A/N: definitely one of my favorite chapters :’) with the story nearing its end, i had to continue the build up and create a curve that would lead to the apex (which will come in chapter 9). hope you like it!!

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“I guess I should probably go…” was the first thing Y/N said after a few minutes of complete silence. I was leaning against the tv wall with my forehead pressed against the cold marble and eyes tightly shut. I knew she was starting to get uncomfortable and I desperately wanted to say something to make the situation less uncomfortable. Oh well.

“Are you coming back to Vante?” I asked slightly banging my head to make the imminent headache that was beginning to form go the fuck away.

“No, why?” she quickly replied, sounding genuinely confused.

I immediately turned around, “But I apologized”

“You’re missing the point — again” Y/N said annoyed, “It’s not about that. It’s about what’s best for me right now”

“Running away, you mean?” I crossed my arms and took a few steps closer to her.

“Choosing” she got up from the couch with her purse already hanging from her shoulder, ready to leave. “For the first time in a long time, this is something I chose, for myself. Not for you, not for my family, not for anybody”

I think she has a point. After how honest she was today, I can only accept that she no longer wants to work with me, let alone have me in her life, but it's hard. I never thought we would reach this point. Although she didn't consider us friends, I feel like I'm losing one and it’s the weirdest feeling ever. I don't even know what I can possibly say to reverse this situation and make sure that at least we keep in touch from time to time, like college buddies I guess. 

Jesus, this is so lame. I don’t know if I can do it.

The crazy part is that, for a millisecond, I saw something sad in her eyes. Like she didn't want to go away or maybe she regretted this decision. Unfortunately, I can't hang my hopes on a hunch. I shouldn’t have hopes in the first place, she made that very clear tonight.

“I’ll have your paperwork ready by monday morning. Can you swing by the office?”

“Yes, thank you!”

The relief tone she used stung.

“I’m gonna go now” Y/N announced and I moved out of the way taking a couple steps back to let her through.

“I’ll walk you out”

“Don’t worry about it” she gave me a faint smile, “I know the way”

I feel a mixture of contempt, sadness, and shame. She doesn't even wanna be close to me. It's like I don't know her anymore, I'm shocked. I can't even accompany her for the last time, say a proper goodbye. Would I ever see her again?

Before she reached the front door I decided to turn my back so I wouldn't have the image of her leaving engraved in my brain forever. If I didn’t see it then it didn’t happen, it’s not real, she didn’t leave for good, just temporarily.

Entering my bedroom, I grabbed my phone lying on the bed and texted Yoon Gi.

kim taehyung | 11:23pm: she’s gone gone  min yoongi | 11:25pm: what? kim taehyung | 11:25pm: y/n. she left for real this time min yoongi | 11:26pm: why? kim taehyung | 11:29pm: she’s getting married

As soon as I pressed send I knew it would get a reaction out of him and I laughed out loud when my phone rang announcing his call coming through.

“What the fuck?” Yoon Gi bluntly started.

“Yes” I chuckled.

“You’re kidding right?”

I moved up the bed and laid down, propping one of my arms behind my head, “Wish I was”

“Hold on. How is she getting married? To whom? Was she even dating?”

“To some English guy named Eric”

“English?” he sounded disgusted.

“Well, he’s half Korean. His parents moved to England before he was born” I stared at the ceiling recalling the time when I first found this out.

“How do you know that?” Yoon Gi asked like he read my mind.

“Google”

“Taehyung…”

He will think I’m crazy.

“Fine, a private investigator”

“Just because she is marrying him?”

See? Crazy people behavior alert.

“God no, I’m not a psycho” I explained, “I had him check out the first time he appeared, a few years ago. He’s Y/N college boyfriend”

“So you know him”

“No. Technically they met at the MBA program in London not in college but it was around the same time we graduated so who cares…Anyway, one day he showed up at the office to pick her up and she introduced him as her boyfriend”

I remember like it was yesterday, dark hair, bangs almost on his eyes, a kind smile. A full-on goody-goody. Too perfect to be real, raising the biggest red flag on my book of weirdos.

“I thought it was very strange she hadn’t mentioned a boyfriend before so I had him check out just to make sure he wasn’t a serial killer or something, you know?” I continued.

“And at that moment you didn’t realize you had feelings for her?” the way Yoon Gi asked the question I knew he was furring his eyebrows behind the phone.

“What?”

“Please, who does that? You actually paid a guy to look into another guy because of a girl. A girl that was just your employee, by the way. Don’t you think it screams ‘I’m-in-love-with-you-and-incredibly-jealous-of-this-relationship-you-suddenly-have’?”

“Now I do,” I scratched my head and sat up, “at the time I thought I was just being nice and looking out for a female employee. You know how many weirdos exist these days”

“Right…”

I let out a loud sight and got out of bed. Yoon Gi was doubting my intentions and, even though I was unconsciously already interested in Y/N at the time, what I did was perfectly okay. I didn’t do it because I was jealous nor was I trying to sabotage their relationship.

“Did you at least confess your feelings?” he asked.

I paced around the room a little bit before answering, “Not exactly”

“What do you mean not exactly? Either you did or you didn’t”

“We kinda argued about some stuff, then acknowledged we had sexual tension and next thing I knew she was telling me how ever since college she wanted to be my friend or even more”

“Yah!!!!” Yoon Gi yelled, making me almost drop my phone.

“What, what?”

“If I was next to you right now I’d punch you in the face”

“Why?” I asked, kneeling in front of the bed and putting my phone on speaker. Yoon Gi knew how to be scary sometimes.

“I can’t believe she said this and you didn’t confess” he grunted, “That was your cue! What’s wrong with you?” I could hear the non-existent facepalm from miles away. He was disappointed in me, I knew it. Bet he’s thinking how our conversation at the pub didn’t mean shit for me, but it did.

“I apologized though” I paused to get a reaction, staring at the phone. “Wholeheartedly!” I added.

Sometimes I felt like a little boy asking his father's approval. I never did that with mine but I found myself doing it with Yoon Gi every now and then. I always wanted to be cool in his eyes.

“Okay, that’s actually good”

I silently mouthed a thank you and fixed my posture to sit cross-legged in front of my phone to talk to Yoon Gi as if he was on my bed.

“Yeah, but then as I was gathering the courage, trying to find a way to approach the subject she was like since you wanna know about my personal life, I’m engaged, how’s that for personal? and I was just standing there like are you serious?”

I may have mimicked her voice and my voice for theatrical purposes, which made Yoon Gi laugh. He could be so annoying sometimes, I swear. 

“Why you laughing?”

“I’m imagining the look on your face”

“Thanks”

“Go on…” he said, obviously trying to hold his laugh.

“That was basically it. She said it was her choice and I pondered a little bit before agreeing and saying I would have her resignation papers drafted and ready by monday morning”

“Wait, so she’s not coming back?” Yoon Gi’s tone went back to serious.

“Oh yeah, no" I shrugged.

“Wow, you’re fucked” he clicked his teeth.

“Yup” I agreed, infatuating the ‘p’.

“Personally and professionally” he reiterated.

“Big time”

“I don’t know what to say to you right now”

“I was counting on your advice, to be honest” I tittered.

“Now that you thought about your feelings and is sure about them, you have to tell her”

“Yoongi,” I got up and started gesticulating towards the phone as if he could see me, “she’s getting married!”

Did I not tell the story right? Was he not following along?

“She’s not married yet”

He got me there. If we are going to stick to technical terms, I guess Yoon Gi is right.

“On monday morning, when she stops by to get the papers, just tell her” he suggested.

I don't know, there is something about not respecting the boundaries she imposed half an hour ago that doesn't sit right with me. On the other hand, what made me equally uneasy was how sad she seemed when she left.

“It won’t make any difference” I scoffed, sitting down next to the phone and biting my thumb nail.

“You don’t know that” Yoon Gi reprimanded me.

“I don’t think she’ll like it very much” I shook my head nervously.

Come to think of it, she has been sad ever since our talk in the emergency staircase.

“You don’t know that either” he pointed out.

“Isn’t it just rude? I know she’s with another guy and she made it very clear tonight that she doesn’t want to be in any form of relationship with me. She didn’t even let me walk her out!”

“Stop making excuses for yourself and decisions for her. Just tell her. You’ll feel better, I promise”

“Doubtful” I said, face between my hands, the sound coming off a little bit muffled. I don’t know if Yoon Gi heard me or not. He’s right, I know he is, but I just can’t do it. She’ll just start to hate me and if there’s one thing I’m not willing to lose is her respect.

“Listen to me, don’t listen to me, I don’t care. You know I don’t care” he said, “All I know is that you guys would’ve been great together and you’ll definitely regret it not even trying”

“Damn” I looked at the phone.

“What?” he chuckled, “Too harsh?”

“Not more than usual”

That made me smile. Yoon Gi has always been the type of friend who said what needed to be said instead of what you would like to hear. At the beginning of our friendship, I misunderstood his advice for personal criticism especially tailored to hurt my ego. As I got to know him better, I learned his sincerity was a gift and was always accompanied by the best intentions. He really cared. Not about if I liked or not or what I was going to do per se, but how much I was going to let the problem affect me. 

Yoon Gi is an empathic guy, although he doesn't seem like it at first. He is always thinking about how to help other people feel better and I am very grateful to have him in my life. He knows that even if I don't take the majority of his advice, I have too much respect for him to not at least consider what he has to say.

“I was going for painful” he jokes.

“I appreciate you” I smile again.

“I know you do”

“Talk to you soon”

“Bye!”

After ending the call, I had a lot to think about. I needed a plan to talk to Y/N on monday, I couldn't just confess my feelings out of the blue. It's late and I'm too tired. I'll deal with it tomorrow.

******

As soon as I turn left on the street, I can see my house and relief runs through my body. I can't wait to take a shower and sleep! Airplanes are so uncomfortable. But wait, the lights are on.

After parking, I climb the short flight of stairs that connects the garage to the main house and go out into the corridor, instantly being greeted by the delicious smell of something being baked.

“Hi, I’m back!” I say in a sing-song voice, taking off my shoes.

“In the kitchen” a female voice shouts.

Heading in the direction of the voice, and thinking about what I'm probably going to eat, I walk into Y/N separating some ingredients on the island and picking up the mixer.

“What are you doing?” I ask confused.

“Baking a cake?” she replies with a ‘duh’ expression.

I didn't know Y/N liked to cook, I'm quite shocked she is here. How did she get in? I don't remember giving her the keys.

“Okay, and since when do you bake?” I teased taking off my jacket and throwing it on the couch.

She looked up, pointing the spatula at me, “Since the man that I love decided he didn’t want a birthday party”

I smiled and she continued preparing what I gathered was the frosting. I'll never get sick of hearing her say those words. It gives me goosebumps and fills my chest with the warmest, most amazing feeling.

“It’s not that big of a deal” I shrugged.

It really wasn't. I don't care much about my birthday. I used to when I was younger. Once I rented a yacht for the weekend, another time I took my friends to Greece, another year I went to Vegas with Yoon Gi. It's funny to see how priorities change over time because these things sound so trivial right now and don't appeal to me anymore. I did it for fun, not because the fact that I was born was an important event. It was just a date on the calendar where I was allowed to go crazy.

Y/N, however, didn’t see it that way.

“To me it is!”

Inside the bowl in front of her was this beautiful, soft-looking white mixture that made my mouth water and I quickly reached my hand to scoop a little bit.

“This looks good, can I have a tas—” I was interrupted with a slap on my hand.

“No!”

“Ouch” I laugh.

“I’m not done yet” she laughs too and I roll my eyes. Just a tiny bit wouldn’t make a difference, she knows that! Looks so tasty.

“If you behave, I have a surprise set up for you later” she smirked.

“Oh really?” I hugged her from behind, putting my hands on her stomach and leaving a kiss on her cheek. She hummed in response and kept smiling while stirring the mix.

“Can’t wait” I whispered in her ear before kissing her naked shoulder, which unfortunately wasn’t for long thanks to a stupid alarm that started ringing nonstop.

“Aren’t you gonna get that?” Y/N asked me and I shook my head in the crook of her neck. “Tae!” she laughs, “Your phone is ringing”

All of a sudden I feel sad for some reason, “I wanna stay here with you”

Y/N immediately stops stirring the mix and turns around to face me, displaying the most loving look in her eyes as she smiles and hugs me, “But baby, I’m not going anywhere”

And just as seamless it started, seamlessly it ended. When I turned around to pick up my phone and answer it, I suddenly found myself in another place, now totally dark and Y/N was nowhere near. This is actually my bedroom, 4:12 am. It was all a dream.

I sat on the bed, took a few deep breaths, ran my hands over my face and hair, forcing myself to get back to reality and fully wake up from the best and most realistic dream I’ve ever had. It was like a taste of what my life could have been with Y/N if only I had realized my feelings sooner. I hate myself for wasting so much time and energy fighting and suppressing it.

I squeezed my eyes shut trying to remember every detail of her face as she smiled at me. I don't think I have ever gotten this close in real life and wonder how I managed to visualize those beautiful eyes so clearly. Especially the way they formed wrinkles on top of her cheekbones when she smiled and the way her lips practically begged to be kissed.

She seemed so happy with me. And she was baking a cake, for God’s sake. I don’t even like cake that much and yet she made them look like the best creation mankind came up with. Who knew a dream could leave you this worked up. No, stop! I have to remind myself that it isn’t real. She’s not mine, she’s marrying somebody else.

She’s not married yet.

Yoon Gi's voice pops up in my head and that statement is the only thing I can think of as I lie down again and try to go back to sleep. I don’t think I’ll be able to wait until monday to talk to her. I can’t hold it in anymore.

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𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 ❤ 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝗸! 𝗶 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ revised version: 09.25.2021

hi, i saw your post and wanted to tell you that i’m excited for the following chapter of reliability!

i also want to send you a virtual hug after what you said about adult life and being too tired to write, i understand completely... i hope you can relax soon and be able to find time for yourself in this very overwhelming world 🥺🤍

in the best way, i love this fic... i’m so thankful for your brain for writing it and sharing it! (and please never ever feel pressed to write, take your time!!)

juliette, hiii 🥺 first of all, let me hug you right back bc this is such a lovely message! i’m smiling so big right now

thank you for being excited and loving reliability as much as i do. it’s so fun and rewarding to write knowing amazing ppl such as yourself will read it

your kind words and support will never go unnoticed or unappreciated. please stay healthy and safe! don’t be a stranger, let’s keep in touch

xx

A/n when will u come with nxt part???

oh hi anon :)

i know it’s been awhile, sorry. i don’t enjoy taking this long to update but i’ve been putting some extra hours at work — some days i stay until 9/10pm. i don’t mean to be lazy or anything it’s just that adult life gets in the way i guess

i’ll work hard this weekend to give you at least 1 chapter, but hopefully more. let’s see how it goes 🙏🏼

thanks for asking kindly and being interested in my story in the first place. i appreciate you more than you know!

xx

Hello, this is just a tiny message to tell you that I really really love your writing. Your work is amazing and I can’t wait to be able to read more of it. I’m sending you lots of love <3

asdfghjkl my very first message, thank you anon! i didn’t even think i would get any tbh. means the absolute world to me to know you enjoy what i write :’) still crazy to think someone outside my closest friends read what i come up with lol i don’t think of it as amazing bc i still have a long way to go, however, i’m super thankful to have support and love in this fandom. writing about the boys brings me joy and i have a lot of stories planned for 2021. lots of love & pls stay healthy  ❤

drabble #54

seokjin x reader || angst || 806 words prompt: “i need more time” warnings: explicit mentions of physical injury rating: 18+ tags: established relationship, slice of life!au

Monday, 9:32 am and Jin had not experienced such despair in his entire life. He ran in, completely out of breath, and stopped in front of the wooden counter that said in large bold letters: Severance Hospital, Yonsei University.

“Hi, I’m Kim Seokjin and I’m looking for my wife. Someone from the hospital just called me and said she’s gotten into an accident and was brought here.”

A young woman with dark hair perfecly tied in a ponytail replied, “I was the one who called you, Mr. Kim. I’m Choi Eun Joo” she nodded and pointed with the clipboard to the adjoining corridor, "This way, Dr. Yoo is waiting."

"Mr. Kim?" the doctor standing in the middle of the hallway asked.

"Yes" Jin replied, approaching and bowing.

"I’m Dr. Yoo. I’ll be the one operating on your wife.”

"You mean surgery?" Jin looked at Eun Joo and back to Dr. Yoo, “What happened? Is she okay?"

"A truck suddenly cut her off on Expressway 171 and caused her car to collide sideways into the guard rail" he explained.

"Oh my god..." Jin put a hand over his mouth in total disbelief.

“She was found unconscious with a cut on her head, a fractured wrist, and injuries along her entire left side, especially the ribs” the doctor explained, “We just completed a CT scan and x-ray that confirmed that her lung was punctured."

"Pu-punctured?" Jin stuttered.

“Yes, by one of the ribs. The fracture in her wrist isn’t pretty either so I need to get her to surgery as soon as possible.”

"Alright" he ran his hands through his hair.

"When I'm done, I’ll come back to give you an update."

As soon as Jin bowed once again thanking Dr. Yoo and saw him disappear through the OR door, a horrible sensation ran down his spine and he had to sit in the nearest chair to keep from collapsing. His vision blurred and a high-pitched sound rang in his ears, increasing its volume until he felt disoriented.

"Are you okay?" Eun Joo approached, placing her hand on his shoulder.

"Yes, yes, thank you" Jin nodded.

"Nurse Choi, room 408" the hospital's sound system announced, "Nurse Choi, room 408."

Once the nurse left, Jin stood up and took a deep breath. What should he do now? It all happened so fast. The only thing he could think of was the argument he had had with his wife before they both left for work, how rude he was and how scared she must have been when the truck came towards her. She hated driving on the Expressway.

This was all his fault.

If they hadn’t argued, they wouldn’t have lost track of time, she wouldn’t need to go to work through the 171 to avoid being late and she would never have been in an accident. If he wasn’t such a proud guy his wife wouldn’t be laying on the operating table right now. Jin needed to focus! The next step was to sort out her paperwork. All he needed to do was go back the way he came from, turn left, go down the stairs and enter the second door towards the reception. She needed him more than ever.

However, Jin was so nervous he turned right instead of left. The second he realized the stairs weren’t there he freaked out and ran out down the hall, desperately opening all doors. In one of them, much to his surprise, there was a chapel inside.

Something told Jin to come in and sit down. He did so, closing the door behind him. The chapel was small with an extremely modern and clear design. The benches looked like marble and were arranged in three short rows. On the front wall, a single silver cross was illuminated by blue light.

"I need to calm down..." he said aloud, a little awkwardly, as he sat in the right corner of the first row. Jin intertwined his legs and lowered his head, letting all the tension come out in the form of warm, silent tears.

“I need more time” he suddenly sobbed, “Can you help me? I know we don't talk much, but I need to apologize to her. I need to say that I love her.”

Jin rubbed his eyes and looked at the cross.

"Please, I’m begging you. You are the boss, right? You make all the decisions, so tell her to be okay, then” he sniffed, “I shouldn't have said those things, I know, but please don't take her away from me. I promise that I’ll do better.”

Somebody opened the door and Jin immediately wiped his tears again and stood up. After greeting the person who entered, in silence, he looked at the cross one last time and thought: I’m counting on you.