KISMET Prequel TaeTee

Home & Sick

"Yes, it's a wedding ring!"

P'Tae is looking down at Pierre and me, with a hard scary stare.

"P'Tae!" I got to my feet, hurriedly.

Pierre copied me but more slowly.

"Pierre, this is my husband, Tae." I introduced my new friend to my husband quickly because I didn't like the way his almond eyes are narrowing to slits.

"Oh, shit!" Pierre chuckled softly, touching his forehead. "I had no idea... it's just you look so young and I never thought..." He shook his head and extended his palm for P'Tae to shake. "Sorry, man." When P'Tae ignored the hand, his eyes flittered to mine. "Extremely sorry, Tee." He laughed more, shaking his head. "My friends are going to laugh their asses off. Served me right for having no filter what so ever." He adjusted his winter coat and flipped the hoodie over his blond curly head. "I'll take my leave now. It's nice meeting you, Tee." He waved and started leaving, his boots crunching on the snow.

"Bye, Pierre!" I said lamely, watching his retreating back.

Then I turned to P'Tae. His eyes aren't scary and suspicious anymore, just troubled as if he's struggling with some internal battle.

"I'm sorry, P'Tae..." I waved my hand towards the way Pierre disappeared. "He's just a friendly tourist. It didn't occur to me at first that he might be flirting with me."

"No, no..." P'Tae slipped an arm around my waist and guided me out of the park. "It was my fault, Tee... I shouldn't have left you alone..." There's a worried frown in his eyes.

I turned around and waved at my group of little friends before letting P'Tae escort me out. Our bodyguards dutifully followed us.

Reclined on the back seat of the car, as we drove through the white covered streets to our next destination, I opened my palm and stared at what was written on it.

It was a phone number, a name of a hotel and a room number.

Shaking my head, I rubbed my thumb over the carbon lettering to erase it from my skin.

"Tee?" P'Tae held my wrist, stopping me.

I lifted my eyes and gazed curiously at him. There's that thoughtful expression again, bordering on sadness.

"I... I shouldn't have acted like a possessive ass." He cleared his throat and shook his head. "I mean, did you want to get to know that boy?"

"Huh?" I frowned.

"It's not fair for you, Tee." P'Tae ripped his hand through his hair, messing it up in frustration. "It's not fair for any of us in this so-called mafia world, how emotions are taken for granted." He waved his hand my way. "I mean look at you. You married a total stranger because your dad decided it's what best for you. Your youth, passion even the choice of liking someone and fall in love was stolen from you. It's not fair, Tee. It's... wrong!" He thumbed his wrinkled forehead in frustration.