delicate | K.TH

19

AMIN

"You want to walk me home this time?"

Taehyung nods, eyes firm. And I consider it for a second, thinking there couldn't be anything that could go wrong with that stalker still in the company.

"Let me, please?" He asks, and I finally nod.

I'd let him do what he wanted.

His face instantly grows bright. And I can't help but to smile when he slips his hand into mine, looking down at me with his warm gaze.

"Does that make you so happy?"

"A lot." He insists, and I laugh when he kisses the back of my hand. "A lot, Noona. You won't understand."

....understand?

"Then make me." I say, matching his pace. "I would like to know, Taehyung."

"Uh..." His voice hangs for a moment in hesitation, until he licks his lips and tightens his fingers over my hand.

"It's just that— every night you would have to walk back twice the distance because of me. And..."

I tilt my head upwards. "And?"

"And what?"

"Nothing." He laughs bitterly, scrunching his heart-shaped mouth adorably. "We're here, Noona."

"You haven't told me yet."

"I'll tell you tomorrow." His voice has suddenly turned teasing, but I can tell it's forced. "Goodnight, okay? Dream about me."

Tae...

I must be staring at him all forlornly, because he bends and kisses me right on the lips. His taste lingers when he pulls away, and I'm distracted enough to let him go.

He smiles, waving his hand at me as he disappears back down the way we'd come from.

"Bye, Noona!"

_____________________________

TAEHYUNG

And?

Her curious voice echoes in my mind as I walk down the street, hands in the pockets of my coat. I sigh softly.

And what?

I hadn't told her, in the end. How could I? It was just so embarrassing, to tell her that I didn't want to be so— so dependent.

She should be able to lean on me, instead of it always being the other way around. Even back when she'd needed help— with the work and everything— she hadn't called for me.

Maybe if I was more of a man.

I knew I was the child in our relationship. Noona was just too dominant— even when I tried to be like her she would always look at me with soft surprise, an amused smile on her lips.

Like she knew that I was trying to be something that I really wasn't.

It was frustrating.

And I'm almost halfway to my apartment when my chest starts hurting. It's a pain I know all too well, and my face pales when I recognize the beginning of my asthma flare.