Love Off Screen |KIM TAEHYUNG

Without You

You cannot believe what you just overheard from Tae's agent and Ara.

Y/n:-"So this was all a lie..Tae was using me this entire time to fix his image?"

In the distance, you spot Tae filming .Your hands ball into fists. You notice Ara walking off towards set, leaving Tae's agent alone. You march over to Peter, determined to learn the truth.

Peter:-"Y/n, what can I do for you?"    Y/n:-"I know everything!"   Peter:-"Excuse me?"    Y/n:-"I overheard your entire conversation with Ara."   To your surprise, he seems the least bit fazed by this news.

Y/n:-"Well? Do you have nothing to say for yourself?"     Peter:-"I want the best for Tae, and fixing his image was vital for improving his career. Unfortunately, he couldn't accomplish that on his own."     Y/n:-"So you pushed him towards me, because nothing will erase his womanizer image more than a serious relationship with some wholesome, boring, country girl."

Peter:-"Not my words, but that was the general idea, yes."   You eyes well with tears. The small part of you that was holding out hope feels crushed.

You walk away with your head down. Before you make it inside, you hear that familiar voice calling you.

Tae:-"Y/n!"   Reluctantly, you turn around and find Tae heading towards you, smiling.

Tae:-"Where are you off to? I'm filming a scene I want you to watch."     Y/n:-" I'm not in the mood."   His eyes widen at your angry tone.    Tae:-"....Is everything okay?"   Y/n:-I just had a very interesting conversation with your agent."  You swear Tae looks nervous.    Tae:-" You were talking to Peter? About what?"

Y/n:-"He told me about your little arrangement. How you planned on using me to fix your image."   Tae's face falls. He's at a loss for words.    Y/n:-"You didn't think I'd find out, huh?"               Tae:-"You have to understand.. It wasn't that simple."    Y/n:-"Well, I'll tell you what I told him:find someone else to fix your image. I'm out. I'm not doing this anymore, Tae. I should've listened to my gut and stayed away from you."    You head inside to be alone, leaving Tae behind.

Inside your office, you sit at your desk and try to sort through the mess you're in. A knock on the door startles you. The door creaks open. To your relief, it's only Shree.

Shree:-"What are you working on?"   Y/n:-"More like, 'Who are you hiding from?'   You quickly fill Shree in on everything that happened.    Shree:-"I can't believe this!"   Shree spins around quickly, heading towards the door.   Y/n:-"Where are you going?"   Shree:-"To yell at someone! Ara, Tae...Anyone!"    You run towards the door and block it with your body.

Y/n:-"Shree, stop. I don't want that. The last thing I need is for you to cause a scene and then everyone knows about this. It's embarrassing, okay? I feel like a fool."

You manage to sneak through the entire day without running through Tae. You spend the following day hiding out in your office, avoiding everyone. That night, you're curled up in bed with a book when there's a knock on your door. You open the door and find Shree in the hallway, all dressed up.    Y/n:-"Going somewhere?"   Shree:-"Some of us are heading out. I wanted to check on you before I left.."    Y/n:-"I'm coming with you."  Shree:-"You're-what?"

Y/n:-"I'm sick of sulking around and hiding out. I'm done crying over Tae. He doesn't deserve it."  Y/n:-"But Y/n, Tae's probably going to be there. Ara, too.   Y/n:-"That's even better. I'm counting on that."   Shree:-"Why?"   Y/n:-"So I can show him what he's missing."  Shree:-"It's time for Tae to realize that you're doing just fine without him."

After arriving at the bar, you search for Tae. To your relief, he hasn't arrived yet. You and Shree head right to the bar and catch the bartender's attention. Your eyes travel through the bar once more... But still no sign of Tae. Few minutes later, the door swings open and Tae steps inside, looking effortlessly cool in a suede bomber.  

Shree:-"He-who-shall-not-be-named has arrived."  Your eyes follow Tae as he walks through the bar. He stops to greet some of the crew members. He turns towards the bar..And your eyes meet. Time seems to slow as he gives you a once over. You wait for Tae to smile, to wink...Anything. But he only watches you, his gaze unwavering. 

As the night goes on, one shot turns into three, the music gets louder, and the sting of heartbreak begins to fade. Shree has sauntered off with a brown-eyed stranger, leaving you by yourself. You're aware of Tae's presence across the bar. His eyes haven't left you since he arrived.

You all but run to the washroom, grateful to finally be alone. Feeling heartborken, tipsy and exhausted, you simple want to go home and be in bed. But when you open the bathroom door to leave, Tae's standing there. He pushed his way inside and locks the door behind him.

Y/n:-"What are you doing?!"   Tae:-"Trying to talk to you, Y/n!"   Y/n:-"I don't want to talk to you."  You try to push past him, but Tae's large frame blocks the doorway.

Y/n:-"God, you're insufferable!"   Tae:-"I'm not going anywhere. You can't keep running away from me. Running away from us."  Y/n:-"Tae, stop this."   Tae:-"Do you know how much I've missed you, Y/n?"   You gasp as Tae jerks your body against his. Your head screams to push him away, but your heart coaxes you into pulling him closer.

Y/n:-"Tae..."   Tae:-"I can't focus on anything when you're upset wih me! I can barely remember my lines. I NEED YOU, Y/n."   His fingers trail down your jaw..His thumb rubs against your lower lip. The raw edge in his voice stirs something inside you. Your anger turns into lust, and you hate that you completely love the man standing before you. When Tae leans in to kiss you, you let him. And for the first time in two days, you feel like you can breathe again. His kiss is light, a gentle touch that's barely there.

You hate how right it feels, to have him in your arms once more. Slowly , you begin to forget what you're even upset about. He pulls away.

Tae:-"Don't you miss me, Y/n?"  His eyes hold yours captive. All you can do is nod.

Y/n:-"Just tell me the truth, Tae. I want you make this all okay again."    Tae:-"Look at me."  So you do. The well of sadness you find in his eyes nearly makes you gasp.

Tae:-"My career was a fucking joke, Y/n. I was miserable being casted in all those shitty movies because no one took me seriously. So yeah, this movie was my chance to change my image. My agent advised me that getting close to you would help, too. But..You were insufferable.Annoying. Relentless. You constantly gave me shit, Y/n. You annoyed the hell out of me, and I loved that most about you. You really hated my guts, angel. But then the day of Shree's birthday,when we were laying on the grass together at night..Everything changes. These feelings came out of nowhere. And I didn't care what Peter advised, I decided to spend time with you because I wanted to, not him."

Tae takes your face in his hands, staring deeply into your eyes.    Tae:-"Tae takes your face in his hands, staring deeply into your eyes.   Your eyes well up with tears. You want this to be real. You want that more than anything.

Tae:-"Y/n...I'm in love with you."   You gasp. His face is painfully beautiful as he says the words you've always wanted to hear.   Y/n:-"Tae...This isn't fair. I don't what to believe anymore."   This time Tae doesn't try to stop you from leaving.

You stumble out of the bar. The chilly night air wraps itself around you. For once, you feel like you can think clearly. The weight of your actions crashes into you. This time, you can't hold back the tears. You wrap your arms around your body, like you're trying to hold yourself together...   "Y/n."

You hear a familiar voice calling your name. Blinking away the tears, your vision clears, and you see...

Y/n:-"Stacy?"  Stacy watches you with empathetic eyes. You know you look like a complete mess.

Stacy:-"Is everything all right?"