ENTHRALL° s.th

012

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DAEGU
EVENING
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✧──────✦ the two walked in complete silence down the paved sidewalks of daegu. well, technically one was walking while the other clung to their back.

"don't come back until she gets home safely." hansoo slammed the dojang's sliding door in their faces and held it shut until taehoon quit trying to pull it back open. with an incoherent mumble, he turned away from the door and waved his hand to have her follow.

"hurry up, i wanna go home."

she stopped in her tracks and looked up at him as he complained, "i cannot physically move any faster. if you want to get me home faster, you're going to have to carry me."

jaehwa kept her eyes on her feet to ensure she wouldn't trip over anything and walked past taehoon at the fastest pace she could. she couldn't hear his footsteps trailing behind her. she wasn't the only one who wanted to walk faster.

"are you coming or what?" she looked back at him and gave him the same glare he'd been giving her. jaehwa thought he must have a problem with talking to girls to be this unresponsive, and rolled her eyes to continue walking away.

the crunch of the asphalt sounded next to her and she realized taehoon hadn't walked past her and left her in the dust. he had his hands stuffed in his signature bomber jacket and occasionally looked over to the girl next to him. it was the same sight every time he stole a peek. hands gripping the straps of the backpack, eyes ahead, and the occasional buckle of her knee that had her wavering at times.

the guilt caught up to him and he debated whether he should carry her on his back or not. a block later, he kneeled down in front of her with his back to her and jaehwa climbed on without a second thought. her knee was on the verge of explosion and she'd take every chance at rest as she could.

that's how jaehwa found her arms lying limply over his shoulders while taehoon walked slightly hunched forward and gripping her legs to ensure she didn't fall. if she did, his dad would have his head hung on the wall like a hunting trophy.

jaehwa's phone rang again and she fished it out of her bag to answer it.

"when will you be home? grandma said dinner will be ready soon." mina's voice rang through the speaker.

"in a few minutes, i'm walking down our street now."

taehoon scoffed and whispered, "walking, my ass." jaehwa pinched his ear in retaliation and he winced.

"who's voice was that?"

"uh, a friend." she didn't want her family seeing her being carried down the road by a random boy or they'd assume the worst.

her grandma's voice came over the speaker, "tell them to eat with us! i'd love to meet her." that was the last thing she wanted, especially since they naturally thought it was a girl with her.

jaehwa responded with a fake pout, "they ate earlier, maybe next time." taehoon shifted her by jumping and readjusting his arms. he in fact, had not eaten yet and was extremely hungry.

she pulled the phone from her ear at the ending call beep. he set her down at the front gate of her grandmother's house and stretched his back.

before jaehwa could shoo him away, the gate opened and revealed her grandmother. she pulled him inside by the forearm while jaehwa's shoulders slumped from the stress she'd feel in a few minutes.