..MAN in Three piece..

25乁( . ര ʖ̯ ര . )ㄏ

Taehyung's pov

THE HOTEL ROOM WAS TOO QUIET after Kook left. Alone with my thoughts, I picked up the phone and put it down, at least a dozen times. Who would I even call? There was no one I could really count on for an unbiased opinion. My situation was too close to home for my mom or my sister. There was always Da-yun. But he'd been with Baek since he was fourteen and truly believed in fairytale endings. His reality didn't involve a small child, a cunning ex, or growing up with a father who forgot his and a mother who was too sad to leave the house for years.

Faced with slim pickens for genuine guidance on my situation, I did something I never thought I would do-I fired up my laptop.

Dear Ire,

I've been dating a man for almost two months who I've fallen deeply in love with. A few weeks ago, he found out he has a child with his ex-girlfriend. It's a sordid tale, but essentially she cheated on him, lied about who the father was, and kept him from knowing his child for years. Of course, his ex is beautiful, smart, and they share a passion for the business they both work in. In most areas, the two of them are way more compatible than we are together. To make matters worse, she's made it clear to me that she wants him back.

The problem is, he really cares about me, and I also don't want to hurt him.

I really need an unbiased opinion here. Should I bow out gracefully and let him have an opportunity to rekindle his relationship with his ex, so that they can be a real family? I love him enough to make that sacrifice.

-Hwasa, Daegu

Writing the letter had an unexpected cathartic effect on me. I wasn't expecting Irene to give me any pearls of wisdom. More often than not, her advice was utter crap. But the act of writing the letter seemed to help me put all of my feelings into perspective. It also helped me realize, until the day came where I made a decision to actually bow out, Ga-yun wasn't going to screw with my head anymore.

The drive over to the bitch's compound, I blasted the music and sang along at the top of my lungs. In the moment, I completely understood why athletes always seemed to have headphones on before an event. They needed to be pumped up to avoid allowing their doubts and fears taking over.

Pulling into the long driveway, I parked and stared at the stately home. It was beautiful out in Ilsan, but my ass definitely belonged in Seoul. Exiting Jungkook's car, the front door opened, and a woman walked out. She took one look at me, and an evil smile slowly spread across her flawless face.

"Taeyun. How lovely of you to come."

I plastered my best fake smile on to match hers. "Ainsley. So splendid to see you."

Ae-ri looked amused. She lit a cigarette, which surprised the shit out of me. "What's it been seven, eight weeks? I'm shocked. Jungkook usually takes the trash out each Tuesday."

"You know what they say: one person's trash is another man's treasure."

She sucked a long puff of smoke into her lungs and then proceeded to blow out a half dozen perfect O smoke rings.

"You know, smoking gives you cancer." I leaned in and whispered. "And wrinkles."

After two more puffs, she ditched the cigarette out in an oversized planter.

"Eventually, he'll bore of you and come to his senses. A good blowjob, or whatever service you provide that is keeping him slumming these days, will eventually even get old."

"I'd ask your husband if that was true, but I'm guessing by the stick that's stuck so far up your ass, that the poor man hasn't had good head in a lot of years."