Only If We Could || Y.JW FF

fifteen - stranger danger

Taeri hummed softly as she stood in line, waiting to order hers and Kyungmi's drinks. Music blared through her AirPods, blocking out the outside world. Kyungmi seemed to be better after her conversation with Jungwon that day. Taeri was happy to see Kyungmi slowly return to herself.

Taeri was third in line, growing impatient. She wanted nothing more than to go home and relax with Kyungmi. It seemed like the entire week had become a drag making it nearly impossible for Taeri to have a good week.

The only thing that kept her holding on was that tomorrow was Saturday and she had absolutely nothing to do and could spend the entire day sleeping her life away. "I'm so tired," Taeri mumbled to herself as she tugged her phone out of her pocket, seeing she had a missed call from her aunt.

Sighing, Taeri hesitantly pressed her aunt's contact, calling her back. The phone rang three times before her aunt picked up the phone. "Taeri-ya?"

"Hi, Imo," Taeri said, pulling a tight smile.

"Listen, I need a huge favor. Can you take Maeyeong for the week?"

Taeri squeezed her eyes shut, biting back any remark she was thinking of. "Why?"

Taeri's aunt sucked her teeth in annoyance. "I have to travel to the States for work and Maeyeong is being a brat about going, whining that she wants to spend time with you."

"Are you serious? She's acting like that?" Taeri asked, annoyed with her little cousin for ruining her peaceful planned weekend. "Okay. Let me call Kyungmi-ah and see if she's okay with it. I'll text and give you a clear answer in a few."

"Thank you," Imo said before disconnecting the call. Taeri sighed heavily.

At least she wouldn't have to deal with Maeyeong alone.

Quickly shooting Kyungmi a text asking if it'd be okay if Maeyeong could come over, Taeri moved up in line, finally ordering. "Hi, how can I help you?" The young lady behind the counter asked, smiling at Taeri.

Taeri smiled back, "hi, can I have two Iced Mango Milk Teas with tapioca pearls please?" Once done paying for her order, Taeri moved to the side, waiting for her drinks to be made. Taeri jumped gently when her phone pinged.

Kyungmi-ah:

Sure, ma'am! But we have to have a movie night tonight -_- and I get to pick the movie.

Taeri smiled at her friend's response. Taeri quickly thanked the lady as she handed her the two drinks. Taeri barely made it out of the small cafe before she was stopped by an older man, who was visibly drunk. Day drinkers. "Excuse me, little lady," he slurred out, reaching out to grab Taeri's shoulder.

She was quick to pull her shoulder back, avoiding his touch. The older man furrowed his brow, swearing that he was about to grab her. He pulled his arm back before stumbling closer, trying to grab ahold of Taeri's shoulder again. Taeri moved two steps back, trying to walk around the man.

Yet, this action only seemed to anger the man as she quickly shot out to grab Taeri's arm, forcing her back. Taeri yelped at the man's tight grip, spilling one of the drinks. "Oh, for fuck sake," Taeri mumbled as she looked down at the spilled boba.

"Why don't you let me take you home?" The man drunkenly suggested.

Taeri sucked her teeth before snapping her eyes up to look at the man. "Yah! Can't you take a hint you drunken fuck?!"

Her outburst caused a few heads to turn. Taeri groaned in frustration as the man stopped her again when she went to walk away again. "That's not how you speak to your el-"

"She clearly doesn't want to be bothered so let her go," another man's voice piped up from behind Taeri. The drunken man turned his attention to the other guy, still holding onto to Taeri's arm tightly. "Ahjussi, please release my friend's arm."

When the man from behind Taeri grabbed her arm she quickly turned around, eyes widened. She eyed the younger guy in disbelief. "What are you doing here?" 

Sunghoon ignored her before ripping her arm out of the drunken guy's grasp. "Sorry, Ahjussi. But we have to get going," Sunghoon said, pulling a sarcastic smile and tugging Taeri completely away from him.

The drunk guy screamed at them as they walked away, calling them every disrespectful name known to mankind. Sunghoon held on tightly to Taeri's wrist as he forced her to walk with him. Taeri was confused.

"Hey, Sunghoon-ssi?" Taeri called out to him.

Once they were at a safe distance Sunghoon finally stopped, turning to look at Taeri. "Are you okay?"

Taeri looked at him in confusion before quickly nodding her head. "I'm fine. He didn't do anything," she confirmed making Sunghoon nod his head in relief. "But, uh, how come you're out? I thought you guys were on punishment?"

"Ah~" Sunghoon sighed. "We are, but I had to sneak out. Jungwon and Niki had been nagging about getting something for that cafe for a while now and I was tired of hearing the two complain so I came and got them some boba," he explained, dangling the three drinks in front of Taeri's face.

"Got something for yourself?" Taeri joked.

"Yeah, they brag about it so much, I thought why not try it," Sunghoon said, laughing awkwardly at being caught. Sunghoon dropped his smile before turning to look at Taeri with a serious expression. "Are you sure you're okay? Do you want me to walk you home?"

Taeri smiled sweetly at Sunghoon. "I promise that I'm okay. Plus, you should probably get back before the staff notice that you're missing," Taeri suggested.

Sunghoon closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "I was only asking to be polite. I'm walking you home. I personally don't feel comfortable allowing you to walk home by yourself now."

Taeri bit back a smile before nodding her head. Sunghoon smiled in appreciation. The two mainly walked in silence, feeling a bit awkward being with each other by themselves. Sunghoon continuously sneaked peeks at Taeri who pretended not to notice.

Once they arrived back at Taeri's building, Taeri stopped to turn and look at Sunghoon. Sunghoon looked at her in confusion. "Why aren't we going up?"

"I can walk myself from here, Sunghoon-ssi," Taeri laughed gently.

Sunghoon looked hesitant as he glanced around. Taeri raised a brow at him, wondering why he was still standing there. "Okay. Hurry upstairs." He said motioning his hands for her to leave.

Taeri tilted her head gently, "aren't you leaving first?"

"Taeri-ya, go. I'm going to watch you go inside," Sunghoon said, acting as if it were n o big deal.

Taeri went to say something again but her phone started to ring. She sighed before fishing her phone out of her pocket, her aunt's name was written across the screen. She quickly answered it. She turned to walk away. "Hey, Imo. I'm so sorry. I completely forgot to write you."

Sunghoon kept his word, watching her walk inside, making sure she was okay. Once Taeri reached the front door to their building she turned to wave goodbye to Sunghoon. He waved back, smiling at her. I'll text you later. Taeri mouthed before turning back around and walking inside the building.

Sunghoon furrowed his brows. "But I don't have her number."