Stupid Art 🔞 / KTH

✎ ①⑦

Aaliyah

I can't believe that slept for 8 hours, God knows I needed it. I feel fresher than I have in a while.

Instinctively, I look at my phone. I realise that I'm still hoping for a text from Taehyung but there's nothing.

That's so strange. I wonder what's going on with him, this only adds to my confusion. There's so much I actually don't know about him. I hope everything is okay and he calls me soon to explain but if there's one person I might be able to find answers from right now, it's Zarah. I need to talk to her, all this time, she's been trying to find the real author and now she's saying that it's her.

So I decide to call her and she picks up after the third ring "Zarah! I wanted to see how you were. That was quite the surprise yesterday."

Her voice sounds actually relaxed "I'm better than ever, babe. Life is going to change for me. Just wait and see."

Weird, is she really still acting like the book is hers? "I'm glad you're happy. I'd love to meet up with you, there's something I want to talk to you about."

"I'm a busy woman but I do have some time. How about at starbucks in an hour?."

Her ego sounds bigger than it ever been, how has this gotten to her head already? It must just be coincidental that she would choose a basic coffe shop right next to the office.

Let's get some tea.

"Zarah, wow, you look different and I just saw you yesterday."

"Thanks, I just got a new hair cut and you probably notice my brand-new clothes. I spent all yesterday evening shopping."

Her locks  got way shorter and she kinda looks cuter now, her face just is the perfect face which makes me kinda jealous sometime, not gonna lie. "Already?"

"Let me tell you. The money as a writer are way better than an agents year check. No offense."

She's lying through her teeth, a lot. "About that...." I lean forward in exaggerated secrecy "are you really the author?"

"What's that supposed to mean? I said I was, didn't I."

"I know but something isn't adding up."

"And what that might be?"

"Do you Remember that bet you made that you were going to find the real author? You were really into that? Like a police dog." I chuckle nervously "I'm just wondering......why would you do that if you wrote that book?"

Zarah's face falls for a second but quickly recovers "it was all a smokescreen. I had to make sure I'd be the last person anyone would question."

Girl I don't think it crossed anybody's mind

"So i had to make it believable."

"Okay.....so what changed? What made you come clean?"

"Why be ashamed of my work? It's something to be proud of and now I have the interest of a major publisher. This is for everyone who doubted me." She takes a sip of her drink

Did she say a major publisher? Who could that be? Peach? No, Peach knows that I'm the author. It can't be her.

"I'm a bigger deal than Armin will ever be."

Before I can respond, a shadow falls over our table. When I look up, I'm shocked to see Taehyung standing there "Taehyung?! What are you doing here?"

"I was on my way to your office and I saw you in here"

Zarah speaks up "that's my cue to leave, then. Nice taking to you, Aaliyah." Getting up, she gives Taehyung a smug smile and leaves me with the bill.

Taehyung takes Zarah's seat and I take the opportunity to ask him about yesterday "why did you leave so suddenly yesterday? Is everything okay?"

"Something came up."

Something could be anything, it's just one of his mysterious answers again. It's getting on my nerves that he doesn't tell me anything. "I guess you'd have to kill me if you told me. Is that how it goes?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Look.....you're not the only one who doesn't like ambiguity. I'm always guessing with you, Taehyung."

"Yes, I get your point but you have to know I have my reasons."

I just want the truth, including about how Taehyung just happened to come into my life so suddenly "Taehyung....how did you really find me?"

"Your office information is readily available online. It was easy enough, I just walked in."

"I'm serious. I mean, is there something more I need to know about you? Now would be the time to tell me."

"Aaliyah it's like I said. It's not possible for me to tell you everything about myself and I don't even see anything wrong with that."

I'm so fed up with him "I guess you don't. I guess you don't owe me anything."

"I just needed new property. That's all."

"And that's all I am to you?"

"You—" it's seems like he wanted to answer my question genuinely but something held him back and he only lowers his head  "You know better than to ask me that."

"It's just seemed like you just tip toed your ass into my life. At the weirdest time, too."

"How the fuck was I supposed to know that, Aaliyah?"

Under my breath I mutter "You tell me...."

"What?"

"Just the thing with the book, it can't be all coincidence."

He speaks up deliberately "I think you need to explain what the hell you mean."

I get a little angrier "I don't know what you want from me. If you wanted to fuck me and do more than buy property.....why me?" My veins feel like they about to pop any second "Why not a different agent?"

Taehyung sighs aggravatedly and I look at him in surprise "You know with your resources.... Whatever they are, I'm sure they're large..... You should have no problem rooting out the author. Why not be with the real bitch? Someone who can give you the whole dirty fantasy you want."

Only staring at me without giving an answer, thinking.

"Okay, well, I'm guessing by your silence that you would rather be with her. You know what I should've never let you hit." I stand up "I'll just go—"

"That fucking book...."

I pause, waiting for him to say something else but when he doesn't, I start packing up my things and he watches me, looking somewhat puzzled

"Goodbye, Taehyung."

I hear him chuckle under his breath "For now, Aaliyah."

He deserves the biggest slap from me actually but I don't want to embarrass myself so I just walk out the stupid cafe and don't look back.

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