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chapter eighteen
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Taehyung was in a very good mood when he woke up the next morning.
In that equilibrium between sleeping and waking, he realised that he was entirely calm. It was the calmest he had been in a very long time - normally, he woke up with his stomach already tying itself in knots, over money or over loneliness or over when his career might finally take off.
But recently... nothing.
He realised, with a sudden jolt of his stomach, exactly how little time he had spent being anxious recently.
Ever since his breakup with Mina, he had felt perpetually anxious. Afraid of getting back out there, of socialising, of putting work out into the world and being told it was worthless. But since he'd met you, that had been fading fast. In fact, he had barely felt it at all in the last few days. He couldn't remember the last time he was overwhelmed by anxiety.
Taehyung smiled to himself, revelling in the warmth of his sheets, the slow and steady thudding of his heartbeat. How nice it was to start every morning this way instead.
The anxiety returned now, however, as he opened his eyes and realised you weren't beside them. But, as if in answer to his worries, the door to his ensuite opened seconds later, and you strolled through it, wrapped up in a towel robe and grinning at him with fresh, rosy cheeks.
Taehyung felt his heart swoop all over again.
"G'morning," you greeted him shyly.
Taehyung grinned back. "Hi," he said, having to clear his throat, still husky with sleep. "How long have you been up?"
"Not that long," you told him, as he sat up and swung his legs off the bed, pulling you over to stand between them. You complied, grinning as you settled between his legs, running a hand through his hair and smoothing it down.
Even with a bare face and damp hair and wearing nothing but a robe, you glowed like something incandescent. Taehyung could barely stand it.
"You wanna go get breakfast?" he asked, fingers ghosting over the towel robe at your hips.
Something changed in your expression then. It became almost mischievous.
"Actually, I already have it covered," you told him with a cryptic smile, and before he could ask any further questions, the doorbell rang. "Ah! That'll be it now."
You pulled out of Taehyung's arms, making for the door and flinging it open. Taehyung reached for his glasses, and followed only to his own doorframe, leaning against it in confusion - only to see Namjoon, the barista from downstairs, grinning at you at the door.
