YOU, ME, & SHE • |KTH AU| •

fifteen

I sit across the chessboard from Taehyung, a big grin spreading across my face as I survey the pieces. My fingers gently tap the side of my queen, and I then I pick her up make my last move. "Checkmate!"

Taehyung's eyebrows shoot up in surprise, his mouth agape for a moment before he lets out an strangled gasp. "No way! Not again!" He yells, dramatically slumping back in his chair.

"Seventh win in a row, Taehyung. Are you sure you wanna keep challenging me?" I tease, laughter bubbling through my words.

He pouts adorably, his expression a perfect mix of mock annoyance and genuine admiration. "You're just too good at this. It's not fair," He complains, picking up a pawn and tossing it at my face. "Plus, my skills are kind of raw - you really should teach me some of yours so we can be on a more level playing field."

I hum. "Kay, sure - but only on one condition."

"Yeah?"

"Teach me how to sew in return."

He leans forward, his lips slowly stretching into a big smile. "You wanna learn to sew?"

I grin back, my stupid heart fluttering like crazy. "Yep. Like, why not?"

"So, deal then," He says, his smile turning into a playful smirk. "If you turn out to be fast learner, I might even consider making you my sidekick."

I roll my eyes. "Kayyy."

He chuckles, reaching into his pants' pocket for his phone as it beeps loudly.

"Jennie's here," He says as he stares at the screen, his entire face lighting up.

"Oh!" I chirp happily, despite the tightening feeling in my chest. Why can't it be me who can make him so happy?

Even though I'd rather eat grass, I follow him out of the cottage and over to the front of the house to meet Jennie. We find her waiting on the porch, wearing a cute, cream sweater dress and black booties. Her eyes narrow a fraction as she notices me approaching alongside Taehyung, but then she flashes a big smile when he spreads out his arms, and she runs into them.

"Hi!" I pipe up as they finally separate.

"Hey, Narae!" Jennie responds, equally cheerful.

Then there's an awkward silence.

"Um," I smilingly start inching towards the entrance. "I guess I'd better give you some space. See you later!" And I dash the hell out of there. A minute later, I'm bursting into my room.

I hide out in here for the rest of the day, trying to not think about what Taehyung and Jennie could be doing, until Iseul comes to drag me out.

"It's been a while since you and I last hung out," She says with a pout, guiding me through the hallway and towards the home theater. "For the past few days you've been too busy larking about with Taehyung to spare any time for me. I'm glad that you guys have bonded with each other and all, but I don't like having to share you."

"Your brother and I have a lot in common, but he can never snatch your place as my BFF," I say soothingly, swinging our hands back and forth. "No one can."

"Good to know," Iseul grins, pausing at the entrance of the theater. "I'm gonna go check if Yates has the popcorn ready - be right back." She nudges me into the room, before turning around and darting away.

I go in and flop on to the couch, spreading my arms out as I stretch.
When I open my eyes, I find Jennie standing in the doorway.

"Woah, you scared me," I say, wide eyed. But, come to think of it, she didn't materialize here:

The corridors on this particular part of the house are shaped into a "T", going in three different directions. She couldn't have been walking behind us, or we could've seen her, but she must have come over from either of the other two legs of the "T" road hallway. Which means she most likely overheard us talking about myself and Taehyung's blooming relationship...

I contentedly fold my arms behind my head as I snuggle into the couch, a smirk tugging at my lips. "So, why are you here - you joining us or something?"

"No, I'm actually on my way out," She says flatly, staring at me with an unreadable expression. And she turns to leave. But then she turns to face me again almost immediately, folding her arms across her chest. She pointedly gazes at me, and I daringly stare back.

Our staring contest lasts about a whole minute, and then she finally says it.

"Stay away from him."

My smirk breaks into a full-fledged grin, and I slowly rise from the couch and saunter to her. "And if I don't?" I say teasingly, crossing my own arms. "What're you gonna do about it?"

A quiet huff of laughter left Jennie. It's not an amused sound. "Oh, Narae, is this really you who's stooping so low? Snatching another girl's man: that's the oldest, crappiest, stupidest bitch trick in the entire world... I expect more original ploys from you - to this day, you remain the most conniving person I've ever met," She glances down at my cast wrapped arm, shaking her head. "You let yourself get hurt on purpose, didn't you."

I snicker with genuine amusement. "Oh, Nini, you know me all too well..."

"Well, you're deranged," She snaps. "Who does that? You actually did that just so you could move in to seduce my boyfriend!"

Not quite how it went, but I'm not about to correct you...

"All because," Jennie continues angrily, "of some petty accident that happened years ago!"

Just like that, the smile falls from my face.

"Some petty accident??" I grit out, white hot fury surging through me. "Is that how you remember it, how you're labelling it as? Bitch, that "petty accident" ruined both mine and my sister's lives forever. It fucking destroyed us," I reach out to grab her hand and pull her inside, and then I slam the door closed. The last thing I need right now is for someone to overhear us.

"Thea and I still haven't healed fully from what happened," I hiss in Jennie's face. "And we probably never will. You know what sucked the most the past three years? Watching you build up your life after you ruined mine. I had to watch you get even richer and famous, too. See your stupid face on billboards, on magazine covers, on TV - every-fucking-where! You dared to go out there and have all that after fucking up my already fucked-up life, Jennie. You kicked me when I was already down. And now, I've finally found the opportunity to take my revenge - and what better way to do that than by taking your beloved Taehyung from right under your nose? And while at it, I will make you look so bad he will wonder what he ever saw in you."

Jennie bares her teeth. "You won't get a chance to do me any harm, bitch," She jabs a finger into my ribs. "I'm telling everyone what you did so you could come stay here. I'm going to expose you for the disgusting, opportunistic golddigger that you are."

"With what proof?" I demand. "On top of that, how will you expose me without exposing your own evils?? If you don't want them discovering that you're not the nice, sweet girl you pretend to be, then don't even think of blowing my cover."

"So I'm supposed to stand around and watch as you seduce my Taehyung?!" Jennie shrieks, all up in my face. "Hell no, Narae. I'll be damned if I let you have him - he won't let you have him. That's right, no allurements will work on him because he's crazy in love with me."

"We'll see." I drawl, stepping backwards away from her. "We'll fucking see."

"Whatever." Jennie turns around and stomps from the room, slamming the door behind her.

Bitch, it's on.

Let the games for Taehyung's heart begin.

A/N: Damn, was that intense 😯

Some major details on these two's past got revealed - what do you think of it all? Your votes and comments are like sunshine on a rainy day. Brighten our story with your feedback and make it shine!