YOU, ME, & SHE • |KTH AU| •

seventeen

"I love you."

I can only stare at Taehyung, slack-jawed. Did he really just say that?

"You... you what?"

"I'm madly in love with you!" He takes my hands in his. "I've loved you all this time, and I can't keep it a secret anymore. Every time I see your beautiful face, my heart soars. The way you smile makes my knees go weak." He desperately cups my cheeks with his hands. "I know you feel the same way, baby girl. We were meant to be together, forever!"

I blink rapidly at him, sputtering like a fish out of the water. "But what... what about Jennie?"

"Pshh, her? She's ancient history," Taehyung waves his hand dismissively. "We were never right for each other. My heart was always yours, my darling - you are the only one for me. Say you'll be mine forever!" He gazes at me anxiously, waiting for my reply.

"I...you... how's this...whaaa?" is the most intelligible response I can come up with.

Taehyung frowns down at me. "I lay my heart bare and this is the reaction I get? Very well then." He turns to walk away glumly.

No, no, I can't let him go thinking I don't return his feelings! "Wait!" I shout, grabbing his arm. He whirls around immediately, face lighting up with renewed hope.

"Oh, Tae," I say breathlessly. "I've waited so long for this moment..."

"I know, my love," He pulls me into his arms and I grip his shirt for support, feeling woozy with euphoria. "I know. From now onwards, everything will be different between us. We will be together at last." He leans down, puckering his lips.

But just before our lips meet, I feel a shake and everything starts to fade.

"No, don't leave meeeee!" I hear Taehyung yell as everything goes black.

And then Ara's amused face swims into view above me. "Morning, sleepyhead!" She sings much too loudly.

I groan as reality sets in. "Go 'way," I mumble. Why'd she have to wake me? Things were about to get heated...

Cackling, the maid bounces on the bed over to Iseul's limp form on my other side. She yanks the blankets off the girl, a half-dried face mask giving her green skin.

Iseul's eyes fly open wide in shock. "Nooooo!" She screams, flailing her arms, and then she smacks right into the leftover bowl of chips, sending crumbs flying everywhere.

Ara slowly shakes her head, gazing at us and then around at the messy bedroom - pillows and clothes strewn, snack and candy wrappers strewn all over the floor.

"You guys had better head to breakfast so I can clean up. Get moving, please - the Madam said she and Taehyung have an important announcement to make."

Huh?

"What announcement?" Iseul mumbles, but Ara turns away to start picking clothes from the floor.

"It's not my place to say."

Iseul and I exchange glances, and then we simultaneously get off the bed and trudge to the bathroom. After brushing our teeth real quick, we head downstairs, still in our pyjamas.

As we make our way down, we pass a trio of busily hurrying maids carrying cleaning supplies - one of them Daeun, who looks like there's a stick up her ass. What's her problem, anyway?

"Ah, the girls are finally here," Hyejin says happily as we approach the table.

"What's going on, Mom?" Iseul asks as we take our seats. I nod a "good morning" at a glowing Taehyung across the table, who nods back, shifting excitedly in his chair.