YOU, ME, & SHE • |KTH AU| •

thirty-seven

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

I look from Iseul to the others gathered behind her, my heart sinking deeper into my chest.

"I trusted you," Iseul accuses, her voice trembling with anger. "How could you do this to me??"

"How did you find out..?" I manage to whisper, my voice barely audible.

Iseul's eyes bore into mine, filled with disappointment and rage. "Really, Narae?? That's the first thing you've got to say?? Wow. So this is who you truly are..." She spins around and storms to Jennie, snatches her phone from her hand in one swift motion before returning to me.

She shoves the device inches away from my face, as the screen lights up, revealing a video that feels like a punch to my gut.

There I am, giggling and relaxed, sitting on my bedroom couch. "You want me to elaborate, you say? Sure thing, friend, I'm more than happy to fill you in..."

With horror, I watch myself cheerfully spill all my own secrets, everything — from how I threw myself in front of the car Iseul was driving, to how I told fake sob stories at the hospital — all of it.

"I owe it to my clever scheming and mental prowess..." The me in the video finally finishes proudly. "And to Iseul, of course. She's just too trusting, and I preyed on this weakness like nothing, and now look where I am. That's right, it weren't for goody-goody, overemotional Kim Iseul, I wouldn't be here enjoying this grand, affluent lifestyle—" I grab the phone, drop it to the ground and stamp my foot on it over and over.

"You wretched, horrible witch!!" I scream, whirling to Jennie. "You sneaked something into my dessert, you fucking drugged me!"

"It's good that she did, or we'd have never seen your true colors otherwise." Hyejin mutters, lip curled in distaste as she looks me up and down.

"You tried to warn me at the hospital, Mom, but I was totally blind where she's concerned," Iseul whispers, pinning me with a piercing stare. "You had me completely fooled by your cunning ways... I should've never trusted anything you said," A little sob escapes her lips. "All this time, I can't believe it..."

"Iseul," I start, but she flinches, taking a step back.

"How are you so heartless? When doing all those things you did — every lie, each person you manipulated for your selfish gain, using them as if they're toys for your amusement — didn't you feel any shame??" She steps closer, shaking her head. "You sacrificed your integrity, your conscience — everything noble inside — all for money and luxuries, things that mean nothing. You are a lost cause, do you hear me, you're devoid of humanity. You're a freaking sociopath!"

"Yes I am!!" I scream back. "I'm immoral, I'm trash — I know, okay? Yes, that's the real me and I did all that — the lies, the scheming, using people." I take a shaky breath. "I knew it was wrong and horrible, but it was the only way. My first and last chance at getting my heart's desire... Not the added bonuses, the money and all this," I gesture around at the opulent surroundings. "No, everything I did was for Taehyung."

A heavy silence hangs in the air for several beats.

And then I slowly turn around to look at Taehyung to see him staring at me, eyes wide as dinner plates. I hesitate for a few seconds before marching towards him.

With lightning quickness, Jennie positions herself in front of him, shooting me a lethal glare.

Oh, hell no.

I shove her out of the way with all my might, and desperately grab fistfuls of Taehyung's shirt as I look up at him.

"You remember months ago when you donated pizza to that orphanage? I'm the one who brought the pizza — that was the first time I saw you. You were laughing and running around, playing frisbee with the kids and you looked so damn fine. I was immediately attracted to you... But I couldn't do anything but walk away. Because we were worlds apart, and there was no way I could ever have you. I couldn't stop thinking about you for days after though; you were living in my mind rent free no matter how much I tried to forget you.
But then one night, I got presented with an opportunity through Iseul and her friends to enter your life, and I took it. I got a busted arm out of it, but with a shot at making you mine. That's been my mission this whole time — getting close to you, Taehyung.

"And by spending time with you, my feelings have only grown stronger. You make me feel so alive and wake a part of my soul I didn't know existed. And there's this thing between us — an undeniable connection — and I know you feel it too. And that one time, you said you couldn't stay away from me even if you wanted to. Well, I can't stay away from you even though—" I'm cut off as a hand suddenly grabs my arm, roughly pulling me away from Taehyung.

"Get away from him," Jennie hisses.

"No," I hiss back, giving her another shove before turning back to Taehyung.

Reaching up, I gently cradle his face in my hands. "I love you." I whisper.

Several long seconds stretch out without words. And then, expression unreadable, Taehyung pries my hands off his face.

"I don't feel the same." He says bluntly.

My heart sinks to my feet. "But Taehyung..."

"I'm not interested in you and I'll never be. And I never led you on, I've always made it clear we're just friends. As for the kiss, that was nothing but a mistake." He takes a step back. "One that will haunt me forever, along your delusions that there's anything between us."

My cheeks burn with humiliation as Taehyung turns to Jennie, her smug face twisting the dagger further.

"Nini," He says gently, taking her hands in his own. "I'm sorry if my actions gave her hope, babe, but my heart has always belonged to you. You're the one I want to build a future with." His eyes glance back at me. "I hope in time, she'll pull her head out of the clouds and accept that."

I watch dumbly as he lovingly brushes a loose lock of hair from her face. "You're my light in this world; every day I spend with you makes me fall deeper in love. I can't imagine my life without you by my side, Jennie Kim. I want to choose you, every day, for the rest of our lives."

With shaking fingers, I cover my mouth to hold back a sob as he lowers down to one knee before her, pulling a small black box from his pocket. My heart lies shattered at their feet as he brings her wide eyes back to his and pops the question.

"Will you marry me?"

A/N: Your votes and comments are like the sprinkles on top of this delicious story. So sprinkle away!