YOU, ME, & SHE • |KTH AU| •

forty-four

A Few Days Later

It's a gorgeous Sunday afternoon as Thea and I lounge on the pool area of Park Manor. I'm scrolling idly through social media while she chats my ear off about the latest drama at her country club. Jieun and Seongjin sit in their personalized lounge chairs farther down the pool deck, sipping appletinis and chatting quietly.

Over by the cabana, Jimin and Nessa are lost in their own little world as usual. He's rubbing sunscreen on her shoulders while she laughs at something he whispers in her ear.

All at once, the hazy calm is shattered by an crunch of footsteps on the pebbled path. I glance up casually to catch sight of a figure emerging from beyond the hedges.

I do a double take as Taehyung appears.

He catches my wide-eyed stare and offers a nod. Thea falls silent mid-gossip, following my gaze.

Her eyes narrow into slits when she sees Taehyung. "You?" She hisses.

Around us, the others pause whatever they'd been doing to stare at Taehyung.

"To what do we owe this displeasure, Taehyung, honey?" Jieun asks with a hint of annoyance.

"Oh, c'mon, Jieun," Jimin drawls, jumping up and sauntering over to me. "No need to be such a drama queen. Let's give these guys some space..." He grabs my arm and pulls me up. Then he frogmarches me to Taehyung, clasps the other guy's elbow and guides us both a short distance down the stone path where it curves out of sight of the others.

"You two play nice now," Jimin says with a wink. He shoots me an encouraging nod, and then turns and heads back to the pool.

An awkward silence stretches between Taehyung and I as we avoid each other's eyes.

"So, uh," He rubs the back of his neck. "how are you doing?"

"Good," I reply shyly, twisting a lock of hair around my finger.

Another pause fills the air.

Taehyung clears his throat. "There's this place I think you'd like that I wanna take you, if you're up for it."

My breath catches in my throat. "Oh..?"

Taehyung nods. "Right now, that is, if you don't have plans."

A flutter of excitement blooms in my chest. "Okay, let me just change real quick."

Taehyung gives another nod. "Sounds good. I'll wait here."

With a little grin, I hurry back to the house to get ready.

_______________________________________

A While Later

Whoa, I can’t believe I’m really here.

When Taehyung said there's a place he thought I'd like, I didn’t think it would be this. As the limo pulls up to the bright lights and red carpet, my heart is racing.

As we exit the car, the reactions are startling. Photographers go wild, their cameras flashing rapidly as fans scream Taehyung's name. When they spot us together, the volume reaches deafening levels. I’m stunned by the mass frenzy while Taehyung confidently waves with a grin.

We enter the event space — a showroom lined with spotlights, buzzing with stylish folks.

Taehyung leads me to one of the front rows, his hand on the small of my back. "Now the real fun begins," He whispers.

The show blows me away — all these gorgeous gowns and classy outfits that are total works of art. As the finale gets a standing O, Taehyung pulls me backstage.