FORGET-ME-NOT | kth

Chapter 16 - Taehyung

Maya's POV

My hand clutched the spoon, resting in the bowl of stew, but my hands were frozen, unable to move. The warmth of the hearty broth did nothing to thaw the chill that had settled in my fingers.

My eyes were on the bowl, but my mind was occupied with thoughts. The savory aroma of the stew mingled with the faint, lingering scent of burnt eggs, a reminder of my earlier blunder.

It was so embarrassing. Thank goodness Taehyung took away the pan and stopped the smoke before the smoke detector could go off and sprinkle water all over the room. I could almost see the disaster unfolding—alarms blaring, water spraying, and me standing in the middle of it all, mortified.

I should have braced myself against getting too comfortable in his home. I almost ruined his place. This is so embarrassing, even though he said it was okay. My cheeks burned with the memory, the flush of shame rising as I replayed the scene in my mind.

"Maya," Taehyung called out from across the table, his voice a gentle interruption to my spiraling thoughts. He was facing me with a frown, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Yeah," I said, swirling the spoon in the bowl, watching the ripples disturb the surface of the stew. It was easier to focus on that than to meet his eyes.

"Are you still thinking about what happened?" he asked, his frown replaced with a soft gaze that made my heart ache.

"No," I sighed, feeling the weight of the lie on my tongue. "Yes. I'm sorry for causing trouble." The words tumbled out, heavy with guilt and frustration. I glanced up at him, my eyes pleading for understanding.

He sighed, a sound full of patience and reassurance, and gently set down his chopsticks. "Don't worry about it; these things happen, and it's okay." His tone was soothing, a balm to my frazzled nerves.

I looked at him, really looked, and saw the sincerity in his eyes. His kindness was a stark contrast to the turmoil in my chest.

 I took a deep breath, trying to let go of the embarrassment and accept his words. The warmth of the stew seeped through the spoon, and I finally felt a flicker of warmth begin to thaw the chill in my hands.

I nodded, and he smiled at me, a gentle curve of his lips that brought a flicker of warmth to my heart.

I took the first bite of the food, and my eyes widened in surprise. It tasted absolutely amazing, far beyond my expectations. The rich flavors melded together perfectly, a symphony of taste that danced on my tongue.

"Wow, tastes absolutely amazing, Taehyung," I complimented him, unable to keep the awe from my voice. He smiled again, this time a shy smile, his eyes lighting up with a quiet pride.

"Thank you," he said softly, and the modesty in his tone made his cooking skills seem even more impressive.

 "I thought my mother's stew was the best in the world, but I have to change that opinion now," I said earnestly, my admiration for his cooking shining through every word.

He looked stunned for a moment, his eyes locking onto mine as he absorbed the sincerity of my compliment. There was a brief flicker of disbelief in his gaze, followed by a dawning realization that I truly meant what I said.

"That's a big compliment. Thank you," he replied, his voice tinged with amazement and I smiled at him reassuringly, hoping to convey just how much I meant it.

His shy smile lit up his face, and the blush creeping onto his cheeks made him look even more endearing. His smile was contagious. 

As he looked down, trying to conceal his embarrassment, his hair fell over his forehead, adding to his charm. The moment stretched on, and I realized I was staring, entranced by his bashful demeanor. His blush seemed to be contagious as well as I felt a warm flush spreading across my own cheeks in response.