Arranged Art of Love: Diamonds and Dreams ( KTH ff)

19. Spicy Ramen

You don't know why, but working together has brought you and Taehyung closer. Despite knowing he doesn't like you and isn't interested in you, being friends with each other won't do any harm, right?

These days, you've been going to Kim Corporations together, riding in the same car. Lunchtime has become a routine where you, Taehyung, and Jimin eat together. Sometimes Jungkook joins you all. It's a different type of friendship you're experiencing with them. Watching those boys talk and laugh makes you smile.

You can't be mad at Jimin because he did nothing wrong. He's a nice guy with whom you've already worked and are still working. The only one you're mad at is Taehyung. Legally, he's your husband, and he didn't tell you about him and Jimin. You want to hear it from him. But you've decided to let this topic go until the business between your companies is over.
Your next move was already plotted in your mind, a decision you'd make after this collaboration ended.

Tonight, the car ride home held a comfortable silence. You'd text Anna to forgo dinner preparations, knowing you'd both be late.

However, you know you guys want something later, so you offer, "Do you want me to order something?" you ask, facing him while he focuses on the road. "Or are you planning to grab something on the way home?"

You expected the usual silence, but instead, he surprised you. "Actually," he drawls, "I think ordering it would be fine. Any particular cravings, Mrs. Kim?"

You're a little flustered and surprised by his remark. A genuine smile breaks across your face. "Call me Yena," you corrected him gently. "And as for cravings, how about some spicy ramen? The ones from that little place down the street?"

He nodded, and said, "You order." Reaching home, you retreated to your room for a quick shower. Emerging in a loose t-shirt and shorts, you flipped on the TV, searching for something interesting to watch while you devoured your dinner. Just as you settled, you heard the ping of the elevator, followed by Taehyung's footsteps approaching the living room.

Perfect timing. The delivery guy must be here. You took the ramen and tteokbokki from the delivery guy after hearing the lift open. As you bring the food inside, you see Taehyung watching you.

You place the food on the table and gesture for him to join you. "Dinner's here," you say softly.

You finished unwrapping the steaming food and poured generous portions into bowls. Taehyung raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes. "Spicy, huh? Are you sure you can handle it, Yena?"

You met his gaze, a spark of defiance igniting your own. "Bring it on, Mr. Kim."

A genuine smile, the first you'd seen all day, tugged at his lips. "Challenge accepted," he declared.

The competition commenced. You both sat bathed in the soft glow of the TV, chopsticks over the fiery ramen. While the show played in the background, your eyes remained locked on each other. You were confident in your spice tolerance, but Taehyung's unwavering confidence made you doubt yourself for a fleeting moment.   You thought maybe this time you messed with the wrong person.

After a few bites, you noticed a telltale watering in Taehyung's eyes. Concern flickered across your face. "Taehyung, should I grab some water for you?" you offered.

He shook his head, his voice slightly strained. "No, this is nothing. I can handle it easily."

You resumed your battle, but soon after, a choked cough erupted from Taehyung. His discomfort was evident, so you ran to the kitchen, returning with a glass of water and a bottle of strawberry milk.

He refused your initial offerings, his eyes reddening by the second. Your voice sharpened with worry, "Tae, just stop it! Here, take this." You gently took his bowl from his hands and placed it on the table.

"It's not spicy, Yena," he mumbled, his voice thick with discomfort.

"I know, just take this," you insisted, pressing the strawberry milk into his hands.

He gulped down the entire bottle, gasping between choked swallows. You patted his back as he struggled to regain his breath.

Once he seemed to recover, you checked on him. "Feeling better now? Do you need anything else?"

He shook his head, his breathing returning to normal.

Folding your arms across your chest, you eyed him sternly. "Mind explaining, Tae?"

He froze, his gaze flickering to yours. "What did you just call me?"

The realization hit you like a punch to the gut. You'd called him "Tae."

You muttered a curse under your breath. "Sorry, I didn't mean that."

"N--no, you can call me that," he stammered, a touch of embarrassment colouring his cheeks. "Everyone close to me does. That's my nickname."

Wait, everyone close to me does…Did that mean he considered you… close?

An illogical warmth bloomed in your chest, quickly showered by a dose of reality. You were housemates, that was all in between you. 

"You can't eat spicy food, can you?" you pressed, returning to the initial issue.

He hesitated. "No, I can handle it… well, usually. It's just different today."

You sighed, his weak attempts at a cover-up were endearing in a way. "Don't lie to me, Taehyung. Your face was telling another story. Why didn't you say something when I asked about ordering spicy food? I feel terrible, this is all my fault. You're in pain because of me."

"No, Yena, it's not your fault," he reassured you, his voice softer than usual.

He took a deep breath before continuing. "You're right. I am intolerant to spicy food. I can't eat it. But I thought, maybe, just maybe, I could beat you in this challenge. It didn't exactly work out that way." He spoke while pouting cutely. "I guess I didn't want to seem like a loser if I told you not to order spicy."

What you did next was something you could never do in your right mind.

His vulnerability caught you off guard. He looked like a kicked puppy, and the urge to comfort him overwhelmed you. In a moment of impulsive kindness, you found yourself kneeling on the floor and wrapping your arms around him. He stiffened in surprise, the strawberry milk bottle forgotten in his hand.

The awkwardness of the situation hit you like a wave. You scrambled back, the remnants of your hug lingering in the air. Silence stretched between you, thick and heavy.

Clearing your throat, you stood up and settled back onto the couch. You grabbed the tteokbokki and handed the bowl to him. "Eat this, this one is not spicy. You don't need to feel bad about not being able to handle spice. Even I don't like mangoes, which is quite weird for people to know."

He didn't say anything and took the bowl.

You both were eating in silence, eyes on the TV. It was a romantic drama, the kind you wouldn't usually watch, but tonight, it felt strangely comforting. The scene playing out involved the main characters caught in a sudden downpour, where the male and female leads tried to avoid the rain but couldn’t, and in the next moment, they were leaning in, a slow, rain-soaked kiss unfolding on the screen.

"Waaah...that's so endearing, perfect cinematography," you spoke, almost to yourself.

Taehyung's eyes went from the TV to you and back to the TV.
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Comment and vote⭐️ on the chapter. Hope you all are doing well.

You guys are enjoying the song 'Smeraldo Garden Marching Band', right? It has such a fun and cute vibe. Btw you must already know that the travelling show 'Are you sure?' starring Jimin and Jungkook is finally releasing in August. We are never lacking in getting content from boys😭😭💜💜