𝗢𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝗺 || 𝗧𝗮𝗲𝗸𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘂•

07

His piercing stare lingers in my mind even as I break the hug, my body betraying the calm facade I’m desperately trying to maintain.

"I-I’m alright," I manage to say when Mr. Choi asks if something's wrong. My voice wavers, but he doesn’t push. Instead, his hand ruffles my hair, catching me off guard with his gentle touch.

I feel trapped between two worlds. . .one soothing, warm, and comforting, the other suffocating, cold, and unsettling.

As the food arrives, I try to focus, but the knot in my stomach refuses to ease. Mr. Choi remains beside me, a steady presence,
as I hear my phone buzz.

"You should pick it up," he says casually, but I hesitate.

"It’s Soohin," I admit quietly.

His face darkens slightly, and he shakes his head. "Turn it off. She’s caused you enough stress for one day."

Without a word, I power it down, relieved at his understanding. He smiles softly, and we continue eating in silence.

But my mind can’t settle. I risk another glance toward where Mr. Jeon was seated.

He’s gone.

Relief washes over me momentarily, but then unease creeps back in. Why did he leave? Was it anger, disgust, or something worse? I grip my fork tighter, trying to steady myself, but the unknown feels like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off.

___________________________________

"Thank you for dinner, Mr. Choi," I say softly as we step out of the warm eatery into the cool night air.

"It was my pleasure," he replies, his voice gentle as he guides me toward the main road.

"Taehyung," he suddenly says, his tone more serious now.

"Hmm?" I glance at him, my chest tightening as I brace for his next words.

"Don’t rush into decisions about what’s next. Sometimes…it’s okay not to look back. Just go with the flow until you feel ready to take a step forward."

He steps closer, his eyes full of sincerity, and my instinct is to take a step back. I stop myself from trembling. He halts, his expression softening, but there’s a hint of sadness in his smile.

"I hope you understand, Taehyung," he says quietly.

"I…I do," I reply, though my voice wavers. "And thank you for today."

He nods, and we continue walking in silence. His presence is steady, like a quiet river cutting through the noise in my head.

"So," he eventually says, breaking the stillness, "have you made any decisions yet?"

"About?" I ask, though I know what he means.

"What to do next with Soohin," he clarifies, his voice laced with concern.

I swallow hard, the mention of her name tugging at every raw nerve inside me. "No…I guess for now, I’ll just keep my distance from her."

"That sounds like a good choice," he says softly, nodding as though to affirm my decision.

"Hmm," I hum in agreement, my thoughts drifting.

We talk about lighter things after that. . .random, fleeting topics meant to distract me from the weight I’m carrying. Yet, I can’t help but notice how his words weave through the spaces in my heart, offering some kind of unspoken comfort.

When we finally arrive at my apartment complex, I stop and turn to him. "Thank you for walking me home, Mr. Choi."

He smiles a soft, knowing smile that feels like the first hint of sunlight after a storm. "Take care of yourself, Taehyung. And remember what I said don’t rush."