ᴛᴀᴇɴɴɪᴇ ʟɪꜱᴋᴏᴏᴋ | ᴏɴᴇꜱʜᴏᴛ

Hate

This chapter contains graphic depictions of violence (kinky fuckery), sexuality, strong language and mature themes. Please be open minded while reading:) and read at your own risk.

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He hates her...almost as much as he wants her.

I stepped onto the porch and fished my keys out of my bag with a shaking hand. “You’ve delivered me home safe and sound. Five stars for service, two stars for conversation,” I quipped, inserting the key into the lock. “I’d give you one star on the latter, but since you saved my life, I’m being generous.”

Perhaps I should’ve been more serious, considering Taehyung's mood, but when in doubt, I defaulted to sarcasm. I couldn’t help it.

A muscle pulsed in his jaw. “Is everything a joke to you, or are you really that oblivious?” he demanded. “You got into SNU, so I assume you have some awareness of the world around you. So stop with the fucking act, Jennie. It’s a play no one wants to see.”

My spine hardened into iron. I recognized that tone of voice. It was the same tone he’d used when he told Lisa to stop being friends with me. The same one he always used when he saw me doing something he considered a bad influence, like I wasn’t good enough for him or his friends.
Sharp. Judgmental. Self-righteous.

An angry flush scalded my face. “What’s that supposed to mean?” The front door clicked open while a hard, defensive note crept into my voice.

“It means you act all tough and unbothered when it’s just that. An act.” Taehyung took a step toward me. A tiny one, just enough for the tips of his shoes to kiss mine. The point of contact acted as a channel for his anger, which funneled into me and stoked the embers of indignation burning in my stomach.

“I wouldn’t care, except your recklessness doesn’t affect just you. It also affects the people around you. But you never thought about that, did you?” Dull red burned on his cheekbones. “You only think about yourself. I don’t know what the fuck happened in your past, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure you out. You’re a scared little girl who chases highs to run from your demons, never caring about the destruction you leave in your wake. Classic fucking Jennie Kim.”

Deep, bone-rattling hurt stole the breath from my lungs and stung my eyes. Any camaraderie Taehyung and I developed over the past few weeks evaporated, incinerated into ash by the firestorm of emotions whipping around us.

It wasn’t just about tonight, and it wasn’t just about us. It was about the past seven years—every insult, every sneer, every argument and frustration in our lives, even if it had nothing to do with the other. It all boiled over until a crimson haze passed before my eyes and the only thing I could focus on was how angry I was.

Instead of trying to calm down, I reveled in it. Anger was good. Anger prevented me from dwelling on the truth behind his statement, and anger coated my words with venom when I spoke again.

“You’re one to talk.” I tilted my chin up, my eyes searing into his endless midnight ones. "Kim Taehyung, the golden boy. The adrenaline junkie. You want to talk about chasing highs? How about you putting your life on the line every time you pursue some stupidly reckless new activity even though you’re Lisa’s only family left?How about the fucking moral high horse you ride around on because you’re a doctor and everything you do is for the supposed greater good?”