Can't stand you, Can't live without you

Chapter 18

Taehyung's point of view

As I anxiously awaited our date tomorrow, I couldn't resist sending a message to Wonyoung to confirm her plans.

"Hey," I typed.

"Wut," she replied, her brevity making me chuckle.

"You're coming right?" I asked, not wanting to sound too hopeful.

"I mean what can I do," she responded. "I lost the bet."

A hint of disappointment crept in, but I tried to mask it. "Are you feeling bad for coming?" I asked.

"Nooo," she assured me. "I'm coming 🙂"

"Ok see ya," I replied.

"Bye," she responded.

"Bye good night ☺️" I added, feeling a surge of excitement despite her initial reluctance.

Sleep eluded me, my mind racing with anticipation. I scoured the internet for ideas for our first date, eventually settling on a classic: an amusement park.

The alarm blared, jolting me out of a restless sleep. I’d barely gotten a wink— my mind was a whirlwind of anticipation for my date with Wonyoung later today. I checked the time and leaped out of bed, adrenaline coursing through me.

I immediately changed into a fresh set of clothes, but nothing felt quite right. I tried on several different outfits, desperately searching for the perfect look. After what felt like an eternity, I settled on a black leather jacket, a white tee shirt, and black ripped jeans. I added a few strategically placed accessories and sprayed on a generous amount of cologne. Finally, I was satisfied. I smirked at my reflection, feeling confident and ready to impress.

As I made my way downstairs, I found my dad already settled in the living room, sipping his morning coffee. He looked up at me, his eyes widening at my outfit.

“Good morning, son,” he said, a grin spreading across his face. “Wait, why are you all decked out this early? You look like you’re going on a date… am I right?”

My heart dropped. What if he knew about my date? I immediately tensed up, bracing myself for the usual lecture.

But then he chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He got up and walked towards me, handing me his car keys and credit card.

“Enjoy yourself, son,” he said with a wink.

“T-thanks dad,” I stammered, taken aback by his unexpected generosity.

I rushed outside, my mind racing with a mix of excitement and confusion. This was a whole new level of support from my dad. I hopped into his car and drove to Wonyoung's house. She was already waiting outside, looking stunning in a flowy dress. Looking absolutely beautiful. Her hair was styled perfectly, and her makeup, as always, was flawless. She looked up as I pulled up and hopped into the car, touching her makeup.

"Hey," I greeted her with a smile. Trying to mask my own nervousness with a casual smile.

She returned my smile, glancing down at her makeup.

We drove in relative silence, the tension palpable. She seemed preoccupied, her expression a mix of anticipation and unease. I could tell she was a little quiet, maybe even a bit moody. I hoped it wasn't because of this date.

“So,” I began, trying to break the silence. “Where do you want to go first?”

She looked at me, her expression unreadable. “I don’t know,” she said. “What did you have in mind?”

I took a deep breath and decided to go for it. “How about the amusement park?” I asked, hoping she wouldn’t be disappointed. “I’ve always wanted to take someone there on a first date.”

Her eyes widened slightly, and a small smile played on her lips. “That sounds fine.”

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. It wasn’t the grand gesture I had envisioned, but at least it was a start. As we pulled onto the highway, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope.

Wonyoung and I stepped into the amusement park. The air buzzed with excitement, but her eyes remained distant. I’d planned this date meticulously—carousel rides, cotton candy, and maybe even a cheesy photo booth picture—but Wonyoung’s lack of enthusiasm was palpable.

“Isn’t this place amazing?” I said, gesturing toward the colorful lights and spinning rides.

Wonyoung’s smile was polite, but her eyes told a different story. She’d lost a bet, and now she was stuck here with me. “Yeah, it’s something.”

We wandered past the bumper cars, and I tried to engage her. “Want to give those a try?”

She glanced at the cars crashing into each other. “Not really my thing.”

I sighed inwardly. Maybe the Ferris wheel would salvage the situation. “How about that? Romantic, right?”

Wonyoung raised an eyebrow. “Romantic? Tae, Really?.”

Ouch. Her honesty stung. But I pressed on. “Okay, let’s grab some cotton candy. That’s a classic.”

She took a small bite, her expression unchanged. “Tastes like sugar.”

I pointed at the teacup ride. “And the teacups! They spin, and—”

“—make me nauseous,” Wonyoung finished. “Look, Tae, I appreciate the effort, but I’d rather be anywhere else.”

I nodded, defeated. As we walked past the carousel, I stole glances at her. Her bored expression was impossible to miss. Maybe I should’ve taken the hint and called it a day, but stubbornness kept me going.

“Last chance,” I said, gesturing toward the painted horses. “The carousel?”

Wonyoung leaned against the railing. “Tae, I’d rather ride a real horse than this thing.”

We exited the park, and I wondered if I’d ever win a bet that mattered—a bet that would make her heart race, not just her footsteps through an amusement park. But for now, I’d settle for being the guy who took her on a failed date. And maybe, just maybe, I’d find a way to change her mind.

As I aimlessly wandered the streets, consumed by thoughts of my disastrous date with Wonyoung, a gnawing feeling of frustration gnawed at me. Earlier that day, her face had been etched with an uncharacteristic moodiness, leaving me perplexed and uncertain. Had she simply hated amusement parks, or was there something else?

Lost in my reverie, I found myself in the familiar streets of my neighborhood. A pang of hunger led me to a convenience store, where I purchased a kimbap and began to munch on it contentedly. As I savored the taste of the seaweed-wrapped rice, a faint whisper reached my ears. It sounded eerily familiar.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I cautiously followed the sounds. To my astonishment, I stumbled upon a scene that left me reeling: Jimin, was standing close to a girl whose hoodie concealed her features. Her head rested against his shoulder, their bodies entwined in an intimate embrace. Jimin's voice was low and conspiratorial as he whispered into her ear.

A wave of unease washed over me, as if I had stumbled into a forbidden realm. I felt like an intruder, violating their privacy. Slowly, I began to back away.