Bound By Fate / KTH

Part 7

Y/N stood at the sink, her hands submerged in soapy water as she scrubbed the dishes. The kitchen was warm, and the humidity of the evening air only made the heat feel more oppressive. Sweat trickled down her forehead, and she wiped it away with the back of her hand, determined to finish the task despite her exhaustion.

The pile of dishes seemed never-ending, and the weight of the day's events hung heavily on her. She was lost in thought, the repetitive motion of washing dishes offering her a brief escape from the turmoil in her mind.

Taehyung, having finished his meal, came down to the kitchen to put his plate away. He paused in the doorway when he saw Y/N, noticing how worn out she looked. Her face was flushed from the heat, her movements slow and tired as she worked through the mountain of dishes.

For a moment, he just stood there, feeling a strange tug in his chest. He wanted to help her, to ease her burden even just a little, but his pride and lingering anger held him back. He knew he couldn't bring himself to offer help directly.

An idea came to him, a way to help without admitting it. "Y/N," he called out, his voice neutral, almost indifferent.

Y/N turned to look at him, surprised to hear him speak. "Yes?" she asked, her voice soft.

"Your dad was calling you," Taehyung said, his tone giving nothing away. "Your phone's in your room. You should check it."

Y/N's eyes widened slightly in concern. "Appa called?" she repeated, quickly drying her hands on a towel. "I'll go see. Thanks for telling me."

She hurried out of the kitchen, heading upstairs to find her phone. Taehyung watched her leave, knowing she would likely talk to her father for a while. Once he was sure she was out of earshot, he turned to the sink.

The dishes still left to be washed seemed like a daunting task, especially for someone as tired as Y/N. Without hesitating any further, Taehyung rolled up his sleeves and began washing the remaining dishes. The hot water stung his hands slightly, but he ignored it, focusing on getting the job done quickly.

As he washed, he couldn't help but think about how much Y/N had been through. Despite his anger and suspicions, he couldn't deny that she was trying her best in a situation neither of them had wanted.

By the time Y/N returned to the kitchen, the dishes were done. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening in shock when she saw Taehyung sitting on the kitchen slab, casually drinking a glass of juice. The sink was empty, the dishes all washed and neatly stacked to dry.

"Taehyung..." Y/N began, her voice filled with surprise. "Did you...?"

Taehyung didn't meet her eyes, instead keeping his gaze focused on the glass in his hand. "Don't let your dad call you so late," he said coolly, ignoring her question. "It's rude."

Y/N blinked, still trying to process what she was seeing. She hadn't expected this, not after everything that had happened. "I... I will," she stammered, unsure of what else to say.

Taehyung finished his juice and placed the glass on the counter with a quiet clink. He finally looked at her, his expression as cold as ever, as if he hadn't just helped her in a small but significant way. "Good night," he said simply, then stood up and walked out of the kitchen without another word.

Y/N watched him go, a mix of confusion and gratitude swirling in her chest. She didn't fully understand his actions, but for the first time in a long while, she felt a flicker of something that wasn't anger or despair. It was small, barely noticeable, but it was there—a tiny hint of hope.

After everything that had happened, Y/N was exhausted. She barely had the energy to change into her pajamas before collapsing onto her bed. As she pulled the blanket over herself, her mind kept drifting back to the kitchen—back to Taehyung.