Hate you, Love you

2.

Taehyung settled into the corner of his room, leaning against the expansive glass window as rain poured down, the gray sky mirroring his mood. He cradled his hot tea, savoring the warmth as it seeped through his fingers. The quiet hum of the rain and the solitude of his space created a rare moment of peace after the relentless pace of his workday.

He sighed, his thoughts weighed down by the uncertainty of the week ahead. He had worked his ass off for years and now the only hurdle to his success is age? It seemed absurd to him that his readiness and experience were overshadowed by a mere number. The idea that his qualifications could be diminished because of his youth was as baffling.

Taehyung often felt confused by how others made their decisions. To him, people were like a manual—predictable yet inexplicable. He never quite understood them, feeling like an outsider looking in. The notion that marrying someone could validate his professional worth felt like an absurdity he couldn’t reconcile. But if conforming to these expectations was the price to pay for achieving what he had rightfully earned, he was willing to endure it.

It wasn’t an ideal situation, but in the grand scheme of things, it was a small price to pay for something he had worked so hard to achieve. For now, he would focus on the serene moment, letting the warmth of his tea and the rhythm of the rain offer him a fleeting escape from the trials ahead.
He stood up from his comfortable spot to open the door after hearing some knocks.

"Namjoon hyung?" He was greeted by his only friend, whom he had met at a startup venture fund meeting. Among the other investors Taehyung knew, Namjoon was the only one who stood out both professionally and personally.

"Tae ah, did I disturb your alone time?" Namjoon made himself comfortable by flipping a chair to face Taehyung, who was sitting on the single couch near the bed by the window.
"You know you won't, hyung," Taehyung said, still looking puzzled by the unexpected visit.

"I heard about your marriage proposal, Tae," Namjoon confirmed the younger's assumption.

"If you came to convince me not to do it, please don't, hyung," Taehyung said tiredly, as if that’s what everyone had been saying. This made the elder chuckle. Taehyung probably didn’t even realize he sounded like he was a whining school kid, and Namjoon didn’t quite know how to handle that. To him, Taehyung was someone who knew things but didn’t fully understand them. Except for work, Taehyung seemed almost as innocent as a newborn. People often mistook his confusion for rudeness.

The elder sighed, "Why would I do that, Taehyung?" His question made the younger think before answering.
"For whatever reason, that’s what everyone thinks, even Jin hyung," Taehyung said, sounding like a five-year-old complaining to his older brother, with his Bambi eyes, only a pout missing.

"He just didn’t want you to regret your choice, Tae."

"Why would I regret it, hyung? It’s not even real, just a contract."

"You never share your space, Tae. Living with someone suddenly for such a long time is not easy and definitely not for you. Besides, you might be firm in your decision, but think about the other person. He is a human with emotions, not a property to be handed around," Namjoon explained slowly.

"But then, why would he agree if he’s not sure about his choices?" This made it hard for Namjoon to explain. At this point, he just wanted Taehyung to be like others. Not that he wouldn’t accept Taehyung for who he was, but it was for Taehyung’s own sake. Taehyung lived his life as if following a manual: study hard to score well, work hard to reach the highest position, and stay there until he could no longer. Being an orphan, Taehyung didn’t have a good childhood, which made him like this. Namjoon had a hard time explaining why he even needed a friend. And this won't be any easier too.

"Not every choice is perfect, Tae. We make decisions, but they might not end up as expected." When Taehyung still looked confused, he continued, "Fine, think about this: you remember the investment we made in Feline House, the startup venture?"

"Ah, yes, hyung. That’s where we met. I do remember."

"Hmm… good. We both calculated the value based on the reports and the founder’s efficiency. What would have happened if a shockwave had hit the organizing industry instead of the insurance industry? Could that startup even survive?"

"No. Maybe it could survive, but it would likely end up bankrupt due to a debt trap."

"We did all our research, right? But it still could have failed. Why?"

"Oh, so you’re saying external forces might threaten his and my decision to have a contractual marriage?" Taehyung beamed after solving another puzzle of human thinking through his hyung. Namjoon chuckled and nodded.

"But we can’t base our decisions on what we don’t know, hyung. So it’s okay." But again how did Namjoon fail in explaining to this boy.

How bad could his boss's son be? He thought.

_____

Note: so a glimpse into tae's life? How's that? Anyways it's 11.50 pm and here I am writing this when I have a another book to write.. but I've been on toptae mood lately.. for whatever reason Wattpad won't let me publish the story, my lord,.. atp, I'll just quit writing that😮‍💨😫🤧