Music Lovers (Taennie Version)

3🎇

Tae's mouth is dangerously close to Jennie's as he eases her back into the cottage door, covering her body with his. At this point, the umbrella clatters to the ground and something like "Wait" just barely, half-heartedly slips out of her.

Jerking back, looking like a man freshly out of a trance, Tae says hoarsely, "Sorry...I didn't mean to..."

He grabs his umbrella off the ground, and barely mutters a "Good night" which Jennie returns. Nodding stiffly, he turns and walks away.

"Thank you for walking me home," she calls out, before scrambling inside, willing herself to pretend nothing almost just happened.

~~~~~~~

Jennie falls out of bed at nine in the morning after a restless night. She's ready to tell off Lisa, blaming her for ditching and leaving her with Tae in the bar then changes her mind. The almost-kiss never would've happened and should never happen so Jennie promises herself she will do her best to avoid him for the rest of the trip and not mention it to anyone.

That's easier said than done when, after a quiet breakfast with Lisa and not yet divulging all the details of the night before to her, Jennie checks her email and finds an announcement from YG about an emergency meeting. It piques her interest even more when she notices an email from Tae as well.

Jennie,

I have a feeling what this meeting is all about. Why don't we attend it together? Meet me at Rhythm and Books at 10:00am. Bring your laptop.

Tae

 So much for avoiding her boss on this vacation.

~~~~~~~

When she steps into the music/book store, it feels like she's just wandered into a maze. All the breezes, wind chimes, and bird chatter go quiet at once, a warm cedar-and-sunned-paper smell folding around her. She follows the labyrinth shelves deeper into the store to the cafe, really a couple of card tables and some folding chairs, and freezes when she doesn't see Tae where she expected him. Turning away, she then stops mid-step for a millisecond, one foot hovering in the air. 

Seeing her boss hunched over his laptop behind the register is like spotting a fish out on dry land. A handsome fish nonetheless. She notices as her eyes skate down his golden throat and over his pristine white T-shirt to his arms, that he has good arms. Ripped and attractive with a farmer's tan.

Marching up to the counter, Jennie announces, "I thought you were a farmer."

Tae's dark golden-brown eyes slowly rise. "I work here."

"You...work...here? And the farm? And at YG? Is that legal?" she asks.

Tae drags a hand down his face as he sighs exhaustedly. "It's not advisable. But my grandparents also own this place. And as you know they need help." 

He signals to an elderly man in the children's book section to take over the register then ushers Jennie to an office down a hallway behind the counter. Once inside, Tae takes a seat behind a desk, boots up his laptop, and the sounds of a Zoom meeting can be heard through the speakers. Not knowing where to sit, she finally realizes what to do when he glances at her and pulls a rolling office chair next to him. 

Side by side, the two watch the meeting unfold. At first, Jennie is focused on the way Tae starts rearranging the pens, pamphlets, and other office supplies on the desk. His long fingers have her in a trance as Yang Hyunsuk's voice booms from the speaker.