Shadows Of Stardom

Chapter 22

I woke up to the most captivating sight—Taehyung's enchanting eyes fixed on mine.

"Good morning," he whispered, gently tucking a few loose strands of hair behind my ear and pulling me closer.

"Good morning, you charming rascal," I replied, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek. I noticed him pout slightly before he pointed to his lips, silently asking for a kiss there.

"Right here," he said with a playful smile. He closed his eyes and leaned in, but I teasingly stopped him with my fingers.

Feeling my touch on his lips, he opened his eyes, a look of concern crossing his face. "I haven't brushed my teeth yet," I admitted, a wave of embarrassment washing over me as I lied. What if my breath was terrible, or worse, if drool had escaped the corners of my mouth?

As I tried to slip out of bed, he pulled me back toward him. "I don't care," he insisted, cupping my cheeks and leaning in again, but I managed to dodge him just in time. The frustration on his face almost made me burst into laughter.

I quickly jumped out of bed, grabbed my clothes, and rushed to the bathroom.

"Can I join you?" he called after me as I slipped inside.

"No thanks!" I shot back playfully, a smile on my face.

When I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I nearly gasped in horror at my reflection. How could he possibly want to kiss me looking like this? I shook my head, trying to push that thought away, and quickly grabbed my toothbrush.

I hurried through a refreshing shower before slipping into my floral dress. Skirts weren't usually my thing, but today I felt a strong urge to wear one. After moisturizing my skin and styling my hair, I added a touch of makeup. Normally, I wouldn’t get dressed in the bathroom, but with Tae lounging in the bedroom, I couldn’t very well go out wrapped in just a towel.

As I opened the bathroom door, I peeked into the bedroom, only to find it empty. Where on earth had he gone?

I quickly threw on a housecoat before heading downstairs to join everyone. I made my way to the dining room, anticipating a lively breakfast gathering. Upon arrival, I was greeted by a bustling scene; the once-empty chairs were now filled with familiar faces, leaving only one seat available next to Taehyung. His face lit up with a smile as he spotted me.

Taehyung had likely just showered, as he was wearing a buttoned white shirt and denim jeans. His stunning eyes were scanning me, and I was desperately wishing my body wouldn't betray me by turning hot and flushed.

I just hoped I wasn't blushing in front of everyone—Mingyu, Vernon, Baekhyun, Bambam, Jin, RM, Jungkook, Jimin, and Suga were all there. The only BTS member missing was J-Hope. Jaehyun and Taeil were also present; I hadn't seen them in quite some time. Kai and Suho were here too.

"Behold, the Princess has arrived!" Chanyeol declared with a playful flourish, bowing dramatically. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at his endless antics as I made my way to my seat beside Taehyung. I exchanged greetings with my friends, who responded with warm smiles.

This breakfast felt like a grand feast, for idols since we were all gathered together.

Kai shot me a grin, which I happily returned. But when Taehyung noticed us chatting, he slyly pulled my chair closer to him. I rolled my eyes at his possessiveness, while Kai mirrored the action and resumed his conversation with Baekhyun.

As the cook set down the breakfast spread, we all eagerly began to help ourselves. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Lisa glaring daggers at Jungkook, who seemed blissfully unaware of the storm brewing beside him. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself as I filled my plate with food.