Mister Saviour

5

"Sorry we're late. Traffic was a nightmare." 

Yoongi nods beside her, his hands deep in his pockets. Namjoon looked at his Hyung, wondering whether that was the true reason they'd gotten late.

Taehi glanced up from her phone, her eyes sweeping over them. "It's fine," she said, her voice soft. "But we really should get going. We have a lot to discuss."

Dami forced a smile. "Of course, Miss Ahn. Let's get started."

The next hour passed surprisingly smoothly. Taehi's earlier skepticism had given way to an active engagement in the planning process, suggesting ideas that were both creative and surprisingly within the budget. Namjoon, for his part, remained mostly quiet, but his occasional nods and gentle suggestions made it clear that he was fully present. Dami couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration for how well they worked together, despite the turmoil in her heart.

They discussed the menu with the venue's chef, a burly man with a passion for fusion cuisine. Taehi's eyes lit up at the mention of a modern twist on traditional Korean dishes, while Namjoon suggested a few Western options for the international guests. Dami scribbled notes, trying to ignore the way Namjoon's gaze kept returning to her. It was as if he was trying to communicate something, but she wasn't ready to hear it.

When it came to the cake, Taehi's excitement was infectious. She hummed thoughtfully, thinking for a while. 

"Hm.. I want something grand, but not too flashy. Something that tastes amazing, of course!" Dami nodded, jotting down notes. 

"How about a three-tier cake with a mix of flavors? We can have a white chocolate mousse for the top tier, and maybe a strawberry shortcake for the bottom? And then you can add whichever flavor you'd like in the center." She suggested looking over at Namjoon and Taehi as she tucked a strand of stray hairs behind her ear, Namjoon's eyes following the movement silently.

Namjoon leaned in, his eyes meeting Dami's. "Remember the cake we had at your brother's wedding?" he asked, his voice filled with a warm nostalgia that made her heart ache. Dami nodded, the memory of the delicate lemon cake with raspberry filling floating to the surface. 

"You loved it because it had sweet and sour plum jelly in it..." She ponders, pushing the memory away and frowning as she tried to connect Namjoon's words to the current situation.

Taehi's eyes narrowed slightly, and she turned to Namjoon. "Is that so?" she asked, her voice confused. "Well, then, let's have that for the center tier, huh?" she said, her smile forced. Dami looked at her year old ex-best friend. Really, looked at her and felt a pang of guilt, when she realised what it was that had made her heart twist. Taehi looked exhausted. 

Taehi's usual sharp, confident demeanor had dimmed. Her eyes, usually gleaming with determination, were heavy-lidded, shadowed with fatigue. Dark circles clung stubbornly beneath them, deepening the tired look even under the expert make up. Her posture had slumped slightly, shoulders no longer squared but sagging with the weight of something unknown. Even her model hair, usually styled with care, was a bit disheveled, a few strands escaping their usual place. Everything about her seemed slower, like she was running on empty but still pushing herself forward.

As they moved on to the entertainment, Dami felt the weight of the situation lift slightly. Yoongi spoke up, suggesting a mix of live bands and DJs, knowing Namjoon's love for music. To Dami's surprise, Taehi agreed without protest, turning to Namjoon with a soft smile. 

"Whatever makes you happy, Joon," she said, using the nickname by which Dami had introduced Namjoon to Taehi all those years ago.

Namjoon's eyes searched Dami's for a moment before he nodded. "Lets go ahead with it," he said, his voice neutral. Dami's heart clenched at the sound of the name on Taehi's lips, but she kept her expression calm, her professional mask firmly in place.

The meeting concluded with a round of handshakes and promises to finalize the details over email. As Taehi and Namjoon walked away, Dami felt a strange sense of relief. Maybe this wedding wouldn't be the emotional minefield she had anticipated. 

Yoongi leaned against Dami's Mustang, watching her with a knowing look. "You've grown stronger, Dami," he said, his voice soft.

Dami looked up from her purse as she tried to locate the keys, her eyes meeting his. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice a little shaky. Yoongi gives her a tiny smile, raising his hand with the keys before replying.

"Four years ago, you couldn't even be in the same room with him without your heart shattering into a million pieces. And now, you're planning his wedding to your ex best friend." He opens the door for her, and she walks over to him, feeling his words like a punch in the gut.

Dami nods, taking the keys from him with trembling hands. "It's just business, Yoongi. Nothing more." She tries to convince herself as much as she does him.

"Is that so?" His eyes searched hers, but she avoids his gaze, sliding into the driver's seat. "Mi," he says softly, bring her old nickname back as his hand held the door frame. "You can't keep running from your feelings forever."

Dami looks up at him, her knuckles white as she grips the steering wheel. "I'm not running, Yoongi. I've moved on. That's what you do when you're in love with someone who can never love you." She says it with a conviction she doesn't feel, but she's had a lot of practice saying it over the past few years.

Yoongi closes the door and leans closer to her through the window, his expression serious. "And if he does?"

Dami sighs, relaxing against the plush leather seat. "Then that's his problem, not mine."

Yoongi nods, his eyes searching hers. "But what if it's still your problem, too?" He steps back, his hand lingering on the window frame. Dami's heart skips a beat at his words, but she shakes her head. 

"It's not," she says firmly, starting the engine. "Not anymore."

As she drives back to the agency, Dami's thoughts are a whirlwind. Her mind is racing with the day's events, and she can't help but feel like she's on a tightrope, balancing between her past and her present. The sight of Namjoon with Taehi had stirred emotions she'd thought she'd buried, but seeing him again had only confirmed what she already knew - he wasn't hers anymore.