Unique Friend

~14~

~14~

Without another word, Taehyung helps Karina to her feet, wraps the jacket from his suit around her shoulders, and guides her out the back entrance to where the car and driver he had hired for the evening is waiting. They don't speak the entire drive back to their shared apartment, but his quiet strength and compassion gives her much needed comfort.

Karina holds herself together as they climb the three flights, and wrestle open the antique lock to their apartment, but once they are finally inside with the heavy wooden door shut behind them, her resolve crumbles and the tears start. Once she starts, Karina finds she is unable to stop, the tears streaming quietly down her cheeks as Taehyung leads her inside and sits her on the couch, removing her shoes and tucking the cozy throw blanket over her lap. He then goes to the kitchen and fills the kettle to make her a cinnamon tea, and brings a box of tissues which he places beside her on the couch, before sitting at the other end.

After a time, Taehyung breaks the silence. "You don't have to talk about it, but I want you to know that I am a friend, and I won't let that man hurt you anymore."

And the words are like magic to Karina. The tears stop. She is filled with warmth, peace, and an unfamiliar sense of security. She turns to look at Taehyung, and has a realization. She is done living in her past, done with letting fear and hurt rule her. Why is she wasting her energy on a creep like Derek when she has this amazing person sitting here beside her, comforting her, supporting her, and asking nothing in return except her friendship?

And so, she decides to let him in, revealing her past. She tells Taehyung all about Derek, her relationship with him when she was young and naive, and how Derek manipulated and controlled and abused her for years, playing on all her insecurities and fears. She didn't go into all the gritty details, refusing to waste any more energy on reliving her trauma, but she didn't need to; Taehyung understands well enough from what she does tell him. When she stops talking, Karina can sense his anger towards Derek simmering beneath his calm exterior.

"Are you ok now?", he asks with genuine concern as his eyes search her face.

"I am," she replies quietly, and she means it. Somehow Karina feels more ok than she has in a very long time, like a huge weight has been lifted. She takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Thank you for being a friend when I needed one, Taehyung. I can't explain just how much that means to me."

He smiles softly, "I will always be your friend, and I am glad you are feeling better. I'm just sorry you didn't get to have any fun tonight..." he trails off, suddenly uncertain.

"But I did have fun. I was really proud this evening, seeing you get recognized for your beautiful photography, and smiling happily at all the lovely comments you recieved. That was fun enough for me," she replies with a smile and a shrug before suddenly being overcome with a yawn. "I guess that's a sign that it's time for bed."

With that, she stands removing Taehyung's jacket and handing it back to him, his scent lingering in her hair. "Thank you," she says again softly, her eyes meeting his.

"You looked very beautiful tonight," he suddenly blurts, then quickly looks down bashfully. "I forgot to tell you earlier."

His bashfulness radiates to her, and Karina finds herself blushing at his complement. "You know what? I actually felt beautiful tonight. And it's all thanks to you and this beautiful dress," she pauses a moment before continuing "I never did thank you properly for it, and I feel bad about how I acted over it all."

Taehyung laughs at this, "Well, Namjoon-hyung did try to warn me...."

Karina laughs and rolls her eyes at this. "I'm not that hard to deal with!" When this comment only makes him laugh harder she huffs playfully, "Ok, ok. Goodnight Taehyung...and thank you!" before marching herself to her room as he playfully calls "Goodnight, roomie!" to her retreating form.