ABC's of Love

Episode 1

Episode 1

Tae: "Minho... come back soon... I'll wait for you."

The bustling noise of the airport surrounded them, but for Taehyung, everything felt distant. His heart was heavy as he stood there, watching Minho, who was about to board a flight to London. They had been inseparable since the start of university, and this was the longest they would be apart.

Minho glanced at him with a reassuring smile. His hands gently cupped Taehyung’s face, wiping away the tear that slipped down his cheek. 

Minho: "I’ll talk to my parents about us. Don’t worry, love. This isn’t goodbye. I’ll be back before you know it."

*He leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to Taehyung’s temple.*

Taehyung tried to smile, but his emotions were overwhelming. His chest ached at the thought of Minho being so far away, even if it was just for a short time.

Tae: "I’ll wait... for as long as it takes. And when you're back, I’ll talk to your parents too. We’ll figure it out together."

Minho smiled softly and pulled Taehyung into a final embrace, holding him close as if to seal a promise.

Minho: "I love you. Stay strong, okay?"

As they pulled apart, the announcement for Minho’s flight echoed through the terminal.

With one last look, Minho squeezed Taehyung’s hand before turning toward the gate, leaving Taehyung standing alone, watching until he disappeared from sight.

Tears blurred Taehyung’s vision as he whispered to himself, "I’ll wait for you, no matter what."

---

After some days

Jimin walked onto the balcony, hands on his hips, watching his brother Taehyung deeply immersed in yet another detective novel. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows, and a soft breeze rustled the pages of the book in Taehyung’s hands.

Jimin: "Stop reading those detective novels. Don’t try to become Sherlock Holmes."

Taehyung, comfortably sat in a chair, barely acknowledged him, his eyes glued to the page. He peeked over the top of his book, one eyebrow raised, as if Jimin’s presence was nothing but a disturbance.

Taehyung: "Shhh... It’s full of suspense. You wouldn’t understand."

Jimin rolled his eyes and walked closer, casting a shadow over Taehyung’s book. He leaned forward, waving a hand in front of Taehyung’s face, making it impossible for him to ignore any longer.

Jimin: "Appa and Dad are calling you. They’ve been waiting."

Taehyung groaned softly, sinking further into his chair.

Taehyung: "Jiminie, please... shhh. Just let me finish this chapter!"

Jimin sighed dramatically and crossed his arms.

Jimin: "Appa will scold you if you don’t go. You know how he gets when he has to repeat himself."

That got Taehyung’s attention. With a reluctant sigh, he finally closed the book, placing it on his lap.

Taehyung: "You’re such a tease, always ruining the best parts.”

He stood up slowly, stretching as if it were the greatest effort in the world.

Taehyung: "Alright, alright... I’m going."

As Taehyung made his way past Jimin, he gave him a playful shove.

Jimin: "You’re welcome!"

With a grin, Taehyung headed inside, already thinking about the next time he could sneak away and dive back into his fictional world.

Taehyung slowly made his way to the TV lounge, where his Appa, Namjoon, and Jin were sitting side by side on the couch. The atmosphere felt a little off, and he could sense something was on their minds. With a curious but slightly hesitant expression, he stood in front of them.

Tae: *softly* "Yes, Appa?"

Jin exchanged a glance with Namjoon before turning back to Taehyung. He seemed unusually tense as if the words he wanted to say were heavy.

Jin: *clearing his throat* "We want to talk to you about something very important, actually..."

Taehyung furrowed his brows, growing more confused by the second. Jin seemed to struggle to find the right words, his voice wavering slightly. It wasn’t often that his parents seemed this serious.

Namjoon: *with a steady voice* "My friend spoke to me recently... about his son. Your Dad and I have been thinking, and we’ve made a decision."

Taehyung felt his stomach twist in anxiety.

His heart pounded a little harder.

Tae: "A decision? About what, Dad?"

Namjoon looked to Jin, who took a deep breath as if preparing for a big reveal.

Jin: "Your engagement, Taehyung. We’ve already fixed it. The boy we’ve chosen for you is someone we believe is perfect. Since Jimin is also getting married, we thought it was time for you to settle down too."

Taehyung’s heart dropped. The word *engagement* echoed in his mind. His thoughts immediately flew to Minho—the love of his life. His eyes widened, and he could barely find the words to respond.

Namjoon noticed the shift in Taehyung’s expression and spoke up again, his tone softer this time, as if offering an olive branch.

Namjoon: "If you like someone else, you can tell us. We don’t want to force anything on you, son."

Jin nodded in agreement, his face warm but concerned.

Jin: "We have no problem with that. Do you like someone, Taehyung?"

The question hit Taehyung like a jolt. He was still processing everything, but he knew this was his chance—his moment of truth. His heart was racing as he spoke up.

Tae: "Actually... I don’t believe in arranged marriages. And yes, I do like someone."

Namjoon: *furrowed* Tell us about him.

Taehyung drew a breath, mentally preparing himself for their reaction. He had wanted to introduce Minho to them eventually, but not like this.

Tae: *nervously* "He’s my university fellow. His name is Minho. His parents will talk to you soon... they know about us."

Jin and Namjoon exchanged another glance, this time their expressions softening. They hadn’t expected this, but they trusted Taehyung enough to let him choose his own path.

TBC