Fated Love

Ch~22 || Confession

The kiss was soft, hesitant and fleeting before he pulled away. His hand lingered against her cheek, his eyes searching for her reaction.

She sat still, still processing what had just happened. Never in her dream did she imagine Taehyung, The man she married out of a contract would kiss her. Her lips tingled where his had touched hers, and her heart raced almost so loud that he could hear it. She blinked at him, speechless.

Taehyung didn't look much better. He looked uncertain and guilty, afraid she would be mad. She stood there, her cheeks flushed, lips parted.

"I-" he began his voice rough. But no words followed.

She took a step back as she touched her lips to feel the tingly sensation. "Why did you do that?" She managed to ask.

"I..I don't know what came over me. I just wanted to do it. It was an impulse"

After a long silence, Yn rose to her feet "I think I'll go to bed" She murmured avoiding his gaze.

He watched her leave, His hands clenching into a fist. He sighed running a hand through his hair. He was afraid, he had pushed her far away and that she would be mad at him. What had he just done?

And despite everything. He felt happy. The feel of her lips felt divine to him as he remembered the taste and feel of her soft lips.

Taehyung sat in the dimly lit living room for what felt like hours thinking about her and the kiss.

Suddenly His phone buzzed on the coffee table, pulling him from his thoughts. It was a message from one of his men but he didn't dare to read it. He was too tired and caught up in his thoughts to do do.

Instead, his gaze wandered toward the closed door of YN's room. Was she angry? Confused? Or worse, regretting the kiss?

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. What have I done?

In the Bedroom

Meanwhile, YN sat on her bed, clutching a pillow to her chest. Her mind was a mess, replaying the kiss over and over. She could still feel the warmth of his lips.

But it wasn't the kiss itself that unsettled her the most—it was the feelings it stirred within her. Feelings she had been suppressing for a while.

Her heart was betraying her. She had promised herself not to fall for him, not to let herself be vulnerable in a marriage that had no foundation of love. Yet here she was, her cheeks flushed, her heart racing, and her thoughts filled with him.

"What is he doing to me?" she muttered under her breath, burying her face in the pillow. "I need to stop feeling like this."

But even though she tried. It was impossible for her to remove him from her mind.

The Morning After

The next morning, Taehyung was up early. He had made coffee and sat at the kitchen island, staring blankly at the steaming cup in front of him. 

His thoughts broke at the sound of footsteps and he turned to see YN walking into the kitchen. She was wearing an oversized sweater, her hair slightly messy from sleep. She froze momentarily when she saw him but quickly masked her surprise.

"Morning" she said quietly, moving to pour herself a cup of coffee.

"Morning" he replied, his voice equally soft. He watched as she moved around the kitchen, her movements careful, almost hesitant.

The silence between them was too tense and Taehyung knew he had to address the elephant in the room. He stood and walked toward her, leaning against the counter as she sipped her coffee.

"YN" he began, his tone gentle "about last night—"

"Let's not talk about it" she interrupted, cutting him off. Her gaze was fixed on her coffee cup. "It was a mistake, right? Just an impulse. We don't have to think too much"

Taehyung frowned, her words stinging him "Is that what you think?" he asked quietly.

She glanced up at him "What else do you think it is?"

He stepped closer and said firmly. "It wasn't just an impulse for me anymore"

YN's breath hitched, her fingers tightening around her coffee mug. "Taehyung..."

"I don't know what this is" he admitted, his voice low  "But I know it wasn't a mistake. And I think you know that too."

She looked away, her heart racing. "This isn't what we agreed on. This isn't what we are supposed to do. This marriage--"

"This marriage stopped being just an agreement a long time ago" he cut her off again. "At least for me."

YN stared at him, her emotions were a chaotic mess and something else she couldn't quite name. 

"I need time" she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Taehyung nodded, stepping back to give her space. "Take all the time you need" he said softly. "I'm not going anywhere." He retreated into his home office.  

Taehyung worked from home in his home office, working on reports and updates from his men about Park Il-sung.

Yn, on the other hand was in the library reading a book. But she could barely understand what was written as she kept reading the same line as she caught herself distracted. Taehyung's words had affected her a lot deeply than she thought.

"This marriage stopped being just an agreement a long time ago" His confession made her heart race. Did she love him? Or was he just referring that he didn't think of her as a contract. She knew their relationship was changing but hearing him express it made her feel weird.

What if it ends? she thought. What if it all falls apart and I'm left picking up the pieces?

Even thought her thoughts were negative , a few positive ones emerged. What if it doesn't? What if he means it?