A Gift

#28

Tae fixes his shirt collar but groans when pain hits his ribs. He closes his eyes for a moment to let it pass. Y/N huff and pout while trying to braid her hair. Tae glanced at her when she huffed and noticed that she is twisting her hair strands messily as an attempt to braid it.

He sighs while scratching his forehead with his thumb. His parents are coming today. His mother just got to know about what happened with him, because he didn't wanted her to get worried.

He sighs in annoyance and walks to her, he doesn't want to give his father any point to get angry about. Tae with a groan of annoyance sits behind her. Y/N look back at him with an annoyed pout "husband it's so difficult but mumma do it so easily." Tae rolls his eyes "now stay silent" he raises his hands slowly, his fingers hesitating as they weave through her long, silky hair.

Her back is to him, and she sits cross-legged on a cushion, her hands resting in her lap. Her hair cascades like a dark river down her back, and as he begins to braid, he realizes how intimately vulnerable the act feels.

Each strand he touches, each gentle tug, brings him closer to the realization that this isn't just a chore or a gesture-it's an expression of care, of connection. But he scoffs at his own thoughts and brushes it off. Feeling stupid to think like that.
His movements start awkwardly, almost mechanical, but as the minutes pass, they become tender and deliberate. He notices the way her hair catches the light, the soft curve of her neck, the faint scent of lavender lingering in her locks.

The braid grows longer, neater, as if mirroring the unspoken feelings. He secures it with a tie, he's no longer just braiding hair, he's weaving a moment, a memory, a quiet declaration of the affection he feels but hasn't yet put into words.

He shakes his head at his own thoughts and clears his throat "it's done... You don't know anything" his tone is cold but there is a hint of something more which she can't even notice. Y/N pout at his words but smile softly while looking at her braid "wow... Husband it's so good... thank you!".

Tae looks at her brighten face due to happiness. Her smile is unguarded, natural, and it lights up her face in a way he hadn't noticed before-or maybe hadn't allowed himself to notice. At first, he's observing her idly, as one might watch a passing moment, but something shifts.

The sound of her giggles carries a melody that stirs something unfamiliar in him, something that feels both foreign and undeniable. His gaze softens, lingering on the way her hair catches the sunlight and how her eyes crinkle at the corners, reflecting a quiet joy.

He feels his chest tighten-not with discomfort, but with a sense of wonder. How had he overlooked this before? A warmth begins to spread through him, subtle at first but growing stronger, like the first flickers of a fire. He realizes he's been holding his breath and let it out in a soft exhale, and look away "y-yeah... whatever."

Tae stands by the mirror, folding his sleeves. His brow furrows slightly in concentration, unaware of her gaze. Y/N who was busy admiring her braid look towards him, she notices the way his fingers move deftly. She looks at him silently, noticing his every moment. Her eyes move over him innocently, the way his shoulders square, the subtle tilt of his head, and the determined look in his eyes.

Her heartbeat quicken again like earlier. She placed her palm on her chest at the loud thumping. He glances over his shoulder and catches her watching him "what?". She shakes her head immediately and looks at her lap. Tae frowns but ignores it and continues fixing his shirt.

Y/N again secretly glance at him, the way he is settling his collars. It's an innocent realization, a quiet shift in her chest. She finds herself leaning closer, drawn to him without understanding why, her thoughts now filled with images of him in a way that feels both exciting and unfamiliar.