✔️WARM BLANKET: TAEHYUNG

5

~The Attack~

He flipped the plates effortlessly and served from his bowl, sliding it toward her with a casual grace. She looked at him, a hint of confusion etched on her face.

"Have some, it's good, delicious," he urged, juggling the shawl in one hand while handling his chopsticks with the other. She pushed the plate back toward him, shaking her head gently.

"I can't have this; you enjoy," she said, offering him a sweet smile, though he frowned in response.

"I'm already full. What will you eat then?" he asked, concern knitting his brow.

"It has beef. I don't eat beef," she replied, her smile still lingering. His jaw dropped slightly in surprise.

"You are vegetarian?" he inquired, curiosity piqued. She shook her head.

"Nahh, I eat eggs. I've prepared an omelet for myself; don't worry," she reassured him.

"It tastes good; ever tried?" he pressed, stirring his noodles with enthusiasm. She shook her head again.

"Na, I’m okay," she replied, and he nodded, returning to his meal.

"The shawl looks good on you," she said, her gaze steady on him. He grinned widely.

"Really!! So I can keep this, right?" he teased playfully, but she shook her head instantly, her expression firm.

"Not at all! It's my favorite shawl; it keeps me warm. You can't have it," she declared, a hint of laughter in his voice, which made her chuckle.

"True, it is warm, so I’m keeping it," he joked, wiping his mouth clean as he looked at her mischievously. Her eyes widened in disbelief, but before she could muster a response, he was already on his feet, prompting her to jump up and chase after him.

"Give me back my shawl!" she screamed, but he only laughed, evading her with playful ease.

"Catch me if you can!" he challenged, a glint of mischief in his eyes. She narrowed her gaze, and they raced through the hall, laughter echoing behind them, until she finally grasped the end of the shawl, pulling it toward herself.

"Phat jayega," she fumbled, her playful tone halted. He giggled at her slip of Hindi.

"Leave it then; I've got most of it," he replied, a smirk playing on his lips as she stopped in her tracks, staring at him incredulously.

"You got what I said just now?" she queried, pointing at herself. His frown returned as he tried to piece together her words.

"You mean, it will tear up, right?" he answered, completely surprising her.

"You know Hindi?" she asked, eyes wide in astonishment. He shook his head, looking somewhat amused yet confused. "I guessed," he said, and then ran off to his room, leaving her chuckling as she let out a dramatic sigh, giving up the chase.

~
Weeks turned into months, and an unspoken understanding blossomed between them. He was no longer amused but rather resigned to the changes filling his home, muttering the phrase "desi things," a term he'd picked up from her constant use. She even used her ‘desi nuska’—homemade remedies—to cure his flu.

Presently, she was busy with dishes, while he hadn’t been home for over a week due to concert commitments. She too had her plate full with graduation exams and household chores, and despite the bustle, they both found themselves missing each other. He would call her at night after wrapping up work, sharing stories about his sets and how he spent time with his hyungs, and she cherished every moment of listening to him.

Just then, the doorbell rang, breaking her concentration. Frowning, she dried her hands on a towel and approached the door, peering into the monitor, only to find it displaying a delivery person.

"Delivery, but I didn't order anything?" she murmured to herself.

"Taehyung—yeah, maybe he ordered something. But it should be sent to his workplace address. Is the delivery late?" she pondered, just as the doorbell rang again. Opening the door without glancing at the monitor, she positioned herself, ready to receive the parcel.

"It’s not huge; why is he taking so long?" she thought anxiously.

"It’s a fragile parcel for Mister Kim Taehyung," the deep voice informed her. She frowned, anxiously biting her lower lip as she reached out to accept it. To horror, the man smirked and, with a sudden, firm grip, seized her wrist, stunning her completely. She tried to pull back, but his hold was unyielding; she couldn’t muster a sound and felt compelled to shut the door. Yet, the man resisted, keeping it ajar.

Suddenly, a shout echoed through the corridor, startling him, and he released her wrist, bolting away. In that instant, she slammed the door shut, collapsing back against it, her heart racing as sweat dripped down her face and her hands trembled, betraying the terror of the encounter.

"Ma'am, are you okay? We've informed the cops; we'll tighten security. Are you alright?" The staff’s voice was a blur through her frayed nerves, her bleeding arm and racing thoughts consuming her.

"Ma'am, please respond! Are you okay? Should we call a doctor? You’re safe now—open the door, please," they urged, and slowly she pulled herself back to reality.

"N...no, I’m fine; please go... and don’t bother Mr. Kim for this," she stammered, her voice shaky as she clamped a hand over her mouth to hold back the tears.

♡ Thank You For Reading ♡