𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐋𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐈𝐄𝐒 || 𝐊𝐓𝐇

Chapter-20: Hangover drink

Millie

A dull ache throbbed through my head as I pried my eyes open, the morning light spilling into the room like a cruel intruder. Groaning, I pressed my hands to my temples, as though the pressure might ease the sharp pangs that hit like waves crashing against the shore.

I glanced around the unfamiliar room, my brows furrowing in confusion. How did I even get here? The last thing I could recall was being at the party. Then... nothing.

The door creaked open, interrupting my spiraling thoughts. My eyes snapped toward the sound, and there he was, stepping inside with a mug in his hand. Taehyung.

He didn’t look like someone who’d come to check on me out of kindness. His smirk confirmed that suspicion.

“Pain in the head, huh?” Taehyung quipped, his tone laced with teasing amusement.

I blinked at him, unsure of how to respond, but my embarrassment only grew when he held out the mug toward me.

“Take this,” he added casually, his eyes narrowing as he held it closer. “Hangover drink. It’ll help.”

Reluctantly, I took the mug from him, the faint warmth of it seeping through my fingers. It was oddly thoughtful of him—too thoughtful.

“What happened last night?” I ventured hesitantly after taking a tentative sip, the bitterness of the drink making me wince.

His smirk widened, a glimmer of mischief dancing in his eyes. “Nothing. Except you exposed yourself a little too much.”

My heart sank at his words, and my hands flew to the duvet covering me. Panic surged through me as I frantically peeked underneath. Relief flooded me when I realized I was still fully clothed.

“You idiot,” Taehyung barked out a laugh, his voice deep and rich. “I didn’t mean that.” He crossed his arms over his chest, his amusement growing. “I meant the way you couldn’t stop talking.”

Talking? My face burned as his words sank in. What could I have possibly said?

“Oh no, what did I talk about?” I muttered, my hands gripping the mug tighter.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said, his laughter softening. But I noticed something unusual in his expression—his features were relaxed, and his eyes sparkled with an uncharacteristic warmth. It was the first time I had seen him look like this, so... human.

I felt a tiny, reluctant smile tug at my lips before I shook my head and stood up. I needed to pull myself together. Without another word, I headed to the bathroom to freshen up.

｡｡｡｡｡

Downstairs in the lobby, I spotted him seated at a table, a cup of tea in one hand and a newspaper in the other. His gaze lifted when he heard my footsteps, his sharp eyes scanning my outfit before offering a curt nod of approval.

Taking the seat across from him, I tried to ignore the tension hanging in the air. The waiter came by, and I ordered a coffee and a pastry, determined to make breakfast as unremarkable as possible.

But then my gaze drifted toward the corner of the lobby, where a small ice cream cart stood, its vibrant cones and colorful scoops calling to me.

I stood abruptly, earning a raised brow from Taehyung.

“You’re seriously getting ice cream for breakfast?” he called out, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

I ignored him, marching over to the cart and picking out a double-scoop cone of my favorite flavor.

When I returned, his gaze followed me, an eyebrow quirked in disbelief. “You know most people don’t eat ice cream in the morning.”

I shrugged, licking the cone with unapologetic satisfaction. “I’m not most people.”

Taehyung

She was maddening. Watching her eat that ice cream—her eyes fluttering shut as if she was tasting heaven itself—made it nearly impossible for me to focus on my tea. What is wrong with me?

My eyes kept drifting back to her, to the carefree way she savored each bite, as though there wasn’t a single care in the world. Her lightness was both captivating and foreign, like a fresh breeze cutting through the thick fog of my mind.

It hit me then—this wasn’t just amusement or fascination. She was starting to awaken something within me, something I had buried deep beneath my bitterness and rage.

I clenched my fists under the table, forcing myself to look away. This isn’t what I wanted. This isn’t what I planned.

“Where are you going?” I asked, narrowing my eyes as she declared her intent to go out alone after breakfast.

Her defiance was infuriating. “I’m a grown woman,” she said, folding her arms. “I can take care of myself.”

“No,” I replied firmly. “You’ll stay here.”

But she was already halfway to the door when I lunged forward, grabbing her wrist. The motion caused her to stumble into me, her body colliding with mine in a way that made my breath hitch.

For a moment, we froze. Her wide eyes met mine, and the world seemed to still. My hand instinctively reached up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The soft warmth of her skin under my fingers sent an unexpected jolt through me.

Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away, pulling back to steady herself. I released her wrist reluctantly, unable to shake the electricity that lingered in the air between us.

“You’re coming with me,” I muttered, my voice lower than I intended. “We’ll leave after I finish this meeting. I’ve already arranged for us to move to a private bungalow.”

She looked up, her eyes narrowing. “Just drop me off there. I’ll explore later.”

I nodded, watching her retreat upstairs. What is she doing to me?

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