Speeding Into Trouble || Taekook

11

At Taehyung's house, the Lee family sat in the living room, sipping tea and exchanging overly polite conversation.

The air was thick with the kind of forced pleasantries that made Taehyung want to bolt straight out the window.

"So, Taehyung, how's everything going with Sara?" Mr. Lee asked with a smile so warm it could melt an iceberg.

Taehyung's polite smile was so strained it felt like his face might crack. "It's... going well, Mr. Lee. We hung out a few days ago."

From the corner of his eye, Taehyung saw Sara glance down shyly, her cheeks flushing pink like she was in some cheesy K-drama. His stomach churned.

His father, ever the mastermind behind his misery, beamed proudly. "Yes, they were on a date. They're getting along wonderfully!"

Taehyung bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from screaming. A date? If meeting up for coffee and discussing her dog's digestive issues counted as a date, then sure, they were practically soulmates.

The conversation continued, with the Lees and his parents bonding over God-knows-what, until his father dropped the nuclear bomb.

"Since both kids seem to like each other so much," his father said, his tone dripping with enthusiasm, "why don't we take things a step further?"

Taehyung froze. His mind short-circuited. A step further? Like... a step off a cliff? He wanted to laugh hysterically at the absurdity of it, but the dread bubbling in his chest had him paralyzed.

Mr. Lee nodded, grinning as if they'd just announced a joint lottery win. "I was thinking the same. We would love to have Taehyung as part of our family."

Part of their family? Taehyung's soul practically left his body. The room spun as his mind screamed, Abort mission! Run for the hills!

Mrs. Lee clasped her hands together, her eyes twinkling. "Sara would be so happy to be your daughter-in-law."

What.The.Fuck

Sara's blush deepened, and she looked at Taehyung with an expression so full of hope that it nearly sent him spiraling.

Meanwhile, he felt like he was suffocating under an avalanche of expectations.

His mother chimed in with her usual passive agreement, "We'd be honored to have Sara as part of our family, too."

Oh my god, I'm dying, Taehyung thought, his panic reaching DEFCON 1. His chest tightened, and the walls seemed to close in.

Mr. Lee turned to him with an approving smile. "What do you think, son?"

Taehyung opened his mouth to protest, to say Isn't it too soon? We've only been on one... non-date? But before he could get a single word out, his father steamrolled over him.

"We've already talked with Taehyung. He likes Sara too," his father declared with a finality that made Taehyung want to throw himself out the nearest window.

Taehyung sat there like a marionette, his strings fully controlled by his father. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms to keep from screaming.

Mr. Lee clapped his hands together, sealing his fate. "Well then, if everything is settled, we'll start discussing the details soon."

The families exchanged pleasantries, their voices blending into an unbearable hum in Taehyung's ears. .

He excused himself as soon as it was polite-though he was sure his rushed exit was anything but-and fled to his room.

As soon as the door closed behind him, the tears came fast and hot, streaking down his cheeks. He collapsed onto his bed, gripping his pillow like it was a life raft in a storm.