𝙃𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙡 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙡 || 𝙆𝙏𝙃

34. BETWEEN US

It was a quiet afternoon, the kind that seemed to stretch endlessly. Ava sat on the couch, flipping through a book, her legs tucked beneath her. The soft hum of the room was the only sound, and Taehyung sat nearby, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips as he watched her. His gaze was warm, filled with affection, but neither of them acknowledged it directly.

"Here," Taehyung suddenly said, his voice a little quieter than usual as he reached into his pocket.

Ava looked up in surprise as he handed her a small, delicate box. She opened it to find a beautifully crafted bracelet, its intricate design catching the light. It was simple but elegant, a deep blue stone set in a silver band that seemed to shimmer as she turned it in her hands.

Her eyes widened in confusion. "Taehyung... Why?" she asked, lifting her gaze to meet his. "There's no occasion... Why are you giving me this?"

He chuckled softly, his smile gentle. "I just saw it and thought it looked nice. I liked it, and I wanted you to have it," he replied casually, though there was something in his voice, a tenderness that he didn't need to explain.

Ava paused, still holding the bracelet, but a subtle warmth spread through her. She could tell there was more to it than just a simple gesture, but she didn't press him.

"She smiled softly as he asked if he could slip the bracelet onto her wrist. She nodded politely, admiring the bracelet. "It's beautiful," she said, unaware of his gaze. Gently, he fastened it on her wrist and murmured, "Now it’s even more beautiful." They both paused for a moment, their eyes meeting briefly before looking away awkwardly.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice almost inaudible, but the sincerity was clear.

Taehyung nodded, looking at her with a quiet affection, though neither of them said anything further about it. They both understood, even without words—there was a love between them that neither had yet named aloud, but it was in every gesture, every glance, and every small act of kindness.

And as Ava gazed down at the bracelet, her heart fluttered, knowing that it wasn’t just a gift. It was a token of something deeper—something neither of them had the courage to say, but both felt, unmistakably, in the quiet spaces between them.

After finishing a light dinner, Ava and Taehyung decided to relax and watch a movie. The night air felt peaceful, and the soft glow of the TV illuminated their faces as they settled into the couch. As the movie played on, the comforting silence between them made everything feel right.

After the movie ended, Taehyung stretched and looked over at Ava. He hesitated for a moment before speaking up, his voice gentle but curious.

"Did you enjoy your outing with your friend yesterday?" he asked, his eyes soft but probing.

Ava froze for a second. The memory of meeting Jimin earlier that day—at the restaurant. She had been so careful not to mention it, not wanting to stir up any questions.

Seeing her pause, Taehyung smiled lightly. "You know, I saw you at the restaurant yesterday... with someone. Was that Jimin?"

Ava’s heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t expected Taehyung to recognize her, let alone bring it up so casually. A flash of panic crossed her face, but she quickly masked it, opting to play it cool.

"Oh," she started, trying to sound casual, "Yeah, I met Jimin. We ran into each other. I didn’t expect to see him there, but we talked for a bit." She let out a small, nervous laugh.

Taehyung’s eyebrows furrowed just slightly, a hint of confusion in his expression. "Hmm... that’s odd. I didn’t know you were meeting him. But you seemed happy when you saw him. Did you enjoy your outing with your friend?"

Ava quickly nodded, trying to keep her tone light. "It was fine. Just a little chat, you know. Nothing special. We just happened to catch up. Why do you ask?"

Taehyung shrugged, trying to mask his own curiosity. "I was just wondering. It seemed like you two had a nice time." He leaned back, his voice lowering a bit as he added, "I didn’t know you two were so close."

Ava’s pulse quickened. She could feel the subtle tension in the air but tried her best to remain calm. "Yeah, we’ve known each other for a while, but we don’t hang out that often. Just a casual thing."

There was a brief moment of silence as Taehyung’s eyes lingered on her. He didn’t seem entirely convinced, but he decided not to press further. "I see. Well, I hope you had a good time."

Ava offered him a smile, relieved he didn’t push it. "It was fine. Really."

He nodded slowly, his thoughts wandering for a moment, but he quickly brushed them aside. "Alright," he said with a slight chuckle. "I’m just glad you’re doing okay."

Ava felt a mix of relief and guilt. She hadn’t told him the full truth about her meeting with Jimin, but she knew it was something she wasn’t ready to explain. Not yet, anyway.

"Anyway," Taehyung continued, standing up and stretching his arms, "I think it’s getting late. We should probably get some rest."

Ava nodded, rising from the couch. "Yeah, I’m pretty tired too."

They both walked towards their separate rooms, a quiet understanding between them. As Ava closed the door behind her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more Taehyung had wanted to ask—something he wasn’t saying. But she didn’t have the answers, not yet.

Meanwhile, in his own room, Taehyung lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The question still lingered in his mind: Why did she seem so anxious when I asked about Jimin?

But as the night grew darker, he decided not to dwell on it. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe Ava just wasn’t used to talking about her friends with him. But deep down, Taehyung couldn’t quite shake the feeling that there was something she wasn’t telling him.

And Ava, in her own room, clutched the bracelet Taehyung had given her earlier, her thoughts tangled in the same web of unspoken emotions. She had never meant for things to get so complicated, but as the night wore on, she couldn’t help but wonder what Taehyung might think if he ever learned the whole truth.

Both of them were in their own worlds now, their thoughts quietly interwoven, even as they drifted off to sleep.

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