City Of Love | KTH

10. 𝑡𝑒𝑛

In the uni, taehyung and haerin has been busy with the new semester, constantly helping each other with notes and explanations.

Currently, they sat in the lunch hall, taehyung was throwing tantrums for eating the salad. It's not like he didn't like it, taehyung had no problem eating the salad when haerin made it last weekend, its just the red beet in it. Over these months, haerin learnt the things taehyung despised with his all heart.

 One is coffee, the other is beetroot.

"It's so red, it stains my hands" taehyung pouted at which haerin's heart did a flip. "I'll get you a pizza on the way home, for now eat something to stay alive." Haerin gave him a soft smile to which he grinned 

Taehyung hesitated for a moment, eyeing the salad like it was a foreign object. He poked at a piece of lettuce, still sulking. "You're lucky I like pizza, Haerin," he muttered dramatically, pushing the bowl closer to her. "Otherwise, I would've gone on a hunger strike."

Haerin chuckled, rolling her eyes playfully. "You're so dramatic. It's just a salad, Taehyung. I promise, you won't turn into a beetroot." She took a bite of her own salad, enjoying the crisp freshness of it, while trying not to laugh at his antics.

He pouted even more, but his eyes softened as he watched her. She didn't notice, too busy pushing the cucumber slices around her plate.

 He found it endearing

How she could be so focused, so absorbed in the little things, like arranging her food as if it were an art project. it was the way her nose scrunched when she was focused.

"Fine, fine. I'll eat it, but only because you said 'pizza.'" Taehyung grabbed his fork, dramatically scooping up a bite of the offending beetroot and quickly shoving it into his mouth.

 As if it were some sort of evil enemy.

 He chewed it with a grimace, but he didn't stop. Haerin fought back a grin.

"You know, you look like you're being tortured," Haerin teased, still amused by his over-the-top reactions.

"I am being tortured," he mumbled, his voice muffled by the beetroot. "You have no idea what it feels like to eat something that looks like it came from the devil."

Her heart fluttered at his words. How easily he could say something that made her smile. She couldn't help but tease him back. "You're so sensitive."

"Only when it comes to beetroot," Taehyung replied with a dramatic sigh, his eyes glinting as he looked up at her. There was something about the way he smiled, so carefree, so full of life, that made Haerin's heart race unexpectedly. She swallowed, unsure if it was the salad or him making her feel this way.

"Okay, I'll get you your favorite soon," she said, feeling a little self-conscious all of a sudden. She looked away quickly, hoping her blush wouldn't be too obvious.

He noticed, of course. Taehyung leaned in slightly, his voice lowering just a touch. "You know," he began, his grin turning a little more mischievous, "I could probably survive without the pizza if it meant you'd make me one of your famous sandwiches again. Just saying."

Haerin's eyes widened for a moment. The way he looked at her, with those soft, almost teasing eyes, made her feel like the world had suddenly shrunk down to just the two of them. She quickly brushed it off, laughing to cover up the sudden rush of heat in her chest.

"You really know how to butter me up, don't you?" she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "You've had enough of my cooking for a while, haven't you? You're probably sick of it by now."

Taehyung leaned back in his seat, giving her a playful look. "Not possible. You could feed me forever and I'd still want more. Especially if it's made by you."

His words hung in the air for a moment, and for the first time in weeks, Haerin felt the weight of them.