ENEMIES WITH BENEFITS//TAEHYUNG FF//

Lines We Pretend Not to Cross

Y/N POV

"That's what I'm afraid of."

His words didn't sound like Taehyung.

They sounded honest.

Dangerously honest.

I swallowed. "You were the one who wanted this to be a deal."

"I know."

"Then why are you here?"

He ran a hand through his hair — a rare sign he was unsettled.

"Because I don't like not knowing what you're thinking."

I almost laughed. "You rejected me in front of half the university, Taehyung. You didn't care what I was thinking then."

The air shifted.

His expression hardened — not in anger, but regret.

"You think I don't remember that?"

"Then why did you do it?" I shot back. "You said there was a reason."

Silence.

For a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer again.

But this time, he didn't run.

"My father," he said quietly. "He made it clear that I wasn't allowed to get involved with anyone who could 'distract' me. Especially someone connected to Jisoo."

My chest tightened.

"So you humiliated me to protect your image?"

"I humiliated you to protect you."

I stared at him.

"That makes no sense."

"He was planning to send me abroad. If I had admitted I liked you..." He exhaled. "You would've been dragged into family politics you didn't deserve."

My mind spun.

All these years, I thought he rejected me because I wasn't enough.

Because I was embarrassing.

Because I wasn't his type.

And now he was telling me—

"You liked me?" My voice came out smaller than I intended.

His eyes softened.

"I still do."

The room felt smaller.

Warmer.

More dangerous.

I took a step back. "This changes nothing."

"It changes everything," he said.

"No," I shook my head. "We made a deal. No feelings. No complications."

He stepped closer again, but this time there was no arrogance — just intensity.

"You can lie to me," he said quietly. "But don't lie to yourself."

My heart betrayed me again, beating too loudly, too fast.

"I don't trust you," I whispered.

"That's fair."

"And I'm not that fragile girl anymore."

"I know," he replied. "That's what scares me."

A car passed outside, breaking the silence.

Reality returned.

"We should set boundaries," I said firmly. "If this continues."

"Okay."

"No emotional manipulation. No jealousy games. And if either of us starts catching real feelings... we stop."

His jaw tightened at that last condition.

"Fine."

We stood there, inches apart, pretending the tension between us was just part of the contract.

But deep down, both of us knew—

This was never just a deal.

HEYY CUTIESSSS HAVE A NICE DAYYY <33 DON'T FORGET TO PRE-SAVE ARIRANG AND COMMNENT DONE WITH A RED HEART <33