One Step To Paradise

Chapter 41:

Third Person's POV

"They said she lives in Seoul."

Irene and Taehyung overheard their conversation.

But since the topic was so serious and personal, they decided to walk for a while.

It was night and the cold night breeze kept hitting their pale skins.

They forgot. Again.
They were still in their uniform.
But never mind that.

They saunter their way towards to nowhere.
They didn't have a fixed destination as to where they'll be heading but they just enjoyed each other's company.

Their hands kept hitting each other and it was getting uncomfortable.

Taehyung grabbed the chance as he held Irene's hand and intertwined their perfectly fitted fingers.
It was like puzzle...
They were like puzzle pieces.
Feeling alone and broken without each other.
Even other pieces won't fit with each of them.
But when they finally found their perfect match, they perfectly match and fitted for each other.
It's like they were meant to be.

Irene gasped and tried to break away but Taehyung tightened his grip and Irene has no choice but to enjoy the other's sweet gesture.

As they walk, they swing their interlocked hands back and forth.

A blush crept at Taehyung and Irene's face.

And Taehyung felt like he had found his home.
Like he belong in this warmth.

They spotted a park after mindlessly walking and they've decided to go sit for a while.

They sat down at the swing, still holding each other's hands.

Truth to be told, the reason why Taehyung kept on doing the sweet gestures toward Irene all at once was because he was afraid, he might not have the chance to do these anymore in the near future.
It's not that he has no confidence in their relationship to last long but he has this unfamiliar feeling where his heart raced and he felt nervous.
He felt like all these things were temporary.
And someday, all of these happiness will be gone.
So instead of regretting not being able to do the things he loved to do with Irene, he spends it all at once.

While Taehyung was in deep thoughts, Irene spoke up, breaking him in his thoughts.

"Tae, why?"
Irene asked as she tightened the grip on their hands.

Taehyung's heart raced, feeling butterflies on his stomach as she felt Irene's grip tightened.

He gulp, nervous and few negative thoughts clouded his mind.

"What why?"
He asked calmly, despite the feeling of wanting to get up and hide his face.

"W-why me?"
This time, her grip loosened as she sigh.

Taehyung mentally sigh in relief.
He never wanted to have problems on their first day of being together.

"Irene... I already told you... I found something in you which other people didn't have. You're special, and I love you in every way. Every single way. And I love Everything about you... Your smile. Your laughs. Your voice... Everything..."
Taehyung confesses, he wanted Irene to be confident about herself.

She is pretty, but more than that...
She has a kind-heart.
And he loves every inch of her.

"O-okay. I-I l-love you."
Irene admitted as she lets go of their hands and covered her face in embarrasment.

It felt eerie quiet and Irene's heart beats erratically fast.

She is now nervous.
'Was it something she said?'
'Should she never said that I love you?'

As soon as she decided to open her eyes, she felt some warmth envelop her in a hug and she internally panicked, not letting go of her hands covering her eyes.

Taehyung hugged Irene at the back as he crouched down.

He held her tightly, like his beloved treasure as he puts his chin on Irene's shoulder.

"It's me..."
Taehyung muttered in his low-husky voice as he sensed Irene flinched.

Irene relaxed and loosened her shoulders as she uncovered her eyes.

She held Taehyung's arms and they stay that for a while.

After whispering some sweet nothings, they've decided to go home.

Taehyung decided to just drop Irene on her house and just go straight home.

They bade goodbye and Irene watched as Taehyung slowly disappear in the dark.

She smiled lightly as she opened the gate.

What she heard next was nothing she had ever expected.

"YOU MEAN IRENE IS OUR LONG LOST DAUGHTER?!!"

"SHHH!!"

"NOBODY'S HERE SO NOBODY WILL BE ABLE TO HEAR US!!"

"DARLING, I KNOW IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE BUT MY INSPECTOR, CHOI YOUNG JAE HAS NEVER BEEN WRONG...
CAN'T YOU SEE, SHE RESEMBLED LIKE OUR BABY JOOHYUN!! HER PARENTS DIED!! EXACTLY AS WHAT WE HEARD!! MY SISTER AND HER HUSBAND DIED!! H-HER... HER SIBLINGS EVEN BLAMED HER AND LEFT HER ALONE!! S-SHE'S... SHE'S ALONE AND ON HER OWN!!"

Then a loud sob can be heard.

Irene stood frozen at her spot as she registers all the newly information she just gathered.

She blink continously as tears weld up and drop down her flushed cheeks.

"I-I... I am J-Joohyun?"

---------------

Irene tried to act normal despite knowing, she might be their daughter.

She goes to school, together with Taehyung as they intertwined their hands.

Everyone began whispering.

'I thought Jimin oppa and Irene were together?! That bitch'

'She's such a bitch.'

'Isn't having Jimin oppa not enough for her?'

'Did Jimin oppa and Irene broke up? And she immediately replaced him with V oppa?!'

They ignored their whispers as they continously walk.

Until, Taehyung was fed up.

"LISTEN HERE, BITCHES!! YOUR JIMIN OPPA AND IRENE WAS NEVER IN A RELATIONSHIP!! ME AND IRENE ARE!! WE ARE NOW OFFICIAL AND LAY A SINGLE FUCK OF YOUR FINGER ON HER AND I'LL BEAT THE CRAPPIN' LIGHTS OF YOU!! UNDERSTAND?!"
Taehyung snapped.

Irene widened her eyes and Taehyung turned to her as his gaze immediately changed to affectionate one.

He smiled as he dragged Irene away from the crowd.

Irene felt her cheeks heated as she looks at their intertwined hands.

'It still felt unreal'
Irene thought.

Then suddenly, Taehyung slowed his pace as they walk side by side.

Taehyung planned to walk Irene to her class.

They were talking silly things until Taehyung felt someone tapped his shoulders.

He felt shivers run to his spines and butterflies in his stomach.
He was never this nervous.

When he stopped talking and turned around.

His whole world crushed.

There, stood.

His first love.

"What are you doing here? I though you were in Seoul..."

"Eunji..."