Cut Eyebrows

20---i can't let myself do it

Each day that passed by, Sangchil saw that her sister did indeed stick to her words. She was slowly letting herself trust Taejoo.

Each day she saw that Taejoo was trying hard to be on her good side. Taejoo hung around Sangchil and Taehyung often. Also occasionally, Taejoo would hang around Hanbin who stuck to Soyeon.

But what Sangchil couldn't figure out was that why Soyeon stopped all of a sudden. Soyeon treated her nicely too. It made Sangchil wonder: Did she give up?

Her thoughts were interrupted when Taehyung's face popped up in front of her. "In deep thoughts are we?" He giggled.

She clicked her tongue at him and glared. "Yes, I was." 

They were sitting on the grass, their books laid out and the sun hitting them on their backs as they lay next to each other. Each day that passed, Sangchil found herself fond of him. She saw the strength in his eyes and the affection. She realized that Taehyung was a gift.

But at the end of the day, she would always deny it. 

He smiled and squinted at the sun. "It's 4:30pm, want to grab a snack?"

"Sure. Let's pack up then." 

Both of them put their books in their bags. Taehyung put out his hand so he could help Sangchil stand up. In silence, they went to a nearby tea shop. 

"What would you like?" He asked.

"Hm... Order me one cranberry orange tea." She took out her wallet but Taehyung put his giant hand over it. 

"I'll pay, just go get a seat."

She nodded. "Thanks."

"But you owe me." He added in and pushed her away.

"Heol!" Sangchil huffed. "What a kid..." She muttered and sat in a chair.

A couple of minutes later, Taehyung returned with a small wooden tray with their drinks and a pastry. "One tea for the lady."

"Thank you sir." She played along. "I didn't know you drank coffee, Tae."

He let out a breath and took a sip. He placed down the mug and look at her. "Well I learned to. I'm a man now."

Sangchil rolled her eyes, "Sure."

He silently chuckled at themselves. He watched Sangchil closely, admiring her. He always admired her, he can never get enough. He loved how she was so lovely, yet so fierce. 

She was his medicine. A cure for everything.

He looked at her sip the tea, she wasn't looking at him. Taehyung's eyes walked down to her lips that she licked and then wiped clean. His Adam's Apple bobbed up then down when he swallowed. Had he kissed her before? He couldn't remember. But he really wanted to. 

Oh, how he had been waiting forever for that day to come.

"Taehyung, it's rude to stare that long. Look at something else." She muttered.

"Eh? Pardon?"

Sangchil looked at him. "Look at something else. You starring at me for that long is really making me feel weird."

"Weird as in how?" He asked carefully.

"Just... Stop starring. I'm not worth it."

"Yes you are." He quickly replied. "You're beautiful. More gorgeous than ever. My God, Kwan, you're a fucking goddess."

She sprayed out some of her tea and coughed. "Excuse me?!" Her cheeks burnt in crimson. "Stop it, Taehyung."

Silence interrupted them again. Even when they decided to go home, they didn't talk much. Sangchil cleared her throat as they walked up to her shared apartment with Jin.

"So... Isn't it your birthday coming up?" She questioned. "Right?"

"Yeah. Turning 22." He said.

"I should get you a gift then." She made a note in her phone. "Do you want me to throw you a party?" She asked genuinely. "I can ask Jin to bring your friends over from Seoul."

"No..." He said. 

"No? But don't you want to see them?" 

"I just want to see you. Every day, every second of my life."

She put her hand to her face. "Oh, God. Not again."

Taehyung removed her hand away. "Seriously. Kwan Sangchil. For my birthday, I only want to become yours. I want you to be my girlfriend."

Sangchil could see the hopefulness in his eyes. She shook her head. "We... We can't, Tae. It's just a fake relationship. You have to remember that. I don't want you to think it'll turn into a real one. I'm... I'm sorry." She patted his chest. "I'm sorry."

He held her hand that was soothing him. He pulled her in very close. His lips were on the verge of touching hers—like he imagined in his mind—but Sangchil moved her head so that his lips landed on her cheek.

"No, Taehyung. I can't." She whispered.

Taehyung sighed. "I know... Good night, Kwan." He let go of her hand.

She bit her lips. "Yeah. Good night, Tae." From her door, she watched him step into the elevator and disappear.