Trouble

Normal

"I don't care how angry you were, you can't just leave the house like that." My dad says again as he stirs the tea in his hand. I bite back my poisoned reply and simply nod. I notice Taehyung lingering in the back.

"I won't do it again," I lie. My dad nods, feeling sufficiently pleased with himself and moving towards the stairs.

"Did you ask Mrs. Kim to release the statement I told you?" I ask as he stretches his hand toward the banister. He pauses, then turns with an unsure expression gracing his features.

"Let's think about it," I sigh deeply through my nose, and turn around moving to my room without further comment. I hear Taehyung walking in my direction. I collapse onto my bed, burying my face into my pillow and screaming into it. The bed squeaks as he sits down beside me. I look up, and will him to say whatever he came here to say.

"Did you have fun?" He asks, and I smile. I lean onto my elbows and tilt my head to look at him better. He directs his gaze away from me and at the doorway of the kitchen.

"Yes," I nod, recollecting the warm fuzzy feeling that had buzzed in me throughout the afternoon.

"I was really worried about you," He said, still not looking at me. Something lurched in my stomach and I stopped smiling.

"I saw your missed calls," I said, looking at the plain white cover of the pillowcase. Honestly, I had debated the better part of the ride back to my house on whether or not I should call him up, but I didn't think he was 'worried',so I simply texted him back saying that I would talk to him once I was back.

"Can we just...please...go back to being the way we were?" I ask softly when he clenches and unclenches his fist, looking supremely uncomfortable.

"Something has changed, Eun In, but you really don't want to accept it, do you?" He scoffs and then gets up suddenly. I open my mouth to protest but he looks at me, making me stay still and look directly back at him.

"Tae..." I said out of habit and he glares at me.

"Don't call me that," He says simply, stuffing his hands into his pockets and begins to walk to the kitchen doorway.

"Taehyung," I said again, this time getting up and sitting cross-legged on the bed. He turns one last time and raises his brows slightly.

"I know how you might feel, I really do. But I really like you, just not the way you want me to. I am sorry, Tae...Taehyung." It took a lot of courage for me to finally say what I had been holding back and he gave a reaction that I expected. He looked at me, his mouth half open in subtle disagreement, and then he looks away, turning and walking into the kitchen and away from me.

-

I twirled the invitation in my hand as I looked at the creamy cardstock. I traced my finger along the embossed lettering and smiled to myself. The first invitation to an Awards Show, and definitely not the last. Since I was the only one awake I waited for everyone to come down for breakfast and show it to them.

I hummed a tune as my father walked into the kitchen and briefly nodded in my direction. I could sense he had had another sleepless night and I began to help him prepare his breakfast.
He hums a thank you and sits down at the table. I assume that the silence is because he has opened the invitation and had been reading it.

"They're allowing both of them to perform?" My dad says with so much vigour I almost drop the glass of coffee I am holding.

"They're allowing both of them to perform!" He says again, slamming the table and shaking his head with disbelief.
"I need to tell Ji Hye and Yoongi," He says excitedly, getting up from the table and running toward the second floor with uncontainable enthusiasm.
I smile at his back. Finally, he seemed happy.

I decided to have a bath and started rummaging through my closet for something appropriate to wear to college. I removed some light blue jeans, a black top, and a thick black jacket. I removed the necessary under clothes and picked up my towel to walk toward the bathroom.
I realise upon knocking that it was occupied. I heard Taehyung's voice from inside say that he would take a few seconds more.
I nodded, even though he couldn't see me, and stood patiently outside the white door.
He came out after a few minutes and I noticed his wet hair dripping. Something else seems oddly familiar as well. I sniff the air around and realise it was my shower gel. I smile internally but shoot him a scowl outwardly.

"How many times have I told you not to use my shower gel?" I arch my brows and question him with a cold voice.

"I don't know. I don't like listening to you chant about unnecessary things." He says, shrugging and shooting me an indifferent look. I scoff and threaten him with widened eyes.

"Hey, don't touch my things, Taehyung." I say with a fake frown.

"It's Tae, Eun In." He sighs, shakes his hair, which causes a few drops of water to hit my face. I swat him away and he smirks, like his usual self. He salutes towards me and begins to walk upstairs, towards the guest bedroom. I smile as I close the bathroom door, a stone dislodging from one of my arteries.
I sighed.
Even if it wasn't normal now, I could see things getting better between us.