Adorkable [j.woo] | COMPLETE

11

AN: Because I took forever to update, I'll give you one more. 💞

«—»

"Gosh it's freezing in here." Taehyung muttered as he sat down on the couch.

Jiwoo sighed as she pour a two glasses of water. "I don't know who pays the bills... but if the heating bill gets high they don't cover it and the power and heating gets cut till the next payment." She replied solemnly.

So this was her world, Taehyung thought to himself. Every last second she can, she's working. Whether it's school, or just to get by. Always working. "What do you mean you don't know who pays them? Don't your parents pay them?" He asked.

Jiwoo shrugged, "they might. I wouldn't know. They left a while ago, haven't come back yet." She muttered. Freezing, she realized what she'd just said and who she said it to. "I mean-"

Taehyung stood up, meeting her halfway between the living room and small kitchen and took one glass of water slowly. "You don't have to lie about it."

Still in shock Jiwoo managed to say, "no I've just... no one knows."

He frowned, "not even Somin?"

"Especially not Somin!" Jiwoo replied hurriedly as she sat down. Joker quickly ran up and laid down in her lap, purring as she pet his head. The girl sighed leaning back in the chair. "If she knew she'd tell her parents. Then her parents would involve authorities and everything would get messed up for no reason. I mean look, I'm fine. Her hearts in the right place, but she doesn't understand the consequences."

Taehyung nodded his head slowly, reminding himself of the facts. Creepy boss, needs money, has no family. "You know, it's supposed to be freezing tonight."

Jiwoo frowned, "I know."

"Shouldn't you use some heat?" He replied slowly.

Jiwoo shook her head, "I have to save it for emergencies. Plus together Joker and I generate enough body heat to keep each other warm."

Taehyung stood up, combing his hair with his hand. "Sorry but that's just not acceptable."

Picking up Joker in her arms she stood. "I didn't think I needed your permission on how to live."

Taehyung rolled his eyes, "pack a bag."

"And why would I do that?" Jiwoo shot back.

Taehyung walked up close to her, petting the cats head. He purred loudly rubbing his cheeks on Taehyung's hand. "Because you're staying at my place."

"Won't your parents think it's weird there's a girl in your room?" She scoffed.

Taehyung shrugged, "that would be odd given they don't live with me."

Jiwoo slowly slipped away from the petty visage she'd put up. Maybe they were really really different... but he could probably understand her better than even Somin could. Alone in the world and yet still just a child. That only made Taehyung more impressive to her. He had all of this, all this money and nice things and he got it all on his own. "What about Joker?" She murmured looking to the cat curled up in her arms.

Taehyung looked down at the cat briefly. "He can come. Doesn't bother me." He looked around the dark house, only the lamp in the living room they were in was illuminated. "Come on, hurry up." He ushered her, reaching to take Joker. "I'll hold him, you pack."

Jiwoo didn't fight him any longer. She packed.

«—»

Jiwoo looked up at the apartment building. It looked no better than hers. Then she saw the roof. A large place was up there, taking up most of the floor. It had a balcony and a small garden.

"Does it meet your standards?" Taehyung asked as he closed the trunk of his car. The car that in no way implied he lived in a rooftop penthouse.

Jiwoo blinked in disbelief. "What standards? I have none." She murmured. "You're telling me that place is yours?" She turned around quickly, "we aren't breaking into someone else's apartment are we!? I swear if this is all to impress me it's not worth it, okay. You could impress me by not getting us arrested!" She stated frantically, stroking Joker's head.

Taehyung laughed, "you were too much." He ruffled her hair, "let's go." He said as he lead the way inside.

«—»

The penthouse was most definitely his. After taking a hot shower (which she hadn't had in so long) Jiwoo dried her hair and got dressed in her pajamas. She walked out to the kitchen where Taehyung was hunched over a laptop. On it were... stocks?

"Are one of those yours?" Jiwoo asked, unsure of herself.

Taehyung frowned, "kind of." It was actually his fathers, but she didn't need to know he was cut off from them. Sighing, Taehyung shut the laptop. "Don't worry about it." The way he was speaking was different. He sounded like dad when he was trying to keep mom from worrying about work. In moments like those he believed his dad loved them. The way he sounded gave Taehyung so much reassurance. So what did that mean for him and her? Probably nothing.... probably.

He rested a hand on her shoulder to which Jiwoo winced. Taehyung frowned, "did that hurt?"

Jiwoo shook his hand off quickly. "What? No."

Taehyung frowned, "move your sleeve."

Jiwoo raised an eyebrow. "I'm fine. Don't touch me."

"Jiwoo, I swear to god." Taehyung muttered. There he went again, using her name. Saying her name. She didn't like how it made her feel to hear him say it like that.

"I'm fine!" Jiwoo protested, as she shielded her shoulder. She backed up till she hit the couch with her thighs.

Rolling his eyes Taehyung pushed her backwards. Loosing her balance Jiwoo fell back into the couch, not landing in the most comfortable manner. But still unhurt. Before she could think further and get up he was above her, pinning down her free arm as he moved the collar of her shirt to see the bruise she'd hidden.

"Who did it?" He asked, glaring at the bruise.

Jiwoo tried to find somewhere to look that wasn't him. "I ran into something."

"You ran into someone's hand? There's clearly a hand print here. How recent is this!?" Taehyung asked, trying to keep his composure.

"It happened at work okay? Now I'm grateful that you forced me to stay here, but get off of me!" Jiwoo yelled.

Realizing what he I was doing Taehyung got up quickly, brushing himself off. He offered her his hand, but Jiwoo just rolled her eyes. She got up and headed for the guest bedroom. The door slammed shut.

Dammit.