Coward | kth

40

40 | A race against time

I awake when the morning light trickles in through the blinds. At first I open my left eye, and when it accustomed itself to the light, my right eye follows. My disheveled brown hair is messily scattered across the soft pillow beneath me and my whole body feels somehow sore. I however, feel somehow complete.

That is when I remember.

I slightly lift my head, only to find Taehyung quietly dozing beside me. His dark brown strands fall messily in his relaxed face, covering his normally eye-catching, thick brows.

A smile curls my lips when I recall yesterday night. What an unforgettable night it was, from the first to the fourth time in the shower...

With my belly pressed on the mattress, I can't refrain from grazing his soft skin with my delicate fingers. I only brush him carefully, as if he was the most precious thing in the world and I was afraid of breaking it. I run my fingers over his nose, arriving at his temple seconds later. So beautiful.

Suddenly a hand wraps around my waist, pulling me closer. My chest collides with Taehyung's and I can't help but let out a surprised squeal. "What were you doing just now?", he mumbles without opening his eyes, his breathy morning voice sounding even sexier than usual. This is so unfair.

"Uh... nothing?", I offer, grinning in embarrassment.

"So then I just imagined your sweet fingers admiring my skin?", he answers and finally lifts his eyelids. The intense stare his chocolate eyes provide me with holds so much power, I even grow hot. Again. Without any protest, I watch Taehyung intertwining his long fingers with mine. Next thing I know, he has positioned my hand on his pink lips and begins to kiss down my chuckles.

"It must have been a dream", I confirm breathily.

Taehyung stops in his tracks and looks up, without letting go of my hand for one second. "It certainly felt like one."

I smile, widely.

Because Taehyung's affection is so whole, my missing pieces appear. Because his touch carries such passion, what was scarred becomes soft once more. Because he is steady and patient, my open wounds have time to seal and vanish. Our connection is more powerful than everything I've ever known, no matter how often we part our ways, something always draws us back to another. This right here is perfect.

And I know there is no perfect lover, we are all flawed, but knowing those flaws and still loving them with all your heart creates perfection.

I evade my hand from his, only to place them on his angular jaw. And when Taehyung's obscured eyes find mine, I once again kiss him like he is the last of my kind. Short, but so meaningful.

Pulling away, my eyelids flutter open again. I clasp my hands below my pillow, admiring the handsome view I woke up to. Then I collect all my courage, once again putting myself out there.

The Coward crumbles...

"Taehyung, I never—", I begin whispering, but the ringing of my own phone interrupts me. With an annoyed groan I turn over to the nightstand, wondering who dares to call me at such an early hour. Right when I was about to say something so important.

"Hello?", I answer the call with monotone voice.

"Hi... Sohee." I would recognize the soft voice at the other end of the line anywhere. Taehyung watches me speak, raising an eyebrow which basically says 'Who is it?'. I cover the microphone and mouth Sora's name with my lips, wondering what the motive behind her call is.