Sincerely | k.th.

16. Caring

Once we returned to Maui, I found myself in a somewhat tired state. It could have been the motion of the waves we sailed above but my mind was too hazy to figure out why. I was still feeling the effects of horseback riding so soreness could have been the culprit. Why does these aches occur forty-eight hours later from the cause?

The treachery of pain knows no bounds.

Not more than three seconds of stepping across the threshold of the bedroom I slept in, I fell onto the bed and found myself in a deep slumber.

It was hours before I woke.

I opened my eyes to see Taehyung sitting in the arm chair across from the bed.

"She's alive." He smiled as his hands waved around what look to be a sketch pad, though his eyes never left it. I could here the echoes of his markings of his pencil pressed to it. Sounds of shapes and lines with the occasional shading.

Has he been here the entire time I was asleep?

I sat up, noticing a light green blanket laid across me. I smiled on the sentiment before my gaze went back to my friend in the chair. Another opportunity to tease came to mind and I wasn't going to let that slip.

"So am I the Rose to your Jack?" I tilted my head to him.

Taehyung, head remaining low to his sketch, lifted his gaze along with his brow. I stiffled a laugh but the smirk was evident on my lips.

"Mmm...depends. Will you..." Taehyung paused his statement as if he had to think twice about he wanted to say. "Nevermind," he chuckled as his gaze fell back on his project.

I, in turn, thought back on my words as scenes of the movie reference began to play back in mind. Maybe I should have chosen a different tease. Now I'm awkward.

"What are you drawing?" I blurted to ease my nervous air.

Taehyung smiled an shook his head. "Can't tell you." He quickly closed the book and sat up from the chair.

The look in his eye suggested something that I couldn't comprehend as he made his way over to me. My heart raced in fury against my chest.

He sat on the edge of the bed but making sure to keep a small distance between us. That golden smile of his was subtle this time meaning he was contemplating something. His hickory, smoked eyes wandered me and I recognized the look as concern. A soft one at that.

"Are you okay?" His accent slurred a bit which I found very cute and has become one of the many reasons I enjoyed hearing him speak. His expression was still soft and I found that endearing as well.

Taehyung cared and I always knew he did but again, just like other moments we have experienced, it was nice to see it in person rather than on paper.

At least this way, I could pin it in memory.

I nodded however, unsure of why he would think I wasn't. "Y-Yeah. I was just napping." I smiled, clearing my throat from the sleep that still lingered in my throat.

Taehyung leaned into me a little more, closing the gap slightly, making my heart pace rapid beats against my chest.

"You passed out and we weren't even back from Lanai for five minutes. Yoongi came to bring your bags in and said you were asleep. I came to check on you but I didn't want to disturb you so I just sat here till you woke up. I wanted to be sure you were okay." He explained.

He was here the whole time watching me sleep because he was worried for me? My heart flipped on this, gasping at the wonder. Taehyung is more caring that I could ever realize.

"S-So you waited here while I slept?" My voice held a trickle of a tremble.

"I did." Taehyung's response was so deep that I felt myself drowning in his voice as his stare penetrated mine. His intensity clung to him like a shadow.

"Also," he began, "you skipped lunch and it's almost time for dinner. I promised we would go out today although it could be too late for shopping. How about we do dinner instead?" He offered.

The soft rumblings of my stomach suggested the dinner would definitely be ideal, given the fact that I didn't eat much today or at all for that matter.

"Dinner sounds great. I will shower and get ready." I smiled on the anticipation.

Taehyung's eyes remained wandering mine as if he was reading them. He had the most intriguing stare, making feel as if I should fall down on my knees and confess my sins. Too captivated in his gaze, seconds had passed before I realized he was resting his hand over mine. The warmth of them soon registered and now I found myself falling into his stare.

That moment back in Lanai refreshed my thoughts when he was so close to me. My eyes seemed to think he was leaning in closer but my mind quickly rejected that theory.

Why would I think such foolishness?

"Kye..." The cavernous calling of my name from his lips halted my breath. It seemed as if the space between us somehow gotten even more smaller or either my eyes were playing tricks on me again. I couldn't blink nor speak. He's rendered me blind and mute just from his gaze.

"I want us to have fun tonight." He stated which in surprise, jolted me back to life.

Before I could react properly, he sprung away from me. "We leave in an hour." He added with his charming smile and stood up from the bed. With his sketch pad in hand, Taehyung walked toward my room door before turning back to me, "I hope you like dancing." He winked before exiting.

♥️♥️♥️

When I saw how many reads this book had, I was shocked. I honestly didn't think this book would grow as fast as it has and I thank you so much for 9k reads! I know my updates are medium paced but I want to take my time with this so we can enjoy how this romance could unfold.

Love you always ❤️