A Deal with My Frenemy

038

Taehyung took a detour before going home. He went to the ice cream shop that they always visited and sat alone in their usual table. He reminished the eight months that he had spent with Dahyun.

You're in love with her –  the phrase that Irene left still kept replaying in his head.

Am I? Taehyung asked himself. He massaged his head and started to think hard.

The pain that I always feel whenever she's with someone else, is it because I love her?

"But that's not important anymore," he whispered to himself, "Because she would never feel the same way about me."

"Dahyun would never fall in love with me," he remembered saying to Irene on the phone the day that him and Dahyun made their contract.

He wanted to prolong time before facing his most dreaded confrontation. However, in the end, there's no escape.

He walked in and found his mom waiting for him. She did not have the same expression when him and Dahyun quarreled. Her eyes told him that she knew but her face showed curiosity and concern instead of anger.

Taehyung walked towards her and sat in front of her.

"Soo Ae told me everything."

"I thought that we were to say it at the same time," he said with a chuckle.

"What's the truth Taehyung? There was an intention to prolong it until your birthday, right?"

Taehyung nodded, "We had a contract so that you'll stop pairing me with others because I had a girlfriend then, mom."

"You had a girlfriend? Why didn't you tell us?"

"She's a Bae."

She sighed, "It wouldn't matter if it's for your happiness, Taehyung."

"Really?"

She nodded, "I don't care if we run out of riches or we go bankrupt because at the end, these were all for you."

He smiled bitterly, "Sorry."

"So, you had a girlfriend and a fiancée at the same time?"

He nodded in response.

"You did the same with Dahyun too?" Jihyun asked and when Taehyung gave a nod, she added, "How were you able to prolong it this time?"

"We promised each other not to fall in love," Taehyung answered. He gave out a sigh before continuing, "I loved my girlfriend mom. I am so sure thats I was in love with her."

Jihyun shook her head, "You know Tehyung, we kept getting you engaged because we were trying to find the missing piece. Since Dahyun left for America, you've been sad like the world has left you."

Taehyung met his mom's loving gaze.

"Do you love Dahyun?"

"I don't know," Taehyung lied.

He knew that if he told his mom the truth, his mom would pursue Dahyun and that would ruin her now well-developed relationship with Jimin.

The least I could do is help them and... be happy for them.

Jihyun pressed her lips and nodded, "I think it's better if we break the engagement. Unsure feelings would lead to nowhere but pain."

She got up and patted Taehyung' shoulder but Taehyung held her hand as he asked, "Why are you not mad? I lied and cheated you in this whole scheme."

She pressed his hand gently, "Because I think that you are already suffering the consequences."

----------

Taehyung saw Dahyun in front of their gate, waiting like she would always do.

"Hey," he greeted.

Dahyun turned and smiled at him. She started, "I already told mom.'

"I did too."

"Dad got mad at me for a while but mom talked to him, so I think he's fine," she said, "How about you?"

"Silent, like always."

"Do you think they'll forgive us?"

Taehyung sighed, "Of course. We're their children. They love us unconditionally and love includes forgiving."

Dahyun smiled and they just continued walking, basking in the silence that surrounded them.

"Hey, I still have that one wish in exchange of the engagement, right?"

"Oh?" Taehyung thought for a while and then nodded, "Anything you want."

Dahyun let out a small smile and nodded.

"What would it be?" Taehyung asked.

"I won't tell you now," Dahyun beamed.

"I've been waiting for that for eight months already," Taehyung complained.

"All good things come to those who wait," Dahyun replied as if reciting a poem.

Taehyung let out a scoff making Dahyun chuckle but as Taehyung stared at the figure beside him, he was left in a trance.

But I have long been waiting for you, Dahyun.

----------

With their engagement being broken off, the two spent lesser time together. They stopped walking to school together – Dahyun would no longer wait for him like she used to. She said it was all part of their pretense anyway so there was no point of continuing it.

Taehyung wanted to complain but he no longer had the right to do so.

Nevertheless, one of the unexpected benefit of being literally single was being able to focus more in his basketball and his coach praised him for improving his skill.

Practice was once again over but what he didn't expect is to find Dahyun waiting in the bleachers. He was frozen for a while, still digesting the image before him. His heart thumped fast and at that time, he thought it was fatigue.

"Hey Taehyung, I'm not a ghost, you know," Dahyun greeted him with a smile.

He smiled back before teasing, "Really? You were too pale, I thought I saw a white lady."

Dahyun rolled her eyes in a playful manner making Taehyung beam – he really missed spending time with Dahyun.

"What're you doing here?" he asked.

"Watching. I somehow missed basketball," Dahyun shrugged, looking at the court in front of her.

"I thought you were waiting for me," Taehyung exclaimed.

Dahyun tilted her head left and right before mumbling, "Hmmmm. Maybe."

Taehyung grinned, "You wouldn't miss basketball if you joined."

"I wonder what could have happened if I joined then," Dahyun said and still refused to meet his eyes.

"Then we would be spending more time together," Taehyung replied.

"Ahhh," Dahyun nodded, "I guess art club is not a wrong choice after all."

"Yah!" Taehyung complained and threw his towel over her.

"Yuck!" Dahyun said and threw the wet towel back. She laughed and added, "Let's go out. My treat."

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AN: Will be posting a new vhyun fic by Tuesday! Please anticipate! It'll be a totally different genre. Also, please support A Lot Like Love! It's a vhyun fic recently posted here in Wattpad. Give it a try!