Heatwave ~ Kim Taehyung

It's just a date, mate

You're feeling jittery.

You don't think you can remember the last time you went on a date. It might have been Josh in highschool. He took you out to a movie, some shitty action film that went through the same heavily manufactured Hollywood recipe. You shared popcorn, but he had eaten most of it. And at the end of the night, he kissed you with too much tongue and asked for a second date.

You told him right then and there that you think he's a bad kisser and said they shouldn't see each other again.

Maybe the pattern of singleness in your life is starting to make a lot of sense.

You stare at your own reflection in the mirror, and almost scoff at how ridiculous you are. Seriously? Black dress? As in the black dress you have since named "dick-slayer" because you always slay some dick in it. Not to mention, you're wearing foundation and lipstick. Foundation and lipstick. Who are you even trying to impress?

It's just a date. You don't have to impress anyone.

But you haven't been able to stop thinking about him. Him. How is he going to react to you like this? What is he going to say? Oh, you think you know what he's going to say - no - do to you. Especially with that track record of his.

So why is your heart pounding? There is nothing to be nervous about. Since when do you get nervous?

For a moment, you just pause all your thoughts and listen. To the sound of your blood and the gentle pads of his feet. He's outside, somewhere. Clueless. Probably waiting for you.

Everything's going to be fine.

With a great sigh, you gather yourself and step out of your room. Heels clanking at your every step, you strut towards the unsuspecting Taehyung perched by the island counter with his back facing you. He turns at the sound of your approach.

And chokes on his evening cereal.

"W- You're- Where are you going?"

"Out with Junho. I told you."

There it is. You say it as if you're dropping a bombshell you know will detonate in seconds. You want to wince, yet you know you cannot cower. You can't let him see through the cracks.

Taehyung goes completely silent, the kind of silence that signifies more than sound.

"Wh..." His voice ebs into a whisper, facial features falter. His cereal spoon slides out of his hand into the bowl of sugary milk, slowly turning on this bottom to face you completely. Your heart is racing again, out of fear and anticipation of what he is going to say because it will tell you all you need to know.

Tell me to stay.

At the lack of response, more likely due to his brain trying to piece together this situation, you say, "I told you about this on Monday."

He bristles as if you prodded him with a fork. "I- I know, but you didn't say it was a date."

Hearing that word roll off his tongue, d-a-t-e, does something to you. That kernel of regret in your chest is starting to grow with every passing second that he is just staring at you with wide bewildered eyes, cereal forgotten and growing soggy.

You can take it back. You don't have to go.

Then tell me not to go.

"Yeah, I guess it's a date then." You clear your throat.

You watch Taehyung's jaw tighten, teeth grinding behind that solemn expression. That sour feeling concentrates and diffuses in your gut. You thought you knew what to expect from him but you're not so sure anymore. He looks like he could explode in fury, yet also like he could just shrug and tell you to enjoy your night.