To Love & To Kill

06 | promise

Jennie was stunned as she quickly reached for the photograph and held it as if it's her life depended on it but careful enough to not crumple it.

"Where did you see this?" She asks while avoiding Taehyung's gaze, stalling her some time to think of a viable excuse.

"At the drawer. Who is he, Jennie? He looks familiar." He was too focused in decoding the identity of the man hence not noticing her evident agitation.

"What? You know him?"

"Why? Do I not?"

"H-he must be t-the previous owner of the h-house." She tried to control the trembles in her voice but to no avail was unsuccessful.

"Hey, you okay?"

He moves forward and did not hesitate to land his hand on her forehead as his other one cupped the side of her cheek that is muffled by her soft hair. He took his time to feel her while her nervousness slightly calmed down due to his touch.

He has forgotten about the photograph and went back again to the kitchen to search for a cold medicine which was his initial intention after all.

Once found, he took a tablet and reached for a glass of water in his hand then offered both of them to her but only to realize that she was still quivering, not because of  sickness though.

He hastily sat down and placed the glass of water on the table to free his one arm so he could clasp her body with it. She flinched due to his sudden action but he ignored it.

He placed the medicine close to her lips, beckoning her to receive it. She didn't have a choice but to drink the tablet she knew she never needed in the first place.

Although she was cold, she was not sick. She was trembling but it's her uneasiness that should be blamed. He was totally clueless with this kind of things yet he still tries to figure everything out.

Afterwards, for some reason they stayed in their awkward position longer than it should be. But this time, it was broken off by Jennie as the growing guilt of lying to him was quickly creeping up to her.

"Have you eaten yet? I'll cook you dinner." She stood up but was stopped by his hand.

Taehyung freed her tight grasp on the picture and placed it on his side. He then gently caressed her hand as he curiously played with it for a moment with his long fingers.

"Why are we not wearing wedding rings?" He finally asked one of the many questions that was bugging him consistently.

"W-we c-can't afford it." Again, she lied.

"Oh." He let go of her, feeling disappointed by her answer.

She then unconsciously tried to reach for the photograph that was lying beside him but froze when he suddenly took it and crumpled it.

"Don't worry, I'll throw it." He stood up and directed his way to the trash can near the front door.

"Wait!"

He turned around to face the woman, patiently waiting for her to state her reason.

The latter on the other hand was thinking gravely to save what she considered to be the most important belonging she had. But to no avail, she only sighed, feeling like she's letting go of her past which she never planned on doing just to avoid his doubts.

"Never mind." She gave out a smile and turned to the kitchen.

She absentmindedly took out ingredients with having no idea in mind of the dish she will be making and started chopping them.