Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
April 20, 20XX Tuesday
The car waiting outside my house was unfamiliar(just like the man inside was).
I carefully step out of the house, paying attention to how the night sky is still not ready to surrender to the sun.
It's the hour where it's most silent and the hour that Taehyung and I had agreed to meet, for my date with who he is now.
I don't mean to stare at his car, but I do because it was a really, really nice car.
We only ever dreamt of affording one this nice.
When I open the door, Taehyung lifts his gaze up to me and my heart can't help but skip a beat.
I've gotten used to seeing him in suits for work that his simple black tee and washed out jeans takes me by surprise.
Noticing the sunflower on my seat, I pick it up before sliding in.
I twirl it in my fingers, "A sunflower?"
Leaning his head against the headrest, Taehyung turns my way, "Because sunflowers can survive anything - a hot summer or a cold winter. They're always around for the good and the bad."
You're my sunflower, Jennie.
I close my eyes, savoring the memory.
"Thank you," I hug the sunflower, turning his way again.
He gives me a tiny nod. "Are you sleepy by the way?"
"Mm-mm. I took a nap."
Taehyung looks down, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel before he lifts his eyes back up at me.
"What about Yejoon?"
I nip my bottom lip, "He's with my mom."
"Does she know...that you're on a date with me?"
"She does," I whisper. "There are no secrets between my mother and I."
She's been my support for when you left.
Taehyung nods, understanding.
"Does your mother?" the words tumble out my mouth, sounding slightly sharp.
The corner of Taehyung's mouth twitches up, almost like he wanted to laugh. "No. Unlike you and your mother, there are a million secrets between her and I."
"Does she ever mention me?"
Does she even care?
Was she really just trying to get you to focus?
"No, but she only ever talks about work," Taehyung's voice gets a little softer, Taehyung pushing the Start Engine button.
I think about how I could tell him about the conversation his mother had with me. How she wanted me to stay away so that he can focus on his work, believing that it would be best for him since that was all he remembered.
I don't though. What would I gain from that? What would I gain from straining his relationship with her even more than it probably already has?
As Taehyung drives, I can't help but let my eyes wander.
The first thing I pay attention to is the way his muscles are flexed as he holds onto the steering wheel and works the gearshift.
Feeling my cheeks warm, I pray that you really can't see my face that well in the dark.
Taking a look into his cupholders, I see that it houses a pack of gum, some lose change, and something unfamiliar to me.
Taehyung clears his throat, causing my eyes to jerk his way.
"I try not to use it as much. I'm just trying to cut out my nicotine addiction."
It hits me that it's a vape pen.
"When did you...I mean, pick up a cigarette?"
Why did you ever pick up a cigarette?
Taehyung sighs, "I-I can't remember exactly when. I just remember waking up one day and I already had the urge. At least, it felt like that because of how hard it was for me to retain memories."
I fall silent.
"I haven't smoked a cigarette in months. That's why I switched..."
"You forgot about the time at the hotel."
He hides behind his hair, "I ran out of refills and it was the only thing the corner mart had available. I was desperate."
My face falls.
"I'm sorry...I hate it too. Especially because I'd like for you to trust me...with Yejoon."
I raise my eyebrows.
Taehyung gulps.
"I-if you decide tomorrow...to keep me out of your life...I ask that you at least keep me in his."
I must've sat there for a while because he glanced my way.
"Of course," I respond.
That'd be the right thing to do.
Taehyung's shoulders relax.
I roll down the windows and close my eyes, greeted by the night's breeze.
When I open them again, my eyes absorb the mix of colors swirling across the sky, the contrast between the vibrant blues and the pastel pinks a result of the clouds melting against the sun. It was sweet, it was fairy floss, and just like fairy floss it had to be enjoyed in the moment, the twilight hour.
"When you can't sleep at night. Is this what you do?" I question him, still in awe of the sky.
Taehyung nods his head.
"But only when it's really bad...when I get the thought to..." He chokes on his words, needing to clear his throat, "run away. It helps if I just go for a drive, it feels like I'm going somewhere for a while."
He bows his head slightly, hiding his smile, "and at night... I can go really fast."
His smile's contagious.
Turning forward, I stretch my back.
"So what's on our itinerary for tonight?"
Beaming, Taehyung answers,
"To go to the place where we can touch the stars."
