Strangers ~ A Taemin Fic

Chapter 24

     "Come on, let's take a walk. It's too crowded in there anyways," he chuckles, my head rising up to find him looking down at me as well. I agree and he takes my hand in his before beginning a slow paced walk around the venue.

     "Sorry to darken the mood like that..." I all of sudden apologize. "I just...get really nervous about this stuff," I admit.

     "About what? Dating?" He replies, glancing over at me before going back to staring at his moving feet.

     "I've had...very bad experiences with dating," I stammer, unsure if he even knew my past with Jun. Even if he didn't...I wasn't sure if I was going to tell him.

     He pauses for a second before nodding slowly at each step. "I've...never been good at dating either actually," he begins to admit, my eyes widening as I now face him. "I think you ought to know...that I have been unfaithful multiple times..."

     I swallow at those words. Whether I should trust in what he is now or dig deeper into his past, I didn't know. I wasn't sure on what to do in this situation.

     "I used to get bored easily because all the women before you were the same and...I couldn't fulfill the relationship," he goes on. I could tell he was trying to hold in so many emotions. I couldn't imagine telling someone such horrid memories that could effect the person I loved. 'Well...at least I hope he loves me.'

     "I understand," I exhale, naturally grasping his hand tighter as my heart rate picks up.

     "Yuki," he stops walking and gazes into my eyes. "That wasn't a warning or anything because you are actually different and very special to me. I don't think I could ever get tired of you because so far, and I'm not lying...you are the best person to ever come into my life." I catch him blinking back tears while I eye our clasped hands.

     "I believe you, Taemin," I reply, stepping closer to him until I stood directly under his slanted head. "I try not to get attached nowadays, but I can't help but actually begin to fall..."I stop, hesitating the words that I was unsure were to come out of my mouth. "Fall in love with you."

     He doesn't hesitate to cup my face below my jaw and press his wanting lips to my own. I kiss him back, wrapping my arms around his neck before breaking the kiss to gasp for breath, when he saw my tears. I press one side of my face to his chest as more tears swelled up in my brown pearls.

     "Oh, Yuki. Please don't cry. I love you too much to see you cry," he murmurs, hugging me back, knowing exactly how much I needed it instead of a kiss. I could feel my heart hammering for no apparent reason. Then, Jun's face makes an appearance in my mind, only resulting in me hugging him tighter.

     "How can you be sure?" I ask between staggered breaths.

     "Be sure of what, sweetheart?"  

     "Y-you make it sound so real and simple. How can you love a girl you've met not even a month ago?" I go on, not drawing back as he places one hand on the back of my head.

     "Because I know the one when I see her," he replies effortlessly. I sigh at the disappointing response.

     "I'm 6 years younger than you, Taemin...and as much as I want to, I don't think we could stay together forever," I painfully say. It was as if I stabbed two hearts at once, or, as people say, killed two birds with one stone.

     "Well, of course not forever," he chuckles, pulling away a bit to look down at me once again. "But I do plan on marrying you one day."

     "Oh god..." I breathe, a smile creeping up one my lips as I remove my head from his chest. "Will the government even allow a Japanese woman to marry a Korean man? Will your family allow..."

     "I don't care if I live on the moon, or my family hates you with all they have. Whatever happens, I'll claim you one day and on that day...you'll dazzle before me before giving me permission to fulfill your every need and desire."

I try to hide my smile and teary eyes. My makeup was most certainly ruined, but in front of him, I no longer felt like I had to be perfect. "Do you promise?" I ask, gazing into his deep, brown pools. He replies with a kiss after nodding.

"Of course. Oh god, yes, Yuki. I love you," he shakes his head in disbelief of such a question.

Breathing in a deep breath, I nod in satisfaction. "I think I may love you more."

He chuckles at my response before enveloping me in another hug. "Impossible. My love for you will forever be stronger."

~

"I hate vlogs," I sigh as he sets up a camera that the directors insisted we take on our getaway that no longer felt like we were "getting away" from anything.

"Me too," he chuckles, finally getting it to work. "Oh! Perfect!" He puts on his fake expression in front of the camera. "Alright, 3, 2, 1," he counts down, quickly pressing a kiss to my lips before starting the vlog.

"Alright, hello everyone. It is currently 4:40 am and we're just about to catch our flight to Tokyo," he begins, my reflection smiling back at me through the camera. "I know our company posted the news already, but I'd like Yuki to announce it," he says shale, turning towards me.

I couldn't help but smile at him, gazing at his kissable lips before nodding. "I think it's better if I introduce myself first to those who don't know me," I begin, covering a sudden yawn before waving and bowing.

"Wait, do it in Korean and Japanese," he interrupts with a smile. We were both so tired, our eyes barely stayed open.

"Alright fine," I laugh, bowing once again. "こんにちは、田中利幸です," I first say in Japanese before introducing myself in Korean. "안녕하세요, 저는 Yuki Tanaka입니다."

"Wow," Taemin laughs, trying to clap with one hand while the other held the camera. "She's so impressive. I speak a little Japanese, as you know from my albums, but for some reason, hers sounds more interesting," he laughs again, patting me on top of the head as I swallow my gulp of coffee.

"I don't know why," I chuckle, pressing a few strands of hair behind my ear before continuing my introduction. "But anyways, I've been a background dancer for our company for...I think 3 years cause I was a trainee for 5," I begin, gazing aimlessly at our awaiting gate that was still preparing itself for its passengers. "And you can probably find me somewhere in Baekhyun's Candy MV and then, of course, Taemin's Criminal MV."

"And what happened yesterday that got you 500k more followers on Instagram?" He asks, my cheeks blushing at the idea of me telling all the poor fangirls out there that I have stolen their man.

"I...well, Taemin reached 2.5 million views on the Criminal MV and...he asked me to be his girlfriend," I choke out, taking another swing of coffee to hide my smile.

"I don't know if we can exactly show proof, and especially now cause our gate is opening up," he says, taking his and my luggage and pulling them forward.

"I can pull them, y'know?" I laugh, taking a seat on mine as I pull out my phone.

"No, that's one thing I have to teach my fans is to never leave the lady to carry all of the belongings," he points to the camera before positioning it so it faced me. "What're you listening to?" He asks as I place one earbud in. Opening my music, I show them my screen projecting Just Me and You playing.

"Only the best soloist I've met," I shrug, showing him a smile as he blushes in front of the camera. "I hope Baekhyun forgives me for that," I laugh, Taemin's jaw dropping as he turns to face me. Although most of this was an act, I had to admit, it was more fun with him.