raventaek

[raventaek]

miso in love; taehyung

    The first time she met Kim Taehyung was in ninth grade, after he accidentally killed a bumble bee in the middle of a soccer game. It was a Monday with honey hues, a day when the trees in the courtyard were beginning to shed their red and orange leaves. A bee hive that hung in the school’s back entrance had begun to drop its bees to meet an insidious death.

    He had knelt on the grass, his hand holding the quivering insect with a look that could only be described as regret. The soccer ball next to him was long forgotten. She had looked down at the boy, disdain clouding her vision and lifting her lips in a grimace, “Grow up.” She mocked. 

    Looking back now, he said nothing, but she could recall the pink dust that surfaced his cheeks. The admiration that glossed his dulcet brown eyes, watching her retreating back. Taehyung has had a crush on her since. 

    With only a year left of college, she still does not understand. Taehyung sat across her, using his chopsticks to make a smiley face in his miso ramen. “I almost had it!” He released another contagious giggle, pink lips forming his signature rectangle smile. [Name] chortled, taking a long sip from her Royal Milk tea can. 

The reason she agreed to this date was not because she constantly rejected Taehyung over the years and decided to finally give him a chance. A month ago, the cat-eyed, Chanel No. 5 smelling Kim Jennie broke up with [Name] after being on and off for six months. Jennie made it clear she only needed the love-making aspects of [Name], but [Name] had enough and stopped providing. 

Even after all this time, Taehyung has not given up.

[Name] came back to their hometown to rest from her city life in Seoul. Their reunion was an awkward interaction in the fruit aisle at their local grocery store. Taehyung didn’t seem fazed by her stuttering, even though the last time they spoke was her throwing out the ice cream he offered her, along with another date proposal. 

He looked down at his basket, taking out a pint sized [flavor] ice cream. Their eyes met as he outstretched his hand, “Let’s go on a date.” 

So, she agreed. 

“Here, let me.” [Name] took her chopsticks, slightly leaning up in her seat to pull a noodle across his miso broth. “There. A smile!” She grinned at her effort. 

Taehyung squinted his eyes, jerking his chin up, “Bro. This is the best smiley face I’ve ever seen.” He placed his chopsticks down, folding his arms across his chest, “Now I can’t eat it.” 

[Name] gave a light laugh, propping her elbow on the table and resting her cheek on her hand. Taehyung wrinkled his nose in a childish manner, before lifting up his hand to call back the waiter. As she watched him order another round of Royal Milk tea, her smile drifted to a small grin. 

She hated to admit how much fun she was having. 

They have been at it for two hours. 

Two bowls of ramen, three plates of takoyaki, and six cans of that sweet beige milk tea.

Each. 

She impulsively began picking at the stray strands of her [texture], [color] hair, “Taehyung,” She called out in a soft tone. He snapped his head back, setting the two cans down, “Don’t worry, I got you the large one-” He began. 

“No. It’s not that.” She sat up, not knowing where she was going with this. 

    [Name] inhaled sharply, “I was just going to say that . . . that I’m . . .” It was a lot harder to express herself than she thought. 

    After a couple moments, Taehyung placed his hand on top of hers. 

    She looked up at his soft, brown eyes. Not yet, she told herself. 

    “Let me pay half.”

~

    It took an argument before Taehyung let her pay 50/50. He was still pouting on their way out, but after [Name] linked arms with him, he could not stop grinning like a mad man. She noticed his eyes brighten and even had a little blush beneath his eyes. 

    The night stroked a gentle breeze on their backs. She caught herself watching Taehyung’s bright red hair dance with the wind. She quickly adjusted her eyes elsewhere. The moon was full and yellow, casting light behind fluff clouds. 

Suddenly, Taehyung stopped humming. “I need to keep you to myself for a few more minutes.” He switched his pace to the lone bench that sat beside a lamp post. 

[Name] shook her head, rolling her eyes in the process, “It’s not like we’re gonna see each other tomorrow or anything.” She was happy he suggested more time, but she couldn’t tell him that.

“We probably won’t.” He replied, matter-of-factly. [Name] glanced up at him, her eyebrows knit in confusion. 

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well, before I know it, you’ll be gone for another three years.” He leaned against the bench, looking up at the long, dark sky, “And I’ll be here.” 

[Name] stared at his smooth cheek. She could feel a bit of guilt creeping in. 

Taehyung turned his eyes to her, “Don’t misunderstand me. I’m very proud of the woman you’ve become . . .” 

“O-Oh.” She blushed, bringing a loose fist to his shoulder, “You scared me there for a second. I thought I was going to have to apologize.” 

He smiled, taking her hand in his and resting them on his thigh. He turned his attention back to the sky. [Name] watched him breathe and close his eyes. And in typical Taehyung fashion, he began to hum again. 

Her heart danced around her chest. She never understood the concept of love, let alone felt it for someone else, but Taehyung was in love with her. The way he blinked when she accepted his date offer; he was expecting another rejection. 

How can someone so perfect . . . be so willing to fall for her? He surrendered to her a long time ago and she has done nothing but deny him. 

Even when she wanted to say yes. 

“Taehyung,” Her breath hitched in her throat. He hummed back in acknowledgement. She gulped, stroking her thumb over his hand, “The truth is . . . I do owe you an apology.” 

He stopped humming at that. 

He lifted his head and turned to look at her. 

“I’m sorry for being so mean to you.” [Name] whispered, her eyes beginning to slightly well up in tears, “I said yes to all of this because I knew that you would be an easy rebound, but,” She glanced around, trying to gather her thoughts as the words poured out of her mouth, “I had so much fun.” It was hard not to smile when she came to the realization. 

“[Na-” 

“No, listen to me.” The [hair color] took a deep breath, finally flickering her eyes to lock with Taehyung, “I should have said yes to you a long time ago. Maybe now, I wouldn’t be so . . . pathetic. I would actually be happy.” 

Taehyung’s eyes softened. He brought a hand to her face, long fingers tucking her hair away from her face. His touch lingered, caressing her cheek with the carefulness of an angel, “You are far from pathetic. You’re so-”

She kissed him. 

It was quick and sloppy and impulsive. She could see her lip gloss overlining his top lip.

Gasping, she covered her mouth with both her hands, “Oh, my God.” 

Taehyung stopped breathing. He didn’t say anything. He just stared at her with wide eyes. 

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking!” [Name] scrambled through her purse, looking for some tissues. A blush erupted her face, Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! 

. . . did he like it doe?

Thoughts ran through her head like wildfire. It took Taehyung holding her shoulders for her to snap out of it. She glanced up, shyly resting her hands over her thighs. He looked calmer than he did seconds prior. 

    “That’s all I ever dreamed of.” Taehyung said, leaning in closer. 

    “W-What?”

    “Kissing you.” 

    [Name] gulped again, slowly closing her eyes. 

    He’s loved me since ninth grade.

His lips pressed against her, slower this time. She felt a hand on her back, pulling her closer. 

    A new feeling blossomed in her chest. Something jittery and cold and warm all at once. She longed for it. She longed for him. 

    On this Fall night, she surrenders to him. 

    And Taehyung finally gets to be with the love of his life.