The Love Deception |Taekook

Chapter 45

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Stopping myself from crawling under the table was becoming a real hardship. But if Jiwoon kept up the Taehyung and kook questioning for a little longer, I'd have no other choice but to do exactly that. Otherwise, my last resort would be to knock down the bride with one of the metallic trays containing the variety of pinchos we were snacking on. It would be a waste of food, and it was her bachelorette-slash- bachelor party, but it'd be the only way. She was a resilient woman; she'd
recover in time for the wedding. We stood in one of the most frequented bars-sidrerías-of my hometown, surrounded by the characteristically loud chatter of people and the sour smell of spilled sidra-the regional apple cider.

People gathered around in groups of all sizes and ages. Some stood around tall tables, just like we-bride, groom,
best man, Taehyung, and I-were doing. Others had been seated to have dinner, and some were leaning on the bar, chatting animatedly with the waiters. Willing my lungs to take a slow, deep, and calming breath, I tried to order my thoughts, so I could dodge the last one of Isabel's questions.
"Come on. There has to be more to the story of how you two met."
Jiwoon's eyes shone with curiosity, bouncing from me to my very stoic fake boyfriend, who stood close enough to my side to steal a fair chunk of my focus.

"You are playing really hard to get, Kook."
"That's the whole story, I promise." Sighing, I averted my eyes to my
hands, which were lying on the smooth surface of the table. My fingers were busy playing with my empty glass. "Taehyung started working for InTech, and that's how we met. What else is there that you want to know?"
"I want the details you haven't told me."
I could tell my sister was about to start whining in that annoying and
persistent way that had never once failed to break people and make them
give her whatever it was she wanted. I had been there myself-many times.

She tilted her head. "Hey, if you guys experienced lust at first sight and
started hooking up and then dating, it's okay. Nothing to be ashamed of.
Plus, it would explain that bed-breaking rumor going around."
My lips parted, and my eyes widened. "Minji works faster than I thought," I muttered.

I sensed Taehyung shifting by my side, closing the small distance between our arms. But I didn't turn to look at him as my sister continued, "I am not Eomma, Kook. You can tell me." My sister batted her eyelashes, and I heard how Jihun cleared his throat. "Or share with the group-fine, whatever." She rolled her eyes at her fiancé. "Come on. We are listening. Did you guys hook up first? And if so, how many times?"

Mingyu, who had been oddly quiet for someone who was supposed to be
having a good time, sighed noisily. "I don't think there's any need to share
that with the group." My gaze swiveled in his direction, finding him with a deadpan expression.

"Thanks, Gyu," Jiwoon gritted out between her teeth. "But I'll let my
Brother decide if he wants to share his sexcapades with the table."
Oh Lord, did she just call it sexcapades?

At the change in Jiwoon's tone, Jihun wrapped his arm around her
shoulders and tugged her against his side. I watched Jiwoon's body relax
immediately, letting go of what I knew were years of contained animosity toward her fiancé's brother.

Sighing silently, I felt a pang of guilt slice across my chest. It was
unprecedented, and I had no reason to feel responsible for the situation, but at the same time, it was hard not to let some of the weight fall on my own shoulders.

In an ideal world, the best man wouldn't be my ex. In that same world, I wouldn't have panicked when learning that he was engaged while I seemed to be stuck in time and alone, and I wouldn't have felt the need to lie to myfamily and tangle myself into the web of deception I had woven. Perhaps, in that ideal world, the man by my side would be there because he loved me and not because I had struck a deal with him.