Save Me

32

"You've all been working hard on your projects and I'm happy to announce that some of you have been chosen for the art exhibition hosted by our very own school!"

Taehyung continues doodling absentmindedly, his cheek placed in his hand as the teacher continued to ramble.

That is, until his name was called.

"Kim Taehyung."

The boy received some compliments and claps on the back and he smiled back shyly, still stunned that his art piece was chosen. He looked over and beamed when Laila smiled and mouthed a "congratulations," her happiness shining through despite not having her own piece featured.

"I advise you not to tell people what you've drawn if you've been chosen so that everyone can be surprised at the show," the teacher explains. "Everyone else can come up to my desk and retrieve their art work again."

Taehyung watched with curious eyes as Laila went up to the front and grabbed her paper, wondering who she had decided to draw. Whoever it was, Taehyung was sure she captured them beautifully.

When class was over, he was quick to head over and ask her who she had drawn, and Laila laughed at his eager tone.

"Young Leo," she says, showing him her paper. "Dicaprio is so handsome, I just had to draw him."

Taehyung rolls his eyes but takes his time admiring her art. She had done an incredible job in capturing him, and Taehyung wondered why she wasn't chosen alongside him for the art exhibition.

"It's beautiful," he says sincerely, looking up from the drawing to see her already looking at him.

"Thanks," she smiles, unzipping her backpack to carefully place her drawing inside. "Do you wanna grab something to eat? Y'know, to celebrate your drawing?"

Taehyung scratches the back of his neck shyly and nods.

The pair head out of the building and into the cool afternoon, their coats zipped up to their chins and their hands held tightly between them. Taehyung had insisted that holding hands was the best way to keep them warm, and Laila called him stupid before linking their fingers together.

"After you," Taehyung says, holding the door open with his free hand.

Laila smiles, heading into the warm restaurant and tugging Taehyung's hand so that he'll follow. The host brought them to a small table near the back and they shed off their heavy coats, hanging them on the back of their seats.

"Hello, welcome to Piamida's Grille, can I start you off with something to drink?" the waitress asks, placing menus in front of them.

"I'll have a strawberry lemonade, please," Laila smiles.

"I'll have the same," Taehyung nods, and then they're left alone.

"So, you're not gonna tell me who you drew?" Laila asks, placing her chin on her hand.

"Are you that curious?" Taehyung teases, mirroring her position.

Laila rolls her eyes, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Can I at least have a hint?"

"Fine," Taehyung sighs, pursing his lips as he thinks. "It's someone... that I really like."

"That's it?" Laila whines. "Someone you like? That could be anyone, Taehyung! You like your sister, you like your friends, I'm sure you like celebrities or something, too, and-"

Taehyung smiles as he watches her ramble. His hint sort of flew over her head, but it was cute seeing her rant about who it could possibly be.

"Alright, two strawberry lemonades," the waitress says, placing their drinks down. "Are you ready to order or would you like a few more minutes to look over the menu?"

"I think we need a few more minutes," Laila smiles sheepishly, and the waitress nodded with a small laugh.

"What looks good?" Taehyung asks, opening up his menu for the first time.

"Anything, I'm starving," Laila sighs. "Maybe a burger or something? I d-"

"What the fuck?" Taehyung growls, and Laila looks up with her eyebrows furrowed in confusion until she catches Taehyung's gaze looking at something behind her.

She turned in her seat and felt anger bubbling in her chest when she saw James and a few of his friends shoving and laughing loudly as they followed the host to their seat.

"Ignore him," Laila says as she quickly turns back around and reaches over the table to grab his hand. "We're here for us, Taehyung."

The brunette lets out a long sigh and nods, simmering the irritation he felt as he intertwined their fingers. He wanted to go over to that table and punch the bastard straight in the jaw, but Laila was looking at him with a hopeful smile and he couldn't bear to let her down, so he mustered a small smile of his own and brought her knuckles up to his lips, pressing a promising kiss as he murmured that he would behave.