𝐔𝐍𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇𝐘 || Vhope

c.22

Chapter 21 : wanted 

Jiwoo swallowed and smiled shakily. "It's not—"

"Don't worry, you won't have to put up with Hoseok anymore," Taehyung said, his voice rough with barely controlled rage. "We'll leave by the evening."

Hoseok inhaled sharply.

Jiwoo's eyes widened. "Tae—"

Taehyung turned away, his face stony.

"Don't you dare ignore me, Kim Taehyung!" Jiwoo snapped, grabbing his shoulder. "You can't say stuff like that and then ignore me! Let's talk like—"

Pursing his lips, Taehyung turned around. "There is nothing to talk about," he said, his tone deceptively calm. "You made your feelings very clear. If you feel that way, I can't change it. So I'm leaving."

"But I was talking to Hoseok! That had nothing to do with you—"

"That's where you're wrong," Taehyung said. "I don't want to be with a woman who doesn't respect the person I love. By offending him, you offend me. By trying to hurt him, you hurt me."

Jiwoo's eyes filled with tears. "You can't just leave like that. We're a family. I'm the mother of your son. Are you going to leave your son? Just like your parents left you?"

Paling, Taehyung sucked a breath in. "I won't let you manipulate me. You won't make me feel guilty. I fully intend to be a father to my kid and you won't ever need anything. And you can have the house. It's worth ten million, so I'm not going to feel sorry for you. You're young, attractive and now filthy rich. Congrats." Turning on his heels, he stormed out of the kitchen, leaving Jiwoo and Hoseok alone.

"That was a low blow," Hoseok said quietly, trying to rein his anger in.

Jiwoo crossed her arms over her chest and looked away. "You can be happy now," she said, her eyes wet. "You won."

"Won?" Hoseok said, standing up. "He's not a fucking prize." He left the kitchen before he could say something he would regret later.

He found Taehyung in the baby's room. Taehyung stood over the crib, watching the sleeping baby, his back unnaturally straight.

Hoseok took a place next to him and looked at the baby, too. The baby really resembled Taehyung a lot.

"He's so tiny," Taehyung said. "I've been so afraid to hold him, you know—I thought I'd hurt him—and now..."

"You will hold him when you want to," Hoseok said. "You're his dad."

"Yeah." A few seconds passed. Then Taehyung said, "She's wrong. You know that, right?"

Hoseok swallowed, eyeing the blond fluff of hair on the baby's head. "She's tired, frustrated and protective of her family," he said, instead of answering. "It's only natural that she lashed out." He brushed his hand against Taehyung's. "Don't do anything rash that you might regret later."

"I should have seen sooner that it could never work. That's the only thing I regret. To be honest, it's been coming for a while—all the bitterness, frustration and disappointment—but I guess I just turned a blind eye. I didn't want to admit it wasn't working." His hand slid into Hoseok's and he squeezed. "You shouldn't feel guilty. It's not your fault. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine."

"Quit blaming yourself. Hindsight is twenty-twenty." Hoseok's turned his head and met Taehyung's eyes. "But I'm not going to say it isn't your fault at all. You've always been too stubborn for your own good."

Taehyung smiled faintly and nodded. He opened his mouth but seemed to hesitate.

"What?" Hoseok said, his thumb brushing Taehyung's wrist.

"Yesterday I asked Stephanie to look for a place for you in the area and she got back to me this morning. There are a few good options not far from the training center. But it looks like I'm in need of a new place too. What if..." Taehyung looked away for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. "What do you think of sharing? It'll be easier and more convenient." A look of embarrassment crossed Taehyung's face. "Too much? If I'm being too clingy, just tell me to fuck off."

Hoseok's mouth went dry. To see Taehyung every day, to live with him—

He told himself to get a grip. He failed. "You're right. Looking for one house would be much easier."

Taehyung beamed, his smile so radiant it took Hoseok's breath away and sent his heart into his throat. God, he was hopeless.