Fatescript

"Unscripted"

They arrived at one of the city’s most luxurious hotels—tall chandeliers, velvet-lined halls, and the kind of silence that only wealth could afford.

Sooyya and Ji-hoon arrived shortly after them, looking picture-perfect. Sooyya greeted Jisoo with a soft smile, and Jisoo returned it gently. She didn’t miss the tiredness hiding behind her sister’s eyes—she recognized it too well.

A third car pulled up, and from it stepped Ji-hoon’s parents—gracefully aged, wrapped in elegance—and Taehyung, in a sharp charcoal suit, phone tucked away, eyes scanning the group.

Greetings were exchanged, bows offered, pleasantries spoken.

Inside, they settled into a private dining room, shielded from the rest of the hotel guests. The round table was already set, candles flickering above porcelain plates. Staff moved quietly, serving the first course.

Conversations leaned heavily toward business—real estate expansions, investment updates, future collaborations. Ji-hoon’s father, Mr. Kim Min-jun., turned to Jisoo with genuine curiosity.

“Jisoo,” he said, adjusting his glasses, “I heard your recent downtown redevelopment project was personally overseen by you. Impressive for someone so young. How is the progress?”

Jisoo straightened a little, setting her spoon down. “We’ve completed the second phase, and we’re currently finalizing interior partnerships. So far, everything is running on schedule.”

He nodded appreciatively. “Good. Very good. I like the structure your team is working on—very modern yet practical.”

His wife, offered Jisoo a warm smile. “Congratulations on your success, dear. It’s rare to see such dedication these days. You must be making your family proud.”

Jisoo smiled politely, her heart skipping just slightly at the mention of “family.” She nodded once, offering a quiet “Thank you.”

Throughout the dinner, she stayed composed, occasionally exchanging glances with Taehyung, who barely spoke but observed everything. His gaze lingered on her longer than necessary, though Jisoo refused to acknowledge it.

When dessert arrived, the table was lively with conversation, laughter, and clinking glasses. But Jisoo felt distant—as though watching it all from behind glass.

She played her role well. She always did.

***

Jisoo sat with her legs crossed, back straight, nodding occasionally, but a faint flush crept up her neck. The room felt stuffy—too much perfume, too many eyes, too many layers of silk and expectation.

She excused herself quietly, no one really noticing. The moment she stepped into the hallway, the cool air hit her skin and she exhaled.

Her heels clicked softly on the marble floor as she walked toward the terrace, needing just a few minutes to breathe.

She wasn’t paying much attention when a waiter turned the corner sharply, holding a full tray of drinks, and before she could register what was happening—

A firm hand yanked her arm, and she stumbled—straight into a solid chest.

Her body froze.

Taehyung.

She was about to push him off and scold him when his palm covered her mouth, stopping her before a word escaped. His other hand kept her balanced against him as the waiter passed in a blur, completely oblivious to the near disaster.

Jisoo's eyes were wide, glaring at him over his hand.

He leaned closer, voice low but annoyingly smug.
"If I hadn’t stopped you, you’d be wearing a full tray of red wine right now."

She pulled his hand away with a sharp tug.
"I would’ve managed on my own."

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow. "Looked like you were about to walk straight into a mess."
Then, a pause.
"You could at least say thank you."

But Jisoo simply adjusted her sleeve, stepped back without a word, and walked toward the terrace doors.

Taehyung blinked.
"Wow," he muttered, watching her retreat. "So rude. I literally saved her dry cleaning bill."

With an exasperated sigh, he followed her outside, still talking under his breath.

What neither of them noticed was the faint click of a camera nearby. Hidden behind a decorative floral partition, a man in a black cap quietly lowered his lens.

The camera screen blinked with the latest shots: Jisoo in Taehyung’s arms, his hand over her mouth, their faces impossibly close. The perfect scandalous frame—one that begged for a juicy headline.

And the night was far from over.

TBC...