/ Narrator's POV /
Liyah was beginning to feel silly. Okay, maybe not silly. She was beginning to lose hope. She couldn't fault herself for Taehyung's wrongdoings. After all, this wouldn't be the first time he had sold her a dream.
She couldn't remember the last time she wore a dress. Although they were going to a drive in theater, she wanted to dress up and look like a doll for him. She made up her face, painted her lips in her signature red lip stick and moisturized her curls. She sprayed on her cherry scented perfume and dug deep into her wardrobe for the red dress lined with lace along the sleeves and chest she had gotten from the mall about two months back after seeing a poster of Madonna rocking a similar one.
She was used to wearing almost nothing at all most of the time. It was funny how wearing this dress that stopped a few inches above the knee made her feel the most naked she had ever been. Maybe it was because of the reason she had put it on in the first place. To impress a man who she had hated in order to prevent loving for so many years prior to this very moment.
"He still hasn't made it?" Jimin raised his brow as he came from around the corner. Wearing an oversized shirt and shorts, bare feet touching the floor. Liyah sighed.
"Not yet." She said. She was holding on to that slither of hope that he hadn't forgotten, but was instead stuck in traffic. Somehow that thought would keep her sane and make her feel a little less foolish for waiting.
"You look gorgeous." Jimin complimented. He stopped to admire her. He always said that if he and Liyah weren't so close platonically, he probably would have fallen hopelessly in love with her. She was beautiful inside and out. His dream woman if he had a type.
"Thank you." Liyah couldn't do much besides give a forced smile. She took off her purse, reaching inside to grab a cigarette and her lighter before tossing it on the couch. The woman sparked the cigarette, watching the end burn as she pinched it between her fingers. It was funny, just as she began to bring it up to her lips there were a few knocks at the door. Liyah instantly froze.
"Ohhh is that who I think it is?" Jimin wiggled his eyebrows playfully, folding his hands on his lap. Liyah rolled her eyes, smudging the cigarette carelessly on the coffee table and placing it there.
"If that is him, why are you so excited? I thought we collectively agreed to dislike him for awhile?"
"It seems like only one of us was still on board and it's definitely not the one dressed in the pretty red dress. So I chose to fall off of that agenda as well." Jimin remarked sassily. Liyah giggled before turning on her heels and heading for the door. He was a mess.
The woman didn't bother to ask who was at the door. She only planted her hand on the knob and turned it before opening the door. She was greeted by the sight of a flower bouquet, making her heart skip in her chest. Her eyes trailed up to meet Taehyung's. A small grin on his lips as he gazed down at her.
"Hey, bumble bee." Like honey the words rolled off of his tongue. Sweet, warm honey.
Liyah, for a moment, was at a loss for words. He smelled great for one. He was dressed in his usual, or, the attire she had gotten used to seeing him in since they had been back on good terms. Minus the leather jacket, he wore a black button up with long sleeves to cover his arms. His hair was held back with the help of gel, and a chain with a tiny cross ironically resting on his chest.
"You're late." Liyah cleared her throat, trying not to pay much attention to his intense gaze or his handsome face. Taehyung sighed.
"I know. I'm sorry. I got held up in something and I had to get your flowers. But if we leave now we'll make it to the drive in just in time to catch the beginning of the movie."
Liyah furrowed her eyebrows. She wanted to say more, keep this argument brewing. But when her eyes met his she couldn't even gather the words. All she could do was purse her lips before turning away from him to go inside and get her purse.
"You don't want your flowers?" He asked humorously from behind her. The door was opened only a tad, just enough for him to see inside and notice a figure on the couch.
"Oh yeah." Liyah murmured, turning around and taking the bouquet from his hands. "They're beautiful. I'll put them in a vase and we can leave afterwards."
"Okay." Taehyung nodded. He noticed that the person sitting on the couch was...a guy. He looked at Taehyung until Taehyung noticed him. And that's when he looked away. Taehyung tilted his head to the side, the realization clicking in his brain of who this guy was.
Taehyung licked his lips before looking away. He decided to focus soley on Liyah this evening, although Hoseok's job was sitting right before him. He didn't know that both Jimin and Liyah shared an apartment. Then again there was so much information being piled on top of him at one time pertaining to this job, he probably overlooked it.
"I'll see you later. Be safe." He snapped out of his thoughts once he heard the man speak. Liyah unwrapped her arms from around him and next placed her bag over her shoulder before coming to the door. She faced Taehyung with a smile.
"Ready?" She asked. He grabbed her hand, pulling her in to kiss the side of her lips. "As ready as ever."
"Okay. Lock up Jimin. Later!" She waved back. Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows as they began walking down the hall, away from the apartment door. It was funny how Liyah no longer seemed annoyed. Only happy to be holding his hand, standing next to him.
"You look stunning by the way." He said smoothly.
"Thank you. I haven't worn this dress before and I figured this would be a nice occasion." She explained although it wasn't needed. Taehyung's jaw ticked as their feet hit the pavement outside. It was dark and a bit chilly despite being a summer night. Instinctively, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer, supplying her with some warmth.
"As gorgeous as you look, it wouldn't have hurt to bring a coat." He scolded. The girl rolled her eyes.
"You're my date. Not my father, Tae."
"I'm just looking out for you." Taehyung opened the passenger side door to his Buick, letting her get settled in first before making his way to the drivers side.
Liyah snapped on her seatbelt and scanned around the vehicle. Taehyung had a lot of nice things growing up and he valued his possessions. She just knew that he was in love with this care judging from how clean it was on the inside. Her seat was adjusted to a perfect angle and it was nice and warm inside. Liyah raised a brow.
"What?" Taehyung asked, backing out of his parking space. Liyah shook her head, but he knew a question was brewing.
And just like clockwork...
"Tae?"
"Shoot, bumble bee." He chuckled, laying his hand down on her thigh. Liyah is briefly taken aback by this action. The way he gripped her thigh, digging the pads of his fingers into her skin and easing up before repeating the action - kind of like a massage. She found it difficult to focus.
"Why were you late?" She says steadily despite fighting for her sanity.
"I got held up in something. I promise I'll do better for our next date."
"Ha." Liyah crossed her arms over her chest, looking out of the window. Taehyung kissed his teeth as they caught the highway.
"Don't go giving me the cold shoulder, Liyah. I got held up in business and I wanted to get you flowers. I promise we won't miss the movie."
"It's not about that Taehyung. It's just that I want you to take this seriously. Take us seriously. It's hard for me to let you back in so the least you can do is make time for me...plan accordingly." She mumbled.
Taehyung processed her words, thinking that she was making a big deal out of nothing. Yes he was late. But he still showed. She knew better than to think he would stand her up. Or maybe she didn't. Maybe she had gotten so used to disappointment to the point where Taehyung was no different from the others.
"I take you serious. You're my top priority." Taehyung reassured. Liyah smiled, placing her hand down on top of his. It was so easy to believe him.
"Promise?"
There was a slight flicker of the past that flashed across Taehyung's mind. Promises. When they were kids, they promised each other everything. There was a time where Taehyung even promised her the world. He still planned on giving what he could of it to her after everything blew over. But he couldn't help but acknowledge the fact that things weren't so simple anymore. Nonetheless, he played into the fairytale. Because somewhere deep down inside he missed those simple promises. The ones that could never be broken because they used to be so easy to attain.
Glimpsing into the rear view mirror, Taehyung holds Liyah's hand up to his lips. He placed a tender kiss on the back of her soft skin.
"I promise."
• • •
The drive in theater was still a popular attraction in the big city. Chicago was always lively on a weekend night. Teenagers hanging out of their cars conversing with their friends, young adults such as the reunited couple snuggled up while standing in the concession lines and waiting on the movie to begin. It was a fun scene.
"I didn't bring any snacks, bumble bee." Taehyung uttered, putting the Buick in park before loosening the keys in the ignition. The air still blowing as Liyah rubbed her arms.
"That's okay. I'm not really hungry." She said softly. Taehyung couldn't help but stare at her. She looked beautiful right there in that moment.
"Are you sure? This is a long movie."
Liyah thought about it. She hated when she had to make decisions. Why couldn't he decide?
"Um...if it's a long movie I guess I could go for some popcorn and a soda?" She said, although it came out as a question. Taehyung smirked. He knew her. This wasn't their first rodeo. Liyah would've been asking for popcorn within thirty minutes of the movie.
"You coming with?" He asked as he opened the door. Liyah shook her head. She didn't feel confident in this dress anymore. Teenagers made her anxious and as weird as it sounded, she recognized a few of the men as her customers at the club. She would save herself that humiliation, knowing that Taehyung hadn't understood that part about her quite yet.
"Okay. I'll be right back."
Liyah watched with a fast beating heart as he closed the door and did a little jog off. She hated how she couldn't give him her all right now. She hated how they couldn't do normal things. Go out in public as a couple without her fearing that she would be recognized for a character she played.
Liyah was beginning to realize that perhaps she had written out a check that her ass could not cash. She demanded that Taehyung come back to her full of devotion, ready to give her everything and nothing less of the sort. But what could she do?
The world moves around her in a blur of red, shining headlights and a colorful projector screen portraying the count down before the movie began. What were they seeing again? Something with Eddie Murphy.
Liyah sighed as she peeped up at the concession line. Taehyung was second in line. He too had been looking at the car, shooting her a dazzling grin after noticing her. Liyah shook her head but couldn't fight the smile that painted her red lips. He was a handful.
Just as he moved up in line to take their order, someone knocked on Liyah's window. Startled, the woman whipped her head around. She seen a small group of teenage boys standing their. Instantly, her expression turned from one of horror to one of disgust.
Raising up their shirts to show their semi hairy chests and immature physiques. Liyah damn near threw up in her mouth whenever one of them stuck his tongue out at her. Through the window glass she could hear their catcalls.
"Sexy dress!"
"Let us see you take it off."
And then they would laugh as if the other had said the most funniest shit in the world. Liyah stuck up her middle finger, preparing to open the door and really let them have it. But there was no use. The big bad wolf had returned and needless to say - he wasn't happy.
"The fuck out of here before I take it upon myself to make sure you never see the light of day again you little shitheads." Taehyung gritted, holding the tray of snacks whilst twisting up the collar of one of the boys.
Liyah covered her mouth to conceal the giggle slipping through her lips. She would've felt bad had they not been so gross. It was deserved.
Taehyung's threats weren't taken with a spoon of sugar. The teenagers were easily intimidated by the tall man dressed in all black with the shocking arm strength. And after seeing their friend get snatched up, scurried off with him in their pack.
Taehyung scoffed, walking around to the drivers side and getting in. Liyah forces her laughter down as she assist him in getting in. His anger is apparent as he slams the door.
"Fucking kids." He mumbled. "Did they say anything to you?"
"Of course they did, Tae. They're careless teenage boys who saw a pretty woman." Liyah shrugged. "I'm annoyed but I'm not hurt."
"I'm annoyed and I want to hurt them." He rolled his eyes. Liyah kissed her teeth, leaning over to peck his cheek.
"I'm fine. Thank you for saving me." She teased. He could only purse his lips.
"I see you're amused. I got popcorn, two cola's and snow caps."
"Thank you. The popcorn tastes wonderful." Liyah hummed in satisfaction. It had been so long since she last had the pleasure of tasting drive in popcorn. It tasted the same as it would in a regular theater.
"Let me taste." Taehyung leaned back in his reclined seat, mouth opened. Liyah popped the salty treat into his mouth and watched as he chowed down, nodding in approval.
"Good."
"What are we seeing again?" Liyah wondered aloud.
"48 hours with Eddie Murphy. I hear it's good. I should've asked if you would want to see this beforehand-"
"No no it's fine. I like Eddie Murphy." Liyah didn't want him to think he was doing something wrong. And Taehyung didn't want to do anything wrong. He wanted to please her and make her happy, knowing that going about this any other way would drive her away. He took her judgement seriously.
"Okay, good." He sighed, rubbing his hands over his thighs. "It came out in 83 but I never got to see it." Liyah nodded. She hadn't either.
The movie started in no time. The sound was extremely loud, so they could hear it through the car although it could get a bit muffled at times. Liyah and Taehyung snacked on their popcorn and drank from their sodas together, but only one of them could focus on the movie.
Liyah had never been found of so much action in a movie. It was entertaining, but it didn't hold her attention for that long.
Taehyung was extremely fascinated. His right hand on her exposed thigh as his left hand dug into his popcorn. Liyah took in a small sigh, looking down at her half empty bag before gazing down at his hand.
They were so big and warm, veiny and decorated in tiny scratches and a ring or two on his fingers. She wondered what he had done to get those marks on his hands. Had it come from work? Had they always been there and she never noticed?
There was a particular part in the movie that made Taehyung laugh. His laughter was raspy and deep, kind of like his voice at times. His smile was very radiant beneath the cloudy red hues surrounding them in the car. Liyah furrowed her eyebrows as her eyes flickered from his dimples to his pink wet lips.
Had he always been this handsome? Well...Liyah knew the answer to that. But she had never looked at him in this way. With lust over love. He was the embodiment of sex at this moment. Although he was only sitting back and enjoying the show, he was oozing something that Liyah wanted every bit of. It was kind of driving her insane. Killing her softly.
"You're staring."
Liyah blinked. He wasn't even looking at her when he spoke.
"I'm not." She cleared her throat, looking away in embarrassment and touching her curly hair. Taehyung smirked.
"Can you hand me those snowcaps?" He disregarded her lie. Liyah nodded and picked up the opened box of snow caps. Her hands were shaking, much to her surprise. As she reached him the box over the armrest, somehow she ended up dropping them on his lap resulting in a few of the snowcaps to fall between his legs.
Reacting more so out of apologetic instinct than logic, Liyah panicked and went to clean up her mess.
"I'm sorry." She apologized, hand buried between his leg. Taehyung coughed awkwardly, looking around before Liyah realized what she had been doing.
"Oh fuck!" She panicked, snatching her hand from between his leg. "I'm s-sorry I was just—"
"It's okay Liyah." Taehyung laughed, quickly forgetting about the incident. Although he could still feel her hand between his legs, he brushed it off.
"Are you bored? You're not paying attention to the movie." He said, placing the bag of popcorn on the floor at his feet as he got the snowcaps from between his legs. Liyah sighed.
"I'm not bored I'm just not the biggest fan of action movies. I'm sorry, I should've said something earlier. And now I feel like I've just ruined the entire thing with the snowcaps and those boys who came to the car—"
"Liyah." Taehyung stopped her, flicking the candy carelessly into the popcorn bag at his feet. He took Liyah's hand, holding it tightly in his to calm her down. She took a deep breath and looked into his eyes. Big mistake.
"You don't have to apologize. I should've asked you first before deciding that we would see this. If anything, I knew better. You were always a rom-com fanatic." He teased. Liyah rolled her eyes playfully.
"I get why you're nervous. We're basically starting from scratch. It's like we're teenagers all over again trying this dating thing for the first time. I'm nervous too." He said, thumb rubbing the back of her hand. Liyah shook her head.
"Well, you're doing a great job at hiding it." She mumbled. A part of her was jealous.
"It's not easy. I mean, imagine being in my shoes and seeing yourself in a dress like that. I've been nervous all evening." He tilted his head to the side. Liyah's breath got caught in her throat.
"You're doing amazing. I don't care about you spilling candy. I don't care about those stupid teenagers. I'm just happy you let me spend some time with you."
Liyah's heart softened. She cooed as she squeezed his hand. She didn't know he could be so romantic.
"Oh Tae." She sighed. Without much thinking, she leaned in to kiss his lips. Taehyung grinned as he kissed her back, gently tugging her over the arm rest so that she wasn't so far away. Liyah giggled and pulled back once she felt him nibble on her bottom lip.
"And there we go.." she giggled. Taehyung's eyes darkened as he stared down at her plump lips.
He put his lips against hers again and of course Liyah kissed back. With much more effort this time, he was able to get her to open up for him. Liyah hummed softly as she opened her mouth just a tad, allowing for him to slide the tip of his tongue inside. Taehyung's free hand slithered around her waist. When he tried to get her over into his seat and on his lap, Liyah placed a hand on his chest.
"Taehyung..." she said breathlessly, eyes lowered as she stared at him. She was good at reading body language. In the business she was in, of course she knew how to understand a man's body. What he wanted and when he wanted it. And Taehyung resembled that kind of man at this moment. Difference is, Liyah wanted him back.
"Dammit." Taehyung cursed, letting go of her and sitting back in his seat. Liyah sat back and adjusted her dress as she looked in his direction. He sighed, running his fingers through his hair.
You're moving too fast Taehyung. You're going to lose her before you even get her back completely.
"That's my fault. I'm sorry." He apologized.
"Don't apologize." Liyah said. Why would he apologize? She only pushed him back because they couldn't do this here. Not because she didn't want it. Had he given her time, he would have known. But it had always been in Taehyung's nature to overthink.
"Hey." She grabbed his attention, picking up his hand. Taehyung looked over at her. There it was again. That look that had him feeling this way in the first place. He was beginning to think she was doing it on purpose.
"You deserve better than that. You're more than that, bumble bee." He said. He didn't want her to think that he was only using her for her body now. Because he knew where she worked, perhaps she was less valuable in his eyes. He hoped she didn't believe that and it was all in his head. Liyah would always be the most classiest woman he knew. Despite her job, despite how she lived - she was precious and her body was sacred. He didn't want to rush things.
"What?" Liyah giggled. Taehyung frowned.
"Tae I'm not mad at you. I was just...thinking that maybe.." she drifted off. She didn't want to come off as too strong.
"Maybe we shouldn't do this out in the open?" Taehyung looked around them. Many of the cars were clearing out seeing as they were in the middle of the movie, and many teenagers had short attention spans. No doubt they were going to do exactly what Liyah and Taehyung almost did.
"Maybe.." she rubbed up his arm. "We could go back to your place?"
"Liyah we don't have to—"
"I want to." Liyah blurted. God she wanted to. So bad. She was sick of playing hard to get. She was so sick of tiptoeing around the fact that she wanted Taehyung in many ways. As long as it was Taehyung and nobody else.
"I trust you." She nodded, holding on to his hand tightly, bringing it up to her chest. Taehyung breathed as he caught a glimpse of her rising bosom, the way her breast shaped out the dress. Her smell, her warm and soft hands, her pretty toned legs and the beauty of her face. It was becoming harder for him by the second.
Liyah grinned and sat back in her seat, letting go of his hand and placing her seatbelt on. She said nothing else, allowing for her earlier words and her actions to speak for her. Wether or not Taehyung caught the hint was on him.
She's dangerous.
He thought, as he pushed his keys into the ignition.
-
A/n: I'm going to be like superrrrr evil and make y'all wait until next chapter 🤭!
Excuse any mistakes <3!