"Come on, let's sit down here," Taehyung said as he held your hand in his free one, walking over to the booth in the ice cream shop with you.
He had you sit down first before he scooted in next to you, watching as you gazed out the window at the night sky and put a spoonful of ice cream in your mouth.
But you looked back at your boyfriend as he placed his hand on your thigh and when your eyes met, you saw the adoring gaze in his soft brown eyes before he kissed your cheek softly.
"Thank you for bringing me here, Tae." You said with a small smile before you put your head on his shoulder.
"I know it's after nine so it's a little late but I wanted to treat you to a sweet date." He said and you looked up at him. "Everything's been so busy and hectic and I needed some time with my girl and I know you needed it too."
"I do. I've missed you."
"I've missed you too." He said before kissing you softly and then going back to eating his ice cream. "Tell me about your week. I want to hear all about it. The good, the bad, and all the in-between."
That caused your heart to flutter.
He cares so much and you can tell he genuinely wants to hear all about your week.
He planned on listening to every word and giving you his full attention, which means a lot considering you didn't exactly have the best week.
You told him everything and, just as he said, he listened to every word you spoke.
When he finished his ice cream, he took your hand into his and brushed his thumb across your knuckles while staring at you with the most beautiful eyes full of stars.
Even after you finished your ice cream, you still didn't leave the shop.
You stayed curled up in the booth, enjoying your time out together on the first date you've been able to go on together in a busy few weeks.
You just talked about anything and everything together, just as you always do.
But after a little while, he asked if you wanted to go home and cuddle until you fell asleep later, and you happily agreed.
You grabbed your cups and headed towards the garbage across the shop, tossing yours and Tae's into it before you held onto his hand again and started to head to the door.
But just as you made your way to it, Taehyung pulled you in for conversation and you got lost in laughing and grinning with him that when the door opened and a couple of people walked in, you almost bumped into them.
"Oh, sorry," You apologized and looked toward the person you nearly walked into, only to feel a rush of fear flood over you.
There he was.
Your ex-boyfriend.
The guy you spent a long and exhausting year with who left you scarred mentally and emotionally, leaving you full of self-doubt.
He caused you to question your own worth and make you wonder if you'd ever find someone that loved you and treated you well, which you eventually found after leaving him and getting with Taehyung.
He looked the same as he did back when you were together and, oh god, he still had the same wicked smile he did then.
"Y/N! How nice to see you here." He said as your heart started to pound against your chest. "I haven't seen you in so long. It's been about a year, right? Since you left me?"
He looked angry as the last four words left his lips.
You watched him clench his jaw and in a panic, you squeezed Taehyung's hand tightly.
He had been looking between you and the guy since you first apologized.
He knew something was wrong just by the look in your eyes, but it was confirmed upon you squeezing his hand.
"What is it, baby?" He asked as he gave your hand a comforting squeeze.
"Baby?" Your ex scoffed as he looked at Tae. "Who are you?"
Taehyung wasn't afraid, nor was he intimidated by the man standing in front of him.
"I'm Taehyung, Y/N's boyfriend."
Your ex shook his head with a chuckle.
"You've moved on already? Is he why you left me?"
"No. You know why I left you." You quietly spoke. "You treated me badly. You made me feel awful about myself. I didn't meet Taehyung until a few months after I left you but I'm happy that I did. He's a lot better than you."
Things were starting to add up for Tae.
You've told him about this ex-boyfriend of yours. You opened up to him once you trusted him and he was quick to praise you and remind you about how strong and brave you were to walk away from this guy.
But, of course, hearing the person you love and care for open up about a past relationship that was full of misery and hurt would anger anyone, and Taehyung feels angrier than ever each time he remembers about this terrible ex of yours.
So, seeing him standing so close now made Taehyung want to curse him out.
Taehyung especially didn't like the way that your ex was looking at you and speaking to you.
It made his anger grow.
"You didn't even tell me that you were leaving. Don't you think that's a little rude?" Your ex asked you as he stared at you with a look of fury in his eyes. "I've been hoping I'd run into you sooner or later because I think we need to have a little chat."
He tried to take a couple of steps toward you and that's when Taehyung became extremely protective of you.
"I don't think so." He said as he stepped in front of you. "Don't come any closer to her."
"This doesn't involve you."
"Considering that Y/N is my girlfriend, I think it does."
You hugged Taehyung from behind, trying to slow your heart that was hammering against your chest in anxiety.
"She left me."
"You deserved it," Taehyung said. "You're lucky I didn't know her then because I would've kicked the crap out of you after the way you treated her."
Taehyung wasn't scared.
Not even in the slightest. He had to keep you safe, that's all that he could think about and all he cared about.
"You're not going to touch a single hair on her head."
"And what will you do if I do that?" Your ex asked as he stepped right in front of Tae, so close that Taehyung could feel his breath.
"You don't want to find out," Taehyung said as he clenched his jaw. "Get the hell out of our way."
Your ex looked back at you, which angered your boyfriend.
"Hey!" Taehyung said. "Don't look at her. Don't touch her. Don't even think about her. When we walk out this door, you move on with your sad, pathetic life and you leave my girl alone. You will regret it if you don't."
Your ex always thought he was so tough and so unafraid of anything or anyone.
But Taehyung was serious about everything he was saying and he didn't want to cross him.
So, he stepped aside.
Taehyung pulled your arms away from around his body and pulled you in front of him instead.
As he led you out the door, he kept his arms around you and his gaze on your ex, who always tries to act so tough but, for once, felt the opposite.
After you were out the door and in the car, you felt like you could finally breathe.
"Are you okay, baby?" Taehyung asked as he cupped your cheeks.
"I'm okay." You said. "I was scared at first but I think, now, he's the one who's scared."
Taehyung chuckled before kissing your forehead.
"Good."
You grabbed one of his hands from your cheek and kissed it softly, watching as he smiled a little.
"You know you're always safe with me." He promised. "No one is ever going to hurt you. I won't ever let that happen."
"I know, Tae."
He leaned in and kissed you softly as he brushed his fingers across your arm.
"I love you."
"I love you too." He said with a small smile. "Come on, let's get home. We'll watch some movies, any movies that you want."
"And cuddle too?"
He smiled as he started the car, looking back at you.
"Of course, baby. We'll cuddle and I won't let you go."
You loved the sound of that.