A month has passed. Jin and I have kept our affair a secret, hiding it from people in plain sight; pretty well if you ask me. It seems that nobody suspects a thing.
In that time, we started spending a lot more time together. After my dad got back from his business trip, he asked why I hadn't eaten much of the groceries he pre bought me for that week.
Turns out I was staying at Jin's most of the time. Eating, sleeping and practically living there for those 7 days.
I spit out the most believable excuse I could muster, which was that I had bought a lot of takeout. He didn't question it.
But it wasn't all just sex 24/7. I did spend a lot of it learning, and improving my writing. Jin has been extremely helpful in that aspect, and my knowledge on literature has expanded vastly. I've also learnt quite a lot in Korean, and I can hold basic (very basic) conversations.
It's Saturday morning right now, and I'm currently on the bus to Taehyungs house. He texted me out of the blue and asked for me to come over, for some reason he wouldn't tell me. He said he'd prefer to 'tell me in person.'
I'm a little nervous, the obvious negative thought in my head is that he somehow knows, or found out about Jin and I, and he wants to have a serious talk with me about it. But I'm 99% certain we're in the clear and that we're safe. It's just my anxiety.
Willow: I'm nearly here.
I text him just to let him know that I'm close by, and I receive a buzz almost immediately.
Tae: Just come through the front door, nobody's home. Passcode is 1997
I raise an eyebrow and lock my phone, tucking it in my pocket when the bus comes to my stop. I jump off and walk a little down the street until I get to Taehyung's house. It seems pretty quiet and empty, no cars on the driveway.
I walk up and enter the code, walking in through the hallway and peaking around the corners, wondering where he is.
"Tae?" I call out, tiptoeing nervously into the living room.
"I'm in the kitchen!" He yells back. I walk through, and he's standing behind the counter, pouring a drink.
"Hey." I sigh, taking a seat at the countertop, and smoothing my dress down.
It's the middle of summer here, and it's absolutely boiling hot. I couldn't even put any makeup on today, it'd melt off if I tried. The barstool is black leather, and I can feel my thighs sticking to it due to the heat.
"Hey." He responds, turning around and flashing me a cute, rectangular smile.
He had a hair cut. His brown hair is a little shorter, not so long and in his eyes, but still in the same style. He's wearing grey shorts and a black tank top, his cheeks flushed pink and his forehead giving off a slight sheen.
"So, what's up?" I ask, resting my elbows against the cold marble surface, instantly feeling a relief from the heat.
He takes a sip of his water and sets it down on the counter, letting out a loud, content breath afterwards and licking his lips. He looks a little nervous, fidgeting on the spot and avoiding my eyes.
"Tae?" I call him, tilting my head, my stomach flipping.
He looks up and locks eyes with me. He purses his lips and clenches his fists on the counter, looking visibly awkward.
Um..." He begins, chuckling nervously and scratching the back of his neck.
"God, I don't know why I'm so nervous." He laughs breathily, and stands up straight, taking another gulp of his water.
"It's okay, just tell me." I say, my tone higher in pitch, clear concern in my voice.
Okay." He abruptly says, letting out a breath.
"So, last month. I met this girl. She's a little older..." He trails off.
My stomach calms, and I let out a mental sigh of relief. He wanted to talk to me about a girl he likes?
"Go on." I edge him, a smile on my face.
"Uh, okay, so. She's older, as in, not in high school older." He chuckles anxiously.
"How old is she?" I ask.
"23." He mutters under his breath.
"Wow. Alright." I chuckle.
"I met her at a cafe. She approached me and started talking first, and I was really awkward. I've never had a girlfriend before, or really spoke to a girl like that so I didn't know what to do. But she said I was cute and gave me her number."
"Wait, serious?" I blurt out, my eyes wide and the smile on my face appearing bigger.
"Yeah. We've been texting and talking on the phone a lot. And I met her for a date last weekend. I told her about you." He continues, looking down at the counter and nervously trailing his finger along the rim of the glass.
"You told her about me?" I ask surprised.
"Mhm." He hums, nodding his head cutely.
"What did you say?" I chuckle.
"Well. She told she she's interested in working overseas, in America specifically. And you popped in my head, so I told her I have an American friend who could give her advice." He mumbles, pouting his lips.
"Oh, okay." I smile.
"So, that's why I asked you over here. I'm meeting her in about 10 minutes, and I asked if it'd be okay if I brought you along to meet her. She really wants to meet you." He finally looks up at me, a pleading look in his eyes.
"Of course, I'd love to!" I exclaim, smiling widely.
"This is so cute. So, is she your girlfriend?" I ask, leaning further against the counter intrigued.
"I- I don't know. I don't really know how these things work. We haven't really spoke about it like that. But I like her, and I think she likes me." He smiles bashfully, his cheeks turning pink.
"I think it's cute. And I can't wait to meet her." I smile at him, scrunching my nose.
He returns my smile and looks away shyly, giggling.
"Shall we go?" I ask, standing from the barstool. He looks at me and nods his head, grabbing his wallet and phone.
**
Tae and I sit at a table in a quaint little coffee shop, waiting for his new 'friend' to walk in. I shake my leg under the table, a little nervous, but excited. I'm really happy for him, he deserves this. He's such a sweet, kind and caring soul, and I really hope she treats him well and makes him happy.
His eyes dart all over the place, constantly turning his head to look over his shoulder at the door. He's fiddling with a napkin, ripping it nervously between his fingers.
"Hey, it's alright." I whisper, trying to soothe him. He looks up and smiles weakly, letting out a breath.
I've noticed Tae has always been a little awkward, but the way he's acting right now over a girl, it's too cute. He must really like her for him to be this anxious.
"Tae Tae?" I suddenly hear a feminine voice, and both Taehyung and I look to the voice simultaneously.
A huge smile appears on his face, and she returns his smile, taking a seat next to him.
"Hi, noona!" He exclaims, a deep, cute chuckle escaping his throat.
"Hi, baby." She giggles, scooting in closer to him on the booth chair.
She's beautiful. She's tall, with long, silky black hair down to her waist. She has plump lips and full cheeks, her skin tanned and as smooth as silk. Her body is perfect. She has curves in all the right places, and her pure white, skin tight dress compliments every dip and curve.
She turns her head and looks at me, smiling widely. She has a perfect row of straight white teeth, and a smile that could melt any mans heart. I can see now why Tae is so smitten.
"Hi! You must be Willow." She greets me excitedly in English. She has a an accent, but it's not too strong. She speaks English perfectly.
"Hi, yes. It's so nice to meet you. I've heard wonderful things about you." I respond, returning her kind smile from the opposite end of the booth.
"Me too! Tae talks about you all the time." She says, looking at him with admiration.
"I'm sorry, I didn't get your name." I remembered, frowning.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Tae suddenly speaks up, chuckling.
"No, it's alright. My name is Hwasa." She says, nodding her head towards me.
"Hwasa. Got it."
Time flies by, the three of us chatting away and Hwasa and I getting to know each other.
"I just saw him sitting on his own in that cafe and he looked so cute. I couldn't resist." She laughs, interlocking her arm with his.
We all laugh together, and Hwasa takes a sip of her coffee. She suddenly hums as if she wants to say something urgently, and swallows her coffee, looking in my direction.
"Willow, how come you didn't bring your boyfriend?" She asks, patting her lips with a napkin gently, her eyes locked onto mine.
I freeze on the spot, my mouth agape. My cheeks burn and my stomach drops.
"Boyfriend?" I stutter, laughing nervously.
"Yeah." She giggles, looking at me with a confused look, pouting her lips and tilting her head.
"I don't have a boyfriend." I gulp, grabbing my drink and sticking the straw in my mouth, looking away.
I look at Taehyung and he seems just as surprised as me, so I don't think he's said anything to her about his own suspicions.
"But, I can see some marks on your collarbone there. Your dress is a little low." She says, pointing to her own chest.
I look down and low and behold, there they are. Jin's hickeys on my fucking chest.
I inhale a deep breath through my nose, and exhale quietly, before looking back up and forcing a smile on my face.
"No, they're not what you think they are." I try to protest, shaking my head. I can tell by the look on her face she doesn't buy it. She raises an eyebrow, and a small smirk is evident on her lips, before she hides it behind her cup, taking a sip through the straw.
"Sorry. My mistake." She giggles.
She turns to Taehyung and mutters something in Korean to him. He nods his head and gives her a smile. She unlocks her arm from his and stands up, grabbing her purse.
She looks at me and gestures for me to stand.
"Willow, come to the bathroom with me?" She asks. I look up at her hesitantly, but nod my head.
"Oh- okay, sure." I stutter, standing from my seat.
She locks her arm with me and practically drags me to the bathroom, and walks straight to the mirror, touching up her lipstick and powder. I stand there a little awkward, looking at myself to make sure I don't look too dead without makeup.
"You can tell me you know." She suddenly says, her voice a little deeper.
I turn to her in surprise.
"What?"
"About your secret boyfriend. I could tell you weren't comfortable talking about it in front of Tae Tae." She says, turning to face me.
"I- No, really. I don't-" I stutter but she cuts me off, chuckling.
"It's okay. If you're not comfortable, I won't push you. It's not really my place, I'm sorry if I'm being nosey." She smiles, turning back to look in the mirror.
She tucks her lipstick and powder back in her purse and turns, her hair flying over her shoulder. She leans in close to my ear, and places her hand on my shoulder.
"Just be careful." She whispers.