- ××× -
"Ta-Taehyung o-oppa?"
It would be an understatement if I say that Taehyung was surprised. Nope, he wasn't. Rather, Taehyung was baffled to the core.
The first thought that crossed his mind was that she might be a fan and that he shouldn't panic. There's no press around to cause any havoc.
But, the moment the shimmer of her metallic blue hairs reached his eyes, his mind somehow got rid of all contemporary thoughts and was replaced by anger.
Disinterest followed soon behind.
And before Taehyung could realise what he was doing, he had let go off the girl mid-air and she landed flat on the floor.
Taehyung was surprised to see that the girl did not even yelp or anything. She looked at him with desperate eyes instead, mixed with a little bit of hurt.
A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes upon seeing her like that but the moment he'd see her hairs, he'd get back to square one. He couldn't help but feel more and more distant to the girl and Taehyung intended to keep it that way.
That hair color, how dare she come infront of me like that.
Taehyung thought. It's not like Taehyung knows her or that she might be Yeontan's dog-napper but his instincts tell him otherwise.
The more he sees that particular hair color, the more he dislikes the person.
It has become like a self proclaimed process for him now. It is drilling it's roots deeper and deeper into his conscience until it becomes as tough as a metal bar.
Unbreakable and irreplaceable.
The girl soon got up on her own and stood infront of him. She stared at him as if trying to communicate through her eyes. But Taehyung adverted his gaze almost immediately.
Weird.
So weird that even though it is the first time that they are meeting, there seems to be some sort of mutual understanding between them. It's as if they know each other, as if they are newfound lovers who are sharing a conflict.
Taehyung's brain managed into conveying this message to him and he was definitely irked by it. Why are the both of them acting that way?
Taehyung dislikes her and somehow, she knows it. He is trying to avoid her and instead of asking him why, he found out that she is more interested in trying to pacify things out between them.
She already knows how he is feeling even though not a single word was exchanged between them.
And only two options pop up for this scenario.
Either she's a witch or Yeontan's dog-napper.
And Taehyung is keen by passion into staying away from both.
"Taehyung op-"
"No don't !" Taehyung forbade. His voice raising on its own.
He inhaled a sharp breath as if trying to calm down his insides or who knows he might explode. He felt her hand over his arm and he swayed it away harshly.
"Please don't touch me. Look, I don't know why but I don't like you. I also don't know what is wrong with me that I'm feeling this way but I don't want to talk to you. So please, don't come near me."
He let out a rant, earning a sniff from the girl. Oh dear, he just made the girl cry. The guilt followed again with open arms but it's involuntary, atleast to him.
"Op-oppa... I-I.."
"Oh my God, Celeste!"
Both of their heads turned to face Sharey who was standing in the hall with curiosity in her eyes.
She looked from Celeste to Taehyung then back to Celeste's crying face. Her face contracted through various measures as she felt sympathetic towards Celeste and mad at Taehyung.
Yeah mad. So mad that she stomped her way towards them and glared at Taehyung ferociously. A single tear had rolled down Celeste's cheek by now.
"What did you do to her Tae? Why is she crying?" Sharey asked with her arm crossed over his chest.
But to her utter astonishment, Taehyung just pulled Sharey out of the way and by his side. He certainly didn't realise the effect it had on both the girls.
Celeste's insides churned terribly with jealousy whereas Sharey's did with butterflies. For a second, Sharey even forgot the reason she was angry with Taehyung in the first place.
Her reverie was broken when Taehyung pressed lightly onto her side, bringing her body even more closer to his, in a protective manner.
Celeste's eyes had almost turned red with rage. The fire in them had dried off her tears as she observed Taehyung's each and every movement with sheer concentration.
"She's dangerous."
Celeste's throat ran dry and Sharey gasped when Taehyung said that. He was looking pointedly at Celeste and there was a detective sort of glint in his eyes.
"Hyaa Kim Tae, what do you mean by that?"
Sharey asked, astonishment evident in her voice. Taehyung now caged Sharey's wrist into his own.
He felt that he must protect Sharey. This was all a weird black magic going on but Taehyung felt really unsafe around the girl.
Celeste right. Celeste Park.
Metallic blue hairs, rich enough to afford a Rolex, pretty.
Just the perfect match with Jungkook's blind date.
Yup, his brain did all the calculation so well.
"Where is he?" Taehyung asked next.
"Who are you talking about?"
Sharey enquired before clicking her tongue. She would be lying if she said that she was not getting annoyed. Taehyung was acting so strange that it was getting on her nerves right now.
But Celeste said nothing. Taehyung held a firm gaze with her and she still said nothing. Not even a slight protest.
And that was it. Her silence had provided him the answer he was looking for.
"Why did you take him away?"
The question rolled out of his tongue like butter and this was the first time.
First time that Taehyung was trusting his instincts, first time that he was being so patient with someone and also the first time that he felt an unnamed connection with a complete stranger.
Sharey removed Taehyung's wrist from over her own and stood by Celeste.
"Stop it Tae. Stop whatever you are trying to do. Madame knows nothing." Sharey defended Celeste boldly.
Taehyung looked no less than a madman to her now and all Sharey wanted to do was get him out of the mansion and spank him in the ass.
But before she could put her thoughts into action, there was a knock at the door followed by the sound of the doorbell.
Sharey excused herself and went for the door as Taehyung eyed her movement.
Meanwhile, Celeste stepped forward and placing her hand over his chin, she bent his face for an eye contact. There were so many inexplicable emotions lingering in her eyes that it was difficult for Taehyung to escape.
"That was all I could have done as I had no other choice."
Celeste whispered for only Taehyung to hear before she let go off his chin. Taehyung let out a feeble grunt.
"Choice for what ?" He asked.
But Celeste never got to answer him. There was a few seconds of silence between them before they were interupted by the noise of footsteps.
"Celeste, my love, I'm back !"
Celeste immediately turned back upon recognising the voice of her father. He was standing by the door with his arms spread wide open.
"Appa ...."
Celeste ran towards him and into his arms. She had not forgotten about the incident that happened at her mom's but that couldn't stop her from being grateful at his arrival.
She just missed him so much. Ahjumma Kang came in soon with Sharey by his side.
That caught Celeste's attention. Her brows frowned when she realised that Ahjumma Kang might've come together with her father, in the same car.
The same suspicious thoughts clouded her mind once again. His father accompanying a mere house maid just doesn't seem right at all to Celeste.
Celeste's father let go off the hug and kissed her on top of her head.
"I see you've dyed your hairs again for me. I like it and I'm sorry dear. I know I've been a bad appa for not coming sooner. Did you miss me too much?"
He smiled gently at his daughter. Celeste pouted, hitting him over his chest with her small fists.
"Ofcourse not. I was so happy all the time. I never missed you." She lied.
Her father let out a merry laugh and ruffled her metallic blue hairs.
"Sure thing sweetie, whatever you say and besides", he looked back at Taehyung who was eyeing this lovely exchange of affections with a bated breath.
"I can see that you already found yourself a boyfriend. Where was the time for you to miss me?"
Her father joked earning a ragged cough from Taehyung. Celeste's cheeks immediately turned pink and she couldn't say anything before Sharey interupted, very abruptly.
"Oh my, sorry to interrupt you Chairman but you're certainly mistaken. He's my friend, Kim Taehyung. Celeste and Taehyung have met just now."
Sharey explained vehemently. Something inside her pricked upon hearing the word boyfriend. Even more that it was Taehyung who was addressed that way.
Sharey eyed Taehyung and dipped down her brows quickly as she gestured him to agree. Taehyung immediately caught that signal and nodded frantically.
"Ahh yea yea, nice to meet you sir and I'm sorry for the misunderstanding but I'm not her boyfriend. Have a good night ahead. We'll be leaving now."
Taehyung skidded off to stand beside Sharey who heaved a breath of content. Taehyung felt that and he couldn't help but smile, missing the murderous look Celeste was giving them.
"Haha, my bad then. I'm sorry son if that embarrassed you." Mr. Park apologized soon.
"Not at all sir. It was a pleasure meeting you." Taehyung bowed down in respect.
"So humble and handsome. Why don't you stay for dinner?" Celeste heard Ahjumma Kang say as she held Taehyung by his elbow.
The latter looked highly uncomfortable under the sly look the lady was giving him.
"Yes, yes absolutely. Have dinner with us Taehyung." Mr. Park insisted.
Taehyung smiled gratefully, untangling his hand from the lady's. He bowed down once again before apologizing.
"I'm sorry sir. But I must really leave."
Sincerity dripped from his voice as he was getting impatient now. He could say the same for Sharey when she began biting on her lips.
Taehyung tried hard to maintain his sanity upon watching that.
"Sad luck it is then. It'd have been nice if you stayed. Madame would've liked that a lot." Said Ahjumma Kang, making everyone in the hall stare at her.
The lady immediately realised what she had blurted out when she saw Celeste's wide eyes as if she was a deer caught in headlights.
Shit ! Busted !
Both Celeste and Ahjumma Kang thought.
"Celeste would've liked it a lot?" Sharey asked, confused.
Taehyung however was thinking logically, watching his suspicions coming into light step by step.
Ahjumma Kang laughed sheepishly as she started ushering Sharey and Taehyung towards the door.
"I meant, who wouldn't like to have such a handsome man at the table with them? Ain't it obvious Sharey?"
She tried to cover the matter up as she successfully escorted them till the door. Sharey just smiled in agreement, earning a fake one from Taehyung ofcourse.
He wasn't fooled and all he did was note these scenarios inside his head. Celeste had Yeontan, Taehyung only knew but didn't believe.
He needs some time to think over a few more things and soon.
For now, Celeste Park is a mystery Taehyung needs to crack.
And the first clue is already with him..
Jeon Jungkook !
.
.
.
.
I see you have dyed your hairs for me. I like it.
That was all I could have done as I had no other choice.
These two statements flourished in Taehyung's mind rent-free. According to Taehyung, probability for her being the dog-napper was clearly 1:1.
Taehyung bit on his bottom lip. To be very honest, Celeste looked quite innocent to him. Someone so pretty could mean no harm but then again, Taehyung cannot overlook the strangeness in her demeanor.
There is something off about her, which makes Taehyung highly uncomfortable. Maybe he's just too tired for the day and needs rest.
"TAE, watch out !"
Taehyung heard the loud blaring of a car horn before he felt Sharey's palm over his, upon the steering wheel.
She stirred the wheel to the left while a car sped off from the right, almost colliding with theirs.
Taehyung winced when she hit him over his biceps.
"Where is your mind at Tae? Atleast focus while you drive. Jesus, we almost got knocked."
Sharey fumed and fanned herself with her palm as relief shot into her scared soul.
They had left the Park Mansion about 15 minutes ago and Taehyung was driving them to Jungkook's apartment.
Taehyung remembered that Jungkook had taken Sharey's muffler with him. So, they were going to get that back before Sharey moved into her own Gangnam apartment.
But Taehyung certainly seemed to be spacing out a lot as he managed to get into troubles.
First, he did not stop at the traffic signal, then he almost ran over a kitten by the road and just now he was about to clash right into a speeding car.
"Are you okay Tae? Is there something that is bothering you?" Sharey asked politely.
"Ani. All's well."
She pouted, clearly not satisfied. "No no, there is something. You nearly killed us seconds ago. Are you angry at Chairman calling you Madame's boyfriend? Is it so Tae?"
Sharey pestered him with questions after questions. Taehyung was in no mood to answer but the word 'Madame' caught his interest.
"Sharey..."
"Yes Tae."
"Speaking of Celeste, what do you know about her?" Taehyung darted his question at her.
He saw how Sharey tensed in her seat, as if it were a sensitive topic. He soon regretted asking but still, waited for her to answer.
"Why do you ask ?"
Taehyung shrugged. "Just curiousity and nothing else."
Sharey huffed on that. Taehyung got the hint that she didn't want to talk about this but soon, after a few seconds of serious contemplation, Sharey gave in.
"Fine. What is it you wanna know?"
"Anything." Taehyung replied nonchalantly.
Sharey gave a slow nod. "Well, I don't know much about her, except for the fact that she hates her mother a lot and that her father is out for most of the year. She is a very secretive person and mostly likes to keep things to herself. That's all I know."
Taehyung hummed in an understanding manner. So he was right.
Celeste is indeed a mystery.
"Where is her mother? Is she, you know... Dead?"
"No no. She lives separately somewhere by the countryside. Oh and my brother works at the small hilltop cafe owned by her." Sharey revealed.
"Really? Can I have the address of her cafe?"
Sharey eyed him peculiarly, the sudden change in Taehyung's demeanour was noticable. He was quiet earlier but excited now.
"What will you do there?"
"I'll play badminton with those coffee beans." Taehyung deadpanned and Sharey rolled her eyes.
"Seriously Sharey ! What can a person do in a cafe, huh? All I want to have is a nice brewed coffee." Taehyung said.
"My my ! You and coffee? Since when did this ungodly connection thrive into existence?"
Sharey raised a questioning brow at him. Last time she checked, Taehyung hated coffee. Taehyung cocked a sly smirk at her.
"Since then when you said that I'm just your friend."
Sharey looked perplexed. "Now that's true, ain't it? You are my friend, Tae."
"Who knows, I could be certainly more." He replied casually and Sharey blushed.
Damn you Kim Taehyung. He's such a devil, always playing with Sharey's heart like that. He must stop, before it's too late.
"I-I ... I'll ask Shane for the address of the cafe. Y-You c-can go whenever you want." Sharey managed to say somehow, trying to change the topic.
Taehyung let out a feigned laugh, nodding in agreement. He was enjoying watching all such reactions from Sharey. His flirting never goes in vain with her.
Though Sharey never gave any solid signs to him, Taehyung was always content of the one thought that she never denied him either.
And that is all Taehyung could ask for.
.
.
.
.
The elevator dinged before it came to a halt at the very floor Jungkook's flat was at. Taehyung immediately got out and made his way to the flat.
Taehyung asked Sharey to stay in the car itself while he gets the muffler from Jungkook.
Taehyung entered the flat, whistling to himself in a content manner. It was all quiet in the living room as no one was there.
Taehyung moved through the empty hall silently. Namjoon and Jimin were absent from the apartment and there was nothing much in there, except for the feeble crackling sounds coming from Jungkook's room.
Upon entering, Taehyung found Sharey's muffler still draped peacefully like a snake around Jungkook's neck as he worked on some metallic parts.
Infront of Jungkook on the coffee table, was scattered tiny bits and parts of some device. Jungkook's doe eyes were round with concentration as he eyed them specifically.
By the edge of the table hanging halfway, Taehyung saw the small black belt of the watch Jungkook had received.
"What the..."
Taehyung's voice trailed off as he realised what Jungkook had done. Meanwhile the latter was shocked upon seeing the elder at the door and began collecting the scattered parts.
"O-oh hyung, you're back?" He asked timidly. Taehyung stood infront of him now.
"What did you do to that watch? Why did you vandalize it, Kook? Look at the mess you've created."
Taehyung looked at the scattered parts and the useless body of the Rolex, lying on the table. Just like some animal in rage, Jungkook had literally destroyed the entire watch. It was of no use whatsoever now.
Jungkook sucked on his bottom lips as Taehyung glared at him.
"Wasn't the watch costly? And besides, I thought you liked it, having being gifted by your pretty blind date."
Taehyung thinned his lips into a line. Sometimes, he wished he could really take a peek inside Jungkook's brain. God knows what he had been thinking.
"Hyung...I ... Watch ..the.." Jungkook began.
"You watch the what?" Taehyung raised his voice now.
"I was.. feeling like a scientist today, yeah. Just felt the sudden urge to explore the parts. That's all." Jungkook faked an excuse but Taehyung clearly wasn't buying it.
"Such a lame excuse Kook, such a lame one. You trashed someone's dollars down the bin, you know that right?"
Jungkook sighed heavily, nodding thereafter. He knows Taehyung is right. He did waste someone's money but how is he supposed to reveal the real reason to Taehyung?
That is something he cannot do and Jungkook decided it was better to take the older's reprimands at the least. Taehyung clicked his tongue, tucking on the muffler now.
"I've come to take this. Take it off and put it in some polly-bag neatly by the time I use the washroom. I'm in urgent need to pee."
Taehyung then ran off to the washroom attached with the room, hitting his foot by the door post in the process. Jungkook chuckled at him.
"Hyaa you won't be sleeping here?" Jungkook asked as he unwrapped the muffler.
"Dunno. I need to drop Sharey off. I'll let you know later on."
Came Taehyung's distant reply. Jungkook did as he was told and walked out of the room into the kitchen.
He walked upto the refrigerator and behind it, so that Taehyung couldn't see him.
Making sure that all was safe, Jungkook took out the very thing he was searching for, from his pocket.
The small black device beeped in a faint red light. Jungkook held it between his index finger and thumb and bought it upto his eye's level.
"So I was right. She had been eavesdropping on us."
Jungkook said to himself as he eyed the small speaker with annoyance.
Whatever reason Celeste might have had for this, nothing covers up the fact that this was wrong and Jungkook was angry, very angry at Celeste.
- ××× -
A/n
I'm so sorry that it took so long. Like nearly 3 weeks omg.
I'm really sorry and this chapter is just a filler.
(I'm not that satisfied with this tbvh. It was written in utter haste, to give up an update soon. Plus, the book hit 1K as well.)
Real drama lies ahead, hehe. Please look forward to it. Thank you lovelies <3
Also,
🎉 HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎉
Are you happy that
2020's ending? Cuz
I am, somewhat !