Taehyung was holding your hand in front of the entrance, smiling widely next to you as he tried gauging your reaction. Your lips were tucked away behind a white scarf, adorning a grey, plaid coat and black knee-high boots as you looked on in wonderment, taken by where Taehyung chose for your first date.

“This is it.” Taehyung gestured, you trying to register just how gorgeous it was.

It was a winter-themed amusement park, absolutely stunning in having set up the usual rides though with a winter wonderland theme; the polar express as an interactive attraction, Christmas lights anywhere you looked and even a Ferris wheel that looked nearly like a gigantic reef.

“This… is your favourite place?” You gawked, sight flashing to every bright and festive embellishment that added to the park’s charm, Taehyung falling victim to admiring the way the lights reflected in your big, doe-eyes.

“Mhm. Let’s go.” Taehyung led you with a smile on his face he didn’t remember having.

It took no time for you to automatically love what he chose for you both, adoring the place as you two sauntered around care-free, your arm hooked around his as he detailed the attractions and the park for you.

It didn’t take much for either of you to be dragged onto rides as well, both of you mutually wanting to visit every amusing thing the park had to offer and bubbling with excitement anytime you waited in line. Your conversations were light-hearted as usual, teasing here and there while talking about the most useless, though somehow entertaining things.

You both eventually found shelter inside a sweet shop, nabbing a table near the window in order to see the lights and rides shining outside. Taehyung was just opposite of you, both of sipping away at milkshakes.

“This place is… beautiful. I can see why it’s your favourite.” You commented, eyes catching sight of an attraction whizzing by as you brought your straw to your lips.

“Yeah, it’s nice.” Taehyung piggy-backed, following your line of sight and also watching. There was a moment of silence as both your visions wandered off, your light voice breaking it.

“Tell me.” You said, confusing Taehyung.

“Tell you what?”

“Why it’s your favourite. Tell me… anything about you, if you want to.” You voiced softly, almost hesitantly as your gaze locked with Taehyung, admiring him in his brown, plaid winter coat with a white turtleneck underneath, hair set to fall delicately over his forehead though curl above his eyes. He looked far too handsome for your heart not to flutter, the slight colour in his face as a result of the cold only making him glow more handsomely, finding him nothing short of a work of art.

“I came across it 2 years ago trying to sign a deal.” He placed his milkshake down. “I thought it would be a smart considering amusement parks are moving towards more technological enhancements for rides and attractions. I ended up signing a larger park, though, not this one.” Taehyung casually relayed as he crossed one of his legs, seated suavely as he looked out at the park.

“What the hell? I didn’t mean the business side of it, genius, I wanna know why you like it.”

“I just told you? I found it.”

“No, you tea drinker. There’s clearly something you like about it enough to bring me here.” You deadpanned, leaning over the table to talk to him more convincingly. “You can tell me, what do you like about it?”

Taehyung began spinning with his inner turmoil again, unsure how someone is so invested in knowing anything about him. Ever since his young age he was raised and trained to really only care about the betterment of a business, consider the most optimal ways to achieve success as a Kim so he could ultimately bring pride to their name. He rarely explored anything outside that concept, and even less was ever questioned about it.

That’s what usually tied his tongue as well, whenever it came to revealing anything about himself. He was always so rooted in keeping it all hidden, uncertain if he’d ever spill such details about himself to anyone.

Though with you, there was something different. There was always something different about you, and so he found himself leaning against the table to speak earnestly to you.

“I.. like winter.” Taehyung started, not really making eye contact. “I’ve always liked snow. I think it’s cause I was born in December.”

“December 30th, right?”

“Yeah, so it’s natural I like the holidays as well. I guess that’s why I like this place so much, it’s everything good about winter in one place.” Taehyung shrugged, relaying more than he ever really has to anyone. “I like amusement parks, too. So there’s that.” Taehyung added with a light smile, taking a sip of his milkshake.

“That’s nice. I love winter, too.” You agreed with him. “I think snow is pretty, but I also like when you stay inside with people. It’s always so warm that way.”

“Really? With your anemic ass that always cold?”

“Shut up.” You rolled your eyes, though there was a smile tugging at your lips. “That’s precisely why I like it. You get to be close and warm with people.”

“Fair point. I’ve always liked that too.. warmth.” Taehyung doesn’t know why there was something lingering behind that sentence, especially when he should’ve been talking about warmth as an objective concept. However, he couldn’t help but compare you to warmth, remembering his observation from the first time he met you.

You were just really warm.

“What else is there to know about the mysterious Mr. Kim?” You twinkled your fingers for effect, gauging his answer. “How would he describe himself?”

“As the best CEO in Seoul.” Taehyung leaned back in his chair and draped his arms over the back, attempting to appear cool with a smirk but you weren’t buying it.

“Oh my God, could you not associate yourself with your job for like, two seconds? I meant you, Taehyung, as in Kim Taehyung, not CEO Kim.” You stressed, feigning disappointment in him as you watched the gears shift in his head.

He was oddly shocked at his first, eventually pursing his lips in thought, carefully considering what to say before he answered.

“I guess I’m a little.. reclusive.” Taehyung admitted. “I’m a people person, but I also like being on my own, where I can recharge. People usually misunderstand me, think I’m emotionless with an intimidating stare, but I just don’t know how to express myself all the time. I can’t always put it into words, so nobody exactly.. understands, or tries to.” Taehyung revealed candidly, almost thinking it was too much until you digested the information attentively, positively.

“I get that. Especially in the business world where everyone judges really easily.” You spoke from experience, remembering this was one of the many reasons you hated the lifestyle so much, especially when you were of familial status.

“Yeah, not the nicest .” Taehyung agreed.

“Is that why you like art and photography?” You suddenly asked, Taehyung snapping his vision to you impressed. “Pardon?”

“I mean, I like designing because it lets me express myself. I was thinking maybe it’s the same for you.”

Taehyung sincerely thought in a moment like this he’s never met someone like you. He felt utter appreciation in seconds, gratitude that someone actually understood him for once in his life. Someone had just genuinely seen him, not the CEO, Chairman Kim others saw, but Kim Taehyung.

He was beyond happy.

“Yeah, actually. Art has always been.. a fascination of mine. Photography is more personal, I feel like I capture my feelings in time.” Taehyung gestured as he created a frame with his hands, capturing the bustling scene outside the window. “I feel a lot of things when I take photos, so they’re like a manifestation of how I see the world through my eyes, my own lens.”

Taehyung was being so sentimental you actually thought he could see the stars in your eyes, adoring the way a genuine smile constantly tugged at his lips as he talked, and it made you grateful he had something that brought him such joy.

“That’s beautiful, Taehyung. Really beautiful.” You complimented.

Taehyung chuckled a little shy, addressing you. “What about Mrs. Kim?”

“What about her?”

“Tell me about her life, how she ended up here.” Taehyung took a sip of his milkshake again, setting it down as his attention fixated on you. 

“You know most of it.” You began. “I’ve come to hate business ever since my father’s start-up. He became successful, but then I hated the idea of depending him, like my success would somehow always be linked to his name, so I abandoned my role in his company and now everybody hates me.” You beamed sarcastically, taking a small sip from your milkshake as your eyes focused on nothing in particular.

“That’s a lie, how could someone hate you?”

You scoffed, “You clearly haven’t met my mother.”

Taehyung then flashed back to your disastrous conversation with her, remembering the words said to you along with the wound on your check, grimacing at how much it still pissed him off.

“If I can ask, has your relationship always been that way? With your mother?” Taehyung asked out of curiosity.

“Pretty much. She hates me for not being the heiress I should be. Compared to my brother Yoongi, I’m pretty much a disappointment. I ran away for selfish reasons, and I’m… a burden.” It began to hurt to talk, trying to smile to lighten up the sting buzzing in your chest, though you stopped before anything became too grave. “I’m just kind of.. worthless, I guess.”

“I don’t think so.” Taehyung defended. “I think it takes guts to do what you did, it makes you courageous, if anything, not worthless.”

His words made you look at him, his eyes filled with something assuring, comforting and it automatically soothed you more than it should’ve.

“Thanks.” A small smile found your face, beginning a new topic to get away from this miserable one. “What was your life like, before we got married?” You asked, this one questioned having itched at you ever since the gala. “Have you ever been in love?”

Taehyung didn’t react to your question really, only drew his index finger to his lips in thought, lightly shaking his head when came to an assured conclusion. “No, never been in love.”

“Really? You’ve never dated?”

“I have, just nothing serious.” He answered simply, your mind chasing for him to reveal more about his past with women until you reprimanded your nosey thoughts. 

“What about you?”

“Me?” You pointed at yourself.

“No, the waiter.” Taehyung deadpanned. “Of course I mean you.”

You flashed him a narrow-eyed look before sighing, sipping your milkshake dispiritedly. “You’ve already met him.”

“I have?” Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows, leaning onto the table again.

“Mhm, think hard.” You waited for him to get it, knowing he’s intelligent enough.

Taehyung then connected the dots like he usually did, tone inquisitive. “Kiseok?”

You nodded. “Our dads are friends from SNU so I’ve known him all my life. I fell in love somewhere…” Your words faded, heart breaking at just the memory of your tiresome, tragic relationship with him. “But I don’t think he did. He would say so, but it was always a lie. I was just some fun for him to have, I guess.” Your eyes faltered and rather watched yourself fiddle with your own fingers, trying to manage the pain that came with admitting something you tried to avoid for a long time.

Taehyung could see the hurt on your face, knowing this was something difficult for you to share and he hated ever asking the question. His heart softened, filled with a twinge of pain seeing you try to smile again. He also filled with anger at the fact that he didn’t clock Kiseok like he should’ve, though he digressed for your sake.

“You’re more than that, you know?” Taehyung’s dulcet voice pulled you out of your haunting thoughts, weary eyes looking at him as he continued. “You don’t deserve that, Ari.” Taehyung said, gentle eyes set on you. “You don’t deserve the terrible things that have happened to you.”

You’re not sure why Taehyung’s statement resonated with you so much, nearly sending you to the brink of tears with the amount of earnest in his words. You could only feel sheer gratitude for someone having finally said that to you, especially after how much you’ve endured on your own.

You’d spent too long silently fighting your battles, constantly forcing yourself to push through whatever hell you experienced without rest, and most certainly without help. It was hard, extremely hard to have been alone all this time, so hearing Taehyung tell you that, his look as warm as ever, and you were completely moved.

Taehyung’s lips then curved into a little reassuring smile, looking into your eyes with compassion as you locked with his gaze. A moment passed before he suddenly rose from his seat, stepping towards you and extending his hand. “C’mon, let’s take you to my favourite place.” He cocked his head towards the exit, expression tender as he held his large palm out for you.

You smiled up at him, taking his hand delicately as you left your seat, chest filled with incessant butterflies you had no way of getting rid of, and didn’t know if you exactly wanted to.
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Oof.. now a days i am so busy. I have a lot of records and assignment to do.
I will try my best to update everyday. I want to finish this book this month.
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Love you 😘.
Good afternoon/night.