•°²⁰°• Past Lovers

•°²⁰°• Past Lovers─✵─────────


A week later Taehyung found himself running errands to Mrs. Jeon.

He wasn't complaining. No, not at all. It's okay, not like he had a portfolio to hand in before two week's time and he isn't halfway through completing it.

He didn't have work at the pizzeria near campus he had started working at just last week. He only had work every weekday, after his lectures were over.

He said he didn't have any urgent business to attend to when Jieun asked him if he could run to the grocery store just down the road.

With Aria.

Jeongguk had left early that Saturday morning for some work. And he wouldn't be home till late that evening, it seems. He and Taehyung hadn't had any kind of action since the previous Saturday. Well, they did exchange occasion takeout sessions here and there. But Taehyung wasn't really complaining. He has a lot of assignments to complete and Jeongguk too was busy all the time. It was much understandable that he didn't have any time to do anything with Taehyung. He came home late every day from college looking exhausted. Being the newly appointed deputy head of the Art department of their campus must keep hom busier than usual. Besides, their exams were coming up.

Jieun too was busy with one of her cases. So she told Aria to run to the store to grab some groceries. But since Taehyung was there, she didn't have to go alone, right?

The only problem, or uncomfortable situation that Taehyung would be facing was being alone with Aria. But he decided that he'll survive.

"Buy anything you need, Taehyung. Aria has the money." Jieun had said right before sending them off.

Hence he found himself walking side by side the girl he used to date, an awkward silence stretching between them.

"How are you doing?" The older tried to break the awkwardness.

"Not like you care" Aria shot back.

"I'm sorry"

"Are you?" Aria glanced sideways at Taehyung.

Taehyung kept silent. Because he wasn't. He wasn't sorry that he hooked up with Jeongguk, her own father.

Aria laughed humourlessly "That's what I thought"

Another silence stretched between them. This time, Taehyung didn't try to ease it.

"You're a dick" Aria said after a while. They had almost reached the store. It was only a few blocks away.

"I know"

"I hate you. I thought we had something real. You said you liked me" Aria said brokenly. "And you were the first person I ever wanted to date"

"I'm sorry for hurting your feelings. I really am. This wasn't going to work out anyway and you have your whole life in front of you. Being hooked on me isn't going to do any good to you. You will find someone much better than me. Someone who isn't a cheating bastard"

Aria kept her head down. "Why do you and my dad keep telling the same thing?"

"Because it's the truth"

They had arrived at the store after 20 minutes of walking. Taehyung walked to the door, only to find it locked.

"It's closed" Aria stated the obvious from behind Taehyung.

The parking lot was empty too. What are they going to do now?

"Is there any place nearby where we can buy stuff?" Taehyung asked, looking around.

"There's a Walmart little further away from here. We'll have to take the bus though"

"Let's go back home and tell your mother that the store was closed" Taehyung decided. Jieun was perfectly clear when she told them to come straight home after getting the goods and not to go anywhere else.

"What?" Aria said, bewildered. "Let's get the groceries"

"The store is closed!"

"Let's go to the other one!"

"No! It's in the city and your mom told us to not go anywhere else!"

"You're such a coward. I can't believe you're 20 years old" Aria said angrily.

"I would go alone. I'm not taking you anywhere without your mom's permission"

"I'm not a kid!" Aria said.

"Yes you are. You've only 15!"

"I'm going to be 16 next month!"

"Still a kid"

"You're impossible! Why does everyone treat me like a kid?!" Aria was raging with anger.

"Because you are one"

"Ugh I hate you! Fine. Call mom and tell her we're going to the other store" Aria said.

"She's your mom! You call her. Besides I don't have her number"

Jieun ended up giving them permission to take the bus to the other store, only because, she said, they're out of groceries. She made Taehyung promise that he'd keep her daughter safe.

Taehyung kind of thought that Jeongguk and Jieun were rather too protective over Aria. They really did treat her like a kid. At her age Taehyung started making his own money and he basically grew up alone at that time.

After a twenty minute bus ride, they reached Walmart, which was the second nearest place to buy groceries.

Aria completely ignored Taehyung and told him to pick up anything if he wants and left him. Taehyung wanted to go after her but decided against it since he had some things to buy too.

Taehyung went to the toiletries isle and chose the shampoo that he always been using. He was running out of it. Deciding to go pick some snacks for himself, he started making his way there, while examining his shampoo bottle when he jumped into someone.

The shampoo bottle fell from his hand and he immediately bent down to pick it up.

"Watch where you're going boy-" the man he'd bumped into started. He paused when Taehyung looked up at the tall man before him.

Air left Taehyung's lungs when he realized who he'd bumped into.

"Well well well...what do we have here?" Park Bogum said sultrily.

Fear rose in Taehyungie chest as he straightened himself. Bogum took a step towards Taehyung and reflexively Taehyung took a step back.

"B-Bogum" Taehyung stuttered.

"Oh you remember my name? How amusing. Thought you'd have forgotten it since you whore around with a new man every week" Bogum spat.

Taehyung stood there speechless. Park Bogum used to be Taehyung's sugar daddy when he was 18. He was married, living a perfect and lovely life with his wife when he once met Taehyung at a night club. Bogum was a businessman. He was filthy rich. Taehyung had been offering his services to Bogum for more than a month but they ended things because his wife found out. Taehyung didn't hear from the guy after that. Nor did he care enough to find any information. Besides he did a new man the following week.

What made Bogum special was that he used to be the youngest sugar daddy Taehyung had been with. Most men were much older than him. Bogum wasn't more than 5 years older that Jeongguk.

"You worthless whore" Bogum spat at Taehyung, making him cringe at the harsh words. "My wife divorced me after she found out. My whole life was ruined because of you"

Taehyung scoffed.

"Oh you're giving me an attitude now? Gotten brave, have you? Used to be on your knees all the time begging for cock back then"

"That life is over for me. I don't do such things anymore. Besides it wasn't me who ruined your marriage. It was you, when you decided to fuck my mouth behind your wife's back. You cheated on her. Not like I forced you to" Taehyung spat back.

Bogum was raging with anger. "You little-"

"Taehyung? There you are! I've been searching everywhere-" Aria appeared behind Bogum, making the older man pause his foul words.

Bogum turned to fave Aria.

Aria's eyes widened as she looked at Bogum. "Mr. Park? Fancy seeing you here"

"Well if this isn't our little Miss Jeon. What brought you here?" Bogum said, the disgusting tone replaced with a sugary sweet one .

But how does Aria and Bogum know each other?

"I came here to get some groceries for mom. Do you know Taehyung?" Aria said.

Bogum glanced at Taehyung. "Well yes. I guess you could say that"

"Awesome" Aria said.

"You know him too?"

"Yeah he's my...friend" Aria said.

"She's my girlfriend" the words were out of Taehyung's mouth before he could stop himself. He needed Bogum to know that he wasn't a whore anymore. He didn't go around blowing people anymore. He was also afraid that if he didn't prove it, Bogum would interfere with his life again and he didn't want his past life mingling with his normal present one.

"You're dating him?" Bogum asked Aria, disgust and mockery lacing every word.

Aria looked dumbfounded for a split second before nodding, playing along.

Bogum chuckled. "Kid" he was looking at Aria. "I've known you since the day you were born. I'm telling you this for you and Jeongguk's sake; this boy is a filthy little shit. Not someone you should get yourself involved with"

Taehyung's heartbeat sped up. No. No this can't happen. Bogum wouldn't tell Aria about his past.

"Uncle Bogum, what do you mean?" Aria's facecwas scrunched with confusion.

"He is a prostitute"

Taehyung's heart stopped beating.

"What?" Aria screetched. "Please say sike now"

Bogum rolled his eyes. "Child, why would I lie to you? I've met him before. He's nothing but someone who sleep with people for money"

Taehyung wanted to scream that he'd never slept with any of his clients but his throat was closed shut, no sound escaping. Aria kept staring at him, eyes wide with confusion.

"I'm warning you, Aria, you have no idea how filthy he is. Everyone knows about him"

Taehyung wanted to cry. He knew people thought of him this way. Many people from the higher class, like Bogum knew of him. He was considered nothing but someone who they can take advantage and throw some money at him for letting them use him.

"Keep what I said in mind" Bogum said and glared at Taehyung for a moment before walking away from them.

Taehyung, speechless and frozen in place, kept staring at the floor.

"Is it true? You're a prostitute?" Aria took a step towards Taehyung.

"No! I never sleep with people like he said" Taehyung said quickly, finally rising his head to meet Aria's gaze.

"Uncle Bogum would never lie to me. You're telling me he told me a baseless statement?"

Taehyung nodded.

Aria scoffed. "You think I'm a fool? Ok if you're telling me he lied about this, I'll tell my father about this. So he, himself will speak to uncle Bogum about this.Uncle Bogum would never lie to my dad. They've been friends forever. Would you like that?"

Taehyung eyes widened with fear."No! Please don't tell Jeongguk!"

Fear rose like bile in Taehyung's chest. If Jeongguk finds out about him, he'll end everything between them. Taehyung hated even thinking about it.

"Then tell me the truth. I won't tell my parents" Aria said.

Taehyung kept looking at her dark eyes. They were kind of like Jeongguk's. But Taehyung thought nothing could compare to the beauty of Jeongguk's onyx eyes filled with swirling galaxies.

Taehyung wondered why Aria wasn't disgusted in him. Why she wasn't running away yet.

"I just didn't sleep with men, okay? That's all there is to say. Besides what benefit would you have by knowing about my past?"

Aria sighed. "Fine if you aren't telling me. I'll have to warn my parents about this. I mean we can't keep someone like you in our house. We don't know anything about you. You're apparently nothing like a normal college student after all. You could be a thief for all we know!"

"I'm not a thief! I'm just a broke college student"

Aria just stared.

Taehyung felt like crying again. He wondered if he had a choice at this situation. Aria obviously didn't buy what he said.

"My mom works in another state and she used to send me money from working. My dad was nonexistent. The money my mom sent was hardly enough for my school and rent. I started letting men...use me... sexually...but I never slept with them. I did it for a couple of years but I stopped last year before I started college" Taehyung said in a small voice.

"Wow"

"Wow? I just told you that I'm basically a whore and wanted to date you once upon a time and your answer is wow?"

Aria shrugged. "Do you like have STDs?"

"No! I got myself tested just two months ago!" Taehyung said, aghast.

"Well that's relief" Aria said. "Let's go home. Did you get everything you wanted?"

Taehyung nodded.

She started making her way towards the paying counters and Taehyung followed, slightly confused as for why Aria had such small reaction to the truth.

After they've paid, they left with a couple of bags in their hands. They started walking to the bus stop in silence.

"Why aren't you surprised? Aren't you disgust in me?" Taehyung asked.

"I am surprised. But not disgusted. I get why you did it. I don't care, really. I kind of want to be a stripper too" Aria giggled.

"You what?!"

"I'm just saying! It sounds fun, you know. Easy money. It's not like I'm actually going to be a stripper. I want to be a lawyer like mom"

Taehyung sighed. "What exactly do you want?"

"Huh?"

"You can't be keeping my secret without needing something back from me. Tell me what it is."

Aria smirked. "You're smarter than I thought. Yes I want something from you. Nothing comes without price"

"Name it"

"I want you to be my boyfriend"

♡《

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