Y/N-

As I sat on my bed, lost in my thoughts, my mother entered the room with an expression that immediately brightened the atmosphere. Her eyes sparkled, and she seemed to be practically bursting with excitement. I couldn't help but smile back at her, curious about what could be causing her such joy.

"Y/n," she began softly, sitting down beside me, "I wanted to ask you something." She hesitated for a moment, then gently asked, "Is there anyone... special in your life right now? Anyone you might... have feelings for?"

I was a little surprised by the question. The answer was obvious—Jungkook, the one person I'd let myself care deeply for, had made it clear he saw me only as a friend. I'd spent weeks mending my broken heart, trying to move on. "No, Mom," I said, shaking my head gently. "There's no one like that in my life right now."

She smiled at my answer, a glint of relief and maybe even a bit of hope shining in her eyes. "That's good to know," she said with a nod. Then, after taking a breath as if gathering her thoughts, she began telling me something I hadn't expected. "Today, Taehyung's grandfather visited us."

I listened with a sense of curiosity. Taehyung's grandfather was well-known and respected, so it wasn't unusual for him to have a casual visit with my father, but I sensed there was more to it.

My mother went on, "He came with a proposal. He thinks you and Taehyung would make a good match, and he spoke so highly of you to your father and me." She looked at me, her face a mixture of excitement and concern. "You know, your father admires Taehyung very much. He sees him as an honorable, hardworking man, and I think he'd be very happy if you two... if you considered this proposal."

My mind went blank for a moment, and then a whirl of thoughts and emotions rushed in. Taehyung... as a partner? I had known Taehyung in a professional setting and had come to see him as a friend, but I had never imagined us as anything more. The idea was almost foreign to me.

But looking at my mother's face—her soft, hopeful smile—and hearing how happy my father would be... it did something to me. My heart warmed a little, just thinking about how much my parents wanted the best for me. They'd always respected my independence, my career, and my dreams. They were now leaving this choice completely up to me, but I knew they were subtly encouraging me to consider it.

"We'll support whatever decision you make, Y/n," my mother added, as if reading my thoughts. "Your happiness comes first, and you don't need to feel pressured. But I want you to know that your father and I really think Taehyung is a wonderful person. He's stable, kind, and he seems to care about you."

I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of confusion and responsibility. "Mom... I'll need some time to think about this," I said quietly.

My mother reached over, gently touching my hand. "I understand, sweetheart. Maybe just take a little time to think. There's no rush, and whatever you decide, we'll stand by you."

After my mother left, I sat on my bed, lost in thought. A part of me felt hesitant, uncertain. Taehyung had been a constant presence at work, someone who had slowly become a friend. I trusted him, respected him, and could see why my parents held him in such high regard. But marriage? I wasn't sure I could view him in that light. Was it possible to transform a friendship into something deeper? Could I open my heart again, this time to someone I hadn't thought of romantically?

Still, the thought of seeing my parents so happy tugged at me. They'd never asked me for much, never pushed me toward anything I wasn't ready for, and had always supported my independence. Now, with a simple request, they were showing me what they believed would be a good path for me. Maybe this was something worth considering, if not for myself, then for them. They wanted me to find stability and happiness, and maybe, in their eyes, Taehyung was that person.

I mulled over the idea, remembering the quiet, steady kindness Taehyung had shown me during my internship, the way he'd taken care of me when I was anxious, and how he'd stepped in without hesitation when that business partner had crossed the line. He had a calm, composed strength that made me feel safe, respected, and heard.

But was that enough? Could I say yes just to fulfill a wish my parents held? Or was it unfair to Taehyung to consider him as a possibility when my heart wasn't fully in it?

As the night wore on, I found myself facing a new, unsettling dilemma. Maybe there was something I hadn't seen in Taehyung before, or perhaps my feelings were evolving without me fully realizing it. But was I really ready to take such a big step, to let go of my past with Jungkook, and embrace the possibility of something new?

For the first time, I found myself allowing the thought to linger. Maybe I didn't feel the intense spark that some people expected when thinking of love, but perhaps it was okay if things started with friendship, trust, and respect. Relationships didn't always need to start with a whirlwind romance; sometimes, they grew from a quiet understanding and a shared journey.

In the end, I knew I needed more time to sort out my feelings and understand what I truly wanted. The idea of marrying Taehyung was still a daunting prospect, but maybe, just maybe, there was a future in it that I hadn't fully considered before.

With a deep breath, I decided I would take things one day at a time, allowing myself the space to see where my heart would lead me. I'd have to talk to Taehyung about it, understand his thoughts on this unexpected proposal, and maybe, in that conversation, I'd find the answers I was looking for.

For now, I held onto the comforting thought that, regardless of my choice, I had my family's unwavering support and a future that was still mine to shape.

TAEHYUNG-

When my grandfather told me he had gone to Y/n's house with a marriage proposal, I was completely taken aback. My mind went blank for a moment, disbelief and surprise mixing with a strange sense of anxiety. I knew my grandfather had always been fond of Y/n, but I never imagined he'd go this far—especially without even talking to me first. I could barely process it. What would Y/n think of me now?

While I admired Y/n, and yes, feelings had been growing in me for a while, I had always believed she saw me as a friend. She'd given no sign of feeling anything more. And with how carefully she handled our interactions, I'd never wanted to do anything that might jeopardize our friendship or make her uncomfortable. Now, it felt like my grandfather's actions had risked everything. What if she thought I was behind this? What if she stopped talking to me altogether?

I could feel my heart pounding, my thoughts racing as I paced around my room. Calling her to explain felt like the obvious solution, but what would I say? "Sorry, my grandfather just got ahead of himself with the marriage proposal?" That would make things more awkward. I wasn't sure how she was processing this, and the last thing I wanted to do was make it worse by reaching out in the wrong way.

The thought of Y/n shutting me out, or being uncomfortable around me because of this, weighed heavily on me. I didn't want her to think I was pushing her into something she didn't want. She was her own person, independent and focused. This was one of the things I admired most about her: she took control of her own life, her choices. She wasn't the type to simply go along with something for the sake of pleasing others. So how did she really feel about this? Did the idea of marriage even appeal to her right now, or was this something completely out of the blue for her too?

I sat down, burying my face in my hands, trying to calm myself down. There was a lot at stake here, not only my own feelings but the friendship we'd managed to build over the past months. Y/n had a certain light about her that had drawn me in from the start, something pure and unguarded that was rare in the people I usually met. She had unknowingly become an important part of my life, and the thought of potentially losing that because of a misstep was unbearable.

Maybe... maybe I should talk to my grandfather about it. I took a deep breath, hoping I could make him understand why this approach was too hasty, too risky. He'd seen how she had grown on me, how much I admired her, but he didn't understand that feelings weren't always enough to guarantee a smooth outcome. I couldn't bear the thought of losing Y/n over a misunderstanding.

Later that evening, I found myself in my grandfather's study, watching him as he went about his usual routine. His calm demeanor made it clear he had no second thoughts about what he'd done. He noticed my presence, and before I could even say anything, he smiled knowingly. "You look tense, Taehyung. You're overthinking it, aren't you?"

"Grandfather," I began cautiously, "I understand that you want what's best for me, and I appreciate it. But this was... unexpected. I don't know how Y/n feels about me or even if she's interested in something like this. She might think I had something to do with this, and I don't want her to feel pressured."

My grandfather gave me a reassuring smile. "Taehyung, I've watched you work with her, seen the way you look at her. She's a strong, respectable young woman. I know you well enough to see that you care for her deeply, even if you don't want to admit it fully yet. And, more importantly, she respects you, Taehyung. Give her some credit. If she wasn't at least open to the idea, she'd say so. Her parents and I spoke at length today, and they believe she's considering it too."

I frowned, wondering if my grandfather's optimism had clouded his judgment, but something about his words resonated with me. I did care for her. I'd even caught myself thinking about a future with her, imagining what life might be like if we were something more than friends. But I never wanted to push her into something, or impose my own desires on her.

As the night went on, I couldn't shake the feeling of restlessness. Part of me was hopeful, but another part of me felt uneasy. What if she didn't see me as anything more than her boss or a friend? I didn't want this proposal to be the reason she pulled away.

After a mostly sleepless night, I woke up feeling more resolved. I needed to respect Y/n's space and let her come to her own decision, no matter how difficult it would be for me. And if she chose to decline, I'd accept it. Losing the chance for something more would be painful, but losing her completely would be even worse.

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