| mara's point of view

I trudged up the flight of stairs. Taking my time slowly, I dragged my limbs up. It's only been one year and six months but it felt like forever. I live away from home now ever since I started college. I'm beginning to appreciate the small things mom used to do, like how she talks really loudly in the morning like an alarm clock without a snooze button and having my breakfast ready on the table before I go to school. Although a dorm is not that bad, I share the house with four people who are basically strangers to me but it's all good. They treat me well. Two of them goes to the same university as me so I wasn't a total loner on the first day. It's actually a blessing in disguise.

The house was empty when I came in. They're probably all asleep since it was freaking midnight and I am utterly exhausted. All from having part time jobs after school. I plopped down on my bed, face flat on the pillow. My phone rang, I groaned when I saw Taehyung's name on the screen. This boy seriously has no stop button.

Taehyung also goes to the same university as me, along with Jin, Namjoon and Hoseok. Jungkook's been really bitter about being left behind and Jimin, well, he's probably the reason why Taehyung's blowing up my phone right now.

"Where are you?" Was Taehyung's pleasant greeting.

"Just got home." I rolled over the bed, my back against the sheets. "Why?

"I'm outside." He said, "Look out your window." I got up, walked over to my window and saw him there. Taehyung smiled, he raised the hand he used for holding his phone and waved at me before he returned the phone to his ear. "Let's go out. The guys are already out at the club."

"Tae, I just got off from my part time job. Let me sleep!" I went out the room so I wouldn't wake my roommate.

"But I need a date." He whined, "Everyone's bringing their girlfriends. I don't have a girlfriend so I'll be the odd one out if you don't come."

You sighed, "Jungkook doesn't have a girlfriend. You can be with each other for tonight."

"Mara please." Taehyung was begging now. "Come on, for old times sake? I'll treat you to something nice the next day."

"Okay. Let me see.." I walked up to my closet, scanning my wardrobe while I kept Taehyung on the line, phone between my ear and my shoulder. "Come inside and wait for me downstairs."

It took me an hour to prep up. When I was finally done, I started to fill my purse with the items I'd need: phone, wallet and some of my make up, then I closed the door to my room and made my way downstairs. Taehyung sat with his legs apart, he found himself something to read while waiting for me to finish up. He threw the book aside as he turned his head to my direction, a grin playing along his lips.

"Wow." Taehyung scanned my body from head to toe. "Did I tell you already how I like seeing you in heels?"

"Don't drool just yet." I smiled at him. By now, I've mastered the game they played. I sat myself across him to strap my heels up.

"Let me." Taehyung offered himself, kneeling in front of me like a real gentleman and when he was done, he looked up at me and said, "The only time a woman needs to bend over is when she's in bed with me."

"Yeah, that won't be necessary for me." You replied wittingly, standing up almost as tall as Taehyung. "Let's go?"

He smirked and followed after me towards the door, into the night of endless possibilities. It's not the first time I've gone out with him or any one of the guys but tonight was totally unplanned. I just hope that I can hold my liquor this time because I don't think my body could take much after a week of physical torture. I was literally living like a machine: eat, university, work, home, sleep.

There was no time to play. He was waiting for me. I wanted to see him as soon as possible so I pushed myself to work hard after classes, even coming home in the early morning.

"Name." The huge man stopped the both of us at the club's entrance. He had a clipboard with him.

Taehyung laughed, "Are you new here?"

The man put his arm up to stop Taehyung from coming in, "Hey. I asked you your name. This party is not just for anyone."

I only watched as Taehyung handled the situation with ease, shrugging the man's hand from him, "I'm fucking Kim Taehyung."

The man checked his clipboard again and found Taehyung's name on top of the list along with five other guys. "I apologize sir. I'm just doing my job."

"It's okay. Keep doing your job." Taehyung patted the man's broad shoulder, smoothly leading me inside.

He got his hands wrapped around my waist protectively as if marking his territory. The darkness was decorated with flashes of light, blue, red, white and green. I hate it. My headache worsened but it was tolerable. I can't wait to drown it with alcohol.

"Hey man!" Jin was the first to notice us from the crowd, making our way to them. "You brought Mara out! How'd you do it?"

"Dude, I'm Kim Taehyung. The name says it all." He bragged. This boy needs to wake up.

"Save that crap for some innocent bimbo, will you?" I pushed him out of the way and took my seat beside Hoseok.

"Is it just me or you really look like a total babe, tonight?" Hoseok spoke in my ear. I smiled at his choice of greeting before taking his beer and guzzled the alcohol down my throat. "Thirsty, aren't you?"

"Watch where you place your hands if you don't want it amputated." I shook his hand off my knee, sending a smile to the girl beside him, "I think your girlfriend would beat me to it though."

Hoseok laughed, ruffling my hair, "I taught you well."

I set the bottle down at the table, my eyes scanning the place. It was a private party but a almost everyone I knew was invited. As for the host of the party, I didn't know his identity but I assume that he's pretty much loaded with money to rent such a big place like this.

I found Taehyung talking to some girl at the bar. He caught my eyes and waved at me. A laugh was caught between my throat, just an hour ago he was begging for me desperately and now he's busy sweet talking to random girls. I was pretty surprised how he can move on so fast but still, I watched as Taehyung leaned close to the girl's ear, gaze holding mine. The girl covered her mouth and giggled. I turned my other cheek away and ignored the unsightly scene. Besides, I've seen how he worked girls a lot of times before. The reason why he can't play the same tricks on me.

"I got you a drink." Taehyung settled beside me. "You're upset."

I looked at him and smiled, "Why would I be?"

"Because of that girl I was chatting with." He sent me a smirk. Taehyung still had an effect on me but as long as I'm sober, he's not taking me anywhere else.

A smile came upon my lips again. "Don't make up stories."

"Then, let's dance." Taehyung added, drinking from the bottle of beer he was holding before taking my wrist and pulling me to the floor.

When we were at the center of the crowd, Taehyung placed himself in front of me, warding off guys who kept giving me looks. I couldn't help but smile at how over protective he is when it comes to me. I pulled him close to me to speak in his ear.

"That girl wants to do it with you." I said, drink in hand as I looked past his shoulder. "She kept looking at you."

Taehyung followed my line of sight, seeing the girl I was referring to. He nodded his head at her and gave her a small smile before he returned to face me again. He leaned down and gestured for me to come closer so I could hear what he'll say.

"Nah." He said, "She looks a bit crazy."

"Crazy? How can you tell?" I laughed, casually gulping the alcohol like water. I don't remember when I started liking alcohol but damn, it's the only thing that works for me when I'm stressed.

"She has the crazy eyes." Taehyung spoke like an expert on girls. "Either she's a choke me girl or a bondage girl. I'm betting she's more of a choke me girl."

He watched as her eyes turned into half moons when she laughs. Taehyung just love everything about her. She wasn't anything great but she got him really bad. Too bad he has to let her go. She closed her eyes and danced freely to the music, she lifted her arms, swaying her hips slowly. The way she looks at him with her half moons makes him intoxicated.

He placed himself against her back, intimately close to her, his hands holding her waist. She pulled him in closer, her scent was like heroine clouding his judgment. He felt helpless, like a moth getting too close to the fire. Mara was not for him but he wanted her more than anything even when he knows it would hurt him the worst.

"Whoa." Taehyung's strong arms caught me when I staggered on my feet, "Mara, you okay?"

Giving in to Taehyung, I wrapped my arms around his neck, "I think I'm drunk." I giggled on his shoulders.

"Let's get you back." Taehyung's breath felt warm against my cheek.

I didn't know if I felt dizzy or sleepy at the moment but at least I didn't have to worry about headaches. Taehyung got his arm around my body once again, I depended on him too much. I never tell him but I do.

Taehyung never complained about anything. He stayed with me even after everything, even after I rejected him. Taehyung chose to stay and it was hard for me, knowing that he was unhappy because of me.

"Drunk already?" Namjoon teased me when we got back at the table. "You still got a long way to go kid."

I sent a glare at his direction, "It's not my fault that I'm bad at drinking!"

"She's not in good condition that's why. She didn't want to go but I forced her." Taehyung came to my rescue, holding me up by his side. I crawled over to the side and passed out right there and then.

"She still works part time?" Namjoon asked.

"Yeah.. Two jobs at once." Taehyung watched at how much of a mess Mara was before he nodded his head at the older one's question, "She's overdoing it."

"She really want to see him huh." Namjoon met Taehyung's gaze. He knew what Namjoon meant. "You haven't told her yet. That Jimin's back. So what's your plan?"

"They're both important to me." Taehyung replied softly, "How can I be so selfish and stand between them?"

"Is that what you really want?" Namjoon added in a serious tone totally in contrast with the music.

"It doesn't really matter what I want, does it?" Taehyung said, taking Mara in his arms again, "The more I want something, the more I get beaten down to the ground. I know when it's time to give up." Taehyung smile was bittersweet, "Jimin will make her happy. He'll do all the things I couldn't do for her. It will hurt but it's the right thing to do. I know it'll make Mara happy and I'm good with that."