It was already past midnight when Mia and I finally headed to her room to sleep. The room was dimly lit, cozy, and smelled faintly of her lavender-scented candle. I grabbed my sleeping bag and laid it out on the floor since her bed was too small to hold us both, curling up with a soft sigh.

For some reason, sleep wouldn't come. Maybe it was because I knew Taehyung was just next door, his presence lingering in my mind. I turned and tossed in my sleeping bag, frustration growing with every passing minute. Finally, I gave up and decided to get up—maybe watch a little more TV until exhaustion finally claimed me.

Wrapped in a soft blanket with a steaming cup of cocoa I'd made myself, I settled in front of the TV, keeping the volume low. I came to Mia's house often enough that it felt like a second home; I knew exactly where everything was, from the mugs in the kitchen to the coziest corner of her living room.

I curled deeper into the blanket, the warmth of the cocoa and the soft glow of the TV lulling me toward sleep. My eyelids grew heavy, my breathing slowed, and the room felt peaceful—safe, even, with Mia asleep in the next room.

What I didn't know was that Taehyung hadn't slept either. Feeling thirsty, he quietly stepped out of his room, careful not to wake anyone, and headed for the kitchen. On his way, he paused when he saw me—cozily wrapped in a blanket on the couch, half-dozing, with the soft flicker of the TV highlighting the curve of my face.

For a moment, he just watched, a faint smile tugging at his lips. The sight of me so vulnerable yet peaceful made his chest tighten. He didn't want to disturb me... but he couldn't look away.

Sleep finally claimed me, my eyelids heavy and body relaxed under the blanket.

Taehyung saw his chance. The way I had curled up on the couch—so small, so peaceful—made his chest tighten. He couldn't help himself. Quietly, he moved closer, lowering himself to sit on the couch in front of me. One arm rested casually on the back of the couch, supporting him as he leaned slightly toward me, careful not to startle me.

The flicker of the TV light caught his face, and he just watched me for a moment, caught between amusement and something softer—something that made his fingers twitch to brush a strand of hair from my face.

A stray strand of hair tickled the tip of my nose as he gently brushed it away. I scrunched my nose reflexively, and he let out a quiet, amused giggle.

Then his expression shifted, suddenly serious. He leaned a little closer, eyes soft and intense.

"I'm sorry I left you like this," Taehyung confessed, his voice low and sincere. "I know it isn't an excuse... but I couldn't say goodbye back then."

He leaned in and stole a soft, fleeting kiss. Before pulling away, he smiled gently, the kind of smile that made your chest ache in a good way. Then he stood and moved to the other end of the couch, content to watch me sleep. Eventually, sleep claimed him too, his steady breathing filling the quiet room.

A few hours later, I woke up, stretching slightly—and realized my legs were resting on something warm and slightly firm. Looking up, my eyes widened. Taehyung was sitting there, half-asleep, leaning back with one arm propped on the armrest. My legs were draped across his lap, and his hand rested lightly on them, holding them as if he didn't want me to move.

For a moment, neither of us stirred. The quiet intimacy of the scene—the warmth, the closeness, the soft rhythm of his breathing—made my heart pound in a way that was both thrilling and terrifying.

I carefully slid his hand off my legs, repositioning myself so I was kneeling on the couch. Slowly, deliberately, I traced my fingertips over the prominent vein on his neck, then lightly poked at the little beauty marks on his cheek and nose. A small smile tugged at my lips as he stirred slightly, so tempting and impossibly still.

I didn't want to disturb him further, so I quietly began to get up. But the moment my foot touched the floor, a sudden force yanked me back.

"Taehyung!" I whispered, startled by the sudden attack.

"You're seducing me, teasing me, and then you decide to walk away?" he murmured, his voice low, teasing, and thick with desire.

Before I could react, I found myself back in his lap. His arm curled tightly around my waist, holding me close, while his other hand still lightly gripped my wrist. His eyes were half-lidded, seductive and intense, and I felt my pulse race uncontrollably.

His grip around my wrist softened, shifting into something else—something far more dangerous. His fingers slid between mine, locking our hands together as if he'd waited years to do it.

"You can't start something you can't even finish," Taehyung teased, his voice dripping with heat.

Before I could snap back, his lips brushed against my neck—slow, warm, deliberate. A shiver ran through me, and I hated how my body reacted before my brain could catch up. I felt my pulse racing, the familiar warmth pooling in my stomach... but reality snapped at me.

I was still mad.
Still hurt.
Still carrying the weight of him leaving without a word.

I squirmed in his lap, trying to pull my hand from his. "Let me go," I said, breath shaky but determined. "I'm still mad at you."

Taehyung paused—but only for a second. Because he knew me. He always did. He knew the difference between me truly wanting distance and me fighting my own heart.

He leaned forward again, lips grazing the shell of my ear, his breath warm enough to make my knees weak even though I wasn't standing.

"I know you still have feelings for me..." he whispered, voice deep, confident, devastating. "And it's mutual."

Before I could argue, he gently nibbled my earlobe—a soft bite, barely there, but enough to make my whole body melt against him. A frustrated whimper slipped out before I could stop it, and his grip around my waist tightened in response, holding me securely in his lap as if he feared I'd float away.

I hated that he could make me feel like this.
I hated that he knew exactly how to undo me.
But more than anything...
I hated how much I wanted him despite everything.

"No! Stop!" I managed to push against his chest, the heat of him only making my panic stronger. I squirmed again, heart racing for all the wrong reasons. "I can't do this, Taehyung. I can't... Eventually you'll leave again. And I can't go through that again."

I slipped off his lap, feet hitting the floor, and took a shaky step away. My throat tightened, tears burning the corners of my eyes.

But before I could take another breath, his hand wrapped around mine.
Firm.
Desperate.

"Y/n—"

He spun me around effortlessly, and before I could protest, his hands slid to my thighs. He lifted me—careful but determined—and set me on the edge of the dining table.

My breath caught.

I wasn't trapped because he forced me there.
I was trapped because part of me didn't want to run.

He stood between my knees, close enough that his warmth softened my anger, his arms circling around my waist to steady me.

"I'm not going anywhere anymore," he said, voice low but full of conviction. "I'm here to stay. For good this time. I missed you too much... I came back because of you."

My chest tightened painfully, and a tear slid down my cheek before I could stop it.

"You think this makes everything okay?" I whispered, the words trembling. "I could handle you leaving to chase your dreams, Tae. I could accept that. But what I couldn't handle... was you disappearing without a word. Like I meant nothing."

My voice cracked on the last part, and suddenly my anger didn't feel sharp anymore—it felt like years of hurt folding in on itself.

His expression changed instantly. The playfulness, the teasing... gone.
Now he looked wrecked.
Guilty.
Soft.

"Y/n..." he breathed, his thumb brushing my cheek gently, catching the tear before it fell further. "You never meant nothing. You were the hardest part to leave."

"I just couldn't say goodbye to you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Because my heart... my heart couldn't handle it. I know it was selfish, and if I could turn back time, I would do it differently. No... actually, I wouldn't even leave. I regret it so much."

Before I could respond, he pulled me into a tight hug, his arms wrapping around me like he never wanted to let go. The warmth of his body, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, and the sincerity in his embrace made all the anger, all the hurt, start to melt away.

I buried my face against his chest, letting the tears flow freely this time. His presence was comforting, safe... and for the first time in years, I felt like maybe, just maybe, everything could be okay again.

I didn't have the strength anymore to hold onto anger or hate toward him. Slowly, I pushed him just enough to pull back from his chest. He looked at me, confusion flickering across his features.

I smiled softly, letting my arms wrap around his neck. Before he could speak, I pressed my lips gently to his.

At first, he froze, surprised by the sudden affection. But then... he melted into it, leaning closer, his own arms circling me as if he had been waiting for this moment just as much as I had.

He lifted me up by my thighs again, bringing me level with him so kissing him would feel natural and effortless. His hands guided me gently toward the couch, and he sat down with me still in his lap, our lips never breaking contact.

The kiss deepened almost instantly, warm and urgent yet soft, his hands tracing the curves of my back while mine tangled in his hair. Every touch, every sigh, seemed to erase the past—the distance, the hurt, the anger.

Eventually, we pulled back just enough to breathe, but neither of us moved away. We curled up together on the couch, me resting against his chest, him holding me close in a protective, comforting embrace.

Wrapped in each other's warmth, with the faint glow of the TV flickering around us, sleep slowly claimed us once more. Only this time, it was peaceful, secure, and shared—finally, we were together.

The end