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┖ Replaceable? ┒

"Is this comfortable now?"

"Yeah that's position is perfect."

Taehyung’s studio was a bit messy, but it had that cool, artsy vibe—paint splatters on the floor, half-finished canvases leaning against the walls, and brushes everywhere. The lighting was soft, with the sun just peeking through the big windows. It smelled like paint and cigarettes, and there was a quiet hum of music in the background.

Taehyung, as usual, was shirtless, his toned body glistening slightly with sweat as he worked. His sweatpants were hanging so low, Mona couldn’t stop herself from staring. She was trying hard not to act obvious, but her eyes kept trailing down to that sharp V-line peeking out.

Her eyes couldn’t help but wander, tracing every line of his body. She bit her lip, feeling her pulse race. The man was just too damn hot, especially when he was focused on his art like this.

"How am I supposed to keep myself cool?" Mona said to herself.

Taehyung grabbed a cigarette from the table and looked at her. "You mind if I smoke?"

Mona swallowed hard, nodding quickly. "Y-yeah, sure. Whatever you want."

He shrugged, lighting up and taking a drag, his eyes already back on the canvas. As he started sketching her again, she noticed the way his sweatpants slid down even more, making it harder for her not to stare. His V-line was practically begging for attention. Her mind was wandering, and she felt herself get hotter just watching him work. God, how is he so... perfect?

She blurted out without thinking, "You’re so freaking hot when you paint."

Taehyung didn’t look up, his lips pulling into a slight smirk. "I hear that a lot."

Mona laughed awkwardly, her eyes still glued to his body. "No, but really, like... you’re unreal. How can you be this... perfect?"

The man just gave a small shrug, not breaking his focus.

Her mind raced, and then, out of nowhere, she asked, "Wait... are you, like... a virgin?"

He paused for a second, his brush stopping mid-stroke. He looked up at her, hesitating for a moment before replying flatly, "Yes, by choice...no regrets."

Mona’s jaw dropped. "What? No way. You? A virgin? With that face? That body?"

T leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair as he thought for a second. "Being a virgin doesn’t mean what people think it does. It’s not just about sex. It’s... it’s about connection. People think you’re just giving away your body when you sleep with someone, but there’s so much more to it. The way people move, the way they breathe when they’re with you... it’s more than just physical. It’s about letting someone in, letting them see all of you, and that’s not something you should just throw away to anyone."

Mona blinked, taken aback by how deep that sounded. "Damn... that’s kinda... poetic."

He picked up his brush again, stroking it lightly across the canvas.

"And what about one-night stands? Are you not into it?" Her question piqued with curiosity.

"Random hookups? One-night stands? They never sat right with me. They leave you... empty. You wake up, and it’s like all that intensity just disappears. It’s not real. It’s just... noise. I’d rather be alone than feel that hollow."

Mona was quiet for a second, still trying to wrap her head around it. "Okay, that was... deep. Didn’t expect that answer....You should be a poet, you know?"

Taehyung looked at her, his hand pausing again. "What color do you want in the painting?"

"Huh? Oh... uh, green. Yeah, green," she stammered, thrown off by the sudden change in conversation.

He nodded, brushing some green onto the canvas, not even bothering to answer her earlier question about poem. She watched him work, still a little dazed, and after a moment, she finally asked, "Why do you always do nude paintings, though? What’s up with that?"

Taehyung stopped mid-stroke, his eyes on the canvas but his thoughts elsewhere. "Nudity... it’s real. It’s raw. No masks, no pretenses. It’s just... you. The way you were made. When you strip away everything—your clothes, your walls, your fears—you get to the truth of who you are. That’s what I wanna capture. That moment when someone’s truly... themself."

Mona bit her lip, feeling her heart race again. "You’re, like... something else, Taehyung."

He didn’t even look up, just kept painting like it was the most normal thing in the world. But she couldn’t stop herself from staring, completely in awe of him... and how ridiculously hot he was while doing it.

The woman sat there, giving him that obvious look again, her eyes trailing over his chest and arms as he painted. "You know," she started, biting her lip, "you could totally get any girl you wanted with a body like that. Like, seriously, how is it even legal to look this good?"

Taehyung barely glanced at her, dragging on his cigarette. "Yeah, but I’m not looking to get arrested anytime soon."

She laughed, but he didn’t even crack a smile. He just went back to his brush strokes, completely unbothered.

"You really never think about... more fun?"

Taehyung paused his brush for a second, his eyes scanning her face. "You’re beautiful, Mona. No doubt you could get any guy to fall over himself for you. But I’m not that guy."

Her smile faltered. "Why not? Are you... are you gay?"

He rolled his eyes, flicking ash from his cigarette. "Nope, just not into people who care more about getting someone under them than getting to know them."

Mona blinked, stunned for a second. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Taehyung shrugged, going back to his canvas, not even sparing her a look. "You’re here tryna see if you can get me to want you. You’re not asking because you like me, you're asking ‘cause you wanna win something. You wanna know why I’m not falling all over you."

She crossed her arms, slightly defensive. "That’s not true."

He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "Isn’t it?"

Mona shifted uncomfortably, but then shot back, "Well, you’re still human, right? No one’s that uninterested."

Taehyung shrugged again, calm as ever. "Depends on what you're interested in. Just ‘cause you’re used to guys falling over you doesn’t mean every guy’s gonna feel the same. Some of us got different things on our mind."

"What do you think about me?"

Taehyung smirked again, taking one last drag before putting out his cigarette. "I think you’re a beautiful woman, but you’re too focused on getting someone to want you. That’s not my game. I’m not here for that. I’d rather know a person than sleep with them."

She blinked, genuinely shocked this time. "Wow. So what are you even interested in?"

He looked at her, his expression finally softening. "You’d be surprised what happens when you stop tryna chase validation to get fucked and just... exist. That’s what I’m interested in—real connections, not just bodies."

She frowned, a bit taken aback by his bluntness. "Not even a little interested in me?"

Taehyung leaned back, wiping his hands on a cloth, then looked her dead in the eye. "You’re trying too hard, Mona. It’s not about you. I’m just not into it. Simple."

Her jaw tightened slightly. "So if sex isn’t your thing, then why’d you even ask me to be your muse? You could’ve picked any other girl."

Taehyung didn’t even stop, taking his brush again and moving smoothly across the canvas. "I needed someone who could sit still. That’s it."

She frowned, confused. "Just sit still? That's all?"

"Yup. You’re not special, Mona. I could’ve picked anyone. You just happened to be available." His voice was flat, detached, almost robotic, as he continued to paint like she wasn’t even there.

Her face dropped. "So I’m just... replaceable?"

He paused, his brush still for a second before he glanced at her. "Everyone’s replaceable. You’re just a body sitting there. I don’t need you. Could’ve found someone else if I wanted to."

Mona stared at him, the words hitting her hard. "Wow... really? That’s all I am to you?"

"Yeah." He shrugged, not caring about her reaction. "You think you’re more than that?"

She swallowed hard, feeling the sting of his words. She opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, Taehyung cut her off.

"Don’t even bother," he said coldly, putting the brush down for a moment. "Look, if you’re so caught up on being my muse, maybe this isn’t for you. I don’t need to hear your thoughts or whatever else you think matters. You’re here to sit, and that’s all I care about."

Her hands clenched into fists, her heart sinking. "I thought... I thought we could be something more. Like, maybe I was important."

Taehyung scoffed, shaking his head. "Important? To me? Mona, you’re here because I needed someone to sit still. That’s it. You think this is personal? It’s not. You could be gone tomorrow, and I’d find someone else. Doesn’t matter to me."

The hurt in her eyes was clear, but Taehyung didn’t flinch. He picked up his brush again, fully detached from the situation, as if he hadn’t just crushed her spirit.

She bit her lip, trying to hold back tears. "I guess I’ll... I’ll go then."

Taehyung barely glanced at her. "Suit yourself."

Mona grabbed her stuff, heading toward the door, her heart heavy. She didn’t even bother looking back as she stepped out, but before she could reach the elevator, Taehyung was behind her with a t-shirt now, catching up in a few long strides.

"Come on," he said, grabbing her arm gently. "I’ll drive you home, it's too late now."

She yanked her arm away. "I don’t need your pity. I’ll get home on my own."

"Mona, stop acting like this," Taehyung sighed, forcing the elevator doors open. "I was joking. You’re not replaceable."

She shook her head, hurt still written all over her face. "That’s not funny, Taehyung."

He pulled her into the elevator, his tone softening just a little. "Alright, maybe it wasn’t the best joke. But don’t take it too seriously. You’re not just a muse. I mean, yeah, I need you for the painting, but... I’m not trying to make you feel like you don’t matter. I just wanted to see a reaction from you, but guess it's not should be done again."

She blinked up at him, her sadness slowly melting. "Really?"

Taehyung gave her a small, almost shy smile as the elevator doors closed. "Yeah. Look, I get it. I can be harsh sometimes, but it’s not about you. I’m just... I keep to myself. I don’t let people in easily."

Mona’s expression softened, and she nodded slowly. "I guess I can understand that."

"Good," he said, leading her to his car. He opened the passenger door, and when she sat down, he leaned in slightly, his voice softer now. "And for the record... you’re not replaceable. Maybe I just don’t know how to say things the right way sometimes."

She looked at him, surprised by the sudden change in his demeanor. Her heart, still a bit bruised, lifted a little. "Thanks, Taehyung."

"Don’t mention it." He smirked, shutting the door behind her and getting into the driver's seat.

As he started the car, she glanced over at him, smiling genuinely for the first time all day.

Taehyung pulled up in front of Mona’s rented house, the engine rumbling to a stop. He turned to her, eyebrow raised, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. "Well, here we are."

Mona smiled, excitement in her eyes. "Thanks for the ride! You’re too nice, you know?"

"Just doing my job, chauffeur," he replied, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

She leaned in, trying to gauge his vibe. "What if I just kissed you right now? Like, surprise!"

Taehyung raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Yeah, not gonna happen. I’m not into surprise attacks."

Mona laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "Come on, it could be fun. You’d probably like it."

"Right," he said, rolling his eyes. "I’m good, thanks, not really my style."

Mona bit her lip, disappointment creeping in. "Right... I get it."

As she opened the car door, Taehyung felt a mix of relief and regret. "See you around," she said, trying to sound casual.

"Yeah, later," he replied, watching her walk away.

Before Mona could turn and say anything, he hit the gas, driving off.

"Rough." She commented as she focused on his car which walked away the pavement already.

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Back at his apartment, Taehyung kicked off his shoes, shedding the day like an old skin. He stripped down, the cool air hitting his bare skin as he headed for the shower. The water cascaded over him, washing away the lingering tension from the ride.

After a quick scrub, he stepped out, droplets glistening as he grabbed a towel and dried off. He lit a cigarette, dragging deep as he sank into his favorite pair of sweatpants. Feeling a bit more relaxed, he wandered to his makeshift studio, the faint scent of smoke trailing behind him.

With his phone balanced against his ear, he shuffled through his stuff, tracing the contours of a vase on the desk. "Hello, is my studio done yet?" he asked, his tone casual.

"Yeah, sir! All set up. You can check it whenever," the voice on the other end chirped.

A smirk tugged at Taehyung’s lips as he moved away from the vase, a sense of victory washing over him. "Nice. Just what I needed."

He glanced around, his eyes landing on the camera he’d been searching for. "Gotcha," he thought, excitement bubbling inside. Starting tomorrow, he’d have his own setup to draw with Mona—no camera checks, just them and the art.

He knew Alina would be watching from wherever she was in Japan, but honestly? He didn’t give a damn.

"Time to get my vibe back," he muttered, taking another drag of his cigarette, savoring the moment.

With a playful grin, he added, "Guess it’s game on, baby!"

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(a/n:- omg what's Taehyung little secret? And I'm sorry for this boring chapter😭🤧👍🏻)