August 10
Tuesday
Year 1 

I ended up sleeping on the floor (on a floor cushion provided by mom). 

She had walked into the room yesterday evening and found us. I quickly explained the situation --- that he needed rest and that his house wasn't the best place for him at the moment. 

To my surprise, my mom understood and was more concerned with his health. She made me promise to give him the stew she was going to make when he woke up. However, he didn't wake up all night. 

Feeling the intensity of the sun's rays, I crack my eyes open. Shielding my eyes, I look up to see Taehyung awake. His upper half is propped up by his elbows as he looks down at me.

He gives me a half-smile when he sees that I'm awake. "Sorry."

"Sorry...?" I sit up, repeating after him.

"I'm upset I took your bed. I should've been the one on the floor."

I stare in awe at how radiant Taehyung can look when he wakes up in the morning. His hair falls perfectly over his brows, and his eyelids and cheeks have a pinky tint on them. He looks more full of warmth than when he arrived from France.

Catching myself staring, I divert my eyes. "No, you're a guest. I'm just happy you slept well."

Pleased with my words, he leans down against his hands and smiles. It reminds me of a puppy, and I think about how Yeontan is missing.

I turn to see a crack in the door. He must be downstairs with my mom like he usually is when I sleep in.

"You're very pretty..." Taehyung compliments, almost too quiet to reach my ears.

"H-hmm?" I feel my face warm, realizing that it was Taehyung's turn to stare at me. I must've heard wrong.

"You have long eyelashes." He reaches out and runs his thumb against my eyelashes. His palm feels cold as it rests on the side of my face, but I know it's because my face is hot.

My eyes widen making Taehyung snap back.

I reach out to stop him from pulling away as if I wanted to tell him it was okay.  

But why?

Puzzled, I stare at my hand clasped around his.

Why?

I hold my breath and let go of him. 

This time, Taehyung grabs my hand before I pull it away too far and pulls me up, our faces inches away from each other. 

The tension between us is something that I've never felt. It's paralyzing. My body wanted to react and it almost hurt if I didn't do anything for relief. I wanted to slow down time to make sense of what was happening.

The easiest thing to do is break eye contact.

When I have the courage to glance at Taehyung, he swallows hard. His hand finally softens around mine, letting go.

"When you look at me like that, I get nervous," He admits with a breathy chuckle, ducking behind his hair.

Taehyung?

"S-sorry-"

He shakes his head. "Don't be. I'm okay with it."

I bite my lip and nod. I feel my heart drum out of rhythm with how smooth his voice is.

It's not supposed to. I remind myself and the shame hits me.

I'm getting ahead of myself.

I'll ruin everything.

Taehyung's phone rings and breaks the tension entirely. An unsettling knot in my stomach forms when I imagine it's Jiyoo. 

I'm sorry.

This won't happen again.

But what exactly did happen?

In seconds, he's off the bed, apolozing profusely to the person on the other end. When he hangs up he tells me how he's forgotten that he works today.

Within seconds, we start gathering his things. I give him a spare toothbrush to at least take care of his teeth before work. When we're downstairs, I tell him to wait by the door while I put my mom's soup in tupperware for him to have for lunch.

My mom's not in the living room, and neither is Yeontan. 

She must've taken him on a walk. It shouldn't be a big deal since Yeontan couldn't follow Taehyung to work.

Making my way back into the hallway, I hand Taehyung the soup container.

He accepts it, beaming. "Thank you. Is it okay if you hold on to our Yeontan for a little longer?"

I nod without hesitation. "Of course!"

With a smile that reaches his eyes, he waves and heads out.

It wasn't until I closed the door and I relax that I realize what he said.

Our Yeontan?