Another couple of days passed, and soon I got used to an unusual routine of staying at Kim Manor.

Taehyung and I would just fool around in the mansion, as his mother would leave in the early mornings to do whatever she planned.

But yesterday it was only me and her, for he had gone to meet old friends who stayed here and became famous in this city, unlike the boy I knew who became famous around the world.

Mrs. Kim and I didn't bother speaking much, but the fact she didn't bother me had me sighing in relief.

Maybe she was getting used to me. I truly hoped that, for there were only two-three days left until she had to make a decision, and I can't lose to her.

Even though she may still be biased, a little part of me was sure she was breaking down her wall of hostility.

This afternoon, I was on the phone to Somi, who was asking of my well-being and slow progress when Mrs. Kim enter the manor, Taehyung at her side.

"Sora," the woman declared, sauntering over to me as I closed my phone. "You better not have any plans tonight."

I raised a brow. "You know I never do," I said. "But why?"

"Because, Sora darling," Taehyung started, loosening his tie with his finger, "My friend from Daegu is throwing a party for me. He's invited you as well, since I told him about you staying with me here."

"Well, at least I'll get out the house," I said, shrugging. "I think I'll suffocate in here."

"Oh, maybe I should keep you here longer then," Taehyung mused, plopping down on the couch next to me.

"You're never gonna change are you?" I asked, faking my exasperation.

"Nope."

-

The evening fell upon Daegu, and soon I was in a situation every girl is in at least the millionth time in her life, when she has no fucking idea what to wear.

"Fuck this," I muttered at all the clothes I threw on the bed, all piled up in a huge heap of fabricated mess.

You might be wondering why I didn't just ask the fashion designer who lived under the same roof as me, but he had left early, saying his friends wanted him there first.

So there I was, alone and frustrated over my lack of choice of wear, despite being a model of V.

"What's wrong?"

I turned around, Mrs Kim entering the room in a casual stride.

"Just don't know what to wear," I confessed, hugging myself tightly.

"I think that mountain of dresses is enough to clothe an entire country," the woman remarked, coming closer to where I stood.

"I'm in a crisis, Mrs. Kim. Your lovely opinion is the last thing I need right now."

Thankfully, she didn't argue back, going through my pile of clothes before dumping them back on the bed.

There was this thoughtful, calculating expression on her face before she turned to me.

"Ah, see, it's good you're not choosing these clothes."

I crossed my arms. "Why?" I demanded, already feeling slightly offended by her words.

"Because this isn't in in Daegu at this moment," Mrs. Kim replied.

I opened my mouth to argue, but I stopped.

Remember Sora, she's the mother of a world class fashion icon. She's probably lived in Daegu all her life.

At least take her word for it on this occasion.

"Oh," I only got out.

The woman sighed, turning on her heel. "Come with me. I knew this was going to happen, so I bought some evening attire suitable in a city like this."

We went downstairs, and sure enough, a covered suit was waiting for me draped across the couch.

Mrs Kim picked up the hanger, taking the covers off.

It was a neon orange two piece, a frilly crop top with straps going all the way around. The pants were bell bottoms, loosely frayed at the edges as sequins were scattered all around the fabric.

My mouth couldn't help but mar into a frown.

The dress would have been great. If it were the '60s.

"I sense that look on your face, Sora," she brought up, "But I'm telling you. It's this city's fashion. Everyone's going to be wearing it."

Slowly, I picked up the belled pant, suppressing my cringe. "Everyone?"

The woman, surprisingly, gave me a reassuring smile. "Everyone."

-

The journey to the friend's house didn't take long, but to me it felt like hours.

My clothing was uncomfortable as fuck, and to my slight alarm a little too flashy, barely covering my tits, forget my poor stomach.

The madwoman gave me platform heels, which were sure to give me blisters, but I trusted her fashion sense.

After all, she knew Daegu and its people more than I did.

The fact my hair was in bunches didn't make it any better.

I'll take them out when I get there. There's a limit to being so ugly, and I think I've crossed it.

The car stopped outside of a cream coloured mansion, brown tiled roofing with a cute little garden filled with thousands of flowers.

I stepped outside, instantly feeling the night breeze chill me to the bone.

Rubbing my arms did no good, so I just hurried inside like an idiot.

As soon as I entered the mansion, I felt eyes on me.

Like a new attraction, thousands of eyes snapped my way, inspecting the new guest that had arrived.

My own eyes searched for Taehyung, but seeing the people in front of me made me gasp.

They were wearing evening wear. All of them, adorning the fanciest, most elite ballgowns of the twenty first century.

I went rigid, not daring to look at myself.

Oh my God.

Women looked like diamonds in a treasure chest of a mansion, exposing their feminity to the majority of the party.

One look at me had them scoffing in disgust. Distaste. Disapproval.

All of those things, swirled in an emotion and painting it on their faces.

I had half the mind to run away from this party.

Taehyung.

Find Taehyung.

I couldn't believe myself. I knew going down the stairs to the main hall would have me being permanently erased from Daegu society for looking like a disaster.

For God's sake, just find Taehyung and stay with him, okay?

I took a deep breath, inhaling all the cold oxygen, cold judgements.

Then, I descended.

Whispers sprung up the moment I stepped down the last one before moving around.

I caught snippets, and although some were uncalled for, they weren't down right mean.

Just girls being the judgemental bitches we are.

I don't blame them. I did look like a sore thumb out of all of them, for they looked God sent and I looked like even the fucking devil slept on me.

Still. The sudden attention on me was pissing me off.

Spying the bottles of wine on a nearby table, I went over to it, grabbing a glass and pouring myself some.

Turning around, I didn't notice Taehyung coming to me, a stunned expression on his usually attractive face.

"Sora..."

I held my hand up as another tipped my glass up to my mouth. Don't ask.

He seemed to get the gist, for he slid over next to me, sipping his champagne in silence.

I drank the glass before pouring myself another.

It's that old hag's fault.

I drank that entire glass too.

It's all her fucking fault.

My glass was getting along nicely with the wine filling it every five minutes, and the look on Taehyung's face almost made me want to scream at him.

"Don't," I warned. "Don't feel sorry for me."

The man only shook his head, gracefully sipping his champagne as if he's got all the time in the world.

That action alone irritated me. He did so without being looked at weird.

It was like I breathed and heads turned my way. All because I look like I'm gonna suddenly drop the party and strip for the first guy who offers me some cash.

The thought of wanting to drink more distracted me so much that I didn't realise Taehyung swerved me around, the action making me face forward.

"Sora," he started, waving a hand towards the couple in front of us, "This is my old friend from school, Park Hyeonu and his wife, Bohui."

The wine inside of me spoiled the formal smile I'd intended. "Lovely meeting you," I greeted dryly.

The man, Hyeonu, started laughing, fixing his suit. "Yoon Sora has an... eccentric choice of attire, might I just say."

"Yoon Sora," I drawled out, gulping down yet another glass of wine, "has no fucks to give you."

The couple blinked back my reply, yet I didn't wait for their response as I side stepped them, drinking in more wine.

Taehyung, after squeezing in an apology, hurried after me, clamping his lips together to keep himself from smiling.

"I don't even think that's the wine speaking for you," he retorted, sliding a hand round my bare back.

Feeling his fingers on my skin was a little more than comforting, yet seeing all these people just dimmed it down.

"When I go home, Tae, I'm making sure your mom sees what the fuck she's done," I guttered, leaning a little closer so the others don't hear.

The man sighed. "Ah, I knew that dress came from somewhere, then," he whispered back.

I gave him a look. "What the-"

"I'll show you the picture later," he said, "But my sweetheart of a mother wore a dress exactly like this in the late 80s.

"Father said she was the fashion icon of that decade."

That decade. Thirty fucking years ago.

I looked down at myself yet again, swirling my wine. "I look like I should be in a costume party," I mumbled.

Taehyung gave me a look. "Don't say that, Sora," he assured me, taking my empty glass of wine and setting it on a servant's tray.

Taking the filled glasses, he handed one to me, taking another one for himself.

"You should be taking away my drink," I said, giving him a raised brow, grabbing the glass from his hand.

"I'm not known to be a killjoy, Yoon Sora," he cooed back, leading me through the crowd.

With him there, I finally started to relax.

At least the worst of the judging had gone.

Or so I thought.

We were walking so fast, with such a bad direction that I didn't realise I'd bumped into someone.

It was a hard crash, causing me to spill my wine onto the person.

I stumbled back, looking up.

"Oh fuck."

The woman's dress was ruined. The red alcohol had stained the front of her white attire, making it extremely clear where I'd spilt.

Her expression flared up.

"How dare you!"

I jumped from her sudden declaration. "Look, I'm so sorry-"

She pointed her cream-nailed finger at me. "You've ruined my dress! Do you even know how much it cost!"

She scoffed. "Of course you wouldn't know, when you come up to a formal party wearing something even a stripper wouldn't wear."

My mouth dropped. "Woah-"

"Ugh, just go back to thirty years ago, where you'll actually fit in."

Stepping over the spilt wine, she walked past me, muttering a curse under her breath.

A few people snorted in my direction, ridiculing me for what I done.

"Good thing someone's said it-"

"Jesus Christ, what is she doing-"

"No self control-"

"Fucking whore-"

I dropped my glass at the last retort.

It smashed to pieces, scattering all around me like a layer of sharp protection for anyone who came near me.

Heads turned my way once again, but now the faces held more than just irritation.

My heart was racing, beating too quickly.

I'm going to die here. I'm going to die.

So what do I do?

I run.

Give my legs the element of surprise as I commanded them to just go and get out of this shithole.

"Sora!"

I ignored the voice, running past the entrance and out into the cool night air.

The fucking platforms slowed me down, as I no doubt looked pathetic trying to sprint in 6 inch heels.

Thankfully, I didn't trip, as I just ran out the garden and onto the streets, not caring where I went or how I went.

I didn't realise which twists and turns I took, but I found myself opening a little gate, green fencing all around it.

When my legs gave out a little, I bent down, finally stopping to take a breather as I nearly heaved my entire lungs out my body.

I spared a look upwards.

Blinked.

Somehow, I had gotten myself into a park.

Slides, monkey bars, and the classic swing, all huddled together on top of the lush cut grass.

I felt footsteps behind me, stopping just at my side.

Taehyung breathed out, "Jesus, woman...at least save me....my self respect and pretend you...couldn't run in platforms."

I didn't bother replying to that, instead asking, "I'm surprised there's a park here."

He stood up after a good few minutes, looking over the setting in front of him.

"Ah, I came here as a kid a lot," he explained. "I... I can't believe it's still standing."

I took in a deep breath, now noticing the sharp chill of the night air. "I'm gonna sit on the swings."

Taehyung gave me an amused look.

I returned it with a frown. "What?" I started walking, hugging myself to make some warmth. "Can't a pissed drunkard enjoy a good swing?"

The man only shook his head, following suit.

A sudden gush of wind made me shiver, small yet noticeable.

Taehyung asked, "You didn't bring anything to put over your clothes, despite knowing how cold it was gonna be?"

I hugged myself tighter. "I'm fine," I gritted out, knowing very well I wasn't.

Maybe Kim Taehyung realised that too, for he shrugged off his blazer, and wrapped it around me, bringing it closer until it covered me whole.

Warmth instantly engulfed me like a lover's embrace, comfort of the highest level soothing my shivers.

"Here," he said.

"Thanks," I replied, hitching the coat higher up my cheeks to hide their redness.

Quickly I went over to the swings, plopping myself down on one and grabbing the chains.

"Wait, I'll push," Taehyung offered, hurrying up behind me.

His hands gripped the chains, and he pulled them back, as far as he could, and let go.

Wind rushed to my face as I felt myself move upwards, towards the night sky.

The sound of crickets was the only one present, as me and Taehyung did not utter a word from our lips as he pushed and I let him.

My thoughts were all that remained with me, as the events of this evening rung over and over in my head.

The descending of the stairs, the mean whispers, the drinking, and then the whole wine spilling incident.

No self control-

Fucking whore.

I gripped the chains harder.

All of this. All of this happened if I didn't listen to her.

If I didn't trust her, then I wouldn't be here with my reputation in that house smashed like that wine glass.

"Do I look like a whore, Taehyung?"

I felt his hands leave me, forgetting to push.

He was in my peripheral vision at the right, now leaning against the swing railings. "Who said that to you?"

My swing was slowing down. "Just...just answer the question."

Taehyung sighed, a light exhale that I barely heard through the noise of the wind as I swung.

I felt him move, up ahead.

Right in front of me.

"Taehyung-"

At the last second, he grabbed the chains, stopping the swing altogether.

He crouched down slightly, enough to level his black eyes with me.

"First of all, choice of clothing doesn't make a woman into a whore. Sure, the clothes could be bad, but fabric doesn't determine whether she sleeps around. It's a non sensical argument."

He leaned his face a little. "But Sora, when you ask me my opinion on how you look, then you'll know what my answer will be.

"You look beautiful. Anything you put on, you make it more attractive just because you're the one who's wearing it.

"And don't say I'm lying just because I love you, but it's true. You are a stunning woman, and you should know that I always think about how I've scored myself a gem like you."

I looked away. "I'm just..."

A hard sigh. "Why does your mom do it?"

My eyes went back on his, as if it was second nature to look at him, admire the beauty that radiated off of him. "Why does she have to make my life so difficult?"

I could feel the marks of the chains in my hands. "I'm getting tired, you know. Tired of her bullshit, tired of her always proving to me that she knows you more or she's always going to have the upper hand when I'm concerned.

"It's not like I'm going to take you away from her," I continued. "I'd be ashamed of myself if I was a woman who'll take a man away from all the things he treasures in his life.

"Is she jealous? I don't know. I'm just mad. Mad at her, mad at the world, mad at myself-"

"Why yourself?" Taehyung asked.

"Because I'm the one who made that stupid deal," I muttered. "Because I truly thought that I'd win over your mother. But it seems even taking a bullet for her wouldn't be enough."

I breathed in finally, finished with my rant.

It was then I noticed Taehyung.

Oh damn.

He looked at me, straight in the eye, with this spark that I couldn't decipher into an emotion.

His mouth was set in a thoughtful pout, eyebrows furrowed.

That's when he spoke.

"I just realised I never asked you out."

I blinked. "What?"

He repeated. "I realised that I never asked you out."

"Wh-what does that have to do with anything?"

Taehyung set his head to the side. "Well, when you said that my mom's gonna have the upper hand when you're concerned, that had alarm bells ringing in my head.

"Because I know she doesn't. Because I've realised that you've managed to become more important to me in a few months than my mother tried to be in her entire life."

He cracked a little smile. "Now isn't that something worth fighting for."

I bit my lip. "Taehyung..."

"Sora," he whispered, kneeling down slowly till he hit the grass, hands now gripping the seat of the swing.

"Will you go out with me?"

Stopped.

Everything stopped.

My brain. My lungs. My heart.

It was if time itself had come to a standstill, paused it's very journey of a billion years to see this moment happen.

See the blackness of the sky. The million stars twinkling in it.

And the one star on Earth, who had offered to share its shine with another.

I didn't even have to hesitate.

"Yes, Taehyung."

Oh, the smile that burst on his lips.

It was like he was shining already.

He pulled me in, claiming my lips in a way to show his emotions.

I could feel them in his kiss, the way they melted into each other.

I smiled onto his lips.

And maybe it was unbelievable coming from me, but this day became the happiest day of my entire life.

-

Hey guys!

So this bitch aka myself hadn't updated in 2 weeks so I wrote 3000+ words just for you all as an apology :')

Also, lemme tell y'all a secret, sHIT is going to go down in the next chapter, so better be prepared ;)

PS. The swing scene is inspired by a scene in my irl besT friend's story Unwanted by byunfair y'all better appreciate this girl ok

Anyway, please do give this chapter a vote, and comment down your opinions on this chapter. Was it too cringey? Your voices would be helpful :)