**Next Day**

There is only one day left until Sports Day. Taehyung's team is on top, of course; he chose the best players, and YN also did her best to help the team win. Today, YN has the final match in tennis, and she is walking towards the corridor with Ema.

**Ema**: YN-ah, that opposing team is targeting us.

**YN**: Don't worry; they can't do anything.

**Ema**: Yeah, I know, but still, you know. And one more thing: be careful in the marathon. You're the only girl there.

**YN**: Yes, I know. They underestimate me, but I'll give it my all.

**Ema**: *smiles* Yes. You know, yesterday Taehyung-oppa was so proud of you.

**YN**: Really?

**Ema**: Obviously! Didn't you see?

**YN**: No.

**Ema**: Yeah. But you always think negatively.

**YN**: It's not like that. You know I don't want any troubles like before. You know what I mean... and he's short-tempered. *She giggles.*

**Ema**: Don't forget, you fell for that short-tempered person! *She smirks.*

**YN**: Haha, I know. But… let’s leave it at that.

**Ema**: No, no! Continue! You’re going to say he’s not bad, though. He’s kind on the inside, which no one notices, and blah blah blah...

She mimics YN, making her laugh slightly.

**YN**: Stop it, Ema. You know me well.

**Ema**: Yes, very well.

**YN**: Fine, let’s go, or else—

**??**: Hey YN!

A boy approaches with a smirk. YN rolls her eyes in disgust.

**YN**: What do you want? *coldly*

**Boy**: You have so much attitude?

**YN**: So? *she flips her hair*

**Boy**: Today, I’ll destroy your attitude in the tennis match.

**YN**: *laughs* Really? Let’s see...

**Boy**: Challenging?

**YN**: Yes, I guess. *smirks*

**Boy**: Then it's accepted! And yeah… *he comes closer* don’t forget the final day.

YN glares at him and growls.

**YN**: Don’t underestimate me, you brat!

**Boy**: I’d love to do that, small girl.

He smirks and blows a kiss in the air, which disgusts her. YN grits her teeth and punches him in the face.

**YN**: Try your cheap tricks somewhere else, you bastard!

The boy looks at her with an angry gaze and is about to approach her, but she gives him a dangerous look and says,

**YN**: Don’t you dare!

**Boy**: HOW DARE YOU—

He moves forward, but just then, a punch lands on his face. The boy looks up to see who it was, and to his surprise, it’s Taehyung. His eyes widen in shock. YN backs away with wide eyes.

**Taehyung**: Be within your limits when talking to a girl. GOT IT?

He speaks dangerously, and the boy gulps and nods.

**Taehyung**: Get lost!

The boy runs off. YN looks at Taehyung, who is still glaring at the boy coldly. When their eyes meet, Taehyung's expression softens. YN stares at him without blinking, and he gazes back, their eyes communicating a lot without words. Ema shakes YN out of her daze, and YN nods, snapping back to reality.

Ema takes her hand, and they leave together. Taehyung sighs as he watches them go. His friends step forward.

**Jimin**: She's dangerous.

**Jungkook**: Her aura is different.

Taehyung is lost in thought. He overheard the conversation between YN and Ema, and he’s mesmerised by her unique aura. Without realising it, he feels proud of her.

**Taehyung (thinking)**: She’s different. Very different from others. Unique.

A smile forms on his lips.

Time skips.

The final tennis match was being played. Ema had been eliminated, and Yn was on the court, focusing intently as her team cheered for her. Taehyung watched her with admiration. She played with such concentration, wearing a cap and not once turning to look at the crowd. He could see how serious she was about the game, and he found himself liking that about her. He observed all her movements closely and began to understand her better.

Suddenly, his phone rang. Checking the caller ID, he saw it was his mother. He frowned and stepped away from the crowd to take the call.

After a while, he returned with a serious expression, which his friends immediately noticed.

"What's wrong, Tae?" Wooshik asked.

"Guys, I have to go home. You can carry on," Taehyung replied.

"Why? Is everything alright?" Jimin inquired.

"Mom called me. Halmoni is not well, and Appa is out of the city. I need to leave," Taehyung explained.

"It's okay, Tae. We’ll handle things here. Just go quickly," Jungkook reassured him.

Taehyung nodded and turned to leave, but his eyes caught Yn's. He offered her a slight smile before departing. His friends smiled at the moment.

“He wants to watch Yn play,” Jimin remarked.

“He's changed,” Wooshik added with a grin.

Meanwhile, Yn was in the final round, close to winning. With one last powerful hit, she sent the ball over the net, and the crowd erupted in cheers. She tossed her cap and racket aside, and the opposing player congratulated her. Beaming with victory, she received applause from the professor, and Ema rushed over to hug her.

“You did it, Yn-ah!” Ema exclaimed, and Yn nodded happily. As she returned to the sidelines, Jimin and the others approached her.

“Wow, Yn! You did it!” Wooshik cheered.

“We're so proud of you, Yn,” Jungkook added.

“Finally, you did it!” Jimin said enthusiastically.

Yn bowed her head in gratitude. “Thank you, thank you, oppas.” She smiled, but her eyes searched for a particular person, only to find he was nowhere in sight. Her friends noticed her searching gaze, including Ema. Before she could speak, Jimin said, “Um, Yn, actually Tae left to go home because his grandmother is not well.”

Yn was shocked, realizing he knew she was looking for Taehyung. “It's... it's fine, oppa,” she stuttered.

“Okay, let’s go. The professor is calling us,” Wooshik said, and they all nodded and left.

Yn approached Jimin, who was scrolling through his phone. Seeing her, he smiled. “Come, Yn, sit here.”

Yn smiled back, retrieving her jacket from her bag and handing it to Jimin. “Oppa, please give this to Taehyung sunbae.”

“Oh, okay. Sure,” Jimin replied, taking the jacket and placing it in his bag.

“Thank you,” she said with a smile.

“It’s no problem,” Jimin assured her. She nodded and was about to leave when he stopped her.

“Wait, let’s wait for our teammates. We should celebrate your victory.” Yn thought for a moment before nodding slowly.

Time skipped ahead to the Kim mansion, where Taehyung's friends had gathered for dinner. Jimin broke the silence.

“Tae, Yn returned your jacket—”

Taehyung glared at him, causing him to immediately quiet down.

“Yn? What happened, Jimin-shi?” Mrs. Kim asked.

“Wait, who's Yn?” Taesha piped up.

“It's no one. He's just talking nonsense,” Taehyung replied tersely.

“Hyung, just spill it! Who's Yn and what's the jacket about?” Taeyon pressed.

“It’s nothing like that,” Taehyung said coldly. “And please don’t talk while eating.” His friends gulped at his tone, while the others stifled their laughter. Taehyung shook his head in disbelief.

After dinner, they all headed to Taehyung's room to relax.

“Now, say what you were saying, Jimin,” Jungkook urged.

“Yn returned your jacket, the one you gave her that day. That’s what I was trying to say at the dinner table,” Jimin explained.

“Was it necessary to mention it in front of everyone?” Taehyung replied, annoyed.

“Hey, one day they’ll also know,” Jimin joked.

Taehyung raised an eyebrow. “Huh? What do you mean?”

“Nothing… let’s just play something,” Jimin said evasively.

Meanwhile, Wooshik and Jungkook were laughing quietly at the sidelines.

Taehyung took the jacket and found a small note inside the pocket. He glanced around, noticing that everyone was busy playing. Opening the note, he read:

"Thank you Sunbae"

A smile spread across his face; it felt like more than just a simple thank you. He tucked the note back into the pocket and walked towards his closet.

The next day, the team praised YN for her performance the previous day. Taehyung approached her, and YN eagerly waited for his response, but he remained silent. His expression was cold, and he stood quietly, seemingly lost in his thoughts. YN, puzzled by her own feelings, wished to hear his thoughts. She glanced at him, noticing that he seemed angry.

"Is he pregnant, or is he on his period?" she mumbled softly, looking at him. Ema overheard and burst into laughter, drawing everyone's attention.

Wooshik asked, "What happened?"

Ema quickly replied, "No… nothing…"

She glanced at YN, who shot her a glare, causing her to fall silent.

"I don't think he'll praise me," YN said, sulking as she walked away. The others headed to the cafeteria for break time. YN was on her way there when she heard Taehyung say, "Wait." She turned to find him standing with a cold expression.

"Yes?" she asked.

He stepped closer, and YN blinked, captivated by his presence. His anger seemed to melt away when he looked at her cute face. She thought he was about to talk about her performance.

"Actually," he began.

YN's face lit up with eagerness to hear his words, surprising him. However, he continued, "Tomorrow, you need to come in early. Also, after your meal, please come to the practice area; the professor wants to discuss something important."

YN looked at him in disbelief. "Um… is that it, Sunbae?"

"Huh? What?" he asked, confused.

Rolling her eyes, she faked a smile and replied, "Um… nothing. I'm leaving."

As she turned to walk away, she flinched at the sound of barking. In a panic, she jumped onto him, causing him to gasp. He caught her tightly, preventing her from falling. She closed her eyes, hugging him, while he spotted the same dog that had scared her before. As he held her around the waist, he relished the feel of her hair, which felt heavenly.

"It's okay. Don't be scared. I'm here," he whispered gently in her ear.

Reality quickly hit her, and she stepped back, feeling nervous. Taehyung sighed, glancing around but not spotting the dog anymore. She sighed in relief, but deep down, she felt embarrassed about making the same mistake again.

"I'm so… sor—"

Before YN could finish her apology, Taehyung placed his index finger on her lips, making her eyes widen. He held her gaze, which made her feel weak; there was something deep in his look.

"It's completely fine," he said calmly, causing her heart to flutter. She blinked rapidly, and when he removed his finger, she immediately looked down.

"Go and have your meal first," he instructed.

YN nodded and left. Taehyung watched her figure fade away, feeling a pang of sadness at the thought that she was still scared of him, worried that he might yell at her again like that day.

"I can't get angry at you anymore, my Rapunzel," he murmured to himself, smiling at the thought as he walked away.

Time skips

After lunch, the students gathered on the grounds as the professor announced the final statement. Yn was all smiles, giggling with Ema.

Yn: "Ema, you're going to stay at my house today."

Ema: "Of course! Soha unnie also told me."

Yn: "Yes, let’s finish the series we left off that day."

Ema nodded, and just then, Taehyung and his friends entered, standing beside the professor. Yn noticed that Taehyung appeared upset. She sighed in disbelief.

Yn thought to herself: *Again, something is wrong.*

Her eyes widened as she saw Taehyung speaking very angrily with the professor while his friends tried to calm him down. But he wasn’t listening. Eventually, his friends managed to calm him, and he left the area angrily, with his friends following closely behind.

Jimin: "What’s wrong, Tae? Are you going to beat him?"

Taehyung: "Didn’t you hear what he said? Huh?" *He shouted angrily.*

Wooshik: "Okay, just leave it! First, calm down, Tae. Why are you getting so angry?"

Taehyung: "Please, guys, I don’t want to talk about this."

Jungkook signaled for them to be quiet.

Jungkook: "Tae, you know about Uncle? Just let it go. It’s not a big deal."

Taehyung: "Seriously, Jungkook? It’s a big deal. IT’S A BIG DEAL FOR ME."

Jimin: "Aishh, calm down! Listen to my opinion. Just go on a date with her, and then reject her."

Taehyung: "I don’t want to go anywhere! Do you think he’ll listen? That girl has been calling me non-stop."

He said angrily, showing his phone, which displayed 45 missed calls from her.

Wooshik: "Have you talked to your grandma about this?"

Taehyung: "No. She’s not well already, and I don’t want to burden her with my problems."

Jimin: "Talk to her. She’ll make your father understand."

Jungkook: "He’s right. She’s the only one who can help you."

Taehyung nodded slowly, and just then, they heard a voice. They turned to see Ema.

Ema: "Umm, sorry oppa. Actually, the principal is calling Taehyung oppa."

Everyone: "Shit!!!"

They said in unison. Taehyung’s eyes fell on Yn, who was standing silently behind Ema, looking down.

Jimin: "Alright, we’ll come back later."

Ema nodded, and as they were about to leave, Jungkook stopped them.

Jungkook thought: *I hope this helps him.*

Jungkook: "Umm, actually, Yn, Ema, we need your help."

Ema: "Yeah, oppa."

Jimin and the others looked at him with confusion before Jungkook continued.

Jungkook: "I made a list of the team members and noted some points."

Ema: "Okay, oppa."

She was about to leave, but he stopped her again.

Jungkook: "Write it down here."

Ema nodded, and then Yn said quietly,

Yn: "Ema, you carry on. I’m going."

She whispered as she began to walk away, but Ema stopped her. Taehyung noticed everything, took out a cigarette and lighter from his pocket, and placed it in his mouth. He looked at Yn, who was gazing at him with a strange expression. He thought she looked at him with disgust. He was about to light it but stopped again upon seeing her different reaction.

Yn: "Umm, I’ll be back."

She said quickly and ran off.

Taehyung watched her as she disappeared from view. He tucked the cigarette into his pocket and followed her with a cold expression. His friends noticed his demeanour but shrugged it off, thinking he would be alright soon.

YN was heading towards the library, completely unaware that Taehyung was trailing behind her. She was definitely angry at him for smoking.

YN thought to herself: Is he even for real? What does he think of himself? Seriously? A cigarette? It’s like chocolate to him whenever he wants. Can’t he take his life seriously? Doesn’t he care about his family and friends?

She made a face and walked toward the cupboard, oblivious to the fact that he was noticing every little thing. As she reached for the books, she suddenly bumped into a hard chest. Startled, she turned to see Taehyung's cold yet angry face, and she gulped nervously. He stepped closer, his hot breath brushing against her, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Why did you come here?" he asked, his voice cold.

"Um... s-simply..." she stammered.

He leaned in even closer, his intense gaze making her feel weak and scared.

"Lie. Tell me honestly!" he demanded in a deep voice.

"I... I'm telling the truth... I simply came here," she replied, her voice shaking.

As she attempted to leave, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer, causing her to gasp. She flinched, bumping against his chest as he wrapped an arm around her waist, drawing her even closer.

"I don't like liars, and I can’t tolerate that. So you'd better..." he said, his expression stern.

YN looked into his eyes. He really didn't like it when she distanced herself from him, especially when she didn't talk to him out of fear. She remained silent, processing their closeness. Her heartbeat raced, and he could feel it.

"Is it because of smoking?" he asked.

YN's eyes widened as she met his gaze.

"Just say it, YN," he prompted.

Slowly, she nodded, still aware that he was holding her.

"You shouldn’t smoke. It’s not good for your health," she said, stuttering at first before finding her confidence.

Taehyung listened attentively.

"Is it necessary to smoke when you’re upset or angry?" she asked calmly. He looked down, and she took the opportunity to free herself from his grip, watching as he continued to gaze at the ground.

"Sunbae, I know it’s hard to quit the habit, but you understand how dangerous it is for your health. Think about your family—at least think about your loved ones," she said softly.

He looked up at her, his gaze softening at the mention of "loved ones." The anger within him faded away as he took a moment to focus on her words.

"Smoking isn’t the solution. Instead of smoking, you can share your pain with your friends," she continued, her voice steady.

She paused, and he immediately focused on her, his heart skipping a beat.

"How would you react if someone told you to cut your hair? Just think of it like that... I can’t, YN," he finally admitted, vulnerability flickering in his eyes.

She looked at him with concern.

"Sunbae, if it’s about my health and my family, and my loved ones cared about it, then I’d definitely cut my hair for their sake. What about them? The people who love and care about you?" she urged.

He remained motionless, staring at her without blinking. He understood her words well; they stirred something inside him that felt both different and right. The silence lingered between them.

He leaned in closer, lowered himself to her level, and hugged her. YN froze in place, not having the courage to embrace him back.

To be continued..

Love from tatamic ❤️‍🩹

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