The evening unfolded like a scene lifted straight from a cinematic masterpiece. Y/N and Taehyung walked hand in hand down the dimly lit streets, the quiet buzz of contentment enveloping them both. Their date had been nothing short of perfect, a sentiment they each silently shared.

Y/N's mind whirred with anticipation, mapping out a thousand possibilities for future adventures with Taehyung. She could already imagine the laughter, the small, intimate moments, the memories they would create together. Meanwhile, Taehyung's thoughts meandered to a different kind of future. Should he seize this moment to reveal the feelings he had been carefully tucking away? He had seen it happen in the movies he secretly enjoyed-this was the part where the protagonist made the grand gesture. But was now the right time?

"See," he began, a shy smile playing on his lips as he glanced down at their intertwined hands, "I'm not as bad as everyone makes me out to be."

Y/N's gaze lingered on their connected fingers, and she gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I never thought you were a bad person," she replied softly. "Don't get me wrong-at first, I was terrified of you, of what you might do to me. But now I realize... I was wrong to assume."

Taehyung nodded thoughtfully, a flicker of something unspoken crossing his eyes. "Well," Y/N said with a nonchalant shrug, breaking the silence, "this is me." They had arrived at the front of her house.

"I had fun today," Taehyung admitted, his voice tinged with a rare vulnerability. "Next time, do you think... I could plan it?"

Y/N couldn't help but smile as she studied his features. His nervousness was endearing, a stark contrast to the image of the confident, untouchable boy everyone else seemed to see. "I'd like that," she said warmly.

As she spoke, her eyes darted to the driveway, where two familiar cars were parked. Her brother and parents were home. The realization dimmed her lighthearted mood ever so slightly. "I better go," she said, leaning in to press a fleeting kiss to Taehyung's cheek. The warmth lingered as she darted toward her front door, casting him one last cheeky grin over her shoulder.

That grin faded the moment she stepped inside. Her family was gathered in the kitchen, their expressions unreadable but tinged with an all-too-familiar tension.

"Nice of you to finally grace us with your presence," her mother remarked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Who was that boy you were with?"

"None of your business," Y/N shot back, her tone guarded as she tried to make a beeline for the stairs.

"Y/N!" Her father's voice halted her mid-step. "We need to talk."

Suppressing a sigh, she trudged upstairs to drop her belongings in her room before reluctantly returning to the kitchen. Her father wasted no time. "Over the past year, we've received several troubling phone calls from your school. Care to explain?"

"School sucks. Always has, always will," she said curtly, her gaze flitting to her brother, Minjun, who conspicuously avoided her eyes. "Can we cut to the chase?"

Her father cleared his throat, his expression hardening. "We've been considering whether it's best for you to stay here. That's why Minjun is here. He's secured a spot for you at the university near his place. Maybe a change of environment will help you get your act together."

Y/N's jaw tightened, her shock giving way to a cold, simmering anger. "You're sending me away? Seriously?" Her scoff echoed through the room. "Why am I even surprised?" she muttered under her breath.

Minjun stepped forward, his tone soft but resolute. "It's a good opportunity, Y/N. You can leave this town, these people..." His gaze flickered pointedly toward their parents. "And finally do something worthwhile. I'll help you every step of the way if you're willing."

Y/N's lips curled into a bitter smile. "Did you turn into a stand-up comedian while you were gone? Save your lectures." She spun on her heel, ready to leave the room, when her mother's shrill voice stopped her dead.

"It's either that, or you leave this house for good!" her mother shouted, her voice cracking under the weight of her fury. "You're the reason we're stuck in this mess, and I've had enough! Pack your things and leave, or go with Minjun. Your choice."

Y/N's heart hardened further, her mother's words cutting deeper than she cared to admit. Turning to face them one last time, she spoke with chilling calm. "I'll be back tomorrow to collect my things."

She didn't yell. She didn't cry. She didn't even give them the satisfaction of knowing how much they had hurt her. As she climbed the stairs to her room, her chest burned with unspoken words and unresolved pain. But for now, she kept quiet.