Chapter 23 Peace

Margo's words shook your world, you won't deny that. She was right, you certainly don't belong to their world. You don't belong to Taehyung's world. You don't even belong to your family. But there are some people that made you feel like you belong, like you fit in. Like Nayeon, your Mother, Jae Hyun, the coffee shop and Taehyung and Kara. And somehow, that's all you needed.

You didn't need to belong to their world. All you needed was to fit in to Taehyung's but it doesn't seem like it would happen anytime soon because of the humiliation that happened earlier. You have accepted it, you were not to attend parties like that. And you thought it'd take time but here is Taehyung on your doorstep.

Here he is, wrapping his arms around you and telling you that he belongs here, in your arms. That it doesn't matter if you don't belong to their world because he is willing to conquer yours. He is willing to step out of their world just to meet you.

You pulled away from him, putting his arms down from your waist. You lowered your head as you watch your hands fit with each other. You slowly pull him in your flat.

"Come and stay." You said, inviting him in.

He drags his feet in. This is the peace after a war. The calm after the storm. You remember how hard you tried to surpress this feeling, how you were in a battle with yourself because of this. You've been through a chaotic war and its over, now you'll be in peace with him. You've been in the storm, now you'll experience calm with him but there are still some instances where it will rain.

And that little rain was everything else. It was Margo, it was your family and all the other problems you'll be facing in the future.

You lead him upstairs and laid on your bed. You pat the spot beside you and waited for him to join you. He hesitated for a while, he just stood there for over a minute before he took of his coat. He sat on the bed, he took off his watch and rings on his fingers and set it on the table. He turned off the lights.

He slowly laid down and face you, "I'm really sorry earlier. I shouldn't have left you there." He said softly as he caress your hair gently.

"It's fine. Margo was right anyway, I don't belong there and it's okay. I am not there to fit in, I was there for you. I was there to tell you that I also feel the same." You said as you stare at his face.

His lips were slightly apart, his eyes were scanning your face every now and then.

"The night was ruined. I'm sorry it wasn't a part of my plan."

Your smiled as you pulled his arm and laid your head there. You scoot closer to him. You felt him breath a deep sigh. "But you're here now, you made my night."

He encircled his arm around your shoulder and held you a little tighter. "Where did you go anyway?" You asked him, staring at his chest.

"I had to call someone." He said as he put his chin on top of your head.

"Who?"

"A detective. I wanted them to reinvestigate your case more thoroughly this time and to connect with your father. He's handling the case right now, right?" He asked.

You slowly look up at him, "You'll help us?"

"I will. It's time to get the justice you and your sister deserve." He said.

You knew it wasn't sure yet. You knew that maybe you were wrong, but he's here to prove everything. He's here to help you. He's here to believe you and to be with you. And you can't help but to shed some tears.

You wrap your arm around his waist as you bury your face on his chest. "Thank you. Thank you for believing me, for helping me, for saving me." You muttered as you cry.

He caress your head as he let you cry. He held you that night as he bury his face on your hair. He showered you small kisses on your head as he comfort you.

To be with him is to be in peace. To not be with him is chaos. He is comfort and he is peace. He is someone you can be vulnerable with. You shared the same pain, the same wound, and soon you'll share the same scar. How lucky it is to meet someone who gets you. How lucky it is to be with someone that knows you.

"I'll always be here, Y/n. I'll always watch you from the sideline as you get your justice. Always." He whispered.

"And that's all I need." You whispered back as you took his hand and holding it up.

You stare at it in the dark, the way his fingers took up the spaced between yours and how yours did that to his too. The way your hand looked so small with his. The way it felt holding him without restriction, you felt it all. How holding his hand alone made you feel secured, comfort and magical.

"I love this version of you. No, I think I'd love every version of you. I hated people who cried before but I have come to love your lowest state and weak side. But this one is my favorite." He said that made you look up at him.

"It makes me feel what you feel about me. It makes me feel loved and adored. It makes me feel like you need me. Tell me, do you?" He said.

"What do you think? You told me that if I show up at the party, we'll date exclusively, doesn't that tell you what you want to hear?" You said, shy to say it directly.

"No, I want to hear it from you." He said.

You closed your eyes as you felt your cheeks heat up, "I like you, Taehyung. Really." You said then you slowly opened your eyes and you saw him biting his lip.

He had this playful smile on his lips as he closed his eyes. "Is it bad that I'm so ahead of everything? I'm so ready to love, damn." He muttered.

You smiled widely at him as you bury your head on his chest again. If only you could rush things and call this love. If only you're ready to call this love. But don't worry Taehyung, you'll get there. Slowly.

You held him tightly that night as you both slowly fall asleep in the arms of each other. You felt his breath, you felt how calm he is as he sleep. You felt his chest rise and fall. You were calm with him.

The next morning, you woke up without him by your side and a note on his pillow, saying 'Good morning, Mom wants me to join breakfast. See u later. Breakfast is on the table.'. You smiled before you got up from your bed. He might not be there when you woke up but it was still the best sleep and morning you ever had after so many years.

You ate the breakfast he prepared before you went to school. You texted him that you're on your way. Everythung feels lighter today, even the harsh sun light feels so beautiful. So this is his effect? So this is what liking someone who likes you back feels like? It's magical and wonderful.

You saw Nayeon on the hallway of your room. She was leaning on the doorway and when she saw you, she waved quickly with a wide smile on her face. Her bunny teeth was showing. You smiled back at her as you approach her.

"Let me guess, it was Taehyung that was knocking on your door at midnight." She said the moment you were only a few steps away from her.

You hummed as you nod at her. "So what did he say?" She asked, now entering the room alongside you.

"He said he belongs to me."

She squeeled. It feels so good having someone to talk to with these things. It feels so good having someone that you can tell everything to. It feels so good having that someone again after Kara. Losing her also gained you people that you adore.

"He also said the detective will also reinvestigate our case." You said smiling. You felt your heart warming again remembering what Taehyung had told you.

"I hope they catch the culprit." Nayeon said, "Margo's not here today. Some say she was sick, some say she went on a trip with her father but it doesn't matter, it's good that she's gone even for today or else I'll slap her face for insulting my fashion taste." She ranted.

"I like your fashion taste."

"I know." She smiled.

Your phone vibrated and you pulled it out, seeing Taehyung's name on your screen.

Taehyung:

Alright, girlfriend. See u at lunch.

Your lips parted. Right, you're his girlfriend now. And he's your boyfriend. That thought sinks in your head. You smiled as you wait for the lunch to come.

But that didn't happen because your last subject for that morning gave you a paper to be passed after lunch with Nayeon as your partner. You knew you couldn't finish it so you decided to spend your time at the library to get it done. You glance at your watch, ten minutes before afternoon classes.

Nayeon jumped when the paper went out of the printer. She piled it up and pulled you out of the library to go to the faculty room. You were walking on the hallway when you saw him, his brows were furrowed and his walk was fast like he was in a hurry.

Nayeon was also in a rush that you debated if you should stop and greet him for a minute but you were chasing the time. You were about to pass each other when he held your arm. Nayeon was put to a halt too.

"You didn't eat lunch." He said, his lips in a grim line.

You smiled at him, "I'm sorry, we had something to finish." You apologized.

"I handed your lunch to your classmate. Eat it, I'll see you after school." He said as he glance at Nayeon who smiled at him.

"I have work."

"I know. I'll give you a ride." He said.

You nodded, "I'll see you after class then." You smiled at him before you felt him let go of your arm.

The afternoon classes went by, your teacher dismissed you and you saw Taehyung waiting outside your room. You told Nayeon that you'll go ahead and went to him.

He stood straight when you approached him. He held your elbow softly as he look at your face. "How's your day?" He said before you walk together.

"It's fine. How's your day?"

"Incomplete. My goal was to eat lunch with you for today but you were busy." He said.

You chuckled as you poke his arm, "We can eat lunch together everyday." You said as you approach his bike.

He gave you a helmet, putting it on your head and locking it careful. He then put on his own helmet, he get on his bike and looked over his shoulder to see you get on it too.

When he was sure that you were already sitting and holding him tightly that's when he drive off the parking lot. He parked his bike swiftly in front of the coffee shop and took off his helmet. You gave him your helmet after you went down.

"Thank you for the ride." You smiled at him before kissing his cheek and running away fast.

You went in the coffee shop and saw Jae Hyun standing behind the counter. He waved his hand and you smiled at him.

"Good afternoon." You said before you went in the staff room.

"Afternoon to you too." He replied before you went out of the staff room, now with an apron on and tied hair.

You stood beside him and he suddenly put a baseball cap on your head the same color as your apron. "New addition to our uniform." He chuckled.

The customer cleared his throat and you both turn to him. Your mouth parted when you saw Taehyung standing at the counter with a grim face. He doesn't glance at you, he only had his eyes on Jae Hyun which you could consider as a glare.

"Yes, hi. May I take your order?" Jae Hyun entertained him while you stare at Taehyung.

"Yes, I'd like some lemonade. Less ice." He said not taking off his eyes on Jae Hyun who was punching his order.

"Anything, sir?"

"Yes, let her serve my drink." He said, finally glancing at you.

Jae Hyun glance at you and you smiled at him apologetically. Jae Hyun glance back at Taehyung, "Yes, sir. I'll take note of that. Name?" He asked.

You glance at Taehyung who now had his glare at you. "Taehyung. Kim Taehyung." He said.

"We'll just serve your drink, sir. Thank you." Jae Hyun said after Taehyung paid for his drink.

He sat on far corner facing the counter. Jae Hyun turned to you, "That's the same guy who fetched you last time, right?" He asked.

"Uh, yeah." You answered awkwardly.

"He's scary." He said handing you the tray with a lemonade.

You walk toward Taehyung who now had his eyes on his phone. You put down his drink on the table. "Here's you drink. What are you doing here?" You asked in silence, almost a whisper.

He looks up, "I'm here as a customer. Who is he?" He asked, glancing at Jae Hyun.

"My colleague."

He nodded, "Ah, colleague. First, he's a driver, now he's your nanny." He hissed.

Your brows furrowed at him, "What?"

"Nothing." He said, avoiding your eyes.

You can see his ears turning red and his sharp glance. You tried to understand what he said. You remembered the last time he went here. You mentioned that your colleague walks you to the bus stop before. Maybe he figured out that Jae Hyun was that colleague. You smiled. Is he jealous?

"He's just a colleague, Taehyung. He's a good friend too. And you're my boyfriend." You said.

You saw him still trying to avoid your eyes though failing. In the end, he looks up at you, biting down his lip to stop himself from smiling.

"First, you stole a kiss from me then I saw you with that guy putting on your cap like I do with your helmet, now you're telling me that. You really know how to play me." He hissed that made you smile.

"Cheer up, boyfriend." You said before you chuckled.

You took off your cap and put it on his head before going back to the counter. You served some more drinks while he glance at you from time to time. Jae Hyun nudge you at the counter after a while.

He nodded at Taehyung, "He's calling you." He said as you saw Taehyung putting his hand up.

You nodded as you get your notepad and approach him. "What's your order, sir?" You asked him as you ready your pen.

"Going professional now, are we?" He chuckled, "Okay, may I order you?" He said.

You looked at him. He had this grin in his face that made you roll your eyes. "I'm sorry, sir, but I am already unavailable. Anything else?"

He hummed, "Okay. May I know what time your shift will end then?" He asked.

He took off your cap, running his finger on his hair before setting the cap on the table.

"Just an hour more." You said before you smiled and left him.