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softie00 · 3 months

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sweetest lies | c.s (01)

prologue // next // series m.list

pairing: choi san x f!reader

word count: 3.6k

warning: nothing i can think of

you can't help but to be annoyed as you shove through the crowd, the blasting music and odors of party people something you were once familiar with, but now only serving as a reminder of the person you used to be.

you weren't gonna come, initially--stuck at your job until the evening and your boss incredibly hard to convince, having made sure to tell yunho beforehand there was a chance you weren't gonna make it.

but afterall, it is yunho, and you were most likely gonna do anything, promising your boss you'll work overtime tomorrow if you have to, if he just let you off this once.

it was the fastest you ever got ready, your hair barely done, makeups too light for your liking, and dress thrown on sloppily, but you still look good.

you know you still do by the amount of eyes and heads hurled your direction while you attempt to free from the overwhelming crowd, relieved to finally find a space where you can breathe even for a second.

you turn and sneak glances past many strangers' heads, hoping to catch at least someone you recognize and knows about yunho's whereabouts, considering the text you sent him fifteen minutes ago went completely unanswered.

something you always hated about parties, whether when you were still into them or not, was that you didn't know more than half of the people that showed up, and this one is no exception--despite being held by yunho at one of the smaller estates owned by his family, everyone either looks like rich kids living a double life or three years younger than you.

yunho usually isn't one for parties either, but he needed something different; something new from dinners and sweet smiles with his parents and people twice his age.

"fancy seeing you here," a voice from behind makes you snap around, finding hongjoong with a cup in his hand and something amusing in his eyes.

"thought you got too good for this kind of setting."

the roll of your eyes is apparent, and you don't bother to hide it.

"i'm not here to get high or whatever, i'm here for yunho."

"of course you are," he snides, the tone and attitude all the evidence that you're just wasting time talking to him, and that even after all these years, hongjoong still holds a little grudge for you.

you cross your arms, leaning to one side to show the impatience.

"so it will be nice if you just tell me where he is," you add.

hongjoong shrugs, taking a sip of his drink nonchalantly, speaking in a dull tone, "haven't seen or heard of him since i got here."

"why the hell do i even bother," you mutter under your breath, about to bring the search somewhere else when he speaks up again.

"why don't you ask the one person that would actually know where he is? or are you too good for that, too?"

you squint, confused, until he nods his head another direction and you follow, landing right into the view of the kitchen and to someone you know all too well just from the back.

his hands on some poor girl's waist and lips running along with hers as her grip tighten at his disheveled hair, his body pressing her forward onto the counter, the both of them making out like there won't be a tomorrow.

"no thanks," you dismiss, managing to reframe from an eyeroll, pushing past hongjoong but not before you catch the smirk on him.

you're only here for one thing, and the fact the place's already starting to become suffocating due to hongjoong's jabs alone, a run-in with san will just be one more reason to leave.

you persist through the smell of cigarettes lingering the hallways, couples making out, and people who's entirely not in their right minds, for the next ten minutes--by the time you realize yunho's still yet to reply, you're already upstairs and so sure he won't be in any of these bedrooms as well.

you love yunho, you really do. your heart full of respect and admiration for him, but something that always bothered you is his bouts of silence.

periodic times where he'd just disappear and wouldn't tell you the reasons why, except some quick assurances about the pointless need to worry about it.

you're sure sooner or later, he will make an appearance and you'll both go through the routine all over again, but it's getting a tad ridiculous having to look for him at his own party.

where exactly would a sophisticated and proper man like yunho who doesn't engage in any of the crazy party shenanigans be at?

not downstairs where mostly everyone is, neither is he in the hallways or any of the rooms upstairs, which leads you to the last option of having to look outside in the late november weather that pierces your skin, making you flinch from the cold breeze.

you're more so agitated by the uncomfortableness, the fit you have on not suited for the season at all because you thought you'd be spending most of the time in the house.

so busy being annoyed and bothered, you don't even comprehend it's the backyard you've found way to with a swingset at the corner, your attention finally pulled from the shivering at the sweet sounding feminine laughter.

nothing could've prepared you for what you're about to see.

your face drops immediately at the sight of yunho, who's able to habitually bring a smile out, but your expression stays cold, watching as the man you dedicated almost your entire life to loving, tuck a strand of hair behind someone else's ear, the giggle from her almost too familiar, you don't even want to believe it.

"yunho?" you let out, his name slipping before you can even register, your voice full of hurt and disbelief.

he shoots to the direction of the call, the lovesick expression turning into all kinds of panic and horror, realizing you've been standing there and probably saw everything.

everything he's been hiding, and things that if you had just given him a bit more time, he would've told you... eventually.

"what the fuck?" you continue, unable to read your own tone if it is said out of pain or anger, but you just know that whatever you're feeling right now is a mixture of both.

and just when you think it can't get any worse, your suspicion of the voice and frame turns out to be right as your sister turns head your direction, and if that's guilt in her eyes, you don't believe it.

she knows about your feelings for yunho, and if there's anything she shouldn't touch or mess with (amongst other things she already did), is getting inbetween you and him. yet, she still did.

still chose to get close to him and do whatever the fuck they just did right now.

it feels like every other instances where you lost to her, whether when your parents would flaunt her or when anyone else would ignore you in favor of her.

you wish to say the loss is new, but the only thing different about it is that it's yunho this time.

"y/n, i--"

"--can explain?" you finish for him, one eyebrow raised and anticipating of what kind of lies he'll come up with on the spot. "because it looks like you ignored me all this time because you were too busy with my own sister."

he opens his mouth to say something, but you already very clearly saw the scene for what it is, now backed against a wall with nothing left but the truth to say.

truth he doesn't get to tell because you're already turning your back on them with an unbelievable sigh, yunho knowing how you are and the tendency you have to avoid your problems. run from them and mask them under the pretense of something else.

you want him to come after you, apologize and show even the smallest of guilt that it was a mistake. choosing your sister was a mistake and something he would never do, especially because he knows how you feel about her.

but he doesn't. the only footsteps out in the night are yours heading back inside, and at the small call of his name by your sister, it breaks your heart how comfortable and perfect it sounds coming from her.

once again, you lost.

you can count on two fingers the crushes you've developed over your lifetime, the count stopping shortly when yunho came along--someone who's too perfect in every way, you wonder how someone else is gonna ever beat him, because it truly feels like you'll never get over him.

you were used to disappointment and regrets, but you've never experienced a heartbreak before. that soul crushing feeling almost like grief, going through all the stages of denial and anger, unfortunately still yet to come to acceptance.

that all this time, yunho is seeing your sister behind your back.

you can't even begin to think of how it happened, or the extents they went to in order to keep it from you.

that yunho of all people, the one person you thought could never hurt you, is the one causing you to go through the most painful betrayal right now.

because he knows you and knows that some of your biggest insecurities has to do with your sister.

after running off with yunho nowhere in the line of sight behind you, you wind up at a nearby bar, attempting to drown your sorrow the only way you knew how... by indulging in old addiction and habits.

though you've quit smoking, alcohol is still something you struggle trying to keep away from, a drink way too easier to give into, lying to yourself that it'd be just a few sips until suddenly, you're hazed in the mind and can barely recall where you're at.

but this time, you don't care how much you're drinking as long as it's numbing the ache in your heart.

the bartender's refusing to give any more given your state--head buried inside your arms as you groan into the bar counter with a few passersby lasering you weird looks from behind.

it's probably not very smart, out alone and mind not in the greatest state in such an environment where you could most likely get taken advantage of, so you stay somewhat alerted for that.

just in case anyone tries anything innapropriate, because you know all the tricks by now.

so when you feel a presence slowly taking up the space next to you, the plop as they sit down on the bar stool, your fight or flight is activated, picking your head up expecting to tell another guy to fuck off, only for your jaw to drop slightly at who it is.

"san?" you question, eyes squinting at the same time because you can't think of any reasons why he of all people is here.

if he saw what happened back there, then he's only here to make fun of you for it. insult you and take jabs because it's what he's best at.

san can't possibly give a shit about you.

"yeah?" he answers as he just stares you down, almost like he takes pity on your situation.

"why the fuck are you here? don't tell me you followed me."

"i followed you because i knew you'd do something stupid like this," he says, taking a $100 dollar bill out of his pocket and shoving it toward the bartender because you most likely haven't paid. "now get up."

his command is met by a series of protests, your other hand quickly trying to release the hold he has on your arm attempting to get your butt off the seat, but you're unfortunately not as stubborn and snappy under the influence, unable to hold your ground against a sober san.

your entire body falls forward immediately when on two feet, san catching you with his arms, pressing you against his chest as a smirk creeps onto the corner of his lips.

he knows where the lack of reaction is coming from, but he still can't help but to be smug, seeing you so powerless and weak when you were usually the opposite, opting for yelling about how you want nothing to do with him the normal.

he guides you by the small of your back, fingers on your bare skin that ignites something in him, and trying to exit the bar against your stubborn feet that won't move due to the sleepy state you've somewhat slipped into along the way.

"give me your car key," he says once at the parking lot, watching as you whine groggily while one of your hands dig at your purse in search for the key, passing it to him and almost dropping it in the process.

everything after that is a blur, more so than what already is, only recalling the bits of san settling you onto the passenger seat.

you wake up with a throbbing headache, able to tell right away it's from the drinks you had last night. but other than that, you can't remember anything.

how you got here and where you're at, the place completely unfamiliar, you don't think you've ever been here before.

"oh, good. you're awake."

but the recognizable voice snaps you to his figure sitting at a desk just right beside the bed and on his laptop. it's then that some recollection starts flooding back, all the overwhelming emotions trying to overtake each other.

hurt, betrayal, confusion, and anger.

yunho and your sister for the first half, and san for the other because you can slightly recall speaking to him at the bar before he did whatever he did.

"where the hell am i?" you ask, sitting up to glare at him and checking the room out once more. you suppose it's quite tidy and nice.

your outfit is the same but just slightly washed out and wrinkly, and if you had a mirror, you can already picture the smeared mascara running under your eyelashes.

"my condo," he replies casually, eyes refusing to move from the laptop.

a quick silence passes before a horrible thought comes over, blurting it out the instant it sinks on you.

"did we--"

but the sheer horror in your voice has san turning so fast just to cut you off with a "no", following by a deep, sarcastic chuckle.

"seriously, y/n. what kind of monster do you think i am?"

well, excuse you for assuming because he's given you every reasons to. every single encounter and run-ins, he never missed the chance to throw stupid innuendos about getting in bed with you.

"whatever," you dismiss, yanking the blanket off and scooting to the edge of the bed, making san raise an eyebrow in return.

"where are you going?"

"leaving," you hiss, at the same time pushing your feet into the heels that are found sprawled all over the floor and stealing a quick glance at the alarm clock on the nightstand that brings out a sigh.

"i'm already late for work and everything seems to be going to shit, so i don't need any of this right now."

san scoffs and you try to not let it bother you, finishing up the last bits of your heels before standing up, so close to leaving the room when he starts talking again.

"a thank you would be nice, you know."

he says it so casually but you know that he's hidden a smirk and satisfaction under all the pretense because he loves it when he has even the smallest of hold over you--whether when he's right or succeeded in convincing you to feel indebted.

"i didn't ask for you to take me home," you reply, arms crossed and turning around, something sharp and meaning to hurt in your delivery.

his attention is no longer on the screen of his laptop and has shifted to you completely, figure walking up to peer down with a look that might intimidate you if this isn't a scene that's already happened one too many times between the both of you.

"if i didn't, something could've happened to you. you were shitface drunk."

you smirk before blowing off the concern with a scoff.

"well maybe i prefer the alternative than to have come home with you."

during university days, all of yours and san's friends were so sure that all the squabbling and jabs at one another was just an outlet to release all the suppressed sexual tension.

though you will admit he's attractive--a fact you've seen him use to his advantage many times, there was simply nothing more to it other than the fact you couldn't stand him and still can't.

"ridiculous," he huffs under his breath, a rare instance of annoyance crossing his expression.

he enjoys bantering with you to some extent, often times intrigued by the outrageous things you'd say because it gets him off in some weird, messed up way.

but it's not fun anymore when you take it too seriously, and especially when he does something genuinely (which he doesn't often) and it still doesn't seem to faze you.

as if you've already built an image of him and refuses to change it no matter the depth he goes to--often times leading to a cycle, because he can get impatient and frustrated.

instead of snarking back, your voice actually drops to a much deliberate tone, the words not wanting to spill because it's still all too painful, but it does.

"if you followed me yesterday, then you most likely already knew what happened at the party and why i ended up at the bar. so if you will just let me leave in peace."

considering you promised your boss to make up for the time yesterday and still haven't even shown almost an hour into the shift, you'll be lucky if he lets you off with a warning.

but it doesn't look like san takes pity on your situation, something shifting in him as he stares at you with a gaze that makes you just slightly nervous.

he clears his throat.

"let me ask you something seriously," he says, taking a step forward that makes you swallow a lump. "did you actually believed that this entire time, yunho wasn't seeing anyone?" he ends it with a head tilt that conjures the lump back.

because you did. the entire time, you really fucking believed he wasn't seeing anyone.

"did you not ever questioned all the times he'd disappear or make excuses? and did you ever stop to think about the improbability that someone of his age never had any interactions with other women?"

the sinking realization is unlike anything you've ever experienced before, and if you thought seeing yunho with your sister back then was awful, this pain can almost kill you.

all this time, you were nothing but foolish and delusional.

san can see both the stages of denial and anger in your face, some tears threatening to get out but you manage to hold them back in. you don't like crying because the last thing you want to be seen as is weak. san knows that.

"if he was fucking other people, then why couldn't he just tell me himself?"

"because he didn't want to hurt you," he unveils, much to your stunned reaction. "he knew you'd lash out and act exactly the way you did when you saw them back at the party."

you can only blink in confusion, like all the information are new and unbelievable. the fact yunho really thought so low of you, one you're not sure how to feel.

but a fact more surprising and intriguing than that, is that the entire time... san knew.

"so you knew about him and my sister and whoever fuck else, but still chose to keep it from me? lie to my face and play along with your brother?"

“you followed me?”

“of course. i heard the conversation at the table. you know, if you’re going to get married off to my brother soon, we might as well get it over with; go into one of these rooms. we might not get the chance ever again. i’ll make it quick, and this will just be between you and me.”

san retracts from the sudden accusation that now all of a sudden, he's become the main culprit. he can't help but to feel some sort of way about it, opting for speaking his mind although it often ends up in destruction.

"it's not like we were ever on good terms and you would've listened to me. but i also don't owe you anything because you never see me in a good light anyways."

he always find himself being hot and cold with you. one second filled with regrets for the terrible things he'd say, then the next, he's spewing some more, and you just so happen to be the only other person just as horrible to say even worse things in return.

"but if i knew your girlfriend was fucking someone else behind your back, i sure would've told you," you spit, eyebrows pinched in the whole time.

"it's not my fault you couldn't get the hint that if yunho actually wanted to ask you out, he would've a long time ago."

san regrets it as soon as he finishes the sentence, but it consumes him completely when the anger on you is no longer but trails of hurt and sadness.

"i--"

"--fuck. you," you cut him off, not sparing another second before you're already out the door.

and if san thinks he saw what looks like a tear, he convinces himself it isn't, because you won't cry in front of him, and you definitely won't cry because of a comment he made.

but he did try to make things right the best he knew how; even then, it's never good enough in your eye.

next // series m.list

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#finally started reading and my god i miss ur san so much 😩😭😭#but damn this chapter was ruthless #my heart #at the same time i love love love their bickering and hatred and ofc that hot tension😩#this angst was so good u did amazing at making my heart hurt hahaha #i love seeing the different emotions rage and insecurities and i know this will be such a good read overall i am ready for the HURT BRING IT #😭😭🫂💙💙

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softie00 · 3 months

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I'm sad to see so many writers that have deactivated lately 😞

#i be thinking of reading something and boom they gone 😭

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softie00 · 4 months

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I saw this edit of cold ceo yoongi and now.... I need to read that. Any fic recs 🥺

#yoongi x reader

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softie00 · 4 months

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Kim Taehyung- Insecurities

As the day of the celebration drew nearer, her desire to attend the event intensified. The mere thought of immersing herself in the festivities, surrounded by laughter and merriment, filled her with an inexplicable longing. The idea had been planted in her mind by the enigmatic gentleman who had effortlessly captured her attention from the moment they met.

His presence alone was enough to ignite a spark within her, his charm and charisma captivating her every thought. Like the sun, he radiated a beauty that was impossible to ignore, drawing people towards him like moths to a flame. His enigmatic aura seemed to envelop her, leaving her in awe of his magnetic personality.

But as the day approached, doubts began to creep into her mind. How could she possibly match the allure of this captivating gentleman? Would she be able to hold her own in his presence, or would she pale in comparison? Uncertainty began to cloud her thoughts, casting a shadow over her initial excitement.

She yearned to partake in the festivities, to revel in the joyous atmosphere that awaited her. The anticipation of dancing under the twinkling lights, surrounded by laughter and music, was almost too much to bear. But the fear of not living up to the enigmatic gentleman's charm began to gnaw at her, threatening to dampen her spirits.

As he gently grasped her hand, his touch sent a wave of warmth through her entire being. The soft caress of his thumb against her knuckles had a mesmerizing effect, momentarily distracting her from the passing scenery outside the taxi window. Lost in her own thoughts, she finally glanced up at him, only to be met with a reassuring smile that instantly melted away any lingering doubts. His eyes, brimming with affection, scanned her party attire, appreciating every detail with an intensity that made her heart flutter.

"You're beautiful."

As she looked into his eyes, she saw a flicker of concern, a glimmer of understanding. He knew her so well, could read her like an open book. With a gentle touch, he reassured her, his fingertips tracing delicate patterns on her hand. His love was unconditional, his patience boundless.

But amidst the overwhelming affection, a pang of guilt tugged at her heart. How could she be so consumed by her own emotions when this day was meant to honor him? He, who had always put her needs before his own, who had shown her unwavering support and kindness. She couldn't help but feel selfish for allowing her own insecurities to overshadow his moment of celebration. In that moment, she realized that her worries were nothing more than figments of her imagination, mere illusions created by her own mind.

As they arrived at the venue, they gracefully exited the taxi, their fingers delicately entwined, a symbol of their deep connection. Standing before the majestic building, Taehyung wore a reassuring smile, guiding her into the grand banquet where the prestigious award ceremony was unfolding. The stadium was adorned with exquisite decorations, creating an enchanting atmosphere that captivated her senses. Surrounded by a sea of stunning individuals, she couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. Taehyung, with his strikingly handsome appearance, effortlessly blended into the glamorous crowd, while she couldn't shake off the feeling of being a mere outsider in this dazzling world.

The gazes of the other idols lingered on her, their whispers exchanged in hushed tones as the two of them walked past. She could sense their judgment, their unspoken doubts about her presence in this place. Deep down, she knew she didn't fit in here, that she was an outsider in their glamorous world. Yes, she could play the role, donning exquisite gowns, styling her hair flawlessly, and applying makeup with precision. In photographs, she might even deceive the eyes, but she would never truly belong among them.

The glamorous gowns and flawless makeup were just a facade, a mask she wore to fit in. Deep down, she knew that beneath the layers of glamour, she was still no one. She couldn't help but wonder if they could see through her carefully constructed image, if they could sense the insecurities that lay hidden beneath her confident exterior.

Sitting at the table with Taehyung, one of the most revered idols in the industry, only intensified her feelings of inadequacy. She couldn't help but compare herself to him, his effortless charm and natural talent. It seemed as if he belonged here, effortlessly blending in with the other idols, while she stood out like a sore thumb.

The weight of their judgment and her own self-doubt became too much to bear.

She politely excused herself from the dining table, murmuring a sudden urge to visit the lavatory, and gracefully made her way down the familiar corridor that had previously guided them towards the grand arena. A surge of tears welled up in her eyes, causing a sharp sting, and she quickened her pace in an attempt to escape into the soothing embrace of the nocturnal breeze. The mere thought of being present in that place was already a source of embarrassment, but the prospect of being caught shedding tears was simply unbearable. As she gently pushed open the heavy doors, a refreshing gust of cool air tenderly caressed her flushed cheeks. Stepping outside, she allowed the doors to close behind her, and in that moment, she surrendered to the overwhelming emotions, allowing the tears to cascade freely down her face, while tenderly cradling herself in her own embrace.

She had been drowning in a sea of despair, her mind a chaotic storm of insecurities and negative thoughts. Every passing moment felt like an eternity, as time seemed to stretch and warp under the weight of her emotions. The world around her became a blur, as she was consumed by the darkness within her own mind. Unbeknownst to her, someone had stepped outside with her. Taehyung, with his kind heart and empathetic nature, had sensed her distress when she had left. He had seen the way her shoulders slumped, the heaviness in her eyes, and he couldn't bear to see her suffer alone. Leaving behind the award show and celebrations, he had made his way a her, after herdetermined to comfort her.

As he approached her, a gentle touch graced her bare shoulders, causing her to startle and turn her attention to the side. There he stood, Taehyung, his eyes filled with concern and compassion. Overwhelmed with guilt, tears cascaded down her face, mingling with the old ones. She couldn't believe that Taehyung had forsaken the joyous festivities to be by her side. The weight of her self-doubt and self-hatred intensified, as she questioned why someone as kind and caring as him would waste his time on someone like her.

She felt an overwhelming urge to express the inner turmoil she was experiencing, but her voice failed her. Her throat tightened, making her words weak and inadequate in conveying the intensity of her emotions. "I want a better body. I want perfect skin," she admitted, her vulnerability evident in her insecure words. "I want to be perfect like all of your other friends."

Taehyung reached out his hand gently, carefully wiping away the stray tears on her cheeks, before embracing her delicate figure warmly. "I will love you in any form you take," he whispered softly, his fingertips tenderly caressing her cold skin. Overwhelmed by his affection, she couldn't help but feel undeserving of such devotion, especially from someone as extraordinary as him. Suddenly, it was as if he had the ability to understand her deepest thoughts, as he pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes with deep intensity. "My love, I know you may not see yourself as I do," he admitted, his gaze filled with unwavering sincerity, "But please trust me when I say that in my eyes, you are perfect." As she looked into his eyes, she saw a reflection of her true self - a person worthy of love and admiration. His words were like a balm to her wounded soul, healing the scars of self-doubt that had haunted her for years. In his presence, she felt safe, protected, and valued. The weight of his love and acceptance washed over her, melting away the insecurities that had plagued her for so long. She had always felt like an outsider, never quite fitting into the mold idol-society had created. But she fit in with Taehyung- With him she felt seen, understood, and cherished.

Taehyung's touch was gentle yet electrifying, sending shivers down her spine. His fingertips traced delicate patterns on her skin, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake. It was as if his touch had the power to ignite a fire within her, awakening a newfound confidence and self-assurance. She couldn't help but wonder how someone like Taehyung, with his magnetic charm and captivating presence, could see perfection in her. But his unwavering sincerity and genuine affection erased any doubts that lingered in her mind. His love was not based on superficial beauty or societal standards; it ran deeper, reaching the core of her being.

In that moment, she felt a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness that had consumed her. It was as if a ray of sunlight had broken through the storm clouds. Together, they stood in the midst of her turmoil, finding comfort in each other's presence. Taehyung's selflessness and understanding became a beacon of light, guiding her towards self-acceptance. And as they stood there, the whirlwind of emotions began to subside, replaced by a newfound sense of hope and resilience. In that moment, she realized that she was deserving of love and compassion, despite her flaws and struggles.

-Taehyung P.O.V. -

His attention was caught by the subtle change in her demeanor when she mentioned her need to visit the restroom. Without meeting his gaze, she gracefully rose from the table. As he observed her moving further away, he couldn't help but notice the weight that burdened her shoulders, causing them to slump. Her eyes, once filled with light, now carried a profound weariness that hadn't been present before. It was evident that if she was enduring any pain, she refused to let him know. After a brief pause, he too stood up from the table and quietly trailed the path she had taken towards the exit doors.

As he followed her, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss. The air around them seemed heavy with unspoken words, and he couldn't help but wonder what had caused this sudden change in her demeanor. As she reached the exit doors, he noticed her quickening her pace, as if trying to escape from something. His heart ached at the sight of her retreating figure, knowing that she was carrying a burden that she didn't want to burden him with. With each step he took, he felt a mix of concern and determination. He couldn't bear the thought of her suffering alone, and he knew that he had to be there for her, no matter what.

Observing her as she gracefully walked out, he patiently waited a while before finally leaving the premises himself. The sight of her trying to maintain composure, her arms tightly wrapped around her, caused a pang of sorrow in his heart. However, what truly devastated him were the tears that cascaded effortlessly down her delicate face. How had he failed to recognize her pain? How had he not seen the overwhelming burden she carried?

As he caught up to her, he gently placed a hand on her shoulder, silently offering his support. She turned to him, her eyes filled with a mixture of guilt and embarrassment. Despite the flaws that she perceived in her appearance, such as the crimson tinge encircling her eyes and the rosy hue of her nose, he couldn't help but be completely captivated by her exquisite allure. Her beauty, in his eyes, was simply irresistible. Even though she believed she appeared disheveled, he saw her as nothing short of breathtaking, a truly authentic and captivating individual.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. She confessed her struggles, her fears, and the pain that had been consuming her. He listened intently, his heart breaking with each word she uttered. He reassured her that he was there for her, that she didn't have to face her demons alone.

"I want a better body." You look so pretty.

"I wan perfect skin." Pretty like the wind.

"I want to be perfect like all your other friends." Every time I see you, I feel adrenaline.

Without saying a word, he reached out and wiped away her tears before wrapping his arms around her in a comforting embrace. "I will love you in any form you take." He knew that as they journeyed through life together, he would continuously rediscover the depths of his love for her, much like the countless stars that decorate the night sky. In that moment, he could feel her body relax against his, as if finally allowing herself to let go of the weight she had been carrying.

With a tender gesture, he slowly withdrew to meet her gaze, confessing softly, his heart heavy with emotion, how truly captivating he found her, and how deeply he cherished her. "I know you don't see yourself the way i do," he murmured. "But please trust me when I say that in my eyes, you are perfect."

His gaze fixated on the profound impact his words and actions had on her, as they shattered the gloomy haze that clouded her thoughts and restored a radiant gleam to her eyes. With unwavering attention, he observed her gradual acceptance of the profound depth of his love for her. As his fingertips delicately caressed her skin, he sensed the goosebumps that arose, a testament to the tenderness of his touch. In that moment, he had successfully brought her back from the depths of despair and provided her with the reassurance she desperately needed. The grand festivities that once consumed their attention were now a distant memory, for it was in this secluded space that their connection truly flourished.

"I want to kiss you." His longing to feel her lips against his own was undeniable, yet this time he decided to express his desire openly. It was not his usual approach, as he would often seize the moment without uttering a word. However, he believed that by voicing his intentions, he would bring her joy. As he gazed into her eyes, he noticed a gentle smile forming on her face, confirming his intuition. In response, she leaned closer, her lips slightly puckered, and without hesitation, he met her halfway, their lips intertwining in a passionate embrace. In that instant, a sense of harmony washed over them, as if all was right in the world once more.

#taehyung fanfic #i loved this so much omg 😭

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softie00 · 4 months

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Run From Me Masterlist | K.TH

You ran away from him. Again. What did this make, now? How many times had he let you slip through his fingers? As much as he loved to tease, the game of cat and mouse had long since lost its humor. This new game, this punishment…Taehyung hated it.

p. vampire!taehyung x vampire hunter!reader

g. soulmates - enemies to lovers - reincarnation

r. 18+

w. mentions of blood - murder - mentions of torture - verbal threats - blood play - blood drinking (vampires duh!) - physical violence - eventual smut - warnings will be updated as the story goes on...

cwc. 2k

an. dni and support banner made by @benkeibear, banner by @outromoni and fic betaed by @theharrowing

✘ one ✘ two ✘ three ✘ four ✘ five

retired banners

#taehyung fic #so so good omg

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softie00 · 6 months

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and let the history books name joe biden, rishi sunak, justin trudeau, emmanuel macron, ursula von der leyen and every other world leader who did not step in to prevent the genocide of palestine as cold-blooded murderers. may they face a shred of the immeasurable pain and suffering they allowed to be committed against 2.2. million innocent lives.

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softie00 · 7 months

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by fotografiaeastronomia

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softie00 · 7 months

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hyperfixations are so scary like yeah this could be a month long thing or i might be thinking of it everyday seven months from now. no way to tell

#RIGHT

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softie00 · 7 months

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㋡🥀

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softie00 · 7 months

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㋡🥀

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softie00 · 7 months

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"From her place at the delivery stool her eyes roamed across the unblemished midnight sky. There were innumerable stars prancing around the black vastness accompanying the moon as they danced a soft tango together. Nights were serene; peaceful and she always found herself enthralled in it. The twinkling seams of the stars were dazzling yet there was no way she could look away." I absolutely felt fondness how readers great great grandmother role was for being the first one in their family in being a healer; at that a woman. I really enjoyed this back story, woman are amazing 💙 what I noticed was both of them always had this love for the night sky and watching the stars, I found that so endearing 🥺🥺 it felt like a connection between the two.

An eternity. Seems like ages away but our perception of forever is but mere speck in our reality because to the people out there—living, laughing, loving, life is dazed and comes and goes in the blink of an eye but within the barriers, behind the unchanged days and the repetitious routine your eternity has exceeded the five years you’d been in here and it seemed roads away from where you stood in that moment." This description was everything, I had various feelings as I read this, this was quite a beautiful statement.

"The words bounced in your head, their kinetic force dented the delicate walls of your brain. You just played their predicament over and over in a continuous loop. You were alive, breathing but you were as good as dead." Each word felt punctuated as I kept reading, the feelings emitted through, such a great writer for writing expressively throughout I'm in awe.

"Was there such a place on earth where the heavens met its end? A place where you could climb up the stars as you would a ladder and swim amongst them forever." Gorgeous, its like reading my own internal thoughts through this that's conveyed in an elegant manner.

“I have never had the liberty to leave but I believe I’ll be but a faint memory.” 🥺🥺🥺

“Well they certainly bring life to the place.” the dried flowers 💐 that was sweet of Tae to like

Tae smiled so tenderly it felt as if you were floating on water—as if you were being swayed aimlessly on a body of water. Allowing the curvatures of his mouth to direct you as they pleased. It felt so refreshing having someone smile at you that way. You couldn’t quite get enough of it." There's something about the way this is expressed, its like a hidden expression that made me feel so warm. I genuinely felt the smile bringing warmth inside my body. Wow. I loved the description and Tae so much 💙

"Promise. The density of the word was far too great and while you wanted to believe Tae’s dulcet words, you knew that even if unintentionally he would forget about your existence the moment he left." This just... hit me, a mixture of hope with fantasy, a split between both.

“Perhaps I was in search of my princess.” AGAHSJSJA crying i absolutely loved his energy and wit that they both expressed throughout their meeting 🥺 this yae got me feeling so giddy and ugh I loved his character here!!

“So narcissistic,” you heard him gasp, “perhaps you are a descendent of royals after all.” hahha if only she knew

“every night as we lay under the same sky, let’s both count the stars until we finally get to reunite once more.” ugh this was so so cute and romantic.

“but that doesn’t mean you are forced to reciprocate something you cannot remember.” it felt so lovely to see how regardless of the time spent before, they both have this understanding and boundaries between the two .

“I cannot remember it,” he spoke barely above a whisper, “but I can feel the way my heart races when you come in my proximity. I felt it during our meeting. I feel it even now.”

"There were successions of shooting stars ornamenting the heavens and finally you reached the breath-taking place where the earth and the sky meet." What a alluring way to write something so profound yet stimulating. Wow. Loved this all seriously.

“We have a whole eternity for that darling.” 🥺🥺🥺

a years interlude | kth

kth x reader (f)

genre: 19th century; one-shot

rating: mature audiences only (18+)

summary: a story of pain, healing, love, and the yearning of the heart.

warnings: slight mention of blood; non-descriptive (brief) mention of dead fetus (lost baby at birth); memory loss; slight fluff; penetrative sex; cunnilingus; clitorial stimulation; nipple play; hand job; taehyung looking like a 19th century prince in his photofolio; if non-19th century things are mentioned i am so sorry, i tried to do as much research as possible but so many personal things went down while I was writing this that research was slim.

word count: 10,9 thousand words

posted: friday january 6, 2023

The Levate was your home. It had been assigned as your unruly fate far before you were even a fetus in your mother’s womb.

It was your destiny.

The tale commenced about two-hundred years prior, with your great grandmother. She was a mere lass—young, beautiful and most importantly educated girl. It was a rarity for its time. Initially, the men in her family, your family, were destined healers but your great grandmother’s father's bloodline was referred to as fragile and it was ‘cursed’ with just daughters.

One after another after another.

A couple of years passed before the men of the village realized that their people would only benefit in allowing the women of your family to become a part of the legacy and aid those in need. . Especially, the wives of the select few who were in need of assistance during childbirth, word had it women were growing uncomfortable in being presented with male assistance while they carried their babies for nearly nine months and then having inexperienced servants assisting during deliveries— numerous women left to neighboring villages which implemented the requirement of having qualified female only aids during their pregnancies and in their labor confinements.

After a rather hefty consensus the people of the town spoke and your family was granted their titles as former healers and reputable midwives.

Upon shadowing her nearly retired father and the accoucheuse from neighboring villages, your great grandmother learned the complexity of your modern medicament rapidly. She was very astute, stretching as far as the barriers of your society allowed her to reach. Truth was despite everything she was still a woman and was only allowed a speck of liberty—and one single mistake sent her down a bridle pathway of damnation for an eternity and her grave would be dug up by the Kim family.

The Kim’s were the most powerful family in the village, simulating the most vicious predators at the peak of the food chain. They were pythons while the rest of you were rodents. Their formidable force stemmed from their affluence leading them to soar like eagles in the expansive sky, high beyond the passing clouds—they were as close to royals as Hawkshead could attain.

Your great grandmother had been called on by Viscountess Kim to service in the delivery of what would be their fifth child. They were hoping for a male to supply as an eventual successor after being consecutively burdened by a string of daughters. The task was seemingly simple as she already had a hefty resume in delivering babies day in and day out but this particular delivery was. . arduous. The pressure was immense, she knew there was little room for error, and despite the dozen pound weight dragging from her shoulder, she graced her mind with confidence; the assurance of her skills and began her duty as a midwife.

Things began as usual, the dimly lit birth chamber was crowded by servants as they serviced Viscountess Kim any and all of her absurd requests ranging from kneading her feet beyond comfort to fetching her intricate suppers that could only be found a whole town away. The room was aromatized with the soft scents of chamomile, her remedy for easing the nerves. That was all she could provide but of course, medicine then, wasn’t what it is now.

Her duty was to sit and wait. And then sit and wait some more—until baby Kim has decided it was finally time to meet the world.

From her place at the delivery stool her eyes roamed across the unblemished midnight sky. There were innumerable stars prancing around the black vastness accompanying the moon as they danced a soft tango together. Nights were serene; peaceful and she always found herself enthralled in it. The twinkling seams of the stars were dazzling yet there was no way she could look away. Initially, there was a brief silence amongst the emergent storm sweeping across the dormitory, she recalled screaming; frantic screams. In the beginning they were muffled, so far away, for a brief second she had thought Lord Kim was chopping off someone's head down the corridor—except, it wasn’t.

Lady Kim was beginning to hyperventilate, she broke out in sweats, and the lady maids were flailing their arms in the air calling your attention, their attempt at getting her to snap out of her trance.

“We need help,” she’d heard from one of the many nameless figures accompanying the Viscountess.

“Just give me some space,” she abandoned her spot near the window now sitting at the foot of the bed, “fetch me more linens.”

She was heaving, trembling, gasping for air and her screams could likely be heard by the Levate. Her forehead glistened, “I need him out of me,” her breathing was heavy, “I need him out.”

There was a cold bead of sweat rolling down her back but she remained in her position waiting for baby Kim, (hopefully, a boy), to greet you with bright chocolate eyes and raucous cries. You instructed her to push, and she complied. Again, you communicated the same and she did as told. She pushed harder and harder, until the fetal head crowned.

She almost sighed with relief.

Almost.

But the room was eerily still.

Baby Kim, the baby boy, was now in her hands but he was not weeping—his eyes were closed, and his skin was a shade of periwinkle.

He was not breathing.

“How is my baby?” Lady Kim asked.

But she stood, completely still, the tiny body of what was supposed to be a healthy scion laid in her arms, unmoving.

“How is he?” She asked once again.

Your great grandmother’s skin glimmered in the dim candle light as the sweat trickled down her forehead. She quickly walked the boy to the baby bassinet and laid him down.

“Is he OK?” her pleas to know rumbled in the inner walls of your ears, and all you could do was rummage through your brain for an answer on what to do—this had never happened before. She’d always delivered healthy babies, always.

How could this happen? She had not pulled too hard, the mother seemed in good health. . What evil lurked in the shadows to drag this baby away from its mother before she even has the chance to hold him in her arms?

Lady Kim sat up on her elbows—her eyes were mimicking the sparkle of shining glass, she was shaking with anxiousness; fear.

“The baby-”she stammered, “h-he’s”

Words failed her. Her tongue felt heavy in her mouth and no matter how she tried to structure the news, sentences did not come easy to her.

“He’s what?” the Viscountess yelled, her voice vibrating through the walls like a high pitched sound wave, “how is my baby boy?”

“Baby Kim has passed on, Lady Kim. My sincerest apologies,” She bowed as her voice cracked delivering the unfortunate news.

The viscountess’ wails were inconsolable, they were haunting and your great grandmother couldn’t help but hang her head in shame. Everything her father taught her was flushed down the drain, her career as a healer was compromised and her life was not guaranteed at the sake of her failure.

All her certainties hung by a single thread and her freedom disintegrated when a lock and chain adorned her wrists and soon as Viscount Kim heard of the unfortunate events surrounding the birth and death of his only son. He—they blamed her for the entire thing, despite her best interest always being the delivery of a healthy boy. They did not listen to her, instead they ostracized her and held a trial to supply her culpability. Her charges included, ‘conspiring against the noble Kim.’

You closed her journal up and slouched on your rickety rocking chair, swinging back and forth lightly.

That was all written by her.

She wrote it as an autobiography for the following generations to understand—it was a reminder of the story you didn’t need to read because you knew it by heart; you lived it; you simulated her pain.

After the verdict was delivered by the counsel, composed of those hand selected by the Kim family, for the proceedings of an unjust trial. They were ready to send your great grandmother to be executed. Hastily, they came to the realization that our family were the only healers in Hawkshead and the nearest family of honorable medicinal knowledge settled days away from our village, so instead of ending her life. . They decided to sentence her and the women to follow to be banished, and sent her on exile to the Levate.

So they walked her to the outskirts nearing the barrier of the viridescent enchanted forrest—she was to reside there and if her knowledge was ever requested they would seek out for her, but that was not her only duty, she was to assist all men injured in the Levate and guide them out the barrier in the direction of the village.

It was the punishment of imprisonment without the shackles, but at least in a cell you had cell mates, guards, people around you—there was nothing but emerald pasture and brobdingnagian trees for miles into the dense forest.

Her husband and son stayed behind in Hawkshead and they continued the legacy of male healers while the women in our family were condemned by her mistake. We were sent to fend for ourselves in the estranged surroundings of the Levate as soon as it was decided by the Kim counsel. A lot of them wed and snuck their husbands in and out of the forest but it wasn't in your intention to subject a man through the complications of the barrier but specially you did not plan to contribute a child into the damnation of this curse. Your predestined beginning and end was as it was, your inevitable demise. There was nothing you could do about it but your principles—your conscience wouldn’t allow you to drag someone else to be a subject of this morbid ordeal and while residing in the Levate was out of your reach; celibacy was the only aspect of your life you had control over.

It’s been a continuity of the same thing, day after day, the same sky up above, the same redundant emerald leaves on the same golden tree branches.

Everything was the same.

It was revolting and it sent you on a spiral of drumming headaches, the same four walls in this same cabin, and the same scenery outdoors.

Five years down, an eternity to go.

Though you were promised occasional outings of aid, not a single person back in the village has requested your healing abilities for months now and no one ever stumbles past the barriers unless absolutely necessary. You were completely alone, left to rot in abandonment—the Kim counsel knew that but you were certain the infliction of isolation was their specialty for torture.

Nightfall approached quicker than expected that day but you supposed it was the repercussions of being cocooned behind your probing thoughts for a clock’s worth. After dining and changing into your nightgown, you found yourself laying down on the creaky bedstead, you kept your window open becoming astounded by the luminosity of the night sky. The pale crescent moon shone like a bright pearl, and the blanket of winking stars stretched to infinity. Their soft glint mimicked the flickering candle light of your neighbors back at the village, and for a single moment. . you weren’t forgotten, they were just a door away keeping you company until you were finally able to drift off into a deep slumber.

“There’s word in town about the death of the Lord Kim,” There were two girls walking by the southeastern border of the Levate, close to where you currently kneeled picking berries.

Although you could not see their faces, the youth and naivety in their tone was indication enough that they were young, far too young to acknowledge the gravity of their claims.

Being in seclusion was a dead man’s curse because despite the exigency of claims floating around the forest’ border you could never truly confirm its legitimacy.

One of the girls hushed the other, and they began their soft whispers but you could still hear. They were to keep away from the barrier, you should’ve probably warned them but their gossip was far more interesting.

“How could you even know of this?” one of the girls questioned, you didn’t dare peek out from your place behind the bushes to see who they were. . just listened, “what business have you in the Kim estate?”

“For starters, they called on that knowledgeable nurse from Lockwick and the lady maids have been spreading word around town.”

“I suppose you’re right but how could we be certain? They all hide so discreetly behind those golden gates.”

“Process of elimination obviously,” —you’d admit this is the most intel you have eavesdropped on in the last one thousand eight hundred and twenty five days. They continued, “The Kim daughters are all married off, their son is off on a voyage and Lady Kim was seen in town just two days ago. Who is the only person we have failed to see for weeks?”

“I suppose you’re right,” she continued in a whispering voice, “that still is no proof of his passing. I think we should wait and keep this to ourselves if we don’t want to end up like that girl who was banished there.” They were probably pointing into the Levate and were certainly referring to you.

Is that all you were in the village? A fable? A tactic to scare kids into respecting their elders? Did anyone even know what happened?

You sat on the soil which likely stained your blush pink skirt—you couldn’t bring yourself to care however.

‘like that girl’

‘that girl’

The words bounced in your head, their kinetic force dented the delicate walls of your brain. You just played their predicament over and over in a continuous loop. You were alive, breathing but you were as good as dead.

Noone remembered you or your name or what you stood for. Noone knew who you were anymore. You felt like an ant on a planet of giants—so insignificant and useless.

Your only consultation lay beside Lord Kim, in his deathbed if he was even dead. Your hope is rooted, that with his passing, the abolishment of the previous ancient laws and regulations would be mandated. This could be the opportunity to get out of here for good, to leave Hawkshead and live for yourself. You had never wished for the cessation of anyone before but you sure hoped there was a stone with his name engraved on it somewhere, especially after the hand he’s dealt in the suffrage of the women in your family, especially after he held onto the grudge of his ancestors as if they were his own.

Your brain was still frazzled by the rumors of the young girls, still, you attempted to map out who the following Viscount would be to serve as a successor. You doubt any of their daughters would come back, they are all married into wealth far richer than the Kim’s could even dream of. There was their eldest son who was off on a voyage and no one had seen sight of him for the last 11 years. No one knew exactly who he was anymore or what he looked like for that matter.

If speculation was right and Lord Kim has passed—their mysterious son should be coming into town. Perhaps, you could try and arrange a meeting with him, and argue your case.

You could be free.

At last there was hope. The possibility of a future you actually had the chance of living.

You skipped the rest of the way to the cabin. Your feet felt lighter against the verdure path—a buoyant spark coursed through your blood stream, the current sent you floating in mid-air. Intoxicated off ecstasy at the mere grasp of the potential freedom you so desperately craved.

You stood near the barrier.

You were still in the Levate but there was a shift in the surroundings you were so accustomed to. Your initial thought was to run once and for all but your thoughts kept you grounded right where you stood.

Of course, you’ve thought about escaping but if the journals had taught you anything it was that running away would only lead to your demise.

All of your ancestors who disappeared. . turned up in a wooden box days after. You supposed freedom in the afterlife was much better than no freedom at all but you craved living and besides you couldn’t give the Kim’s the satisfaction of seeing you crumble.

You couldn’t.

You breathed slowly as the figure on the other side stood facing you. Its face was blurred and the usual lines outlining one's eyes, nose and lips were consumed by irrefutable darkness.

“Who are you?” You yelled out. . No response, “what are you doing so near the barrier?”

It held its hand out—palm stretched out reaching for you; calling out for you.

“I cannot leave unless called for medical assistance purposes,” you stepped closer to the barrier. . definitely digging into treacherous territories, “this is my home.” The words tasted so sour on your tongue, because although you were forced into the Levate it certainly wasn’t a home.

It remained in the same position, you knew you should’ve been petrified but his demeanor was inviting, it called out to you. His vocal vibrations perforated right through the barrier and enchanted the soles of your feet leading you to inch closer and closer to it.

“I can’t. .” you mouthed.

You looked back into the thicket there was nothing left for you here.

One step closer.

The bottomless feeling of loneliness vanished and was replaced with optimism. You shouldn’t wait to go far away.

“I shouldn’t. .” you mumbled.

“Come to me,” you heard, the voice was monotone, displaying no real sense of emotion, “we must make haste.”

“No. . no. .” Your objections convinced no one at all, not even yourself—but your eyes were closed and you shook your head vigorously, “No. .” you chanted over and over.

The voice which was once louder than yours, sounded farther and farther away, its words became muffled and disintegrating in your head. Suddenly, there was a shift and his pleas to have you disobey the rules set upon your life became cries for help.

“Help,” it repeated once over.

“Shut up.” You screamed, finally opening your eyes, there was nothing but darkness. . and you were laying in bed.

You were just dreaming.

You sighed, relieved to learn that you were not on the brink of insanity. . a little deprived of formal human interaction but you weren’t entirely a lost cause yet. Perhaps, the whole thing was rooted from the lone thread which remained intact, the same one which was to eventually lead you right out of the Levate, if the Kim son was as merciful as he was rumored to be in the village back when you were younger.

You sat up on your bed, a cold bead of sweat traveled along your temples and once again you found yourself in solace within the night sky. It was peaceful, as usual, but you couldn’t help but wonder how far the sky stretched. Was there such a place on earth where the heavens met its end? A place where you could climb up the stars as you would a ladder and swim amongst them forever.

There was a whimper, initially, it was faint and you thought it came from a traveler on the pathway near the barrier. But the whines became louder and louder and they were followed with soft cries for help. Unfamiliar, to the one in your dream this voice sputtered much more emotion, whoever it belonged to, surely they were hurt.

You slid on your slippers and made kitten strides towards the front door of the cabin.

“Is there anyone here?”

You grabbed onto the door handle, before stopping for just a second to take a deep breath. After grabbing the lit up lantern from the nearby countertop you made your way out of the house.

“Where are you?” you called out once stepping off the last wooden staircase.

Realistically speaking, you were aware you should’ve armed yourself with a kitchen knife for protection—but you were steered by adrenaline almost; shaken with the possibility of your first patient in five years. Guzzled, with the idea of the presence of another human being on the premises.

“I’m on the left side of your lovely home.”

“Lovely. .” You scoffed, more like hell.

When you finally reached him, he was crushing your rose bush as he remained sprawled out on the ground.

“Are you in need of some assistance, sir?” You asked in the utmost innocent voice.

“Uh,” He groaned, “Yes. . yes please.”

“How did you end up past the barrier?”

“I came. .” he scratched the back of his head, his voice you noticed was grave, much lower than you could remember any man sounding like back in Hawkshead. It was soothing, and felt just as it does when the sun hits your skin on a hot summer day, “I can’t actually remember..”

“The barriers have that effect on people, especially those who were not cursed to be in here.”

“Cursed?” he asked.

“Yes, I’ll explain soon. How about I help you up and we can chat inside. I’m getting a bit cold out here.” You stretched for him to grab, he did, and you quickly led him to the safety of your home. You sat him on one of the dining room chairs and pulled the second one for you right beside him.

“Welcome to the Levate,” you placed the lantern on the table. The swaying of the candle’s flame reflected on his perfect fucking face.

Actually, was there anything more passionate than the word perfect? because if there was, it would still not be enough to describe the beauty of the man you’d just housed.

“The Levate.” He repeated, his expresso eyes glimmered under the flickering flame, they sparkled like the hundreds of bright friends you had found in the dead of night every dawn.

“Yes,” after washing your hands and gathering a bottle of whiskey, cloth bandages, tweezers, and a cold compress for his head you took a seat beside him

“Is this forest part of the village up ahead?”

“You remember Hawkshead?”

“Is that the village?”

You hummed.

“Vaguely.”

You placed the cotton cloth with ice against the bump on this forehead, “Is it ok if we remove this sleeve of your shirt?” You pointed at the bloodstained sleeve with the scattered holes which were likely a result of the thorns dug into his arm from your roses. He nodded, “does it hurt?”

He shook his head, “not really.”

“Can you remember your name?” You asked, slowly removing the shirt as to avoid more injury.

“Tae,” he winced. “All I remember is being called Tae.”

“Ok, Tae. .” you began, “This is going to pinch just a bit but you let me know if you want me to stop.”

Tae nodded. His arm had seven thorns adorning his honey-toned skin. “Do you remember anything about your family?”

“Not really,” You pulled out the first thorn and he winced, just six more to go, “I remember I have a mother and like 5 sisters but their names are blank. Is this normal here. . In the Levate?”

“Yes,” you pulled out two more, “It is. To on goers the Levate is a pause in time. This is the forest of abandonment—while in here your mind is on pause and all your memories are tampered by the forces casted upon the ambience.”

“So when I leave—”

“I have never had the liberty to leave but I believe I’ll be but a faint memory.”

“Are you stuck here?” You pulled out the remaining with little to no reaction from him.

You nodded. A faint smile was pressed upon your lips.

“I suppose I am.” After grabbing the whiskey and pouring some into a cloth you began dabing his wounds to prevent infection. His gaze was on you like a spell and while you tried to remain focused you couldn’t help the stutter in your movements as you began wrapping his arm up.

“What does that mean?”

“My great great grandmother made a very wealthy family in the village angry and ever since then the healing female descendents have been casted to an eternity of damnation here in the Levate. This is our home for the rest of our lives.” You looked right into his gleaming orbs in an attempt to hide the melancholiness in yours, his were soft; soulful; and you could easily map out the entire galaxy in them.

“Have you ever tried to just up and leave?”

“Others have tried but it didn't quite work out.”

“These people really hold onto grudges don’t they,” he shook his head.

“I guess it’s human nature.”

“What’s yours?” You stood to discard the supplies you had used to assist him. The ill-lit cabin was the worst reminder of what your human nature was; the Levate was too; your lineage; you were.

“To be alone.”

“And you believe that?”

“Doesn’t really matter what I believe because it is as it is. There’s nothing to change now and the only person who can is on voyages nowhere to be found.” Saying it out loud was unsparing—every time those hopeless words met your tympanum it added to the deeply rooted sentiment of wanting out, of searching for a better tomorrow.

“Who can?”

“Their son.”

“And he’s gone?”

You shrugged, “not dead just away from Hawkshead.”

He slouched back on the chair, lips spread widely in a yawn, his toned chest was exposed under the two torn buttons on his white top—he looked exhausted.

“Well this is the only home in the Levate but you are more than welcome to stay over as long as you like.” You offered.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course, my tiny prison is your tiny prison.” You smiled.

“I love the decorative statements you’ve made here,” he unhurriedly scanned the cabin’s walls, taking it all in inch by inch, “especially this unique wall paper.”

“It’s sun dried flowers. . they were all dead.”

“Well they certainly bring life to the place.”

“Thanks.”

His smile was wide, so luminous it lit up the pathway back to the village even from here. “And where shall I divulge in my slumber? I require a lot of commodities, you know.”

“Of course, will a sleeping bag or a duvet do?”

“Duvet sounds lovely.”

“I’ll fetch that for you.”

Mornings were always your favorite time of the day. You awoke, read a few pages from your ancestors journals or medical books, prepared a pot of tea and fetched the daily nutritional offerings left for you by those in the village. It was a routine, one you have grown accustomed to, and embraced dearly because it reminded you that despite being shunned away you were still here. Alive. Breathing.

You rubbed sleep off your eyes and sat up on the bed.

“Good morning,” the voice was invasive and although you knew Tae was here, you just weren’t used to having anyone around.

“Good morning to you.” you reciprocated, “you seem to be doing well this morning.”

“It was but a couple of scratches.” His back was still turned to you as he scrambled around on top of the stove, “I’m much better. I really hope you weren’t expecting me off this early.”

“Honestly, I thought you would’ve ran out of here as soon as the sun emerged.”

“Why is that?”

“A lot of men flee from the burden of not knowing. Actually, no. . Nobody has ever stumbled amongst my gardens before. I assume they would all run for the hills.”

“Assumptions are not facts.” Tae handed you a piece of bread and a small cup of coffee, “I hope you do not mind me staying just for a bit though.”

“That is fine with me.” You deliver softly. The only burden weighing on your shoulders was getting used to being around Tae and then having to watch him cross that barrier to his regular life back in the village without the faintest memory of you.

“Are you alright?” He asked, taking a seat next to you on the bed.

You nodded, “I’m alright.”

“So. .” he rubbed his hands on his slacks, “What’s on the itinerary for the day?”

“Not much actually,” you laughed as you were reeled back into your pathetic life, “there are very few things to do in here.”

“Anything in particular you need to get done?”

“I need to go wash my clothes in the river.”

“I’ll come along.”

Upon making it to the river you landed at the usual spot on the river bank where a couple of boulders sat. You placed your basket on the ground and reached for the first item before smearing soap on it to slap, twist and rub the clothes against the rock.

You repeated the same for everything you brought over which was not necessarily a whole lot but you felt the need to distract yourself from being so indulged in Tae’s presence.

“So what are you going to do to arrange a meeting with this wealthy person to get you out of here?” He laid on the grass, his head touched your calf slightly and you swore you could feel the small sparks beginning to ignite as his dark hair tickled your skin.

“First, I have to see if he’s back in town.”

“And how would we know?”

You shrugged, “They’re pretty well known so I’m hoping word gets around and somehow makes it back to me.”

“That’s an absurd plan.” His protests were right but you really had no way of arranging for things to be executed in a better way.

“Well, Tae, that is the best I could come up with. There’s no other way.”

“Are you even being watched here?” He asked.

“I walked the perimeter of the Levate previously but I didn’t see anyone guarding it but all my previous ancestors who have attempted an escape have been killed shortly after leaving.” You twisted the cloth a bit harder against the hard surface.

“So they’re not caught leaving but instead on the road out of the village. I’m guessing they’ve been unlucky enough to encounter people who honor that wicked family.” Tae continued, “how many have tried to escape?”

“Two.”

“One’s a coincidence but I believe in a situation like this two might be intentional. I’m not sure I remember but there might be guards watching movement in and out of the village”

“Seems like it. . but I do not plan an escape. I wanna leave out of here honorably and to break this stupid curse once and for all. It needs to end with me.” You rubbed harsher and harsher.

“I promise I will remember you. I’ll help you get out of here,” he sat up and guided your chin towards him—your eyes met his once again. They were dark this time, almost black and you could tell he actually meant the words he said and even though you did not quite believe he had a say in remembering anything upon crossing the barrier you smiled either way. He believed in you and your hopes of getting out and that’s all that mattered.

“I’ll hold you to that.” You laughed playfully.

“You won’t have to wait long.” He held your hand and his thumb rubbed circles on your wrist, “I promise.”

Promise. The density of the word was far too great and while you wanted to believe Tae’s dulcet words, you knew that even if unintentionally he would forget about your existence the moment he left.

His heart was in the right place but you could not get your hopes up on empty promises.

You just had to find the Kim son.

“It’s really no trouble. I don’t want you knocking door to door back at the village asking about the girl living in the woods.”

“I’ll do it if I have to. You are not your ancestors’ mistakes. You deserve a chance at a life to live.” His touch was still soothing against you, it mimicked the softness of silk and you could maintain your fingers intertwined for an eternity. Funny enough in this situation an eternity did not seem long enough to have Tae holding you as he was.

“I’ll be here.” There was a flutter in your heart—something you’ve never felt before, “I would ask about you but your memory is impaired at the moment.”

“Yeah,” He scoffed, “I’m hoping I’m an only child and hopefully a succeeding prince.”

“A prince would never set foot in Hawkshead.”

“Perhaps I was in search of my princess.”

“In Hawkshead?” you shook your head, “again. . unrealistic.”

“Not entirely.” He laid back on the grass and closed his eyes, “It is no secret how desperate princes tend to be.”

“So now you are desperate?”

“Perhaps,” he shrugged.

“Perhaps—” you reiterated, “and what exactly is his desperateness dependent on?”

“The lady I would be searching for I guess.”

“I’m sure there are countless potential maidens to choose from back in Hawkshead.”

“Hawkshead?” He chuckled amusingly.

“Well, yes, that was your intentional destination. Was it not?” A breeze swept swiftly easing the haze raging in your head as a result of Tae’s words and the scorching mid-summer sun.

“Intentional?” he shrugged, “Sure. But I believe I ended up right where I needed to be.”

“You believe so?” You hummed.

“I know so.” Tae was confident and the certitude behind his words sent a shiver down your spinal cord—just twenty four hours with him and your heart began to pounce at your chest whenever his voice graced your ears. Your movements slowed and you felt breathless as if his being alone sucked the air right out of your lungs.

“The implications of this place are less than ideal don’t you think?” you resonated.

“You have lived it darling. Is the Levate substandard?”

“It is like a prison chamber,” you scrubbed the top in your hands so hard it felt like you were grating your palm on the boulder.

“Do you not believe yourself to be free?”

“I live the same days over and over again, Tae. There is no freedom within these borders.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

His being was alluring like one of those paintings your father kept in his study back home. The soft strokes of the emerald grass complimented the honey tone Tae seemed to have adopted for the duration of summer. Elegance augmented his features from his dark locks, to the soft smile curved at his face, to his attire.

He belonged in an art gallery.

He cleared his throat, “can I ask something?”

“Sure.”

“Is your love already promised to someone else once you leave this place?”

“No.” One word responses were not usually your forte but Taehyung’s question was rather surprising, although coming from the peak of his curiosity you expected nothing less, “why is that inquiry living in your head?”

“I wanted to decipher whether I would ever have a chance with you.”

“Perhaps, if it is written in the stars, we could meet back in Hawkshead and during courtship we could attend the balls in each other’ arms.”

“The balls are pretentious and congested with chaotic gestures of desperate daughters. . I want no distraction in my attempt to romance you,” he was a sweet talker, you had noticed, swatting the butterflies in your stomach was useless — you could already feel yourself colliding against him.

“In society we would not be granted the privacy you require. .” you shook your head, “do you want a forced marriage at the cost of your hands accidentally touching mine?”

“Not forced. . My willingness is voluntary.”

“You live inside the fantasy brick walls of your creative mind..”

“Are you saying you would mind?”

“I wouldn’t.”

“Good. Now push over,” He kneeled beside you making your elbows grace each other ever so slightly. You weren’t sure if he did it on purpose or if he even felt what you did but your feet levitated into the stratosphere. His touch even unintentionally swept you right off your feet, “allow me to give you a hand.”

It’s been three days since Tae stumbled upon your rose bushes and sadly it was his last night here in the Levate. He was to cross the barrier early morning and embark on his quest to help you out of here. . if he even remembered.

You really hoped he did but there was no certainty and that very detail would gnaw at your anxiousness until you were given the chance to be face to face with him once again.

“What are you so deep in your head about?” Tae asked from his position on the floor.

“Many things.”

“What? Will you miss me?” He joked.

Yes. You wanted to shout out but you didn’t.

“Not one bit.”

“I don’t believe you,” you were sure there was probably a smug expression plastered on his face but you were too busy glancing out the window to verify, “your days were graced by my charm.”

“So narcissistic,” you heard him gasp, “perhaps you are a descendent of royals after all.”

“It is in my bloodstream.”

An ear-splitting silence fell between the two of you. You realized even just his company sufficed to provide you with warmth and comfort you needed.

“Have you ever tried to count how many stars look over us every night?” The vibrato of his whispered; grave utters bounced right off of the oak walls.

“That would be impossible.” The luminous points invaded the night sky as they did every other night. They were your faithful companions.

“Not at all,” slumber was catching up to him. You could hear it in the stammering, “every night as we lay under the same sky, let’s both count the stars until we finally get to reunite once more.”

“How would we know we are watching them at the same exact time?”

“Just trust your heart.”

“I know it’s selfish. .” you began, “but I wish you could stay for a bit longer.”

Tae did not respond, not vocally anyway. Instead, he turned in the direction of your bed from his place on the floor. His expression was tender, his cheeks were impaled by dimbles.

You would miss his company, and his eyes, and his smile, and the unspoken intimacy you felt dancing between the two of you. You wondered if he felt it as intensely as you did even in such a short time? You wouldn’t dare ask—but your heart was convinced he did, while your head remained on his departure the following morning. No matter how many times he promised, you were aware you would be a granule of sugar in a short three days of his abundant existence, one he would not be able to remember the moment he walked out on the other side.

You wanted to kiss him so badly. His lips were so inviting. . It would be your perfect departure from him.

But there was no use if he would not be able to recall any of it once he crossed over.

“I would stay with you forever,” he murmured.

You opened your eyes abruptly—but he was already fast asleep. Surely, you’d imagined it.

Surely.

“Lord Kim,” a voice sounded through the other side of the door, “are you decent?”

He hummed back groggily and almost immediately his doubled doors were pushed open. The Butler of the Kim estate, Hoseok, invaded his dormitory.

“I told you since I have come back, Hoseok,” he yawned, “you are more than welcome to refer to me as Taehyung.”

“Of course Sir,” he stumbled, “I mean, Taehyung.”

Taehyung sat up on the canopy bed surrounded by fine silk sheets. Ever since he was able to make it home after being missing, life in the Kim estate seemed like so much for just one person. It all did. This bed, his room, his new title as Viscount Kim ever since his father passed away twelve months prior.

Before making it to Hawkshead, Taehyung had gone missing for a period of three entire days, and although his mother had kept this information from him at the time, he managed to obtain the location from where he was found by staff in the manor after his mother passed just nine months ago.

They told him he had been laying down near the northern border of the Levate forest geared towards the entrance of the village.

Back then, he was coming back home to assist his mother with the funerary ceremony for his father—but after losing her as well just a few months after he was shackled to this place as he was officially the new and esteemed, Viscount Kim Taehyung III.

“I just wanted to announce that dinner would be served in about ten minutes, sir.” He did not make it a habit to correct Hoseok on the usage of anything but his name once again. For, he knew his father and ancestors before were rather stern with how they managed life around the home.

He knew his changes would take some getting used to.

“Would you like me to close the drapes, Sir?”

“No, Hoseok, they’re fine. I like to look at the night sky before falling fast asleep.”

“Very well, I’ll see downstairs in ten.” Hoseok walked towards the door and reached for the golden handle before opening it.

“Hoseok,” Taehyung called out, “the files that I requested a few days ago. Have they been fetched yet?”

“Yes sir, they’re bringing up the last of the few boxes and everything should be in the study right after dinner.”

“Thank you so much, Hoseok.”

Hoseok disappeared behind the mahogany door and Taehyung was left alone once again.

Just him and his thoughts.

And somehow they always brought him right back to those three days he couldn’t even precisely remember. The Levate was always known to be desolate; scary and unexplored. Those were the stories his parents always recounted as a warning for him to stay away but he could not help the feeling that there had been someone out there who took care of him.

But who could willingly reside in that creepy forest on the outskirts of the village?

Tae walked over to his bedroom window taking in the sights of the stars swimming amongst the late night sky. In the couple of minutes he stood by he counted hundreds of them. There was a sense of serenity in being able to witness their brightness, there was a bubbling urgency in him in wanting to assign a number to all of them, although it seemed impossible.

He would one day, though, and that was a promise he made to himself.

After scarcely getting through dinner as he did not have too much of an appetite, Taehyung invited Hoseok over to the study in an attempt to get through all of the documents he needed to before dawn.

Under the flickering flames of the candles around the room, Hoseok took the couch with one box while he sat in the leather chair behind your father’s desk with two more. The first few documents detailed finances, work affairs and where your father usually geared towards for business encounters. On the bottom of the first box there was a folder with a black stamp sealed in the top right corner, spelling the word, confidential in all capitals.

He quickly pulled out the folder and scattered the documents out in-front of him. It was a family tree with all of the female descendants circled in red ink for the last two-hundred years. There were two years listed under every single name, one for which they were banished and one for the date indicating they had passed away.

The most recent one showed the latest descent had been banished around six years prior.

Taehyung, flipped through a couple more pages in the document before landing on the agreement between the council, the Kim family and the first ancestor to have been banished.

Apparently, she had attempted to assist in the birth of a Kim ancestor hundreds of years ago who passed during the delivery and instead of public execution, they had sentenced her to banishment in the Levate. Although not stated in the original document they made a new regulation after her passing to imprison all the female descendants on her side of the family as a repercussion to avoid the death of any more babies in the village by the carelessness of their hands.

“This is absurd,” he hissed through gritted teeth, “come here, Hoseok. Did you know about this?”

Hoseok hovered over your shoulder as he began scanning the document, nodding slowly as if he wanted to lie instead but opting against it in the end.

“I found out when it was time for your father to banish the recent descendant six years ago,” he leaned on the dark walls of the room, “but your father wasn’t as understanding as you are. He threatened me and my family in exchange for my secrecy.”

“But he’s been gone for months, Hoseok.” Taehyung reasoned, he was mad that the butler had not brought it up at least once in the past few months, “You’ve had so many opportunities to bring it up to my attention.”

“I did not know many details, Sir,” his lips quivered and Taehyung could see the exasperation glooming over Hoseok, “All I know is the latest descendent was banished and only you have the power to bring it to the council for reconsideration as a Kim.”

Taehyung’s expression softened, “thank you for providing me with the details now. Would you please seek out the council and arrange for a meeting tomorrow afternoon?”

“Of course.”

“This is all for tonight. Please let me know of the meeting time and location come early morning. Good night, Hoseok.”

“Good night.”

The meeting was arranged in the Kim garden early afternoon and while you had discussed some pressing points the council held relating to your parents passing, it was time for you to bring your own concern to their attention.

Most of the original council has now been overtaken by an earlier generation for reasons similar to your own.

“Joon, I presume Hoseok mentioned the reason for the calling of today’s meeting.”

He nodded as he gobbled on yet another tea sandwich, “he provided a brief synopsis.”

Joon was the descendent of the original founder of the council and whatever he said went. He was far less serious and strict than his father was but Tae supposed they all were. None of them were their fathers.

“Why don’t you detail what you want to propose with a bit more clarity, Taehyung?” Yoongi cut-in as he noticed Namjoon was far too indulged in the delicacies table. Yoon was more of the straightforward kind of guy and had fought tirelessly to be kept out of the council but with the passing of his father he had no choice but to step in as the eldest Min son.

“This is regarding the descendants of the Levate. I wanted to propose an official release as the original document was altered after the first healer passed away.” you detailed, “it is not fair to continue the imprisonment of those women in that forest.”

“I agree,” Jimin cut-in. His family was known for being quite liberal and you figured the recorded vote against the sending of that woman to the Levate all of those years ago came from his ancestor.

“That’s 2-5, as I am obviously voting against keeping her there,” Tae said.

“I’m with them seems a bit cruel and unusual,” Seokjin conquered.

“Same.” Yoongi said.

He was the more traditional man of the bunch so it surprised you when Joon seemed to be the bearer of bad news.

“I also agree with your arguments but the only way out of banishment for the healer is marriage to a Kim descendent. It is stated in the original document that you should have read Tae.”

“Don’t ‘Tae’ me if you plan to enforce the rules of our beastly fathers.”

“I plan to do no such thing,” Joon quickly argued, “but we were sworn in to provide transparency to the people of Hawkshead. We are not royalty by any means but as founding families we do not and cannot sit above the mandates of those who came before us, for if we do, how can the people trust in us as the new replacing founders.”

“I’m afraid he’s right, Taehyung,” Seokjin was the voice of reason, “we cannot afford having the village against our judgments and decisions at this time.”

This is not what he originally planned for.

“With all due respect Tae,” Yoongi began, “How about we near the borders of the Levate and summon the descendent. From there we can propose the marriage proposal and see where she stands. If it is not an option for her she will unfortunately have to enter back into the Levate until we can seek a viable way to get her out.”

“It is settled, she does not need to be paying for reparations of an accident that took place years ago. Therefore, all in favor of the marriage proposition to lift banishment say I.” Joon was an honest man, and Taehyung was sure the pressures of being head of the founding council was a heavy-bearing occupation and though this wasn’t the conclusion he was hoping for—it was a start.

A wave of I’s circled around him.

He hesitated but ultimately caved as he saw no other way as of now, “I.”

Approaching the Levate was quite intimidating and it certainly did not help that Yoongi, Jimin, Seokjin and Namjoon had offered to accompany you on the trip to the initiation of a possible loveless marriage.

They stood near the carriage as he walked towards the barrier. The hairs on the back of his neck stood as a wind of familiarity immediately brushed past his face the closer he got.

Taehyung hoped this would not seem odd to you but he was trying his best to get you out of the Levate as soon as possible.

Taehyung saw her figure nearing the border of the green pasture and automatically noticed her smile beaming from ear to ear. She was as radiant as the flowers embedded in the wealthiest of gardens in the village, as dazzling as the sun and her aura was as familiar as the late-night stars he had begun conversing with ever since he made it back home earlier that year.

“Tae, you’re back,” her voice was silky and your name sounded like honey dripping from her lips, “you promised and now you’re back.”

He cleared your throat “I promised?”

“Sorry,” she began, “yes, some months ago you had stumbled into the Levate after being back from a voyage. After falling on my rose garden. I did a miniscule job of pulling out the thorns and you stayed about three days before heading off,” her recount of the events cleared the patches of missing information within your memory.

“Why can’t I remember any of that on my own?”

“The barrier of the Levate erases your memory as soon as you cross over,” her eyebrows were furrowed, “but if you cannot remember how come you are here?”

“My name is Kim Taehyung III, a descendent of the Hawshead founding families. After the recent passing of our fathers the replacement council made it our mission to overturn the cruel mandates set forth by our ancestors.”

“Yes, we discussed that while you were in here,” she said softly, “although, I did not know then that you were the person I needed to speak to.”

“Your case was the first to come to our attention, mine especially, as a Kim descendent. In the unofficial documents by the founders however there is a minor detail standing in the way of your immediate liberation.”

“What is the minor detail?”

“The only way of our banishment for your family is through marriage.” Taehyung said.

Her pupils were blown and her voice quivered, “who would I have to wed?”

“Me. Otherwise you would have to remain in the Levate until the council finds another way to get you out.”

The agreement of marriage came unexpectedly to you but in your time together she had recollections of only pleasant memories plus made you made him promise to drag you along on his explorations when he had to go off on voyages.

You craved to see the world.

Taehyung agreed and after the small wedding ceremony with the founding families bearing as witnesses. The two of you became husband and wife in the local church after your meeting a couple of days prior. Everything was geared on high speed and happened just a few weeks after your meeting with the proposition.

The two of you barely had any time to talk between the legality of documents and the preparations of the hurried marriage.

“Are we all alone?” you asked, flickering on the lights of the family room as you walked in the Kim estate.

“It is the beginning of the honeymoon traditions,” he informed, “the house is left vacant for the husband and wives and the next couple of days we get to ourselves before embarking on a voyage to visit extended family.”

“Is my family still around in Hawkshead?” you asked to take a seat on the couch, he followed sitting across from you.

“They live a boat ride over now but not far. They were granted leave by my father as the remaining siblings seemed to be brothers who were born just a couple of years ago.”

“I have brothers?”

“Twin brothers,” he confirmed, “we can go see them tomorrow if you would like.”

“Can we go later on in the week?”

“We shall go right before heading off to see mine early next week. How does that sound?”

“That sounds fine.”

He scratched the back of his head, “I forgot to thank you for your care back in the Levate. I am sorry I cannot remember anything about our time together.”

She shook her head, “it is not your fault my Lord. I was just happy I could assist, plus you made those three days the best of my time in the Levate.”

“You can just call me Taehyung if you would like.”

“Taehyung.” she repeated, “so it is true that the replacing founders are trying to implement structures of change to Hawkshead. They seem to be less austere and puritanical than their ancestors.”

He flashed a boxy smile in your direction, the one you missed so much over the past year, “I heard they are trying their hardest.”

“I am glad their compassion now graces the land,” you complimented, watching as his cheeks turned as red as the roses he had stumbled upon in your garden, “thank you Taehyung, for keeping your promise of getting me out of there.”

“No need to thank me. Unfortunately, my descendants were at fault for this entire ordeal. It is the least I could do.”

You gazed at the way his cherry lips were moisturized by his tongue. Perhaps, a nervous tic you had not quite picked up back in the Levate. Was he nervous? Replaying, the rather chaste kiss he left on your lips back at the altar and his clammy palms holding yours you deduced he was in fact nervous.

All you could ever think of however was his body heat in your proximity.

“It will forever be engraved in my heart that even after losing your memories of me after crossing the barrier, you still cared enough to get a stranger out of that situation,” you placed your hand on top of his.

“It was my basic duty after everything inflicted on your family all these years,” you noticed the change in his tone as he breathed out ruggedly, “please do not assume you owe me anything because of this. You do not.”

“I know you are a perfect gentleman, Taehyung but my heart beat for you the moment we met back in the Levate. What I feel is not forced or payment for your heroic antics,” his eyes remained on his lap and he seemed to be averting eye contact at all costs, “but that doesn’t mean you are forced to reciprocate something you cannot remember.”

“I cannot remember it,” he spoke barely above a whisper, “but I can feel the way my heart races when you come in my proximity. I felt it during our meeting. I feel it even now.”

The heat rose rapidly as you felt the way his eyes began mapping out your figure sprawled out on the couch. You figured it was a bit onerous though, as the wedding dress gifted to you wasn’t too flattering on your body. You made short strides towards him and stood in between his thighs, after unzipping the fabric you saw as it pooled at your feet exposing your inner-wear.

His carnal desires were reflective on the way his eyes scorched to a deep umber and his lower lip was blanketed under his teeth.

“Can I take you up to my suite?” The question sounded in your ears like a song being played delicately on the keys of pianos.

“Take me to your suite.”

Taehyung carried you bridal style sharing plenty of laughs at the countless trips and stumbles as he trotted up the stairs with you in his arms. You both finally made it to his massive sleeping chamber—it seemed a bit crazy how you were shoved into a tiny pocket of the Levate while Taehyung slept this lavishly every night.

You didn’t hold it against him but it was ironic how your worlds were destined to be so different and somehow clashed.

“Your house is so grand,” your eyes wandered through the different shades of blues adorning his room, “and to think you wanted to stay with me in the forest.”

“What?” he scoffed, “you do not see me as someone who can forage off the land?”

“You are far from the term, Kim Taehyung.”

“Assumptions are not facts,” he laid beside you on the bed and suddenly you were taken back to that morning in the Levate when he uttered those exact words.

“You have said those exact words to me before, you know.”

“My wisdom transcends the erasure of memories from a magical forest. You didn’t know?”

You giggled landing a soft punch on his elbow. “It seems I was not aware.”

“Now you are,” the tips of his fingers felt like waves of static shocks against your skin. He traced the outline of your chin, the nape of your neck, and collarbone before stopping where your cleavage began.

Your eyes were shut tightly as his cold touch continued exploring your searing body.

“Darling, are you sure you want to do this?”

“Taehyung, you have been the muse of my wildest dreams and the root of my deepest desires for the year following your leave,” you caressed his delicate cheeks with the back of your thumbs. He melted right into your touch, “I have longed for you and now I am finally here with you.”

“You waited for me?”

“Well realistically speaking,” you shrugged, “I had nowhere to go. My only option was to wait.”

He winked, “I will remember it my way.”

As a substitute to the small talk the both of you had engaged in to relieve some of the tension clinging to the air, you found yourselves leaning into each other at a leaden speed until finally your lips crashed into one another. His tender lips tasted of strawberries exactly as you imagined.

And the way his lips moved against yours was agonizingly mellow - and made you feel faint.

Who would have guessed being free could ever taste so sweet. . so fucking sweet.

The two of you were bare, crashing back into the ocean of his silk sheets. His wandering touch landed on your breast, while his kisses continued sweeping you off your feet. . his fingers focused on your nipple as he began rolling, pinching, and rubbing the sensitive bud.

“Taehyung. .” you breathed out.

“I’m just getting started,”

His pillowy lips trailed down your stomach leaving icy wet kisses on your skin leading you to succumb to the delicacy of his care. Your paradise you quickly realized was at the mercy of Taehyung’s ministrations.

The way he pecked your body so sweetly was intoxicating.

Just when you believed he reached his destination, he continued to travel lower and lower positioning himself between your thighs.

“Taehyung?” your eyes met his as he hovered over your arousal.

“Do you trust me darling?”

He propped your legs up on his shoulders. A yelp escaped your lips as your pussy was now placed right in front of his face.

Your heart began pounding against your chest blaringly - it became so potent you could almost hear its rhythmic beat against the shell of your ear.

“I trust you.”

The feeling was electrifying and beat through you like a bolt of lightning igniting a warm feeling in the pit of your stomach. His effects on you were lost in the darkness invading your surroundings; still he devoured you as if you were the last meal he’s been presented with.

His tongue licked and sucked your clit. Your breath hitched and all your voice could manage were incoherent babbles accompanied by the chanting of his name.

“Y-you are so good Taehyung.”

He hummed against your folds.

“So good, Taehyung.” You repeated, lacing your finger into his dark strands.

There were spurs of white light behind your eyelids as you became enthralled in the way he continued to move against you. The pleasure was addicting and you were afraid your longing wish was to have Taehyung on his knees every hour of every day and at every given moment.

“Please do not stop,” He continued, “please.”

There were successions of shooting stars ornamenting the heavens and finally you reached the breath-taking place where the earth and the sky meet.

Your heaven.

“You were so good darling,” he paused, “you took my breath away.”

His voice is now deeper than you remembered. A train of moonlight invaded his dormitory. Taehyung looked as stunning as ever, his hair is a disheveled mess, his lips adopted a deeper hue of scarlet while his features were inundated with his sweat.

“Ready?” He asked.

“Yes.”

The feeling was foreign and dissimilar to the feeling you had experienced hen his mouth ate you out, you felt full with him inside of you and although initially there was pain, the more you grew accustomed to it the more pleasure you felt.

His hips moved slowly in and out of you.

Your whimpers mixed with his groans was all that could be heard through the house.

Still, his agonizing pace remained, while his finger landed back on your clit as he traced the number eight repeatedly.

There was no falter in his movements, continued, and continued and continued once again.

Those shooting stars from before burst into beautiful displays of fireworks and for the second time that night you reached your high.

When Taehyung pulled out of you he was still hard, “I am going to head to the bathroom.”

You cut-in, “can I help?”

“Oh,” he moaned, “can you?”

“I want to.”

He sat at the foot of the mattress and patted the spot next to him for you to sit—you did.

“Use your hand. Is that ok with you darling?”

“Yes, can you guide me?”

“Of course.”

The tip of his cock disappeared behind your grasp while his balmy palms covered yours. He guided you down to the base and back up to the tip—the motion he set was swift and you could only ogle as Taehyung masterbated using your hand for release.

The thought made you wet all over again.

He whimpered, “I’m so close.”

His hand remained on top of yours but his motions were no longer leading, he was too engrossed in his own pleasure. You hastened the speed, now determined to help him feel as good as he made you feel.

His whispered moans only motivated your movements until finally his come covered your hand.

After disappearing for a couple of seconds Taehyung walked back from the wash room with a towel in hand, “sorry I didn’t warn you about this,” he wiped you all clean.

“I liked it,” you murmured, “I would like for you to teach me many more things.”

“We have a whole eternity for that darling.”

“Eternity. . That sounds nice.”

author’s note: this feels a but rushed in certain parts and I apologize for that but this story is been something that has taken way too long and I was truly just looking to put it out — hopefully it’s enjoyable though.

thanks for reading. comments, likes, reblogs and messages are always appreciated. let me know what you think <3

#i have pretty much compiled what i cherished in this AU. i have love for historical/time period works and this was a fascinating read #a very unique one at that which i enjoyed the backstory on. you wrote this pretty amazing with some modern vibe that i seemed to like #Tae was absolutely endearing sweet and so kind. i loved both characters that were played in this #the writing was a breath of fresh air you are unique with your approaches to stories and very impressive in your words #i somehow felt comforted by them too which shows you have a gift of expression #i loved their stay together and how much impact was made over a short days. esp being locked away; you'd crave for any form of escape #in a way which was tae but also he became readers freedom too 🥺💙#thank you for writing this bc it was probably a favourite read of mine. definitely.#i loved every word the poetical essence throughout. the great worldbuilding around the story #amazing wow #💙💙💙💙#apologies for the long message;if it was up to myself i would highlight every sentence as a favourite ✨#also the smut??? absolutely divine!!! i felt ways i haven't before that was everything #taehyung x reader #bts fanfic #taehyun fanfic

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softie00 · 7 months

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Wow reading brings me so much joy and emotions, some which I could never express or haven't had the chance to. It feels so nice, I've genuinely missed this all. I'm so 🥺

#so many talented writers thank u for blessing us and making our days and nights so much better #I love u all

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softie00 · 7 months

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“Yes. I read many fairy tales of romance and fantasy in my free time. I even would go out to the backyard garden and pretend as if I was a prince about to save a princess in a tower. I made a crown out of paper and used an old blanket as a cape.” AHH this was so cute of Seokjin seriously 🥺🥺🥺

"It does not bother me at all if you choose to speak about your late-fiancé. Don't hesitate to say what's on your mind. We should be open about our feelings and past relationships in order for ours to work out.” He is so considerate I just cannot with his sweetness and how he held that space for YN to convey her thoughts 🥺😭

Once he pulled away, he still held onto her hand and gave her his classic, tender smile with affectionate eyes. "You're right. I have won." OMG I think I died at this scene it was so fucking adorable and loving 😭 my favourite scene as they played the piano

"And with this ring," her eyes landed on a strange looking branch that was shaped as if it were a hand, "I ask you," she went up to it and got on her knees to reach its level, "To be mine." Oooo I loved how Taes scene came through and the sudden fear that travelled all throughout, loved how well this was paced because it was eerily beautiful and I loved it!!

Taehyung became cross at Seokjin’s attempt to hold onto Y/n, pulling her arm close to him. “Let go of my wife this instant!”

“She’s my wife!” Seokjin shouted back, locking his hold tighter onto Y/n, the fear of her leaving in his mind." OHHH to be the wives of both of these men would be the absolute dream 😩 I would accept the real world and spirit world with both arms for those men!! Loved the way they claimed 🥺🥰

"Well, for one, you're dead–" HAHAHA this made me chuckle as I read

Taehyung placed a hand on her cheek. "This is wrong," he said, his voice coming out as a whisper so only she could hear. "I love you, Y/n... But you're not mine. I can’t do this to you.” My poor devastated Tae 😢 I'm so happy he said this at the same time I feel hurt knowing he was never the one for her

"At least in my final moments I was filled with joy at the thought of us getting married." THIS THIS 🥺🥺🥺🥺😭💙💙

"His body began disappearing slowly, turning into butterflies. Once his whole body disappeared from their sight, the glow stopped and all that was left was white butterflies. Y/n and Seokjin watched as the butterflies all flew their way up the moon." His ending was so divine and beautiful as he left his mark in the world 🥺💙 the prettiest butterflies 💗

Till Death Do Us Part

Summary: A year after an unfortunate event that led to the death of her fiancé, Kim Taehyung, Y/n agrees to marriage with Kim Seokjin. But on the day before their wedding, Taehyung raises from the dead and enters back into her life as a corpse to finish where they left off.

Pairing: seokjin x female!reader, taehyung x female!reader

Genre/au: angst, romance, gothic fiction, slight thriller, corpse bride au, late 1800s au, Victorian era au

Warnings & Details: Seokjin has the role of Victoria, Taehyung as Emily, and Y/n as Victor. Death, dead bodies/corpses, skeletons, the dead coming back to life in a gross corpse way, corpses with missing body parts, mentions of the topic of women having to marry, late 1880s lifestyle, going against some rules/what is proper in the 1800s, poison, murder, flesh rotting away, the topic of marriage with the dead.

Word Count: 17.3K

Note: I just got out of work right now and I'm very tired so I will fix any mistakes tomorrow with fresh eyes. Corpse Bride is one of my favorite halloween movies so I got inspired to make a bts fanfiction out of it. Some parts are similar to the story but I also added some things and switched some stuff around. I hope you all enjoy it.

________________________________________________

A string of nerves entered her body as she set foot in the ball, the loud chatter of guests filling her ears. It was a couple of days after her coming out party, a day that meant a young woman had completed her education and was officially available on the marriage market. At the age of eighteen was when Y/n was able to have her coming of age ceremony. Now as a woman, she was able to attend the fancy parties she had heard so much about as a child.

Her anxious eyes scanned around the room, a pit in her stomach from seeing all the men there. However, she was also sparked up with excitement. Ever since she was a child, she’s dreamed of finding the one to spend the rest of her life with. Seeing her parents with love and admiration for each other as she grew up, she strived to attain what they had in their relationship.

The thought of choosing a man was also spine-chilling. How could she know who is the one for her? All her years living, her mother and chaperone has spent teaching her how to become a proper lady. Days of diving her nose in literature, learning to play the piano, dancing, and singing had all led up to that moment. Every woman knows that they have to marry well for their family’s sake. A quest to find the perfect man to marry.

Before she could take a step further, her mother’s gentle voice spoke beside her. “Hold on one moment.” Placing herself in front of her daughter, Y/n waited as her mother quickly fixed the top of her dress, fixing the ruffles by her shoulders. Once she was done, a delighted smile spread across her mother’s lips.

“You look beautiful,” her chaperone commented. Y/n watched as the old woman scanned her dress then landed her eyes on her face. “I wish you the best of luck, my lady.”

Her father who was standing beside her mother added, “Two suitors have contacted your mother and I. They said they were hoping to meet you tonight. Both are very fine men with wealthy families.” Placing his gaze back to the group of guests, his eyes slightly opened when they landed on someone. “There is one of them now. Go.”

He gestured for her to walk with a warm smile. After returning the smile, Y/n began walking around the group of people, her chaperone following close behind her. Eyes nervously settled on the back of the man’s head in the process, Y/n could feel her heart thumping in her chest. His hair was a warm shade of brown, as dark as soil in a flower garden. The man’s posture was straight and perfect. She could only obtain a peek of the side of his face due to the crowd blocking her view. He was having a conversation with the man in front of him until he came to a stop and slowly turned around.

Their eyes immediately locked together, almost like he felt her gaze on him. A smile made a way to his lips. Excusing himself from the man, he made his way over to her, dodging those around him. Her palms become sweaty every second that he gets closer.

Once he was standing in front of her, he flashed her another smile and extended a hand out for her to take. “Kim Taehyung,” he introduced himself. When she placed her hand down on his, he brought it up to his lips to leave a gentle kiss. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“Y/n,” she introduced herself back, butterflies appearing in her stomach from his action. “The pleasure is mine.”

A small chuckle left his lips. “Would you care for a dance?”

Agreeing with his request, she sent her chaperone a quick smile before Taehyung led her to the dance floor.

With her hand still in his, she felt her skin against his own. His hands were rougher than she expected. Most likely due to his job or other activities. Finding a place for them, Taehyung got them in position. Moving his right hand to her hip, he suppressed a smile while he felt her body tense at his touch. Slowly lifting her left hand up, she carefully rested it on his shoulder. Grabbing a hold of her right hand with his left, he held it up and they began dancing.

That moment was everything she wanted and more. She couldn’t deny the feeling Taehyung was churning in her body. And she couldn’t look away from those mesmerizing eyes of his. She wanted to drown in them forever.

No other ideas of meeting other men came to her mind, especially when their dance ended and another man asked for a dance as well. While she was on the dance floor with new partners, her thoughts were only on the one man that made her heart soar.

Before leaving the ball, Y/n glanced at the small stack of cards that she received from the men she met who were interested in courting her. Many names to choose from the pile, however, her eyes stayed on one card she left on top of the rest. She read the name over and over again in her head, eyes capturing the printed name.

Kim Taehyung.

***

Taking a look outside her bedroom window, the sky looked very depressing. It looked as if no color was out there in the world. Gloomy and dark was how it seemed. Even the buildings were gray and boring.

The streets were silent, despite the fact that there were people in it. The only sound that was heard was the clock tower ticking. All the people seemed to move in rhythm to the ticking, as if it were timing their steps, commanding their every move. The people that walked along the streets would occasionally greet another person with a small bow and a tip of their hat as they passed one another, but no warm smiles were on their faces as they did so. Everything seemed almost robotic to watch. The city was very unlively and dead.

Snapping out of her thoughts, she let out a sigh and backed away from the window to walk over to her life-size mirror. The big dress she was wearing was a dark shade of burgundy that was almost black. A very depressing color.

Eyes glancing over to the desk beside her bed, they landed on a photo that was framed. A frown made a way to her lips. She went over and grabbed it, carefully running her fingers across the glass. After a moment, she snapped out of her thoughts and stuffed the frame into a compartment in the desk. Out of sight.

Slowly moving back over to the mirror, she fixed herself up. Completely lost in thought, she didn't notice that a single tear started rolling down her cheek.

Once she was finished, she stared at her expression in the mirror. She's never seen such an unhappy look on herself before.

Letting out another sigh to compose herself, she wiped the wet trail the tear left behind on her face and breathed out.

***

"What a beautiful day!" A woman exclaimed out loud as she walked out of her home. Her husband walked out soon after her and placed her boa on her shoulders.

“The most perfect day for a wedding rehearsal!” her husband agreed, cherry and euphoric just like her.

Once they made it down the stairs, the women went up to the man that was driving their carriage. He held a smoking pipe to his lips. The woman's eyes glanced towards his outfit and said, "Fix your coat, Maurice. We all must look presentable." Maurice nodded and dusted off his coat before fixing the hat they gave him on his head. Scanning his outfit again, she gave a nod of approval.

"I must say, I am looking forward to seeing Lord and Lady Kim again," her husband started with a smile as he fixed his hat with his left hand while his other rested on his cane.

The woman turned her head around to look at her husband. "Indeed. And soon our families will be joined together." She leaned in with an excited grin and she clapped her hands. "Once our daughter marries their son, we will be given the opportunity to be around more of the upper-class. Just imagine. Us in the finest clothing at a costume ball with the finest people."

They both smiled as they imagined such things. But then, the woman snapped out of her thoughts and turned towards the entrance of their home. "Where's Y/n?"

Before her husband could answer, the doors burst open and Y/n ran out, lifting her dress up a bit as she went down the stairs so she wouldn't fall.

Her chest heaved up and down due to her breathing heavily once she reached the bottom of the stairs. Both from nerves and how much she ran to get there. Now that they were all present, they went inside the carriage.

Once all the L/n's were seated in the carriage, they left for Kim's house. They all sat in silence. The atmosphere became very heavy and awkward. And Mr. and Mrs. L/n knew the reason why, but didn't know what to say. Even after a year of the event, they never really knew how to bring up topics close to it in fear of her reaction and hope to not make her upset.

But Mrs. L/n cleared her through and gave it a go. "Y/n," she spoke up, causing Y/n's attention to move away from the carriage window to her. The woman stuttered with her next words, trying to figure out the right sentence to say. She didn't want her daughter to be unhappy with the situation. "You don't... You don't have to do this, dear."

Hearing her mother's words and seeing her sad eyes, Y/n gave a smile to show comfort and reassurance to her. "Do not worry about it, mother. I'm happy to do this since it will make you and father happy."

"Don't agree to it for us," her father added. "We want our daughter to be happy as well and not make sacrifices for us. We don't want to put you in a situation like this after Ta-" He stopped for a second and fixed his words, "After what happened."

Y/n smiled once again at their worryness over her. It warmed her heart. Grabbing each of their right hands, she held them tight in her own and said, "I'm ok with this. You two have done so much for me and have raised me well. This is the least I can do for you. You guys deserve more than what we have. And besides," the smile stayed on her lips, but her bright eyes turned into sad ones, "What happened was for a reason. Perhaps it just wasn't meant to be."

***

Walking through the hallways of their home, lord and lady Kim made their way over to their son’s room. Arms placed to his sides, Seokjin stood still as the butler fixed his new suit. Seokjin could feel his mouth go dry as he thought about who was coming over.

Once the butler was finished, Seok took a look at himself in the mirror. His eyes glanced up to his hair, deciding that it still needed a bit of touching up. But before he could fix that problem, the door to his room swung open and his parents walked in.

“Are you ready, Seokjin?” his father asked as he stood beside his wife.

“Just about,” Seokjin replied as he still kept his gaze on the mirror.

“The L/N’s about to arrive soon and everything must go right today,” his mother explained as she went up to stand next to him. They both didn’t turn to speak face-to-face, instead they glanced at each other’s reflection in the mirror. “I hope you finally get a grasp of yourself and do as you're told. Many of the young women around are quickly getting courted and married. Y/n is one of the few left with riches. Her family’s riches will help us get out of the poor house. You missed your chance years ago to grasp her. Lucky for you, it seems like the world is on our side and you received another chance. Don’t let this one go to waste.”

“I understand,” he blankly replied, slowly moving his eyes away from her figure and placing them on the ground.

“Good.” With that, she swiftly turned around and headed to the door.

Thoughts were spinning around in Seokjin’s head. The recall of tomorrow’s event gave him a nervous pit in his stomach. He was going to be married to someone by this time tomorrow—No. It wasn’t just someone. Y/n. A flicker of her in his mind always made his palms so sweaty and his heart rate increase. Despite him missing his chance in the past, this wasn’t the way he wanted their forced-relationship to go.

“What if—” he softly spoke up, making his parents stop and place their attention back on him before stepping out the room. Finally turning around to look at them, he asked, “What if Y/n and I don’t like each other?” Seeing a frown appear on his father’s face and a cross expression on his mother, he quickly added, “I do want her to. I hope she does like me. But what if she doesn’t? What if I may not like her? We—”

“Enough,” his mother cut him off, moving over to stand before him, her hard, icy gaze connected to his eyes. Seokjin straightens his back at their closeness, mirroring her gaze. “You should know by now after watching your father and I for years that love has nothing to do with marriage. And considering what you need to do, marriage is a partnership. Remember, you are doing this to help us gain our riches back. No other reason.”

With a satisfied smile, she connected her hands together and walked out of his room without turning back. With her out of sight, she dropped his tough gaze into a sorrowful one.

***

Arriving at the house of the Kims, they stood at their front door. Not long after they rang the doorbell, a butler opened the door for them and they walked in. Y/n took a look around. It looked just as dull and dark as it did on the outside. Although it was very spacious and had nice decor.

The Kims stood at the bottom of the stairs that were located towards the center of the big room. Once they approached closer to them but were at a good distance from each other, the butler introduced the Kims and Y/n's parents. "Lord and Lady Kim, Mr. and Mrs. L/n." Lady Kim had no expression on her face while her husband gave the fakest, forced smile Y/n has ever seen in all her life.

"It's so great to see you two again," her mother said.

"Yes. It certainly is delightful for us as well." Lord Kim still kept the forced grin on his face as he talked, as if he hardly ever smiles.

"Come. We'll be having tea in the west drawing room." Lady Kim began walking out of the room with her husband close behind her. The L/ns began following them.

Y/n kept scanning the room as they did so and stopped once she came across a piano. She looked back ahead to see that her parents and the Kims kept walking without noticing she was no longer with them. The door closed behind them as they entered the other room, leaving Y/n alone.

Averting her attention back on the piano, she extended her right hand out and lightly pressed down on the keys with her fingers, some notes coming out of the piano. The sound was beautiful to her ears. She hasn't seen a piano in a while and hasn't played in over a year.

Contemplating with herself, she was hesitant to sit down and play. But as she pressed down on another key, her thumb pressed on the note next to it, followed by another. Without realizing, she was already sitting down on the chair in front of the piano, both hands out as she began playing a song.

The melody echoed throughout the room. She closed her eyes as she enjoyed this feeling. It took her back to over a year ago when she was happy and had no worries in the world. Back when everything was better.

Lost in the music, her fingers floated across the piano. It was a mysterious, poignant melody that she learned when she was younger.

As Y/n continued playing the piano, she didn't notice that someone quietly walked up to her. Hands connected behind his back, a smile was on his face as he stood to the side of where she sat, watching her play.

The melody sped up and her fingers began pressing down on the keys faster. Her eyes opened and she looked back down at the keys, seeming to forget which notes were next. But once she saw a shadow casted against the piano, she snapped her head to the right. Startled at the man's sudden appearance, she quickly stood up from the seat, her hand knocking over the small vase with a flower resting on top of the piano.

"I-I'm sorry," she fumbled her words, embarrassed with her actions. "It was very improper and rude of me to play your piano without any permission.”

A small chuckle escaped his mouth from her reaction. "There's no need to apologize. You have blessed my ears with your skill."

"Uh... Thank you, Kim Seokjin."

She awkwardly thanked the man in front of her. He was wearing a black suit with a black tie neatly placed around his neck, resting in the center. His hair was parted to the right. It was a nice shade of black that resembled the piano. And it was also very shiny, signaling he fixed it up before he came down.

"Please," he took a step forward, a hesitant expression on his face, "You can call me Seokjin.”

"Ah... Yes." She felt a bit more awkward now at his request. But she supposed it was necessary considering their position. Everything that led up to tomorrow moved so quickly. Seokjin and her haven’t had a proper conversation yet. This was her second time meeting him. The first time was a week ago when his family and him went over to her parent’s house for dinner. They discussed the marriage and the dates. Throughout the whole thing, they only glanced at one another, no words exchanged between them that day. But she tried to continue their first conversation to make it less awkward. "It is very nice to see you again... Seokjin.”

He gave a nod. "Likewise... You look beautiful." He scanned her features. This was the first time that he’s ever taken her in this close. His eyes bounced off every detail, admiring every little thing. "Very beautiful."

Her face heated up at his staring. She sheepishly averted her gaze somewhere else, not able to look at him due to his compliment. Seeing her expression and her actions, he quickly brought his hands out from behind his back. "Uh-" he stopped and connected his hands in front of his chest. It was now his turn to feel embarrassed. He rubbed his clasped hands together, worried that he made her uncomfortable. "Forgive me for being too forward."

Seeing his awkward actions, she giggled and began feeling more relaxed. "It's quite alright. We’ve made our way past a lot of stages since we are to be ma-" Her lips immediately stopped herself from saying the word. She clutched onto her dress, playing with the fabric. "We're to be... m…”

"Married," Seokjin finished her sentence.

"Yes. M-married."

Seokjin rubbed his neck at her struggling to say the word then brought his hands back behind his back. "You don't have to go through with this if you don't want to. I told my parents that it would be uncomfortable for the both of us considering... what happened in your previous relationship. Not to mention we are moving exceedingly fast.” Y/n looked down to the floor at his words. "You won't hurt my feelings. I completely understand. We can call the wedding off right now—"

"No, it's alright." She lifted her head back up to look at him, cutting him off. "It's my choice to marry you. Nobody is forcing me to do so." Seokjin’s eyes widened at her words, not expecting that response. Glancing back at the piano, she took a seat and brushed her fingertips against the keys. "And don't feel upset about the event or be afraid to bring it up. Sometimes I like to think of it as a good thing that happened to ease the pain.”

A small chuckle left her lips as she thought about memories of Taehyung and her childhood. “Silly thing is that in the past, I believed that marriage meant being with someone you love for the rest of your life. Perhaps that isn’t the case. I thought Taehyung and I loved each other. But it seemed like odds were not in our favor. The world would’ve wanted us to go through with the marriage if love certainty existed. Or Taehyung and I weren't as in love as I thought.”

Realizing how much she was pouring out to Seokjin, she immediately stopped and snapped her head to him, sending him an apologetic look. “Forgive me. I shouldn’t have said those things about my past relationship with my last fiancé to my new one.”

Seokjin let out a small chuckle. She caught how the tips of his ears turned slightly red at her referring to him as her new fiancé. It’s the first time he’s heard her refer to him as that… and he liked it. He slowly took a seat next to her, cautious to not sit too close. “When I was young, I believed in love as well.”

Her eyes widened in surprise. “Really?”

Y/n couldn't help but let out a giggle at his words. It was the first time in a long while that she has genuinely laughed. “Isn’t that adorable?”

Their gentle laughter floated in the air around them. As they settled down, Seokjin locked his eyes to hers, making her heart jump at his soft gaze. His expression became calm as he spoke in a serious, tender tone, “It does not bother me at all if you choose to speak about your late-fiancé. Don't hesitate to say what's on your mind. We should be open about our feelings and past relationships in order for ours to work out.”

Y/n's lips tilted upward to a smile. No ones ever comforted her like that before. Everyone she knew or interacted with was afraid to bring up the topic and felt uncomfortable hearing her speak about it. Although, she didn’t blame them. The talk of the tragic event of death before a wedding could spook anyone. The topic continued to scare her as well, haunting her nightmares for a long period of months.

Y/n recalled the moment as if it was yesterday. Her mother’s wedding dress fit her perfectly. She would have preferred to wear something she picked out herself, but she wanted to make her mother happy by walking down the aisle of her wedding in the same dress as her. Her mother claimed it was a dream of hers. And Y/n couldn’t deny a thing like that and make her mother upset.

However, before the wedding could start, she received the news that Taehyung was nowhere to be found. After days of searching and the wedding being called off due to his disappearance, she was told what happened to him. Out in the woods, not far from where they live, they found pieces of his suit, blood stains on them. His body was nowhere to be found. Someone had killed him. She felt her entire world stop, immediately falling to her knees as she sobbed.

Lost in thought, she completely forgot about where she was. Seokjin caught her gazed out expression, her eyes losing their shine it had a moment ago. “Are you alright?” he asked in a gentle tone, worried about her silence.

Snapping out of her thoughts, she turned to him as their conversation rushed back into her head. “Uh… Yes, I’m fine.” Placing a small smile on her lips, she pushed aside her memories.

Knowing that something was bothering her, he wanted to lighten the mood. Looking back at the piano, he extended his arms out and began lightly pressing down on the keys, playing some notes. "Care to join me?'

Her eyes went wide at his question, and was even more surprised when she realized that the melody he was playing required two people to play. Getting her fingers in position, she began playing the notes once it was her turn. Her notes were much higher compared to his to balance the melody. One of the reasons why she admired this song. But she never had anyone to play it with until now.

It was Seokjin's turn once again and he played his part. Y/n watched in astonishment at how gracefully his fingers moved across the piano keys.

Soon it was her turn once more and her fingers pressed down on the assigned keys. She felt her heart rate increase a bit when Seokjin joined her and they began playing the piano together. The combination of her higher notes with his lower ones sounded enchanting. Then they both began to slow down the pace and pressed less keys, indicating that the song was coming to an end. Y/n was in awe at how in sync they were with each other, as if they have been playing piano together for years.

Once they both pressed down on the final keys, they turned to look at each other. A warm smile showed up on Seokjin's plump lips, causing her to immediately smile back at him. He had a beautiful smile.

But her eyebrows furrowed in confusion when a smirk appeared on his face and he got back into position. Placing his fingers back on the keys, he played a random tune, then gestured for her to go. Y/n tilted her head to the side, still puzzled. Then she too had a smirk on her face when she realized what he meant. Extending her hands back out, she followed the same melody of his, then played a melody of her own for him to follow. But she made it faster with more notes to play.

Seokjin followed the same keys as her with no hesitation, then gave her another tune. They continued going back and forth with each other till the tunes became upbeat and fast with lots of notes involved. Once Seokjin demonstrated the long tune she had to play, Y/n tried the best she could to remember how it went, but it was getting more difficult. Her eyebrows scrunched together in concentration as she started to play, hoping that she would not miss a key. What she didn't know was that Seokjin was not paying much attention to see if she was following the exact notes or not. Instead, he was watching her lovingly. Usually he didn't care much about piano since his parents forced him to take lessons as a child, but now he's glad that they did. If it meant having his moment with Y/n, it was all worth those years and hours of suffering.

A small smile was on his face as he watched how she beautifully played the piano. He had to keep in the chuckle he wanted to let out as he watched her focused expression. Eyebrows scrunched together, her mind was lost in concentration while she was trying to get all the notes as she played.

His mind was soon pulled out of his thoughts when Y/n pressed down on a note that was a bit too low. "Ohhh," she gave a quiet whine, seeing that she accidentally pressed a wrong note. But when she turned to look at Seokjin, they both chuckled at their small competition. "It seems like you have won."

At the corner of her eye, she noticed the small vase and flower knocked over. "Oh, dear. I'm sorry about that. I didn't notice until now." She sent a sheepish grin towards Seokjin's direction and reached her hand out to the flower.

To her surprise, Seokjin stood up to his feet and grabbed the flower first. Y/n looked up at him with wide eyes in confusion. He extended his right arm out towards her, offering her his hand. Hesitantly, she placed her hand on his and stood up as well, now becoming face-to-face with him.

His hand felt warm and comforting. He stared deeply into her eyes, making her heart rate increase once more. And she felt her stomach heat up when he lifted her hand up to his lips, placing a small peck on her knuckles without losing eye contact with her in the process.

Once he pulled away, he still held onto her hand and gave her his classic, tender smile with affectionate eyes. "You're right. I have won."

Y/n's body felt like it was on fire. Her legs and arms turned into mush. Her heart was about to pop out of her chest. A single word couldn't come out of her mouth.

He smiled at her state then gazed down at the flower in his left hand. Y/n's eyes followed the flower, seeing that Seokjin was handing it to her. She slowly reached out and carefully took the small flower. When she had it in her grasp, she lifted it up her nose and smelled the sweet aroma.

Her eyes fluttering open, she looked back at Seokjin and returned the warm smile. They stared at each other for what seemed like eternity. But then Y/n's smile melted into a frown. She thought about the emotions she was feeling just now. She's never felt those types of emotions before. And part of her felt... guilty. Taehyung returned to her mind. Was it really alright for her to have such emotions towards Seokjin? Has she really moved on from Taehyung? Is the reason she's feeling that way is just to get over Taehyung? Were these emotions not true? She didn't want to hurt Seokjin and have fake emotions towards him, seeing how much of a kind man he is.

Seeing her expression suddenly change, Seokjin's smile disappeared to a worried frown. Before he could open his mouth to say something, the sound of a door swinging open interrupted him. A loud voice echoed throughout the whole room. They both snapped their heads over to where the voice was coming from to see Seokjin's mother. Announcing that the rehearsal for the wedding was starting, Y/n returned the flower back in its vase above the piano.

Lady Kim turned around to leave and Seokjin looked back at Y/n, wanting to ask if she was alright. But he couldn't because she was already following after his mom, seeming to want to leave in a hurry.

***

"Now... Let's try this, again," the pope stated in frustration. A whole hour has passed since they began the rehearsal, and no progress has been made due to Y/n messing up the lines. Lady and Lord Kim sat in their seats with blank expressions. Y/n knew they were just about done with the whole thing and just wanted her to get the lines right. Her mother and father sat in the seats on her side of the room, both nervous at how the Kims would react if she continued to mess up.

"Yes, sir," Y/n said once the pope repeated all the lines once more. Grabbing the lit candle off the table, she tried saying her lines once more, "With this candle... I’ll.. I’ll-'' She stopped, not remembering what the next words were. The pope groaned and rolled his eyes at seeing her struggle once again. "With this candle... I'll light... your wine?"

"No! How many times do I have to repeat the lines?!" The pope snapped. "Do you not wish to be married?!"

Startled at his outburst, Y/n shook her left hand at him. "No! No-"

"You do not?" Seokjin, who stood next to her, asked with a hint of confusion and worry in his eyes.

Y/n quickly snapped her head over to him after hearing his question. "No, I do! I meant, no, I do not, not wish to be married..." She fumbled with her words. “I very much want to—"

"Enough!" The pope yelled. "Let's move on! Who has the rings?"

"I have them," Seokjin answered, reaching into the pocket inside his coat. Taking his arm back out, he opened his hand to reveal two rings sitting in his palm.

Y/n felt a lump in her throat and her stomach churned from nervousness just seeing them.

Seokjin handed her his ring and she held it between her index finger and thumb. She looked down at it. Her heart began to beat faster. The room suddenly felt warm and dizzy. Seeing that her hand was now swaying, she closed her eyes and opened them to try to return her vision back while taking some deep breaths to calm herself.

"Let's continue," the pope said.

"R-Right," Y/n stuttered, slowly trying to lift her head back up. But once she made eye contact with Seokjin, her hand started to shake again, making the ring fall out of her hand.

Gasps were heard from her and Seokjin's parents seeing the ring hit the ground and began rolling away from her.

"I got it!" Y/n called out and went after it. Not taking her eyes off it, she watched it head towards Lady Kim's direction and went under her dress. Without thinking, Y/n slid down and reached her hand in after it, causing Lady Kim to shriek. Feeling it at her fingertips, she quickly grabbed it and stood up to her feet. "I’ve got it."

There was another shriek heard behind her and she snapped her head back to see that the bottom edge of Lady Kim's dress was on fire. Y/n totally forgot she was still holding the candle and it caught her dress on fire as she was getting the ring.

"Out of the way!" Lord Kim pushed Y/n and began stopping down on the fire in an attempt to put it out.

Her parents began frantically freaking out. The pope stood and watched the whole thing with a blank expression.

Lady Kim averted her eyes to Seokjin's direction, seeing him standing there in shock, not knowing what to do. "Get something, you useless boy!" She yelled at him, causing him to snap out of his thoughts and frantically look around for something to stop the fire.

Seeing the bottle of wine that was sitting on the table in front of the pope, he quickly ran up to it, grabbed it, and went back over to his mother. Pouring the whole bottle on her dress, the fire went out due to all the liquid being poured on top.

Everything returned to normal. But once every single drop was out of the bottle, Seokjin's mother shouted in frustration. "You fool! You could have just grabbed the cup of wine on the table!"

Seokjin's eyebrows furrowed in anger at her sentence. He just grabbed the first thing he laid his eyes on with all the commotion. And it did put out the fire, did it not? But before he could open his mouth to retort back, the pope interrupted him.

"Enough! This wedding can not go on if she can't properly say the vows! Surely you all don't want this to happen at the actual wedding!"

"I couldn't agree more!" Lady Kim stood up to her feet and looked towards Y/n's way. "How do you expect us to go through this wedding if you act this way! You'll embarrass us all! Perhaps we should put off the wedding. We can find another woman for our son."

"No!" Y/n's mother shouted. She went over to Lady and Lord Kim, bringing her hands together, pleading, "Please. We promise our daughter will learn the lines. We won't have a problem tomorrow at the wedding. Everything will turn out perfect."

Lord and Lady Kim looked at each other then back at Y/n. Lady Kim signed. "Fine. But I expect her to know every line and act like a proper lady at the wedding."

"She will!"

Y/n stood there in fear, backing away slowly at all the cold stares she was receiving from everyone. A quiet gasp escaped her lips once she hit the door. "I... should go," she mumbled before grabbing the doorknob and sprinting out of the room.

Seokjin quickly walked past his parents to the door, wanting to go after her. But he was held back once he felt a hand grab onto his arm. He snapped his head back to see Lady Kim with a cross expression. "Where do you think you're going?!"

Frustrated at his mother at the whole situation, he pulled his arms out of her grip and said in irritation, "You didn't have to be so hard on her. This is tough for her to go through."

Before he could turn around to continue walking out of the room, he felt another grip on his hand. And he turned to see now that it was Y/n's dad. "Please, my boy," he said with sad eyes, "Let her have some time to herself for a while."

Seokjin's expression softened and he gave a nod in understanding. Once Y/n's dad removed his hand, Seokjin looked back at the door where Y/n last was.

***

With her head hung low, Y/n walked in shame at what happened at the wedding rehearsal. She couldn't be more embarrassed. Not only did she embarrass herself, but she embarrassed her parents as well. Seokjin must hate her now.

As she continued sulking, she didn't realize that she was walking out of city and into the woods.

"Why am I making this so difficult? It's just a couple of lines," she told herself, then extended her right hand out. "With this... hand... I'll... pour your cup?" Her eyebrows scrunched together in trying to remember the correct lines. "With this hand... I'll hold your wine–Oh, goodness." She gave a sigh in defeat.

Sitting on a nearby log, she looked up to the dark, starry sky. "What should I do? I thought I was completely over you. But somehow at the wedding rehearsal, I couldn't manage to let out the words. Something was holding me back."

Extending her hand out, she stared at the golden ring. A small frown appeared on her face. "Oh, Seokjin," she sadly breathed out, resting her head on her palm with her other hand. "He must think I'm such a fool."

Twirling the ring between her thumb and index finger, she thought of something. Lifting her head up slightly, she observed the ring. Imagining it on Seokjin’s finger somehow caused a smile on her lips. Did she really like him? They haven’t even known each for a full day. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel an attraction towards him.

"I shouldn't act this way. He wouldn't want me to be clutching into him forever. Right? He would want me to be happy." Looking back up at the dark sky, the bright, white moon shone in all its glory. Averting her gaze away from it and back at the ring, her lips curved at the corners to a small smile. "Plus... Seokjin seems like a sweet guy. Perhaps we can be happy together.”

She stood up confidently to her feet. She lifted her right hand up, holding the golden ring. Before talking out loud as if she had an audience, she took a deep breath. "With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never be empty… For I will be your wine."

A thrilled smile was on her face. The first line she was able to clearly say out loud without messing up. Now feeling more confident, she continued, "With this candle, I will light your way in darkness." Walking up to a small tree, she broke off a small piece to have a twig and pretended it was a candle. She leaned it against another small twig as if lighting it.

"And with this ring," her eyes landed on a strange looking branch that was shaped as if it were a hand, "I ask you," she went up to it and got on her knees to reach its level, "To be mine."

She slid the ring onto one of the small twigs that looked like fingers. It was then that she noticed how much it looked more like a hand. Creeped out by it, she moved her head back a bit. The woods now felt silent, the breeze now blowing harder. An eerie feeling approached her, feeling a shiver crawl up her spine. Some crows that were on some branches behind her, began cawing very loudly.

Distracted by watching them, she didn't notice that the hand-looking twig twitched.

Suddenly, she felt a harsh tug at her arm, pulling her down to the ground before she could even realize. The crows began cawing more and started circling around her. Using her other hand to grab into her arm, she began pulling on it to get out. She planted her feet down on the floor, pushing against it with force as she leaned her body back to detach herself from whatever had a grip on her. Her eyes were squeezed shut and her teeth were gritted together.

With all that amount of force, her arm was finally free and she fell back. Her back collided with the hard ground. But when she lifted her arm back up to get a look at it, her face went pale when she saw that the hand-looking twig had a tight grip on her wrist. It clutched into her wrist tighter. At the sight of that, a loud shriek came out of her mouth. She rapidly shook her arm and the hand lost its grip and flew away, hitting the floor.

Her breathing almost stopped when she heard some loud cracking sounds in front of her.

Slowly bringing her attention back forward, she watched with fear in her eyes as an arm reached out from the ground and sunk its fingers into the dirt. A body began emerging. Its head was hung low, not allowing her to see their face. Judging by the shape of the body, Y/n was quick to notice that it was a man's. His skin was extremely pale. His body was wearing a dark suit. But there were many rips, holes, and mud stains all around it. The man's hair was very frizzy and looked stiff. Some parts were sticking up with dirt and more small twigs tangled in it.

The man slowly lifted his head up. Fear rushed in even more. Her mind became foggy, not even taking a good look at his face. They made eye contact, causing her breath to hitch.

"My darling."

His voice came out as an eerie whisper but somehow echoed throughout the whole forest. Her heart was beating rapidly. Without wasting another second, she quickly lifted herself up and began running away. As far away from the mysterious man as possible.

She started breathing heavily due to how fast her heart was beating and how much of a hassle it was to run in the dress she was wearing. Lifting it up a bit so she wouldn't step on it, she ran through all the twisty, dark trees, the sound of the heels on her black boots crushing some twigs, leaves, and branches in the process.

Not paying attention where she was going, she came across the top of a small hill. Due to how fast she was running, she couldn't stop herself and tumbled down the hill. Once she reached the bottom, her head hit the bark of a tree, causing her to lose balance. Placing her hand on the tree to stabilize herself, she tried her best to stand back up on her feet and looked back. Even though her vision was blurry, she still saw the man following after her. Her vision was disappearing and her legs were going weak. Pain was shooting in her head at the impact. Last thing she felt was her hitting the ground, eyes still trained on the figure before darkness took over.

***

Voices.

Distinct, quiet voices.

Some light grunts escaped her lips as she heard them, lost at where they were coming from. She felt herself laying down on a hard floor. Her body felt ten times heavier as she tried to lift her upper body up. And her eyelids were barely opening.

Once they were fully open and she was able to lift up a bit of her upper body, she saw some blurry people in front of her, bending down to her level to get a better look at her.

"She's still warm."

Someone in front of her commented, causing her to be more confused. Shutting her eyes back close, she lightly shook her head then opened them back up. Her vision was slowly returned. But once it was back to normal and she realized what kind of people were in front of her, she screamed once more and frantically stood up to her feet.

Her side hit a stool next to what seemed to look like a bar. Head snapping everywhere to scan her surroundings, her breathing increased once she saw them everywhere they looked.

Corpses.

The scene in front of her felt like it was out of a horror novel. The people in front of her had lifeless complexions, some areas of their bodies decomposed. The flesh rotted away to show the bones inside. Many were already fully decomposed, a couple of walking skeletons in front of her, watching her with empty sockets where their eyes once were. Some were even missing body parts, some without an arm or two, missing an eye–All sorts. Seeing them approach her, her body finally reacted and began running away.

"Darling?! Where are you going?"

The same deep voice from the woods called out to her. Terrified at the realization that he was too a corpse and that he was near, she picked up her pace and sprinted through the strange place, not caring where she was going. Only thing that mattered was to get away from that man and to get out of there.

When her eyes snapped from side-to-side, she noticed that there were more dead people all around. She ran past all the ones that were in her way. Coming to a corner, she harshly swerved and bumped into someone, making her fall back to the ground.

Something heavy landed on her lap. Letting out a groan from the impact, she lifted her upper body up. Her breathing was caught when she saw what was in front of her. A corpse head was resting on its side. The skin was nearly gone on top of its head, able for her to see its skull. Its dull eyes were stuck on her. When she snapped her head back up, a head-less body was in front of her. As its arms reached out towards her, she let out another shriek as she quickly stood back up, the head falling to the ground with a thud. She immediately ran past the corpse and continued down the path. Her eyes shut in disbelief, terror consuming her body.

So many questions were thrown around in her head. How is this happening? Who is after her? How is she in this strange place? Was she dead?

"Darling!"

The same voice returned, calling out to her, causing her eyes to snap back open and her blood turn cold. She kept running, hearing that the voice sounded like it was getting closer. She came to a sudden stop for a second to catch her breath. Hands on her knees, she bent forwards and was breathing heavily, sweat dripping down her forehead.

When she brought her head back up, a moment of relief ran through her body. There was a staircase that seemed like it went up to another location. Although it was hard for her to see where it went due to all the dark smoke that was up in the sky. But she hoped it was a way out.

Without wasting a second, she ran towards it and went up the stairs. But to her unlikely surprise, it led to a small circle balcony that looked over the death world she was in.

"Darling!" The voice shouted once more. Y/n felt her body jolt, hearing that it sounded like the strange man was at the bottom of the stairs.

"No," she breathed out in fear.

She was trapped.

The sound of footsteps were closer. All Y/n could do was run at the edge of the balcony, her back against the rail. Her hands gripped on tight to the cold railing, squeezing tighter when she saw the man reach the top of the stairs.

His gaze landed on her, a smile appearing on his pale face. "There you are!" he chirped.

Walking closer to her, Y/n's arms and legs began to shake. "Get away from me!" she yelled in fear.

A moment of confusion crossed the dead man's face. His eyes went wide and he stopped for a mere second. But then it quickly faded and his smile returned. "Don't be silly. You–" he took another step closer, almost reaching her, but was caught off by her next sentence.

"Get away!" she screamed, shutting her eyes closed.

The corpse's expression then turned into a hurt one, frowning at the sight. "Do you really not remember me?" A sad, breathy chuckle came out of his mouth.

Y/n didn't dare to open her eyes. But suddenly, she felt a gentle, cold touch on her right cheek. She slowly opened them to see the man right in front of her, now face-to-face with him. "And here I thought you would be happy to see me again."

Y/n was confused out of her mind. She wanted to run, scream, and pull his hand away. But for some reason, she felt a warm sensation with his hand on her cheek, despite how cold it was. And once she looked deeply into his eyes, she couldn't find herself looking away. His eyes... So dark and familiar.

Then it hit her.

Tears began forming in her eyes. She felt like passing out once more at that moment.

Her breath became shaky due to how choked up her throat was. Her voice barely made it out in a surprised, unbelieved whisper, "Taehyung?"

His lips formed a smile that she remembered she enjoyed. "It's me."

The tears finally let go and she began crying, instantly wrapping her arms around him to pull him into a tight hug. The thoughts of where she was at and his state completely disappeared from her mind. She dug her face into his shoulder as she let out a sob. Taehyung gently brought his left hand up and ran his fingers softly through her hair.

"I missed you," he quietly said.

Before she could cry any more, she realized something then quickly pulled away to face him. "W-wait. Where are we? This isn't… is it?”

"Yes, it is," he answered for her with a small, unhappy smile. He already knew how her reaction was going to be.

Y/n gasped at his words, then began shaking her head in disbelief. "N-No, No. What are you doing here?" She looked down to the ground, not believing what she was hearing. Lifting her head back up to look at him, she glued her sad eyes on his face. "I... I thought you would be resting."

"Don't worry about it, my darling. Not a day went by that I didn't think of you," he sweetly stated. But Y/n didn't know how to feel about those words. He placed his hands on her shoulders. Y/n felt two different textures from each one underneath the fabric of her dress. His left very cold with a very strange texture that didn't feel like warm, soft skin anymore. And his right hand with his arm was now fully decomposed, only now seeing his bones. His bone hand felt hard and rough.

She couldn't believe the position she was in. Here she was in the spirit world, now face-to-face with her late fiancé. But there was one question that she had to ask that had been in her mind since that day, and now she had the opportunity to ask. "Taehyung," she softly spoke up, scared for his response. "What happened to you that day?"

Bringing his eyes to the ground, he scrunched his eyebrows together, as if having trouble to answer the question. "To be honest... I don't remember. I just remember getting ready for the wedding that morning, I got nervous and went out for a stroll in the woods... I heard someone coming... Then the next thing I knew, I woke up dead."

Y/n was worried she would hear that. He did get murdered. More tears began running down her cheeks. "I'm sorry I wasn't there–"

"No, no, no." He snapped his head back up to her at her sentence, shaking it. "It's not your fault, darling. I should've been more careful with what I was doing."

"But still–" Her somber expression melted into a cross one. "I'll for sure find the person that killed you. Mark my words–"

"No." Taehyung grabbed her left hand with his boney right one, the tender feeling odd against her soft skin. "Please don't, darling. Nothing good ever comes with revenge. That person will face the action on their own."

A sigh escaped her lips, her body now calming down after his words. "I suppose you're right. Who even knows where they are now. It’s been a year since your death.”

Seeing her upset expression, her eyes looking back down to the floor, he lifted his bone hand up and gently placed it under her chin to bring her gaze on him. "Now, no need for these bad moments, there's so much we have to do."

"What do you mean?"

"We have to prepare for our wedding of course!"

"W-Wedding?"

"Yes! You proposed, remember?" He brought his left boney hand in front of her face so she could get a good look at the golden ring around his finger. “I’ve been waiting for you to find me so we can resume our wedding!”

Her jaw slightly opened at his words. That was why he wasn’t able to move on.

"Isn't this exciting?! We can finally get married!" He grabbed her arm and began pulling her towards the stairs. "There's so much to do. We need cake, guests, a location to get married of course..."

"Taehyung," she said his name to gain his attention, but he just kept going on, continuing to walk towards the stairs. "Taehyung!" she shouted his name much louder, pulling her hand out of his grip.

Taehyung came to a harsh stop due to the yank he got from her pulling her hand away from him, and turned to look at her with a confused expression.

"How... How is this supposed to work? You're dead." The whole situation was insane. There was no way a person could marry someone who was dead. Also… Seokjin was waiting for her back in the living world.

"Don't worry, I have it all figured out!” he stated in excitement, seeming to have his plan all together. It made sense since he had a lot of time to think about it. “You see, since death has already parted me, the only way for us to be together is for you to join me."

Y/n felt like her eyes were about to pop out of their sockets, taking a step back at his sentence. "You mean... I have to die?"

"Yes! Poison should do the trick. And we need to get married in the living world in order for our marriage to work."

Her mind went blank at his words. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "My-My parents... They will be worried about my sudden disappearance. They definitely wouldn’t approve of this idea. And to get married without having them there... I just don't know how to feel about this. It's all so sudden."

"We don't need to have them at the wedding."

"What?"

"Yeah." He went closer to her, taking both her hands in his. "You're parents don't need to be there at our wedding. Besides, they never approved of us, did they?"

"No… they didn't,” her tone was low and quiet as she recalled their words from the past. They were never fond of Taehyung, only accepting him into the family because of how strongly she felt about him.

"Precisely. Now why would we have them at our wedding?"

"But, Taehyung... They're still my parents. And they were going to attend the wedding despite them disapproving our relationship. And if we do get married, will I be able to see them again?"

Taehyung tilted his head to the side, thinking something for a second. Then spoke up after a moment. "How about this... You could tell your parents that you're leaving city to start a life somewhere else. That way, they won't have to be worried about where you are."

"You want me to lie to them?"

"Don't think of it in that way. Think of it as a better way to have them not worry about you."

Y/n didn't know what to say. Should she just tell them that lie so they won't worry? Should she tell them the truth? Should she even go on with this wedding? What about Seokjin and his parents–

Then, an idea crossed her mind.

"Taehyung," she called out his name, making them look at each other. "Alright. I'll do it."

A smile grazed upon his features. Slowly bringing his hand up, he placed his right hand back on her cheek. "I knew you would make the right decision, darling."

***

Gripping tightly onto her hand, Taehyung guided her through the world of corpses to a location which Taehyung claimed was a way to return back to the living world. They entered a strange part of the land of the dead–Well, stranger than it already was. It was dark around them, a chill going up her spine. Not long after, she saw a door along their path. Once they reached it, Taehyung opened it up and they stepped in.

Worried about what would happen, she shut her eyes closed, letting Taehyung be her eyes as he tugged into her hand to continue walking. Then, he came to a halt, making her snap her eyes back open. A familiar setting surrounded them. Eerie twisty trees and fog around the area. They were back in the woods.

Turning back around, she observed what they walked out of. Two large twisty trees were behind them, one each of their thick trucks curled together to make a shape similar to a circled-doorway.

"Oh, wow," Taehyung breathed out, looking at the bright, white moon in the sky. "Look at how beautiful the moon looks. It's been so long since I've seen it."

Turning to look out to see where the city was while Taehyung was distracted, Y/n came up with a plan. As much as she was happy to see Taehyung again, she didn't know what to do about the situation. She had to tell someone. Hopefully her parents or someone would know what to do.

Snapping her out of her thoughts, Taehyung grabbed her hands and began dancing with her. An awkward chuckle came out of her mouth as he led her around. Removing her hands from his, she placed her hands on his shoulders and moved him to sit on a small log. Still keeping her hands on his shoulders, she leaned down a bit to talk to him to his face.

"Listen, Taehyung, I don't think it would be a good idea for my parents to see you. I'll go say goodbye to them and come right back."

"Sounds perfect!" he chirped.

"O-ok. Uh..." Moving her head back, she fiddled with her fingers, nervous about if he believed her or not. But by the look of it, it seemed like he did. "I'll be right back!"

She slowly began walking away from Taehyung. After being a short distance away, she glanced over her shoulder, seeing that Taehyung was busy staring at some crows. Taking that opportunity, she started sprinting out of the forest, dodging all the tree branches in the way.

After a while of running, she finally arrived at the Kim's house. She passed by a window that looked through the main room, seeing Lord and Lady Kim sitting by the fireplace, sipping tea as they chatted away. Neither her father nor mother were there. They must’ve already gone off looking for her. Lord and Lady Kim would definitely not believe her words about what she went through.

Moving her attention to the balcony, her eyes lit up when an idea came to her head.

***

Seokjin was pacing around his room, lost on what he was supposed to do. After the news from the bellman that Y/n went missing with a man, Seokjin was even more lost in the situation. And her parents claimed that she didn't know any other men besides her late fiancé. But his parents got frustrated with her sudden disappearance and wanted to stop the wedding. However, Seokjin knew their real intention. They were just bluffing. There was no way they would pass up on an opportunity to be involved with Y/n's parents since they had money.

Scared that his parents were serious, they made a promise to find her until dawn. If not, the wedding would be broken off.

Seokjin was frustrated with everything.

While they were having that conversation, they didn't even let him speak about what he thought about Y/n missing. And when he wanted to go with her parents to help find her, his mom wouldn't let him.

Seokjin has been worried about Y/n since then. He hoped she was alright.

A knock at his window caused him to get startled. Thinking it was someone trying to break in, he cautiously turned around, getting ready to grab something to protect him. However, the plan was quickly erased from his head once he saw that it was Y/n at his porch window. A gasp escaped his lips. He made his way over to the window door and let her in.

Y/n wasted no second to enter his room. Seokjin was shocked at her state. Her dress had dark mud stains everywhere, a large rip at the top of her sleeve, revealing her shoulder. Dirt smudges decorated her face.

"Y/n, what happened to you?" He grabbed both her hands in his, shocked by how cold and shaky they were. "You're as cold as death. Come over here."

Guiding her over to the fireplace, he motioned for her to sit down on a chair that was directly in front of it. Once she did, he grabbed a chair for himself and sat next to her. He watched with worry at how she placed her hands a short distance away from the hot fire, trying to warm them up. She was still shaking despite being so close to the heat.

“I’ve been so worried about you. I’m glad you’re alright.” Eyes glancing back to her revealing shoulder and shaky body, he stood back up to grab a blanket. Returning back to her, Y/n watched with wide eyes as he carefully wrapped the blanket around her, warmth hitting her body. Taking a seat, he tugged the blanket closed by her chest. Now having her covered up, he awkwardly moved his hands away.

Scanning his face, she viewed him licking his dry lips, an uneasy look in his eyes. “What is it?”

“Nothing… It’s just,” he rubbed his hands together, his palms going sweaty as he turned his head slightly to look at the fireplace. The red tint on his ears went unnoticed by her. “It’s improper for us to be alone together at this time of night… especially in my room,” his voice came out quietly, as if he was nervous to say it out loud.

The realization hit her. With everything that has happened, she lost track of time. She too began feeling awkward at their position. If someone were to see them, it would definitely cause trouble. “I’m sorry. I should have known.”

“It’s quite alright. I’m just happy you’re safe.” He slowly moved his attention back on her, calming down from his sheepish state as he recalled her short disappearance. “Do your parents know where you are? They went out looking for you.”

“No, not just yet. I didn’t run into them on the way here. And I wanted to see you first.”

His eyes opened up more in surprise. “Why?”

"Seokjin, I–" Y/n struggled on what to say. Would he believe what she went through? Would he think she was crazy? How would she approach the conversation? Turning to her to look at him, she decided to bring up something first to ease into it. Plus, she still felt terrible for what happened today. "I want to apologize for my behavior at the wedding rehearsal. I–"

"No. You don't need to apologize for that. Allow me to apologize on my mother's behaves for her behavior."

"Believe me, I should be the one apologizing to her considering what happened."

"I don't think an apology is in order for that." He leaned in closer to her but made sure to keep a good distance away. "I found it quite funny."

That made her smile a bit. Small chuckles escaped both of their mouths.

Once they stopped, they made eye contact with each other. "I have a confession to make," Seokjin spoke up, causing Y/n to get nervous at what his next words would be. A shy expression was on him, but he tried to cover it up with a small chuckle as he looked down to avoid her gaze. "Back when you first attended a ball, I’m sure your parents told you that two men were interested in you,” he began, Y/n giving a nod in response as she recalled the event. “Well, one of those men was me. You caught my eye and I wanted to meet you. But… I became too afraid to approach you. By the time I gained my confidence, you started dancing with another man… followed by another. I couldn’t compare to the rest so I didn’t bother going up to you.”

Feelings of both sadness and shock entered at what he told her. "Really?" He gave a small nod back, making her frown. Seokjin was a wonderful man. She cannot even remember the faces or names of the other men she danced with. She would have loved to have met Seokjin that day.

“Seokjin,” she started, reaching out from under the blanket to take his warm hands in hers, “You’re one of the sweetest guys I’ve ever met. You have heart and compassion. Those are all qualities that many of the men I met that day didn’t show me. I’m sure I would’ve enjoyed your company.”

A shy smile was on his lips at her sentence. The color shade of his ears turned into a brighter red. "Remember when I said I used to believe in love when I was a kid? Well… in all honesty," leaning in a bit closer, he lifted his hand up to cup the side of her face as he took in her features with a sweet smile, "I may have lied, I never stopped believing.”

The strange feelings she's never felt before came rushing back to her. Upon hearing his words, she felt butterflies erupt in her stomach and her cheeks turn red. How was it that Seokjin was able to ignite these feelings within her so easily? Her thoughts slipped out so easily in front of him. She felt the same and comfortable in his presence.

“Seokjin, when my fiancé died, I removed all ideas of love from my head. I blamed myself for his death and was positive that I didn’t deserve to be happy. I was scared of the thought of marriage after that day–Absolutely terrified me.” Her eyes went misty at her pouring her heart out, stuff that she’s kept inside of her for a whole year. “But when I saw you for the first time at that dinner, I immediately felt my heavy heart soar. And I immediately felt that spark brighten when we spoke for the first time and played the piano alongside each other. Every second I’m around you, happiness ignites within me. I want us to be together. I can’t imagine marriage without seeing you beside me in the altar.

The expression that would be read on Seokjin’s face was a combination of many emotions. Pure shock, ecstasy, relief, and tenderness. His heart warmed up in his chest.

Butterflies in her stomach began erupting even more when she realized that they were leaning their faces in ever so slowly. She slowly closed her eyes once she realized what they were about to do.

Their lips connected together, her heart pumping in her chest. Seokjin kissed her tenderly, moving his hand from her cheek to the side of her jaw. He angled her head slightly, able to kiss deeper with the new position. Heat filled her body from excitement. This was also something that was inappropriate for them to do, especially at night. Yet, she enjoyed every second. When they pulled away, their foreheads pressed against each other. Their light breathing mixed together. Her eyes flickered back down to his lips, wanting more. Seokjin's gaze sent her back the same intention.

But before they were fully close, something caught the corner of her eye.

Y/n snapped her eyes quickly back open and jerked her head back, pulling away from Seokjin's grasp. Her heart started pounding once she saw that Taehyung had followed her actions and climbed up the Kim's house, already at Seokjin's porch.

Upon not feeling the touch of her lips, Seokjin opened his eyes and was confused to see her looking at his porch in terror. Y/n saw how he was about to turn around to see what she was looking at and abruptly shouted, "Seokjin, wait!" She quickly cupped his face to focus his attention on her instead. "I need to tell you something else. I... I seem to find myself getting married to another man."

Seokjin's eyes went wide into shock. "What?"

"Yes, yes, I know it is very strange to hear after what I just told you. But you should know that I'm trying–"

The porch doors burst open, the cold air rushing in. Seokjin and Y/n immediately stood up. Seokjin stood in front of her protectively at the thought of an intruder coming in at this time. Y/n was shaking in fear at how Taehyung had followed her here. As Taehyung stood at the entrance, his smile quickly faded once he and Seokjin locked eye-contact.

"Stay behind me," Seokjin told Y/n as he kept his hard stare on the strange man in his room. Even though he was trying his best to be tough, his heart began racing a bit once he realized that this wasn't a regular person. Was his eyes deceiving him? Was there really a corpse in his room?

Taehyung's hard expression to Seokjin turned into a sweet smile when he averted his attention to Y/n. "Darling... Who's this?"

Seokjin's eyes widened in confusion and he turned his head back to look at Y/n. "You know him?"

"I'm her husband," the man confidently stated, making Seokjin snap his head back at him. More visible confusion was on his face once he saw a golden ring around the corpse's ring finger. His ring.

"Y/n?" Seokjin now turned his whole body to her, calling her name as if it was a question, looking for an answer to what was going on.

"Seokjin, wait, let me explain." She quickly went up to Taehyung and pulled on his bone hand, detaching it from its socket. Taehyung let out a gasp from Y/n's action. Lifting it up so Seokjin could get a better look, she waved it in front of his face. Seokjin quickly took a step back, disturbed by the action. "He's dead. I don’t know how this is happening but it’s a complete misunderstanding.”

Frustrated with the situation, Taehyung snatched his hand back from her and popped it back into place. Then, he gripped on tightly to her arm. "Let's go," he sternly demanded, dragging her over to the balcony.

"Taehyung! Let me go!" Y/n tried her best to get out of Taehyung's grip. Putting more weight on her feet and hitting Taehyung's arm.

"Leave her alone!" Seokjin yelled after them, reaching out to grip onto Y/n’s free wrist.

Taehyung became cross at Seokjin’s attempt to hold onto Y/n, pulling her arm close to him. “Let go of my wife this instant!”

“She’s my wife!” Seokjin shouted back, locking his hold tighter onto Y/n, the fear of her leaving in his mind.

At Seokjin’s words, Taehyung came to a halt, eyes moving over to Y/n’s frightened eyes. He couldn’t believe it. It couldn’t be true. He kept looking at her for an answer, waiting for her to tell him it wasn’t the case. But by the caught expression written on her face, the answer became clear.

"Seokjin!" A shout was heard from outside Seokjin’s door, making them all jump. Seokjin had been shaken the most, removing his hand from Y/n in the process as he snapped his head over to the door. He could recognize that voice even in a large forest, the tone that made his teeth grind yet caused a shiver up his spine. “Who are you talking to? Open the door this instant!”

Turning back around to where Y/n and the corpse were, he gasped out when he saw they were no longer there. His eyes frantically scanned around the room. No one was in sight. The doors to the porch swung open, the cold breeze blowing in. Y/n was gone.

“Seokjin, did you hear me?” his mother continued to snap, “Open the door!”

***

“Taehyung, let me go!” Y/n gritted out as she pulled her body back from Taehyung’s tough grip on her arm, pulling her back into the woods. Kicking against the floor and sending some punches with her free hand at his figure, she tried her best to make him stop.

When they were a good distance away from everyone and deep into the woods, he harshly tugged his arm away. His hard gaze was set on her, fists to his sides.

"You lied to me!" Taehyung shouted while pushing her away from him. Y/n stumbled against her feet, but managed to keep her balance and stood still, giving him a cross expression back. "That's why you wanted to go back up there?! Just to see that man?!"

"Taehyung, you can't seriously think I'm ok with all this."

“I'm your husband! You can't be meeting up with other men! And even worse, you are engaged to him!”

“How was I supposed to know you were in this state!” she snapped, gesturing a hand up his figure. “I didn't know you were waiting for me! It’s also been a year! I had to move on and get engaged, again. You know how it is.”

"I know how it is! But I expected you to come find me! Even if you were forced into that marriage, it seems like you do actually care for that man!" Taehyung yelled in anger. But then quickly changed to a sad expression. Turning around so he wouldn't look at her, he buried his face into his palms as he quietly cried. "I can't believe this. And an older man at that. I always knew you were into older men."

A sigh left her lips. "Taehyung, calm down. Seokjin is only four years older than me–Three for you. And that's not even the reason. I just... I just don't think this can work out."

"Why not?!"

"Well, for one, you're dead–"

"So?!" He quickly snapped his head back up and turned to her. Y/n's eyes widened once she saw that there was no hint of sadness on his face. He was pretending to sob to make her pity him… A common thing he usually did when they were together in the past.

"What do you mean 'so?'?!" she snapped back. Not wanting to get angry, she took a deep breath then looked at him with red, puffy eyes. "I'm scared, Taehyung. I don't know how to react to this situation. A couple of hours ago I didn't have to worry about any of this. Then suddenly you show up, which all this time I was hoping you would be resting. Now you want to just resume where we left off as if nothing happened? You want me to give up my life, leave my family, and be with you?"

"Yes! That's exactly what I want!" Taehyung snapped.

Letting out a groan in frustration, she turned away to avoid looking at him. Her brain was suddenly flooded with memories of when they would fight back when they were together. It wouldn't happen often. They would last on for a couple of days before they could forgive each other. And it was usually her to be the one that apologizes. They hardly saw eye-to-eye. During that time, she didn’t think it was anything serious because she believed they were meant for each other. Any simple, kind thing Taehyung would do would make her forget about his behavior. She was blinded many times.

"If this is what you're worried about and why you don't want to go through with this wedding, then you should've thought about all this before you proposed to me!"

"That ring belongs to Seokjin’s family! It was a mistake! I've managed to finally move on from you, Taehyung! Why can't you do the same!? I wouldn't consider marrying you again!"

Taehyung's face fell. Y/n came to an erupt pause, shutting her lips with wide eyes. She wasn’t expecting those words to spit out of her. Slowly approaching and coming to a stop in front of her, he kept the frown on his face as he removed the ring from his finger. Taking her right hand, he dropped it carelessly into her palm, her fingers sitting down around it quickly so it wouldn’t fall to the ground. With a heavy sigh and slumping shoulders, Taehyung began making his way over to the door back to the spirit world. Y/n watched with a bit of guilt in her chest as she clutched the ring above her heart. She may have been a bit too harsh with her words.

***

"You've gone mad!"

"I'm telling the truth!"

Once Y/n disappeared with that corpse, Seokjin immediately called both his parents to his room to tell them about what happened. But it was rather hard for them to believe what he was saying since it was completely out of the ordinary.

"I saw her! She was here in my room! And then—" He went up to his parents. From their point of view, he looked like a madman. "She was taken! By—By a corpse! I know this is hard to believe but you have to believe me. We need to tell her parents. We have to help her—"

"That is enough!" His mother snapped at him. "Y/n is gone, Seokjin! Yes it is such a shame that all that trouble with the wedding rehearsal had gone to waste, but there's no point to be upset over it. We’ll find another bride for you. In fact, we already have a woman in mind.

Seokjin froze his spot. He even felt his heart stop from what he heard. "W-What? Who?"

"The daughter of these fish merchants. Your father and I met them a couple of months ago at a party. They were the second choice if something were to not go according to plan with the L/Ns."

"But I do not love whoever my new bride is going to be. What about Y/n and her parents?"

"What about them? We made a deal and they haven't arrived yet with Y/n. We can't let time go to waste because of some disturbance with their daughter who does not understand her role.”

"Don’t speak of her in that way,” he spat out. "You cannot make me do this."

"We won't make you," his mother went up to him, now becoming face-to-face, "You will be willing to do so. You’ve alway done what you are told, Seokjin. I don’t understand what has been up with your behavior lately, but it is unacceptable. Marriage has nothing to do with love, it is strictly a partnership. You will get married to her and that is final. Do you understand?”

Seokjin’s icy stare moved over to his father, who was standing beside his wife. He held a sorrowful expression as he went closer to his son, resting a hand on his shoulder. “I understand this is hard for you, Seokjin… But it needs to be done. We don’t have much time left. We need the money to pay for what we own and need. Please do what is right and help your family out. You’re the only one that can help us.”

All Seokjin could do was stare at his father, many thoughts twirling around his head. Despite him not being close with his mother, he was close with his father. The look on his father’s face pained him.

Taking that hint of regret in his face, Lady Kim saw it as a sign of agreement. “Perfect! I will arrange plans with the family. Perhaps we can have the wedding tomorrow! The quicker the better.”

He watched his parents leave his room, hearing the sound of a lock at the doorknob. No doubt that his mother locked it in case he were to escape. Seokjin rab his hands down his face in frustration. What was he going to do?

What he didn’t realize was that outside the house, a person was overhearing their conversation. Y/n had her back against the wall, eyes glancing up at Seokjin’s porch as she overheard everything due to their loud conversation. Her heart sank to her stomach.

Seokjin agreed to marry another woman. Pain shot through her. Her plan was to return back to Seokjin and discuss continuing their plans for marriage. As selfish as it was, her plan was to forget about her event with Taehyung and leave him.

Y/n didn’t know that the Kims were suffering for a lack of money that much. The quick step to marriage made more sense. Perhaps his parents were right. It was better for him to be with someone who wasn’t going through something as complicated as her. Someone that will help him have riches much easier and faster. As much as she wanted to forget about the state she left Taehyung in, she couldn’t. She needed to fix things with him first and help him out before she could make that step of marriage once more.

She took one last look at the balcony. At least Seokjin will have someone by his side. With a heavy heart, she peeled her eyes away and headed back into the woods.

***

Returning back to the land of the dead, Y/n sulked as she walked through the lifeless surroundings. Now that she wasn’t terrified and running through, she scanned around. It looked as if it was a small town. The architecture caught her eyes. Colors of bright different shades that she has never seen on buildings. The corpse continued on with their daily activities as she strolled by. It looked rather creepy but strangely nice and calm. There were many corpses walking around with smiles on their faces as they greeted one another as they crossed paths. Some had drinks with light chatter as they talked with big grins. Children played together, their laughter entering her ears. Everything looked so lively and bright, despite the location.

The sight made her think even more. Would she be happier here with Taehyung? The option seemed more open now that Seokjin was getting married to someone that wasn't her.

At first she did feel slightly upset about the whole arranged marriage, but agreed to go with it to make her parents happy. Plus, she was barely beginning to move on from Taehyung. But now that she has gotten to know Seokjin, her feelings somehow changed.

But… it seemed like her feelings were deceiving her again. Staring at the golden ring in her hand, she frowned. Now Seokin is getting married to another woman, which meant he never liked her to begin with.

***

Sitting in front of a piano, Taehyung gently pressed down on one key with his index finger. A light tune came out of it, continuing to go on since Taehyung kept his finger down on it. Then after a short while, he lifted it back up, silence now filling up the air once more.

Taehyung gave a quiet sigh as he hung his head low. He didn't know how he should feel. Was Y/n right? Should he just move on?

The sound of footsteps approaching him interrupted his thoughts. He immediately knew who it was by the sound of the heels and how hesitantly the footsteps were.

"Taehyung?" Y/n's gentle voice called out to him.

Not wanting to look at her, he kept his eyes glued to the piano keys. "How did you know I was here?" he mumbled.

Y/n stopped for a second, not believing she was saying her next words, "That one man with a knife in his head told me that I might find you here."

"Oh." He knew exactly who she was talking about. Plus, almost everyone knew him here and knew this was the number one place he always goes to.

Y/n resumed walking up to Taehyung and stopped once she reached him. Wanting to talk about what happened with him, she sat down next to him. She saw how he hung his head low, staring at his connected hands resting on his lap.

"Taehyung... I'm sorry about what I said."

He turned his head to the left, indicating that he didn't want to look at her. A frown appeared on Y/n's face. Averting her gaze to the piano, she placed her hands on the keys and began playing an upbeat tune. Taehyung didn’t play himself and refused to learn, claiming it was useless to learn how to play instruments. Despite that, she remembered how much Taehyung loved to hear her play piano. He would begin singing along, coming up with lyrics on the spot. Sending a smile towards his direction, expecting him to now look at her, it quickly disappeared when she saw him continue looking at the floor.

Coming to a stop, she too brought her hands down to her lap, not knowing what to say next.

They sat there for a couple of seconds. Wanting to break the long silence, Y/n took a deep breath to compose herself and placed a smile on her face as turned to Taehyung. "I'll do it."

Confused crossed his face, finally turning to place his attention on her. "What?"

"I'll marry you, Taehyung. I'm sorry about what I said. I don't know what I was thinking. I... I still love you. I want to resume our wedding."

A bright smile was now on his lips at her words, relief filling his chest. "I knew you would come around."

***

Standing at his balcony, hands gripping onto the rail, Seokjin looked outwards to the woods in the distance. He could hardly make it out due to it being hard. And the dark, heavy smoke consuming the air wasn’t much help. His mind was on the conversation he had with his parents. Every time he thought about his mother’s words, his teeth gritted together.

She was right. He always did what he was told. Ever since he was a kid, he followed the rules and tried his best to never disappoint her. He never spoke back. Never complained. Yet, he was still not good enough for her. And she did was continue to ask for more from him.

He had enough of it.

Y/n stayed on his mind. She was in trouble. He needed to go help her. If she can enter into his room at night, knowing that it wasn’t allowed, then Seokjin can take a risk and sneak away from his home to go find her in the woods.

Leaning over the railing to see the height, his eyes landed on the columns on the sides. Y/n must've used that to get up to his balcony. Carefully going over the railings, he held on tight to the one column and slid down. Wasting no time, he ran over to the woods. He’s never been that far from the city, goosebumps hitting him from the chilling atmosphere and twisty trees.

As he went further, he came to a halt when he saw a large group of people in the distance. Hiding behind a tree, we waited for them to come closer in case they were trouble. And it’s a good thing he did. The group of figures were all corpses. Seokjin’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he watched them. They didn’t seem dangerous. All of them were heading to a certain location. Perhaps he might find Y/n and that corpse if he followed them.

Keeping a distance, Seokjin kept up with them until he saw that they were heading inside a church. He managed to cover his face and sneak inside, keeping to the edges so no one would see him. Seokjin watched in confusion as the corpses all took their seats. They all just quickly found some spots and sat down, some chatting amongst themselves. He kept to the far corner behind some pillars that blocked him from being seen. Once his eyes landed on a familiar man, he gasped.

He watched as the man walked up the aisle. Seokjin was baffled. It was the same corpse that took Y/n and claimed to be her husband. If this is his wedding... then that means–

The traditional piano music tune to welcome the bride began playing. All the corpses stood up and focused their attention on the person standing at the entrance of the church. Seokjin couldn't believe it. There she was. Wearing a beautiful white, long dress that followed behind her as she walked. A bouquet of dead, white roses was in her hands.

"Y/n?" Seokjin whispered with a shattered heart as his eyes followed her going up to the strange corpse that took her.

Then it hit him. A corpse. Y/n's late fiancé. Could it be? Could this be him?

Not knowing what to do or think, Seokjin froze in his spot. His feet felt like they were glued to the ground. His mouth couldn't utter any words. His brain went blank. All he could do was just watch and listen as the wedding began. Y/n must be doing this for a reason. A bright smile was on her face when she reached Taehyung. Seokjin got a good view of both of them since he was a distance away from where they stood. He watched Taehyung's euphoric expression. She perhaps still wants to be with Taehyung. Why would he ruin this for her?

"Living first," the old skeleton that was marrying them instructed, motioning for Y/n to start.

"With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never empty, for I will be your wine," Y/n stated the lines out loud with no hesitation, grabbing a silver cup off the table.

Taehyung stared into Y/n's eyes, his own becoming misty. A smile appeared on his lips as he started his lines. "With this hand, I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never empty, for I will be–" Taehyung picked up the bottle of poison and began pouring it into Y/n's cup. But a gasp came out of his mouth and he came to a halt once his eyes landed on Seokjin, stopping him from pouring. Seokjin also let out a quiet, shocked gasp once they made eye contact.

Removing his gaze away from Seokjin, he looked back at Y/n, trying to compose himself. He took a deep breath and re-stated his lines, "Your cup... will never empty... for I–" Somehow he wasn't able to get the words out. A strange feeling washed over him. And it felt like a loud voice in his head was telling him to stop. As much as he was looking forward to this day, it didn't feel right. "For I... will be–"

Seeing him struggle, Y/n finished the line for him, "I will be your wine." She lifted the cup up to her lips. Before she could take a sip, Taehyung reached his hand out and placed it on top of the cup, stopping her. All the corpses in the church began whispering once they saw his action. Seokjin was also taken aback by what he witnessed.

Y/n looked at Taehyung in confusion. He wore a sorrowful gaze in his eyes. "What's wrong?"

Taehyung placed a hand on her cheek. "This is wrong," he said, his voice coming out as a whisper so only she could hear. "I love you, Y/n... But you're not mine. I can’t do this to you.”

"What do you mean?" she whispered back.

"There's–"

"Well, isn’t this just beautiful?!”

A voice boomed through the church, causing everyone to snap their heads over to the entrance. "Aw. It seems like our lovers are finally getting the wedding of their dreams. Surely now they can live happily ever after." The person continued walking up the aisle until they reached Y/n and Taehyung. "But you forget," the person yanked on Y/n's arm, pulling her away from Taehyung. "You have made a deal to marry my son! I will not let your fortune go to waste!”

Seokjin couldn't believe his eyes. He stepped out of his hiding place and called out, "Mother!"

Y/n and Lady Kim moved their attention to Seokjin with shocked expressions. "Seokjin?" Y/n questioned, not knowing he was there the whole time watching the wedding.

"Let her go!" Seokjin stormed up to them. But when he reached them and was about to yell something else, he was interrupted.

"You!" Taehyung's eyebrows furrowed in anger, taking a step closer to Seokjin's mother. "You–" He felt his throat clogging up as he finally recalled the event. He recognized that face as he took his final breaths. "You're the one that killed me at Y/n and mine’s wedding.”

The crown gasped, not believing what was going on.

"Is this true?!" Seokjin shouted.

"Of course it's true!" Lady Kim yelled back. "I wasn't about to let the L/n’s money slip through my fingers. Your father promised me riches and happiness when I married him! And look at where I'm at now?! Penniless and unhappy!"

Seokjin gritted his teeth at her words. "I always knew you were evil, but I never thought you would stoop this low."

Y/n was in shock with what she was hearing. She didn’t know what to do. The killer of her fiance was always so near.

Seokjin was fuming with anger. His arms were at his sides, his hands into fists. "Get your hands off Y/n."

"Fine!" She pushed her towards Taehyung, harshly crashing into his arms. "You can never seem to do anything right, Seokjin! Ever since you were a child you have always been a problem. And look now!" She pointed a finger towards Y/n and Taehyung. "Your own bride is marrying someone else! A corpse at that! How stupid of a man must you be?!"

Seokjin watched as she went up to the table, anger continuing to bubble in him. Grabbing the silver cup, she turned back at Seokjin, lifting it up in the air. "Let us all have a toast. To my dear son, Kim Seokjin, a man that can't keep a woman to himself. I even had a slight bit of hope that you would grow to not be useless to me once you get older. But I was wrong. You are completely useless to me. I never considered you as my son."

Seokjin's hard stare stayed on his mother. Eyes glancing to the cup in her hand, he realized that it was the cup Y/n was going to drink from. At the corner of his eye, he saw that the liquid that was poured in it wasn’t wine at all but poison. His mother sent him an evil smile on her lips.

“And I never considered you as a mother,” he truthfully added.

Her expression stayed the same, only a small twitch of her lips at his words. If it got to her, she definitely didn’t show it. "Cheers!" She lifted it up higher than guided the cup to her lips. After drinking every drop, she tossed her cup to the corner.

Smacking her lips, she began walking over to the exit. But before she could do so, she then felt a tight feeling hit her chest, as if someone just stabbed a knife right into her heart. Clutching her chest, she placed her hand on the wall to stabilize herself as she felt her throat closing up.

When she turned back around to look at everyone, her skin was now more pale with a hint of gray. All the corpses smiled at Lady Kim accidentally killing herself and stood up from their seats. "We'll take care of her, Taehyung," one corpse said as they all went up to Seokjin's mom. All that was heard was her screams as they all disappeared into a room, closing the door behind them.

Seokjin stood there, looking at where his mother last stood. "Seokjin," a voice called his attention. He turned around to see his dad walk up to him. Once he reached him, Seokjin was taken aback when his father gave him a hug. "I'm sorry about everything. I should've stood up for you more and been there for you. It's partially my fault that I let her treat you so badly. I haven't been a good father these past years. I... I'm sorry."

Pulling back from the hug, Seokjin placed his hands on his fathers shoulders. "Don't be sorry, father. You have always been there for me. I'm just glad you're ok."

"I love you, my son."

A warm smile with watery eyes was on Seokjin's face. "I love you too, father."

After giving another short hug, another voice touched through the church. "Y/n!" A familiar voice entered Y/n's ears. She turned to the entrance of the church to see her mom standing there with her father beside her. They didn't waste any second to go up to her and engulf her in a hug.

Seokjin turned around to see Y/n united with her parents. Happy smiles with misty eyes was the look on her parent's faces. Seeing that Seokjin was watching them, Y/n's mother tapped Y/n's shoulder and pointed in the direction of Seokjin, signaling to go talk to him. But once she turned and made eye contact, he immediately ran up and gave her a hug.

"I'm so glad you're safe. I never thought I'd see you again."

Y/n chuckled and returned the hug, burying her face into his neck. She felt safe once again in his arms.

Taehyung watched them all from a distance, a sad but delighted smile on his lips. Hearing the sound of footsteps walking past them, Y/n lifted her head up to see Taehyung walking out of the church. "Wait! Taehyung!" she shouted and ran after him. Coming to a halt at the entrance of the church he turned to look back at her. Reaching him with red eyes that looked like they were about to cry any second, she said, "I'm sorry."

A quiet chuckle left his mouth as he cupped her warm face into his cold and lifeless hands. "Don't be, my darling. I should be the one apologizing. Our relationship has always not been the best since the beginning. I was practically forcing you to marry me." He stopped for a second to let out either breathy chuckle. "You deserve better."

Tears started escaping Y/n's eyes as well from hearing Taehyung's words. She sniffed as she took him in. "Even though our relationship has always been rocky from the start, I've still always cared about you, Taehyung. I'll never forget the day that you died. It was like my whole world fell apart because I lost someone who was deeply important to me."

"At least in my final moments I was filled with joy at the thought of us getting married."

More tears ran down her cheeks. Gently grabbing the sides of Taehyung's head, she brought him closer to her and connected their foreheads. They both closed their eyes, enjoying their final moments together. Tear stains were on her cheeks, tears dripping down her face.

After a short while, they both slowly pulled away and Taehyung whispered, "Thank you for everything. You've set me free. Don't go on worrying about me anymore and enjoy your life."

Y/n shakily let go of his face. "Goodbye, Taehyung," she whispered. Taehyung took one last look at her then continued to walk out of the church. Seokjin went up to Y/n and gently placed his arm around her shoulders, watching Taehyung come to a stop and look up at the bright moon.

A while glow was surrounding his body. Head aiming up into the sky, he shut his eyes closed and extended his arms out to his sides. He let out a sigh. A relieved and happy one as the glow went brighter. His body began disappearing slowly, turning into butterflies. Once his whole body disappeared from their sight, the glow stopped and all that was left was white butterflies. Y/n and Seokjin watched as the butterflies all flew their way up the moon

Y/n had a joyous smile, getting more emotional from what she just witnessed. Knowing that Taehyung was going to a better place brought her pure joy. She felt her heart become full. And all that sadness and regret she's been feeling for the past year disappeared.

Placing her head on Seokjin's shoulder, they both continued looking at the starry sky until the butterflies disappeared into the moon.

#wow this was an hauntingly beautiful read im so glad i came across it #gothic fiction is my favourite and damn you really executed the genre so perfectly #the angst the love the fear the flash backs the losses and death all captured in a devoted bewitching way #i loved the world building around this all #i loved the description of each little moment which felt so vivid to me #i enjoyed how you wrote on the spirit world. it felt like i genuinely sensed a whole different place as i read which was gorgeous #i loved how u chosen taejin for this 🥺 they are my fav ship and it made me so happy to see them be inspired for this AU #love the corpse bride and character's they all played #so different #an alluring read indeed im definitely reading this again bc im obsessed with this seriously bless u writer for being so talented and amazin #im fascinated by your breathtaking writing i would and can definitely see you writing fabulous genres esp these kinds #🥰💙💙💙#seokjin fanfic #taehyung fanfiction #bts fanfic #seokjin x reader

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