One Spring Day- Kim Taehyung

Chapter-25

[Taehyung's POV]

As I gazed into Aeng's tear-filled eyes, a surge of emotions coursed through me—anguish at her pain, fury at the one who caused it, and an overwhelming desire to shield her from further harm. Seeing her dress torn and her trembling form, I swiftly unbuttoned my jacket and draped it around her waist, hoping to offer some semblance of comfort in the face of her distress.

Her gaze met mine, a silent plea for understanding and solace. The weight of her pain reflected in her tear-stained eyes, and my heart clenched at the sight.

"I'm in a lot of pain,"

she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. In that moment, I felt a fierce determination to ease her burden, to be her anchor in the storm of turmoil she faced.

With gentle yet firm hands, I guided her to the sofa, urging her to sit and rest. As she settled onto the soft cushions, I knelt beside her, my gaze never leaving hers.

"You're safe now, Aeng,"

I assured her, my voice a low murmur filled with conviction.

"I won't let anyone hurt you again."

I gently brushed her hair behind her ears, as our eyes met, I saw the pain and vulnerability reflected in her gaze, and my heart ached for her. She lowered her gaze, unable to meet my intense stare, and I knew that her ordeal had left her shaken to the core.

I rose from my kneeling position and fetched a soft blanket. Returning to her side, I draped the blanket over her shoulders, ensuring she was enveloped in its warmth.

"Here, Aeng,"

I murmured softly, my voice tender yet resolute.

"Get comfortable."

I watched as she nestled into the blanket.

"What happened today, Aeng?"

I asked softly, hoping she would share her burden with me.

But there was no response. I glanced up and noticed her head bowed low, her breath steady as she slept soundly.
Gently, I reached out and lifted her, cradling her neck and waist as I carefully laid her down on the couch. I tucked the blanket around her, ensuring she was comfortable before sitting down beside her.

Leaning back against the couch, I let out a sigh, my mind filled with worry for her. What could have possibly happened to make her look so broken?

-

I couldn't recall when I drifted off myself.
As I woke up, I found myself in a daze, adjusting to the dim lighting of the room, it was almost 3 am. My eyes fell upon Aeng, still peacefully asleep on the couch. A faint smile crept onto my lips as I approached her, my hands reaching out to steady myself on the back of the couch.

Concerned about the cut on her lips, I fetched the first aid kit and carefully tended to her wound.

As I leaned in to apply the ointment, her eyes fluttered open, and I found myself mere inches away from her face. Our proximity took me by surprise, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still as our gazes locked in an intimate exchange.

Before she could react, I swiftly placed a finger over her lips, urging her to silence.

"Shh, Aeng,"

I whispered softly, hoping to ease her sudden apprehension.

Her eyes widened in astonishment as she gazed up at me, and I attempted to shift my position to stand up. However, in my haste, my hand slipped, and I lost my balance, toppling forward. With quick reflexes, I managed to catch myself, landing on her without any harm. I looked down at her.

"I-I was just... treating the wound,"

I managed to mumble, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

As we found ourselves in such close proximity, I couldn't help but feel the warmth of her breath against my cheeks. My gaze softened as I admired her beauty, a faint smile lingering on my lips. But before I could fully immerse myself in the moment, she abruptly sat up, catching me off guard.

Quickly regaining my composure, I followed suit and rose from the couch, offering her an apologetic smile.

"You can sleep in the guest room if you'd like. I didn't mean to wake you up."

I reassured her gently, my voice laced with sincerity.

"Actually, I'm not feeling sleepy anymore,"

She said, her voice soft.

Her words caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but smile at her pout.

"Well, in that case, we could watch a movie or something,"

I suggested, trying to hide my excitement at the prospect of spending more time with her.

She pouted, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"I don't mind watching a movie, but only if you promise not to pick something boring,"

she teased, a playful glint in her eyes.

"I won't, I promise."

I grabbed the remote and turned on the television. Navigating to Netflix, we scrolled through countless options, but after 20 minutes, we still hadn't settled on anything.

"Omg, that looks awesome!"

she exclaimed, pointing to a show, but then her expression fell.

"But it's a K-drama, not a movie. Oh, no, that's too much drama for tonight,"

she sighed, shaking her head.

Scrolling through Netflix made me sleepy.

"Bye,"

I mumbled, flopping down on the couch and pulling the blanket over my face dramatically. She groaned and approached me, attempting to snatch the blanket away, but I held onto it tightly. She persisted, trying to wrestle it from my grasp. Suddenly, I loosened my grip, causing her to stumble. In an instant, I reached out and caught her wrist, preventing her from falling, and she landed on my chest.

As she landed on my chest, our eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. I could feel her breath against my skin, her warmth radiating through me. We were so close, and yet there was an unspoken tension lingering between us, like a silent agreement neither of us dared to breach.

I cleared my throat, breaking the spell, and she quickly pulled away, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Sorry,"

she murmured, averting her gaze.

"It's okay,"

I reassured her softly, my heart still racing from the sudden proximity. But as she sat up, I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment at the loss of our closeness.

_