The Woman

I kept my eyes on eomma, who was quietly inspecting the dresses the stylist brought in. What is she up to? Why is she here? What was she saying?  I stood quietly, lost in my own thoughts as the stylist measured me. She's acting weird and it's scaring me.

"The dress will fit her," The stylist informed while looking through her papers.

"Good, get going now. I'll see you in a bit," Eomma nods at me.

"Eomma-"

"Sora, just go. I need to discuss the details with the stylist. You need to look your best," Eomma smiles at me. She's pissing me off! She never tells me anything! WAE?! I angrily stomped out of the room without another word.

"Done?" Taehyung muttered while leaning against the wall with his arms crossed when I walked out.

"Kamjagiya!" I jumped back in panic. Why was he standing there??

"Mianhae. Why is your mother here?" Taehyung smirked. I'm not in the mood right now.

"Nan molla," I shrugged and walked off with my arms crossed.

"Are you mad? At me?" Taehyung asked, catching up with my pace to walk beside me.

"Why would I be?" I shook my head as I walked into the kitchen. I poured some water and gulped it down to cool my fuming head. Why won't they let me know anything?

"Then why are you so red?" Taehyung smiled with his eyes trained on me. My heart started racing when I turned to find his dark brown eyes gazing into mine. What the fu- COUGHS. COUGHS.

"Yah! Gwenchana?" Taehyung snapped in shock when I started choking.

"I-I'M Fine!" I gasped for air while patting my chest in panic. Why am I feeling this??

"You're not fine," Taehyung muttered, gently running his fingers through my hair. I froze in my position and fired him a startled expression. Thud Thud Thud. I can hear my own heart pounding in my ears. What is he doing?

"Taehyung-ah! Aigo! You've gotten skinnier!" An elderly woman came bursting through the front door. The maids all around us bowed at her presence and rushed to work again. Is she his grandma?

"Oh! Imo!" Taehyung eyes suddenly brightened when he saw the woman. He quickly rushed towards her and pulled the lady's frail body against his to embrace her in his crushing hug. I've never seen Taehyung act like this around anyone. He's usually insensitive and reserved with other people, but with the woman, he's weirdly happy?

"Anneonghaseyo~ I'm Jang Sora," I bowed at her. I didn't know he had an aunt? But why is she so old? Shouldn't she be his grandma?? Yah, Sora! You're so rude sometimes!

"Oh? Who's this? Taehyung, did you get yourself a girlfriend? Aigo, you've never liked anyone since-"

"Ani! She lives with us!" Taehyung quickly denied, then turned to look at me. "since..."? He's never liked anyone since...? Who? He used to be with someone? Taehyung reached out to grab my arm and pulled me forward to introduce me to the lady. I stared at her uneasily when she kept on studying me with her bright eyes.

"Oh! Right! I heard! I'm forgetful these days. Well, I hope you're enjoying your stay here!" The woman beams at me. I didn't say anything and lowered my head to greet her.

"I'll see you later," I mouthed Taehyung and hurried off. Why am I so messed up? Did Yoongi hurt me that bad? I can't even control my feelings anymore!

Ceremony Day

I later discovered imo's real identity, and she was Taehyung's caretaker. Taehyung is very fond of his nanny since he was a young boy, and she's the manager of all the housemaids in the mansions too. Taehyung later explained that imo had to leave in an emergency to care for her sick mother about a year ago. But imo's mother, unfortunately, passed away a month ago, so she returned to the mansion after sorting out her personal complications. 

"Was it hard- adjusting to this place?" Imo asked while fixing my hair as a makeup artist worked on my face. I looked at her through the mirror and nodded.

"It was hard. I didn't know this kind of society existed," I smiled at her. She let out a weak chuckle as she pushed a pin into my hair to keep the wild strands in place.

"But you're surviving it... despite being an average. I'm impressed," She chuckled, tugging my hair behind my ears.

"You can leave now," Imo ordered when the makeup artist told her she was done, so the artist quickly packed her stuff and left... leaving just Imo and me in my room.

"Barely surviving," I glanced down at my hands. I'm barely hanging on...

"It's odd, you know? An average won't survive here... but there's something special about you," She smiled, looking at me through the mirror as I bit onto my lips. Special in what way?  I've gotten hurt and wounded countless times. If it weren't for Taehyung and the others... I'd be dead already.

"There's nothing special about me. I don't think I'll survive for long," I shook my head again. I don't think I'll survive their game.

"Keep your head up," Imo muttered, softly touching my chin to tilt my head up a little.

"I'm sorry," I stared at her apologetically, but she just smiled at me.

"I believe there's something special about you... there should be," She pushed another pin into my hair again.

"I wish I was-"

"You're special to Taehyung-shi," She looked straight at me through the mirror.

"N-neh? Ah... ani we're just-"

"Sora, I watched him grow. He was never the type to care about anyone. He's probably the most heartless person people will meet. But to me, he's not. He's a gentle and cheerful boy, trying his best to protect himself from the brutal pressure of the society he thrives in," She shook her head. I stared at her in confusion, so she let out a faint chuckle again. Why is she looking at me like that?

"He's caring in a protective way," I whispered and shrugged.

"Taehyung has never looked at anyone like the way he looks at you. Did you notice that?" She questioned as she pushed another pin into my hair.

"I-"

"But he's a complicated soul. I'm afraid he'll end up hurting you because he doesn't know how to control himself," Imo let out a deep sigh. I sat quietly, staring out the window. She's right.

"But I'm glad he smiles more often now. He's always been a concrete wall," She chuckles while spraying the hair mist over my hair.

"It's almost time," Taehyung knocked on the door repeatedly. Imo and I stared at each other through the mirror.

"Imo? Hurry up!" Taehyung whined behind the door.

"She'll be there! Be patient, will you?!" Imo snapped at the door, so he fell silent.

"I told you," She winks at me.

"Aniyo~ it's not like that," I shyly chuckled at her. I shouldn't take her words seriously. Even if it's true, I can't do anything about it because I'm not even over Yoongi yet. Yoongi. How will I deal with him?

"Oh? He left?" Imo mumbled as I followed her into the empty corridor. Eomma made me wear a long slit sequin rose gold v-neck dress despite the condition of freezing weather. I hope it's warm at the ceremony.

"Oh my god," Mrs. Kim gasped when I walked into the living room where everyone was waiting. My cheeks flushed red when they turned to look at me with their stunned expression. I don't like it when people stare at me! It makes me feel very uneasy!

"She's insanely pretty, don't you think?" Imo giggled while nudging Taehyung, who was eyeing me in silence.

"Oh? Uh- ehem..." Taehyung blinks repeatedly. His cheeks flushed red as he awkwardly scratched his head.

"Of course, she's pretty!" Mr. Jeon chuckled at me, so I shyly looked down. I'm not used to compliments.

"Too bad she's an average," Mrs. Jeon scoffed before walking away in her long silky red dress. Eomma's face turned blank at Mrs. Jeon's words, so Mrs. Kim glared at her sister. She really detests me, doesn't she?

"I'm sorry about that," Mr. Jeon apologetically smiled at eomma. She blinked out of her thoughts and weakly smiled at him.

"We should get going," Taehyung coughed, breaking the awkward silence. He wouldn't look at me in the eyes. What's with him?

"That's right, go on. Have fun," Eomma patted my shoulder. I smiled and gave her a warm hug before walking out of the mansion with the Jeons and Kims. Taehyung opened the car door for me, but I couldn't get on since the dress was all over the place.

"Be careful..." Taehyung muttered, lifting up my dress a little to help me into the car.

"Thank you," I smiled and slid to the other side, so Taehyung got in and sat next to me. That's when I realized we were wearing matching colors. He was wearing a dotted rose gold suit, but instead of wearing a bow tie or a tie- he had this thin white scarf under his collar.

"Yah? Did you hear me?" Taehyung waved his hands before my face, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Oh, oh? What did you say?" I asked, blinking in embarrassment since I was staring at him with my mouth hanging open. I immediately closed my mouth and straightened my back.

"You wore my necklace," Taehyung eyed the necklace with a weak smile on his face.

"Of course- Oh? Taehyung!- You don't have to- Wah~" I whined when Taehyung suddenly drew out a jewel box from under his suit. I already know what it is. I don't want him to spend on me.

"Just this once, I promise," Taehyung smiles, carefully opening the box to reveal two bracelets sitting over the velvet cushion.

"Taehyung. That's expensive- Wae-"

"We're a couple remember?" Taehyung smiles, turning to look at me. My cheek suddenly flushes red. What did he just say?

"Couple...?" I whispered in shock. Did he just-

"Of course, we're going together! Aren't we a couple for the event?" Taehyung chuckles, placing the bracelet around my wrist. Oh! Sora! What were you thinking?! It's nothing. We're just a date for the night! Nothing else!

"That's right," I smiled awkwardly. Taehyung placed the other bracelet over his own wrist, turned to smile at me, and compared our matching jewels.

"Hold my hand," Taehyung smiled and opened his palm.

"Huh?" I turned to look at him with my eyes wide open. Hold his hand? Is he serious?

"Come on, it's not like you've never held it before," Taehyung cheekily smiled at me. My inside was going crazy. Why am I like this? Slowly, I placed my hand in his when an explosion of abnormal sensations erupted all over my body as he interlaced his slender fingers with mine. Taehyung averted his eyes towards me while biting onto his lower lips in excitement, so I held my breath in the awkward silence.

"I'm sweating," I chuckled when our hands grew warmer. Why is my palm sweating so much???

"It's fine," Taehyung smiles, leaning away from me. He pulled out his phone to snap a picture of our hands, then uploaded it onto his social media account. His phone suddenly flooded with notifications a second after posting the picture.

Daebak! He has a date!

Taehyung oppa has a date for the ceremony?!

I wonder who it is!

Who's hand is that!?

This is insane! How can he have a date!?

I'm so jealous!

Who's the girl?

Who is she!?

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"Why did you do that? I'll get in trouble with your fans," I smiled at him.

"Hmm? Just showing people I've got my hands full," He wiggles his eyebrows at me. Dumbfounded, I sat staring at him in disbelief. What did he just-

"You're unbelievable," I whined, trying to pull my hands away in embarrassment, but he wouldn't let go. My face is probably as red as a tomato right now. Why is he behaving like this?

"Wae? Wae??? What's wrong with that?" Taehyung chuckles, pulling my hands back towards him. When was he this flirty? He's not the type to say this kind of thing! I'm going crazy!

"We've arrived, young master," The driver announced as we drove through the elite gate. It was filled with luxurious cars and people in fancy clothing bustling in and out of the property. Even the lower ranks are here.  I stared out the window nervously as we drove up to the red carpet. How will I deal with this?  I hope Yoongi isn't there. I don't want to see him...

"Don't fret, you have me," Taehyung smiled and raised our linked fingers to remind me I wasn't alone. I weakly smiled at him. The driver got off to open Taehyung's side of the door. The deafening noises echoed over the property as people anticipated the presence of the top alphas, but the moment Taehyung stepped out of his car- the entire place grew hushed.

"WHO'S THE GIRL?!" Someone yelled from the crowd of curious eyes. Fuck. Why is my heart beating so fast! Sora! Get yourself together. Taehyung turned towards me and helped me out of the car. Anxiously... I stepped out of the car and onto the bright red carpet.

"Who is she?"

"Omo, look at the way she hangs on to him!"

"Who's that? I don't remember seeing her!" People started to gossip as they stared at me... unable to recognize my identity.

"THE THIRD RANK ALPHA KIM TAEHYUNG AND HIS DATE JANG SORA!" The announcer roared into the microphone, causing my ear to ring in discomfort. The crowd gasped in shock at my unexpected name... every one of the lower ranks stared at me with their eyes wide open in shock.

"Anneonghaseyo," Taehyung and I quickly bowed at the crowd. I linked my arm with Taehyung's, but Taehyung grabbed my hand and held onto it instead. Flustered, I look away in panic. Calm down Sora- Calm down-... my heart sunk when my eyes landed on... a familiar face... about ten feet away... he stood... staring at me. Yoongi ... and right beside him... was a dark-haired girl. She was holding onto his arm.

My chest twisted and churned in pain. I felt like running away but I couldn't... Taehyung noticed me staring, so he turned to look at Yoongi, but he suddenly sucked in his breath and tightened his grip around my hand. The girl turned to our side and stopped dead when she found Taehyung staring at her. Why is Taehyung suddenly stiff? Who is she? She stared at him with her eyes wide open... they seemed to know each other...

The noise died down again as the four of us stood staring at each other in extreme dread.