Work Text:
"A five, six, seven, eight...!"
The bouncy melody of a K-pop song blares from the speakers in a practice room at the HYBE company building in Seoul. While the five members of the girl group, CRE85 (pronounced "creative"), smoothly execute the dance moves, Kim Taehyung watches with laser-like focus, studying the choreography. Bae Yumi, the maknae of the group, glances at him sitting in the corner, in front of the mirrored wall. It gives her chills, literal chills, that her favorite member of BTS has decided to do a dance challenge with a girl group and it just happens to be with the one she's in.
"Oppa, do you want to try it with us now?" Sera, the main dancer of the group, asks Tae shyly.
He gets up from his spot and gives her a boxy smile. Four members of the group giggle excitedly as they welcome Tae into their formation. But Yumi stifles a smile. They say never to meet your hero, or in this case your bias, because he might let you down. So she tries to play it cool and looks down at her phone.
"I don't think he's ready," Yumi says with a little attitude, swiping the screen in her hand. "He only watched us once."
Tae draws his head back, gives her the elevator eyes and a look that says "What do we have here?"
"But he's known for picking up choreo fast," Sera said, showing Tae the opening pose. The other three members of CRE85 nod in agreement.
"Ah...I'm a quick learner," Tae explains.
His comment is towards Yumi but she still doesn't look up. Her lock screen is a picture of Tae on the cover of Vogue Korea and she would die if he caught her staring at it. Yumi smirks and can't help but look up to see the same face from her phone, looking at her in the practice room.
"Well, this is our hardest dance. You're going to be here a while," Yumi challenges.
"This is your only dance since you just debuted and I bet I can learn it in less than ten minutes," Tae challenges back.
The young women scoff, not in an offended way, but excitedly in anticipation. Yumi, however pretends to be offended and harrumphs, jutting out her chin and twisting her lips at Tae. She presses her screen and aggressively turns it toward him. The timer on her phone has started and the countdown begins at 9:59...
Tae has an incredulous smile on his face as the music starts and he begins dancing what he remembers from the choreo. The five members dance the steps perfectly from muscle memory. Their student does the best he can, copying their moves, pausing to watch, then dancing when he feels confident.
"Again!" Tae says clapping his hands.
As they repeat the chorus, Yumi can't help but admire his fun, good-natured attitude of learning with a time limit as the clock counts down. She notices how effortlessly he's getting better, enjoying himself in this new surrounding, not to mention the fact that he looks hot wearing a white Celine T-shirt and light purple sweatpants. The shirt is just cropped enough that when he lifts his arms for certain moves, his taut abs can be seen. He's unbelievable! she thinks to herself.
Yumi can feel Tae's eyes on her and her cheeks redden. A quick glance tells her he's still looking at her with a smile on his face, as they complete the song. She avoids his stare, instead making her moves extra bouncy and her facial expressions extra cute. Tae notices and drinks in the image of her messy hair bun, white hoodie, black shorts revealing her long legs, and black Converse shoes. He takes a break to reach for a water bottle to satisfy his thirst.
The timer goes off causing CRE85 and Tae to cheer. "I'm ready!" he exclaims.
"I'll be the judge of that," Yumi says, giving Tae a mocking grin. She turns to the members in her group. "Hey, let's end the song with us posing and making different 'V' signs while Tae stands in the middle."
"I love that idea!" he says, excitedly, pointing at Yumi in awe. Her eyes get big from the attention he's giving her.
The music to their debut song starts and they perform the thirty-seconds of dancing, flawlessly synchronizing their moves. They pose and smile for the camera at the end then break formation. "Ah...I messed up," Tae reveals.
"Yeah, you didn't wiggle your butt enough on the walking backwards move," Yumi points out, jiggling her legs to show what she meant.
Tae chuckles, admiring the view in front of him. "Let's try it again." He looks around, raising his eyebrows and sighing as if admitting defeat. "I guess I'll be here a while."
After they record a final take, the crew starts to clean up and the K-pop idols collect their things. Tae looks at Yumi from across the room and stares as she talks to her friends. Sera and another member turn to give Tae a quick glance before their eyes go back to Yumi, who playfully slaps their arms and giggles. He wonders if they're talking about him as he walks over to the group of girls. He politely says good-bye to each one, then sidles up to Yumi as he puts his long sleeved plaid shirt over his top. His voice tone changes, it's deeper as he speaks to her.
"Yumi, what if I wanted to learn the whole dance? Would you teach me?"
Yumi whips her head toward him, dropping her mini backpack, then fumbling to pick it up. "Umm..." She feels faint and can't seem to find the words. A quick glance around the room shows her friends are making lovey-dovey faces at her and encouraging her to say something. Yumi decides to play hard to get. "Umm....yeah...like I'm going to teach you. Not Sera, who's actually the main dancer," she says sarcastically.
Tae put his hands in his pockets. He looks to the side and notices they're now all alone in the practice room. He makes eye contact with Yumi again and bites his lower lip. "But I don't want her. I want you."
Yumi blushes so hard she doesn't need any makeup. "Well...then I guess I will." She exaggerates rolling her eyes and tilting her head from side to side. Then to show she's actually interested, she laughs and lightly touches his arm. Tae watches her, scrunches up his nose, and laughs along with her.
***
18
MONTHS
LATER
***
Yumi sits at her desk in her studio apartment and stares at the email in front of her on her laptop. The name of a music artist she will be working with makes her stomach drop. She was used to her boss, Heejin, being the producer for up and coming artists at ADOR music company. But this new client was already a global superstar. Not to mention Yumi's ex-boyfriend, Kim Taehyung.
"Yay," Yumi says sarcastically. She continues to read the email out loud. "'Your duties will include creating a schedule to record six songs, coordinate the production, mixing and mastering of the album, and assist in any other needs for the artist.'" She scoffs. "Cool."
Yumi gulps and takes a swig from her glass of water next to her. She thinks back to the day she met Tae. How they hung out in the practice room, talking, dancing, then talking some more. She purses her lips at the memories of how he continued to visit her whenever they were at the HYBE building at the same time, then finally had the courage to ask her out. They dated for a year until their schedules got in the way, his being busy and hers not. While his group, BTS, was touring the world performing at stadiums, her girl group was performing next to the escalators at the Lotte Mall.
To distract herself from the break up of her boyfriend and her K-pop group, Yumi had decided to stay in the music business and try her hand at producing. The first step was to work for a producer as an assistant who apparently was now hired to help with Tae's long anticipated solo album. Yumi lets her thoughts wander as her white cat, Yetaeng, climbs onto her desk and lazily crosses her keyboard.
"He broke up with me, Yetaeng," Yumi explains as she pets the Persian's long hair. "He left me and took the memories with him. How am I going to work with him and not have it turn into a disaster?"
The next day, Yumi finds the answer to that question. She is sitting in the recording studio waiting for the rest of the production team to arrive, tapping her pen on the table nervously. Suddenly she hears a deep, baritone voice coming from behind her.
"Bae Yumi," Tae says, sending shivers down her spine.
She turns her head slowly and does a double take when her eyes meet Tae's. Yumi isn't surprised to find him in the studio, but she is caught off guard by his sophisticated, sexy look, long styled black hair, white shirt and blue jeans with a black blazer, and how it takes her breath away. There's fear in her eyes as she realizes he still has that effect on her.
"Annyeong," Yumi says quietly, getting up to bow as a greeting to him and the other team members who enter at the same time.
"How are you?" he asks sincerely. He doesn't break eye contact as he moves to the opposite end of the table.
"Taehyung? You know Yumi?" Heejin asks as she takes the seat next to her assistant.
Tae represses a big smile and answers, "We did a dance challenge once."
Yumi quietly breathes a sigh of relief that he didn't reveal they used to date, thinking it might give Heejin a reason to take her off the job. Honestly, Yumi is excited to work with Tae because it could help further her career to have the experience of such a big name project and she was always a fan of his music.
As the meeting proceeds, Yumi takes notes and awkwardly avoids looking at Tae. When Heejin asks her a question, she can feel Tae's gaze on her and it gives her butterflies. Yumi tries to swat them away mentally. "What was the question?" Yumi asks her boss, sheepishly.
"I said can you set up all the equipment by tomorrow morning?" Heejin demands. "Are you okay?"
Yumi stammers, "Well...it's like this...when you get to the matter...they say work smart-"
Heejin interrupts her babbling. "Just get it done."
The producer dismisses everyone and Yumi, thankfully, is left alone to collect her thoughts. Seeing Tae in person, six months after breaking up, wasn't as hard as she thought. She managed to sit in a meeting with him without self-combusting. She could do this. She could act professional, aloof, and indifferent to the man who had broken her heart when he said he was too busy for her.
Yumi takes out her phone and opens to the "Candy Crush" game app to relieve some stress. She connects three red jellies then freezes when she feels the presence of someone behind her. Her jaw drops when she slightly turns to her right to find Tae's face, eyes on her screen, inches from her own. He swipes her screen with his finger, connecting three chocolate balls resulting in a trill! from her phone.
Tae gives her a boxy smile. She feels her cheeks redden as the warmth of his body next to her makes her breath hitch. "I look forward to working with you," he says then stands up to leave the room.
Stay aloof! Yumi cries to herself.
***
The next day, Tae checks himself in the mirror of the hallway in his apartment. He fixes the collar of his black leather jacket and untucks his black T-shirt a bit from his black jeans. Then he chuckles to himself as his Pomeranian dog, Yeontan, barks at his feet.
"I know," Tae says as he squats down to pet the short black and brown fur. "Why am I wearing Yumi's favorite color? I can't stop thinking about her since I found out she works for Heejin. Am I thе only one like this? Is she okay if I'm with somеone else? I wish we could take it way back...slowly. But she probably hates me for what I did to her. I don't know..."
Over the next few weeks, Tae and the production team at ADOR work on his album. Yumi is there every step of the way assisting the producers. The first few days are nerve-racking. She tries not to admit to herself that when Tae left her, he never really left. But with every smile from Tae and random look from him, she relaxes into a professional role. It's nice when he gives her attention but ultimately she knows he's just friendly to everyone he works with.
The ex-couple settles into a routine of treating each other like co-workers. But one day Tae deliberately sits next to her even though there is an open chair closer to the soundboard and the next day he is already seated by the table when she catches him staring at her and pointing to the seat next to him, gesturing for her to sit. It gives her the feeling of...well, what exactly? Yumi doesn't entertain the idea that he might be flirting with her, it just isn't possible in her mind.
"What do you think of that, Yumi?" Tae asks her one day when the demo of his song is done playing. He had asked her to join him in the studio to listen to something he worked on while he was in Paris. Yumi's heart warms from the fact that he asked her opinion and that they were alone in the room.
She sits back in her chair to get a full view of him next to her. "That's beautiful, Tae. Who's singing with you? The harmony is so pretty."
"No one. That's me on a double track."
Yumi silently mouths the word "wow" and her eyes get big. Tae is pleased with her reaction and gives her a boxy smile. Then he reaches over with his outer hand and crosses her body to press a button on the sound board. His face is millimeters away from hers, their arms touch, and she leans back a bit. Yumi's lips part in surprise at his bold gesture. They make eye contact, frozen in time as their bodies press slightly against each other and Yumi can almost hear the OST of a K-drama playing in her head. She looks down at his lips, wishing he would kiss her.
Suddenly, Heejin walks in interrupting the awkward moment.
"Taehyung," Heejin says, forcing the two to assume their original positions. "We need to talk about your trip to Spain. The production team will give you all the details." Tae nods slightly before Heejin turns to Yumi. "And I need you to accompany the team."
Yumi does a double take at her boss. "The what?"
"You have your passport, right?"
"Yes, but this project involves making music videos. Why does an assistant like me need to be there?"
"Exactly. To assist. This is part of your duties at ADOR, leading the project in music, choreography and promotion style."
Yumi protests awkwardly. "Normally I would but...the reason... I wouldn't...I think...once we...I wouldn't assume...I wouldn't even guess at how-"
Heejin interrupts her and proceeds to describe the responsibilities Yumi would have there. Tae chimes in, excitedly adding the locations they would visit on the trip. Yumi winces at how bright he is describing what sounds like hell to her. Working with Tae in a recording studio is business-like and sterile. Spending a week with him in Europe in a more laid back atmosphere is party-like and dangerous.
"By the way, are you bringing Yeontan with you?" Heejin asks as another producer walks in to hand her a file folder.
Tae shakes his head, his now dyed blonde locks swishing across his forehead. "No, he's not very healthy."
"Okay. Jisung will arrange for a look-alike to replace him." The co-worker nods in agreement.
"I hope Yeontan doesn't get jealous," Tae says unseriously. "I might find a sign that says 'Welcome home, Cheater' when I get back."
The two producers burst into laughter. Tae chuckles as he turns to see if Yumi is laughing too. He always liked the sound of her laugh. She catches Tae looking at her and smiles reservedly, thoughts still on the upcoming trip of doom.
Heejin dismisses Yumi to get ready since they will be flying the day after tomorrow. Yumi panics at the possibility that more time with Tae could lead to heartbreak. She couldn't trust her emotions right now. "Oh! That soon? Maybe I shouldn't go, I have so much to do here. Why don't you go? You're the main producer."
"I can't...I have...my daughter's sick. I'll send you a car for the airport. Tae, let's work on that new song."
Feeling flustered, Yumi gathers her backpack purse, drops it, and picks it up while leaning on the soundboard then leaves. In the hallway, she rummages through her things and notices her bus card must have fallen out when she can't find it. Slowly she returns to the studio so as not to disturb the recording. She clicks the door open slightly and is surprised to hear voices coming from the soundproof live room. The sounds are amplified in the control room and Yumi realizes she must have accidentally pressed the button to turn on the talkback microphone.
"I know. I should have thought of an excuse earlier for me not going," Heejin says to Tae.
"That's okay. Thanks for making her come to Spain." He gives her a bright smile, happy that his plan to spend more time with Yumi is working.
"Why do you want my assistant to go with you anyway?"
Yumi, still standing at the door, holds her breath waiting for the answer. Suddenly she senses Tae glancing in her direction. "Is the mic on out there?" he asks Heejin.
Quickly, Yumi pulls on the door handle and scurries down the hallway, out of the HYBE building. Once outside, she leans her back against the glass doors and takes a deep breath. Tae wants me to go to Spain with him? Why? Could he...? If he has any regrets about us, will he let me know?
***
If this were a movie, this would be the part with a montage of the male and female leads spending several days together in a romantic setting, in this case, Spain. With a new found confidence, Yumi acts more friendly while working with Tae. When he emerges from his trailer on the set of the MV shooting in a cave, Yumi lets out a slow admiring whistle, checking out Tae's exposed arms in his red glittery sleeveless top and tight leather pants. He smiles shyly at her. They talk easily during breaks of another MV shooting in a penthouse at Torres Blancas and play with Tannie's look alike, Rocky. And when they shoot an MV on a beach, the two of them act like best friends, distracting him from the actors participating in the shooting.
On their last day, the two escape his manager and other members of the production team for a grand day out in Madrid. They visit El Prado Museum and marvel at the paintings of Goya, they stroll down Gran Via to do some window shopping, and finally take in the history of the Plaza Mayor. At the end of the day, they are both hungry for dinner so Tae takes out his phone.
"I wonder if they have a good Korean restaurant here," he says, searching the Internet.
Yumi rolls her eyes and nudges Tae as they stand at the street corner. "You came all the way to Spain to have Korean food? Let's go find a tapas place."
Tae grins. "I need ramyeon."
She remembers how that has always been his favorite meal and snack. "Oh, I know. Remember when we had that bet to see how many bowls we could eat in one night?"
They share a laugh before his eyes light up at his screen. "I found one. It's down the street."
Tae turns expecting Yumi to follow. She decides they had such an amazing day together but wants to leave him wanting more. She pulls on the corner hem of his black designer top and tugs. Tae turns soft at the way she's getting his attention. When he sees Yumi typing something on her phone, it makes him curious. Finally she turns in the opposite direction and waves to him over her shoulder.
After dinner, Tae finds Yumi sitting outside at a nearby tapas café. He was surprised that she didn't want to accompany him, so he quickly finished his ramyeon and set out to look for her so she wouldn't be alone.
"How was it? Just like Korea?" Yumi asks, taking a bite of the grilled squid from her plate.
"Almost. The owner is very nice though." Tae sits across from Yumi and delights in the scene around him, the peaceful side street tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city as the sun sets. When someone behind him tries to pass behind Tae, he scoots his chair closer to Yumi to make room.
Yumi delights in the scene around her, Tae sitting so close she could smell the faint scent of noodles on his clothes. With her outside hand, she reaches across his body to pick up a croquette from a small plate at the other end of the bistro table. Her face is millimeters away from his, their arms touch, and he leans back a bit. Tae's lips part in surprise at her bold gesture. Yumi takes it a step further and stares intensely into his eyes, first his left eye, then his lips, then his right eye. Without breaking eye contact, she brings the tapa to her mouth and slowly takes a bite, licking her lips in front of him. He takes a deep breath and his nostrils flare, thinking how her lip gloss makes her lips look kissable.
Then she returns to her original position, acting as if nothing happened. "So Tae, when your album is done, what's next? Promotions? A tour?"
Tae looks down at his hands and doesn't answer for three seconds. "Military."
"Oh. So soon?"
"I think the timing is good. It will be a distraction for me."
"What do you mean?"
In the darkness of the night, the remoteness of the place where they're sitting and the affection they feel for one another, make everything seem different to Tae. He feels like he could open up to her.
"I'm afraid what people will think about my album." His voice gets deep as he glances at Yumi. "It has a lot of my personal preferences. There will be a lot of things to show and what if people don't like it? What if it's the worst solo of Bangtan?"
She gasps. "Tae, from what I've heard, it's a very fresh sound. This music genre fits you perfectly. No one is doing what you're doing." She touches his arm for emphasis. "Everyone is going to love it."
Her comments warm him inside and makes him feel better. "You're just saying that because your boss is my producer," he teases.
"Well, actually," Yumi starts as she plays with her hair, "if I have one critique it's that you repeat words too many times in the lyrics."
Tae twists his mouth, taken aback, but appreciating her honesty. "That's so fans can sing along easily. Don't you know anything about the music business?"
Yumi notices the joking tone in his voice and appreciates how he's comfortable enough to be savage with her. "Sorry, seonbae, I'm just an assistant." She rolls her eyes while saying sarcastically, "Please teach me all about music, Mr. Worldwide Superstar."
He nudges her to show he's just having a laugh. "What about you? Do you see yourself working at ADOR for long? Or do you want to try being on the other side of the business again?"
Yumi looks down at her plate, her long dark bangs falling into her face. "No, I can't take the pressure of being in a K-pop group again." She turns slightly to face Tae, her hair in her eyes. He brings his hand to her face and hesitates to tuck the strands behind her ear for a better view. Yumi giggles when their fingers touch as she was about to do the same thing. He takes his hand back quickly. She smiles at him and he returns it. "I'm actually really happy where I'm working right now."
Tae smirks. "And how do you like the person you're working with?"
"Heejin?" Yumi asks slowly, not sure if he means her or himself. But Tae just gives her a wicked grin and drops the question.
"Next time, when we hang out in Seoul, I'll give you the first copy of my album."
Yumi does a happy dance in her head. The work on Tae's project is done, but there's hope for more from him after Spain. She's 99% sure he's not interested in her as a girlfriend, but that 1% keeps her going.
***
A few days later, a cheesy love song plays on Yumi's phone as she watches a video that was burning on the Internet the whole day. The clip, which appears to show Blackpink's Jennie and BTS' V taking a nighttime stroll along the Seine River in Paris holding hands, makes Yumi feel sick to her stomach. Though it's filmed from far away and one can't distinctly see either of the pair's faces, the captions and headlines make her believe it is them. Tae was in Paris for a Celine event earlier and, at the same time, Jennie was in France for the Cannes Film Festival. In fact, their managers are in the video, adding more proof.
"Cool, Tae and Jennie are dating," Yumi says out loud sarcastically. She squats down in her living room to pet her cat. "I knew I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up. I almost believed he would be interested in me again. But who am I kidding? It doesn't make sense." Her lips turn down at the corners as Yetaeng purrs. "He and Jennie make more sense. Can you imagine us getting back together? He'd just say he's too busy again. But he has plenty of time for her."
Her phone alerts her of a text. It's from Heejin, asking her to come to the company for one last meeting with Tae and his team. Yumi scoffs. "Perfect."
At the HYBE building, Yumi discovers it's more of a wrap-up party for the completion of Tae's album. He seems to be his friendly self, bringing Yumi a drink from the rooftop bar. He takes in the view around them and thinks how pretty Yumi looks among the twinkling lights of the city skyline and the rooftop décor.
"Thanks for all your help, Yumi. Not just on the album but the music videos too. I really like your idea about making an MV for every song."
Yumi stares at the drink in front of him and takes it. "You're welcome," she says shortly, before finishing the wine spritzer in a few seconds.
She wonders if Tae has seen the viral video. Realizing he must have, she wonders what he thought of it and if he thought it would have any effect on Yumi. She did not want Tae to think it would because that would mean she'd have to admit she still had feelings for him. As far as she knew, she had no right to be jealous because there was nothing going on between Tae and herself.
"Hey, I found a new barbeque restaurant," Tae says.
"That's great, Tae," Yumi says indifferently.
"You wanna try it some time with me?" he asks sincerely.
Yumi ignores the question, thinking he's just playing with her emotions. He bends slightly to take a good look at her face, so different from the flirty way she was acting in Spain, which he enjoyed. "Yumi? What's wrong?"
She has a hard time finding the words. She doesn't deserve an explanation about the video. Yumi and Tae just happened to be working together and had a good time. But after Spain she felt like they had made a connection, not dating again, but not exactly just friends. She didn't know what to tell Tae, as he looked at her with his big dark brown puppy eyes.
"It's the video, isn't it?" he manages finally.
Yumi gulps and her eyes get big. Admitting it was the video that was bothering her would reveal her true feelings. Since he was the one to leave her in their relationship, she isn't willing to give him the upper hand so easily.
"I can tell by your non-answer that that's your answer," Tae says, pursing his lips. "It's not me."
"What?" Yumi asks incredulously.
"That's not me walking by the river with Jennie. It's someone that looks like me."
"But even your managers are walking behind you two." Yumi looks around the rooftop, hoping no one suspects they're having a serious conversation. It might not look good being so close to the talent.
"Some people dressed up like us and they took a video." Tae looks straight into Yumi's eyes to show his honesty. She starts to soften the hard wall she was building around her heart.
"A look-alike? Like Yeontan's look-alike, Rocky?" she asks reservedly.
Tae chuckles. "Yeah." He plays with the drink in his hand, swirling the glass, hesitating to take a sip before looking back at Yumi. "I'm actually happy that it bothers you."
She scrunches up her face. "Oh, yeah. It really bothers me seeing you hold hands with another girl," Yumi starts sarcastically. "I never said it did. Why would it?"
Tae takes a step towards her, closing the space between them. Yumi doesn't step back, enjoying the warmth of his lean body and musky smell of his cologne. "Well if it bothers you...then I feel better about telling you something."
"What?" she asks curiously.
Tae whispers in her ear so no one on the rooftop can hear him. "Meet me in my personal studio in ten minutes."
Before Yumi can protest, he turns on his heels and disappears into the crowd. This can't be happening, she thinks to herself as she checks her phone, waiting for ten minutes to pass.
***
It takes Yumi three attempts to find the right door to Tae's personal studio. Once inside, she finds Tae standing by the door, closing it behind her immediately. Before she can ask him the pressing question, he grabs her waist, pulling her into his chest, tilting her chin up to look at him. She lets out a little yelp!, her face burning warm, like the three-wick rose scented candle lit in the corner of the room.
"Yumi..."
"What, Tae?" she asks, the suspense driving her up the wall.
"I wish you could love me again."
She furrows her eyebrows, finding it hard to believe him. "Why? What about Jennie?"
"No, I don't want nobody else."
Yumi gulps hard, keeping her gaze on him while holding onto his strong forearms. He captures her lips in his feverishly, lingering there for a few seconds. Yumi, her heart racing, starts to give in, starts to believe that this could happen.
Tae breaks the kiss and rests his forehead on hers. "Tell me to stop if you don't want this."
"I don't..." Yumi starts, looking deep into his eyes, "...want you to stop."
He gives her a big smile before he pulls her in by her chin to explore her tongue with his. His teeth gently nip at her bottom lip before deepening the kiss. They both enjoy the faint flavor of wine in their mouths, the familiar taste of each other so addicting.
"Wait," Tae says, pulling away again. "I should do this the proper way and take you out on a date first."
Grabbing him so his body is flush against hers, Yumi disagrees. "Sorry, Tae, but I want this now."
She gives him a soft kiss before moving her lips onto his neck. She licks, kisses, and grunts along his skin creating little fires underneath every place she touches. His mouth drops open and his excitement pokes her under her stomach causing a heat to wash through Yumi, settling between her legs. They both want more of each other.
Tae pulls her toward the huge leather couch next to the desk with monitors and speakers. In the dim light of the candle, everything looks romantic. With each step, Yumi's knees are shaking. With each touch and kiss as they lie next to each other, a band of pleasure stretches in her stomach. She remembers how insanely good he was in bed and feels giddy with excitement.
"You look beautiful tonight," he murmurs, his eager kisses silencing her aww! of gratitude. When he cups her bosom over her dress, she hums in delight. When he uses his large hands to go under her bra, she whimpers from his touch. When he moves south to skim the waistband of her panties, she gives him nonverbal consent to go for it.
"Ah...so needy for me," Tae says, his voice low and sultry as he slides a finger into her wetness. She gasps from the way he's filling her up so good. He finds her extremely sexy with her eyes rolling back, closing shut from the pleasure he's proudly giving her.
Suddenly, Yumi suppresses a moan then glares at Tae. "Wait. Maybe we shouldn't..."
"What's wrong?" Tae asks, now resting his hand on her thigh.
She shifts from under him. "I don't want to come across that way."
"It's okay. I want you too."
"I just..." Yumi thinks things are going too fast and still wants to play it cool. "I don't want you to think I've been pining over you all this time. I had a life you know."
Tae grabs her face with his hand, angling his so he can give her a kiss. "Whatever you want to do. You set the pace, jagiya."
Yumi's heart melts, like the wax in the candle, at the sound of his old nickname for her. "I know I shouldn't ask this so early, Tae...but...where do you see this going?"
He looks down at their bodies pressed against each other. "This?"
She playfully slaps his toned chest over his dress shirt. "I mean us. Together again?"
"Don't worry. You have every right to ask that. This time..." Tae says, kissing her nose cutely, "I want to make it feel better, make it forever."
Yumi has a smile that she's sure she won't be able to wipe off her face for days. "Then...I think I can wait for this."
He follows her eyes to the closed space between them and sighs contentedly. "Yeah, I want it be special. Not here in my studio with a party going on upstairs."
Leaning over, he plants a tender kiss on her lips before getting up from the couch. After smoothing out their clothes, they meet by the door. Yumi gives him an extra long hug, the memories of the good times when they were dating flooding back to her and the promise of a renewed relationship making her dizzy with excitement.
Yumi makes eye contact with him and asks, "Do you think they're missing us at the party?"
Tae narrows his eyes. "It is my party...so technically...yeah they're probably looking for me."
They share a laugh before Yumi peppers him with kisses and squeezes him tight. Then a feeling of remorse hits her. "Ugh. Is it too soon for this?" Without realizing it her voice turns into a baby. "I just love you so much..." she giggles like she's doing aegyeo. She stutters before going back to her normal voice. "I mean...ugh...there I go again acting desperate."
"Relax," Tae says, running his hand through her hair, stopping at the nape of her neck. "I love you, too." Pulling slightly, her chin draws up, giving him access to smush his mouth into hers with a loud smack! before leaving his personal studio.
***
How's the party? Tae texts Yumi.
Yumi, standing next to the food table at HYBE building's rooftop, looks up from her phone and ponders whether or not to answer him. The last few days were bliss, hanging out at Tae's apartment acting like boyfriend and girlfriend. She was getting used to dating Tae again but still wanted to play it cool and not seem desperate. At the same time she wanted to be on his mind so she randomly sent him texts and they didn't go past second base when they cuddled on his couch. She decides not to text him back at the party, to keep him guessing and wondering.
When Heejin appears next to Yumi, she introduces her to the next musical artist signed on to ADOR. Yumi chats easily with the group of young women in their late teens. Then she does a double take when she watches Jennie join their circle. The group fawns over the member of Blackpink and Heejin informs Yumi that their debut single will be a collaboration with the so-called Queen of K-pop.
"Jennie! Will you help us with our concept too? You have such fashionable style," one of the young women says. Yumi's mouth is agape as she stares at Jennie, her flawless skin, her tight fitting short purple dress, and her perfectly styled hair.
"I love that dress you wore in Cannes," another says.
"Thanks," Jennie says with a bright smile. "Would you like to see the other dresses they gave me to wear? Maybe that will give you some ideas."
The group of seven gush over the pictures Jennie shows them on her phone screen. Yumi's eyes are wide and her mouth still forms an "o" as Jennie swipes through the pics, stopping at one in particular.
"Oh! That's not from Cannes." She peers at her screen then puts it on display again. "This is when I was in Paris."
Yumi has to physically close her mouth by biting her lip. The screen shows Jennie wearing the same outfit as the girl in the video supposedly walking with Tae: cream colored Chanel sweater, dark blue skinny jeans, black riding boots, and a white bucket hat.
"Jennie...umm..." a young woman says, her eyes widening, "but that...so is that you in the video that's going viral?"
"Yes," Jennie says proudly.
"But he-" Yumi finally finds her voice. "I mean, I heard it wasn't you."
Jennie scans Yumi's face, glances at Heejin, then studies her assistant again. A look of recognition comes over the face of Jennie. "Yes, it is me," she says adamantly. "And that is V."
"I heard it wasn't V," Yumi protests, her blood pressure rising. Could Jennie be telling the truth? I knew it was too good to be true!
Jennie tilts the phone from side to side in front of Yumi, as if taunting her. "It was definitely me and V. And it still is definitely me and V now." She glances at the circle formed around her. "Remember...don't tell anyone!"
Yumi backs away slowly from the group, with each step she starts building a wall around her heart again. As she runs toward the elevators, she decides Tae was lying and doesn't deserve her forgiveness. At that moment, Yumi realizes that he couldn't possibly want to be with a failed has-been music artist and would rather be with a member of the biggest K-pop girl group in the world. Yumi doesn't trust that Tae could love her again so it's easier to believe Jennie. He is the last person she wants to talk to or see but that's who she runs into as she exits the elevator door on the ground floor.
"Hey!" Tae greets Yumi, almost bumping into her. They make eye contact and Tae holds her arms. He notices the tears welling up in her eyes. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"What are you doing here?" she huffs.
"I was thinking of you. You didn't answer me and I wanted to see you."
Normally Yumi would think that was sweet but she kept her heart guarded. "Well, here's your answer." She twists her arms aggressively and breaks free from his hold. "The party's great. I saw Jennie there and she told me it was you and her in the video. And you're still dating!"
Tae looks down and pinches the bridge of his nose. Then he grabs Yumi's hand and pulls her down the hallway toward his studio. To avoid making a scene she doesn't protest. Once inside, her mind flashes to last week's makeout session in this very room and how ironic that Tae will break up with her in the same space now.
"So you believe Jennie?" Tae asks, standing in front of Yumi, looking down at her confused.
"Well...she had a picture of her outfit," Yumi explains.
"I told you that was a cosplay. I'm telling you the truth. You don't even know her. Why would you doubt me?" His voice has an angry tone that catches Yumi off guard.
"That's a good question," she finally admits, looking off to the side to avoid his stare.
"It makes me sad that you chose to believe her and not me."
"I guess..." Yumi is tongue tied. Why did she doubt him? Was she trying to protect herself? "I guess...I was scared of getting hurt again."
"Hurt?" He crosses his arms across his chest, eyes staring hard at her.
Yumi pleads with him. "Tae, it's easier to believe that you really don't want to get back together with me." Her voice softens as she admits her true feelings. "That's why I doubted you." He shakes his head in disbelief. She feels the room closing in, her second chance with Tae slipping away. To steady herself, she holds his arm at his elbow. "But I should have believed you, Tae."
"Yeah, you should have," he says, annoyed and triggered by her accusation. He turns around to grab the doorknob and open the door.
"Wait! I'm sorry."
With his back still to her, Tae leaves the room. "Good-bye."
The door clicks shut. "That's it? What do you mean?" Yumi, her voice catching in her throat, talks to the empty room. "What...what do you mean?"
***
A week later, Yumi is in her apartment staring at her phone at night, wide awake. She isn't sure what to do at this point. She had apologized for not believing Tae, but he dismissed her. She messed up and she had to do something. She wonders if Tae even wants her to do something.
She's hoping for Tae's call lately and she can't find the courage to call him. She wonders if everything is now behind them. Every day she thinks that the time with him was so amazing. They haven't changed, they're still the same.
As her white cat hops onto her bed, Yumi cuddles with her and cries, "Oh, Yetaeng! I know it's too late but...somehow...can we go back to that moment again?"
On the other side of town, a black and brown Pomeranian jumps onto Tae's bed. He strokes his fur and confesses to his pet. "Argh...Yeontan. Remember how I used to make her laugh the most? That was mean of me to storm out of my studio like that. I have no right to say this, but I want to make up for all the time we lost. We can start again, open all the doors. I can feel her touch, I remember her kiss and those hurtful words...I miss her."
The next morning, Yumi slowly opens her eyes from her fitful sleep, stretches, and wakes up. Her phone dings! an alert from Weverse that a live is happening with Tae. He looks like he just woke up with his puffy face and messy bedroom hair. He mentions that he had a long night of drinking and getting tipsy. Yumi notices that his eyes look sad and he admits that he's been thinking a lot lately. He ends the live with a sneak peak of a song. It's the one he had let Yumi listen to privately in the recording studio.
Yumi looks out the window and sighs wistfully. It's a rainy day and she's thinking of Tae. Wondering what to say and wishing she knew how to find a way right back to him. If the live he just did was a sign, Yumi took it as the 1% chance that he wanted her too.
***
When Tae opens the door to his apartment, he finds Yumi standing there, soaking wet from the rain. Forgetting an umbrella, she pushes the hood of her white hoodie off her head, water dripping past her black shorts and black Converse shoes.
"Tae," Yumi starts, her breath erratic from the frantic pace of deciding to see him. "I'm sorry I didn't believe you. Please don't tell me it's over, we can start it over."
Tae stare bores into her. A beat later he finally says, "Come in."
She gingerly steps into his apartment, careful not to drip on his expensive looking floor. He waits for her to continue. Yumi swallows hard, wondering if making herself so vulnerable was a good idea. She had tried to play hard to get. But she was tired of playing.
"Fine, I'll be honest with you," she confesses. "I'll put it all out there. I think about you all the time. Where you are, who you're with." She feels the need to be more forward and takes a step closer to Tae. With her fingers, she plays with the strings hanging by the waistband of his joggers and makes eye contact. "I'm lost without you, baby."
Yumi thinks about pulling him closer to kiss him, but Tae takes a step back and says coldly, "You're getting my floor wet."
He turns on his heels and disappears into the hallway, opening a linen closet, and returns with a large towel. "Thanks," Yumi says with a lump in her throat as big as her cat's hairball. She reaches for the towel, ready to dry herself off.
But to her surprise, Tae unfurls it in his outstretched hands and wraps it around her, complete with a bear hug. "Yumi...I'm sorry, too. It was stupid and wrong of me to walk out on you when you apologized. I miss talking to you. I've missed you for a long time."
Yumi breathes a sigh of relief at his confession. The warmth of his tall frame against hers makes everything seem alright. "It's okay," she says when she finally finds her voice.
"Do you finally believe this is real?"
She melts into his touch and whispers, "Yes."
"You need to stop thinking if you're good enough for me," his tone softening.
"You're right. I should ask myself if you're good enough for me."
They share a laugh. He squeezes her tighter, her arms pinned under the towel. Yumi's heart swells as Tae draws back to look into her eyes, then at her lips, before kissing her passionately. He lets the towel drop so she can put her hands on his chest. Every doubt she had that he could love her again, every question she had that there could be a second chance, dissipates as they move to the couch.
She lies down first as he hovers over and hesitates. "Bedroom?" he asks, shyly.
It turns her on that he's having such feral thoughts. "Actually, how about right here?" In one swift motion, she pulls him by the waist, then pushes him into a sitting position next to her on the couch so she can straddle him. Sitting on his lap, she grabs his face in her hands. It turns him on the way she is initiating what's to come.
"I know this is your favorite position," she says, flirting.
A low grunt escapes his mouth as she grinds into him. He looks incredibly hot underneath her, her lips not wasting anytime to kiss him hard. Their tongues thrusting in and out of each other's mouths, their faces angling to the right and left for a deeper sensation.
"You look unbelievably sexy in this hoodie," Tae says, looking up at her with half-closed eyes. "But take it off."
"Do it yourself," Yumi commands.
Tae hums in delight as he peels the sweatshirt from her body. In between more kisses, they shred all the clothes from their bodies. He makes a detour for the bathroom to get protection before they resume their original position. They share a smile, drinking in the sight of each other naked after so many months.
"I missed this," he groans as he works his long fingers up her thighs.
"Mmm...," she responds as she runs her hands across the planes of his chiseled chest and taut abs. "And I missed this."
Her soft whimpers grow into full out moans as she instinctively rolls her hips to meet the soft touch of his fingers now rubbing slow circles in her middle. Tae lets out a groan when he explores the wetness. "That feels so good, baby," she mewls.
"Ah...so needy for me." He fingers her while kissing so he can feel her moan in his mouth.
"Yeah," Yumi agrees, breathing heavily against his cheek. She can feel his manhood stiffen under her legs and adds, "And I can tell you are too."
Their lips crash together, letting each other know how much they want each other. His breathing becomes more audible and accelerated, mirroring hers, as he adds a second finger and slowly pumps them in and out.
"What do you want, jagiya?" Tae asks, his voice deep and husky.
"Mmm...I want you," she moans breathily as her fingers drag lazily up his arms and shoulders, around his neck, and into the soft strands at the nape of his neck, pulling him down to connect their lips.
"Say that again," Tae orders.
Yumi reaches down, grips him and strokes him. "Mmm...I want you."
Without hesitation, Tae removes his fingers and grabs her butt. He lifts her and teases her with his tip, his mouth open in pleasure from the dizzying sensation, until she begs, "Please...Tae..."
"Please what?"
"Please, I want all of you," she whines.
"Ugh, you're so sexy when you beg." He lines himself up with her entrance and slams into her in one swift motion. Yumi gasps at the sudden invasion as he buries himself deep within her before lifting her hips and thrusting into her again.
"Ahh...Tae!" she cries out in immense pleasure, eyes springing open as every nerve ending in her body is on fire.
"You okay?" He smirks.
"Yeah."
"Mmm...so tight," he says, his voice raspy and strained. "You feel amazing, Yumi."
Tae growls as he thrusts up, over and over again, keeping one hand on her butt and one in her long hair. Her hands are on the back of the couch for stability. As she twerks against him, she leans forward slightly, allowing him to bury his face in the crook of her neck, his warm breath against her skin.
His pace is firm, with long, hard determined strokes as Yumi's hips rock rhythmically in infinity shapes. She does it just the way she knows he likes it. Her bosom bounces in front of him giving him a show. His lips travel down to her chest, skillfully swirling his tongue around one side, then the other.
"I missed these too," Tae murmurs in between licks and nips.
"They're all yours, baby," Yumi coos. She arches her back to give him more access, and throws her head back, grinding harder and faster against him, begging for more.
"Ooh...you want more?" he asks, horny from how enthusiastic she's getting into it.
Yumi whimpers a "yes." He begins pounding into her as her hands move to his neck to touch his honey golden skin. The backs of her thighs smack against Tae's repeatedly as she opens her legs wider, so needy for him. Then he switches speed, wanting their sexy reunion to last longer. He moves with her so slowly, so lovingly, she thinks she might cry. Up and down, forward and back, she rides him. He helps her grind against his pelvis, hitting her sweet spot each time.
For a few moments they reunite and connect in the best way possible, their lips on each other, tasting divine, feeling their flavors in their system, they want it more. They both know they want this for the rest of their lives.
"I'm close," Yumi whimpers as she closes her eyes, grinding away. Tae matches her movements, slow and soft, gradually building up the intensity, hitting both their sensitive spots. Then he picks up the pace, his forceful thrusts, pushing her over the edge, her body quivering.
"You like that?" he breathes against her lips.
"Love it," she coos.
"Yeah, that's it, jagiya..." His voice is hazy, floating as he chases his high. "You're mine."
His words make her heart inflate, almost bursting from her chest. It stirs up her core wonderfully. As her insides tighten...tighten...get tighter...a feeling of transcendence washes over her, until the knot breaks beautifully, making her pop. "Oh...my gosh! I'm gonna...ah...Taeee!"
Yumi's entire body spasms above Tae, her nails scraping against his back. He comes undone a few seconds later under her, his mouth open in ecstasy the whole time. "Ahh!" he groans, his hips bucking as he spills into her. The air is filled with their rapid breathing as they still for a moment. After pulling out, they collapse into each other, their arms wrapped around their bodies basking in the afterglow.
They cuddle for a few moments, totally spent, kissing each other softly and enjoying being in each other's arms until Tae breaks the silence. "Yumi...I love you."
"I love you too, Tae," she whispers. Her heart finally free, not feeling a need to guard it or protect it, she confesses, "I always have."
"I wish we could go back to the time when we first danced together."
A playful smile forms on his lips and Yumi gushes at the sweet sentiment. "I could teach you the dance again."
Tae's eyes brighten and he gives her a boxy smile. He pushes her off his lap so he can get a washcloth to clean themselves up. Then Yumi puts on his T-shirt and her underwear while he only dresses in his joggers. They find space in his large living room and Yumi plays her debut song from her phone.
"A five, six, seven, eight!" Yumi counts excitedly as the bouncy melody of her K-pop song blares from the speakers. Tae dances with her, an incredulous look on his face as he copies her moves on that rainy day.
THE END
Thanks for reading! I hope you like it! I was inspired by Tae's new songs on his solo album. What did you think of the story? What do you think of his new album? Comments appreciated!