#This Time Around | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

bangtansmauyeondan · 1 year ago

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THIS TIME AROUND | Part 1 (KTH)

Pairing: Taehyung x Fem Reader

Genre: arranged marriage, brother’s bestfriend, denial, slow burn, fluff, implied smut, angst, crack.

Rating: 18+

Word Count: 7.7K

Warnings: explicit language, mentions of divorce and infidelity, mentions of anxiety and fear, mentions of pregnancy, alcohol consumption, problematic ex

Summary: Marrying his bestfriend’s older sister and his childhood crush did not even cross Taehyung’s mind. But as if fate was on his side, their grandparents have made a pact to unite both families. They decided to strengthen and merge their farming and distributions businesses by marrying off their eldest grandchildren. He felt like floating on air as he stood facing you in front of the altar. That day, he promised to give you the world and his heart. Undoubtedly, Taehyung is in love with you.

Marrying your brother’s bestfriend less than a year after your long-term boyfriend left you is like kicking the ball hard and hitting the post before it rebounded towards the goal. He loves you. He gives you everything. He’s gorgeous, he’s kind, he’s great in bed, but you couldn’t bring yourself to love him beyond the sheets. Until one day, he turns the tables on you, and you find yourself fighting tooth and nail to keep him close. Losing him too is simply not an option.

Part 2 Release Date: TBD

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TAGLIST: @dvalitaes @kimtaesss @taebangtanbabe @invincibletaetae @ohsweetmimosa @prajusstuff @hakko_bby @imnotokayfuckup @generouschildcolor @glossyyyymin @ancagab16 @lilies-dont-lie @taemocha @sweet-weapon-077 @glossyyyymin

PERMANENT TAGLIST: @snoozeagustd @persphonesorchid @thatbangtanjagiya @taestefully-in-luv @pamzn @wrmnssoul @ygbubs @halesandy @jayhope88 @bnagtanx1306 @pinkseokchim @busanbby-jjk @babycandy111 @auraandpetrichor

•••

Taehyung collapsed on top of you with a grunt, teeth nipping at the dainty flesh of your clavicle, as he sank his face further into the crook of your neck. You were both out of breath from riding out your early morning orgasm, and you more so, for having his full weight against your ribcage.

"Move, it's too hot and you’re heavy..." You whined as you writhed underneath him, pushing him and thumbing away the strands of your hair that stuck on your sweaty skin.

Taehyung's mind was fuzzy and his body heavy as he struggled to lift himself up on his elbows when he felt you push him away. He rolled over on his back as he watched you get out of bed, in all your naked glory, making a beeline to the ensuite bathroom. "Nice butt," he threw a compliment your way, making you roll your eyes.

"Stop staring!"

"The right cheek is still red, honey. I’m sorry!"

You threw him the finger before shutting the door of the bathroom, making him break into an obnoxious laugh. It's not long after when he sauntered into the bathroom himself to take a shower, after making a mental calculation of the time it would take for you to finish with yours. Ever as accurate with his timing, you were already dressed in your robe, hair tied up in a towel, while brushing your teeth in front of the double sink when he entered.

“Should I pick you up from work this evening?” Taehyung asked you as he disappeared into the glass partition.

Ah, the classic "married couple conversation" - that charming early morning exchange where one half of the couple is quietly going through their pre-work routine, while the other tries, with all their might, to spark some form of coherent conversation. It's a delicate dance of trying not to overstep while also attempting to piece together the idea of it being a normal thing to do between married people. After all, it has already been almost a year since you two exchanged your vows. At times, it can feel like you're speaking two entirely different languages - one person tuned into the present moment while the other is on another planet.

Taehyung’s question was met with silence and he immediately started convincing himself that you just didn’t hear him properly.

“Seokjin hyung and Mari are expecting us at the grand opening of their aqua park this weekend,” he started another conversation. “You’re not working this weekend, are you?”

You spat out the toothpaste foam before answering, “It’s this weekend already?” Your eyebrows furrowed, trying to remember the date. “I’m trying to close a client on Monday so I’d probably be working on the presentation that weekend.” You arranged your toothbrush and dental floss on the acrylic holder before meeting Taehyung’s eyes in the mirror. “You should go ahead, don’t wait for me.”

“Yah, of course they’re expecting us to attend together,” Taehyung countered with a small pout. “We’re a married couple.”

“Married couple?” You turned around and walked towards the shower, reaching for Taehyung’s face before rising on your toes and planting a quick kiss on his lips, but it felt all too sweet for Taehyung. “We’re business partners, honey.”

Taehyung’s eyes automatically shut as he savored your kiss, and you’ve already stepped out of the bathroom when his eyes slowly fluttered open. He released his breath that he always knew he held around you in moments like that, as another fine line was added to the already-existing crack in his heart.

—

You leaned back on your chair, taking a quick pause from revising the contract renewal proposal for your target Japanese client to collect your thoughts, and do a quick read through. It’s important for you to close this client, because although they put your grandfather in high regard when they initially signed a contract with Sunrise Foods Corp, you couldn’t say they view you and your competence the same way as a young woman. They have also expressed their dislike of the Kim Industries Inc merger, questioning the stability of the business in the near future.

You’re not a stranger to judgment when people say that you’re both too young to tie the knot for convenience instead of love. What they failed to understand is that you did get married for love, albeit not for each other, but for the love of your families. You both came from what they call “old money,” tracing back to generations of farming and distributions, from livestock, to fisheries, to fresh produce - your families have it all.

Kim Industries Inc. is a huge empire. Kim Hakyung, Taehyung’s grandfather, is the youngest of three brothers. The eldest has passed down his fisheries and aquaculture business to his first grandson Seokjin, and the middle has passed down his livestock and poultry business to his only grandson, a licensed veterinarian, Namjoon. Traditionally, the brothers would pass down their businesses to their grandchildren instead of their children, but Hakyung hit a snag on his bloodline when his eldest grandson had yet to be married as his retirement date from his crops and forestry business approached. He knew he had to make sure Taehyung would be producing an heir to their fortune. Luckily, he knew just who to run to.

Your grandfather’s relationship with Kim Hakyung grew from just being friends who met during their military enlistment to being business partners. Sunrise Foods Corp is the top frozen and processed food company in the country, marketing Korea’s food history and efficiently translating it to conveniently packed food items for today’s modern lifestyle. Every meat, poultry, fish, and produce that the company processed were directly supplied by Kim Industries Inc, bringing the freshest ingredients to the consumer’s table.

Your grandfather has built his estate next to the Kim estate, and you have lived there with your brother Jimin your whole life even after your parents got divorced and moved on with their lives. Taehyung and Jimin, of the same age, basically grew up chasing each other down the lake that sat between the two estates. Being just a year older, you were around the two boys a lot – or the other way around. You went to school together, you played together, and when you were old enough to do stuff on your own, you even went to parties together.

You’ve always known that Taehyung had a crush on you. After all, when he was thirteen, he slipped a letter in your locker on Valentine’s day that read “I really like your pretty smile,” which he never admitted to, but you accidentally saw him sneaking the letter in. What you didn’t know is that he didn’t outgrow that crush and that it would only transform into something so intense and all-encompassing– the way you laughed, the way your eyes sparkled in the sunlight when you came by the lake, and the sound of your voice became etched into his heart. One summer, during your birthday dinner, you entered the restaurant with another man in tow. You looked at that man like he hung all the stars in the sky, and Taehyung almost heard his heart shatter. That’s when he realized that this love for you wasn't just a mere infatuation but rather an indescribable force that pulled at him relentlessly.

As selfish as it sounded, the moment he heard about your break up with your then boyfriend a few years later, Taehyung sprung into action and asked his grandfather and his parents to arrange his marriage with you, mentioning the future of their family business for good measure.

The two elderly men often talked about merging and growing their business officially, throwing playful glances at you and Taehyung everytime you would gather for a joint family dinner. Taehyung’s parents seemed to agree as his dad would often quip that he knew Taehyung would be a good husband and father. You paid it no mind, but Taehyung basked in the attention. That’s why it didn’t come as a surprise when your grandfather dropped the bomb one morning, over breakfast, that the Kims would love to have you as part of their family officially by marriage.

“Seriously?” The outburst came from Jimin, not you. At that time, he wasn’t fond of the idea because one, he knew that his bestfriend is popular with the ladies; and two, you have just broken things off with your long-term boyfriend Yoongi. But reality check— it’s not like two very traditional and old-fashioned elderly men would listen to a twenty-eight-year-old man, right?

So, on the first day of autumn that same year, you and Taehyung exchanged vows in the presence of your families and close friends, on the same lake that sat between the two estates.

You pulled yourself out of your thoughts and refocused on the document right in front of you. You were just about to rephrase another sentence when Taehyung’s messages started coming in, and the sound of your phone kept vying for attention like a persistent child. You tried to concentrate on the task at hand, fingers tapping away at the keyboard, while your mind distractedly wandered towards the notifications piling up on your screen. The longer you ignored them, however, the more insistent they seemed to become until you gave in and opened his messages. You felt the irritation bubbling up inside of you as yet another message from your husband regarding your upcoming anniversary interrupts your workday.

Instead of replying, you heaved a heavy sigh before tapping on the small camera icon, calling him over Facetime instead. His beautiful boxy smile greeted you when he accepted the call, revealing his perfectly straight teeth that glistened in a perfect array of pearly whites. There was a slight twinkle in his eyes, letting you know of his giddiness while planning for your upcoming anniversary.

You pulled your lips into a thin smile so as not to dampen his mood.

"So...?" He leaned back on his own office chair, and you just knew that he also put his feet up on his desk in the process. "What do you think of my suggestions?"

"Can we put off celebrating our anniversary when I am not drowning in work?"

"But it's our first anniversary..."

“Exactly, Tae…” You made an effort to hold back an exasperated sigh before you continued because you knew he’s excited and you didn’t want to hurt his feelings. “We’ll have many more anniversaries to come. It’s okay not to plan for a trip on the first one.”

“Just consider it, okay?” Taehyung insisted. “We have until next week. We can book a last-minute trip if you’re caught up in – YO, BROTHER!” Taehyung’s attention was immediately taken away from you when Jimin’s head popped up next to yours to wave at him, easily distracting him with what he’s saying.

“Yah, we’re busy here. Can’t you see?” Jimin fake-scolded his bestfriend and brother-in-law. “We’re trying to export our products, stop distracting my sister with your nonsense.”

“It’s not nonsense, it’s our anniversary trip!” He defended.

“You’re going on a trip?” Jimin directed his question at you, eyes already dripping with judgment. After all, he’s twice as busy as you when it comes to your new project, because he’s the Director of Finance. “When?”

You waved a hand at him dismissively, wordlessly saying that you’re not, before focusing your attention back on Taehyung. “Okay, I have to go. We have a meeting in 5 minutes.”

“Yeah okay… I’ll pick you up later, okay?”

“Mmmkay…” You mumbled before ending the call.

“Wow… one year, huh…” Your bestfriend and assistant, Minji said in a playful tone. “You guys are so sweet to each other, one would think you love each other.”

“Taehyung loves her,” Jimin snickered.

“Are you saying I don’t?” You feigned surprise at what your brother just insinuated. “Of course, I love him. I’m a loving person, in general, you know?”

“Yeah, I mean… I guess…” Jimin trailed off. “I mean, okay, you love him because maybe he seems familiar? But he loves LOVES you, you know?” He slumped down on the couch and dramatically acted out a heart beating out of his chest with his fist. “Taehyung doesn’t just love you, it’s more than that– he LURRVES you.”

“Jimin, can we focus here?” You used your “big sister” tone on him which made him– smartly dressed in a three-piece suit– sit upright on the couch, making Minji laugh out loud.

“Wait! I have one more question…” Minji squealed excitedly and rolled her chair over in front of your desk.

You squinted at her, wheels started turning inside your head. Knowing Minji, you know where this is going.

“So…” She started in a singsong voice. “One year of arranged marriage… Do you guys have sex?”

And there it is. You knew it.

You decided to indulge her curious mind. “Oh, we have LOTS–”

“FALA FA NA LALALALALA I DON’T WANT TO HEAR THIS!” Jimin covered his ears and shut his eyes while you and Minji broke into hysterics.

Of course. Jimin didn’t have to know that his sister and his childhood bestfriend just couldn’t keep their hands off of each other almost every night.

It was awkward during the first few weeks of your marriage. Despite your expectations being set, it was difficult to shake off the fact that it was an arranged marriage, even though clearly, Taehyung seemed to be so in love with you. You moved into your house with a helper and a driver, and to avoid any suspicions about you as a couple, sleeping in different rooms was out of the question. You suddenly found yourself sharing a bed, a bathroom, and a life with someone else who had their own set of habits, routines, and preferences. Despite knowing Taehyung your whole life, it was still challenging to navigate through disagreements, differences in communication styles, and conflicting expectations. It took some time to settle into your new routine, but eventually you found your rhythm as a married couple and things started feeling more natural... intimacy included. That's how you found out that your husband is one hell of a sex god.

—

“I understand that you’re too busy with the Japanese client, so I held off on the trip,” he managed to make out the words while brushing his teeth next to you on the bathroom sink. “But I’m preparing our anniversary dinner on Friday, so make sure you come home early, okay?” He spat out the toothpaste foam and rinsed his mouth. “Okay?”

“Okay,” you turned on your airwrap and began styling your hair in little wisps.

“Make sure you don’t forget, honey. I’m serious.”

“Gee, you do sound serious,” you chuckled. “I won’t forget.”

“Say ‘I promise I won’t forget,” three times,” Taehyung challenged you.

“I promise I won’t forget. I promise I won’t forget. I promise I won’t forget.”

You did forget.

You recalled your conversation with Taehyung as you stared at the aluminum containers and the unopened room temperature bottle of wine on the kitchen island.

Today’s your anniversary and the thought completely abandoned you as you got ready for work that morning and flew out the door an hour earlier than usual. It was your big day after all.

The Japan project was a success. You were able to close three major supermarkets in Japan that would carry Sunrise Foods Corp products. You and your team have worked tirelessly, pouring every ounce of your energy and expertise into this endeavor, and your efforts ultimately paid off. So when it came time to celebrate your victory, you did so with gusto. You booked a huge VIP karaoke lounge with bottomless drinks and hors d'oeuvres, and you laughed, danced, and raised your glasses high in recognition of what you had accomplished as individuals and as a team.

It was already 2 in the morning when you stumbled inside your house, still a bit merry, until your eyes landed on what could have been a romantic anniversary dinner set up. Except they were now neatly put away, which you assume was done by your helper, Mrs. Wu before she left for the evening.

The guilt that washed over you was enough to sober you up and you groaned in frustration before making your way upstairs to your shared bedroom. There was a faint light coming from under the door which indicated that Taehyung is still awake. You pushed the door open and saw your husband on the bed, propped up on a pile of pillows, reading something on a tablet. His hair all mussed up and his black-rimmed glasses falling slightly on the bridge of his nose. He didn’t even give you a glance when you entered, which slightly felt like a stab at your heart, given that whichever the circumstances, his feelings are important to you and you don’t really like disappointing him.

You quietly trudged to the ensuite bathroom to wash off the grime and stench accumulated from being outside in sweat and smoke. You didn’t take a lot of time in the shower because you wanted to apologize to Taehyung. So after dressing up in a comfortable nightgown, you approached the bed slowly, taking measured steps, until you slid yourself under the covers and scooted closer to him. Your eyes met his, glazed with a silent plea as you searched for an opening to breach the walls that he put up. With a gentle touch on his arm, you felt him relax beneath your fingers just enough to allow a small crack in his armor. It's all you needed, and before he could protest, you lifted his arm and you snuggled into his embrace, inhaling the citrusy scent of his aftershave.

"I'm sorry," you started, actually meaning it. “I am truly sorry for not being more attentive and thoughtful.” You paused, trying to remember the rest of your apology. "I am not one to make excuses or try to justify my mistakes, I know forgetting our anniversary was a major misstep on my part." Your words may have sounded pretty rehearsed, because that’s exactly what you did while in the shower, for wanting to say just the right words so as not to further disappoint him. You held your breath as you waited for his reply.

“Did you like the flowers I got you?”

You hummed in agreement remembering the big bouquet of carnations in various shades of reds and pinks sitting on your dresser when you entered the closet. The symbolism wasn’t lost on you - love and admiration.

It seemed like that’s all that he needed to hear. You’ve always known that Taehyung has a pure heart, but you’re still taken aback sometimes at how easy it is to satisfy him and make him happy. He set aside his tablet and turned off the lamp before turning to you, ruffling your hair, and planting a kiss on your forehead. “Happy anniversary,” he whispered before shifting on his pillows, removing you from his embrace, and turning his back on you. A mere hum from you could make him smile, but not wanting you in his arms as he falls asleep tells you more than you need to know. Feeling small and still laden with guilt, you settled on your own side of the bed and stared at your husband’s back until you fell asleep.

The next morning, Taehyung dragged himself to the kitchen, hair sticking out everywhere and eyes partly shut as he picked all the crusty signs of sleep off of them. “Mrs. Wu, do we have greek yogurt?” He asked without even looking.

“I sent Mrs. Wu home.”

Taehyung’s eyes shot up when he heard your soft voice and he’s even more surprised when he saw you setting down some utensils on the kitchen island. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m making us breakfast,” you beamed sweetly at him before you turned around to check on your simmering jjajangmyeon sauce. “I know this isn’t a typical breakfast, but it’s already almost 10 AM and this would pass up as brunch.”

Taehyung still stood rooted in his position, because this is the first time he’s seen you make breakfast, aside from the occasional frozen waffle and coffee, in your one year of marriage. “Yeah, but I mean… what are you doing here?” He repeated his question that made your shoulders slump.

“Do you want me to leave?” There was hurt in your voice.

“No, no, no,” Taehyung quickly rounded the kitchen island to get to you and gently rubbed your arm. “It’s Saturday, so shouldn’t you be at the factory?” He asked softly.

“Grandfather will do the inspection today…” You hung your head low, embarrassed to meet your husband’s eyes. “He knows it’s our anniversary weekend.”

“Oh…”

“Hey, I’m sorry, I–” Your words were caught between your lips when Taehyung cradled your face between his palms and pressed a chaste kiss on your lips. The smile on his lips when he pulled away almost made you swoon. “What was that for?” You asked breathlessly.

“I love you.” He confessed, eyes boring into yours.

“Tae…” The swooning spiraled quickly into an odd discomfort you wish you could push away.

“You don’t have to say it back, YN.” He pulled his lips into a smile that made his cheeks puff like fluffy bread. “... and don’t apologize. I understand that the Japan deal is huge, and you’ve worked so hard on it. I’m so proud of you.”

“Ugh, stop. You’re making me feel so much worse,” you whined. “Let me do this at least to make it up to you, okay?”

“Is this our anniversary breakfast then?”

“One day late, but I still poured my heart and soul into this jjajangmyeon, so I hope you enjoy it.”

Taehyung playfully clutched his heart and dramatically stumbled against the counter. “Careful, I’m starting to believe you have fallen in love with me already.”

You couldn’t help but giggle at Taehyung’s playful antics.

“Fall in love, my foot.”

—

As the days turned into weeks, you found yourself lost in a whirlwind of tasks. There was no respite from the constant stream of deadlines, meetings, and responsibilities that filled every moment, leaving no space for contemplation or relaxation.

Between work, your family, and trying to squeeze in some exercise, it's been a bit of a blur. You're not gonna lie, you know it's better than being bored out of your mind. But sometimes you wish you could slow things down just a little bit so you can catch your breath. Even though it's been hectic, you always make sure to ground yourself and indulge in your social life from time to time.

Despite it being a Saturday night- the supposed peak of excitement and revelry at the club - there were only a few people scattered about, some were hitting the dance floor, some were engrossed in a chatter, and some were just like you and Minji - perched on the barstools and sipping your complimentary dry martini. It has become your little tradition to meet up at your other bestfriend, Hoseok's club at least once a month ever since he quit corporate and opened his business. The first round is always on the house.

Hoseok, or Hobi as you affectionately call him, pouted in front of you as he leaned over the counter, his orange-tinted sunglasses falling slightly on the bridge of his nose. "Where are the people? Business is too slow for a Saturday for my liking!"

"You shouldn't have given us the martini for free, you know." Minji scolded him through her thick fake eyelashes.

“Ayyye, that’s alright, it’s all gonna break even anyway when you start ordering more drinks,” Hobi scoffed at her which made Minji gasp.

“Are you saying I’m an alcoholic?”

Minji’s reaction caught him momentarily off guard before he burst into his infectious laughter, hands-clapping and all. “You know what they say, a fish is caught by its own mouth!”

“You’re harassing your customers, Hobi,” you playfully called out.

"Yeah, maybe that's the reason why your club is empty on a weekend!" Minji added.

"Yah… okay, okay, gang up on me now." Hoseok turned around to pull himself a pint of dark beer before resuming his spot in front of you. "What about you?" He pointed to you while bringing his glass up to his lips. "Still keeping it together?"

"What do you mean?"

Minji answered on your behalf, "I work for her so I guess it's safe to say things are going well on the business side of things."

"And the personal side of things?"

"First of all, the business side of things isn't all nice and dandy. We have been very busy. Personally, I'm fine," you assured your friends. "Except a few weeks ago when I totally forgot our anniversary and had to spend all day the next day making it up to Taehyung, we're generally good."

"He's not bored with you yet?" Hoseok teased.

"Hey! What's there to be bored about?" You turned your chin up. "I'm the most fun wife he could ever wish for!"

"He's still in love with you?" Hoseok continued to coax.

"He's obsessed with her," Minji rolled her eyes. "He looks at her like a lovestruck teenager, but this girl right here," Minji poked your cheek, "... is so dense."

"I'm not dense!" You defended. "Like, I know he loves me, I'm just not making a big deal out of it."

"What do you mean? You're literally married!" Hoseok looked at you incredulously.

"I don't know, why the sudden interest in my marriage?"

"Because you guys seem closer now, so Hobi and I are just curious if you have finally fallen in love with him too," Minji replied.

"Right," Hoseok agreed. "We know you love him because you were friends first before you got married– childhood friends! But…" he trailed off, examining your face, making sure he's not overstepping your boundaries too.

"But what?"

"Platonic love between friends and romantic love between married couples are different," he continued.

"We just want to check in on you and see where you are already," Minji patted one of your thighs. "That's what we do here in our once a month emotional support circle time, right?" She laughed at her own joke.

"Taehyung and I are doing well. We have our set routines. We already know each other well enough to know what makes each other tick." You nodded for good measure. "We're okay, so let's just drop the thing where you two try to break down what kind of love my husband and I share, because honestly, you guys are so cheesy."

"Jesus Christ! I've been called an alcoholic and cheesy in the past hour!" Minji rolled her eyes exaggeratedly, which made you and Hoseok break out in laughter.

"Okay, hear me out…" Hoseok suddenly became fidgety in his seat. "There's a reason why I asked about you and Taehyung."

"And…?"

"I wanted to make sure things are okay and secure between you before I give you this." Hoseok produced a small envelope from underneath the counter and slid it across over to you.

You recognized the logo, the pattern, and the black, gray, and beige color palette right away to know what it is. But things happened as fast as lightning as Minji snatched it from the counter and ripped it open, gasping when she confirmed the contents of the envelope.

"Why do you have a Gloss VIP ticket and a backstage pass?" Minji looked at Hoseok as if he suddenly grew two new heads. "Why are you giving this to her?"

"Yoongi asked me to give it to her." Hoseok looked back at you, trying to gauge your reaction. "It hasn't even hit the news that he's included his hometown for the tour, so he said to keep it hush-hush."

"That's not the point. He's her ex—"

"Yah, why do you think I asked her about Taehyung first? Besides—"

"Okay, guys, stop arguing." You took the envelope from Minji's hands. "It's fine. It wasn't even a bad break up between me and Yoongi," you smiled. You could feel the warmth starting to creep up from your neck to your cheeks, and you weren't sure if it's the alcohol talking, but you felt good at the moment. "I… Well, I'd love to go."

"Really?" Minji looked at you as if you've lost your marbles.

"Yeah, really."

–

People would often say that habits are hard to break – old habits are like a drug, consuming people with their powerful grip. It's like trying to resist something that's just too tempting. You keep getting drawn back in, even though you know you shouldn't. It's like a big, strong hand that won't let go of you. It's like a cozy blanket that you don't want to give up. It's hard to say goodbye to something that's been a part of you for so long.

Min Yoongi is like an old habit.

To you, he has always been a source of strength and comfort. He stood by you and held your hand when you were going through a rough time during your parents’ divorce. He stayed up late with you as you cried during a particularly hard time in college. He surprised you with an enormous bouquet of flowers, skipping one of his important basketball games, when your parents broke their promise to be there at your graduation. He would drive long hours, to different cities, just to be with you for your client presentations when your grandfather unloaded all his responsibilities on you, as soon as you got your degree. His words became your daily affirmation that you’re doing well, and it’s safe to say that he helped shape up the person that you are today.

He had been a part of you for seven whole years before things started to fall apart. The last straw was when he made it clear that you both wanted different things in life, and he couldn’t turn his back on his dreams to follow you down your own path. That's what caused your relationship to crumble. It's like the armor protecting your relationship got a big crack in it and couldn't hold up anymore. But he’s back now, clearly wanting to put all the broken pieces back together.

You felt a thrill with the way he’s looking at you. His eyes, albeit familiar, somehow felt off – staring into someone’s eyes that aren’t Taehyung’s felt odd and conflicting, but you ignored that niggling feeling and that’s how you found yourself pinned up against the wall of his private green room backstage after his two-hour long concert. Your tongues mingled and fought dominance against each other as his hands started roaming underneath your shirt. You gasped as you let your jaw drop when his lips started moving, trailing wet kisses down your jaw and your neck.

“Fuck,” Yoongi groaned when he felt your clothed nipple harden underneath his palm. “I missed this. I missed you.”

“Yoongi…” you whispered, before Yoongi captured your mouth again. You turned your head sideways, but he persistently continued trying to kiss you. “We shouldn’t…”

“I know…” He was panting, clearly worked up, as he went on to nibble on your earlobe and licked a long stripe on the skin underneath.

You tensed up and tried to pull his hands away from underneath your top, “I’m married, Yoongi. We can’t do th– hngh,” you almost keeled when Yoongi pressed his knee up between your legs, the friction against your jeans making you momentarily lose focus as his hand pulled down one of your cups and flicked your now bare nipple with his thumb in quick motions.

"You don't even love him." He whispered as he trailed kisses from your neck down to your chest.

"But I do…," you whispered, writhing against his hold. You couldn't shake Taehyung’s face out of your mind as Yoongi continued with his ministrations. You suddenly felt a chill go down your back and it made your neck feel all tingly. It felt like little needles were poking you all over your body. This is what made you snap out of your trance and push Yoongi away as hard as you could. “For fuck’s sake, Yoongi!”

Yoongi stepped back, both hands up in surrender, “I’m–” He turned around and ran his fingers through his hair before looking up at the ceiling, cursing under his breath. By the time he turned around to face you, you already fixed your clothes and your hair. “I was out of line, YN. I’m so sorry,” he reached out for your hands but you were quick to pull back.

“It’s over between us, Yoongi.” You shook your head. “Please," you pleaded, trying to suppress your anger. "I am in love with Taehyung,” your chest rising and falling from the realization that just hit you. “So please, don't reach out to me anymore. This is the last time we're seeing each other.”

That’s the last thing Yoongi heard from you before you slammed the door shut, leaving him crouched down on his couch, drowning in a pool of regret.

You were trying to stay above water in your own pool of regret, but with each passing day, it feels like you've created a distance with Taehyung who knows nothing. You would get up earlier in the morning to make his breakfast and leave for work before he even wakes up. You would come home late, barely even having the time to unwind before showering and hopping into bed. Taehyung would still be his sweet and loving self, making sure you’re comfortable all the time. He would still look at you like you have all the answers in the universe when he thinks you’re not looking. He would still pepper your face with kisses when he thinks you’re already deep in your slumber. He would still show up at your office unannounced bringing you and your whole team random treats. The more he did all those things, the deeper you went down the grave you dug out yourself.

You established that Taehyung has started to notice that you’re becoming more and more distant when he gently grabbed your wrist one weekend morning as you tried to escape from the kitchen, barely even touching your breakfast.

“Did I do something wrong?” He looked at you with soft puppy eyes, tongue darting out to swipe across his lips before subtly biting down on his lower lip, a clear sign that this confrontation is making him a bit nervous.

“What?” You were momentarily taken aback by his question before you felt a tightening knot of guilt in your gut. You were so out of touch lately that Taehyung started believing he’s the one who has done something wrong, and it couldn’t be further from the truth. “No, I–” you caught yourself, feeling conflicted on whether or not it was the right time to tell him about what happened between you and Yoongi about a week ago.

“Did I forget an important event?” He continued asking. “Your birthday is still a month from now, right?”

“Hey, baby, no…” You sat back down next to him and intertwined your fingers with his. You were surprised by how easily that term of endearment rolled off your tongue. If Taehyung noticed it, he didn’t let it show. “You didn't do anything wrong,” you rested your cheek against his shoulder, closed your eyes, and breathed in deeply, enjoying his warmth.

“Is there something bothering you then?” He rested his head against yours and soothingly rubbed small circles on your skin with his thumb. “You seem a bit quiet lately.”

“It’s just been quite hectic at the company lately, and I don’t know… I feel a bit out of it,” you replied, wincing a little. It’s not exactly a blatant lie. You recently lost a major client in the Philippines to a competitor brand and it created a big dip on your numbers. But you still felt bad for leaving out a major detail on why you’ve been avoiding Taehyung lately.

“Do you wanna come with me to the park? Jungkook and I arranged a puppy playdate, so might as well squeeze in a quick jog while we’re at it.”

“A puppy playdate?” You perked up and laughed, picturing your small six-year-old teacup pomeranian playing with Jungkook’s much younger gigantic two-year-old doberman. “You gotta watch out for Tannie, Bam might step all over him.”

Taehyung burst out laughing, covering his mouth with his fist, “Bammie is scared of Tan.”

You looked at him right at that moment, a smile still on your lips, and you suddenly felt overwhelmed with how much affection you actually have for him. He looked back at you and crossed the distance between you to nuzzle his nose against yours. “There it is,” Taehyung smiled back at you. “There’s the smile I’ve been missing these past few days.

“You’re such a sweet-talker,” you reached out to remove the hair that’s fallen in front of his eyes. "Go and have fun with JK and Bam, I need to stay behind and call Minji.”

“Okay,” Taehyung tried to hide his disappointment because he’s already used to you working on a weekend, and spending a great amount of time over the phone with your assistant. “Just don’t push yourself too much, it’s the weekend after all. My wife deserves to rest.”

You hummed in agreement, and just like before, a mere acknowledgment from you is enough to satisfy and make your husband happy.

However, when he walked through the door that afternoon after getting back from the park, it felt like an icy chill had settled over the entire bedroom. He looked mad and irritated. It was clear that something had gone horribly wrong, and whatever it was had taken its toll on his spirit. You wondered if he got into a fight with Jungkook, but judging on the way he avoided your eyes before making his way directly to your ensuite bathroom, a feeling of dread settled in your stomach.

A few minutes later, Taehyung stepped out of the bathroom and got dressed. He still hasn't said a word to you since he came back. You pretended you were busy on your computer but you were observing him through the corner of your eyes. You mustered up the courage and cleared your throat, "Had a good run?"

His fingers paused for a second while buttoning up his shirt, seemingly surprised by your question, but his face didn't show any sign of it. No answer. Your mind started whirring and you started losing focus on the deck you're working on, making the graphs and numbers slightly blur through your vision. Taehyung’s aura was suffused with negativity so palpable that it felt like a physical presence.

“Tae?” You turned around from your desk to fully face him, silently wishing he didn’t ignore you, he just didn’t hear you the first time. But it was too late, he’s got one foot out the door already, and it wasn’t long until you saw his car through the window, roll out of the garage as he drove away.

–

Taehyung had no destination in mind, but he kept driving.

As he gripped the steering wheel, his mind was consumed with thoughts of uncertainty and anger. The sprawling asphalt stretched endlessly before him like a dark and ominous path leading nowhere. His heart pounded relentlessly in his chest as he battled against the overwhelming feeling of betrayal and jealousy.

The conversation with Jungkook kept on playing at the back of his mind.

“Sorry, I was in a hurry last week! I thought we would run into each other backstage, but I was meeting my cousin, and I was already running late so I left as soon as the show was over.”

“Backstage?” Taehyung’s eyebrows furrowed as he tried to keep up with his friend and their dogs along the concrete joggers path at the park

“Yeah,” Jungkook blew air through his mouth to regulate his breathing. “At Gloss’ homecoming concert. Saw your wife, but I don’t think she saw me.”

Taehyung slowed down to catch his breath, but more so, to piece together the words that stood out from his friend’s statement. Gloss. Homecoming concert. Wife. He’s known his wife his whole life and he knew that Gloss is a big part of hers. Gloss is Yoongi’s stage name.

“I was gonna say hi to you, guys, after the show, but I saw that security had already escorted her backstage as soon as Gloss exited the stage,” Jungkook continued.

Escorted you where? As soon as when?

“Yeah, I–” Taehyung conjured a lie to protect you from the possibility of misjudgment if Jungkook found out he wasn’t with you that time. “I had to leave early. I had an early morning appointment the next day.”

“Oh.”

Taehyung likes giving you freedom and space. He believes that to refrain from probing into someone's whereabouts is to acknowledge their autonomy as an individual. But it also suggests a deeper level of intimacy - one where communication doesn't necessarily require words and where actions speak louder than questions ever could. This is the kind of relationship that's built on a foundation of mutual love, trust and respect. That’s the kind of relationship he wants both of you to have.

As he drove endlessly, with you in his mind, he started questioning everything - did you even care? Were you ever truly committed to this relationship? The uncertainty gnawed at his soul and felt like a stab at his heart. He pulled over on the side of the road before the overwhelming feeling of anger and betrayal bubbling up inside him threatened to overflow. Is he overreacting? Should he just ask you about the concert? Maybe Jungkook saw someone else, maybe it wasn’t you. But no matter how hard he tried to shake the possibility out of his mind, he knew deep inside that it was really you. Even though he didn't want to admit it, he felt like there was a force that kept bringing you and Yoongi together whenever you were near each other. It was like a magnet that just couldn't resist. He thought he would get past it after you married him, and Yoongi set on pursuing his career in the US. But now that Yoongi is back, all of Taehyung’s insecurities came rushing back as well, consuming him whole like a drop of black ink in a puddle of clear water.

Also similar to a drop of ink in clear water, your mind was clouded with worry when Taehyung failed to pick up and answer all the calls that you made, and the text messages you sent throughout the day. It is unlike him to ignore your calls and texts. Your worry multiplied tenfold when he came home late that night, clearly drunk, knowing he had driven himself.

"Tae?" You stood up from the couch to meet him by the door. You couldn’t sleep because you haven't heard from him all day, so you decided to wait for him downstairs.

When you heard his car pull up, you finally breathed out a sigh of relief, until he came through the door in his inebriated state.

"Where have you been? Why didn't you answer my calls?" You have so many questions but you decided to bite your tongue because you didn't want him to feel like he's getting nagged. If anything, you wanted him to feel supported, especially if he's going through a difficult time.

He looked at you and for a moment you thought you saw sadness flash in his eyes. He crossed the distance between you and snaked his arm around your waist, pulling you flush against him. "Did I make you worry?" He asked, face getting closer to yours, and his other free hand resting on your jaw.

You hummed and Taehyung scoffed, before the hand that's on your jaw traveled up on the back of your head, pulling a fist of your hair, exposing your neck. Your breath hitched and your heart started hammering loudly in your chest when he dipped his head and started sucking bruises on the column of your neck.

You closed your eyes in pleasure as his lips traveled down your chest, and you arched your back involuntarily when he pressed your hips harder against him, letting you feel his hardening member against your lower belly. You wrapped your legs around his waist when he lifted you up and took you to the couch. He didn't even bother to undress you properly, he just aggressively pulled the straps of your nightgown down to your waist, releasing your full breasts with a bounce. Arousal pooled between your legs when Taehyung captured one of your nipples in his mouth, your hands flying to his head holding him against you as you arched your back, wanting to feel him closer.

You heard the jangling sound of his belt moments later and before you realized what’s happening, he’s already pulling your panties aside and burying himself inside you. It was rough, sloppy, and careless. You could feel him getting lost in the feeling, but you could also feel all the pent up emotions and frustration he’s taking out on the act. You let him. You let him use you, setting aside your own pleasure. You knew he was getting closer as his whimpers and grunts were getting louder. It’s not long after when you felt his release, filling you up, along with a jagged breath ghosting over your skin.

“You okay, babe?” You asked softly, hands coming up to brush back the hair that’s fallen in front of his eyes. He visibly flinched when your fingers made contact with his skin, and wasted no time as he got up and tucked himself in, before grabbing the throw blanket from one end of the couch and hazily throwing it over your figure. He has never treated you that way before.

You thought you heard him sniff as he walked away from you, but you couldn’t make out the sound, as it was drowned out by the sound of your own heart breaking.

To be continued.

•••

A/N - I hope you enjoyed that. Can't wait to take you along their journey on the next chapter. Please be patient and wait a little bit… I'm still not happy with what I have so far! Please leave me some love and messages, they really motivate me to write. <3 APOBANGPO, everyone! <3

#bangtansmauyeondan #this time around #this time around taehyung #tta!taehyung #taehyung fic #taehyung x reader fic #taehyung imagines #taehyung fluff #taehyung angst #taehyung smut

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