The house felt… different today.
Cleaner. Quieter. Tenser.
"Y/n, arrange the plates properly," your mother said, adjusting things for the third time.
"They're already straight," you replied softly.
"Just check again."
You didn't argue.
You knew why she was nervous.
Guests weren't the problem.
These guests were.
đź’ś DOORBELL
The bell rang.
Your heart skipped.
Your little brother ran. "I'll open!"
You stayed where you were.
Frozen.
Footsteps.
Voices.
And then—
"They're here," your brother whispered loudly, grinning.
You turned slowly.
And there he was.
Taehyung.
Standing at your doorway.
Like he didn't belong here.
Like he belonged everywhere.
đź’ś GREETINGS
"Come in," your mother smiled warmly.
"It's been too long," Taehyung's mother replied.
They hugged lightly.
Polite.
But not completely comfortable.
Taehyung stood beside them, hands in his pockets.
His eyes met yours.
Just for a second.
"Hi."
"Hi."
Same as always.
đź’ś DINNER STARTS
The table was full.
Food, voices, small laughter—
But underneath it?
Something unspoken.
đź’ś THE TURN
"Actually…" your mother suddenly spoke.
Your hand froze around your spoon.
Taehyung looked up.
Both mothers exchanged a glance.
And then—
"We were thinking…" your mother continued slowly, "it would be nice if you two spent more time together."
Silence.
Your heart dropped.
"No pressure," Taehyung's mother added gently. "Just… getting to know each other better."
Your grip tightened.
You didn't look at him.
You couldn't.
đź’ś THE RESPONSE
A small pause.
Then—
"Mom."
Taehyung's voice.
Calm.
But firm.
"You know I have Minji."
The words fell flat.
Heavy.
Final.
Your chest tightened instantly.
You kept your eyes on your plate.
Pretending it didn't affect you.
Pretending you didn't already know.
đź’ś AWKWARD SHIFT
"Of course," your mother said quickly, forcing a smile. "We didn't mean anything serious."
Taehyung's mother sighed softly. "We were just suggesting."
"I know," he replied.
And that was it.
The topic ended.
But the feeling?
It didn't.
đź’ś AFTER DINNER
You stepped into the kitchen to help.
You needed space.
Air.
Something.
"Y/n."
You turned.
Taehyung.
Standing at the doorway.
Of course.
"…Yeah?"
He leaned slightly against the frame.
"They didn't mean anything."
His voice was quieter now.
Less distant.
"I know," you said.
"Do you?"
You looked at him.
Finally.
"For them, it's just… an idea," you said softly."For you, it's nothing."
A pause.
Something shifted in his eyes.
But only for a second.
"I didn't want it to be awkward," he said.
"It already is," you replied gently.
Not blaming.
Not angry.
Just honest.
đź’ś SMALL INTERRUPTION
"Taehyung, come here," his mother called from outside.
He glanced back.
Then at you again.
"…I'll go."
You nodded.
"Yeah."
He left.
Just like that.
đź’ś FINAL MOMENT
After they left—
The house felt quieter than before.
Too quiet.
You stood by the window, arms wrapped around yourself.
Your mother walked up slowly.
"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," she said.
"I'm not," you replied.
But your voice didn't match.
She looked at you carefully.
"You like him?"
That question—
You didn't answer.
Because if you did…
Everything would become real.
đź’ś END SCENE
That night—
You lay in bed.
Staring at the ceiling.
His words repeating in your mind—
"You know I have Minji."
Of course you knew.
You always knew.
That's what made it hurt.