minors do not interact. this blog contains nsfw content and mature themes. I write everything between fluff and dark content. I make sure all of my posts are tagged appropriately ( but if you feel I missed something please do not hesitate to shoot me a message ) so if you're under the age of 18, please leave.
✨ the writer ✨
✧ please call me d
✧ 28 yrs old
✧ gemini ☀️ cancer 🌙 capricorn ⬆️
✧ my pronouns are she/her
✧ ult groups: bts, txt, twice, xg
✧ bts bias: jimin
✧ bts bias wrecker: mainly jungkook, sometimes jin and yoongi
✧ my inbox and ask are always open. ask me anything, tell me your concerns and criticisms, shoot me a rant if it so compels you. I am here with an open ears and an open mind. 💕
↣ summary :: some things are meant to stay hidden. Kiara made sure of that. But the moment Jimin steps into her life, everything starts to unravel—carefully built walks, unspoken rules, even the version of herself she swore only a select few would ever see. they clash more than they connect. push more than pull. and yet, somehow, they keep finding their way back to each other. like it was always going to happen. like it was always going to be him.
↣ rating :: 18+
↣ genre :: fluff, angst, smut, e2l, slow burn
↣ pairing :: business owner!jimin x fem!artist!oc ft. taehyung
↣ word count :: 1.3k
↣ chapter warnings :: arguing in public — yelling, crying in public
↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢
if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, PLEASE don't hesitate to message me or send me an ask! my inbox is always open. 💖
After he left, the couple was silent for the rest of their trip. Kiara couldn't understand why Taehyung would think she would want to attend any event with Jimin. She ranted to the man about their horrible first impression and how he ruined her favorite hoodie. Kiara didn't want to fake nice for hours on end; one, it was draining as hell, and two, that prick didn't deserve it. They paid and exited the grocery store. A cloak of silence wrapped around them, settling heavier as they approached Kiara's car. She huffed quietly, almost shaking her head out of pure disbelief.
"I thought you couldn't stand him," she grumbled.
"I thought you wanted me to make more friends," he countered.
Kiara rolled her eyes, sighing softly as she regretted giving him that push. "I don't want to go to this thing, Tae," she admitted. "I don't even know why he invited me. He's your friend."
"Why can't he be our friend?" He asked while looking at the girl, meeting her eyes.
"I'm not friends with people who don't like me," she deadpanned. She started packing the groceries into the car, cautiously placing the bags. She would hate it if something got smushed or broken because she grew annoyed.
Taehyung watched as she did so, arms folding over his chest as he leaned against the car. "You don't know that."
"I'm pretty sure you don't call the people you like selfish."
Taehyung shrugged casually, "You got off on the wrong foot, so what? You don't think you could push past that or at least pretend to for me?"
Kiara froze briefly, pressing her lips together as she thought. It's for Taehyung. She would suffer a ten-hour flight full of crying babies for this man, but Jimin was more insufferable than that. She stopped loading the groceries to look at him. As she opened her mouth to answer, a text notification emitted from her pocket. She wasn't going to look at it, already knowing who it was, but she watched as Taehyung's demeanor changed. The corners of his lips pulled into a frown. He tensed as his eyes narrowed into slits. Before she could even process what was happening, he opened his mouth. All at once, he remembered why he fell silent earlier.
"Give me your phone."
"What?" She chuckled, completely bewildered. He had to be joking. Just two seconds ago, he asked her to play nice, and now this?
"I'm not gonna repeat myself." He held his large hand towards her, like a parent demanding something of their child.
She chuckled again, this time wholly filled with nerves. She instinctively gripped her phone in her hoodie pocket to protect the device from him. "Are you kidding? I'm not giving you my phone."
His eyes narrowed at the smaller girl, letting his hand fall back to his side. "Why? You got something to hide?" Kiara shook her head, opening her mouth to say something, but was promptly cut off. "I saw the way you were smiling at your phone earlier. You got some nasty shit from Jeongguk, huh?"
"What?" Her eyes widen for a moment before narrowing at her partner. "What the fuck are you on about?" Kiara tried keeping herself calm, paying close attention to the tone of her voice, but she thought the days when she had to defend the relationship with her best friend were over.
"Give me your fucking phone, Kiara!" He yelled. The bass in his voice startled her, the sound sinking deep and quickening her heartbeat. She jerked as if someone had hit her. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as her breathing quickened. It happened all in an instant. She pulled out her phone and handed it to him without a thought. It was like her body was suddenly on autopilot.
He snatched the device from her, unlocking it without an issue. "I swear to god I do so much for you, for this fucking relationship, just for you to go behind my back and—" As he went through the text history with Jeongguk, all he saw was various memes from inside jokes, opinions of art going back and forth, and the occasional double text. Taehyung's jaw hung loosely briefly before quickly biting his lower lip. He even checked their group chat, but there was nothing besides Samira asking for help with Momo's wedding and the conversation he assumed she was laughing about. No, he couldn't be wrong. He knew what he saw. That smile.... There's no way he could've been wrong. There had to be something, anything, to prove her infidelity.
But there was nothing.
Taehyung locked Kiara's phone as the silence sat on them like a bag of bricks. He slowly looked at the girl, seeing tears brimming in her warm eyes of amber. Shit, he thought to himself. She was shivering, and he was sure it wasn't from the cold weather. Her chest was heaving like she had just finished running a marathon.
"Ki...," his voice softened, barely above a whisper.
"No," she whimpered right before her throat decided to shut. Tears fell from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. She turned from him, loading up the rest of the car with haste. She tried not to make a sound apart from the occasional whimper that slipped past her trembling lips.
Taehyung sighed quietly, chewing on the inside of his cheek as he watched her. "Kiara, please...," he pleaded as she stood upright. She ignored him, walking the cart back to its slot. When she returned, she had all intention of heading straight to the driver's side, but Taehyung's hand wrapping around her wrist stopped her.
She sniffled as she turned to face him. Kiara yanked her wrist from his hand, causing him to sigh. "When is this gonna stop?" She asked as she wiped her wet face with the sleeves of her hoodie. "When will you finally trust me enough to know I wouldn't ever step out on you?" Taehyung pressed his lips together, staring down at the girl. "I fucking love you, Tae, with every fiber of my being. I've loved you for years! But...," the girl trailed off, looking up at the night sky. She couldn't stop the tears, no matter how much she wanted to. Just thinking of the words hurt her.
Taehyung reached for her again, pulling her into his chest. He held her tightly in an embrace while she sobbed into his chest. "I'm sorry," he whispered as his hands rubbed her back soothingly. Kiara's cries slowed to a stop. "I'm so sorry. I..., I just get jealous sometimes. I think you'll leave me because I've never seen a bond like you and JK's. I feel like he's in love with you."
"He's my best friend," she mumbled before pulling away from the man. She wiped her nose as she stared down at the ground. "He does love me, but not in the way you love me." She rubbed her eyes once more before looking up at him. The whites of her eyes were now red. Taehyung couldn't help but frown, using his thumb to wipe the remaining tears. She flinched from his touch, looking away from him. "But that isn't an excuse to treat me like that." She took a step back from him. Her warmth left him with the winter cold. "So, this jealousy stuff has to stop now."
Taehyung nodded his head quickly. "I'm sorry, I'll try harder." He reached out for her again, and she didn't pull away. He gently stroked her cheek with his thumb while Kiara inhaled deeply, leaning into his touch. "I will be better."
She let out a shaky breath before throwing herself into the man. She pressed her face into his chest, feeling the vibrations from his body as he chuckled. "So, about that game night...." She hummed, waiting for him to continue. "Will you try for me?"
She pulled away enough to look up at him, her warm eyes making his heart skip a beat. "I'll try."
↣ summary :: some things are meant to stay hidden. Kiara made sure of that. But the moment Jimin steps into her life, everything starts to unravel—carefully built walks, unspoken rules, even the version of herself she swore only a select few would ever see. they clash more than they connect. push more than pull. and yet, somehow, they keep finding their way back to each other. like it was always going to happen. like it was always going to be him.
↣ rating :: 18+
↣ genre :: fluff, angst, smut, e2l, slow burn
↣ pairing :: business owner!jimin x fem!artist!oc ft. taehyung
↣ word count :: 2.3k
↣ chapter warnings :: slight pda
↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢
if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, PLEASE don't hesitate to message me or send me an ask! my inbox is always open. 💖
It took only a few days for everything to return to something that resembled normal. No apology was offered, and neither of them reached for one. That's how things worked between them. Arguments always faded without being talked through. Kiara didn't like it, but every attempt to talk only restarted the cycle, so she settled. It kept them both happy in the end, anyway. At least, that's what she thought. So while he returned to normal—touching her, smiling—she had to force herself to keep up the facade. It was exhausting, but still better than starting over again.
Kiara stared at her phone while slowly pushing the shopping cart through the aisle. Her arms draped over the cart as she scrolled through notes on her phone. It was chore day. Grocery day. Usually, she would love to take her time through the store and hopefully find some exciting snacks, but she couldn't wait to get home. She was in the middle of her last piece for her latest collection. The blush pinks, baby blues, and teals were so pretty to her, reminding her of babies—and the family she wanted one day. Three bundles of joy—loud, messy, chaotic—made her chest warm. She sighed, straightening, then paused at the gentle resistance behind her.
"Taehyung," she sighed again despite the small smile forming on her lips. His hand, placed firmly on her hip, kept her in place as they walked.
"Mm, what?" He responded lazily, eyes fixed on the strip of golden skin peeking from beneath her cropped hoodie. The black leggings she wore were no help either. The fabric became stretched thin when she bent, clinging to every curve. He could almost see the outline of her thong.
"What are you doing?"
"Appreciating my girlfriend. What did you think?"
"Oh, I don't know..." She stopped suddenly, halting Taehyung as well. His hips pressed into hers, causing him to bite down on his lower lip briefly. "Someone may think you're trying to start something in public." Taehyung hummed as his mind was far from his current reality, somewhere in a realm where public indecency wouldn't get you fined. He returned to Earth when Kiara decided to turn around and face him. She tilted her head back, looking up at him and biting back a smirk. "You do know we're in public, right?" The sass that fell from her lips only made Taehyung wish to play more. He rested both of his hands on the cart behind her, essentially caging her in.
If there was one thing she could do all day, it was look at Taehyung. He was so gorgeous. Model-worthy. Even as he had his round-framed silver glasses resting on his straight nose, she wanted nothing more than his lips on her.
"Nope," he grinned.
"Dangerous."
"You love it." He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, causing her to inhale deeply. Her hands rested on his chest before sliding up to meet behind his neck. Kiara felt a sudden warmth, even amid the freezer aisle. One of his hands left the cart to rest against her back, pulling her in closer.
"Uh, we're gonna need a clean-up on aisle 14." A familiar voice suddenly rang through Kiara's ears, causing her to pull away from her boyfriend. She glanced around before meeting with the owner of the voice, a smile forming on her lips. "It looks like someone wet themselves," Momo teased the girl with a playful smirk.
"You're so lame!" Hoseok heckled while he reached into the freezer, chuckling softly.
"You knew this, and you're still choosing to marry me," Momo stuck her tongue out at the man, who did the same to her. Afterward, she directed her attention to Kiara. "But seriously, you should really get a room." She placed her hand on her chest as she leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "There are children around!"
"Fuck them kids," Taehyung quickly said as he wrapped his arms around Kiara. He leaned down to rest his chin on her shoulder. "They gotta learn about the birds and the bees somehow."
"Taehyung, you disgust me," Momo scowled. The man winked at her, and Momo recoiled as if he had reached out to touch her. Hoseok then returned, tossing some frozen fruit pops into the cart.
Kiara's eyebrows furrowed as she scanned over the couple's cart. There were some colorful party plates, cups, hats, and napkins. There were also a few bags of chips and liters of various sodas. "You guys having a party or something?" She asked while resting her hands on Taehyung's arms.
"One of our students is turning eight today!" Hoseok beamed as if it were his child.
"She's the absolute cutest, and she's going to go far. Right, Hobi?" Momo added, gleaming as well.
Hoseok quickly nodded. "Yep, AIM has itself its first prodigy."
Taehyung furrowed his brows as he stood up. "AIM? Is that..."
"Art In Motion! The dance studio we work at!" Momo answered. Taehyung made a small O with his mouth, slowly nodding his head.
"It's not like they don't talk about it all the time," Kiara teased, earning a squeeze from him.
"You guys should come in sometime!" Momo said before walking over to one of the freezers. "We teach duets on some days."
Kiara quickly shook her head. "You know damn well I don't dance."
"I know you don't dance sober," Momo side-eyed her, causing the girl to roll her eyes.
"Yeah, I was about to say; I know a certain dance you do, but it's only when you come back from bottomless mimosas," Taehyung grinned, earning an elbow to his rib. "Don't hurt me because I'm right!" The group laughed together before bidding their farewells. Kiara grabbed the cart once more to continue their shopping adventure.
"So, Tae...," Kiara drawled as she trailed behind the man. He hummed while looking at an item on the shelves, encouraging her to continue. "I was looking at houses out here, which are really expensive. Do we have to move out this year?"
"Do you want that ring?" He responded as he tossed the item into the cart. Her eyes went wide as her heart sank into her chest. She assumed that was why she wasn't engaged yet, but to have him say it so casually. To have him say it as if it were something she had to earn. She could hear her best friends yelling at her to leave him, to turn around and not look back.
But she loved him.
"Taehyung!" A man suddenly called out, ripping his attention away from Kiara. Both turned to look at the interruption. A smile formed on Taehyung's lips while Kiara's eyes narrowed. Directly ahead of them was none other than Jimin. Kiara huffed, trying to pry her eyes away from the man, but she couldn't, maybe because it was the first time she'd seen him dressed down—sporting a dark purple hoodie with a denim jacket over it and a pair of black joggers. His hair looked messy despite him trying to hide it under his hood—fluffy blonde strands sticking out like he had just rolled out of bed and decided not to style it. Disgusting how he looked so good without effort.
"You stalking me, Jimin?" The dark-haired man teased as he went in to hug the man.
"For fucks sake," Kiara sighed before her eyes went wide. Taehyung shot her a warning glare, making her muscles stiffen as she looked down at the linoleum floor. She was usually good at keeping her thoughts to herself.
Jimin looked at Kiara for the first time today, and his eyebrows piqued in interest. Was it wrong to be lusting over a man's girlfriend right in front of him, especially when you're trying to rekindle a relationship with said man? Yes, yes, it was. He possessed enough self-control not to react physically, but couldn't deny that she looked good. She had an impeccable style. Even when she dressed down, she stole the room. Instead, he feigned an eye roll. He wanted to do nothing but push those buttons of hers and watch her eyes be set ablaze with fire. But he wouldn't be able to handle that switch to fondness whenever she eventually looked at Taehyung, at least not today. He peeled his eyes away from the girl to look at the brunette, a warm smile forming on his lips. "Isn't it funny how small the world becomes after bumping into each other once?"
"Oh, it's hilarious," Kiara mumbled quietly this time, sarcasm dripping from her words. Boy, she wasn't making it easy for Jimin. He had a thousand and one remarks for her sassy little quip, but he'll save those for another day.
The two men proceeded to catch up while Kiara focused on anything besides the blonde before her. Honestly, what were the odds? There are a million different grocery stores on Long Island alone, and this is the one he chooses? It hasn't even been a week since their little dinner encounter. The universe wanted to see some drama in her life, as if she didn't have enough. What the universe needed to do was send signs to the tall blockhead so she could get proposed to before selling her soul for a house.
As much as she loved that Taehyung was reconnecting and making new friends, she didn't want to spend another second in this vicinity. Jimin's aura was sickeningly addictive. He oozed charisma, and it pissed her off that she wanted to have a conversation with him, to be included. She stared at the back of Taehyung's head, eyes sensing daggers in hopes he turned around. Instead, her amber eyes locked with the blonde's. His eyes flickered up and down subtly before a mischievous smirk tugged at the corner of his plump lips. He looked away, eyes back on Taehyung. Kiara's brows furrowed. What was that look supposed to mean? Did he think he had a one-up on her?
Enough was enough.
Kiara stepped forward, nudging Taehyung with the cart. He suddenly stopped talking, pausing momentarily before looking at her. "Babe, can we go? I'm getting a little tired." She lied through her teeth, her voice as sweet as candy. She had to pull out all the cards to pull Taehyung away from this so-called friend. What if Jimin was using Taehyung now to get some sick inside scoop on her? She couldn't have that.
"In a minute, I just want to smooth out these details for the next guys' night." His voice was colder than the freezer aisle they were previously in. He turned back around, fully facing Jimin again.
She sighed in defeat. She knew Taehyung meant no harm, but each second near Jimin felt like an hour. Kiara had no idea what this man was capable of, and that devilish, slick tongue only made things worse. She quickly glanced away, hoping to find anything she could fiddle with as a minor distraction. Touching random food items seemed too obvious, so she opted for her cell phone. She pulled it out, sending a quick text to the group chat.
Kiara: guess who just pulled up to your local grocery store
Kiara: it's your favorite person kookie
Jeongguk: JUSTIN BIEBER???
Jeongguk: drop the address NOW
Samira: you're an idiot
Kiara pressed her lips in a line, holding back a smile.
Kiara: no it's the blonde from the coffee shop
Kiara: I hate it here
Jeongguk: do me a favor and throw your left shoe at him
Jeongguk: specifically the left one
Jeongguk: the right one won't do
Samira: I second
Samira: why the left one tho
Jeongguk: so he'll be surprised when I get him with this right hook
Kiara burst into a quiet fit of laughter, using her hand to cover her mouth. She loved her best friends dearly. While she giggled, Taehyung's and Jimin's ears perked up like a dog hearing the word walk, although both for different reasons.
Taehyung couldn't help but glance at his partner, seeing a wide grin on her lips as her fingers typed away on her phone. Something flared up inside of him, triggering him. It was the same feeling he had from the other night. He couldn't run away this time, so he had to sit with the heavy feeling in his chest and tensed muscles.
Jimin also looked, but he felt something in his chest from the sight. Something warm. Something that made him want to spread his lips and mimic that smile. He couldn't put his finger on it and didn't think he wanted to. He couldn't have that. It felt familiar, and familiarity needed to stay in a locked box in the deepest corner of his mind. Despite it, his eyes twinkled as a mischievous smirk played on his lips. He returned his gaze to Taehyung. "You know, one of my friends is having a game night later in the week. You should definitely come through."
Taehyung met his eyes, and he pushed down whatever feeling was bubbling in his chest as he smiled at the man. "Definitely! That sounds like fun!"
Kiara was too busy giggling at the messages she received to pay attention to the plans that were made aloud. It wasn't until she felt eyes on her. It made her uneasy, a chill running down her spine as she looked up. Jimin's evil eyes met hers.
"You should bring Kiara along too," Jimin suggested while his eyes remained glued to the girl.
Kiara glared at the blonde. "I would rather jump off the Manhattan Bridge."
Taehyung's eyes went wide, shooting her a look. That look. Kiara couldn't help but cringe, feeling herself shrink into her shoes as she looked down at the ground.
"She'd love to come," Taehyung responded, returning his gaze to Jimin. "We'll be there."
Kiara's head shot up, sending daggers into the back of Taehyung's head. If looks could kill, both men would be casualties right now.
Jimin grinned at the other. "Great! I'll see you then!"
As they bid their farewells, Kiara subtly flipped the blonde off. All Jimin did was smirk playfully, winking at her in response. The girl shivered with disgust.
↣ summary :: some things are meant to stay hidden. Kiara made sure of that. But the moment Jimin steps into her life, everything starts to unravel—carefully built walks, unspoken rules, even the version of herself she swore only a select few would ever see. they clash more than they connect. push more than pull. and yet, somehow, they keep finding their way back to each other. like it was always going to happen. like it was always going to be him.
↣ rating :: 18+
↣ genre :: fluff, angst, smut, e2l, slow burn
↣ pairing :: business owner!jimin x fem!artist!oc ft. taehyung
↣ author's note :: really reeeeaally short smut chapter, kinda teetering on the line of sa in my opinion. taehyung is such a bad guy in this series 😭
↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢
if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, PLEASE don't hesitate to message me or send me an ask! my inbox is always open. 💖
Taehyung was gone for hours. By the time he returned, Kiara was passed out on the couch. She'd changed out of Jeongguk's black hoodie and into one of Taehyung's grey ones. He quietly removed his jacket and shoes before walking over and sitting in front of her. He gently wiped away her smudged mascara, and she scrunched her nose as she began to stir. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead, then her nose, and then her cheek. He coaxed her awake, her tired eyes fluttering open to meet his. No words were exchanged before he leaned in and kissed her. The kiss was timid and soft. She followed his lead at first, but soon found herself wanting more.
The kiss lifted Taehyung onto his knees, then onto the couch with her, settling between her legs. Her hands ran up his arms, feeling the subtle flex of muscles beneath her touch. As seconds passed, the kiss deepened. She parted them just enough to let him in, their tongues gliding past each other as he pressed his hips into hers. Her hand moved to his head, pulling off his cap and tossing it aside. She ran her fingers through his hair, drawing a soft moan from him.
He broke the kiss as his hand caressed her thigh. His lips moved to her neck, pressing kisses along her skin until her chest arched into his. He lingered there, leaving another bruise where the first one had barely healed. She pressed into him, silently asking for more. He stuck his hand between their bodies, slipping his fingers underneath the fabric of her underwear. His middle finger found her clit with ease, gently circling it with the pad of his finger. Kiara's body tensed from his touch, then eased. A soft sound escaped her.
Satisfied, he returned to her lips. Her hips bucked against his finger, making his cock throb in his sweatpants. He couldn't wait much longer, breaking the kiss once again. He pulled his hand out of her panties before swiftly sliding them down her legs. He didn't fully undress, only pulling his pants down enough for his member to spring free. He positioned himself carefully, sliding his tip in between her lips to lube himself up before pushing forward. She sucked in through her teeth, her brows furrowing as she tried to get accustomed to his length. There was a brief sting, but Taehyung continued, slowly pulling his hips back and then forward again. When she relaxed, he picked up his pace.
Her eyes shut as she reacted to him, gripping his arm tightly as he stretched out her walls. He worked her into the couch, skin slapping together as he fell into a rhythm. He leaned forward, resting his temple against hers as he panted and groaned into her ear. She whined; her nails pressed into his back. The power of his hips increased, his tip pressing into her cervix until he suddenly bottomed out and stilled. He pulled away abruptly. There was a cool breeze on her lower region as he got up, pulling his pants back onto his waist. He sat beside her, catching his breath as he used the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his brow. She remained still, tense, unsure of what to do, and in fear of pushing Taehyung's seed out and onto the fabric of the couch.
"I'm going to bed," he said before getting up. He walked into the bedroom without another word.
Kiara stared after him, stunned, a quiet scoff slipping out as she carefully pushed herself off the couch. She grabbed her underwear off the floor and shuffled to the bathroom, where she cleaned herself up. She couldn't understand how he could still be so cold after that. What was the point if he was still upset? After her shower, she slipped into bed beside him, feeling more alone than she had before.
↣ summary :: some things are meant to stay hidden. Kiara made sure of that. But the moment Jimin steps into her life, everything starts to unravel—carefully built walls, unspoken rules, even the version of herself she swore only a select few would ever see. they clash more than they connect. push more than pull. and yet, somehow, they keep finding their way back to each other. like it was always going to happen. like it was always going to be him.
↣ rating :: 18+
↣ genre :: fluff, angst, smut, e2l, slow burn
↣ pairing :: business owner!jimin x fem!artist!oc ft. taehyung
↣ word count :: 1k
↣ chapter warnings :: mature language, arguing
↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢
if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, PLEASE don't hesitate to message me or send me an ask! my inbox is always open. 💖
Kiara said goodbye to Jeongguk, watching him pull off on his motorcycle. The sound of the loud engine quickly faded into the night. She headed inside her house soon after. She sighed as she stepped inside, her energy completely drained from the day. After the coffee shop debacle, the three ended up at Samira's place, like old times. Of course, hanging out quickly turned into helping her with wedding planning. Samira was so passionate and dedicated to her job that it was something to admire... from a distance. Her apartment was a wreck, covered with pictures and business cards. Kiara knew how serious Samira was about her job, but since taking on Momo's wedding, she'd gone completely off the rails. She ate, slept, and breathed wedding details, dragging the other two into it.
As she kicked off her sneakers, jazz music drifted from the kitchen. "Babe?" She called out, following the familiar path toward the kitchen.
Taehyung popped his head into the kitchen archway, and Kiara smiled. "Darling! When did you get home? I'm just about done with dinner." His grin made her chest tighten. She joined him in the kitchen as he went back to cooking. Her arms wrapped around his waist as she pressed her face into his back. She breathed him in, his scent mixing with fresh laundry. Taehyung chuckled softly, "Long day?" Kiara nodded, moving with him as if she wasn't clinging to him. "Wanna talk about it over dinner?"
She nodded again, letting him go as he picked up the plates.
They sat at their small dining room table, eating in quiet. Kiara looked up at Taehyung, who focused on his plate. That same warmth settled in her chest. She felt so happy with him. She loved this small house they called home, loved coming back to his smile, loved how easy everything felt. She glanced down at her left hand, eying her bare ring finger. If only this were enough for him.
"So?" Taehyung started with a mouth full of food. She filled him in on the events of last night and how they bled into today. Taehyung's expression stayed neutral until the end, when he just shrugged. "I honestly wouldn't put that past him. He's a little snobby."
"There's a difference between being a little snobby and a complete dick. Like, do you think I'm selfish?" she asked, setting her fork down.
He shrugged again. "You have your moments, but I don't think it's like what he's saying."
"Exactly! Everyone's a little selfish, and that's just human. But he's making it seem like I'm doing it on purpose." She folded her arms over her chest as she leaned into her chair.
Taehyung glanced at her. "Is that a new hoodie?" He stared at the dark fabric covering her body with a red skull and crossbones decal in the center.
"No, it's Jeongguk's. He gave it to me after Jimin practically dumped his coffee on me."
"Jeongguk's?" he repeated, a scoff slipping out as he nodded.
Kiara watched his reaction closely—how his body suddenly tensed up, and the corner of his lips pushed downward. She rolled her eyes before shutting them as she leaned her head back into the chair. "Don't start."
"Don't start what?" he asked, releasing a humorless laugh. "I just find it funny that you come home in his hoodie. He drop you off, too?"
"Yes, he did. And it's just a hoodie, Tae. I didn't want to walk around with a huge coffee stain on me, especially in public."
"Samira didn't have anything?"
"No?" She snapped a little, raising her head and opening her eyes to look at him. Taehyung's eyes narrowed at her. "Why would Samira carry around extra clothing?"
"But he did? Or did he peel his own shirt off to give to you?" He laughed, running his hands through his slightly curled locks. "Shit like this always seems to conveniently happen to you. You come home with a piece of Jeongguk on you; whether it's his clothing or his smell, you were wearing his boxer briefs once!"
"Oh my god," Kiara mumbled while pressing her fingers to her temple.
"What was that?" Taehyung's voice sharpened. Her eyes met his, and just as she opened her mouth to respond, he lifted his hand, silencing her. The words died on her tongue, abandoned sounds running around in her head. "You know, this is getting ridiculous. If I had a girl best friend doing all of this with me, you would've flipped your shit a long time ago."
"Taehyung," she said, forcing her voice to stay calm. It would've been over if she raised her voice or said something with a hint of sarcasm. "I have been friends with this man for years now. There is absolutely nothing between us."
He scoffed loudly, "That's a likely story." He stood up and walked into the living room. Kiara sighed as she got up, following him. He grabbed his leather jacket and white baseball cap. He put the hat on to hide his midnight hair.
"Where are you going?" She asked. No response. She rolled her eyes. "Taehyung," she reached out to grab his hand, but he quickly pulled away. He glared at her over his shoulder, making her step back.
She hated it when he looked at her like that. Like she was something vile. Every insecurity crawled to the surface. Taehyung slid on some shoes, grabbed his keys, and walked out the front door, slamming it behind him. Her body jumped at the noise, tears stinging her eyes as she watched him pull out of the driveway from her window.
"Fuck," she sighed softly, turning to the table to grab her phone. She frantically clicked on Taehyung's contact, which was sent to voicemail each time. The tears filled to the brim before rolling down her cheeks silently. She wiped her tears with the sleeve of the hoodie—the one that caused this whole mess. She never understood how he could flip a switch like this. It was always over the tiniest things, too. She sat on the couch, chewing her nails as she called him again. And again.
↣ summary :: some things are meant to stay hidden. Kiara made sure of that. But the moment Jimin steps into her life, everything starts to unravel—carefully built walls, unspoken rules, even the version of herself she swore only a select few would ever see. they clash more than they connect. push more than pull. and yet, somehow, they keep finding their way back to each other. like it was always going to happen. like it was always going to be him.
↣ rating :: 18+
↣ genre :: fluff, angst, smut, e2l, slow burn
↣ pairing :: business owner!jimin x fem!artist!oc ft. taehyung
↣ word count :: 2.8k
↣ chapter warnings :: mature language
↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢
if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, PLEASE don't hesitate to message me or send me an ask! my inbox is always open. 💖
Kiara stuffed her hands in her oversized hoodie pocket as she moved through the hustle and bustle of the city streets. The weather was getting more tolerable as the city edged into a new month. But then again, you could have a full snowstorm in New York in the spring. She dressed as lightly as the weather allowed—a hoodie, leggings, and a spring jacket. The sneakers on her feet were old—dirt and stains in the crevices, while the laces were starting to wear out. Kehlani blasted through her headphones as she wove through people. She missed the city dearly. There was something about the city's rhythm that was addictive. Everyone had somewhere to be—whether it was to a job that they hated or a job that they loved, to see a family member, to sell a hat, to shop themselves into debt, or to see something incredible. Everyone had a story, no matter how big or small.
Kiara's story led her to a quaint coffee shop. Tiny and modern, it was a perfect puzzle piece in the large-scale picture of Manhattan—the smell of dark beans roasting mixed with the faint sweetness of freshly baked pastries. Exposed brick and pipes gave the place an industrial edge, the greenery along the walls softening it just enough. Furniture with dark wood and black metal legs contrasted with the grey concrete flooring.
It was crowded now, packed with teens and adults chasing their daily fix. She knew this place from its humble beginnings. Mr. Choi brewed a mean cup of coffee, and she would sip it during the early morning rush before class in college. She and her best friends practically lived in this shop during school. They were always the first to arrive and the last to leave. Mr. Choi almost adopted them, considering how often they were there. Jeongguk even got a job here at some point, figuring if he was going to spend all his time here, he might as well get paid for it.
They still gather here occasionally, especially on days like today. When Kiara arrived at the door, she pushed it open. A crowd greeted her upon entering. Most had drinks in their hands already, but were struggling to find a seat in this small coffee shop. Kiara squeezed through the people until she arrived at her usual table. A seat by the window might as well have had her name engraved on it, and she slid into it with ease. She finally pulled off her headphones, greeting the midnight-haired girl across from her.
Samira glanced up from her tablet, her lips forming a wide smile as she chewed her gum. "Sup Ki."
"Not much. You doing wedding work?" she asked, watching Samira jot something down on her iPad while flicking between it and her phone.
She nodded. "I gotta get these bouquet choices to Momo later today. I also gotta show her these swatches of blue." She tapped on her tablet several times before lifting it to show the woman.
Kiara stared at the four squares on the screen. They were all blue, but the tones and undertones varied. Her lips pursed as she examined the options. "I, personally, like the first one," she said as she leaned back. "It's soft and kinda reminds me of winter. Like how the sky looks on a clear day."
Samira turned the device back to her, staring at the color while she nodded. "See, this is why it's always great to have an artist as a friend." Kiara rolled her eyes while Samira chuckled. "Speaking of anything happening with that? Are you close to buying that house like the sugar mama you are?"
Kiara's jaw dropped before she lifted her leg to kick the girl under the table. Samira laughed loudly. "I'm not a sugar mama!"
"Is he helping you pay?"
"...No."
"Then you're a sugar mama." Samira was always so blunt, and that's why Kiara loved her. It wasn't always jokes—she'd call the girl out whenever she got dramatic or was in the wrong.
"Anyway!" Kiara exclaimed. "I had a client dinner last night."
"Ooh, tea time." Samira locked her iPad and phone, giving the other her full attention. "Was he hot? Was he single? You had a little fun last night?" She asked as she wiggled her eyebrows. She leaned in, resting her elbows on the table while holding her face in her hands.
Kiara's face suddenly grew hot, and she reached up to involuntarily cover her neck with her hand. She had forgotten about the hickey Taehyung had left on her for a split second, hoping the hoodie would've covered it for her. "No!" She said quickly, hoping Samira didn't notice the red staining her cheeks. But she did, causing a smirk on her friend's lips. "He was that same asshat from the gallery."
"Oh." Her smirk quickly faded. She scrunched up her nose with disgust as her shoulders dropped.
"And turns out he wasn't just having a bad day. He was actually just a dick. He called me a coward, then selfish! All because I would rather separate my painter life from my regular life." Kiara pouted at the end of her sentence, leaning back into her chair. It was still a fresh wound, making her rethink every choice she had made thus far.
Samira scoffed. "He obviously doesn't know you. In fact, if you ever see him on the streets, let me know. I'll beat his ass."
Kiara's eyes widened as she quietly chuckled. "What is with you and Kookie being so violent?"
"Don't act like you're not the same. Just because you're in a little relationship that has you acting all prim and proper doesn't mean I don't know the real Kiara and how she used to beat ass because someone looked at me funny."
Kiara rolled her eyes. "I was younger back then and clearly had uncontrolled anger."
"Yeah, sure," Samira smiled while shaking her head. "Speaking of Jeongguk, when is he going up?"
Kiara shrugged as she grabbed her phone, looking at the time. "You know he never gives a time for these things." Suddenly, the coffee shop roared with cheers, grabbing the girl's attention. They looked towards a small stage along the shop's farthest wall. "Speak of the devil," she smirked as the tall man approached the stage. He was dressed in a black T-shirt and dark denim. There was a silver chain that hung from his belt loops. Sitting down at the piano on the stage, he tugged a stray strand of his midnight hair behind his ear. A microphone was attached to the instrument, angled perfectly so the person could speak.
"Hello, ladies and gentlemen," his smooth voice entered the mic and echoed through the establishment. Samira and Kiara locked eyes before covering their mouths to hide the giggles that quietly escaped. "This song is called 17, and I hope you enjoy it."
His fingers began to press on the white and black keys, combining the notes until they formed a beautiful melody.
"Too many drunken nights... Another day in paradise, but..."
His voice was like lying on a cloud—soft and fluffy, wrapping around you like a warm embrace. Everyone in the store was mesmerized; even those who came in solely for a beverage stopped to listen for a few moments. They always left with a broad smile. Jeongguk's voice had affected people ever since he was little. Kiara couldn't help but smile as she watched her best friend do what he loved. He shut his eyes as he sang, tuning out everything around him until nothing was left but notes.
She knew everyone in that room fell in love based on their reaction when Jeongguk sang his last note. It was overwhelmingly positive. The audience overfilled the tip jar near the bottom of the stage with bills and coins. Jeongguk stood up with a smile so wide on his lips that his eyes crinkled, smiling along with him. He bowed as the crowd cheered for him, leaning down to grab the tip jar before walking off the stage. Women who were bold enough stopped and flirted with him as he passed through the crowd. All Jeongguk did was laugh it off and politely turn them down, leaving a trail of broken hearts behind him. He reached his usual table, dropping the jar onto the table with an obnoxious thud. He made the same sound as he dropped down in the seat next to Kiara, letting out a dramatic sigh.
The girls exchanged a look before watching as his eyes closed, breathing heavily. "God, it's so hard being wanted." The two burst into laughter as he grinned, opening his eyes to look at them. "So? What did you guys think?"
"Not my favorite song," Samira said with a smirk.
"It's a good thing I don't value your opinion," Jeongguk quipped before sticking his tongue out, causing her to mirror his reaction. After a moment, he turned his head to Kiara, waiting for her answer.
"You know I loved it, Kookie." She smiled at him, making his heart skip a beat as heat rushed to his ears. She chuckled as she poked at his reddening skin with her finger, making his body scrunch up like a snail recoiling into their shell. "How long did it take to write this one?"
"Only a few weeks this time," he answered with a smile. His silver lip rings glimmered as he spoke.
Kiara's smile was still etched on her lips, leaning over to the man. The scent of fresh laundry with the faintest hint of cologne entered her nostrils as she cupped his jaw in her hand. She squeezed Jeongguk's cheeks until his pink lips puffed out, shaking his head from side to side a little. "Look at him, Sammie! Our little bunny boy is growing up so fast!" Jeongguk chuckled, trying to pull her hand away, but her grip was tight.
Samira grinned, reaching her hand out to join in the fun of playing with Jeongguk's face. Her hand replaced Kiara's as she pouted out her lips. "I know! We did such a good job raising our little bunny boy." She teased in a baby voice.
Jeongguk rolled his eyes, pulling Samira's hand away from his face. "You know we're the same age, right?!"
The two girls glanced at each other before looking at the man. "And?" Kiara asked.
"Your point?" Samira added.
Jeongguk stared at them, shaking his head as he smiled. "You guys kill me." He reached into his tip jar, pulling out various bill amounts. "Y'all want something? It's on me."
The girls enthusiastically agreed before Jeongguk handed Kiara some money. She got their order, then stood up and headed to the counter. She squeezed through the shoulders of random customers. Most waited for their drink orders, while others stayed for the atmosphere. Kiara hated crowded places like this. People had no respect for personal space or sense of how much space they took up. And because it's an establishment, she couldn't necessarily mow through people like she could on the streets. The crowd was less tight when she finally got closer to the counter. She sighed deeply, taking a single step before someone bumped right into her. She quickly felt something warm spreading from her chest to her abdomen, glancing down to see coffee all over her cream hoodie.
"What the fuck?!" She shrieked without taking a second to remember where she was. She reached for the napkins on the counter, frantically patting at her chest and torso.
"Oh my god, I'm so—" His eyes then met with the familiar golden skin Kiara possessed. He couldn't help the playful smirk that formed on his lips. "Well, doesn't karma have a funny way of working?" Jimin said, his words laced with smugness.
Kiara glared up at the blonde, huffing as she accepted defeat. Her hoodie was forever stained. "Eat ass, Park." His eyelids lowered at the girl. Why did his last name sound so unique, leaving her mouth wrapped in that annoyed tone? Maybe it was how she formed the noun—the light reflecting off lovely, glossed lips as they parted to allow the syllable to roll off her tongue. It was intoxicating to watch. "You owe me a new shirt!"
His brows drew together as he tilted his head to the side. "Oh? If that's the case, I should send you my dry-cleaning bill from last night."
"Fuck you, that was water!" She snapped at him. "And this is coffee! I'm never gonna get this out!"
His face remained unchanged despite receiving daggers from the girl. The most he did was shrug, causing her jaw to drop. "It wasn't that cute of a hoodie."
"What do you know about cute hoodies?!" She sounded a bit like a child, making the man chuckle softly.
"Enough to know yours isn't."
Kiara's eye twitched before she covered her face with her hands. She dragged them down her face, pulling gently at the skin as it relieved some of the building stress. She wanted to punch him in his nose or his mouth. Or anywhere on his body, in that case. He was such an asshole. The least he could've said was sorry. Maybe even offer to buy her a new hoodie. But no, even in moments where he was wrong, he still was an asshole through and through. "You are such a—"
"Whoa, what the fuck happened?" She recognized Jeongguk's voice almost instantly. He stood beside her, staring at the massive stain on her shirt. Jimin eyed the new man, practically sizing him up despite being slightly shorter than him.
She inhaled deeply before sighing. "Nothing, nothing," she said as she shook her head. She wrapped her fingers around the man's tattooed bicep as she looked up at him. Eyes so big and round. Love, the blonde thought as he watched their interaction intently. How come she never looked at Jimin like that? But why did he want her to look at him like that? "Do you have a spare hoodie?"
The man looked down at her with the softest eyes, like she was the only person in the world to him. Jimin's brows furrowed again as he watched the warm smile form on Jeongguk's lips. "Yeah, of course."
She didn't need to say thank you; her eyes said more than enough. She glanced at Jimin, and just like before, the fondness evaporated. Kiara's amber eyes were set ablaze once again. "Fuck you," she spat before Jeongguk led her away. They vanished behind a door labeled 'Employees Only.' Jimin felt the same heavy feeling from before, sitting uncomfortably in his stomach. He didn't know why he wanted her to look at him with fondness so severely. She was annoying, a coward, a complete headache, and nowhere near his type. He chewed on his lower lip for a moment before rejoining the line.
"He's such a fucking jerk!" Kiara groaned as she followed behind Jeongguk to the break room area. "Who the fuck spills coffee on someone and doesn't even apologize?!"
He stopped in front of his locker and opened it, grabbing one of the two hoodies that were inside. When working at a cafe with clumsy newbies, spare clothing is more of a necessity than a suggestion. "Who the fuck was he?" He asked as he tossed her the hoodie, and she caught it.
"The same dickhead from last night," she grumbled. She pulled her hoodie over her head, leaving her standing in just a red bra with an intricate white lace pattern. Jeongguk's eyes widened; he had almost committed the lace pattern to memory before quickly diverting his gaze to the ceiling. Heat flooded his ears and over his face as he tried to forget the image he had just seen. "Like, first of all, what are the odds?" Kiara continued to rant casually as if she weren't half-naked. She pulled Jeongguk's black clothing over her head, slipping into the fabric that was three times too big. "Second of all, he's lucky I didn't fucking deck him."
Jeongguk's eyes finally returned to the girl once she was clothed again. "Wait, what? The guy from last night?"
Kiara nodded as she picked up her dirty hoodie. When she looked towards Jeongguk, he was suddenly gone. Her eyes grew wide as she ran after him. "JK!" She yelled as he walked through the door. She returned to the central part of the cafe, seeing Jeongguk glance around with his brows furrowed. She grabbed him, but that didn't stop him from scanning the room. "You're on the clock!" She whispered.
All Jeongguk did was suck his teeth. "Man's lucky I like my job," he continued to look regardless, "and I can't find him."
Kiara rolled her eyes before patting his chest, "You need therapy."
"You need therapy," Jeongguk taunted quietly as Kiara joined the line again.
↣ summary :: some things are meant to stay hidden. Kiara made sure of that. But the moment Jimin steps into her life, everything starts to unravel—carefully built walls, unspoken rules, even the version of herself she swore only a select few would ever see. they clash more than they connect. push more than pull. and yet, somehow, they keep finding their way back to each other. like it was always going to happen. like it was always going to be him.
↣ rating :: 18+
↣ genre :: fluff, angst, smut, e2l, slow burn
↣ pairing :: business owner!jimin x fem!artist!oc ft. taehyung
↣ word count :: 2.4k
↣ chapter warnings :: mature language
↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢
if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, PLEASE don't hesitate to message me or send me an ask! my inbox is always open. 💖
Their eye contact broke as his gaze darted briefly around the room. His lips moved as if searching for words that had already slipped away. Kiara walked over to the lone table, lowering herself into the seat across from Jimin.
His brows furrowed as his eyes shamelessly scanned her from head to toe. Kiara gulped softly, her palms growing sweaty as her thoughts spiraled. She'd never had dinner with someone she had previously met. Everyone who knew was either family, friends, or under contract. But now there was him, the first person to discover both sides of her. And though she was protected, she had yet to determine if he could buy his way out of the NDA or hire some expert lawyer to find the smallest of loopholes to run with. Did he plan this? Did she slip up somewhere when they first met? Or did Taehyung slip? Could he have caught on from—
"Well," he cut in, putting her rapid thoughts to a halt, "there goes my hope of flirting with my idol all night." His plump lips tugged into a slight smirk. He didn't miss a beat, oozing the same confidence from their first encounter.
Kiara raised an eyebrow, her eyes falling over his appearance. He wore a blue dress shirt with the top buttons undone, a black suit jacket draped over it, and a single silver chain that matched the earrings he had in his ears. The man knew he was attractive, and that was her problem. He was still remarkably handsome even after he was rude. She scoffed as she opened the menu, trying to keep up appearances like him. "For some reason, I don't believe you."
"What?" He gasped dramatically, causing a little smile to tug at her lips. "Me? Flirt with my friend's girlfriend? You think that lowly of me?"
"Yeah," she answered quickly. Her eyes met with Jimin's, matching his playful energy with ease. "If I recall, you kept checking me out even after discovering I was dating Taehyung."
He opened his mouth, then closed it. He leaned back into his chair with a smirk on his lips. "OK, you got me there. You're just so beautiful; it's hard not to stare."
Kiara felt her cheeks flush with heat as she rolled her eyes. Her head shook from side to side as she looked at the menu again. "See, couldn't even last five minutes."
"Is calling it like I see it really flirting?" He asked as he tilted his head to the side.
"Yes, if you intend to get in bed with the person."
"Who said I wanted to do that?" She looked up at him again, seeing that smirk etched on his face as he bit his lower lip. He sat up, leaning his arms and chest onto the table. "Maybe I just like complimenting people. Maybe I like complimenting you." Her eyes widened before darting back to the words on the menu. She shouldn't be blushing this much, especially since she was in a relationship. But there was something about him. There was something about how his lips formed words, his tone dripped with sweet sultriness, and his eyes never left hers, taking every moment to drink her in. Even the way he smiled. He was dangerously attractive in a way that made thinking difficult. And she shouldn't be feeling this way. She shouldn't be this flustered.
"Oh yeah, I figured. What was it again? You hold a beauty one could only dream of containing." Jimin's eyes went wide as she let out a fit of giggles.
"Give me a break! It was a good line!"
"If I were a lovesick fool, maybe, just maybe, you would've had me," she laughed.
Jimin shook his head despite the smile on his lips. "You mean to tell me if Taehyung had you that line, you would've reacted the same?"
"Yes."
They stared at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Stone cold," Jimin said as he leaned back into his seat.
Kiara felt the nerves wash away as she continued to talk to Jimin. Surprisingly, he was a very entertaining person to talk to. He didn't question her about her work or what inspires her, but about herself. Most clients would praise her like a goddess and ask the same three questions: Who's your inspiration? How long does it take you to paint? Do you take commissions? It felt like Jimin wanted to know who she was, not just the work she put into the world. It was a change of pace. It was... nice. The conversation slowed once their food arrived, quiet chewing replacing their words.
"So," Jimin started once the waiter had collected their plates. He picked up his glass, putting it to his lips to take a sip of water. "Why do you hide?"
Kiara's brows furrowed. "Why do I hide?" She picked up her own glass of water as he nodded. "I don't hide, necessarily. I just don't think I need to show my face for people to understand my art. Plus, I enjoy still having a normal life."
His brows knitted together as his head tilted to the side. "A normal life?" He put his glass down. "I hate to say it, but it sounds like you're a coward, Kiara."
"What?" She asked sharply.
"Think about it; you're hiding your face and missing out on all the beautiful opportunities to have a 'normal life'. It sounds like you're scared of the fame."
"I'm not scared of the fame," she quickly objected. She could feel her heart beating in her face as if she had been running. It was solid and brisk, spreading up to where she felt the pulse throbbing in her cheeks. "I just don't want people to take advantage of me."
"They'll take advantage of you whether or not your name is known. So, what is it?" His eyes then narrowed as he straightened his back. His shoulders appeared broader than before. "Why do you hide?"
Kiara stared at the man for a second, eyes searching for an answer in his. She's been Luna for so long now. She couldn't even remember why she hid her name and face. Was it anxiety? Was it the fear of rejection? Was it the fear of being judged? It could've been all of the above at this point.
"It's OK to admit that you're scared."
His words were all but comforting. "I'm not! I just...." She trailed off, eyes leaving him and resting on the tablecloth before her.
"You had me sign an NDA before I could even set foot in this restaurant. There's this special section made specifically for you to have these types of dinners, I assume. There's even security at the door to get in!" He spat out before she even got the moment to gather her thoughts. She felt under attack, though it was just a simple question. Even his points were valid. She never prepared herself for a question like this.
"Sir," she started to reel back in the conversation, but his eyelids lowered at her. "I have these dinners to discuss my work, not to be disrespected."
"But Luna is your work. I'm asking you questions to understand why you actively chose to stay hidden. You could come out every day, and you ignore it every day. If it's not because you're a coward, it's because you're selfish."
"Excuse me?!" She fumed, her eyes narrowing at the man.
He didn't flinch at her glare. Instead, he chose to shift his position by leaning closer toward her. "Choosing to stay hidden robs you of the chance to do any public charity event. You have to let people see you or at least hear your voice. Right now, Luna is only a thought. No one even knows if she's human. People have the right to see who they're supporting, and you shouldn't have to make them spend over ten thousand to meet you."
The more he spoke, the more infuriated Kiara got. Being interrogated or called out wasn't the reason she had these dinners. This conversation was barely a discussion but a lecture from a 30-year-old nepo baby who thinks he can speak about how she chooses to live and spend her money. Her lips pressed into a taut line, keeping herself quiet when all she wanted to do was curse him out.
"And it's not like you could slap on some wig and be Hannah Montana. People aren't that dumb." As he continued, her eye twitched a little. "So, which is it?" Jimin watched as Kiara nodded her head a few times. She grabbed the napkin off her lap and placed it on the table.
"And to think that maybe you were just having a bad day earlier." She chuckled softly as his brows furrowed. "Turns out that you're just an asshole regardless."
"Excuse—"
Kiara swiftly threw water in his face, drenching him and his hair as she stood up. He scoffed loudly, hanging his head down to keep any more water from going into his eyes. "Does that answer your question?" He looked up at her and locked eyes one last time, exchanging the same look of hate before she stormed off to the door. "Fucking dick," she mumbled to herself as her heels quickly led her through the restaurant. She dug her hand into her purse, feeling around until she grabbed her cell phone. She clicked on Taehyung's contact before putting it to her ear while getting her coat. It declined on the first ring, adding fuel to her fire before she tried again. Then it went straight to voicemail.
She groaned, putting her coat on and heading outside. She scrolled through her contact list as she reached her car, finally settling on calling her best friend.
"Hey!" He picked up on the second ring, sounding cheery as ever. She could hear the sizzle of a hot pan in the background. "You finished dinner already? It's kinda—"
"That guy was an absolute dick!" Kiara yelled, cutting the man off as she got in her car. "You know, I thought he was nice at first. We seemed to really get along, but then he had to open his dumbass mouth, and ugh!"
"Whoa, slow down. What happened?"
Kiara began to drive home, trying to monitor her speed, but it was nearly impossible. "So, I met one of Taehyung's friends at my last art show. He seemed nice until he made a slick comment about Tae. I thought maybe he was having a bad day, and my rejecting him was the icing on the cake. Turns out he was the one to buy my collection. We had dinner, and then he called me cowardly and selfish!"
The man began to choke on the food he was eating. "What?! You're the least selfish person I know! What would even make him think that?"
"Because I use a pen name and hide my face." Her hands gripped her fuzzy pink steering wheel tightly.
"WHAT?!" He practically yelled, prompting some annoyed muffling from his roommate. "How the fuck do the two even correlate?!"
"I don't know, JK! He was going on about how I can't donate because I don't show my face, like people don't anonymously donate all the time! Like they can't write my name on whatever I donate! But of course, Mr. Nepo Baby is obsessed with pictures and showing everyone his good deeds."
"Wait, he's a nepo baby?" Jeongguk asked as he shoveled some more food into his mouth. "So that means he's loaded, right? Is he looking for an assistant?"
"Stay focused!" Kiara warned.
"Right, right," he said with stuffed cheeks. After he swallowed, he continued. "I wouldn't take what he says to heart, Ki. He's obviously a prick who doesn't know you or care to know you."
She sighed deeply, "OK..., yeah...." She wanted to change the subject, but couldn't stop thinking about how he looked at her. It seemed like she was having dinner with a completely different person at the end of the night. She's never had someone look at her with so much disdain. It was jarring.
"You want me to beat him up for you?" Jeongguk asked unexpectedly.
Kiara laughed as she pulled into her driveway. "No! Why must you always resort to violence?"
"Some people just need to get beaten up. These hands stay ready." Kiara laughed again, shaking her head as if he could see her. "You still coming tomorrow?"
"Of course!" She grinned. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"I'm glad you said that. I wouldn't want to have to beat you up." She could hear the smirk playing on his lips.
Kiara rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. Just because someone is taking boxing lessons doesn't mean they're hot shit."
"You couldn't even beat me up on my bad day."
"You know what?" As she gathered her purse and phone, Kiara scoffed, exiting the car. "Remember you said that. I got something for that ass."
They laughed as she walked to her front door, bidding Jeongguk goodnight before stepping inside. The house was dark, and she could hear slight snoring coming from the bedroom. After she walked into the room, she swiftly got undressed before slipping on one of Taehyung's t-shirts. After completing her night routine in the bathroom, she crawled into bed. She fell into the familiar spot on her boyfriend's chest before he sleepily wrapped his arm around her. But she was far from tired. All that consumed her mind was the events of tonight.
Why couldn't she answer him? Could she be one of the two things he called her? Or what if she was both? All these years, she thought she was being genuine. She thought slapping her signature on a check would be sufficient. Was there more to it?
A coward.
Selfish.
Neither of those was supposed to be Luna's intention. She was supposed to be a safe sanctuary, unaffected by criticism. She was supposed to be someone that people understood. Someone who gets it. A friend. And people didn't even know she was a person. All she wanted to do was make art and have people experience her feelings, knowing someone out there felt the same. She never thought she would get this big; she only ever dreamed of it. And now that she was there, maybe she had built something too big to hide inside anymore.
↣ summary :: some things are meant to stay hidden. Kiara made sure of that. But the moment Jimin steps into her life, everything starts to unravel—carefully built walls, unspoken rules, even the version of herself she swore only a select few would ever see. they clash more than they connect. push more than pull. and yet, somehow, they keep finding their way back to each other. like it was always going to happen. like it was always going to be him.
↣ rating :: 18+
↣ genre :: fluff, angst, smut, e2l, slow burn
↣ pairing :: business owner!jimin x fem!artist!oc ft. taehyung
↣ word count :: 1.4k
↣ chapter warnings :: n/a
↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢
if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, PLEASE don't hesitate to message me or send me an ask! my inbox is always open. 💖
Kiara's shoulders rose and fell with a heavy breath. She studied her canvas, head tilted, reaching for another water balloon from the tray beside her. Concrete walls splattered in color boxed her in. Paint still stained the gray slab beneath her despite the tarp. Shelves climbed the walls, crowded with paint cans in every imaginable shade and hue. The room was a mess. She was a mess. It was art. Every splash, drop, and spill carried a story. This was her sanctuary, where her thoughts spilled freely, and her emotions had room to breathe. That's all her art was; her feelings, poured onto a blank canvas.
She tossed the weighted balloon, eyes still on the canvas. Blues and teals spread over the once-white base with rough brushstrokes and thrown paint. She swung back and hurled it. It burst on impact, bleeding blush pink between the blues and teals. She smiled to herself as she wiped her hands off on her denim overalls, adding any leftover paint to the collection of stains. She left the piece to dry before adding her signature touch of gold or silver accents. As she walked out of the garage-converted studio, her phone buzzed sporadically in her pocket. She approached her kitchen, quickly washing her hands before pulling the device out of her back pocket. She answered without checking the caller ID, pinning the phone between her ear and shoulder.
"Hello?" She said as she dried off her hands.
"I have the best news!" She instantly knew it was Aimee as the girl squealed in her ear.
Kiara's brows pinched together as her nose wrinkled at the sudden pitch that invaded her eardrum. "Yeah?" She questioned as she opened the fridge door. "And what would that be?" She glanced over at the various food items before grabbing a yogurt. She struggled with the foil lid before tearing it open with her teeth.
"Someone just bought your new collection!"
The yogurt slipped from her hands, splattering across the tile. "What?! It hasn't even been a month since it's been out!"
"I know!" Aimee sounded excited for her. "We finalized the payment today! All six pieces, and at full price, if I may add."
It took a second to land, then it hit her all at once. She began to squeal, causing the woman on the other line to do the same, as Kiara bounced on the balls of her feet.
"So, you know what this means," Aimee said after the girls calmed down.
"What time is the reservation?" Kiara asked as she cleaned up the spilled yogurt. Whenever someone brought out a collection of hers, she would have dinner with them to show her gratitude. It was a risk every time, but Aimee made sure Kiara was protected—NDA's signed, security close by.
"Seven. Remember to dress to impress!"
"When do I not?" Kiara chuckled before hanging up the phone.
An hour later, she had showered and styled her waist-length hair into a high ponytail. She sat at her vanity in her bedroom, applying makeup as she heard the front door open. Taehyung passed by her reflection, setting his bags down before returning and placing a kiss on her head.
"You look gorgeous as ever," he said as he pulled the suit jacket off his body. "You going out with the girls tonight?"
She shook her head before spraying her face with setting spray. "Client dinner!" She grinned as she fanned her face with her hand. "Someone brought out my latest collection." She stood up, turning to face him with a proud smile on her glossed lips.
"Yeah?" he echoed, a smile pulling at his lips as his hand found her waist, drawing her in. "I'm proud of you." His lips brushed her jaw, then lower, like the thought had already passed. "Mm, what time is dinner?"
"Seven."
He glanced at the watch on his wrist before smirking at her. "You have time for a little quickie." She squealed as he leaned into her neck again.
"No, I don't," she laughed, slipping out of his grasp. "And nothing with you is ever quick." She grabbed her purse from the bed, slipping on her heels.
He sighed dramatically, plopping himself on the bed as he took one last look at her. "What time will you be back?"
"Like ten, probably. Maybe earlier?" His lips formed a pout as she rolled her eyes, a smile present on her lips. "You know you'll be up, don't act like that." She leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "And when I get back, you can take as much time as you want."
He looked up at her with his brown eyes, his gaze darkening. "Yeah?" She nodded, goosebumps raising on her skin as his fingertips grazed her leg. He briefly bit down on his lower lip, eyes peering over her frame. She could always make a simple black dress look like a Met Gala gown. The material hugged her frame in a way that only provoked the imagination. "Let me get a little taste, at least." Before she could react, he'd already pulled her into his lap.
Kiara stepped out of her car and walked up to the restaurant. She cursed softly, already feeling the tender spot on her begin to bruise. Taehyung had to be so convincing, making her nearly 20 minutes late. She pulled her faux fur coat closer, hoping to shield herself from the brutal wind. Dressing to impress meant a tight black dress that stopped around her mid-calf with a sweetheart neckline. It wasn't meant for the winter, but these dinners were usually reserved for warmer nights.
She could remember how nervous she was for the first one. An older man with eyes so kind it calmed her within minutes. He'd been kind. Genuine in a way that felt rare. He insisted on paying more than her asking price. He told her to know her worth and never sell herself short; she took his words to heart. That one dinner turned into a tradition. As she entered the restaurant, chatting and soft music drowned out her heels clicking against the polished wooden floor.
She stopped to check in her coat before approaching the maître d', who stood with a broad smile behind a podium. His brunette curls contrasted with his sea-green eyes. Sun-kissed freckles dotted his tanned skin, softening his features. "It's always a pleasure to see you, Luna."
"As well as you, Eric." She smiled warmly, resisting the urge to pinch his cheeks. Despite being younger, he towered over her, forcing her to look up. "Is my guest already here?"
Eric nodded. "He arrived at least 15 minutes before the usual time," he said in almost a question as he ushered Kiara to follow him. Her brows furrowed as she walked, wondering why that was.
They walked past tables with dining couples and families. The establishment had a nature theme, with flowers and vines intertwined with the wooden beams on the ceiling. Small bouquets of carnations sat at each table, twinkle lights woven through their stems.
She felt at ease here.
The owner was a close friend of her father's, generous enough to let her hold private meetings without questions.
"Can you tell me what he looked like?" She asked as curiosity filled her. First, it was a 'he'. Second, he brought multiple pieces at full price. And third, he was early? She just wanted to know if it was the older gentleman from her past dropping by to say hello. She wouldn't put it past him.
"Isn't that unfair now, Luna?" She could picture the smirk on the younger's lips, causing her to roll her eyes.
"Whose side are you on, Eric?!" She huffed as he laughed.
"I think you'd like him," he said before slowing to a stop in front of a black door. He turned to face Kiara, pushing the door open to let her slip through. She paused, hoping he'd cave and give her anything. Even a hair color. But he didn't. Instead, he just waited patiently with a smile for her to pass.
"Screw you," she pouted as she walked past him.
He chuckled softly. "Enjoy your meal!" He let the door close, abruptly silencing the sounds from the other side. Quietness filled the air, making it heavy as her eyes connected with her guest for the night.
↣ summary :: some things are meant to stay hidden. Kiara made sure of that. But the moment Jimin steps into her life, everything starts to unravel—carefully built walls, unspoken rules, even the version of herself she swore only a select few would ever see. they clash more than they connect. push more than pull. and yet, somehow, they keep finding their way back to each other. like it was always going to happen. like it was always going to be him.
↣ rating :: 18+
↣ genre :: fluff, angst, smut, e2l, slow burn
↣ pairing :: business owner!jimin x fem!artist!oc ft. taehyung
↣ word count :: 1.5k
↣ chapter warnings :: n/a
↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢
if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, PLEASE don't hesitate to message me or send me an ask! my inbox is always open. 💖
A few blocks down, four girls stole the breath of everyone they passed. They walked as if the sidewalk belonged to them. In a city like Manhattan, only a few had it. People moved out of the way for them. Men gawked, earning sharp jabs from their partners, and girls stared, whispering to each other with envy. Here, attention was hard to steal. They were used to it. They barely noticed.
They ducked into a building at the corner. What started as a one-time karaoke night turned into a winter ritual. The four planned to sing until their vocal cords were raw. The lobby glowed in a low red light, casting everything in a quiet, romantic haze. They stood in a corner, out of the way of traffic, while one of them ran up to the counter.
“I swear to god, he's still in love with you,” Kiara told Valerie, causing the woman to huff. Valerie flipped her dark hair over her shoulder, rolling her eyes despite the smile tugging at her lips. A hint of pink crept into her cheeks.
“Why did you even break up with him?” Another girl named Samira asked. She popped her gum, blowing a bubble that took away the shine on her lips. Her button nose wrinkled, folding her arms over her chest as she leaned to the side. Her long, dark hair fell down her back.
“Because he was too boring,” Valerie whined, her full lips sticking out into a childish pout while the girls groaned audibly and rolled their eyes. “He was too stable! He had a job, a car, his own apartment….”
“Oh my god, he had a job?!” Kiara gasped dramatically, sarcasm laced in her silk voice. “And a car!? And a place to live?!” She pressed her hand to her forehead, leaning into Samira like she might faint.
Samira laughed as she held her up, ignoring Valerie's glares at the two. “God forbid you meet a stable man in New York City! The absolute horror!” She joked through giggles.
While Valerie swatted her hands at the girls, the one who ran off returned to the group. Her skin was fair, the red lights tinging her to a soft pink. Her bright eyes followed the group. Her shoulder-length black hair was tied into two low ponytails. “The room is ready!” Her sweet voice cut through the commotion of the girls, offering each of them a smile to match.
Valerie stopped her attack, throwing her arms around the girl to embrace her. “Momo! They're making fun of me!” She whined like a child while Kiara and Samira stuck their tongues at her.
“Aw,” Momo cooed as she rubbed Valerie's back. She playfully glared at the girls. “Shame on you two. You know she's not all the way there!”
Valerie gasped while pulling away from her. “Hey!” They all shared a laugh while Momo led them down the hall to one of the reserved rooms.
The women got comfortable in the room, shrugging off their winter coats and placing them on the corner of the couch. They ordered some food and drinks and sang to their heart's content. Everyone felt warm, laughing as they purposely sang songs out of tune. The drinks were strong, and none of the greasy appetizers they ordered had soaked up the alcohol. Within the hour, they were already tipsy. They took a break, collapsing onto the couch.
“You know, I met the most interesting person a couple of weeks ago,” Kiara said as she put her phone down on her lap. She stared at the ceiling, flashes of plump lips and a sculpted jawline flickering through her mind.
“Who?” Valerie asked.
“Someone to replace Taehyung?” Samira smirked as she scrolled through her phone.
Kiara glared at the girl. “No!” She leaned her head back again. “Just someone….”
“This someone had to be important for you to keep remembering them,” Momo commented, looking at Kiara.
She couldn't stop the small smile that formed on her lips, giggling softly at a joke only she knew. “He just had the shittiest pickup line I ever heard.”
“What was it?!” Samira asked, suddenly interested. “I love a corny pickup line.”
The smile on Kiara's lips grew, “He compared me to one of the pieces in this art gallery I went to, saying something about us having a beauty no one could contain.” Despite being corny, she couldn't help but find it charming.
The girls burst into laughter, clapping their hands as they fell into the couch cushions.
“Oh my god, was he like fifty?!” Valerie giggled.
Kiara shook her head, covering her mouth as she laughed. As everyone calmed down, she took a deep breath. “But he was such an ass when I rejected him.”
“How so?” Momo asked.
Kiara scrunched her face, folding her arms over her chest. “First, he called me a liar, and then he said it was a red flag for Taehyung to be late.”
“I mean, it is,” Samira mumbled, prompting a smack in the arm from Kiara.
“The point is, he couldn't take rejection! And called me a liar!” Kiara said in defense.
“Maybe he was just having a bad day,” Valerie added. Kiara shrugged. Her rejection might have been the icing on the cake for him. Not everyone was an asshole just to be one.
“In other news!” Samira shouted to fill the silence. The other three jumped slightly, but the girl paid no mind as she flung herself over Kiara's lap to meet Momo. “Let's talk, my love. So, about these colors….”
Kiara and Valerie let out a loud groan, followed by a roll of their eyes. “No wedding stuff on girls' night!” Valerie whined.
“Yeah, you promised!” Kiara added while poking at the girl's side, making her flinch.
Momo laughed at the two, eyes filled to the brim with fondness. “You did promise. And I'm not paying extra for off-hours talks.”
Samira pouted, then sighed when her half attempt of begging failed, being met with no change. “Fine,” she whined as she got up. “This is probably my favorite wedding I planned so far, and I may just be a little obsessed.”
“A lot obsessed,” Kiara said with a smirk.
Samira stared at Kiara for a moment. “You right,” she shrugged before plopping down on the couch.
“Alright! Round two!” Momo exclaimed as she grabbed the small tablet that controlled the TV.
Another hour later, they stumbled out of the establishment with a little more alcohol in their system than before. The streets had become crowded with people—some drunk, while others seemed to rush to their destination. Samira and Valerie said their goodbyes, disappearing into the sea of people as they left the two Long Island fish in the sea of city dwellers. Kiara stared down at her phone as she leaned against the brick wall. Despite being warm from the alcohol coursing in her veins, the winter wind still nipped at the bare skin between her dress and thigh-high boots. She clicked on his contact again. She placed it to her ear for the fourth time, hearing it ring before going to voicemail.
“Need a ride?” Momo asked while putting her phone to her ear.
She bit her lip for a second before sighing heavily. “Yeah,” she mumbled. “I don't know why Taehyung's not answering. He said he wasn't gonna be out late.”
Momo shrugged her shoulders. “When does he ever answer, though?” She commented before speaking to the person on the other end. Kiara huffed, looking away from the girl. She hated it when her friends were right. Sure, Taehyung had his flaws. Everyone did. No one was perfect. They didn't know the side of Taehyung she fell in love with, and they didn't have to. Though being left out in the cold was a downside. “Hobi should be here in a few minutes,” Momo said, dropping her phone back into her purse.
Kiara nodded, a weight settling in her stomach. Momo and Hoseok were the picture-perfect couple. There was something cinematic about their relationship, the kind of love that made everything around it feel softer. Anyone from miles away could take one glance and tell they had immense love for each other. Kiara wondered if people could tell that with her relationship. She hoped so, at least. Love surrounded her from all angles—her parents' relationship, her brother's, her friends'…—that Kiara couldn't help but yearn for the feeling. If she had it on paper, why did it still feel like something was missing?
As she slid into the backseat of the car, she greeted Hoseok. He handed both girls a bottle of water before driving off. She tried not to look at the couple, considering the weight hadn’t been lifted. She didn't want to see the way he looked at her. Despite how happy she was for them, she couldn't help but compare her relationship to theirs. The fact that they had been together for only two years before Hoseok popped the question, compared to her four years and counting, made her queasy. She stared out her window to distract herself. She watched the buildings passing by. Bright lights shone like the stars in the sky, reflecting off the water as they crossed over the bridge. She picked up bits and pieces of the couple's conversation as her thoughts drowned them out.
↣ summary :: some things are meant to stay hidden. Kiara made sure of that. But the moment Jimin steps into her life, everything starts to unravel—carefully built walls, unspoken rules, even the version of herself she swore only a select few would ever see. they clash more than they connect. push more than pull. and yet, somehow, they keep finding their way back to each other. like it was always going to happen. like it was always going to be him.
↣ rating :: 18+
↣ genre :: fluff, angst, smut, e2l, slow burn
↣ pairing :: business owner!jimin x fem!artist!oc ft. taehyung
↣ word count :: 2.2k
↣ chapter warnings :: mature language
↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢
if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, PLEASE don't hesitate to message me or send me an ask! my inbox is always open. 💖
“Taehyung!” Jimin called out as he saw the dark-haired man stepping out of his car. He walked toward him, Taehyung lifting a hand in greeting as they met halfway. They hugged, patting each other on the back. Taehyung had kept his word, texting him over the past few weeks. After working around their schedules, Jimin invited him out with friends. Somewhere along the way, Taehyung had gone from campus legend to a recluse.
“It's fucking freezing,” Taehyung complained as he walked alongside Jimin. He shoved his hands into his coat pockets. “Wasn't it just 70 degrees the other day?”
Jimin chuckled, the breeze biting at his neck. “You've been here for how long, and you're still not used to New York weather?” They weaved through the growing crowd. It was a Friday night, not that it made a difference for New York City. The strip of bars, clubs, and late-night food spots hummed with a rhythm Jimin adored.
“I can't deal with this place's flip-flop weather.” He huffed, slowing as they joined a short queue. “I miss California. At least there, winter was always a nice, consistent 70. Sometimes 60, but never below a damn 50.”
The blonde laughed, shaking his head as he covered his mouth. He was glad that he’d run into Taehyung at the art show. He missed him and his antics. Jimin thought about his younger friend often, but never had the time to reach out. “You have a point. Cali was like summer year-round. Have you visited recently?”
Taehyung nodded, pulling out his phone from his pocket. “Yeah, I just checked on my parents last month.”
Jimin smiled fondly, remembering Mr. and Mrs. Kim. “That's nice; what did your girlfriend think?”
“She didn't go.”
Jimin's brows furrowed. He knew it wasn’t his place. Still, it nagged at him. “How long have you been together?”
Taehyung glanced up from his phone, looking to the sky as if the dulled stars could give him the answer. “Um, two? Three years?”
Jimin's brows lowered. “You're not sure?”
“Eh, you stop counting after two anyway.” He said with a wave of his hand.
Jimin looked ahead, his jaw clenching ever so slightly. It's not your place, he thought to himself. A girl like her, and he couldn't even remember how long they'd been together? Did he even remember their anniversary? He was sure whatever Taehyung was doing kept his partner happy, even if it seemed the bare minimum. He decided not to pry any further to keep the energy high for tonight. He filled the silence between them with small talk, little nothings that the two didn't care much for.
Inside, Jimin led Taehyung through the crowd. Music and overlapping conversations filled the air. Some girls swayed in their seats, drinks hitting a little too hard, while men scanned the room for someone to take home. The blonde led him to a table further into the establishment.
“Hey!” A group of men shouted once they reached the table. A few glasses were on the table, letting the newcomers know they had started drinking without them.
“Hey, guys,” Jimin grinned as he took off his coat. “This is my friend Taehyung.” He introduced the dark-haired man as they sat in their seats. The blonde then glanced at the faces surrounding them before the corners of his lips pulled down into a frown. “Yoongi couldn't make it?”
A man with midnight locks and round-framed glasses sitting on his nose shook his head, his large hands messing with a shot glass until it fell. He startled himself, dark eyes glancing at the other men at the table to see if they noticed. “Boyfriend problems.” The table erupted in a collective sigh.
Jimin raised his hand to grab the attention of a waiter. “I swear, he needs to find someone less toxic.”
Another dark-haired man nodded, plush lips formed into a pout as he fidgeted with a napkin between his fingers. “He claims he's his muse, or whatever the fuck that means.”
Taehyung then locked eyes with the man sitting next to him. The man furrowed his brows and ruffled his short platinum hair slightly. Taehyung frowned until the other gave him a heart-shaped smile. “I knew I recognized you from somewhere!” He exclaimed, reaching out to pat him on the back. The rest of the table glanced at the two, eyebrows raised. “He's my neighbor!” He beamed.
It took a minute to hit Taehyung, but when it did, a smile grew on his lips as well. “Hoseok! Shit, it's been a minute.”
“Well, since Jimin has no home training,” the other dark-haired man said, prompting a hey from the blonde. “I'm Seokjin.”
“And I'm Namjoon.” The man with the glasses said.
“I was getting there,” Jimin grumbled, finally getting the attention of a waitress. He placed an order for the table.
“Sure, you were,” Seokjin joked with a smirk. “So, what do you do for a living, Taehyung?”
“I'm an architect,” he said as he leaned onto the table. “What about you guys?”
“I'm an accountant,” Seokjin said.
“I'm an art gallery owner,” Namjoon said, earning a nod from Taehyung.
“I work for Jimin,” Hoseok snickered while Jimin rolled his eyes. The waitress returned, placing shots, beer, and a soda in front of the men.
“We work together,” Jimin corrected, taking a swig of his beer. He playfully glared at the platinum blonde. “Besides, you were holding it down for the past year.”
“Psh, I was only reading off your text messages to the people.” He waved off Jimin, causing the man to shake his head.
While the others chuckled, Taehyung's brows furrowed as he looked at Jimin. “What exactly do you do?”
“I own a couple—”
“Four,” Hoseok cut him off with a teasing smile.
“Dance studios around Manhattan and Long Island.” Despite the interruption, Jimin continued with that playful glare in his eyes. “Hoseok and a couple of people teach the Long Island locations, and I take care of the Manhattan ones.”
“Oh wow,” Taehyung nodded. He vaguely remembered Jimin mentioning that it was his dream. How he accomplished it so soon was unbelievable.
“Cheers to that,” Seokjin said, raising his shot glass. The other three men followed while Taehyung hesitated. He glanced at Jimin, eyes drowning with uncertainty. The blonde couldn't help but smile softly, offering him a comforting nod. He clinked his glasses with them, then knocked the shot back.
Taehyung's face visibly twisted—his nose wrinkled as the corners of his mouth pushed downward. His tongue flicked out like he could shake off the taste. He couldn't remember the last time he had a drink. Maybe college? The other men chuckled at his reaction, finding him amusing. Jimin sipped his soda, watching the other men consume their alcoholic drinks.
“The first one is always bad,” Hoseok commented with a noticeable frown on his lips. “It'll start tasting like nothing soon enough.” Taehyung nodded as he called the waitress over, ordering himself some water.
“So, how are the wedding preparations?” Seokjin asked, looking at Hoseok.
The sound of Jimin choking on his soda didn't take anyone by surprise except for Taehyung. “What?! You're engaged?!” The blonde stared at the other, eyes wide and jaw dropped. Hoseok just nodded, a broad smile forming as he looked down at the table bashfully. “To Momo?” He questioned lightly.
Hoseok nodded again. “Of course, she's the love of my life.” He looked at Jimin, causing the table to erupt in awe. Taehyung glanced around for a moment before shifting in his seat.
“Congratulations!” Jimin beamed, leaning back into his seat. “Damn, you leave for a year and miss everything.”
“I got the video of the proposal if you want to see it,” Namjoon offered as he pulled out his phone. Jimin leaned over to Namjoon so enthusiastically that he practically knocked over his drink.
“I really thought we weren't going to make it for a second,” Hoseok admitted, hearing the memories playing from Namjoon's phone. “Jin honestly saved us.”
Taehyung tilted his head as he picked at the fries the group had ordered. “What do you mean?”
Seokjin leaned back in his seat, taking a sip of his beer. “I'm like the relationship guru of the group.” He lifted his left hand, a silver band glimmering on his ring finger. “Happily married, fifteen years strong.” The smile that formed on his lips was genuine, almost prideful.
Now, Taehyung choked on his drink, catching the group's attention. Their conversation slowed as they watched him closely, ready to help. He swallowed hard, a gulp of air going down his esophagus along with the water, and it put an ache in his chest. “Fifteen years?” He repeated, eyes wide as Seokjin nodded. “And you're how old?”
“Thirty-three.”
“Holy shit.” He stared down at the table, hand running through his dark hair as he did the math. “So right out of high school….” He chewed on the inside of his cheek as disbelief clouded his mind.
“How's the wife anyway?” Jimin asked with a smile. He was so happy that his friends had found love, healthy love at that. He wanted nothing but the best for them.
“Amazing and pregnant,” he grinned.
Jimin and Namjoon shared a gasp. “Congrats!” The blonde said, causing everyone but Taehyung to cheer quietly.
Seokjin raised his hands, silently telling the men to stop. “Thank you. She's almost out of the first trimester.”
“Are you having a baby shower or a gender reveal?” Hoseok asked.
Seokjin shrugged, smiling to himself as he thought. “I don't know; I wouldn't mind doing both, though.”
“I'm sorry,” Taehyung said. Everyone looked at him while his eyes locked with Seokjin. “I know I just met you, but… within fifteen years of being committed, have you ever stepped out?”
“No.” He answered immediately. His brows lowered while looking at the dark-haired man, almost offended by his genuine question. “I never even had the thought to.”
“How?”
Hoseok, Namjoon, and Jimin all exchanged the same look with each other before looking to Seokjin for his answer.
“How?” Seokjin repeated as he sat up. “Because I love her. And I will love her until the earth's end. We choose each other. Every day.” His stare hardened. “Are you in a relationship?”
Taehyung suddenly felt small under Seokjin's gaze. “Yeah…,” he said quietly.
“And you're actively choosing her?” He asked with a raised brow. Taehyung looked at him for a moment as if he had suddenly frozen. His gaze lowered toward the table as he nodded. “Then you have nothing to worry about.”
“Shit, and I thought I was just here to get drunk,” Namjoon mumbled, causing everyone to laugh off the tension. Jimin looked at his old friend, watching as he fiddled with his fingers. The blonde wondered why he would ask that. Why would that thought cross his mind and leave his lips without hesitation?
“So!” Hoseok looked at Jimin. His energy practically screamed out at him to be saved, and he knew how to cheer him up. “Do you wanna hear from the Jung wedding chronicles?” Jimin's eyes finally met as he nodded, the corners of his lips tugging into a small smile. “We finally found a place after weeks of traveling between three. And now, it's the best part. Colors.”
Seokjin laughed wholeheartedly while the other two men looked confused. “Lemme guess, your living room looks like the inside of a Home Depot paint section.”
Hoseok groaned loudly, shutting his eyes as he fell back into his seat. “Yes, oh my god. I swear, girls have some kind of super eyesight because she showed me three blue swatches and said they were different colors!” The group laughed at his frustration, but Taehyung only let out an uncomfortable chuckle. “I love the woman to death, but I swear I'm gonna lose my mind doing this. She cares so much about every little detail, and I'm just happy to be marrying the love of my life.”
“Ew,” Jimin chimed in as he sipped his drink. He grinned, scrunching his nose up slightly. “You're so in love; it's gross.”
“Too gross for you to be a groomsman?” Hoseok asked, quirking a brow while smirking.
Jimin's eyes lit up, though he tried to feign a grimace. “Ugh, of course, I would love to be one. Are you kidding?”
Taehyung suddenly stood up, causing everyone to look at him. “I gotta go.”
Jimin furrowed his brows. They've only been here briefly; if he remembered correctly, Taehyung said he could hang out until late. “Where are you going?”
“I just, um….” He stuttered, trying to find a reason besides not wanting to sit at a table full of married people. Happily, married people. He pulled out his phone, seeing a text notification on his Lock Screen. “Kiara needs me to pick her up.” He gave Jimin a half smile while Hoseok furrowed his brows and glanced at his phone. Taehyung looked at the rest of the table. “It was nice meeting you all. I hope we can hang out again soon.” He nodded and walked away.
Once Taehyung left, the tension in the air finally dissipated. Everyone's shoulders relaxed as they exchanged the same look of awkwardness. That same heaviness from earlier reappeared in Jimin's chest, and he had to sit with it, knowing that a glass of soda wouldn’t drown out anything.
Namjoon cleared his throat. He was quiet most of the night for a reason. “He's a little…, odd.” He said slowly, choosing his words lightly.
“Yeah,” the rest of them said in unison. Jimin and Hoseok shared a look, speaking silently. Hoseok shook his head as he looked at his phone again.
“Well,” Seokjin clapped his hands together before calling for the waitress, “another round!”
When you heed all the advice about avoiding the overuse of the word 'was', and then you read an award-winning novel by a renowned author and the word is peppered through paragraph after paragraph like buckshot in a poacher's arse cheek.
↣ summary :: some things are meant to stay hidden. Kiara made sure of that. But the moment Jimin steps into her life, everything starts to unravel—carefully built walls, unspoken rules, even the version of herself she swore only a select few would ever see. they clash more than they connect. push more than pull. and yet, somehow, they keep finding their way back to each other. like it was always going to happen. like it was always going to be him.
↣ rating :: 18+
↣ genre :: fluff, angst, smut, e2l, slow burn
↣ pairing :: business owner!jimin x fem!artist!oc ft. taehyung
↣ word count :: 2.2k
↣ chapter warnings :: public displays of affection (PDA), mature language
↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢
if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, PLEASE don't hesitate to message me or send me an ask! my inbox is always open. 💖
His voice—low and smooth—cut through her irritation, melting it almost instantly. He stepped beside her, his large hand settling at her lower back as he pressed a kiss to her temple. “I'm sorry I'm late.”
The blonde looked over him; his tan skin, dark waves, and a clean turtleneck under a long coat seemed almost familiar. Something about him clicked, and recognition followed a second later. “Well, if it isn't, Mr. Kim?” He smiled widely, glancing up at the slightly taller man.
Taehyung's brows furrowed momentarily before grinning. “Holy shit, Park Jimin!” He stepped forward, leaving Kiara's side to wrap his arms around the blonde. “What are you doing here?” He asked as he pulled away from the man. “I didn’t peg you for the art type.”
He chuckled softly, sliding his hands into his pants pockets. “Yeah, I have been for a while now. After Spain, I got into it more,” he grinned.
Taehyung's jaw clenched briefly, his smile slipping for a moment. Of course. Jimin always found a way to slip in his accomplishments. To think some things would’ve changed with age. “Ah, yeah,” he responded coolly, “I forgot you traveled there. How was it?”
Jimin shrugged again. “It was Spain,” he said, glazing over the topic. “But me and—shit, I'm sorry.” His attention shifted from Taehyung to the woman. “I never asked for your name.”
“I'm Kiara.” She clasped her hands together, watching them.
“Kiara,” Jimin repeated to himself, his eyes trailing down her appearance briefly. He tried to pin the name to the face, especially if she was Taehyung's. His eyes finally returned to the other man. “Kiara and I were discussing some of the pieces earlier. I've been a huge fan of Luna for years now.” He kept his tone casual, even as excitement flickered beneath it. He was among the first few to learn about the mysterious artist who abruptly appeared on the scene. Everyone wanted one of their pieces overnight, and Jimin was obviously at the very top of that list. Every brushstroke left a paragraph, speaking a language only artists could understand.
“Getting in here was a complete nightmare,” he chuckled, a faint flush spreading over his cheeks. Luckily for him, he was able to pull a few strings. A few phone calls here, some embarrassing promises there, and he was in. “Totally worth it, though.”
Kiara couldn't help the smile that tugged at her lips as she eyed the man. Taehyung smirked, something almost smug in it, as he tilted his head slightly to the side. “Oh, you don't say?” For once in the pair's life, it felt like Taehyung had a one-up on Jimin. “How does it feel to—”
“My love,” Kiara interjected, her voice sweet—but edged—as she placed her hand on Taehyung's chest. The way she looked at him was soft and intimate. He chewed on his lower lip gently. He barely knew this woman, but why did he want her to look at him like that? “I have to talk to you about something.”
Taehyung stared at his partner with furrowed brows before looking at Jimin. “Um, alright. I'll catch up with you later then.”
She looked at Jimin, and that love disappeared quickly. A look like that was only reserved for Taehyung, making a heaviness grow in his abdomen. “If you would excuse us.”
The blonde couldn't seem to pull his eyes away from Kiara. “Of course,” he finally said, grinning at the man. “Don't be a stranger!”
The two waved at each other before Kiara led him away. Her arm wrapped around his, holding him close to her. She glanced back at Jimin one last time before pulling Taehyung to a quiet section of the event. He leaned against the pillar while Kiara stood before him, gazing up at him.
“Why did you cut me off?” Taehyung asked, keeping his voice calm.
“Because you almost name-dropped me,” she said, her arms folding over her chest.
He blinked, lips parting slightly before a sheepish smile took over. “You're right. I'm sorry. I completely forgot for a second. Hard not to brag about you when you look like that.” He reached out and touched her waist, pulling her into him.
She couldn't stop her lips from forming a smile as he buried his face into her neck. She giggled quietly, placing her hands on his chest. “Stop it,” she whined, despite wanting the complete opposite.
Taehyung inhaled deeply, the notes of her sweet perfume entering his nostrils. “Mm, and you're wearing my favorite perfume too?” He murmured against her skin, lips brushing along her neck. His grip tightened a little, pulling her closer. “You just wanted me to be on you.”
The girl laughed before gasping when she felt his large hand fully palm her ass. She pulled away from him just enough to smack his chest lightly. “We're in public!”
His eyes locked with hers, with a smirk playing on his lips. “So?” He questioned as he was already pulling her back in, his lips finding her neck again. “No one's looking anyway. They're too distracted by your beautiful art.”
He continued until he reached her favorite spot, a moan parting from her smiling lips. His hands couldn't get enough of her, feeling her up as if it were the first time. Kiara's eyes fluttered shut, biting back moans that wanted to escape her mouth as she wrapped her arms around his neck. His hands trailed up her back, feeling the smooth fabric of her dress while he fiddled with her zipper. “Taehyung,” she breathed—half protest, half plea. It started to feel so good that the world began to melt away. “Someone will see.”
Someone cleared their throat. “That's true.”
Kiara's eyes shot open, quickly pushing the man in the midst of giving her a hickey away from her. He groaned as his back hit the pillar wall while she turned around. Her cheeks flushed with heat, embarrassment promptly replacing the arousal. She saw familiar ice-blue eyes playfully glaring at her. The petite woman pushed her long, ginger hair off her shoulders as she cocked an eyebrow at the two—disapproval flooding her features.
Taehyung rolled his eyes. “Hello, Aimee,” he said, greeting the woman for both of them.
Aimee huffed, glancing at the man. “Taehyung.”
He stood up from the wall, kissing Kiara's temple. “Lemme get us something to drink.” He shot one last glare at Aimee before walking off.
Aimee shook her head. “I don't know how you put up with him and all the PDA.” She grumbled, her heavy New Jersey accent ringing through Kiara's ears while she glared a hole into the back of Taehyung's head.
Kiara straightened out the smooth material of her dress. “You get used to it,” she smiled softly to herself. “Plus, I kinda like it.”
“Ugh,” Aimee rolled her eyes as she folded her arms over her chest. “Seems like he'd fuck ya right there with an audience.” The girl pointed her index finger to her open mouth, making a gagging sound while Kiara laughed.
“You're so dramatic,” Kiara smiled while shaking her head. “But what's up? Is everything going OK?” Aimee was at every event Kiara held. She was her art dealer, providing guests with the information needed to purchase a piece. She would only come up to the artist if something were awry.
“Oh! Everything is fucking fantastic, honestly.” Her eyes lit up with excitement as she bounced on the balls of her heels. “I think this might be your best collection yet.”
Kiara sighed in relief, placing her hand on her chest as it fell. “Thank you. If we can get everything sold tonight, I'll be set.” Aimee looked at the girl, her brows furrowing momentarily before releasing. “Taehyung and I have been looking for a bigger place.”
Aimee's lips turned down into a slight frown. “A bigger house? Has he even talked about getting a ring yet?”
Kiara's shoulders dropped, her hand pinching and rubbing at her fingers. She sounded just like her best friends and every other friend in Kiara's life. “I know,” she sighed. She glanced down at her left hand, where her ring finger was aching to be adorned with something. “It's so backward, but a one-bedroom isn't enough. He needs an office for work. So, I'm hoping the ring will come soon after once we settle into a new place.”
She looked at the girl, a sad smile replacing her frown. “Well, it's only been four years, right?”
Only. That word echoed in her head.
Only been for years.
Only just moved in with each other.
Only just started dating.
The word was growing tiresome, especially in the conversations about Taehyung. Everyone had an opinion about her and her relationship, but no one dared to say anything straightforward about it. She was sick of only.
Kiara nodded slowly, which only caused Aimee to sigh. “He'll come around, doll, don't stress it.” She assured with a soft smile, gently patting the woman's shoulder. “Lemme get back to my job so you can get that house.” After Kiara gave Aimee a small smile, she walked off. She almost bumped into Taehyung on the way out, the two quietly cursing at each other before continuing their path.
He returned to Kiara with a smile, handing her a glass of champagne. “All good news?”
She grinned at the man, feeling warm despite not sipping her drink yet. “Amazing news.”
As the night continued, the two walked around together. Taehyung always managed to keep some form of contact with Kiara—whether it was his hand resting at her lower back or her hand swallowed in his. She adored this. It made her feel safe and wanted. Like everyone needed to know she was his. As if a shiny diamond ring resting upon her left finger wouldn't have done the same. Taehyung struck up conversations with random people, small-talking with them like the extrovert he was.
Kiara let her attention drift, eyes wandering as the conversations became blurred into background noise. Every time, she found him. The blonde. Watching.
Their eyes lingered longer than was appropriate. Why was he looking at me? She thought while she fidgeted with her fingers. Or was he staring at Taehyung?
“Love,” she said as she turned her gaze to Taehyung. He has just finished a conversation with an elderly couple. “How long have you known Jimin?”
“We grew up together and were best friends.”
The girl's eyes went wide. Despite four years together, Taehyung rarely talked about anything before his college years. It was optional to dwell on past things, even though Kiara would've loved to know everything, from how he scraped his knees while learning to ride a bike to his first love.
“We even went to college together, out here,” he continued. “But our crowds were completely different. He got along with the nepo babies since he basically is one, and I got along with the art kids. I remember us bumping heads quite a bit.” He let out an amused chuckle.
“Oh,” she frowned slightly.
“Like he didn't have to brag about going to Spain,” he blurted out. “Not all of us can drop our responsibilities and take off on vacation for a year.”
“A year?!” She repeated as her jaw dropped.
“Mhm, basically had his parents pay for the whole trip.” There was a fire behind his words. He's been tight-lipped about his friendship with Jimin, and finally, it felt amazing to let it out. “I'm surprised he's not rotting from the inside out.”
Kiara pouted a bit, never hearing Taehyung speak so harshly about another. “Well, maybe it was a birthday gift?” The blonde couldn't be that bad, even if she got a taste of that quick-witted mouth earlier. He could've just been having a bad day after all.
“He left in February, babe, and his birthday is in October.”
Her mouth formed a small o before she chewed on her lower lip gently. “So, you're not gonna catch up with him?”
He looked ahead before glancing down at the girl. “I am,” he said with a shrug, “I would rather hang out with a nepo baby than my coworkers.” Kiara let out a half-hearted snicker as he pressed a kiss to her temple. “It would be a good opportunity to get out of the house since someone says I need to make friends.”
“You do!” She looked at him, brows furrowed and nose slightly scrunched. “I feel bad leaving you home every girls' night. I want to know you're having fun and not rewatching the same three movies.”
“They're good movies!” He argued with a smile as the girl shot him a glare. “But I hear you,” she stretched out the last syllable as he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. “So, I will try for you, OK?”
The girl smiled, leaning up to touch their lips together briefly. “Thank you.” She hoped they could work past their differences and become friends. She knew the man wanted to go out and experience things, but he longed for a set group to do that with. Rekindling something old always felt easier than starting fresh.
↣ summary :: some things are meant to stay hidden. Kiara made sure of that. But the moment Jimin steps into her life, everything starts to unravel—carefully built walls, unspoken rules, even the version of herself she swore only a select few would ever see. they clash more than they connect. push more than pull. and yet, somehow, they keep finding their way back to each other. like it was always going to happen. like it was always going to be him.
as someone who is employed (against her will but who isn't HA) I have such a love hate relationship with super long fics/chapters.
like I REALLY want to read, but sometimes a girl is too tired after work to devour a 25k word fic
or if I do start I can't finish it and bc it's tumblr it's not gonna save the exact spot you're reading
sometimes I wish I could go back to middle school/high school days where I could stay up until 3am reading fanfic and go to school in 4hrs just to come home and repeat the process
Zoom In, Don’t Glaze Over: How to Describe Appearance Without Losing the Plot
You’ve met her before. The girl with “flowing ebony hair,” “emerald eyes,” and “lips like rose petals.” Or him, with “chiseled jawlines,” “stormy gray eyes,” and “shoulders like a Greek statue.”
We don’t know them.
We’ve just met their tropes.
Describing physical appearance is one of the trickiest — and most overdone — parts of character writing. It’s tempting to reach for shorthand: hair color, eye color, maybe a quick body scan. But if we want a reader to see someone — to feel the charge in the air when they enter a room — we need to stop writing mannequins and start writing people.
So let’s get granular. Here’s how to write physical appearance in a way that’s textured, meaningful, and deeply character-driven.
1. Hair: It’s About Story, Texture, and Care
Hair says a lot — not just about genetics, but about choices. Does your character tame it? Let it run wild? Is it dyed, greying, braided, buzzed, or piled on top of her head in a hurry?
Good hair description considers:
Texture (fine, coiled, wiry, limp, soft)
Context (windblown, sweat-damp, scorched by bleach)
Emotion (does she twist it when nervous? Is he ashamed of losing it?)
Flat: “Her long brown hair framed her face.”
Better: “Her ponytail was too tight, the kind that whispered of control issues and caffeine-fueled 4 a.m. library shifts.”
You don’t need to romanticise it. You need to make it feel real.
2. Eyes: Less Color, More Connection
We get it: her eyes are violet. Cool. But that doesn’t tell us much.
Instead of focusing solely on eye color, think about:
What the eyes do (do they dart, linger, harden?)
What others feel under them (seen, judged, safe?)
The surrounding features (dark circles, crow’s feet, smudged mascara)
Flat: “His piercing blue eyes locked on hers.”
Better: “His gaze was the kind that looked through you — like it had already weighed your worth and moved on.”
You’re not describing a passport photo. You’re describing what it feels like to be seen by them.
3. Facial Features: Use Contrast and Texture
Faces are not symmetrical ovals with random features. They’re full of tension, softness, age, emotion, and life.
Things to look for:
Asymmetry and character (a crooked nose, a scar)
Expression patterns (smiling without the eyes, habitual frowns)
Evidence of lifestyle (laugh lines, sun spots, stress acne)
Flat: “She had a delicate face.”
Better: “There was something unfinished about her face — as if her cheekbones hadn’t quite agreed on where to settle, and her mouth always seemed on the verge of disagreement.”
Let the face be a map of experience.
4. Bodies: Movement > Measurement
Forget dress sizes and six packs. Think about how bodies occupy space. How do they move? What are they hiding or showing? How do they wear their clothes — or how do the clothes wear them?
Ask:
What do others notice first? (a presence, a posture, a sound?)
How does their body express emotion? (do they go rigid, fold inwards, puff up?)
Flat: “He was tall and muscular.”
Better: “He had the kind of height that made ceilings nervous — but he moved like he was trying not to take up too much space.”
Describing someone’s body isn’t about cataloguing. It’s about showing how they exist in the world.
5. Let Emotion Tint the Lens
Who’s doing the describing? A lover? An enemy? A tired narrator? The emotional lens will shape what’s noticed and how it’s described.
In love: The chipped tooth becomes charming.
In rivalry: The smirk becomes smug.
In mourning: The face becomes blurred with memory.
Same person. Different lens. Different description.
6. Specificity is Your Superpower
Generic description = generic character. One well-chosen detail creates intimacy. Let us feel the scratch of their scarf, the clink of her earrings, the smudge of ink on their fingertips.
Examples:
“He had a habit of adjusting his collar when he lied — always clockwise, always twice.”
“Her nail polish was always chipped, but never accidentally.”
Make the reader feel like they’re the only one close enough to notice.
Describing appearance isn’t just about what your character looks like. It’s about what their appearance says — about how they move through the world, how others see them, and how they see themselves.
Zoom in on the details that matter. Skip the clichés. Let each description carry weight, story, and emotion. Because you’re not building paper dolls. You’re building people.
↣ summary :: some things are meant to stay hidden. Kiara made sure of that. But the moment Jimin steps into her life, everything starts to unravel—carefully built walls, unspoken rules, even the version of herself she swore only a select few would ever see. they clash more than they connect. push more than pull. and yet, somehow, they keep finding their way back to each other. like it was always going to happen. like it was always going to be him.
↣ rating :: 18+
↣ genre :: fluff, angst, smut, e2l, slow burn
↣ pairing :: business owner!jimin x fem!artist!oc ft. taehyung
↣ word count :: 967
↣ chapter warnings :: n/a
↣ next :: previous :: series m.list ↢
if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, PLEASE don't hesitate to message me or send me an ask! my inbox is always open. 💖
ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀ
The low hum of conversations blended with soft Lo-Fi beats, glasses clinking somewhere in the background. Kiara barely noticed any of it. Her attention was fixed on the painting before her.
Two separate canvases were placed at equal heights. One burst with color—light pastels bleeding into each other. The other was darker—shades of shadows crept over to the light like it wanted to consume it. How selfish, as if the darkness didn’t have a whole canvas to itself.
Kiara lifted her glass of bubbly gold, taking a slow sip. It did very little to appease the nerves clinging to her like a child desperately needing attention, but it did drown out the low mumbles of the crowd that surrounded her. And that’s all she needed—just a little quiet.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
The voice came from her side, smooth enough to slip past her guard. She turned towards it, slightly startled. A man stood beside her. Blonde hair with darker roots styled meticulously to look effortless. Sharp features that looked soft at the same time, almost too precise to be accidental. And a gaze from warm eyes that lingered a second too long.
Kiara hummed in agreement, turning back to the painting.
“It’s rare,” he continued, taking half a step towards her, “to find someone who could capture so much without saying anything at all.”
His voice was calming—delicate yet with enough depth to stir something inside of her. She followed his train of thought until…
“It’s almost godly.”
Kiara had to press her lips into a tight line to stifle back a laugh.
“But you know what you and this painting have in common?”
She lifted her glass to her lips, attempting to swallow the laugh that almost escaped. She glanced at him, raising an eyebrow slightly as if to urge him to continue.
“You and this painting are both crafted with the same care.”
She couldn’t save herself this time. She almost spat out her drink before quickly turning to the side to hide her silent fit of laughter behind her hand.
Once she swallowed the liquid, she turned to face him completely. She took a moment to look over his appearance—well-dressed, wearing a black blazer, white crew neck underneath, and dark-wash skinny jeans. Silver earrings dangled from his earlobes to match the silver chain around his neck and the wristwatch.
“You disagree?” He asked.
“I think you’re laying it on thick for someone you just met,” a grin growing on her full, glossed lips. Her voice was nothing he expected—light and smooth like silk fabric, but her accent was hard like a concrete wall. She was either from Queens or Brooklyn, syllables being dropped or stretched at a whim. Something about the way her words blended was incredibly sexy.
The man quirked a brow, intrigued as the corner of his full lips pulled into a half smile. “You tryna say I'm out of practice?”
“Precisely.” She answered quickly and confidently as she gazed up at him. “I expect that kind of line from someone twice your age.”
“Well, ouch.” He chuckled, tongue poking at the inside of his cheek as his eyes glanced downward at the girl. “My job requires me to be blunt, so I call it like I see it.”
“And you see me as…?” Big, round eyes stared up at him with curiosity flickering in her gold irises.
He grabbed a glass off the tray of a passing waiter. “Better than the painting,” he said with no hesitation.
Kiara let out a soft scoff. “Thank you, but that's not as much of a compliment as you may think.” She spun on her heels, walking away.
He quickly followed, catching up in a few steps to join her by her side. “Then enlighten me.”
She paused at another piece, swirling her drink. “Beauty fades. Trends change.” She looked at him once again. “If you really want to impress someone… compliment the things you can’t see.”
For a moment, he just looked at her. Then he nodded. “Noted.” A small smile pulled at his lips, “And to think I almost missed how intelligent you are.”
This time her smile was genuine. “Careful. You’re improving.”
The man stayed by her side as Kiara floated, speaking freely about whatever piece they stopped in front of without hesitation. And she listened, quietly amused.
Unfiltered and unbiased.
Because he had no idea he was standing next to the artist. No one did. Not here. Every signature in the room carried the same name: Luna.
Faceless and untouchable.
Safe.
Exactly how Kiara intended to keep it.
“I was wondering,” he said after a while, glancing down at her, “if you would like to accompany me to lunch tomorrow.” The man asked at their fourth or so painting.
“I see you don't waste any time.”
“Correct. Time is limited, after all.”
She looked up at him; his perfect lips pulled into a soft smile. She caught her lip between her teeth.
Maybe in another lifetime.
“Flattered, but I can't.”
His brows furrowed. “May I ask why?”
“I have a boyfriend,” she said with a wide smile.
The scoff came fast, causing Kiara to tilt her head to the side slightly. “I haven't seen anyone on your arm the whole night.”
He hated lies.
Her smile didn’t falter. “He's just late.”
He hated excuses more.
“Tsk,” he shook his head before downing his drink. “Committed to a man with no time management? Red flag.”
“And somehow that's better than a man who can't take rejection?” She shot back.
A flicker of something passed through his expression—amusement, maybe.
“Oh, I can take rejection,” he stated with a chuckle as he put his glass down. “Just not when I’m lied to.
