• it’s nice to have a friend | KANG TAEHYUN
in which two best friends fall in love with each other. and then they grow old. together.
based “on its nice to have a friend” by taylor swift
pairing: bestfriends! kang taehyun & afab reader
genre: romance, best friends to lovers, coming of age, happy ending, open ending
word count: ~12,5k
warnings: underage drinking
rating: Mature (M / 17+)
January 16th, Thursday 9 years old
The school bell rang 45 minutes ago.
She had heard her parents say this was the coldest winter ever, even though it hadn’t snowed yet. At least not until last night, when the whole town was finally covered.
Her small hands were basically blue at this point, her breath visible as she huffed, worrying about how mad her mom would be when she told her she lost her gloves. Her new gloves the ones she got not even two weeks ago!
She wandered around the school playground, trying to spot the bright orange fabric.
She was freezing and terrified. How was she supposed to go home after school and tell her mom what happened? Maybe if her dad was home, she could tell him first, and they could secretly buy new gloves. He wouldn’t be mad — he didn’t buy them, she thought.
“Hello!” a boy with a bowl cut yelled from the gym window, interrupting her thoughts. His bangs stuck to his forehead. He didn’t care that it was below freezing outside, he actually enjoyed the fresh air. “Why are you still at school?”
“Tae, I lost my gloves.” She finally let herself cry. “Ok! We’re gonna find them! Wait for me.”
There was nowhere to sit, nowhere to rest while she waited for Taehyun — her best friend and neighbor. She was so cold she didn’t even care about those stupid gloves anymore, the ones she had begged her mom to buy. Her tears fell salty and endless. The cold air made it painful to even cry.
Taehyun ran outside, wearing a long black puffer coat. His blue scarf was wrapped lazily around his neck, barely keeping him warm. Why would he care? Boys didn’t get cold! It was a daily fight with him and his mom.
“Are you not cold?” he asked.
“I am!” she almost screamed. “I lost my gloves during recess, Tae! My mom is gonna be so mad!” she explained through her tears. Taehyun found it hilarious. His hands were warm inside his red mittens.
He scooped up some snow and tossed it lightly in her direction while she stared at the ground, still looking for the gloves.
“You’re stupid! You’re not my friend anymore!” she yelled, stomping her boots as she walked away.
Taehyun just laughed, not realizing she was serious. He ran to catch up. “I’m sorry! That was mean.” His face dropped, hair still stuck to his skin. “I need to hurry home, I’ll get sick.”
She kept walking, stomping so hard she smeared the chalk drawings some kids had made on the pavement days before.
“Here, have one of my mittens. I’m a boy, we don’t get cold.” She angrily snatched it and stretched it over both hands. Not a single word. No thank you, no glance his way.
They walked home while Taehyun rambled about how he scored so many points and how Soobin got none. She was still crying, but he didn’t notice. Her head spun with worry about telling her mom, while his brain ran at a hundred miles per hour, buzzing about practice.
Behind them, the only signs left were patches of their boots in the snow and the leaves Taehyun kept pulling from a bush and throwing around. He was so annoying.
When they reached his house, she threw the mitten onto the snowy ground. “Bye. See you later.” She thought he was so stupid!
•
She held back her tears as she stepped inside.
Her mom immediately started yelling. “Where were you? School finished an hour ago! It’s freezing outside!”
And she couldn’t hold it anymore. She blurted everything out — how she thought her mom would be furious, how she searched the school grounds, how Taehyun promised to help but instead threw snow at her.
Her mom laughed. Should she be relieved? She wasn’t mad? “Sweetie, it’s okay. You’ll find them when the snow melts.” Finally, she calmed down.
•
A piece of folded paper fell onto Taehyun’s desk while he colored in his drawing book during art class.
want to play games after school?
Written in pink glittery pen. He smiled widely. She hadn’t talked to him all day, but he didn’t care. He probably hadn’t even noticed. She had gotten over her anger as soon as she fell asleep last night.
•
“Mommy?” she peeked her head into the kitchen. Her mom hummed in response.
“Can Tae come over? We want to play on my Game Boy.”
But Taehyun was already inside, hiding behind her, leaning against the wall. His hand clamped over his mouth to stifle a giggle, one foot crossed over the other. He found this so funny.
Her mom already knew. They had done this a million times at both houses. “I know he’s there, sweetie. Come on out, Tae!”
He groaned, throwing his hands up and dragging his feet into the kitchen. “How did you know?” “I always know, kids.”
•
It was almost 7:30 when Taehyun’s mom came to pick him up. After the moms finished their tea and gossip, they walked upstairs to find the two kids fast asleep under a blanket stretched across two chairs, pillows dragged from the attic. Taehyun’s hands still gripped the Game Boy tightly, the device making whimsical little noises every so often.
Her mom quietly removed the blanket and tossed it back over them.
“You can wait here, Yoonhe. I don’t think they’ll stay asleep for long,” she whispered as they left the room.
They both laughed softly.
“Can you believe we were doing this 20 years ago, and now our kids are doing the same?”
Oh, it was exactly what they had always dreamed of. Two best friends having kids who were also best friends. Pregnant at the same time, Taehyun just two days older. Living across from each other. A dream come true, built-in best friends.
And they were right. Just 20 minutes later giggles were coming from her room once again.
June 21st, Saturday 18 years old
When their parents went on their yearly vacation together, they were so excited! Freedom to do whatever they wanted. Last year had been the first year they weren’t dragged to the Jeju trip. Their younger siblings weren’t that lucky.
A year ago, Taehyun had smuggled some of his dad’s whiskey into his room and they watched stupid viral YouTube videos they grew up on and played drinking games.
They got into a big argument because what did she mean she liked Soobin? His biggest rival. Oh, how Taehyun hated Soobin.
She had stormed out of his house and cried in her bed. He texted her a quick sorry before falling asleep.
•
She and Soobin never worked out. He graduated that summer and moved to Seoul. Taehyun was happy. It only lasted two months. If that.
•
Her last alcoholic drink had been that disgusting whiskey. And the beer Soobin got her, which she hated, she never finished. But she never told Taehyun. He didn’t need to know.
They overheard from Beomgyu and Kai that they were getting peach soju, so that’s what she suggested. Taehyun disagreed. But he still got on his bike with her sitting on the handlebars, riding them down the hill to the liquor store. Just hoping they wouldn’t get asked for their IDs.
Grabbing a few soju bottles, Taehyun cheerfully greeted the old woman behind the counter. She dropped bags of snacks next to the alcohol.
Of course, they weren’t asked for their IDs. The lady couldn’t care less. Relief washed over them.
•
Taehyun carried the bags up to her parents’ room, the one with the roof window. It was way too hot to sit outside, but she didn’t want to spend time under the AC. She said it gave her a headache. He told her she was giving him a headache, but still complied.
He struggled to open the window while she dragged a small stool from her sister’s room for them to climb up.
She went first, saying she was more experienced since she did this with her dad often. Taehyun was terrified of heights, but he knew he couldn’t change her mind.
He handed her the bags of snacks and soju while staring right at her.
“Why are you such a scaredy-cat?” she giggled as she lowered the bags onto the roof. “C’mon Tae! Don’t be like this!”
He hesitated. But once he got out, he was in awe. He never knew the view was this good from up here. From their neighborhood.
“Told you!”
•
They were on their second bottle of soju at this point. The sky was perfectly pink.
“Take a picture of me, Tae!” she said as she handed him her phone.
He giggled as he instructed her on how to pose and what face to make. They didn’t care how loud they were. It wasn’t late. Barely 7 pm. He thought she was the prettiest girl he’s ever laid his eyes on.
“Okay, your turn.”
Taehyun did the same poses she had. They hadn’t laughed like this in so long.
Resting their heads on pillows, he sighed loudly.
“What?” her voice was annoyed.
“I’m so bored.”
She got up on her elbow to look at him. “Bored? With this view? How can you be bored?”
He shrugged. “You know I’m not much of an outside guy.”
And then she suggested, “20 questions. After each one, we take a shot.”
By the fifth, he suggested they go down. He was drunk and his fear was getting worse. A slanted roof wasn’t a good place to be when drunk.
Setting up a blanket tent, they threw each other onto the ground and continued. Some questions were so stupid: what’s your favorite food, what did you want to be when you were older, who was your favorite middle school teacher. But they were getting giddier and more drunk.
“My turn! Question 18.” She turned to face him again, stuffing her face with popcorn. “What’s a secret you never told anyone? Not even that purple diary you write in.”
“What!? I don’t have a purple diary!” he defended.
He lied. She had seen it in his locker a few months ago.
“You do. Now answer me.”
“Yeah.” He was so drunk at this point he didn’t care what he answered. He thought that would be enough.
“Tae! That’s not good enough!”
He rolled his eyes, his voice barely a whisper. “I never told anyone who I’m in love with.”
And she knew. Somehow, she knew. Her mind went blank.
“Interesting.”
Silence filled the room. Awful silence. Almost painful.
“Your turn.” She shut her eyes.
“Who do you like?”
Her eyes shot open. She looked scared. Her cheeks red from alcohol. Or embarrassment. Probably both.
“Tae. I don’t like anyone.” Lie. They both knew. Everyone knew they had a silly childhood crush on each other.
“And what if… what if I kissed you right now? What would you say?”
Her heart stopped beating for a second. This cannot be happening!
“Well, you used up your question. It’s my turn.” She rambled, trying to shift the conversation. “Ummm… What’s your favorite car?”
“Why are you trying to change the topic? Answer my question.” He was annoyed. His hand was inching toward her. So painfully slow it was barely noticeable.
“I did. Now it’s my turn.”
And with the mention of her name, she looked straight into his eyes.
“Answer me.”
Her voice was so quiet he could barely hear. But when Taehyun heard that small yes, he cupped her cheeks in his big hands. The kiss was slow. Both of them felt like they were flying. Hands in each other’s hair. Grabbing everything they could. And then she pulled away.
“Tae. We can’t.”
Taehyun’s gaze was almost harsh. He tried to bring her closer again, yearning for that kiss.
“Why?”
She stared. So intensely.
“Fuck it. We can.”
And she kissed him again.
May 3rd, Wednesday 22 years old
Taehyun planned everything so perfectly. Everything down to the smallest detail.
From what color she was going to do her nails. What music was going to be playing in the background. What flowers would look the best. What cologne he was going to wear. Everything! The size and shape of that pretty diamond she was going to wear on her hand.
But the scariest part wasn’t even done. Something scarier than even asking her the question.
He fixed his collar over and over again. For some reason he changed his outfit ten times. Like her dad hasn’t seen him in the most ridiculous outfits when he was 15.
He worried if his shoes matched his shirt. What belt he should put on.
Yeonjun stared at him while he spent half an hour making sure there was not a single wrinkle on his shirt. “Dude, you’re trying to impress a man you’ve known since you were a baby. He’s seen you at your worst.” And Jun was right. He always was. But this was different. So different. He wanted her dad to know this was serious for him!
He knew she wasn’t home. He made sure she wasn’t so he could do this uninterrupted. A girls’ date with their moms and sisters. Whatever that meant.
While he walked from his to her house, Taehyun’s whole body was on fire. He took a quick shot of whiskey to calm his nerves. But it didn’t work. It made it worse.
Taehyun’s shaky hand pressed the doorbell. And when he saw her dad there, his heart almost gave up. He wished it did, because this was the worst thing he ever had to do. “H-Hello!” Her dad laughed seeing him all dressed up. “Boy, what are you wearing! Job interview?”
“N-No! I have a question. Can I come in?” And her dad laughed again. Taehyun would usually come in like he lived there. He basically did.
He was sitting down with her dad. Across from him to be exact. If the world only knew how scared Taehyun was in that moment. He decided he needed to be sitting on the opposite side of her dad just in case. His dad jokingly said he should do that, but Taehyun took him seriously.
He gave him some tips on how to ask for someone’s daughter’s hand in marriage, but he wasn’t really listening.
He fiddled with his fingers and her dad put down a glass of water in front of him. “My boy, are you okay?” he asked with genuine concern. He’s never seen Taehyun this stressed. “What’s up, kid?”
And he just pulled out a small purple velvet box. Opened it and slowly slid it towards the middle of the table. “I’m h-here to ask for your daughter’s hand.”
Her dad’s eyes filled with tears. “You know, I love her more than anything in this world.” Just a simple nod. Tears now on his cheeks. Taehyun’s as well. “And it would be an honor to marry her.”
“I’ll make sure she always has everything she needs or wants. I’ll make sure she’s the happiest girl in the world.”
Without words, her dad slowly got up. Glass clinked in the kitchen. Fridge opened and closed. Taehyun was still shaking, rambling how much this would mean to him, expressing love toward his girlfriend to her dad. His eyes fixated on that box in the middle of the dinner table. Sun reflecting itself on the diamond, shining across the room.
“Welcome to the family, Taehyun.” And he downed that drink in seconds. The relief he felt was insane. He felt like he was flying. Crying now, he got up to hug her dad. “You were always part of this family, Tae.”
June 21st, Monday 22 years old
That morning was just as stressful as the day he asked her dad for her hand.
For this entire month, she noticed Taehyun acting strange. Acting so weird she thought he might break up with her. Constantly on his phone texting someone. Talking on the phone out in his backyard, leaving her alone with his family during movie nights. When asked he would claim it was Yeonjun.
But when Taehyun mentioned they could join their families in Jeju, she was now annoyed. They hadn’t been there with their families since they were 16. Their sisters as well.
Why would they want to spend their 4th anniversary with them? What’s wrong with watching Twilight for the millionth time, reciting every word like they did all the years before?
He even got both of their sisters to join. He had to pay them, though. But he didn’t care. He needed everyone there. Both families.
What she didn’t know was that Taehyun had been arranging hydrangeas and beach setup for days now. Yeonjun, future best man, making sure the violin player knew exactly when to start. Making sure the engagement dinner was perfect.
He even made sure to get to the airport after her. In case they would stop him in security. He couldn’t risk anything! Made up some stupid white lie about being held up at work.
•
Taehyun received pictures of the small beach setup. White curtains flowing in the wind with hydrangeas around it. Fabric just lightly touching the surface of the water. His stomach twisted. It’s happening.
He made their dads force both families to wear white. He needed them all in white! Nothing else! He knew she wouldn’t wear white if that wasn’t the case.
“Are the two of you ready?” Taehyun’s dad asked while they both sat on the patio, waiting for the rest of the group to join so they could finally get dinner. She nodded. But she was angry.
He forgot their anniversary! But she decided she wouldn’t be a bitch about it and ignored him all day, giving him a taste of his own medicine. “Please go to the restaurant by yourself. We’ll join you.”
Taehyun got up so swiftly. Dad’s had a mission — make everyone leave late. “Okay, babe! Let’s go.”
But she refused. Not even lifting her eyes off her phone. “Sweetie, if you don’t leave with Tae we’ll lose our reservation!” Her mom yelled from the bathroom over sounds of hair dryers.
With a sigh, she got up and walked in front of Taehyun the entire way to the restaurant. But when he grabbed her hand to detour her, she looked with sharp, angry eyes. “What the fuck are you doing, Tae?”
“We are taking a shortcut,” he explained. He dragged her to the small pathway between rocks. The entire time she complained about how she couldn’t believe he forgot their day, how annoying he was this entire trip, and asked if he wanted to end things he should’ve done it back home.
While she ranted, he didn’t listen at all. Her voice was a slight buzz in his head. The only thing he could think about was his speech. Clammy hand constantly reaching down to make sure the box was there. His throat was tight.
•
She heard it before she could see. Her favorite song. Softly playing on the violin. Her vision filled with the most beautiful sunset. Wind blowing in her hair as she walked slowly in front of Taehyun. White flower petals on the sand.
Her heart was pounding so loud she could hear it. When she reached a small platform on the water, she turned around just to see Taehyun on his knees. Her name on his lips. So careful and soft. Pink diamond on a white pillow sitting in a box he held in his hand.
“I can’t promise you the whole universe. I can’t promise you stars and moon, but I’ll keep trying until I’m able to bring them down to you. I can promise to love you forever. It’s all yours. Every day. In every way I can give you. Let me give you everything I have. The good. The bad. Everything. W-Will you marry me?”
And all she could do was sob. Staring straight into his eyes. Her knees almost giving out. She wasn’t even sure how she managed to keep standing. She just repeated yes probably hundreds of times before he got up and placed the ring on her finger. Taehyun almost dropping it in the process.
She hasn’t stopped saying yes, both of them giving each other small kisses and repeating I love yous. They were so into this moment they didn’t even see their families on the hill above the beach.
June 21st, Sunday 23 years old
As they walked down the aisle, neither of them could stop their tears. Church bells loudly announcing their marriage. Taehyun kept repeating how lucky he was as they passed the church rows before exiting to greet their families and friends for the first time as a married couple.
Rice was everywhere! Reminding her of the snow on that freezing day almost 15 years ago when she lost her orange gloves. It hadn’t really snowed that much since.
Loud cheers were deafening. Moms hugging each other, sobbing. Love radiating from them felt electric. Both dads had their suits stained with tears.
When Taehyun spun her around to proudly show off his wife, he repeated how lucky he was. Again and again. He couldn’t believe it. Everything he ever needed in the palm of his hand. His whole universe right there.
•
“Now, jump!” Taehyun exclaimed loudly, extending his arms in front of him after unlocking the front doors of their apartment. Ears still ringing from loud music. It was 7 a.m., just now coming home from their wedding party.
“Tae, no!” She giggled into his shoulder.
“It’s a tradition! We have to!” And she complied. Jumping into his arms. He kissed her forehead. For who even knows which time today, he repeated I love you to her and carried her over the threshold.
Dropping her down, he kissed her with so much love and passion. His wife. After all these years.
December 24th, Friday 25 years old
She knew something was happening to her. And it wasn’t from raw cookie dough she kept eating while Taehyun tried making cookies but she kept interrupting.
So she sneaked to the bathroom. Quietly. On her tiptoes.
Two blue lines. Staring at her. She thought she was seeing things. She took three more. Still didn’t believe it.
Until she held up one that said pregnant in big bold letters. “Oh. My. God.”
The unexplainable feeling overwhelming her. Soft sobs. Hands immediately hugging her stomach.
Fear and excitement.
When she wrapped those tests, she wondered if Taehyun would be grossed out. She wished it wasn’t Christmas Eve so she could go out and buy a cute little onesie and use that instead. To have that as one of his gifts.
But she didn’t have time. Placing them in an old phone box, she wrapped it and wrote his name on it.
•
She sat on the couch surrounded with all the gifts Taehyun got her. He insisted she had to open hers first while he watched.
But when it was his turn, she suddenly got nervous. She asked him to open that one last.
Gift wrapping paper was scattered around their living room. He grabbed his last gift and tore off paper.
“You got me… the phone I already have?” He laughed. So did she.
But when he opened the box and it fell out of his hands, the world stopped.
Hopping on his feet, he just stood in shock. Eyes lowering to look at four tests on the ground. “Are you serious?” He questioned carefully. And she nodded.
Taehyun was suddenly on his knees clutching one of the tests in front of her. “Are you actually?” His voice suddenly got so high. Almost a scream.
“Yeah. I took them this morning.” And he was kissing her. Hands on her stomach. So intimate and delicate. “We’re gonna have a baby?”
August 1st, Monday 84 years old
It’s so crazy how life works. So many ups and downs. Wins and losses.
Three kids later. Beautiful life. Filled with so much love, happiness. Smiles and laughter. Occasional tears that were inevitable.
So many firsts. So few lasts.
Taehyun never stopped loving her. She never stopped loving him.
For them, it felt like they’d have eternity. Forever with one another.
He never lost the spark in his eyes he got whenever he would look at her. He was still determined to bring down the stars and moon to her.
And one day he will. He knows he will.
Thank you for reading! Be aware english is not my first language. Proofread but if you notice any mistakes please let me know.
Any feedback is welcome :)