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I got into the car and Taehyung instantly shoved a paper bag towards me. "Breakfast!" He chimed lightly, a smile playing on his lips and I take it.

"Thanks." I chuckle as I wore my seatbelt.

"Look, Areum." Taehyung breathed out as he looked at me. "I'm sorry for yesterday. I shouldn't have lashed out like that." The corner of his lip lifted into an apologetic smile.

"It's okay," I nodded, trying to assure him. "Let's forget about it, okay?" I said and he smiled in response, reaching out for my hand and giving it a quick peck.

I ate during the entire car ride with Taehyung ranting to me about his colleagues at work and I couldn't help but laugh.

"So you find this funny?" He said with amusement as he gave a quick glance my way.

"No!" I laughed, covering my mouth as I ate. "I just think you're really cute when you're all frustrated." I said and he chuckled, shaking his head.

"Well, too bad we're here. You can't laugh at my misery anymore." Taehyung said as he looked at me and I giggled, getting out of the car.

I leaned in through his window, giving him a quick peck on the lips. "Oh, and I may be a little late today. I'm meeting with the lawyer." He said, his bottom lip perking out into a tiny pout.

"You know if it's too much trouble, I can just get a cab home." I said and he instantly shook his head.

"No, no, no." He waved his finger in front of me. "I'll be here after your class, okay?" Taehyung looked at me with a nod and I simply mirror his actions.

I bid him goodbye and made my way to the lecture hall, wishing that I hadn't missed out much from yesterday's class. It was weird, being in a new class environment, not really familiar with everyone.

I sat in class and it goes by quicker than usual, mainly because I was trying to catch up with my missed syllabus.

Before I knew it, the class dispersed and I was now walking down the campus, waiting for Taehyung's arrival.

As I strolled down the pathway, someone catches my eye. "Nani!" I tried calling out to her but she doesn't hear me. "Nani!" I yelled a little louder, trying to get her attention but I still didn't manage to get her attention.

I tried jogging my way up to her, eyes fixated onto her form entering the building. I wanted to talk to her and try to explain myself at least.

Not being aware of my surroundings, I run into someone and a pile of books slam itself into my chest.

"Ow!" I fall to my knees with the books clattering to the ground, feeling an excruciating pain course through my body.

"Areum!" The voice called out as a form bends over to face me. "I'm so sorry, I didn't see you. Are you okay?" And I looked up at the male, my vision blurred with pain and tears.

"It's okay," I groaned as I crouched lower. "I just need a second." I breathed out, waiting for the pain to subside but it didn't.

"I'm so sorry." Jaesun repeated. "Are you okay?" His hand reaches for me waist as he made sure I didn't fall over.

"Give me a second," I say, each breath causing a blinding pain to pierce through my chest. I feel my phone buzz but I didn't have the strength to answer it.

"Did I walk into you that hard?" Jaesun asked, a little confused as he stared at me with worry.

"No." I finally straighten my back, "I was in a car accident," I sucked in another shallow breath, the pain still throbbing. "So I'm still sore." I manage to speak out and his eyes widened.

"Are you going to be okay?" He asked as he sees me struggle to move. He slowly helped me up, holding onto me firmly as he stared into my eyes, checking to see if I was okay.

"Mmhmm, don't worry I-" and before I could finish, a loud voice boomed, interrupting me.

"What the hell's going on?" Taehyung growled at Jaesun, staring at his hands on my waist.

"Taehyung," I said but not leaving me a chance to explain, his large hands shove Jaesun to the ground.

"What did you do, huh?" Taehyung hissed, grabbing Jaesun by his shirt and lifting him up.

"Taehyung, that's enough." My voice raised a little but it was pointless as my words landed onto deaf ears.

"Nothing!" Jaesun shrunk back, "it was just-" and Jaesun was stopped the moment Taehyung's fist cracked across his jaw.

"Taehyung!" I screamed, rushing to him, ignoring the pain that stung through my chest. "Stop it!" I yelled, holding onto Taehyung's arm as he stared at Jaesun intently.

"Stay the hell away." He let out, low and menacingly and with that he released his grip, allowing Jaesun to fall to the ground.

I remained frozen, staring at Taehyung, being completely shocked with his sudden violent outburst. I've never seen this side of him.

With the lick of his lips, Taehyung walked a few steps away as though to cool down. He ran his fingers through his hair as he threw his head back, taking in deep breaths.

"Oh my God, Jaesun." I rushed towards him, a little blood trickling from the corner if his lips.

"It's fine," he waved me off slightly, "I'm fine." His eyes go dark and rigid as he stared at Taehyung's form.

"Areum, let's go." Taehyung let out from behind me but I ignore, trying to help Jaesun up.

"Areum, I'm fine. Go." Jaesun said and I simply nodded.

I got up, mouthing the words I'm sorry as I walked towards Taehyung.

He walked ahead of me, reaching the car first and as I prepared to lash out, he turned around with eyes that were at the brink of breaking.

It renders me speechless for a second as I stared at him and his emotional state that was everywhere.

"I thought the both of you weren't speaking," he finally spoke out, rubbing his face in an attempt to relief his frustration.

"We aren't." My voice raised a little, "I bumped into him. That's it." I tried explaining but he shakes his head.

"Bullshit," he closed his eyes as he tried calming down, chest heaving with deep breaths.

"Taehyung!" I walked closer to him, trying to get him to look at me. "There's nothing going on between him and I." I said but his eyes remained shut as he massaged his temples.

"I bumped into him and he tried helping me when I was in pain. That's all. You didn't have to hit him for that." I yelled slightly and he moved away from me, getting into his car.

He waited for me to get in too, drumming his fingers onto the steering wheel.

"I'm getting a cab." I said through the window as I waited by the roadside.

"You're never going to get one here, get in the car, Areum." He doesn't pass me a glance, his eyes fixed to the windshield.

"I'm not getting in after what you did." I crossed my arms over my chest, standing my ground as I waited for him to drive off.

"Get in the damn car, Areum!" His voice rose slightly as he got out the car, standing in front of me.

"Or what? You're gonna hit me too?" I narrowed my eyes at him, feeling anger build up within me.

He coughed out a scoff, raking his fingers through his hair as he paced to and fro. "What am I supposed to think, huh?" Taehyung finally locked his gaze with me.

"First you dream about him and then there was yesterday. Now I see him touching you." His face scrunched up as he growled through those words. "What did you expect me to do?"

"I expect you to trust me, Taehyung. And not go hitting everyone just because." I let out and he clenched his jaw, still shaking his head.

"You trust me, don't you?" I asked, my heart now pounding against my chest as I waited for him to answer.

"Just get in the car, Areum." He groaned a little walking back to the car but I grab him.

"So all it took was just one dream for you to lose your trust in me?" Now I feel my eyes sting, "that's how much faith you had in me in the first place?" I questioned but he remained quiet.

"I'm not her." I say, talking about the girl he had before Aera. "I'm not Aera as well." I shook my head. "I have never and will never lie to you, about anything." For some reason, a tear rolls down my cheek.

Arguments with Taehyung weren't something I was used to.

"Areum, get in the car." He sighed and the moment I realised he didn't trust me, another tear made its presence known by dripping down my face.

"No," I breathed out. "You've gone too far today, Taehyung." I wiped my cheeks dry, "I'm not getting in the car with you."

"Fine," Taehyung shrugged, throwing his hands up. He walked up next to me and slumped onto the ground. "We're staying here then." He sat on the curb, arms crossed and brows furrowed.

I stared at him next to me and sighed, sitting next to him as I realised we'd be here a while. I couldn't stand any longer, the pain in my body not allowing me to.

He threw me a glance the moment he hears me wince. "Your painkillers—"

"Shut up." I snapped, eyes focused before me and he goes silent.

Even though I was hurt, I tried thinking from Taehyung's point of view, wanting to understand him too.

I took in a deep breath after a few moments of silence. "I love you, Taehyung." I sighed, looking at him. "That's never changing." I shook my head slightly. He simply chewed onto his bottom lip, head hung low as he stared at the ground.

"I understand hurt, trust me. But you can't let that haunt you for the rest of your life." I said and a teardrop made it's way out of his eye, landing onto the ground.

I hated how what I was doing made him feel this way but I've been there, questioning everything the moment the slightest thing sets you off. Thinking if you're making the same mistakes all in the name of love, thinking if you're about to break yourself all over again.

I knew being mad at him would just make things worse at this point.

He sighed, burying his face into the palm of his hands. "Of course I trust you," he answered my previous question as he turned to face me. "It's just, when I start thinking about it, everything goes blank and I do stupid things."

"I get it." I nodded, resting my hand on his arm. This gets him to pause and look me in the eye.

"I promise to change, I just need time for that." The corner of his lips raised as he pressed his lips into a thin line.

"And I'll give you that." I nodded, stroking his arm in comfort.

"I'm sorry for hitting Jaesun." He apologised after a bit but I chuckle, lightening the mood a little.

"I mean, I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy that a little." I said and he laughed in response, drying his cheeks with the palm of his hands.

He fiddled with his fingers, staring at the ground, not really daring to meet my gaze probably because of the guilt.

I bent over a little, trying to get him to look at me and when he did, I don't feel an ounce of anger towards him. Instead, the moment his brown doe eyes meet mine, I realise just how much I love him.

This man right here who would go through so much just to make sure I was by his side, and through everything, still stuck by me. Even when things got complicated, he fought through it just so he could be by my side.

I was so helplessly in love with him, I couldn't stay mad at him even if I wanted to. I leaned in slowly, giving a quick peck on his forehead. His eyes stare deep into mine for a second and I give him a chaste kiss on his lips.

"Let's go home."

. . .

A/N: oof, that's one long ass chapter.