|51| mulan

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FutureΒ² author-nim back again! Wow, you've made it far... Maybe this story deserves votes? πŸ˜—

I lay between the sheets of my bed, my nostrils creating loud snores from the stuffed nose I've acquired in this weather, until the ringtone of my phone blares through my ear and bells me awake. I groan and answer the call blindly without checking the ID.

"Hello...?"

"Lilo!" Mina's voice shouts amongst a ruckus of background noise. "It's Boxing Day! You better get to the mall fast if you want some of these deals!"

I shift my eyes to the side lazily, curling my body over the side of my bed until I dangle upside down with a clear view of underneath the legs that support my mattress. Yep, the duffle bag of money is still there. I won't be needing shopping discounts anytime soon.

"I'm good, get some deals without me." I sit back up.

"Suit yourself!" She hangs up in a rush. I sink my head back into my pillow and groan quietly, cuddling the cushion nearest to me. I soon realize that it's not just any random cushion, but a duck plushy. The vivid memories of last night creep into my mind.

β€”FLASHBACKβ€”

I blink rapidity at the face close to mine. Soothing warm breaths blow against my nose and lips when he utters those three words.

Taehyung clears his throat and leans back, tucking one hand into his pocket and using the other to lightly pull my wrist.

"Let's go. It's getting cold and late."

...Neither of us said another word that night until we reached my house, and that was "Goodnight."

β€”END FLASHBACKβ€”

It took so long for me to sleep with those words circling around my mind.

Taehyung loves me? As in... loves me? I've never been told that before... What does that even mean?

One would think I'd know the meaning to words so simple a second grader could explain them, but hearing it from Taehyung... I just don't understand what his definition of love is...

As I scan my room I realize just how much of the stuff in here now links to Tae. The necklace on my drawer, the phone beside my head and plush cushion in my arms, the strips of photos on my desk and bag beneath my bed... What's going on? It never used to look this way.

My phone then buzzes with a text from Tye.

Tye: morning babe, how was your Christmas? x πŸ’•

Oh no... I completely forgot. Ugh, how could I allow Taehyung to kiss me when I have a boyfriend?!

I guess I'll just have to keep it a secret from Tye until further notice. At least until... I know if I love Taehyung back.

"What time is it..." I mumble to myself, rolling onto my side to check my alarm clock. 10:49 am.

I better start getting ready for work. Hopefully things won't be awkward today.

*:ο½₯゚✧*:ο½₯゚✧ ❄️

The workday runs as usual, though it was a little sad taking down the Christmas decorations. Teddy looked like she wanted to cry.

As we draw nearer to closing time, I collect dirty dishes from around the diner and pile them together, bringing the stack into the kitchen and placing them in the sink before turning the faucet.

Before I can even grab the sponge I feel two arms wrap around my waist from behind, pulling and locking around my stomach. I already know who it is judging by the fine familiar scent.

"T-Taehyung?" I whisper, "What are you doing?!"

He hums and rests the side of his head on my shoulder. I feel his shoulders shrug against the back of mine.

"I don't know... I guess I just felt like doing it."

"Well let go before someone sees us!" I quickly try to pry his arms apart. My hands pull and slip off his sleeves in failed attempts.

"Do you remember last night?" He asks quietly.

I pause to swallow the saliva building up in my throat, my eyes shifting around the water that splashes onto the stained collection of glass in the sink. As if I needed reminding. A harsh blush crosses my face when I recall his soft lips and deep maroon eyes.

Part of me is so mad that he did that. I'm so mad that he made my life more complicated, and that he's pulling my heart in a direction it shouldn't go in... But why am I so relieved that he finally did it?

His lips hover over my ear, the sound of light spit in his mouth as his lips part become loud when he whispers,

"I love you, Lilo."

My body completely freezes and lungs stop for a second.

W-why does he keep saying that...

My fists clench and teeth lock together, I inhale deeply before switching off the tap.

"What is your problem?" My voice slams with frustration,

"First you're constantly cold and secretive to me, now suddenly you love me? I don't even understand what that means coming from you. And you don't either. You don't know what love really is, do you? You're so baffling. What exactly is your end goal? What do you want from me by saying this? Let me know because I don't know what you want. I don't understand any of this."

He stares over my shoulder for a while, probably thinking deeply about my response. I soon feel his arms release my body.

"You're right... I don't know what I want either." My skin suddenly feels bare when he detaches his body. The harsh draft of the building sends chills to my skin. It's almost like I wanted him to keep holding me...

The next thing I know I spin on my heel to grab the end of Taehyung's shirt, making him freeze and stare back at me wide-eyed.

My jaw slacks a little when I take in my random action. I look into his eyes, then at my hand before retracting it. My gaze meets the floor and throat scoffs quietly.

"I'm sorry it's just... You're so confusing..." I whisper. "Why did you say it if you don't know how you feelβ€”"

"I know how I feel." He cuts me off. "I know that I have more feelings for you than the other girls. I know that I meant what I said. I just don't know what I want out of it..... But I still meant it Li. And I won't ignore what happened."

He shrinks the distance between our bodies and traces his fingertips along the back of my hand. His voice falls to a whisper and eyes pin on my lips...

"Because something tells me you love me too..."

The door chime rings from the diner entrance, causing both of our heads to turn in curiosity since the cafe is closing.

I push Taehyung's chest away and exit the kitchen to see who it is, not giving my heart a chance to calm down from the dangerously fast pacing beat.

When I enter the diner I spot a slender, dark-haired girl with brown eyes and red lipstick. Her heels confidently tap along the floor before making a stop and taking in the decor of the room. The girls and I stare at the attractive woman in confusion.

"Uh... The sign says closed." Chrys breaks the silence bluntly.

Her hands meet at her front and chin lifts, "Where is Taehyung? I am here for him."

"And you are?" I answer. She raises her eyebrows at me and smiles, "You must be new, I've never seen you here before. Cute. I'd like to know where Taehyung is."

Taehyung then enters the diner from the kitchen behind me, probably curious to see who wants him.

As soon as his eyes lock onto the girl he freezes.

"What are you doing here?" He asks angrily.

"What? I just came to talk Tae, is that so bad?"

He looks at me for only a second, orbs as hard as rocks, then approaches the girl and harshly pulls her out of the room.

"Okaaay..." Chrys eye-scrolls, "Anyone know who that is?"

"Nu-Uh." Teddy head-shakes.

"No idea." I add.

"Afraid not." Gretchen says.

"Her name's Mulan." Winter informs us, causing our heads to turn.

"I've only seen her a few times since working here. She seems to have a thing for Taehyung."

"Another girl addicted to his looks?! Ghee, how groundbreaking." Chrys gasps and holds her chest sarcastically. "That makes her the same as every other customer."

"She's not a customer... I think she's his ex-girlfriend."

....An ex-girlfriend? Taehyung?

For some unknown reason, I feel a hint of bitterness in my body when Winter says the final word. Why did the sound of Taehyung having an ex-girlfriend make me want to be sick?

I look at Gretchen who has a look similar to my own. Winter shrugs and slips her arms into the sleeves of her coat, "But I could be wrong. She'll probably disappear again anyway. No point giving her any attention."

β€”TAEHYUNG'S POVβ€”

β€”FLASHBACKβ€”

"Noooo you're doing it all wrong, it's supposed to be like this!" Mulan wails, removing blocks from the perfect Lego tower I had just built and shifting them around.

The colorful collections of plastic bricks separate us like a wall, a small hollow square in the center for me to view her features. I get off my knees and reach an arm over to retrieve back my blocks before placing them to their original spot. "Mommy said I can build them however I like."

She pouts her lip, her hair shielding the side of her face as she redirects her focus to her own tower. "Well you're mommy is poor. She doesn't know anything."

"She's not poor anymore..." I mumble. The smacks of plastic piecing together drown out my voice.

Mulan looks at me and smiles widely.

"You're going to be my boyfriend one day, you know."

"No I won't because your mean..."

Out of nowhere, her body curls over the tower and lips dart a quick peck on my cheek. I cringe and automatically begin wiping my sleeve against the side of my face.

"Gross! Why did you do that?!"

"Let's get married Taehyung."

"....What are you even saying? We are too young to get married."

"No we're not. I've seen it before on TV. We use candy rings, and say our vowels under a big tree by the playground. Taehyung, marry me or the monsters will get you."

"N-no..."

"RAHHHH I am the monster! I have come to attaaack!" Jaebum stomps over to us bowlegged with a Halloween mask hugging his face and blanket tied around his neck like as a cape. He lets out bombastic growls, kicking my tower and stepping all over the shattered bricks.

"Stop, your ruining it!" My hands tug on his cape desperately, but it does little effect. I hate being both the smallest and the youngest.

Jaebum and Mulan laugh and tease at the sight of water lining my lids, my face heats and puffs up in rage. I stand on two feet and clench my fists.

"I don't want to play anymore."

As I exit the room I hear Jaebum's whiny voice sing behind me. "Cry baby! Cry baby!"

*:ο½₯゚✧*:ο½₯゚✧ ❄️
β€”LILO'S POVβ€”

Once I leave the changing room, I cut through the dark and empty diner to and begin my journey home. The moment I exit the cafe a hand pulls me aside. My head whips back to reveal the girl from earlier, Mulan.

"I don't think we've properly met. Lilo right?" She holds out a hand friendly. My eyes absorb her features, slowly reaching out my hand and shaking hers.

"Yeah... And you're Mulan." The question comes across more like a statement.

"Oh, you know my name already?"

"I mean... I may have heard of you being Taehyung's ex-girlfriend..." I say awkwardly.

"Feeling threatened, are we?" She chuckles lightly. "Yes, I am his ex. But don't worry, I have no interest in taking him back if that's what you think I'm here for."

"N-no, I'm not worried about that." I shake my head, "I have my own boyfriend, so whatever you do doesn't affect me."

She shows me a wide close-lipped smile. "Good to know."

"Ok well... I should start heading hoβ€”"

"Oh, I meant to mention. In two nights I'm having party at my home. There'll be food, drinks, whatever the heart desires. Why don't you attend? I admit I don't have many friends in this neighbourhood, it would be nice to have one during my stay here."

"Why me?" My eyebrows furrow, "Why not any of the other girls?"

"You just seem nice, and very pretty." She hangs me a skinny strip of paper with digits written across it. "This is my number. I hope you can make it, it would be good not to feel so alone, and to give you the answers you wonder. Please call when you make up your mind." And with that, she walks away.

I watch her form shrink the more distant she becomes, my eyes plummeting to the number sequence in my hand.

Answers...? Answers to what?


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