♡ The weight of silence.
The drive home back to the mansion felt colder than the place I had just escaped.
I sat beside him in the car. Safe. Untouched. But not forgiven.
Taehyung didn't speak. Not a word. Not a glance. He stared out the window, jaw tight, hand curled over his knee like if he let go, he might snap.
The silence was unbearable.
I opened my mouth once—twice—to speak. But nothing came out.
What was I supposed to say? Thank you for saving me? Even though I betrayed you? Sorry I used someone else to gather weapons against you? I didn't think he'd feel me… like currency.
No apology could soften.
We reached the gates, they opened like the jaws of something ancient. I stepped out first. He followed, but not close. Not like before.
Inside, the hall felt darker. The air heavier. The housekeeper tried to greet us, but Taehyung brushed past her without a word.
I followed him. Silently. Guilty.
He stopped outside the bedroom door but didn't open it.
"I'll sleep somewhere else tonight," he said, voice cold & calm.
My heart cracked.
I nodded, eyes stinging. "…okay."
He turned to go—but paused.
When he finally looked at me, it wasn't with hatred. That was the worst part.
It was with hurt.
Deep, bruising hurt. "I could've burned the world for you, Aish,
And you lit the match under my name."
Then he left.
And I stood there, trembling—choked by the silence I had created.
Drowning in the guilt of a man who had always come for me…
Even when I had already given up on him.
-----
The next morning, he still wouldn't speak to me.
Not a single word.
Not at breakfast. Not during tea. Not even a glance when I passed him in hallway.
Instead… he spoke through them.
The old lady – the head of the staff, the only one who scolded him like he was five – came to me while I sat on the garden steps, sipping cold coffee and trying not to cry.
> "He said not to go out today," she muttered, folding laundry beside me.
I blinked.
> "He said…?"
> "And to wear warmer clothes. And eat properly. And don't talk to strangers."
She rolled her eyes.
"Teh. As if I'm his personal telegram."
My fingers tightened around the cup.
I'd had enough.
✓ A scene in front of his men.
I found him near the front hall – talking quietly to three of his men, all in suits standing near the black cars.
I didn't care.
I walked straight up to him – arms crossed, eyes glaring, cheeks flushed.
He looked at me once – and turned away.
"Taehyun."
No answer.
"Kim Taehyun!?"
Still nothing.
My jaw tightened. Then snapped.
"If you don't speak to me, I'm leaving this mansion."
Everyone froze.
---
Everyone froze.
His men stared at me like I had just declared war.
I took a step closer, standing right in front of him.
"I mean it. I'll walk out of here with nothing. I'll go sleep in a metro station.
I'll sell flowers on the street. But I won't stay in a place where I'm being punished with silence."
He didn't blink. Didn't breathe.
"If you're hurt, then say it. But don't talk to me through the old lady & expect me to just sit quietly like some broken doll."
Still silence.
So, I leaned in, narrowing my eyes, grumbling like a wet, angry kitten.
"Talk to me or I'll throw your expensive piano off balcony & burn your black suits one by one."
A small snort came from one of the bodyguards.
Taehyung slowly turned to me.
His jaw clenched. His eyes were fire.
But then… he broke.
---
His voice returns
He grabbed my wrist – not rough, but firm – & pulled me away from his men, down the hallway & into a quiet room.
He slammed the door shut behind us.
For a second, just silence again.
Then—
"You little brat," he hissed. "You think threatening me with pianos is going to make me feel better?"
"If I listened to you, I'd lose my mind." His voice was low, shaking.
"I almost lost you that night. And the worst part? You still don't understand what it would've done to me."
---
I stepped back.
He stepped forward.
"I've been calm for you. Patient. Silent. Gentle. But this? You breaking my trust? Lying? Running straight into danger?" His voice cracked. "I was losing my sanity."
He ran a hand through his hair, pacing. Then stopped in front of me again.
> "You want me to talk?" he whispered. "Fine. I talk like this—in anger, in fear, in love. I don't know how to love you halfway. I never did."
Silence.
My anger wilted. My heart didn't know what to do.
He exhaled harshly. Then softer.
"Don't you dare to talk about leaving me again."
His eyes locked onto mine, trembling with something more than anger.
"Angel…" his voice broke, "you can hate me, scream at me, hit me, even poison me if that's what it takes—
…but don't you ever put yourself in danger just to hurt me. Don't you let strangers, the world, anyone else be the reason I lose you."
I swallowed hard.
"If you want to destroy me, do it with your own hands. Not by throwing yourself into hell."
His words weren't shouted. They came out ragged, pleading, like he was bleeding them out. His eyes begged me in a way his voice never could.
---