unrivaled

chapter 38

“Dae, don’t worry,” he consoled her, “now you have kissed all of us, except Hobi.  We'll fix that as soon as we get home.”

At her shocked gasp, he frowned.

“What? You want to kiss him now?  That’s kind of extreme but I can call him to catch the next flight,” he teased.

She punched him hard in the arm before he finished, “oww!  Ok, we'll wait to you get home.”

“Tae, this is not funny!  This is no joke to me!” she warned.

“I know it is not,” he said. “But I know you got drunk and kissed YoonGi that first Christmas party.  I saw you slap Kookie for trying that same night, so that was his shot. Me just now, Hobi when you get home, Jimin at uni,” he paused as he saw her eyes go round.

He squeezed her hand. “Dae, yes, I know about the kiss on the quad.  Every detail, because when he is really drunk, he tells me like it is the best secret he has never shared."

"The kiss right before you left….” Tae paused to gather his thoughts, “that one before you left, he talks about that one  stone cold sober.”

Dae felt tears begin to fall.  Tae cupped her face with his hands and wiped away her tears.

“Dae, please don’t.  Look, you have to know this.  Jimin is using you as an excuse to hide and protect his heart,” he gently whispered.

At her frown he continued. “Ever since university he has measured all women by you and found some flaw or reason why a relationship won’t work.  He knows you are safe because you belong to someone else.  I think you need to force him to see that that he is hiding, to take a risk to find his own love, not stand in shadows of another man's."

Tae watched as that truth slowly sunk in. 

Dae blushed at her own selfishness.  She realized that she had loved having Jimin as her “go to guy", her pizza and beer date, her escort to corporate events, her insurance that she had someone to love and protect her if her heart got broken.

Tae could see she was getting caught up in guilt and remorse.  They could work that out later.  He was running short on time.

“And then there is Jin, “Tae said and watched as the emotions warred across her face.

“Why haven’t you asked about him Dae?  I can’t believe I have been here all day and not one word about him,” he questioned.

Dae was at a loss.  She did want to ask, but she was afraid of what she would find out.

“Is he ok, Tae?  Is he why you are here?” she asked.

He nodded at her and she felt her heart begin to thump hard in her chest.

“Alex? Are they truly getting married?” she whispered, nervously knotting Tae's shirt in her hands.

“No!” he hastened to assure her. “In fact, he is trying his best to shake her.  Dae, he is in trouble. “

Dae forced herself to be calm so that she would carefully listen to Tae.

“What kind of trouble? Is he ill? Is he ok?” she asked, somehow managing to keep the shake out of her voice.

“He is fine physically,” he answered, “someone is sending damaging, and incomplete, information to his board.  KimCom's reputation ranking is falling, as is stock value.  There are rumors his board will be meeting next week for a vote.  I also have information that his cousins have been notified and that one, or more, of them will be at the meeting.”