Chapter 46
KTH POV
I was staring at the pictures on my phone. The company had received a tip only a few minutes ago that there were some released and had forwarded the link to me to look at. My heart beat a little at the three photos that popped up, definitely Marley. Caught in quick succession, they weren't completely in focus which could lead to some deniability. Marley was stepping back from the camera, hand coming up to shield her eyes as she closed the door, Sophia appearing next to her in one of them. It made my stomach turn over from anger that she'd been put through this. The article was from a rumour page, simply asking if she was the women seen in the last few months with me. I knew it wouldn't be the last of it though, people would pick it up and run with it, looking for as much information as they could find. Was it clear enough to put a name with a face?
"Well, she does have great legs Tae," Jimin said, raising his eyebrows as he leaned over my shoulder.
I shot him a look, definitely not in the mood for joking about this. It was one thing for me to see her like that when we were alone together but not to have her plastered all over the internet with her legs looking long and elegant, on display for everyone. Especially with Sophia's little face next to her. Jungkook smacked him in the stomach and he gave an owwww before looking at my face.
"Sorry Tae, I know this isn't OK for you guys." He wrapped his arms around my neck to offer his support.
"I'm just upset that this is while she's here. It means we have to be even more cautious and will put a damper on our time."
"Probably a good thing you have limited time then," Hobi said.
"How can limited time with someone I love be a good thing," I replied, frustrated.
Everyone turned to look at me and I realised I'd said she was someone I love. They knew I had very strong feelings for her, I hadn't been hiding that. But it had flowed easily off my tongue and they looked at each other, talking with their eyes.
"OK, OK, lets move on with practices," I said, putting my phone down for now.
"Nah, we're talking about that first," Jin said, coming over to join us. "Our Taehyungie is in love. It's definitely more than lust?"
Namjoon nudged him with his elbow and he backtracked. "I mean, you can lust after her and love her too."
"That was even less helpful Jin," Namjoon said. "What can we do to help during all this Tae?"
"I guess she might want to come here to see everyone at some stage since she'll be limited on where she can go? Just be nice to her, to them both please."
"You don't have to tell us to be nice to them, we all think she's great for you and Sophia is a doll. Your baby doll is welcome here anytime," Suga said, speaking up and he earned a tight smile at the use of my old nickname for her.
The door to the studio opened and one of the managers popped their head in. "Taehyung, come have a meeting," head disappearing straight after. I sighed, following after him to sort out damage control.
In the end, we went with the statement the company had already prepared about how seriously they take their artists privacy and security and would prosecute anyone found sharing photos of artists during their private time or anyone attempting to jeopardise their safety. This didn't directly address any of the images of Sophia and I but reminded people not to mess with the company. We had decided people could take what they wanted from that statement and we knew from experience they would, some assuming that was an admission of a relationship and others the opposite. If there was ever a time to announce something formal about any relationship, I wanted it to be on my terms and not when I had been forced into it. In the meantime, I'd been cautioned to lay low and to try our best to stay away from anymore photo opportunities while Marley was here. It sounded like a terrible introduction to Korea for her so I was going to have to work out how to make it up to her while keeping away from media. My head was throbbing with a headache as I walked back into the studio, calling Marley as I did.
Marley POV
"You're right, it's a disaster," Abby was saying as she scrolled through articles online, video calling across the globe.
"Thanks sis, that's extra helpful for me."
"Well, you asked, and I'm joking. You can't tell who you are unless you compare to the other photos and you're still just 'mystery woman'. No-one knows your name. Check out your legs though, have you been running again?"
"I'm telling you I got my photo taken and plastered all over the internet and you're talking about my legs." I sighed but secretly felt a little better. Her insanity somehow calmed me down.
"Lets celebrate how great you look and not focus on the fact the media of Korea might try to hunt you down."
"That's probably a little melodramatic."
"Just pointing out that it's probably not as big a deal as it feels."
"It does feel huge. I know if it got out, some ARMY would react badly and it could effect his job. It shouldn't be that way but it is. Plus, I'm not from here."
"You think that's a big deal," Abby asked, putting some cheese in her mouth. "Sorry, it's almost dinner here and I forgot to eat lunch," she mumbled as she chewed.
"It's not a big deal to Tae, or at least he said as much. But there is a feeling that he belongs to his country and I think there is an expectation that he'll find a famous Korean actress or another idol who understands his world and settle down."
"There's a feeling or you have a feeling? Because it sounds like insecurities to me."
"Maybe. Wouldn't you be insecure if you were dating him?"
"If I was dating one of the most famous men in the world? Are you serious? If they wanted me, I'd be on top of the world. Knowing they can have anyone and they picked me? That would definitely boost my self esteem."
"You've always been glass half full Abby."
"And you don't need to be glass half empty sis. He wants you. Clearly he is trying to make it work. I don't think you need to worry about where you're from or what he thinks about any of that. Trust him. Trust what you have together."
"It's only been a few months. Sometimes I forget that because so much has happened in that time that it feels so much longer."
"It could be two days or two years. If you know, you know. Do you know Marley?"
I was silent, not sure how to answer that. Did I know that I was in love with Tae? Did I want to spend my life with him? It wasn't that I didn't know, it was that I was scared that I did.
"It's OK to feel sis. You're allowed to love again. You're allowed to be scared. But what you can't do, is run away from those feelings."
"It's really too soon to tell him all of how I'm feeling. Forever is a long time. At the moment, I just need to get through this crisis and take each day at a time."
"As long as you are being honest with each other about everything, it will work out. He still owes me that BBQ when he comes to visit."
"I'm sure he won't forget, next time he's in New Zealand," I laughed because who knew when that might be and I might manage to dodge that for him for a long time.
"Well, mission accomplished, I got you to smile in what has been a crappy day."
"Thanks Abby, you've always got me."
"I do and I'm going to count that as another favour you owe me. I've been watching the members online and narrowing down who I'm adding to my list. Then you'll help make it happen."
"Your list?"
"Yeah, my free pass list. It might help if you told me which were single though."
"Because that seems to matter to you when you're married yourself?" I asked, raising my eyebrows at her.
"Spoilt sport," she answered with a laugh and we hung up, feeling like I was a little lighter, at least for a few minutes.
I was going stir crazy, hours stretching out in front of me where I was trying to stay off social media. Tae had explained the company would release an ambiguous statement but he sounded tired. In the end, he said I should come down to his work for a while. We both needed to be close and he couldn't leave so it seemed a good compromise.
"Won't it add fuel to it all if they see us arriving at your workplace," I asked, patting Yeontan who had climbed onto my lap.
"The company cars have tinted windows and you'll go into the underground carpark. The security to get in that part is tight, no-one normally sees us coming and going so it will be fine for you. Come spend some time here Marley, I need to see you."
"OK," knowing it was what I wanted too so after Sophia had woken up and we'd packed for the afternoon and maybe part of the evening, a car came to collect us, Ji-ho taking the bag from me as we walked to the car.
"How are you doing Miss Marley," he asked as we loaded in.
"I've been better. Thank you for being here."
He nodded with a small bow, lifting Sophia into her seat. "It will settle soon but I'm sorry, it's never nice."
"You've been through this before with them?" I asked as the car pulled away.
"Not often with Taehyungie but some of the other members have had lots of things come up from time to time and it's upsetting. It always seems to turn out OK though, everyone will take care of you all."
"I am very grateful as it's lots to think about," I answered, sinking back in my seat even though the windows were tinted. I was wearing a top with a hood to pull up over my face if needed, feeling like hiding would be par for the course while in Seoul.
As we pulled up through security and under the building, Ji-ho kept closeby while we were escorted up the lifts and through the building towards the practice rooms. I was trying to read signs on the way past, wondering where music was recorded, where meetings were held when I saw Tae leaning on the wall outside a door. Ji-ho had obviously messaged ahead to say we'd arrived.
He sprung away from the wall, striding over to us as we drew close. "Missed you babe," he greeted and I sighed into his embrace. "Sorry about today."
"It's not either of our fault, right? So I guess we just deal with what happens from here as it happens."
He nodded, squeezing my hand. "Are you ready for lots of noise?"
I could hear a rumble of voices in the room we were outside of and tilted my head. "Maybe? What should I expect?"
"That's where we have dance practice so all the members are in there, some staff, lots of cameras. They'll edit out any bits with you in the back if they need to use footage but we're not really recording anything at the moment."
"OK then, lets go," I said, Sophia wriggly beside me.
"Annyeong," he called to the room as he opened the door, and I felt a little embarrassed as they all turned and greeted us. Jungkook jogged over to Sophia and she yelled "Kookie," grabbing his hand so he had a huge smile on his face while a few of the others came over. Some staff bowed hello before going back to what they were doing. I wondered if any of them had the job of monitoring social media today to do more damage control.
"How are you doing Marley," Hobi asked.
"Just another crazy day in your world right?"
He laughed and nodded. "We've all been connected with some person or another in the last 10 years but it can be scary."
"Sorry to interrupt your practice. We can stay out the way?"
"That's OK, it's around food time for a bit for those that want to eat. You're welcome to have some with us," Namjoon asked.
"Food!" Sophia yelled, always keen to snack.
"A girl after my heart," Jungkook grinned.
"Coming Jimin?"
"I'm not eating right now, I want to do some more practice. Do you want to stay Marley, I have some things to show you."
Tae frowned, looking between Jimin and I while I was a little confused.
"Don't worry," he said, leaning close, "Tae will like what I have to show you."
Deciding I wasn't hungry because of the day anyway, I nodded. "Sure, I'll stay. Do you want to go with Tae and get some food or stay with Mum," I asked Sophia.
"I go wiv Kookie," she said and Tae rolled his eyes.
"Is he your new favourite BugBug," he asked, crouching down to her level. She threw her arms around his neck, planting a huge kiss on his cheek much to the delight of those who saw.
"TaeTae loves Sophia. Kookie has candy," she said, running off to take Jungkook's hand again.
"How do I tell her I don't have any candy today," Jungkook asked me under his breath.
"Too late now, we'll have to track some down," Tae replied.
"You don't need to spoil her, honestly, just give her crackers and she'll be happy."
"We can do better than crackers can't we little one" Jungkook said. "Some gimbap maybe?"
I laughed. "Good luck convincing her that Gimbap is as good as candy!"
He looked a little concerned as Sophia tugged him towards the door, following Tae and clearly comfortable with everyone around her. I loved that she was secure in her own skin, taking on the world one new place at a time. It had definitely helped with the last few months.
Soon, everyone had filtered out and just Jimin and I remained. He was grabbing some more water as he turned to me.
"You stand in first position a lot and Taehyungie told me you were a dancer. Can I teach you something to show Tae."
"Ah, it's been a while since I've danced," I answered, face warming at the thought.
"I can guarantee he will be very, very happy if you do."
I looked at him, trackpants and tshirt hanging comfortably. I was wearing jeans, not exactly designed for dancing. He followed my eyes and commented.
"Honestly, it won't matter what you're wearing, we practice in jeans all the time."
"Yeah, that's weird," I replied and he laughed at my answer.
"Let's go," he said and I dropped all my things on the ground in a corner, feeling embarrassed as I followed him into the middle of the room. Turning to face the mirrors he began. "Let's just start with four counts at a time," and he showed me the first four. His eyebrow raised when he saw I picked it up straight away. Clearly I didn't have the fine details of the movements but I could see they'd slot into place after we'd run through a few times and I guessed he'd picked easy choreography. Adding the next four count and running through all eight, he stopped when I copied.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised, Tae said you're amazing at everything but you do seem to learn very quickly."
My cheeks went bright red and he noticed. "And you still blush. Tae must try to get that to happen a lot."
"I'm not talking about that with you, aren't we here to dance," I answered, hands on hips.
He cracked up. "Yes we definitely are. Lets add the next eight on then."
"Gaja," I replied and he nodded in approval.
10 minutes later we had run through all 16 counts a number of times and I was enjoying my body moving like that again, surprised that it seemed to recognise things fairly quickly. I didn't hear the door open and only looked up, hearing Sophia's voice.
"Mama, you dancing!" she yelled, wiggling out of Tae's arms and running towards me as I patted my brow with the back of my hand.
"Yes, she was," Tae said softly, loud enough for me to hear but with reverence in his voice.
Jimin stood back for a moment, looking between where Tae and I were silently talking with our eyes and smirked, speaking to Sophia.
"Do you want to come with me Sophia and find something to play with, is that OK," he asked me, both Tae and I nodding without breaking our eye contact. She happily took his hand, to go explore with another 'Uncle' and he closed the door behind himself, laughing quietly as he did.
The sound of the door locking into place shook Tae from staring and he walked slowly towards me.
"Why didn't you tell me you can move like that," he asked, running his hand down my sides and I felt embarrassed at his touch, skin slightly damp with sweat, top sticking to me a little.
"It's been a while and I wasn't that good to start with," I replied, feeling the temperature of the room was too warm as I reached for a drink.
"I very much disagree," he answered, fingers flexing a little as if he wanted to move them but kept them in place so he could hold me close for a kiss.
When we broke away, he clicked the music on again as he nodded to me and we moved together, repeating the movements I'd been taught. He was fluid when he danced, not classically trained like Jimin but the way he seemed to melt into the moves was incredibly sexy.
After the 16 counts I'd learned, he spoke, moistening his lips with his tongue. "The next bit, someone is usually lifted into the air. It's not something I've done but I have watched Jungkook lift Jimin so I know what it looks like."
I nodded as he showed me without actually doing the lift what the next counts looked like and I mocked it out, arms and legs slotting into position. "Shall we try the whole thing properly," he asked and I nodded, gulping, running through the steps in my head.
Muscle memory kicked in for the first 16 counts, having run through those a number of times with Jimin and when it came to the next 16, his hands settled on my waist, lifting me up and spinning me before sliding me down his body. I came to rest with my feet on the ground again, falling against his arm as he supported me through the last few movements. It felt right and we came to a stop, Tae pulling me in close.
"I'm not sure that's what Jungkook does with Jimin," I said against his lips.
"I might have changed it a little," he smirked back, taking my mouth in his before pulling away. "Marley, can I record you dancing? The way you move, I want to watch it over and over when you're not around to remind me how beautifully you dance."
My hands came up to my cheeks as they flushed, embarrassed. "I don't think I can dance under your gaze without stumbling," I replied, feeling more than a little shy. It had been a long time since I'd trained, some of the feeling and flow had come back fairly naturally but I was very out of practice.
"How about if I just asked for a recording," he said, pointing to the cameras mounted in the corners of the room.
"Tae! We just kissed, is someone sitting there watching those," I hissed under my breath, pulling the hood of my top up over my face and hair. I don't know what I was trying to hide from, it was clearly already too late.
"Trust me, those cameras have recorded a lot of things we've wanted deleted over the years which never air anywhere and noone is actually sitting watching them live. Us sharing a few kisses is mild, you dancing is something to be repeated though." He reached out for my cheek, running his thumb along the part not hidden by my top. "You do know I'm going to ask for a repeat performance tonight when Sophia is in bed, definitely with less clothing on," he whispered.
"That I can do for you," I replied, leaning in more, turning so less could be seen on the cameras but giving in when our lips sunk into each other. Some things could be easily forgotten when you were in the moment.
Jimin brought Sophia back and asked to see the dance again but as the members and other staff came in behind him, I shook my head. That was too much in front of too many people, being the centre of attention wasn't ever anything I enjoyed.
"That's OK, I'll check on the cameras later. Unless anything needs to be censored first," he asked with a grin.
"You will not," Tae said firmly and Jimin just laughed more.
"Well, that answered it then, definitely needs some censoring." He carried on to say a few more things in Korean which Tae did not translate, choosing instead to get him in a headlock, like they were back in high school, all the time cracking up at Tae's expense.
"Oh, you're fun to have around Marley," he finished as he backed away from Tae, hands held out in front of him as he went to join Hobi.
"Did you get any of that," Tae asked turning to me.
"Yes, most of it," and his eyes grew big.
"Sorry, he's an idiot and I definitely haven't said anything about..."
"Tae, I was joking. I couldn't understand any of it, I barely know any words in Korean. But it sounds like I wish I did."
"Ah, no. He was teasing me about a few things I've said. You don't ever need to know."
"Taehyung, are you blushing," I asked, his cheeks red.
"Nah, it was watching you dance that increased my temperature," he said, lying but I dropped it with a raise of my eyebrows, letting him know I didn't believe him but that I'd give him a break as he was clearly embarrassed.
We sat at the back of the practice rooms, facing the mirrors as they ran through some of the songs they were dancing to when they travelled. Sophia was fascinated and got up to join in although I told her she needed to stay at the back and just dance where she wouldn't get barrelled over by someone. I knew us being around had slowed down their practices so I didn't want to make any of them annoyed with us. After an hour, she was fidgety and it was heading more towards her bedtime so we waved our goodbyes. Tae jogged out after us, leaving Sophia with Ji-ho briefly as he caught my hand and quickly pulled me into an empty room. Shutting the door, he pushed me up against the wall, claiming my lips like it was the last time we would ever kiss. When I came up breathless, I smoothed my hair and top down, feeling a little caught off guard.
"Are you alright Tae," I asked, thinking I needed to apply some more lipbalm.
"I can't get you dancing out of my head and exercise makes me, oh I don't know the word but I want to take you to bed," he said into my ear, warmth flooding through me.
I swallowed quickly, aware Sophia and Ji-ho were just on the other side of the door. "I think the word you're looking for is horny and noted. I'll be awake waiting for you when you get home."
"Will you wear something for me and dance," he asked, pulling my top to the side so he could kiss along my neck.
"Ah, yes, mmmm, yes, OK," I got out as his mouth worked on my skin.
"Good then, I think I can let you go," and he tugged me away from the wall, helping me to adjust my clothing before opening the door with a smirk. I was blinking and Ji-ho avoided eye contact as Tae blew a kiss to me, jogging over to the dance room and disappearing inside.
"Home Miss Marley," Ji-ho asked.
"Home," I replied, trying not to look at him, my lips failing in my quest to stop smiling.
