Chapter 15

Marley POV

Collapsing on the sofa together when we walked in the door, we had an hour until we needed to start getting ready. Tae pulled my legs over his lap and started absent-mindedly rubbing them while I leaned back, thinking that his hands were magic. "Today has been amazing so far. It feels like we've done so much already and we still have the evening to go. Thank you Tae."

"I wanted to make sure you'd be thinking of today for a long time."

"That's a definite," I answered with a smile. Did he realise that I would be thinking of nothing but our time together when he flew out. And my face dropped as I tried to shake away the thought of him leaving. Those thoughts were determined to keep invading my mind even when I reminded myself we still had hours together. But I knew hours flew by too quickly.

"Do you want a hot or cold drink?" I asked, going to get up but he held me in place.

"I'll make them," he answered. "I think I have opened most cupboards in your kitchen now. And today is meant to be about you. What would you like?"

"A black tea please," I said as he stood up, gently moving my legs to the side.

10 minutes later, after I called out a few times checking to make sure he could find what he needed, he walked back into the living room juggling two hot drinks and a small packet of Sophia's snacks. He had a super cute look, clearly proud of himself as he put the drinks down next to us.

"I found everything and hopefully Sophia doesn't mind if I eat some of her crackers. I'm a little hungry after our walk."

"She would love to share with her TaeTae," I said, sipping my cup, feeling the warmth flood through me. "Perfect Tae, I don't like it too strong, you know what I needed."

He went to speak and stopped. I could see he was whirring over things in his mind before he spoke. "I'm glad she seems to like me, that's important."

"She definitely does. When I dropped her at mums, she asked why TaeTae didn't come in too. I realised you didn't have a proper chance to say goodbye."

"That's because it's not goodbye. I'll see her again."

I lowered my eyelashes to look at my cup, trying to keep my breathing steady. Were we going to talk now about what was happening with us. I didn't want tonight to be the end, everything about the way we were talking sounded like he didn't either.

His phone rang and he glanced at it. "It's my manager, I won't be a moment, I think it's about tonight," and he answered the call.

As he spoke in words I couldn't understand, I had a chance to just watch him, his face changing from serious and listening to a huge grin as he made eye contact with me before focusing again.

"Everything is all set," he said after hanging up, an expectant look on his face at the plans ahead. I was a little nervous, it had been a while since I'd been able to be spontaneous with Sophia now always in tow but tonight felt like something important.

"I'm really excited about it Tae, whatever you've planned."

"I don't get the chance to plan things like this very often so I hope you like it."

"I don't mind at all what we do, time with you, especially today is precious."

He seemed to know I was meaning that they were leaving tomorrow and nodded. "It is, precious is the right word."

He looked at the time, then grabbed the remote, pulling me in against himself. "Lets just relax for a bit before we need to get ready," and I was more than happy to snuggle in close as we spent the next half an hour talking, Netflix on in the background.

Eventually I knew I needed to start getting ready for the night ahead. "You might only take five minutes to get ready but I'll take a little longer so I'm going to go choose what to wear."

His suit was laying over the spare chair in the lounge and he nodded. "Yes, please wake me if I fall asleep though. I have a habit of nodding off if I sit still for too long."

Tae asleep on my couch was something I wanted desperately, it felt very domestic, but I laughed. "Of course, although I noticed the K-drama you mentioned has a new episode so that might keep you awake?"

He grabbed the remote, scrolling straight to it and settling in as I walked into the bedroom, wondering how I could find something that wouldn't make me feel unworthy next to him.

In the end I settled for a classic midi black dress which had a few silver streaks in it. I'd bought it for a formal event I'd needed to go to for work and it fitted to my form with a small slit at the side, accentuating my curves. I wore minimal jewellery at the best of times so gathered a set of earrings, bracelet and necklace that I'd been given for my 21st birthday. They weren't expensive but they were sentimental and my style, delicate and minimal. I put on more makeup than normal, which wasn't much, focusing on my eyes. When I looked in the mirror I breathed in and out a few times, thinking it wasn't terrible and hopefully it was OK for where we were going.

There was a knock at the bedroom door and I walked over to open it. He was looking down when I did, fiddling with the cuffs of his shirt and then he looked up, stopping in his tracks, his face frozen before breaking out in a smile that reached across his whole face as his eyes drifted down my body and back up again. The reaction was automatic, my smile returning his. "Wow Marley, you're normally beautiful and now, you're stunning."

I blushed at his gaze, his compliment, the way he was making me feel with his words.

"I wish you could see you through my eyes," he continued, taking my hand and raising it above my head to spin me in a circle, taking in the whole picture.

"Thank you Tae, you're making me feel shy but thank you. Can you please do the zip up the rest of the way? I can't quite reach it." I turned back to the mirror as he came up behind me, his hand resting on the small of my back before tracing up the dress. He zipped it up to the top for me, our eyes connecting through the mirror. As he finished, his lips dropped to press a kiss into the nape of my neck, lingering, his breath warm, causing my eyes to drift closed. I wanted to stay like that, feeling him close behind me but he eventually pulled back and turned me to face him, lightly brushing his lips to mine, careful not to mess up my makeup.

"I just have to put my jacket on and I'm ready to go," he said as he broke away from me, "I'm really looking forward to it."

We walked out to the lounge where he grabbed his suit jacket, swinging his arms through the openings and adjusting it against his body. I smoothed the collar and ran my hand down the lapels, admiring the fit of it before stepping back to take it all in. I'd seen pictures of Tae in a suit online but standing in front of me was a whole other thing. I understood the casual suit now, the traditional suit pants replaced with some black jeans that hugged his legs. I struggled to catch my breath, he was becoming more than I could express in words and my eyes unexpectedly filled up before I blinked the tears back. Too late though, he was looking at me and saw my expression.

"Marley, what's wrong?" he asked, reaching for my hand, concern etched on his forehead.

"Nothing, right now there's nothing wrong. Don't ask me why I am feeling emotional, I'm not even sure. But they're not exactly sad tears."

"Looking at me made you cry? You were OK until then."

I felt the gravity of the moment and didn't know if I could say what I needed to say. But I knew I needed to try. "I think, when I saw you just now, I realised how important you're becoming to me. And that you're going away, very soon. I've really enjoyed spending time with you, that's an understatement, and I'm going to miss it. When I saw you, I couldn't breathe for a few moments. Not just because you look phenomenal but because you're not really mine to miss."

He looked confused and I wasn't sure he understood everything I said. "I'm trying to forget about leaving, at least for now so I won't be sad while we're together. We still have the evening ahead and we will talk about everything, if you're happy to wait so we can take our time? I want to do it properly."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring us down before we go out. I was just a little overcome. Kim Taehyung, Tae, you look unbelievable and I am very much looking forward to tonight." I stood up on my tiptoes to kiss him carefully. "Lets head up to the hills," and he nodded as we walked together to the door.

As we pulled into the carpark at the top of the hills, he let out a big wow, eyes wide. We'd meandered up the hill, the view out the car window was very pretty but here, with it stretched out in front of us, it was a spectacular panorama. Water in all directions, tucked away in bays and inlets and the sun was already dipping very low, sparkling against the water as the sky began to change.

"This is insane Marley," Tae commented, opening the car door and climbing out as soon as I turned the engine off. It was a bit breezy and exposed, our hair flipping around in the wind. We were the only ones there and took a moment to put our backs to the scene, wrapping his arms around me, taking some selfies with the water behind us. "Those are going in my Private Collection of us, I don't want to share them with anyone else."

I smiled that he had a growing selection of photos of us together. It felt very couply. "Please send them to me too, I want to remember. It's getting a lot colder though, how about I back the car up to the view so we can lift the back and sit inside to watch the sunset? We'll be tucked out of the wind that way."

"Love it," he replied and watched as I turned the car around. I grabbed a few blankets from under the seat and spread them out under us for cushioning, keeping one to tuck us in. Tae guided me to slide back between his legs, his knees up on either side of me, the vista spread out on all sides. My back pressed to his front as I leaned into him, cocooned in his arms, sharing the warmth. His head was rested on my shoulder and as the sky started to change from blue to yellow and orange he let out a long breath, whispering in my ear. "I'm so happy right now," pressing his lips to my neck and I closed my eyes for a moment to soak in his words and the feeling, before opening them to take it all in.

"I want to get some photos but I don't want to let go of you," he breathed against my neck.

"Capture the memories Tae, it's spectacular, we've got the evening ahead," I answered and he unwound his arms, snapping photos constantly as it changed to purple and twilight set in. The silence between us was easy, relaxed and comfortable. I didn't feel the need to talk as the sky changed and neither did he, both content to be close and live the moment together. As the sky darkened and the first stars began to appear, he moved his head from where he'd placed it back on my shoulder, leaning forward. Instinctively I moved too, turning my head so our lips could connect. This felt like a movie moment, surrounded by beauty, breathing the air we were feeding to each other between kisses. I felt like I was falling into his eyes as he pulled back, stroking my face, playing with my hair.

"I don't think this could've been more perfect," he said, dropping his mouth to mine again before we turned back to the vista and this time, I kept my eyes closed, thinking of the feeling of being engulfed by his arms, my lips tingling as I locked this memory into my mind.