Minjae took Ana with him leaving behind Taehyun and Sofia alone in the kitchen,
Tension Lingering in their surrounding as Taehyun caged Sofia between his arms to the kitchen counter.
"Wh-at are you doing? " Ava asked gathering her thoughts, eyes wide and lips parted.
"What do you think am I doing" He let out these words in a low deep growl raising an eyebrow and his lips forming a smirk.
As he said that, he leaned in just enough for his breath to brush against her skin—warm, controlled, deliberate.
Sofia's fingers pressed harder against the edge of the counter behind her, her knuckles turning pale as she tried to steady herself. Her heart wasn't just racing now—it was pounding, loud enough that she was almost certain he could hear it.
Taehyun noticed.
Of course he did.
That smirk on his lips deepened slightly, his eyes darkening as they traced every flicker of her expression—every hesitation, every breath she failed to control.
"You're nervous," he murmured, his voice dipping lower, softer—but somehow more dangerous.
"I—no, I'm not," Sofia replied quickly, but her voice betrayed her, catching just slightly at the end.
His eyebrow lifted.
Amusement.
Disbelief.
"Lying doesn't suit you."
Her lips parted again, but no words came out this time. Because the way he was looking at her—it wasn't teasing anymore.
It was intent.
His hand moved.
Slowly.
Not rushing.
Never rushing.
It came to rest beside her on the counter, effectively trapping her completely between his arms. Not touching her—not yet—but close enough that she could feel the heat of him, the quiet strength in the way he held himself.
"Then what are you doing?" she asked again, softer this time, her voice barely above a whisper.
Taehyun tilted his head slightly, studying her face like she was something he was trying to figure out… or maybe something he had already decided about.
"What does it look like?" he replied.
The question lingered between them.
Heavy.
Sofia swallowed, her gaze flickering away for a second before returning to him.
"It looks like you're trying to intimidate me."
A low chuckle escaped him.
Not loud.
Not mocking.
But it carried something deeper.
"If I wanted to intimidate you," he said, leaning in just a fraction closer, "you wouldn't be talking this much."
Her breath hitched.
And this time—
She didn't deny it.
Because something about his presence… it wasn't just intimidating.
It was overwhelming.
In a way she couldn't quite explain.
"I don't like this," she said, though her voice lacked the firmness she intended.
His gaze softened slightly.
Not completely.
But enough to change something in the air.
"You don't like not being in control," he corrected.
That hit.
Direct.
Accurate.
And she hated it.
"I am in control," she shot back, her chin lifting just slightly.
For a moment, silence stretched again.
Taehyun's eyes lingered on her face—on the way her brows pulled together, on the way her lips pressed into a thin line, on the way she tried to hold her ground.
And then—
His hand moved.
This time, it didn't stop at the counter.
His fingers brushed lightly against her wrist.
Barely there.
But enough.
Sofia froze.
The contact was brief.
But it sent a quiet jolt through her—unexpected, unfamiliar.
Taehyun noticed the reaction instantly.
His gaze sharpened.
"You feel that?" he asked quietly.
Her breath came uneven now.
"It's nothing."
Another lie.
And he knew it.
His fingers slid slightly—not gripping, not holding—just tracing the line of her wrist, as if testing something.
"Then why did you stop breathing for a second?"
Her eyes widened.
Because—
He was right.
Again.
"I didn't—"
"You did."
His voice wasn't harsh.
But it was certain.
Sofia's chest rose and fell a little faster now, her composure slipping in small, almost invisible ways.
And he was catching all of them.
Every single one.
"You're overthinking," she said, trying to redirect, trying to regain some footing.
A faint smile returned to his lips.
"Am I?"
He leaned in slightly more, his gaze dropping—just briefly—to her lips before returning to her eyes.
The movement was subtle.
But it didn't go unnoticed.
Sofia felt it.
That shift.
That tension.
Her fingers tightened against the counter again.
"You should move," she said, though she didn't sound as certain as she wanted to.
"Why?"
Because you're too close.
Because I can't think.
Because I don't understand what this is.
But none of those words came out.
"You're invading my space," she settled on.
Taehyun paused.
Then, slowly—
He leaned back.
Just a little.
Not completely.
Never completely.
But enough to give her a fraction of distance.
Enough to make her realize—
He could step back.
He was choosing not to.
"Better?" he asked.
Sofia exhaled quietly, though the tension in her shoulders didn't fully disappear.
"...Yes."
But even as she said it—
Something felt off.
Because the distance didn't make things easier.
If anything—
It made her more aware of him.
Of the way he was still watching her.
Of the way the air between them still felt charged.
Taehyun straightened slightly, one hand sliding casually into his pocket now, but his gaze never leaving her.
"You're different," he said suddenly.
Her heart skipped.
Not again.
"Everyone keeps saying that," she replied, trying to sound unaffected.
"Because it's obvious."
Silence fell again.
Sofia looked at him carefully this time.
Really looked.
At the way his expression wasn't just teasing anymore.
It was thoughtful.
Observant.
"You notice too much," she muttered.
A faint smirk returned.
"That's kind of my thing."
She shook her head slightly, looking away.
"This is exhausting."
Taehyun watched her for a moment longer.
Then, unexpectedly—
His tone softened.
Just a little.
"You don't have to fight everything."
Her eyes flickered back to him.
Caught off guard.
"I'm not fighting."
"You are," he said simply. "You just don't realize it."
The words didn't sound like a challenge.
They sounded like… understanding.
And that confused her more than anything else.
Because she didn't know what he was trying to do.
Didn't know what he wanted.
Didn't know—
Why he was looking at her like that.
"Why do you care?" she asked quietly.
This time—
He didn't answer immediately.
His gaze held hers.
Steady.
Unwavering.
And for a second—
It felt like he might say something real.
Something important.
But then—
He exhaled lightly, that familiar smirk returning, masking whatever had been there before.
"Who said I care?"
The moment broke.
Just like that.
Sofia's lips pressed together again, something unreadable passing through her expression.
"Exactly," she said, pushing herself slightly away from the counter.
But before she could move fully past him—
His hand lifted again.
Not grabbing.
Just—
Lightly brushing against her arm as she passed.
A silent pause.
A brief moment.
And then—
Gone.
But the feeling lingered.
As if it had never really left.
Sofia walked out of the kitchen without looking back.
But her steps weren't as steady as before.
And Taehyun—
Stayed exactly where he was.
Watching.
Thinking.
That smirk fading slowly into something far more serious.
"Definitely different…" he murmured under his breath.
And for the first time—
He wasn't amused.
He was interested.