call me tae

Within the first month of living all alone up in the woods, you came to quickly realise that you would not survive the winter if you had to drive back and forth down the mountain weekly to replenish your stocks. You had a feeling that even if the drive didn’t suck, you wouldn’t be able to survive simply because you wouldn’t be able to make the drive in the first place. The roads would surely be thick with snow and ice in the colder months.

So, you realised that you had to learn to be self-sufficient and fast.

Your cabin stood in a large clearing which you owned meaning you had plenty of space to grow your own crops, once you learned how to, of course.

You decided to dedicate a large portion of the ground in front of your home to your endeavours which still left you with ample parking space.

Around the back of the cabin stood proud a small shed, one you had entered only once out of curiosity on your first day and then immediately vacated realising it was empty and nothing of interest lived within.

On this day though, you unlocked the door and stepped inside where you found a bunch of old, rusted gardening equipment hanging on the wall. 

“Well, that’s no good.” You pouted taking down an axe to pick at the rust on the blade. “This won’t cut shit.” With a huff, you tossed the item down to the floor carelessly knowing you had to replace it. You had intended to move onto the next item to inspect it but the axe had made a hollow sound as it landed against the floorboards.

Kneeling down, you moved the axe to roam your eyes over the boards. Only when you were looking closely could you spot the little latch hidden in the natural grooves on a particular board. It was a trap door. 

Once it was open, you saw a ladder leading down under the shed. 

Luckily, you had already taken a torch with you into the small building so you grabbed it from the workbench and turned it on, shining your beam down into the hole.

With the help of the torch, you could see that the ladder didn’t go far at all, barely taller than yourself and led to more wooden flooring so, you climbed down carefully and dragged your beam across the moderately sized space. 

A surprised inhale inflated your chest when you realised that the small room you were standing in was a homemade chiller. The air was much much colder than in the shed which surprised you considering that you weren’t far down at all but you couldn’t focus on the temperature but instead the stacks of jars and small, handmade wooden crates.

It didn’t take more than a second to understand that every container was full of food, prepared by the previous owners; people that had been dead almost all of your life.

Your face turned up and you weren’t sure if it was caused by a dull pain for the lost lives or disgust due to how long the food had actually been down there.

In the end, you decided it was a task for another day and left the chiller how you found it to continue with your previous task of checking your gardening supplies to see exactly what you needed to buy in town.

*

Thankfully, there was a gardening supply store in town that you had spotted recently so you at least didn’t have to venture further afield to stock up.

When you entered, a few other townsfolk were already inside picking up their own supplies and gave you polite smiles of greeting as you passed. You nodded in greeting back before heading to the cash desk in search of a staff member. 

“Hello!” A bright voice chirped coming up behind you. You jumped and a giggle moved around you until a man with red hair and a heart-shaped, wide smile appeared at your side.

“Sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you.” 

“It’s fine. You’re light on your feet.” 

“That I am,” He giggled. “So, what can I help you with today, miss?” 

“I was wondering if I could get a hand picking out everything I need to start growing my own crops. I live up the mountain so I figure it’s a good idea to be as self-sustaining as possible.” 

“Ahh, you must be Y/N.” You tilted your head curiously. “Small town, news spread very fast.” 

“I’ve heard that before.” You mused, a smile tugging your lips. “Is this your store? Could you help me?” 

“I’m afraid it’s not, I’m just covering for the owner while he runs to pick up a few things from our friend across town. He won’t be long though, assuming he doesn’t get distracted.” He chuckled lightly. 

“Ah, okay, I guess I’ll look around. I know a few things I need to replace but mostly I’m lost.” 

“It’s not easy work but, you look like you can handle it.” His eyes twinkled a little as he looked at you, something meaningful on his features that you couldn’t decipher. 

“Oh!” He suddenly straightened up a little as his face lit up with signs of a good idea. “I know there are some gardening books around here, I can at least show you which ones I’ve heard are the most useful.” 

So, the kind man with flaming hair led you through the aisles to the stand of books and started to inform you of everything he knew of each one, reviews from friends and some of the store’s customers.

When the bell at the front desk dinged, he excused himself with a smile and a hand on your shoulder to serve a customer leaving you alone with the books.

You were flicking through a book about how to preserve vegetables when a shadow loomed over your shoulder and darkened the pages. Lifting your head, you spotted a tall male with tanned skin and kind eyes behind you. 

“Hi, I’m Taehyung, you can call me Tae, this is my store!” 

“Oh,” You closed the book and slotted it back onto the shelf to turn to face him fully. “I’m Y/N.” 

“I know,” He grinned. “Hoseok tells me you’re looking to grow your own food at your cabin up the mountain?” 

“Yeah, only problem being I have neither the supplies or knowledge to do so.” 

“Not a problem,” A light chuckle shook his shoulders gently. “I was raised with my knees in soil digging around, I’m certain I can help you out, Y/N.” He motioned for you to follow him so you did. 

As the pair of you walked around the store, Taehyung pointed out different objects and told you their uses and what they’re best and least suited for. 

Taehyung was so enthusiastic and helpful, especially when you asked him questions, he seemed to thoroughly enjoy the fact that he could pass on his knowledge to another. It was pretty endearing honestly. 

You had no idea how long you trailed along beside him with eyes and ears wide open in hopes of absorbing as much information as humanly possible but you found that you didn’t mind, Taehyung had a way of sucking you in and keeping your attention on him and him only. It was nice to not have wandering thoughts. 

“So, I think that’s everything.” He announced when you were both back at the cash desk where Hoseok, the red-haired man, was nibbling on an apple as he sat on the single rickety wooden stool on the opposite side of the desk to you. 

“I hope so, you’ve been talking poor Y/N’s ear off for an hour, Tae,” Hoseok commented with a giggle.

“Oh? I have?” A blush crept up Taehyung’s golden skin and tinted his cheeks the cutest shade of pink. “You should’ve told me to shut up, I’m sorry, Y/N. I just really love gardening and helping people learn the joys and benefits of it.” 

“No, no, it’s alright, I really didn’t mind at all. I didn’t realise it had been so long myself.” You admitted with a warm smile that made him relax immediately upon hearing the honesty in your tone.

“It’s always nice to hear someone talk about something with such passion and love like that.” 

“There’s nothing Tae here loves more than gardening,” Hoseok informed. 

“It’s true,” Taehyung chuckled almost shyly. “It’s my one true love.” 

“I’m glad you have it, most people never find something they care for that much.” 

“Like you?” You tilted your head. “Uh! I didn’t mean that like you have nothing! I just! You said it like you don’t have passion for something.” 

“It’s fine,” You laughed. “You’re right, I don’t have passion for anything, not anymore. Maybe I’ll grow to share your enthusiasm for gardening, that would be nice.” 

“It would, no-one here shares it,” He pouted looking directly at Hoseok who made an offended sound.

“Excuse you, Kim Taehyung! I always join you on your excursions into the woods to collect wildflowers and berries and check on your crops!” 

“But you have no love for it,” Taehyung whined. You couldn’t help but giggle as they continued to bicker childishly. 

“Anyway!” Hoseok cut Taehyung off with a stern look to turn his attention back to you. 

“Was Tae helpful?” 

“Immensely, more than I could’ve hoped for.” You confirmed with a nod. Taehyung beamed proudly. 

“Oh actually, I have a question about preserved food.” Taehyung looked at you curiously, silently encouraging you to continue. “I found food storage under my shed full of jars and crates of preserved food but I’m aware that no-one has lived there in two decades-”

“Two decades?” Hoseok mumbled, furrowing his eyebrows together. “Where exactly is your cabin, Y/N?” 

“It’s in this like big clearing. Just after the lake.” 

“Wait, do you live in the Kang cabin?” Hoseok and Taehyung shared a look that you didn’t understand but it didn’t sit well with you.

“Yeah, why?” 

“Just… didn’t know it went up for sale.” Hoseok looked back at you, a smile on his face that you could tell just wasn’t genuine. 

“It didn’t.” You admitted. “I inherited it.” 

“Seriously?” Taehyung gawped. You simply nodded. “But...the Kang’s died a long time ago, I remember it. No-one survived.” 

“What happened to them?” 

“We’re not supposed to talk about it. It was a dark day for the town.” Hoseok announced solemnly. “Sorry, Y/N but, you probably shouldn’t ask about it.” 

“Can I at least know if they were murdered, is it dangerous to be associated with them?” 

“You’ll have no problems living in their cabin, even if it’s a bit strange that you do,” Hoseok was staring at you as if he suddenly didn’t quite trust you, as if you had come to own the comfy home immorally. 

“Not what I meant but I have a feeling this conversation has reached its end and you won’t indulge me any further.” You replied before turning your attention to Taehyung, almost giving Hoseok the cold shoulder. You did not like the vibe he was suddenly giving off.

“How much for everything I need?” Taehyung looked confused for a moment before rattling off a number that was not at all what you expected. “That’s it, for all of that?” 

“I’m not in this for the money, Y/N,” Taeheyung chuckled. 

“You need to earn a living, you should charge more.” He simply shrugged so you pulled out your wallet and counted out more than the amount he asked for. 

“Keep whatever change is left,” He opened his mouth to argue so you took the money back and handed it to Hoseok. 

“I have a feeling you will agree to take it all for Taehyung’s sake.” 

“Good instincts,” Hoseok muttered taking the cash and placing it straight into the cash register. 

“I feel bad,” Taehyung whined. “Why don’t you leave your key with me and I’ll pick out and load up for you while you go treat yourself to some lunch or something?” 

“No, it’s fine, Taehyung, I didn’t do that for extra help. You already gave me a free gardening lesson, took time out of your work to teach me all that. I don’t want you to load my truck for me.” 

“How about this then, I’ll come up to your cabin one day soon and help you figure out what to do with the food in your storage? I’m guessing that’s what you wanted advice on earlier?” 

“I did but you don’t have to do that, it’s a long drive.” 

“Just make something nice for lunch and we’ll be even.” He grinned, smiling wide and bright. You couldn’t help but give in with a small chuckle.

“Alright, fine, that sounds reasonable to me.” 

Even though you had argued his help, Taehyung still helped you pick out everything you needed and load it into the bed of your truck, chattering to you happily the whole time. The pair of you even agreed that he would visit your home the following Tuesday on his next day off.

As you drove away out of town towards your home, you couldn’t help but remember the way Hoseok’s attitude changed towards you once he learned you lived in the Kang cabin. There was a big secret there you hadn’t been aware of until that moment but you wanted nothing more than to find out what it was.

***

When Taehyung arrived on Tuesday morning, you were already elbow-deep in soil, knees and boots caked in the stuff.

Upon hearing a vehicle getting closer, you sat back on your heels to look over at the entrance to your little personal world. A minute later, a truck pulled into sight with Taehyung already smiling widely at you from behind the wheel. You waved in greeting, offering a smile back before turning back to your job to finish turning the soil.

Honestly, you didn’t quite know why you were doing it but something in you made your body start the work the day before after creating a crude barrier for your planned plot with bamboo sticks and thin rope.

“Started the fun without me, huh?” Taehyung whistled as he stood beside you and eyed over the freshly turned soil with raised eyebrows. 

“You know, for someone that didn’t know what a trowel was actually called before we met, you seem to know what you’re doing here.” You laughed lightly as he dropped beside you and stuck his fingers into the earth. 

“I didn’t expect you to turn your ground like this, you dug deep.” 

“Something in me wouldn’t settle until I did. Had a weird feeling about the top layers.” 

“Really?” You hummed in confirmation, glancing at him just long enough to catch his grin. 

“What? What’re you smiling about?” 

“You have good instincts, Y/N. I can tell just by looking that the first couple of feet of soil are tainted so you definitely did the right thing by digging this deep. Your crops will thrive in this, especially with the love I know you will give them.”

“Not like I’ll have an awful lot else to do up here,” You mused.

“I guess not,” He chuckled. “You’re always welcome at my shop! Even if you just want to hang around for company, I’ll be more than happy to welcome you.” 

“Thank you, Taehyung but-” 

“Tae.” 

“Huh?” 

“I told you to call me Tae. Taehyung is too formal.” 

“Oh right.” You nodded softly as you remembered him saying as much on the day you met. “Thank you, Tae , but I don’t think Hoseok would be too happy if I did start hanging around. I’m not sure he trusts me.” He grimaced a little, not even able to deny your suspicion. “Just because I live here, he doesn’t trust me?” 

“The Kang’s were a very well respected and loved family in this town. Their family have lived here for generations and it was well known that this cabin would be passed through the family. I think hyung just doesn’t like that you’re the owner, that it’s no longer owned by such a big part of our town history.” 

“Oh, I see.” You hummed in understanding. “I know the couple that lived here died but didn’t they have any children, any family to pass it on to?” 

“No. The Kang family was small, from the beginning there was only ever a couple and their child and the cabin was always passed onto the child when they married. The last Kang’s never had children and then they died and well, it’s been empty ever since.” 

“It hadn’t been sold on by an agency?” 

“The deed to the land went missing, no-one knows where it went but I guess you have it now, huh?” 

“Yeah...my uh...my...I was given it recently.” Taehyung tilted his head curiously, unable to ignore the way you couldn’t seem to find the correct words you wanted to use. You wouldn’t even look at him then, too focused on the soil that you were picking up just to let fall through your fingers in small clumps. Clearly, something had happened in your life and Taehyung would bet his secret crop spots that it was why you were there living alone in the mountains. 

“I don’t know where it came from, but I hope to come to understand some things while here. Maybe I can discover how I came to own the deed, the land and settle the townsfolk’s minds.” 

“You seem like a good person, Y/N,” You lifted your head to meet Taehyung’s eye. He looked to believe his words so genuinely and thoroughly that you found yourself relaxing under his gaze, if only a little but you would still take it.

“I’ll do what I can to help you uncover whatever it is you’re looking for.” 

“Thank you, Tae.” You smiled at one another for a long few seconds before the moment broke and he got to his feet. 

“Let’s see that food storage, I bet whatever food is down there would make for some good fertiliser.”

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