Taehyung stared, wide eyed, unable to believe what he was seeing. He had gone out to get some groceries when he came upon his girlfriend looking around in a clothing store at the same mall. But she wasn’t alone. Smiling happily she held up a t-shirt to some guy, checking the fit. The guy grinned back and said something which made her laugh. Taehyung watched as the guy put his arm around her, leading her further along into the store.

Taehyung felt burning anger well up inside him. Who was that guy and what the heck was he doing with his girlfriend? Was she bored of him already and moving on without telling him? Sure, he’d been busy lately so he hadn’t been able to see her as much but still, shopping was a thing the two of them always did together. It was their thing, going between stores and trying on both silly and cool stuff, and Taehyung was not okay with some random guy taking that away from him.

He stormed back home in a foul mood. Some rational part of his brain said that maybe the guy was just a friend. The rest of his brain didn’t believe it.

***

"Surprise!" Taehyung blinked at his girlfriend, waiting for him inside his room. It was two days since he had seen her shopping with that other guy and he hadn’t heard from her since, so this really was a surprise. Then again, he hadn’t talked to her so she probably didn’t know he had seen her.

"Hey." He replied, annoyed. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you, silly." She told him with a smile, leaning in for a kiss. He brushed her off.

"What’s wrong?" She asked, concern shining from her eyes. "I was thinking we could go shopping this afternoon if you’re not busy, if you’re feeling up for it that is. I haven’t seen you in a while…" Taehyung frowned.

"Was your other shopping partner busy today?" He spat out, unable to keep the hurt from his voice.

"My other… what? Taetae, you know you’re my only shopping partner."

"Oh yeah? Then who was that guy the other day? I saw you at the store with him, laughing as you tried stuff on, letting him put his arm around you." It stung extra much because the shirt he saw her holding up to the other guy was exactly his style.

Her face showed sudden understanding. “Oh, oh no, Taetae, it’s not like that! Tae, that was my cousin!”

He scoffed. “Sure it was.” That small, rational piece of his brain was now screaming that that was an obvious explanation and he should stop being silly. But he couldn’t help it, when it came to her he could never think straight.

"He is!" She protested, hurt now as well. "Tae, do you really think like that of me, that I’m someone who’d do that?"

He felt horrible for making her feel bad but his anger was still there; he just couldn’t control the possessiveness and jealousy that filled him at the mere thought of another guy with her.

"So why were you shopping with him?" He asked.

"I was looking for your birthday present." She told him sadly. "I can’t exactly take you with me when I’m looking for that, now can I? My cousin’s the same size as you so I took him along to make sure I found something that fit."

Just like that his anger evaporated. Of course that’s what she had been doing! Why did his stupid brain have to jump to conclusions like that without asking her?

Taehyung pulled his girlfriend into a hug. “I’m sorry, _____.” He muttered into her hair, squeezing her hard. “I just… can’t stand the thought of another guy taking you away from me.” This was what he was really afraid of; Taehyung was constantly worried that, because of his busy schedule, she’d find some other guy while he wasn’t around.

"They won’t." She mumbled into his chest, hugging him back. Then she looked up at him and smiled. "You’re my one true shopping partner, forever and always."

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A/N: Requested by Anon, original here.