Y/N

I stood in the doorway of Taehyung's house, taking in the surroundings as he led me inside. It was a modern apartment, clean and minimalist in its design, with a subtle touch of elegance in every corner. The soft lighting, the tastefully chosen furniture, and the small touches of personality scattered throughout the space—everything felt carefully thought out, yet effortlessly put together.

"You have a really nice place," I said, glancing around as I followed him through the rooms. "I didn't expect this from you."

Taehyung chuckled softly, and I noticed the faint blush on his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I like to keep things simple. But I appreciate it."

We passed a large living area, where a few bookshelves lined the walls, and I spotted a couple of framed photos. The space felt welcoming in a way I hadn't expected. It was the kind of place I could imagine spending a lazy Sunday afternoon in, just relaxing, without the pressure of the world outside.

After a brief tour of the house, we reached the bedroom that he had prepared for me. It was spacious and comfortable, with soft white bedding that contrasted the darker tones of the furniture. A large window offered a view of the city below, and the light from the late afternoon sun bathed the room in a warm glow.

I stepped inside the room, feeling both grateful and overwhelmed by everything that had happened recently. My mind kept drifting back to Sana—her fragile state, how I had almost lost her. It was because of me that she was hurt. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was responsible.

"Do you like it?" Taehyung asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I nodded, forcing a smile. "It's perfect. Thank you, Taehyung, really."

I turned back to face him, watching him shift awkwardly on his feet. There was something about his presence that felt... comforting. The way he kept checking on me, making sure I was okay, was endearing. In a way, I felt safe here. The house itself, with its quiet atmosphere, mirrored the sense of peace I didn't even know I was craving.

"You don't need to thank me," he said, his voice soft and sincere. "You're safe here. And that's all that matters."

I swallowed hard at his words. *Safe*. It was something I hadn't felt in so long. Everywhere I went, there was a threat lurking in the shadows—someone who wanted to stop me from uncovering the truth about Sunjae's death, about Suhyeon's connection to it all. And now, Sana... my best friend. I was still shaken, still blaming myself for what had happened to her.

"I just... I can't believe this is all happening," I muttered, my eyes falling to the floor. "First Sunjae, then Suhyeon, and now Sana... It feels like I'm being pulled into something bigger than I can handle."

Taehyung's expression softened, and he took a step closer, his gaze never leaving mine. "You're stronger than you think, Y/n. You're doing what's right, even when it's hard."

I didn't have the energy to respond right away. My emotions were a jumbled mess of guilt, frustration, and worry. I had to hold it together. I *had* to—there was too much at stake. But in that moment, I just felt so tired, both physically and mentally.

I looked at Taehyung and managed a small smile. "I don't know what I'd do without you right now."

He shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "You don't need to do anything alone. You've got me. We'll figure this out together."

There was a sincerity in his words, a weight that settled in my chest. I could tell he meant every single one of them. His protective instincts, his constant vigilance—everything he had done for me over the past few days—made me realize something I wasn't quite ready to admit.

I had been fighting this feeling for so long, pushing it down, telling myself it wasn't the right time, that we were just working together, just focusing on the case. But the truth was, every time he looked at me with those deep, caring eyes, every time he stood by me no matter what, it became harder to deny.

I nodded quietly, my throat tight as I turned to place my bag on the bed. "Thank you, Taehyung. For everything."

He gave me a slight smile before turning to leave the room. "I'll leave you to get some rest. If you need anything, just let me know, okay?"

I nodded, watching as he exited the room, closing the door behind him.

As soon as I was alone, I sank onto the edge of the bed, running my hands over my face. The weight of everything—of the case, of Sana, of my growing feelings for Taehyung—came crashing down all at once. I had never felt so torn, so uncertain. But despite everything, I knew I couldn't let up. I had a responsibility to see this through. To fight for the truth.

With a deep breath, I stood up and walked over to the window, staring out at the city below. The lights were starting to twinkle, and the sky was beginning to darken as night fell. I wondered how much longer it would be before everything finally came to a head. Before the truth was exposed, no matter how dangerous it might be.

But right now, in this moment, I had a brief respite. I was safe. And for the first time in days, I allowed myself to feel that, even just for a little while. I didn't have to be strong all the time. I could just breathe.

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I woke up with a sharp gasp, my chest heaving as if I had been running for miles. My body was drenched in sweat, and I could still feel the lingering sense of dread from the nightmare that had disturbed my sleep. I had dreamed of Sana—her body lying unconscious, fading in and out of life. And then there was the image of Suhyeon's face, always just out of reach, always hiding in the shadows. It felt so real, so vivid.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to will the haunting images away. It was just a nightmare. Just a nightmare, I repeated to myself over and over, taking deep, steadying breaths. I didn't want to think about it anymore. It had been a long, exhausting day, and I needed to find some peace.

But sleep wouldn't come. The images still flickered behind my eyelids, and my heart wouldn't stop racing. I tossed and turned in the bed for what felt like hours, but there was no escape. Finally, I gave up. I quietly slipped out from under the covers.

As I stepped into the living room, the cool air brushed against my skin, offering some relief from the heat of my nightmares. I walked over to the table where the case files were neatly stacked. The weight of the case felt like a heavy burden I couldn't escape. It was there, on the table, that I found the files I had been working on earlier that day—the evidence, the notes, the list of suspects.

I pulled one of the files toward me and flipped through it, trying to focus my mind on the facts, on what needed to be done. Maybe if I buried myself in the details, I could shake off the dark thoughts. Maybe the facts would give me something solid to hold onto when everything else felt like it was crumbling.

I wasn't sure how long I had been sitting there when I heard footsteps behind me. I turned, surprised to see Taehyung standing in the doorway, his hair ruffled from sleep, his eyes still heavy with drowsiness.

"Y/n," his voice was soft, still thick with the warmth of sleep. "What are you doing up so late? Why aren't you sleeping?"

I blinked, taken aback by the concern in his voice. "I... I couldn't sleep," I muttered, unsure if I should tell him about the nightmare. I didn't want to burden him with it. He already had enough to worry about.

Taehyung stepped closer, his gaze never leaving me. There was an intensity in his eyes, something unspoken, but it made my heart skip a beat. "Nightmares again?"

I nodded, not trusting my voice. "I don't know. It just feels like everything is coming at me at once. Sana, the case, and now—Suhyeon. I can't keep up. My head won't stop spinning."

He didn't say anything at first. Instead, he walked over to the couch and sat down, running a hand through his hair, clearly trying to shake off the sleepiness. After a moment, he looked at me, his expression softening. "I get it. You're carrying a lot right now. But you don't have to do it alone, Y/n. I'm right here."

The warmth of his words made my heart flutter a little. I knew he meant it, but it still felt overwhelming. I wasn't used to relying on anyone, especially not like this.

"I'm fine, Taehyung. It's just..." I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, trying to push through the anxiety. "There's so much at stake. Every time I feel like I'm getting closer to the truth, it feels like the world is pushing back even harder."

He nodded as if he understood, then stood up and walked over to where I was sitting. Without saying anything, he placed a hand gently on my shoulder, the weight of his touch grounding me in a way I wasn't expecting. "I can't pretend to know what you're going through, Y/n. But I can promise you this: I won't let anything happen to you. And I'm not going anywhere. So if you need to talk, or if you need help, I'm here. Always."

I didn't know how to respond. His words hit me in a way I hadn't anticipated. It was as if a wall I hadn't even realized I built around myself was slowly beginning to crumble. My instincts told me to push him away, to tell him that I didn't need anyone's help, but something in me—something deeper—was pulling me to him.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

He gave me a small, reassuring smile. "You won't have to find out."

For a moment, we just stood there in silence, the weight of everything hanging between us. I could feel the heat of his hand on my shoulder, the faint scent of his cologne in the air, and the comforting presence that seemed to seep into my very bones. It was a peace I hadn't realized I needed so desperately.

"I should get back to bed," I said after a while, though I didn't really want to leave the warmth of his presence. "I need to be sharp tomorrow. There's still too much to figure out."

Taehyung gave a small nod, then reached down to gently lift the file I had been looking at. "You've been working non-stop, Y/n. Don't forget to take care of yourself, too. You can't help anyone if you're burning out."

I nodded, though I wasn't sure how to balance everything—work, the case, and my emotions—without losing control. But one thing was for sure: Taehyung's presence made it easier to breathe. Easier to face whatever came next.

"I'll try," I said softly. "Thanks, Taehyung."

As I made my way back to the bedroom, I couldn't help but feel the pull of something deeper between us. I had been too scared to confront it, but in this quiet moment, with him standing there looking at me with so much care in his eyes, I realized something: I wasn't the only one holding my breath.

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