The evening had fallen over the mansion, casting a soft glow from the setting sun through the large windows. Tae and Ariana were sitting in the living room, the quiet hum of the house surrounding them. It had been a peaceful day, filled with laughter, baking, and teasing from their friends. But now, as the calm of the evening settled in, Ariana found herself lost in thought.

Tae sat beside her, casually scrolling through his phone, but every few minutes, he would glance over at her, his eyes filled with that gentle warmth that always made her heart flutter. They had grown close in such a short amount of time, and while it was obvious to everyone else, Ariana had kept her emotions close to her chest. She wasn’t sure how to express what she was feeling—this growing affection for him that had blossomed into something deeper.

The weight of her unspoken words had been building over the past few weeks, and tonight, she felt like it might spill over. She had been through so much—endured so much pain and fear—but Tae had been a constant source of light through it all. He was her calm in the storm, her safe space in a world that had felt so unsafe for so long.

Ariana shifted slightly, turning her body toward him as she gathered her thoughts. She wanted to tell him—no, she *needed* to tell him. But every time she opened her mouth to speak, the words seemed to catch in her throat. What if he didn’t feel the same way? What if she was rushing things? After all, she was still healing, and there were parts of her that still felt broken.

Tae must have sensed her unease because he looked up from his phone, concern flickering across his features. “Ari?” he asked softly, his voice filled with gentle concern. “Are you okay?”

Ariana swallowed, feeling her heart race. Her eyes met his, and for a moment, she hesitated. But then, seeing the kindness and understanding in his gaze, she felt a wave of courage surge through her. She couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Tae,” she began, her voice trembling slightly. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

He set his phone aside, giving her his full attention. His expression softened, and he reached out to take her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. “You can tell me anything, Ari. You know that.”

Ariana took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around his. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on her. But she knew that this was something she couldn’t keep hidden any longer.

“I…” She hesitated for a split second, her eyes flickering down to their joined hands before she met his gaze again. “I love you, Tae.”

The words hung in the air between them, heavy and filled with meaning. Ariana held her breath, waiting for his reaction, her heart beating wildly in her chest. She had never said those words to anyone before, not in this way. It felt like a risk, like stepping out into the unknown, but it also felt right.

For a moment, Tae was silent, his expression unreadable as he processed what she had just said. Ariana’s anxiety spiked, and she began to worry that maybe she had misread the situation. Maybe she had said it too soon, and now things would be awkward between them.

But then, Tae’s eyes softened, and a small, tender smile spread across his face. He squeezed her hand gently, leaning closer to her, his voice barely above a whisper. “You… you love me?”

Ariana nodded, feeling her throat tighten with emotion. “I do. I didn’t expect to, and I’ve been trying to figure it out for a while now, but… I love you, Tae. You’ve been there for me when I needed someone the most, and I just… I can’t imagine my life without you.”

Tae’s smile widened, and he let out a soft laugh, almost as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her in a tight embrace. “Ari,” he murmured against her hair, his voice full of emotion. “I love you too.”

Ariana’s heart soared at his words, and she felt a sense of relief wash over her. She hadn’t realized just how much she had needed to hear that from him until now. Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes, but they were happy tears—tears of joy and gratitude.

Tae pulled back slightly, just enough to cup her face in his hands, his thumbs gently brushing away the stray tears that had fallen. His eyes were shining with affection as he gazed at her, his smile never faltering.

“I’ve loved you for a while now,” he admitted softly. “But I didn’t want to rush you or make you feel like you had to say it back. I wanted you to come to me when you were ready.”

Ariana’s chest tightened with emotion, and she leaned into his touch, her heart swelling with love for the man in front of her. “You’ve been so patient with me,” she whispered. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank you enough for that.”

Tae shook his head, his smile softening. “You don’t have to thank me for anything, Ari. I’d wait forever for you if I had to.”

Ariana felt her breath catch at his words, and she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his in a soft, lingering kiss. It was a kiss filled with all the love and emotion she had been holding inside for so long, and Tae kissed her back with the same intensity, his arms wrapping around her as if he never wanted to let her go.

When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathing heavily, their foreheads resting against each other as they shared a moment of quiet intimacy.

“I’m so glad you told me,” Tae murmured, his fingers gently tracing patterns along her arm. “I’ve been wanting to say it for a while now, but I didn’t want to overwhelm you.”

Ariana smiled, her heart feeling light for the first time in months. “I’m glad I told you too,” she said softly. “It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.”

Tae chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Well, now that we’ve got that out of the way, I think we can officially say that we’re the strongest couple in this house. Sorry, Bella and Jungkook.”

Ariana laughed, playfully swatting his chest. “Don’t let them hear you say that, or they’ll never let us live it down.”

Tae grinned, pulling her close once again. “Let them. I don’t care. I’ve got you, and that’s all that matters to me.”

Ariana smiled, resting her head against his chest as they sat together in comfortable silence. For the first time in a long time, she felt truly at peace. She had found love in the most unexpected place, and it was a love that made her feel safe, cherished, and understood.

As they sat there, wrapped in each other’s arms, Ariana realized that she had finally found her home. And it wasn’t just a place—it was a person. Tae was her home, and she knew, without a doubt, that she loved him with all her heart.