Hari's POV

Jung Hoseok had been a constant in my life for as long as I could remember. From childhood games in the park to late-night rooftop talks, he had always been there, a steady presence in a world that often felt too unpredictable. He wasn't just my best friend; he was my person, the one I could always count on.

But now, standing outside the dance studio, watching him zip up his duffel bag for his big international tour, I couldn't ignore the ache that had settled deep in my chest.

He was leaving.

This was everything he'd ever dreamed of—performing on stages around the world, sharing his passion with people who would adore him just as much as I did. I should've been overjoyed for him, and in some ways, I was.

But in the quiet corners of my heart, I felt something else entirely: fear. Fear of what his absence would feel like. Fear that the space he'd leave behind might never be filled. And fear that the feelings I'd been hiding for years might never get the chance to be spoken.

"You're unusually quiet today," Hoseok said, his voice light as he slung his duffel bag over his shoulder. His bright smile—his signature smile—lit up his face, but his eyes held a question. "What's up? Worried I'll forget you or something?"

I rolled my eyes, trying to play it cool. "As if. I'm more worried you'll forget how to keep up with me. I'll have so much to tell you when you get back, you won't even know where to start."

He laughed, the sound warm and familiar, like a favorite song I didn't want to end. "I'll look forward to the stories, then. But seriously, Hari, you'll be okay, right?"

The way he asked made my heart lurch. It was just like Hoseok to think about others, even when he was on the brink of his biggest opportunity yet.

"Of course," I said, forcing a smile. "I'll be fine, Hobi. You don't need to worry about me."

But the truth was, I wasn't sure how I'd feel once he was gone.

That night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as memories of Hoseok played like a movie reel in my mind.

There was the time he'd patched up my scraped knee when I fell off my bike. The time he'd shown up with my favorite ice cream after my first breakup, his presence the only thing that made the hurt bearable. The time he'd danced in the rain with me, our laughter echoing through the empty streets.

Somewhere along the way, my feelings for him had shifted, growing into something deeper, something I was too afraid to name.

But now, with just days before he'd leave, I couldn't stop the words that kept repeating in my mind: I love him.

I loved the way he danced with his whole heart, the way he could light up a room with just a smile. I loved the way he always knew how to make me feel better, even when I didn't know I needed it.

I loved him. And I didn't know how to tell him. Because I'm afraid what if he doesn't feel the way I do. I can't ruin what we have.

Hoseok's POV

Hari had been acting differently, and it was starting to get to me. She was still herself—still cracking jokes and teasing me like always—but there was something in her eyes that didn't quite match her words.

"Everything okay?" I asked one evening as we sat on her rooftop, the city lights twinkling around us. It was our spot, the place we always went when we needed to escape the noise of the world.

She hesitated, her gaze fixed on the horizon. "Yeah. Just a lot on my mind."

I frowned, leaning closer. "You know you can talk to me, right? About anything."

She nodded, but she didn't elaborate. Instead, she turned the conversation back to me, asking about my tour preparations, her smile never quite reaching her eyes.

I didn't push her. I figured she'd tell me when she was ready. But as the days passed, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something she wasn't saying.

The morning of my flight arrived faster than I'd expected. My duffel bag was packed, my passport tucked safely into my pocket, and my heart was racing with a mix of excitement and nerves. This was the opportunity of a lifetime, and I was ready to give it everything I had.

But as Hari and I stood by the gate at the airport, waiting for the final boarding call, I felt a different kind of nervousness settle over me.

"You'll call, right?" she asked, her voice steady but soft.

"Every chance I get," I promised.

She nodded, her lips curving into a small smile. "Good. Because I'll probably go crazy without you here to annoy me."

I laughed, but the sound felt hollow. The truth was, I didn't want to leave her. I'd spent so much of my life with her by my side that the thought of being apart felt like losing a piece of myself.

When the final boarding call echoed through the terminal, she stepped forward and pulled me into a hug.

It wasn't like our usual hugs, quick and casual. This one lingered, her arms tightening around me as if she didn't want to let go.

"I'm so proud of you, Hobi," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "You're going to do amazing things."

Her words hit me harder than I expected, and I found myself holding her just as tightly.

"I'll miss you," I said, my voice barely audible.

When she pulled back, our eyes met, and for a moment, I thought I saw something in her gaze—something unspoken, something I couldn't quite name. But before I could say anything, she stepped back, plastering on a smile.

"Go show the world what you're made of," she said.

And with that, I turned and walked through the gate, my heart heavier than I'd anticipated.

Hari's POV

The first few days without Hoseok were harder than I'd expected. The house felt quieter, the city less vibrant. I found myself scrolling through his messages late at night, rereading our conversations just to feel closer to him.

We talked whenever we could, his texts and calls a lifeline. But it wasn't the same. I missed him—the way he laughed, the way he made everything feel a little brighter, a little less overwhelming.

Hoseok's POV

The tour was everything I'd dreamed of, but no matter how incredible the performances were, I couldn't stop thinking about Hari.

I'd always known she was important to me, but being away from her made me realize just how much. She wasn't just my best friend; she was my home, the one person who truly understood me.

I missed her laugh, the way she teased me, the way she always seemed to know what I needed without me having to say a word.

And somewhere between cities, I realized the truth.

I loved her.

I had for a long time.

Two months into the tour, I found myself back at the airport, my heart pounding as I waited for her. I'd managed to squeeze in a short break before the next leg of the tour, and all I wanted was to see her.

When I finally spotted her, weaving through the crowd, I felt a rush of relief and something else—something deeper.

"Hari!" I called, waving her over.

Her smile was immediate, and for the first time in weeks, everything felt right again.

The Confession

Hoseok's pov

That night, we found ourselves back on her rooftop, the stars shining brightly above us, casting a soft glow over everything. It was quiet, save for the faint hum of the city below. This place had always been our sanctuary, a place where time seemed to slow down.

But tonight, something felt different. The air between us was heavier, charged with emotions we'd both left unsaid for far too long.

"I missed you," I said, breaking the silence. My voice came out softer than I intended, like the words carried more weight than they should have.

Hari turned to me, her expression gentle but curious. "I missed you too, Hobi." Her voice was steady, but there was a vulnerability in her eyes that made my heart ache.

I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. For all the times I had danced on stage in front of thousands of people, nothing had ever made me this nervous. My palms felt clammy, and my chest tightened as I searched for the courage to say what I'd been holding in for so long.

"Hari, there's something I need to tell you," I said, my heart pounding.

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing in that way they always did when she was trying to figure me out. "What is it?"

I swallowed hard. "I—" I hesitated again, but I couldn't hold it back any longer. "I've been afraid of losing you. For a long time."

Her eyes widened, a flicker of surprise—and something else—crossing her face.

"Hobi..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper.

But before she could finish, I pushed forward, the words spilling out like a floodgate had opened. "You're not just my best friend, Hari. You're... everything. You always have been. And I think I've loved you for longer than I even realized."

The silence that followed was deafening. I could hear the faint sounds of traffic below, the occasional bark of a dog in the distance, but between us, there was nothing but the sound of my heart pounding in my ears.

I braced myself, every nerve in my body on edge as I waited for her to respond. Had I just ruined everything? Had I misread all the little moments between us—the lingering touches, the stolen glances, the way her laughter always seemed to wrap itself around my heart?

Then she smiled.

It wasn't just any smile. It was the kind of smile that made the world tilt on its axis, the kind that made you feel like you'd finally found something you didn't even know you were searching for.

Her eyes glistened, the soft glow of the stars reflecting in them. "I thought I was the only one who felt that way," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Her words hit me like a wave, and for a moment, I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Relief and joy washed over me in equal measure, and I felt a grin spread across my face—a grin so wide it almost hurt.

"You mean it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She nodded, laughing softly as a tear slipped down her cheek. "I've loved you for so long, Hobi. I just didn't know how to tell you. I was so scared of losing what we had."

I reached out, brushing the tear away with my thumb. My hand lingered on her cheek, my touch gentle, as if she might disappear if I moved too quickly.

"You'll never lose me," I said, my voice firm but tender. "Hari, you've always been the most important person in my life. Nothing could ever change that."

Her eyes searched mine, and for a moment, it felt like the entire world had faded away, leaving just the two of us under the vast expanse of stars.

Slowly, I pulled her into my arms, wrapping her in a hug that felt like it could hold all the unsaid words, all the unspoken promises. She melted into me, her arms circling my waist as she buried her face in my chest.

"I'm so glad you said something," she murmured against me, her voice muffled but full of emotion. "I don't know how much longer I could've kept this to myself."

I held her tighter, my chin resting on the top of her head. "Me neither. I was so scared of messing this up, of ruining what we have. But now... now I can't imagine not telling you."

She pulled back just enough to look up at me, her face inches from mine. Her eyes searched mine, and for a brief, heart-stopping moment, it felt like time had frozen.

And then, slowly, her hand reached up to cup my cheek. "You're my everything too, Hobi," she said softly.

I couldn't stop the grin that spread across my face, nor the overwhelming urge to kiss her. But I didn't rush. Instead, I leaned in slowly, giving her every chance to pull away. She didn't.

When our lips finally met, it was like coming home. The kiss was soft and tentative at first, but it quickly deepened, filled with all the emotions we'd been holding back for years. It wasn't just a kiss—it was a promise, a confession, and a beginning all wrapped into one.

When we finally pulled apart, both of us breathless, she rested her forehead against mine, her hands still on my cheeks.

"That was worth the wait," she whispered, her voice full of warmth and a hint of laughter.

I chuckled, my hands resting on her waist. "It definitely was. But I'm never waiting that long to tell you how I feel again."

Her laughter was like music, filling the rooftop with a joy that felt like it might burst out of us both.

That night, under the stars, we didn't just close the space between us—we erased it entirely. Hari wasn't just my best friend anymore. She was my forever, my partner, my love. And I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that nothing would ever come between us again.