Disha's pulse quickened as she processed Hana's words. The eerie silence in the room seemed to amplify every breath she took, every beat of her heart. Hoseok, standing by her side, had tensed up. His hand brushed against hers, and though she could feel the warmth of his skin, there was an electric tension hanging between them, like a storm about to break.

Hana stepped closer, her voice low, almost conspiratorial. "Hoseok's life... it's not what you think it is. He's not just an idol or a doctor. There's more—so much more. The truth is, he's been hiding a secret far bigger than you can imagine."

Disha narrowed her eyes, her sarcasm acting as her shield once again. "Oh, so now we're adding 'spy' to the list? Or wait, let me guess—he's secretly a vampire who sparkles in the sun?"

Hoseok couldn't help but crack a smile at Disha's words, despite the gravity of the moment. But Hana's face remained solemn.

"Disha, I'm serious," Hana continued, ignoring the quip. "You need to understand what's really at stake here. There are people after Hoseok—people who will stop at nothing to get what they want from him. His dual life wasn't just a choice; it was a necessity for survival."

Disha crossed her arms, her stance defiant. "And what exactly is it that they want from him? His autograph? Some secret K-pop choreography?"

Hana's gaze shifted to Hoseok, who had been silent up until this point. His eyes were dark, filled with unspoken thoughts, emotions swirling beneath the surface. He stepped forward, placing himself slightly in front of Disha as if to shield her.

"Hana's right, Disha," he finally said, his voice quiet but firm. "There are things I haven't told you—not because I didn't want to, but because I was trying to protect you."

Disha's sarcastic bravado faltered for a moment, replaced by a flash of concern. "Protect me from what, Hoseok?"

He looked at her, his expression raw, vulnerable. "From the truth. From the danger I've been trying to keep out of your life. You see, my family is connected to something... ancient. A secret society that has existed for centuries, and they've been after me for years."

Disha's mind raced, trying to wrap her head around what he was saying. It sounded like something out of a conspiracy thriller, but the seriousness in his tone, the fear in his eyes—this was real.

"They're called the Nightshade Order," Hoseok continued, his hand gently squeezing Disha's. "They've been hunting down members of my family for generations, trying to use our medical knowledge and connections to gain control over... things I can't even begin to explain."

Hana chimed in, her voice urgent. "They're not just after Hoseok's fame. They want to exploit his position as a doctor. They want his research, his knowledge, everything."

Disha blinked, her usual sarcasm giving way to confusion. "Wait, wait, hold on. Are you telling me you're part of some secret society war?"

"More like I'm running from one," Hoseok admitted. "I've been using my public persona as an idol to stay in the spotlight, thinking it would make it harder for them to target me directly. But they've found ways to close in, and now they're using people close to me to get to me."

Disha stared at him, her mind spinning. It was a lot to take in—Hoseok wasn't just a double threat in the world of entertainment and medicine. He was also caught up in something far darker and more dangerous. But instead of retreating into shock, Disha felt a surge of defiance rise within her.

"Okay," she said, raising her chin. "So they want you for some secret knowledge or whatever. But what makes them think they can just mess with us like this? They clearly haven't met me yet."

Hoseok looked at her, a mixture of admiration and concern in his eyes. "Disha, this is serious. These people aren't just some nuisance. They're powerful, dangerous—"

"And so am I," Disha interrupted, her tone fierce. "Look, Hoseok, I didn't come all this way to be scared off by some shadowy order. If they think they can come after you, then they're going to have to deal with me too. And I'm not backing down."

Hana's eyebrows shot up, clearly taken aback by Disha's resolve. "You're really willing to fight against them?"

"Damn right I am," Disha replied, her sarcasm tinged with steel. "What, do you think I'm just going to let some creepy organization ruin everything? Not a chance."

Hoseok's lips parted, a mixture of disbelief and affection washing over him. "You're unbelievable, Disha."

She grinned. "You're just figuring that out now?"

The room felt tense, the weight of their situation pressing down on them. But there was something in Disha's unwavering defiance that lit a spark of hope in the room—a sense that, together, they could take on whatever was coming.

Suddenly, the door burst open, and several figures dressed in black stormed in, their faces obscured by masks. Disha's instincts kicked in immediately.

"Oh great, the fun police are here," she said, rolling her eyes. "Let me guess, you guys work for the Nightshade Order? How original."

Hoseok stepped in front of her, his eyes blazing with determination. "Stay behind me, Disha."

"Like hell I will," she shot back, grabbing the nearest object—a metal vase—and hurling it at one of the intruders. It hit its target squarely, the man stumbling back with a grunt. "I've got this."

The fight broke out in full force, Hoseok and Hana expertly fending off the attackers while Disha, despite her lack of combat training, held her own with a combination of quick thinking and sheer guts. In the chaos, one of the masked men lunged toward her, but Hoseok was there in an instant, pulling her into his arms as they both tumbled out of harm's way.

For a brief moment, their faces were inches apart, their breaths mingling in the midst of the chaos. Hoseok's eyes burned with intensity as he whispered, "I love you, Disha. I've loved you from the moment we met."

Disha's heart skipped a beat, but she couldn't resist the urge to respond with her usual sass. "Couldn't you have picked a better time to say that? Like, maybe when we're not being attacked?"

Hoseok laughed, even as they dodged another assailant. "I thought now was perfect."

With that, they both stood, side by side, ready to face whatever came next—together, as a force to be reckoned with.

The adrenaline coursed through Disha's veins as she gripped Hoseok's hand, ready for whatever came next. Her usual sass still lingered on her lips, but underneath, her emotions churned with intensity. She had spent so long keeping her guard up, shielding herself with humor and sarcasm, but hearing those words from Hoseok—especially now—felt like the walls she had built around her heart were starting to crumble.

Another masked figure lunged toward them, but this time, Disha didn't hesitate. She yanked a chair from behind her and swung it with surprising force, knocking the man to the ground. Hoseok watched, stunned but impressed by her instinct to fight back.

"Not bad," he breathed out, grinning. "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

"Too late," she shot back with a wink, her breath slightly labored but her spirit unshaken. "You're already on it for taking this long to confess. Honestly, I was starting to think I'd have to do it myself."

Hoseok's face softened for a fleeting second, despite the chaos around them. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into him, his lips ghosting over her ear as he whispered, "Better late than never, right?"

Disha's heart raced—not just from the fight, but from the sudden closeness, the electricity between them undeniable. She locked eyes with him, her voice low but teasing. "Don't get all soft on me now, lover boy. We still have an army of bad guys to deal with."

As if on cue, another wave of attackers entered the room, but something had shifted. Disha's sarcasm and Hoseok's steady presence fueled each other, and they became an unstoppable duo. Where Hoseok parried a blow, Disha countered with a sharp remark and a quick strike of her own. They moved in perfect sync, their connection deepening with every move, every glance, every touch.

At one point, Hoseok caught her by the wrist mid-fight, pulling her close for a brief but fierce kiss that left Disha breathless. She smirked as they broke apart. "That's one way to stay motivated."

He grinned, his eyes dancing with a mix of affection and adrenaline. "What can I say? You inspire me."

Disha's heart swelled, her mind spinning at the surreal turn of events. Here they were, in the middle of a brawl with a secret organization, fighting for their lives—and yet, it felt like they had never been more in tune. Her sarcastic edge softened as she realized just how much Hoseok meant to her, how much she had been fighting her own feelings this whole time.

Another attacker closed in, and Disha reacted without thinking, driving her knee into his stomach. As he doubled over, she glanced at Hoseok, who was dealing with the last of the intruders. "You know," she called out, panting, "you're not getting rid of me after this. We're in this together now."

Hoseok paused, locking eyes with her, his expression serious but filled with warmth. "I wouldn't dream of it."

For a moment, everything stilled. The attackers lay unconscious or retreating, the air thick with the aftermath of the battle. Hoseok stepped toward Disha, his hand reaching out to cup her cheek, his thumb gently brushing her skin. "You have no idea how much I've wanted to say this," he murmured, his voice raw with emotion. "I've been scared to let you into this part of my life, scared that you'd leave once you knew the truth."

Disha shook her head, her eyes fierce. "You don't get it, do you? I'm not going anywhere. I've fought too hard to get to you, to us. Nothing—no secret society, no shadowy past—is going to change that."

Hoseok's eyes softened, and for the first time in what felt like forever, a genuine sense of peace settled between them. "I love you, Disha. For your strength, for your sarcasm, for everything that makes you, you."

Disha grinned, though her voice wavered with emotion as she replied, "And I love you for putting up with all my sass. But next time, can we skip the whole life-threatening part of the date?"

He laughed, pulling her into his arms, and for the first time in hours, the weight of the world around them seemed to fade. Together, they had survived the storm, and now, side by side, they were ready for whatever came next.

Author's Note:

Hey, lovely readers! 🌸

Wow, what a ride this chapter has been, right? 

From Disha's sass to the intense action and, of course, that swoon-worthy confession from Hoseok (cue the heart eyes 😍). I hope you felt every punch, every witty comeback, and every emotional twist just as much as I did while writing it. 

Writing Disha's strength and sarcasm paired with Hoseok's vulnerability is always such a fun dynamic for me, and it only gets juicier from here on out!

But now, I need to hear from YOU! 💬 What did you think of Disha and Hoseok's tag-team fight? Were you screaming when Hoseok finally confessed (because SAME!)? And what do you think is going to happen next? Any predictions? 👀

Also, I'm super curious: who's your favorite character so far? Team Disha for her sass, or Team Hoseok for his unwavering charm? Let me know in the comments below or feel free to DM me your thoughts!

I love interacting with you all, and your feedback and ideas keep me going! Plus, if you share this chapter with your friends and tag me, 

I'll be sure to give you a special shout-out in the next update! 🎉

As always, thank you so much for sticking with me on this wild journey! You make this story what it is, and I can't wait to dive into the next chapter with you. Buckle up, because things are about to get even more intense!

Stay sassy and keep dreaming,