The party was in full swing, the glow of fairy lights reflecting off the pool's surface and creating a magical atmosphere. I was busy entertaining familiar faces when I noticed the crowd's attention shifting toward the entrance. Curious, I turned to see two tall figures walking in with a casual confidence that commanded attention.

"Wait...what?" I muttered to myself, blinking in surprise.

It was EXO's Sehun and SHINee's Taemin.

I wasn't expecting them at all. But there they were, looking effortlessly cool as they made their way toward me. My heart raced a little—Sehun and Taemin? At my birthday party? This couldn't be real.

"Happy birthday, Clover," Sehun said, his voice smooth and calm as he offered a small smile.

Taemin grinned, his demeanor warm and friendly. "Yes, happy birthday. I've heard a lot about you."

"Thank you!" I stammered, still trying to process their presence. "I didn't know you'd be here. This is such a surprise!"

Taemin chuckled, glancing at Sehun with a knowing look. "Well, we weren't planning to crash your party, but we're staying nearby, and someone from your management invited us. I couldn't resist. And, well...Kai was supposed to come with me, but you know, military duties."

"Ah," I nodded, piecing it together.

Taemin smirked. "So, instead, Kai sent Sehun to keep me company. He wouldn't let me come alone."

I couldn't help but laugh at the image of Kai orchestrating this. "Well, I'm glad you're both here. Welcome to the chaos."

Sehun's gaze lingered on me for a moment, his expression soft. "Your name's cute, by the way. I've never heard anything like it."

Heat crept into my cheeks, and I gave a nervous laugh. "Thanks. I get that a lot."

Taemin leaned toward me with a playful smile. "And Sehun here thinks it's more than just cute. He's been curious about you since Kai mentioned you."

"Taemin," Sehun muttered under his breath, shooting Taemin a mildly exasperated look. But his faint blush gave him away.

Taemin ignored him, his grin widening. "Anyway, I'll leave you two to talk. Jimin's over there, and I've got some catching up to do."

Before I could respond, Taemin clapped Sehun on the shoulder and winked at me. Then, he strolled off toward Jimin, leaving Sehun and me standing there, the crowd buzzing around us.

For a moment, we stood in awkward silence. Sehun rubbed the back of his neck, looking almost shy.

"So," he said finally, his tone light and easy, "what's it like working with BTS? I imagine it's pretty intense."

I smiled, grateful for the icebreaker. "It has its moments, but it's been an amazing experience overall. What about you? How's life with EXO?"

And just like that, the awkwardness faded. The conversation flowed naturally, and for a while, it felt like we were in our own little bubble, the party around us becoming a distant hum.

The party was lively as ever, but at that moment, it felt like it had narrowed down to just Sehun and me. He had been engaging and easy to talk to, and I found myself enjoying our conversation more than I expected.

"Let me grab us some drinks," Sehun offered, flashing a polite smile before excusing himself to head to the bar.

I watched him walk away, feeling a strange mix of nervousness and intrigue. Just as I was mentally preparing myself to navigate whatever this was turning into, he returned with two glasses in hand.

"For the birthday girl," Sehun said with a warm smile, handing one of the glasses toward me.

But before I could reach for it, a hand shot out, and the glass was plucked away.

"Thanks," Suga said nonchalantly, taking a sip as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

I blinked, utterly stunned. "Suga?"

Suga didn't even look at me as he took another sip. His calm demeanor was almost infuriating. Meanwhile, Sehun stood frozen, clearly caught off guard by the sudden intrusion.

Before either of us could recover, Suga set the empty glass on a nearby table and turned to Sehun with a polite but firm smile. "Sorry about that. I need to borrow the birthday girl for a bit."

Sehun blinked, clearly trying to process what had just happened. "Uh...sure?"

Suga didn't wait for a response. He gently grabbed my wrist and led me away from the scene, weaving through the crowd with his usual composed air. I glanced back at Sehun, who still looked slightly confused, but he didn't stop us.

Once we were far enough from the noise, I pulled my wrist free and turned to him, my voice a mix of confusion and irritation. "What was that about?"

Suga stopped and finally looked at me, his expression unreadable. "You're not supposed to drink that."

I froze, realizing what he meant. Of course. Alcohol. My heart.

Still, I couldn't help but feel flustered. "You didn't have to steal it out of his hand like that! I could've handled it!"

His gaze softened slightly, though his tone remained calm. "Maybe. But I wasn't going to take the risk."

For a moment, neither of us said anything. The sounds of the party felt distant, and all I could hear was the steady beat of my own heart, painfully aware of how much Suga already knew about it.

"Clover," he said quietly, his voice dropping to that familiar, soothing tone, "I'm not trying to ruin your night. I just...don't want anything to happen to you."

I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. Instead, I nodded, my frustration melting into something softer.

"Now, go back and enjoy your party," he said, his lips quirking into a small, almost teasing smile. "But maybe skip the drinks this time."

I couldn't help but laugh, rolling my eyes as I turned to head back to the crowd. "Fine, but you owe me an explanation for that dramatic entrance later."

As I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling of his gaze lingering on me, protective and steady, like always.

Before I could take another step back toward the party, Suga grabbed my wrist again, but this time, his touch was firmer, more deliberate. Without a word, he led me away, maneuvering us through the hotel's lush garden area until we were in a secluded, quiet spot.

"What are you doing?" I snapped, trying to pull free, but his grip held.

When we finally stopped, I crossed my arms, irritation bubbling up. "Seriously, Yoongi, what is your problem? One minute, you're cold and distant, acting like I overstepped, and now you're dragging me off like this? Do you think I have time for this kind of whiplash?"

He said nothing, his expression unreadable.

"I mean, make up your mind!" I continued, my voice rising with frustration. "Because honestly, I—"

Before I could finish my rant, Suga stepped closer, cutting off my words. His hand moved to my waist, his touch sending an unexpected jolt through me.

"You shouldn't have tried to kiss me," he said quietly, his voice low but steady.

I blinked, stunned and angry all over again. "Excuse me?"

He leaned in closer, his eyes locking onto mine. "Because now...I can't hold myself back any longer."

And then he kissed me.

It wasn't rushed or hesitant; it was slow, deliberate, and filled with a depth that caught me completely off guard. My annoyance melted away, replaced by something else—something warm and grounding. This wasn't like the butterflies or dizzying rush I'd heard people talk about. No, this was different.

I felt safe. Secure. Like I was exactly where I was meant to be.

Before I even realized it, I was kissing him back. My hands slid up to rest on his shoulders as we moved in perfect sync, a quiet understanding passing between us without a single word.

When our lips finally parted, he looked at me with a smile so genuine, so unguarded, that it took my breath away.

It was the first time I'd ever seen him like that—happy, truly happy.

I couldn't help but smile back, and before I knew it, I was tipping onto my toes to kiss him again, this time quicker, softer. When I pulled back, I smirked.

"You like me that much, huh?" I teased, trying to lighten the moment even as my heart raced in my chest.

He chuckled, pulling me closer until there was barely any space left between us. "I do."

The simplicity of those two words, spoken so earnestly, made my chest tighten in a way that had nothing to do with my heart condition.

Suga's smile shifted slightly, taking on a more serious edge.

"Clover," he said softly, his thumb grazing the curve of my waist, sending a shiver down my spine. "Don't call me Yoongi again."

I frowned, tilting my head. "What? Why?"

He hesitated, his gaze dropping for a moment before meeting mine again. "Because I've always loved how you call me Suga. It's...you. It feels right when it comes from you. But when you called me by my name earlier..."

His voice trailed off, and he shook his head slightly, as if the thought itself bothered him. "It felt...strangely different. Like I hated my own name for the first time in my life."

I blinked, startled by the confession. "You hate your own name?"

He shook his head again, letting out a small, self-deprecating chuckle. "Not exactly. I just hate the way it sounded coming from you—like there was distance between us."

His words struck something deep inside me. I hadn't even realized how much it meant to him, calling him that.

"Okay," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "Suga."

At that, he smiled again, the kind of smile that felt like a rare gift. He cupped my face gently, his thumb brushing against my cheek, and for a moment, the rest of the world faded away.

"Much better," he murmured, leaning in to press a soft kiss to my forehead.

In that moment, I couldn't help but wonder how someone so complicated could make me feel so at peace. But I didn't question it. I just let myself feel it.

When we returned to the party, I tried my best to slip back into hostess mode, mingling with the guests and thanking everyone for coming. But the moment I passed Break near the dessert table, he smirked at me with that signature mischievous look that always spelled trouble.

"So, you and Suga," he said casually, popping a piece of chocolate into his mouth.

My eyes widened in panic. "What are you talking about?" I whispered, glancing around to make sure no one else overheard us.

Break chuckled, clearly enjoying my reaction. "Relax. It's obvious."

"Obvious?" I hissed, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.

He shrugged, completely unbothered. "The way you two steal glances at each other, the way he always seems to know where you are in a room... It's written all over you both."

I opened my mouth to argue, but the truth was, Break was right. And maybe, just maybe, I didn't care if it was obvious anymore.

I sighed, looking at him with a shy smile. "I like him, Break. So much."

Break tilted his head, studying me.

"So much that it scares me," I admitted, my voice softer now. "But not because I'm afraid of him or us. It's scary because... it doesn't scare me. It just feels... right."

Break's smirk softened into something more genuine. "That's how you know it's real, Clo."

He didn't tease or throw in a sarcastic remark. He just gave me a knowing look and walked off, leaving me standing there with a mix of nerves and excitement fluttering in my chest.