All eyes were still on me, their stares like a heavy weight pressing down on my chest. My breaths grew shallower, and I could feel the telltale signs of my heart straining to keep up. I didn't know what to do—what to say. The room seemed to spin, the chatter growing distant and muffled, as if I were underwater.

"Excuse us," Break's voice cut through the noise, firm and commanding, as he stood and gently took my arm. He guided me away from the crowd, his presence a steady anchor in the storm of overwhelming attention.

We slipped out of the ballroom and found a quiet spot in an empty hallway just beyond the main event area. Break sat me down on a cushioned bench, crouching in front of me with concern etched deeply on his face. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft but urgent. "Do you need me to call someone? Or should we leave?"

I shook my head, fumbling to retrieve the small case of pills from my purse. "No, I'm fine. I just need a minute."

He stayed close as I quickly took my diuretics and anticoagulants, swallowing them with a sip of water from the bottle he always seemed to have on hand. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, willing my heart to steady itself.

After a moment, I felt the tightness in my chest begin to ease. I opened my eyes to see Break still watching me, his brow furrowed with worry. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked again. "We can leave, Clover. This isn't worth it if it's too much for you."

I offered him a small, reassuring smile. "I'm okay now. I promise."

He didn't look convinced, but before he could press further, we both froze at the sound of footsteps approaching. I looked up, my heart skipping for a completely different reason this time.

Taehyung.

He was standing there, looking effortlessly elegant in his dark suit, his expression soft and apologetic. His presence seemed to fill the hallway, and I felt my pulse quicken again, though this time it wasn't because of my condition.

"Hey," he greeted us, his deep voice carrying a warmth that took the edge off my nervousness. "I'm sorry about earlier. My friends can be...a little much sometimes."

Break straightened, his posture still protective as he glanced between Taehyung and me. He knew exactly what this moment meant to me—what it had always meant to me. But he also knew my limits, and his hesitation was clear in the way he lingered.

I placed a hand on his arm and gave him a nod. "Break, it's okay. Can you give us a moment?"

His jaw tightened, but after a brief pause, he sighed and nodded. "If you're sure."

"I am," I assured him, trying to project more confidence than I felt.

Break glanced at Taehyung, a silent message passing between them, before he turned and headed back toward the party.

Now it was just the two of us.

Taehyung stepped closer, his gaze searching mine. "Are you really okay? You looked overwhelmed back there."

I quickly tucked my medication case deeper into my purse, hiding it from view, and forced a smile. "I'm fine now. Thank you."

He hesitated, as if he wasn't entirely convinced, but he let it go. I took a deep breath, steadying my thoughts as I finally found my voice. "I was supposed to reply to you," I said softly, meeting Taehyung's gaze. His expression shifted, curiosity flashing in his eyes.

"But?" he prompted, his lips twitching into a faint smile.

"But you changed your messaging privacy settings," I admitted, feeling my cheeks warm. "After your reply, I wanted to respond, but when I tried...I couldn't. I didn't know how else to reach you, so I just...let it go."

For a moment, Taehyung just stared at me, and then he laughed—a deep, warm sound that echoed in the quiet hallway. "I changed my settings?" he asked, amusement clear in his voice.

I nodded. "You did. I didn't want to seem like a stalker trying to find another way to message you, so I left it at that. But...thank you for noticing me back then. It meant a lot."

His laughter softened, and his expression grew thoughtful. "You're welcome," he said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "But you know, when I saw your name that first time—Clover Delight Peewee—I laughed so hard. I thought it was a username at first."

I couldn't help but laugh too, the memory of that moment feeling surreal now. "Yeah, you mentioned that. I still can't believe you told me it sounded unbelievable."

"It was unbelievable," he said, his grin widening. "And when I told the other members about you, they laughed even harder. Your name was the highlight of our day."

I raised an eyebrow, equal parts amused and mortified. "You told them about me?"

"Oh, absolutely," Taehyung said, leaning against the wall, his relaxed posture contrasting the weight of my emotions. "Your name became an inside joke for a while. But you know what made them laugh even more?"

"What?" I asked hesitantly.

"The fact that you didn't reply," he said, shaking his head with a chuckle. "They couldn't believe someone would leave me hanging like that. They teased me for weeks."

I blinked, stunned. "You're kidding."

"Nope," he said, still laughing. "Jungkook even made up this whole theory about how you were probably a spy or something, pretending to be a fan but secretly working for another group."

I couldn't stop myself from laughing, the absurdity of it all washing over me. "That's ridiculous."

"It is," he agreed, his gaze softening as he looked at me. "But honestly...I'm glad we're talking now. I've been wondering about you for years."

His words settled over me, warm and unexpected, and for a moment, I didn't know how to respond. "Me too," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Me too."

As the surreal moment stretched between us, reality slowly began to sink in. I was standing here, talking to him—Kim Taehyung. My bias, my favorite, the one who had unknowingly been a source of comfort and inspiration for years.

The realization made my chest tighten, but not in the overwhelming way it had earlier. This was different. It was excitement, disbelief, and a little bit of nervousness all wrapped together.

I cleared my throat, feeling my cheeks warm. "Taehyung..." I hesitated, my voice trailing off.

He tilted his head, his eyes curious and gentle. "Hmm?"

"Would it—would it be okay if we took a picture together?" I asked, my words rushing out before I lost my nerve. "You've always been my bias, and...well, this moment feels like a dream. I don't want to forget it."

Taehyung's expression softened, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Of course," he said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

I quickly retrieved my phone, my hands trembling slightly as I unlocked it. Taehyung leaned in closer, his presence so calm and assured that it steadied me. We both faced the camera, and I snapped the picture.

As I lowered the phone, I couldn't help but glance at the screen. There we were—me, with a slightly dazed but glowing expression, and him, effortlessly cool yet undeniably warm.

"Perfect," he said, looking at the photo over my shoulder. "You're glowing."

I laughed, still unable to fully believe this was happening. "Thanks to you," I said honestly.

"Keep it," Taehyung said, his voice low and sincere. "As proof that some dreams do come true."

I smiled at him, feeling a sense of peace settle in my heart. "Thank you, Taehyung. For everything."

He nodded, his gaze lingering on mine for a moment before he straightened up, the corners of his lips lifting into another one of his signature smiles. "No, thank you, Clover Delight Peewee," he said, his tone playful yet meaningful.

After our brief but surreal conversation, Taehyung and I headed back into the party. As soon as we stepped through the doors, I could feel the weight of countless gazes turning toward us. Whispers rippled through the crowd, and I instinctively glanced at Taehyung, who looked utterly unfazed, his usual confident demeanor intact.

The moment we re-entered, the rest of BTS gravitated toward us, their presence commanding the room as they approached with smiles and curious expressions.

"Yah, Taehyung, aren't you going to introduce us?" Jungkook teased, his tone light but insistent.

Taehyung chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was getting there," he said, his voice smooth. He glanced at me, his gaze encouraging.

But before he could say a word, I found myself stepping forward, unable to contain the fangirl in me any longer. "Wait—please don't introduce yourselves," I blurted, my cheeks flushing.

Namjoon raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh?"

"You don't need to," I said, my voice trembling slightly with excitement. I looked at each of them, my smile growing. "Namjoon, your words always resonate with me, and your leadership is everything."

Namjoon's smile widened, his dimples on full display. "Thank you. That means a lot."

I turned to Yoongi next, my heart pounding. "Yoongi, your music—your lyrics—they've carried me through some of my hardest days. You've inspired me to keep creating, even when it felt impossible."

Yoongi nodded, his expression softening. "That's the best thing I could hear. Thank you."

Then came Hoseok. "Hobi," I said, practically glowing, "you're like a beam of sunlight. Your energy is contagious, and you remind me that there's always a reason to smile, even on the darkest days."

He beamed at me, his eyes crinkling with joy. "That's exactly what I aim for. I'm glad I could do that for you."

I turned to Jimin next, feeling my voice catch in my throat. "Jimin, your kindness, your dedication, and the way you connect with people through your art...you've shown me what it means to truly care."

Jimin's cheeks turned a light shade of pink, and he gave me a shy smile. "You're too sweet. Thank you for saying that."

And then Jungkook. "Kookie," I said, grinning, "you're the golden maknae for a reason. Your growth, your talent, and your work ethic—they're unmatched. You inspire everyone to reach higher, including me."

Jungkook's eyes sparkled, and he gave me a thumbs-up. "That's awesome to hear. Thank you."

It was a bittersweet moment to not see Jin among them, but I knew he was serving his country with the same passion he brought to everything he did. "I wish Jin-oppa was here," I said quietly, and they all nodded in agreement.

Then Jungkook, ever the playful one, grinned. "Alright, enough sentimentality. Clover, come here." He pulled out his phone and motioned for everyone to gather around. "We need to take a picture together."

My heart raced as I stood in the middle, flanked by seven—well, six—of the people who had shaped my life in ways they couldn't even imagine. The camera clicked, capturing a moment I knew I'd treasure forever.

As I looked at the photo on Jungkook's phone, I couldn't help but smile. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was living a dream I never dared to believe could come true.

As much as I wanted to linger in their presence, soaking up every second of this once-in-a-lifetime moment, I knew I couldn't monopolize their time. They deserved to enjoy the rest of the night, mingling with others who undoubtedly admired them just as much as I did.

I smiled, clasping my hands together as I addressed them. "Thank you, truly, for everything. I'll never forget this. But I should get back to my friends now—they've probably been wondering where I disappeared to."

Namjoon nodded graciously. "It was really nice meeting you, Clover. Enjoy the night."

Hoseok gave me a warm smile. "And don't forget to keep smiling!"

Jungkook held up a peace sign. "We'll catch you later."

As I turned to leave, Taehyung's voice stopped me. "Wait, Clover."

I turned back, my pulse quickening as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. "Can I have your contact?" he asked, his deep voice carrying an almost shy undertone. "Via iMessage?"

My heart skipped a beat. I was thankful in that moment that I'd always been an iPhone user. "Sure," I said, taking his phone.

I quickly entered my number into his contact list, my fingers trembling slightly as I typed. I saved it under "Clover Delight Peewee" with a little four-leaf clover emoji, unable to resist adding a playful touch. Handing the phone back to him, I glanced up to see his soft smile.

"Thanks," he said, looking at the name and chuckling lightly. "You really own that full name, don't you?"

I laughed, feeling the weight of his words and the lightness of the moment all at once. "It's unforgettable, right?"

He smiled warmly, and for a second, I forgot the noise and crowd around us. Then, with a small wave, I headed back to my friends, feeling like my heart might burst—not from the overwhelming emotions or even my condition, but from the sheer joy of this surreal encounter.

As I rejoined Miami, Jackie, and the others, they were already grinning knowingly, clearly having seen everything unfold. "Well?" Miami teased, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Well," I said, sitting down and taking a sip of water to steady myself, "I just gave my number to Taehyung."

The table erupted into cheers, laughter, and playful jabs, but all I could do was smile, knowing this night would stay with me forever.

In the middle of our lively conversation, the atmosphere shifted when I noticed Tris approaching our table. My heart tensed involuntarily, and I wasn't sure if it was from my condition or just the sight of him after all this time. Miami and Jackie immediately moved to block his way, protective as ever, while the others exchanged wary glances.

"It's fine," I said, raising a hand to stop them.

"Are you sure?" Miami asked, her voice low but filled with concern.

I nodded with a reassuring smile, even though I wasn't entirely sure myself.

Reluctantly, they let him pass, and Tris gestured to a quieter table nearby. I followed him, feeling the weight of my friends' watchful eyes on my back.

We sat down, the noise of the party fading slightly in the background. Tris leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady as he studied me. "So... you and Taehyung, huh?" he said, a hint of something unspoken in his tone.

I shook my head with a small laugh, brushing off his implication. "Nah, I'm just a lucky fan who happened to be in the right place at the right time."

Tris smirked faintly, but his expression softened as he leaned forward. "How have you been, Clover? Really."

The question caught me off guard, though I didn't let it show. "Nothing's changed much," I said lightly, avoiding the depth of his gaze. It wasn't a lie—at least, not entirely.

He nodded slowly, his eyes searching mine for something more. When I didn't elaborate, he let out a breath and said, "I'm glad you're here. And I'm glad you're... okay."

"I'm glad you're successful now," I replied, changing the subject. "Living your dreams. You've worked hard for this, and it shows."

Tris smiled, though there was a flicker of something unreadable in his expression. "Thanks, Clover. That means a lot."

I didn't know what else to say. The space between us felt heavy with words unsaid, and I was too tired to unpack them. Before I could excuse myself, Tris broke the silence.

"Can we hang out sometime?" he asked, his tone cautious, almost hopeful.

I hesitated, then shook my head gently. "I'm heading back to the Philippines tomorrow."

"Oh," he said, his disappointment clear. But he quickly masked it with a polite nod. "I see."

I offered him a small, sincere smile. "It was nice seeing you again, Tris. Really. I'm happy for you."

His lips parted as if he wanted to say more, but he simply nodded again, his gaze following me as I stood.

"Take care, Clover," he said softly.

"You too," I replied before walking away, leaving the conversation—and whatever unresolved feelings lingered—behind.

When I returned to my friends, they immediately bombarded me with questions, but I waved them off with a laugh. "It's nothing. Just catching up."

Miami raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. Jackie nudged me playfully. "Well, welcome back to the fun. Forget Tris. You've got a story to tell about Taehyung!"

I grinned, grateful for the distraction, and let myself get swept back into the warmth of my friends' company.