Chapter 14 - The Fire Escape

The Fire Escape

The rooftop fire escape had always been Y/n's secret.

A place where she could exhale, away from her father's expectations and the weight of being Park Daehun's heir.

Tonight, though, someone else had found it.

"Didn't think I'd see you here," Taehyung said, sitting on the edge of the railing, backlit by stars.

"You're in my spot."

"I needed air."

She walked past him, settling down a few feet away, knees pulled to her chest.

They sat in silence for a while, the chill of the night soft between them.

"Do you think people would like you more," he asked suddenly, "if you weren't so guarded?"

She looked over. "Do you?"

Taehyung didn't answer right away. Instead, he said, "I don't think they deserve to see you if they're not willing to understand you."

She blinked, caught off guard.

"And what about you?" she asked.

He turned to her. "I'm trying."

Y/n stared at him. In the quiet, the tension between them wasn't heavy it was gentle, like a lullaby just waiting to break into something more.

Then, carefully, she leaned her head onto his shoulder.

Taehyung didn't move. Didn't speak. Just let her stay there, in the hush of night, as his hand slowly reached up to cover hers resting on the steel rail.

Fingers brushing. Hearts talking in silence.

And the fire escape, cold and creaking, became the warmest place in the world.