𝗛𝗢𝗧 | 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗵𝘆𝘂𝗰𝗸 || 𝗔𝗠𝗕𝗪

𝙎𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙮

The next morning, Hope woke up feeling a sense of unease. She couldn't quite pinpoint why, but something felt off. She brushed it off as residual nerves from the previous month's events. Today was a big day-a charity concert that she had been looking forward to for weeks.

Hope arrived at the venue early to prepare. The arena was already buzzing with activity as stagehands set up equipment and lighting. She spotted Mark and Haechan chatting near the stage. They looked up and waved as she approached.

"Morning, superstar," Haechan greeted her with a warm smile.

"Hey," Hope replied, smiling back. "Ready for tonight?"

"Absolutely," Mark answered, his usual calm demeanor in place. "Security is tight, and everything's been double-checked."

Hope nodded, feeling slightly reassured. "Thanks, Mark. That means a lot."

As the day progressed, Hope immersed herself in rehearsals, going over every detail of the performance. She couldn't afford any mistakes, especially not with such a large audience and the charity cause on the line.

Later, while Hope was taking a break in her dressing room, Mark knocked and entered. He seemed unusually tense.

"Hope, can we talk for a second?" he asked, closing the door behind him.

"Sure, what's up?" Hope responded, sensing his unease.

Mark took a deep breath. "I just wanted to make sure you're feeling okay about tonight. We've got everything covered, but I know things have been tough lately."

Hope sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I'm nervous, but I'll be fine. Knowing you and Haechan are here helps."

Mark nodded. "We're both here for you, always."

Just then, Haechan walked in, holding a bottle of water. "Hey, what did I miss?"

"Just a pep talk," Hope said with a smile. "How about we get ready? The show's in a few hours."

As they prepared, the atmosphere grew more charged with anticipation. Hope slipped into her costume, a stunning outfit designed to catch the eye of everyone in the audience. Mark and Haechan changed into their coordinated outfits, a nod to their matching look from the reality show appearance.

The time finally came for Hope to take the stage. The roar of the crowd was deafening as the lights dimmed and the music began. Hope felt a rush of adrenaline as she stepped into the spotlight, her fears momentarily forgotten.

Everything was going smoothly until Mark, who was stationed near the backstage area, noticed something strange. One of the security personnel was acting suspiciously, their eyes darting around nervously.

Mark's instincts kicked in. He signaled to another guard and approached the suspicious person. "Hey, can I see your ID?" he demanded.

The person hesitated, then bolted towards the stage. Mark took off after them, his heart pounding. He tackled the person just as they reached the stage, revealing a knife hidden in their jacket.

The crowd gasped, unaware of the danger that had just been averted. Hope, noticing the commotion, kept singing but her eyes followed Mark's movements.

Security quickly subdued the intruder and escorted them away. Mark returned to his post, his mind racing. He had to stay vigilant; there was no telling what could happen next.

After the concert, Hope rushed backstage, her face pale. "Mark, what happened?"

"Just a security breach," Mark said, trying to downplay the situation. "But it's handled now."

Haechan joined them, his expression serious. "We need to talk about this. It's not safe for you, Hope."

Hope nodded, her hands trembling slightly. "I know. I just want to be able to perform without fear."

"We'll figure this out," Mark promised. "We're not letting anything happen to you."

Later that night, when everyone had left and it was just Hope and Mark, she felt the weight of the evening's events settling in. The adrenaline had worn off, leaving her feeling vulnerable.

"Thank you, Mark," she said softly. "For everything."

Mark looked at her, his eyes filled with concern. "You don't have to thank me. It's my job."

Hope shook her head. "No, it's more than that. You've been there for me in ways I can't even describe."

They stood there in silence for a moment, the tension between them palpable. Hope took a step closer, her heart pounding in her chest. Mark's eyes flickered with something she hadn't seen before-a mix of protectiveness and something deeper.

Without thinking, Hope closed the distance between them and kissed him. It was soft at first, tentative, but then Mark responded, pulling her closer, his arms wrapping around her. The kiss deepened, a silent promise of protection and understanding.

When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless.

"Hope," Mark whispered, his forehead resting against hers. "I..."

"Shh," she said, placing a finger on his lips. "We'll figure this out. Together."

Mark nodded, his arms still around her. "Together."