Lines We Shouldn't Cross

chapter 1

The restaurant buzzed with soft chatter, dim lights hanging low over the tables. Low conversations, the clink of glasses, and the occasional burst of laughter could be heard from nearby tables. Hana glanced across the room, taking in the sights of all the happy people as she tried her best to avoid what —who— was right in front of her. She sat across from him, candlelight flickering between them. He was leaning back in his chair, effortlessly cool, a half-smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he reached across to take her hand.

"You look stunning tonight, babe," he said, his voice smooth and low. His fingers traced circles over her wrist, sending a small shiver down her spine. Hana tried her best to keep her composure, she really did. But she lost all self respect when it came to her boyfriend, and she hated herself for it.

This dinner was an apology, and they both knew it. He was trying to make up for standing her up a few days ago. She hadn't been angry at first, but then she remembered all the other times. She should've hated him for it. But how could she, when he sat across from her, giving her that look?

His eyes roamed over her face, from her flushed cheeks to her lips. She hated when he did that. Then, there it was—the familiar, smug look. The "I've won again" look. He knew exactly the effect he had on her, just like he did on most women. A single glance from him, and she was powerless to resist.

"So do you," Hana said dryly, matching his gaze. She'd play his game. He knew she'd give in by the end of the night—she always did. But that didn't mean she would back down without trying.

Taehyung looked heavenly, as always. The candlelight sharpened his already striking features, highlighting the strong lines of his jaw and the curve of his lips. His dark, fitted suit clung to his broad shoulders, the crisp white shirt beneath unbuttoned just enough to reveal a hint of skin. He was effortlessly stunning, and he knew it.

As much as Taehyung wanted to continue playing this stupid back-and-forth game, he knew he should mention the reason why he'd brought her there.

"Hana, look... I'm sorry about what happened the other day. It was such a dick thing to do, and you know I would never do anything to hurt you".

Does she? Instead of interrupting him, Hana decided to let him continue with his ramble, ignoring how tight her chest felt.

"You know things have been rough for me lately. My dads been on my ass about getting my shit together, and like I've just been so tired. But you make me so happy, it's' just I've been going through some tough times recently," he said.

Hana knew that Taehyung's father was pressuring him about finding another job, since his old company had to let him go because of some budget cuts. She knew that it must have been really stressful for him to have to look for another job and deal with his personal life. Suddenly, she felt like such a bitch for bothering him. She was acting like the typical clingy girlfriend that doesn't give her partner any room to breathe. She usually wouldn't act like that, but she'd been feeling so neglected. The truth was, Hana had been going through some shit at work too. The work stress must have really gotten to her.

"No, it's my fault. Honestly, I don't know what came over me. I know how hard it must be for you right now. Especially with your dad breathing down your neck 24/7," Hana said sympathetically.

Taehyung's father was the CEO of a highly successful company, and had impossibly high expectations for his sons. Taehyung was always compared to his older brother, who was likely to take over the company after their father. Hana knew how badly Taehyung wanted to break free from his father's shadow and carve out his own path.

"No, you don't need to apologize. It was my fault," Taehyung said. "I was just so exhausted from job hunting that I completely forgot we had plans."

Hana and Taehyung had a dinner reservation for Valentine's day, at a restaurant that Hana was really looking forward to going to.

"You know what? How about we just forget about it? It's alright, let's just enjoy tonight," Hana said with a soft smile.

"Yeah, that sounds great," Taehyung said, smiling back.

Taehyung reached for her hand and pressed a gentle kiss to it.

That simple gesture sent a thousand butterflies fluttering in Hana's stomach.

As the evening went on, the tension between them seemed to disappear with each passing moment. They enjoyed a quiet dinner, laughing and reminiscing about their shared memories. There were countless moments that night that made Hana realize just how deeply she was in love with the man sitting across from her. Her life had been so much brighter since she'd met Taehyung. She didn't want it to end—ever. Honestly, she couldn't imagine it any other way.

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Thank you guys so much for reading this chapter!