444 (BTS Hyung Line x OCs)

Seventeen: A Night of Confessions

Julissa had never been so nervous to go on a date. She stood in front of the mirror, applying the final touches to her makeup. Her long hair was curled into soft waves, cascading down her back. The deep emerald dress she wore clung to her body, perfectly accentuating her curves without being too revealing. It was elegant, classy, and just bold enough to catch Seokjin's attention. She wanted to look perfect for him tonight—not because she felt like she had to, but because she wanted to. There was something about Seokjin that made her want to show the best version of herself, even though deep down, she was hiding so much.

As she stared at her reflection, she couldn't help but think about the secrets she carried. The guilt she held over what had happened with her best friend gnawed at her. The girls didn't know about it, and she had done a pretty good job of burying it all until now. But with Seokjin, things felt different. He made her feel comfortable, safe even. Maybe tonight was the night she would finally open up.

Taking a deep breath, Julissa grabbed her clutch and stepped out of her room, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor as she made her way outside. Seokjin was waiting for her by the car, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw her.

"Wow," he said, a soft smile spreading across his face as he looked her up and down. "You look absolutely stunning."

Julissa felt her cheeks heat up at his compliment. "Thank you. You don't look so bad yourself."

Seokjin chuckled, offering his arm to her. "Shall we?"

𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛

The restaurant Seokjin had picked was a cozy, intimate place by the water. Soft string lights hung above the patio, and the sound of waves gently lapping against the shore created a serene ambiance. As they sat down, the conversation flowed easily between them, with Seokjin's playful nature keeping Julissa laughing throughout the night.

They talked about everything—music, travel, their favorite foods. Seokjin was charming, with a wit that made Julissa feel completely at ease. But as the night wore on, their conversation took a more personal turn.

"So, tell me about your friends," Seokjin said as they shared a dessert. "You mentioned the girls, but I'm curious if you have any other close friends outside of them."

Julissa's stomach clenched at the question. Her mind immediately went to the friend she had left behind, the one she had betrayed. She forced a smile, trying to play it off. "I, uh... I did. We're not really close anymore."

Seokjin tilted his head, his eyes softening as he picked up on her discomfort. "I get that. Friendships can be complicated."

Julissa nodded, her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her glass. "Yeah. Sometimes things just... fall apart, I guess."

Seokjin was quiet for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Then, he spoke, his voice a little softer than before. "I know what you mean. I had a close friend back home, actually. We grew up together, went through everything side by side. But we had a falling out. It started over something petty—some drama with a girl, of all things. And before I knew it, we weren't talking anymore. I tried to fix it, but... sometimes things are just too far gone."

Julissa looked at him, her heart aching at the sadness in his voice. She hadn't expected Seokjin to open up like that, to share something so personal. And it was in that moment that she realized she couldn't keep hiding from him. Not if she wanted something real with him.

"I did something terrible," Julissa said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Seokjin's eyes met hers, his brow furrowing with concern. "What do you mean?"

Julissa took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she prepared to say the words she had kept buried for so long. "I had this best friend—someone who meant the world to me. We did everything together, just like you and your friend. But... I messed up. I hurt her. There was this guy, and I ended up getting involved with him behind her back. It was stupid and selfish, and when she found out, it destroyed our friendship. I tried to fix it, but... it was too late. She cut me off, and I don't blame her. I betrayed her."

There was a long pause as the weight of her confession hung in the air. Julissa's heart raced, her eyes fixed on the table, too afraid to see the judgment in Seokjin's eyes. But instead of the silence stretching out, Seokjin reached across the table, his hand gently covering hers.

"Julissa," he said softly, his voice full of understanding, "we all make mistakes. Believe me, I've made plenty of my own. What matters is that you recognize what happened and you've learned from it. You're not the same person you were back then."

Julissa finally looked up, her eyes meeting his. There was no judgment there, only warmth and empathy. It was more than she could have hoped for.

"I still feel guilty," she admitted, her voice shaky. "I haven't even told the girls about it. They don't know anything."

Seokjin squeezed her hand gently. "You don't have to carry that guilt alone. And you don't have to tell anyone if you're not ready. But if you ever do, just know that I'm here for you."

Julissa felt her chest tighten, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. No one had ever been this understanding, this kind to her about something that had haunted her for so long.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Seokjin smiled, his eyes twinkling with that familiar warmth that made her heart flutter. "No need to thank me. I'm just glad you felt comfortable enough to share that with me."

For the rest of the evening, the mood lightened. They told more stories, some of them funny, others a little more serious. But through it all, there was a connection between them, something unspoken but strong. By the time they left the restaurant, the tension between them had melted away, replaced by a newfound closeness.

𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛

As they walked back to her place, Seokjin stopped just outside the door, turning to face her. "I had a really great time tonight," he said, his smile soft and genuine.

"Me too," Julissa replied, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time.

Seokjin hesitated for a moment, as if deciding whether or not to take the next step. Then, with a gentle smile, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. It was sweet, tender, and it made Julissa's heart skip a beat.

"Good night, Julissa," he whispered as he pulled away.

"Good night, Seokjin."

Later that night, as Julissa lay in bed, she couldn't stop thinking about the evening. It had been perfect—better than she could have imagined. But now that she was alone, the weight of her confession lingered in her mind. She had told Seokjin the truth, or at least part of it. But there was still so much more that she was keeping from him, from everyone. And she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep it hidden.

𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛❀𖤛

Meanwhile, at the ATEEZ boys' house, the mood was different. San, Hongjoong, Mingi, and Wooyoung were huddled together, talking in low voices, their expressions serious.

"We need to step up our game," Wooyoung said, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

Hongjoong nodded, his mind already working on a plan. "Yeah. We're not letting those BTS guys have all the fun. We need to make our move."

Mingi leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. "What do you have in mind?"

Wooyoung's grin widened. "I've got a few ideas. Let's just say, we're not going to make it easy for them."

As the boys began plotting, the tension between ATEEZ and BTS continued to simmer, ready to boil over at any moment. And with the girls caught in the middle, things were about to get even more complicated.