444 (BTS Hyung Line x OCs)

Twenty: Secrets Beneath the Surface

The sun was starting to dip below the horizon, casting a golden hue over the island as Lola and Hoseok strolled along the beachfront. The sound of the waves lapping gently against the shore created a serene backdrop for their date, and Lola couldn't help but smile. For the first time in a while, things felt... normal. Just two people enjoying each other's company, laughing and letting go of the heavy burdens that weighed on their hearts.

Lola had chosen to wear a simple yet flattering summer dress—a light coral color that accentuated her tan, with thin straps that showed just enough skin to catch Hoseok's eye. She looked carefree, her hair loosely curled and falling over her shoulders, and a smile that seemed genuine. But behind that smile, there was always something hidden.

Hoseok, dressed in a casual white button-down and khakis, looked as effortlessly handsome as ever. His warm, contagious energy made Lola feel lighter, like her worries weren't as suffocating when he was around.

"I have to say," Hoseok grinned, watching Lola twirl in the sand, her laughter filling the air, "you have a way of making everything more fun."

Lola winked at him playfully. "What can I say? It's a gift."

They stopped by a small tiki bar on the beach, grabbing drinks to sip as they walked. The air was warm but comfortable, the sky turning a soft purple as the stars began to twinkle above. It was the perfect date—easy, lighthearted. For a moment, Lola almost forgot the weight of her secret, the gnawing guilt that had settled in the pit of her stomach ever since she'd used again after that night.

They found a spot to sit on the sand, close enough to the water to feel the spray of the ocean but far enough to avoid getting wet. Hoseok lay back, propping himself up on his elbows as he watched her, his eyes soft but curious.

"So," he said, after a long stretch of comfortable silence, "how are you... really?"

Lola paused, the question hanging in the air. She knew what he was asking. He wasn't just asking about her mood or how she was enjoying the date. He was asking about *that*. About her struggles with using. He had been gentle with her since that night she'd slipped up, and she could tell he was trying to believe her when she said she had it under control. But she could also sense the skepticism in his gaze, the concern he couldn't quite hide.

"I'm fine," she said quickly, too quickly, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm doing better. I swear, that night was just... a moment of weakness."

Hoseok studied her for a long moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "You know you can talk to me, right? I'm not here to judge you, Lola."

"I know," she replied, her voice softening. "And I appreciate that, I do. It's just... it's hard to explain. Some days are better than others. But I'm trying."

He nodded, but the look in his eyes told her he wasn't entirely convinced. Still, he didn't push her, didn't pry. Instead, he reached over and gently took her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"I'm here for you," he said quietly. "Whenever you need me."

Lola swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in her throat. She hated lying to him, but the truth—her truth—was too messy, too dark. She wasn't ready to confront it, and she certainly wasn't ready to drag him into it.

"Thanks, Hobi," she whispered, squeezing his hand back before quickly changing the subject. "So... we ran into BLACKPINK today."

Hoseok's expression shifted slightly, the easy smile on his face faltering for just a second before he masked it with a neutral look. "Oh, did you?"

"Yeah," Lola said, watching him closely. "It was... awkward, to say the least. They mentioned you guys used to hang out?"

Hoseok let out a small, almost forced laugh. "Yeah, you could say that."

Lola raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "And by 'hang out,' they meant...?"

Hoseok hesitated for a moment, sitting up straighter. He took a sip of his drink, his eyes focused on the horizon as if the answer were hidden somewhere in the waves. "We... dated, I guess. Each of us had our own thing with one of the members."

Lola nodded slowly, not surprised but still intrigued. "Who did you date?"

He glanced at her, his eyes darkening for just a moment before he looked away again. "Lisa."

Lola's stomach tightened at the mention of the BLACKPINK member. She had sensed some tension between Lisa and her earlier, but she hadn't thought much of it. Now, knowing they had a history, things started to make more sense.

"And...?" Lola prompted, sensing there was more to the story.

Hoseok sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It didn't end well. Let's just say we had different priorities. We were both focused on our careers, and it got... complicated."

Lola narrowed her eyes slightly, sensing that he was holding back. "Complicated how?"

He hesitated again, clearly uncomfortable. "We just... weren't on the same page. I don't want to go into all the details, but it was a lot of things. Timing, distance, and... misunderstandings."

Lola could tell there was more to it, but she didn't push. She could see the discomfort in his expression, and she didn't want to ruin the mood by digging too deep. Still, a part of her couldn't help but wonder what had really happened between them. There was an unspoken tension whenever BLACKPINK was brought up, and she could sense that Hoseok wasn't telling her the full story.

"Well," she said, forcing a smile, "at least it's in the past, right?"

Hoseok nodded, but the tension in his shoulders didn't ease. "Yeah. In the past."

They sat in silence for a few moments, the sound of the waves filling the space between them. Despite the lighthearted start to the evening, there was now an undercurrent of something heavier, something unresolved. Both of them had secrets, things they weren't ready to share, and it hung between them like a thick fog.

Hoseok turned to look at her, his gaze softening again as he reached out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "But let's not focus on that. I'm here with you now, and that's all that matters."

Lola smiled, feeling her heart flutter at the way he looked at her, so full of warmth and understanding. For a moment, she let herself believe that maybe everything could be okay. That maybe she could keep her secret hidden, and that Hoseok wouldn't need to know the full extent of her struggles.

"Yeah," she whispered, leaning in closer to him, their faces just inches apart. "That's all that matters."

He smiled, closing the distance between them as he pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her lips. It was sweet, gentle, and full of unspoken promises. For that brief moment, Lola allowed herself to forget about everything else—the drugs, the lies, the unresolved tension with BLACKPINK—and just focus on the way Hoseok made her feel.

But as the kiss ended and they pulled apart, reality came crashing back in. Lola's heart pounded in her chest, the weight of her secrets pressing down on her once more. She had lied to him about how she was doing, and now, knowing he wasn't being fully honest with her about his past with Lisa, she couldn't help but feel like they were both teetering on the edge of something dangerous.

She glanced out at the ocean, her mind racing. She wanted to trust Hoseok, wanted to believe that they could make this work, but there was a voice in the back of her mind that kept reminding her that nothing stayed hidden forever.

As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, casting the beach in shadows, Lola knew one thing for certain: secrets had a way of coming out, and when they did, the fallout could be devastating.

And she wasn't sure she was ready for that.