Taeyang's work was done. He returned to Hana's flat, kicking the door shut behind him with a chuckle, amused by her dramatic "Oh, look who decided to show up. If it isn't the 'I'm always busy' king himself."
"You make it sound like I enjoy being busy," he said, rolling his eyes as he strolled over to the couch and plopped down. "I work hard, you know."
Hana spun her chair to face him, a raised eyebrow challenging him. "Oh, of course. Mr. 'I-ca n't-answer-texts-because-I ' m-saving-the-world' is soooo dedicated."
Taeyang smirked, stretching his arms behind his head. "Glad you understand."
Hana grabbed the nearest pillow and whacked his leg. "I was being sarcastic, you idiot!"
"Did you just assault a national crush ?" Taeyang gasped, clutching his leg dramatically.
"Oh, please." Hana rolled her eyes, lifting the pillow again, but this time, Taeyang was ready. He dodged and grabbed another pillow, holding it up like a shield. "So that's how it is?" His eyes gleamed with mischief. "You wanna fight?"
"You scared?" Hana smirked.
And just like that, war broke out. Feathers flew as they swung at each other, laughter echoing through the room. Hana landed a hit on his shoulder, but Taeyang retaliated with a well-aimed counter to her stomach. She let out an exaggerated "oof," but before she could strike back, he lunged, knocking the pillow out of her hands.
"You cheater!" she gasped.
"All's fair in love and war," he grinned, ruffling her hair to mess with her.
Hana groaned, swatting his hand away. "Ugh, you're so annoying."
Taeyang smirked, dropping onto the couch beside her. "And yet, you'd be bored without me."
Hana huffed but didn't argue. Instead, she grabbed the pillow from his lap and rested her chin on it. The room fell into a comfortable silence, the warmth of their laughter still lingering in the air.
Taeyang leaned back on the couch, watching Hana as she scrolled through her phone, still smirking from their little fight. His heart was hammering, but he was done ignoring it. Maybe she didn't see it yet, but he wanted her to. His grin deepened as an idea began to take shape. He plucked a stray feather from the pillow and twirled it between his fingers before reaching out and brushing it lightly against Hana's head.
She flinched, swatting at her hair. "What the—"
Before she could react, he leaned in, so close she could feel his breath ghosting over her skin. Then, with a softness that caught her completely off guard, he pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.
Hana froze. The world around her seemed to pause, her thoughts coming to a screeching halt. The warmth of his lips lingered for a fraction of a second too long, leaving a spark in its wake. Taeyang pulled back just enough to meet her wide, stunned eyes, his smirk playful, but his gaze steady, searching.
"Gotcha," he murmured.
Hana's brain took a full three seconds to reboot before she shoved him away, her heart hammering in her chest. "What the hell was that?!"
Taeyang just chuckled, completely unfazed. "Just testing something."
"Testing what?!" she demanded, still trying to process the last five seconds of her life.
His eyes twinkled mischievously. "If you'd hit me again or get flustered."
Hana opened her mouth, ready to snap back, but nothing came out. Because the truth was, she was flustered. And judging by the way Taeyang was looking at her, he knew it. She huffed, storming toward the kitchen without a word.
Taeyang laughed under his breath, watching her disappear. His fingers brushed against his lips, his smirk deepening. "Worth it," he muttered.
As the tension from earlier faded, they sat together on the balcony, sharing a quiet meal under the night sky. The city lights flickered in the distance, but Taeyang wasn't looking at them; his gaze was fixed on Hana. She was yapping as usual, going on about her day, her latest office drama, and how Jiwoon had randomly shown up with strawberries and chocolate dip. Taeyang barely registered her words. Instead, he focused on the way her eyes sparkled when she spoke, the way her hands moved animatedly, the way her presence made even his worst days feel lighter.
His heart fluttered. He pressed a hand to his chest as if to steady it, but the feeling wouldn't go away. He was running out of time. The weight of the truth sat heavy on his shoulders, the truth about their parents, the case he had been secretly working on, the danger looming closer with each piece of evidence he uncovered. He was too close now. A little more, and he would have everything he needed to find the culprit.
And once that was done… He looked at Hana, his expression softening. He wanted to tell her. Not just about the case. But about his feelings. Before it was too late.
Hana stretched her arms, letting out a satisfied sigh. "I'm so full. I swear I'm going to pass out."
"Then go sleep," Taeyang said, standing up and grabbing the plates.
She blinked at him. "Wait, you're washing the dishes?"
He rolled his eyes. "What do you take me for? Go to sleep."
Hana didn't argue and dragged herself to her room, too tired to tease him further. She collapsed onto her bed, pulling the blanket over herself.
Meanwhile, Taeyang finished cleaning up, drying his hands before glancing toward her room. His apartment was just a short walk away… but his feet didn't move in that direction. Instead, he found himself heading toward her room. Quietly, he opened the door and stepped inside. The dim glow from the bedside lamp cast soft shadows across the room. Hana was curled up, her breathing even, her features peaceful.
Taeyang leaned against the doorframe, watching her for a moment. He should go. But he didn't.
Taeyang walked towards her bed, his steps quiet. He reached for the bedside lamp, switching it off. The room dimmed, but the soft glow of the moonlight seeped through the curtains, casting a silvery hue over Hana's face. His breath hitched. She looked… beautiful. Peaceful. Cute in a way that made his heart ache.
Without thinking, he sat down beside her head, his fingers barely grazing the strands of her hair, lingering there as his heart pounded against his ribs. Taeyang hesitated for a moment, his eyes tracing the gentle rise and fall of her breath. His heart clenched.
Leaning down, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, his lips grazing her skin. "I'll tell you soon," he whispered, looking at her. "Just wait for me a little longer, Hana."
With that, he pulled away, his fingers reluctantly slipping from her hair. Casting her one last look, he turned and left the room, the weight of his secrets heavier than ever.