The Love Song Duet mission changed everything.
The votes were in. And the pairings were out.
Abby × Taehyung.
The announcement lit the dorm like fireworks. Screams, gasps, even tears from the fans. Abby stood there, unreadable. Taehyung, on the other hand, looked like he'd just won a war.
"She's mine for this stage," he murmured, slipping on his jacket.
Practice Room 4C.
Dim lights. A single speaker. A duet track pulsing low.
Abby stood by the mirror, stretching. Taehyung stepped inside without a word, locking the door behind him.
"Scared?" he asked.
Abby looked over her shoulder. "Only of boring partners."
He smirked. "Good. 'Cause I don't do boring."
The tension snapped like a violin string. Close choreography. Eye contact. Lyrics laced with longing. His hand grazed her waist.
She didn't flinch. But her breath did catch.
"You're playing a dangerous game," she whispered.
"So are you," he said. "But we both like fire."
Elsewhere...
Felix slammed the door to the rooftop, breath ragged.
"She chose him?" he muttered. "Of course she did."
But he wasn't the only one up there.
Yeonjun was already leaning against the railing, jaw tight.
"She didn't choose," Yeonjun said. "The audience did."
Felix scoffed. "Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt."
"She's not anyone's yet," Yeonjun added. "And I don't plan on giving up."
Felix paused, then nodded. "Then we fight."
Back inside...
They finished their first run-through. Abby turned to grab her water—when Taehyung caught her wrist.
"Why do you let them chase you?" he asked, voice low.
She blinked. "Why do you care?"
"Because," he said, "you're not like the others."
He leaned in.
Their lips almost touched—
Until the door burst open.
Jungkook.
"I—sorry," he stammered. But his eyes said something else entirely.
Taehyung stepped back.
"Next time," he whispered.
Abby exhaled slowly, heart pounding.
But just as she reached for her bag… she noticed something.
A red velvet box.
Inside: a necklace.
And a note.
"To the girl who doesn't fall easy. Let's see if this breaks you."
No name. Just a single, crimson-stamped initial:
L.
Abby's fingers trembled around the chain.
Because she knew exactly who L was.
And why he shouldn't be here.
End of Chapter Eight