The hum of Seoul at night was a symphony of light and sound, but high above the bustling streets, Kim Taehyung sat alone in his car. The tinted windows shielded him from the curious gazes of fans and photographers lingering outside the venue. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the towering building before him.

To the world, he was V, the enigmatic face of BTS. But in moments like this—when he wasn’t on stage or in front of a camera—he was simply Taehyung, a man burdened by memories he couldn’t escape. The faintest flicker of a smile touched his lips, but it disappeared as quickly as it came.

Somewhere inside that building was a truth he’d been chasing for years. A truth buried beneath layers of deception, guarded by people who thought they were untouchable. Tonight, he was one step closer.

He adjusted his cufflinks, slipped on his mask of charm, and stepped out into the night.

---

Lisa adjusted her earring, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The woman looking back at her seemed composed, confident, even dazzling in her stage outfit. But beneath the surface, Lisa was a storm—a whirlwind of determination and carefully concealed pain.

The backstage dressing room buzzed with activity, makeup artists and stylists flitting around like hummingbirds. Lisa, however, was still.

This wasn’t just another performance.

For years, she’d perfected the art of smiling through the pain, of projecting joy while quietly building walls around herself. But tonight, those walls felt fragile. She reached into her bag, pulling out a slip of paper.

“You’re closer than you think. Trust no one.”

Her fingers tightened around the note, her mind racing. It had appeared out of nowhere, left anonymously in her dressing room. A part of her wanted to dismiss it as a prank, but the words felt too deliberate, too personal.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. One of the crew members poked their head in. “Lisa, you’re needed on stage in five.”

She nodded, slipping the note into her pocket. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the storm inside her aside, letting her practiced composure settle in its place.

---

The stage was a kaleidoscope of lights and sound, the energy of the crowd pulsing like a living thing. Lisa walked onto the platform, her movements fluid, confident. The cheers were deafening, but her focus was razor-sharp.

And then she saw him.

Kim Taehyung stood at the opposite end of the stage, his silhouette framed by the glow of the lights. Even from a distance, he commanded attention. There was something about the way he carried himself—calm, unbothered, yet undeniably intense.

Their eyes met for a fleeting second, and Lisa felt the air shift. It wasn’t the first time they’d performed together, but tonight felt different. Charged.

The music started, and they moved in perfect synchrony. Every step, every glance was deliberate, but there was an undercurrent of something unscripted between them. When Taehyung’s hand brushed hers during the choreography, she felt a spark—not of shock, but of recognition.

As the final note faded and the lights dimmed, Lisa turned to leave the stage. But before she could, Taehyung caught her wrist.

“Leaving already?” he said, his voice low and smooth, just loud enough for her to hear.

Lisa met his gaze, her expression guarded. “The performance is over.”

“For them,” Taehyung replied, tilting his head toward the audience, “but not for us.”

Lisa’s heart skipped a beat. There was something in his tone—an edge of curiosity, maybe even suspicion. She pulled her wrist free, but her movements were slow, deliberate.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, her voice steady.

His lips curved into a faint smirk. “Sure you don’t.”

With that, he turned and walked offstage, leaving Lisa rooted to the spot. Her pulse was racing, and it wasn’t just from the adrenaline of the performance.

Who was Kim Taehyung behind that polished exterior? And why did she feel like he knew more about her than he was letting on?

As the crowd’s cheers echoed in the background, Lisa realized something unsettling. She wasn’t just drawn to Taehyung—she was tangled in his orbit.

And she wasn’t sure she wanted to escape.

---

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The afterparty was held at a sprawling penthouse overlooking the glittering Seoul skyline. It was the kind of event that drew everyone from industry executives to rising idols, where deals were made under the guise of celebration and rivalries simmered beneath polite smiles.

Lisa stood near the floor-to-ceiling window, a glass of champagne in hand. Her gaze drifted over the city lights, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She had barely been able to shake the feeling that someone was watching her since she arrived.

“You’re not enjoying the party?”

Lisa stiffened at the familiar voice. She turned to find Taehyung standing beside her, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His suit was immaculate, his tie slightly loosened, and his dark eyes held that same unnerving intensity she had felt on stage.

“I’m just not in the mood,” she replied, her tone cool.

Taehyung chuckled softly, taking a slow sip of his drink. “You’re a terrible liar, Lisa.”

She raised an eyebrow, her grip tightening on her glass. “And you’re awfully presumptuous.”

“Maybe,” he said, leaning against the window frame. “But I’ve learned to trust my instincts. And right now, they’re telling me you’re not here for the free champagne.”

Lisa’s heart skipped a beat. Did he know? Was he toying with her, or was this some calculated move? She forced herself to meet his gaze, her expression neutral. “And what about you, Taehyung? What brings you to the party?”

His smirk faded, replaced by something colder, sharper. “I’m here for answers.”

Before Lisa could respond, the sound of laughter and music grew louder as a group of executives passed by. Taehyung stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“This place is full of people who smile while hiding knives behind their backs. You’d do well to watch yours.”

Lisa tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Funny, I was going to say the same to you.”

For a moment, they stood in silence, the tension between them palpable. Then Taehyung leaned in, his lips dangerously close to her ear.

“Be careful, Lisa. You don’t want to end up as collateral damage.”

Before she could react, he was gone, disappearing into the crowd like a shadow. Lisa exhaled slowly, her mind racing. She had underestimated him. Taehyung wasn’t just an idol—he was playing a game, just like her.

---

Later that night, Lisa found herself in the dimly lit corridor leading to her dressing room. The party had ended hours ago, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

As she pushed open the door, the faint smell of cigarette smoke hit her. Her eyes immediately landed on the figure sitting in the corner, his face partially obscured by shadows.

“Taehyung,” she said, her voice steady despite the sudden spike in her pulse.

He leaned forward, the light catching the sharp angles of his face. “You’re late.”

Lisa crossed her arms, masking her unease with irritation. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” he replied, his tone calm but laced with an edge. “Except I already know the answer.”

Lisa’s stomach tightened, but she refused to let it show. “And what answer is that?”

Taehyung stood, his movements slow and deliberate. He stopped just short of her, his gaze piercing. “You’re looking for something. Or someone. Just like me.”

Her breath hitched, but she kept her voice steady. “You don’t know anything about me.”

His lips curved into a faint smirk. “Don’t I?”

He stepped closer, and for a moment, Lisa forgot to breathe. There was something about him—something dangerous, magnetic—that made it impossible to look away.

“Tell me, Lisa,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “How far are you willing to go to find what you’re looking for?”

Her throat went dry, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. “Farther than you think.”

Taehyung’s smirk faded, his expression turning serious. “Then you should know something.”

Lisa’s pulse quickened as he leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear. “The people you’re chasing—they don’t leave loose ends.”

Before she could respond, Taehyung stepped back, his eyes cold and unreadable. “Stay careful, Lisa. You’re not the only one watching.”

With that, he turned and walked out, leaving Lisa alone in the silence of the room. She clenched her fists, her mind racing.

Who was Kim Taehyung, really? And why did it feel like he was always one step ahead of her?

She had come here for answers, but now she was tangled in something far more dangerous.

And as much as she hated to admit it, she wasn’t sure she wanted to untangle herself.

---

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The rain fell in relentless sheets, drenching Seoul in a cold, silver haze. Lisa stood on the rooftop of an abandoned office building, her breath visible in the chilled air. The city sprawled beneath her, alive and buzzing, but up here, it was eerily quiet.

The note she received earlier had led her here. Another cryptic message, delivered to her hotel room:

“Come alone. Midnight. No second chances.”

Her instincts screamed at her to turn back, but her determination to uncover the truth kept her rooted in place. She clutched her small bag tightly, feeling the weight of the knife hidden inside.

“Impressive.”

The voice cut through the rain like a blade. Lisa spun around to see Taehyung leaning against a rusted air duct, his dark suit slick with rain. He looked like a ghost emerging from the shadows, his piercing gaze locked onto her.

“You followed me,” Lisa said, her voice sharper than intended.

“I saved you.” He stepped closer, his movements unhurried, predatory. “Do you even know who sent that note?”

Lisa’s jaw tightened. “I don’t need your help.”

“Don’t you?” Taehyung’s voice dropped, his tone dangerously soft. “Because right now, there’s a sniper half a block away with a clear line of sight on this rooftop. If I hadn’t disabled his scope, you’d already be dead.”

Her blood ran cold, but she refused to show fear. “Why should I trust you?”

Taehyung took another step closer, the space between them shrinking. “Because I know more about the people you’re chasing than you think. And because, whether you like it or not, you’re part of their game now.”

Lisa’s heart pounded, her mind racing with questions she couldn’t ask. She hated the way he made her feel—off balance, vulnerable, yet drawn to him in a way she couldn’t explain.

“Why are you here, Taehyung?” she demanded.

“Because I couldn’t stay away,” he admitted, his voice low and rough.

Her breath hitched as he closed the distance between them, his hand brushing her rain-soaked cheek. His touch was both gentle and possessive, sending a shiver down her spine.

“You’re reckless, Lisa,” he murmured, his thumb grazing her lower lip. “But I can’t decide if that’s what makes you dangerous or what makes you irresistible.”

Lisa’s resolve crumbled under his intense gaze. She knew this was dangerous, that getting involved with him could complicate everything, but when his lips captured hers, she couldn’t bring herself to care.

The kiss was fierce, a clash of desperation and need. His hands slid around her waist, pulling her flush against him, and she responded with equal fervor, her fingers tangling in his rain-drenched hair.

For a moment, the world disappeared—the rain, the danger, the lies. There was only him, his lips on hers, his body pressed against hers as if he were afraid to let go.

But reality came crashing back all too quickly.

A gunshot rang out, shattering the fragile silence.

Taehyung broke the kiss, his body moving instinctively as he pulled Lisa down behind the air duct. “Stay low!” he barked, his calm demeanor replaced by sharp focus.

Lisa’s heart thundered in her chest as she peeked around the edge of their cover. A red laser dot danced across the rooftop, searching for them.

“How many?” she whispered.

“At least three,” Taehyung replied, pulling a sleek pistol from inside his jacket.

“You came armed?”

“I came prepared,” he said, his tone clipped. “Stay behind me.”

Lisa bristled at his commanding tone but held her tongue. The gunfire intensified, bullets ricocheting off metal and concrete as the rain masked their attackers’ movements.

Taehyung returned fire with precision, his every movement calculated. Lisa couldn’t help but notice the way he moved—graceful yet lethal, like a predator hunting its prey.

“Do you always walk into traps, or is tonight special?” he asked, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Lisa glared at him. “I didn’t ask for your help.”

“No, but you needed it.”

Before she could retort, a figure emerged from the shadows, gun raised. Without hesitation, Lisa grabbed her knife and threw it, the blade burying itself in the attacker’s shoulder. He cried out, dropping his weapon as he stumbled back.

Taehyung glanced at her, a flicker of approval in his eyes. “Not bad.”

“Don’t patronize me,” Lisa snapped, grabbing the downed attacker’s gun.

The remaining assailants regrouped, their movements methodical. Taehyung and Lisa exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between them.

“Follow my lead,” he said.

Lisa nodded, adrenaline surging through her veins as they moved together, weaving through the rain-soaked rooftop like a single entity. The fight was brutal and chaotic, but they emerged victorious, the attackers either incapacitated or retreating into the night.

As the last of the gunfire faded, Taehyung turned to Lisa, his breathing heavy. “You’re reckless,” he said again, his voice softer this time.

Lisa met his gaze, her chest heaving. “And you’re insufferable.”

He chuckled, his lips curving into a faint smirk. “Maybe. But you’re alive because of me.”

Lisa rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the small smile tugging at her lips. “I could’ve handled it.”

“Sure you could.”

As the rain continued to fall, Taehyung stepped closer, his hand brushing hers. The tension between them crackled like electricity, and Lisa knew this was far from over.

The game they were playing was deadly, but in that moment, with Taehyung by her side, she felt like she might have a chance.

“Come on,” he said, his voice low. “We’re not safe here.”

Lisa followed him, her heart pounding with equal parts fear and exhilaration. Whatever came next, she knew one thing for certain: she was in too deep now, and there was no turning back.

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