The day go on quickly afternoon turn evening and then night
*11:30 PM – Han's Apartment*
Han was on his couch. Still in sweatpants and a hoodie. Still mad. The Santa coat was thrown over a chair like it had personally offended him.
His phone had been silent since the show. No text from Taejoon. Not even a _you made it home okay?_
He'd caved and checked Taejoon's Instagram twice. Nothing new.
He was mid-debate with himself about texting first — just to yell at him, not because he cared — when his phone rang.
Jace.
Han answered, wary. "What."
Jace's voice was low. Urgent. Too real to be fake. "Han. Listen. I" I saw taejoon
Han sat up straight. "What about him?"
"And he's not alone," Jace said. There was noise in the background. Wind. City sounds. "It's that woman. From Star. They're together. I thought you should know. I'm sorry, man."
The air left Han's lungs.
For a second, he didn't say anything. The dream flashed behind his eyes. The woman touching Taejoon's arm. Taejoon walking away from him. _Busy._
"Where," Han said. His voice was flat.
Jace hesitated. "You sure? You don't have to—"
"Where, Jace."
Jace sighed. "I'm sending you the pin. It's a rooftop. If you want to see it for yourself. Or don't. I just… I'd want to know."
The text came through. A location pin. Han didn't even look at the name. Just the map.
"Okay," Han said. He was already standing. Keys. Shoes. "I'm coming."
"Han—"
He hung up.
Grabbed his keys off the counter. Didn't bother with a coat. Didn't check his hair. Didn't think.
He was out the door in thirty seconds.
*11:32 PM – Rooftop, Across Town*
Jace ended the call. Looked up at ten pairs of eyes.
"He's on his way here," Jace said.
The rooftop exploded.
Lorenzo cackled. Ace doubled over laughing. Hudson, still wearing his Birthday Boy hat, wheezed. "He's gonna kill him. Taejoon, you're dead."
"He thinks I'm cheating," Taejoon said. He wasn't laughing. He was smirking. Sharp. Nervous. Excited. "He's coming here pissed off and jealous and thinking I'm with her."
"You're into it," Harrison said, disgusted and impressed. "You're actually into the fact that he's mad."
"Jealous Han is hot," Taejoon said, unrepentant. "Sue me."
"You're gonna die," Caleb said cheerfully, fluffing a row of fairy lights. "We'll tell your mom you went out brave."
"Speaking of," Harrison said, checking his watch. "We have twenty minutes max. He's gonna be fast. He's angry-fast."
Taejoon's smirk sharpened. He looked around the rooftop.
It was perfect. The lights Adriel strung were warm. White roses everywhere — Kai's choice. No lilies. Caleb's playlist was cued, volume low. Hudson had cleared the security feeds. Food on a table. Candles that wouldn't blow out in the wind. City skyline behind it all.
And his ten idiots, currently dying of laughter in the corner.
"Everyone hide," Taejoon said. "Now. I don't want him seeing you. This is my moment. Don't ruin it."
"Where?" Ace asked. "There's like, one bush up here."
"Then get in the bush!" Taejoon hissed. "Stairwell. Behind the AC unit. I don't care. Just go."
"You're so mean when you're in love," Lorenzo muttered, but he was already moving.
They scattered. Jace and Kai behind the maintenance door. Ace and Hudson behind the big AC unit. Lorenzo and Harrison in the stairwell, door cracked. Caleb and the two Adriels behind the catering table with a white cloth over them. Alexander stood by the rooftop access door, sent one last text, then disappeared down the stairs.
Taejoon exhaled. Straightened his shirt. He'd changed out of the Santa coat. Dark jeans. Button-up. The ring box was in his pocket.
He walked to the center of the rooftop. Under the lights. And waited.
11:40PM.
The elevator dinged.
Footsteps. Fast. Angry.
Taejoon's heart slammed against his ribs.