The night dropped its curtain over the mountain, leaving only string lights and fireflies to dance in the dark.
Laughter rose from the heart of the camp where everyone huddled around low tables covered in grilled meats, bowls of sliced fruits, dipping sauces, and, of course, an almost ridiculous amount of soju.
Taehyung, ever the strategist, had been silently monitoring Lily's alcohol intake all night. He'd perfected the art of "accidentally" pouring her half a shot while everyone else got full ones. She didn't notice—or if she did, she let it slide.
Across from him, Lily was deep in conversation with Cesar.
"I'm telling you," she said, cheeks flushed, arms flailing dramatically, "I jabbed him once, ONCE, and he looked like I ran him over with a car. He was walking like an injured NPC for days."
Cesar laughed, "And you're saying this was friendly sparring?"
Taehyung winced from the memory, rubbing the side of his torso. "It was supposed to be."
A few of the other co-actors leaned in, eyes wide. "Wait, you fought her?"
"She ambushed me at the gym once," Tae muttered, "I thought we were just warming up."
"I told you to raise your guard," Lily added, smirking. "It's not my fault your ribcage played peek-a-boo."
The whole table burst into laughter.
There she was. Tipsy Lily. Animated. Loud. Effortlessly magnetic. She wasn't trying to impress anyone; she just was. And people naturally gravitated to her. Like always.
Tae leaned back on his elbows, watching her with that soft, unreadable expression, the kind only people who've known each other for too long can interpret.
The girls, half-buzzed and bored, started a movement.
"Let's play something! This is getting too chill!"
"Truth or dare," one of them declared, wiggling her brows. "Don't say no."
Groans and chuckles spread across the circle.
Cesar shook his head, raising both hands. "Respectfully declining. I'm far too old and sober for teenage chaos."
"I'm not!" one of the actors yelled. "Let's goooo."
And before Taehyung could escape to "check the grill" or "restock drinks" like the responsible adult he pretended to be. Lily grabbed the hem of his shirt and dragged him back into the circle.
"Nope. You're not leaving me here to get roasted alone, you coward."
"You literally punched me into a different time zone once," Tae grumbled, settling beside her. "I deserve immunity."
"Nope. You're famous. You signed up for this."
He grumbled something in response but didn't move.
Even when she shifted to sit closer, hip-to-hip on the picnic mat.
The game began.
And Lily?
She was glowing. Not from the soju—but from being seen.
Not as someone's plus one. Not as an idol's secret. But just Lily.
Tae watched her laugh so freely, joke with strangers, win over everyone without even trying.
And suddenly, somewhere deep in the haze of grilled meat and strawberry soju…
He wasn't sure if he was protecting her anymore.
Or protecting himself from her.
The game rolled on with escalating chaos.
Someone had already licked a lime off someone's elbow. Another guy had to prank call his manager pretending he adopted a goat. Taehyung, somehow, had ended up with hot sauce on his eyebrow, and Lily? She was thriving.
So when the bottle landed on her, everyone leaned in. Expectations: high.
Vibes: tipsy.
Stakes: unknown.
"Truth," Lily declared, smirking. "Go easy."
"Ohhh," one of the girls cooed, swirling her drink. "Truth? Really? I pegged you for more of a dare girl."
"I thought so too!" someone chimed in. "Which means this better be good."
The girl narrowed her eyes like a playful villain. Then leaned in with a sly grin and asked:
"Alright, Lily. Out of everyone here tonight, including our very famous host, who's the one person you'd kiss if there were no consequences?"
The group lost it.
"OHHHH!"
"Girl, don't hold back!"
"Better not say Cesar, he already left the game!"
And just like that, the laughter thickened, but so did the air.
Because while everyone leaned forward for drama…Taehyung sat back.
Eyes on Lily.
Expression unreadable.
But jaw just a little tighter than before.
The fire crackled. The night held its breath.
Lily paused, just for a second. Her gaze swept the group in a lazy circle… and then stopped.
"Taehyung."
A loud chorus of "OHHHHHHHHHH!!!" exploded from the group. Someone actually slapped the floor a couple times.
Even Taehyung raised his eyebrows, smirking. "Bold."
Sera, the prettiest one there, squinted, all teeth. "Why?"
Lily's grin twitched into something sheepish. She shrugged. "Well… we've kissed before."
"WHAT?!" came three different voices at once.
Lily waved her hands. "Accidentally! God. That was in college. We were sparring at the gym--"
"Oh my god. The gym?" someone repeated, already laughing.
"I slipped, okay?" Lily groaned, hiding her face in her hands. "I was trying to throw a punch. I tripped, and BAM. Right into his face."
"Your face hit his face?" someone wheezed.
"My lips hit his lips," Lily muttered, looking like she wanted the earth to swallow her whole.
Meanwhile, Taehyung was practically doubled over in laughter, his hand smacking his knee. "That was hilarious. You looked like you short-circuited after it happened."
"I did! I thought I dislocated your jaw! You busted my lip, by the way!"
"You almost knocked me unconscious."
"You liked it," she teased, throwing a chip at him.
The table roared.
Sera narrowed her eyes at them while sipping her soju. Her expression was all interestingly quiet.
And yet, beneath the noise, beneath the jokes, Taehyung was staring at Lily. That chuckle still lingering on his lips.
He remembered that night exactly.
The way she blinked at him after. The way they both froze, wide-eyed. Like two people who realized too late that maybe there was something more buried underneath all those years of friendship.
But they never spoke of it.
Until now.
The soju was flowing. The stars were out. Laughter floated through the air like confetti. The group had just dared someone to eat a slice of raw onion dipped in beer. Spirits were high. Faces were flushed. And now the bottle pointed at Taehyung.
"Dare," he said, smug.
The same girl who grilled Lily earlier leaned forward, mischievous. "Okay, Taehyung. I dare you…"
Lily raised an eyebrow. She already didn't like the smirk on this girl's face.
"…to kiss Lily."
The group lost it.
Gasps. Cheers. "Ooohs."
Someone even yelled "FINALLY! PAYBACK FROM THE GYM DRAMA!"
Taehyung blinked. "What kind of middle-school drama--"
"On the cheek!" the girl added quickly, grinning. "I mean unless… you want to go extra?"
Lily rolled her eyes. "This is annoying."
But Taehyung turned to her, that crooked grin forming. "It's just a dare, right?"
Lily matched his grin, playful. "Right. Friends kiss friends. No big deal. Just don't bust my lip this time."
"Don't knock me unconscious either." He says as he started to lean.
Except it was.
He leaned in. She expected a quick peck. Light. Playful. But Taehyung hesitated at her cheek. Too long.
His breath brushed her skin. Warm. Barely there.
And instead of her cheek… he kissed the corner of her mouth.
Just a ghost of contact. Just enough to feel it. Not enough to be forgiven as "friendly."
Lily's eyes snapped to his. He pulled away, ever so slowly, and she could still feel the warmth of his lips.
Her heart slammed into her ribs.
The group erupted again. "Great! Now both of you take a shot!"
Both of their heads snapped to the person who spoke. "We did the dare?!"
"We don't care. You two haven't been taking a shot and dodging. Quit yapping and take it."
But Lily and Taehyung just sat there.
Frozen.
Then they took the shot in a flash and pretended that the alcohol was water. The burn was a safe distraction anyway... from what just happened.
That wasn't a dare. That was a test, and something just failed. Or passed. Or... something.
"Ohhh so what did it feel? Lily?" someone yelled.
But she didn't answer. She was still looking at him.
Taehyung finally gave a small, almost sheepish laugh, scratching the back of his neck like it was nothing.
But he couldn't meet her eyes.
Lily broke the moment with a sip of soju and a very forced, "What? It felt like it did before, like the accident, nothing."
Taehyung smirked. "Yeah. Same. Totally chill."
But his fingers were fidgeting.
And her ears were pink.