The restaurant’s soft, ambient lighting wrapped them in a cozy glow, and Jimin could feel a gentle warmth spread through him as he watched Rosalia seated across the table. Tonight, he wanted to be open with her—about everything. After spending a beautiful evening with her and his friends, he realized that letting her into his world meant also revealing the parts of himself he’d kept buried.

Their conversation began light and easy, with laughter and shared memories. But as they moved into a comfortable silence, Jimin looked down, tracing the rim of his glass, gathering his thoughts. He took a deep breath, reaching across the table to take her hand in his. “Rosalia,” he began softly, “there’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about… something that I don’t usually tell people.”

Rosalia’s eyes softened, her hand giving his a gentle squeeze. “Jimin, you can tell me anything. I’m here for you.”

He smiled at her encouragement, but a hint of sadness flickered in his gaze. “High school,” he started, his voice wavering slightly. “It wasn’t a good time for me, to say the least. Most people probably didn’t even notice me—well, except the ones who wanted to make fun of me.” He paused, letting his words sink in, the memories tugging at him.

“They thought I was an easy target. I was shy, quiet… and I was chubby back then.” He looked down, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips as he added, “Every day felt like a battle. Walking through those hallways, it felt like… I was invisible, and when I wasn’t invisible, I was the punchline.”

Rosalia’s hand squeezed his tighter, her thumb rubbing gentle circles on his knuckles. “Jimin, I’m so sorry. No one deserves to go through that,” she whispered, her voice filled with empathy.

“There were times I thought I’d never be able to escape it. I hated being there, feeling like I didn’t matter,” he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. “But you… Rosalia, you were the only person who made it bearable. You were… like a light in that dark place.”

Rosalia’s eyes glistened, touched by his vulnerability. “Jimin, I had no idea. I wish I could’ve done more.”

He gave her a reassuring smile. “You did more than you know. Just… seeing you in the hallway, your smile—it gave me something to look forward to. Even if I was too shy to talk to you, knowing you were there kept me going.”

At that moment, the waiter arrived, quietly placing their food in front of them. Jimin paused, grateful for the small interruption that gave him a chance to gather his emotions. Rosalia smiled warmly at him, her eyes never leaving his face, silently encouraging him to continue.

Taking a small bite, he looked back at her, his voice steadier now. “Do you remember that Valentine’s Day? When I got that box of chocolates and a sweet note?”

She nodded, her cheeks flushing a little, though she kept quiet as he spoke.

“It was the only Valentine’s gift I ever received,” he admitted, a small, genuine smile gracing his lips. “I never knew who gave it to me, but it felt like… a lifeline. Like maybe someone actually cared about me.”

Rosalia’s hand moved from his and gently touched his cheek, guiding his gaze back to hers. “That was me, Jimin,” she said softly, a shy smile playing on her lips. “I always thought you were cute and sweet… I was just too shy to say it.”

Jimin’s breath hitched at her words, his eyes widening in surprise. “You… you were the one who sent that?”

She nodded, a hint of a blush on her cheeks. “I had a crush on you too, Jimin. Even back then.”

His heart swelled, and without thinking, he leaned across the table, pressing a tender kiss to her hand. “You have no idea how much that meant to me,” he murmured. “Knowing that someone saw me, even when I didn’t see myself.”

They fell into a comfortable silence, but Jimin’s mind was still processing the revelation. She had seen him, cared for him, even when he thought he was invisible. In his darkest moments, she’d been the light without even realizing it. His gaze softened as he looked at her, the pain of those memories slowly easing.

“Rosalia,” he said quietly, “I think, deep down, you saved me. You kept me from giving up on myself when I was convinced that no one cared. You were the reason I kept trying to be better, to push through the pain.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and she reached across the table, brushing her thumb along his cheek. “You don’t know how happy it makes me to hear that,” she whispered. “You’ve become someone so strong, so kind. I feel so lucky to be here with you now.”

He let out a soft laugh, squeezing her hand. “You know, I never thought I’d end up sitting across from you like this. I used to imagine it, though… even back in high school.”

She smiled, wiping away a stray tear. “Well, here we are,” she murmured, a playful glimmer in her eye. “And I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

As they continued their dinner, the painful memories seemed to fade with each passing moment, replaced by the warmth of her presence. Every time he felt a shadow of his past resurface, she reached out, squeezing his hand, grounding him in the present. And every so often, he would bring her hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss, as if silently thanking her for being here, for listening, for understanding.

By the end of the evening, as they shared a quiet dessert, Jimin felt lighter than he had in years. For the first time, he had shared a part of himself that he’d kept hidden, and she had embraced it with kindness and compassion. Sitting across from Rosalia, he knew he’d found more than just love—he’d found someone who understood his scars and cherished him all the same.

When they finally stood up to leave, he held her hand tightly, guiding her out of the restaurant and into the cool night air. He glanced at her, a soft smile on his face. “Thank you, Rosalia,” he murmured, pulling her into a gentle hug. “For everything.”

She hugged him back just as tightly. “You never have to thank me, Jimin. I’m just happy to be with you.”

As they walked hand-in-hand under the stars, Jimin knew he would cherish this night forever. It was the beginning of something beautiful—a love built on understanding, compassion, and the strength to heal. With Rosalia by his side, he knew he could face anything.