The sun streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the living room. Jimin stirred awake, blinking against the light, feeling the remnants of the previous night wash over him. His head throbbed slightly, a dull reminder of the drinks shared and the laughter exchanged. He looked over to the couch and felt a wave of affection wash over him as he watched Rosalia sleep peacefully, a content smile still lingering on her lips. Her hair was tousled, framing her face like a halo, and he felt a sense of calmness knowing she was right there beside him.

One by one, the other couples began to stir from their slumber, groans of discomfort echoing through the apartment as they started to shake off the hangover. Jimin couldn’t help but chuckle as he heard Jin complain about a “death sentence” in his head while Hana offered him water and a gentle smile.

“Looks like we all partied a bit too hard,” Jimin said with a light-hearted tone as he stretched and stood up, trying to shake off his own hangover.

“Too much wine and dancing, not enough water,” Taehyung groaned, rubbing his eyes. “I think I might still be a bit tipsy.”

“I regret nothing!” Jungkook declared dramatically, earning a round of laughter from the group.

As the laughter faded, the atmosphere shifted slightly, a hint of reality creeping in. Jimin felt a pang of unease in his gut, reminding him of the responsibilities he had outside of this cozy bubble. His life as a mafia operative was never far from his mind, and the momentary escape he had enjoyed with Rosalia and his friends would soon be overshadowed by the demands of his secret life.

Jimin glanced at Rosalia again, wishing he could protect her from the dangers that lurked just beyond the walls of their little world. He wanted to cherish moments like these forever, but he knew better than to let his guard down completely. The risks he faced were always present, and he felt the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him.

As the group began calling for cabs to head home, Jimin decided to let Rosalia sleep a little longer. He gently stroked her hair, whispering softly to her, “Hey, sleepyhead, wake up. Time to go home.”

Rosalia stirred, blinking her eyes open slowly. A smile spread across her face when she realized where she was and who was beside her. “Morning,” she murmured, stretching like a cat. “Did I fall asleep here?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t mind,” he said, grinning. “You looked too cute to wake up last night.”

She blushed, her cheeks turning a soft shade of pink as she sat up, pulling the blanket around her shoulders. “What time is it?”

“Late morning. Everyone’s already getting cabs,” he said, glancing toward the door where Hana was gathering her things. “Do you need me to call one for you?”

“I should probably get going. I need to check in on some things at home,” she said, reluctantly getting to her feet.

“Let me help you with that,” Jimin offered, eager to extend their time together even if it was just a few more moments. He gathered her bag, holding it as they walked together toward the door.

Once outside, they exchanged lingering glances, the warmth of their shared moments igniting a spark that neither wanted to extinguish just yet. “Thank you for last night, Jimin. I had an amazing time,” she said, her voice soft and sincere.

“Anytime, Rosalia. I love spending time with you,” he replied, meaning every word.

Just then, a cab pulled up, and she turned to him, her expression shifting slightly. “I’ll text you later, okay?”

“Yeah, of course,” he said, watching her step into the car. He waved goodbye as the cab pulled away, feeling a sense of longing settle in his chest.

As he stood there, the laughter and warmth of the night before began to fade into the distance, replaced by the reality of his life. Jimin took a deep breath, forcing himself to shake off the melancholy. He needed to focus on what lay ahead.

Later that day, he received a call from the head of his organization. The moment he heard the familiar voice, Jimin's stomach sank. “We have a situation,” the voice said, stern and urgent. “There’s a new threat in town, and we need you on this. You’ll be going undercover.”

“Understood,” Jimin replied, already feeling the weight of the mission settle heavily on his shoulders.

“Be careful. We can’t afford to let any information slip, especially not with your recent connections,” the voice continued, almost as if it was a warning.

“I will,” Jimin said, his mind racing. The mission would require him to be distant, secretive, and focused, and that meant putting a barrier between him and Rosalia. He didn’t want to worry her with the dangers that surrounded him, nor did he want to jeopardize their budding relationship by exposing her to his world.

He hung up, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He had finally found someone who made him feel alive, and now he had to step back. The conflict in his heart was suffocating. He knew he had to protect Rosalia, but at what cost?

That evening, Jimin sat alone in his apartment, staring out at the city lights flickering against the night sky. He felt an ache in his chest as memories of Rosalia flooded his mind—the laughter they shared, the warmth of her hand in his, the way she looked at him as if he was the only person in the room. But he knew he couldn’t let that cloud his judgment.

The next few days were a blur of preparations and strategizing. He spent hours training, going over details of the operation that would put him in the crosshairs of danger. He felt his heart heavy with the knowledge that he would have to keep Rosalia in the dark about everything.

Despite his efforts to maintain normalcy, Jimin found it increasingly difficult to hide his worries from her. He started to distance himself, telling her he was busy with work and would catch up later. The longer he stayed away, the more he felt the gnawing sense of guilt clawing at him.

Rosalia noticed his change in demeanor, the way he seemed distracted and slightly withdrawn during their texts. “Everything okay?” she asked one evening as they chatted on the phone.

“Yeah, just work stuff,” he replied, forcing a smile he hoped she could hear. “You know how it is.”

“Yeah, I get it. Just… don’t forget about us, okay?” Her voice was soft, filled with concern that made his heart ache even more.

“Of course not. You’re the last thing on my mind,” he said, trying to lighten the mood, but even he could hear the falseness in his tone.

She chuckled softly, but there was a hint of worry lingering beneath the surface. “Promise you’ll tell me if something’s wrong?”

“I promise,” he lied, knowing he couldn’t bring her into this world of chaos and danger.

As the days passed, the mission loomed closer, and Jimin found himself consumed with anxiety. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was putting Rosalia in danger simply by being in her life. The thought of her getting hurt because of him made his heart race with fear.

Then, just when he thought he could get through the week without any complications, he received a message from his boss: “We need you to gather intel tonight. Don’t let anyone know what you’re doing.”

With a heavy heart, Jimin prepared himself for the night ahead. He put on his black jacket, the familiar weight of it pressing against his shoulders, and grabbed his keys. He hesitated for a moment, glancing at his phone. He wanted to text Rosalia, to let her know he would be unavailable, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Instead, he stepped out into the night, the cold air hitting his face as he made his way to his car. He drove through the city streets, the adrenaline coursing through him as he approached the meeting point. As he pulled into a dimly lit alley, his heart raced with both excitement and dread. This was what he was trained for, but every time he was faced with danger, he thought of her—the way her laughter filled the air, the softness of her gaze.

The night unfolded with tension and uncertainty. Jimin slipped in and out of the shadows, gathering information about the rival organization that threatened his own. He felt the weight of the mission pressing down on him, a constant reminder that he couldn’t afford to fail. Each interaction felt like a game of chess, and he needed to outmaneuver every opponent in his way.

But all the while, his mind kept drifting back to Rosalia. The thought of her waiting for him, hoping to hear from him, made his heart ache. He was lost in a maze of conflicting emotions, desperately wanting to keep her safe while simultaneously wanting to share every part of his life with her.

Hours later, he returned home, his body tense and exhausted. He flopped down on his bed, running a hand over his face in frustration. The mission was successful, but at what cost? He had been forced to lie to the one person he cared about most, and the guilt was eating him alive.

He picked up his phone, staring at it for a long moment before deciding he needed to reach out to her. He couldn’t let her go without knowing he was still there, even if he couldn’t be present in the way she deserved.

“Hey, sorry I’ve been MIA. Work has been insane,” he typed out, his fingers hovering over the screen as he contemplated how to convey the emotions swirling in his chest. He hit send, his heart racing as he waited for Rosalia's reply. The seconds stretched into minutes, and he felt a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach.

Finally, his phone buzzed with her response, and he opened the message eagerly.

"Insane? Jimin, you've been distant for days. Are you even okay? Because I can’t help but feel like something's off."

His heart sank. He knew he was the one causing this rift, but he didn’t have the luxury of time to explain everything. Instead, he felt a wave of frustration wash over him. She deserved better than this, but he had to keep her safe.

“Rosalia, I promise I’m fine. Just really busy with some important work stuff,” he replied, trying to keep the tone light. “I didn’t mean to worry you.”

“Important work stuff? Or important ‘other’ stuff?” she shot back, the tension in her message palpable. “Because it feels like you’re avoiding me. And that hurts.”

Jimin’s heart ached at her words. He could sense the hurt and confusion in her message, and it twisted his gut with regret. “I swear it’s nothing like that. You mean so much to me. I just need to handle this and then I’ll be free to focus on us again. Please trust me.”

“Trust you?” she echoed, her response rapid and stinging. “You’re the one who’s been distant. You used to share everything with me, and now it feels like I’m losing you to… whatever this is. You can’t expect me to just sit here and wait.”

He felt his chest tighten. “I’m not asking you to wait. I just need you to understand that this is complicated. I want to explain everything, but I can’t right now.”

“Can’t or won’t?” she challenged. “If you really care about me, you’d make time for me, Jimin. Or is there someone else? Is that what this is?”

The accusation hit him hard, and he felt a wave of anger mixed with hurt surge through him. How could she think that? “No, there’s no one else!” he replied fiercely. “I’m not cheating on you. I promise! Please believe me!”

The silence on the other end felt heavy, like a weight pressing down on him. He could almost hear the wheels turning in her mind, and he knew he was losing her trust.

“Then why don’t I feel like that’s the truth?” Rosalia’s voice was quiet now, tinged with a sadness that made his heart ache. “I just… I don’t know what to think anymore, Jimin. I thought we were building something real, and now it feels like you’re shutting me out.”

“I’m not trying to shut you out!” Jimin exclaimed, feeling his frustration boiling over. “I’m trying to protect you. There are things going on that you don’t understand, things that could put you in danger if I let you in on them. I want to keep you safe.”

Her response came slowly, weighed down by confusion and hurt. “Safe? Safe from what? From me? I just don’t understand. Why is it so hard for you to open up?”

“I can’t explain right now!” he said, his voice rising in desperation. “You don’t know what I’m dealing with. I’m in a world you can’t see. Just trust me!”

“Trust you?” she repeated, her voice shaking. “I don’t even know if I can anymore.”

The words struck him like a physical blow, and he felt the air leave his lungs. “Rosalia, please… I just need a little more time. I care about you more than you know. I’m doing this for you.”

“I don’t need you to protect me. I’m not some fragile thing that needs saving, Jimin,” she snapped back, her voice rising in anger. “I’m capable of handling my own life! If you can’t see that, then maybe we shouldn’t be doing this.”

“Don’t say that,” he pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice. “I want this. I want us. I just need to get through this. I promise it won’t be like this forever.”

“Maybe I need some time to think, too,” she replied, her voice cold and distant. “If you’re going to keep shutting me out, then I can’t be here waiting in the dark.”

The words felt like a dagger to his heart. He opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. All he could hear was the sound of her breathing on the other end, heavy and strained.

“Rosalia, don’t do this,” he said softly, trying to find a way to reach her. “I really like you. I want to make this work. Just give me a chance to explain.”

“Maybe you should’ve thought of that before,” she said, her voice breaking. “I need to go.”

And with that, she hung up, leaving him staring at the screen in disbelief. A wave of despair crashed over him, and he tossed his phone onto the bed, feeling utterly defeated. He had pushed her away, and now he feared he had lost her.

He sank onto the edge of the bed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. The mission, the secrets—it was all consuming him. He hadn’t intended for any of this to happen. He wanted to share his life with Rosalia, to let her in, but every time he tried, the weight of his responsibilities crushed him.

Jimin picked up his phone again, his fingers hovering over her contact. He wanted to reach out, to fix things, but he knew he needed to give her space. He felt trapped in a web of his own making, torn between two worlds he couldn’t reconcile.

Hours passed, and the silence in his apartment felt suffocating. He paced back and forth, replaying their conversation in his mind, wishing he could take back the words that had hurt her. He thought of all the moments they had shared, how she had brightened his life and given him hope, and the thought of losing her sent a jolt of panic through him.

Finally, he made a decision. He needed to confront this head-on. He would show her he was serious about their relationship, that he was willing to fight for her, no matter the cost.

Jimin grabbed his jacket and headed out, determined to find her. He didn’t know where she would be, but he had to try. He couldn’t let her slip away without at least fighting for her.

As he drove through the city, he felt a mixture of determination and fear coursing through him. What if she didn’t want to see him? What if she had made up her mind? He pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the single goal ahead—getting to Rosalia.

He arrived at her apartment building, his heart racing as he stepped out of the car. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever conversation lay ahead. He walked up to her door and hesitated for a moment, raising his hand to knock.

Before he could second-guess himself, he rapped his knuckles against the wood. He stood there, listening to the silence on the other side, his heart pounding in his chest.

“Rosalia!” he called out, his voice firm but tinged with anxiety. “It’s Jimin. Can we talk?”

There was a moment of silence, and he feared she wouldn’t answer. But then, he heard footsteps approaching. The door creaked open slightly, revealing Rosalia’s face, her eyes wide and uncertain.

“Jimin…” she began, her voice a whisper.

“Please, can I come in?” he asked, his heart racing.