𓍯26𓂃

Dove's

"Dae, what the fuck?!" Stella exclaimed at Dae who's eyes flashed with something I had never seen before.

I've never seen him like this before. His eyes are wide, bloodshot, red with something I can't quite place-rage-and I feel a chill run through me. He looks different, like a side of him I've never witnessed before, something that's raw and untamed. He's not the soft, confident, and cool Dae I know; he's... furious.

He strides toward Stella with purpose, his voice cutting through the air like a whip.

"Back off," he says, and for the first time since the fight with Minho, I hear him raise his voice-really raise his voice. But this time, it's not just tension or frustration; it's pure, unfiltered anger. His tone is sharp, unforgiving.

Stella's eyes widen, her expression faltering for the first time as Dae steps closer, his jaw clenched, his fists balled at his sides like he's barely holding it together.

"You don't get to talk to her like that," he continues, his voice low but cutting through the space like a knife. "You don't get to tear her down."

I'm frozen in place, unsure of how to react. I've never seen Dae this mad, and something about the way he's speaking, the rawness of his anger, sends a jolt through me. His usual calm is gone, replaced by a fierce protectiveness I never thought he'd show in this way.

Stella, momentarily thrown off guard by his forceful words, stumbles back a step, but she quickly regains her composure. She stands tall, trying to appear unaffected, but I can see the way her eyes flicker nervously, like she wasn't expecting Dae to come for her like this.

"I don't need you to defend her, Dae," she sneers, trying to put on a front, but her voice cracks just a little. "She's weak."

Dae's hands twitch at his sides, his eyes narrowing even further as he takes a step closer. "She's not weak," he growls, the intensity of his words making the air feel thick. "And I won't stand by while you belittle her. You've crossed a line."

There's a fire in his eyes, something I've never seen before-a depth of emotion that's too raw, too real. It makes my heart pound in my chest as I stand there, unsure of whether to step forward or stay back. I've never witnessed Dae like this... and it scares me a little, but it also makes me feel something I can't quite put into words.

Stella seems to finally realize she's gonna lose against him, and after a long, tense moment, she sneers, brushing past him. "You're pathetic," she mutters under her breath, but her voice lacks the usual venom. She's rattled.

Dae doesn't move, doesn't even acknowledge her as she storms out of the room. He just stands there, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths, his fists still clenched.

For a moment, the silence is deafening.

I'm still processing what just happened, still stunned by the intensity of Dae's anger. When I finally find my voice, it's barely above a whisper.

"Dae..."

He doesn't look at me right away. He just stands there, staring at the door where Stella disappeared, his body still rigid with anger. But then, after a long beat, he turns his head slightly, his expression softening just enough for me to see the conflict in his eyes.

"I... I couldn't just let her talk to you like that," he admits quietly, his voice rough. "She doesn't get to treat you that way."

I stand frozen, my heart racing, unsure of what to say. I've never seen him like this. I've never heard him speak with such force, such fire. It's a side of Dae that I don't know how to respond to.

But I'm starting to realize that Dae cares for me more than I ever imagined.

Before I can even process what's happening, the emotions overwhelm me. My heart is still racing, the warmth of his protective words still echoing in my chest. And then, without thinking, without giving myself a second to hesitate, I move toward him.

I walk quickly, almost stumbling in my rush, and before either of us can stop it, I throw my arms around him.

I hug him tightly, burying my face in his chest, feeling the heat of his body, the tension that's still holding him together. I don't say anything at first. I don't know what to say. I'm overwhelmed-touched, even, by the way he stood up for me, the way he let his anger spill over to protect me when I didn't even realize how much I needed it.

His body stiffens at first, and I wonder if he's surprised by the hug. But then, slowly, he lets out a quiet breath, and his arms circle around me, pulling me closer.

I can feel his chest rise and fall with each breath, his hands pressing against my back, steadying me as I hold on to him. It's like a wave of relief washes over me, and suddenly, I don't feel so... fragile. The way he holds me, it makes me feel safe-like maybe, just maybe, everything will be okay.

I pull away just slightly to look up at him, my hands still resting on his chest. He's looking down at me, his expression softening, the storm of anger in his eyes settling into something gentler.

"Thank you," I whisper, my voice barely above a breath. "Thank you for standing up for me."

He doesn't answer right away, but I see something flicker in his eyes-something that makes my heart skip. He looks at me, almost as if he's still processing the hug, still trying to find the right words. But in the silence, I can feel the connection between us deepening.

"You don't have to thank me," he says, his voice soft but steady. "I... I just couldn't let her treat you like that."

I nod, my throat tight, feeling a lump form as his words sink in. There's so much more unsaid in this moment-things I'm not sure I'm ready to fully understand yet. But for now, in his arms, I feel like maybe, just maybe, I'm not alone in this.

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🥺 DAE

Oh gosh.

It's official, y'all! The Dae arc has begun 😭

I'm sure y'all did or didn't expect it to be him. But there's just something about second leads going out of their way to protect the girl.