𓍯30𓂃

Minho's

Dove didn't protest when I nodded toward the balcony. She just grabbed her bag, hopped off the stool, and walked ahead, her heels clicking against the floor. I followed, watching as the crowd swallowed the space behind us, the noise fading as we stepped outside.

The cool night air was a welcome change from the stuffy, over-perfumed heat of the party. The balcony was empty, save for the dim golden glow of the string lights and the distant hum of the city below.

Dove leaned against the railing, tilting her head back slightly, eyes slipping shut for a brief moment. The soft breeze lifted a few strands of her hair, and I found myself staring before I could stop.

She looked effortless.

I turned my gaze away, leaning against the railing beside her. "Needed a break?"

She sighed. "Yeah. You?"

I shrugged. "Something like that."

For a moment, neither of us said anything. It wasn't an awkward silence-just easy, comfortable in a way I wasn't used to.

Then she spoke.

"You didn't have to come over, you know." Her voice was quieter now, thoughtful. "I would've been fine."

I glanced at her, my fingers tapping absently against the railing. "I know."

She turned her head, raising a brow.

I sighed, tilting my head back slightly. "I just didn't want you to be alone."

Dove didn't respond right away. Instead, she looked at me like she was seeing something different-something she hadn't quite noticed before.

"You've changed," she murmured.

I let out a quiet huff. "You make that sound like a bad thing."

She shook her head, lips curving slightly. "It's not."

I looked at her then, really looked at her. The glow of the string lights softened her features, casting a golden shimmer over the black and gold of her outfit. Every single detail of her look was perfect-she was perfect. And the worst part? I was only just letting myself admit it.

Dove must have noticed something in my expression because her brow furrowed slightly. "What?"

I shook my head, smirking a little. "Nothing."

She rolled her eyes. "Liar."

I chuckled, looking back out at the city. "Maybe."

Another pause. Then, softer-

"Thank you."

I turned to her again, but she was already looking away, her fingers lightly gripping the railing.

"For what?" I asked.

"For keeping me company." She exhaled, her voice quieter. "I didn't realize how much I needed it."

I watched her for a moment before smiling and nodding, my voice just as soft. "Anytime."

Dove's gaze flickered toward me, the city lights reflecting in her eyes. She had been quiet for a moment, just looking out at the skyline, lost in thought. Then, she let out a soft sigh.

"You know," she started, her fingers tracing absent patterns on the railing, "I don't think we ever really... talked about it."

I didn't have to ask what it was.

I exhaled, my grip tightening slightly before I forced myself to relax. "The breakup."

She nodded. "We apologized, yeah. But I feel like we just... moved past it without really closing it."

I considered that for a moment. She wasn't wrong. We had smoothed over the worst of it, apologized for the things we needed to, but there was still something lingering. An unspoken thing between us.

So I nodded. "You're right."

Dove turned slightly, facing me now. "It wasn't all bad, you know."

I let out a small, breathy laugh. "Yeah. I know."

She gave me a look, like she wasn't sure if I actually believed it.

I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "I think, back then, I didn't really know what I wanted. Or maybe I did, but I was too scared to admit it. And that wasn't fair to you."

Dove hummed, looking down at her hands. "I think I wanted more than you were ready to give."

I swallowed. She was right about that too.

We stood there for a moment, letting the words settle. There was no bitterness, no resentment-just an understanding we hadn't quite reached before.

Finally, I spoke. "I'm glad we had it, though."

Dove looked up, her expression soft. "Me too."

A small breeze passed between us, and when she shivered slightly, I had the ridiculous urge to drape my jacket over her shoulders. Instead, I shifted, stretching out my arms in an exaggerated gesture.

"Hug to seal the deal?" I offered, smirking.

Dove blinked before letting out a soft laugh. "Seriously?"

I shrugged, keeping my arms open. "What, too soon?"

She rolled her eyes, but I caught the small, amused smile on her lips before she stepped forward, closing the distance between us.

She wrapped her arms around my waist, and I let mine settle around her shoulders, pulling her in. The hug was warm, solid, and somehow, it felt right.

Not like how it used to be-something desperate, something uncertain.

This was different. Lighter.

Closure.

I rested my chin on top of her head for a brief moment before exhaling and pulling back. "Deal sealed."

Dove shook her head with a small smile. "Deal sealed."

And just like that, we were finally-finally-okay.

When we pulled away, neither of us stepped back completely.

Dove looked up at me, her eyes searching mine, and for a second, I wasn't sure what she was looking for. Or maybe she wasn't looking for anything at all-maybe she was just seeing me. The real me. Not the version of me that had broken her heart, not the version that had been too afraid to give her what she deserved. Just... me.

And I saw her too.

She wasn't the same girl I had let go. She stood taller now, more sure of herself, more her. And somehow, despite everything, she was still here. Still looking at me like I wasn't just a mistake she had made.

The weight of that settled somewhere deep in my chest.

"Dove," I started, not even sure what I was about to say.

She tilted her head slightly, waiting.

But the words didn't come.

Instead, I just exhaled, shaking my head with a small smile. "Nothing."

She rolled her eyes, but there was no frustration, just quiet amusement. "You always do that."

"Do what?"

"Act like you're about to say something important and then don't."

I huffed a laugh, shoving my hands into my pockets. "Maybe I just like keeping you on your toes."

Dove gave me a look, unimpressed. "Or maybe you just don't know how to say what you're feeling."

That one hit a little too close.

I clicked my tongue, looking away. "Don't psychoanalyze me, Dove. It's rude."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Fine. Keep your secrets."

A breeze passed between us, lifting a few strands of her hair. Without thinking, I reached out, brushing them back behind her ear.

Dove stilled.

For a split second, neither of us moved, both caught in the moment like we weren't sure what to do with it.

Then she exhaled, stepping back slightly, and the moment was gone.

I let my hand drop.

"Come on," she said, adjusting the strap of her bag. "We should probably head back inside."

I nodded, stuffing my hands deeper into my pockets. "Yeah."

And just like that, we walked back in-not as what we were before, not as something new, but as something better.

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The past is finally behind them 😭

I think both Dove and Minho needed closure.