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#kyunghee.
captvreme · 1 year
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gulongming · 1 year
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@kdramaspace + @userdramas YEAR IN REVIEW 2022 | Masterclass in Acting
♛ best actress of 2022: 김민하 Kim Min Ha
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aespagen · 3 days
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WinterR // 240523 aespa at the 2024 kyunghee university festival
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fourth-quartet · 2 years
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motif: j'me tire (pt. 1)
Gaon,
I don’t know why I’m writing this. Perhaps it is easier to write my feelings down rather than speak them aloud. Perhaps I hope this never reaches you in any shape or form.
This is my confession.
The concept of confession is never one that has sat right with me. For a singular person to claim not to judge me as I bare my heart, only to know that their opinion of me will change with every word left my mouth… There is a part of me that knows deep down that nothing will ever change that. That I rely so heavily, so deeply, on knowing how people see me, that I will never bare my face to see the world as myself. All will remain filtered through that which is Kang Yohan.
I’ve had this dream since well before my brother and sister-in-law passed away of floating out at sea. It is warm, not unwelcome, and comfortable, but I grew more and more tired with each passing moment until keeping my head above water is all I am able to do. No amount of screaming or praying or trying to wake up will free me from the sea. It is only I and self-hatred and guilt eating away at me as I am desperate for something, anything, to rescue me from this space of alone and lonely and empty. Empty, is what it is. It is a world in which there is nothing but me.
I still feel it these days. That alone, lonely feeling — for they are different. To be alone is what I am, what I always am. With Elijah in New York now, knowing you are in Seoul, and here I am in Zurich, I am alone. But that loneliness, that horrific suffocating, never-ending silence. That deep-set feeling in your bones of knowing that there is not a thing you could do to free yourself from this pain.
The last time I felt like this, I sought ways to free myself from this loneliness. I found K and my team. But I found respite in a way you likely will not expect.
There is much you don’t know about me, Kim Gaon.
Warming Cha Kyunghee’s bed was far from the worst decision I made in those initial years after Isaac died.
I worry in this moment you’ll think less of me for the decisions I made in the past. But you must understand, I was not even thirty, the only parent of a child when I had never intended on having children, the only survivor of a family that wanted nothing more than for me not to exist.
I sought comfort in the only places I could find it. And Cha Kyunghee welcomed me without a second thought. My fondest memory of my thirties, is of Cha Kyunghee just sitting in silence with me.
How pathetic I must sound.
But my life became nothing but static. Nightmares of fire and endless sea and the regret of waking up every morning, to spend my day at work where I followed laws that only hurt the people I so wished to help, back to a house that haunted me, to a child who told me to my face that she wished that I had died and that her parents had survived, only to return to those nightmares again.
It was only spite that didn’t drive me to an end.
Spite and fear.
Did an afterlife exist? Would I see Isaac again? Would Isaac be angry with me? Would he support all of my feelings of regret, hatred, and guilt? Would he echo that which Elijah said? That he wished I had died, that he had survived?
I am a coward, Gaon-ah.
I have lived only in the hopes of never confronting my brother. I have lived only in the hopes of never seeing that disappointment.
I sought comfort in the arms of a married woman that I hated deeply. I felt nothing more passionately than my hatred for her, even as I spent long nights with her. As she ran her fingers through my hair, as she traced my scars with her fingernails until I shivered. I would never have allowed her to know that I often returned to the house and cried. I wrapped my arms around myself and pretended they were her, that they were Isaac, that they were anybody who might care about me.
I don’t remember K’s name.
It’s such a little thing, minute, a detail barely anyone might think about.
But he worked for me for eight years. He was my driver, as close to a friend as I could have. He threw away the world for me.
And I don’t remember his name.
He is just a passing thought sometimes. I forget he existed at other times. He spent so long as my shadow that I forget he was a real human being. His pain was only important to me in that it allowed me to use him to my own end. All it took was a reminder of his pain and I could ask him to do anything with the promise of eventual revenge.
And I could not deliver on even that.
I don’t believe I’m worthy of love. I don’t believe I’m capable of love. I’ve long since passed cynical and pessimistic; I think I’m well past nihilism as well.
You’re better off without me.
But, again, I am a coward. And so, cowardly, I will continue to live.
Yours,
Yohan
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commajade · 1 year
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i love women and sports
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mymediacollection · 1 year
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Sorry but if Kang Yohan is daddy, Cha Kyunghee is mommy- I don't make up the rules, they make the rules. I just follow them and oh why yes, mommy, please step on me holy fu-
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plantaagomaajor · 2 years
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is it cannon that all of the women in the devil judge are sapphic or is that just in my head
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permanentreverie · 2 years
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I know changes need to be made when a story is being adapted from book to screen but that won't stop me from freaking out over every little changed detail
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michthebay · 2 years
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..
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soraontop · 5 months
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SORA of ENHYPEN 𓊆ྀི❤︎𓊇ྀི
STAGE NAME sora (소라)
BIRTH NAME jung sora (정소라)
POSITION - *
BIRTHDAY october 31st, 2003
ZODIAC SIGN scorpio
CHINESE ZODIAC goat
HEIGHT 162cm (5’3”)
WEIGHT 44kg (99lbs)
BLOOD TYPE a
MBTI ENTP
NATIONALITY korean
REPRESENTATIVE EMOJI 🐯
MIC. COLOR pink
SORA FACTS
She is from Ilsan, South Korea.
She is the oldest child of four, and has three younger brothers. (2009, 2014, 2018)
Training Period: 3 years, 2 months/2015–2018 (Cre.Ker Ent) 1 year, 3 months/2019–2020 (BigHit Ent.)
She was in I.O.I previously and placed 2nd in Produce 101 Season 1 with 782,883 votes.
She ranked 2nd in the final episode of I-LAND with 1,362,913 votes.
She is the current MC for Inkigayo with Yeonjun and Woonhak. (July 2023)
She is a former Cre.Ker and BigHit Entertainments trainee and knows The Boyz well from training with them.
She played Jungkook’s partner in ‘Love Yourself’ highlight reel.
Byeolies is Sora’s fandom name created by fans.
Education: Chadwick International School
Sora speaks Korean and English fluently. She understands Japanese but isn’t confident in speaking it.
Her English name is Lucy. She chose it because she liked the song Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds.
Her favorite colors are lavender and coral.
She was on a swim team when she was younger.
She auditioned as a joke in 2015.
She has her own room in ENHYPEN’s dorm.
She has a Chihuahua named Miso.
She played Jung Somi in The Man From Nowhere in 2010, the daughter of Won Bin’s character in the movie who was kidnapped. She won Best New Actress at the 2010 Korean Film Awards for her role.
She also played Do Kyunghee, Cha Eunwoo’s character’s sister, in My Gangnam Beauty in 2018.
She is childhood friends with RIIZE’s Seunghan. (WeVerse 2023.09.8)
Specialty: Vocal and dance
Hobbies: Making friends, drawing, taking care of others
Charming Point: Her eyes, lips and cheeks
Her nickname(s) are Korea’s Golden Girl, Doll, ‘Malgeumi’ (bright), Da Vinci, Mermaid, ‘Nation’s Girl Next Door’, ‘Nation’s Little Sister’, Star.
Likes: Jay, Sunoo, swimming, her dog, makeup
Dislikes: Waking up, being taken care of, pineapple pizza, Mint Choco
Motto: Expect nothing.
* Position is currently being inferred.
inspired by @enmi-land & @laladellakang <3
poly ot7 enhypen fic with female 8th member, don’t like don’t read !!!
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aespainstagram · 3 days
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[240523] imnotningning: Kyunghee University ❤️
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sserajeanspics · 8 months
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new jeans twitter update
☁️✨☁️✨❤️ Kyunghee University Festival Day!! It was our last NewJeans festival of the year!❤️❤️ㅠㅠ We were so excited!! Koo-ong and Koo-ming are also so cute...🐯 We thank the students of Kyunghee University who welcomed us warmly 🐰❤️ Good night! ˚୨୧⋆。˚ ⋆
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ecoamerica · 2 months
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youtube
Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared
The American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 broadcast recording is now available on ecoAmerica's YouTube channel for viewers to be inspired by active climate leaders. Watch to find out which finalist received the $50,000 grand prize! Hosted by Vanessa Hauc and featuring Bill McKibben and Katharine Hayhoe!
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hybeboyenthusisast · 2 years
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Stupid Cupid Masterlist
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˜”*°•.˜”*°• A social experiment conducted by Cupidly Co., with you (the reader!) at the center of it! Is it possible to fall in love with a stranger over the course of 30 days? Cupidly Co. wants to find out, and you do too! As one of the participants, you will navigate the challenges set up by the experiment as well as the challenges created by your fellow participants! Will you fall in love? Will you form everlasting friendships? The rollercoaster journey of 30 days starts now! •°*”˜.•°*”˜
This series is based off of the mobile game Picka: 30 Days to Love! 
Pairing: ???? TXT member x afab!fem!reader
Genre: Romance, crack, social media au set through text messages, fluff, smut!
Rating: 18+ for language, mentions of alcohol, smut
Started: June 21st, 2022
Ended: August 21st, 2022
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Tell me your thoughts!
Day 0. introductions
      Day 0.5. Yn’s Profile
Day 1. Bark Bark
      Day 1.2. Bad Judges of Character
      Day 1.4. Lucky
      Day 1.6. My Innocent Eyes
      Day 1.8. Hole
Day 2. Besties
      Day 2.25. Pity
      Day 2.5. Snakey Baby
      Day 2.75. Kyunghee Snake Confirmed
Day 3. Less Competition
      Day 3.5 Bestie
Day 4. Fucking Hummingbird
      Day 4.4. Insta Besties
      Day 4.8. Extra Excited Kai
Day 5. A Date With Kai (Written)
      Day 5.5. Date Talk
Day 6. The Universe Can Fuck Off
       Day 6.4. Masochist
       Day 6.8. Bossy Ass
Day 7. Kinda Hot
       Day 7.2. Strawberry Shortcake Detective Work
       Day 7.4. Virgin
       Day 7.6. Tongue Piercing
       Day 7.8. Tramp Stamp
Day 8. BDE
       Day 8.16. Pet Play
       Day 8.32. Horny Chain
       Day 8.48. Badass Ballerina
       Day 8.64. Gyu’s Bullshit Detector
       Day 8.8. Dirty Dream
Day 9. Sugar Mommy Yumi
        Day 9.5. Secret Messages
Day 10. Kyunghee vs. Miji
        Day 10.3. Everyone Crushin’ on YN
        Day 10.6. Pounce
Day 11. Irresistible (Written, NSFW)
Day 12. Deny Deny Deny
         Day 12.3. Ass Bruise
         Day 12.6. Moving to Mars
Day 13. Penis with a Bra
         Day 13.4. Expired Milk
         Day 13.8. We Have a Winner
         Day 13.99 Would You Rather
Day 14. Say It Like You Mean It
         Day 14.5. Charm
Day 15. A Date with Beomgyu (Written)
Day 16. They’re In Love
          Day 16.5. High Horse
Day 17. Jealous
          Day 17.5. Apologies 
Day 18. No Sledding
          Day 18.25. A Dream
          Day 18.5. Complicated
          Day 18.75. Element of Surprise
Day 19. Proud Shipper
          Day 19.5. WYKYK
Day 20. Love... Rectangle?
          Day 20.5. Yumi, My Wife
Day 21. Pancakes or Waffles
          Day 21.5. Compatibility Rating
Day 22. Inconvenient 
          Day 22.5. A Date With Yeonjun (Written)
Day 23. Advice from Nari
           Day 23.33 Cupid and Soobin
           Day 23.66. Creepy
Day 24. Hold My Hand
           Day 24.5. Yuyn, Best Ship
Day 25. Mommy & Daddy
           Day 25.5. Left on the Side of the Road
Day 26. Boys R Gross
           Day 26.33. Sandcastles in the Sand
this is the point where the CANON ending begins. the alternate endings will be added later, after the series has finished its canon run. 
           Day 26.66. Electrifying (Written, Minorly NSFW)
Day 27.0. Rules Be Damned (Written, NSFW)
Day 27. Clean the Kitchen
            Day 27.5. Heathens
Day 28. All Yours (Written, NSFW)
            Day 28.25. Smitten
            Day 28.5. Kai Delulu Era
            Day 28.75. Whipped
Day 29. The Final Conversation
Day 30. For the Rest of Time
epilogue.
                                    THE END. (Sequel release date TBA)
Yeonjun’s Ending (written, nsfw) (posted 9/27/22)
Poly!Ending  (written, nsfw) (posted 11/12/22)
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This smau is fuckin giant... idk how the hell i’ve done all this LOL
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fourth-quartet · 1 year
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how k and yohan met
under the cut because this is a longer one:
There are few days in which Kyungju doesn’t think the world comes to a standstill. It’s been worse since his father’s death three years before; his mother sits in their house, an empty shell of what once was. Kyungju can barely remember the days when she’d hum to herself as she cooked, the days when she’d greet his father with a smile, when happiness filled their house.
Now, the walls and windows just feel cold. Could a house be filled with emotions if the emotions were a void, Kyungju wondered, because that was what it felt like—the white of the walls were an empty canvas upon which were meant to be drawn the happy family memories they would never have. His father would never see him graduate middle school or high school. His father wouldn’t be there when he enlisted and wouldn’t be there when he returned.
The grief that consumed his mother was overwhelming; he too had felt it before, that pervasive, inescapable grief that you could only feel you were drowning in. Kyungju had felt it after his father died, grasping at any piece of driftwood in the hopes of staying afloat. It had been school, at first, that had been his driftwood. It had been his perfect grades, perfect attendance, and the knowledge that his father would be proud of him that kept Kyungju forcing himself forwards, attending each day of classes and pushing himself to perfection each day.
He falters in high school. That perfection he strives for falls apart and it becomes a chore to pull himself out of bed. Kyungju is exhausted trying his best to remain perfect. It is remarkably unfulfilling, doubly so when there is no praise for it. There is no one to tell him good job, to tell him all his effort pays off.
He’s debating dropping out when he meets him. Him, so unlike anyone Kyungju has met before. He strolls into Kyungju’s life entirely by accident.
Kyungju takes one of the quieter streets, shedding the jacket of his school uniform. It will do little to delay how quickly anyone notices him to be a student skipping school, given the rest of his uniform, but it at least delays the knowledge of exactly which school. He folds it, neatly, and slips the jacket into his bag, shouldering the bag when he’s done. It’s only the hair rising on the back of his neck that clues him into the eyes on him and he turns to find a young man watching him from a window some ways down the street. The young man turns, seemingly called from someone inside the house, and when he turns back to the window, Kyungju is still staring at him in turn.
They make eye contact and, before Kyungju can turn to run, the young man winks at him, and turns in the window to whomever he’s speaking to. Kyungju recognizes her once she joins the young man by the window. Cha Kyunghee, the prosecutor who was the reason his father was dead. Cold indignation and hot anger floods his system at once. Kyungju ducks behind a wall and takes a deep breath.
He wonders, briefly, if his mother would even notice if he disappeared to prison for attacking Cha Kyunghee. He doubts it, and the thought turns from impulsive to serious, damn the consequences. But before he can do much of anything, Kyungju snaps back to attention at the hand that falls firmly to his shoulder. When he looks up, it’s the young man from the window, looking down at him.
“Don’t do something stupid,” the young man says quietly. That impulsive, hot anger rises in him again but the young man just holds a finger to his lips to shush him. “Whatever you think you’ll do, you’ll only be caught now. In your uniform, here in this public space?”
The anger fades back to a quiet, pulsing indignation and Kyungju opens his mouth to argue again. The man, again, raises his finger to his lips to shush him. “Plan,” he says softly, kneeling down to where Kyungju is behind the wall, next to him. Meeting his eyes levelly, Kyungju can piece a few things together: the man is younger than Kyungju thought, probably only barely old enough to have his ID, and it’s amusement twinkling in his eyes above all else. He’s not telling Kyungju not to do it. He’s just telling him to be careful about it. 
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commajade · 1 year
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heo kyunghee
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casablancarossa · 5 months
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Dream of me a little longer ... a taemin x reader scenarion
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Help because I haven't been able to shake this scenario off my head and I'm resurrecting my tumblr to get this weight off me TT TT
Pairing: Taemin x female!Reader Genre: Fluff? maybe a little of Angst ? Warnings: None, just mild language. W.C: 6k+. I know it's long... Author's Note: Yes okay it's long, I promise its a nice lil moment. And I could not be bothered to split into two chapters. Some text is in blue.. it's implied it's spoken in Korean. Heavily written after watching Metamorph concert and listening to "I think Its Love"
☼ Sometime in the past... ☼
"Hey, Lee Taemin! Come on! We need to board the plane!"
A young woman called out, waving over a kid with plush cheeks and soft eyes and roughly tussled hair. Their hurried steps through the crowd of people made you turn your head, before looking up at your mom who was making sure you wouldn't get knocked down.
Fortunately the nimble boy, managed to avoid bumping into you but running straight to his brother with a cheeky grin, boasting about how agile he was to getting back to them but was questioning, where they were going. His mom sighed, looking her two boys, ruffling their hair stating they were going to surprise their dad who went off for a work trip.
Whilst the conversation went on, you felt your mom nudge your shoulder. "Hey y/n, look at that boys bag, he must be a senior to you!"
Sure enough, you followed her gaze and saw that this boy and you had the same backpack that had the school logo sewn into the shoulder strap, however judging from the wear and tear, the boy looked to be just a bit older than you. "Such a sweet girl, is she going to Kyunghee Elementary School too?", the boys mom asked.
Your mom stood there a little bit taken back, unsure how to form her words. She struggled with the language unlike you, and your dad was fluent, but had left minutes ago for the toilets. You could see that the other woman was also flustered, and quietly whispered to themselves trying to form an English sentence to re-communicate.
"Yes auntie! I go to school there too next month!!", you interjected, unaware your mom was flipping through her notebook looking for her practiced sentences.
"Oh! Your Korean is...very good! Ya, Taemin-ah, say hello, she goes to your school", the older woman chirped happily, encouraging her son to step forward and say hello to you and your mom.
You dad finally popped up beside you, breaking through the queue forming as he pecks your head and inquired what was happening. From what you bothered to listen to or tried to understand, you posited that the Lee family were on the same aisle as you and your parents and offered if you would like to swap seats so you could sit with the boys and play with them for the period of the flight and your parents did not seem to mind.
The younger of the two stepped forward, it was the boy with the school backpack.
"Hello, I'm Lee Taemin..."
"Oh, hello, I'm Y/N..."
☼ Sometime before May '08... ☼
You slumped back into your chair, twiddling your thumbs as you sat in front of the monitor screen. You were staring at the empty chatroom, unsure how to type your message. Sighing, you shift yourself in your seat staring down at the icon on the screen turning from grey to green. Danggit. Why is he online..., you thought to yourself.
TM: Oh I finally caught you online.
YN: Yeah... was just talking to my friends about homework..
TM: How is school?
YN: Did you hear? Boys from your year are saying that they know BoA eonnie through you.
TM: I haven't even spoken to her yet. All the sunbaes are busy...
A dry smile curled from the corner of your lips as you continue to type, passing conversations here and there. Despite having a conversation with him, you thought back to the years leading up to now.
~~~
Taemin rushed through the streets on his little bike, scarfed and bundled up, quickly waddling and knocking at your front door with much urgency. Your mom had answered the door for you, but you weren't too far behind, peeking around from behind, offering him a little wave. He quickly pestered you to get on your bike and take ride around the area with him, subtly implying he had good news to tell you before quickly bribing you with your favourite ice cream and salted egg snacks.
Hanging out with him was easy and it really didn't take much convincing on your part to drop anything and go out with him. If anything, his mom encouraged it as it was one of the rare times Taemin would be very sociable and free to express himself. Although the reason for why he had to drag you away from your studies, has yet to be explained, you carefully followed behind Taemin, who was acting fun and carefree, whenever he got excited about something. You watched him not even come to a full stop before he bounced off his bike, singing to himself.
During summer, you had spent nearly everyday with him, dancing in his living room while both of your moms were busy with their quarterly kimchi-making marathon in the other room. Sometimes, you would sing too and he would sit at the floor, staring up at you happily, excited that he was part of the rare few who could hear you sing so passionately. Taemin was more of a dancer and he was good at it despite not having any professional lessons. You could tell he was going to be great one day. Even then you could see, you were just a passing star around his sun.
It wasn't until the music room had been fully finished in your school, that following fall, that you would catch Taemin very late in the evenings, practicing piano, claiming that he would need a musical skill and he wasn't sure that his dancing or singing would get him there. When his mom brought home a keyboard, he would endlessly harass you to watch him play a new piece he had learnt and asked your opinions, if it sounded too rushed or felt off-key.
Days would go on, where Taemin would play the piano for you and you would sing for him and it was your own little world with him before the realities of school would come knocking.
You shook your head, waking up from your little reminiscing daydream as Taemin bounced out with a bag full of goodies in his hand. The pair of you drove to the nearest playground, and he begins to recount of a story about him dancing with other people in front of a panel of judges before being interviewed and you only listened on, in wonderment, wondering internally what this meant for Taemin as he had be purposely vague. The young boy didn't fully elaborate on what happened but seemed to be excited for this new chance he might get. The surprisingly warm afternoon shifted to the familiar brisk winter evening, and before you knew it, you two decided to walk the bikes back to your home, throwing the vehicle on the yard before running to the window to let your mom know that you have arrived. Her head spun quickly smiling, standing to walk towards the window with an open box in hand, commenting that you and Taemin might as well be busy and start crafting, sliding the jewellery making kit box out the window. You and Taemin began to meticulously design bracelets for each other from the kit, sitting at the covered front porch, staring at the sky as the first snow was about to stick.
"Hey y/n, let's swap..."
"It's literally the same bracelet"
"Yeah, but this way, I made yours and you made mine. Think of it like a pinkie promise, to be friends forever, support each other through everything, be with each other until the end"
"Sounds stupid.. and serious, but I like it. Okay call."
~~~
That was almost 2? No, maybe 3 years ago now. It didn't take long before news spread around the school that Taemin had auditioned for SM Entertainment and managed to get in. Everyone teased him about how he might find a pretty noona to date there instead, or how he might get fame to his head and forget all about his friends in school. Taemin did get bullied here and there, but that came along with the fact he was about to be a star. He remained adamant he wouldn't forget anyone. He repeated the same sentiments towards you when you teased him about it and he huffed quietly, more hurt that you would also think he was capable of forgetting you.
Much to your surprise, he really didn't. Despite seeing of him less as he focused on training, you were the one person he constantly checked up on. If you weren't at home, he would ask your mom if he could leave a letter, usually left on a scratch paper and very hastily scribbled messages. He would have encouraged you to join the scary world of the internet because he found a new site where you can message each other and keep up to date with what is going on in each others lives. More often than not, it would be Taemin that had more stories to share, which was way better than what you believe to be, is your very boring mundane life, focusing on your studies.
And you did follow through anyway, creating an account and adding Taemin by the username he left at the end of his last letter.
. . . .
TM: Earth to Y/N???
YN: Huh?
TM: It said you were typing for so long, I thought you had slept on the keyboard :D.
YN: oh ... no ... sorry, mom asked me if I could hang some laundry in the room.
TM: Ah, so... you're coming with my mom right?
YN: it's in a few days right? I wouldn't miss it... What are your hyungs like?
TM: Annoying TT TT
You smirked at the screen before dropping the forced emotion, realizing, Taemin's not there to question the sad look on your face. Your head turned back slightly to see the half-packed suitcase on the floor along with scraps of scrunched up paper, filled with drafts of apologies to Taemin.
The temptation to just tell him the truth right there and then would be all too relieving but by the time you had shifted your attention to the screen, Taemin's profile icon was greyed out and he had left a solid paragraph about his plans to work hard and have everyone including yourself be proud of him, he ended with a goodbye..
... Y/N-ah, wear our bracelet okay? So I can see you in the crowd. I know you'll be front row anyway, but just in case you get stuck behind someone. Missed ya you stupid face! Please cheer me on .
☼ Sometime during '12... ☼
"Hey Dad, you sure I can drop the luggage here?"
"It's your old room, be comfortable" , he yelled from downstairs, his voice growing distant, exiting the front door to grab the rest of your luggage.
You open the sliding door, seeing a more smaller and emptier room than you imagined. A roll of thick futon laid in one corner, along with the rest of your sleeping amenities, a handful of pillow and a very comfortable thick blanket. It genuinely smelt like happier memories, back when your mom and dad decided that Seoul was going to be the last stop and nothing in their career could make them move. Not yet an adult, but grown enough to understand the circumstance which led to your dad coming back to Korea full time and your mom back home with a busy law career and more importantly, finally allowing you to travel on your own to visit him.
"You sure I was the only person who stayed here?", you half joked, knowing full well that your dad had been offering spare rooms to his workmates during late night after-work drinking sessions.
"Eish... if you are going to be like your mother, I won't rescue you from spiders..." he mocked back in a sassy pouty tone.
"I'm kidding, but seriously though... try not to spend life alone.." , you mumbled, looking at your father, who looked half the man he was. He had gotten more frail in the years, probably since no one was home to make him home cooked meals, and he was grey around the edges and a little paler compared to you, but you had his eyes, which were full of light and passion. "Mom is waiting for you back home..."
The man stumbled past you to drop the remainder of your bags, which was on oversight for a 2 month visit, but packing like you are there for a much longer duration. He ruffled the top of your head, making light conversation of how you and your mom were back home and began asking if things you wanted to do in the summer.
Nothing came to mind about plans. If anything you wanted to open your old messaging site and see if any of your old classmates were still online and if they remembered you, would they still like to meet up? But the nagging voice in your head kept on telling you, not to login. What if he left messages? What if he is still leaving messages...
You had asked your dad if you could borrow his laptop in the meantime while you unpacked and thankfully all the keycaps were in familiar alphabets as your grip on the Korean language had decreased in your time away, but hopefully it was enough to reconnect with some old friends.
There was hesitation in your fingertips on why you didn't want to click on that login button. So much weight behind one action. Closing your eyes and taking a deep breath in, taking that leap of courage, you navigated towards your unread messages.
He had not been online for over 3 months, but that is the maximum display of how long a person was last seen. It could be over 3 months at this point. His last message was also from that time.
TM: Are you well? Me and the hyungs are practicing again for our comeback. It's going to be exciting. TM: You know... it feels like we are a team now. TM: Are you still singing? TM: Do you still read these messages? Y/N-ah. Reply soon okay? I'm no longer angry at you.
You scrolled back to see, he had been sending messages every few months, some of them were sad, some were filled with anger and mildly insulting languages. A scoff managed to escape you. Wow, you really are a man now Taemin. A set of paragraphs caught your attention.
As per, hot blooded teenager goes, Taemin had cursed you out for not showing up. He blamed you for not enjoying his debut stage and being made fun of his hyungs for not having his friend support him. He continued to say that if you were going to disappear, you shouldn't have given him hope that you were going to show up, after the long months on not being able to meet up because he slept in the dance studio often, much to his mom's disappointment. Taemin caps off the message wondering if his mom ever gave the CD to your dad.
CD? You don't remember such thing. Granted, you and your mom were the first to leave Korea, but your dad, for as long as you recounted, had stayed in the same address.
"Appa! Do I have any old items in the room?!", you screamed from your room, perking your ear out from over your shoulder.
"Yes! Check the wardrobe."
Scuttling towards the sliding door of the closet, you quickly brush it open and see a stack of old clothes. minor household items, and a random shoe box with random Doraemon and Hello Kitty stickers adorning the sides. Bingo. You inspected the box first. It looks like no one has touched it in years and there was this crisp crackling noise as if it had been tightly glue shut, but the glue had worn off.
In it was a collection of items you used to collect, stamps, arcade tickets, cinema tickets and an assortment of handwritten letters, all done in Taemin's writing. Did dad save these? At the bottom, was a thin parcel with aqua coloured wrapping paper. It had the signature of Taemin and 4 others with the message 'We hope to see you soon', ending with a love heart. Without opening it, you assumed it was a copy of their first album, an album that you currently have sitting in your bedroom back home with other SHINee related items.
Yes, you were a full on Shawol and you would be stupid enough to have Taemin as your bias. But you supported from the back, because Taemin was right, you were just downright despicable for not saying goodbye to him even when your mom encouraged you to leave the letter to his mom, who was 20 minute bike drive away.
No one knew where you had went; the ambiguity between your parents meant that your dad was not bothered to inform others where you had been whisked away to, as long as he got updates that you were safe and smiling. The door to your room slid open quietly. He leans across the frame, seeing pages scatter around and the CD in its wrapping beside you.
"Maybe it's because he doesn't recognize me as much, but that kid comes by the neighbourhood often and walks slowly when he passes by the building...", your dad's words were comforting. "I know it was mostly your mom and his that were friends, but I had overheard him ask about you and your mom around the neighbourhood, guess people didn't forward the message to me at the time.."
"It's okay appa... it's for the better that he doesn't know..", there was a defeat in your voice. "I was such a bad friend to him..."
Your dad clicked his tongue before rolling down his sleeves, almost as if he just said 'Come on, lets go out'.
And you did. Instead of taking the car, the two of you had opted to take public transport and walk around for the afternoon. Seoul had changed so much in the years you were gone. It felt like a completely different city. The air was different and contrary to popular belief, there are little nooks around the area that seems quiet and slow, like a brief relief from the bustling main road.
However this meant, you could hear it clearly, SHINee's Sherlock playing in stores to lure fans in to buy from their stock. Bright as day, you heard his voice. He had improved so much with his singing that he did sound like Jonghyun. Or maybe, it's because his voice dropped, but you knew his lines and its like being back in his living room, on the rare occasions he did sing, you would listen.
The pain wracked through every muscle in your chest. Taemin paid extra attention to you when you were younger. Hung onto every word you said and would follow through every promise he made. There was time he used his pocket money to buy you snacks for lunch because you had your "bad Korean tongue days", wherein by you embarrass yourself since public speaking was not your strongest suit and reading a block of Korean text was as daunting as the time you had to explain to his mom why he got injured, falling off his bike on your behalf.
Ah, the true pains of puppy love, you thought to yourself as you continued to absentmindedly walk beside your dad, who was nudging you this whole time, asking if you wanted to investigate the commotion down the street.
It had been apparent that there seems to be a film crew nearby and shocking amount of high school girls roughly around your age, squealing in excitement. You had pushed through halfway into the crowd with your dad, still unaware of what was happening, although the soondae soup restaurant you wanted to go to was just after where the crowd had formed. You might as well be nosy and see what the fuss was about.
Well didn't curiosity kill the cat, when you heard a name being screamed from behind you.
From across the crowd, 5 good-looking guys where strolling with a camera man following them and a host with cue cards and mic, interviewing them. It was Shinee in the flesh, but more importantly it was Taemin in the flesh with about 25+ raging teenagers in between you two, but no doubt he was the same petite frame, trudging along the back, behind his band members, camera shy and playing that extra coy, innocent angel look towards the fangirls.
Soon, unbeknownst to you, you had been slowly pushed through the crowd, now walking in the inner circle that surround Shinee and film crew. But this is a blessing in disguise was just few feet away and you could probably grab onto your dad and drag him out of the pandemonium.
"Ah appa! There's a gap here, come on we'll miss the special lunch menu!" you managed to shout, but to your detriment it had caused Taemin to turn around.
His eyes flittered around, scanning the group of people before him, thankfully the crew had stopped walking and were interviewing Shawols on the street. He could hear the sound of his heart beating in his ear. That voice, it struck and resonated in him, it took a while to focus his eyes at the general direction of the sound that stirred him.
There amongst the crowd, two hands holding in the air, someone from the other side trying to drag their dad back out of the group of people, on the wrist of one, was a lilac and green beaded bracelet with a cat charm in the middle. His eyes darted down to check his own wrists and just as he expected, buried in the dark earth toned bracelets, his stylists made him wear, underneath hid an identical bracelet albeit in alternating colours to the one he just saw but it had a cat charm too. His flipped the charm with his index fingers, revealing the very rough and badly embossed marking on the back, revealing your initials, same as the way your charm would have his initials too.
☼ Sometime after now... ☼
"Sonyu eonnie!! I'm here", you eagerly called out for you friend as you rush down the steps of the arena.
You looked around and saw that bar a few stragglers, the venue looked like it had just been recently emptied as the clean up crew haven't even began brushing confetties off the floor. It was a pretty big venue too and that impressed you a lot to know that it was packed judging from how long you waited in the car park for, to let the exiting crowd to reduce.
In a stretched out booth were a bunch of monitors, scattered and tangled wires, all set up to keep an eye on the concert, control mic levels, music levels and lightings. Your sunbae from an old school sat in the middle, smiling from ear to ear as she waved you over but yelling to be careful and not trip over any rogue wires.
"Oh? Someone looks like they had a good work day. How was the concert?", you chirpped, taking a seat beside the hagard looking woman who was slumped back into her seat with cables in her hands.
"It went great, no accidents, things ran smoothly, Taemin sounded nice too"
The inner corner of your lips twitched at the name. "Shinee's Taemin?"
"Oh are you a fan? You should have told me! I could have gotten you in for free", her words caused panic inside of you.
The last time you saw him in person was at a fan-sign event. Boldly wearing a mask, you stood at the front row to cheer him on. You may not be as close as friends, barely even acquaintances, but you had bumped into his mom, weeks prior, saying how delighted Taemin would be to see you and offered a ticket that she was going to give to friend's daughter. When you asked it to be a surprise, she didn't utter a word to her son. When it was time to line up and have a poster signed, you quickly turned on your heel and ran away. You also knew, he probably didn't recognize you, despite the minor scene you had caused that did get the Shinee members' attention.
You went out of your way to find Taemin's mom, who still lived near the area you grew up in, and apologized to her for not following through with the plan to surprise Taemin, and asked if she could just not tell Taemin that you were around. She was quick to beg if you had any way of being contacted by Taemin. She promised that she would be discreet in how she would drop the topic on him. You hmm'd and haa'd at the prospect before stating that you had been staying at the same address since you were a kid, being generous enough to leave a note of the address in case Taemin or his mom had forgotten.
After that encounter you never really heard from Taemin for almost 6/7 years? His mom had been in contact quite recently, after bumping into your mom when she visited Korea and the communication has been somewhat regular.
Sonyu eonnie, nudged your shoulder trying to get your attention. "Hey hey, some of the staff are going out to eat and maybe drink to celebrate. Do you want to join me?"
You weren't going to turn down food and drinks, so you nodded and waited for her to get ready, calling over the other PD-eonnies who were part of the crew that was going out to eat. It didn't take long before a crowd gathered all talking about what food they wanted to eat and where was going to be empty enough to host a big group.
Ever so slightly, the formed group would attempt to make it out of the hall, now suddenly being probably the last of staff to get out as the clean-up crew had already finished minutes beforehand, and you were happy enough to be able to partake in conversations and the staff were so welcoming towards you.
By the time you guys had walked through the double doors that led to the hallway with the staff exit, the group gathered, waiting for everyone and whether a decision had been made within all that ruckus. You and Sonyu kept on insisting for soju and barbeque, giggling as suddenly everyone suddenly craved for barbeque and began to speak to about their favourite cuts and how their respective partners were good and grilling meat.
In the chaos, you didn't notice it, but some of the staff members began bowing and waving towards the other side of the hallway.
"Well done Lee Taemin. You worked very well! Thank you for working so hard!"
Echoes of along those line were all cheered out and you followed the gaze of the crowd and Taemin was smiling and waving back, thanking the staff members for all of their hard work and for taking care of him. But even then, he was distracted, because he knew, he wasn't imagining it. He knows that you know that he can recognize you. He has been staring at you and tried to stay calm about it.
As if you were teens again, time stood still and he couldn't believe his eyes but he even second guessed himself, unsure how to confirm it was you, his childhood friend, someone he thought would be there for him until the end.
With the spirit and mood being so high, you could partially make out that the staff was inviting Taemin to come out as well and the remaining SHINee members who had stuck behind to leave with Taemin. You shook your head as if to say, you didn't want Taemin to agree to join, because that would mean you had to interact, it would be rude not to. Before another comment could be made, you were hurriedly whisked away, Sonyu dragging you to your car and quickly searching the BBQ restaurant on her phone.
It wasn't a far drive either, but hopefully you could eat in peace without Taemin nearby, knowing that your stomach wouldn't settle at all with the anxiety going through you. Sonyu patted your shoulder inquiring how you were and you replied that you were fine.
"I'll stay in the car for a bit and just let dad know where I am, if you can go in and get our order in now, we don't have to wait for me", you told your eonnie, which she took at face value, hopping out of the car and rushing to her friends.
You really didn't know how to make of the situation. Abandoning your friend would not make a good impression with the rest of the team, however, acting like Taemin doesn't exist in front of everybody might make everyone think you were downright crazy. It was a coinflip and at the point your stomach had growled so much that you decided, Fuck it. I will eat a whole pig.
As you prepared to get out of the car and close the door behind you, a voice, loud and clear spoke up.
"Y/N?"
Maybe if you pretend you don't know who he is calling out, you could still walk away from this place. So much for some soju and BBQ tonight.
"Y/N please, do you remember me?" Taemin repeated chasing after you a bit before darting forward to block you next step, with his arms wide open. "I know you know I recognized you"
"I'm sorry but you must be tired" you denied the allegations, before ducking from his spread arms. and continued walking the opposite direction of the restaurant.
"You're breaking mom's heart over this", he yells out, causing you to spin on your heel.
You have always held his mom with such respect, she was indeed like your second come whenever you were back home in Korea and from your impression, Taemin's mom never really brought up Taemin or the idea of contacting Taemin on your behalf and was content in keeping in contact with you from time to time, along with your mother. So to you, it was an insult to you that Taemin has claimed that you have hurt his mom's feelings.
"Are you really going to make a scene in public?", the bewildered stare in your eyes was enough for him to stand down, knowing a crowd would form if they recognized him through his cap and mask. You hissed through gritted teeth. "Besides, why do you care?"
"You were my best friend, the only one who didn't... ", Taemin paused before closing the distance between you. "Yes it was ages ago and I have tried to heal from it, but school? Training? My so called buddies? They were hell. You were the only friend I had who understood"
There it was. He still had it, the crack in his voice that pulled at your heartstrings. There was no point in denying that you had closely followed Taemin as a celebrity, and even more so recently when he has done lives and spoken to fans. Taemin was so bubbly and happy and maybe it was just for show to the fans, but deep inside, did you really take the façade in its face value. Like he said, you were the only one who understood his struggles before he developed friendships in the company. But why now, did he make you feel like the balance of his happiness and sanity rested on your hands? "Come on Taem, it's been what? 15 years? More?", there was hint of pain tangled in your voice.
"And you think mom hasn't shared stories? You think your mom didn't tell her the stories of you supporting me?"
"Oh-- so now it's a crime to be your fan?!"
"No..."
"Then what do you want from me?"
"I just wanted you to come back! You could have contacted me, instead you made mom hide the fact that you two have been talking" he rattled, trying to suppress how loud he was yelling at you. "I needed you in my life and you didn't think of asking me instead of asking about me"
A struggled laugh managed to break from your throat. You had been facing off with someone who for the most part was your idol, your celebrity crush and not as your childhood friend or as your childhood crush .The irony was not lost on you that plenty of girls would kill to be in your shoes, to hear Taemin scream, he needed them in his life. But he was right, nothing was stopping you, but you feared even a friendship with him, would rattle the fandom and hurt you.
Your stifled laughter, caused Taemin to roll his eyes and let out an angered growl. pacing in front of you, trying to scan the surroundings and whether the interaction had generated public viewing, but it has been relatively quiet, any passer-by maybe just assumed that the two of you were a couple fighting.
"Like I said. it has been 15 years. I don't really think there anything for us to go back to", you muttered defeatedly, finally looking at him in the eyes, while struggling not to let a tear fall.
He bit his lip. You hate it when he does that. He rolled his eyes, quickly moving to grab your wrist and pulling the sleeve of your coat further up to you elbow. "Then why are you still wearing it, if you don't care?", he says while lifting your arm up. Surely within view, on your wrist and his, were similar bracelets of lilac and green with a very worn out cat charm. Taemin's initials were decorated on your charm while yours were on his, although you noticed it seemed like Taemin had gone over the carving, to make it stand out more, whereas yous was faded and blurry. It took a lot of strength to not buckle where you were standing. It was embarrassing to admit that you never took it off unless you were going into water. It didn't matter to you that it clashed with outfits or looked out of place with the rest of your accessories. It was the only trinket that reminded you of a happier time with him. A time that you got to share with him. A promise to be there for him, even if you were away. Like you always said and thought. I'm just a passing star in your sunlight Taemin.
Your breathing had slowly picked up, it was causing your heart to almost implode within you. Dammit. There can't be waterworks, not now. The tension was different and sharp enough to cut through skin. This caused you to raise your head slightly, looking at him with teary eyes, almost pleading with him to not press on the matter further. What right did the two of you have to pick up where you left of. Both now older with years of stories, characteristics and emotions that it felt impossible to catch up on all of that, for what was puppy love. There may be tension, but the way his eyes meets yours lets you know that you were on the same page, the same emotional wavelength, the same questions. You two were only kids back then, but had you stuck around or come back sooner, would Taemin try for something more? Would you have allowed him to? Would he have fought for me, if it went any further? His fingers finally release and the grip on your wrist drops. "You know, when I saw you at the arena, I almost went crazy", he began, dancing around his words. "It's like my heart was about to burst", his own breathing had began staggering as if what he was about to say would cause a panic attack, "I never forgot you, I hated you when you left, because it's like you pulled the support plug away from me before I had a chance to breath. I hated you because for years, I dreamt about you randomly as if you were here and I thought I could distract myself from it, but I could not. I hated you, because I never got a chance to love you."
So direct, so raw, Taemin laid his heart out right in front of you, his eyes burning with passion holding tears that would eventually cause him to come undone, but he was staying strong, his resolve to admit to you how heartbroken he was and not understanding at what capacity he held you in his own heart.
Your own desires reflected his own, granted a bit biased, but you had never let the fact you admired him a celebrity clouded the fact that you did wish, that you fought your own mind sometimes, to make the push to interact with Taemin all those years ago. You questioned the words that fell from your lips, almost catching them as they left.
"Well I'm here now!" you exclaimed, relaxing your body and opening your arms out slightly, as if it was to taunt the man in front of you. "What will you do then? You can't expect me to believe you after all this --- ".
Taemin didn't falter in the next few moves. As quick as you announced that you were indeed there and present.
"Give me a chance, to prove that this is real--" he began and before you could reply, his hands had cupped your face, pulling himself towards you and plant a kiss on your lips. It was timid but not of his own volition. Like he was holding back. Like he was restraining so much passion within him to not weigh the kiss. Like he was respecting you enough to let you know, you could pull away anytime if you didn't like it.
But you did. it was like the thousand unspoken words between the two of you were finally said in a single kiss. Not necessarily deepening the kiss, catching your breath momentarily, but definitely going for another, and you had found your body leaning in and up, your fingers cling onto the sides of his jacket sleeves, gripping tightly. Taemin's hand wander to your back, pulling you in, his own hands clawing at your jacket. The silent agreement that you both feared losing each other was loud for anyone to see. When you finally pulled your head back, your eyes met him and there was a peaceful happiness in them, because you both knew, you did kiss him back with as much intent and need. "You know, we have a lot to catch up on, I don't think we were the same kids as before", you mumbled at him, fixing the collar of his jacket.
"Yes but now we are a bit older and know what we want, what we are like. We can approach this as adults now. All I know is what I've wanted back then and want I was now is still the same, but now it's more serious more adult let's say", he whispered, now fully encapsulating your frame in an embrace and refusing to let go of you.
You tilt your head and stared at him, questioning his words.
"Since then and even until now, I wished for you to love me. Yes it may have been different forms back then but I think I knew, it's love, that I felt for you."
A smile crept up your lips and quickly pecked the corner of his lips before pushing past him to walk towards the BBQ place. "Taemin-ah come on, don't want to miss out on your first date do you?!", you called back out to him, giggling as you his face light up and rush towards you to walk back to the restaurant that you had tried to walk away from.
There was a slight pause as you two had reached the doorstep, it was so loud inside, you don't think anyone realized , the two of you were mere distance away, practically confessing to each other.
"It's going to be hard to pretend like I'm not into you right now" he whispered in your ear as he swing the restaurant door open, greeting the concert staff and his hyungs. "Sonyu noona! I saw your friend tried to bail, I took the liberty to dragging her back in so we can enjoy some food!", he gleefully lied before setting you across from him on the table.
Your face was flushed with embarrassment before kicking Taemin lightly on the shins under the table all the while Sonyu was inquiring what had taken your phone call with your dad for so long.
Taemin smiled coyly before trading glances with you throughout the night, assured that for the first time, he could dream about you and wake up knowing, you were still there for him.
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