#lost in the cloud layouts | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

i-turned-into-the-stone · 1 month

Text

[Commissioned] Rave-Up: Hyunjin LOOSSEMBLE

Tags: Non-con, Drugs, Overstimulation, Rough Sex, A Lot Of Squirting, A Little Fingering, Thigh Fucking, Face Fucking, Cum Swallowing, Creampie (kind of mentioned breeding)

Character(s): M!Reader × Kim Hyunjin

Word Count: 4,836

The music blasted through your ears, pumping up the thrill within you. This was no ordinary party. It was a crazy-ass rave with zero rules and zero inhibitions. Neon lights lit up the joint, shining on a sea of people lost in the moment. You took a swig of your drink, savoring the sweet kick of alcohol mixed with the party's wild energy.

A bunch of tipsy women couldn't take their eyes off you. Even though they didn't really tickle your fancy, you played along, soaking up their attention. You danced, flirted, and ran your hands all over their hot bodies, riding that adrenaline rush.

But as the night rolled on, boredom started creeping in. The once mind-blowing activities had turned into a snoozefest, and the chicks who were once smoking hot seemed like dime a dozen. Just when you thought the night couldn't get any more dull, you saw her.

She was drop-dead gorgeous, hotter than most babes in this rave. Her long, messy black hair and that smooth midriff peeking out between her top and fitting jeans had you hooked. She was straight-up dancing like she didn't give a buck about the world. Her flushed face let you know she was in some higher state than normal.

Well, everyone here practically snorted or swallowed something before the lights went wild and the music deafened their ears. It all came down to what kinda crazy mix of drugs they popped with Molly to either stay aware or get lost in a cloud of bliss.

You maneuvered through the crowd, dodging the blinding lights and thunderous beats. You stood right in front of her as she grooved and jumped to the music. Her messy hair didn't seem to bother her, but her icy stare and the way she swiped her hair back told you everything.

"Come on, just back off. I'm not interested in whatever you're after," she poked your chest once and giggled like a half-drunk person. "Got it? So, move it." With that, she stepped down from the dance platform and headed towards the chill-out zone.

You were the one who scoped out this warehouse for the organizer, who happened to be your best friend's senior. The layout of this place was etched in your freaking brain. There was no way she could escape you. Whoever the hell she was, you were hell-bent on finding out.

Jumping down, you followed her into the hallway, checking her out as she held the wall and turned the corner. Nobody was around. They were all busy getting their minds blown by the sick DJ and performers on stage. Not that anybody would care.

Feeling the heat and looking for someone to play with, you figured it wasn't so bad for being sober. Tagging along behind her, you saw her messing around with the vending machine outside the resting area. The booming beats from the main area turned into a distant background buzz.

She didn't waste time noticing your presence and rolling her eyes. "Oh my god... Can't you get it through your thick skull that I'm not into you? Don't you understand Korean?"

"Yeah, I get Korean just fine. What I don't get is why you gotta be so rude. I just wanna be friends and have a blast together. Isn't that what this event is all about?" You tried to keep it cool as you watched her bend down, her round ass was firm. "No need to be a total bitch about it."

She scoffed, grabbing the canned drink from the pickup box. "Friends? Hilarious." Then she giggled, sneaking a peek at your crotch and spotting your boner. "You're not exactly subtle, are you?" She tiptoed closer and whispered in your ear. "Sorry to burst your bubble, but you won't find that kind of action from this Kim Hyunjin bitch, okay?”

Hyunjin stepped back, almost tripping, feeling extra pleased in teasing you, clueless that she was starting to get on your nerves. The fact that she got all wild at this rave but acted all prude and shit was a total contradiction. It pissed you off.

Besides, it wasn't up to Hyunjin to decide what you could or couldn't get. It was the other way around. "A pretty name," you said, snatching the canned drink from her hand and cracking it open. "Too bad you won't be so pretty after I'm done with your sorry cunt." You poured the liquid over her head.

Hyunjin flinched when the cold drink hit her hair, drops dripping down onto her bare shoulders. "Hey! What the fuck!? You're crazy!" She shot you a glare.

"That's what you get for being a rude bitch, Kim Hyunjin." You laughed and splashed the rest of the juice on her dumbstruck face, making her gasp and cough before she wiped the liquid away from her closed eyes.

As you yanked on Hyunjin's hair, the can slipped from your grasp and clattered onto the hard concrete floor. She squirmed and struggled, trying to pry your hand away, but her efforts were in vain. With a firm push, you propelled her into the storage room, causing her to land on her ass, and swiftly shut the door behind you. Her voice filled the air, laced with anger and confusion.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" Hyunjin shouted, regaining her footing. But before she could take any further action, you swiftly delivered a stinging slap to her face, causing her to stumble backward.

"Don't play the innocent act, you pretentious bitch. You sniffed those candies, didn't you? What else would you do it for if not to have some fun?" The room was dimmer compared to the outside, yet you could still make out the glimmer of tears in her eyes and the sharpness of her glare.

Through clenched teeth, Hyunjin yelled, "That's none of your fucking business!" She rushed towards you, shoving your solid chest, attempting to slip past you towards the door.

You allowed Hyunjin to dart past you, her hand nearly grazing the door handle. Seizing the opportunity, you wrapped your arms around her from behind, dragging her towards the left side of the wall where shelves and cabinets were filled with spare beverages and snacks.

In the corner of the room, a table adorned with empty flat boxes caught your attention. You took your time, relishing the sensation of her soft ass inadvertently brushing against your clothed erection.

"Let me go! Uhh!" Hyunjin thrashed harder, desperate to break free, only to be thrown against the table, her front colliding with the boxes. "Fuck!"

She had no chance to turn around as you bent her over the table, applying pressure to her back to prevent her from getting up. "You're quite vulgar for such a cute girl," you chuckled, leaning forward and planting a kiss on her neck. Her eyelids shut tight in response.

Given your height advantage, accessing every part of her body was effortless. Taking advantage of this, you slipped your hand between her legs, feeling the fabric that covered her pussy, and began rubbing it roughly.

"Quit fucking touching me! Let go!" Hyunjin's hands instinctively went for yours, trying to yank them away from her sensitive lady bits, even though you hadn't even made direct contact yet. She knew right away that it was because of the damn MDMA she had tried out. Struggling for a hot sec had her already breathless.

"I know you're getting all wet from just having your pussy rubbed like this. No need to be shy," you said, pressing your palm harder against her groin.

"Fuck off, you asshole! You—You can't do shit to me!" Hyunjin's voice wavered a bit as she fought back, attempting to push herself off the table, hoping to break free from your grip.

"Really? You think I'm just messing around, Kim Hyunjin?" You eased up on pressing her back and pulled her straight up, wrapping your arm around her neck. "Curse at me one more time, I dare you."

"What the—"

You clamped your hand over Hyunjin's mouth, and she struggled to pry it off. Meanwhile, your other hand cheekily unbuttoned her jeans, giving her a clear idea of what was in store.

"Mmph!!!" Hyunjin thrashed harder, kicking the floor and twisting her body, but it didn't do jack shit for her.

You pressed your hand against her mouth even harder, tasting her sweat as you licked up her neck, all the way to her earlobe. Once the button was undone, you moved on to the zipper, slowly pulling it down. You could feel her heavy breaths against your hand while you gripped the waistband of her jeans.

With your arm straightened, her panties were on full display, along with those juicy inner thighs that you eagerly grabbed hold of, loving how plump and soft they felt.

"Damn, you're kinda thick, huh. Why were you hiding these goodies?"

Because she didn't deserve to be treated like this. Inside her head, she screamed about how wrong it was. But unfortunately, there was nothing she could do. Her body responded to your touches, weakening her resistance. You gave her thigh a hard squeeze, leaving a red mark on her skin, then delivered a slap to the other side, causing it to jiggle as she instinctively closed her legs.

Hyunjin's voice muffled against your hand. You assumed she was hurling vulgar curses at you as she grabbed your hand on her pussy. Her pulse raced with a mix of panic and fear. What you were about to do would leave a lasting impact on her, both physically and mentally.

Your fingers glided over her clothed pussy. You pressed your palm against it, feeling the wetness already seeping through her panties. Hyunjin's breath hitched as she felt your touch, her body arching.

"Let's see what kind of slut you really are now." You ran a finger along her slit, chuckling at the dampness despite her desperate resistance. "See? Just a phony slut, nothing more."

You ripped off her panties, the sound reverberating in the room. Hyunjin gasped as the cool air greeted her exposed core. Without wasting a moment, you plunged two fingers into her, feeling her tight walls clench around them.

Hyunjin's body trembled under your touch, her moans muffled against your hand. Her wetness coated your fingers as her body eagerly responded to your actions.

With each thrust of your fingers, she squirmed against you, her sensitivity escalating. Her inner walls tightened around your fingers, her satisfied moans growing louder as you picked up the pace. And that's when you felt it— her squirting, her juices drenching your hand as she screamed.

You continued prodding her insides, her body shaking as she rode out her orgasm. Her legs quivered as she struggled to stand, but you held her steady, refusing to let her escape your grasp.

"You're nothing but a filthy little slut," you growled in her ear. "Look at you, squirting all over my hand like a dirty whore."

Hyunjin could only whimper in response, the pleasure and humiliation merging in her mind. She felt a tingling surge coursing through her body, biting her lip in the hope that you would stop. But you didn't. Her body tensed once more, her inner walls tightening around your fingers as she neared her second orgasm.

You persisted, probing her depths without mercy as she cried out. And when she finally came undone again, the satisfaction of her scream and the intensity of her climax made you chuckle.

Her pussy was dripping, her arousal evident as it coated your fingers while you pumped them in and out of her with increased speed. Her body teetered on the brink of ecstasy. Then you curled your fingers inside her, hitting that sweet spot that made Hyunjin's vision go blank.

Another muffled scream escaped her as her body trembled, releasing her essence all over your hand and the floor. Withdrawing your fingers, you licked them clean, savoring her taste, as you observed Hyunjin collapsing against the table, her legs shaking from the overwhelming sensations.

"You've had your fun, so now it's time to return the favor like a bitch with manners, alright?" you quipped, casually undoing your pants. With a nonchalant gesture, you slid them down along with your boxers and even kicked off your shoes, stepping out of the jumbled mess of clothes.

Before the brunette had any chance of turning around or making a run for it, you wrapped your arms around her tummy and slipped your veiny cock between her supple thighs, giving her pussy a teasing rub. The pure bliss you felt made it all worth it, finally finding something worthwhile in the midst of this wild rave party.

Hyunjin then gasped as you roughly pulled her cropped vest off her arms and tore her flimsy white top in half, exposing her perky tits to the cool air. Wasting no time, you fondled and mauled her mounds. Her nipples instantly hardened under your palms.

She whimpered, trying to move her ass away while the upperside of your rock-hard cock sliding back and forth through her soaked pussy lips. Hyunjin trembled, her back arched and her ass involuntarily grinding back to meet your thrusts.

You pulled her against your chest, burying your nose in the crook of her neck. Her sweet floral scent filled your nostrils as you squeezed her thighs, pushing them together to fuck her harder. Wet smacking sounds filled the air with each slam of your hips.

"You like that?" you growled in her ear. "You like my thick cock splitting those pretty, needy pussy lips?"

Hyunjin whimpered and shook her head frantically, her hands clawing at the boxes on the table. You reached around to rub tight circles over her clit, and she cried out. Her pussy clenched and quivered on top of your cock as another orgasm ripped through her petite frame.

"Fuck! Oh God— Please stop!" she wailed, and hot juices gushed over your shaft and balls.

This girl's smooth thighs were next-level amazing. They had you on the edge of blowing your load right then and there. But there was so much more she had to offer, and you weren't about to let that go to waste. Your primal instincts were in full control, driven purely by raw lust.

You grabbed Hyunjin's hair and yanked her head back roughly, trapping her against the table before you flipped Hyunjin over onto her back, her ass at the edge and spread her trembling thighs wide. She stared up at you with horror as you lined your cock up with her swollen, squirting pussy.

"Please, no..." she begged, but you ignored her protests.

Pinning her down with your weight, you gripped her thick thighs and spread them apart. Your hard cock slid between her pussy lips, already slick with her juices. You didn't give a fuck if she was ready or not. With one harsh thrust, you hilted yourself inside her tight cunt. Hyunjin screamed into her own hand as you stretched her open, not giving her time to adjust.

"Shut up, you little slut," you growled, burying your nose in her hair. "This pussy belongs to me now."

You set a speedy pace, your hips slamming against her ass cheeks with every stroke. Hyunjin sobbed and squirmed beneath you, but you squeezed her thighs tighter, using them as handles to fuck her harder.

"You're fucking dripping for it, you dirty whore," you sneered, feeling her arousal wetting your shaft. "I knew you wanted this cock."

Reaching down, you rubbed her sensitive clit using your thumb. Hyunjin cried out as her pussy clenched and gushed more of her juices. But you didn't let up, pounding into her spasming cunt with animalistic force until she fell limp.

"No, please...I can't take any more! Ahh! Shit—" she begged, gripping the edges of the table.

Ignoring her pleas, you slammed your hips forward, burying youself to the hilt inside her abused cunt. "Shut your fucking mouth, slut," you bellowed, starting to pound into her harder, her tightness took your breath away. "This pussy is mine to use however I want, ugh!!!”

"No! Let me go, you fucker– Hng! I can't take it! you're too big!" she cried.

You backhanded her hard across the face, making her yelp. "I didn't ask for your opinion, whore. This pussy belongs to me!"

You gripped Hyunjin's hair in a tight fist, holding her head still as you ravaged her mouth with bruising kisses. She whimpered against your lips as if you care, biting and sucking until you tasted copper.

"Fucking look at me when I'm using you," you snarled, giving her hair a harsh yank.

Hyunjin's eyes flew open, dark pools of fear and arousal staring up at you as you rutted against her. She was completely spent, her frame trembling with overstimulation, but her abused pussy was still convulsing and squirting weakly with each grind of your hips.

"Please...I can't..." she gasped out, but her words were cut off by a guttural moan as you roughed up her tits.

You squeezed and kneaded the soft mounds, pinching her hard nipples between calloused fingers until they were red and swollen. Hyunjin arched her back, pushing her chest further into your cruel grip as you toyed with her sensitive flesh.

"Slut doesn't get to decide when it's over and when it's not," you said, giving her nipples a vicious twist.

Hyunjin yelped, and a fresh gush of liquid flooded over your cock, still buried to the base inside her. You pulled out slowly until just the bulbous head remained inside her swollen lips, then slammed your hips forward again. The sudden intrusion made Hyunjin's whole body jolt, her eyes rolling back as she took your punishing length.

Gripping her slim waist tightly, you set a ruthless pace, hilting yourself over and over again into her ruined, squirting hole. Wet, filthy noises filled the air as you ruined her pussy, using her as nothing more than a set of useless holes.

"F-fuck! Too much!" Hyunjin sobbed, her nails raking down your arms as she clung to you.

You didn't slow, couldn't slow, not with how perfectly her squirming insides hugged your cock. Each thrust made her silky walls ripple and flutter around you, milking your shaft for every drop. You could feel her juices pouring out, drenching your balls and legs.

"Do you feel how fucking soaked you are for this dick?" you panted against her neck, teeth grazing her pulse point. "This sloppy cunt was made to take my cock."

Tilted her pelvis up to take you even deeper, Hyunjin howled as you bottomed out, the bulge of your cock clearly visible moving beneath her taut stomach with each motion. Her legs shook with the strain of being spread so wide, her toes curling and back arching almost painfully.

"That's it, let me hear you scream," you growled, giving a sharp thrust that made her whole body twist and turn. "Let the whole fucking world know what a desperate little cumdump you are."

Hyunjin’s mouth opened in a silent wail as another intense orgasm crashed over her, squirting hard around your pistoning meat as she came apart. Reaching down, you rubbed her engorged clit using your thumb, her back bowing even further off the table as you assaulted her sensitive bud.

Your own orgasm rapidly approaching as Hyunjin's spasming pussy milked your needy cock, so you pulled out of her pussy, strings of stickiness connecting your shaft to her reddened entrance. Grabbing a fistful of Hyunjin's hair, you dragged the sobbing girl off the table and down to her knees in front of you. She shook her head weakly, but you paid her no mind, guiding the thick head of your cock to her plump lips.

"Open up for me, slut," you ordered, giving her hair a yank. "This load's going right down your throat. Must be thirty, right? Cumming so much like a broken whore.”

Hyunjin had no choice but to part her lips as you shoved forward into the wet heat of her mouth. She immediately started choking and gagging, her throat wrenching around your girth as you buried it as deep as it could get.

"Oh, fuck… Take it all you pretentious bitch of a whore," you groaned, feeling her nose pressed against your pelvis.

You didn't give Hyunjin a chance to breathe, immediately fucking in and out of her throat with rough strokes. Her mascara ran in thick rivers down her face as she choked and drooled around your nailing rod, but you didn't care, couldn't care about anything except the intense pleasure.

Gripping the back of her head tightly, used her mouth as a fuckhole, slamming in deep until she gagged and sputtered. You could feel her throat spasming, desperate for air, but you refused to let up, because her discomfort gave extra stimulation to you so kept fucking her pretty face.

"You were made for this, Kim Hyunjin. That's what you really are," you belittle her lower, heavy balls slapping against her chin, splattering her spit everywhere.

Hyunjin's eyes rolled back as she started to go limp, her jaw hanging open limply as you used her. Tears and drool streamed down her flushed cheeks, mixing with the mess of makeup and sweat already overlaying her face.

A harsh grunt, grinding your hips against her face, you started to unload. You could feel Hyunjin's throat struggling and pulsing as you pumped thick ropes of cum straight down into her belly, filling her up until it leaked out around your girth.

"Swallow it all like a good little cumslut," you panted, giving a few more shallow thrusts to wring out the last few spurts.

Hyunjin choked and struggled to breathe around the flood of seed pouring down her gullet. A few moments later when you were completely drained, you pulled out, letting the last few drops splatter across her wrecked face.

Hyunjin slumped forward, coughing and gasping for air, a mess of makeup, drool, and your fresh cum all the while her ravaged pussy was still visibly leaking, her thighs soaked with the evidence of how thoroughly you had used her.

You took a step back and admired the utter wreck you had made of Hyunjin. She was sprawled on the floor, panting with ragged breaths. Thick ropes of your seed coated her face and dripped from her pale lips. Her makeup was smeared in streaks, mixing with tears and drool to leave her looking like a cheap whore. Her cunt was a puffy, inflamed mess, the lips swollen. You could see her gaping entrance fluttering weakly, as if her body was already craving more abuse.

Chuckling, you swiped a can of beer from a nearby cabinet and cracked it open, taking a long pull. May as well give this little slut a break and let her think she had a moment of respite. As you drank, you watched Hyunjin's chest heaving, her pert tits rising and falling rapidly with each shuddering breath. Her nipples were red, the dark peaks begging to be abused further.

You felt your cock stiffening once more at the sight of her pitiful, ruined state. Seems the whore's body was just made to be used, no matter how thoroughly you wrecked her.

Downing the last of your beer, you stalked over and hauled Hyunjin up by her hair. She immediately started sniveling and thrashing weakly, trying in vain to escape your grasp. But she could barely support her own weight, her legs like jelly after her overpowering orgasms.

You bent over and lifted her hips. Hyunjin screamed hoarsely as you lined your thick cock up with her battered slit and slammed forward, impaling her once again. Her raw, overstimulated walls embraced your invading cock like a vice.

"Please...no more… I'm sorry…" she sobbed brokenly, drool escaping the corners of her mouth as you started pounding away.

However, her body betrayed her as her ass unconsciously grinding back to meet your constant thrusts. You could feel more of her cum wrapping your busy cock once more as you pleasured yourself with her pussy, her silken walls massaging your cock.

"That's it, whore, milk this cock with your tight stupid pussy. It feels fucking nice, isn't it? You almost missed out on all this fun… Huu, ugh!" you grunted, giving her ass a couple of slaps.

Hyunjin moaned and clenched down hard, a fresh flow of her juices splattering out around your disappearing cock. Her muscles coiled with each stretching of her canal, her back arched sharply as she took your ruthless assertion. The battered girl’s body was completely overwhelmed, a slave to the intense sensations wracking her limp vessel.

You grabbed Hyunjin's arms and wrenched them back behind her, using them as makeshift handles to yank her onto your rougher thrust. She screeched incoherently as the bulbous head of your cock punched up into her cervix with each forceful thrust.

"That's it, take it all the way up into your fucking womb.” You offered her slender arms a vicious tug.

Hyunjin's stiff legs bent back, her toes not even touching the floor as you railed upward into the depth of her core. Her raw, overstimulated walls wrung erratically around your pulsing cock, her moisture pouring out in waves to pool on floor

It was all too much for her weakened body to endure. Hyunjin’s cries descended into guttural, animalistic screams as you used her like a personal onahole. Tears and drool streamed down her blotchy face, mixing into a smeared, filthy mess.

"Please...stop! You can't— Oughhh!" she howled, her voice cracking from the sheer intensity of the sensations overwhelming her.

Regardless, her traitorous cunt just kept leaking and squeezing around your cock, begging to be filled again and again, desperately milking your cock as if starved for your seed. You could feel your heavy balls tightening, signaling the impending explosion.

Spun Hyunjin around and slammed her down onto her back, never breaking the seal of her velvety vice. You immediately sank back into her hole, burying your entire cock in one brutal shove. Pinning her down with your weight, you wrapped one arm around her slender neck, squeezing just enough to make her eyes bulge. Hyunjin gurgled and thrashed beneath you.

Sinking your teeth into the soft flesh of her shoulder, you started snapping your hips in short quick motion. Hyunjin groaned and clawed at your restraining arm as you ruthlessly plundered her spasming depths until you finally unloaded, cords of thick cum flooding into her womb, draining every drop as you pumped her full of your seed.

By the time you finished pulling up your pants, Hyunjin was a slack mess on the floor, her eyes glued tight and mouth hanging open. You took a step back and admired the utter wreck you had turned Hyunjin into. Her broken body was splayed, covered in a thick coating of your cum and her own juices, her once silky hair a tangled mess.

Reaching down, you grabbed a fistful of her hair and wrenched her head up, exposing the deep bite mark you had left on her shoulder. Hyunjin's eyes fluttered open weakly, glassy and unfocused from the sheer depravity you had subjected her to.

"Why so sad? That's a good look for you, Kim Hyunjin," you smirked, giving her head a harsh shake. "All fucked out and bred like the useless cumdump you are."

Letting her head drop back to the floor, you fished out your phone and snapped a few degrading photos of her filthy tainted leaking form. Hyunjin didn't even react, just laid there motionless save for the occasional twitch of her thighs.

You brought your hand back and delivered a slap across her already messy face. A thin trickle of blood started from the corner of her swollen lips, but still she gave no response, no cry of pain. Just the slow blink of her vacant eyes as she stared up at you unseeingly.

"You're my slut now, you hear me?" you stated, gripping her jaw and shaking her head again. "You better come running with your cunt ready whenever I call." You shot her one last disdainful look up and down her soiled, abused body.

With that, you turned and left the storage room, leaving Hyunjin a broken, defiled mess on the floor. She didn't move, couldn't move, could barely even think through the haze of overstimulation and degradation. All she could feel was the dull, throbbing ache between her trembling legs. Her entire body felt numb, used up and discarded like a piece of trash after you had taken your fill.

More than the physical pain, Hyunjin felt utterly disgusted with herself. Disgusted at how her body had betrayed her, cumming again and again despite the filthy violation she received. Curling in on herself, Hyunjin let out a low, keening whimper as the first sobs started to wrack her shattered frame.

#kpop smut #male reader #kpop gg #kpop girls #non con smut #girl group smut #loona smut #loossemble smut #kim hyunjin #Hyunjin smut #loossemble hyunjin #girl group imagines #commissioned work

483 notes · View notes

ya-ttori · 6 months

Text

𓈒 🍎🥛 ࣪ traumatized boys ૮ ˃𓈒꒧ ˂ ა 𓈒

#۫ 𓈒 ୧ you ' re no good for me baby #you ' re no good for me ㅤ ⊹ ࣪#lost in the cloud #baek cirrus #skylar #layouts #manhwa #manhwa icons #manhwa layouts #boys love #red layouts #soft layouts #soft icons #soft locs #coquette layouts #coquette packs #coquette icons #coquette dollete #brown moodboard

338 notes · View notes

writingforstraykids · 3 months

Text

Lost

Pairing: Chanlix x femReader

Word Count: 898

Summary: Felix gets lost once again. Only this time it's not on stage but in a foreign city.

Warnings/Tags: angst, fluff,

A/N: Hope you like it @miuracha 💕

do not repost, translate, or plagiarize my works in any way here or on other platforms. ©️writingforstraykids 2024 -

In the bustling city center, Chan, Felix, and you found yourself in a whirlwind of new sights, sounds, and experiences. The air was heavy with the scent of street food and traffic. You were excited to explore some more over the following days.

On your second day, you decided to visit a famous market known for its labyrinth-like layout. The market was a vibrant mix of colors and activities, with vendors selling everything from exotic spices to handmade crafts. Felix's eyes seemed to grow wider with every new thing you spotted, which was such a typical thing for him.

As you wandered through the crowded alleys, you stopped to examine a stall selling jewelry. Chan noticed a nearby café and suggested you'd grab a coffee. Felix, however, was distracted by a stall in the distance and nodded absentmindedly, his attention already elsewhere.

"I'll catch up in a minute," Felix called out, not waiting for a response before disappearing into the crowd.

Chan and you shrugged, making your way to the café. You talked happily, sipping your coffee, confident that Felix would find you easily. However, your conversation grew silent as minutes turned into half an hour.

"He should have been here by now," Chan said, his brows furrowed with worry.

You checked your phone, but there were no messages. "Maybe he got distracted," you suggested, but your voice betrayed you, laced with concern.

You decided to go back to the market, retracing your steps in search of Felix. The market, however, seemed to have transformed into an entirely different maze, with each turn leading you further into the city.

Anxiety spread through Chan’s chest as he called out Felix's name, his voice lost in the buzzing noise of the market. You felt a growing sense of panic, the unfamiliar surroundings making you feel lost.

Chan’s mind raced with worst-case scenarios, each more frightening than the last. He tried to focus, to remember any detail that could lead you to Felix, but the panic clouded his thoughts. Where the hell was he? "Don't let go of my hand," Chan said for the fifth time as you walked down an alley.

You fought back tears as you searched. The thought of Felix getting lost all alone in this city was terrifying. He didn't pick up his phone either, going straight to voicemail.

After an hour, the realization that Felix was truly lost hit you like a physical blow. Chan contacted the local authorities, his voice shaking as he filed a missing person's report.

As the day turned into evening, with no word from Felix, you returned to your hotel. Chan couldn’t stop pacing, his mind racing with guilt. "I should have noticed he wasn't with us sooner," he muttered, his voice laced with self-hatred and guilt.

You sat on the bed, clutching your phone tightly in your hand, hoping for a sign of Felix. "This is my fault. I should have made sure he was following," you whispered.

After another hour, Chan and you decided to search for him again, and you both flinched when Chan's phone rang. It was Felix. "Baby, are you okay?" he asked worriedly.

Felix explained how he had gotten lost, his phone battery dead, and his attempts to find his way back useless in the city's confusing streets. He eventually got help from the police.

The relief that washed over Chan and you was overwhelming. You rushed to the station, your steps quickening. When you finally saw him sitting in the waiting area looking exhausted but unharmed, Chan ran over, wrapping him in a tight hug. You were right behind him, your eyes shining with tears.

"I'm so sorry," Felix whispered, his voice breaking. "I didn't mean to worry you."

Chan shook his head, pulling him into his arms. "Don't apologize. We're just glad you're safe."

The ride back to the hotel was quiet. The joy of finding Felix was mixed with the realization of how quickly things could go wrong.

Back in your room, the tension that had built up over the night slowly began to fade. You all sat together, cuddled up, and tried to calm down.

Chan broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was so scared. The thought of losing you..." he trailed off, choking on his words.

Felix reached out for him, taking his hand in his. "I was scared, too. I felt so alone out there. I should have been more careful."

You shook your head, tears glistening in your eyes. "No, Lix, it's not your fault. We all agreed. It was just a shitty situation."

You all sat in silence for a while, and Felix, who always found comfort in physical touch, leaned into Chan, his head resting on his shoulder. Chan wrapped an arm around him, pulling you closer with his other arm.

"We're okay. That's all that matters," Chan said, his voice steady but still filled with anxiety.

The sun began to rise, casting a soft light into the room. You decided to spend the rest of your trip together, Chan's hands never leaving yours and Felix's. The previous night's experience had changed you, making you realize how much they meant to you. You knew now that no matter where life took you, you would always find your way back to each other. You'd never get lost with them right by your side.

MASTERLISTS | PROMPT LIST | GUIDELINES

Taglist: (Please let me know if you want to be added to/removed from the taglist!)

@kai-lee08 @atinyniki @sona1800 @mal-lunar-28 @aaasia111 @galaxycatdrawz @kthstrawberryshortcake @soullostinspaceandtime @rebecca-johnson-28 @malfoygalaxies @channieaddict

#stray kids #skz #chan #skz drabble #felix #chan drabble #felix drabble #chanlix #chanlix drabble #chan x reader #felix x reader drabble #poly!skz #poly!stray kids

157 notes · View notes

riddlevile · 3 months

Text

୨ ⠀ SKYLAR ⠀ ♡ ⠀ moodboard ⠀ ⠀ ୧

°ʚ(*´꒳`*)ɞ° °ʚ(*´꒳`*)ɞ° °ʚ(*´꒳`*)ɞ°

#lost in the cloud #yeon skylar #manwha #anime moodboard #anime layouts #instagram layouts

34 notes · View notes

strawb3rrywithcream · 10 months

Text

new layout

baek cirrus and yeon skylar icon

icon by official art lost in the cloud

header by pinterest

like & reblog if you use

#yeon skylar #baek cirrus #lost in the cloud

83 notes · View notes

duckietiewritestoo · 22 days

Text

I’ll Be Waiting (Thomas Shelby x Time Traveler! Reader)

I HAVE NO FREAKING CLUE HOW TO WRITE FOR TOMMY. I'VE ONLY SEEN CLIPS ON YOUTUBE. I'VE YET TO WATCH PEAKY BLINDERS SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T HATE ME. ALSO, THIS IS MY FIRST EVER x READER FIC FOR A CILLIAN CHARACTER.

Warnings: I don't know how to write time travel fics so this is gonna be long. I also don't know how to write Tommy. So, enjoy.

~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_~_

I had a strange memory from when I was nine years old where I made friends with some kids I never saw again. My parents decided that for winter break, we would visit England for a farmer’s market. I found it boring at such a young age that I ran off when my parents weren’t looking. I got lost in the crowd and when I made my way out, the layout of the town had changed and the market disappeared. I assumed I went down the wrong street. It was dirtier, polluted clouds of thin smoke escaping chimneys and falling down onto the street. My memory was fuzzy but instead of cars, there were horse-drawn carriages. My nine-year-old self had roamed around the city. It was like I had been taken to the 1890s. I learned from my dad’s obsession with history. To add on, it smelled like it, that was for sure.

Then I got hungry. But with no money in hand, I sat on the sidewalk trying to fight the hunger off. I was only nine and the thought of stealing an apple from the nearest crate crossed my mind. I didn’t have to steal the apple though. Some little kid, around my age, or even older, appeared before me with an apple in hand. I was hesitant to take the apple, of course. I wasn’t dumb, I had common sense when I was a kid. Yet, I took it. I felt like I could trust the kid. The apple wasn’t poisoned. It managed my hunger. I thought the kid would leave afterwards since I had said my thanks. But he didn’t leave and stayed with me.

And what do you know?

I ended up spending the whole day with the kid. I couldn’t remember their names, but there were two who stuck in my memory. The boy who gave me his apple and his older brother, who was called Arty or something. You couldn’t blame me for trying to remember, I was a young one and didn’t care. My adult memory was blurry.

My parents finally found me, worried sick and was kissy-wissy, trying to hug me. I was fine, completely untouched. Apparently, I had been missing for hours. I told my parents I was with my new friends, but when I turned around to point them out, they were missing. I never thought about it again and assumed it to be a memory.

The only thing that lingered with me was the bright blue eyes from the boy who gave me the apple.

Then I saw the eyes again. Only the next time it happened, I was fifteen years old.

Once again, my parents thought it was fun to go back for the winter market. And it was boring for me. I was only a teenager. A teenager who was rebellious. And sick. I had a fever when we went, yet my parents dragged me out even though I was a little drowsy on medication to keep my fever down. I ended up running away again, this time to enter a bar. I had heard Europe had different age restrictions.

Somehow, I wound up finding myself back in the smelly part of town again. It was cold, as always, and the market disappeared. I couldn’t find my parents or the hotel. I was stuck roaming around wherever the heck I was. I couldn’t remember. I was too drugged up on name-brands medicine to even focus on my surroundings.

Then I found that kid again, only he was older, and he found me. Those eyes though remained the same and they pierced my soul.

Much wasn’t said. He was quiet, kind of gentle, and slightly intimidating. He was a lot different than the small boy I met six years ago. He took me onto the street, far from the alley I was slumped in, and got me washed up in a horse drinking trough. He dunked me in it, trying to clear my head up, but it felt like he was trying to drown me.

It didn’t work, of course. He didn’t drown me and I lived throughout the night. I got a taste of real whiskey he stole from a pub for me. It burned my throat, and my soberness. The rest of the memory was blurry, but I remembered a deep, soothing voice keeping me calm all night, and a strong arm wrapped around me.

I spent the other day with him too, but only until the afternoon. By then, I had lost him and instead found my parents who claimed I was missing.

The old framed photos in the crate were dusty. My thumb prints were scattered all over the thin sheet of glass protecting these vintage photographs from the 1920s. The photo was monochrome, an image of a man with his arm around the waist of someone else. They looked kind of like me, only the image was blurred out, I couldn’t tell. The crates the photos came in were packed up in Birmingham in 1919 and were due to be delivered to me this very day. Whoever sent them knew who I was. They had my name, my age, and even my birthday down. Whoever it was, they knew me too well.

Another photo seemed to prove me crazy.

It was me, smiling and holding my hand out towards whoever was taking the photo. You could see the hand under the tarp that was sticking out. It was one of those classic photos, the vintage kind that included gunpowder.

I was a little older, around 29 years of age. I felt old. I had moved to England since my childhood memories prompted me to do so. Seeing as these crates came from Birmingham, I decided to take a vacation.

The ride wasn’t too long and before I knew it, I was searching for where the crates had come from. I scoured every crook and nanny, every pub, every building and had no luck. No one had any history of the crates. Tired, I sat down in an alley that seemed so familiar to me, like I had been here. But it was a burning memory, something of a false dream from my childhood.

I closed my eyes for a second. It was just a quick close and open, a blink if you will.

I wasn’t where I used to be. Or when I used to be. The cars driving by were old models, the very first, the motor cars as they called it. My jaw dropped. People walked by in old fashion that was beyond my time. One man was even wearing a monocle. An officer was on a horse and his voice was loud as he yelled at some people. It was insane! It was like I was ripped out of my time like a page and taped somewhere else!

I screamed and scrambled out. Bystanders stared at me strangely. Their eyes wouldn’t move off of me. They knew I didn’t belong here and they kept staring. I wasn’t dressed like it was the 1920s. I stepped out onto the road in a panic. It was like a movie. Was I in a movie?

With my mind trying to solve the puzzle, I didn’t see that I stepped into the street out of panic. I didn’t see the car. It honked at me. I was taken out of my thoughts, but like a deer in the headlights, I couldn’t move, frozen with fear as that car approached me. Which was stupid of me, because just mere seconds ago, I was running around, but now that I saw the car, I was frozen! It was there that I realized, I left the oven on before I left.

A strong grip grabbed my arm right before I was about to get hit and pulled me onto the sidewalk. I doubted I was going to get hit since the car was slowing down. The man in the car was yelling at me for acting so stupidly, but I was too entranced by familiar bright blue eyes. I nervously swallowed. I had only seen those beautiful eyes in my dreams, my memories that were just too foggy.

“Um, hi?” I replied. “D-do we know each other or something?” He sighed.

“We do.” My jaw felt like dropping. His voice made me tremble. Clearly, genetics did him good. The little kid I remembered from what was a fever dream to me, had grown up.

“Do you remember me?” I asked softly, tilting my head. Was it all real, those dreams? The man heavily sighed.

“I’ve been waiting,” he replied. “But if we’re gonna keep talking, (Name) and reminiscing, I’d rather do it somewhere else.”

“Can you, uh, explain on the way what the heck is happening here!?” I exclaimed in a lowered voice. It was clear Bright Eyes wanted this to be under the covers. Something was scaring him. I needed answers and I wasn’t settling for a no. Without a word, he grabbed my hand and dragged me off, causing me to yelp lightly.

“You keep doing this, from nine to fifteen, to right now, no matter how old you are,” the man explained. “I can’t comprehend it, but you keep coming back, and it’s clear you don’t belong here. Who are you really?” I sighed.

“Apparently you know my name.”

“I know who you are, (Name). I wasn’t asking that.”

“Then I can’t answer.” Bright Eyes sighed. He continued to lead me through this old fashioned town. It didn’t feel dreamlike and very real. It smelled very real, like horses and smoke. My heart raced, realizing this was all real. I looked over to the man holding my hand.

“D-did I time travel?”

“You did. And I don’t know how long you’re going to be here, so you’ll be staying under my protection until this sorts itself out.” I nodded, listening to his words, then I gasped.

“I’ll be what?!”

Two whole weeks. That’s how long I was stuck living with Thomas Shelby. I wasn’t stuck living in a shed while figuring out how I slipped through time and how Tommy was connected to me. I had my own room in his house. No one bothered me at all. The house felt empty even though his family was big and felt alone. I rarely saw him. It was different when we had dinner. It’d be just the two of us because he didn’t trust anyone else with me and he talked a lot, his eyes lighting up whenever he saw me. And when his icy gaze met my eyes, my heart would flutter.

Then one night, I had to ask the question.

“So um, Tommy, why did you let me stay?” I asked, breaking the silence. Tommy stopped eating, but quickly picked it up again. He was sitting next to me, but typically he sat across, at the head of the table. Dinner was too quiet. Tommy came home without a word, ignoring me until dinner finally arrived, and even then we didn’t talk. Not until now.

“I let you stay because I felt the need to,” he muttered. His focus was on the soup his aunt cooked. She had asked what I liked and made it for dinner. Something was up. “You were lost, I knew you, and I lended a hand. If I didn’t know who you were, I would’ve left you in the streets.” I scoffed.

“I met you twice before,” I said. “Why take me in regardless? Judging by the way you are with other people, you don’t seem to like people, only your family and me.”

His body language completely changed.

Thomas sat up, sighing. He put down his spoon. I saw his jaw tighten, like he was about to spill all the secrets of the universe, and he deeply inhaled, his chest expanding. I nervously swallowed. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.

“You came in,” he said, “a long time ago when we were young. I didn’t think much about it, (Name). I just thought you were a ghost. And it turns out you are with those sudden disappearances. You keep coming back. You haunt my mind.” My cheeks flustered.

“Even now?” I asked. Did he believe in fate? I wanted to ask about that.

“Even now.”

“Tommy?”

“Yes?”

“Do you like-.”

“Yes, I do like you,” he replied. My heart skipped a beat. Was he messing with me? “I like you a lot. How long did it take you to come up with those words? I’m not one for feelings, but I know you and I have been having them. I’ve come to realize that I developed feelings for you.” My jaw dropped. He admitted it, and it was like he was reading my mind. He was sitting so close to me, I bet he could read my mind.

“Do you feel the same?” he asked. His hand slowly moved, placing itself on mine. I didn’t flinch or push it off. “I didn’t read you wrong?” I sighed. I knew if I fell for Tommy, I wouldn’t have reason to return to my timeline, assuming that was possible. “Do you?”

“I do.” That was it, my confession. His eyes lit up.

“Are you telling the truth? Are you being honest?” he asked, leaning in. The cigarette scent that followed Tommy filled my nostrils. I blushed.

“I am being honest,” I said. “Completely, Tommy.” I put my hand on top of his, and we had a stacked hand sandwich going on. Of course, Tommy pulled back and held both my hands. For someone so cold, he was warm. My cheeks heat up to match the same temperature.

Words weren’t said for what followed in the next moment. It just happened. I couldn’t stop it.

I leaned in and Tommy was leaning in, causing the obvious to happen. My lips softly touched his. I thought it’d be a small kiss, but it wasn’t. Tommy cupped both my cheeks, bringing me in closer. His lips were gentle, kissing me back with passion. I couldn’t control myself, practically melting at his touch and kissing Tommy back. There was a moment where time seemed to stop. It was just Tommy and I, kissing and holding each other.

Then he pulled back, his lips lingering towards mine.

“Whatever happens, I’ll still love you,” he whispered, causing me to blush. I slowly nodded. “If you slip back, I’m gonna be here still, and I’ll be waiting for you to come back.” My heart fluttered. I could tell he was being genuine. So I kissed him, holding my lips against his before pulling back.

“I love you too,” I said, smiling. “I’m not going anywhere. I don’t think time could keep us apart.”

#peaky blinders #peaky blinders x reader #peaky blinders one shot #x reader #long post #thomas shelby #thomas shelby x reader #tommy shelby #duckiewritez #romance #cheesy #short #cillian murphy

45 notes · View notes

alotofteez · 10 months

Text

Sphallolalia | Part 9

Series: ⇢ Pairing: San x fem!Reader ⇢ Genre: flirty af fluff, hints of angst, suggestive, kinda smutty, older reader (noona) ⇢ Synopsis: As your best friend’s maid of honor, you must endure the shameless best man’s flirting until after the wedding. It’s just sphallolalia… right?

Part 9: (Un)Expectations - Moodboard ⇢ Genre: fluff, angst, & suggestive ⇢ Warnings: Language, adult themes ⇢ Word Count: 6,639

Masterlist, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9

taglist: @joongiebug (url doesn’t exist), @simluvbot , @kimtae-bae (can’t be tagged?), @justsayk , @sunsethw4 , @baguette-atiny , @youre-a-wallflower-charlie , @knisterlicht, @nevieatiny, @laylasbunbunny, @brown88, @rihannon14

Your finger moves quickly across the tablet screen and repeatedly stops as you figure out the best shelving layout with the store’s data from last month. You are lost in thought behind the registers occupied by sales associates. Their chatting is mostly blocked out, but their sudden giddiness and posture change slightly grab your attention.

“He’s so cute— Fuck, he’s walking over here,” one of them whispers in a panic.

“Language,” you warn before looking up to see who they are freaking out about.

The unfortunate sight of San strolling through your store welcomes you. He already has a smile on his face, and it only gets smugger the moment you lock eyes.

“What are you doing here?” You sigh defeatedly, putting the tablet down and stepping around the counter.

“Is that how you greet all your customers?” He asks, “I think I need to speak to the manager.”

“I am the manager,” you deadpan, leading him away from the prying ears of your employees, “Why are you here?”

“I happened to be around, so I decided to drop by to see if you’re a hardass at work as well,” he jokes, “I got you coffee. Happy birthday.” He smiles, holding out the cup.

You’re caught off guard by the sweet gesture and hesitantly take it.

“Oh- Thank you. You didn’t have to.”

You didn’t think he even knew when your birthday was. You’re going to end up with a sweet tooth for this man.

“Yeah, but I wanted to,” he says with his smile turning into a smirk, noticing he has made you sappy, “You know what else you get for your birthday?”

Knowing exactly where this is going, your index finger presses against his lips before he can get out another word.

“Don’t. I’m at work. I don’t need you here talking about birthday sex,” you warn, voice wavering between seriousness and laughing because goddamn, does the devil work hard but Choi San work harder.

His tongue sneakily licks your finger effectively removing it from his mouth, much to your dismay. While groaning and wiping his spit off on his shirt, you briefly notice the scoop neckline of it and how his defined collarbones peek out from underneath. Thoughts of peppered marks on them and being the one to do so cloud your mind as he speaks.

“I was gonna say a kiss,” he starts, mischief sparkling in his eyes, “But now I know where your mind is at.”

Your cheeks burn with embarrassment, and you try to play it off, “Your mind is always in the gutter-”

“If that’s what you want for your birthday, I think I can arrange that.”

“Hell no. Get out before someone hears you.”

He sighs, stepping towards you and making you back up, “If you change your mind about the birthday sex, you know where to find me.”

“San!” You smack his shoulder, making him chuckle.

“Impact play?”

“Get out!”

“I’ll see you tonight,” he says with a wink before turning to leave the store.

“Is he your boyfriend?” One of your cashiers asks excitedly.

“Definitely not.”

“Why not?”

“He likes being single,” you answer and give them warning glares.

“What’s happening tonight?” They tease, wiggling their eyebrows.

“We’re making decorations for our friends’ wedding. Would you busy yourselves? Go tidy up shelves or something.”

They grumble under their breaths.

“I’m your boss, not your bestie,” you remind them.

Behind the counter once again, you take a quick sip of the drink he brought. You’re surprised by the familiar taste. How does he know your favorite coffee drink? Since when did he care about your birthday? Why is he being so nice to you? It’s not that you’re mad about it, but it just seems suspicious.

San occupies your mind, which is unfortunate for your productivity. You can’t get his stupid face out of your head like he now lives there rent-free. The new shelving layout needs to be done so that you can figure out where to move things for a display of upcoming trends. Shipments are coming in next week, and your store is a bit behind schedule.

Although you try to refocus on the tablet, thoughts of birthday sex with San lure you down a raunchy rabbit hole. For a moment, you entertain those ideas. In your little scenario, you invite him over after work, blowing off your plans to go to Mina’s. Already on his way, he responds with “No one has to know.” Upon answering the door, you pull him inside your apartment by his shirt and crash your lips into his. He lets you take control, allowing you to use him as you please. You can almost hear him say with a smirk, “Don’t take it easy on me,” as you push him up against a wall. Mina blows up your phone asking where you are, but San simply puts it on silent. “Just tell her your battery died,” he murmurs against your lips before continuing to kiss you deeply.

What the hell is wrong with you? You’re at work! Due to confirmation bias, it’s all San’s fault. He is like quicksand. The harder you struggle to get out, the more you sink into him. Almost like he has been spying on your thoughts all day, San texted you while you were working.

From: San🖕 Take a nap because I’m gonna keep you up all night😉 3:17 PM

From: You Omfg shut up 4:53 PM

You didn’t know exactly how you would spend your birthday, but making so many decorations for the wedding was not on your radar. To make it worse, Yujin invited herself to Mina’s apartment after hearing Mingi say something about wedding decorations. The hidden upside of the night is that you will see San, and it will fuel your dumb crush on him.

That same crush clouds your judgement enough to have you reaching for a coral blouse out of your closet as you’re getting ready to head over to Mina’s. When you arrive, only a few members of the wedding party are present. Kyungmi texts that she’s running late. One by one, the rest trickle in… Except for San.

Mina sends the guys into the kitchen to cut out sticker decals on her many cutting boards. Apparently, no one in the friend group owns a cutting mat for crafting. The plan for those decals is to put them on wine glasses Mina bought in bulk, but that is a task for the girls because Mina doesn’t trust them to line the decals up perfectly. The cups are for the wedding guests to reuse during the reception and to keep as gifts.

When you hear one of the guys say San’s name, you glance in their direction. This crafting ‘party’ has been going on for almost an hour, and it’s killing you to know what he’s doing.

“Where’s San?” You ask, trying to hide your interest.

“Yunho isn’t here either,” Mina counters, and you nearly slap yourself across the face. How could you be so careless? Your brain almost short-circuits racing for a rationale.

“Well, I figured the best man would be here,” you stammer out.

“He’s out with his other friends. You’re welcome,” Mina playfully answers.

Those words stab at your heart. He knows it’s your birthday and still changed plans? But why are you upset? He’s not your friend. This shouldn’t personally bother you so much, but it does. He even said he would see you tonight…

“He has other friends?” Sejeong jokes.

It doesn’t completely bring your mood back up, but you chuckle a little.

“He might be making a new one right now.” Mina wiggles her eyebrows.

“You look stupid when you do that,” Yujin grumbles, voice laced with what you assume is jealousy.

“Well, he is out with his party friends, so…” Mina emphasizes, making sure Yujin hears loud and clear, “Wooyoung is basically a copy and paste.”

You like that Mina also rubs salt in Yujin’s wounds, even if it’s for a different reason to keep her from him. But then again, it feels like salt in your wounds too. You can’t stand the idea of him in bed with some girl he barely knows all over him. Even though that’s his business, jealousy can make you think ugly things.

Looking down at your shirt, you feel so fucking stupid.

You pull yourself back together and start lining up the wine glasses on the table. Just after Seonghwa delivers a few dozen decals to you, Kyungmi busts through the front door.

“Guess who just won custody!”

You glance around at the other bridesmaids, who are just as confused as you.

“Huh?” Sejeong finally says something.

“My parents are giving my dog back. They had her while I was in college, and I broke them down enough to get her back. Wanna see pictures of her all cuddled up on my bed?”

Kyungmi doesn’t even wait for an answer. She must have pictures of her dog on deck at all times.

“Aw, what’s her name?” Yoojung coos, looking at a photo.

“Talulah.”

The dog is absolutely adorable, but there is something abnormal about her throughout all the pictures that has you hesitantly asking, “Does her tongue always hang out like that?”

“Yeah, she’s got a medical issue.”

“Wait, how old is she? You said your parents had her while you were in college, but she looks like a puppy.”

“She’s, like, seven, I think.”

Mina gasps as she remembers something and quickly whips out her phone.

“Do y’all want to see some pictures of Mingi from high school?”

“No, but don’t let that stop you,” Yujin deadpans.

“Was he a dork?” Kyungmi kids, putting her own phone away.

Mina pouts as she hands her phone to Yoojung and Sejeong, “Don’t be mean.”

“I mean, I was an anime kid, so…” Kyungmi trails off, lips pursing to make an ugly face, “It’s like the pot calling the kettle black.”

“Really?” Yoojung exclaims.

Kyungmi nods, “Yeah. Then, right before my sixteenth birthday, I was like, ‘What if I was hot?’”

“Yeah, what if,” Mina repeats, receiving a smack to her shoulder from Kyungmi.

Sejeong passes the phone to Kyungmi, and Mina peeks around the screen to swipe to another photo.

“He was on the basketball team?” Kyungmi is surprised, probably because she can’t picture him not being clumsy on the court.

“Yeah, but he was only on it because he was tall.” Mina swipes again.

Sejeong tilts her head next to Kyungmi’s and squints. “Wait, is that San?”

Your interest is suddenly piqued, but you act casually as you lean into Kyungmi to catch a glimpse. His long, dark hair covers half of his eyes, but his dimples give away that it’s him. There’s a boyish charm about him in the photo that makes you want to smile, but you suppress the urge.

From the other room, you hear the refrigerator open and Jongho yelp, “Oh, shit” followed by the other guys gasping.

“Be careful!” Mina warns with an eye roll.

“Can you come here for a second?”

Mina stands while muttering under her breath, “Oh, my fucking god.”

They crowd around the kitchen island as Mina searches through some cabinets. Finally, Seonghwa emerges from the huddle with an adorably pink cake topped with lit candles, icing, and macarons.

“You guys didn’t have to do all this,” you say with glassy eyes as Seonghwa sets the cake on the table in front of you.

“Make a wish,” Mina smiles with the flames twinkling in her eyes.

It has been years since someone has said that to you. The last time was probably when you were a preteen. You can barely remember the things you wished for then. It was probably toys, a cell phone, or makeup.

What should you wish for now? Money; a raise at work; stumble upon a wad of cash; a distant relative you’ve never heard of left their life’s fortune to you? A new job, preferably one that exercises your college degree? Good health and a long life? To fall in love? There is one thing all these ideas have in common. If somehow, this can manifest something, you just wish to be happy.

“Just blow out the candle. It’s not rocket science,” Mina jokes with a chuckle.

Right. It’s not.

“Alright, who wants a slice?” Mina claps her hands together as Seonghwa brings over plates and utensils.

“I just want a small piece,” you inform Mina before she cuts one for you.

She furrows her brows, “No, you’re getting a slice thick with two C’s.”

You don’t want to waste it, so you might as well eat it. As much as you want to regret consuming these treats, they taste so good. The white chocolate rose macarons complement the vanilla cake with chocolate mousse filling well.

“Oh, my god, Seonghwa. Where did you get this cake?” Mina inquires, mouth full of cake with her hand hiding it.

“A little bakery over by my apartment.”

Mina nudges Mingi’s arm, almost causing him to drop his next bite in his lap, “We should check it out for our wedding cake.”

Once most of you are done eating, Sejeong suggests that you open your birthday gifts. You move a chair into the living room for your friends to watch comfortably on the couches.

“Hang on. I gotta go get my present. I hid it in the neighbor’s potted plant,” Kyungmi says in a rush to retrieve it.

Sejeong scrunches her face in confusion. “Why didn’t you just leave it in your car?”

“I wasn’t about to go all the way back down there.”

“There’s an elevator?”

“Yeah, and I wasn’t about to go all the way back down there,” she repeats as if it should be obvious that it would be too much work.

When she returns, you ask, hands hovering above the gifts, “Which one should I start with?”

“Save the big one for last,” Mina dismisses the large box.

“Start with the smallest one,” Yoojung suggests, and Kyungmi gets a large grin on her face.

You pick up the smallest bag and take note of how light it is. When you pull out all of the gift tissue paper, you’re met with something you weren’t quite expecting. A weird little stuffed creature with beady eyes stares back at you. As you take the plushy out, you find an envelope at the bottom of the bag. Your friends whisper among themselves asking what the gift is.

“It’s your adopted wombat!” Kyungmi chirps.

The paper inside the envelope confirms that it is a symbolically adopted wombat, specifically one named Gertrude. There’s even a photo of the wombat that benefits from the “adoption.”

“Why did you get her that?” Yoojung questions.

“She said she didn’t have a pet.”

“That’s cute,” Seonghwa approves.

As your friends discuss Kyungmi’s gift, you open the box from Yoojung. It’s a duffel bag; you remember her drunkenly pointing out at the bachelorette party how grungy the one you have been using is. Despite being put on blast for it, you’re thankful for the new one because truthfully, yours was disgusting.

“Those next,” Sejeong points out the matching gift bags.

Her present is actually three separate bags containing a trio of fake plants. One is labeled as a spider plant, another as a pothos plant, and the last as a rubber plant. They’re cute and require no maintenance aside from dusting every now and again. There are a few places in your apartment that could use some decoration.

To give your friends a hard time, you sigh, “I’m starting to think you guys think I can’t keep anything alive.”

“You know, I’m honestly surprised you’re still here,” Mina jokes as she hands over another gift bag. You toss her an unimpressed glare.

“Because your apartment is always freezing,” Seonghwa chimes before you remove the tissue paper.

The gift bag feels heavy and full but not like it contains a hard, solid object. Inside is a thick, plush throw blanket that makes a grin grow on your face.

“Are the blankets I have not enough?” You challenge as a joke.

“Those shouldn’t even be called blankets. They’re like bed sheets.”

“So you got me a present for yourself when you come over?”

He starts stuttering out arguments now that you’ve put him on the spot.

“Hwa, I’m just teasing. Thank you.”

Mina slides two boxes in front of you; one large yet flat and one small. Tears spring to your eyes when you tear away the gift wrapping from the bigger one. Dozens of photos of you and Mina over the years are collaged in the shape of a heart in a large picture frame. There’s even the picture of you holding her at the hospital after she was born.

“Don’t cry.” Mina shuffles over to wrap you in her arms as you look at all the different pictures.

“Where did you get all these?”

“Me and my mom dug through all her photo albums in the attic.”

“Minnie Beanie, this is so cute,” you say wiping away a stray tear. The use of her childhood nickname makes her grin.

“Don’t forget the little box.”

Inside the box is a silver necklace with a small heart pendant.

When you look up at Mina, she excitedly says, “Let me help you put it on.”

As she does so, Sejeong slides the giant box to you with a bit of struggle. The birthday card is signed off by Mina, Mingi, Yunho, and Seonghwa.

“Oh, my god. This is huge,” you say in awe as you reveal the present’s box packaging. It’s a pretty sizable espresso machine. Mina has always criticized your caffeine addiction, and now here she is enabling it. But you won’t call her out on it. Currently, you can’t wait for the morning to test it out.

“Did you bring anything?” Yoojung quietly asks Jongho.

He clears his throat to announce, “My presence is your present.”

“Did you keep the receipt?” Kyungmi quips.

“You gave a full-grown woman a stuffed animal.”

“At least that has value.”

He opens his mouth to argue, but she cuts him off, “Yunho isn’t even here, and he still got her a present.”

“Children, please,” Sejeong attempts to shut down the argument.

“In his defense, we didn’t tell him we were doing a little party for Y/N,” Mina steps in.

“I would have gotten you a boyfriend if I could,” Kyungmi says to you as Mina and Seonghwa clear up the party mess.

You assure her while moving back to the dining table, “I don’t need or want a man.”

“I mean, they’re kinda fun to have around.” She wiggles her eyebrows.

“What’s your type?” Sejeong is the first one to actually ask about what you are into.

You hum as you think for a second, “Mmm, I just want someone who listens and understands. A deep emotional connection would be nice, you know?”

“We all want that, but that kind of man doesn’t exist,” Kyungmi sighs.

“You’re being too picky,” Yujin adds, and you really want to be petty and snap back that not everyone is willing to hook up with anything that has a pulse and a dick. Besides, you really aren’t asking much of a person; it’s like the bare minimum of being a decent human being. There have to be people out there who can do that.

“I mean, look at Mingi. He listens but, like, selectively listens,” Mina jokes as she plops down in the chair next to you, and you force a chuckle.

“I can hear you!” Mingi shouts from the kitchen accompanied by his groomsmen cracking up.

“Pay attention to what you’re doing with that craft knife, babe. I don’t want to take you to the ER again,” Mina yells back and then quietly tells your group, “He dropped the knife and tried to catch it.”

“What if your perfect person is right in front of you and you just haven’t noticed?” Sejeong redirects the conversation, ignoring the other bridesmaids’ horrified expressions and Mingi’s loud complaints from the other room.

“If they are, please point them out because I’m oblivious.”

She hums as if she’s thinking about something and squints her eyes at you. Sucking her teeth, she says, “I don’t know.”

It doesn’t sound convincing, and you don’t miss her cautious yet subtle glance at the boys around the corner. Before anyone can ask about her cryptic reaction, Yoojung decides to throw out an option, an unavailable option.

“What about Mingi’s brother?”

Mina snorts, “He’s married with kids, and even if he wasn’t, there is no way in hell I would let Y/N date him.”

“What’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing, that’s just fucking weird.”

“We could have been family,” you say, feigning offense with a hand resting on your chest.

Mina pushes at your shoulder, scoffing, “Shut up.”

“He’s not really my type anyway,” you comment, chuckling a bit.

But your lighthearted mood comes to a screeching halt at Mina’s next words.

“What about San?”

You can’t help the panicked look on your face as all of the other girls start laughing. Your heart feels like it’s going to pound right out of your chest. There’s a gooey feeling in your stomach like you could throw up if provoked any further. For a moment, you think your secret crush has been found out.

“Did you see the absolute terror in her eyes?” Mina asks between laughs.

“There’s a special place in hell for people like you,” you warn your best friend.

“I’ll save you a seat,” she says, punctuating with a blown kiss and wink.

“There are still plenty of fish in the sea,” Yoojung says with a reassuring smile.

“The ocean is starting to look more like a koi pond,” you mutter quietly.

For some reason, Yujin instigates, “Are you sure you’re not aiming too high?”

“What do you mean?” Your voice is frail with confusion and surprise.

“Do you even deserve someone like that?”

“Yujin, what the fuck? Why would you say that?” Mina’s voice pitches with anger.

“Somebody has to be the voice of reason.”

“That wasn’t reasonable. That was just rude. You don’t know Y/N that well if you think she doesn’t deserve someone who will treat her right. On top of that, it’s her fucking birthday, you heartless cunt.”

You all sit in stunned silence. Even the guys have frozen in the kitchen. Yujin’s pretentious expression doesn’t waver.

“You know what? Just leave,” Mina says, standing from the table, “You weren’t even supposed to be here. You weren’t invited.”

The entire apartment is silent as Yujin grabs her things and exits through the front door. You have seen them fight many times but not to this extent and in front of so many non-family members. Yujin’s time at this little party is finished with a slam of the door behind her by Mina.

“And you told me to swear less,” Mingi comments as Mina replants herself in the seat next to you.

“That was the nicest I could be. If you want to be next, keep talking.”

Maybe Yujin is right. Maybe you don’t deserve anyone. Maybe that’s evident in you being unlikeable. What is there to like about you? What do you even bring to the table? You’re a stressed mess that’s possibly a little depressed.

You could probably think of some more adjectives that rhyme, but the guys suddenly distract your mind as they head to the parking lot to see Yunho’s new car. So, you digress.

But before they can make it out of the door, Sejeong stops them with a question.

“Do any of you know someone to set Y/N up with? Someone we would approve of?”

“Seonghwa, who’s that one really good-looking guy you work with?” Jongho elbows the oldest of them.

Mingi and Seonghwa look at Jongho, asking with their eyes for him to stop talking. But he persists in repeating the question. Talking about you and finding a new love interest is now the cursed conversation subject of the night.

“Minhyuk?” Seonghwa says, shutting Jongho down, “He’s seeing someone.”

While Mingi visibly relaxes, Jongho deflates. Seonghwa shoos them out of the apartment, the door closing a lot softer than the last time.

“I’m not supposed to tell you, but Mingi told me the other night Yunho said his ideal type is basically Yoojung,” Mina gossips quietly as if the guys might miraculously hear her.

All eyes flick to Yoojung who is now making an awkward face.

“You don’t like him?” Kyungmi asks.

Yoojung shrugs, “He’s not my type.”

“How?! I’m scared of heights, but I’d still climb that like a tree.”

“You’re not that much shorter than him,” Sejeong notes.

“I’m a big bitch who just wants to feel like a little bitch, okay?”

“He knows how to play guitar,” Mina offers up that information to sweeten the deal.

“Oh, shit. He’s good with his fingers.”

“Kyungmi, honey. Chill,” Sejeong laughs, wrapping her arm around the other bridesmaid to keep her from falling out of the chair in hysterics.

Mina continues, “He also has a dog.”

“Oh, my god. Let me marry him!” Kyungmi bemoans.

Yoojung is sweating bullets at this point, so Mina finally gives in, “I’m just teasing. I don’t want it awkward within the wedding party.”

“Then you shouldn’t have said anything.” Yoojung fans her face with both hands to cool down before the guys return.

The front door suddenly swings open, and Yoojung nearly jumps out of her chair.

Kyungmi leans next to your ear and whispers, “If I get left alone with Yunho, I will devour him.”

“You don’t even look him in the eye when he says ‘hi’ to you.”

“Give me time,” she murmurs as her eyes land on her prey.

You swiftly remind her, “Mina will kill you.”

“Only if it turns out badly…”

“You’re a little late to help,” Mina playfully scolds as Yunho walks over to greet all of you.

“I know. I’m sorry,” he pouts.

“It’s fine. You want a piece of birthday cake?” She offers, already standing to head to the kitchen.

“Sure,” he smiles and looks to you, “Happy birthday.”

You thank him as he makes himself comfortable in the chair next to you.

“Mina was sitting there,” Yoojung mumbles from across the table, clearly shy knowing what she knows now.

“She’s not going to let me eat in the living room.”

As Yoojung opens her mouth, Kyungmi cuts her off.

“Show us a picture of your car.”

Yunho grins, pulls out his phone, and turns the screen around.

“You think you’re in Mad Max or something?”

He confusedly hums.

“Why did you get a car with all those bars, lights, and gigantic wheels? Who are you fighting on the road?”

“Everyone, I guess,” Yunho laughs, “I like to go hiking, and sometimes you have to off-road a bit to get to the best paths.”

His attention goes back to his phone to close out of all his apps, and Kyungmi mouths to Yoojung, “You can have him.”

Yoojung pleads with her eyes for Kyungmi to stop.

“Yunho, get out of my seat,” Mina demands, withholding his cake.

“Where am I supposed to eat then?”

“The living room?” She answers as if it should be obvious and hands off the plate when he stands.

“'Master has given Dobby a sock.’”

“I have no idea what that’s from, but get the fuck out of here.”

He scurries off to join the other guys on the couch.

“God, you’d be a terrifying mom,” Sejeong laughs.

Kyungmi piggybacks off that, “When are you gonna have kids?”

“We don’t know yet,” Mingi answers from the living room.

Mina’s head jerks in his direction before she corrects him, “Not anytime soon. Maybe like a year or two after we get married.”

“Why?”

Her man’s dumb question summons her, and the bridesmaids follow the drama into the next room.

“We are not raising our kids in an apartment. Do you not remember our conversation about saving for a house?”

“We didn’t have that conversation?” His eyes shift around looking for anything to spark his memory.

“I told you to start putting money aside!”

Her angry rant fades into the background as Sejeong turns to you.

“That’s my cue to leave.”

She yells goodbyes over Mina to everyone else before exiting the apartment. The lively conversation in the living room continues, but you don’t bother joining them.

Alone, an all too familiar depression falls over you. You knew Mina didn’t want to raise kids in an apartment, but she never told you that she is making actual plans for it to happen. You can’t even imagine affording a house… or a nice car.

And what pisses you off the most is that San is somehow creeping around in your mind amidst this life crisis. How does that man have you in such a chokehold? Him just looking at you has you thinking about him for days.

You want him to feel how he makes you feel. You want the little things you do to drive him insane and the things you say to linger in his ears. You want to be the only thing living in his mind as he tries to fall asleep at night but can’t because of you. You would be satisfied if he even thought of you out of the blue, unprovoked. Sometimes, he’s the only thing you can think about, and it isn’t fair.

To distract yourself, you decide to be more productive and grab some other decoration crafts out of the cardboard box tucked away in the corner of the dining room. You struggle to open the bag of glass rocks and with one particularly hard tug, rip it almost in half. The rocks skitter across the dining table, some falling off the edges. Sitting down adjacent to you, Seonghwa laughs and starts brushing the rocks on the table into a pile.

You urge him, “Don’t do it like that. You’re going to cut-”

He interrupts with a hiss, quickly retracting his hand from the table. Just as you are about to scold him, he flashes the woundless palm of his hand.

“Just kidding,” he says with a grin and resumes cleaning up.

“I’m getting too old for you to be pulling pranks like that. One day, I’m just gonna drop dead from a heart attack because of you.”

He chuckles at your dramatics, “You’re not that old. I don’t remember you being this clumsy when we worked together.”

“I didn’t have that much on my mind back then.”

“What are you worried about?”

You can’t talk to him about the wedding, your inexplicable loneliness, or the gray hair you found in your hairline this morning. You definitely can’t say anything about San.

“Just things.”

He stares at you, hoping you’ll indulge more, but you don’t and change the subject.

“I remember when you were hired,” you say, reminiscing on those days when he was fresh out of high school, learning how to live on his own, “I was surprised to see you that night Mina introduced me to Mingi.”

“Yeah, suddenly my serious, hardworking colleague was a goofy girl horrible at board games.”

“Hey, I’m not that horrible now.”

“We’ll see about that.”

You softly chuckle but it fades, “You were my favorite sales associate, and you always brought in so many customers.”

He gazes at you, trying to suppress his smile.

“I miss you working at the store.”

“I miss it sometimes, but I went to school so I wouldn’t have to work in retail.”

Involuntarily, your face drops, your reflexes failing to bring up your usual facade.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t-”

“I know you didn’t mean it like that,” you reassure him and quietly continue, “I went to school for the same reason.”

As he sits there trying to find the words to undo what he has said, you resume working on the decoration. You know he wasn’t thinking in the moment and wasn’t trying to be malicious, but it still hurt. He only confirmed your negative thoughts about your unsuccessful career growth. After a few silent moments, he timidly changes the subject.

“I heard Mark has been texting you.”

“Yeah, he did a while back, but I ignored him.”

“Good… He was a piece of shit to you.”

You hum quietly in agreement.

“Are you seeing anyone?” He asks, his puppy dog eyes meeting yours.

“No, much to Mina’s dismay. I don’t have the time.”

“Same.”

“How’s grad school going?”

“It’s… going.”

“Is it hard since you’re also working?”

“Yeah, I barely have time for myself.”

Maybe you going back would be a bad idea. If Seonghwa, the most diligent student and worker, is struggling, how would you survive?

“But I’m managing,” he adds, “I finished a paper right before coming over here.”

“You must be tired.”

He nods enthusiastically, his focus on the vase in his hand as he carefully drops some glass rocks inside.

“I know you haven’t been able to be involved in the wedding stuff, but you could’ve stayed home and rested. I’m sure Mina and Mingi would understand.”

“I know, but I wouldn’t miss seeing you on your birthday.”

“I would also understand.”

“That wouldn’t stop me.”

His smile as he says that stays in your mind the rest of the night, but something else looms heavily over your thoughts. Choi goddamn San. Even after you return home, that little shit is still pissing you off.

“’I’ll see you tonight,’” you mimic as you enter your bedroom, “Fuck off.”

You pull out a fresh set of flannel pajamas from your dresser and begin your nightly routine. Traces of Seonghwa’s cologne are faint on your shirt. Warm vanilla and spice bring you comfort in knowing how good of a friend he is.

But your mind drifts back to this morning. The image of San ambling through your store with a small, endearing smile is stuck on replay in your head. He was technically the first to tell you ‘happy birthday’ in person, Mina having beat him by texting you at midnight. He even remembers your stupid first kiss story. His playful words ring in your ears. You think about his scoop neck top and how defined his collarbones are.

A part of you wants to give in to him. This could be like a hall pass, couldn’t it? Just a one-time thing. The two of you know damn well you can’t do that, but that doesn’t mean you don’t desire a small taste of what he can give.

A knock on your door this late at night has you confused. Through the peephole, you find San standing there, hands shoved into his jeans pockets. Did you just manifest him?

“What are you doing here?” You ask as you open the door.

“I heard you were asking about me.” He grins before inviting himself in like before.

“Yeah, because we had a lot to do today, and you were out being a fuck boy,” you say with unnecessary spite.

“Fuck boy?” He repeats with raised eyebrows.

“Yeah.” You cross your arms over your chest and watch him make himself at home on your couch. Following suit, you stiffly sit on the opposite end.

“Is that really what you think I was doing?” He asks and receives silence, “A friend I haven’t seen in a while invited me to dinner. I wasn’t going to go, but Mina told me I should.”

You feel a pang of guilt in your chest. You always assume he’s doing something of that nature when he’s not around; it’s an immature tendency of yours.

“You always shame me for the things I’ve done, but I have never judged you for your past actions. I know that I flirt and tease a lot, but I have feelings, too, you know. I didn’t want them and avoided them with one fuck after another,” he pauses, “But that doesn’t work anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

His eyes are fixed on the floor, him seemingly in deep thought. He shakes his head after a few seconds, and you offer up the only piece of advice you can remember off the top of your head.

“Sex never solves anything.”

He slightly nods, “I didn’t think I deserved love.”

“Why not?”

He faintly shrugs. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve already done what I did… I guess I’ll just always be known as a fuck boy.”

The look in his eyes completely fills you with guilt.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

He stands from your couch.

“It’s whatever… Anyway, I got this for you for your birthday.” He pulls a small box out of his jacket pocket, and you immediately feel sick to your stomach. “Goodnight, Y/N.”

He leaves you alone in your apartment to drown in guilt. You don’t know if you want to cry or throw up. This sinking feeling consumes you quickly. As you open the box, the logo of your store stares back at you on a $5 gift card. Any regret you have for berating him is thrown out the window as you reach for your phone.

From: You I fucking hate you. 10:08 PM

From: San🖕 😘 10:09 PM

From: San🖕 Tell Sammy I said thanks for the help! 10:09 PM

Him mentioning your employee by name absolutely sends you reeling.

From: You Fuck off. 10:10 PM

From: San🖕 I’m joking. Your real present is at your door. 10:11 PM

He brought another one? Opening the front door, you find a large gift bag that is surprisingly very heavy. A part of you thinks he has given you a giant rock just to drive home the fact that he’s an asshole. But what’s actually inside makes you laugh in a good way.

There are several refill bottles of coconut, rose, and dessert food scents for your wall plugins, a few different coconut-scented candles mixed with other scents, one candle with a vague scent name, and a sparkly birthday card. Of course, you have to smell all of them, but first, you reach for the candle that sticks out. The moment the smell reaches your nose, your jaw drops and your cheeks heat up. It smells just like his cologne.

Knowing you’re not going to bed for a bit, you light one of the candles and let the warm, musky scent consume your apartment. It makes you feel like you have a man around the house without actually dealing with one. Although, as nice as it is to live without planning your life depending on someone else’s, it wouldn’t be so bad to no longer be alone.

You watch the flame flicker as you recall San’s vague responses to your questions. What happened to make him believe he didn’t deserve love? Millions of reasons run through your mind, but one keeps coming back up, mostly because you don’t want it to be true: he hurt someone who loved him. You don’t want to become an accidental victim of his. That thought is suppressed as you blow out the candle because your heart is drained from thinking about him.

Unfortunately, those thoughts are replaced by his face as he told you he will always be known as a fuck boy. Why couldn’t you have just kept that to yourself? He’s just so frustrating sometimes. His words and actions contradict each other. He doesn’t really open up while simultaneously prying into your life. You let all of that get the best of you and run your mouth. Yet, somehow, he doesn’t seem too angry with you.

Falling asleep, your brain pretends the lingering aroma is from San laying next to you like the chimerical dream he is.

90 notes · View notes