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#the boyz hyunjae scenarios
neoraso · 4 months
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bf things with tbz
sfw, gn reader , similar to my subtle skinships but something a little new ♡ hope you enjoy
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sangyeon
waking up before you to prepare breakfast and maybe even pack a lunch for your school or work day
drawing bubble baths for you (and if you ask him to join of course he will oblige)
day trips!! always opens the car door for you and makes sure you're buckled up before leaving
buying you gifts especially jewelry and leaving it on your bed while you’re away so you have something sweet to come home to
literally already acts like a husband to you like . once you do get married not much will change,,he worships you
jacob
playing his guitar when you can’t sleep
making playlists with songs that remind him of you/your relationship. sometimes he sends them to u and they're called like "for my love"
wants you to be involved with his family and includes you in his calls and facetimes with them
likes driving you to spots and parking just to listen to music and talk with you
very even-keeled and becomes your rock. always there to listen to you talk about your day looking at you with heart eyes the whole time.
younghoon
always getting you little things when he travels on tour like even if its a little keychain, and writes a little note or card to go with it
regularly talks about your future together like it's obvious you're life partners
literally never argues with you,, even when you disagree he's very sensitive to you and just wants to work things out peacefully with you.
you're his whole world. he adores you, has to let everyone (including you) know as much as possible, reminds you he's a better person because he met you.
will drop everything to make sure you're ok. brings you drinks or food when he can during your day. if you're feeling down he will like - run errands for you, bring you snacks etc
hyunjae
regularly brings you to his family home bc he knows how much his parents (and darong) love you
sends you pics of the sunset when he’s away at work but thinking about you
frequent hugs with kisses that start from the top of your head until he works his way down to your cheeks
has to be holding your hand,, crossing the street? laces your fingers for safety, sitting down together? grabs your hand and kisses the back of it
likes when you do his hair care and fix it for him the best. closes his eyes and hums when you're putting the product in and massaging his scalp
juyeon
petting your hair when he’s sat next to you and his arm around you also loves to give you shoulder/neck/head massages to relieve your stress
always keeping an eye out to make sure you’re good in social situations (he may seem aloof but he’s in tune with you!!) ur happiness is his happiness
that being said . sometimes he doesn’t realize when you’re flirting with him he just thinks you’re making conversation T^T but then he catches on and tries to play into it which usually ends up in yall giggling maybe kissing
refuses to let you pay for anything, provides for you happily
so patient with you, always listening attentively with eye contact and appropriate responses <3 an angel
kevin
always trying to make you laugh whether it be twerking, sending you tiktoks he thinks you’ll like
baking and cooking for you ! his lucky taste tester,, literally doesn’t care if you just sit there and watch him but would love if you joined him!!
loves that you have a good relationship with stella lowk gets jealous when she texts you with news before him
brags about you to anyone that will listen "they're so funny and cool and great and smart,, i'm so lucky"
makes up little songs to narrate what you're doing even if it's like. the dishes -_-
chanhee
couple fashion yes yes ! obsessed with taking ootd pics with you
expect his whole camera roll to be you and his favorites are all the ones of you together
always attentive to you whether it be getting something off your clothes, getting you water, reminding you to rest and offering his shoulder when he notices you're tired, moving your necklace clasp to the back, etc
lowkey gets nervous around you like NOT THAT HE'S NOT COMFORTABLE but if you give him too much eye contact he starts blushing and laughing
always leaning on you, head on your shoulder, hanging on you holding your hand/arm. JUST loves u sm and wants to be close to you it's sweet.
changmin
wants to “do your hair” and ends up knotting it up (he’ll brush it out though)
gives you really weird hypothetical situations bc he knows you'll actually put thought into your answers <3
he's a silly guy but he likes his chill time and loves it more when you're with him. sometimes he'll bring you home and you take ghana on walks together,, or he just wants to watch a movie with your feet propped across his lap yktv
whenever you're out together at a cafe or restaurant he always lets you taste his order before him and lets you have as much as you want if you like it
will bite you. you'll just be laying together and he bites whatever part is closest NOT even hard enough to leave marks like juyeon but just enough where he can express his ,,,, cute aggression
haknyeon
shares his love through food with you
has a specific time slot for you in his week set aside for just spending time together whether he's taking you out or spending a night with snacks and a movie :>
loves when he can get you up early to watch the sunrise together (always brings coffee/tea and a pastry for you)
your biggest cheerleader. literally texts you with a message every morning encouraging you for the day
comes home singing loudly to announce his presence. you're the first thing he looks for when he walks through the door and has to give you an ENGULFING hug and at least 3 kisses on your face to prove how much he missed you
sunwoo
saying you’re “too far” when there’s more than 5cm between you
if he's sitting across from you he holds your hand(s) INSIDE his sleeves
low-hanging fruit but he absolutely has a folder FULL of songs about you
loves nights where he's just laying in between your legs or when he's holding you,, either way just wants you close, doting on you all night
pretends to be too cool for being your sweet angel baby sugarplum fairy but when you pull away from showering him in affection he goes "why did you stop -_-"
eric
has a picture of you as his lockscreen and his wallpaper, in his wallet, on his mirror, a framed one on his dresser, etc. etc.
if you're watching a movie and an attractive person comes on, he covers your eyes with his hands and says you should only be looking at him bc he thinks he's sooooo funny
always buys you a mango juice or whatever drink you like when he gets his from the convenience store
wants to include you in everything he does as much as possible whether it be going out with his friends, all his days off, his early morning walks
needs his face as close to yours as possible; kissing your cheeks/eyelids/nose biting your ear, etc etc
do not repost or rework/copy any of my posts here or on other sites
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daisyvisions · 4 months
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✦ Day 33 - Wildcard (Double Penetration)
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‧⋆ ✧˚₊‧⋆. Pairing: Boyfriend!Hyunjae x afab!reader x Boyfriend!Younghoon
‧⋆ ✧˚₊‧⋆. Word Count: 1.2K
‧⋆ ✧˚₊‧⋆. Warnings: Smut (18+, minors DNI), threesome, porn with minimal plot, mask kink, poly!am relationship, double penetration (vaginal and anal), oral (m! receiving), fingering, nipple sucking, rough sex, lots of teasing, pet names (princess, good girl, sweet thing, baby, slut), double creampie, slight manhandling, ass slapping, slight roleplay, implied foursome
‧⋆ ✧˚₊‧⋆. A/N: I can officially say my kinktober list is complete! Sorry this took longer than it should’ve BUT as I’ve said before, kinktober ain’t over til I say it’s over. Had way too much fun writing this in the end hehe enjoy! Proofread once
‧⋆ ✧˚₊‧⋆. Network: @deoboyznet
✦ Kinktober Masterlist ✦
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You’ve always loved celebrating Halloween for as long as you could remember. From picking the treats that go inside the snack bowl at home to the movies that you planned to binge watch with your family.
But most importantly, every year you made it a point to always dress your best. From cute silly costumes as a child to more sexier options as you started becoming an adult.
So when your boyfriends Younghoon and Hyunjae said they’d give you the best trick or treat surprise for you this Halloween, you didn’t think it would end up like this.
“C’mon baby, can’t you tell who’s dick you're sucking right now? Thought it would be obvious.” The man wearing a ghost face costume teases as holds your face together, fucking his length inside your mouth.
The other ghost face behind you chuckles with him, giving you a hard smack on your ass as he continues to rut himself inside your wet cunt. The squelching noises coming from you turning him on with every thrust.
From a third person point of view and with no context whatsoever, anyone who might’ve been watching the scene happening in front of their eyes right now would’ve thought an incredibly kinky porn was being filmed.
But to you, it felt like you were in heavenly bliss.
Sure, this is the first time you're being fucked by both your boyfriends at the same time. But your hot boyfriends fucking you with ghost face masks on? And the fact they’re making you guess who’s who? Yes please…
You release the cock in your mouth with a pop, slowly jerking it off as you pause in between trying to catch your breath.
It would’ve been really easy to guess whose cock you were sucking by now. But these two were ten steps ahead by making the room incredibly dark, leaving you to guess based on feeling alone.
“C-can’t you give me a hint?” You try to hold back a moan as the ghost face behind continues to roughly pound you, pulling back your hips til his whole length is bottomed out inside you.
“Nuh-uh princess. Remember the rules-” The ghost face in front of you caresses your cheek. “If you guess wrong, you don’t get to cum.”
You suddenly yelp when the ghost face behind you delivers a particularly hard thrust before slowing his movements and snaking his hand between your thighs to rub your aching clit. His fingers start quickening their pace, trying to get you closer to the edge.
With the little window of time you have before you reach your high, you try to recall all the moments you had with each boyfriend to give you any sign of who is currently fucking you and whose cock you’re currently jerking off.
“Fuck baby. Keep doing that-” The ghost face in front of you hisses. “Such a pretty slut for us don't you think?”
“Only ours. Isn’t that right?” The ghost face behind you slaps your ass once more.
You try to see if you could guess by the tone of their voices, but they both sounded too similar since the ghost face masks they were both wearing had muffled their voices.
And suddenly, the clue to finding out who’s who hit you.
You look up at the ghost face in front of you, giving him the prettiest doe eyes you could give.
“Please Mr. Ghost Face, can I ride your cock?” You ask with the sweetest innocent voice while trying to somewhat play the role you’re currently in.
“Yeah? Wanna ride my cock sweet thing?” He rubs his thumb on your bottom lip. You nod in response.
The ghost face behind you give your ass one more slap before pulling out, while the ghost face in front plops down onto the bed and instantly manhandles you. Pulling you to straddle his lap before grabbing your hips and pushing it down onto his length.
He wraps his arms around your waist for a moment, holding you down as the other ghost face positions himself behind you, teasing the tip of his cock at your asshole before pushing his length completely inside.
You let out a desperate moan from feeling incredibly full from two cocks dragging in and out of you both inside your cunt and your ass. The overwhelming feeling of being this full pushing you closer to your orgasm.
You hold onto the edge of the headboard, trying to find balance from how hard both your boyfriends are going at it with you.
“Fuck- look at you. Those pretty tits.” The ghost face under you groaning as your breasts start to spill out from your bra. You tried to hide your smirk, knowing you’d be getting your answer in a few moments.
“W-want you to suck on them, please-” you beg.
“Yes please-” He groans as he slightly adjust his mask enough to free his mouth and take in your hardened nipple between his lips, sucking them like there’s no tomorrow. Swirling his tongue around and slightly nipping them, making his cock twitch inside you from the act.
Bingo.
“P-please. Wanna cum so bad-” you moan out, feeling your orgasm getting close to the edge and tipping off any second from now. You could also feel both of their thrusts starting to become a bit sloppy signaling their own highs nearing as well.
“Then what’s the answer princess? Who’s who?” The muffled voice of ghost face behind you whispering in your ear.
“Who’s fucking that little pretty cunt of yours?”
“H-Hyunjae, it’s Hyunjae! Please let me cum-” You whine.
“That’s a good girl. Now cum for us won’t you?”
The second the ghost face behind you says this, knot in your stomach snaps in two. Making you see stars as your cunt tightens around Hyunjae’s cock.
“H-holy shit, she’s gripping my cock. Gonna cu- fuck!” Hyunjae pushes your hips down, bottoming out his length in you as he fills you up to the brim.
Younghoon follows close as his hips stutter. His thrusts slowing down and becoming sloppy as he empties himself inside your ass.
All three of you take a breather for a moment before you lift Hyunjae’s mask off. His sweaty bangs clinging to his forehead while his cheeks glow a blushing pink.
“What gave it away sweetheart?” He smiles at you.
“Between the two of you, you’re the one who can’t resist sucking my tits whenever they’re in front of your face-” You chuckle.
“Wait, seriously?” Younghoon huffs as he lifts his mask.
“Can’t help myself-” Hyunjae replies. “Plus, our princess is way too smart.” He strokes your cheek before pulling you down for a kiss.
“Well, if that’s the case-” Younghoon pulls you back up, pressing your back against his chest as he leans forward to kiss the side of your neck.
“Why don’t we blindfold you next time? Maybe even give you noise cancelling earphones? That way you can’t even tell who’s fucking you...”
He nips your earlobe making you moan. He moves his lips close to your ear, whispering something only the two of you could hear,
“…And maybe bring a friend of ours to join, hm? What do you say?”
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sungbeam · 1 year
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𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 : a series!
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[7 OF 11 NOW CUFFED!] ; it's cuffing season! — and the boyz are in for quite the adventure as they learn to juggle school, work, friends, and love.
starring: the boyz, f!reader
genre: college au, fluff, humor, comfort, assorted pairings
word count: 216k/?? // at least 20k+ words per part
**note: the main plotline (the 4 szns) can be read completely as stand-alones. all other spin-offs can also technically be read as stand-alones, but some might require context from the main plotline. (all prev yns will appear as __!yn)
+ ADD THIS TO YOUR LIST (taglist form: open)
a/n: i'm very excited for this series tbh and i really hope i retain the strength to finish it 🤧 a great way to help me out tho is to blow this post up by reblogging, esp since tumblr gatekeeps the actual fics when they're published :')
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SEASON ONE: PARTY PEOPLE — jacob b.
yours and jacob's mutual friend kevin is convinced that you're meant to be, even if he only just met you. (trailer, 34k)
SEASON TWO: FLIGHT RISK — eric s.
you and eric met on an airplane, and that's where you thought it would end, but clearly the universe has a different plan in mind. (trailer, 30k)
SEASON THREE: OFF THE RECORD — j. changmin (parts 𝐈, 𝐈𝐈)
everyone thinks changmin is cute and harmless, but you know that's not who he really is. (trailer, 36k)
SEASON FOUR: AIN'T NO ROMEO — l. hyunjae
your best friend hyunjae ain't no romeo, but you're still in love... so let's hope he doesn't find out you wrote a whole play about him! (trailer, 30k)
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— spin-offs & side adventures.
RHAPSODY ANONYMOUS — k. sunwoo
you never thought your humble, little podcast would ever touch somebody's soul like it did one kim sunwoo's. (trailer, 28k)
RESCUE PROTOCOL — kevin m.
another summer break, another annual trip to the lake! except, it seems like when you and kev get there, you'll have to make some tweaks to the original rescue protocol. (trailer, 29k)
AT YOUR CONVENIENCE — k. younghoon
neither you nor younghoon were party people, but you did find love in the convenience store down the block. (trailer, 29k)
HOT COMMODITY — j. haknyeon
no matter how many times he's been to this restaurant, haknyeon swears he's not just here for the cute waitress. (trailer, __)
PINKY SWEAR — c. chanhee
you and chanhee are far from the years of pinky swears, but here you are, still lacing fingers after all this time. (trailer, __)
THE REVEAL — l. sangyeon
does sangyeon really have a secret girlfriend? well... let's find out. (trailer, __)
CLASS(Y) ACTION — l. juyeon
nothing is more cutthroat than the legal sphere, and sometimes we have to find allies in the strangest places—even if he spills coffee on you. (trailer, __)
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EXTRA/"DELETED" SCENES
section under construction.
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EXTRA, EXTRA CONTENT
— QUIZZES!
lmk what u got for a free smooch and a cookie 🤸‍♀️🥰
which love in unity boy will you be cuffing this year? (uquiz)
which love in unity boy will you be cuffing this school year? (**NEW & IMPROVED VER)
love in unity trivia !! for the main plot only (uquiz)
— ALT. READING ORDERS
if u want to read this series in timeline order, this is how it should be done: jacob/younghoon, eric/haknyeon, changmin/sunwoo, hyunjae/chanhee, sangyeon, kevin, juyeon
if u wanna read sungbeam's favorites: [under construction]
— SERIES TAGS: general series. any wip can be searched via "wip: _____" (usually just the initials, except for party people); or "the (member) fic™"
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juyofans · 1 month
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✶ rose petals ( l.hj )
pairing › lee hyunjae x afab reader. about › 1.9k, nsfw (minors dni), fluff warnings › cockwarming, bath sex, unprotected sex (wrap it before u tap it guys), slight degradation, creampie, just porn no plot, hyunjae deserves his own warning, hyunjae being a menace (but when is he not!)
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you might fall asleep.
the only thing that’s floating in your mind right now is warmth. it’s too comfortable here, pressed against a soft cushion and surrounded by a blanket of pure fluff. your eyes flutter shut, basking in the dimness of a low, ambient glow and the soft melodies of frank sinatra tiptoeing in the background.
“are you falling asleep on me, honey?”
you hum, opening your eyes to see your fiancé staring at you. he’s smiling softly, as if he caught you red-handed, but you merely just snuggle against his chest in response.
“can you blame me?” you ask, and he curls his arm around your waist, feeling your skin under his fingers.
the bubbles flurry around you, and the light of the candles dances off the foam, creating rainbows against the water of the bath. a rose petal finds its way near you, wandering through the water, and you trace ripples through the liquid to watch it reverberate around your fingertips.
“not really, if it weren’t for the elephant in the room.”
hyunjae shifts his leg a little, and you gasp, suddenly hyper-aware of your surroundings. the drowsiness evaporates off of you as you clutch his hand, intertwining his fingers that lay underneath the surface of the bubble bath.
yes, it might be worthwhile to acknowledge the elephant in the room, that is hyunjae’s dick sitting snugly inside of you for the past thirty minutes. despite your initial protests, he successfully coerced you into cockwarming him, arguing it would be a relaxing and intimate bonding experience. and it was, until he decided to let the devil on his shoulder dictate his actions and ruin any moment of calmness you two were basking in.
“fuck you,” you whisper, trying to calm your senses.
“oh trust me, i am.”
you would roll your eyes hearing the mirth in his voice if it weren’t for the fact that he basically had you by the throat. he pulls you in closer, and it’s almost embarrassing how fast you clench around him. his head dips down to rest against the curve of your shoulder, releasing a restrained sigh at your actions.
“god, we’re been doing this shit for thirty minutes and you’re still this tight. what else do i need to do, fuck you open?”
you whine against him, clearly not prepared for the absolute filth that his words are. if he doesn’t follow through with that very sentence then you might as well melt into a puddle, right here on his dick.
“hyunjae…” you whimper, watching his eyes bore into you.
he raises an eyebrow, asking you to elaborate like the menace he is.
“hyunjae please, i need you,” you cry, hoping to convince him even slightly. “just wanna feel your dick fucking into me. you’ll let me have that, won’t you?”
“fuck, y/n,” he murmurs after processing your words, his breathing heavy against your collarbone. “you’re gonna be the death of me, you know that?”
in a split second, his hands find your waist and grip you tightly as pulls you up, slipping his dick out of you. you whine, not enjoying the feeling of emptiness already, but before you can even complain, he’s spinning you around and letting your legs straddle his waist. you gasp, gripping his shoulders at the unexpected action, and he grips your waist tightly. this way, you’re positioned right on top of his dick, exactly where you want him. you sniffle, wanting him to put you out of your misery and fuck up into you, but instead, he guides the tip against your folds and ruts himself against you. his dick catches onto your clit, once, twice, too many times that have you panting his name in an effort to stop, to stop teasing you and fill you up like you were made for that very purpose.
“you think you deserve my dick after falling asleep on it?” he asks, rocking against you harder.
you cry out, murmuring apologies as he guides his cock faster. it’s a dizzy sensation, one that has you squirming against him, but it’s not nearly enough. your pussy aches, empty from the sudden loss of his dick, and you know you can’t come from this alone.
“jae, inside please,” you pant, trying to meet the heavy gaze of his eyes.
he looks up suddenly, staring into you before he stops completely. the bubbly feeling inside your stomach fades and the rose petals in the water stop swirling around you. the light from the candles stays stagnant, casting a soft glow over hyunjae’s body. his skin shimmers from the light perspiration and all you can think about is how unreal he looks, straight out of a movie.
“want it that badly?” he asks suddenly. “then work for it.”
the whole world shifts as he removes his hands from your waist, and you clutch onto his shoulders tighter. your arms are now the only support holding you up, and the action is so sudden that your nails dig into his soft skin. you whine, but he just laughs and folds his hands behind his head, leaning back against the edge of the tub. he looks irresistible like this, with hooded eyes scanning over your figure and a slight smirk playing on his lips. your pussy throbs against his dick, and you have to bite your lip to stop any noise from escaping.
you can’t believe he’s making you work for this, especially after you begged him nicely, but you should’ve known that you could never get away with anything that easily. hyunjae has never been one to spoil you wholeheartedly, but you suppose that’s what makes the reward even more gratifying when he finally gives in.
“well? get a move on,” he complains, shifting so his dick hovers right above your entrance.
you exhale, your eyes scrunching shut as you lower yourself. you can feel the bubbles pop around you as he fills you up tightly, so perfectly as if he was made to be there. it had only been a couple of minutes since he pulled out of you, but even that alone was agonizing, a gut-wrenching feeling of hollowness that you desperately needed filled.
“you’re so mean,” you gasp, watching the water swish around you as you sink down, “so, so mean.”
your pussy practically sucks him in, fluttering around him like crazy. soft moans escape your lips as you finally bottom out on top of him, his dick stretching you out for miles to come. he groans, throwing his head back, and it takes everything in you not to come right there from how absolutely sinful he looks in this very moment.
“i know baby, i know,” he whines, watching the way you lift up off him to repeat the process. “but it’s worth it, isn’t it?”
you nod, breathless from the way you work yourself open on him. you can’t really deny his question when it is, in fact, so worth it watching the way he reacts as you sink back down on him. his cock is angled inside you perfectly, hitting exactly where it should be, and you can already feel the tension inside your stomach swirling.
“doing so good f’ me. that’s my girl,” he praises, eyes trained on your chest as you bounce on him.
his small noises spur you on and you adjust your speed, picking up the pace to make him fall apart faster. the ache in your legs slowly starts to burn, but you try not to pay attention to it when you’re this close to reaching what you need. you, hyunjae, and the warmth of the bathtub are enough to make you come, and as you use him for merely your pleasure, you go into tunnel vision just to achieve that.
but hyunjae knows you well enough to know that after almost falling asleep, you’re probably weaker than usual. in a normal setting, you could ride him like a pornstar, but the telltale way your legs are shaking now is enough information for him to help you out. hyunjae’s arms catch onto the back of your thighs, making you cease your ministrations as he adjusts you on his lap. your eyes flutter open as he squeezes his fingers softly, and your high subsides as you slow to a stop.
“what- what are you doing?”
you can feel his fingers tracing up your thigh, hovering dangerously close to where you two are interconnected.
“my baby’s tired, huh?”
you want to protest, to let you continue, but the way he’s staring at you makes you nod your head in defeat.
“it’s okay, shh,” he comforts, rubbing your soft skin, “you did so well for me, let me take care of you.”
the water splashes around you as he shifts around, bringing you closer on his lap. his fingers make their way to your clit, tracing small circles that leave you breathless. you choke and your hips attempt to grind against him, chasing your own pleasure, but he stops you by grabbing onto your waist with his free hand.
“just stay still like this, honey.”
you don’t even get a chance to question him because he pinches your clit, already knowing the answer. you shudder, feeling the spike resurfacing, and suddenly you’re hypersensitive to the way his dick sits so deeply within you in this position and how his deft fingers work at your pussy. as embarrassing as it is, you can tell that you’re close from riding him earlier, and he knows it too with the way your walls are clamping down on him so securely.
“you think u can come like this for me?” he asks, drawing figure-eights into your skin.
he brushes the metal of his wedding band against your nub, and the cool metal has you writhing within his grasp. the rose petals littering his chest, the soft ambiance surrounding you both, and his labored moans are enough to push you over the edge, seeing stars as your head lolls back.
“shh, that’s it. let go.”
hyunjae helps you ride out your orgasm, and it’s not long before the squeeze of your walls around him inches him closer to release. he ruts up into you and you grab the base of his dick, steadying him inside you. you press your forehead against him, bringing him imperceptibly close as he thrusts once, twice before he lets go. he empties himself inside you, coating your walls with him and only him.
“love you,” he mouths, hips stammering to a stop as he comes down from his high.
you kiss him in response, cradling his face as his breathing slows down. he waits a couple of seconds before he moves to pull out, but you fingers grip him tighter, shaking your head as he watches you in confusion.
“let’s stay like this? don’t wanna let go of you just yet.”
he rolls his eyes, pulling you in for a hug. his arms wrap around your waist again, exactly where you’re meant to be. you tuck your head into his shoulder this time around, pressing a small kiss to the corner of his collarbone.
“need me that badly, huh?”
you smack his chest, grumbling under your breath. you can already feel yourself clench again at the degradation, and hyunjae grins as he leans down to whisper into your ear.
“don’t worry, baby. i’m not going anywhere, i promise.”
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cupidjyu · 2 months
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crocheted flowers
hyunjae x reader
when hyunjae, the man who you hate and who hates you in return, becomes your temporary bodyguard, the two of you surprisingly grow closer through misunderstandings and... flirting.
genre: enemies to lovers, royal au, bodyguard hyunjae, flirting, slow dancing, he's very strong, and very protective, yet so gentle, misunderstandings, past mistreatment mentioned notes: hahahahahaha word count: 13k
Even with your head resting on your palm, it still lolled down. Were your eyes being taped shut? Why couldn’t you keep them open? Maybe it was because you were crocheting late into the night. Still, this meeting couldn’t be any more boring.
“Are you listening, Your Highness?” 
Immediately, you jerked up, blinking your eyes rapidly. You looked around, squinting through your exhaustion. Everyone sitting around the table had their eyes on you–some looked concerned, some amused, and some… disappointed. 
“What? Yes, yes,” you stammered. “I’m listening.”
The stern-looking woman stared at you for a second before eventually nodding. She was horribly intimidating, though you understood why. She was the event organizer (you liked to call her party planner instead) so she had to ensure everything was perfect.
“The ball is confirmed to be two weeks from now…” 
You yawned, adjusting your clothes which were very uncomfortable, dare you add. When you looked around, you made eye contact with Haknyeon, your bodyguard. He grinned and mocked your sleeping form with exaggerated hand signs which you scoffed at quietly. When you moved your head to the side, your eyes landed on Hyunjae, your other bodyguard. 
Quickly, your mood soured just at the sight of him. You try to avoid speaking his name or addressing him at all, but whenever you do, it’s spoken with a harsh, uncaring tone. It’s not like he didn’t share the same feelings.
He raised an eyebrow, leaning forward and tilting his head. Then, he glanced down at the papers set in front of you that you were supposed to be looking over right now.
Focus, he mouthed.
Your jaw clenched and you tore your gaze away from him stubbornly. Th2ough, you did actually decide to tune into the meeting. You were pretty sure you heard your name about three times.
“As requested by the King, Y/n’s escort will not be a prince from another land. At least for now. Instead, her escort shall be her personal bodyguard.”  
You perked up at that. You’ve always despised the possibility that you would be forced to walk into a ball with some stuck-up prince that you had met just a minute ago. With a smile, you turned to look at Haknyeon. He was your personal bodyguard, the one who follows you around all day. Hyunjae on the other hand, had the role of guarding your door. So thankfully, your escort was Haknyeon and not him.
But to your surprise, Haknyeon quickly looked away with a sheepish look. You furrowed your eyebrows. Did he not want to be your escort? 
Please no, I can’t go with Hyunjae. Anyone but him.
After the meeting, you walked out, still slightly groggy after your mid-meeting nap. Instantly, Haknyeon was by your side like the perfect bodyguard that he was. You sighed, holding your stomach as you turned to him. “Do you want to eat lunch with me during your break?” 
Yet again, he gave you a guilty look. “I have something… to do.” 
“Oh,” you breathed. “That’s okay. Just make sure to make it up next time,” you playfully replied.
“Of course, Y/n.” He grinned back. That was another thing you liked about Haknyeon. He didn’t often call you ‘Your Highness’ which you always felt was too proper. You liked it when he called you just by your name. 
“Want me to save you dessert?” You giggled.
He hummed, his eyes sparkling just at the thought. “You know me so well.” He glanced back at one of the staff calling him over. “I’ll be right back.”
You nodded and watched him jog over to pick up some equipment. Haknyeon would always be your favorite bodyguard. He was kind and had a great sense of humor. Especially after following you around and protecting you for a few years, he knew a lot about you compared to really… anyone else.
You heard a shift behind you and you whipped around. Your alert state quickly dissolved into an annoyed one as you faced Hyunjae who was leaning against the wall, right next to you. 
You narrowed your eyes. “Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to go back to your post?”
He turned to look at you before turning to face the wall. He liked to do that–ignore you rudely. “Haknyeon’s occupied right now. You can’t be alone.”
You roll your eyes and clenched a fist. Oh, how you hated his stupid, unimpressed expression and his even stupider arms that were crossed over his chest. “I don’t need your help,” you gritted out.
“And I don’t want to help you. This is just my job.” He merely glanced at you. 
You swore you saw red as you stepped forward. “You–” 
You were then startled by Haknyeon who appeared behind you, gently guiding you back from possibly pouncing on one of your bodyguards. “Y/n,” he laughed nervously as he pulled you along in the direction of your room. “I think you’re tired. How long have you been crocheting?”
“A few hours,” you muttered. “But still, I’m not tired. He’s just so… obnoxious. And mean! And–” You just groaned, completely frustrated.
Being born into a royal family, you naturally already had enemies, most of them being from other lands or old classmates you used to argue with. But you didn’t pay them any mind. The only enemy that you did pay mind was Hyunjae, your own bodyguard. You hated him so much.
He was strict with you and never treated you nicely. He never even gave you a reason for doing so. It was like he woke up on the wrong side of the bed, every single day. He always had these snarky responses and annoyed glares directed only at you. You just couldn’t stand him. 
And that is why you would like to sincerely thank whoever invented hot showers. You didn’t care if it practically burned your skin, it always let off those knots in your muscles whenever you interacted with your arch-nemesis bodyguard. With damp hair and your sleepwear on, you headed back to your room.
Usually, at this time, Hyunjae was on his break, meaning he wouldn’t witness you without your usual attire and with messy, disheveled hair. You were always expected to look your best in front of others, whether you liked them or not.
But just as you turned the corner, you stopped abruptly in your tracks, almost slipping on the floor. His post was supposed to be empty yet he was standing right there. 
Cautiously, you approached your door with an annoyance already creeping up your spine. “Why are you here?”
“Funny, that’s the second time you asked.” His eyes narrowed when he noticed you tensing at his words. “Again, it’s my job. My break got pushed back.”
You took in a deep breath as if that would do anything to calm your anger. “You’re so… rude. What would your boss think?”
“Technically, you’re my boss.”
You blinked in realization before quickly schooling your face neutrally.
“And even so—“ He paused when he heard a sound from down the hallway. He almost became… alert. Sometimes, you forget that he was still a bodyguard. When he realized it was just a broom that had simply fallen over, he relaxed and turned back to you. “I couldn’t care less.”
“You’ll care when I fire you,” you spoke through your teeth. Yet, he only stared at you unimpressed.
“But you know that I’m the best option. How could you let me go?” He faked a pout. You stayed quiet, knowing that he was right. The other bodyguards were a bit too… energetic and admiring for your liking.
You sighed, glancing at your door. “Still, you shouldn’t see me like this.” You eyed yourself who was the opposite of put together right now. “There’s a reason why I wanted you on break.” You looked away, slightly embarrassed.
You could feel his eyes on you, or more specifically, traveling over you. Then he hummed, almost amused.
“I see no difference, Your Highness.”
“Ah, so you’re a liar too.”
He looked like he was about to refute but he eventually sighed and gestured to your room. “Just go to your room.”
The next day, you stood at the entrance of the same meeting room. When the door opened, you were met with the sight of your two bodyguards as well as the event organizer standing, seemingly waiting for you. You gulped. Were you in trouble for falling asleep? No, that can’t be.
“What’s this about?” You spoke nervously. Your eyes landed on Haknyeon, who was frowning and giving you pitiful eyes. You furrowed your eyebrows. “Are you okay?”
The woman cleared her throat. “Everything’s perfectly fine. Your bodyguard here…” She gestured to Haknyeon. “Was granted a month of vacation to go back home.”
You immediately brightened at those words, bounding over to Haknyeon and hugging him tightly. “That’s great!” You exclaimed. “You deserve it. So much.”
Haknyeon smiled back but frowned afterward. “I’ll miss you though,” he whined.
“Hey, it’s only a month. Besides, you should enjoy yourself.” 
“…and,” the woman continued. “That will mean that Hyunjae will temporarily take his place as your personal bodyguard.” 
That was when you froze, going so silent you could hear a pin drop. You turned to her with your mouth agape and your heart fallen to the floor. “What.”
She only offered a measly smile while you could only stare in disbelief. Was this possibly your punishment for taking a nap during the meeting? Have you been chosen for torture on this planet? Why—
“Why couldn’t you choose anyone else? It could be anyone but him.” You glared at Hyunjae who also seemed surprised and agitated.
She pinched the bridge of her nose with a long sigh as if she expected this response. “Because Hyunjae knows more about you than any of the other bodyguards. He’s the best choice who is aptly strong and calm, especially for someone of your energy.”
“But you know we don’t get along,” you refuted. 
She frowned but eventually nodded, understanding your argument. “Your Highness, if you would really like to request a change then let me know. But if you were to keep your relationship with him strictly professional, then there should be no problems.”
“I…” You bit your lip. You wouldn’t lie and say you didn’t want to change, but you also hated the idea of being a burden, especially for someone who was so preoccupied with setting up the ball. Shutting your eyes with a wince, you groaned quietly in defeat. “Fine. I guess we can manage for a month.”
“Great!” She clapped enthusiastically while Haknyeon snorted in amusement. “I’ll be off now.”
Once she was gone, you could hear your now former bodyguard laugh, clearly enjoying the show. Then he stepped forward and turned to Hyunjae with a knowing look.
“What are you waiting for?” His tone was nothing but teasing. “Go stand by Y/n.”
Hyunjae stared at him, obviously annoyed before reluctantly going to your side. You looked up at him before rolling your eyes. He was awfully tall, which made it a lot harder to really argue with him.
“What a view,” Haknyeon laughed even louder. 
“I don’t want to do this either,” Hyunjae whispered, looking at you with a harsh demeanor.
“At least we agree on something.”
You stalked through the halls, your mood completely ruined. What exasperated you even more was the footsteps trailing behind you, belonging to your new temporary bodyguard, the one man that you despised.
You stopped abruptly and turned around.
“Can you just not follow me? I think I can manage on my own. I especially don’t want to be with you.”
He simply looked at you without budging. “You know I can’t do that, Your Highness.”
You sighed at his mocking tone, exasperated before turning around and beginning to walk again. Well, before you stopped abruptly once more, causing Hyunjae to almost bump into you. Something just dawned on you, leaving your chest seizing for air.
“Does that mean you’re my… escort for the ball?” You seriously contemplated somehow pushing back the ball until next month. There was no way it would be in two weeks when you would have to enter the ballroom with your hand on his arm.
He nodded wordlessly, obviously not happy about it either.
“God, I hate this,” you mumbled, leaning your head back. “You’re going to be the worst bodyguard ever.”
“And do you think I really consider that important?” He stared back at you condescendingly. 
“You–” Stepping forward, you completely forgot that there was still that broom on the floor. How come no one picked it up? Maybe you should have been more aware. Being the clumsy person you were, your foot quickly caught onto it, leaving you stumbling forward. This was why it was important you had a bodyguard following you around.
You were about to accept your fate of a broken nose until you felt a cool hand grasp your wrist that was flailing mid-air, holding you up. You blinked in surprise, looking up only for you to realize that you were alarmingly close to Hyunjae’s face. 
He didn’t seem at all fazed though, watching as you, on the other hand, were incredibly shocked over his sheer strength of being able to hold you up with one hand. 
“I wouldn’t advise stepping there.” If you looked closely, you could see the corners of his lips lift slightly at his own remark. “There’s a broom on the floor.”
You scoffed, pulling away harshly. “Thank you so much for the warning.”
“Anytime.” He faked a bow.
“Oh, you–” You paused before you would fall over again. “You know what? Just shut up. Let’s just not talk for a month.”
“Fine by me.” 
As you walked, you were surprised to hear that there were no footsteps behind you anymore. With curiosity getting the best of you, you turned around, only to see that he had stopped to pick up the broom and set it back up.
“Huh,” you breathed, slightly surprised.
(Hyunjae sighed, sitting down on the couch and throwing an arm over his eyes. He was exhausted and he had only followed you for an hour. How was he going to do this every day and for a month at that?
He heard a creak and the weight of someone else sitting beside him. Looking over, he was met with Haknyeon, again with a gloating expression. It seemed that he had brought his luggage over, already packed and ready to leave him with you. Alone.
“Excited?” The shorter grinned smugly.
“Don’t kid me,” Hyunjae sighed with a frown. “I honestly wished they would have requested another guard at this point. All I was supposed to do was guard the door, not follow them around all day.”
Haknyeon hummed thoughtfully before leaning back with him. “Can I ask you something?” When Hyunjae offered no response, the younger continued. “Why do you hate Y/n so much? What did they do to make you despise them that much?”
Hyunjae paused before letting out a low sigh. “Nothing. I just… I’ve had my fair share of royalties.” His mind flashed back to when he used to be in one of the lower ranks of the staff. He was never treated right, always pushed around and spoken to harshly by none other than the royal family who promised that they would protect him with all their being. Lies. He had always wanted to be a bodyguard. But in the process of becoming one, he realized just how cruel people can be.
And so, when he was actually promoted to be one, he already entered the position with low hopes and crushed dreams. He expected the exact same treatment from you.
“Y/n’s probably just the same.”
Haknyeon looked at him sympathetically, as if to tell solely through his eyes that he understood where he was coming from. “But Y/n’s different. I promise you that. After spending so much personal time with them, trust me when I say that they’re not like the others.”
Hyunjae could only shut his eyes before mumbling a quiet, “Enjoy your vacation. I’ll be suffering.”)
“Please stop staring,” you forced out. You knew that just the day before you had suggested not talking, but something about his… face as he looked at you through the reflection of your mirror bothered you so much to the point that you had to say something. His eyes were different than you expected as if he was almost interested in you getting ready for an outing.
But then, as obnoxious as he was, he faked a smile, leaning back against the wall. “I can’t do that, Your Highness. What if someone’s out there to hurt you?”
“That’s unlikely. So please stop whatever it is you’re doing.”
“I’m merely looking at you. Does that make you nervous?” 
Your face contorted with anger at his words. “Hyunjae!” You groaned, setting down your makeup brush with a loud thud and turning around to glare at him.
“What?” He muttered.
“This is just for one month.” You straightened and walked over to him. You tried to look somewhat intimidating but knowing that he was the one whose job was to protect you, it was a bit difficult. “Can’t you be the least bit tolerable? I don’t even know why you hate me so much.”
He stared at you wordlessly before looking away with his jaw clenched. “I have my reasons.”
You huffed. “Well if you would tell me, maybe we could have worked this out.” Your shoulders hurt with how tense they were as you began to walk backwards. But yet again, you tripped. This time, it was on the carpet—the fancy type that seemed impossible to walk on.
Unlike before though, you fell backwards. One day you were going to end up with a broken bone. Your life flashed before your eyes until you felt a strong hand wrap around your waist. 
Quickly, he pulled you up and right against his body. Without you realizing, you had planted your hands on his chest, creating the distance that was very minimized considering how firmly he was holding you. You could feel the wind get knocked out of you, out of breath as you stared at Hyunjae with wide eyes.
His eyes searched your features carefully. His expression was mostly the same except for how the harsh lines on his face had disappeared for some reason.
“I said you can’t get hurt.” His voice was also… less harsh.
You gulped as you lifted your hands off his chest. But some part of you kept your fingertips there, feeling his heartbeat drum against them. Your cheeks felt warm as you stared at him wordlessly, trying to come up with some sort of response.
“I…” Your voice wavered. “I wish you were bad at your job.”
And to your surprise, he smirked. “Oh? Are you saying that I’m good at protecting you?”
Your hands wandered down to his which still grasped your waist. You squeezed it, reminding him to let go because, for some reason, he forgot. He raised an eyebrow suggestively.
“Do not put words in my mouth.” And when he still didn’t let go, you grabbed hold of it instead, pulling it off and ignoring the spark you felt at his touch.
It would no longer be Haknyeon following you around the whole day. It would be him. Oh, how you hated him. You hated your clumsiness as well, considering that he kept on saving you by holding you with the sheer strength of just one arm.
Refreshed after a good night’s sleep, you opened your door before jumping at the sight of Hyunjae standing before you. Yet again, you were reminded of how annoyingly tall he was as he stepped aside for you.
“Your Highness,” he greeted with a lazy voice.
You stared at him silently before turning on your heel and heading down the hall. But no matter how fast you walked and no matter how many turns you took, he remained behind you.
(Hyunjae followed silently as you traversed through the never-ending halls. He had never seen a royal member willingly walk through the whole castle before, or even leave their section at all. 
He watched, intrigued and curious as you turned every corner, occasionally knocking on doors and peeking in. You seemed to be having conversations with whoever resided inside. That was what perplexed him more. You were in the section of the castle where the staff stayed.
If he walked closer or you would slow down slightly, he could hear you mumbling to yourself, as if to make a to-do list.
“Make… soup…no!…she’s allergic.” 
He couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in pleasant surprise.)
“What’s the rush?” He remarked, just as you were finished speaking with one of the maids. 
You glanced back at him. “I have much to do. If you don’t want to follow, then go as you please.”
“How many times do I have to tell you that I can’t do that?”
You stared at him for a moment before sighing. At least he was dedicated. “Then hurry up you… turtle.”
You must have been dreaming because why did his lips lift up into a smile for a second? And how come you heard a chuckle?
And then, to your slight shock, he sped up so that he was walking by your side. Even if you tried to confuse him by taking shortcuts, he continued to accompany you.
“You—“
“Just doing my job, Your Highness.”
You rolled your eyes at the way he always addressed you.
First, he followed you to the kitchen. He guarded the doorway, as always leaning against the wall. 
You felt his eyes on you as you moved past each cabinet, pulling out ingredients for your most beloved specialty: pancakes! You knew the measurements by heart and soon enough, the batter was already mixed and being poured into a pan.
You could see him tilt his head in the corner of your eye.
“What are you cooking for?” He spoke up. “You do know we have chefs for that.”
“I know that.” You flipped the pancake successfully for once. “Just… one of the staff fell sick so I wanted to make her something.”
His eyes widened slightly as he straightened up at your words. It seemed like something you said had shocked him, though you had no idea what. And when you glanced back at him, you realized that his stiff demeanor had slightly softened. Was it because you were simply cooking for a staff member? Was that so odd?
Brushing off the hair that fell over your face, you jerkily turned back to the pancakes before they burned. It was silent for a while yet you couldn’t help but shake off the feeling of Hyunjae staring at you as if trying to decipher what you were doing. 
(Hyunjae watched and watched, yet continued to become more and more perplexed. You were spending your energy cooking for a staff member rather than ridiculing them for every mistake they made? His eyes followed you around the room, completely shamelessly as you moved back and forth, making what looked like fluffy pancakes.
But slowly, his gaze moved from your movements to, well, your features. Something about how you looked was almost mesmerizing. Gone were the prim and proper, perfectly hair-sprayed styles. Instead, your hair was messy, falling over your eyes constantly which he couldn’t help but hum with amusement. 
You were also void of any heavier makeup, allowing him to see your features more clearly. Your eyes were focused yet shone without any glitter and your lips… pursed but… 
He awkwardly cleared his throat. What was he thinking? He wasn’t supposed to look at you in that way.
Luckily, you hadn’t noticed his staring.)
He was staring. He was definitely staring. 
Why? You weren’t too sure. Maybe he was plotting a plan that would lead to your demise. Typical of him. But, you were too focused on cooking that you decided to pay it no mind, hurriedly brushing your hair out of your face once again. 
A few minutes later, you glanced up, solely for the reason of shooting him a glare. A bit immature, but that was how you two usually regarded each other anyway. But, to your surprise, he was nowhere to be seen. And you expected to feel a sense of relief, but for some reason, something shot through your heart.
You were alone—without him to catch you. You gulped nervously and hesitantly turned back to your pancakes. Just as you finished the second-to-last batch, you felt a warm presence behind you. Before you could turn around, a hand brushed against the nape of your neck, sending shivers down your spine. And for some reason, you could immediately tell it was Hyunjae.
“What are you doing?”
He didn’t respond. Instead, you felt another hand grasp your hair, pulling it up and away from your face. He leaned closer from behind, peering at the side of your face to make sure he didn’t miss any strands. Suddenly, the room felt ridiculously hotter than before. You stayed utterly still and completely unsure of what to do. 
He was tying your hair for you. 
Once you felt your hair being fastened, you tried to whip around but you felt a gentle grip on your shoulders that made you face the counter once again. “Turn back around,” he muttered with a chiding tone. Bewildered, you stared at the wall, your heart pounding. Your hands gripped the side of the counter as you shut your eyes and cringed.
And if you thought he was done, he certainly wasn’t. His hands had left your hair and wandered down to your waist. Though he didn’t completely grasp it, that brief brush with his gentle hand sent you spiraling. You felt your apron tightening as he tied it again. It must have come loose earlier. Still, that didn’t answer your question as to why he was doing this all in the first place.
(Hyunjae did not enjoy this. He certainly wasn’t biting back a smirk as he noticed your reddening ears and your hands holding onto the counter for dear life. 
And just for a bit more fun, as he tightened the knot of the apron, he yanked you backward, sending you stumbling and falling back against his chest where he kept you steady, his hand ghosting just over your hip. He could tell you were trying to look angry as you looked up at him with a frown that looked more nervous and confused than intimidating. 
Slowly, he lost his battle with holding back a smile. But just before you could catch him, he leaned toward your ear and whispered, “You wouldn’t want to ruin your clothes would you?”
You gulped and he could see how flushed your cheeks were. 
“Why would you care?” You replied.
Hyunjae blinked and he quickly leaned away from you. He steadied you but created that distance that the two of you were most familiar with. Why did he care?)
Your mind was befuddled. The two of you were supposed to be arguing, throwing insults, and doing everything that had to do with hatred. But what was that? That was nothing like what you two were supposed to do. That was…
You shook your head out of your trance. He was probably just messing with you, trying to find your weakness to use it against you in the future. 
“Don’t startle me like that again,” you said shakily, flexing your hand nervously. You turned back to your unfinished batter and picked up the whisk, beginning to stir its contents. You would have been done with this already if it weren’t for his… assistance.
“Can I assist you once more?” He asked, this time appearing at your side. Your gaze hardened as you turned to him. Your hand came up to mindlessly swipe the hair off your face, only to find nothing because the very man right next to you had already tied it up. You scoffed and tilted your chin up, yet he only gazed back without emotion–except for that small bit of amusement behind the twinkle of his eyes.
“Fine, if you would be so kind.”
Hyunjae reached over, taking–prying, because you were that stubborn–the whisk from your hand and moved the bowl over. He began to mix and to your large dislike, he was much more efficient when doing so. You set your hands on the counter and watched. You tried to keep your eyes solely on his obnoxiously handsome face or on the batter being mixed in the bowl, but instead, your gaze wandered to his… arms.
Bodyguards always wore simple black and white suits–easy to move around, yet form-fitting enough to look formal. And that was what bothered you so much. Why, under his suit, could you see the muscles of his arm flex so clearly as he used the mixed? And why, with his suit on, did you start imagining it off–leaving him only in a white dress shirt and a loose tie? Your mouth went dry.
Your thoughts were rudely interrupted by his breathy laugh. You looked up, only to be met with a small smirk, barely visible, but enough to leave you embarrassed anyway.
“Eyes on the bowl, not my arm.” He nodded towards the bowl, already fully mixed for a while now, which you didn’t notice.
You suppressed a groan, elbowing him so that you could finish cooking. “Shut up, Hyunjae. You’re distracting me.”
“In what way?”
“You’re face is unbearable.”
“Hm, could have sworn it was my arms.”
After dropping off the pancakes to various staff member rooms that quickly filled with grateful smiles, you led Hyunjae out to the garden. He trailed behind you as you wandered the various, intricately carved trails, searching for the prettiest and brightest flowers. When you found the perfect patch, you immediately knelt down, slightly adjusting your hair. Carefully, you picked the flowers, bunching them into a basket.
Just like before,  it was silent. Well, up until Hyunjae decided to start a conversation again, as weird as it was. You would never get used to it.
“Your Highness.” His voice was softer.
You squinted up at him. “What?”
He gestured to the flowers being held in your hand. “Your hands will get dirty.”
“I know,” you sighed. You never particularly enjoyed the feeling. “But I noticed that some of the vases were empty. I’m going to refill them again.”
When there was no response, you looked up, only to see Hyunjae staring at you in surprise. His lips parted and his head was tilted ever so slightly. You noticed he did that often when he was confused. Almost like a… puppy. 
(Hyunjae’s chest felt tight. You had specific workers to fill up those vases and cook pancakes yet you… did those tasks on your own accord. Maybe Haknyeon wasn’t all too wrong. Maybe…)
You yelped. Immediately, Hyunjae was kneeling down, taking your arm, and pulling you up to stand. “Are you okay?”
You searched his eyes with bewilderment. “I-”
His touch was gentle and careful as he brought your hands up for examination. “You should have used gloves, Your Highness. I knew you would get hurt.” His thumb pressed comfortingly into your palm. 
“No!” You blurted out, causing him to jump. He looked up from one of your hands, completely missing the fact that he was so close that if he leaned any closer, he would be kissing the back of it. “I’m not hurt.”
He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “You’re not?”
“No,” you argued with a scowl. “Did you not hear the loud thunder a few moments ago? It startled me that’s all.”
“Thunder?” He furrowed his eyebrows. And then he looked at you like something dawned on him. “Thunder,” he breathed. “You need to go back inside.”
“Wha– why?” You exclaimed, already being dragged down the trail. You stumbled after his strides as you silently cursed his long legs. Soon enough though, your question was answered with the sudden pour of rain over your heads. It was so heavy that it began to seep through your clothes, sending a shudder through your whole body. And that meant that Hyunjae, who was holding onto your hand, would feel it tremble.
He stopped abruptly and turned back around to face you. 
“What are you doing?” You asked hurriedly. “We still have a long way to…” Your voice trailed off once you realized what exactly he was doing. He was taking off the jacket of his suit, leaving him only in his white dress shirt and a messed-up tie. Huh. Didn’t you just imagine that back in the kitchen?
He stepped forward and he held the jacket up over your head, acting as an umbrella. “Ready, Your Highness?” Yet again, his face lacked any emotion.
“Yes,” you breathed. The two of you avoided running so as to not slip on the forming mud, but everything felt incredibly fast-paced anyway. Hyunjae, who continued to shield you from the rain, kept on stealing glances at you to make sure you were okay. Everytime you caught him, you would scrunch your nose and silently gesture for him to focus on getting back.
As you got closer, it was you who decided to steal a glance. You inhaled sharply when you realized that most of Hyunjae’s body was soaked by rain. His wet hair fell over his eyes and his shirt stuck to his skin. He was keeping you dry while he…
You hadn’t even noticed that you two were indoors already. Hyunjae let out an exasperated sigh, brushing a hand through his soaked hair.
“Did you not check the weather before you—“
You ignored his words, instead storming over and smacking him plainly on his shoulder. He stared at you, clearly unimpressed. He never seemed to flinch. 
You frowned, looking around for a towel, only for there to be none in sight. With a groan, you turned back to him. “You’ll catch a cold, you idiot.”
“I’ve had worse,” he replied.
“Like what?”
“Like when I had to work while having a fever.”
You gasped and your frown deepened. “That’s so mean, who made you do that? I must have a talk with them.”
“I don’t think you must. Not when the person is none other than your own cousin.”
You felt your heart drop to your stomach. You were always aware that Hyunjae wasn’t always a bodyguard. But to learn how he was treated previously…
You huffed and shook your head. “Cousin or not, that won’t change anything. If he treated you unfairly, then he deserves to be ridiculed.”
Hyunjae looked at you yet again, in surprise, his eyes slightly widened. So there’s finally more emotion in his face. “There’s no need, Your Highness. You do know that you’re supposed to hate me, right?”
You swallowed thickly. It hit you then. The two of you… hadn’t insulted each other in a while. It was weird but not something you were against.
“I don’t…” You sighed. “You’ve helped me a lot recently, so I— I don’t know. I want to repay you.”
“Okay,” he whispered. You looked up, trying not to pay attention to how attractive your bodyguard looked when soaked with rain. He was a lot more muscular than you thought, considering his shirt was see-through. “But this is my job, Your Highness. There’s nothing to repay.”
You grumbled. “I get to decide that.”
And to your pleasant surprise, he laughed. It was a nice sound and an even nicer change of pace with his usual stoic personality. 
“But thank you.” He smiled softly. “I appreciate it, Your Highness.”
You couldn’t help but smile back. You looked down to examine your picked flowers. But then you slapped your hand over your face.
“Ah, my basket. I forgot it.”
“Would you like me to get it for you?”
You glanced out the window. The rain was still pouring. “Don't be ridiculous.”
“I wasn’t. You spent a lot of time picking those flowers. I can get them for you.”
Your cheeks flushed as you looked away. You never thought he would go to such lengths for… you. Then again, it was his job. But it felt different either way. It felt like your heart was racing.
“Shut up,” you muttered. “Go dry yourself off instead.”
“Of course, Your Highness.” He tilted his head with a teasing smile. 
And for some reason, that smile and that soft gaze left you breathless.
After Hyunjae was all dry—now only wearing just a dress shirt and tie this time (much to your quiet enjoyment)—he followed you to your last stop of the day. The library. It was large and filled with rows upon rows of books that almost everyone couldn’t understand. You weren’t any different. You simply enjoyed the peace and quiet of the atmosphere, where you could crochet to your heart’s content.
You sat on a chair and tried to focus, but your mind was distracted—distracted by your bodyguard who was standing by your side silently. When Haknyeon accompanied you, he would start conversations or try to read one of the books. To say this was uncomfortable was a huge understatement.
You set down the needles and patted the chair next to you.
“Do you want to sit down?” You looked up at him. He gazed at you before reluctantly sitting down, facing you slightly.
There definitely was progress in your relationship with him but it was still painfully awkward. Every time the two of you would make eye contact, it would quickly break. Fidgeting hands, darting eyes, shifting in your seat—it was just so graceless.
“I’m not that bad,” you whispered, facing him with a soft smile. “You can talk to me.”
Hyunjae leaned back in his chair, stretching slightly. “I guess you’re not. But hm, I’m not too sure.”
“Hey.” You glared. This time though, your glare was playful and you even struggled to hold back a smile. “Say anything. Start a conversation. I promise I won’t bite.”
He huffed out a quiet laugh. “I never thought you would bite. You practically trip over air every time I look at you.”
You stuttered and your cheeks quickly started to feel warm as you quickly stared down at your lap. “I– I don’t mean to…” When you looked back up, you saw Hyunjae staring at you with sparkles of amusement in his eyes. “You’re making fun of me.”
“Sorry,” he laughed with clearly no trace of an apology. “Fine, I’ll talk.” He leaned forward, propping his elbows on his thighs as he gestured to your crocheted piece of work. Which hopefully, he could tell it was a scarf. “Who’s this for?”
You stared at him, slightly confused. But then you realized, oh, he had witnessed you cooking and picking flowers for others. He must have assumed you were making this for someone as well. You shyly shook your head, gripping your work in progress tightly.
“Oh,” you laughed nervously, tearing your gaze away with embarrassment. “It’s just for me actually. This is my favorite hobby.” Your voice gradually became quieter and quieter. The only person who was well aware of your love of crocheting was Haknyeon. So to share it with Hyunjae is…
He hummed quietly and you could tell he was interested, rather than judging. He didn’t say anything after, instead choosing to watch you crochet. Usually, you were great at crocheting. Amazing actually! But something about his silent gaze on your hands left them shaking causing you to make a lot more mistakes than usual.
After your nth mistake, you sighed and placed the unfinished scarf in your lap with a frustrated groan. You needed to do something–anything–to steer his eyes away from your hands. It wasn’t uncomfortable per se, but it was… nerve-wracking. For some odd reason, you felt your heart beat faster than usual.
Abruptly, you turned to him. “Do you want to learn?”
He froze as he eyed your intricate work. Then he shook his head softly. “This isn’t my type of thing.”
“Then what do you like? Or are you just a boring guy?”
He rolled his eyes. “I like to workout.”
You scoffed. “That’s such a you thing to enjoy.” Except, you didn’t make that statement just because you knew he was a bodyguard and had to be strong enough anyway. Really, you said it because you could not, for your life, get the image of him, rain-soaked with a tight shirt that clung to his body out of your mind.
He was quiet for a moment before he tilted his chin downwards, looking you straight in the eyes. You gulped nervously. Why was he staring at you so intently? When you looked closely, you could see a small teasing smile appear on his lips.
“Then how else do I catch you when you fall?” He paused and his voice lowered. “Your Highness.”
Now, it felt like your heart was in your throat. You cleared it desperately as you quickly turned away, hoping you were fast enough to hide your reddening cheeks. 
“Can’t I do something?” You complained. You twirled around and wandered through the various set-up tables. There were staff members everywhere, intricately putting up centerpieces and making sure that every tablecloth had not a single wrinkle, every plate was without a singular smudge and every flower was placed perfectly.
The head organizer, who was busy checking things off her important-looking clipboard, glanced at you before shaking her head in disapproval.
“No, you can’t.”
“Why?” You gave your best pleading look but she wasn’t even looking at you.
“This is our job, Your Highness. We don’t want to bother you.” 
“But–” She was already long gone, chasing down a guy who accidentally put a napkin backward.
Biting your lip, you glanced around and your eyes quickly landed on Hyunjae who was nearby, helping move things around for the upcoming ball. It was drawing near and you still weren’t completely sure about walking in with Hyunjae on your arm.
You hurried over to him and he was quick to notice you approaching. 
“Can I help? Please?” 
He looked you over. You were dressed in your more expensive attire which would make it harder for you to move around and help. But you still wanted to try anyway. He sighed and shook his head, much to your demise.
“No, Your Highness. I can’t afford you getting hurt.” You pursed your lips. But, before you could come up with some sort of snarky response, he suddenly leaned in. “Besides, I don’t think you’re strong enough,” he whispered before pulling away with a mischievous smile.
You shut your eyes and leaned your head back, annoyed. “I definitely am.”
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Instead, he walked past you to pull out one of the nearby chairs. “Then sit here for a moment. We’ll find something to do after I’m done.”
You nodded and sat down. You tried to look around but quickly found that your head began to hurt the more you tried to comprehend the chaos that was called setting up for a ball. And so, you decided to turn your focus back to the only person you could mostly comprehend.
Hyunjae was busy lifting heavy boxes. His sleeves were rolled up and his hair was slightly messy. But despite his disheveled look, he certainly was a very attractive man, you came to realize. Your eyes widened, as you looked him over. You studied his prince-like features and his broad build. You hadn’t even noticed that your whole face began to feel warm. 
You coughed awkwardly and quickly turned your gaze away. You focused instead on the utensils on the table nearby. What were you thinking? Staring at Hyunjae like that? 
Adjusting the fork countless times quickly became boring. You bit your lip and winced. 
It wouldn’t hurt to take one last glance, right? 
Slowly, very slowly, you turned your head, only to find that Hyunjae was nowhere to be seen. 
But then you heard a shift next to you and you startled, turning and looking down. And of course, there he was, kneeling before you. He was out of breath but god, he looked so handsome. His eyes were gentle and his lips lifted slightly as he looked up to you.
“Enjoying the view, Your Highness?”
Your lungs seized and you felt yourself go dizzy. As if you were stung by his words, you abruptly stood up and quickly turned away. You were sure you weren’t being that obvious... 
You heard him laugh fondly from behind as he stepped in front of you. No matter how many times you tried to avoid his eyes, he would bend down and force you to look anyway.
“You weren’t supposed to notice,” you muttered quietly.
“I guess.” He nodded. “But I like your eyes on me.”
If you weren’t at your breaking point then, you were now. You cringed with an incoherent sound and tried to walk away but you felt a gentle hand take yours. You whipped around, only to meet his expectant look.
“You said you wanted to find something to do, right?”
You sighed and reluctantly let him lead you through the ballroom. Hyunjae easily found a table that still needed to be set up while you… you were more focused on that whole situation from before. Every time you thought about it, you had to look away with reddening cheeks.
You glanced over to the empty spot in the middle of the ballroom which was designated for dancing. “Do you know what kind of dance there will be?”
Hyunjae looked at you as if you were joking. “The slow dance, is it not?”
“Still, that’s disappointing. I want something more fun.”
“Funny that you think there’s anything remotely fun at these types of royal events.” He abruptly paused and looked at you regretfully. He was staring at you like a deer in headlights over the fact that he just said that to you, a royal member. “Uh, I didn’t mean—“
You burst out laughing. “Don’t worry, I get what you mean.” You grinned mischievously. “We should leave early if that’s what you would like. I know a spot.” You led him out of the ballroom and began to walk through the halls. 
“That’s up to you.” He looked at you in amusement, easily catching up with your fast strides. “Not me.”
You pretended to think like you didn’t already have your decision in mind. “Then… I say we escape as soon as we can.” You gave him a playful wink.
To your surprise, Hyunjae smiled. It was a wide one this time, unlike the subtle or teasing ones from before. You tilted your head, slightly endeared. “Has anyone told you that you have a nice smile? You should do it more.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
You grimaced. “This is weird.”
“What’s weird?”
“You being so… obedient,” you whined. “I was just getting used to your insults.”
He huffed, slightly flustered. “I… I guess it’s because I’ve been wrong about you, that’s all.”
You widened your eyes and looked at him. “Really? How so?”
His gaze lowered. He looked almost embarrassed. “It was nothing too serious. I just… had past experiences when I wasn’t a bodyguard yet. I assumed you would be the same.” 
Your wide eyes immediately softened. You already knew who he was talking about and you never once agreed with them.
Your voice was quiet. “Is that why you hated me all this time?”
“Yes,” he whispered. “And I sincerely apologize.”
You gave him a soft smile and lightly bumped into his shoulder, making him look up from the floor. He still wore an ashamed face but you could see that his stern eyes had melted. “It’s okay. I’m sorry too.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for.”
“What do you mean?” You snorted. “I argued with you too. I should have tried to understand you first.”
He leaned closer to you as the exit came into view. “And I should have told you earlier. We weren’t the most mature, huh?”
You laughed loudly and you didn’t know what came over you but you suddenly grabbed onto his arm as you two walked through the door and out to the private garden. This one was different than the one you were in previously. It was closed off by glass walls, rather than out in the open. But most of all, it was romantic and even more beautiful with dim lighting and colorful flowers lining a trail.
Holding onto his firm arm, you felt a sudden sense of peace. You felt like you were truly safe and protected.
Who knew that the man that you would refuse to look at would become your bodyguard who made you smile more times than you expected?
He stared quietly at your arms that were looped around his and he cleared his throat nervously. You could see that he had even straightened up and became more alert.
You smirked at him teasingly. “Why, do you feel more important now?”
He rolled his eyes fondly but shook his head. “It’s not me. It’s you. I feel like you’re the most important person at the moment.”
You choked on air and promptly turned to face forward, afraid that Hyunjae would notice your embarrassment. The two of you silently walked through the garden, admiring the various flowers. 
“And just so you’re aware,” you started. “I hope that you feel comfortable with me. I promise that I won’t treat you like how they did. I hope you can trust me…” Your voice trailed off once you noticed Hyunjae staring down at you with a stupidly handsome smile. You furrowed your eyebrows. “What?”
“Nothing.” Despite his response, he wouldn’t stop looking at you. Something about how he always stared at you and never failed to look away made you feel your own pulse in your ears. 
The two of you arrived at the center of the garden. Yet again, it was beautiful. But what you found most beautiful was the light feeling in your chest as you leaned against Hyunjae.
“Hyunjae.”
“Hm?” His gaze was warm even in the cooler atmosphere.
You eyed the empty space around you. There was no one else around. Just you and him, standing in the center of a garden that sparkled with dew. “Do you know how to dance?”
He gave you a skeptical look. “Why do you ask?”
“You’re my escort to the ball, of course!” You giggled. “You have to slow dance with me at some point.”
There was a slight blush that appeared on his cheeks. “That never… crossed my mind,” he said.
You gave him a teasing look. “So you don’t know?” When he didn’t give you a response, you couldn’t help but laugh, hopelessly endeared. He was always the tough one, but it seemed that when it came to the small romantic things, he was clueless. The more you noticed just how flustered he had become, the harder you laughed. You doubled over before almost falling straight into his chest. 
Two hands grasped your waist, holding you steady. You were still laughing but it had quieted down. Hyunjae couldn’t even look you in the eye yet he continued to hold you from falling.
“Don’t be so… clumsy, Your Highness,” he muttered, tripping over his words slightly at how close you were to him. “Not knowing how to dance shouldn’t be so funny to you,” he later grumbled quietly to himself.
You smiled and straightened up. You moved one of your hands to his shoulder as the other held onto one of his, pulling it away from your waist. “I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s cute.”
Hyunjae blinked before clearing his throat and turning away. But then, without a warning, you began to lead him through the basic slow dance. He slowly looked back at you in surprise.
“We can simply sway side to side,” you explained gently. Then, you eyed where his hand was still holding onto his waist. “And don’t let go.”
Hyunjae was silent before he adjusted his hand to yours, intertwining your fingers. Then, he whispered quietly, “I was never planning to.”
You laughed bashfully. There was no music–just the shuffle of your clothes and the distant ruffle of nearby flowers and bushes. But you could hear it in your ears, feel it in your fingertips, see it through your eyes, the fondness and admiration that you both began to share.
Hyunjae was still a bit awkward with dancing. Sometimes, he would stumble or tighten his hold on your waist. Every so often, he would whisper a small apology.
You hummed fondly and shifted just a bit closer. He inhaled quietly and stared down at you with fluttering eyes. But despite his distractions, he slowly became more and more confident in slow dancing with you, even pulling you closer so that you could rest your cheek on his chest. 
Except there was something else you could hear. The loud beating of his heart. It was fast and it was almost pounding. You smiled softly.
“You’re quite handsome when you’re like this, Hyunjae.” You pulled away to look up at him. He bit back a smile and shook his head. 
“And if I may tell the truth…” His voice lowered as if he truly only wanted you to hear what he was about to say. “You look truly stunning right now, Your Highness.”
Your eyebrows raised in surprise. He smiled smugly. And then, like a perfect harmony, the two of you started laughing at the same time. The sparkles in his eyes and his bright smile perfectly mirrored. And you were sure that the pounding of his heart did as well.
Suddenly though, you were interrupted by your own yawn. His gaze looked you over in slight concern. “Would you like to stop now?” He looked up and out to the evening sky, littered with faint stars.
“Mhm,” you sighed, glancing down. “These shoes are not comfortable for dancing. They hurt.” Slowly, as if you didn’t want to let go–you truly didn’t–you stepped away from him. Your waist still felt warm with his touch and your hand tingly from his palm.
Then, he leaned down to look you in the eye. “Would you like me to carry you?”
Almost instantly, your mind flashed to an image in your mind. You quickly shook it away with a growing blush on your cheeks.
“No! I’m fine,” you blurted out, making your way back to the door. You could already feel his teasing smile and so, despite your uncomfortable shoes, you began to run down the hallway. But yet again, he was your bodyguard. He would always be following you.
“The offer’s still on the table,” he called out. 
“No!”
You shifted nervously as you stood in front of your bedroom door. You played nervously with your hair as you glanced down at your formal wear. You never expected to be so anxious for a ball until you were dressed up in something so sparkly and stunning that you began to doubt if you even worth wearing such a thing. 
With a shaky sigh, your hand hovered over the doorknob. Hyunjae would be standing outside and you didn’t know what to think. All that really was on your mind were the possibilities. Would he smile at the sight of you? Would he look you over? Would he… say something?
But when you opened to the door, you faced an empty hallway. It was bustling downstairs with everyone preparing the food and drinks to be served. But upstairs, it was quiet. You furrowed your eyebrows in confusion and stepped out. You glanced on either side, only for Hyunjae to be nowhere in sight.
But then, there was one other room that had its light on. The library. You slowly approached it and opened the door. There Hyunjae was–or specifically his back as he seemed to be working on something. As soon as he heard your footsteps, he hurriedly put it away and stood up quickly.
“There are you are,” you breathed in relief. “I was looking for you.” Your gaze travelled across his whole body. He looked handsome in his suit and ever so charming with his hair done up precisely–except for that one piece that stuck out, giving him a more youthful and playful look. You felt like you could just swoon at the moment.
You hadn’t even noticed his absolutely smitten look as his eyes wandered over you as well.
“Well don’t you look beautiful,” he muttered quietly, staring at you with a soft gaze.
Immediately, you were sputtering out sounds that didn’t form a single word. You tried to bring your hands up to cover your face but he took them and set them down gently. You frowned at his knowing smile.
“Why? Are you shy?”
You scoffed, trying to play it cool. It obviously wasn’t working considering how he chuckled quietly. “I miss when you hated me.”
He leaned in, brushing a thumb across your cheek. “I don’t. Because then, I’d miss seeing your smile.”
“Sh-shut up, you stupid flirt,” you whined, pulling away and making a beeline to the door. 
As the two of you walked toward the ballroom, you turned to ask Hyunjae something, only to find that he was deep in thought about something. His eyebrows were furrowed and his lips pulled into a small frown.
“Is there something bothering you?”
He startled slightly and glanced at you before immediately denying, “Nothing to concern you, Your Highness.”
“Please tell me.” You smiled. “I might be able to help.”
He eyed you skeptically before letting out a defeated sigh. “It’s foolish. I think I have a crush on someone. And… I don’t know what to do about it.”
You nodded. “So it’s that type of situation… then why don’t you confess?” When he stared at you like you were crazy, you laughed, completely unfazed. “Just get it out there.”
“Easier said than done.” And you didn’t know why but the way he looked at you as he said those words was so… different. His gaze was full of longing, you realized. But why at you? “I don’t think I can do that.”
“Hmm…” You bit your lip as you pondered. “Then until you’re ready to tell them, continue to take care and protect them in the meantime.”
He gave you a soft smile and you gasped quietly when you felt your hand being placed on his arm. He held you close to his side as you two faced the entrance to the ball. You could already hear the bustle of guests and the clink of wine glasses inside. Hyunjae turned to look at you with a reassuring smile. You would think that you didn’t need it considering you were so used to these events. But really, it was your hand on his arm that made you feel nervous.
“Ready?” He interrupted your thoughts.
The hushed whispers and interested murmurs were deafening to your ears as the doors opened. You blinked profusely as the lights came shining upon the two of you. Once your eyes adjusted, your heart raced at the faces of awe at the sight of you and Hyunjae, walking into the ballroom with your hand on his arm.
“Is that a prince?” You could hear one mutter in admiration.
“They look like the perfect couple…”
You grinned and looked up to Hyunjae. He gave you a slightly forced smile. You could tell he was nervous yet he still remained protective over you, holding you close to his side.
The two of you wandered out of the spotlight and began to join the other guests. You tried your hardest to ignore the looks of others. They were always gossiping and always had something to say. Instead, you chose to focus on Hyunjae.
Hyunjae.
You could sigh dreamily like one of those characters in the romance books you used to read. How could a bodyguard be so… prince-like? 
“Your Highness?”
You shook your head out of your trance. “Hyunjae?”
“How are you doing on this beautiful night?” He smiled, bowing down politely. You burst out laughing. The two of you had been together for the past twenty minutes yet now, he decided to act like this. He tilted his head teasingly. “I saw you were a bit distracted.”
“Hm?” You grinned knowingly. “Distracted? By what?”
“Me,” he whispered into your ear. 
“Really?” You stepped closer, reaching your hands to fix his collar. It was perfectly ironed already but you relished in the way his ears tinted red when your fingertips grazed his neck. Then you looked up and straight into his eyes. You could hear his breath hitch. “Is it that obvious?” You whispered, with a teasing smile. 
You didn’t care if there were hundreds of guests surrounding you, possibly staring at the two of you flirting. All that you could see was Hyunjae and only him. 
“It is,” he muttered, quickly regaining his composure. “But I’m no better. You distract me all the same.” 
His hands were gentle as he tucked a piece of hair behind your ear. His eyes wandered over your features and then down to your whole body. He didn’t say anything but through his soft gaze, you could read what his mind was thinking like a book.
Pretty.
Then he stepped away. For a moment you felt disappointed until you saw him holding a hand out for you to take.
“May I have this dance?” He bowed slightly, looking up at you with expectant eyes. It didn’t help that the one hair strand still adorably stuck out like a puppy’s hair would.
“Of course,” you giggled, taking his hand. He smiled fondly as he led you to the dance area. Seamlessly, the two of you blended in with the other couples, slow dancing with lovesick smiles.
Hyunjae held you tenderly by the waist and his hand fit with yours perfectly. Just a look at his handsome face was enough to leave you breathless. He seemed like he was incredibly skilled in holding eye contact with his soft gaze that never left yours. You on the other hand… were not faring very well.
You bit your lip, struggling to look him in the eye. Why was he making you so nervous? Why did his hand on your waist make you feel jittery? And why…
“Look at me,” he whispered, grabbing your attention.
You snapped your head up. “It’s hard to.” 
He chuckled. “Isn’t slow dancing about trusting your partner? Do you not trust me?”
“I do.”
“Then look at me,” he repeated with a teasing voice. “I like when you do.”
You had to resist the urge to shut your eyes in embarrassment. You swallowed nervously. When you said you trusted him, you meant it. You allowed him to lead you throughout the ballroom—allowed him to guide you through the several people you could’ve bumped into. But instead, he kept you safe. He protected you.
“Your Highness.”
“Hm?”
He gave you a slightly embarrassed look as he glanced around. You couldn’t help but think it was cute how fast his flirty demeanor could fall. “If I may be honest, I do feel a bit out of place here.”
Your heart sank. It was understandable how he was still hesitant, especially with what he had confided in you recently. “Then please, focus on me just like you want me on you.”
His hand tightened on yours. “I already am.” He gave you an earnest smile. You smiled back. 
The two of you were lost in each other’s eyes, naturally moving to the calming yet romantic music that surrounded you. Your heart beat faster than the pace of the violin but you didn’t care, knowing that Hyunjae wasn’t any different. You knew because of when you laid your head on his chest that time in the garden.
But, like a record scratch, you heard your name from behind you, spoken by a snarky voice.
“What’s their name, Y/n?” A man spoke to another. You could tell by his tone that he would have nothing good to say. “They aren’t even all that special. And they were the only reason why I came to this ball.”
Hyunjae’s face hardened as he glanced behind you, already pinpointing the two men talking about you. You stared up at him with wide eyes.
“Have you seen the way they act?” The other griped. “So… improper and nothing like a royalty.”
You gulped and looked to Hyunjae. His jaw was clenched and his hand on your waist had tightened. Though, it was never enough to hurt.
Suddenly, the music was too loud. Your feet hurt and the chatter of others was painfully blaring. But most of all, it was the two men’s voices that scratched your eardrums the most. You two were still dancing but it had slowed down.
“I’d still take them out on a date,” The other laughed mockingly. “But only to inherit their fortune.” And god, how their cackles stung your very soul.
You gasped and furrowed your eyebrows. Hyunjae kept you from ever facing them, always switching the direction so your back was turned. But he was mad, you could tell–furious to be exact. Then, he looked down at you and his gaze softened at your hurt expression. 
And like something snapped in him, he let go of your waist and pulled you around so that you were right behind him. “Stay here with me,” he whispered. He shielded you protectively as he walked over to the two men, standing near the drink bar, swirling their glasses obnoxiously with their even more irritating smiles.
“Hyunjae–”
“We can hear your loud voices from here,” Hyunjae spoke condescendingly. “I hope that you’re aware of that.” The two men jumped and stared at him. You couldn’t help but marvel over how Hyunjae so easily towered over them. One of them was already cowering, backing away while the other huffed stubbornly.
“And who might you be?” The man gave him a twisted smile.
You peeked out from Hyunjae’s side and answered for him, “My bodyguard.”
And that seemed to be what did it for the man. His eyes widened and his voice stuttered. “Y-your Highness! What a pleasant surprise!” He laughed nervously, glancing around with fear.
Hyunjae tilted his head and he stepped forward, further towering over him. His broad shoulders loomed like a shadow that was awfully intimidating yet… attra–
“Say anything about them again and I will personally do anything to ruin your life,” he muttered with a low voice. Your heart skipped a beat as you tightened your hand on his.
“What can you do?” The man lifted his head high which frankly, didn’t do much. You could tell by how his hands shook that he was terrified. “I’m a prince. And you’re just a lowly bodyguard.”
You winced and tried to pull Hyunjae away. You didn’t want him to get hurt again, not after you promised him that he would be treated right. But instead, Hyunjae stayed where he was as his jaw clenched.
“A bodyguard whose job is to protect them. Something that you clearly cannot do,” Hyunjae replied, looking over the prince with an unimpressed look. “So, I don’t see the problem here.” That was when he turned around and led you away. Or, at least tried to, until the man called out again with a loud voice.
“You’re protecting someone who barely acts like a proper royal member,” he growled. “Y/n doesn’t deserve–”
You felt your hand being let go, causing you to gasp and whip around. Soon enough, you were met with the sight of Hyunjae, his hands grasped around his collar, so tight that his knuckles were white. The man now was clearly full of fear, his eyes pleading as he tried to scramble away. But Hyunjae didn’t let go, instead tightening his hold with a threatening look. It was subtle–his eyes darkened and jaw tight. 
Everyone was looking now, murmurs and shocked gasps filling the room. You stumbled forward but were stopped by one of the staff members holding you back to keep you safe. You watched as other guards came rushing forward to break everything up. The prince’s collar was crumpled and he could barely speak out of sheer terror. Hyunjae on the other hand, was standing there with clenched fists. Then, immediately he looked to you to make sure you were okay.
You quickly escaped the staff member’s hold and approached him. Gently, you took his wrist because you could tell he still wanted to punch the prince square in the face. Then you pulled him close so that you could whisper into his ear.
“Do you want to get out of here?”
“But–” 
You smiled, slightly amused. “It’s okay.”
He froze and his tense muscles softened as soon as his eyes took in your smile. He quietly nodded.
“Come on,” you laughed fondly, pulling him along and out of the ballroom. The two of you ran down the same path to the garden with your hand wrapped around his wrist the whole time. 
You led him to sit on a 1bench, a beautiful spot surrounded by gorgeous flowers lit by the nearby lamps. The night sky was scattered with twinkling stars and it was a calming quiet. Immediately, you took his hand and opened it.
“Look,” you whispered with a worried expression. You frowned, taking in the gash on the palm of his hand where the sharp button of the prince’s outfit had cut him. “You got hurt. You shouldn’t have done that for me.”
You reached under the bench and pulled out a first-aid kit, typically for the gardeners who got cut from rose thorns and such. You quickly cleaned the wound and began to wrap the cut with a rolled bandage.
All the while, Hyunjae was staring at you with a straight mouth but with a soft, loving gaze. Then, he huffed and gave you an adorably angry frown as he rolled his eyes. You could tell he was still being protective.
“I couldn’t ignore it. He hurt you.”
You laughed warmly, as you secured the bandage around his hand, patting it lightly. You looked up, only to inhale sharply at the way he was staring at you so intently–so… passionately.
“I’ve…” You gulped, trying to find your voice again. “I’ve heard far worse. But thank you, Hyunjae.”
He smiled. If he was handsome in the ballroom, he was even more handsome now. The dim light perfectly emphasized his features and his hair no longer was in that perfect updo. It was messy yet it fit him perfectly. 
“But seriously!” You whined, slightly startling him. “Why did you protect me like that?”
He narrowed his eyes. “It’s my job. I’m a bodyguard.”
“Hm,” you thought for a moment, looking up to the stars that so beautifully mirrored the sparkles in Hyunjae’s eyes that only seemed to appear when he was looking at you. “I thought that meant physically. Not standing up for me. You know I can handle myself right?”
Hyunjae looked down at his lap.
“Just… let me take care and protect you.”
You stared at him blankly. Your lack of response caused him to look up at you nervously and regretfully as if he was scared you would realize something. And then it hit you. What you said earlier…
“Then until you’re ready to tell them, continue to take care and protect them in the meantime.”
You straightened and you could feel your heart seize. “The person you were talking about. It’s me, right?”
He choked. “I–”
Immediately, you were giving him a teasing look as you scooted over to lean into his side. “There’s no use in hiding it now,” you sang.
He stared at you with adorably wide eyes before he let out a defeated sigh. “Fine, yes. I may have a crush on you.”
You slapped your hand over your mouth exaggeratedly as if you hadn’t already figured it out before. “For how long?” You cut yourself off with a gasp. “Don’t tell me… you were mean to me to actually hide your feelings?”
“No, no, I did actually hate you.”
“Oh.”
“I-I’m sorry,” he blushed. “I didn’t mean for it to come out that way.”
You giggled. Oh, how you loved teasing him. “It’s okay. I get it.”
“But I saw how kind you were and… I realized you were different.” He gave you a fond look. “And Your Highness, you are so beautiful. You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever gotten to know.”
Your cheeks were warm, even under the cool night air. You leaned into his side, staring up at him with a stupidly giddy smile. 
“And my dear Hyunjae,” you spoke, your voice teasing yet sincere either way. “You have won over my heart.”
“Really?” You could see that he was truly relieved, even past his smug smile.
“Mhm,” You hummed. “Really.” And then you leaned in to press a soft kiss to his cheek. He stared at you with wide eyes before practically melting and smiling like he had truly fallen for you. And it seemed, based on what he said, he did.
Then, he straightened and reached into his pocket. “I have something for you.” He pulled out a crocheted flower. It was a rose. A few of the stitches were messed up but it was beautiful anyway. 
Your eyebrows raised. “For me? You… made this?”
He cleared his throat, trying to look nonchalant and tough. “I tried.”
Instantly, you were smiling so wide your face hurt. You twirled the rose around, admiring the effort he made. “This is so cute!” Your eyes softened. “Thank you.”
He stared at you, still slightly dazed by your kiss on the cheek. “You’re welcome.”
You paused and then gave him a sly look–one that sent him looking away nervously. “You know I could just kiss you right now.”
He watched quietly as you set the rose gently down on the bench and turned to him. You noticed how his eyes struggled to stay on the upper side of your face. Rather, they kept wandering down to your lips.
“On the cheek?” His voice was so quiet that you had to lean in close to hear him which in turn, made him blush furiously.
You shook your head, peering up at him with doe-like eyes that made him swallow thickly. “No. On the lips.”
He inhaled sharply and tried to act normal but he was nothing like it. Rather, it seemed like he was losing it, his eyes darting across your features with a look of want and infatuation. “I… I wouldn’t be opposed to that.”
“Really?” You grinned.
He nodded and as if he couldn’t get any more endearing, he shut his eyes and leaned forward. His lips slightly pouted as he waited expectantly for you to press yours on his. But instead, you giggled, your breath fanning over his lips, causing him to blink.
He immediately was filled with embarrassment as he cleared his throat, almost choked, and tried to hide his face somehow.
“Why didn’t you…”
“Because first, you have to do something for me.” You scrunched your nose, poking his cheek.
It seemed that he had momentarily forgotten that he was a bodyguard who served under you. He immediately straightened and gave you a stern look that seemed to be on the verge of melting if you ever so smiled. “What is it, Your Highness?”
You suppressed a laugh. Then, you placed a finger under his chin, lifting it up.
“You need to call me by my real name first. Not Your Highness. My name.”
“That’s a bit unprofessional,” he replied hesitantly.
You raised an eyebrow. “Do you think that what we have is at all professional?”
He chuckled and quickly, the tables turned as he set your hand down and instead wrapped a hand around your waist. He pulled you close, earning him a surprised gasp.
“Truly professional, Y/n,” he whispered, glancing down to where you were almost sitting in his lap.
You were so focused on his gentle hold on you that you almost missed the name that had left his lips. You brightened and stared up at him with wide eyes. “Hyunjae,” you breathed. “Say it again.”
“Y/n.” He leaned closer, cupping a hand around the side of your face. 
“Again,” you whispered, your heart pounding.
“Y/n.”
You were silent and he stared at you as if waiting for a cue. And finally, you whispered once again, his name.
“Hyunjae.”
And just like that, you felt two hands cup your face this time and a pair of lips being pressed to yours. The sheer passion he put into that first kiss sent you reeling and your balance completely off if it wasn’t for the hand around your back that steadied you. His other hand wrapped around your legs, pulling them over his lap so that he could hold and kiss you like it was his sole duty.
You didn’t know what to do with your hands for a while until you ultimately wrapped them around his neck and tangled them into his hair. You could feel him breathily laugh against your lips and if you peeked an eye open, you would see him smiling dearly.
So he wasn’t just a good bodyguard but a good–no–great kisser too?
And to make you even more flustered, he pressed another kiss to your forehead before he pulled away.
Dumbly, all you could say was another weak, “Hyunjae.”
“Y/n?” He offered you a knowing smile as he noticed the way your breath hitched at your name being spoken from his lips. You could tell he was proud of his effect on you. 
“Hyunjae, I hate you.” You feebly tried to slap him but he caught your hand with ease, instead intertwining your fingers with his.
“I hate you too, gorgeous.” Then, he led you up to stand with him. Yet another thing you hated: how he made your legs horribly weak. Your ears tuned into the music that leaked from the ballroom and it seemed that Hyunjae could hear it too. Then, he began to slow dance with you, much to your surprise. “I believe our little dance was interrupted before.”
“Yeah, because you did something stupid.”
He tried to protest but when you gave him a warning look, he sighed and nodded. “Fine, I’m sorry for worrying you.”
You humphed. “That’s what I thought.” Before you could add anything else, he quickly leaned in to press another kiss on your lips.
“For safe measure.”
“Safe measure for what?”
“To make sure that I was right that you taste sweet.”
You groaned and hid your face in his chest. But of course, he played along and pulled you into a tight hug.
“Are you free tomorrow?”
You snorted, pulling away to look up at him. “Hey, you already know my schedule. And you’re following me around anyway.”
“Exactly.” He gave you a soft smile. “So let’s go on a proper date.”
Your eyes sparkled before you closed them and leaned your cheek back on his chest. His heart thumped in rhythm with yours. It thumped in perfect harmony with the rustle of the nearby flowers. It thumped with something akin to warmth.
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mymoodwriting · 4 days
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15.8k, yandere, manipulation, gangs, drugs, guns, needles, sedatives, car accident, alcohol, kidnapping, knives, pills, smut, non-con, dub-con, knife play, aphrodisiac, BDSM, sex toys, fingering, dry humping, gang bang, double penetration, restraints, supernatural power
“Welcome to Wingz Express, how may I help you?”
You pulled down your hood as you walked into the shop. The gentleman behind the counter was quite handsome, and more focused on the white cat in its arms. When he looked up at you he offered a smile, standing up.
“What can I do for you?”
“Uh… hi… I was wondering… how much could you give me for this necklace?”
You pulled your fist out of your pocket, holding it out and opening your hand to reveal a small gold necklace. The gentleman asked for your permission to take it and then proceeded to do so. He examined it for a moment up against the light and then handed it back to you, checking under the counter display case for something.
“So, tell me, why’s a pretty thing like you selling something so pretty.”
“I just need the money…”
“What for?”
“Nothing bad!” You quickly remarked. “Just for school… I need new books for the semester and… I don’t really have any other options.”
“I see.”
The gentleman got out a scale, turning it on and testing it out with a few other jewelry pieces. As he did that the door opened, a bell ringing to signify there was someone new entering the shop. You looked over to see another guy with a cap walk in, and before the shop worker could say their greeting he spoke.
“I’m back.”
“Welcome back, Hyunjae.”
“Oh, what do we have here?”
This Hyunjae gave you a smile before going behind the counter with the other, looking around for the item in question. Although you still had it.
“May I?”
The other held his hand out to you, and you handed over the necklace. He put it on the scale and noted down its weight. From there Hyunjae grabbed it and began examining it.
“So, how much are you looking to get?” The worker asked.
“Juyeon-”
“I’m not talking to you right now, Hyunjae.” Juyeon cleared his throat and smiled at you. “How much do you need?”
“Uh… if I could get a few hundred… that would be fine… although I don’t think the necklace is worth that much…”
“Well you’re in luck.” Juyeon grabbed the necklace, holding it up. “The craftsman ship on this is quite unique, the weight is decent, and it seems to be 14k, so I can give you about six hundred dollars.”
“Six… six hundred?”
“Too little?”
“I… no… if that’s what it’s worth… I had no idea…”
“Whoever gave this to you must have really cared for you.”
“I guess… it’s the only thing I have from my birth parents… before they passed away…”
“Oh, something with this much sentimental value… are you sure you want to-”
“I need the money for school… it’s okay…”
“If you say so.”
Juyeon grabbed a sheet of paper and pen, sliding it over to you. He asked for you to fill out your personal information, as they needed physical records of all transactions. He stepped away for a moment to get the money, counting it in front of you so you’d have no doubts. As he handed it over to you he kept his grip on it, confusing you. He reached into his jacket pocket and held out a business card for you, which you hesitantly took.
“What’s this?”
“If you need money, it might be better to get a job. We also run a delivery service and are always looking for new people.” Juyeon let go of the money. “Just a thought.”
“Thank you…”
You politely bowed your head and made your way out of the shop. Juyeon watched you every step of the way until you were out of sight. When he looked back he was met with Hyunjae’s death glare.
“What?”
“Six hundred dollars? Seriously? How much is that necklace actually worth?”
“About a hundred.”
“Juyeon!”
“What!”
“Sangyeon is going to kill you.”
“He can try.” Juyeon looked down at the paperwork. “Let me know when she calls.”
“You mean if she calls.”
“When.” Juyeon corrected. “She’ll call.”
“And how can you be so sure?”
“Cause I’m gonna make her mine.”
❤ 
You went to the shop early in the morning the day before classes started. You made it back to your dorm, ignoring the boxes you needed to unpack and just collapsing onto the bed. You were grateful you had gotten some money, hoping it’d be enough for books. Your stomach growled and you could only whine. You had two meal passes per day, and you’d rather save those for lunch and dinner. For a moment you thought to spend some of the money you had on breakfast, but you quickly shot the idea down reminding yourself you had to save every penny. After some more lounging around you heard your roommate come in, reminding you that you needed to unpack and get ready for the semester.
After the first week you had all necessary materials, and a few bucks left over. You kinda wanted to treat yourself, but you knew you shouldn’t be spending so recklessly. You’d spend your time in the library, working on assignments, or in your dorm. Even though you wanted to go out, even when classmates invited you, the only option you had was to stay in your dorm. It sucked, but you were used to it by now. Especially the morning hunger pains. Which were way worse after pulling an all nighter. 
You laid in bed the next morning, telling yourself you had to get up. You went about your morning routine, getting your things and when you put your phone in your pocket found a business card. For a moment you questioned it, but seeing the name on it reminded you where you had gotten in. The shop worker told you it would be best to get a job, and that they were hiring. You weren’t sure if you’d be able to do it though, considering you’ve seen a lot of delivery workers dropping off big heavy boxes. Not to mention the fact your schedule was all over the place. 
Then again you could do late evenings but you’d sacrifice sleep in the process. You groaned as you debated this, unsure what to do. In your current situation you were just getting by, staying at a constant with no real movement upwards. You were okay, but you could be better. Some money in your pocket would probably make you feel less anxious. Since you still had time before your morning class you decided to call on your way over, hoping to get some information and go from there. 
“Hello, Wingz Express, how may I help you?”
“Hi… I was calling to ask about your open positions.”
“Open positions?”
“Yes. One of your employees from the shop gave me a card, I believe his name was Juyeon. He told me you were hiring.”
“Ah, yes. So, what do you want to know?”
“Well, I was curious about the pay? Does it depend on the department or-”
“Thirty.”
“…” You stopped in your tracks. “Thirty… what?”
“All the work is basically the same, so I’d be paying you thirty an hour.”
“Thirty… an hour?”
“Is that not enough?”
“No! I mean, that’s great. Although, I’m a uni student so I could only really work late in the evening.”
“That’s fine. A delivery service is available 24/7 so that’s no problem. When can you start?”
“… just like that? No interview or background check.”
“It’s a delivery job, don’t need much, just you.”
“Oh… okay then…”
“You think you could come by later today? I know where I could put you.”
“Yeah, yeah I can do that. Does seven sound good?”
“Works for me. Can I get your name?”
“Y/n.”
“I’m Sangyeon, the owner. I’ll text you the address for the warehouse and when you come over ask for me.”
“Got it. Thank you.”
“I’ll see you later.”
When the call ended you found yourself staring at your phone. You easily got a job, and it paid very well. For a moment your heart fluttered with joy but then you thought about it. If it paid this much, and they were hiring, there had to be something wrong with the job. That killed your mood a bit but you told yourself it wouldn’t hurt to check it out. Besides, they were expecting you now so it would be rude not to show up. You put it all to the side for now focusing on your classes. You had an early lunch before catching a bus and heading to the warehouse. It seemed pretty empty, so you began to worry you were in the wrong place, but you saw some trucks with the Wingz Express stamp on it in the loading dock, giving you some reassurance.
You then saw a few people walking inside the building. You called out to them, but they didn’t seem to hear you so you followed them inside. It looked how you’d imagine a delivery service would have their warehouse stocked, rows and rows of items going up to the ceiling. Still, you didn’t see many workers around. You were starting to think this place was fairly new, it would explain why the pay was so high, they needed people. You cautiously walked around, looking for another employee, but it wouldn’t be long before you were called out.
“Ya! Stop right there!”
You turned around to see these two gentlemen walking over to you, concern on their faces. You merely offered a smile, trying not to be nervous.
“Hello.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m the new hire.”
“New hire? Seriously?”
“Uh, yes. I spoke with the owner on the phone and he-”
“Sure you did. Look, you seem nice, so why don’t we escort you out.”
“What?”
“We have no problem dragging you out if necessary.”
“But-”
“Guys!” A third voice boomed. “What is going on?”
“This girl says she works here. That she spoke with you on the phone.”
“I did speak with someone.”
You looked back to see who you believed to be Sangyeon approach. He came up to you with a smile and held his hand out to you.
“You must be y/n, it’s a pleasure to meet you in person, I’m Sangyeon.”
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you too.”
“I’m glad you found the place, now let’s go to the office and get all the paperwork sorted.”
“Wait, why didn’t you tell us that-”
“It’s fine. Just get back to work you two.”
You followed Sangyeon to the office at the back of the warehouse. He brought out some papers for you to fill out, getting you a hat and vest as well. Afterwards he showed you around the warehouse, telling you about the company. They had been around for a while and as you suspected, only recently set up a location in this area. They pretty much delivered everything to anyone, so their services were sought after.
“I don’t expect heavy manual labor from you, so I’ll be partnering you up with Younghoon.”
You went over to the docks, Sangyeon introducing you to your new partner. He was happy to meet you, giving you a big smile as he shook your hand.
“Welcome to the team.”
“Thanks.”
“I expect you to take good care of her.” Sangyeon commented. “And show her the ropes.”
“Of course.”
“Alright, be safe, and let me know if anything happens. See you both later.”
Younghoon closed up the truck and playfully offered you the keys, but said you didn’t know where to go yet. You also mentioned you didn’t know how to drive which he assured you wasn’t an issue as no one really did deliveries alone.
“So, what’s up with you?”
“Huh?”
“Sorry, I worded that weirdly. Tell me about yourself. What do you do with your time, why the job?”
“Oh… well I’m a university student, and I need the money for my expenses… and to pay back my loans someday.”
“Your parents won’t help out?”
“I don’t have any…”
“Oh, my bad.”
“It’s alright. I was in foster care and did grow up in a nice home, it’s just… different…”
“You still live with your foster parents?”
“No, no, I live on campus in the dormitories. It feels more like my home that way.”
“Look at you, miss independent.”
You giggled. “I try.”
“Well, getting a job is a good step.”
“Thanks.”
You arrived at an apartment complex, going with Younghoon to get the delivery items. You had multiple deliveries in the building, and it would go faster with two people. Younghoon pulled out a small cart, handing you these paper bags with numbers on them. He got another cart and did the same, the two of you taking one and making your way inside the building. He gave you a list, and certain floors to attend to, as well as a walkie to keep in touch with, telling you the numbers on the bags corresponded with apartment numbers. You just had to place the bag in front of the right door and take a picture of it, followed by ringing the doorbell and moving onto the next. Pretty simple.
You did this with a few other apartment complexes, returning to the warehouse in the early hours of the morning. To your surprise you could hear music and cheering coming from inside. Younghoon seemed to know exactly what was going on and had you follow him. You saw a bunch of boys gathered around two others in forklifts, they were gonna race. Sangyeon noticed the two of you and came over. Younghoon told him everything had gone well and all deliveries were made. He was happy to hear, asking you how you felt with the work. It was good, and you were glad to help.
“You should stick around for the race.”
“I don’t think I should.”
“It’ll be fun. You can place your bet too.”
“I don’t really have money to bet…”
“Then how about this.” Younghoon suggested. “You bet an hours pay, and if you win, your paycheck gets doubled. You should have some fun with us too.”
“Uh…”
“It’s not much to lose.”
“Sure. I’ll play.”
If you were gonna keep this job, you should make an effort to get along with your coworkers. You joined in the crowd, going over to the front, and being told who the racers were. One was a gentleman by the name of Sunwoo, and the other Chanhee. You didn’t have much to go by so this was truly a gamble for you. In the end you put your money on Chanhee, and then the race began. The gentleman from the shop, Hyunjae, went up to start the race, doing a count down and dropping the flag. It was easy to get caught up in the energy as you watch the two go around the warehouse, and you were overjoyed when Chanhee crossed the finish line first. You screamed in joy and jumped into Younghoon’s arms. He spun you around until you came back to your senses and apologized.
“Congrats to you.”
“Sorry, I didn’t…”
“It’s okay, you were excited.”
“Y/n.” Sangyeon called. “Let’s get you your money, follow me.”
You went with Sangyeon to the office. He gave you a check for your first shift, and your earnings from the bet in cash. You kept yourself together as best you could, but it was hard to hide your joy.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you then.”
You returned to your dorm, tired but satisfied. A bit of a burden had been lifted off your shoulders. You cleaned up and went to bed. Even though you wouldn’t get much sleep you had the peace of mind that everything would be alright. In the morning you even treated yourself to a yummy breakfast before class. You went about your day with a slight skip in your step, and happily returned to the warehouse in the evening. While you made your way to the office you heard a honk and one of the forklifts came over to your side. You recognized the driver.
“Hello, I don’t think we got to properly meet last night.”
“Hi, I’m y/n, a new hire.”
“I’m Chanhee, your lucky charm.” He chuckled. “You made the right choice last night.”
“Thanks for winning.”
“It’s all skill. We should hang out sometime outside of work.”
“If I have the time.”
“Then keep me in your thoughts.”
“Y/n!” You heard Younghoon call. “You ready?”
“Coming! I’ll see you around, Chanhee.”
“Don’t be a stranger.”
Chanhee went off and you went over to Younghoon, going off to work. For the next few days it was the same routine. You went to the same places, and did the same job. Since it was late in the evening going into the morning, you rarely ran into people, although it did happen on occasion. These people usually just said hello, and moved on, but on one occasion things were different. Someone approached you, asking about their order. You were happy to help, and asked for their apartment number. You didn’t have anything on your list, so you used your walkie to call Younghoon and ask him about the situation. He had no record of such an order either.
“Sorry, we don’t seem to have your order. Perhaps you could-”
“Just give me one of the ones you have.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that. These are for other people. And-”
“Whatever.”
The person just grabbed a random bag off your cart, and you quickly reached out to grab it as well. You were trying to explain this wasn’t for them, but the other party was not letting go. Eventually the struggle caused the bag to rip, multiple items falling to the floor, and a white powder exploding onto you. The other person immediately dropped the bag and ran, causing you to collapse to the floor. You were upset and as you got up Younghoon came to your side, helping you to your feet.
“Are you okay?”
“I guess. Sorry, one of the orders-”
“It’s fine.” Younghoon tried to dust you off. “There’s a small vacuum in the back of the van, why don’t you go get it and I’ll do some cleaning here.”
“Of course.”
You went down to the van and retrieved the vacuum returning to Younghoon as he got off the phone. He thanked you and got to work cleaning up, telling you they liked to operate like ghosts, not leaving a trace behind. He also told you not to worry about the order that was damaged, Sangyeon was already taking care of it. You continued with the deliveries together, although after a while you began to feel dizzy. You thought you were fine but your legs suddenly gave out. Younghoon was quick to catch you, holding you in his arms.
“Y/n? Y/n, can you hear me?”
You felt strange, as if you were floating on water. Younghoon’s voice sounded so distant, but you were trying to listen. All you could give him was a smile before your body gave out and everything faded to black.
❤ 
Your head was throbbing as you regained consciousness. It took a moment to register where you were, but as you sat up you could see that you were in the office back at the warehouse. You were relieved to be somewhere familiar, although you were alone. Besides the headache you felt fine, and when you checked the time you saw that your shift had ended half an hour ago. You felt terrible for what had happened, but at least it wasn’t bad enough that you needed to be taken to the hospital. It was getting late and you needed to return to your dorm, but you also wanted to check in with Sangyeon to apologize.
You grabbed your things and stepped out of the office, looking around the warehouse. The place was eerily quiet, yet you called out to see if anyone was there. As far as you knew the warehouse never really closed, so someone had to be around. While wandering around you noticed just how many boxes were stacked in the warehouse. You had never really looked into the type of things Wingz Express delivered, and after today’s incident you were quite curious. The boxes were labeled according to what they had, but you noticed the boxes higher up didn’t have a label at all. 
“You should be careful.”
You jumped when you heard a voice, looking over to see Chanhee up on some boxes looking down at you. If he had been there this whole time then he surely had heard you calling for someone, but just ignored you until now. He chuckled and apologized for startling you, hoping down.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better, sorry for what happened.”
“It wasn’t your fault, you were just doing your job.”
“Yeah… so what is it that you guys deliver? What have I been delivering?”
“No idea, big boss Sangyeon takes care of all that. We deliver anything and everything, so who knows, not really our business.”
“I see. I should get going.”
“Right, you have class in the morning. I’ll show you out.”
“I was actually looking for Sangyeon.”
“He’s busy with something, but I’ll let him know you’re alright.”
“Okay, thanks.”
You made it back to your dorm in one piece, feeling a mix of exhaustion and annoyance. People just had to be so dumb and you were sure you’d get a pay cut for passing out on the job. For now though you just needed to sleep and worry about your classes. In the morning you still felt tired, but you had to get on with your day. Although as you were on your way to class you got a call from Sangyeon.
“Hey, how are you feeling?”
“I’m alright. I do need to apologize for last night.”
“There’s no need. All that matters is that you’re alright. If you need anything, you let me know.”
“I will, thank you.”
“Since I have you on the line, could I ask something of you?”
“What is it?”
“I know you don’t usually work weekends, but if you ever have the time you’re always welcome to come by. I could use the help in the mornings and I’d pay you extra too. Which reminds me, I am paying you for your full hours for yesterday.”
“Oh you don’t-”
“I insist. You got hurt on the job and I need to take care of you. I know it’s early so I’ll let you go, but if you can come in this weekend please let me know.”
“Yeah, yeah I will, thanks Sangyeon.”
“Have a good day.”
“You too.”
❤ 
The weekends were normally your days off. You’d use them to catch up on assignments, or sleep, and maybe treat yourself since you had money to spend. Although you didn’t really have friends to hang out with. At least if you went into work you wouldn’t be alone, and you’d get some more money. So you decided to make your way over to the warehouse, greeted by happy faces.
“I’m glad you could spare the time.” Sangyeon commented.
“No problem. So, where’s Younghoon?”
“You won’t be with him today. I’m gonna have you help Kevin out. Nothing too crazy.”
“Sure. That sounds like fun.”
“I’ll take you to him.”
You followed Sangyeon through the warehouse, going back over to the loading docks. He brought you over to Kevin and introduced you.
“Pleasure to be working with you.”
“Same here.”
“Take care of her.” Sangyeon mentioned.
“I got it, boss.”
“Then I’ll leave you to it. Let me know if anything happens.”
“Will do.” Kevin playfully saluted. “So, I know you’re used to working the evening shift, but I promise the day shift isn’t too bad.”
“I guess we’ll see.”
“Truck’s already loaded so let’s go.”
You made small talk with Kevin on the drive, and the job was fairly similar. You were dropping off boxes to apartment buildings or stores. If there was no one to receive it then you set it down, take a picture, and send a message, just like before. The only real difference was politely greeting people around you. The uniform was simple too, which meant it was easy for people to recognize you.
“Y/n?”
“Hm?”
While heading back to the truck you were stopped by a group of girls, recognizing them from one of your classes. You weren’t exactly friends, but you knew each other to be more than strangers.
“What are you doing?”
“Just… working… I need some extra money so I thought I’d pick up a few shifts.”
“That explains a lot.”
“Huh?”
“Y/n.”
You looked back just as Kevin approached you, seeming out of breath. He placed an arm around your shoulder, pulling you close.
“This was our last stop, so we can go.” Kevin smiled and looked over at the girls. “Ladies, if you’ll excuse us.”
“What’s your name?”
“Sorry, I’m not that easy.”
Kevin pulled you along back to the truck. The other girls followed you for a bit, but Kevin didn’t pay them any attention. As you were on the road heading back to the warehouse your phone started pinning. The girls had your number from previous projects and were asking you about Kevin. Before you could even attempt to answer them Kevin snatched your phone.
“Ya.”
“I thought you were keeping me company.”
“Right, sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize.” Kevin said. “Thanks for today, you were a big help.”
“No problem.”
“You got any plans for later?”
“No, not really. Why?”
“We’re having a party tonight down at our favorite spot. You should come.”
“You mean a club?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t really have an outfit for that.”
“Just wear something nice. You should come. Have a few drinks and relax, I’m sure uni must be stressful.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Would love to see you, consider it a work get together. You’d be able to meet everyone.”
“Uh… sure… there’s no harm.”
“Awesome. I’ll text you the details.”
Like you said, you didn’t have an outfit for the club scene, but found something nice. You were a bit nervous, but to your surprise the bouncer let you in without issue. As you stepped inside you could feel the music shaking everything. The lights were low and people were dancing and drinking in every direction. You glanced down at your phone, sending Kevin a message that you were here. While walking around you wound up running into your classmates from before.
“Y/n? Surprised to see you here, it’s not really your scene.”
“I… I know… it’s a work thing…”
“Oh, then maybe we can join you.”
“I’m not sure if you could.”
Despite the crowd you managed to see a familiar face, Chanhee, excusing yourself and trying to follow after them. You called their name, but you can’t hear much besides the music. Although you stopped when you came across two bouncers, realizing Chanhee had gone into a VIP section.
“Hello, I’m here with my friends and I saw one of them just went through here.”
“Yeah, I didn’t know we were doing VIP tonight.”
Your classmates had followed you and come up from behind, trying to sweet talk the bouncers. You weren’t exactly with them, but if they could help you get in then maybe it wasn’t a bad thing. Although you noticed another familiar face and called out to them.
“Kevin!”
“Y/n, glad you could make it.”
Kevin came over and told the bouncers to let you in, although your classmates weren’t allowed. They started pleading with you, but you weren’t sure what to say.
“Are these your friends y/n?” Kevin asked. “And be honest.”
“Uh… well… not really… we’re just classmates.”
“I see, well, ladies, I’m afraid VIP is invite only, have a nice night.”
Kevin wrapped an arm around your shoulder and led you deeper into the VIP section. You were brought over to a private area, seeing many more familiar faces. You got a simple drink from the bar there, mingling with your coworkers and meeting new people. Although some were definitely old faces.
“Y/n! Oh my gosh, it’s so good to see you.”
“Juyeon?”
“Yeah, how’ve you been? How’s the job?”
“It’s good, and the money has been a great help.”
“See, told ya it would work out.”
“Thanks again for the introduction.”
“My pleasure.”
You danced the night away, having a few drinks too. Not enough to be drunk, but you were a bit tipsy. Come morning things were winding down, and you definitely needed rest. Some of the boys offered you a ride back to the dorm, which you gladly accepted. They didn’t all drink as some were the designated drivers of the night. You cozied up in the back of a car, squished between Sunwoo and Eric, while Hyunjae took the passenger seat and Jacob sat behind the wheel. The drive was smooth, Eric having his face pressed against the glass while you leaned against his shoulder. You were half asleep and couldn’t really make out the voices around you.
“She’s so cute…” Hyunjae mumbled, looking at you through the rearview mirror. “Can we keep her? I know tonight-”
“You already know the answer to that.” Jacob interrupted. “We can’t just keep an innocent person around.”
“Yeah, yeah…”
The peaceful ride was suddenly interrupted as you were sent spinning, another vehicle crashing into yours. The car came to a stop when it crashed against the side of the building. All the windows were smashed and you had cuts from broken glass. You groaned as you looked around, seeing that the others were conscious too. Sunwoo was in your field of vision, talking to you, but you couldn’t really hear anything. Next thing you knew the door behind him was yanked open and he was dragged out. Then someone reached in and pulled you out of the wreck. You were laid on the ground, vaguely making out Haknyeon before passing out.
❤ 
You expected to wake up in the hospital, or maybe even in an ambulance. Instead you found yourself in the office back at the warehouse. You felt a few aches around your body, and your cuts stung, but you were fine overall. You slowly sat up, Juyeon and Sangyeon both there to tell you to take it easy.
“What… what happened?”
“Minor car accident.” Juyeon explained. “No one was seriously injured.”
“Shouldn’t we go to the hospital?”
“We’re fine.” Sangyeon assured. “But if you feel like-”
“No, no, I’m fine.”
“Glad to hear. Apologies though, we were supposed to take you back to the dorm, but we needed to make sure you were alright first.”
“I understand, thanks.”
“Why don’t you rest for a bit and then we’ll take you home.”
“Yeah, that sounds good.”
Juyeon got up and got you a glass of water. You thanked him and laid down, feeling like a good nap would do you well as you still felt kinda dizzy and tipsy. Juyeon gave you a blanket and tucked you in on the couch, saying he’d come by later to get you and take you back to your dorm. You thanked him and closed your eyes, getting some sleep. You were out for a while before you opened your eyes again, feeling more clear headed. You found yourself alone in the office, figuring you might as well go look for Juyeon or one of the others. You found your things and headed into the warehouse.
You called out to the guys, but got no answer. Before you could try again you heard some noises and followed them. You saw the boys gathered around, laughing and smiling. You were about to make your presence known when you saw Chanhee hold up a gun and cock it. Your eyes went wide, seeing he wasn’t the only one with a weapon. You took a closer look at what the boys were doing. Besides weapons you saw needles, jewelry, and other types of contraband. It was clear you needed to leave on your own, and quietly. You took a step back and wound up knocking something over and making noise. You cursed under your breath, intending to run off only to bump into Kevin. He had an amused smile on his face, placing a hand on your shoulder.
“Look who’s awake.”
“Ha… hi…”
“We were just gonna go get you.”
“Right… I would like to go back to-”
“What’s this?”
The others had come to see what the noise was, finding you with Kevin. You offered the boys a smile, but it was hard to act normal when you saw some of them holding guns.
“Hey… I… I was looking for someone… I need to get back to the dorm…”
“Juyeon.” Sangyeon sighed. “You were supposed to give her a laced glass of water.”
“I swear I thought I did.”
“Well clearly you didn’t.”
“Wa… what do you mean…” You nervously laughed. “I’m fine, and I’d really like to go-”
“I guess we get to keep her after all, Hyunjae.” Jacob commented. “Lucky us.”
“Yes!”
“Huh?”
“Grab her.”
Since Kevin was the closest to you he immediately grabbed your arm which caused you to act. You tried to run and free yourself from his grasp but his grip was tight. Then Younghoon came over and grabbed your other arm, the two of them keeping you from escaping.
“What are you doing! Let go!”
“We can’t do that.” Younghoon said. “Sorry.”
“What about the mission tonight?” Sunwoo asked. “Are we going to postpone?”
“No, it will proceed as intended.” Sangyeon stated. “Those bastards aren’t gonna get away with a stunt like that. And we also need to send a message.”
“Then what do we do about y/n?”
“We’ll keep her here until we get back. Put her in the cage for now.”
“What is that!?” You screamed. “Please, just… just let me go! I won’t tell anyone anything! I swear!”
“We should have made her drink more.” Chanhee said. “Things wouldn’t have gotten so complicated.”
“Probably. Now let’s move.”
You tried to argue some more but the boys just dragged you along effortlessly. You were taken further into the warehouse, coming over to the sortation area. You weren’t sure what this cage was, but you were a bit relieved when you saw it. In order to transport packages around there was this cage on wheels to make sure they were safe. Usually it was stacked high with packages but this time you would be put inside. It was hard to fight back as they locked you in. You expected them to use some sort of lock but instead you watched in disbelief as Kevin bent the metal together. He gave you a smirk and a wink.
“We’ll be back later. So stay put.”
You couldn’t resist the urge to try and break yourself free but the door wouldn’t budge at all. Your mind was still processing what had happened, but the proof was right in front of you. There was no way someone was physically strong enough to bend metal the way Kevin just did, but you were living in that reality. You screamed at them to let you out, but none listened and just walked away, leaving you trapped and completely alone. You kept trying to free yourself for a while, but eventually you exhausted yourself. You collapsed and sat in the cage, contemplating your next move.
These guys were something else, and you didn’t know them at all. Now you were their prisoner, and you were certain they wouldn’t easily let you go. Since it was quiet and you were settling down from everything that had happened, exhaustion was catching up to you. Without really meaning to you wound up falling asleep. You didn’t know for how long you were out, but you woke to the rattling of the cage. You jumped awake and quickly scrambled against a corner, seeing Chanhee grabbing onto the cage and giggling.
“You look good in there.”
“Let me out!”
“Sure, but no running away, okay?”
“Whatever.”
Chanhee bent the metal back, allowing for the doors to be opened. You didn’t bother thinking about his insane feat of strength, but you were certainly surprised to see him holding his hand out to you. Reluctantly you took it, finally being able to stretch properly. You didn’t see anyone else around, so this was your chance. You offered Chanhee a smile before shoving him away from you and running in the opposite direction. Unfortunately you didn’t make it far as you crashed into Haknyeon, who you swear wasn’t there a second ago, and fell to the floor. You glanced back to see that Chanhee was still standing by the cage. Your shove really hadn’t thrown him off balance at all.
“What did I say?” Chanhee teased. “No running away. It’s pointless either way.”
“Please just let me go…” 
“We’re going home now, so don’t worry.”
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Haknyeon helped you to your feet, distracting you as Chanhee came up from behind and jammed a needle into your neck, emptying out its contents into you. Your eyes went wide, and Haknyeon held you still. Once the needle was removed you began to feel a bit dizzy, your legs losing strength. You could vaguely make out the smile on Haknyeon’s face as he lifted you up into his arms, carrying you bridal style. You tried to speak, to stay awake, but it wasn’t long before the darkness swallowed you.
“Let’s go home.”
❤ 
When you regained consciousness you felt a bit sore, but as soon as you had your head on straight your focus was on figuring out what happened and where you were. Unfortunately you couldn’t see much as your surroundings were pitch black. Not to mention your hands and legs were tied together, leaving you with a limited ability to move. So you carefully began to wiggle around, bumping into some boxes. Despite being close to the object, you couldn’t actually see it unless you got really close. Although this didn’t help you much as you had no means of freeing yourself.
A moment later you shake as the ground beneath you begins to move, and you hear the loud roar of a trailer. You were in the back of a truck and being moved to some unknown location. You tried to move around, screaming for help, but you eventually exhausted yourself, deciding to just wait and see what happened next. Since you had no concept of time in that darkness you had no idea for how long you were in there. There wasn’t even a point in trying to remember what turns were made. Eventually you came to a stop and heard the engine turn off. You were left to wonder if you had reached your final destination or if this was just a quick stop.
You heard the sounds of something unlatching, and then you were blinded by a bright light. You lifted up your arms to shield your eyes, taking a moment to adjust. As you suspected you were in the back of a trailer, and there were a bunch of boxes and other pieces of furniture around you. Being able to see it all now, this seemed like a moving truck. You heard voices and saw some of the boys climbing into the truck and grabbing boxes. Although before you could say something Jacob came up to you and tied a gag around your mouth. You began to squirm, but you were powerless in your restraints.
He got you up, getting help from Kevin as they moved you towards the end of the trailer, intending to unload you like the rest of the cargo onboard. You remained restrained as you got out of the trailer, being left with Younghoon for a moment. When you tried to get the gag off he grabbed the rope that bound your hands together, using that as a means to keep you leashed. You looked around, noticing the huge house. They had brought you to their place. All around you could see trees and a long driveway leading out to what you assumed was the main road. As far as you knew this place was in the middle of nowhere.
Younghoon suddenly pulled on your ropes, and the next thing you knew he had you over his shoulder. You squirmed and hit his back, but he seemed completely unphased. You weren’t super light, but even then he was carrying you so effortlessly. You were taken into the house, the others giving you smiles but not saying anything to you. Given the truck and all the items, you thought they were moving in, but upon entering the house you could see it was clearly lived in. This was their home. You were set down on the couch, Younghoon pulling out a knife and setting you free. He reached up and took your gag off as well.
“Welcome home.”
“What the hell is wrong with you guys…”
Younghoon chuckled. “Nothing, why?”
“You-”
“Here.” Juyeon came over with a case. “Before you do anything else.”
Younghoon took the case from the other, opening it up and revealing what looked to be a small dog collar. You immediately thought that was going around your neck, but Younghoon grabbed your leg, taking your shoe off and slipping the collar onto your leg. When you tried to pull away he just held on tighter, really unbothered by your actions. He tightened it around your ankle, and then you heard something click. You noticed a green light emitting from the device, realizing it was some sort of ankle brace, and he just placed you under house arrest.
“What the hell!”
“Don’t want you running off now.” Juyeon smiled. “Don’t worry, it won’t hurt you or anything.”
“I’m a prisoner in this house!?”
“You don’t have to think of it that way. This place is yours, and that’s just a precaution.”
“I want to go home!”
“We are home.”
“This place isn’t home.”
“I suppose you just have to give it a chance.”
“Fuck you!”
You got up and stormed off, just walking in any direction just to get away from them. No one tried to stop you, probably since you weren’t actually walking towards the door but further into the house. That wasn’t your intention, but at least none of them followed you. After walking a bit you went into the first open door you found. You closed the door behind you, leaning against it and taking a breath. This whole situation was insane, but they were acting so normal, or as normal as kidnapping someone could be. Now you were who knows where in a foreign house with no escape in sight.
You slid down to the floor, feeling defeated. You didn’t even understand how you wound up in this situation. You were just working for their stupid company and saw something you weren’t supposed to. Then again you were probably lucky to be alive. Most people who learn someone else’s secrets wind up dead, but this wasn’t exactly better either. You didn’t have your phone or any means to communicate with the world beyond this house. So in a sense you were dead to the world. You got up and found a window, staring out at the sky and then looking down at your foot with the ankle brace. 
You took a moment to further examine it, but you didn’t see any way to get it off. You really were trapped in this house. You sat back down on the floor, hugging your knees to your chest. You just wanted to go back to campus, go back to classes and be a normal person again. Your situation seemed hopeless, making you tear up, but you had to remind yourself this wasn’t the end. Surely there was a way out, and you were certain you could find it. If you gave up now, then you definitely wouldn’t get out. You took a moment to pull yourself together. This place was huge, but maybe you could find something to use to your advantage.
This would be a process, but you also didn’t intend to be friendly. For the following days you kept to yourself, not speaking to any of the boys, and avoiding them outside of meals. They tried to make conversation and engage with you, but when they saw you were unresponsive they left you alone. You didn’t expect them to just let you be, but you were still glad they did. You were allowed to explore the house as you pleased, discovering all kinds of things. They seemed to have huge collections of expensive and luxurious items. It made sense to have all these things as they did run a pawn shop and delivery service. They had access to so many things.
In that same vein, remembering the weapons, a handful of these items were probably stolen or acquired by illegal means. Seeing all these priceless items made you realize you were practically a living trophy in this house. Another prize they had won, or more accurately taken. It made you feel a bit sick, but you had yet to find something of use. Most doors around the house were open, so you could go where you pleased. Even the boys’ rooms were all open to you, but you already searched them. The room you had given was plain and empty. They told you that you could decorate it however you wanted, but you weren’t planning on setting roots here.
Only a handful of doors were locked and off limits, so you were extra curious about those. By now you had a good idea which rooms you couldn’t get into, so you’d always try to open them throughout the day, hoping to maybe catch one open. It took a bit, but you eventually got lucky. You quickly looked around to make sure you were alone, then slowly opened the door. You quietly listened, trying to figure out if anyone was inside, but it seemed to be your lucky day. You stepped in and didn’t even think to close the door as you realized what was in here. All types of weapons surrounded you. So many guns and blades hanging on the wall, a few things locked behind a cage, but this was what you had been looking for.
Surely something here could help you escape. Although before you could take another step you felt something cold against your neck. You were no longer alone. While you were distracted by your own thoughts someone noticed the open door and found you standing in one of their secret rooms. Of course it was only logical to assume you were an intruder and treat you as such. You swallowed nervously as you realized the object against your throat was a knife. You carefully looked over, seeing Eric gazing at you with a bright glint in his eyes and a cocky smirk. He only pressed the blade further against your flesh.
“Look what I have here. How did you get in here?”
“… the door was open…”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“… you… you think I picked the lock?”
“Hm, I suppose that’s true. So, what do you think?”
“… ah… about what?”
“This room. You must be terrified seeing all this, or perhaps excited. Although I’ll let you know right now, you’re out of luck.”
“I-”
“You better watch it.” Eric growled. “You wouldn’t want to get hurt.”
Eric chuckled and moved the knife away from your throat, although he merely had it ghost over your chest before moving it up to your face, dragging the dull end along your cheek.
“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you.”
“…”
“In fact, I really want to do the opposite.”
“… huh…?”
Before you could really process what Eric was talking about he leaned in close and pressed his lips to yours. You tried to move away, but he followed, and ultimately pinned you against a wall. The knife clattered to the floor and he pinned your arms to the wall as well. He only pulled away from you when he needed to catch his breath. A big smile adorned Eric’s face as he pressed his head against yours.
“I’ve been waiting to do that.”
“… why…”
“That’s your question?” Eric chuckled. “You are interesting, but don’t you think the answer is obvious.”
“… is it?”
“Why do you think we went through all the trouble to bring you here, hm?”
“Cause I saw too much…”
“You mean all of this? No, no, if we cared for that you’d be dead.”
“Then…”
“Is it really that hard? I guess I should show you.”
“Wat-”
Eric shoved you to the floor, and soon enough he was on top of you, kissing you once more. His hands were at your hips, one slipping under your shirt, making you shiver from the skin to skin contact. Soon enough his lips were against your throat, sucking and nibbling on the skin, starting to mark you up. You squirmed beneath his touch, your hands above your head, moving about when you felt something against your fingers. It was the blade Eric had dropped. You cautiously reached for it, getting a grip on the handle. Just as you were about to make a move Eric’s hand quickly pinned down your wrist, a low chuckle escaping his lips.
“Did you really think that would work?”
Eric placed a chaste kiss against your cheek, keeping your wrist pinned and reaching over with his other hand to take the blade from you. He remained on top of you, using his body weight to keep you pinned. He twirled the knife in his hands, looking down at you with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
“You know, we want to give you everything, and yet how have you acted? You’ve been avoiding us and giving us the silent treatment, and now you break into our little armory. I think it’s about time you’re punished for your actions.”
Before you could process Eric got off you and proceeded to flip you over, cuffing your hands behind your back. He got you to your feet, dragging you along, out of the room and down the hall. Soon enough you were in the living room, avoiding the gazes of the others who were around. Eric shoved you onto the couch and then the tip of the knife was under your chin.
“How do you think we should punish you?”
“What’s all this?” Sunwoo asked. “What punishment?”
“You know, for ignoring us, and breaking into the armory.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s cause for punishment. Not sure about the knife though.”
“Well, I need her to behave.”
“But there’s still no need for such things.”
Sangyeon entered the room, having gotten a message about the show going on in the house. Soon enough the others joined too and he could see how you tried to make yourself small. He didn’t want you to be afraid, or feel threatened by them, so seeing Eric playing around with a knife was very much not allowed. He went over to the younger boy and took the item from him, throwing it and embedding it in the wall.
“I wasn’t going to hurt her with it.”
“I don’t doubt that, but why don’t you play with something else.”
“Oh, what does the big boss have in mind?” Hyunjae asked. “I’d love to participate.”
“For starters, we have to set the mood. Jacob, you know what I mean.”
“I do indeed. I’ll be right back.”
“She also needs a party favor.”
“Why that?” Juyeon questioned. “Don’t you think that’s risky?”
“It’ll be more fun, for everyone.”
You had no idea what any of that meant, but you knew it couldn’t be good. There was no point even attempting to run off as everyone was in the room with you. A while later Jacob returned with a small case in hand, giving it to Sangyeon. The eldest opened it up, revealing a needle. You instinctively tried to move, unaware of what the contents the needle contained.
“We’re not gonna hurt you.” Sangyeon assured. “Hold her.”
Kevin and Changmin reached over to hold you still as Sangyeon emptied out the needle into your neck. You did your best to squirm, but there was nothing you could do.
“What is that! What did you give me!?”
“You’ll see soon enough.” Kevin teased. “Now the party favor, right?”
“Give her a moment.” Sangyeon said. “Then she can have it.”
“Have what? What are you guys talking about!”
“Just be patient.”
You cut yourself off before saying more as you began to feel different. Your face was beginning to burn, and you felt this heat overtaking you. Now it was obvious what they had given you, and it wasn’t hard to guess what came next. You couldn’t help but squirm in your restraints, starting to get annoyed by your own clothes, but unable to remove them. You felt rather pathetic too, giving in so easily to the drug, but it was really clouding your head and making everything fuzzy.
“Now for the next part.”
“I call dibs!” Chanhee volunteered. “Come here, baby.”
You were vaguely aware of Chanhee as he approached you, but you didn’t know what he was doing. That is until he leaned in to kiss you. At first you thought it was a normal kiss, his tongue forcing your lips to part, but then you felt something in your mouth, and before you knew it you had swallowed it. That got enough sense in you that you pulled away from Chanhee, immediately coughing and bending over, hoping to throw it back up, but that wasn’t an option. Chanhee placed a hand over your mouth, forcing you to sit back up.
“Don’t be wasteful.”
You were worried about what else they had added to the mix. Chanhee didn’t move his hand away until he was certain you wouldn’t be able to throw up the substance you had taken. You still coughed when you had a chance, but you knew it was far too late for that.
“What did you give me!”
“You’ll feel it in a moment.” Haknyeon giggled. “And you’ll like it.”
“… wa… what does that-”
You inhaled sharply as you felt this wave of energy surge through your body. There was the heat of arousal, but this was something else, something more. You were merely taking in the feeling when you snapped your arms free, having broken the chain of your restraints. You fell from the couch onto your hands and knees, shocked over what you had just done. You vaguely made out the sounds of laughter around you, looking up to see the boys with smiles on their faces. Your head was spinning, and you felt a hand on your shoulder which caused you to act. In the blink of an eye you had Changmin pinned beneath you.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?”
“What… what is this… what did you give me?”
“Power.” Changmin chuckled. “At least now we won’t break you.”
The boy freed himself from your grasp and flipped your positions. He gave you a devilish grin before ripping your shirt open. Your hands immediately covered your chest and then you moved to shove Changmin off you. To your surprise you had the strength to do so, knocking him to the ground. He just laughed, not at all fazed by your actions. You stared at your hands again, seeing the remains of the handcuffs on your wrists. If you were really strong like them now, then this was your chance. Just as you were about to run, Younghoon came up from behind, wrapping his arms around you and holding you in a hug. You tried to break free, but he held you tightly, making you question your own strength and his.
“You may be strong,” Younghoon whispered. “But you don’t match us.”
Hyunjae stepped in front of you, his hands gliding over your bare chest. He stopped over your crotch area, his fingers undoing your shorts and a hand slipping into your pants. You squirmed back against Younghoon, but he held you still.
“You’re supposed to be drunk off love.” Hyunjae commented. “Shall I help?”
“Let go.”
“The surge of power probably overtook the aphrodisiac. I’ll fix that.”
You kept your squirming so Hyunjae opted to slide your shorts down, leaving you in your panties for a moment before having them torn off. You shivered from the sudden cold feeling, trying to close your legs but Hyunjae forced them open.
“Be a good girl now, or else you won’t get a treat.”
You couldn’t say anything as Hyunjae’s fingers ran up and down along your folds, making you hold back a moan. You weren’t knowledgeable in this area, and had little to no experience. There wasn’t much time, or interest in the matter, both from you and other parties. This was certainly going to be a first for many things. You still tried to move away, but the more Hyunjae played around with you the harder it was to think.
“… please…”
“Please what? I think you can still use words.”
“… please…”
“Are you a virgin baby? Don’t know what to ask for?”
“…”
“You are, aren’t you? Oh, don’t worry baby, we’re gonna take very good care of you.”
“I wanna do it! I wanna go first!” Chanhee volunteered. “Please, please, I wanna feel her so bad.”
“You guys can fight for it.” Sangyeon mentioned. “Winner takes all. I’ll keep the doll entertained.”
The boys agreed to Sangyeon’s proposal. The eldest took you into his arms, loving your dizzy little state. Your legs were trembling and you were whimpering over the lack of touch. Sangyeon pressed a kiss to your head.
“You good baby?”
“Hm…”
“We’ll play soon, just let the boys have their fun first.”
“We all still get a turn right?” Juyeon questioned. “Even if we don’t win.”
“I’m pretty sure she can keep up with all of us tonight.”
“Good.”
Sangyeon picked you up bridal style, following behind the others. You were subconsciously rubbing your legs together, trying to get back some friction. The moment of power you had was long gone from your mind, the heat engulfing every inch of your skin. It was getting a bit uncomfortable, but the little kisses Sangyeon pressed against your skin felt nice. In your haze all you could think about was them. Even if you had been brought here against your will they hadn’t been cruel to you in any way. They had given you space and let you roam around the house freely, but that was all about to change. You couldn’t fathom the consequences that would come tomorrow, nor did you care. You just wanted to be taken care of in every way possible tonight.
You inhaled sharply as you regained consciousness, feeling a minor throb in your head. You groaned and pushed your head further into the pillow it was resting on, feeling a dull ache all over your body. Once you got yourself together you took in your surroundings. This wasn’t the room you had been given, but going by the decorations and mess, it certainly belonged to one of the boys. Your questions were answered as a hand draped over you and you saw Kevin laying next to you, still asleep or so you thought. He must have felt your gaze on him, or heard you whimpering.
“Morning…”
You didn’t answer, instead moving Kevin’s arm off you and getting out of bed. Although as soon as you stood up you felt dizzy and collapsed to the floor. You managed to catch yourself, getting your hands beneath you, but you winced from a sudden pain in your left hand. You looked down to see a butterfly tattoo on your wrist, one wing blue and the other orange, wrapped up as it was still fresh.
“What… what is this…”
“You might feel sick after your first time…” Kevin mumbled. “Bathroom’s on the left…”
“Huh?”
You weren’t exactly listening, more focused on the new ink you had, but as soon as Kevin mentioned it you felt an ache in your stomach and then you threw up. Kevin groaned when he heard the noise, mustering up the strength to get up. He came over to the other side of the bed, seeing you on your hands and knees.
“My poor baby, come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”
Kevin grabbed your arm and gently got you up to your feet, keeping you close as he helped you towards the bathroom. He sat you down on the toilet, getting a washcloth and holding it under warm water before using it to clean your mouth. You were out of it after throwing up, feeling unsteady and the headache had gotten worse. You probably figured this is what it felt like to be hungover since you never had alcohol before. Then again you hadn’t been drinking last night, something else entirely had happened.
“I know what will make you feel better.”
After cleaning you up and brushing your teeth Kevin helped you onto your feet again, leading you out of the room and towards the kitchen. The others were already up and gathering around for breakfast. A few didn’t hesitate to place a kiss on your cheek after greeting you. Kevin had you sit at the table, letting you put your head down.
“Rough morning?” Changmin questioned. “She doesn’t look so good.”
“She’s fine, but I’m gonna need to clean my room.” Kevin mentioned. 
“Yikes. Well, you choose to take her.”
“It’s whatever.”
You were vaguely aware of all the boys around you, feeling more tired than anything else. You had your arms on the table, and you looked over at the tattoo on your wrist. A part of you still thought you were just imagining things, but the throbbing ache from it told you it was very real.
“Here.” Jacob placed a glass on the table in front of you. “You’ll feel better once you drink this.”
“What is it…”
“Just drink it.”
Jacob helped you sit up, and he held the glass up to your lips. It looked a bit like a watered down blue sports drink, but you parted your lips when you felt the liquid against them, getting a sweet taste and having a few gulps.
“Good girl.”
Your headache certainly wasn’t as bad anymore, so you had no trouble sitting up. Two of the others were finishing setting the table, and the smell of eggs and rice filled the air. You were certainly hungry, but now that you could think straight there were other things on your mind.
“What happened last night…”
“You don’t remember, baby?” Sunwoo chuckled. “Did we fuck you that good.”
“… you… we… we did…”
“You were asking for it by the time we actually got started.” Eric commented. “You were so needy like a bitch in heat.”
“Shut up.” You felt your face burning. “I… I…”
“No need to be shy, baby, we had a good time.”
“I don’t remember…”
“It’ll come to you.” Hyunjae stated. “Just give it a minute. If not, well, I don’t mind jogging your memory.”
“Don’t…”
“Why? You certainly weren’t denying any of us last night.”
“I…”
As the conversation kept going you felt yourself getting nervous. The night must have been insane if you didn’t remember it, especially considering the fact you got a tattoo. You wanted to remember, you had to, because besides the obvious there was something else. You shut your eyes to focus, and when you suddenly felt a hand on your shoulder you jumped, falling out of your seat. That’s when you had a rush of images flash through your mind. Your whole body suddenly felt hot and you remembered what had caused all the aches and pains from last night.
Sangyeon held you close as the others fought for the chance to be your first. He had you on his lap straddling his thigh. He couldn’t help but bounce you up and down, hands on your hips guiding you as he had you gently grind on him as well. It wasn’t long before he had a tent in his pants, but he had enough self control to not act on his own urges. He wanted to make sure his boys still had their reward. You on the other hand were full of sugar, drooling a bit and feeling like cotton candy. You had your eyes shut and head thrown back as you let Sangyeon take control, keeping you so well balanced on the edge. You weren’t aware of the fight going on, more focused on yourself until you felt a kiss on your head.
When you opened your eyes you saw Haknyeon smiling down at you. For a moment you swore he had a busted lip and cut on his cheek but those seemed to fade away right before your eyes. He was out of breath but very happy to see you. He took you from Sangyeon, throwing you over his shoulder and smacking your ass before walking off with you. He took you to his room, tossing you onto the bed. Before you knew it he was on top of you, kissing you roughly and exploring your naked body. You didn’t really feel cold, the heat of arousal kept you warm and now you had Haknyeon to provide you with more warmth. 
He had his way with you for a good while, the feeling of his cock sending you spiraling into your first orgasm. You didn’t need much prep as Sangyeon had already got you feeling loose. Another orgasm or two later there were knocks at the door. The winner had gotten his prize so now it was time for the others to have their fun. Juyeon was the one to drag you out of bed, surprised you could still walk on your own. Despite already having a few orgasms you still had the strength and stamina to keep up, although you were more concerned with getting your next high.
You happily went with Juyeon, getting messy with him in his own room. He was excited to show you new things, wanting more than just vanilla sex. Although he wasn’t alone, having Changmin and Chanhee in his room waiting for you. There were hands all over your body, massaging your breasts and thighs as wet kisses were placed all over you. With all that attention you were getting lost in the feeling of pleasure. The only thing that took you out of it was when you felt someone penetrate your core. One after the other stretching you out and making you feel a joy you couldn’t describe. You don’t know how you managed to take on all three of them, but you made it through their endeavors.
The night was still young, and you weren’t done with them. While you lay among the boys, splayed out on the bed, finally getting a moment to rest you felt a hand caress your cheeks. You opened your eyes to Kevin coaxing you awake. He took your hand and pulled you out of the giant cuddle pile, asking if you were having fun. By then words were difficult, but the smile on your face spoke for itself. You two danced around the hall since you were starting to get uneasy on your feet. You were probably heading over to Kevin’s room, but your arm was suddenly grabbed and you were yanked into Hyunjae’s arms. He had started you off early that night, and it was about time he finished that up.
His fingers trailed along your sloppy center, feeling just what kind of mess you had between your legs and eager to add to it. Of course Kevin wasn’t just going to let him have you all to yourself, shoving the two into the nearest bedroom, getting out of his clothes in the process. Everyone’s kiss was unique, some gentle, some rough, some desperate and hungry for you. Hyunjae was the first one to add to the festivities, tying you up against the bed and limiting your movements. You were already feeling sore, but he wasn’t going to let that stop him. While Hyunjae continued to play with your sloppy cunt Kevin was preparing something else.
You felt him trail his fingers along your lips, teasing you before pushing two digits into your mouth. Instinctively you knew to suck on them, letting your tongue swirl around. Kevin was quite proud to see you acting appropriately, and for that you deserved a reward. He pulled his fingers out with a loud pop, letting you whine for a bit before putting something much bigger against your lips. You opened your mouth without question, taking in his whole length inch by inch. Then you felt Hyunjae filling you up, getting stimulated from both ends. You let them take control, just floating on cloud nine as they got another handful of orgasms out of you, making your eyes roll to the back of your head multiple times.
Once you were finally wrapped up in Hyunjae’s arms you were really feeling sore in your legs and jaw. You did want to rest, but as you were dozing off a hand came down and pulled your head off the pillow. You were met with Eric’s piercing gaze, seeing a rather psychotic glint in his eyes. Of course you weren’t gonna get off easy, he still had to punish you for you breaking and entering. You probably should have explained to him at some point you found the door unlocked, but that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon, nor would it matter to him. Despite Hyunjae’s protest Eric took you to his own room.
Although it wasn’t long before you were joined by another. Sunwoo had crawled into bed, pulling you into his arms and snuggling against you. He wanted to be soft and sweet but Eric had other plans. Took a bit of talking but he got Sunwoo on board. Next thing you knew you were on top of Sunwoo, barely able to make out his words of praise. His hands ran up and down along your chest, taking your breasts into his hands and massaging them ever so gently. You mewled at his touch, gently rocking your hips. You were exhausted, but your body still craved more friction. Eric placed his hands on your hips, guiding you down onto Sunwoo’s cock, making sure you took in everything.
He gave you a moment to revel in the feeling before bending you over. You didn’t know what he was planning until he pushed himself into you right alongside Sunwoo. The stretch was like nothing before, and you swear you saw white for a moment. You leaned back against Eric, giggling as he whispered dirty things in your ear. They gave you a moment to adjust and really feel them before they started moving. They tried to be gentle and slow at first but their own burgers got the better of them. You felt like they were tearing you apart, but in a good way. Your orgasms all blended together, and all you remembered was ending up sandwiched between them, still full with their cocks and cum while you all wound down from your high.
One moment you were in bed, the next you were in someone else’s arms. You could barely make out Sangyeon as he carried you bridal style, but the smile was obvious. You snuggled against him, not wanting to let go when he set you down. You felt hands on your body once more, and not just too. A hand grabbed your chin and you locked eyes with Jacob. He had such a content smile on his face, placing soft kisses all over you. The eldest of the bunch had been patiently waiting to finish you off. You were already at your limits but they pushed you past that, taking you in whatever way you saw fit. 
Younghoon had you bouncing up and down on him, making deeper bruises on your hips. Jacob was gentler and such a tease as he took you from behind while you stayed on top of Younghoon, letting the other watch the show. Sangyeon though, he dragged you out of bed and took you against the wall, surprising you with his strength and resolve. He didn’t let up, making sure you were still enjoying yourself even if you were so far gone. It wasn’t easy to close your legs, and you felt so full you swear your stomach was a bit bigger. You thought you’d finally get to sleep, but you weren’t going to be left alone just yet.
You could vaguely recall Sangyeon getting you into a bath with him, cleaning you up and making sure you were well cared for after such a night. Kevin had found the two of you and helped with getting you dressed. Everyone else was mostly out for the night. Kevin’s room was one that wasn’t used to so he offered to share his bed, happily taking you with so the two of you could sleep together. You didn’t hesitate to snuggle against him, still feeling sore but glad to finally wind down and rest. It was quite impressive you made it through such a night. You knew you’d probably be all kinds of bruised tomorrow, but that was a problem for later.
You couldn’t help the dopey smile on your face as you remembered all of this, all the things you had done the night prior. It was like nothing you had ever experienced before, and you didn’t even know if you’d get close to it ever again. Although you quickly had to tell yourself to get your act together. Even if you now remembered what you had done, you could look back and see what was bothering you. The boys had given you an aphrodisiac, but there was something else too. You sat up, lifting up your shirt and seeing that you had no bruise or marks of any kind. Your skin was untouched, but you knew that shouldn’t be the case. While you were lost in your own head Juyeon and Eric helped you get back in your seat.
“Are you okay, baby?” Eric asked. “Did you remember something?”
“Last night…”
“Oh, that’s good. Wouldn’t want to be the only one to remember how capable you are.”
“What did you give me?”
“Ah that, it was good, right?”
“What was it!?”
“Power.” Jacob stated. “True power.”
“It was a drug.”
“So is ibuprofen, your point?”
“What exactly did you give me?”
“I already told you. Power. Don’t you remember? You broke the handcuffs with ease, you kept up with all of us. Despite how rough some of them might have been, you don’t have a single bruise on your body.”
“…”
“It’s temporary.” Younghoon assured. “You’re back to normal now. Although, if you ever want more, you just have to ask. Only the first one is free.”
You needed a moment, you needed to be alone. Without saying anything you left the table, finding the nearest open room and locking yourself inside. You felt a bit sick, coming to terms with the fact they had given you some sort of unknown drug. Now you only had the lingering taste of that power high. You didn’t want to believe what they had told you, but you had felt, and moreover you had seen it too. That night at the warehouse, the incredible strength they displayed, it was all real and now you knew how. Whatever drug this was, they used it a lot. You had your suspicions about their business, especially once you saw all the weapons. If they were some kind of gang in the area, they certainly had their advantage to stay in power.
All this speculation just gave you more reason to want to leave. Even if they were good to you, the kind of life they lived wasn’t something you wanted to be a part of. After that night you continued to avoid them, not wanting to form any kind of lasting attachment. They certainly gave you space, but were a bit more willing to try for your attention, especially since they had no problem getting handsy with you now. From what you did get, they seemed to be so fun, but you couldn’t just drop the idea of escape. Your biggest problem was that ankle bracelet you had, but it seemed the solution was around the corner.
One day you overheard a few of the boys talking about a potential party at the house. Of course you came up as a subject since they weren’t sure they could trust you to behave. A party would be a great opportunity, so you had to make sure you were allowed to attend. In order for that to happen you had to engage with them and socialize, show them that you could behave. You really had to let your guard down and be friendly with them. You rejected any advances they made and they respected that, probably very happy that you were done giving them the cold shoulder. Eventually the party came up in conversation around you, so you offered to help with planning and set up. They happily agreed.
You made sure a lot of alcohol was purchased, and intended to get them drunk. This was going to be your night, but in order to do this you needed one key ingredient. You needed the ankle bracelet off, and fast, and the only real solution you saw was that drug. You had broken handcuffs with ease, so with that kind of power you’d break the ankle bracelet quickly and then get out before they even knew you were gone. The only problem was that you had to ask for it, and not get denied. You didn’t see why they would say no, but you also needed to make sure you didn’t arouse suspicion.
The day of the party you helped with setting up, popping open a bottle of vodka and taking a small sip before pouring shots for the others. They happily took the drink you offered, cheering to a night of fun. You needed to pick one of them and you figured your best bet would be Eric. You kept your eye on him and waited for your chance. People were starting to come to the house, so you figured things would be getting started soon. You found Eric and got him alone, coming up from behind and wrapping your arms around him in a hug. He was a bit startled at first, but happy to see you, placing a kiss on your head.
“Eric.”
“Hm?”
“I want tonight to be fun.”
“It will be.”
“But you know what would guarantee it?”
“What?”
“If I got to be strong like the rest of you…”
“Ah, you want a special party favor, huh?”
“It should last me all night right? How else am I gonna keep up with all of you?”
“Good point, but promise you’ll behave.”
“Pinky promise.”
“Good girl.”
Eric took your hand and led you to another room. It was another armory they had, and he told you to stay put as he got something out of a safe. He presented a pill to you, telling you to open your mouth. Your plan had been to take it later when you were ready to act, but Eric wasn’t going to let you leave without consuming it. As far as you knew, it lasted a few hours, so you should be okay either way, but you were gonna have to act the first chance you got. You gave Eric a smile and took the pill. After a moment you felt this spark of power run through your whole body. It made you dizzy for a second but Eric assured you the uneasiness would pass and you’d be your normal self, just better.
Soon enough the party began and things got wild fast. You made it a point not to drink, but you still hung around the boys, wanting to engage with them for a bit before disappearing. As the night was getting on, you started to iron out the finer details of your escape. When you had a chance you glanced outside, seeing all the cars parked around. You considered taking one, but you didn’t know how to drive. What you needed was to get your hands on a phone, figure out your location and call a cab. With everyone around drinking and having a good time, it shouldn’t be hard to sneak a phone, and money, off someone.
You kept in mind the time, keeping an eye out for someone vulnerable, and occasionally testing your strength to make sure you were still able to break free. You stuck around those that were drinking, getting friendly with someone and managing to snatch their phone. You cautiously snuck away to get some privacy, finding a bathroom. You managed to unlock the phone and checked the address. Thankfully you weren’t so far from civilization and called for a cab. You had about fifteen minutes to get out of this house, and the first thing you needed to do was get that ankle bracelet off.
You sat down on the floor and figured out a good grip, taking in a deep breath before pulling and breaking the bracelet in half. You thought maybe some noise would be made or something, but it was silent. Lucky was on your side. You tossed the broken thing in the trash and made your way out of the bathroom, needing to get outside. Part of the party was in the backyard, but it wasn’t a good idea to go around, so you had to exit through the front. The door itself might not be the best, but you could give it a shot. If not, you had no problem jumping out a window. Thankfully you got away from the house undetected, checking the phone and then leaving it by a car before heading to the main road.
When you saw the lights of the cab you were finally able to let out a breath. It brought such relief to be moving away from the house, free from your captivity. The cab took you back to the only place you could go, to your uni campus. You had been gone for a little over two weeks, but hopefully nothing had gotten messed up in your absence. You knocked on the door for your roommate to let you in, not bothering to answer them about your recent whereabouts. You were so happy to collapse into your bed, even if it wasn’t as comfortable, feeling like you could finally get some real sleep. 
Thankfully a good amount of your things had been in your dorm room, but you would need a new phone, and new cards. Come morning you got to emailing your professors with some basic excuse of being ill and asking for assignments to make up. Out of curiosity you tested your strength, but you were back to being a normal person. At least you had money, so you could afford a new ID card, and even though you could afford a new phone, that involved leaving campus. You knew the guys couldn’t just waltz onto school property, and they didn’t know where your dorm was, so this was the safest place for you. By now they sure knew you were gone and probably pissed, which meant you were in danger.
Your best bet for now was to wait, just let this all die down and maybe they would forget about you and move on. The bright side to not having a phone was that they had no means of reaching you. As for your classes, you still had your laptop and could email classmates and do assignments. It was kinda hard going back to your lectures as if nothing had happened. Of course you had a decent amount of work to catch up on, and your grades were gonna take a hit, but at least you were free. Even if that was true, you did have this uneasy feeling. You felt paranoid, like you were always being watched. You couldn’t sleep that easy anymore, and you felt quite irritable. Still you did your best to just focus on being a normal university student.
“Nice tattoo.”
You were taking notes in a class when someone had made the comment. At first you were confused, but then you remembered the butterfly tattoo on your wrist. You never asked about it, not remembering how you got it anyway. After that night of passion you were out cold, and they had probably done it then. It was the least of your worries and even now you had completely forgotten about it until someone brought it up. The tattoo wasn’t a bother, but it wasn’t your thing, nor did you want any sort of connection to them. You did a bit of research and made a call to set up an appointment with a tattoo artist to have your tattoo removed. It was risky to go out, but you wanted that thing gone.
You made sure to cover up and hide your face, constantly checking your surroundings to make sure you weren’t being followed. This little outing of yours was dangerous, but if it wall went down in one piece you could probably start to relax. Since you were out, you figured you could get a new phone too. After the tattoo removal of course. Thankfully you made it to the shop without issue, introducing yourself and being moved to the back. You were glad there weren’t any windows where you were seated, so you felt less worried about removing your jacket, hat and mask. The chair you were in was like a dentist chair, but it was quite cozy.
“Alright, I’m Hongjoong, I’ll be your artist today, although I believe you’re here for a tattoo removal.”
“Yeah, just a crazy night, and I made a mistake.”
“No worries. Can you show me where the tattoo is?”
“Sure.” You rolled up your sleeve. “It’s this.”
“Oh…”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, no, not at all. It’s pretty.”
“I want it gone.”
“Yeah, of course. I will need to strap down your arm though.”
“What!?”
“Removing a tattoo isn’t painless and considering it is on your wrist, I don’t want you moving too much during the process.”
“Ah, that makes sense. Alright then.”
“Good. Just give me a second.”
Hongjoong got up and disappeared for a moment, coming back and using a belt to strap down your arm. He made sure it wasn’t uncomfortable, and that it should allow him to work without issue. He got up once again, giving you a chance to collect yourself. Although when he returned he grabbed your other arm and strapped it down as well.
“What are you doing!?”
You tried to fight him, but your other arm was already restrained. Hongjoong didn’t answer you, he just made sure you couldn’t escape and then left you alone. You screamed at him, then started crying for help, hoping someone else would come, but there was no one. You continued your attempt of escape, but it got you nowhere. When you heard the door you started screaming again. You heard footsteps approaching, thinking you were finally gonna get some help but you immediately went silent when you saw who approached.
“Well, well, well, look what we have here.”
“I didn’t harm her.” Hongjoong commented.
“Good. I’m glad we’re still on the same page.” Sangyeon chuckled. “Care to explain yourself, baby?”
You didn’t want to meet Sangyeon’s gaze, but you could feel his eyes digging into you. He didn’t need a response from you. Instead he had the other boys gag you and then untie you, dragging you out of the shop. You wound up in the back of a car, sandwiched between Changmin and Younghoon, knowing very well their strength outmatched you, so there was no escaping them. Of course you wound up back at that house. You were dragged inside and taken down below, thrown into an empty room. You got the gag off yourself and tried to run for the door, only to get tossed back.
“What the hell were you thinking!” Sangyeon yelled. “Did you really think a stunt like that would work!?”
“I got out of this house, didn’t I?”
“Oh, aren’t you quite cocky for a dead girl walking.”
“What?”
“You’re doing much better than we thought.” Hyunjae mentioned. “We thought you’d be hospitalized by now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Did you forget again?” Eric questioned. “The night of the party you asked for power. I should have known better.”
“You were the easiest target.”
“You bitch!”
Eric wanted to get a hit, but he was held back by Juyeon and Sunwoo. You were putting on quite a brave act, but the truth was you were terrified. You had done well to avoid their grasp, but in the end they still caught you.
“What the fuck do you guys want with me! And what’s with this talk about death? Are you gonna kill me this time?”
“Oh no, none of that.” Jacob said. “But the truth is you are dying. Haven’t you felt it?”
“Felt what?”
“The withdrawal.”
“Huh?”
“What? You think taking drugs doesn’t have its consequences?”
“I…  what?”
Chanhee chuckled. “After using the drug you’re supposed to take something else to negate the side effects. Remember the little hangover cure we gave you the first time?”
“… why didn’t you tell me this!”
“Why would we? It’s a means of keeping you in line.”
“You-”
“It seems it hasn’t hit you that hard yet, but it’s only gonna get worse. Surely you’ve had trouble sleeping by now, maybe feeling irritable and jumpy? It’s the withdrawal.”
“…”
“You’re gonna start feeling really sick soon.” Juyeon mentioned. “And it’s possible to get to a point of no return. We wouldn’t want you dying, now would we?”
“Where is it! Where’s this cure of yours!”
“Do you seriously think we’re just gonna give it to you? After the stunt you pulled?”
“You’re the ones who knowingly put my life in danger!”
“You asked for it. You asked for all of it. A night of passion like never before, and a night of power. Don’t blame us.”
“Fine. What do you want?”
“Seriously?” Haknyeon questioned. “Is it not obvious?”
“Amuse me.”
“You, silly. We want you, and we’ll do anything to get you back.”
“So if you want your cure.” Kevin added. “No more running away.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Oh, you really wanna play with your life? We can always come back to this conversation when sunlight starts to hurt you.”
“Wait.”
“Hm?”
“I… I’ll stay… but…”
“This isn’t a negotiation.” Sunwoo stated.
“I want to go back to school.”
“What?”
“I still want to be able to study and get my degree. You can drop me off and pick me. I won’t-”
“I said-”
“Sure.” Sangyeon interrupted. “Why not.”
“Sangyeon-”
“Hand it over.”
The others stared at Sangyeon with questioning looks, not really agreeing with his decision, but he wasn’t gonna hear anything else. Jacob came over and handed him a water 
bottle with a similar blue sports drink color. Sangyeon opened it up and handed it to you.
“Drink it. Every last drop.”
This was what they had given you last time, so you did trust it. You emptied out the water bottle, immediately feeling this tension leaving you body. Perhaps all your worries weren’t just in your head, but part of the side effects to this drug of theirs.
“Better?”
“Yes.”
“Now we can talk.”
“Wat-”
You were suddenly shoved up against the wall, hand around your throat. Sangyeon had you pinned, glaring daggers at you. It was hard to breathe, and you tried clawing at his arm but he didn’t budge at all.
“You know, the second you broke that ankle bracelet we knew, but our guests kept us distracted so you got very lucky. That won’t be happening again.”
“I… I’ll… I’ll come… back…”
Sangyeon chuckled. “It’s funny you think I’m actually letting you set foot outside this house again.”
“You… you-”
“I make the rules here. The thing is, you just don’t get it.”
Sangyeon grabbed your arm, holding up your wrist to show you the tattoo you had. He leaned forward to place a soft kiss on it.
“This right here, it’s how we found you. It’s our mark, it lets everyone know who you belong to. Our people are everywhere, so even if you did end up in the hospital, you’d wind up right back here where you belong with us. It doesn’t matter where you go, we will find you.”
Sangyeon dropped you to your hands and knees and you gasped for air. You coughed as you tried to steady your breathing, realizing everything else that had been said previously was a lie. There was no getting out of this place, not again. After a moment Sangyeon kneeled down and grabbed your chin.
“Baby, I want you, even if I have to hurt you.”
“… why…”
“Cause you came into our lives, and you’re too good to pass up.”
“… please…”
“Don’t lie to yourself. As if you truly want to leave and return to that boring life of yours. Stay. Let us take care of you and treat you the way you deserve.”
“…”
“You’ll come around. In the meantime.” Sangyeon pulled out a pill. “Take this.”
“I… you just…”
“An ankle bracelet won’t work with you, so might as well use different means. Go on now.”
There wasn’t much of a choice here. If you didn’t do it willingly you knew Sangyeon would force it down your throat. So you took the pill, feeling that spark once more.
“Good girl. You can keep up with us better this way, and now you know you won’t last long out there if you were to leave again. Which is not gonna happen, right?”
“No…”
“I need you to say it.”
“I won’t run away again…”
“Good. You won’t regret meeting us, I promise.”
“I do.”
“Watch it. You don’t want us to test your limits again, do you? Or maybe you do. I don’t mind having a brat in this house.”
“… sorry… I… I didn’t…”
“Much better, although we do need to carry out your punishment for running away. Last time was nothing compared to this, so I hope you’re ready. You won’t be sleeping tonight.”
118 notes · View notes
midnightfantasiez · 5 months
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KINKTOBER 2023
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SUMMARY: the month of October, it was the time of the year to let your imaginations run wild. buckle up to let your wildest fantasies come true with 11 different scenarios starring our beloved The Boyz.
PAIRING: the boyz x afab!reader (assorted pairings)
GENRE: smut (18+ MDNI!!)
WARNINGS: will be stated in each individual fics!
WORD COUNT: 12,521 (approx. 900 - 1k+ per member)
A/N: better late than never i guess 🥴 this is my first time doing a kinktober, so please bear with me >< i've decided to do things a bit differently and compile all members into one post instead! a big shoutout to @juyeonszn @itsbeeble for beta reading this whole chunk of fics for me, i love you guys sm my beloved pookies 🥺❤️
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Lee Sangyeon
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PAIRING: ceo!Sangyeon x afab!reader
WARNINGS: generation z Sangyeon (yes that is a warning), posessive Sangyeon, mentions of drugs, dry humping, p in v sex, pet names (sweetie)
WORD COUNT: 1,244
A/N: inspired from Mystic Messenger Jumin's Bad Ending #2 👀 if you know/play the game, you're cultured.
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You were suddenly summoned to the CEO’s office while you were doing your work in your cubicle. 
It wasn’t unusual, to say the least when you were the manager of your department and you were bound to give the chairman your usual weekly reports of how everyone has been coping with their work. 
The only problem was that the reports were handed in yesterday, so the chairman requesting your presence a second time would be very abnormal. So many thoughts were going through your head. Have you screwed up something badly from the reports you have submitted? Did one of your employees do something that required the chairman to address it personally with you? 
Those were the only negative thoughts that filled your mind as you entered the elevator and slowly rode it to the highest floor, where the CEO’s office was. As you walked towards the front door, you were greeted by his secretary, who was waiting for your arrival, with a red ribbon. Without giving you many details, your hands were immediately tied with the ribbon itself, and the secretary knocked on the door to signal the chairman that you were ready to enter. 
Before you could even ask what was happening, you were pushed into the room right away as soon as it opened, and then the doors were shut, leaving you alone with the chairman in his office. 
To your dismay, you quickly scanned through the entire office to see that the blinds were pulled down, only letting in a bit of light into the room. So it was reasonably dark around, but you could indeed make out a figure sitting down on his chair, hands clasped together as if he had waited long enough for your arrival. 
“Umm... Mr Lee?” You squeaked, lowkey feeling terrified by the entire situation you were in.
“Hello, miss Y/N. Why don’t you come closer to me?” He commanded.
Slowly, you started taking a few steps at a time before you eventually stood right in front of your boss. As you adjusted your sight, you finally made out Mr Lee’s appearance in front of you. 
His brunette hair was parted to the sides, his tie was slightly loosened, and his sleeves were rolled up. His legs were spread further apart than how one would usually do when they are sitting down, and he pats his thigh, indicating for you to come to him. 
But you had to blink to ensure your mind wasn’t playing tricks on you. 
“Sit on me, Y/N.”
What in God’s name is going on?
“W-what? Umm.. with all due respect Mr Lee—”
“I said sit.” He commanded, his tone going down an octave lower. That eventually sent shivers up your spine before you eventually mustered up the courage to slowly crawl up to him and sit down gently on his thigh, internally going through a mental breakdown in your mind.  
His hands were now on both sides of your hips, gripping you to ensure that you weren’t going to fall off from him since your hands were bound behind you, and you had no way of balancing yourself. 
“Now, I apologise for my behaviour a second ago. I’m sure you were terrified, weren’t you?” He asked nicely, which made you feel a lot worse than you already did. 
So many questions were running through your mind, trying to make sense of what exactly was going on or if this whole situation was actually a hallucination. Just as you were about to make sense of your situation, you were brought back to reality as he gently rested his fingers under your chin, lifting your face so that you were looking directly at him now. 
“Say, why don’t you become my assistant? I have noticed how well you excel at your job and how much you have actually contributed to my company.” 
Slowly, he leaned forward and started to place kisses all around your neck before finding the perfect sweet spot for him to suck. 
You gulped, you were starting to wonder if Mr Lee was actually high on drugs or something. Why would a CEO of one of the top companies in Seoul actually do this to one of their employees? Or rather, is he the type of guy who usually does this to his other employees, and you were just not aware of it?
But Mr Lee knew what was going on in your mind, and he immediately answered your question for you. 
“Just so you know, I don’t do this to anyone at all. Consider yourself lucky that I have gotten my eyes on you and have genuinely been interested in you for quite a while now.” His hands that were on your chin now travel down to your clothing as he begins unbuttoning them one by one, removing your top entirely and tossing it to the ground. His hands began moving up and down on your cleavage before he moved his lips towards and kissed the spot, his hands now squeezing your breast. 
“O-oh.. oh god…” Those words completely slipped out of your mouth unwillingly, and you thought you were screwed before you saw how it actually turned your boss on even more. 
“I bet you would sound so pretty moaning my actual name, miss Y/N.” Mr Lee then quickly unzipped his pants as he pulled his cock out, instructing you to rub your wet core directly onto his member. Well, you basically didn’t have a choice, for he was now grabbing both sides of your waist and doing the deed for you.
You were actually going insane, his hard dick now directly under your underwear, and you were already dripping wet upon the contact. As if by instinct, you were actually trying to pick up your pace too, and Mr Lee smirked at that as he knew that you were needy as well.
“That’s it, Y/N. Keep it going.” He cooed into your ear as he moved his hands towards your back and unclasped your bra, tossing it to the ground as he sucked on your hard nipples. 
When he felt how wet you were getting, he knew that he was not going to let your precum go to waste, and he quickly yanked your underwear down and positioned you well before inserting his cock into you. 
A loud gasp resonated throughout his whole office, but that was basically just music to his ears as he gave you a giant smirk you hadn't seen just yet. 
You were starting to moan out his name before he eventually corrected you to call out his real name instead. 
“Sangyeon… sangyeon… keep it coming… aaahhh—” 
“Cum for me, sweetie. Gush all of your juices all over me.” 
With a few more pounces, you eventually came to and released your cum all over his thigh before leaning in to rest your head on his shoulders. 
“You were so good for me, look at how much you came.” He whispered before pushing you back up and guiding you to lean against his work desk. 
He was now loosening his tie completely, and he positioned himself in between your thighs, prepping for another round as he guided his tip to your entrance once more.  
“Since you moaned my name so sweetly, I will take it as a yes that you agree to be my personal assistant from now on. Oh, we are going to have so much fun together.”
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Jacob Bae
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PAIRING: bf!Jacob x afab!reader
WARNINGS: mentions about reader losing their virginity, oral, fingering, nipple play, handjob, blowjob, p in v sex, dom!reader & sub!Jacob 👀
WORD COUNT: 1,001
A/N: shoutout to @daisyvisions for giving me ideas for this one!!
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You have been with your boyfriend Jacob for the past year since you met each other in the music club on campus. Since you both were the introvert types, it took a while for you both to start talking to one another, and you needed your mutual friends to step in to help break the ice between you both.
But you were beyond grateful for them because you have scored. You have never dated before and your first and current boyfriend happens to be one of the sweetest human beings to ever exist on earth. 
Things start pretty well between you two, it was all lovey-dovey fun dates until one night when you both got a little bit too tipsy at a frat party hosted by one of the seniors.  You both eventually found yourselves making out in the bathroom, where you lost your virginity to him. 
Jacob was horrified to find out what he did the next day, and he couldn’t help but constantly apologise to you over and over, regretting taking your virginity, especially under the influence of alcohol. You found it to be cute, actually, and you reassured him that everything was alright and you were glad that he was your first. 
Ever since then, you both have been starting to open up more about your sex lives and would constantly give each other the much-needed sensual time together at least once a week, probably three times at max. 
However, there was one thing. It was always Jacob who would be pleasuring you, giving you whatever you wanted. There was no room for a “let me take over now” for you since he has always promised that you feeling good was his number one priority. 
But today would be the day that you would turn the tables around. 
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“J-jacob…” You moaned.
“Yes, baby?” Jacob questioned as he continued planting kisses directly onto your wet clit, two of his fingers inserted into you. 
“C-can I… Take control for the night?” 
That made Jacob stop whatever he was doing as he lifted his head to look directly at you. 
“You what?” He looked puzzled, surely he must’ve heard it wrong. 
“Jacob. You have always been putting me first at all times. It’s about time I return the favour, don’t you think?” You lifted yourself from the bed as you crawled towards your boyfriend, slowly snaking your hands up from his abdomen to his chest, earning a shiver from him. 
It was that moment you saw the look in his eyes, how he shivered just from a simple touch alone from you, when you gently pushed him back so that he was the one lying down now. 
Immediately, you leaned forward to connect your lips to him before moving them down to circle his nipple while pinching the other side. 
This was all so new to him, for he had never been pleasured this way before. And it was a different perspective for him, looking at how dangerously sexy you could be when you’re the one taking complete control over him now. 
Jacob closes his eyes as he groans, slightly leaning his head back into the bed as you continue to explore his well-built body. He was a volleyball player, after all, so he was bound to have muscles and a toned body for you to ogle and leave kisses all over. 
You slowly moved down towards his now hard erected cock, where you gently took it into your hands and started licking and sucking the tip.
“F-fuck… Y/N…”
“Does it—feels good—Cobie?” You questioned in between. 
“Y-yes… it feels so good…” 
“Tell me what you want, Cobie.” 
“Pl-please… make me feel good…”
“And why is that?” You were rubbing his cock with your hands as you continued sucking his tip. 
“Be-because… aaahh… nobody makes me feel this good except for you.” He was far from being sane, and you knew you now had him wrapped around your fingers. 
“That’s all I needed to hear, baby.” With that, you immediately took his entire length into your mouth, sucking up and down, and deep enough that his tip actually hit the back of your throat. 
Oh god. Your mouth. Your pretty mouth. This was what he had been missing out on all this time. 
Jacob was now constantly moaning out your name, which sounded so sweet to your ears. It didn’t take him long to give you a warning on how he was about to cum, which made you sped up the process even more. 
“Y/N! Y/N! Aahh!!” 
All at once, your boyfriend releases all of his liquid into your mouth and you are drinking it all up like there is no tomorrow. Wiping away the excess that was dripping from the sides of your mouth, you  position yourself so that his cock was directly on your wet clit. 
“I want to fuck you so badly now, Cobie.” 
Taking his member and pushing it into you, both of you let out a deep groan before you eventually start bouncing right on top of him. Your adrenaline was pumping,you were feeling so good and wanted to pleasure him more. It was the look on your boyfriend’s face, it was as if tears were about to drip from the corners of his eyes. That was when you knew that you were on the right track. 
“I’m-I’m not gonna last, Y/N…” He whimpered.
“Cum in me then. I need you to fill me up.” 
As you both were about to reach your high, you immediately grabbed both of Jacob’s hands and placed them directly onto your bare breasts, guiding his hands to squeeze them as you both gave your last push. 
When you both came together, the oozing liquid poured all over his thighs, you gently leaned forward to give him a few pecks on his cheeks and lips while playing with his soft fluffy hair. 
“My boyfriend’s been a good boy today, and I think he deserves one more round.”
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Kim Younghoon
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PAIRING: bf!Younghoon x afab!reader
WARNINGS: p in v sex, sex tape (reader records it with Younghoon's phone), fondling with breasts, tits sucking, nipple play, thigh riding, pet names (baby, rascal)
WORD COUNT: 909
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The sounds of skin slapping filled the room as you and your boyfriend were having a rather passionate make-out session with one another. 
Younghoon arrived at your doorstep looking rather half-dead, especially with the workload that he has been dealing with ever since he and his older brother had to step up to take over his father’s company. 
As his girlfriend, you have been trying your utter best to cheer him up and give him the motivation that he needed—baking him his favourite pastries, even having a cosy night in your apartment and marathon all the animes he has been missing out on. 
But tonight was different, and all he wanted was to have sex with you.
Which wasn’t unusual, to say the least, both of your sex life has been relatively healthy and you would do it once or twice a week. But it was the way he said it out so bluntly and was so needy for the night, it was as if something had triggered him to act this way.
You basically had no room to question him about it since you were literally pinned to the wall as he stepped into your apartment, making out with you hungrily and eventually ending up in the bedroom. 
So here you were now, lying on your back, and your boyfriend seemingly thrusting into you as quickly as he could before eventually releasing his juices in you. When you both slowly tried to catch your breath, you finally decided to question him about his demeanour. 
“You wanna tell me what is with the sudden move of yours?” You crossed your arms while lying down in bed. 
Younghoon plopped down right by your side and moved closer to you to snake his arms around your waist. 
“I had this weird dream last night that you were having sex with some random guy from your workplace. The way you were sitting on top of him and bouncing up and down while moaning his name terrified me.” 
It took you a moment before you actually tried your best to let the information sink in before you giggled, earning a little slap on your shoulder from your boyfriend. 
“I’m sorry, Younghoon! It’s just that I find it cute and funny how you had such a dream and that you were jealous about it.” You teased, inching your face closer to him, causing him to give you a pout and turn his face away. 
He had then turned to his side and gave you a silent treatment because he absolutely hated the way that you were not sympathising with him but actually teased him about it. 
You giggled more before you slowly moved your hands up his arm in a sensual way, leaning towards his ears to give him an erotic whisper. 
“Seems like someone doesn’t want their gift after all.” 
That got Younghoon’s ears perked up, and he quickly turned back to face you, only to find that you were now setting up his phone onto your tripod and positioning it towards the end of the bed. 
“Umm… baby? What are you doing?” He was perplexed, rightfully so at that, too, since you had never done such a thing before. 
“Oh, I thought my boyfriend would like to have a recording of one of his ultimate kinks in his phone so that he could replay it whenever he is stressed at work.” 
You grabbed onto his arm and pulled him up into a sitting position. You guided him so that his side was facing the camera while you slowly made your way and sat on top of him. You took both of his hands and placed them directly onto your bare breasts, guiding him to give both of them a squeeze. 
In return, you let out a soft moan, reassured him that he was doing a great job at it. It was then Younghoon realised how you were going to make up for his silly jealousy rage by recording a tit-playing/sucking session just for him on his phone. 
“I see where this is going, you little rascal.”
“Correction. Your pretty little rascal whom you’re so whipped for.” You corrected.
With a smirk, he quickly dove his mouth straight towards your nipple and began sucking them as his life depended on it. You knew how your boyfriend had been obsessed with your breasts ever since you began dating, only later teasing him about it when you both had your very first sex. So to actually give him a recording of him performing his favourite thing during sex? Oh, he will definitely be replaying the video constantly from now on.
As he sucked and squeezed your breasts with more pressure each second, you were starting to feel a knot form within your stomach. In an instant, you quickly began rubbing your wet core directly onto his thigh, constantly rolling your hips, wanting to cum as quickly as possible.
“Mmm… yeah… that’s it. Give me more, Younghoon.” 
“Cum all over my thigh, baby. Do it.” 
With a few more rolls, you eventually felt the knot snapped and you released your juices all over his thigh, all while he was still sucking your breasts like there’s no tomorrow. 
When he finally broke free and connected his lips back to yours, he was now gently rubbing your bare back as if he was patting you.
“Thank you, baby. I will surely put this recording to good use.”
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Lee Hyunjae
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PAIRING: fiancé!Hyunjae x afab!reader
WARNINGS: jealous sex, shower sex, Hyunjae is NOT happy, gets possessive too actually, and he teases you a lot (but you started it in the first place so), fingering, reader is pinned to the wall, p in v sex, choking, possessive Hyunjae, pet names (baby, honey)
WORD COUNT: 978
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You were having a warm comfy shower as you heard the door to the bedroom open. It was when you knew that your fiancé was back from a long day of work. 
Your fiancé, Lee Hyunjae, proposed to you while you both were on a business trip to Malibu, where he actually went all out to set up a romantic picnic-like lunch right at the beach, filling them up with all of your favourite things and colours that were to your liking. 
Ever since you have agreed and said yes, he has been working tirelessly to be able to afford a much better home that would suit the needs of both of you. It took him almost a year before he was able to secure a well-built home located just outside of Seoul. With that, you finally packed up all of your belongings from your tiny studio apartment and moved in almost immediately. 
It has been almost half a year now since you both moved in, and Hyunjae has gotten a promotion at work, which made him have to work slightly overtime than you did. So you usually returned home at least three hours earlier than he did. 
You were washing off all of the remains of shampoo from your hair when you heard the door to the shower being pushed open to the side, and sure enough, you were greeted by your naked fiancé, who was eager to join you. 
“You nasty man, can’t you wait till I’m finished?” You teased. 
“Well, I miss my baby loads and showering together is much more fun, don’t you think?” He quickly leans in to kiss you on the lips while snaking his arms around your waist. It wasn’t for long before he started moving them down to your ass and squeezing them. 
You smirked, knowing how needy he was. But you decided to play along to see how far he would go. 
“So tell me, how was work, honey?” 
“Oh, just the usual. I had to answer a bunch of calls and emails on behalf of the CEO.” He now moves one of his hands to caress your thigh, earning a soft moan from you. 
“Hmm… that’s good, isn’t it?” You questioned and did the same to him, moving your hands up and down his bare back. 
“Well, there was something that I have noticed lately, and I actually need your help to clarify something.” He was now moving his fingers towards your clit, as he began rubbing circles around it. 
“What is it?” 
“I have noticed how one of our co-workers sitting across your cubicle has been giving you weird looks lately. It seems as if he is interested in you.” He now inserts one finger into you, and you know exactly where this is going. He was jealous, and he wanted to get the answer out of that pretty mouth of yours while making you lose your sanity. 
“What makes you say that, Hyunjae? You are my fiancé, after all. I am taken.” You answered in between the moans. 
“Oh honey, you got to do better than that.” He inserts another finger in. “You know what exactly I want to hear.” 
God, he was taking this to the next level. He wants to break you down slowly and the warm hot steam that was filling up the entire bathroom was certainly not helping you to think straight.  
He  pins you to the wall and lifts one of your legs up so that he has better access to finger you even deeper, all while he is still interrogating you. 
“You see honey, call me a jerk but I can be pretty stingy because I hate it when people touch what belongs to me. And I absolutely do not like the look that he was giving you for the past couple of weeks.” 
Without warning, he immediately removed his fingers from you and slammed his cock into you, earning a yelp from you before they eventually turned to moans. 
“Tell me, Y/N. What are you going to do about all of this?” 
For the love of God, Hyunjae. 
“I-I don’t know… what do you want me to do?” You were still holding up, trying your best to tease him, you did actually enjoy seeing him getting all jealous, after all. 
“Wrong answer, Y/N. Come on, you can do better than that.” 
He began to pick up his pace, slamming into you as deep as he possibly could, making you tilt your head back and lose consciousness. 
Oh, he was not going to let you think straight, alright.
“Hnngh— god, Hyunjae-” 
“I’m waiting, honey. Tell me. What will you do about this?” He was now moving one of his hands right up to your neck, giving it a little squeeze. 
“I—aaaahh…” 
“Yes? Tell me.” 
“I will ask my manager to transfer him to another cubicle then.”
“Oh no, honey. Transferring to another cubicle is not good enough for me.” He protested. 
For the love of god, Hyunjae. 
“I—will request—my manager to transfer him—to another department, I suppose.” You were now a mess as he fucks you deep and fast. Tears were beginning to form in your eyes since he basically tearing your walls apart. 
“Now, that’s better honey. I knew you would be such a good girl for me.” 
Picking up his pace as you both were right about to cum, he quickly removed his member from you and grabbed your hair and pushed you down to his member, making you take in all of his cum into your mouth.
When you both finally came down from your highs, he dragged you back up and pinned you against the glass door while he moved directly behind you. 
“Since my baby decided to tease me throughout the whole session we have just had, I think they deserve another punishment.”
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Lee Juyeon
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PAIRING: bully!Juyeon x afab!reader
WARNINGS: Juyeon is such a jerk in this one, pet names (sweetheart), typical university bullying shitz, arguments, fingering, rough sex, public sex (it's in a bar), p in v sex, manhandling
WORD COUNT: 1,474
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Lee Juyeon has been your mortal enemy for as long as you can remember. 
Ever since you entered Seoul University and met him for the first time, you guys have not been on the same page. There was just something about you that made Juyeon wanted to tease and bully you all the time, and you could tell how he absolutely loved the red-flushed face you portrayed every time you got mad. 
He had done so many things to you. Whatever your friends have named it, he has done it before. It all started from leaving post-it notes all over your locker that contained writings about things you absolutely detested. It ranged from “so I heard you had a few more marks before you could score a distinction” to “I’m so sorry but that blue skirt is not looking too good on you, sweetheart”. 
It wasn’t just that. He also had to meddle in your love life too. By the time you were in your second year of university, you came across this one rather cute and bubbly guy from one of the clubs you have joined as an extracurricular activity and there were basically sparks going on between you two. And it just so happened that Juyeon was one of the committee members of the club, so that he could witness the whole relationship blossomed with his own eyes. 
Being the jerk that he was, he actually went up to the guy and told him about all of your little secrets, even the ones that you could’ve sworn nobody would find out about. Eventually, the guy was slowly starting to create a distance between you two, and he stopped hanging out with you after the fall. 
Ever since then, you have absolutely hated to spare a glance at him or even hear about his name being mentioned in your everyday lives. Thanks to that, you have always been the person to quickly head straight back home right after your final lecture ends, not wanting to deal with all of the bullshit that he has gotten up his sleeves. 
But since today was a Friday and you had just finished your final papers before the summer break started, you decided to head to one of the local bars in town to relieve the stress you have been coping with for the past couple of weeks. 
It was a relatively quiet bar, and you absolutely loved the ambience of it. It made you felt so relaxed for a while, sitting down comfortably on one of the tables at the corner as you enjoyed the relaxing jazz music that was being performed by the usual performance team at the bar itself. 
Just as you were about to slowly close your eyes to fully enjoy the experience, a hand suddenly grabbed your wrists and you looked up to see who exactly it was. 
Oh, hell no. 
“What on earth are you doing here—”
“Come with me. Now.” 
You couldn’t even ask more questions when Juyeon was dragging you away further down into the bar. 
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“What exactly is wrong with you!” You screamed, yanking his hand off your grip. Your blood was boiling again, especially when he would be the last person you would want to see at your comfort place, and especially when you had just finished your exams. 
You crossed your arms and decided to yell back at him. All of the anger that you have been suppressing for weeks was now finally about to explode out. 
“Have you really stooped this low actually to stalk me? Is it really that fun to ruin and mess up my life when you have already done more than enough??” You were practically screaming through the loud music and chatters in the bar, not caring if anyone was going to pass by or actually call the authorities if things started to get rough between you two.
You didn’t care about anything else right now. All you wanted to do was to scream and let out all of your anger towards the guy standing right in front of you, wanting to say whatever last words you had before calling it quits with him once and for all. 
But Juyeon was relatively quiet for the night, as he actually started taking in all of your anger and hatred towards him. It was rather unusual since he would usually fight back and would not stop until he actually won over against you. There was this look plastered across his face, which made him look guilty almost, or maybe even upset about something. 
“What? Why are you being so quiet? Have you finally knocked some sense into yourself?” You scoffed. 
“Actually. I think I did.” 
Without warning, he takes a few steps closer to you, making you step back until you are eventually cornered with hands on both sides of you, pining you against the wall. 
“Y/N. I’ve realised something lately. And it finally just made sense to me now. I think I actually like you.”
What. This must be some kind of sick, lame joke.
You had to laugh a little bit too hard as well. “What? I think you’re actually insane—”
“No, I’m not. I really do think you mean a lot more to me.” He protested. 
But you were not having any of this crap. “Stop this, Juyeon. I knew you were always playing lame pranks against me, but this has got to be the worst of them all.” 
You thought that would be enough to stop all of this and return to your table, but clearly, the man himself was far from done. He was now grabbing your hands and pining them up against your head, pushing one of his legs in between your thighs. 
“Then let me prove it to you then.” 
In a blink of an eye, his lips had crashed into yours, savouring them rather hungrily. Your eyes widened upon the contact. 
You were actually kissing your worst enemy right now.
As much as you were to squirm, you had no luck as he was basically much stronger than you were, gripping you hard and not wanting to let go anytime soon. He was now grabbing both of your hands with just one hand while the other travelled down to enter right under the dress you were wearing for the night, desperately trying to find your clit. Once he did, he immediately began fingering you without hesitation, your legs basically turning into jelly right there and then.
What on earth is actually going on right now? 
Your moans started filling up the room, and you closed your eyes as you titled your head back. As much as you hated to admit it, you were actually enjoying this whole situation that you were in right now.
Juyeon notices how quiet you have gotten, and he seized his chance to lean forward and whisper into your ear. 
“Will you believe me now, sweetheart?” He cooed. 
“T-this… doesn’t prove anything…” You whimpered. 
“Oh yeah? Then I’ll make sure that you get the message clearly.”
Within a swift motion, he grabs you and takes you into one of the bathrooms that were located not far from where you both were, and he immediately corners you right at the sink top before turning you around and pushing you down. He moved his hands right under your dress and pulled your underwear down immediately, and you hissed at the cold air coming into contact with your core. 
“What are you even—someone is going to see us!” 
“Bold of you to assume that you were in a position to give orders. I don’t care if someone walks in on us, I need you now.” 
He quickly pulled out his cock from his pants and gave it a quick handjob before slamming it into your core, giving you little to no time to adjust to his length.
God, he is hard as f-
“You are so tight, goddamit, Y/N.” He groaned as he thrust in and out of you. He decided to pull your dress down slightly from the front so that your bare breast was now exposed for him to touch while his other hand grabbed onto your hair.  
God, he absolutely loved the look that was plastered across your face right now. The way you looked absolutely helpless right now, how you were basically a moaning mess, constantly chanting out his name. 
And how he was taking the whole scene from the bathroom mirror right in front of him. 
“Juyeon… juyeon…” You cried out. 
“F-fuck— I’m gonna cum—” 
When he finally came within you, you immediately let out a high-pitched scream before finally coming down from your high. Juyeon finally leans forward and gently sucks your neck before finally giving you a response.
“So, do you finally believe me now?”
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Kevin Moon
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PAIRING: husband! Kevin x afab!reader
WARNINGS: reader is such a tease and is basically naked (only wearing the kitchen apron to cover their front body), fingering, cum tasting, kitchen sex, p in v sex, manhandling, pet names (honey)
WORD COUNT: 935
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“Honey, what on earth do you think you’re doing?” 
Your husband had just arrived home as he stood by the kitchen door looking astounded and was greeted by a relatively questionable sight. 
You knew that your husband, Kevin, had been rather stressed out lately and had been coming home late due to all of the extra work he had to do considering his company had to deal with an insane amount of staff turnover. When he arrived home every day, you would only exchange a few words before he quickly got into the shower and then went straight to bed. 
Hence, you decided to do something that would pique his interest so he could have a good stress relief. So here you were, turning half of your naked body towards him, holding a bowl of whipped cream in hand and wearing only an apron to cover your the front of your body. 
To say the least, it was very bold of you that you decided to make such a move. But to be fair, you had been craving for your husband’s touch and revealing your glorious naked body to your husband would surely gain his full attention towards you.
Sure enough, he slowly drops his briefcase on the ground and walks towards you. That was when you decided to act normal and tried your best to pose a question. 
“You surely must be exhausted, honey. I was whipping up some cream to bake you your favourite sponge cake for dessert tonight.” 
As he took his steps closer towards you, that was when you noticed that his eyes shifted, licking his lips as he stood in front of you now. 
“Screw the dessert, I’ll take you instead.”
Within seconds, he turned you around so you were bent against the countertop. Immediately, he places his hands on your bare back, slowly rubbing your sensitive skin he eventually lands them on your ass, giving it a tight squeeze. You were turned on by that as you elicit a moan, knowing well that your trick has succeeded in tempting your husband for the night. 
One of his hands finally reached your wet core, fingers slowly gliding up and down, rubbing your entrance. You knew he was teasing you, but you were desperate and needed his fingers to be inside of you right now. 
“Kevin, please. Inside… I’m begging.” 
With your given consent, he quickly inserts two of his fingers into your core, pushing them in and out at a relatively fast speed, while his other hand quickly travels back up to your breasts and gives them a massage. It felt so good, and this was the touch you missed so severely for the past couple of weeks. 
To increase the arousal, you turned your head back and snaked your arm around his neck as you brought him towards you, crashing both of your lips together and starting to make out rather messily. His tongue makes its way into your parted mouth, and you both find yourself twirling the tips of the tongue together. 
It wasn’t long before you finally felt a knot form in your stomach, indicating that you were about to reach your high. You broke off from the kiss, now panting while whining for your husband to help, letting you release your sweet juice all over his fingers. 
“Kevin, please, make me cum.” 
“Oh, I’ll let you cum all over my fingers, baby.” 
With a few more fast-paced thrusts, you eventually came and released your juices all over his fingertips when he pulled them from your entrance and inserted them into your mouth, wanting you to savour the deed he had just done for you.
Without giving you much time to calm down from your high, he immediately turns you around and carries you to place you on top of the cold concrete countertop. He quickly loosened his tie as he made his way in between your thighs before leaning close to you.
Kevin was already unzipping his pants and pulling out his now erected cock, his precum dripping wet before he brings it close to your entrance. 
“Honey, I need you so bad right now. I’m afraid I might be unable to hold it back any longer.” He growled. 
“Then don’t.” You reassured him by placing both of your hands on his shoulders, already anticipating him to insert his member into you. 
Just as he had said, he had no intentions of going slow with you, for he immediately went all out, and the skin-slapping noises now filled the entire kitchen. 
This was what you both have been missing out on for several weeks, and it was something you needed desperately right here and now. 
“F-fuck honey… you have been so tight since we last had sex.” 
“Of course—I saved it all for you tonight…” 
“You definitely have been a good girl for me, honey.” 
Kevin was pounding you relentlessly, to the point he was even grabbing a chunk of your hair and pulled it back to increase the arousal. He could tell that you were enjoying it loads from the looks on your face, and so did he. 
“Ke-kevin… I’m gonna cum.” You moaned.
He leans in to give you a quick peck on your lips before pulling them away. “Cum for me then, honey. I want you to cum all over my cock.” 
Within seconds, you released your juices all around his member as you slowly start to catch your breath as your husband leans in to give you a passionate kiss.
“Oh, now you reminded me how badly we’ve missed our weekly sex.”
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Choi Chanhee
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PAIRING: secretary bf! Chanhee x afab!reader
WARNINGS: Chanhee has a playroom 👀 (inspo from Fifty Shades of Grey), pet names (baby), mentions of sex toys, reader is tied up to the bed, use of vibrator, oral, squirting
WORD COUNT: 1,121
A/N: gotta give credits to my meimei @beamtori for this, we had this convo a long time ago and she sent me this same exact chanel picture in the dms and i just knew, chanhee needed a fic like this 😋
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“Baby baby! Hear me out!” 
Your boyfriend, Chanhee, was rather ecstatic as he hoped towards your workplace to come to pick you up. He was holding a bag from Chanel, and you knew very well how he had probably gotten something for you when you told him a million times that he did not need to do so.
Since he was in university, Chanhee was recently promoted to being one of the chief secretaries at Chanel, his dream fashion company. You couldn’t be more proud of him as you knew how much effort and energy he has put into making all of it happen. So when he told you how he could move into a more extensive apartment complex in one of the most prestigious areas in the heart of Seoul, you knew that he was beyond excited to have a better life for himself and with you.
He informed you that he needed a few weeks for everything to be completely moved in and renovated before you could come to visit, and you figured that today was finally the day when everything was settled. 
“What was the gift for Chanhee? I should be the one gifting you something now that your apartment is finally in one piece.” You chuckled. 
“No, it should be me thanking you for always being by my side since the beginning of my career.” He gives you one peck on your cheek before escorting you to his car. 
“Now, let’s go have some fun, won’t we?”
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You knew his apartment would be luxurious, but you didn’t know it would be this extravaganza. 
It was a two-floored luxury apartment with the living, dining and sleeping rooms on the top floor. All of the floor and countertops were designed with marble, and Chanhee did a fantastic job pairing the room with pieces of furniture that suited the theme he was going for. You basically stood in the centre, taking in all of the beauty, and Chanhee found it cute how you were basically in shock with the whole sight in front of you. He had to physically come towards you and shake your shoulders to bring you back to reality. 
“Baby, you can ogle at the sight as much as you like from now on since you will be coming here often anyway. But there is something else that I want to show you.” 
He gently takes your hands into his as he guides you to the stairs, taking you down to the second lower floor. It was a couple of flights of stairs before a dark grey door stood in front of you. 
There was no hallway whatsoever down here, just an uncomplicated door. 
“Umm… Chanhee? What’s behind the door?”
“You’ll find out, sweetie. Why don’t you push the door open and have a look?” 
Feeling somewhat hesitant, you gave Chanhee a few more glances to ensure he was alright with the idea before you took a few steps forward to rest your hand on the doorknob. With a single twist, the door was now open to reveal a shocking sight to behold. 
This is…
“My playroom,” Chanhee answered as he now wrapped his arms around your waist. 
You looked around the room from left to right to see that he had a few equipment and clothing hung around the room. You even noticed how there were a couple of lingeries that he had gotten that you had mentioned before whenever you both went shopping on how you would like to purchase them someday. There were a couple of leather whips and sex toys that he owned and a stash of Chanel ribbons that he always loved and would insist that you tied your hair with it. Finally, a double bed was placed right in the middle of the room. 
“Baby… will you be a dear and do me a favour? I think my promotion and moving into this luxury apartment calls for a celebration, don’t you think?” Chanhee pouted before finally resting his head down to leave kisses around your neck.
You gasped at the contact and tried your best to think straight. So many questions flooded your mind, but you got too distracted when one of his hands travelled down to your thighs and started caressing them. 
“Baby, you would do it for me. Wouldn’t you?” The statement now felt more like a command, and you slowly turned your head behind you to find your boyfriend, now giving you a stern look, which was then you realised that he was all serious about it. 
That look has somewhat terrified you, as you have never seen this side of your boyfriend before. But somehow, you were turned on by that..
Say no, Y/N. There’s no way you’re gonna agree with this—
“Yes, Chanhee. Anything for you.” 
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Before you knew it, you were tied up to the bed with the Chanel ribbons that Chanhee kept and stripped down bare naked. 
Everything happened so quickly that you did not have much time even to process the whole situation. It wasn’t new for you and your boyfriend to have sex, it has happened a couple of times before at both of your apartments. But now that he has an entire playroom? Now that was a sight of your boyfriend that you had never seen before.
To make things more fun in his books, he decided to take out one of his vibrators and activated it to a reasonably medium pace as he placed it directly onto your clit. 
“Oh my god— Chanhee!!”   
You arched your back and your toes curled up upon the contact. As much as you wanted to do something, you couldn’t. You were bound by the ribbons that were tied to the bed, only to be lying on the bed helplessly as your boyfriend did as much as he wished. 
He was now moving the vibrator up and down, and your moans filled the entire room. 
“Chanhee… please…” 
Knowing how desperate you were, he now turns the speed up to the maximum level and you were now screaming in agony. 
“God! Chanhee, please!! Please!!” 
He could tell how you were about to reach your high when he quickly removed the vibrator and dove right between your thighs, kissing and sucking your bud.
“Cum, Y/N. Cum all over for me.” 
“Chan-Chanhee!! Aaahhh!!” 
When you finally came and squirted all of the juices right onto his face, he couldn’t help but smile while he savoured up your liquids and eventually swallowed them. 
Chanhee now adjusts himself so that he is hovering above you, caressing your cheek while wiping off that one tear that dripped down to your face from the intense session. 
“Baby, one more round?”
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Ji Changmin
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PAIRING: photographer bf! Changmin x afab!reader
WARNINGS: pet names (baby), reader is pinned up against the wall in one scene, fingering, reader strips naked while Changmin is having a photography session throughout the whole process 👀, self-pleasuring, handjob, blowjob, Changmin is still taking pictures of the whole process 👀, cum tasting
WORD COUNT: 1,137
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The sounds of panting and moans were what filled the entire living room for the night.
It had only been thirty minutes since you and your boyfriend had gotten home from a reasonably fancy candlelight dinner at one of the best restaurants in town. It was your boyfriend’s birthday, after all, and you wanted to give your boyfriend the best meal for the night, especially when you have finally gotten one of your first paychecks since you have been employed at your current company. 
But he knew the best treat was waiting for him at home, which was making out with you.
Both of you couldn’t resist and immediately went straight into it as soon as you shut the front door. You were pinned up against the wall, and he placed kisses all over you, from your lips as he travelled down to your neck, collarbone, and eventually, your exposed cleavage as you wore a striking red v-neckline split midi dress. 
The makeout was intense, and you both ended up on the living room couch, now with one of your legs up rested across his thighs, while his hands slipped under your dress, now rubbing your wet core. 
“Baby..” He panted.
“Hmm?” 
“Since there’s technically still an hour left before the day ends, will you grant me one more birthday wish, baby?” 
“Of course, how could I possibly say no?” 
“Well, we’ll have to get into the bedroom first.”
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“Pose for me.” 
You were astounded as you heard about your boyfriend’s final birthday wish. You stood by the side of your bed, blinking at your boyfriend to see if what he said beforehand was a joke. But apparently he was serious, as he immediately took out his Nikon D7500, ready to do the deed. 
Your boyfriend was a photographer, and he would always be invited to all of the top fashion shows in Seoul—taking pictures of all of the celebrities that are the talk of the town. 
But you were no celebrity, hell, not even worthy to be a model. You must’ve thought your boyfriend was mixing work with your personal life. 
“Changmin… I-” 
“Baby, trust me.” He inches close to you to give you one peck on your lips before parting away, taking a few steps back to position himself to start taking worthy shots of his prized possession. He also connected his phone to the Bluetooth speaker you both owned and blasted some songs to get you both into the mood.
“Strip for me, Y/N.” He commanded. 
You were initially reluctant, not that you have not stripped in front of your boyfriend before. But now that a camera was involved and he had switched to his work persona, you weren’t sure if you felt too comfortable with the entire situation. 
But it was your boyfriend’s last birthday wish, and thirty minutes were left before the clock struck midnight. Taking a deep breath, you close your eyes to finally calm yourself down and mentally prepare yourself to do all this. 
Slowly, you took the straps of the dress down as you now exposed your bare shoulders towards the camera and posed. You paused for a few seconds for your boyfriend to take a few shots before moving on to the next move. Moving along with the music, you pulled your dress down and eventually stepped out of it while tossing it to the room's corners. You were now only in your black lingerie, which happened to be the one Changmin gifted you on your birthday. 
Changmin loved the sight beyond him as he licked his lips while continuing to click the button on his camera, snapping as many shots as possible. You were turning around, posing as much as possible with the few poses you knew of. It wasn’t long before Changmin ordered you to turn around so that your back was facing towards him.
Turning your bare back towards your boyfriend, you slowly made your way up to your bra and unclasped it, throwing it off to the side while Changmin photographed the whole process with his camera.
It was there, and then he made his way towards you, gently pushing you down onto the bed as he hovered above you. 
“Touch yourself, baby. Do it for me.” 
With one big gulp, you slowly moved both of your hands to each breast and squeezed them. Your soft moans again escaped your lips as you looked directly into the camera lenses. 
God, how badly Changmin loved the look on your face at the moment. 
As he took one of the hands off from his camera, he slowly made his way to your panties, making his way into them to touch your sensitive bud. 
“That’s it, Y/N. I love it when you’re wet for me.” 
The camera's shutters continued as he moved to your side while still rubbing your entrance. That was when he took his hand away from you and unzipped his pants, as he pulled out his member and moved closer to you so that it was now inches away from your mouth. 
“You know what to do, baby.” 
Without hesitation, you grabbed onto his member and started thrusting it up and down while playing with the tip of it as you went. Meanwhile, Changmin’s hands make their way back to your wet entrance, inserting two fingers into you as you let out a loud gasp. As he picked up his pace, you started to whimper, and you dived your mouth towards his dick, sucking it rather hungrily. 
Changmin was now moaning as you were, but that did not stop him from continuing his photography session. 
You would constantly circle your tongue around his tip and you knew how badly it turned him on the most. In return, he was picking up his pace quicker now, both of you wanting to reach your highs. 
“God—Y/N. I’m cumming. I’m going to cum inside your mouth, baby.” 
With a simple nod from you, both of you quickened the pace you both eventually released your juices in your respective places—Changmin’s in your mouth as you drank it all up, while you did the same all over his fingers as he took it into his mouth, licking them all clean. 
Now that the clock has struck midnight, you thought that Changmin would be satisfied with his whole photography session with you. Just as you were about to lift yourself, you found your boyfriend hovering over you once more as he stripped himself fully naked and was now in between your thighs. 
As he took his member and positioned himself directly towards your dripping core while the camera, in his other hand, looked down at you with a grin, knowing that he was far from done with you.
“My birthday isn’t over until I say it is.”
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Ju Haknyeon
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PAIRING: roommate!Haknyeon x afab!reader
WARNINGS: Haknyeon & reader are in a situationship, fondling with breasts, nipple play, fingering, p in v sex, spooning, somnophilia, reader is basically still asleep and thinks that they're in a dream when the whole deed happens
WORD COUNT: 1,015
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It was the usual late Friday nights when Haknyeon would return home at around three in the morning. Haknyeon worked the late night shifts at one of the bars near downtown, and you both agreed not to wait for him since he knew you had to be up early the next day for your early shift at your local grocery store. 
You both have been roommates for almost a year now and during that period, you have became more than just roommates at this point. You have both been in a situationship for quite some time now and have decided not to define it in any way particularly. It was fine with both of you since you both were comfortable with how things were now. 
Haknyeon tried his best to turn the doorknob to your room as quietly as possible, and sure enough, he found you sleeping soundly on your shared bed. He couldn’t help himself but ogle at the sight beyond him—the way you smiled slightly in your sleep, the little snores you made, and the curves of your body as you turned to your side to sleep. During moments like this, he was beyond grateful that you both are more than just friends and, of course, as your roommate. 
As he couldn’t wait to hop into the comforts of your bed with you, he took a quick shower and put on his comfy hoodie as he slowly walked his way towards you. Gently lifting the sheets, he crawled into bed with you as he turned to your side, hugging you close to him as he wanted to feel your warmth. 
Naturally, he couldn’t help but move his hands into your hoodie, wanting to caress the soft skin he loves dearly. But there was a problem. 
As he slowly moved his hands up, he finally landed them on your bare breast, and that was when he realised something. 
You weren’t wearing your bra to go to sleep. 
So many alarms were going off in his mind, he knew how badly he should be restraining himself. 
It was time for sleep, goddammit, I shouldn’t be thinking about anything else.
But his actions apparently did not align with his brain, and he now finds himself gently massaging your breasts and squeezing them ever so slightly. His fingers were now circling your hardened nipple, and eventually, he found himself pinching them. 
That was when the soft moans he was accustomed to slowly slipped out from your mouth, and you were wiggling in your sleep. Your eyes were still closed, though, and that was when Haknyeon knew that you were still in deep sleep. 
He went on with this for a while, wanting to hear your soft moans—knowing very well how it was all just for him. Eventually, his name slipped out from your mouth, and that was when he felt his member harden—desperately wanting to slip his member into your core. 
He gently pulled your sweatpants down and rubbed your core before eventually pulling your underwear to the side. He rubbed your sensitive bud, wanting it to be wet enough for him to insert his member into you. 
Once he knew that you were ready, it was his turn to pull his sweatpants down and he took his member in hand while using the tip of it to rub at your now wet core. God, it felt so good, and now the entire room was filled with both of your moans. 
“H-haknyeon… inside…” 
At that point, Haknyeon wasn’t sure if you were still asleep or not, as you still had your eyes glued shut. As much as he wasn’t sure if he should even insert his member into you, your hands eventually found their way to Haknyeon’s thigh, rubbing them as if you were so desperate that you needed him so badly at this point. 
“Haknyeon… please…” 
That was when he knew he lost it, and there was no turning back now. With that, he slowly pushed his hardened cock into your entrance, and you let out a loud gasp. Haknyeon knew it was too much for you to take at the moment, so he took a few seconds to let you adjust to his member before he began thrusting inside of you. 
“Oh my god, Y/N. You’re so… tight…” 
He was slowly picking up the pace when he noticed how you spread your legs further apart from each other, giving him more room to thrust deeper within you. It wasn’t long before you started to chant how you would cum, and Haknyeon, too, felt the same.
“Cum with me, baby. Do it with me.” 
With a few more powerful thrusts, you both released both of your juices together, now slowly coming down from your highs. Being the sweet, responsible roommate he was, Haknyeon quickly wasted no time in cleaning both of you up before diving back into sleep.
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When you woke up the next day, you couldn’t help but feel that something was off, as if you had a wet dream last night, and it was with Haknyeon. Well, it wasn’t something new, to say the least, you both have had sex and had dirty dreams about your roommate often. But something about last night’s just felt too real for you. 
Sure enough, as you got ready and headed towards the kitchen, Haknyeon had already prepared your breakfast. As you took a seat and he quickly gave you a little peck on your lips before returning to the stovetop to fry the remaining slices of bacon, you couldn’t help but pose the question to your roommate. 
“Say, Haknyeon?”
“Hmm?” 
“So I had a dream last night… about us having sex in bed while I was asleep. But something just felt so off for me, as if. It all felt so surreal.” 
That was when he placed the remaining slices of bacon onto your plate and was now inches away from you, taking in his cologne and the sly smirk plastered on his face. 
“Baby, what if I told you it wasn’t a dream after all?”
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Kim Sunwoo
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PAIRING: rival!Sunwoo x afab!reader
WARNINGS: arguments, bad breakup with ex (hence Sunwoo takes reader back to his apartment), Sunwoo is VERY upset with reader wearing his favourite hoodie, but then reader turns dom 👀, teasing, blowjob, p in v sex, clothed sex, cowgirl
WORD COUNT: 1,542
A/N: credits to @wuahae for giving me ideas for this!! 💕
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“What are you doing with my hoodie?” 
Sunwoo had just come out fresh from the shower as he attempted to dry his wet dripping hair with the towel that was draped around his neck. 
You were left stranded out in the rain when your ex had just seemingly dumped you right in front of your campus building after a heated argument. Since he was your only way of getting home (you lived an hour away and public transport was not an option this late at night), you were left with no choice but to stand right there in the pouring rain, not wanting to accept reality with all that has happened. You could’ve called for a cab, but that would have meant that you would have been spending off your weekly expenses, and you would have been left with nothing to fill your hunger for the remaining school days before heading back home to your hometown for the weekend. 
It was there, and then your ultimate rival, whom you hated to the core, Kim Sunwoo, stood before you and moved his umbrella to shield you from the rain. As much as you both hated each other's guts for the longest time, there was no way he could’ve left you in the pouring rain all night. Hence, you reluctantly accepted his offer to return to his apartment for the night and get yourself clean and cosy. 
Sunwoo did mention that you were free to use the extra towel he had and to fish out for any of the hoodies he owned in that one particular drawer he pointed at, so you didn’t think much of it and randomly chose one of those at the top of the drawer itself when you got out from the shower. 
It was there when he saw you right after finishing up, he did not have the best look on his face at the moment. He seemed annoyed and was mad about something you desperately needed answers to. 
“What? You said I could use any of the hoodies in the drawer.” You bluntly replied. 
“Yeah, anything but that one. That’s literally my favourite among all of them.” He stomped towards you and was now grabbing the collar of the hoodie you were wearing. 
“Take it off, Y/N.” 
You scoffed. This has to be a joke. Sunwoo getting all worked up just because of one single hoodie? This has to be absolute insanity. 
“I know literally everything that I do ticks you off, but I never would’ve imagined something so simple like this would have the same effect on you, Mr know-it-all.” 
“Look, I was kind enough to invite you back to the comfort of my apartment. So I highly suggest you comply with my simple request before I throw you back out in the streets again.” 
Oh, now that has got you boiling up. There was never a moment where the both of you would agree on something. You both have been like this for the longest time since meeting each other in your first years of university. 
It all started when all of the first-year juniors were invited to a frat party hosted by one of the seniors in one of the apartment complexes near campus, and that was when your first encounter with Sunwoo happened. You both were complete strangers at that time, and neither of you hung out at all as you were both occupied with your group of friends. 
That was when a seemingly drunk Kim Sunwoo made his way towards where you and your friends were and accidentally bumped into you, which made you spilled your drink all over your rented dress where you had to pay double the amount of the original price for ruining some of the details from the outfit itself. Since then, all of the encounters you both have had have never been good.
There was something about his ego that annoyed you the most. You knew he did not do it on purpose on that fateful night, but something about his demeanour just ticks you off all the time. In return, you were the same for the male itself.
Already stressed about your whole ex situation, you were not having it when Sunwoo was about to start another argument and fight when you are literally not at your best self at the moment. 
Instead you stood up, which made the male step back a little while he was still grabbing the collar of his hoodie on you. 
“Look, Sunwoo. I have no idea what exactly your issue is with me. First, you ruined my dress during junior year, and then every time we crossed paths, we never once had a good conversation. You’re always picking fights with me, and I have no idea why. You're such a loser if you think this is all fun and games.” 
“Says the one who’s always heated up and wouldn’t assess the situation well before coming up with a reasonable judgement.” He spat back. 
“Why you little-” 
Without realizing it, you both had been taking several steps back. Sunwoo’s leg hit the couch, causing both of you to tumble back onto the couch, where you are now literally on top of your worst enemy, inches apart from one another. 
Oh dear god, this is literally your worst nightmare. 
Both of your eyes widen and you feel as if time had just paused for a moment right there, trying your best to make sense of the whole situation that was happening right now. 
But it seemed that Sunwoo retaliated much quicker than you did, and he shot back another tease. 
“What’s wrong, Miss know-it-all, cat got your tongue?” He smirked, and you could picture how he would be laughing maniacally in his mind. 
Oh no, you don’t. Kim Sunwoo. 
Without much thought, you crashed your lips into his, shutting him up immediately. You had no idea what had gotten into you to do such a thing, you couldn’t give a proper reason either. But one thing for sure is that it would definitely shut that annoying mouth of his up for a reasonable amount of time. 
Sunwoo was definitely shocked by the contact, but he couldn’t resist returning the kiss, and the both of you were now having a heated making-out session with one another. 
Both of your fingers travelled up into each other’s hair, gripping them as you gasped for air between the kisses. Your hands then travelled down to his member as you began stroking it through the sweatpants that he was wearing.
For once, you saw how helpless Sunwoo was as he began squirming under you and groaning while you continued to massage his own erected member
Looking at how he was enjoying your touch, you pulled his pants down to reveal his huge cock, where you immediately wrapped your mouth around his member, taking it in deeper within your throat. 
“What the actual—go-god….” Sunwoo groaned almost immediately, and it was indeed a sight to behold. 
Never once would you have thought that this was all you needed to have Sunwoo wrapped around your fingers, and you were beginning to enjoy this a little too much. 
You continued sucking his member as you moved your hands to give his balls a gentle squeeze, turning his groans into moans at this point. 
Another point for me. 
You knew he was about to cum as you felt his precum starting to ooze out from the tip of his member, but you had other plans in store. You release his member from your mouth, earning the man's somewhat unsatisfied and annoyed look.  But you were far from done, as you positioned both of your legs on both sides of Sunwoo’s before pulling your underwear down to position your entrance directly on top of his member.
“I’m just getting started, Mr know-it-all.” 
Within seconds, you lowered your body down and took his entire length into you, moaning as you slowly adjusted his cock around your tight walls. It wasn’t long before you began bouncing on him, the sounds of both of your skins slapping one another filled the entire room. 
God. This just all felt way too good. 
“Hnngh… Y/N…”
“Aahh, touch me, Sunwoo.” You grabbed both of his hands as you guided them into the hoodie, placing them directly on your bare breasts as he began massaging them. As much as he was your enemy, you couldn’t help but melt at his touch. 
Both of you were now a moaning mess, and you were now bouncing even faster than before as you began to feel a tight knot in your stomach. 
“F-fuck… Y/N. I’m gonna cum, I’m not gonna last—” 
“Cum with me, Sunwoo. Do it with me.” 
Within the next few seconds, Sunwoo immediately released his fluid inside you while you did the same around his member. As you noticed how badly he was panting and trying his best to come down from his high, you took the chance to lean down and started sucking his neck, not wanting to spare him even a second to take control over you again. 
“Say, let’s go for a round two. I absolutely love how you whimper and moan for my name.”
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Eric Sohn
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PAIRING: tinder date!Eric x afab!reader
WARNINGS: age gap (reader is older), oral, squirting, cum tasting, reverse cowgirl, multiple orgasm (they went for rounds 👀), pet names (baby), Eric calls reader "noona"
WORD COUNT: 1,080
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It has been quite a few years since you have last dated anyone or even had sex. 
You have always been a workaholic, so it was natural for you to prioritise your work over anything or anyone else at all. It was also partly the reason your past relationships never lasted that long, and technically it was all your fault for things ended up being the way they were.
But you have decided that you have had enough. It is about time you got back up on your feet again, especially when all of your co-workers around you were set to either be married off or to be engaged real soon. 
Hence, you have decided to get your life back together and opted for dating apps—since they are rather popular now around the market. So you discovered the world of Tinder, and it took you a few tries to be able to match with someone who seemed to be your type of guy. 
A few weeks prior, you got matched with a young man named Eric Sohn. He was in his final years of university, working part-time at one of the best fine-dining restaurants in downtown LA. So when you both finally met at one of the local cafes for the first time, you were intrigued and wooed by his demeanour and how he presented himself—physically and through his mannerisms. You absolutely loved how he was energetic yet still had enough sense to speak the right words and use the right tone in different situations. 
Something about this young man piqued your interest in him, and you wanted to spend more time with him as you got closer together. 
Then it all happened when you both were having a drink together at a local bar not too far from his workplace. He had gotten off a bit later than usual and decided that meeting up in the bars he frequented would be a fun late date night for you both today. As you both started getting a bit tipsy after having a couple of drinks, the topic of making out and having sex suddenly slipped from your mouth. You had no intentions of talking about your sex life since you were not particularly proud of it in anyway. 
But the young man slowly listened to everything you said before finally resting his hands on yours as he leaned closer to you.
“Why don’t we take this fun to a nearby hotel that I know of?” 
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You couldn’t say no. How could you? When you basically had not been having sex for the past couple of years. When your date finally asked for your consent, of course, you had to agree. You haven’t been this excited in a while. The male also insisted that he would show you how good he could be in bed and give you the best night you’ll ever have in a while.
So here you were, lying naked on your back on the soft, comfy bed in the hotel room, while Eric was now in between your thighs, eating you hungrily. 
He definitely did not lie about how good he can be in bed. He knew precisely the proper ways to make you feel good. His tongue was gliding up and down your wet core, and then the next thing that happened, he was kissing and sucking your sensitive bud. This went on for the past hour, and you were already onto your second orgasm just from his mouth alone. 
You grabbed his hair as you pushed him lower and deeper to your core, wanting nothing else but for him to eat you out. 
“Eric.. Eric.. Eric…” It was the way you were moaning and chanting his name that motivated him to keep going, and he would want nothing else but to hear your angelic moans. 
When you finally came to, you squirted all over his mouth and face, causing the male to lick and slurp all of the remains left before pressing his lips to yours. 
“You have been such a good boy to me, why don’t I return the favour this time?” You whispered into his ear before turning the tables around so that he was now below you. You gently planted soft kisses all over his face, down to his neck, abdomen, and eventually to his now hard cock. 
With a little smirk, you turned around so that your back was facing him before gently guiding his member to your wet dripping core and taking in his length. That made Eric mewl upon the contact, but you wasted no time to start bouncing on him, gradually increasing your pace each second. 
“Oh- fuck… Noona… Your walls are so tight..” 
“Then help me loosen it up, baby..” 
You spared the boy no chances as you continued picking up your pace. God, this felt so damn good after such a long time. It was about damn time you got someone’s dick in you anyways, and it so happened that Eric Sohn was the lucky candidate. 
It was a sight to behold for Eric, he definitely enjoyed the view of your bare back with your hair draped down and with you bouncing up and down right on him. God, he was on cloud nine. 
“Noona- I’m gonna- AAHH!!” Eric mewled before he released his cum all inside of you, but you were not stopping anytime soon. 
“C’mon, baby. Give me one more. You can do it for me.” You panted, wanting desperately to make him cum again because god did it felt so good when it happened for the first time.
Eric was now pulling your hands back, using them as a support while he continued to moan and was basically losing his mind at this point. As he was constantly chanting “noona” the entire time, that somehow motivated you and was the best thing you have heard for the night.
“I’m cumming now, Eric. I’m gonna cum!” 
“Noona- AAHH!!” 
With one last push, both of you released all of your juices all over each other, turning the hotel bed into seemingly a huge mess. But that didn’t matter as you literally just had one of the best sex in your life, even compared to the ones you’ve had in the past. 
You slowly got up from him before lying back down right next to him, connecting both of your lips again, giving one another a slow sensual kiss. 
“Thank you, Eric. For all of this.”
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A/N: let me know which fic was your favourite im curious to know 🤭👀
masterlist
taglist: @deoboyznet @kflixnet @flwoie @daisyvisions @mosviqu (join my perm taglist here!)
281 notes · View notes
hanniluvi · 1 year
Text
ADMIRING YOU !
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synopsis : You've never had good luck with dating. You just couldn't seem to make it work. You were led to believe that was how things would always be. You had no idea but, Jungwon, one of your classmates has been crushing on you for a long time. But because you are you, you never paid attention to him in class. After seeing him staring at you for a time, you finally identify him as a barista at the aroma café. Will anything ever change for you? Will you be able to establish a committed relationship at last?
pairing : nonidol! jungwon x nonidol! fem! reader
genre : high school au, smau, fluff, lots of crack, strangers (?) to lovers, classmates to lovers
featuring : all enhypen members, eunchae and yunjin from le sserafim, beomgyu from txt, hyunjae from the boyz
warning : cursing, use of kms + kys jokes, jungwon and yn being kind of dense..
status : completed! [oct 30 2022 - nov 16 2022]
author’s note : first time writing an smau 😧😧 so this may not be the best smau 🤗 kind of scary but fun at the same time.. the updates might not be fast since i’m in school!! so please be patient while waiting for me to give updates ^^ (also i moved this to my main blog LMFAO)
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PROFILES : bitchless [y/n] | the idiotic mfs [jungwon]
CHAPTERS
1. no bitches???
2. jungwon hate club
3. eye twitches
4. his name starts with a j?? (written + smau)
5. HES BACK ?? OMG ??
6. she knows me. what.
7. jungwons first win ‼️‼️
8. jake watch out.
9. study session (written + smau)
10. am i dreaming?
11. niki shut up challenge !
11.5 will you be the fiona to my shrek 😘😘
12. hes kinda…
13. even a girlboss has her weak moments..
14. im his fav customer!! (written + smau)
15. the plan.
16. dude who is he
17. THERES A HEART ON THIS NOTE.
18. can he js ask me out already 🤗
18.5 me + j = love
19. planning the confession.
20. giggling saur hard rn
21. jay and hyunjae bsfs now??
22. something is going on here..i dont like this.
23. NIKI BEST WINGMAN 💪
24. confession. (written + smau)
25. together at last <3
26. i hate couples.
SPECIAL CHAPTERS
26.1 jungwons jealous
26.2 baking with jungwon <3
26.3 fuck shrek!!
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TAGLIST IS CLOSED !
thank you for liking this smau <333
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anti-romantico · 4 months
Text
[consequences] the boyz hyunjae
warnings: enemies to lovers, fake marriage, and they were roommates, oral (m & f receiving), protected sex, couch sex, riding, cursing, PLOT
words: 7467
A/N: WHAT THE HECK
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— Can you wear a shirt in my presence? — You asked, annoyed.
— I also live here, sweetheart. So if you can walk around with short shorts and a tank top with no bra, I can walk around shirtless. — Hyunjae answered, using that nickname you were more than used to.
— Not, you don't live here, dude, your cousin was kind enough to let you live with us while you find a new place. This is temporal. — You raised your voice.
— Can you two shut the fuck up? God, I can't even start my day without you two arguing. — Chanhee got out of his room.
— When is he leaving? — You asked, fully ignoring Hyunjae's offended look.
— When he finds a new place.
— And is he even looking for one? It's been almost a month. Or is he going to give us his part of the rent?
— Can you stop talking about me as if I'm not just right here? — Hyunjae finally exploded.
— I'm not going to join your argument before having a coffee. Or at all. — Chanhee walked to his room and locked the door behind him.
— Just for your information, I am looking for a place, I'll go to see one today. Thank you for your concern. — Hyunjae grabbed his bowl of cereal and walked to the living room, his temporary room.
— You better do the dishes before or I'm changing the door lock. — You said before locking yourself in your room.
When you came back from work, neither Hyunjae or Chanhee were home yet. You found a note stuck on your door.
"I'll check another place and eat outside, don't miss me ;)"
Fucker. As if you cared.
You finally had a peaceful meal, until Hyunjae called you when you were washing the bowl and cup you used.
"What?" You answered aggressively.
"Baby, hi! Guess what? I found our perfect place!" You could hear the echo his voice made in the room he was in.
"The fuck are talking about, dude? Did you hit your head on your way there?" You joked, walking to your room.
"That's right, the one you told me. How about you come and see it, I know you're gonna love it."
That's when you get it. "They won't rent it if you're not married, aren't they? What a shame."
"Don't worry, we'll wait for you."
"What? I'm not going, dude, look for another place."
"Perfect, see you here. Love you."
You stared at your phone for a few seconds until Hyunjae sent you the address of this apartment. "I'll do whatever you want for the rest of my life, please come"
You debated yourself if you should really go or not.
The sooner he gets a place, the fastest he leaves yours. Fair enough.
You changed clothes and grabbed Hyunjae's denim jacket before leaving.
You sent him a message once you got out of the taxi you called. Not even a minute later, he was walking out the building.
— He's looking at the window, so don't push me. — Hyunjae said before holding your head and kissing you slowly.
You followed the kiss. — You'll never hear the end of this. — You kissed him again and grabbed his hand, letting him guide you to his new apartment.
— We've been married for 3 months, together for a year. We don't have children and we don't want to. — Hyunjae said while you were waiting for the elevator. — Another thing. — You looked at him tired. — You have to live with me for a while. Then I can tell him we broke up so he doesn't kick me out.
Your two got in the elevator, glad it was empty. — You should've told me that.
— I'm sorry, I panicked. — You arrived at his floor and held hands again.
Hyunjae opened the door for you. Let the show begin
— You must be [Y/N]. I'm Mr. Jeong. — A middle-aged man said once you two got in. — Hyunjae told me you chose this apartment.
— I did, yes. I really like the zone, my mom lives close by. — Hyunjae smiled. You followed his lie unconsciously.
— Hyunjae told me that. That's so sweet of him to live close to your mom.
— He's the best. — You said, but Hyunjae's eyes told you you sounded too fake.
— So how about you show your beautiful wife the place while I go for the papers to my apartment. — Mr. Jeong said. You two panicked.
— Oh, you live in the building too? — You asked, squeezing Hyunjae's hand.
— That's right, on the second floor. — Well, that wasn't that bad. Hyunjae's apartment was on the 8th floor.
Mr. Jeong left, and you two waited a minute to finally argue.
— What is so cool about this apartment that you needed me to pretend to be your wife? — You asked him, following him to a small bathroom. You watched him close the door and layed on it. — I doubt it's the price, this zone it's really expensive.
— The whole place.
— It's too big for one person. — You crossed your arms.
— Juyeon and Kevin also need a place, they still don't know I found it though.
— So what now? How long do you need me here?
— I'm still not sure, but in the meantime, I need you to let them live with Chanhee.
— No.
— Please, then you can go back.
— Ok, fine they can stay there. — Hyunjae nodded. — But what if Mr. Jeong does kick you out once we "broke up". — Hyunjae stayed silent. — That better not be part of the contract we're about to sign.
And it wasn't fortunately. Mr. Jeong left the place, staring at you two with a nostalgic smile.
— I'll pay for everything. The rent, the bills, the moving. — Hyunjae said, joining you at the window.
— Yeah, you better. — You looked at him. — Did you eat?
— Barely, but I'm not hungry.
— Well, we have to go back to my apartment for our stuff and to tell Chanhee about this. You can have your last meal there.
Telling Chanhee was harder than you thought. He immediately refused, telling Hyunjae to find another girl.
— Mr. Jeong already met me, Chan, and I also signed the contract. There's no turn back now.
— If you do something to her, I'll stop talking to you, I swear Hyunjae, I don't care if we're family.
— Chanhee. — You called him, taken aback by his reaction.
— I won't, I swear, she'll be back here in 6 months. — You wanted to protest, but the time sounded just right.
Packing was fast. You were terrified of unpacking.
You walked to the room besides the main one. But Hyunjae stopped you.
— I'm not sharing a bed with you, dude. Also, it's not like he's going to check if we sleep in the same bed.
— He's our landlord, he needs to come and check if everything's alright. — You scoffed. — I got a new bed, a bigger one, we'll be far away from the other.
— If you hug me just once, I'm moving my stuff to that room, you get it? — You pointed at the door you initially were aiming at. Hyunjae nodded.
Luckily, the room had enough space for both, you'd say it was too much for you. You didn't even use all the hangers.
— Are you going to use them? — Hyunjae asked. Of course he needed extra hangers. He didn't like to fold his hoodies.
— All yours. — Hyunake took them and walked to his side of the room. — Why did you mention the kids? Did he ask?
— Yeah, when I told him we recently got married, he asked if we were planning on having kids.
— And you don't want them? — Hyunake turned around with a confused look. — With someone else. — You laughed.
— Ah. Well, yeah I do, actually. But I'll have to wait, I can't afford them right now. — He finished hanging his hoodies and stretched his arms.
— You seriously thought I'd let you pay for everything? — You walked to him.
— I mean, I was expecting you to pay at least for a few things. I've known you long enough to know that you don't like being a burden.
— Then it's set. 50-50? — You reached out your hand to shake it with his.
But there was one thing none of you thought about. The arguments. Just by the next day, you two went back to your usual dynamic.
— I told you to not hug me! — You said, pushing him.
— God, you're not even fully awake and you're already yelling. — Hyunjae turned his body and ignored your disgusted look.
You got up and grabbed the clothes you were going to wear. It was Saturday so at least you didn't have to work. Hyunjae, on the other hand, had to.
— Don't take too long, I need to take a shower. — You looked at him before getting in the bathroom. Once you got out. You found him in just his boxers, waiting for you to come out.
— Are you fucking serious? — You asked, stopping your tracks at the door.
— Well, this is my place, I can walk around however I want. — Hyunjae took his towel and moved you. You felt shivers when he slammed the door.
You were brushing your hair when he got out of the bathroom, with just his towel around his waist. There was no point in protesting anymore.
— I need to go to the supermarket later, do you need anything? — He said, taking his sweet time in choosing a shirt.
— No, thanks. — You said before leaving the room.
You set the coffee maker and grabbed two cups from a box and then went back to the room, begging for Hyunjae to be fully dressed by now.
— Do you want coffee? — He was, kind of. His shirt was still open.
— Yes, thank you. — He noticed you froze. — You just saw me with just my boxers on, what is that reaction?
— Don't know what you're talking about. — You were about to leave, but turned around. — I'll start using the other room's bathroom from now on.
Hyunjae walked to you. — I've never seen you like this, babe. Seriously, what's wrong? Did you have a wet dream about me like this?
— You wish. And I'm not telling you how to dress in your place, but let me remind you you were the one that asked me to help you. I don't mind packing everything again. — You tried your best to keep your eyes on his.
Hyunjae stayed silent, making you smirk. You left the room and got into the microwave the leftovers you two left last night.
It was almost 7pm when Hyunjae arrived, finding you finishing putting away all the plates and cups in the cabinets.
— Did you leave something for me? — Hyunjae looked around.
— The TV's. I'm afraid I'll break them. — You said, sitting on a chair. — Did you go to the supermarket?
— I didn't have time. Juyeon and Kevin needed help with the moving.
— So you help them, but not me? — You asked, laughing at his guilty face. — I'm kidding.
— Babe... — Your eyes snapped at the nickname. He only called you like that as a joke, and his tone wasn't didn't sound like it. He cleared his throat to ease the tension he created. — I bought this, by the way. — He took out two rings. — I don't know if Mr. Jeong noticed we didn't have rings on, but just in case.
Hyunjae was about to grab your hand, but you snatched the ring of his fingers, scaring him.
— Fuck... we don't have pictures of our wedding to decorate. — You said after putting on the ring.
— Juyeon will help with it, but we do need to take more pictures together. Just having pictures of our wedding will look suspicious.
— So that means we have to go on dates?
— Just for the pictures.
— Right.
Another silence dominated the room.
— Do you want to go for dinner? — Hyunjae asked, taking off his back tie.
— Uh, sure. Let me change.
— You look good like that, though.
You bit your lip. You wanted to giggle so bad. — I'm only changing my shirt and grabbing some jacket.
— Right.
You two got into your room and went to your sides of it. Hyunjae was looking at himself in his full body mirror when he saw you taking off your shirt, leaving you in just your bra and jeans.
— Uh... — You turned around, acting innocent.
— So you can walk around with just your boxers, but I can't change my shirt in front of you? Seems unfair. — It was your turn to take your sweet time finding a shirt.
Hyunjae took a deep breath and shamelessly stared at your body through the mirror.
Once you were ready, you turned around, finding him taking a picture of you.
— Not weird at all. — You said, walking to him to see the photo in his phone.
— I mean, you're my wife. — Hyunjae grabbed your hand and showed you the ring you had on.
— Right, just don't take pictures of me sleeping.
In the elevator, you tried to avoid his eyes. Suddenly, the elevator stopped in the second floor, opening its doors to show you Mr. Jeong and you guessed it was his wife.
You got close to Hyunjae and felt his arm around your waist.
— Oh, how lovely that we found you. — Mr. Jeong said. — This is the couple I told you about.
— You both look amazing. — Ms. Jeong said.
— Thank you. — Hyunjae said in unison.
— Going somewhere special? — Mr. Jeong answered.
— Just to find something to eat. — You answered.
— Oh, if it's nothing special then join us, we're going to this cafeteria my wife loves.
You were about to answer, but Hyunjae beat you. — Sounds good, [Y/N] love visiting new cafeterias.
It wasn't a lie. You looked up to him. He gave you a kiss on the cheek and left his lips there.
Once all of you arrive to the parking lot, you walked to Hyunjae's car, Mr. Jeong's wasn't far. He told you to wait for them.
At the cafeteria, you ordered a latte and some pastry. Hyunjae just ordered an americano.
You two were waiting for Mr. and Ms. Jeong ordered at the bar.
— Why did you accept? — You asked, letting Hyunjae put his arm around you, pulling you close.
— To fully convince him we're a couple. So we don't have to kiss in front of him that often.
— Look at them. They're truly in love and you don't see them kissing every three words. — Hyunjae nodded, agreeing with you. — I didn't know I was a bad kisser.
Hyunjae looked at you scared. — You're not, god, I'm sorry if I imply that.
You laughed. — Jae, relax, I'm joking.
— You're enjoying a little too much scaring me, you know?
— I don't think so. — Hyunjae brushed his thumb on your chin before giving you a small kiss.
— Sorry for taking too long. They had this new drink I wanted to try. — Ms. Jeong apologized.
The talk was surrounded at your oh so lovely perfect wedding. And it was more a conversation between Ms. Jeong and you.
— If you don't mind, Hyunjae, would you make me some company while I smoke? — Mr. Jeong asked. Hyunjae excused himself and went with him.
The night was chill. The cafeteria had a special place for smokers.
— I'm going to be honest with you, Hyunjae. I thought you two were pretending. You wouldn't be the first couple that lied to me. — Hyunjae panicked at Mr. Jeong's words. — But just the way she's talking about the wedding, and how you look at her. It reminds me of me and my wife.
Hyunjae was speechless. — Any advice?
— I think you two are fine. There's no such a thing as the "perfect couple". But I do find it hard to believe you don't want kids.
— I mean, not now, we're still trying to settle ourselves in a new place.
— I really hope I can meet them.
Back in your apartment, Hyunjae and you changed clothes quietly.
— I'm going to the convenience store in the morning to get breakfast, is there anything you want? — Hyunjae asked, opening the blanket.
— I'm going with you. — He nodded.
The next morning, after having breakfast, you two changed clothes again and went to the supermarket, making the list on your way there.
— You already paid for the dinner and breakfast, Hyunjae, stop fighting. — You said, giving the cashier your card.
— Then the next trip to the supermarket is on me. — Hyunjae kissed your cheek, making you giggle.
On your way back, you received a message from Chanhee, asking where you were. The three of them were outside your building.
— Why are you here? — You got out of the car and walked with your friends inside the building while Hyunjae parked the car.
— We brought you welcome gifts! — Kevin said, turning his back a little for you to see his well packed backpack.
You chuckled. — That's sweet of you, Kev, but I'll be here just for 6 months.
The four of you waited for Hyunjae to join you outside the elevator. Once he did, y'all went to his apartment.
Fake plants, fake wedding pictures, food. At least the latter wasn't fake.
— How's married life going? — Juyeon asked, sipping on his can of beer.
— I thought you'd be back to the apartment by the next day, if I'm honest. — Chanhee said, not hiding the fact that he missed you.
— If you think arguments are over, don't be dumb, of course we argue. — You answered.
— Just not that often.
Everyone, including you, didn't expect Hyunjae to give that extra information.
After a month of living together, the two had figured out how to not argue over small things like the clothes all over the place, the expired food in the fridge or him constantly using your soap.
— I was thinking... — He seemed nervous. — We haven't had a movie night since we started living together. Or since we met.
— Of course we had them. — You chuckled and tried to push the shopping cart.
— Chan was there.
— And that makes them not being movie nights?
Hyunjae got close to you and caged your body between his body and the shopping cart. — I'd just like to have a movie night with my wife.
— What got into you? — But he didn't answer, his lips were over yours, slowly kissing you.
When he parted from you, you noticed Mrs. Jeong rounding the corner with her shopping cart.
— What happened with the "I don't want to kiss you every time we see them"? — You asked, faking a deep voice, hiding your disappointment that he only kissed you for that.
— I never said that. — Hyunjae walked away with the shopping cart, not letting you answer, again.
— Yes, you did. — You saw in a whisper, walking in his direction.
And by the months passing, you got used to his touchy and clingy side in front of your landlord. Behind closed doors, Hyunjae would keep his distance, and there were times you thought he wanted you to go to sleep mad at him.
He ate your breakfast even when you told him it was yours, you found your underwear at the bottom of the laundry machine after three days, of course they smelt horrible, sometimes he would ignore you or what you told him, like the time he slept with just a pair of boxers, saying it was too hot for him to wear pajamas.
You end up sleeping in the room you initially planned to, but this time he didn't protest.
By the end of the fourth month, the same dynamic you two had at Chanhee's place was back.
You were walking out the building on a Saturday morning, you were finally free of Hyunjae's annoying ass. Even though you didn't have a plan, you just wanted to be out of that apartment.
— Good morning, [Y/N]! — You heard Mrs. Jeong said in her usual energetic tone.
— Oh, good morning. — You said, waiting for her.
— Hyunjae's working? — Just the mention of his name made you have a headache.
— Yeah, he's... working.
— Is everything ok? — Of course she noticed your disgusted tone.
And you remembered, the 6 months were almost over, the plan was to pretend to break up so he could keep the apartment. Well, let the show begin.
— No, but I'm sure it'll be.
— Are you going anywhere?
— Not really, I just wanted fresh air.
— How about you and I go for a fresh juice and talk in the park? Does that sound good?
Her tone reminded you of your mother. — That sounds like a good plan.
You spent 5 minutes making up a whole story of how you and Hyunjae were falling out of love while sipping on your juice.
— What you're telling me, [Y/N], it's making me feel really bad. You two really seem to want a future together. — Mrs. Jeong said.
— And if you'd asked me 3 months ago, I'd told you I also wanted a life with him, but I guess we needed more time. My best friend even said it was too soon for a wedding. I should've listened to her.
— You can still work it out, sweetheart, you two have a really special connection. I'm sure if you sit down and talk, problems will be solved.
Hyunjae was back in the building at 8pm. He made sure his car was locked when he saw Mr. Jeong.
— How nice to see you, Jae. — Mr. Jeong said, giving Hyunaje an affectionate pat on the back.
— Likewise. How's your day going?
— Pretty calm. By the way, my wife and yours spent the morning together.
Hyunjae pressed his lips forming a fine line and nodded.
— It seems it's true by your reaction. — Hyunjae stopped walking, making Mr. Jeong to also stop. — She didn't tell me much, but she said you're having problems.
— Not all couples have problems?
— They do, yes, but they don't seem to be small problems, Jae. And I know we like to always be right, but it doesn't hurt to hear what they have to say.
Hyunjae practically ran to his apartment once he said goodbye to Mr. Jeong. He opened the door and found you watching a movie in the living room.
— May I know why you are venting our problems with our landlords?
You paused the movie. — Hello to you too, babe, are you hungry? Dinner is almost ready.
— Answer me.
You got up and didn't care that he was taller than you. — I told her that we both were falling out of love. That's all.
— And why is Mr. Jeong telling me to listen to you? — He kept his angry tone.
— How long have we been living together? — Hyunaje didn't answer. — And how long did we say we would live together?
Asshole.
— I'm just starting to make them believe we have unsolving differences and a divorce is expected. Wasn't that your plan?
— It's been only four months, [Y/N], you could've waited a little longer.
— Oh yeah, so we can tell them out of nowhere we're getting divorce the same day I'm leaving.
— Well, that could've been the plan if you weren't out there telling Mrs. Jeong our problems!
— Stop raising your voice at me, Hyunjae, or this conversation is over.
Hyunjae nodded and laughed in a sarcastic way. — You know what? You're a fucking genius! Tomorrow the first thing I'm doing is asking our landlord if he's going to kick me out if we get divorced, how about that?
— I don't know why you are reacting like this, this is your fault! You lied to Mr. Jeong, you told him I was your wife, and now I'm stuck with you for another 2 months!
— Don't pretend you didn't want this, babe, you had the option to not even show up that day. But there you were, sucking on my tongue when I kissed you.
You just couldn't believe your ears. — I wanted you out of my apartment, that's why I did it.
— You're so pretty when you get mad. — Hyunjae said after scanning your face.
He held your chin between his thumb and index, but you pushed him before he could kiss you. — Don't you fucking dare to touch me after how you just talked to me.
— Listen, I'm sorry for overreacting, but I don't enjoy it when others know about my shit. Even if this is a fake relationship, I'd like to have some privacy.
— Well, I'm sorry for telling her about that, but you've been acting like an asshole for months now, I just wanted this to be over.
This time, when Hyunjae hugged you, you didn't push him. You had your face buried in his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
— If I'm honest, I did all those things to get to you. And it worked, just not the way I expected. — Hyunjae laughed when you hit him in the stomach. — Let's have dinner and watch a movie.
Movie night was calm, you had blankets over you two. You noticed Hyunjae was falling asleep and felt bad. He worked the whole day and still wanted to watch a movie with you.
— Let's go to sleep. — You said, pausing the movie. It wasn't even halfway through.
— We'll finish it tomorrow. — You nodded and his sleepy voice.
When you were about to get in the room you were sleeping in, you felt Hyunjae's hand grabbing your wrist.
— I promise that attitude will disappear, please, come back to the room.
You just couldn't say no. — Let me grab my pajamas then.
— You can borrow a shirt of mine. —You laughed at his child-like attitude, pulling you to his room.
He gave you a shirt, too big for you, and turned around so you could change.
— Am I allowed to hug you? — You turned your head over the pillow to look at him. He was really close.
— Sure.
The next morning, you were still trapped between his arms, glad he wasn't squeezing you to death.
— Jae... — You softly said. You wanted to know the hour, but you left your phone in the living room.
— It's early, go back to sleep. — Hyunjae's mouth was on your neck, sending shivers down your spine.
— Can you read my mind? — You turned your body, Hyunjae keeping you close to him.
— I do, actually, you're thinking you just had the best wet dream of your life and I was in it.
You laughed, he was back... — You need to work on that skill, then, because that is highly inaccurate.
— Oh yeah? — You felt his finger on your left side, realizing the shirt lifted up while you were sleeping.
— Very inaccurate. — You said over his lips.
— I don't believe you. — His hand traveled to your leg and pulled in over his waist.
It was when you remembered you were only wearing panties and his shirt.
— May I know what got into you? — You asked, sighing when you felt his finger digging just below the skin of your butt.
— How am I supposed to control myself when my beautiful wife kept rubbing her ass over my cock the whole night? — His soft voice changed to a dark and deep one.
— I didn't do such a thing.
— I wasn't joking when I said you had a wet dream, though, you were moaning while doing it. It took everything on me to not fuck you while sleeping. Unless you're into that. — Hyunjae bucked his hips, finally letting you feel his boner over your clothed cunt. — That is your fault, so you better fix it.
He didn't have to tell you twice. One of your hands pulled his pajama pants and underwear down while you licked the other to jerk him.
He hissed at your warm touch, making him bite his lower lip and pulled you to kiss you.
— Fuck... I'm so sensitive, please don't stop, babe. — You were enjoying his reaction too much, tighting your grip around him from time to time to help him cum.
He wanted to warn you, but not a single word came out of his mouth. You felt his cum spilling out to your hand and couldn't help but see.
— Sorry, it felt really good. — Hyunjae removed the sweat from his forehead and ran to the bathroom, coming back with some papel to clean your hand and some drops that fell on the bed.
And you wanted to talk about it, but didn't know how. It was until dinner that he mentioned it.
— I... Sorry... Thank you for this morning...
— Are you thanking me for making you cum? — That was the first time.
— Yeah? I enjoyed it a lot.
— And why did you apologize?
Hyunjae avoided your eyes, he was clearly embarrassed. — I.. wanted to return the favor.
— And why are you suddenly shy? — You've never seen him like this.
— I guess it's just the flashbacks...
— Well, I think we have to make some rules if this is going to happen again, right?
— Rules? Why?
— Are you going to be able to live with me for another 2 months after having sex?
Hyunjae bit his lip, his idea of returning the favor wasn't having sex, but now that you mention it... — Right. So this is going to happen just once?
— That's why we need rules, Jae...
— Fine, I get it. Shoot.
You finished your drink and made a face. — This can happen multiple times as long as we both are single. Even after I leave. But the moment we start talking with someone else, this ends. — Hyunjae crossed his arms and nodded. — Let's keep this as a secret, Chanhee would kill you if he knows.
— I wasn't planning on telling him. It's clear he loves you more than he loves me. And I'm his family.
You laughed at the pout he made. And then you remembered... — I don't mind you touching me while I'm sleeping... — Hyunjae couldn't believe his ears. — But if you want to take it further, wake me up.
— Sure. — He didn't intend to sound so excited.
— I don't take the pill, so if you don't have condoms here...
— We should've talked about this in the morning so I could go to the supermarket and buy some.
You laughed again. — Are you going to return the favor then?
Hyunje smirked, standing up and taking your hand, pulling you to your shared room.
— Lay back and enjoy.
You laid down on the bed and with the help of your elbows, could see him taking off your jeans and panties.
He gave you a last look before sinking into you, groaning at your taste. You threw your head back and bit your lip to mute your moans.
But Hyunjae heard your whines increasing when he inserted two fingers while he was sucking in your clit.
You suddenly kept quiet, making Hyunaje look at you. — Did you just... cum?
— Maybe... — You answered, catching your breath. You stood up and pulled up your jeans, walking to the bathroom, leaving Hyunjae more than confused.
But you were embarrassed, you've never cummed that fast before, and you didn't want to admit you have wanted this to happen for a while now.
The next day, Hyunjae left to work before you did, making you wake up alone in your shared bed. And you didn't know if you liked it or not.
He left you breakfast ready and a note wishing you a good day. Another first time.
You found Mrs. Jeong again, giving the "good news" that Hyunjae and you solved your problems.
[To: Menace] 7:24pm
"Going to the supermarket, you want something?"
But he didn't answer. You bought some snacks, debating yourself if you should get the condoms.
You checked your phone once you were home and couldn't fight the disappointment when you noticed Hyunjae left you in read. But your head snapped when you heard a door closing.
— Hyunjae?
He walked from his room and almost ran to greet you. — I'm sorry for not answering, I was busy. But hey, I bought the condoms.
You laughed, finding him adorable.
On the weekend, Hyunjae planned a movie night, but it got interrupted by a very heated make out session. The movie working as background noise.
You were on top of him, humping his very hard boner. His hands were under your tank top, massaging your boobs over your bra.
He kissed your neck while one of his hands was looking for something inside the drawer beside the couch you two were.
You looked at him. — You shouldn't have told me this can happen multiple times. I left condoms all over the place. — He said, taking off your tank top and bra before sucking in your left tit.
— And what if the guys come and find one? — You brushed his hair with your fingers, enjoying his tongue playing with your nipple.
— I don't want to think about that right now, babe, I want you to keep moving your hips, please. — You loved the new nickname, it wasn't in a teasing way anymore.
Instead of moving your hips, you got off him and started to undress, Hyunjae doing the same and grabbing the condom.
But you took it away from his fingers and got on your knees. Hyunjae cursed under his breath and let you do your thing.
You pumped his dick before licking it up and down, and then you sucked on his balls. You proceeded to open the condom and rolled it down on his boner.
— Do I have to schedule a blowjob with my wife? — Hyunjae asked when you straddled him. He positioned his tip over your clit and rubbed it.
— I have to check if I'm not busy... — You said over his lips.
Hyunjae smirked and pulled you down, earning a very loud moan from you. Your nails digging on the skin of his shoulders. He kissed you again, giving you time to adjust. You sucked on his tongue and started to move your hips up and down. Hyunjae whined when you tightened around him, giving you a small spank.
It didn't take long before you were jumping on him, not kissing anymore. None of you were shy with your noises, not caring about the neighbors.
Hyunjae got one of your boobs and sucked it, pinching the nipple of the other. You knew your nails were leaving red marks on his neck and chest, but you didn't care.
— Why did it take us so long to do this? — You asked, throwing your head back when you felt your orgasm close.
— If you weren't such a tight ass, this would've been the hundredth time. — Hyunjae answered, making you laugh.
— If you weren't so fucking annoying... — You grabbed his neck for support and got close to his face. — we wouldn't have to pretend in the first place.
Hyunjae kissed you, pulled your hair, bit you, spanked you. He knew you were right.
Before him living in your and Chan's living room, your friendship wasn't as chaotic, you even admitted to some friends you found him attractive. Hyunjae also developed a crush on you, but living somehow together gave you the sign that you two wouldn't work out.
You felt him give you another spank, biting your lip and bouncing harder. Your legs were sore, but you needed your release more than anything. You grabbed Hyunjae's hand and directed it to your clit, him immediately understanding.
— You look so hot on top of me, babe. — Hyunjae said, hypnotized by the view. — I can get used to this.
"Me too" you thought, but you were so immersed in your pleasure, you only could kiss him, sucking on his tongue and scratching his nape.
Hyunjae hugged you by your waist and made you stop, growling. You felt his cock twitching repeatedly inside you.
After a few minutes, Hyunjae's fingers brushed your hair. You lifted your head and looked at him. He looked different. Or maybe it was your orgasm making you have these thoughts.
Hyunjae pulled you for a kiss, a sloppy and romantic one.
— Let's get cleaned up. — He said on your lips, but he kept kissing you.
— You have to let me go for that, babe.
It was the first time you called him that, and he showed you he loved it.
— I can always carry you to the shower. We can have round two there. — His low voice made you clench around him.
But you stood up, sighing by the sudden emptiness. — I think I have a free space to give my husband a blowjob just now. — You said, walking to your shared bedroom.
Once you two were in the bathroom, Hyunjae literally dragged you to the shower. Earning some giggles from you.
A week later, Chanhee, Juyeon and Kevin visited you again.
The whole time, Chan was awfully quiet and kept looking at the both of you, making you nervous. After an hour, Juyeon and Kevin went to the convenience store for snacks, but you noticed Chanhee told them something before they left.
Hyunjae was looking for bowls to serve some chips and you were cutting carrots, maybe using this as an excuse to not look at Chanhee.
— Since when?
Here we go.
— What? — Hyunjae stopped his tracks and looked at Chanhee.
— Since when you've been fucking?
The sudden question made you cut your finger with the knife. You threw the knife and licked your little cut.
— Are you ok? — Hyunjae practically ran to you.
— Oh, so it's serious.
— No!
— It's just sex.
Both answering at the same time made Chanhee laugh. — Right. And I guess you weren't planning on telling me.
— For what? — You asked, looking for some bandaid.
— I don't know, I'm your best friend. — And then he looked at Hyunjae. — And I'm your cousin, your family.
— Well, I'm sorry for not telling you, but it's been just a week. — Hyunjae said, helping you finish the carrots.
— Wait, what? A week? — You raised an eyebrow at his words. — You two act as if you've been dating since you started living together.
— Don't be ridiculous. — You said, not being able to look at Hyunjae.
Chanhee couldn't say anything, Juyeon and Kevin arrived and started talking about some new snacks they bought.
After they finally left, you took a bath in what were you planning to be your bathroom 5 months ago. The water was warm and you were glad you still had a lavender bath bomb.
You told Hyunjae you need to think about what Chanhee said and it was if you slept separately. And even though Hyunjae wanted to argue back, he also needed to think.
The next morning, when you got out of your room, Hyunjae was already waiting for you with an empty cup.
— Coffee or tea?
— I think I'm just having cereal. — Hyunjae nodded and put away the cup.
— We need to talk. — He said. Your back was facing him, you only hummed in response. — The fifth month it's almost over.
— I know.
— What does your lack of packing mean?
You were only looking at your empty bowl. — Do you want me to start packing?
You turned your body and looked at him, he was already behind you. — I just want to know so I can talk with Mr. Jeong.
— Are you going to tell him?
— What? That I lied about you being my beautiful wife? — He brushed his nose with yours. — I'll just make a deal with him. We would exchange places with the guys.
— And if he says no? — Your fingers clench on his pajama shirt.
— He already trusts us, I don't think he'd have a problem.
— But I like this place. — You slightly pout.
Hyunjae chuckled and gave you a peck. — Yeah, but we both know what three people living in a place that only two people fit is like.
You nodded, hugging Hyunjae by his waist.
— Tell you what. We keep the place, but while they find a bigger place, they can bring some of their stuff. Let me remind you we have a whole empty room.
— And what about us?
And if you were honest, you thought he would tense with the question, but he just hugged you tighter.
— Do you want to make it official?
You looked up, finding his eyes on you. — Official? You haven't asked me shit.
You tried to pull away, failing miserably.
— If you weren't such a tight ass and would let me speak. — You stayed silent. Not hiding your excitement. — Would you let me be your boyfriend?
— Ugh, you're so cheesy. — You said, pulling him by his collar. — But yes.
Hyunjae laughed and kissed you. But the romantic moment got interrupted by your stomach.
— Someone's hungry.
— If you'd have let me have my breakfast first.
While you were cooking, Hyunjae decided the best way to still ask Mr. Jeong.
Mrs. Jeong was the one that opened the door.
— Oh, Hyunjae, how nice of you to visit us.
— I'm sorry if this comes as rude, but is your husband here? I need to talk to him.
— Oh no, don't tell me [Y/N] and you have broken up? — The lady placed her hand over her mouth.
— No, it's not that, don't worry.
— Is everything ok? — Mr. Jeong appeared drying his hands with a towel. — Hyunjae, what can I do for you?
After Mrs. Jeong poured three glasses of water, the three of you sat down in the living room.
— I really don't know how to explain this so I'll just say it. I'm thinking about giving my apartment to some friends and finding a smaller place for [Y/N] and I.
Mr. Jeong nodded. — Are these friends trustworthy?
— They are. One of them is my cousin and my wife's best friend, actually. The thing is that the place they have is really small for three people.
— So you want to exchange places with them?
— Not really, that building isn't of [Y/N]'s liking.
— Well, that's nice to hear because there are also smaller apartments in this building. — Mrs. Jeong added, making her husband nod.
Hyunjae felt stupid. — I... I didn't know.
— I don't have a problem with your friends living in the building, but even if you say they're good, the rules will apply to them too. Even stricter ones if it's going to be all men.
— Right. — Hyunjae chuckled. — Then I'll talk to...
— She doesn't know? — Mr. Jeong interrupted.
— I just mentioned it this morning, she was worried you didn't want three men living under the same roof.
— I never had issues with groups of friends living together, I'm just stricter with them 'cause, well, I was also young.
Cold sweat ran through Hyunjae's back. — I thought you prefered couples living here?
— I said I'm used to them, this zone is famously known by families. You are the first couple I admit without children, though.
— Right...
Hyunjae went back to his apartment, feeling like the stupidest man on earth.
— Where were you? Food is ready. — You got out of the kitchen.
— Come here. — Hyunjae practically threw himself to the couch and waited for you to sit down beside him, but you sat down on the small table in front.
— Babe, you're pale...
— I talked with Mr. Jeong about the apartment. — And you were about to interrupt him, but he grabbed your hands. — Baby, I need you to listen to me and I'll understand if you don't want to talk to me ever again.
— You're scaring me. — He never called you "baby".
Hyunjae took a deep breath. — He told me he doesn't have a problem with our friends living here, in fact, he never had a problem with groups of friends in general. He just sets different rules
— And how did we end up in this situation? — Hyunjae felt you tense, he just cared your skin with his finger.
— Because him telling me only families lived here made me believe only families were allowed to live here.
You started to laugh, not in a sarcastic way, you were genuinely laughing at his dumbness.
— And what made you think I wouldn't talk to you anymore? — You said after finally being able to speak.
— I don't know. I guess I panicked.
You kissed him and straddled his legs. — And what will happens with us? — You said over his lips.
He gave you a chaste kiss before talking. — Mrs. Jeong mentioned there are smaller apartments, maybe we can check them out.
— But I like this apartment. — You said kissing his neck. His grip went from over your clothes to under it.
— Unless you want to have kids... this place is too big for us.
— That doesn't sound like a bad idea.
Hyunjae almost lost control over his own body at your words. — Not yet...
And this could have continued further, but both of your stomachs interrupted, making both of you laugh.
— Not yet. — You said over his lips and stood up, grabbing Hyunjae's hand and taking him to the kitchen.
163 notes · View notes
leejynz · 1 year
Note
can u do boyfriend! eric or boyfriend! changmin scenario
might as well do both
tbz scenarios - boyfriend! eric / fluff!
*note this is all fictional and just based off of my opinions on the boyz (eric & changmin) js for fun*
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- 50% acts like a man and 50% acts like a baby
- buys you vip seats everytime to all the sports games you want to go too
- gets pouty when your attention is on a male celebrity on the tv “yah!! what about me?!? your boyfriend is an idol!!!”
- sends you selfies of him when he’s about to go to bed when he’s on tour “i miss you baby *face kiss emoji*”
- cleans the house when he comes home from work while you’re still at work
- can’t hide his smirk when you lay on his chest; raising his ego
- can’t help but smile when he gently fixes your hair when you’re sleeping but tries to not wake you up
- back hugs 24/7.
- contact name (you): my sweetheart (have you seen his weverse 😉)
—————————————————
tbz scenarios - boyfriend! changmin / fluff!
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- tucks your hair behind your ear when youre stressed
- always covers a blanket over you whenever you fall asleep in the couch
- text arguments about who misses who more “i know you miss me but i miss you the most 😡”
- the type that would love to rest on your chest instead of the other way around
- rubs his head on your neck in the morning at any random time (cuddling)
- never gives his food to his members but will give you a sip of his drink if you do aegyo for him
- leaves daily sticky notes on the fridge “morning dummy don’t skip breakfast”
- contact name (you): my pigeon (yes bc of the nyc pigeon but i feel like it’s a pet name he’d give)
655 notes · View notes
winterchimez · 7 months
Text
Read Your Mind | Lee Hyunjae
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SUMMARY: both you and Hyunjae had a mutual agreement to begin this whole friends-with-benefits relationship from the start, but now his contradicting actions and behaviour make you question what you both truly are at this point.
PAIRING: fwb Hyunjae x f!reader
GENRE: angst, suggestive
WARNINGS: kissing, making-out, arguments, unrequited love (like the first ⅔ of the fic, but there's a happy ending folks 🥹), mentions of s*x
WORD COUNT: 3,661
A/N: i've been jamming to sabrina carpenter's read your mind lately, hence this fic was born! special shout-out to my fellow sabrina enthusiast @heemingyu for hyping me up throughout the process & reading it through for me as well 😭🫶🏻
update!! this is now part of emails i can't send fwd: series (collab with @heemingyu) ✨
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You slammed your laptop down shut as soon as you saw that the clock on the wall struck at half-two. Not wasting any time, you quickly packed all your belongings into your backpack and left the lecture hall immediately. 
Oh, how you’ve always dreaded long lectures like today, which lasted for approximately three hours since your lecturer insisted on finishing up the modulus before letting you off for the long weekend ahead. 
As you made your way out of the hall, you were immediately joined by your group of friends, who were quickly catching up with you, telling you how there’s this new Korean BBQ restaurant in town and how you guys must try it since there’s a limited promotion going on there. It was a Friday night—of course, you had to agree. 
That was until your phone from your back pocket buzzed. 
You took out your mobile and quickly scanned through the notification that just popped up on your screen. 
🎁: Hey, meet me at my place tonight at 8pm? The usual.
A long exasperated sigh left your lips as soon as you saw that message since you knew what it exactly meant.
And how you have been doing it constantly for the past 6 months without anyone besides you two knowing about this whole deal. 
Your friends clearly noticed how quickly your facial expressions shifted and began asking if something was the matter. As usual, you brushed them off and told them how your family issues had come up again and that you wouldn’t be able to join them for the night.
Using your usual pouting facial expression to convince your friends that you’ll definitely make it for the next one, you hope that it will indirectly tell them how you feel sorry about it and stop making them pressure you with more questions. 
Waving them goodbye, you turn your heel in the opposite direction, making your way to the destination that your so-called friend has been expecting you to be.
Closing your eyes, you took in a deep breath before you eventually mustered up the courage to head to where you had to be. 
Here we go again.
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You were now on his lap, straddling his waist while his grip tightened around you. Both of you were having a steamy makeout session, lips exploring each other’s like there was no tomorrow, while both of your hands began touching one another, which increased the arousal that you both were feeling at that moment.
Finally, after a while, he gives you a little moment to have a breather while he travels down to your neck and begins leaving a trail of kisses all the way down to your collarbone. Once he got there, he began sucking it a little too hard, one that you knew would definitely leave a hickey behind, and you’ll definitely need to use your handy-dandy concealer to cover them up the next day. 
His hands begin travelling up to your chest, where he begins squeezing one of your breasts, which is where he gets an elicit moan in return, turning him on for the next move he is about to pull. 
“Can I… take your clothes off, Y/N?” 
“Go ahead, Jae.” 
The next thing that happened was that both of your clothes were scattered throughout the floor, and you were now lying in bed with Hyunjae hovering over you. Both of your lips are now reconnected, tongues intertwining with one another, leaving no room for a breather. 
Just as you thought things would get a little spicier, the male suddenly stopped in his tracks. 
“No.” 
“Hyunjae? Is everything alright?”
“No. I’m sorry, Y/N. I can’t do this anymore.” 
Hyunjae then gets up and sits on the bed, and you follow by sitting up next to him. Gently placing a hand on his shoulder, you looked at him with the look of concern and sincerity in your eyes. 
“Care to share about what’s going through your mind?” 
Hyunjae sighed deeply before furrowing his eyebrows as he stared off into the ceiling. “I’m not sure, Y/N. I know we both agreed on this from the start. But lately, I just don’t feel like this was the same as before.” 
It was true. You both began this whole friends-with-benefits situation because Hyunjae had recently broken off with his ex, and he was feeling slightly lonely. Both of you were only coursemates and nothing else. Eventually, you both got close with one another when you were assigned to be lab partners in one of the subjects within the course.
You noticed how Hyunjae wasn’t as goofy and bright as he was previously, and you decided to check up on him and asked if anything was the matter and if you could at least extend a helping hand to him. Initially, he was reluctant to tell you the truth. After a period of time, he made the deal and spat out what had been bothering him for so long.
Making it clear that he was heartbroken and needed a company, you somehow convinced him that you could do that if he desperately needed them. Though both of you had made it clear to one another that he would not envision you as his ex whenever you did the deed, he merely needed company to satisfy his sexual desires. Adding to the fact that neither of you would fall for each other. You were more than happy to do that so long as you both did not break each other’s boundaries. 
Things started out fine in the beginning, and he started to feel better and presentable at lectures, which made it seem like everything was working out fine. In return, you got to expand your knowledge on romance since you have never had a partner in the past 22 years of your life. In other words, it was kind of a win-win situation for both parties. 
However, you have begun to notice how things have changed from all of your recent makeouts with the male himself. There was this awkward tension in the air, contradicting what you both had agreed on beforehand. There are multiple times—like tonight when Hyunjae suddenly breaks off the kiss and tells you both how you guys are done for the day.
Something was bothering him, and neither of you knew what it was all about because the male himself did not understand his emotions. 
Every time this happened, he felt guilty about it and constantly apologised for everything that had happened. 
But tonight, something was different. 
“I’m sorry, Y/N. But I think I really need some time alone to myself.”
“Yeah, it’s fine. I’ll just go to bed-” 
“I’ll walk you home, at least.” 
Oh. 
This was the first time Hyunjae asked you to give him space. Usually—even during the recent not-so-good makeout sessions, he would always insist that you stay for the night, reassuring you that his flat is way safer than going back home with the dimly lit streets at night. 
But this? It was something you had least expected to happen, though you didn’t question the male as you could tell it wasn’t the right timing to do so. 
Instead, you just nodded and quickly packed away your stuff before the both of you were ready to head out towards the front door.
The entire walk back to your flat didn’t take that long—it was about a five minute walk, to be exact. But what made this whole short-distance road feel like an eternity was how neither of you spoke a word throughout the whole journey. You could tell Hyunjae wasn’t in his right mind, his face was pale. Hence, you decided to just wrap your arms around yourself and walked close by next to him, respecting the peace and silence for now. 
As you reached your flat, Hyunjae didn’t say much and rather just muttered a simple “goodnight” before he smiled weakly and turned his heel back towards the direction of his residence. 
Whatever happened tonight, you knew that something had changed between the both of your relationships. 
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This went on for an entire week. Ever since that fateful day, you’ve noticed how Hyunjae slowly returned to his previous self, where he always seemed so lonely and gloomy. He was quiet for a few days, but the usual message came in, and you find yourself back at his flat two days later.
However, it ended up the same way as it did, pausing suddenly when you both got down to the climax and decided to call it quits before walking back home once again. 
The cycle then continued. He would tell you that he needed to be alone and work on his thoughts for some time before eventually typing down the usual that would keep you busy and occupied with him throughout the night. You would return to him every time, knowing how you’d be left feeling confused and unsatisfied with the entire ordeal.
Yet, your heart yearns for the man, and you’re always hoping that you’ll at least be able to ease his pain and loneliness, even in the slightest bit. 
But tonight is when you decided that enough was enough and would confront him about it. What exactly was bothering him? Or rather, if he was actually getting bored of your company.
You needed to know. 
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“Hyunjae, I’m here to talk.” 
When you replied to the male with your usual messages, being the gentleman he was, Hyunjae welcomed you immediately at the front door when you arrived. The usual deal would be that the two of you would get straight down to business without having much say, to begin with. Tonight was when you decided that this would not work out, and you both have to come to terms with one another before things go straight downhill. 
He looked at you with a surprised look, where you could tell that he was definitely taken aback since you were usually the quiet one and would let the male take control of everything. A deep sigh left his mouth, and he invited you into his living room, where you both sat on the couch, distancing ever so slightly from one another. 
You hesitated for a moment before you decided that it was the right time to put together the right words to ask the male what exactly had been going through his mind for the past weeks. 
“What exactly am I to you at this point?” 
It seemed as if the male knew that the day would come when he would eventually have to face the question he had been avoiding for so long. In the beginning, he has always seen you as a good friend who would understand his point of view of where he was coming from and how he deeply appreciated the help you were willing to give him.
But lately, he has been having second thoughts and has begun questioning himself about what he truly felt about you.
Are the both of you still in this whole friends-with-benefits situation? Or even, are you both still good friends at this point? 
It took a minute or two for the male to speak up finally, and what he replied was something that had never once crossed your mind. 
“I fear that I might be crossing the line, Y/N.” 
“And why is that?”
“Honestly, I don’t even know myself.” 
This uncertainty back and forth has really started to get on your nerves, and the fact that you came here tonight to clear the air proved nothing at all. Hyunjae wasn’t sure of his emotions, yet you were desperate to know his point of view. 
Frustrated, you stood up from the couch and raised your voice slightly, facing the male to express your frustrations throughout the past week.
“Hyunjae, you keep telling me that you always needed some time alone, and yet you always want me back by the end of the day. If we’re not going to do this like how we have intentionally started with, then we’re both just wasting all of our time, really.” 
“Y/N, I thought that we could just be casual about all of this-”
“Casual?” You scoffed. “You never were my best friend to begin with. We are just lab partners, and I was merely concerned about your well-being, so I decided to help out a little.”
“And because I love you.” You choked. 
Hyunjae’s eyes widened upon that statement, and he was about to refute it until you managed to fire back again.
“Have you perhaps fallen in love with me?” 
Hyunjae? In love with you? That can’t be. Both of you agreed upon the rules at the start that all of this was merely helping one another out, and there was no room for falling in love with the other party at all. 
You knew that you had already broken the rule from the start, but it didn’t matter to you as long as you were aware that Hyunjae was getting all of the necessary help and support he needed. But with what Hyunjae has been going through lately, he knew that it was why he had begun to see you differently and how he could not touch and feel you like before. 
The question was if he was ready to move on from his ex. With your help, he should have gotten over it and begun to take things a lot easier, right?
If only your theory were right. 
“I’m sorry, Y/N.” 
That was enough to tell you that all of the efforts that you have put in over the past few months have gone down the drain that easily. 
You were getting teary-eyed, and you began stomping towards the front door, wanting to escape this suffocating environment that you were in. 
With one final sigh, you fired back at the male once more. “Why the fuss, Hyunjae? If you just say you wanna be mine?” 
Just as quickly as you opened the door, you were instantly gone. Tears begin pooling down your face as you take that long, dark, dimly light road back to the comforts of your flat.
Is it that hard to just admit you have feelings for me, Hyunjae? 
Back at Hyunjae’s flat—he was standing there still, fingers running through his hair in a frustrated manner as he took his phone and dialled the only number he knew who could knock in some sense of mind at this hour. 
“Sangyeon-hyung, I messed up real bad.”
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You have never felt so dead over the next few weeks ever since that incident at Hyunjae’s flat. Neither of you has spoken a word to one another or even come close to having eye contact at all.
It was tough when you were both assigned lab partners for your chemistry subject and had to talk to your advisor to have your partner physically changed for the rest of the year. It was tough coming up with plausible reasons as to why you wanted him to be switched out with someone else—but ultimately, your request was approved. You were now paired with one of the girls from the class with whom you were not too familiar with, but that was fine by you so long as it wasn’t him. 
Obviously, your efforts did not go unnoticed, and the male eventually tried his best to reach out to you again. But every time you managed to get a slight glimpse of him walking your way, you have always done your best to keep yourself occupied or even walk away to avoid starting up a conversation with him. 
You even tried blocking him off of all of your social media and on your contacts list—he was already swarming you with calls or messages, trying to just talk to you or even apologise for what happened. But honestly, you were just not ready to hear whatever he would say to you, especially when you fell for the man before you started this whole friends-with-benefits relationship. 
I have been such a fool to think he would eventually love me back. 
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It was a quiet afternoon when you decided to spend the rest of the day finishing your assignments before the final exams were due in about a week. The library has always been your comfort place to be on campus. Not only can you take a little breather from all the chaos on campus, but you also could take a little nap in between, especially during times like this when you’ve always pulled an all-nighter and your sleep schedule was all messed up. 
Standing up from your seat, you decided to walk down towards one of the halls to get some textbooks that would be helpful as your source of references for the current report you were typing on your computer. 
The peace wouldn’t last long, though, as you felt a presence behind you that you had avoided for the past month. The cologne was what gave his identity away, you would’ve recognised it immediately without a doubt because you used to spend the nights with him all the time. 
You tried your best to ignore the male, constantly trying to fidget through the shelves until you finally grabbed enough materials to return to your table. 
That was until he decided to grab hold of your arm, and now you were left with no escape and choice but to come face-to-face with the person you have been avoiding at all cost. 
“You don’t have to say anything, Y/N. But please, at least, hear me out for a few minutes.” 
Taking in a deep sigh, you laid your head down and looked at your books before muttering to the male. 
“Five minutes.” 
He then lets go of your arms and straightens his back as he clears his throat to finally muster up the courage to tell you what has been trying his best to tell you over the missed calls and messages. 
“First of all, I’m an idiot. I messed up so bad, Y/N. I know I shouldn’t have done nor said what I did back then-”
“Cut to the chase, Hyunjae. I have no time to waste.” 
“Listen. I haven’t been able to look at you the same nor touch you the way I did before because… I am starting to care a lot about you, Y/N. I’m not talking this from a friends-with-benefits stance, but rather as a friend.” 
You scoffed. “So this is what it’s all about? Coming here to apologise and tell me you have changed? I have to laugh if that’s what it is, Hyunjae. Look, if you are sneaking up on me just to tell me that you need me back to do whatever shit that we used to do, then I’m sorry, but I’m done with that phase.” 
He now grips both of your shoulders, trying to knock some sense into you. “No, Y/N. I’m not seeking a sexual relationship with you anymore. I’ve been a jerk not to notice how, during this whole time, I have begun to care a lot about you because you mean more to me as a friend.” 
“And because I have fallen in love with you, Y/N.” 
No. 
No way, it can’t be. Hyunjae has made it clear how he only needed company back then, and he was nowhere near or wanting to begin a new relationship after how messed up his and his ex’s one was. You’ve got to be hearing things, maybe your lack of sleep lately was the key to this. 
“You don’t, Hyunjae. You don’t love me. I was just merely a company for you.” 
“That was before, Y/N. But not anymore.” 
He now takes a step closer to you as he pins you against the bookshelf. 
“And I’m going to make myself clear, miss Y/N. I can now confidently say that I am ready to start anew and begin this new chapter with you. The old Lee Hyunjae that you have known is now gone, and I am willing to spend the rest of my life with you as your boyfriend.” 
Tears began forming in your eyes, and you had to try so hard to fight back the tears and respond to the male. 
“I can’t read your mind, Hyunjae. One day, you told me you needed space and to be alone, and the next thing that happened, you came back to me saying you wanted me back. I do not enjoy this joke in the slightest bit, Hyunjae.” 
He notices how your tears are on the verge of streaming down the beautiful face he has longed to yearn for over the past month, and he now closes the gap between you two, lips now brushing against one another.
“Then let me prove it to you.” 
He shuts you up by placing his soft, gentle lips against yours, and with that, the tears that you have held back for so long begin pouring down like there’s no tomorrow. 
He rests one of his hands around your waist while the other seemingly rests on your right cheek, slowly catching each drop of tears as he wipes them away. 
Oh, how badly you have missed this—the familiar sensation, his cologne, presence, and the soft, luscious lips against yours. 
Both of you were kissing one another as if it was just like the first time you both had done it—tongues were now intertwined, and neither of you were planning to let go anytime soon. 
“Hyunjae—God—Don’t—Stop.” You said in between the kisses as you tried your best to catch your breath. 
“Never planned to do so, Y/N.” 
As he breaks off the kiss and travels down to your neck to nibble and leave a trail of kisses behind, he whispers into your ear before continuing the deed. 
“You may have fallen for me first, but I have fallen for you harder.”
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snowflakewhispers · 21 days
Text
Acts of Service
Pairing: Mafia boss Hyunjae x mob wife reader
Synopsis: Behind every powerful man is a much more powerful woman, and tonight, Hyunjae wants to make sure that you’re treated as such. 
Warnings:  profanities, Hyunjae is referred to as Jaehyun, mentions of violence, mention of guns, mentions of a knife, mentions of death, mentions of alcohol, blood (don’t worry, it’s someone else’s), oral sex (f! receiving), one spank, fingering, breeding, mentions of pregnancy, multiple orgasms, wall sex, marking, hair-pulling (m! receiving), they end up doing it on the floor too because they’re sick and fucking twisted. 
Word Count: 4.4k
Network(s): @deoboyznet
A/N: This is not an accurate depiction of the individual(s) mentioned and is entirely fictional. Also, if I failed to mention any other content warnings, please let me know!!
“Welcome home, sir.”
Jaehyun nods curtly at the butler as the doors shut behind him, taking quick strides through the mansion and paying no mind to the way the rest of the staff disperse with their heads lowered. He shrugs his coat off, handing it to a maid in the foyer before making his way up the stairs, and he wonders if he’ll be sleeping alone again tonight. 
While he meticulously oversaw the day-to-day operations of his men, it was just about impossible to keep tabs on you- his own wife. Because, unlike other mob wives who anxiously paced about in their homes and waited on their husbands’ return, you craved risk and you’d do anything to have your fun and get the things you want. 
Sometimes, you’d just disappear, setting off on some mission without so much as leaving a note about where you’re headed, what you plan to do, or how long you’ll be gone. Such events would normally have other domineering mafia heads enraged at their wives’ refusal to be controlled.
But before Jaehyun could panic and send his men out to find you, he’d suddenly receive news that the man he’d been after for weeks had been dragged out of hiding, and that he was paid what he was owed. Then, you’d be back in his arms without a scratch, with a look of love and adoration replacing the bloodlust in your eyes while the both of you took your time to express how much you missed each other in a way that made you feel filthier than the business you tended to. 
Jaehyun has never been too bothered by your little adventures- no matter how long you were gone for, you’d always come back to him- but that didn’t mean that he didn’t long to have you by his side. 
He reaches the top of the stairs, thinking of heading towards your shared bedroom but he halts just as he passes the doors to his study, his gut telling him that the room wasn’t empty. His staff knew better than to go about snooping in his sacred space, too fearful to even find out what the consequences might be if they dared. Jaehyun turns on his heel, briefly pressing his ear against the door before drawing his pistol from its holster. 
The man cocks his gun, resting a finger on the trigger, and not sparing a moment, he bursts through the doors. He raises the pistol, ready to fire at his intruder, but the bullet doesn’t leave the barrel and his grip loosens as soon as he takes in the sight before him. 
Across the room, you’re slouched in his chair, legs stretched out with your heel-clad feet rested on his desk while you swirl a glass of scotch in your hand. He notices that you’re bedazzled in some of your finer jewellery and draped in the burgundy satin gown he had tailored for you about a month ago, the high slit revealing the weapon strapped to your upper thigh, and Jaehyun thinks that you look far too divine to be doing the things you do.
“Drop the gun, babe,” you purr, “it’s only me.”
His heart skips a beat as he lowers his weapon, likening you to a queen awaiting the arrival of her king, and he locks the door behind him. Alone, at last.  
You rise from your seat, rounding the desk and sauntering towards him, the scotch still swirling within the glass in your hand. 
“Welcome home.” 
“Took the words right out of my mouth,” he sighs with a look of adoration etched on his face.  
He strides towards you, cupping the side of your face and smirking as he thumbs over the dried blood on your cheekbone. Truly loving men would usually fret over seeing bloodstains on the faces of their wives, but Jaehyun isn’t worried. He knows that the blood on your face isn’t yours. 
“Well, if it isn’t my pretty wife in the flesh,” he mutters, snaking an arm around your waist and tugging you towards him, “what kind of trouble did you stir up while you were away, my lady?”
You raise your glass to his lips and watch as he takes a swig of the amber liquid while you set his pistol on the mantle beside you, proceeding to fiddle with his unbuttoned collar. Setting the glass aside as well, you hook your finger into his collar to pull him in a little, planting a kiss to the underside of his jaw. “Crashed a gala and had a little chat with what’s his name- Yoojung? Anyway, he’ll have your shipment in by the end of the week. I was a little more forgiving with this one.” 
He takes your hand into his, wiping the blood off the emerald on your finger before lifting your hand to his lips and planting a kiss on your knuckles in appreciation. “You didn’t have to do that- I would’ve dealt with him myself.” 
“Oh please,” you scoff with a roll of your eyes, “you know for a fact that I’m far better at your job than you are.” 
You giggle when he nips at the shell of your ear in warning, and you gasp when he lands a playful smack on the swell of your ass before grasping the flesh through the satin. “Little minx.”
You press your chest up against his, delighting in the way he tries to suppress a groan. “I know you’ll admit it one day,” you quip, slinking your arms around Jaehyun’s neck. “Besides, whether you ask or not, I’d do anything for you, my love.”
He presses you against the mahogany desk, searing his lips into the juncture of your neck and shoulder before he kneels at your feet. “Anything?” he asks.
You reply with a hum as Jaehyun slides his hand up your calf, resting his hand on the back of your knee while the fingers of his other hand toy with the straps of your heels, undoing the clasps and guiding you to step out of them. “If I asked you to kill one of my men with your bare hands, would you do it?”
It’s a request that might be far too grotesque for others to comprehend, but you peer down at your husband and reply, your voice confident and unwavering. “You know that I would.”
He trails his fingertips over the exposed skin of your thigh, unstrapping your holster and removing your revolver. “If I asked you to confront our most dangerous enemies unarmed, would you do it?” He slides his hand to your inner thigh and squeezes gently, and you gasp softly, giggling before you respond. “Without question.”
He stands, grabbing the back of your thighs, hoisting you onto his desk and moves to stand between your parted legs, crashing his lips against yours, making sure to take your bottom lip between his teeth just the way you like. “And,” he adds in a hushed, more serious tone, resting his hand on your belly and looking into your eyes with brewing desperation and desire, “if I asked you to carry the future of this family, would you?
Anxiety begins to creep in as he waits for your reply. He knows how much you would hate having to conform to societal expectations. As powerful as he was, Jaehyun would never force you to retire your devious ways, but deep down, he hopes that you share the same desire.   
You sigh dreamily, tilting your husband’s chin towards you with a manicured finger and leaning forward to whisper into his ear, “Oh, honey… You know that I absolutely will.” 
A low growl rumbles in Jaehyun’s chest as he grabs your chin and twists your head towards him, locking his lips with yours in a ferocious kiss. He slips the straps of your dress over your shoulders and the cowl neck sinks to reveal more of your chest, inviting Jaehyun to mark the skin with blemishes which rivalled the crimson liquid splattered on your skin, and his grip on you tightens when he realises that you had decided to go braless while toying with your latest victim.  
“My pretty wife just loves playing dirty, huh?” he rasps, littering your chest with his mark and holding you tighter against him. 
“You love it, though,” you gasp, and Jaehyun can hardly object.  
He kneels again, spreading your legs further apart and pushing the skirt of your dress out of the way. He leans back on his heels, inhaling sharply and his mouth waters at the sight of the drenched lace between your thighs. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out a switchblade, and you watch with bated breath as he glides the knife along your skin and twists it under the waistband of your underwear, cutting through the thin material. Once he tears the flimsy fabric off and tosses his blade aside, Jaehyun lets out a groan at the sight of your exposed folds, spreading your lower lips with his thumbs and cursing under his breath. 
He shoots you a final look, his eyes darkened with hunger and lust. “Just as you’d do anything for me,” he breathes, inching closer to your dripping core and keeping his eyes on yours, “I’d do everything for you.”
With that, Jaehyun dives into your heat, dragging his tongue over the entirety of your core and your back arches instantly, the mind-numbing pleasure already in effect. 
No matter how gentle or rough he sets out to be, Jaehyun always finds a way to make it messy- he’s alternating between kitten licks on your clit and fucking you open with his tongue as if he’d been starved for days- and you wouldn’t have it any other way. Soon enough, his study is filled with sounds of panting, soft moans, and the obscene sounds of him getting drunk on your taste. 
“So sweet,” he moans, and you can only mewl in response. 
His fingers knead at the flesh of your thighs, leaving handprints in his wake and he pushes himself harder against you, lapping at your cunt with more fervour and nudging your swollen clit with the tip of his nose, humming into your cunt when he feels you going insane above him.  
You rest your weight back on your elbows, your hooded eyes focused on the sight of your husband losing himself between your thighs and you reach an arm out to tangle your fingers in the strands of his hair. He groans into your cunt when you lightly tug at his roots, opting to suck your clit between his lips and bring two of his fingers to your entrance. He teases your folds with his fingertips, coating them in your fluids before sliding them into you, moaning into you without restraint when your walls welcome his fingers with a squeeze. The vibrations against your clit have your eyes rolling to the back of your head and your thighs quivering around your husband’s head. 
“Don’t stop, honey…” you keen, and letting you down is the last thing that Jaehyun would ever want to do. 
The way he’s sucking your bundle of nerves and  working his fingers into you has you speeding towards your high- he’s pushing them in til they’re knuckle-deep, dragging wonderfully along your walls, and your breathing gets more rapid when he adds a third and starts to curl them upwards, and it’s more than enough to have his name leaving your lips in a shrill cry as you spill onto his tongue and fingers. 
Nearly breathless, you try to recover from the pleasure but it keeps coming, and with the way Jaehyun grips your hip with his spare hand to anchor you to his torment, you know that it’s not ending anytime soon. Not that it’s a problem, though, because you’re always ready for anything that your husband has in store for you. 
“Again, my pretty wife.”
Quiet moans of satisfaction turn into desperate and uncontrollable cries, and you’re struggling to keep yourself spread open as Jaehyun devours you. Keeping a hand tangled in Jaehyun’s hair, you reach an arm over your head, clinging to the edge of the desk for dear life as the knot in your stomach tightens further, your vision blurred by the tears collecting on your lashes  
He takes your left hand from his hair, intertwining his fingers with yours and thumbing over your ring, and your heart swells at the act of intimacy amidst his attempts to make you weak for him. 
Jaehyun’s aching, his cock is straining against the confines of his slacks, but he can’t bring himself to stop, not when you’re like this- so sweet, so alluring, and so diabolically sexy. Enveloping your clit in his lips again, he continues to suckle at the swollen bud, the pace of his fingers pumping in and out of you intensifies, and he relishes in the constant stream of high-pitched whines tumbling from your parted lips. 
With a final thrust of his fingers against the spot that had your toes curling, a shout rips from your throat, your thighs spasm and tears begin to fall freely from the corners of your eyes. Jaehyun doesn’t pull away yet- he helps you ride out your high and it’s so difficult to pull away from you when he’s addicted to your taste and it feels like your tight little cunt won’t let his fingers leave. 
He laves at the traces of your second orgasm, planting a final kiss to the fleshy pearl between your folds before he gets on his feet, rushing to get air back into his lungs while his tongue pokes out to lick at the essence on the corners of his mouth. 
You sit up, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt once more and you pull him in to have his lips collide with yours, not caring that you can taste yourself on his tongue. 
“You’re shaking,” he remarks. He shudders when you peck the corner of his mouth and whisper, “ ‘cause you’re the only one I’ll ever be weak for.”
Jaehyun doesn’t want to pull away, but he has to. Taking a step back, Jaehyun tears his shirt off, maintaining eye contact with you as he bites his lip and undoes the buckle of his belt. The warm lighting makes his body even more tempting, and you can’t help but lean forward and reach out to slide your left hand over his defined abs. He shivers at the sensation of the cool metal of your wedding ring against his skin and lets out a breathless moan. “Don’t tease me, my darling.”
He pulls his cock from the constraints of his briefs and slacks, letting it slap against his stomach and your mouth waters at the sight of it.    
His eyes feast upon your form, feeling his arousal grow tenfold at how debauched you look in your ruined satin, the diamonds he gifted you, and the blemishes on your throat and chest.  
Laying a hand on the small of your back and cradling the back of your head with the other, he lays you fully onto his desk, sweeping some objects out of the way and he pays no mind to the way they clatter and make a mess on the floor. He’s fully leaning over you now, swallowing your whimpers as he teases your dripping folds with the throbbing  head of his cock. 
His hand leaves your waist and he grabs the back of your knee, pushing your leg up and letting it rest on his shoulder. Lining himself with your folds, his eyes burn into yours, taking in the way they widen briefly before scrunching completely shut in pleasure when he sheathes the reddened tip within you, pushing in until there’s no room for him to move. 
With shaky breaths, he pulls back until it’s only the tip that’s buried within you. “Ready, my darling?” he rasps. 
You reach your hands out, sliding them over his pectorals before resting them on his broad shoulders, nails digging into his skin slightly. “Always.”
With that, his hips surge forward, sheathing the remainder of his impressive length within you, the sound of skin slapping drowned out by the guttural moans that tear from the both of you. 
“Fuck… S-Shit…” 
At first, Jaehyun thinks about taking it slow- taking his time with you as he fills you up with his seed and tethering you to him forever- but the moment he locks eyes with your desperate, lust-filled ones, he abandons all composure. He starts off strong, hungry eyes trained on the way your blemished breasts bounce with each frenzied thrust, panting as he willingly lets his cock suffocate within the tight walls of your cunt. 
“Missed you so much… this cunt… this body… this beautiful face… that sinful mind of yours- oh god…” 
Your husband buries his face into the crook of your neck, mouthing at the skin and nipping at your collarbones. 
“Need you with me… always…” 
He drives his cock into you with heightened ferocity, dead set on filling you up as if he’d never get another chance. He relishes in the way you claw into the skin of his shoulders and rake them down his back, and he can’t help but let out a loud groan. “Not holding back tonight, I see,” you tease, barely managing to utter your words between your moans, “trying to let the entire world know that they’re about to have more problems to deal with?” 
“Love- fuck… love how wicked you are for me…” he grunts, “need to fill you with our kids…” He gets more desperate by the second, gripping the satin of your dress and tearing it at the seams, and Jaehyun watches as the fabric slides off your skin and reveals your naked, debauched form. 
“I long for nothing else, Jaehyun,” you whine, hooking your other leg around his waist and pulling him closer. 
“Oh, is that right, little minx?” he coos, his thumb wiping at the sweat gathering on your temple and swiping it over the dried blood on your cheek, “wanna be a mommy?” A particularly sharp thrust makes you gasp and tighten your grip on his shoulders, then you let out a dazed hum in response. “Mhm…”
“But how would you go running around and having your fun, babe? Paying our enemies surprise visits, leaving them battered and bruised… they won’t let that slide so easily- can’t have anyone going after what’s ours, no? Won’t you miss it?”
A laugh rips from your throat, and you crane your neck to tug at the shell of his ear with your teeth and whisper, “we’ll just have to leave it to the boys to get their act together while we teach the little ones to be just as wicked as their mommy- we need more diabolical minds like mine in the world, don’t you think?”
You hear him snarl as his thrusts come to an abrupt halt. He grabs your ankles, yanking you to him, and you instinctively wrap your legs around his waist. Jaehyun reaches down to grip your ass with both hands and lift you off his desk, proceeding to carry you away and pin you against the wall, allowing no time to waste as he resumes his lethal thrusts. When you lock your ankles behind his back and clench around him sporadically, your husband curses loudly, resisting the urge to let his hips falter while his head falls forward to litter more of his searing kisses all over your chest.The new position is so incredibly vulgar, and with the way he’s trying to split you into two, you could collapse in his arms right there and then.  
“Fuck… gonna give you everything…”
You don’t mind the burning stretch in your thighs or the uncomfortable friction between your bare back and the panelling of the wall, too focused on the way your husband fills you completely with each buck of his hips. He fills you up so well and there’s absolutely no way the crown of his shaft isn’t kissing your cervix. 
Groans and cries resound throughout the room with every slam of his hips against yours, and his gaze on you intensifies along with his urgent need to care for you and give you everything he’s got and secure the future that he wants for the both of you. 
“Take me… take all of me… fuck!” 
Your third orgasm of the evening rocks through you, and the sporadic clenching of your walls on his cock sends Jaehyun reeling from his own high. Jaehyun’s hips stutter forward, pressing flush against yours while you mewl and cling to him as the both of you fall over the edge together. Your head falls forward against his shoulder while he keeps you pinned to the wall and spills his cum into you. 
You’re clenching around him so tightly that he feels it’s almost impossible to move, and it’s taking everything in him to not sink to his knees right there and then, but he knows that he’s far from finished. Despite what he’s subjecting you to tonight, Jaehyun has no intention of stopping until he’s sure that he’s put his heir inside of you. 
“Can’t let you go just yet, little minx.”
Still pulsing within you, he begins to build his momentum again, thrusting shallowly before burying himself to the hilt at a pace that consumes your mind far too quickly. You feel a little lightheaded, but you’ll never get enough of your husband’s cock. But luckily for you, Jaehyun is just as insatiable. Besides, if you were going to do anything for the head of the mafia, you had to be thorough. 
He fucks you with renewed determination, grunts and growls escaping through gritted teeth as he pushes himself to fuck you full. Your husband holds you tighter, moving away from the wall and keeping you in his arms with surprising strength as he drills into you. 
Your moans are on the verge of bleeding into screams as it gets even tougher to cope with the overwhelming pleasure, but you continue to cling to him and uncontrollably grind against him. 
“Mm- shit… ‘m not gonna last like this,” he grunts, ceasing the movement of his hips and holding you tight. 
He wraps his arms around you securely, kneeling to the floor and laying you down onto the persian rug with his throbbing length still buried inside of you, then he throws your legs over his shoulders and leans down to capture your swollen lips in yet another passionate kiss. When Jaehyun pulls away, he rests his forehead against yours. Despite how dazed and fucked out you are, you blink your tears away, and you don’t fail to focus your eyes on his.  
When he catches his breath, he plants his hands into the carpet on either side of your head, drawing his hips back and pushing forward to resume driving you past the point of insanity and reaching impossibly deep within you. He’s locked, loaded, and ready to shoot his seed into you once again. 
The idea of carrying something so fragile should scare you, nonetheless, it excites you. Your heart beats much harder knowing how much Jaehyun trusts you, along with his ever-growing desire to have you tied to him till the end of your days. You think to yourself that of all the missions you have set out on for your husband, this might be the most important one yet, and you swear that you’ll accomplish it, no matter how many tries it takes. 
Reaching for him, you trap him within your embrace, raising a hand to tilt his chin up to face you and stare straight into his eyes, knowing he’ll tell you everything you need to hear.   
“Wanna put your heirs inside of me?” you gasp. 
“Desperately.” He hisses. 
With a hum, your hands snake from his shoulders and your fingers thread themselves in his hair again. “You’ll protect them?” 
“With everything I am,” he strains, emphasising his words with sharp drops of his hips against yours, and the sound of your skin slapping is almost dizzying. 
“Would you kill for them?” you add, pulling at the roots of his hair and delighting in the way he groans. 
“If it’s the last thing I do,” he rasps, and you lean in to ghost your lips over the skin of his neck. 
“Would you sacrifice everything for them if you had to?”
“For them… for you… I will… You know I fucking will- oh!” 
Skilled hips slam into yours one last time, hard, deep, and the both of you hang on to each other so tightly as the final onslaught of pleasure crashes into you like a tidal wave. Your entire body spasms, every single nerve set ablaze, and flashes of white dance beneath your eyelids. The intensity of his climax makes Jaehyun’s seed come in currents, and he stays pressed inside of you, unwilling to let any of his seed spill out and go to waste. 
Still sheathed within your ruined walls, Jaehyun recovers from his high, burying his face into the crook of your neck and leaving gentle pecks as he guides you from your climax. He relaxes against you, laying his head on your chest and listening to your heartbeat as it slows and sighing at the fact that he’s the only person that your heart will beat for, with the exception of others who have yet to arrive. 
“Take me to bed, love,” you murmur, your lashes fluttering as you give into exhaustion. 
“Anything for you, my queen,” he whispers. He lifts himself off of you, gathering you in his arms, rising to his feet and heading out of his study and into the deserted hallway. 
As he carries you to your shared bedroom, Jaehyun peers at you with sheer admiration and affection. Tonight, you’ve shown him just how far you’re willing to go for him, and soon enough, proof of your devotion to each other will grow right before his eyes. 
He won’t lie, he’s fearful of what the future might bring, but it’s not a problem when you’re here with him to figure it out together. 
And for as long as you place your trust in him so fearlessly, he’s more than ready to go above and beyond to give you the world and more.
Taglist: @daisyvisions @momhwa-agenda @winterchimez @honeyrecommends click here if you would like to join my taglist <3
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daisyvisions · 6 months
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Hide and Seek - (l.hj)
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‧⋆ ✧˚₊‧⋆. Pairing: Best friend!Hyunjae x afab!reader
‧⋆ ✧˚₊‧⋆. Summary: You thought avoiding your feelings by completely avoiding Hyunjae would solve everything. But a little game of hide and seek changes that.
‧⋆ ✧˚₊‧⋆. Word Count: 2.7K
‧⋆ ✧˚₊‧⋆. Warnings: Smut (18+, minors DNI), bff-idiots-to-lovers, mutual pining, close proximity, pussy job (? we’ll classify it as such), fingering, slight oral (f! receiving), cum eating, groping (lots of it), pet names (honey and sweetheart), premature ejaculation (if you squint), a lil angsty but happy ending ofc! proofread once
‧⋆ ✧˚₊‧⋆. A/N: a more detailed version of this ask (obv) and all the other asks that were related to this. Belated Happy Birthday to my bias wrecker I hope you’re happy with all the brain rots you’ve given me ever since 😭
‧⋆ ✧˚₊‧⋆. Network: @deoboyznet
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This wasn’t supposed to happen.
You were just supposed to spend the night with good company, good music, and maybe even play some drinking games here and there. But nothing could've prepared you for the what was to come. Nothing could’ve prepared you to be stuck inside a stuffy closet with the person you were trying to avoid this entire night…
Lee Hyunjae.
It’s not that you had any bad blood with him. It was quite the opposite. You two were like peas in a pod. Best of friends ever since you met in college. But lately… you’ve been having these weird feelings for him.
Yes, he was incredibly handsome. You knew that ever since you met him. But how come only now you’ve started to notice the way his eyelashes would flutter gracefully every time he blinked? The way his eyes would have this tiny little sparkle to them when he would look at you?
Or the way he his muscles would move under his tight shirt whenever he would stretch? Or the way his cologne would infiltrate your lungs and keep you dizzy almost the whole day? Or that one time he called you “honey” so sweetly with his warm voice? (Which nearly had you pressing your thighs together to ease the tension blooming down at your core.)
Yeah, this wasn’t any ordinary feeling. This was you… having a crush on Hyunjae.
Just saying his name alone makes your throat feel dry and the butterflies in your stomach fluttering like crazy. You don't even know when this all started. But one thing’s for sure- you would rather die than admit your feelings to him.
The fear of rejection and your entire friendship ruined at an instant. So you thought the best way for these feelings to die down was to just avoid him. And so you did… for about two months now.
But little did you know that distance only makes the heart grow fonder.
Muffled music and people shouting over one another were heard from outside as you climbed up the steps to the house. As soon as you ring the doorbell, you’re greeted by a shit-faced but still incredibly smiley Haknyeon.
“Hey! You’re here!” he pulled you in for a tight hug, instantly smelling the strong scent of alcohol he’d been drinking the whole night.
“Yeah, had to make sure I wouldn't miss your birthday Hak.” You reply.
“And to think, we were almost about to place bets on whether you would show up or not” he chuckles. That sentence slightly stinging as you felt guilty for purposefully avoiding your friends too in the process (since your friends were also Hyunjae’s friends.)
“Well… Don't just stand there. C’mon! You have a LOT to catch up on. And by that I mean the drinks-” Hakyneon grabs your wrist and leads you into the kitchen. And boy did you make you drink.
As the night went on, you were able to catch up with more friends, danced until your feet were starting to get sore, and played lots of drinking games. Eventually, the party slowly started to die down and almost all the guests invited were gone except your close circle of friends.
All of you were just sitting down in a circle in the middle of the living room laughing around, sharing stories of what happened tonight, and just enjoying each other’s presence.
You missed this. You missed being with all your friends. But of course, your stubborn ass refused to be around Hyunjae which made it incredibly difficult having him sit across you with a look in his eyes you couldn’t read.
“Oh oh I know! Why don’t we play hide and seek?” Hakyneon shouts, his speech slurred from having too much to drink.
“Aren’t we a little too old to be playing that?” Chanhee replies.
“Not if you’re drunk. It’ll be ten times more fun!” Eric chimes in.
“Okay! We’re playing it. I’ll be seeker, you guys hide. Ready? I’ll count to one hundred.” Haknyeon instantly covers his eyes. “One… two… three…” The shuffling of feet and drunk giggles were heard as soon as he starts counting, everyone in the circle hastily gets up and runs in different directions trying to find their hiding spots.
You were frozen in place for a moment, trying to figure out where to hide until you just decided to trust your gut and run upstairs to find whatever available spot you could.
You opened the first room your gut was telling you to and spotted a small walk-in closet, quickly running to open the door and shut it close before anyone could steal your spot.
You were too distracted by the sound of your heart was beating so fast from all the running and excitement that you didn’t notice a pair of hands lightly grabbing your shoulders until you turned around. You nearly screamed your head off but your mouth was instantly clamped down by the same hand now covering your mouth.
“Hey, it’s only me. Calm down.” Hyunjae whispers. You let out a sigh of relief as he puts down his hand.
“We can’t be in the same spot, he’ll find us so quick.” you protest.
“Well, I was here first so you’re gonna have to find a new spot to hide in.” He replies.
As soon as Hyunjae finishes speaking, you both hear Haknyeon’s voice from a distance screaming that he’s ready to find everyone.
“Great, now I’m stuck in here with you.” You sigh.
“That wouldn’t be such a bad thing now would it?” He smirks at you. Your heart beating fast once again from the cute little dimple appearing at the side of his mouth.
You both silently gaze at each other for a moment, nothing but the sound of the both of you breathing at the same time. He looks at you with the same eyes he had earlier.
“I missed this…” Hyunjae whispers. His hand slightly moving forward for his pinky to slightly touch yours.
“Missed what?” You reply as you try to avoid looking at him any longer.
“Us.”
“Hyunjae-”
“Why have you been avoiding me? Did I do something wrong?”
“I-it’s not that. I-”
“Then why?” His voice raises slightly. “Do you know how miserable I felt ever since you suddenly cut yourself off from me? Without giving me a reason why?” And that’s when you look back at him. His eyes were filled with a kind of sadness you have never seen before. Your chest started to tighten, feeling incredibly guilty for what you did all because of the fear you had.
You open your mouth to try to say something back until you hear faint footsteps walking down the hall. Your eyes slightly widen and you turn around to peer through the tiny slits of the closet door, trying to see if Haknyeon will enter the room.
As you keep watch you suddenly feel Hyunjae’s hands rest on your hips as he leans in close to check with you, your back now glued to his chest.
“You think he knows we’re in here?” He whispers in your ear. His voice and warm breath sending chills down your spine.
“If we can keep quiet and cross our fingers maybe.” You sigh, closing your eyes for a moment and leaning your head back to calm down your nerves.
As soon as Hyunjae turns his head slightly, the tip of his nose brushes against the side of your head. The faint scent of your shampoo hitting his nose (the scent he grew to love the most) has his eyes nearly rolling back from how good you smell.
But he suddenly snaps out of it realizing how close he is to you right now and he internally freaks out. His nerves get the better of him as he impulsively tightens the grip of his hands on your hips, making you let out a very faint gasp from the sudden pressure on your skin.
Both of you try to ease the current situation by shuffling your positions, turning the opposite directions into each other. But because you didn’t realize how close you actually were, your lips ever so lightly brush against his. You both freeze in that moment.
“Uh- I- I’m sorry” Hyunjae stutters as he starts to freak out from the whole situation. He should probably let go of your hips and back away before anything worse happens but he just couldn’t. Not when you’re this close to him, your breath practically mingling with his.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
The one chance he thought he could patch things up between the two of you now ruined by the lightest touch of your lips against his, the feeling that will forever engrave itself onto his lips. Sounds pretty lame for others but to him? It’s everything and more.
You see, the whole night Hyunjae’s been trying to find the courage to confront you about why you’d been so distant with him. The week you started avoiding him he genuinely felt like he fucked it all up.
Was his crush on you getting too obvious? Were his longing gazes making you feel uncomfortable? Did calling you a pet name want to make you puke? Or when his hands would rest on your waist every so often? Or how about that time he stared a little too long at your ass the day you wore that fitted skirt? Did you think he was a perv? God you probably thought he was a perv.
He felt like he already ruined the friendship without even admitting his feelings to you. It didn’t help either at the fact that you looked so beautiful tonight too. He almost wanted to kiss you the moment he saw you enter the house. To pull you away from Hak and just kiss you like a man starved.
But just like you, he also was afraid of the possible rejection from the one person that held his heart at the palm of their hands since day one.
But all the worries running in his head were cut off when you suddenly leaned forward to finally give him a real kiss. You pull away for a moment to see his reaction but you don't even have the time to do so as he pulls you back in and kisses you back.
His lips desperately move against yours, taking into memory how soft they feel. The way they move with his like a missing puzzle piece.You softly whine with every kiss he gives as you slightly tug his hair between your fingers (and he definitely moans at that.)
You both have been wanting this for so long without realizing it. Everything left unsaid, all the stolen glances, the passion fueling inside you… All unleashed in this tiny little closet.
Hyunjae moves you backwards until you’re pressed against the wall. He nudges your legs apart with his knee as his kisses travel down from your lips, leaving a trail of kisses down your neck until his face reaches your breasts. He doesn’t even hesitate and starts to massage your breast with one hand and mouth your covered nipple as much as he could.
“Hyunjae…” You moan out his name.
“Hmm?” He hums kissing your covered chest.
“Please-” he stops for a moment to look at you.
“Tell me what you need and fuck- I’ll give it to you”
“You. I need you.”
Hyunjae doesn’t even bother asking specifics and just does whatever feels right. His fingers unbutton the front of your jeans, sliding his hand inside like he’s done this a million times before. The tips of his fingers slide in-between your folds, making him groan against your mouth from how wet you are.
Your hips slightly jolt as soon as his fingers find your sensitive bud. He slowly rubs your clit in circular motions, making you moan out his name in pleasure. Just hearing you say his name like that makes Hyunjae’s knees almost feel like jelly.
“I love you so fucking much you have no idea.” He suddenly blurts out, hoping it doesn’t scare you away. You palm his clothed erection, unbuttoning his pants the same way he did with you.
“Then show me.”
Hyunjae immediately pulls down his pants along with his boxers enough to free his aching cock from its confinement. Your mouth waters at the sight of his size. Too distracted by staring at his cock, you don't even notice Hyunjae pulling down your own jeans until you feel the slight breeze on your exposed cunt.
His knee nudges your legs apart a bit more as he holds the base of his cock, angling the head to insert through your folds. You instinctively close your legs again, trapping his member as he slowly bends his knee to thrust himself.
He holds your waist for support as you continue feeling his cock glide through your wet folds, nudging your sensitive clit in the process. You both moan when the head of his cock nearly gets caught at your entrance, tempting him to just push the tip in.
“Hyunjae…” You desperately call out his name as you grab his hair and tug on it again. He doesn’t know how long he’ll last especially with how your sweet voice sounds saying his name. God how he missed you so much.
“Just a little more okay? Are you close?” He asks.
“Uh-huh. Don’t stop-” You beg. Hyunjae quickens his thrusts through your folds like his life depended on it. You almost let out a guttural moan as soon as you feel the knot inside you snap, but Hyunjae is quick to muffle it by kissing you.
You were so out of touch from your high that you didn’t even realize Hyunjae reaching his own high in that moment as well. The sound of him moaning and slipping his tongue into your mouth is what brought you back. Feeling his load spilled through your folds and the sounds of your arousals mixing together is almost enough for you to go again despite feeling a bit sensitive.
“Shit- I’m so sorry-” Hyunjae panics. He didn’t expect to cum so quick. All he wanted was to make you feel good. He feels his cheeks are on fire from embarrassment, afraid that this is what will drive you away from him again.
“L-let me clean you up-” Hyunjae drops to his knees.
“What are you do-oh my god” you gasp. You feel his tongue lapping at your cunt, trying to clean up the mess he made with his mouth. The act alone makes his cock twitch again, but he gets back up as soon as he’s done.
You pull him by his collar to kiss him once more, tasting your mixed arousals before pulling away. You both help each other fix up before looking at each other.
“Did you mean it?” You ask him. “When you said you loved me?”
Hyunjae hesitates for a split second, but after what just happened he comes clean. “Yeah, I did. Ever since I met you.” His hand caressing the side of your face. Your eyes soften as your heart flutters inside, giving him a peck on the lips.
“Good, because I feel the same way. Actually… that’s why I avoided you.” you shyly say.
Hyunjae smiles before giving you a peck on the lips. “You’re adorable you know that?”
“Let’s get out of here. I think our friends are looking for us” Hyunjae says, making you remember why you’re in the closet again to begin with. You grab his hand as he opens the closet door.
You both nearly get startled as soon as you see very irritated Haknyeon standing in-front of you with his hands perched on each side of his hips,
“You know, the point of hide and seek is to be quiet. If you’re gonna do some nasty shit in my closet at least do it IN SILENCE…”
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sungbeam · 11 months
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nonidol!lee hyunjae x fem!reader
your best friend hyunjae ain't no romeo, but you're still in love... so let's hope he doesn't find out you wrote a whole play about him!
▷ genre, warnings. bffs2l, fluff, angst, comedy/humor, swearing, college au, pining, hyunyn r kinda franchise movie buffs, shirtless hyunjae......, slow burn-ish lol, if ur a theater kid i am so sorry, stress and academic pressures, mentions of a bitter ex-friendship and ex-relationship, sabotaging and low-key terrorizing by an ex-friend, kissing, insecurity, lots of jargon i looked up and hope i'm using correctly, massive leaps in time and multiple chapters that span one day 💀, denial is a river in egypt so ig hyunjae's in egypt
▷ total wc. 30.9k (i actually overshot this one r we surprised 0_0)
this is the fourth installment of the love in unity series! this can be read as a standalone, but there will be references to other fics, and all prev and future yns will be referred to as __!yn !! i do recommend reading at least one of the prior storylines ;')
a/n: mmmmmmmmmm idk what to say but have fun bye!!! AND REBLOG FOR GOD'S SAKE REBLOG PLEASE—
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EPISODE ONE (PILOT): ONE ON ONE
“HAVE you always wanted to be a playwright?”
The question caught you off guard as you glanced up from your tablet screen, the white blue-light contrasting sharply against the warm amber radiating from the small, battery-operated lamp seated on the plastic folding table. There were a couple of technical issues going on behind the curtain at the moment, so the transition to the next person auditioning would be delayed by a couple minutes. In retrospect, it was nothing, but when you were already a couple weeks late behind schedule, a couple of minutes was everything.
A young and bright second-year student sat to your right in the middle rows of the university performing arts center nosebleeds. She was peppy and eager and passionate—all the things that you sometimes saw yourself as when you were her age. Her name was Bae Sumin, and she wasn’t here to audition, nor was she here for you. She was actually here to interview a few of the dancers for the winter showcase in representation of the university’s premier newspaper called The Daily. She had asked if she could sit in for a few of the auditions and observe, maybe ask a few questions; who were you to refuse an eagle-eyed undergrad who reminded you so much of yourself?
“Oh, well,” you began, eyes flitting to the velvet curtain where you saw a man in a dark baseball cap—Lee Jihoon—give you a swift thumbs up, “kind of. Playwriting was my first love, but it eventually turned into screenwriting over time.”
“So why choose playwriting for your capstone instead of screenwriting?” Sumin followed up, as you and her attention turned to the spotlit stage where your next auditioner walked out onto.
You knew the answer to that; you really did. But the audition was beginning, and though he was introducing himself to you, you couldn’t quite get your head in the game. Why did you choose to write a play over directing a film? You quickly murmured an answer to the second-year beside you as the student onstage had gotten so nervous he dropped his copy of the script on the floor. “I guess, when it counts, you always go back to your first love.”
— ✶
It was times like these where you really valued a good, strong cup of coffee.
“—I’m gonna stop you right there.” The poor kid—you really did feel bad for cutting people off sometimes, but you swore it was wholly necessary—froze like a deer in headlights. You stood up from your chair and began making your way down the aisle and into one of the rows that were closer to the stage. “Michael, is it?”
Michael, the student on stage who had been auditioning to play the role of a Napa Valley wine salesman, bobbed his head in affirmation.
You dipped your head. “Okay, Michael. Let me ask you: what is your motivation for this scene as a wine salesman? Because, if I’m being honest, dude, I’ve counted like… four different ways you’re playing this character.” In this singular scene alone. Your head was spinning from stress, and his mannerisms felt right for the role, but his acting itself just wasn’t hitting the mark. (If that even made sense, but your initial thought when he first walked onto stage gave you the aura of a business major.)
“Um,” he stammered, scratching the back of his head, “my motivation is to… sell wine?”
“Sell wine, and? What else?” Please pick up on the lines. Please tell me you read the other lines of this character.
He rifled through his packet of stapled script papers, clammy fingers flipping through and his eyes racing over lines. He probably printed out multiple sheets to audition for multiple parts in case this one fell through. “Oh! I, uhm, I’m supposed to eventually lock Alex and Kai in the wine cellar.”
“Because…” You prompted.
“Because… my boss is the… second cousin of the bride’s uncle?” He quickly added on, and you could see the cogs in his brain turning like rent was due (your rent—your rent was due—oh shit), “Wait! Wait! And Uncle Lee overheard the ex-boyfriend plotting to get Alex alone, so he asked me to hide Alex, and I do it because I want to get promoted.”
You punched the admittedly sky-high ceiling of the performance art hall. “Bingo. Now give me desperate, ass-kissing wine salesman, Michael.”
Michael did indeed give you a desperate, ass-kissing wine salesman. He did so, very well, in fact, that you declared that you were done for the day. Because you definitely were. If you saw any more people and heard the same lines of script over and over for any longer, you were going to commit murder. At least, not without filling your stomach first. When Michael was done and scurrying off stage, you caught one of the sophomores working with Jihoon—you thought her name was SW!Yn—and asked if she could have the house lights turned on.
You trudged back up to your original seat up in the nosebleeds and found that Sumin had disappeared off somewhere. However, she left a baby pink-colored sticky note on the table for you to read: I realized that I have an actual job to do, but watching you work was so cool. Thank you for letting me sit in! x, Sumin. She’d scrawled her phone number below the message line in case you were up for a proper session to let her pick your brain, and you felt yourself smile as you tucked the note into the back of your phone case for later.
“Yn-ie!”
You settled into your seat, an eyebrow cocked in blatant amusement as you watched your best friend, Lee Hyunjae, leap down from the stage and bound up the aisle to where you were. “Where’ve you been for the past two hours?” You mused as you began packing your things away into your backpack at your feet. Hyunjae had come in with you early this morning at seven, and for the three out of five hours you’d been conducting callbacks and auditions, he had been seated beside you to keep you (relatively) sane and to give you his opinion.
He, of course, had not been allowed to sit in for Kim Younghoon’s audition, because that was favoritism. Hyunjae tried to convince you by saying he would be even more judgmental of Younghoon, but you had effectively booted him out of the auditorium. After that, he disappeared to god knew where, and Sumin replaced him.
“I’ve been around,” he said to you casually. Instead of coming into the aisle were you were, he went up one more row. “I’ll tell you about it at lunch. Hungry?”
You patted your stomach, leaning back in your chair and stretching your limbs over your head like a cat. “Yes, sir. I can go for a buffet and a half right about now.”
“Oh, a buffet and a half?” He chuckled. He came up behind you and wrapped his arms over your upper half and rested his chin on top of your head. Your heart skipped about a dozen beats then; his embrace was always very warm. “So that must mean you're resuming this train in the afternoon, too.”
“Glad to know you pay attention.”
“Hey!” He squawked indignantly, no doubt jutting his bottom lip out in a Younghoon-esque pout. “I do pay attention to you.”
You made a face that he couldn’t see, but he could feel you pat his hands. “Sure, buddy, sure.”
Cleaning up didn’t take too long, as you reassured (more so reminded) Jihoon that you would be back at around 3 o’clock sharp. If he or Chan weren’t in to turn on lights and the like, you were certain you could hold your own. You and Hyunjae agreed on heading over to one of the closer restaurants on the Ave, only a few minutes’ walk from the performing arts hall. It was a cozy sort of cafe that served really good wonton noodle soup for both winter and summer days (Hyunjae always teased you for drinking hot soup on hot days, but it was something you had done since you were a kid).
Once the two of you had settled in a booth tucked away into the corner of the establishment, you were both swift to relay your orders to the waiter. Saying you were starving would be an understatement.
“You know, there are just some people who I can’t understand how they’ve made it so far in the program,” Hyunjae said to you as you squeezed a wedge of lemon juice into his glass of water. “Thank you,” he beamed boyishly, accepting the lemony beverage to sip. “—I mean, I’m sure they got in somehow, and like—I have no right to judge, but at this point, shouldn’t you understand the basic principles of design?”
You gave a meager bob of your head, taking your own glass to repeat your actions with a new lemon wedge. “They should if they’re all graduating in one quarter, too.”
“They’re all doing capstones,” he confirmed.
You offered him an amused smile. “Well at least you know that you’re doing okay, then.”
Hyunjae sighed, leaning back against his booth seat. His gaze flickered out the window for a second, then his lip curled upward as he returned his attention to you. “I guess so. Oh!”
He straightened and leaned forward again, bracing his forearms onto the table so he inclined himself toward you. “I was gonna tell you all about my backstage adventure!”
You chuckled. “Do tell, Jae.”
“Well, we begin our adventure with collecting dance kids like Pokemon—”
You sputtered around your straw, nearly snorting water from your nose and you swiftly slapped a hand over your mouth. Hyunjae’s eyes lit up as he laughed, but he was reaching over to hand you a napkin from the dispenser on the table. “I did not expect you to say that,” you managed to croak through your miserable laughter.
Hyunjae wagged his eyebrows at you. “What can I say? I am hilarious.”
“One out of a dozen times.”
“One out of one.”
“One out of ten.”
Hyunjae simply smiled. He could do this all day. “One out of one.”
But so could you. “One out of ten.”
He leaned closer. “One out of one.”
Not one to be beaten out by your best friend, you inched closer with a slightly narrowed gaze. “One. Out. Of. Ten—”
“Order of wonton noodle soup and an order of dan dan mian?” Both you and Hyunjae shot apart, heat crawling up to your cheeks, and you wondered if it was obvious to the bored-looking waiter setting your food down on the table. You passed a glance across the table at Hyunjae, but as always, he seemed practically unfazed. In fact, he was grinning like a madman.
You sighed, rolling your eyes. When the waiter disappeared and left you and Hyunjae to your own, strange devices, Hyunjae took a pair of plastic chopsticks from the collection on the table, wiping the pair down, then handing them to you. You thanked him as you accepted the utensils from him and wiped down a soup spoon for yourself.
As the two of you began digging into your separate dishes—with Hyunjae dipping a spoon into your soup and with you reaching over to pluck a couple pieces of minced pork from his bowl—it seemed that a silent truce about the matter prior had come to settle.
Hyunjae suddenly cleared his throat, gesturing with the hand that wasn’t using his chopsticks. “So as I was saying earlier—I found Juyeonie somewhere—I can’t remember. And then we found Sunwoo. The poor kid was just wandering around like a lost sheep; he was looking for Changmin, so we all went searching for him. And then Younghoon caught up with us—how’d his callback go, by the way?”
You swallowed the bite you had in your mouth before answering. “He did great, as usual. But you’re not allowed to know more than that.”
He sent you a playfully unsatisfied deadpan. “Hmph.”
“Hmph, back at ya,” you teased. You arranged a perfect spoonful of noodles, soup and wonton, carefully blowing on the surface. “So where did you guys end up finding Changmin?”
"In a closet."
You lurched, furiously holding back your snort as you closed your mouth around your bite. Bad. Idea.
Hyunjae didn't bother hiding his giggles as he watched you struggle to chew and swallow your bite of food. "You okay over there?"
With a glare that needed no extended interpretation, you wrestled the food down your throat. "I hate you."
"Hehe, whatever you say," he sang. "He was technically in a dressing room, but same thing. He was miserable, dude. Looked so perturbed."
You scoffed. "Perturbed? What is this? The Fast and the Furious?"
"Hey! Leave my man Vin Diesel alone!"
You cocked a brow at him as you slurped noodles into your mouth. "No." And then you added, "There is literally no reason for there to be so many Fast and Furious movies."
He huffed at you. "You know, that's exactly what people say about all franchises. What would you say if somebody came after Star Wars or Marvel like that, hm?"
"I'd murder them, and you'd help me hide the bodies."
A beat passed. "Touché."
Your lip curled in mild satisfaction. "Okay, so why's the squirrel feeling so down in the dumps? Something about that ex of his?"
Hyunjae motioned vaguely with his free hand. "Ex dance partner. Apparently, it was this whole thing that happened in high school, but I didn't get all the details."
"Ah," you replied. "I'm sure a good cup of coffee can get him to perk up just fine."
"Agreed." Hyunjae's eyes went skyward as a thought occurred to him. You couldn't help but admire the definition in his jawline as he did so. "There was something weird that happened."
"Oh?"
He quirked his mouth to the side and a crease formed in his forehead. "Yeah… we were talking about your play, right? And I was agreeing with Changmin that the whole thing was my favorite because you wrote it—"
Oh. You nodded your head indulgently, expression set in a way that seemed like you were incredibly invested in what he was saying. In reality though, your insides were flaring and you could feel the sweat dripping down the back of your neck.
"—and they just looked at each other? Like that thing you and I do when we know exactly what the other person is thinking, but I didn't get it." Hyunjae wrinkled his nose, reaching for his water. "Wondered what that was about."
You averted your eyes to your bowl of soup, trying to get ahold of yourself. "Yeah," you laughed, and you hoped it didn't sound as nervous as you thought it did, "I have no idea what that's about."
He simply shrugged then. "It's probably just something stupid," Hyunjae mused, then chuckled. "Just my friends for you. Silly geese."
You cleared your throat. "Yeah…silly geese, for sure."
And you were going to have a talk with those silly geese.
EPISODE TWO: LET'S ROCK 'N' ROLL
THIS was not your first rodeo, and it certainly would not be your last. It was approximately two weeks later, the Saturday at the caboose of Spring Break, that you found yourself standing in one of the first few rows of nosebleeds with your hair pulled up and out of your face and a packet copy of your script in hand. The entire acting cast sat in a sort of half circle mass on the stage with their own copies of the script. Today was Script Read-Through Day—as well as an intermittent fitting day.
Thanks to the efforts of your fellow workaholic, drama nerd classmate Kim Hongjoong, a handful of costumes for the entire play had been completed over the length of Spring Break. You'd asked your cast to find time over finals week and Spring Break to get a quick fitting done by Hongjoong and his team, and luckily, all of that had gone smoothly.
Now, it was your turn to lean in.
"Let's get down to business, everyone!" You said with a clap of your hands to capture everyone's attention. Your eyes roamed over the faces of the people who were selected and your heart thundered in excitement. This—this was just one part of the rush you lived for. You didn't bother to suppress your grin. "Thanks for being on time and making it back here; I know I cut your break short, but we're on a very tight schedule. Can we start with going around and introducing ourselves with name, year, major, and role?"
The circlet of introductions began at Cha Eunwoo, the young man in your year who you selected for the role of Kai, the main male lead. Younghoon was cast as Ryan, Kai's best friend, and the guy who was marrying Choi Miyeon's character Lily. Minatozaki Sana was playing Alex, opposite Eunwoo. You had been surprised Younghoon hadn't auditioned specifically for the role of Kai, but you were content that he'd gone for Ryan instead—a simple chemistry reading with the four main leads the week prior had confirmed to you that you'd made all the right choices.
The main cast also included Jung Eunbi, Jung Yerin, Choi San, and Dong Sicheng, another close friend of yours. All in all, you had been incredibly lucky with the ending line up of cast members, and the supporting cast, too.
The read-through carried along smoothly—well, mostly.
“—why, of course, dear Prim! It mainly trickles down to a few… specific details—Yn,” said San as he abruptly broke out of character. Everyone’s heads shot up from their scripts, including yours, as you watched San’s hand air-gesture to an invisible beard on his face. “I’m getting one of those weird old man beards, right?”
There was a murmur of chuckles throughout the group, and you gave him a small smile. “Of course, you are. I asked Hongjoong for the perverted-looking ones, specifically.”
He grinned, nodding. “Nice!” He thought about it, “Wait…”
Younghoon coughed up a laugh. “Shall we continue?”
You inclined your head in affirmation. “Thanks, Hoon. Yes, let’s get back to it. We were at Uncle Lee’s line about ‘specific details’.”
San had been selected to play the character of Uncle Lee, the role quite literally taken from the original Shakespeare play yours was based upon: Much Ado About Nothing. Your thesis play, the biggest project you would ever conduct in your undergraduate years, was called Jasmine. The storyline centered around ex-somethings, Alex and Kai, who were Maid of Honor and Best Man to their best friends Lily and Ryan, respectively. Because of Alex and Kai’s troublesome past, they acted like they hated each other, and Lily schemed to make them finally see eye to eye—as a wedding gift to herself, of course. She also convinced a party of characters to get in on the plan with her. It had all been very fun for you to write, and you imagined that the actors up on this stage now would make it all the better when they brought it to life.
With the read-through completed, you began splitting up groups to begin chemistry exploration readings. While you ushered Sicheng, Eunwoo, Sana, and a couple of the key supporting cast members onto stage, everyone else hopped down and scattered into the nosebleeds so they could get to know their fellow cast members more intimately.
You stood in the second row of the audience in the smack middle, one arm crossed over your stomach and the other propping your script up for yourself. Younghoon settled on one of the seats next to you, a small smile appearing onto his face as he folded his leg over the other. "Why hello Miss Director."
You hummed good-naturedly. "Why hello Mister Groom. Not up to saying hello to your fellow cast members yet?" Usually he was good about introducing himself to everyone; he was quite the charmer.
"I told the lovebirds I would pay attention to their chemistry reading for pointers," he grinned, eyes sparkling beneath the dim lights. "Kai's nervous about it."
"Ah," you voiced, glancing back to the stage where Eunwoo and Sana began interacting with Sicheng and the others on stage. "Awful nice of you, Ryan. Where's your darling bride?"
He gave you a show of wistful glance as he turned his eyes toward the ceiling and propped his cheek against his fist. "My beloved? Well, she is working her magic for the wedding. I told her—" he leaned forward onto his knees then, gesturing with his hands, "—I told her, darling! This is your special day. Anything you want is what I want. You should have seen the smile on her face—a daisy in bloom, Miss Ln.”
An amused expression fixed upon your face, you tipped your imaginary hat to him. “I think you should go find your bride, sir, before her plans get out of hand.”
“Her plans could never get out of hand,” he dismissed with the flick of his wrist.
“So you’re a Yes Man now?” You replied, your brain racking for the one part in the script you had written with this exact dialogue.
You saw the recognition flicker in Younghoon’s eyes. “That’s what love does to you, my friend. It’s not the same as those tally marks you always draw in that notebook,” he replied swiftly, gesturing to your script like it was the notebook that Kai was supposed to keep. “Say, you’ve never told me what those were for.”
Pleased, you arched an eyebrow. “That’s not the line, Hoon.”
You saw the moment he snapped out of character. He smiled, the kind of Younghoon trademark everyone could recognize and become spellbound by. “I don’t have the entire script memorized yet, Yn-ie.”
“I bet you have at least half of it memorized.”
He opened his mouth to remark something when someone hollered, “Oy” from the stage. Both you and Younghoon turned your attention to Eunwoo, who had captured both of your attention. He threw his arms open wide with a teasing grin. “Ryan, you’re supposed to be watching my back, man!”
Sana shot him a scowl. “Hey, if you get a second in this duel, then I get one, too. Lily!”
“As much fun as dueling you and winning would be, Alex, I’m not stuck in ye old days—”
“Your savior has arrived!” Everyone’s heads whirled in the direction of the doors at the back of the auditorium. There was a good handful of people who began filing in through the doors, with a very familiar blond at the helm of all the madness. Reminiscent of that one fiery Elmo meme, your best friend had his arms raised with an ear-splitting grin on his face.
Kevin Moon, one of the people amongst the masses, rolled his eyes as he passed Hyunjae to enter the auditorium. “They’re rehearsing, man.”
Choi Chanhee was swift to follow his friend. “Yeah, Hyunjae,” he teased with a grin.
You fixed your friend with a confused look. “Uhm… Hyunjae, what’s happening?”
Hyunjae jogged down to where you were, leaving his army of… people? behind. “You said you needed volunteers to help you prepare set pieces, right? Well, I told you I’d recruit some people and—” He made a wide, sweeping gesture toward the large group of people now simply crowded at the back of the room, awaiting instructions. Kevin and Chanhee sent you boyish smiles as they waved in greeting. “—I did!”
The lightbulb went off in your head. You couldn’t believe you forgot. “Oh, my god. You actually listened.”
Hyunjae wrinkled his nose. “Hurtful.”
Younghoon laid his head against his arms over the back of his seat with a teasing gleam in his eyes. “Aw, how romantic.”
Hyunjae pointed to his lanky actor friend. “Is he in character?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Your head shot over to Younghoon just as his eyes met yours. The man shrugged with feigned innocence, standing up to greet Chanhee and Kevin as the other two began slowly leading the army of volunteers down to where you all were setting up. You wondered how on Earth that man’s partner could stand his impish antics.
Hyunjae slipped into the row with you with a wince. “Aish, I can never figure out when he’s in proper character or not.”
“He is,” you blurted. You knew for a fact that Younghoon hadn’t been in character, but Hyunjae didn’t need to know that. Ignorance was bliss, after all. “But that’s besides the point—Jaehyun—”
He flashed you a smile, bringing his hands up to make a jazz hands gesture. “Uh oh, that’s my name-name. I either did really well or screwed up big time.”
You laughed, pressing your free hand to your forehead. “You did really well—”
“Yes!” He cheered while punching the sky. He laughed, bumbling over to you with arms open wide to embrace you. You simply could not escape him. “You’re welcome.”
You lightly punched his chest. “I never said thank you. But thank you. I appreciate it a lot.”
He let you go, lightly patting your head. A warm wave of energy made your nerves feel fuzzy at their synapses. “You don’t have to thank me for doing this for you. By the way, YH!Yn is on her way over; she’s just coming back from her internship.”
Younghoon suddenly, out of nowhere, appeared in the row again. “I heard YH!Yn’s name,” he chirped with a smile that looked like a heart. He waved his phone screen around, as if you could actually read what was on his screen, “Yeah, she said she’s on her way now.”
You nearly melted. “Oh, really? She doesn’t have to if she’s uncomfortable, Hoon. I know big crowds make her anxious—”
“Ah, it’s all good,” he said. “She’s happy to do it, really. It’s not that big of a crowd here, and you’re her friend, Yn. She wants to help out.”
“Speaking of more friends helping out—” cut in Kevin with Chanhee in tow (where did all of them pop up from, goodness), “—Cobie just texted that he, Sangyeon, Juyeon, and JC!Yn are all on their way, too. What’s the plan for all the set pieces then, Yn?”
All eyes went to you, and you felt your heart swell with love, pride—quite literally every happy emotion there was. This whole project had plagued your every waking and unconscious thought for months now. The pressure for this production to be good… there were too many people watching you now. But as you led your friends and your supposed army of volunteers to the backstage area, you felt like there was no way you could fail.
Right?
— ✶
You were cleaning up for the night. Your throat ached and exhaustion wore at your bones from the very extensive day you and everyone else had. Almost the entire cast and volunteer and tech crew members had cleared out by now—your friends had all decided to get dinner together, and you would all head over once you had finished with your business here.
You hiked the strap of your bag over your shoulder with a haggard sigh as you passed beneath the ghost light hanging backstage that signaled that Jihoon was practically done for the night. You caught a glimpse of the man hustling down the corridor and you called out to him.
“Hey, Jihoon-ah! I was hoping I could catch you on your way out.”
Jihoon glanced up from his phone, his slight smile illuminated in the pale blue-light of his phone screen. “Ah, hey, Yn-ie. Good first rehearsal today?”
You fell into step with him as you both maneuvered the dark backstage corridors together. “Yeah, actually. I’m very proud of everyone’s progress so far. I was so stressed about being a couple weeks behind, but… I’m lucky I have such a good group of people here.”
He hummed, nodding. “Definitely. That one—your Hyunjae—”
Your heart stumbled. “Hyunjae? What about him?”
“It’s nothing, but I thought I should mention that I heard a couple girls gossiping earlier—”
You nearly stopped in your tracks, and you felt something crawl beneath your skin. “What’d they say?”
Jihoon glanced over at you, maybe a bit surprised at how sharp your tone was, but he continued on smoothly, “You know that I don’t like involving myself in that petty drama, right? But they were volunteering with the set pieces and stuff, and they were talking shit about him. The usual, like, cocky, arrogant bullshit. Something about wondering how you put up with him all the time.”
You felt your heart drop into the pit of your stomach. “Jesus,” you swore. “Who were they? I’ll deal with them—”
“Don’t worry about it,” he said to you, firmly but not unkindly. The two of you had stopped in the middle of the corridor now, your voices hushed yet harsh still. “Hey, Yn—I took care of it. I don’t tolerate that shit in my theater, you hear? You have a lot on your plate, so I didn’t want you to worry, but I wanted to make sure you knew.”
Breathe, Yn. Your eyes shuddered for a moment. Hyunjae wasn’t always as well-mannered around other people as he was around you and his friends. He was like that for good reason—there were some things in one’s past that shaped who you would become, and unfortunately, that was one thing that you hadn’t been able to protect him from back then. So hearing something like this? You felt awful.
You finally gave Jihoon a nod. “Right, yeah… thanks Jihoon. Really.”
He nodded back. “Of course. Does that happen often?”
You rubbed the place between your eyes where an ache had formed. “No—I mean, he’s just got a front he puts on, but it’s not often. Maybe those girls just witnessed him on one of his bad days. He—” You shook your head.
“I get it; no need to explain it to me,” Jihoon murmured. He gently guided you toward the door out into the main auditorium where Hyunjae said he’d be waiting for you. “He’s a good kid.”
“I know. He’s great.” I love him.
When the two of you emerged into the darkened auditorium, the only light present was the one from Hyunjae’s phone. Your best friend glanced up from his screen, pocketing it away as he stood up to meet you. “Hey, everything okay?”
You and Jihoon exchanged glances. You met Hyunjae’s eyes, your smile small. “Yeah, everything’s fine.”
EPISODE THREE: WE’RE ALL JUST TRYING TO KEEP THE STAGE LIGHTS ON
IT was Monday evening when you determined that you had reached the point in time where everything would only escalate from here. There was something about seeing the backstage crowded with techies that made everything seem ten times more real. Your day had begun an hour or two earlier than the actors’ as you came in to meet Jihoon and Bang Chan about set pieces and creative direction. When your actors had come in, rehearsal commenced by working through the first act of the script and creating a deeper understanding of motivations and purpose.
On Saturday, along with the chemistry explorations, there was also a moment where you had to sit everyone down and give them a better understanding of what this project even came from. (There was a real inspiration to the story, but there was no way you could expose yourself like that, especially in front of Hyunjae.) There had been yet another run through of the script, with some of your actors switching up the way they played their parts just slightly. That same experimentation would continue today.
You were in the box with Chan and a couple of his underclassmen peers as the few of you were discussing the matter of spotlights and the like. It was early in the rehearsal process, but it definitely killed to be early.
You heard a slight commotion as the doors at the back of the auditorium opened.
“You got it covered in here?” You asked Chan, already one foot out of the tech box.
Chan flashed you a dimpled smile and a thumb’s up, and you were on your way out and toward the sounds of newcomers. You could already make out the figures of your friends Park Jihyo and Wen Junhui from where you were running up to them.
“YN!” Jihyo squealed as she rushed to come bury you in a hug.
“Oh my god, thanks for coming, you guys,” you gushed, crushing yourself to her.
Jun scurried over, wrapping his limbs around the two of you, as well. The two of them had quite literally insisted on coming to this rehearsal as your sanity check, which you deeply appreciated. Well that, and the fact that Jihyo was helping you manage the finances for this project, as well as any sponsors who came through to support the play. You had never been good with that stuff, but luckily, your econ-business-major friend was. (Jun was always there for moral support; him being versed in acting also helped, too, with directing when you couldn’t.)
The three of you immediately got to work, and you were finally able to return to your own actors as the lot of you worked through the first couple of scenes of act one.
“What do you suggest we talk about?” Eunwoo asked from stage left where he and Younghoon lingered with their scripts in hand. They were standing opposite the stage from Miyeon and Sana, who were supposed to walk onto the stage from the right like walking into a restaurant. The main focus of the scene was supposed to be Miyeon and Sana, but because Younghoon and Eunwoo were still onstage, they had to act like they were actually doing something even if their microphones wouldn’t be activated.
Younghoon gave a shrug and an easygoing smile. “What do you think Kai and Ryan talk about?”
“Kai feels like the kind of pompous jerk who speaks only in Ralph Waldo Emerson and Sylvia Plath.”
“That could be an interesting dynamic,” Jun chimed in.
You lifted a shoulder in agreement. “I say ‘yes’. Let’s just see what this looks like—Eunwoo, play that; Younghoon, play the exact opposite.”
Younghoon sputtered a laugh, but he saluted, understanding your directions (somehow… it was probably because you had worked with him for a long time over the course of both of your academic careers). “Aye-aye.”
You made a waving motion toward stage right where Miyeon and Sana were poking their heads out from behind the curtains. “Ready? Action.”
It turned out that the overly smart version of Kai was not what the scene needed. After a couple of new directions to Eunwoo about this little thing, you eventually settled on a nice in-between that reminded you awfully of a certain someone…
Lo and behold, you heard the doors at the back of the auditorium open up once more. You didn’t turn your attention away from the scene playing out before you, but you had an inkling of who had entered the sphere of the dramatic.
It wasn’t until the brunch scene had finished, you pursed your lips, nodding. “I like that.”
“I like it, too,” Jihyo said, paired with a nod from Jun.
You flipped through your script, asking for the actors taking part in the next scene—the bar scene—to come to the stage. “Uhm, let’s see… I need all of the main cast, barring Kai and Alex, to the stage. I also need Bartender 1 to come out, as well.” You waved your hand around toward the middle of the stage. “Make a little cult circle or something—yes, Younghoon, you have to stand next to Miyeon, silly goose.”
It was now that you finally turned around to confirm your prediction of who had joined the crowd. Just a few rows up from where you and your friends were sat three eager faces. Presently, it was Hyunjae, Eric, and his girlfriend, the former of which greeted you by raising up what looked like an iced caramel macchiato. God bless.
You hustled up to where they were, making grabby hands at the frost drink. “Thank you,” you sighed, accepting the drink and straw from him.
“Aye! Hyunjae!” Younghoon hollered from the stage. “Where’s my drink?”
Hyunjae cupped his hands around his mouth. “The kid has it!”
“I’m not a kid,” Eric sulked as he attempted to cross his arms over his chest while also not spilling the iced americano he was in possession of.
“That’s right!” EC!Yn mused, then added, “You’re my baby.”
Hyunjae wrinkled his nose at the lovey-dovey young lovers. “Oh, now that was awful, EC!Yn,” he groaned. He nudged your elbow from where you stood next to his seat. “Wasn’t that gross?”
Your brain was filled with caramel and caffeine. “Leave them be, Jae. At least they have someone to be gross with.”
Hyunjae mocked a face of offense, and Eric and his girlfriend slipped past you two in youthful giggles to go deliver Younghoon’s drink to him down at the bottom stage. When the two of you were left alone, Hyunjae pressed his cheek against his fist as he peered up at you. “How’s today been so far?”
You finished your sip, swallowing down the sugary, caffeinated goodness. “It’s been alright so far. I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Well,” he sighed, “I knew you were probably going hours without water, so I thought I’d at least bring you something pleasant.”
You sat down on the floor beside his aisle seat, silently offering him a sip of the drink he had treated you to. “You know me too well. And what do you mean? You did bring me something pleasant.”
Hyunjae took a ginger sip of the drink then pushed the cup back toward you. He grinned, flipping a lock of imaginary hair behind his shoulder. “Ah, you mean me—”
“I meant the kids,” you teased as you smiled around your straw with a look that was hardly innocent.
He deadpanned at you. “Never letting my head stay in the clouds ever, huh, Miss Ln?”
“Someone has to keep you humble.”
A soft laugh fell from his lips as he shook his head, then pressed his lips to his knuckles. “Well I guess if it's gotta be anybody, it should be you. Then again, that Chanhee keeps me on my toes, too."
"Weren't you the one who said he had no ass first?"
He let out a snort. "I only speak the truth."
"That you do," you agreed.
Hyunjae flicked his phone screen on for a second to catch the time and grunted. "Ugh, I have to go meet with my group members for a project in Public Infrastructure."
Your lips curled downward. "It's literally the first day of the quarter—you have a project already?"
He huffed sharply out of his mouth, sending one of his longer bits of bangs flying upward. "That's what I'm saying. Professor is insane this quarter, especially for putting me in this group. He said he picked our groups for us because we 'don't always get to choose in the real world'." He made a face. "Somebody has hurt that man, and we are paying for it. Pretty sure the people in my group don't even like me."
Your chest ached at that, and you leaned your chin onto his arm rest while he settled his head against the back of his chair. "I'm sorry, Jae. I know group projects are hard with strangers, but maybe they'll be cool with you? Are you just a little anxious maybe?"
"Dunno," he mumbled, picking at a stray thread on the red seat. He raked a hand through his hair, shifting. "I'm just dreading it, I guess. I just have that feeling y'know?"
"Yeah, I get that." You bumped your hand against his, mustering up an encouraging smile. "You're gonna be okay, Jae. I believe in you."
Hyunjae collected himself enough to smile back. "I can always count on you, Yn."
"Of course," you said, as easy as breathing air. You exhaled, "What are best friends for?"
— ✶
You found yourself seated in the darkness of the auditorium seats, the ghost light of the stage your only company. The ghost light was a single bulb that hung from mid stage in order to prevent any mishaps or accidents from happening when one had to stumble about in the darkness of the theater. It was a single part of theater superstition, as well as a sign that Jihoon and Chan had gone on their way for the night, leaving you to lock up. You'd been given charge of empty theaters before, and frankly, the peace and quiet was something you needed.
The time was nearing nine o'clock though, and your stomach growled at the thought of going back to your warm townhouse shelter for some pity ramen.
You finally shut the lid of your laptop, slipping it into your bag so you could stretch your aching limbs. You popped a couple joints as you did, then reached for your drained cup of iced caramel macchiato.
The rest of rehearsal had gone reasonably well. You were making progress, and that was the important part. Eric and his girlfriend had left a little before Hyunjae had in order to go get dinner together. Hyunjae had understandably been reluctant to leave, but he basically convinced you to let him call you while he made his way over to his project meet up location. You were directing as he did, but he didn't seem to mind and listened quietly with the occasional humorous comment.
You hoped he was doing okay.
Just as you slung your bag over your shoulder, typing out a fast text to Hyunjae to ask about how it went, your ears picked up the faint sound of creaking wood.
You froze, your head whipping around the very empty theater for the sound.
You heard it again—it was the slow, haunting creeeak, like someone was taking a deliberately drawn-out step. The hand around your phone tightened as you turned your gaze to the stage. The ghost light hung eerily in the now-quiet hall, its amber light creating a circle of light beneath it like a beacon for creatures of the night.
Creeeak… creeeak…
"Jihoon?" You called out. "Chan? Is that you?"
The creaking stopped; a shiver crawled down your spine.
"Is someone there?"
When you were met with silence, you pressed a hand to your forehead, speed-walking up the aisle of the theater and out into the lobby. Swiftly locking all the doors behind you as you made your exit, you figured you were probably just hearing things.
As you deposited your empty cup into the trash bin just outside the theater doors, you received a reply from Hyunjae. The performance hall door thunked closed after you twisted the lock mechanism into place.
With no more than a glance at the dark windows, you turned on your heel and made a beeline for the bus stop.
EPISODE FOUR: IT'S ALWAYS THE DARK AND STORMY NIGHTS
FRIDAY night brought an onslaught of the sky's wrath in the form of a storm. Rehearsal had progressed decently, and while you did appreciate how hard everyone was working, you had to remind yourself that you couldn’t rush the process if you wanted a phenomenal end product. You just needed to have faith in the people you were working with.
Nearly everyone had gone home by now, barring yourself, Jihoon, Chan, and a couple of undergrads they were keeping around to show them the ropes. You were in the backstage area packing up your things to head out for the night. You could hear the voices of your peers echoing slightly through the bowels of the theater, but none of them were too near to your location.
The hairs on the back of your neck suddenly stood up as you reached for a page of script cues that one of the techies had left behind on a stool.
You straightened, your eyes scanning the backstage area. All the lights were on tonight since Jihoon and Chan were still here. The ghost light was not your only companion tonight, and yet…
There had been a feeling creeping up on you this past week… something unsettling like you were being watched. Perhaps it wasn’t you specifically being watched—it was more so that you were never truly alone when you knew no one else was here with you. There was something bothering you about the shadows of the theater lately, and they had almost never been anything but comforting.
You had to visibly suppress your soul from jumping out of your skin when you heard that goddamn wooden creaking sound.
“Yn-ie?”
Your heart did about five cartwheels and a barrel leap as you whirled around to find Chan coming in from the other side of the curtain. He noticed your jumpiness and concern fell over his features. “Hey, you good?”
You usually weren’t so much of a scaredy cat, dear god. You let out a laugh, though it sounded more nervous than you liked. “Yeah—no, yeah, I’m fine. Just a little antsy, is all.” Yeah, that’s it. You slung the strap of your bag over your shoulder and walked over to Chan to bump fists with him in greeting. “You and the others wrapping up?”
Chan’s eyes swept over you and his mouth quirked into an expression that told you he didn’t believe your “I’m fine” bit at all. But he was never one to pry where he believed to be crossing a line. “Not really, actually,” he sighed, cupping the back of his neck above the headset hanging there, as the two of you moved back into the main auditorium together. “We just realized that some of the speakers have been left on for the past week. They seem to keep coming on even though we turn them off; just outdated tech, I guess. But we’re trying to see if we can fix them before considering getting new ones.”
The hammering in your heart subsided for a moment as your brows pinched together and your brain switched into work-mode. “Really? Okay, well, let me know if I can do anything to help—that is weird.”
You eventually said goodnight to everyone left in the performing arts hall as you let yourself out through the front doors. The rain seemed to have subsided from earlier, and the night was left with dark cumulus clouds looming above your head, and rain-soaked streets that smelled heavily of metal and petrichor. A cold, biting wind swept past your face and nipped at your extremities as you pulled your jacket around you tighter.
The walk to the bus stop wasn’t an awfully long one, but…
You stopped.
You swore you just heard a clattering sound from just behind you. Your attention went to a collection of trash cans sitting only a few meters behind you. When no animal revealed itself to be the source of the noise, you clutched your small canister of mace into your fist.
A tingling sensation crawled down your spine, and you turned on your heel to start walking faster toward the bus stop.
There weren’t many street lights posted in this area of campus, but if you could just get—
“YN!”
You nearly screamed when someone grabbed you by the shoulder, and you lifted the can of mace up in between you and the person.
“Shit, Yn. It’s just me!” Hyunjae slapped his palm over yours and shoved the nozzle of the mace can down and out of his vision. He wrestled your body to a stop, anchoring you to reality. “Holy shit, honey. Shhh, calm down. It’s just me.”
You furiously inhaled and exhaled, your chest rising and falling as you pressed a hand to your sternum. “Lee Hyunjae, what is wrong with you?” You growled. Had it been him this whole time?
Hyunjae dared a cheeky smile. “Well, I just saw you from down the street and I thought you saw me, but you kept walking. I guessed you were just in your head tonight, so I thought it’d be fun to surprise you.”
“You don’t grab a girl in the middle of a darkened, abandoned street and yell in her ear to surprise her.” Your eyes were hard as you reprimanded him; he was your best friend, yes, but you nearly had a heart attack right then. Your nerves were so on-edge that you just couldn’t joke with him at this moment.
He winced then. “Ah, when you put it like that…” He pressed his lips together, eyes taking in your tense form. There was something else in your face other than annoyance at his stupidity—something that troubled him. His voice grew soft, his touch even softer, as his hand cupped the back of your shoulder in a warm hold. “Hey, everything okay? I’m really sorry for doing that; it was stupid of me.”
You huffed a sigh and avoided his eyes. “This isn’t the first time I thought someone was watching me,” you confessed lowly, so not even the wind could hear you.
Hyunjae’s eyes widened when you said that, and he was swift to wrap an arm around your shoulders and gather you against him. His gaze surveyed your surroundings and the shadows seemed to dance in his view; his breath hitched. “Let’s get you home,” he murmured then, “I’m parked nearby.”
EPISODE FIVE: THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
THE next day, Jihyo, Jun, Jacob, and Kevin were seated deep into the nosebleeds within the dim areas of the theater. Straight ahead, you and Hyunjae stood in the first few rows of seats as the actors were doing a run-through of the first act of the play. Hyunjae simply sat in the seat next to you, but you were doing your director thing. It wasn’t out of the ordinary at all to see you two so close, but something had shifted overnight from the last time all of them had seen you and he interact.
“Remind me again why you guys are here so early?” Jihyo’s question was directed toward Jacob and Kevin as she sipped on her morning cup of coffee. Everyone in the row was armed with their own cup of caffeinated brew, too; that was simply what being awake at nine on a Saturday morning called for.
Kevin peered at the other two from around Jacob. “His girlfriend and Chanhee are grocery shopping.”
Jun snorted. “Are they roommates? Why’s Chanhee grocery shopping with JC!Yn? Sounds a bit random.”
“They’re with her roommate and Changmin, too,” Jacob replied with a joking roll of his eyes. “Kevin’s just petty that they’ve never thought to extend the invitation to us.”
“Hey! You always hint at wanting to join them, too. It’s not just me, good sir.”
“I asked once, and when she said no, I never asked again—”
“—he’d only say that because he’s been scorned by love,” Younghoon lamented from the stage, his arm braced along the back of Miyeon’s folding chair. Props were still being finalized between a couple options, but Jun had found a bunch of folding chairs in a closet that you could use for the bar scene. Everyone’s attention moved away from invitation-less friends to friends playing pretend. He made a dramatic gesture, clutching his heart, then straightening with a laugh as he teased his friend who wasn’t in the scene. “I still think it’s stupid that he and Alex never worked out.”
Eunbi’s eyebrows flew up to her hairline as her hand, holding a water bottle that would later be replaced with a drink glass, froze in mid-air. “I’m sorry? This is news to me. Since when did Kai and Alex even have a chance at ‘working out’?”
Miyeon let out a delighted gasp. “Oh, where to begin?”
Yerin piped in with a lazier gesture with her water bottle. “They weren’t always sworn enemies, y'know. Once upon a time, the ‘lovebirds’ were actually lovebirds,” she chuckled at her own joke—or, her character’s joke.
Younghoon explained, "Their parents pretty much pitted them against each other since the end of middle school. They used to be friends, actually, and they were top of their class in practically everything. Except…"
"Academic League?" Eunbi guessed with her brows twisted. "I remember hearing about something like that."
"Yeah, I mean," Miyeon added, "something happened in junior year and it's been like that since."
"What happened in junior year?—"
Jihyo watched the performance with narrowed eyes, her body leaned forward onto her knees. "This sounds awfully familiar."
The three boys turned their heads her way. "What do you mean?"
She shook her head, eyes fluttering. She made a face and cocked her head to the side in thought. "Okay, maybe it's not exactly like what I'm… Jun, you remember when Yn told us about—you know?"
"That she almost confessed to Hyunjae? Ow! I'm sorry!" Jun yelped as Jihyo slapped his shoulder, hard.
Jacob and Kevin exchanged wide-eyed glances. "She almost confessed to Hyunjae? When?"
Jihyo sent Jun another hard glare, to which he sheepishly raised his hands in surrender, before replying, "Yn said offhandedly once that in junior year of high school, she was almost going to confess her feelings to Hyunjae, but then suddenly decided not to."
Kevin leaned his chin onto his fist. "Huh…"
"I don't know how I didn't even notice this before when I read through the script," Jihyo thought aloud. "Alex and Kai are Yn and Hyunjae—just…with a different ending."
All four heads turned to face forward once more, except, their attention zeroed in on you and Hyunjae. YH!Yn had appeared beside you, most likely updating you on the progress of the massive prop project she was working on for the play. You listened to her report intently as Hyunjae sat next to you, his head leaned onto your shoulder as he played some game on his phone. It was far too soft, far too—there was no way you based this all off of your own experience with Hyunjae, right?
In fact, it was possible.
As YH!Yn let you know that she would have to buy a few more PVC pipes from the hardware store, you assured her that she would be reimbursed for those expenses.
“—I know how busy you are—”
YH!Yn smiled sweetly as she cut you off, “Oh, no worries at all! I’m happy to help, as Hoon said before. Plus, this is a lot more fun than my internship; feels like a little creative project I get to nerd out on.”
You grinned at that sentiment. “Ah, I totally get that. Well, I won’t keep you from it any longer. Thanks again.”
YH!Yn gave a brief goodbye, then stood up to head back out to the backstage area where she was putting together the portable fountain she was building (you had given her a list of possible “show-stopping” prop ideas you had and she had picked the fountain). As she left, you watched as she passed by the bottom stage to catch Younghoon’s hand. Something like yearning ached in your chest. One day…
The mass weighing on your opposite shoulder stirred as he let out a noise of surprise. “Huh?”
You glanced over at him as best you could, then flashed Younghoon a thumb’s up to signal him that you were paying attention now. “Huh what?”
Hyunjae sat up straight, his nose scrunched, eyes pinned to his phone screen. “Didn’t you have a friend named Ellie in like, high school?”
Your lips curled into a slight frown at the name; it definitely rang a bell. “I did, what about her?” You asked. The sounds of the dialogue happening on stage faded to glorified background noise as you leaned over to peer at Hyunjae’s phone screen. There, he had a new text thread pulled up with an unknown number introducing herself as Ellie, a “classmate of his from high school”. Not only were you frowning, but your forehead creased, too. It had been ages since you had last been in contact with her. The two of you had been the best of friends before you drifted apart.
To be honest, you had no idea how the two of you drifted apart so easily when you’d been so close to her, but you ended up getting closer to Hyunjae anyway. You chalked it up to differences in interests, but maybe now you could get some answers. Well, that was depending on why she was texting Hyunjae.
“She texted me,” he said, holding the screen between you two. “Recognize the number?”
You could barely remember your own number. Shaking your head, you lifted your gaze back up to the stage where your actors had already moved through most of the scene. “Nope. Might be a new one since it’s been so long. Wonder how she got your phone number.”
Hyunjae blew out a puff of air as he laughed—you saw him begin to type out a response from the corner of your eye. “How do people not get my number at this point,” he grumbled under his breath.
— ✶
It wasn’t until you were seated in the booth of Junhui’s favorite Chinese restaurant on the Ave that he and Jihyo ambushed you with The Question™.
“So when were you going to tell us that the play was about you and Hyunjae?”
Your movements paused, then resumed so you could properly settle into your seat. "At least let me order first."
To their credit, your friends withheld from further questioning until the waiter had come by to take the table's order. When she had gone and was out of earshot, Jihyo pounced, whipping her head over to you and placing a hand on the table between you. You realized suddenly that you were trapped between her and the wall.
"Spill."
Your eyes widened a smidge, intimidated. "How did you guys figure it out? I mean, it's not that obvious, is it?"
Jun shook his head. "Nah, not really. Ji was just on five shots of espresso this morning apparently."
Jihyo sent him a pointed look. "I was not on five shots of espresso…" She murmured, "It was two."
"Okay, five shots, two shots—" Jihyo flapped her hands around as she angled her body toward you. "It was the bar scene and they were all talking about Alex and Kai. And I thought that the bit about junior year sounded really familiar."
"I can't believe you didn't confess to him back then," Jun feigned a disproving shake of his head while clicking his tongue.
You leaned your face against the palm of your hand with an unpretty fwump. "Guys, the play is basically centered around the idea: what if I had confessed to Hyunjae and it went wrong?"
"Just ten times more dramatic," Jun pointed out.
"And," Jihyo added, "their roles are switched. Kai's the one who confesses to Alex in the play, and it's Alex's ex who makes a grand showing at the wedding festivities to cause trouble. Yn doesn't have an ex."
"Uncalled for," you grunted.
Jihyo gave a charmingly beautiful smile that could make all the world fall at her feet. "You love me."
"You're lucky you're cute."
Jun sipped on his water. "I'm right here."
You and Jihyo bursted into giggles, the sound like twinkling bells. Jun sighed softly, but you saw the corners of his lips lift up into a small smile. For a moment, you had forgotten what the topic of this conversation was.
You sobered slightly, your hands reaching for your water glass to take a gulp, then nurse it between your palms. "Have you ever heard the saying that we always try to recreate our first heartbreak in order to rewrite how it ends?"
Jihyo and Jun quieted. They peered at you with eyes that could peer straight into your soul if you let them. That was why you couldn't exactly meet their eyes as you tried to articulate your thoughts behind writing this whole mess. "I mean," you pursed your lips, "it wasn't a heartbreak; it was never a heartbreak. My heart hadn't been broken because how could it be broken if I never even let it. You know?"
"That's not how a lot of hearts are broken, Yn," Jun murmured with a sincere depth to his dark brown eyes. There was something so soulful about them. "Most are broken in silence."
You huffed slightly. "That was a great line."
"I know—"
"Ahem," Jihyo said, reigning the both of you drama geeks back into the realm of real talk. She leaned over to wrap her arms around you, her head resting on top of your own. "So you wrote this… to conquer your fears? To comprehend your feelings?"
"To imagine, to wish, to dream," you added. It was quite sad, really. You couldn't quite think of writing anything else when the time had come to start drafting your thesis. "We write what we know best."
"I thought Hyunjae was basically there throughout this whole process," Jun said, his elbows resting on top of the table as he gestured vaguely. "How has he not figured out that Alex is him?"
You gave a shrug. You couldn't imagine how he hadn't yet figured it out, but it wasn't exactly the most obvious thing. You would soon rather go missing than Hyunjae ever figuring out the truth behind the play's inspiration. Whenever he asked you, it was always "I was so inspired by Kenneth Branuagh and Emma Thompson's rendition of the play" and "I wanted to spice up an old, timeless play and give it a kick of Today". He believed that you were writing a play based solely upon the themes of childhood manipulation, academic pressure, and miscommunication. And you were—just not only those things.
Your thesis would have never been accepted if you'd only presented a skeleton of a play about your nonexistent love life. All of the additions and embellishments to the story had come easy as you pieced together the plotline. But the two main characters had never changed.
With that now settled, the food arrived at your table. (What a brilliantly timed, cosmic coincidence!) You and your friends thought it best to move onto other topics of conversation. Somehow, you had reached the topic of your recent week of weird feelings. Not just about Hyunjae, but about the strange feeling of constantly not being alone. You'd even explained the entire debacle from last night, with Hyunjae scaring you then rushing you home.
Jihyo and Jun both replied appropriately: "Girl, what the fuck?"
You brushed it off with a nonchalance that was not convincing. (Then again, you were never an actress yourself.)
The rest of dinner progressed relatively smoothly, and when the check had come and gone, you wanted to offer a mint to your friends.
"—shit," you swore as you dug around in your bag. When your hand came up empty-handed, you brushed that same hand through your hair. "I left my Altoids in the theater."
Jihyo finished signing her bill, tucking her card away. "Oh? Well, let's go get them."
Jun bobbed his head as he shouldered his coat on. "Yeah, it's no problem, Yn-ie."
"Really? You guys don't have to; they're just min—"
"Nonsense!" Jihyo chirped. She stood up and out of the booth, giving you the space to slip out after her. She then linked your arm with hers, then hooked her other with Jun's. "Power in numbers, my love."
You could do nothing but agree—wholeheartedly. The way your heart rate slowed when she insisted that she and Jun would accompany you showed just how grateful you were. You probably wouldn't have even gone to retrieve them tonight, but waited until Monday instead. They were just mints, after all, but you were appreciative nonetheless. Even for a small item, they would be by your side.
The journey back to the theater was a brief one as Jun drove the three of you back to the performing arts center and pulled into the space right by the stairs up to the hall. You recalled leaving them on one of the dressing room tables in the back corridors, so you used your student ID to buzz into the back hallway of the performing arts building.
You and your friends' voices hushed as you all crept into the dark, abandoned building. When the door closed behind you all, you turned your phone flashlight on to guide your way toward the dressing rooms.
"It should be in one of these rooms," you told your friends as you entered the hallway of doors. You located a familiar number and pushed into the room, swiftly retrieving the teal-colored metal box of minty sweets on the vanity table.
The door closed softly when you slipped out.
"Hey, how's YH!Yn's fountain project coming along?" Jun asked as the three of you began to make your way back toward the back door.
"Oh yeah!" Jihyo perked up. "How's that going? She's so badass for that."
"Isn't she?" You gushed. "Do you guys wanna see her progress?"
There was an obvious answer to that, and the three of you made a hard one hundred eighty degree turn, swerving back down the corridor from which you had just come from. Your conspiratorial giggles echoed within the rafters and bowels of the theater, as if you were pixies from A Midsummer Night's Dream, frolicking through the forest in which they dwelled.
When you reached the vicinity of the backstage area, your footsteps faltered.
It was still dark.
You frowned, slowly stepping into the backstage area.
"Yn? What's wrong?"
Jun said it before you could, "Huh. The ghost light's not on."
Indeed, the bulb that was supposed to be on when no light was, was pitch black. A cool breeze drifted down your spine, making the hairs on the back of your neck and your arms stand up.
"Could Jihoon or Chan have forgotten on their way out?"
"You know Jihoon's not one to forget."
You drifted away from your friends as you slowly stepped into the backstage area. Your flashlight shone toward the walls first as you aimed to make your way toward the lights panel. It would be an easy fix—
Your heart dropped clean into the pit of your stomach.
The light of your flashlight illuminated the absolute chaos.
Setting and backdrop pieces that had been painted by volunteers, articles of clothing collected for people's costumes, scripts left behind torn out of their staples—all of it was flung about and scattered over the backstage floor. It was like a tornado had swept through the area, and you knew your friends were seeing what you were seeing now.
You held your breath for so long you were pretty sure you were imagining the hands shaking you.
Somebody had come in and took their rage out on your play. But who, and more importantly, why?
EPISODE SIX: PHANTOM OF THE PERFORMING ARTS HALL
"WHAT'S up with the ghost light anyway?"
There was a group of you gathered by the stage of the performing arts hall, the house lights having been turned on after you'd made a call to Jihoon and campus security. Along with Jihoon and campus security, however, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Eric, and Younghoon had also appeared. You had shot Hyunjae a text about what had happened and he'd rushed over with his friends—you felt awful about pulling them away from whatever they were doing, but Hyunjae didn't say anything about it.
You sat on the edge of the stage next to Jihyo with Jun and Hyunjae standing by you both on the floor of the auditorium. Well, Hyunjae stood in front of you and you leaned your chin on top of his beanie-covered head while the lot of you waited for whatever security pulled up from the limited amount of cameras. Jihoon had disappeared somewhere to make a call—you would hear from him, too, soon.
The question had been posed by Juyeon, who sat next to Eric and Younghoon in the first row of nosebleeds.
Jun dragged a hand down the side of his face, then rubbed his mouth. "Ah, it's uhm, old theater superstition," he replied. "Usually, backstage crew leaves the ghost light on so anybody coming in doesn't trip on anything or accidentally get hurt or, y'know—break anything."
"It couldn't have just gone out because of the power then?" Hyunjae asked.
Younghoon shook his head. "Usually it runs on the same electricity that every other light runs on. I've never been in a theater where the ghost light just randomly goes out, and there weren't any power outages today either."
"The problem isn't even about the ghost light," you said. Everyone's eyes flickered over to you and Hyunjae. Hyunjae patted one of the legs you had on either side of his upper body as a means of consolation or comfort. "It's about the props and costumes. We're just lucky that they were just scattered and not properly damaged. We would've been set back another week at least."
Eric perked up. "Maybe it's the ghost of Shakespeare haunting the hall!"
A snort fell from your lips as you mused, "Shakespeare in the park?"
Hyunjae cleared his throat as he prepared his best rendition of the Iron Man line: "Doth mother know you weareth her drapes?"
As the two of you shared a giggle and fistbump, the other remaining members of your party sent you strange, confused looks.
Younghoon gave an eye roll. "Oh dear god, you two really are meant for each other."
You caught Jun and Jihyo whip their heads toward you, but before anything else could be said, Jihoon was hustling back into the auditorium from the lobby doors in the back. He brushed the hair out of his eyes as he jogged over to where all of you were gathered, those signature bags under his eyes prominently featured. Oh, you definitely felt terrible.
"What'd they say, Jihoon?" Jihyo asked first.
Jihoon tucked his hands into his pockets as he joined the loose cult circle. "Security found that the locks on the front of the hall were picked open, so they wouldn't have gotten a record of somebody's card being used. Cams picked up someone dressed in black, but they knew where the camera would have gotten a clear shot of them. But because there wasn't anything officially damaged, there isn't much legal action we can take."
Juyeon offered quietly, "Breaking and entering."
Jihoon gestured to him. "Right. Breaking and entering, but that's about it." He pinched the bridge of his nose between his eyes. "It wasn't just a prank or whatever. At least, I don't think so. What do you think, Yn?"
You swallowed, straightening slightly. "I don't think so either. I mean, I don't think any drunk pranksters would go through the trouble of picking open a lock. Even a sober one."
"Maybe a spiteful classmate," Jun suggested with a meager shrug. "Some people are ruthless."
"If there isn't much we can do, or much security is willing to do," you muttered, "then we should call it a night. We just have to take pains to lock everything up every rehearsal now."
Jihoon nodded sharply. "Right. Pains, but necessary ones."
"I'm sorry this happened to you," Eric frowned. A murmur of agreement echoed from everyone else in the group.
You pursed your lips. "It's okay, I—it's not okay, obviously, but I'm glad no one's hard work was properly destroyed. That's all that matters." Even if your nerves were a little shaken. Who could have done this?
The remainder of your time spent in the theater was picking everything up and putting them in their rightful places. By the time the group of you had finished locking everything up, the night had slipped away into its proper depths. Everyone was ready to get the hell out of here and go home to their beds, and Jihoon was certain to show you the ghost light being turned and sustaining for at least a couple minutes before the two of you were the last out.
Juyeon, Eric, Younghoon, and Jihoon said their goodnights and goodbyes, already departing their separate ways to go home. You lifted your head up to find where Jihyo and Jun were waiting for you when you saw Hyunjae standing closer to the entryway of the hall. He gave you a sleepy smile, opening up his arms for you to walk right into.
"Tired?" He chuckled, the sound creating a soft vibration in his chest as you shoved your face into his pretty-smelling sweater.
"Mm," you grunted. "You didn't go home with Younghoon?"
"Nah. I wanna go home with you."
In any other context, in any other situation, that would have meant something completely different. You swallowed, wrapping your arms around his frame. With a nod, you screwed your eyes shut and swept away those wistful thoughts. "Okay, fine."
You didn't know why you kept doing this to yourself. But he was your best friend, and tonight was… a lot. A friendly sleepover was something you needed—at least, that was what you were telling yourself.
— ✶
Being the oh-so courteous guest he was (especially since he practically invited himself over), Hyunjae let you take the shower first. You shared a townhouse a bus ride away from the university campus with two others whom you knew from rooming with them your first year of college. You had lucked out with the random roommate assignments that year, and the three of you weren't the closest nor best of friends, but you found great housemates in each other, which was just as valuable.
You had your own room and ensuite up on the topmost floor, so you and Hyunjae had a bit of privacy and wouldn't bother your friends below. You had finished with your shower a bit ago, so you were settled on your bed, flipping through emails and ensuring no important ones had ended up in the spam folder.
When you heard the door open from the bathroom, you glanced up, but returned your gaze back to this one email about a sponsorship that needed to be added to the playbill later.
"I accidentally grabbed the wrong shirt."
You hummed in question as you quickly forwarded the email to Jihyo, then looked up. A laugh sputtered out of your mouth as you took in Hyunjae taking up the space of your doorway. He was in a pair of his own sweatpants that he often left here, but instead of one of his t-shirts, he must have accidentally grabbed one of your tops. It was a Hello Kitty one you'd found in the back of your closet awhile ago, and fit you pretty nicely, so it looked strained on Hyunjae.
You flopped onto the bed, rolling around in your own laughter. "Jae!—your tits don't fit in that, honey."
Hyunjae's mouth stretched into a grin, his tongue darting out for a second. His dirty blond hair, damp and curly, hung slightly in his eyes over his forehead. "Oh, shut up."
To your detriment (you deserved this, you really did), he then smiled (more like, smirked) as he casually lifted the top over his head.
Your eyes widened just as your entire body lit up on fire. "Hey, woah there! Dude!" You jokingly covered your eyes—your whole face—with your hands as he flicked the shirt off, straightened it out, then stalked over to your closet to swap tops.
Hyunjae rolled his eyes as he ripped another shirt from a hanger and came to take a seat on the edge of the bed. "You've seen me shirtless before, Yn. Calm down."
No. How could you just calm down—? It was nearly impossible when you saw the way the muscles in his back rippled as he yanked the new, white T-shirt over his head. With muted sadness, you watched as the toned muscle on his stomach disappeared beneath the fabric.
Damn.
"You're drooling."
Your eyes darted up to where he was grinning down at his phone screen now, only looking at you from his periphery where you were still lying on the bed.
You huffed, rising onto your knees and hoping your embarrassment wasn't plain as day. But you subtly swiped your thumb across your lower lip to make sure you weren't actually drooling. This is your best friend, Yn; control yourself. "Loser."
"Child."
"Chicken."
"Weirdo."
"Nerd!" You shot back, making him laugh as you draped yourself over his back and tucked his head under your chin. His wet, cold hair tickled your skin, but it was a welcome sensation.
You peered down at his phone with him from your perch. "Who's that?" You asked as he opened up a new text notification from a new number.
You were scanning the message the sender had texted while Hyunjae huffed. "Another of your suitors, milady," he drawled sarcastically.
The message said something like "would she be interested?", the "she" referring to you.
Hyunjae typed out: In you? Probably not.
You let out a gasp, hitting him playfully on the (muscle of his) shoulder. "Hyunjae!"
He snickered, exiting out of the text chain, then deleting the number. "What? I'm just being honest. I feel like every dude who's interested in you goes through me to ask and it's so lame."
You absentmindedly watched as he opened up Instagram and started brainlessly doom-scrolling. "Maybe it's 'cause you've so clearly friendzoned me," you muttered incoherently under your breath.
"Huh? What was that?"
"Maybe it's 'cause they see you as the gatekeeper," you amended, leaving him to climb off your bed and step into the bathroom to prepare your toothbrush for use.
You could hear the incredulity in his voice. "Gatekeeper? Pfft, no way. They're all just cowards; they don't deserve you if they can't ask you out to your face." After a second, he added, "Hey, I don't gatekeep you!"
You made a face at yourself in the mirror as you brushed your teeth. "Uh-huh."
"That's not reassuring, Yn-ie."
You poked your head out of the bathroom and made eye contact with where he had rearranged his position so he sat up against the headboard. "I was just agreeing with you," you teased, then retreated back into the bathroom to finish up your night routine.
"No, you weren't, you menace."
You flicked the lights in the bathroom and bedroom off and rolled onto the bed next to him. The two of you laid facing each other in the dark, your bodies kept to your own sides of the bed and blanket. You both were propped onto your sides, one arm tucked beneath your head.
"I don't gatekeep you," he said into the silence, his voice lowering to match the volume of darkness. He poked your cheek with a finger, as if he could stamp the declaration there.
You gave a small smile. "Okay, Jae." A thought suddenly occurred to you as you broke your stare-down to twist around and grab your phone from the nightstand to see if Jihyo and Jun had said something to the group chat. "Oh, by the way, did you ever figure out what Ellie wanted?"
Hyunjae shifted so he was on his back now, one hand still braced behind his head and the other resting on his stomach—but his eyes still watched you. "Something about a random high school project from senior year. She couldn't find the file for it and wanted to draw inspiration from it or something."
"I didn't know you had a project with her in senior year," you said offhandedly, shutting your phone off and replacing it onto the nightstand. You sighed, slipping further beneath the covers and closer to Hyunjae.
He drew you close, tucking you beneath his chin this time. "Yeah, it wasn't really important. Nothing to worry about."
"I wasn't worrying."
You could already feel yourself drifting off into dreamland, the exhaustion in your eyes making your eyelids close like valance curtains at the very front, lowering to mask the backstage magic from the audience. Except, the magic were your thoughts rocketing into the realm of the fictional. For a split second, you thought about somebody being in your position with your best friend one day. Would it hurt to think about then as much as it did now?
You couldn't exactly think about that future right now. Hyunjae, you liked to think, was far from letting anyone new into his carefully-maintained walls. He had been hurt by people before, and you'd be damned if you didn't protect him from that ever happening again.
You thought Hyunjae had fallen asleep until you felt his thumb brush against the back of your shoulder. "When have I ever friend-zoned you?"
Your heart stuttered in your chest for a moment, but it wasn't enough to wake you up completely. As you drifted off fully, you convinced yourself that you had imagined him saying that. You were both awfully tired, anyway.
EPISODE SEVEN: OH SHIT, WAS MY MIC ON?
TWO whirlwind weeks had flown by. You could hardly even soak in the moments of this last undergraduate project before it all began to blur together. The only ways you were able to properly tell time were crossing out calendar dates and—
“Oh my god, oh my god! Get it out, get it out!”
You, along with everyone present in the main auditorium of the performing arts hall, came to a screeching halt as a flurry of squeals erupted from somewhere deep backstage. You and the conductor of the pit orchestra exchanged concerned expressions before you were making a beeline for the fastest access point backstage. Younghoon and Eunwoo were swift to accompany you, and though you had a sinking feeling you knew what this was, you held your grimace for when you confirmed your suspicions.
Over the past couple of weeks, the feeling of being watched had not faded from the back of your mind. You tried to adjust rehearsal schedules so that they were a little earlier in the evening, but people had lives and you simply could not inconvenience them based on someone trying to scare you. Plus, with the spring season flying in swiftly, the sun retired a lot later, which gave you some peace of mind, at least.
But over that same time, the person meddling with your show had ceased to cease. One day it was sky blue fabric strewn all over the main stage; another day it was peacock feathers left in the projection box; there were cables missing from tech, headsets changed to radio channels. Somebody was clearly pulling out all the stops to ensure that this theater and production was full of old theater superstitions and bad luck, either to scare you or the people you were working with (or both), and frankly—it was working. To an extent.
You stormed into the back corridor of the performing arts hall, the supporting cast and tech crew all sprinkled about the hallway, anxiously watching you and your friends pass by them toward one of the larger dressing rooms.
“What is going on?” You demanded as you entered the dressing room. There was a small gathering of people gawking at something—the dressing room vanity mirror. The breath left your lungs at the sight.
The surface of the mirror was vandalized, the infamous word “Macbeth” scrawled all over its reflective plane in red lipstick. Some of the product had begun to melt from the heat of the lightbulbs around the mirror and dripped down the mirror like blood. It would have been a comical prank if this wasn’t a theater. You felt a stiff, cool breeze run across your skin.
Somebody was really trying to fuck you over, huh.
You shoved down a swallow. “Somebody get me some Windex,” you croaked. When nobody moved, you repeated yourself, forcing a bit more strength into your voice.
Chan appeared in the room, his own eyes pinned to the subject matter upon the mirror, as he handed you a bottle of Windex and an old rag.
You snatched it out of his hands with a “thank you”, then marched up to the mirror. With shaky hands, you began scrubbing away at the word written over and over on the mirror. You heard Chan corral everyone out of the dressing room and back to their original activities. All your senses had dulled by now, and you felt Younghoon gently pry the rag from your hands so he could reach the spaces that you couldn’t.
“Who is doing this?” You voiced to the now sparsely populated dressing room. You sat in one of the dressing room chairs with your hand pressed to your forehead with Younghoon, Chan, and Jihoon present. Eunwoo had gone out to calm people down, but you knew that this was going to draw a line for some people. It was a known superstition not to utter the name of the notorious Scottish Play in a theater, and it had just been named about a couple dozen times on the mirror behind you.
Your friends could offer no suggestions.
Your pride took an even bigger hit when you decided to cut the remainder of rehearsal for the day; you were certain there were at least a handful of people who were scandalized by what just happened.
“Are you okay, though?” Younghoon asked you for the third time as the two of you watched people leave the performing arts hall from the base of the nosebleeds. “I know that you’re not usually so… swayed by superstition.”
You could only give a stiff shrug. “I’m not,” you agreed, “but this is going to be the biggest project and production of my undergrad career. I don’t—I can’t take any chances.” You smoothed a hand over one half of your face. “God, I’m just tired, Hoon. I’m so stressed, and cutting rehearsal short today—we’re gonna be set back another day—”
“Hey,” he soothed, grasping you by the shoulders so you would look him in the eye. He offered a kind smile, “You’re doing great, Yn. I can’t imagine the pressure you’re under right now for this to go perfectly, but I think you have to have a little faith in all of us, including yourself. One rehearsal is not going to make a difference in the long run. We’ve got a lot of talented, hard-working people who will sleep this mishap off and come right back to make up for lost time.”
He squeezed your shoulder. “And whoever’s been doing this? They’ll get their due karma.”
You let his words soak into your brain. You needed this; you needed those words said to you. With a nod, you and Younghoon deigned to head out with everyone else. Jihoon and Chan were swift to shut the theater down for the evening, as well.
As you and Younghoon stepped out into the early evening, the sky still glowed a buttery yellow swirled in purpley-blue. There was another breeze wafting by, but instead of the chills you got before, it was slightly warmer and made you inhale deeply. The air out here made your lungs less constricted, you realized, and maybe you’d been stuck in that theater for too long lately. This would be good for you, as well as everyone else.
“I think me and some of the cast are gonna get together to go over some scenes at the grove,” said Younghoon as he peered down at his phone screen. “Wanna come with?”
You brushed a strand of hair from your face, a decision coming to surface. “Nah, I think I’m gonna take a walk. Get some fresh air.”
Younghoon passed you a brilliant-sort of smile that gleamed in the golden hour light. “Alrighty, director. Sounds good. Have a good night then, Yn-ie.”
“Yeah, you too. Thanks for today, Hoon.”
You and Younghoon parted ways there, and while he traveled down the stairs toward east campus, you traveled northward toward the quad. The quad, a place most known for the cherry blossom trees that bloomed in the early spring, was no doubt full of people taking late afternoon strolls in the temperate spring climate. It was the perfect environment for you to relax and let some of the stress and pressure fade from your pulsing temples.
There were no longer cherry blossom flowers blooming upon the dark branches, but healthy, dark green leaves. Even if they were shades of pink, they were still beautiful nonetheless.
After making a full loop around the quad lawn’s perimeter, you made a detour down one of the side pathways that were lined in trees that yawned toward its partner on the other side of the pathway. It was noticeably quieter and less populated here, and for once, you actually didn’t feel like you were being watched.
You were walking for only a few minutes in the serenity when you saw a pair of people standing in a clearing of trees just to your two o'clock. You stopped, a familiar blond haired best friend catching your eyes.
"What the fuck is your problem?" Was what you heard from Hyunjae, and you almost marched right up to them to defend him.
That was, until you saw the girl's face.
You hadn't recognized her at first because she had her back facing you and she had changed her hair. But it wasn't difficult to recognize your old friend, Ellie, the one who Hyunjae said had contacted her. Your eyebrows furrowed in utter confusion. Why were they together right now? You thought Hyunjae had said weeks ago that she was just trying to get ahold of an old project they'd done together in high school.
Ellie placed her hands on her hips, her facial expression stony and unreadable. "Can you think rationally for a second and listen to me all the way through? That's what you agreed to when you said you'd meet me."
Huh?
You pressed your side against the nearest tree trunk, your heart thundering your eardrums.
When Hyunjae said nothing, Ellie continued, exhaling sharply, "Okay. As I was saying earlier, do you even know what the play's about? …No. Look at you; can't you see? You don't even know what it's really about."
"Of course, I know what it's about," Hyunjae sneered. "It's about how academic pressure and miscommunication can ruin relationships—"
Ellie laughed, the sound mirthful, and yet carried an air of malice that made your skin crawl. This wasn't the Ellie you remembered… "That's funny, oh my god! You really don't know what it's about."
"What are you going on about?"
"I think you should ask her," she said with a smile. You peered around the tree, feeling utterly stupid like one of those characters from a teen drama eavesdropping on their lover and their nemesis. "Ask her, Hyunjae. I'm sure she'll tell you what it's really about when you mention that I told you she st—"
"Yn?"
Oh, for fuck's sake. You nearly jumped out of your skin at the sound of Jihyo's voice from behind you. You quickly grabbed her and dragged her down behind the tree trunk next to you. When she sent you a look that told you she thought you were completely deranged, you pressed a finger to your lips.
She indulged you, thank god, and followed your lead as you crept around the tree trunk again.
"It's cute that you have so much trust in her," was what you heard Ellie say next.
Jihyo squinted as she tried to identify the girl. "Who the fuck…?"
You kept your eyes glued to the pair before you, but muttered to Jihyo quickly, "That's Ellie. Old friend of mine from high school, but we drifted apart. Haven't talked to her since."
"She and Hyunjae are friends?"
"No, I have no clue what's going on." Yet, your stomach twisted and churned and you felt bile crawl up the length of your throat.
A muscle feathered in Hyunjae's jaw, but he couldn't seem to get himself to say something.
Ellie looked upon him pitifully. "One day, she'll drop you, too—when she finds someone better. That's what she did to me, y'know? I don't know why she went to you, though. You are awful. I've heard all the stories."
You saw red.
This time, Jihyo had to grab a fist full of your shirt and yank you down next to her to prevent you from clawing Ellie's vocal chords clean out of her throat. Because you would have.
Anything—you would've done anything to never see the flash of shame, hurt, and anger across Hyunjae's face when she said that. It was like she'd slapped him, clean and hard. Your chest ached as you watched his hand tighten into a fist at his side.
"You don't know anything about me," he said icily.
And it was over all too soon. Ellie said something to Hyunjae, but it was too quiet to hear. When Ellie left her own way, Hyunjae stalked off in a different direction, leaving you and Jihyo where the two of you remained hunched behind the tree.
You made to get up, but Jihyo pulled you back down again. "Ji, I have to go make sure he's okay—"
"I know you do," she told you firmly while keeping you seated down next to her. "But you're not in the right headspace, and neither is he. You need to breathe, especially after today and whatever the hell that was."
When you sent her a questionable look, she explained, "I bumped into Sana on my way to the performing arts center and she told me what happened. Then Younghoon told me you went on a walk and I just tracked your phone to here."
Your jaw dropped. "You tracked my—"
"Shhh," she shushed you, pressing a finger against your lips. "That's besides the point! Are you okay, Yn? For real."
You leaned back onto your palms, a frown coming up to your lips. "Everyone keeps asking me that lately."
"It's a valid question."
That was fair, you supposed. You released a sigh. "I mean… not really? I'm just stressed, and I don't even know what to think or how to comprehend what we just witnessed." Your brain was buzzing with every one of Ellie's biting words. What had she meant by all of that? She sounded so bitter, so malicious… What had happened?
Jihyo pressed her lips together, sitting down properly onto the grass. "What was that? Did you and Ellie end on bad terms?"
Your brows creased together and you absentmindedly scratched your jaw. "No," you murmured. "Not that I remember. It was just like we drifted apart over time. At least, that's how I remember it. I dunno."
You blew out another breath of air. Ellie and you had both been really good at what you did—theater, writing, all of the works. You two were a dynamic duo; if people now claimed you were a prodigy, then Ellie was your twin. In a way, you could probably say that your characters from the play you wrote almost mimicked yours and Ellie's creative abilities and technical prowess, but just in different spheres. While the love story was based upon you and Hyunjae, the foundation had been from you and Ellie.
But it eventually faded, that friendship. You figured that was just how things worked, as unfortunate as it was. You both moved on, and you found Hyunjae.
You relayed all of this to Jihyo, your friend listening to your words intently.
"—but I've never carried any ill will toward her," you reiterated at the end of your spiel. "I truly haven't heard from her since and she hasn't reached out either. I don't know what could have caused her to tell Hyunjae all of that."
Jihyo pressed her mouth to her knuckles as a thoughtful frown graced her porcelain features. "Hm, yeah. It's curious, for sure. What were they saying before I got here?"
You gnawed on your top lip. "She kept insisting that he didn't know what the play was really about and that he should ask me."
"Huh."
"I know right." You carded a hand through your hair. "I'm screwed."
"Only if he actually works up the guts to ask," she countered. "Though, I think you should beat him to it."
You cocked your head to the side in question. "What do you mean?"
She lifted her shoulders in a half-hearted shrug. "Y'know—like you have to confront him about meeting with Ellie. You can't keep this from him; I know you."
Yeah, she was right. It would eat at you if you let that guilt swirl in your stomach. Plus, all of those things Ellie had said to him… you hoped he was okay. Dear god, you hoped he was okay.
(But the question now, you supposed, was who would bring it up first?)
EPISODE EIGHT: EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT SHE'S THE BO-BO-BO-BOSS
FUNNY story: it took a week before you and Hyunjae could even have a proper conversation, in person.
With the quarter well underway, there was little to no time to stop and smell the flowers anymore. This had now become a race toward graduation, meaning that everyone was focused on their own problems. The “pranks” had dulled down, but they were, by no means, completely gone. There were always the occasional cord missing, or that dreaded creaking noise in the wings on late nights.
You’d grown used to it by this point, and so had your peers, luckily. The conversation between Ellie and Hyunjae sat in the back of your mind at all times. You always knew it was there, but you had so many things to worry about. Act two was just about wrapping up though, and so, play progress was chugging along well on schedule.
You really did have nothing to worry about—maybe it had all been jitters. Maybe it would all just finally go smoothly.
Friday night rehearsal was a little slower tonight since everyone had been here since noon. You’d all practically spent the entire day together, having lunch first, then diving into proper rehearsal. It had been a rehearsal full of laughs and a good time, and by the time Hyunjae stepped foot into the performing arts hall, you felt that you could take on anything. Even the conversation that needed to take place.
“Hey, you said you wanted to talk to me about something?” He said as the two of you stepped into the privacy of the sound booth, the tails of laughter still lingering in the air from the scene he had come into. You were currently rehearsing the directions of the first scene of act three, where Younghoon’s character was going through a full-on “groom-zilla” mode while Eunwoo’s character couldn’t stop talking about Sana’s character. It had been a full one-eighty character swap between the two friends.
You licked your lips, trying to press your smile down a little. “Oh, yeah. I was taking a walk, like, a week ago—and I saw you and Ellie talking.” You figured it would be better to just air it out right away; there was no need to beat around the bush. You lowered yourself onto the edge of one of the tables inside the booth, the air turning stuffy from the insulation inside the box. Crossing your arms loosely over your front, you watched as Hyunjae’s mood shifted, his body shuffling as he sought a comfortable position against the wall by the door.
Hyunjae cleared his throat, head ducking as his hand cupped the back of his neck. “Oh, really? You saw that?”
“I heard what she said to you—”
His head whipped up at that.
“—and I can’t believe she said that,” you said, those dagger-sharp words echoing in your mind from what Ellie had said to him about his own character. “Are you… are you okay?”
Hyunjae’s eyes widened a millimeter. “Am—am I okay?” He stammered.
“Yeah, I mean, she said that you were awful and it was…” You shook your head with a haggard sigh. “I’m sorry she said all that to you.”
“Thanks,” he exhaled, peering over at you through his eyelashes. He looked so small for once. “I—” He huffed air out from his nostrils, leaning his head back against the wall as he struggled to find the words he wanted to say. “Is that all you heard though?”
No, I also heard her insist you ask me what the play is about. You blinked, your own voice seemingly trapped in your throat. Why couldn’t you just own up to it?
But he must have taken your silence as you saying that you hadn’t heard anything else, so he gathered his wits to ask you, “Yn, what’s the play really about?”
The breath left your lungs. “You know what it’s about, Jae. You were there while I wrote it.” Please don’t make me say it. Please don’t make me say it. Because a part of you knew that if he pushed, you would give. You would tell him because… how could you not? If he wanted you to be honest with him, then… oh god, would you really? Would you risk this little secret of yours and ruin a friendship? Either way—it could go either way.
His tongue darted out for a moment as he carded a hand through his hair; he took a couple steps toward you. “I know, Yn. But—Ellie kept on insisting that I ask you what the real idea behind the play is. And she—and she,” he laughed, the sound disbelieving, “she said that you stole the idea from her, which is crazy! I know it’s crazy, because I watched you labor over this thing for months.”
She what? All thoughts except for one left your brain at that moment: why in the world would Ellie tell Hyunjae that you stole the idea for Jasmine from her? You didn’t remember ever seeing this kind of work from her before. “I didn’t steal anything from her.”
“I know,” he replied again, placating you. He now stood right in front of you, but your eyes raced back and forth about a mile a minute as you mentally went through the things you remember ever writing with her. You couldn’t remember; you couldn’t think. Why would she say that? “So I just wanted to ask,” he said slowly, his words drawn out as he leaned down slightly so you would look him in the eyes, “what is the play really about? The real meaning.”
There were pros and cons to telling him. On the one hand, you could spew the same surface-level bullshit that you usually did, but you had a feeling that one wouldn’t work this time. On the other hand, you could tell him—the truth. That was the worst pill to swallow. It could end in utter catastrophe or it could end in your wildest dreams. But what if, when he didn’t feel the same about you, had to let you down easy and your friendship would never be the same ever again? You couldn’t bear losing him, you just couldn’t. You loved Hyunjae…
“Yn, you’re scaring me,” he said with an anxious laugh.
You met his eyes then. “You don’t trust me?” You blurted before you could stop yourself. Those words, that tone… it sounded to you like he really was starting to believe what Ellie told him.
Something flashed across his face, and he was racing to defend himself. “What? No, of course I trust you. I just—I just want to know what the real meaning behind the play was about; that’s all!” And if you can’t tell me, then what else am I supposed to believe? “Yn, come on, honey—please—”
“It’s about you.”
All breath left him. You saw the way one hundred and one emotions flickered through his eyes; all of thoughts racing about at once as he tried to comprehend. “What? I don’t—I don’t understand.”
You balled your hands into fists in front of you as the frustration suddenly bubbled to the surface. “I wrote it about us, Hyunjae,” you told him. “Alex is based on you, Kai is based on me. I’ve been in love with you since junior year of high school, and that is what the true premise of the play is about.” Your hands were shaking now, gesturing between the two of you in stiff, constrained motions like the feeling of your chest’s range of movements at this time.
You watched it dawn on him, watched him swallow—hard. “Yn, I’m sorry—”
“Jaehyun.”
He shut up immediately.
You pressed your fingers to the space between your eyes. For a second, you swore you could feel tears tickle the insides of your eyes, and you blinked them away, inhaling deeply to get your body to calm the fuck down. Why were you crying? There was no reason to be crying right now. “Can you—” you stumbled over your words for once, “—can you give me some space. I can’t… I can’t think.”
He obliged you, backing up a few steps, and you said fuck it. “Hyunjae, I need space. Please.”
You thought you saw hurt flash across his face, but you just wanted to be out of his eyesight. You couldn’t bear to feel those soft, sympathetic eyes on you. You couldn’t bear the weight of his “I’m sorry I don’t feel the same” right now.
“Okay,” he said, though barely audible.
It took a minute, but he left and you were finally able to suck in a large gulp of air. You strode out of the sound box and realized that everyone on stage was either looking your way, or had quickly turned their heads to pretend they hadn’t just seen that silent argument take place through the sound box window.
Your face and neck were on fire, but you swallowed your pride and returned to your rightful place in the middle aisles of the floor seats. You picked up your script from where you’d abandoned it by your bag. “Right,” you said, your voice shaky until you cleared your throat. (Your hands were definitely still a bit wobbly, but that wasn’t your greatest concern right now.) “Where were we? Scene one, right?”
Everyone slowly began making their way back to their original positions, but Younghoon walked up to the bottom stage and lowered his voice to say, “Yn, we can take a break if you need one. Take five, then reconvene.”
He probably knew what just went down in the sound box. Yet, you found yourself shaking your head. “No, it’s fine,” you assured him, un-reassuringly. “I can do this, Hoon.”
He frowned at you then—those damn, soulful eyes—but nodded, respecting your decision. Like everyone else, he returned to the original position his character was in at the top of the scene.
I’m sorry, his voice seemed to echo in your ears. A part of you ached at the thought of that stark hurt on his face, but you were hurting, too. Why would you send him away like that?
You blinked, your head clearing. “Okay, everyone. Let’s see it.”
— ✶
A few hours later, you finally had everyone wrap up for the night.
“Thanks for all your hard work today!” You exclaimed as the actors and techies began swarming the stage to put props away. You climbed up to the stage, too, jumping onto one of the backdrops that Younghoon was wheeling backstage to help him direct it through the heavy folds of the backdrop curtain.
Younghoon shot you a smile from the other side of the prop. “Well, Miss Director, nice work today.”
You returned the expression wholeheartedly. “Thanks, man. The same goes to you; I appreciate all your hard work today. And that idea for the wedding sequence was absolutely brilliant.”
He chuckled at that, and the two of you worked together to slot the prop onto the cart with the rest of the ones that were just like it. A couple of stagehands then moved the assembly line along and rolled the cart down the hall to lock up in one of the dressing rooms. “I like to think I’ve been to enough weddings at this point to know how to spice them up.”
“Ah, that’s right,” you mused along with him as the two of you began walking down the backstage corridor to where you knew his partner was hard at work with that miraculous fountain. “I remember something about yours and YH!Yn’s first proper outing being to your cousin’s wedding?”
Younghoon threw his head back with a hearty chuckle at that. “Your memory serves you correctly then,” he confirmed. “Well, it wasn’t our first proper outing together. Technically, we met at an outing—”
“What do you think they were arguing about? It looked like they broke up or something.”
The line caught you off guard, and your footsteps faltered. Younghoon gave you a confused look, eyebrow arched. Your ears strained to eavesdrop on the conversation happening in one of the open dressing rooms you just passed by.
“No way that they were dating! … okay, I guess that would make sense why she put up with him all the time,” a second voice scoffed. “Maybe she finally got tired of his bullshit and cut him off.”
“That would make sense as to why he got out of the theater so fast. I went to their high school, and even after Hyunjae left, the year above me still talked about him—”
Your hand slammed against the doorframe of the dressing room, effectively making the two stagehands inside jump in surprise. They gaped at you with wide eyes, lips parted in shock as you addressed them with a carefully-made blank expression. “Let’s not go sticking our noses where they aren’t appreciated, yeah? Worry about yourselves, thanks.”
The two bowed their heads, apologies crawling from their mouths, and you turned back into the hallway where Younghoon was waiting for you.
You resumed your walk down the hall, and your friend casted you a side-long glance. “Thanks for standing up for him like you do,” he said to you. “I don’t know what happened today, but…”
“It doesn’t matter what happened today,” you said to Younghoon with a small exhale. You gave him a smile, even though you knew it wasn’t convincing. “I’ll always stand up for him.”
“Even when he doesn’t deserve it?” Younghoon joked with a laugh.
Your smile curled a little wider. “Even when he doesn’t deserve it.” In reality, you knew that he deserved to have someone stand up for him. Whether that be you, or Younghoon, or even Jihoon—you knew that everyone deserved to have someone watch their back when they weren’t around. You might have pushed him away earlier this evening, but that would never stop you from continuing to protect him. It was simple, really; you loved him.
EPISODE NINE: ARE DRAMA MAJORS ALWAYS SO DRAMATIC? WAIT, DON’T ANSWER THAT.
“I don’t understand why we couldn’t have done this in the grocery store like you guys always do,” Hyunjae grumbled as sounds of livelihood raged all around him: pots and pans clanged to the sizzle of food on the stove, the TV played some random American murder mystery show on low volume, and Hyunjae was sandwiched in between two others on his and Younghoon’s apartment couch.
Chanhee, who sat on the other side of Juyeon (who was on one side of Hyunjae), snorted. His nose was in his phone as he scrolled through Instagram, but didn’t look up as he replied, “As if we’d let you into Grocery Aisle Therapy. That’s exclusive admission.”
“That’s true,” Jacob chimed in from Hyunjae’s other side, as the man spooned a generous helping of Frosted Flakes into his mouth, “I tried.”
“And if even Jacob was denied entry,” Sangyeon mused from the kitchen as he turned off the stove and hood range, carrying over a bowl of the fried rice he had made for himself. Haknyeon skipped behind him with his own bowl and his cheeks were already full of the delicious food. Eric and Sunwoo were swift to follow their friend’s lead and raced into the kitchen to get a helping for themselves.
Changmin made a face from where he sat on the floor below Chanhee and Younghoon. “Not for lack of trying. You should’ve seen JC!Yn try to resist his goo-goo eyes. Bleh,” he gagged.
“I admire her tenacity then,” Hyunjae sniffed. “Not everyone can resist Jacob.”
Jacob beamed.
Kevin narrowed his eyes at Changmin. He sat just a few spaces away from the glasses-wearing menace, but carefully cross-legged and cradling a bowl of popcorn in his hands. “You say that when you literally pined after your girlfriend like an angsty teenager for three years.” He feigned a face of contemplation, then added, “Oh wait, you actually are an angsty teen—aye! Dad, Changmin hit me!”
“I am so sick of this family,” Sangyeon mumbled under his breath as he collapsed into the armchair adjacent to the sofa-sectional everyone else flocked upon. “Enough, both of you. Why were we all called here, again?”
Eric slid back into the living room on the polished wood floors in his socks, then perched atop the arm of Sangyeon’s armchair as he feasted upon his bowl of fried rice. He carefully lowered each spoonful of rice into his mouth so he wouldn’t dirty the fluffy cardigan he now wore. "Hyung's in trouble with his lady lover."
“Lady lover?” Sunwoo echoed with his face scrunched up like he just ate something sour. He had taken the spot between Kevin and Changmin to hopefully stop one from kicking the other again (hopefully).
"You're so judgmental."
"And you're—"
Sangyeon massaged the migraine pulsing in his temples away furiously with a clear grimace. "Shush, children. What did you do this time, Hyunjae?"
Hyunjae's jaw dropped, an image akin to one particular Pikachu meme. "Why am I immediately assumed to be the one at fault?"
"You summoned us all here," Haknyeon said with a shrug. "And Younghoon hyung said that it looked like you and Yn-ie suffered a break up in front of the entire main cast of Jasmine."
Hyunjae threw a displeased glance Younghoon's way; the tall man grinned sheepishly as if saying "what was I supposed to do—lie?" Hyunjae stared down at his lap, fidgeting with his fingers and the watch on his wrist. "It wasn't a break up…"
Kevin made a disapproving noise. "Oh, we know."
Hyunjae glared down at the top of Kevin's head. "Rude."
"Okay, so explain what happened," Juyeon prompted.
The man in question sucked in a breath. Where to begin? Someone muted the TV, so Hyunjae and Younghoon's apartment descended into a coat of silence. Everyone waited for Hyunjae's response.
Hyunjae decided that there was only one logical way to start. He began when he first received a text message from the elusive 'Ellie', your supposed best friend before him. He couldn't believe you had a soulmate other than him, but it only mattered that you two had found each other—not that that mattered—
He went through the entire spiel: Ellie had texted him about some project they worked on together in senior year of high school. He hadn't known why she would even care about something dumb they'd done in high school especially when she was a fourth year in college like the rest of you. But she had asked politely and he wasn't one to just dismiss someone when it was a simple, innocent request. However, when he had finished with this little task, he should have stopped there.
Their conversations eventually escalated from innocent "oh, you remember when…" to "if we meet, you have to agree to hear my side of the argument." He remembered her exact words: "You'll be very shocked to hear the truth" regarding your business with the play. He wanted to look out for you like you always did for him (and screw it, he was curious), so he obliged Ellie and met with her.
That had been one of many mistakes he made. The biggest mistake was what went down at the theater a couple of days ago. And now? He had just made you confess to him, he had broken your trust, and he didn't know how he was going to make it up to you.
(He had to admit though, that once he finally got space to think about what you said to him, there was something about the prospect of you being in love with him that gave his heart a lively kick-start—)
Chanhee reached over Juyeon's head and swatted Hyunjae's neck like there was a very large mosquito there. "You dumbass!"
Hyunjae yelped, his hand reaching up to rub the aching place furiously. "Ow!"
"Deserved," Kevin sang as he tossed a handful of popcorn into his mouth. "That was super not cool, man."
"You don't think I know that?" He rolled his eyes.
"Yes," everyone chorused together.
Cue his next set of eye rolls.
"Hyung," said Sunwoo as he shifted so he faced Hyunjae. His eyes squinted up at him, his curly bangs falling into his pupils as they usually did. "How could you not see that she was in love with you? You have to be blinder than a bat."
"You've been hanging out with SW!Yn too much," Changmin teased.
"Hey, don't bring her into this and taint her good name! Even she saw how perfectly enraptured Yn-ie is."
Changmin opened his mouth to make another unnecessary comment, but Sunwoo slapped a palm over his friend's mouth.
"I guess that leaves one question," said Juyeon, finally, after a long stretch of his silence.
"And what's that, Juyeonie?" Sangyeon asked.
Juyeon pursed his lips together in a slight pout. "What else? Are you in love with Yn, too, Hyunjae?"
Oh—
Hyunjae's thoughts careened to a stop when he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He maneuvered around on the couch cushion to retrieve the device, his heart pounding in anticipation—but that emotion was immediately swapped out with utter disdain.
His friends observed this flip with great interest. "Who—"
An indignant spark lit Hyunjae's dark irises as he furiously typed something to the sender and promptly blocked the number.
Jacob and Juyeon, who were able to peer over at Hyunjae's phone screen, both widened their eyes in scandal. Jacob grinned, lifting his hand to delicately hide his snickers. "Well that answers our question."
Hyunjae sulked, swiping through his contacts, then blocking Ellie's number, too. He should have done that so damn long ago.
"It was some guy asking if he knew if Yn was free in two weeks—"
"And she's not," Hyunjae grunted, shoving his phone back into his pocket, then standing up to go get Sangyeon's fried rice in the kitchen. "These fucking guys, man. Like, what the fuck am I gonna do? Hype you up to her? No way in hell—" He scoffed, slapping a spatula of rice into his bowl with a strength that the bowl, rice, and utensil didn't deserve.
He couldn't believe that one stupid, little thing the two of you had done in freshman year of college had led to this spam of dudes flooding his inbox for you. If he had half a mind, he would declare that you weren't on the market anymore and that you weren't even interested in seeing any… body…
The thought marinated in his head for a moment as he slowly chewed the fried rice. Why did he want you "off the market"? You were his best friend, but you weren't his to covet or shield or speak for. You weren't his.
You weren't… his.
"Oh my god, you can actually see the neurons firing in his brain for once."
Hyunjae plopped himself back into his original place on the couch. "I hate you guys."
"So you've realized that you're in love with her?" Younghoon asked exasperatedly, his hands splayed out on his legs like he was begging to the cosmos.
Hyunjae made a face and pretended that his heart wasn't palpitating and that a drop of sweat wasn't dripping down the back of his neck right now. "What? Of course not," he said through a mouthful of fried rice.
One could hear the collective exhale of disappointment all the way to your townhouse.
— ✶
It was Thursday evening when you found yourself walking out of the performing arts hall after yet another rehearsal, and coming face to face with the person who had become one of your greatest problems over the past month.
Your hand stopped in midair from which you were brushing the hair out of your face when you and a young woman made eye contact. She was seated on one of the benches facing the entryway of the performing arts hall, her attention lifting away from her phone and to you. The sky remained alight and streaked in its dazzling sunset colors, and yet, the sight of her made everything feel grayed.
She smiled at you. "Ah, you're done."
Something crawled beneath the surface of your skin. For a second, you thought it was disgust, but upon further thought, it was really something bittersweet. You swallowed, adjusting your hold on your bag strap. "Can I help you?"
"Do you remember me, Yn?"
"Of course, I do, Ellie." How could I forget you?
Ellie's smile shuddered and you suddenly couldn't read her face. It was strange seeing her four years into the future. You remembered catching glimpses of her in the hallways, her sweet smile and button nose, the freckles sprinkled across her cheekbones like kisses from the sun. "I guess that's one thing out of the way."
Her biting words to Hyunjae appeared in the forefront of your mind. "What you said to Hyunjae—"
"Was true," she cut in. "And based on the fact that he blocked me a few days ago, I'm guessing that something happened between you two." Her lips curled upward, "How does it feel to know he actually doubted you? If I'm being honest, it makes me fucking sing, Yn!" There was a shiver-inducing giddiness to her voice and you wondered if this was all a joke. It would be a cruel joke, but anything would be better than this.
Could she see the horror on your face? "Ellie, we were friends," you managed to say.
She pressed her lips together. "We were friends until you decided that we weren't."
"What are you talking about?" You threw back at her. "We drifted apart—"
"You abandoned me," she quipped. The smile was gone now, her mouth set into a taut line. "You left me to rot."
Your heart dropped into your stomach. About a million things flashed through your mind, but most of all, you came to a very fast epiphany: you'd always thought she was happy. "Ellie," you said, slowly, softly, "I'm sorry that you felt that way. Really, I am so sorry."
"I've made sure you feel that way."
"But you should have left Hyunjae out of this."
Ellie laughed and the sound was harsh. "This isn't about your stupid best friend, or whatever. This is about you and me. I can't believe you thought—how could you prefer him over me? Why did you stop talking to me, Yn?"
You were so confused. All this time, you had thought that yours and Ellie's friendship ended on a mutually neutral ground. You thought that you had just drifted away from one another from the eventuality of time. Was that not how she saw it this entire time?
The end of Ellie's question took on a raspy undertone, the gleam in her eyes less so that of anger, but the melancholy underneath. You wanted to make things right, but you didn't know what that was.
When you had yet to say anything except for letting the breeze waft past your face, she let out a scoff. It was a somewhat embarrassed sound, her eyes skittish. "You know that my parents always compared me to you. Constantly. You remember what you said to me?"
You swallowed. "'They can compare all they want, but you'll always be enough for me.'"
"I didn't want to bother you when we 'drifted apart', as you say," she continued on with a huff. "And then I saw you and Hyunjae, and the way you looked at him—god, I knew right away, Yn. And I was so bitter. Just so, so bitter." She shook her head. "I've been thinking about this for a long time."
Dear god, you hadn't known this whole time. You'd wished you had known. You didn't know what you might have done differently—maybe not have been so blind—but… what if you couldn't have saved that friendship? Was this always meant to happen in the grand scheme of the universe's stage?
You made your way toward her and she simply watched as you stopped a handful of paces away from her. “I didn’t mean to drift away from you or to make you feel like I was replacing you in any way.” For a moment, you were quiet, and you inhaled a deep breath to query, "What made you suddenly want to confront me after so long then?"
She peered up at you, a mixture of sadness and something sharper in the reflection of her irises. "You didn't have to keep getting better and showing off. I just got sick of living in your shadow when you weren't even there."
You bristled at that. “What else could I have done? I’m sorry you felt that way, really, but I had a lot of pressure on my shoulders, too. I wanted them to stop expecting more from me, but each time I did something right, they kept pushing for more. And I—”
“I just wanted my friend back!” She exclaimed.
The words died on your tongue, dissipating in the tense air between you two. The fight left you then, seeing the hard break in her expression, a sliver of the girl you remembered from so long ago. What happened to her? She’d been poisoned by whatever feelings were locked inside her, and you supposed that it was only inevitable that those same feelings would one day be unleashed. You wished she didn’t have to confront you this way. "So you thought lying to Hyunjae would have done the trick?" You finally murmured.
"You didn't figure out who's been messing around with your production all quarter?"
The question caught you off guard, but you were quick to catch on nonetheless. Your breath hitched as you stood there, stunned. "That was you?"
A nod.
"All of it?" Disbelief struck you clean across the face and you felt like you'd just been slapped. A new level of anger boiled in your blood; all of those nights you spent creeped out of your mind, the extra stress from all the superstitious bullshit—
"This is our last act," she said, her tongue darting out for a moment. "I don't want anything else from you after this."
You couldn’t believe she would go through all of this trouble—all for what? All to prove what? It was utterly childish, preposterous, dramatic. “Good,” you asserted, as firmly as you could muster, “I don’t want anything from you either.”
And there was a split-second where you saw a crack in her expression, truly. Before, when you’d seen that bit of melancholy seep through, it must have been purposeful. Perhaps it was to draw some kind of sympathy or guilt from you, but after she admitted to doing all of that crap to you and your peers, you weren’t about to lean into that, old friend be damned. Of course you felt bad that she had felt like that for so long. You pitied her. But it didn’t mean you had to forgive her; not for this.
Maybe this was it though: all she wanted from you was for you to feel as helpless as she had, but you simply couldn’t feel that way. All that you could feel was cold fury.
“Fine,” she cleared her throat, straightening. “I hope you learned your lesson.”
You let out a scoff, the sound making her eyelids shudder. Your teeth grated against each other as you closed yours and her “final act”: “And I hope you’ve learned yours. I hope I never see you again.”
You turned brusquely on your heel to walk away before you did anything rash. But a sudden thought appeared on the tip of your tongue, and you found yourself stopping. When you glanced back at her, she was watching you leave with an emotion you couldn’t quite detect. The two of you had been such good friends, and… you really wished you could understand her position better. “I just don’t understand why you went through all this trouble. If you had just—texted me, called me—” You made a gesture with your hand then let the limb fall limply to your side, “You could’ve just said hi.”
You left her behind after that, purposefully this time. Did people like Ellie deserve their chance at redemption? Maybe when the dust had settled, but for now, you hoped she received her due karma.
EPISODE TEN: GOOGLE, DEFINE DRAMATIC IRONY.
THEY said that a terrible dress rehearsal marked a production for a brilliant opening night. As Michael, the wine salesman dude, forgot his fifth line of the rehearsal; as the tech staff in the box forgot their second lighting cue of the night; and as Hongjoong continued to have to fuss over San’s Uncle™ beard for the third time, you were trying very hard to keep that saying in mind.
Weeks had passed—you didn’t know how many, maybe five, maybe two, maybe an entire year—but that entire time, you didn’t feel Ellie’s presence haunting you anymore, nor had you heard from Hyunjae yet. He was busy with his architectural capstone project, anyway, and you felt that you both needed to take this time to yourselves to focus on more important things. (You thought this as if your friendship with him didn’t mean the absolute fucking world, but you were pretty sure you were seconds away from setting this building on fire so—)
The dreaded Tech Week had descended upon the cast and crew of Jasmine. Not only that, but it was also Finals Week, meaning everyone in this room was just as stressed out as they usually were, except, five times more. It made for a great rehearsal, clearly.
“—remember that as soon as she says ‘fine!’, you have to be out here to pull the rug out from beneath her feet,” you instructed the stagehand, who looked a millisecond away from passing out right there on the stage.
When they nodded their understanding, you turned away with a migraine pounding away at your temples. You just had to get through one more act, and you could call it a night. Opening night was literally in four days, and you were trying not to yearn after your best friend and feel guilty about pushing him away—and then there was the guilt that had slowly bubbled up over the past few weeks from what happened with Ellie. Maybe it had been all your fault—
“Yn, your eye is twitching.”
“Huh?” You perked up from where you were seemingly glaring a hole in the ground of the nosebleeds. Younghoon shot you an amused, yet mildly concerned look from within the winds of the stage. “Oh, sorry. Can we take it from the top of act three, please? One more act, people; let’s hang in there.”
That latter bit was more for you.
By the end of rehearsal, everyone was just as happy as you were to head home. Today was Monday, the beginning of the week, and yet you wished it was Saturday already—graduation. Now that was the light at the end of the tunnel.
Younghoon held the door open for you as the two of you exited out the front doors of the performing arts hall. When you murmured a thank you to him, he fell into step with you easily. The walk to the bus station seemed impossibly long with the ache in your legs.
Younghoon released a low-sounding whistle. “So…”
“Hm?”
“Are you coming to Cobie’s surprise birthday party tomorrow? I know it’s finals week and tech week, but it’d be nice to have that little break beforehand.”
Oh, right. Hyunjae’s friend Jacob was having his birthday party—well, it wasn’t him who was hosting, but his girlfriend. She had organized all of it, and had even had the good will to extend an invitation to you. At the time, you couldn’t find it in you to say no, despite the knowledge of your busy month at the forefront of your mind. But even now, you found it hard to really formulate a concrete response. The uneasiness was creeping up on you again.
“I dunno, Hoon…” you said lowly with a wince. “Maybe I should just catch up on sleep, y’know? And plus, I don’t want my feelings for Hyunjae to ruin the mood or anything. I’m kind of a Debby Downer right now,” you laughed pitifully.
Younghoon’s mouth curved into a frown. “Yn, you’re not a downer. You’re stressed and you have a lot of burden on your shoulders, but… I think something carefree will be good for you, no? Maybe you should at least stop by and say hello to people—take advantage of Hyunjae having to be in charge of providing free booze for everyone.”
You glanced up at him, meeting his kind eyes. “I’ll think about it,” you promised. You were probably too tired to think logically about going anywhere else but your bed at this moment.
Younghoon nodded. “Okay.”
As the two of you carried on down the stairs now, the bus stop in sight, you gathered your wits about you. “How is… how is he, by the way?” You asked.
Younghoon peered at you with something akin to gentleness and sympathy. “He’s… I think he’s okay.” He squinted one eye as he looked up toward the night sky, the thoughts meandering about his head. “You just have to give him some time. You know how stubborn he is,” he joked.
You could only give a shallow nod at that.
Not one to let a friend leave him so upset, he nudged you with the back of his hand. “Hey, don’t worry too much about him, okay? You have a lot on your plate right now, and you deserve to have your head in the game, okay? It’s all gonna be okay.”
“You always have such a way with words,” you laughed lightly as you wiped a tear from your eye—whether it was from emotions or just being plain exhausted, you couldn’t tell.
He smiled again then. “If I wrote down these words, I’d be stealing your job, Miss Director.”
Your laugh was a little brighter at that note. “Okay, Actor Extraordinaire. We’ll see about that.”
The two of you shared a laugh, and when you reached the bus stop, Younghoon waited until the bus came by to pick you up. It wasn’t yet deep night, but he was a gentleman all the same. You climbed up into the bus, scanning your transportation card as you went, then sat by a window to wave to Younghoon.
When the bus pulled away from the curb and away into the night, Younghoon pulled out his phone to the text chain with his partner. He’d come to a decision then, and as hungry as he was, he figured he could channel this annoyance into confronting one certain man by the name of Lee Jaehyun.
younghoon’s phone: love, i think i’m going to be late for dinner
beloved mastermind: i’ll save u a seat &lt;;3
— ✶
The lights beneath the swimming pool glowed an ethereal shade of fluorescent blue. It reminded Younghoon of a mermaid's cove with the way the light waves reflected off the ceilings of the building to create scales on the rafters. The emptiness of the indoor swimming pool was offset by the thrashing of flesh against water as a lone swimmer stole lap after lap across the great blue.
Younghoon lowered himself onto a steel bleacher and watched Hyunjae bolt from one end of the pool to the next, hardly taking the time to breathe air, like he breathed chlorine and water instead. The familiarity of the smell—warm stone, pungent chemicals—sent flashes of Younghoon's own days on the high school swim team to his mind.
At last, Hyunjae took his final lap, his breathing coming out labored as he swept a hand up his face and through his hair. His locks slicked all the way back, and his chest rose and fell harshly as adrenaline pumped through his veins and his lungs fought to consume oxygen without asphyxiating on it.
Hyunjae clambered his elbows onto the deck. "How'd you—know I was here?" He managed to say, nodding his thanks as Younghoon handed him the water bottle at the other end of the bench from him where Hyunjae's duffle bag sat.
Younghoon gave a meager shoulder shrug. "I know you too well not to," he said. The two were both swimmers, and where else would swimmers go to put their head somewhere else and to escape the world?
Hyunjae couldn't argue with that.
The two friends were quiet for a minute as Younghoon let Hyunjae catch his breath. There was something troubling about seeing him so tense, even after pumping out so many laps. The exhaustion didn't seem to outweigh the conflict warring in his mind.
Finally— "Hyunjae-ah, what are you doing?"
Hyunjae blinked up at him, perplexed. "Huh?"
Younghoon leaned his cheek against his palm, elbow resting on top of his knee. He fixed him with a stare. "What are you doing?" He repeated.
This time, the message seemed to have been delivered successfully. Hyunjae licked his lips, his gaze averting away from Younghoon. "Did you come here just to scold me?"
"No, I came here to tell you you're being an angsty teen."
Hyunjae scowled, his lips pressed into a pout. "No, I'm not."
Younghoon rolled his eyes just as his stomach grumbled in protest at him not going straight to meet his partner for dinner. Instead, here he was, trying to talk sense to a wall. "You're so childish sometimes."
He quieted. Hyunjae leaned his head against the meat of his forearm, eyes fluttering closed against the warmth of the heated pool deck. "How is she?"
"She's not good, but she's also not bad," Younghoon replied. He sighed, leaning forward onto his forearms for a more comfortable confrontation position. His lips pulled into a line. "Stressed, of course, but I think that was a given."
Hyunjae rubbed his eyes. "I fucked up, Younghoon."
A solemn nod. "I'm glad you see it now."
"This isn't a joke."
"I'm not saying it's a joke."
Hyunjae squinted at him. "Sometimes I don't believe you."
Younghoon smiled cheekily. "Well, sometimes you have to pick who and what to believe."
That hit a nerve, even if Younghoon didn't mean it to. Hyunjae immediately thought of yours and his last conversation. He couldn't get the image out of his head of the look of betrayal on your face when you asked him if he didn't trust you. He'd been stupid to be so curious, but of course he trusted you. He'd always trusted you. Who else could he trust but the very person who always protected him and was by his side? So why did he have to go and be so stupid?
He backed away from the wall for a minute and simply stood in the middle of the shallow lane as if the water could give him wisdom. "I," he began, then sighed, "I miss her a lot. I've wanted to text her, to call her so many times." He smiled, but it wasn't a happy one. "I think I just don't know what I would say."
"An apology would be a good start," suggested Younghoon.
"Right…" That was obvious, and yet, it was always the most difficult step. Would you let him come back into your life after a reveal like that? Feelings were such fragile, fickle things.
His heart sank at the idea of losing you forever though.
One day, she'll drop you, too, those damned words replayed over and over in his head like a broken record. —When she finds someone better… I don't know why she went to you, though. You are awful. I've heard all the stories.
Once upon a time, Hyunjae hadn't always been "awful" or dogged down by other people's negative testimonials about his attitude. So what if he had been "scorned by love" as you so lovingly put it one time? That experience had been enough for him to shut down all access points, keeping you sheltered in with him. It was hard for him to think of wanting to be with anyone else… but you.
He didn't mean to latch onto you so tight, but perhaps he had grown so dependent on you all this time. You had never given him reason to doubt how much you cared—god, why had he been so stupid?
Younghoon watched Hyunjae's inner conflict through the windows to his soul, glowing with the cerulean blue of the chemically altered pool water. "Hyunjae, do you love her?"
Of course he loved you. That was out of the question. But this was a different type of love that Younghoon was referring to, and it called for something much larger in the grand scheme of things.
That kind of love—what a frightening prospect, he thought. But didn't you make everything so much less frightening?
EPISODE ELEVEN: PLACES, EVERYONE!
"YOU stole my boyfriend, by the way." Hyunjae huffed as he set down the last two grocery bags he had helped bring up to the apartment from Juyeon's car.
JC!Yn barely batted an eyelash at him as she swept past to organize the utensils and cups set out on the breakfast table. “You snooze, you lose, Lee,” she teased with a sing-song tone.
From the front door, Sangyeon bumbled in with a clean, crisp white box, as he whistled a happy tune under his breath. JC!Yn greeted him at the entryway, thanking him profusely for picking up the cake, then taking the box from him so she could transfer it to the fridge for safe keeping.
“Chanhee says that he’s bringing his best friend, so he wants everyone to—I quote—‘not be embarrassing’,” Changmin snorted and giggled loudly from the couch where he relayed the information from his texts with Chanhee.
“That’ll be difficult for you,” CM!Yn quipped back so fast that Hyunjae couldn’t even suppress the high-pitched laugh he let out. Not that he wanted to suppress it; he had to admit that Changmin’s girlfriend was just as much a menace as her boyfriend was.
As Changmin’s jaw dropped and he pounced on top of her to tickle her into submission, Hyunjae averted his gaze elsewhere. He pulled his phone out, leaning against the granite kitchen countertop while he read Younghoon’s latest text notifications.
bread face: we’ll be there soon
bread face: i think i saw kevin and jacob a few cars behind us at the intersection, so i’m making haknyeon step on it
hyunjae’s phone: lol i was gonna chastise u about texting and driving hoon
bread face: tch pls, i’m better than that 🙄
bread face: i would at least make yh!yn do my texts for me 🤪
Hyunjae glanced up just in time to see JC!Yn’s front door open to reveal Chanhee and Eric, along with their plus ones. He tongued the inside of his cheek, thinking offhandedly at the fact that so many of his friends had found people to be with. It felt like they were all growing up far too fast; even as a fourth-year in university, it was unimaginable. Where would they all be in ten years? Where would he be?
He hoped, at the very least, that he might see you in his future—one way or another. As long as he could pull his shit together and finally talk to you.
hyunjae’s phone: almost everyone’s here btw r u guys close??
bread face: yeah, pulling up one block over so they don’t see hak’s car
bread face: hey, do yk if yn’s coming today?
Hyunjae’s thumbs hovered over the keyboard, then he typed in the clear answer: no, not a clue. I have a feeling she won’t be here though.
He tucked his phone away, looking over to see that JC!Yn’s roommate, Kei, had just stepped out of her room with a finished “Happy Birthday, Jacob” banner. “Hey, you need help with that?”
— ✶
The party was well under way, and suffice to say, the surprise party had been an entire success. Because Jacob was definitely not a fan of being jumpscared, it was good foresight that everyone was just in sight when he and Kevin opened the door. He had no clue that his partner had organized this for everyone and that everyone else was in on it. (Even Eric was able to keep the secret in the wraps, no doubt with the help of his significant other.) Almost all of his friends had brought along a plus-one, minus the singletons (himself, Juyeon, Kevin, and Sangyeon—though, that was still debatable) and Haknyeon and Sunwoo who’s significant others weren’t too close with the group just yet. It was a marvel that Younghoon’s girlfriend decided to come, too, but she said she would probably leave early anyway.
“You’re so sad-looking,” said Juyeon as he hopped onto the island counter next to Hyunjae. The two of them could scope out the whole apartment from this vantage point; the mood seemed to be at an all-time high, despite it being an incredibly stressful week for everyone.
Hyunjae made an indignant noise and he lifted his plastic cup of soda to his lips. “Pfft. I’m not sad-looking.”
Juyeon gave a meager shrug. “Every time you see someone and their partner, you look like your puppy just got taken.”
“That’s—” he stammered in protest, “—that’s not true. I—I just keep thinking about my arch capstone, that’s all! School is ruining my life.” The lie was so stark that even Hyunje winced to himself.
“Ah, well, I can relate to that,” his friend sighed. The two gazed out at the party, their ears perking up when they heard Sangyeon say something about him and Jacob needing to step outside for Jacob’s birthday gift—whatever that meant. Hyunjae and Juyeon exchanged strange looks with one another, before bursting into laughter.
Not even a few minutes had passed before Jacob and Sangyeon walked back into the apartment with everyone’s curiosity piqued. Jacob had on the best poker face that he could muster, his lips pressed together but a muscle in the corner of his mouth twitching upward like he was either trying not to laugh or smile.
“Well?” Kevin was the first to voice. He, along with everyone else over at the couch, leaned over the back of the furniture, their eyes wide like dogs waiting for a treat. Hyunjae and Juyeon probably looked similar from their perches.
“He asked for proof of my girlfriend,” Sangyeon said as he closed the front door behind him.
Hyunjae snorted, catching a slight glare from the eldest in the room. For however long, their friend group had an ongoing inside joke that Sangyeon pretended to have a “secret girlfriend.” It was only because Sangyeon had never once provided concrete proof, and maybe it was because he purposefully withheld it, but Hyunjae simply couldn’t understand why. Thus, the hilarious teasing of their eldest friend. Nonetheless, Hyunjae and everyone else remained curious as to the truth.
“Well then?” Juyeon pressed, “What’s the verdict, Cobie?”
The smile on his face really couldn’t be suppressed anymore, and it looked so close to a smirk. Jacob grinned, strolling over to the couch to resume his place between his best friend and girlfriend. “No comment.”
The room erupted into a loud groan from seemingly everyone. “What kind of answer—”
Even Sangyeon looked frustrated and his eyebrows furrowed together, paired with a slight parting of his lips. “Birthday Boy has so much audacity today. Dude, I literally showed you—”
At the sound of the doorbell tone, everyone paused. Hyunjae hopped off the counter, chirping, “I’ll get it!”
No one was opposed to Hyunjae opening the door as everyone else engaged in a battle of wits commenting on Jacob's refusal to confirm nor deny the existence of a future Mrs. Lee Sangyeon. Hyunjae reached the front door and peered through the peephole curiously—then stiffened.
You stood on the other side, your hands fidgety as you played around with the little gift bag in your hands, no doubt for Jacob.
He could hardly believe his eyes—you actually came.
He opened the door without much else left to do. Your gazes clashed in the front threshold of JC!Yn's apartment, your breaths leaving your lungs at the sight of the other. Hyunjae swallowed; he hated this tension, hated the way he couldn't just wind his arms around you as easily as he had done before. The palpitations of his heart were teetering on dangerous territory, and he chalked it up to the fact that he was nervous he might be making you uncomfortable.
"Hey, come in," he murmured low but soft, stepping aside to give you space. He barely registered the background noise at this point.
"Thanks," you said back, your voice barely audible. You stepped out of your shoes and nudged them toward the massive pile by the shoe rack, like an ocean of footwear wherein one must play a matching game in order to leave. You coughed, "Uhm, is there a place where I can put this?" You lifted your gift bag half-heartedly.
"Oh, I can put it—" he automatically reached out for it, and when his fingers grazed against yours, the two of you jolted, "—away," he stammered. You let go of it so he could quickly grab hold and make his very awkward escape.
He dipped into JC!Yn's room where all the presents were being stashed, allowing himself to soak in a bit of quiet, even if he could still hear the muffled party just outside the room. That had to be the worst thing ever. Why was he so jumpy around you? It couldn't be that you professed your being in love with him, right? He wished it wasn't like this.
He needed to talk to you, damn it, he needed to fix this—
But when he emerged from the room and into the main living space, he saw you chatting with YH!Yn and Kevin and Changmin. He watched you smile at them and laugh and look way less awkward than you'd been with him just a minute ago. He remembered what this week was, what Friday was.
Opening night: the culmination of months' worth of blood, sweat, and tears.
He'd been there for you since the beginning of it. He couldn't see you fail, and this was the first time he'd seen you not stressed. He didn't have the heart to ruin that for you right now.
So instead of marching up to you and requesting an audience, he made his way over to a few of his other friends to join whatever conversation they were having. He would fix things when you didn't have five thousand other things to worry about. Today wasn't about him, after all.
EPISODE TWELVE: CALL TIME, BABY!
TONIGHT was the night. You thought you were going to throw up, to be honest, and you gently sipped on an iced caramel macchiato to keep your energy up. Perhaps the caffeine was making you just a little jittery, but it was probably the nerves—
"Yn!"
"Yeah, what's up?" You exclaimed, stopping in your tracks and just barely dodging the pair of stagehands hustling a backdrop past you.
Jihoon gestured wide with his arms. "Where are you going? Preshow's in seven minutes."
Oh, right. Your eyes widened in incredulity at your absentmindedness and practically jogged over to Jihoon and the other end of the corridor that led back toward backstage, instead of wherever the fuck you were off to… "Sorry," you muttered, waving vaguely to your head, "dunno what's up with me right now. Is everyone ready? Everything in place?"
He nodded, his eyes leaving you for a second while someone said something to him in his headset. "Ugh, shit. We can't find SW!Yn—ever since she got that boyfriend of hers—"
Your hands flapped between the two of you as you nodded your head vigorously—yeah, it was definitely the caffeine. "She's probably in the sound booth with Chan and the others. She's not that boy crazy."
Jihoon made an unconvinced expression, but bid you farewell nonetheless. He probably knew more than you did, but that was expected since you weren't exactly a long-term staff member working backstage. Jihoon ran a tight ship; there was no way anyone would risk a Jihoon stare by saying hi to their significant other.
You held your head in your hand and set your drink down on one of the stools by the edge of the room so it wouldn't get knocked over. Tonight was Opening Night—the night. Tonight, there was a full house, including your friends and family, everyone at school, and about a dozen or so industry experts. The latter weren't just here for you, but for your acting peers, as well. This was a critical night for everyone. It absolutely had to go right.
You shifted the headset on top of your head and made your way back down the corridor. You were far too antsy to just stay in one spot.
"—can one of you go check Jess's hair and makeup—no, don't just rip it, hon, that's not how it works!" You recognized that anguished cry anywhere, and you peered into the dressing room Hongjoong and a swarm of other busy people were.
"What's going on?" You asked.
Hongjoong's head whipped around so fast you were surprised he didn't get whiplash. "Yn, thank God! You know how to braid?"
"Jess still needs hair and makeup?"
"Yes, one of my people had to call out sick—thanks Yn-ie!" You were already on your way to find where Jess was before he had finished his sentence. You'd hardly even processed the fact that one of the costume staff had to call out sick—that wasn't your main concern right now—you literally had less than five minutes to locate Jess and yeet yourself backstage.
The sound in your headset sparked to life. "Sound to Yn, Yn to sound. Can you hear me?" Bang Chan's voice echoed into your ears.
You narrowly got beheaded by a portion of the wedding arch coming down the hallway. "Loud and clear; fuck, it's a mess back here, Chan." God, your head hurt and the play hadn't even begun yet.
"Hey, man. Take a little breath, okay? Yeah, there you go."
You sucked in a very large breath of air. The adrenaline was pumping through your veins and your hands suddenly felt very cold. "Hyunjae usually helped me through opening nights," you exhaled, your head swerving left and right as you checked each room for Jess's presence. "Where is she?"
"I know, Yn," he said gently. "You can do this though. I know you can. You've been waiting for this for four years—hell, even longer than that."
Your head bobbed up and down as if he could see you—oh shit, was that her you just saw?
"He's probably sitting in one of those velvet seats, absolutely pumped for you."
"Even though I completely fucked up our friendship?" You choked out, flagging Jess down. The poor girl looked frantic as she was trying to finish her stage makeup while also braiding her hair. There was no way she could do both, but you admired the attempt. You began to help her out with her hair as she used her phone as a mirror.
"I don't know what happened, Yn, but he loves you too much to not be here tonight."
It was suddenly very difficult to swallow.
"Preshow in two. Are you ready for this, Director Ln?"
You finished the braid, snapping the elastic with a crisp thwip. Tapping Jess to let her know she was good to go, you made an immediate reverse maneuver to backstage. You took a deep breath in once more—held it—
Get your head in the game. Chan was right—you'd been waiting for this for far too long, worked far too hard. You needed to put faith in your abilities and your peers. "Let's do this."
When you returned to the main backstage portion, you found techies ready to go, as well as your main cast. You caught Younghoon's eyes, silently asking for him to round up Eunwoo while you got Sana and Miyeon. Quickly, the five of you met in the middle.
"Everyone feeling okay?" You asked them, making eye contact with each and every one of them.
There was a buzz about the air, both nervous and excited. You could feel it in the way your hands shook, but you reminded yourself this was what you lived for. Someone, probably Chan, gave you the one minute warning.
"We're gonna do great out there," Younghoon affirmed.
"And when in doubt," Miyeon chimed in, "just improvise."
A small chuckle rang out, and you could hear the countdown in your ear. You had to go out on stage and greet everyone.
"Okay, I got my cue," you said to them. "Break a leg, everyone. Chins up, alright?"
"You too, Yn," Younghoon said to you with a pointed look.
A smile graced your face then, and something settled within your chest—finally—something like a calm. "I will."
— ✶
The only reason why Hyunjae knew how expensive flowers were was because he was well-versed in the nature of presenting you with them after each production you'd completed, whether that be through theater or film. It was all standard practice, and he couldn't believe Sunwoo had the audacity to argue with him and his girlfriend about when to send flowers backstage.
Flowers were to be withheld from reaching the actor, staff, or director until the end of the performance. It was just one of those other superstitious things.
So here he was, sitting shoulder to shoulder between Juyeon and a stranger, with a lap full of vibrant blooms in what he thought were the best seats in the house: the lower balcony seats. They were probably his favorite place to get a proper view of the stage while also not being as high as the top balcony and seeing the top of actors' heads. Maybe it was the child in him that liked anything concerning the balcony.
The play had been going strong for the entire run time. You had come out on stage at the very beginning to welcome everyone and thank them for coming tonight. All the relevant information about the play could be found in the playbills that were handed out at the door, and he had instinctively flipped through each page until he could confirm your name and Younghoon's were there. That had definitely brought a smile to his face.
But even now, as the play was coming to an end and the main characters ended up happy together, Hyunjae still couldn't get the smile off his face.
At curtain call, all the actors lined up on stage to take their bows. When you came out to gesture to your acting peers and take your own bow, everyone in Hyunjae's row, especially himself, stood to give you the standing ovation you deserved. Hyunjae's eyes watered as he whooped and cheered and whistled as loud as he could since the flowers made it difficult to clap.
As he and everyone else sat back into their seats, he had to sneak a hand up to delicately wipe his right eye.
"That's my best friend," he said to no one in particular, his laugh watery but proud.
The woman next to him heard him, though. "She's incredible."
Hyunjae smiled at her, then turned his head toward the stage again where you were corralling the main cast in a massive hug onstage. "I know; she's amazing." I love her.
— ✶
The entire performing arts hall was in a state of utter pandemonium. Both the auditorium and the backstage areas were swarmed with people trying to get out of the building, trying to find their friends, and a butt load of other things. You and all the cast members began helping backstage crew take everything down and lock them up; after all, they would need to be preserved for the next two performances of the show that would carry on through the first couple of weeks of summer. Opening Night was only the "presentation" of your thesis.
Tomorrow was Commencement Day—there were a great handful of you graduating literally tomorrow, including yourself, and so you'd all resolved to go home and save the celebration for another night.
As you wandered through the corridors and dressing rooms, you were sure to congratulate everyone for their hard work tonight. Your cheeks ached from smiling, pride singing through your blood, as well as the lingering adrenaline. But you couldn't deny that you were relieved that the night had gone, and gone well.
Friends and family members of the cast and crew began trickling into the backstage area, so the space to roam lessened considerably.
Unbeknownst to you, Hyunjae had rushed back here faster than his friends could stop him, antsy to finally congratulate you and let you know how proud he was and how great the play was. He craned his head over the sea of people, half his bouquet no doubt squished, but he was still determined.
There—he spotted the blazer you wore on stage—but you were all the way at the end of the corridor. There was no easy way through the people, and who knew if you would leave before he could get to you.
"Yn!" He hollered over all the noise.
Like clockwork, your head whipped around from the stagehand you were speaking animatedly with in search of who had called your name. You locked gazes with him, and there was a softening in your features.
(In a crowded room, all I'd see is y—)
His heart leapt and his legs jump-started into high gear, murmuring out sorries as he maneuvered his way toward you. There were tears pricking at his vision; he never cried for anything or anyone, but you'd been the only one to draw such emotion from him. You were the only one who deserved that emotion.
"Jae, you're here," you breathed out, but then somebody tapped your shoulder and nodded in the direction from which you came.
He saw the concern on your face, the sense of responsibility, and yet the reluctance, as well. "Call me when you're done," he said. He mustered a smile, pushing the flowers into your dumbfounded hands. "Promise to call me."
You managed to nod. "Yeah," you swallowed, "thanks for coming tonight."
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
EPISODE THIRTEEN: ALL THE WORLD'S OUR STAGE
A couple of hours later, you'd managed to express your gratitude to nearly everyone and their mother for their work and help, as well as convince Jihyo to answer any calls that came in regarding the play tonight. It was a big ask and you had been reluctant to ask that of her, but you also knew you needed to talk to Hyunjae.
You made your way out the back door of the performing arts hall and into the warm, early Summer night. There weren’t too many people still around since the only handful of people left in the performing arts center were all older staff members and faculty. You spotted Hyunjae leaning against the wall by the staircase, his gaze lifting from his phone when he sensed you coming toward him. A small smile curled onto his lips, and you realized how much you missed the sight of it.
“Hey, sorry you had to wait for a while,” you said as you approached.
He tucked his hands into his pockets. “No, don’t worry about it. The play was—it was incredible, Yn. I’m really proud of you.”
Those words struck you even harder than you imagined him saying he loved you back would have. It meant a lot coming from other people, but it meant the most coming from him. “Thanks,” you rasped, the emotion shining through your voice, and you had to consciously reign yourself in. “I’m really sorry for what happened. I shouldn’t have pushed you away like that, and I know that my confession was kind of unexpected.”
“You shouldn’t have to apologize for that, Yn,” he said gently, his teeth biting down on his lower lip slightly. “I’m the sorry one. I mean, it was so stupid that I even entertained the idea of Ellie being remotely correct. It was a breach of trust and I crossed a boundary that I shouldn’t have. For that, I’m so sorry.”
You motioned to the path leading down the stairs and toward a path even you knew not where it would lead the two of you tonight. Hyunjae heard your silent suggestion, and the two of you began descending the stairs together, side by side. “Maybe I thought I wasn’t ready at that moment,” you confessed, “but maybe it was what needed to be said, you know?”
When you glanced over at him, you found that he was already looking back at you, clinging onto every word that came out of your mouth.
Your heart rate was still rocketing into the atmosphere right now, but you knew that it wasn’t from the play. “I think that I needed to say that—no matter if I was ‘ready’ or not. I don’t think I would have ever been ready, but…” Your foot hit the bottom step of the stairs, and you turned on the ball of your feet to face him, guiding the two of you down the path and away from your normal direction toward the bus station. “Before you say anything, just hear me out, okay?”
Hyunjae gave a nod, and your heart stuttered in your chest as you forged onward. “You don’t have to affirm my feelings if you don’t feel the same way,” you said, returning to your normal position at his side, “I think that was why I’ve been so afraid of telling you all this time—that you wouldn’t feel the same. That, and the fact that I was scared that telling you would absolutely wreck our friendship like it did these past few weeks.”
From beside you, Hyunjae managed to keep quiet, but his voice was also jammed inside his throat. It was filled up with all the things he’d wanted to say to you first, all the things that he wanted to say in response to what you were telling him now.
“Ellie confronted me the week after our fallout.” Hyunjae stiffened—had she done anything to you? “She told me that she was the one behind all the ‘pranks’ or whatever throughout the play rehearsals.”
“Yn, those weren’t pranks,” Hyunjae couldn’t help but cut in, “it was plain sabotage.”
Sabotage. You’d come to fear labeling her actions with that word, simply because you didn’t want to believe that that was her true intention. You struggled to swallow, stopping in the middle of the walkway. The two of you faced each other then, his eyebrows pressed together in shock and anger and every emotion in between. “She told me she did it to get back at me.”
“For what?”
“I abandoned her,” you told him. That emotion on his face shuddered like ripples in a pool of water. “It’s neither of your faults either, but I guess what I thought was drifting away from her and becoming closer to you, she saw in a more malicious light. And she said that she’d been sick of living in my shadow despite not even being in my life, and I’ve just been thinking about that for a while.” You said you’d be there for her, that she’d always be enough for you… how ironic that you’d been the one to drift away.
Hyunjae peered at you, a mess of things going through his head. You couldn’t imagine what he was thinking about right now, but you knew he was never the best at expressing his emotions and vulnerabilities.
It was okay, though. He didn’t have to say anything. “In that moment, I cut off all ties with her,” you clarified, “when she told me it was all her doing. Now, I just feel a little sad; I wished she would’ve just said hi to me.”
Hyunjae wet his lips, grasping your shoulders to get your attention. “You know you didn’t deserve any of that, right? All that shit she gave you? I mean, she pretty much terrorized you, Yn, and I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
You wondered—no, you knew—he was probably beating himself up inside for the argument the two of you had, too. The combined force of all of those tough conversations, as well as the pressure from the play… “I’m okay, Jae,” you reassured him. This time, you even believed what you said. “I’m shaken, no doubt, but it’s something that will pass with time.”
In this lighting, he was beautiful, ethereal. The amber streetlight casted a heavenly glow upon him, and made his eyes glimmer like the moon off a still body of water. You’d written something like that description somewhere in the original script, and you realized just how intimately you’d projected your reality into the lines of that production. Perhaps one day, you’d have the strength to point them all out to him.
A thought suddenly occurred to you in the silence, and your eyes widened to the size of saucers. “Oh my god.”
“What? What’s wrong—”
“I never got to see your finalized capstone project!” You gasped, your hands flying to your mouth in scandal. “Shit, the showcase for it was yesterday, wasn’t it? Oh shit, I’m awful—” For as supportive as Hyunjae had been with your final project, you had neglected to even think about his thesis these last weeks. Guilt coursed through your body in waves and you wanted to screech—
“Hey, honey,” he chuckled good-naturedly, “it’s okay. You were busy; don’t sweat it.” He bit his lip again, but it did nothing to suppress the shit-eating grin on his face. “Wanna go see it now? I’m sure they haven’t cleaned everything up yet.”
Your heart skipped for a new reason now. “You’re gonna break into the architecture building?” You laughed.
“It’s not breaking and entering if you have access,” he said in a “duh” tone, waving around his student ID.
As the two of you made a swift reverse back up the stairs from which you’d come from, you gaped at his ID card in disbelief. “I can’t believe they gave you clearance.”
He wrinkled his nose at you. “Why wouldn’t they grant their top student clearance on his last week?” He sniffed jokingly.
The pairing of dialogue and execution made a giggle sputter out of you, the sound making Hyunjae’s chest feel warm and fuzzy. He hated the tension that had wrapped itself around the bones of his ribcage, but those vines were slowly loosening and blooming into something familiar, and yet new.
The trek to the architecture building was well-worn by both you and him. You hadn’t been by the architecture building in awhile because of your busy schedule, but you used to always pop by to either walk him to lecture or to come visit him while he was working. The building was built in a Greco-Roman style with columns and arches, and beautifully carved marble murals and statues around the perimeter of the roof. You knew that the building style in particular was never Hyunjae’s taste, but you remembered when the two of you had toured the school in your senior year of high school, he had been awestruck nonetheless.
Just as he had said it would, his ID card slid against the panel outside the front doors to the architecture building and came up green.
The two of you, feeling just like you were kids again, giggled as you crept into the darkness of the foyer. Hyunjae grabbed your hand without thinking and dragged you down the right hallway toward one of the larger conference-style classrooms on the ground floor. He didn’t bother turning on any lights in case security came by and saw, but there was a conveniently-placed streetlight right outside the window anyway.
“There’s my masterpiece,” he said quietly, a sort of jitteriness coming through his voice.
You let go of his hand so you could inspect the model he constructed. The feature piece seemed to be the massive clear dome on the top, as well as the smaller, surrounding establishments. “It’s amazing, Jae. This is so cool.”
He almost looked shy as he leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest and watched you. “Ah, thanks. It’s, uh, a proposed model for a new performing arts department.”
Your head turned to him then. “No way.”
“Yes way,” he smiled. “I don’t know if it’ll get taken up by the board or not, but I gave them my whole spiel yesterday.”
“You’re gonna give me the spiel, too, right?”
Hyunjae made a face, feigning reluctance, but you were already dragging one of the chairs over so you could sit for his little presentation. “I mean, I guess I remember enough to do it again.” He took up his rightful place right next to his model, in front you, and cleared his throat to give you his speech.
The speech went wonderfully; you cheered as quietly loud as you possibly could. Your face was split by a bright smile that you were sure was enough to power the lights in this building if you really wanted to. If the board didn’t take up Hyunjae’s proposed new model after that, then you were about to send a strongly worded letter to the dean.
Hyunjae took on a boyish sort of smile after the moment had come and gone. “Hey, you wanna see something cool?”
“Cooler than this?”
“Pfft,” he dismissed nonchalantly, “you flatter me. But yeah, actually. Come on—it’s on the second floor.”
You quickly shoved your chair back into place and followed Hyunjae as he practically ran out of the room and up the stairs to the second floor. He had far too much energy for it being around ten o’clock at night, but when you saw the absolute glow on his face when he took you from project to project, gushing and nerding out about all the clever designs, you didn’t have the energy to even question his energy. There was something utterly contagious about hearing him talk about his major with such passion; you were so glad he had found a home in this field.
When the two of you finally let yourselves out of the architecture building, it was probably around an hour later. Your body ached with exhaustion, but your brain was abuzz with activity. You had missed this, missed him so much. For the first time in a very long time, you had never felt this carefree before.
“Can you believe we’re actually graduating tomorrow?” You asked him as the two of you walked toward the direction of the street your town house was on.
Hyunjae snorted. “No, not at all,” he said with a shake of his head. “Well, I’m actually so glad that I’m finally getting out of here, but it’s kind of scary, too.”
You gave a nod, then tilted your head back to breathe in the comfortable, night air. There were stars up in the sky tonight. “Yeah, I get that. Like, where will we all be, y’know?”
“Right.”
“But I think that the unknown in general will always be scary,” you added. “In the end, we’ll always know that everything will turn out okay.”
“And if it’s not okay, then it isn’t the end yet,” Hyunjae replied with a pointed look.
“Exactly.” You had a few options lined up for you after graduation, but you’d told yourself beforehand that you would deal with all of that after commencement day. After months and years of working nonstop, you deserved a little rest before fully stepping into the adult world. Wow, what a scary thought, indeed. "I'm proud of you, Hyunjae."
He had to stop himself from breaking down right there. "I'm proud of you, too, Yn."
The walk home was quiet, but it was as if a layer of film had been laid over just you and Hyunjae. The white noise of the night became somewhat calming for you, and you felt yourself sinking into a state of serenity. You had confessed your love for him already—he finally knew how you felt—but funny enough, that was freeing.
That had been your biggest secret, and finally being able to lift that burden from your chest was… it was good. Everything was good now.
Hyunjae softly said, "I know that you probably have so much to do after graduation tomorrow, but we've always wanted to go on a road trip cross-country."
When you looked up over at him, he could read the excitement glittering in your irises. "You're right! Man, that conversation was so long ago. I mean… I won't be so busy after graduation, not immediately. I want time to enjoy freedom with you," you laughed, lightly punching his shoulder.
He chuckled, your words soaking into his skin like sunlight on the first warm day after a harsh winter season. "I think it'd be nice, just the two of us." He couldn't wait.
There was an earnestness in the way you looked at him then. His thoughts had been all over the place before, but now, they were beginning to clear. "I think that'd be nice, too."
Your townhouse was now in sight, and a distinct feeling of anxiety rose in his throat. It was bitter-tasting, the way he dreaded leaving you for the night even if he would most definitely see you again tomorrow. He didn't know why inviting himself in like he usually did was so difficult now, but suddenly, you were both standing in the middle of the entryway and you were getting your keys from your bag.
It was late; he shouldn't keep you up. You'd had a long day.
"—you tomorrow then. Thanks for tonight, Jae."
He wrapped his arms around you just as you hugged him, his face pressed against the crown of your head and yours pressed into his shoulder. He didn't want to let go, but it was late—
"Good night," he said, nearly inaudibly.
"'Night," you said, going into the house and closing the door.
Maybe it was the physical, literal visual of you closing the door on him, but the epiphany hit him like a bus.
EPISODE FOURTEEN: AAAND THAT'S A WRAP!
YOU were about five steps from dropping to the floor and sleeping for about five years. Of course, you could not do that because you literally had to wake up to graduate tomorrow, but right this moment, you were so excited to just face plant into your pillow.
Tap!
The first time, you hadn't even heard the tiny noise as you shuffled into your attic bedroom and set your bag on the floor at the foot of your bed.
TAP!
Actually, you hadn't even heard it the second time—
BONK!
"What the…" Your head whirled around toward the window. You could have sworn you heard something hit the window pane. Cautiously, you walked up to the glass and peered out into the darkened street. It was a little difficult to see given the contrast between the light of your bedroom, the dark of night, and the fogging acrylic pane—
You nearly screeched as a small pebbled hit the window, right where your face would have been. What the fuck—?
Immediately, the hairs on the back of your neck stood up. Could this have been Ellie trying to spook you again? No way, right? Plus, wasn't Hyunjae just walking by?...
Oh, wait.
With a huff of indignation, you wrestled with the latch on the window pane just as another tiny rock came flying at the glass. "Hold your horses," you muttered, finally managing to haul the dusty window up. You only ever really opened this window during the warmer months, and so you hadn't used it since probably late fall quarter.
You stuck your head out the window, and surprise surprise, Hyunjae was tossing another piece of ammo up and down in his palm, down at street level. "What is wrong with you?" You stage whispered.
His mouth curved into a frown, head tilting, eyebrows furrowing. "What?"
"What," you repeated firmer this time, "is wrong with you?"
"I needed to get your attention," he shrugged.
"You couldn't just text?"
"Isn't this what Romeo did?"
Clearly, someone hadn't been paying attention when you were studying for your classes on Shakespeare in both high school and second year of college. "No," you quipped, "and Romeo was stupid."
Hyunjae sighed, reaching up to cup the back of his neck, dropping the pebble in his hand to the ground. "Okay, so maybe I'm not some Romeo—" You weren't quite sure where he was going with this.
He started walking around, pacing the sidewalk in front of your townhouse since he couldn't stand directly below the window (your roommate would kill him if he killed her azaleas). For a moment, you were ready to go down there yourself and shake the words from him, but it seemed he was able to snap himself into focus.
"I just… it's taken me a long time—god, it always takes me a long time to come up with the words for this type of stuff," he stumbled over his words, and you felt yourself grow increasingly tender. He was never good at wearing his heart on his sleeve. "And my friends have been saying it this whole time—hell, I've probably been aware of it unconsciously this whole time, too! But you know how I am. I'm too damn stubborn to cave, even to myself."
You let him continue on without breaking his monologue. Though you couldn't be too sure what this was, your heart still galloped in hope.
"Yn, I'm—" he said, head tilting back to meet your eyes so you could see those beautiful irises of his, "—I'm in love with you, too."
This was really happening, huh? Your fingers curled around the window sill and you opened your mouth in an effort to say something, but then you closed it. The words and the thoughts were there, but it was so foggy in your mind that you couldn't even string the words together yourself either.
You watched the hope, the light, gradually fade from his expression, even if he wasn't actively trying to show it. "Please tell me to go home if you're not gonna say anything," he said to you next. "I know you're tired, but god, I just stood here and realized I wouldn't be able to sleep if I didn't tell you. I know it's selfish, but…" He lifted his hands in sort of a helpless gesture, his hands then falling limp at his sides.
Finally, you found your voice. You cleared your throat, then asked quietly, albeit a tad nervously, "This—this isn't just because you feel bad about what I said about not reciprocating, right? I mean, higher levels of excitement and arousal can be misattributed to feelings sometimes—"
Hyunjae shook his head. "Dear god, no. I've just been… I've just been really stupid, so, uhm, maybe I am like Romeo?"
You fought the smile on your face, but it seemed you lost the battle. "Silly goose," you teased, laughing as you shook your head. "You ain't no Romeo, Lee Jaehyun, but I've never wanted anyone but you anyway."
He broke into a laugh at that, the sound echoing in the streets, and it sounded like, if one could bottle up pure delight and release it to the world. "You're so much better at this than me."
"Clearly."
"Well," he bit his lip, his smile impish, "can I kiss you to make up for it?"
Oh, there went your heart—there it went, carrying you down the stairs and out the door—you would have leapt out the window if you were physically able (you weren't). Your heart carried you all the way outside again until you arrived in your best friend's arms, his face, his smile illuminated in the soft glow of the streetlight.
And he held you so tight, you couldn't tell if that beating at your chest was his heart or yours. The two of you wasted no time in pressing your mouths to the other, tasting the other's smile in one more way than you'd ever done before.
It felt, at that moment, that this might have marked act three of one part of your life—but act one of the next was just beginning.
Perhaps it was true then: when it counted, you always went back to your first love.
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a/n: heyy thank you for reading thru!! i hope u enjoyed and if u did, pls do consider commenting, reblogging, or sending an ask :] we do love a bit of humility in the end ayo :3 the original plan is to go for sunwoo's next o7
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kyaroscuro · 4 months
Text
Intimacy
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It's not hard to be close to Hyunjae, on the contrary, it's as easy as being in love and god knows how much you love each other. Then why are you so shy?
pairing : hyunjae x reader genre : established relationship, fluff, first love, discovering each other warnings : a bit suggestive? notes : hi hello, my name is what you want it to (yes i'm obsessed), this is the very first work i'm posting here and i hope my feelings will be conveyed. everything came from this post and i oops! writing this was a breath of fresh air and i'm even more in love now (sigh). anyway, let me know what you think about it <3 there might be a smut part 2 one day... words count : 1,2k
You've been dating Hyunjae for 3 months now and you've never been intimate with him. Intimate in the sense that you've never seen each other's skin, you don't change in the same room nor take showers together and god you've never done anything sexual (although you do tease each other a lot).
And it's not that you don't want to be intimate with him, oh you want it more than anything, probably since you met him, his pretty eyes and goofy smile. But you're both kind of shy around each other, it's your first relationship and you want to get it right.
To be honest, it's more than that. You are so in love with him that sometimes when he kisses you a little longer or when his hands find your waist you feel overwhelmed and the overflowing feelings make you nervous, not knowing what to do next.
You'd think that Hyunjae would be confident and take things in stride but the truth is that he's just as shy and scared as you are. You see him blush every time you reach out to hold his hand, every time you initiate a kiss and crawl closer into his embrace. He's never been in love with anyone like this before and yet he's been in relationships before. For him, it feels like you're his first and his last. It may be cliché but he sees himself growing old with you, getting married and having children in a nice, cosy home. He wants to call you his, to wake up with you in his arms and also...
"Angel, it's early come back to bed," his rough morning voice will always make you shiver, another thing you love about him.
When you turn around, you find him staring at you with half closed eyes, a smile and an outstretched hand. If he were the devil, you would have walked right into his trap. He hums, feeling content to have you in his arms again, kissing the top of your hair.
"Hyunjae," you whined
"I know, just a few more minutes"
As if on cue, he holds you tighter and your head is pressed against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. It's calm, but with a sudden race, as if it were about to explode. Unconsciously, your free hand comes to feel it as you give him your gaze. He's already looking at you with sparkling eyes, his beautiful eyes full of stars that sometimes you wonder if you could drown in them. Your very own starry sky.
You lean in, bathing in the warm sensation of your lips on his. The kiss is soft and tender, like a good morning greeting, but becomes intense and passionate with his hand cupping your face and gentle caresses on your waist. An open-hearted kiss into which you both pour your vulnerability and feelings. When you pull away, you feel as if your breath has been taken away, your heart flutters in ecstasy and you want to dive in again. Time has stopped for a moment. You lock eyes and suddenly feel much hotter, it's addictive but you peck his lips in a low giggle.
"We're going to be late"
"Let's call in sick then"
The change in mood startles you, he pins you to the mattress and starts kissing you all over. It's playful and you give in too easily until he starts tickling you. Oh war has begun and being late is the least of your worries.
Love is not supposed to be easy but loving Hyunjae is the easiest thing ever.
Love is as easy as a date, because no matter where you are, he will always make you feel at home. Love is as easy as giving you the key to his apartment, because he wants to come home to you. So why isn't it easy to be intimate with your loved one? When you trust each other beyond words, when love isn't enough to describe how you feel, when you want to cherish each other through all the steps of life?
Present <3 (1)
How about a movie night? Blanket fort, fried chicken, you and me I would say that you have me with you Because I am the only thing you need? Cause I want you in every way You got me baby, I am all yours
There you are, blushing like a mess at work, butterflies in your stomach. One way or another the shyness will go away, every day you feel the need to be closer to him than you already are and he shows the same needs in his own way. Hell, the first step was going to his place every day and still not moving in together.
The first time he kissed you ? You came back from your third date, it was pouring and you ran back to his place holding hands and laughing because it surprised you. He gave you his jacket since you were clad in a dress and yet you were soaking wet. He offered you to take a shower and when you came back with his clothes on, something shifted in his mind. You were so pretty and you were his. His to court and kiss. So he kissed you. Longer than intended. And you kissed back as long as he did, making him smile through the kiss.
That day and memory are still etched in your mind and you wouldn't change a thing about it or maybe make out a little longer...
So when he texted you to say he was coming back home with the chicken, you were on a mission. Doing the fort was your pleasure, the chicken his and the movie your typical friday night.
"Baby I'm home!"
Unlike usual you run up to him for a hug and a kiss, only to have him giggle at your eagerness.
"Missed me?"
"A lot. How was your day?"
"Fine, i just really need to shower"
"Kiss me? Before you go"
Another chuckle.
"You know I'm just a door away? But I'm happy to oblige"
To be honest, you want to shower with him and you have wanted to for a moment without knowing how to ask. For now you will settle for some cuddling and maybe some skinship.
"Do you need anything angel?"
"You"
"You're so clingy today, what happened?"
"I- I just want to be close to you"
"How close?"
He snuggled up against you with his question, looking at you with doe eyes. You took the opportunity to put your hands on his chest, his hair was still slightly damp from showering and he was just glowing. For you, he's the most beautiful man alive and he's yours.
Suddenly you shiver at the feel of his hands on your bare skin. The room feels too hot, it's almost like it's spinning. His giggling sends shivers down your spine and he tries to move his hands away but you block him.
You see a gleam of surprise in his eyes, wondering what your next move will be. It's his time to be confused by your hands under his shirt. He blushes hard feeling a twist in his gut, you have never been this enterprising before. He cups your head and kisses you like his life depends on it, panting and sighing.
"Jae," you let out a small moan at his roughness.
"i want to be close to you too"
"In every way?"
"In every way."
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cupidjyu · 6 months
Text
out of style
hyunjae x reader
genre: opposites attract ..?, lil relationship backstory, flirting, teasing, blah blah, author hates physics with all of her life, flustered reader and hyunjae because he's more shy than one would think, this barely has a plot notes: as per request, based on taylor swift's style! also based on the fact that for some reason people thought that hyunjae looks cold like bro is the sweetest looking guy ever but ok word count: 2.2k
“Look at you…” Your friend sighed to herself. “Smiling like an idiot just because you got dropped off by the love of your life.”
You gawked at her. “Because he is the love of my life?” You turned briefly to glance back to where your boyfriend was walking off. You had told him that he didn’t have to wait but he insisted, saying that he had errands to run. He literally just needed to buy a sandwich.
She clicked her tongue, gesturing you to sit down.
“Focus,” She warns. “We have a project due in two days.”
“Right,” You breathe, smoothing down your outfit. It consisted of many light colors, much like a garden of flowers. Meanwhile Hyunjae, with his dark hair and his leather jacket contrasted you comically.
Your friend sighed, looking you over. “See, I never expected you two to get together. And last over a year at that.”
“Why?” You pouted.
She sat back in her chair, looking at you in disbelief. “You’re just so… different.”
You paused and took the time to actually think about it. And you did find yourself silently agreeing. You and Hyunjae were different. It wasn’t just from your style choices, but also personality-wise. While you were the more cheerful and “approachable” one, he was the guy on campus who supposedly looked “cold” and was an overall quiet person.
But even if he often had an intimidating look on his face, you always noticed the way his eyes always softened when they landed on you. 
You noticed that on the inside, he was a complete softie at heart.
He was always the one to go out of his way to buy you food when you were craving it at the worst time in the middle of the night. He was always the one to tell you that you looked pretty whenever you seemed the least bit insecure. 
“Were you not even a bit scared when you first met him?” She tilted her head curiously.
You shook your head, smiling fondly. “No, not once.”
Truthfully, it all started when he showed up to a lecture late. He looked completely disheveled and he had an annoyed furrow of his eyebrows that even made the professor keep quiet. He only earned a stern look. 
With a frown, he searched the room for a seat, only for his eyes to very conveniently land on the one right next to him. Awkwardly, you moved your stuff over so that he could sit down. And then you turned back to the lecture, aptly deciding to forget his presence right next to you.
But that was when you noticed a small piece of paper in the corner of your eye. Raising an eyebrow, you picked it up and folded it open.
hi
You turned to the side, staring at the man completely unimpressed. He gave you a small smile and that was when you realized that closer up, he was handsome. Even through his tousled hair, he had kind eyes and pretty lips. And even under his black shirt, you could see that he was broad and tall.
With a confused shake of your head, you scribbled on the note.
hi 
When you passed it to the side, you felt the warmth of his hand brush against yours. Not even a second later, the paper was placed in your hand again. Feeling a small sense of excitement now, you unfolded it, only to sigh.
do you understand what’s going on
You scrunched your nose and looked at him. He only chuckled leaning closer, intrigued.
yes because i actually came here on time
He read it over your shoulder, and you took the time to realize that he smelled nice. And also that he was literally leaning over you, causing you to feel a bit nervous. When he read your words, he nodded, leaning back in his chair. Then he pulled out another piece of paper.
This time, he wrote for a good while. 
He took so long that for a second you thought that he was actually paying attention and taking notes. But then, he smiled shyly at you and slipped the note over. You bit back your own smile and opened it.
wanna teach me after this?
You eyed him skeptically.
why should i?
He read your words and laughed quietly. You could see that the tips of his ears were red as he wrote his response.
because i think you’re pretty
You felt your cheeks heat up for a moment and in order to cope with the embarrassment, you crumpled up the note and turned back to the lecture, trying to ignore the small glances he would steal at you.
After the lecture ended, you tried to grab your bag and run off as fast as you could. You knew that if you found out his name, it would be even harder to forget him in your mind. But before you could even take a third step, he was stepping forward, looking at you with an amused smirk.
With a groan, you gave up.
“Fine, what’s your name?” You scowled.
“Hyunjae,” He immediately replied, smiling even wider.
“And are you going to stare at me if I do teach you?” 
“I sure am.”
And that was what it became. Multiple times of the week, you would meet him in various places to tutor him on the course. It started at the library, then moved to cafes, and eventually, it became his apartment.
And yes, he would stare. He was a flirty person at heart. Whenever he wanted a break from learning, he would just stop and let his eyes wander over your facial features until you squirmed and ridiculed him for being unfocused. 
“I really do think you’re pretty,” He would bluntly reply. You always brushed it off as him teasing.
But most of all, he was a sweetheart.
One time, you showed up late to one of your tutoring sessions after oversleeping. You were sure that you looked like a mess and your mind was flooded with stress of other projects and assignments to finish. When you sat beside him, he immediately noticed your change in mood.
“Okay?” He asked, his voice soft.
“What?” You swallowed thickly, the lump in your throat becoming more painful by the second. “Yeah.” But you knew how unconvincing that was when you literally had tears welling up in your eyes.
His eyes softened and he shifted even closer to you.
You looked at him and then back down into your lap.
“I’m sorry for being late. And…” 
He shook his head, regarding you only with a kind, gentle look.
“You don’t have to be sorry.”
You opened your mouth to speak but he silenced you gently by taking your hand in his.
“And you don’t have to tell me what’s wrong,” He continued. Leaning forward, he gently cupped your face to wipe away the tears cautiously with his thumbs. You found yourself smiling shyly at his kind actions. It looked odd, seeing such polar opposites sitting together and smiling stupidly at each other. But to you, you found it perfect.
“Hyunjae,” You whispered, holding back more tears. “You’ll make me cry again.”
He laughed. “Do you want…” He trailed off, instead finishing his sentence by holding his arms out. Immediately, you were falling forward and allowing him to take you into his embrace, accompanied by a soft kiss to the top of your head. He looked cold but he was always warm.
The day that you two got together was the same day that you saw him with another person. He was laughing and smiling and you felt a sour feeling in the very bottom of your gut. And you weren’t the type to deny that it was jealousy. You just didn’t know why you felt it in the first place.
And so when he was walking you home after a late-night tutoring session since he was oh, so busy with someone else, you did the stupid thing of inviting him in.
As you watched him take off his coat, you did yet another dumb thing.
“I heard that you’ve been out and about with some other person,” You suddenly blurted out. He froze and turned to you, observing you quietly. You gulped, taking a step back and immediately regretting every decision you’ve made to this very moment.
But to your surprise, his lips tilted into an amused smile, his eyes sparkling dearly.
“What you heard was true,” He replied nonchalantly. Instantly, you felt a pang in your heart as you trailed backward. Except, you must have forgotten the layout of your own apartment because you were almost tripped over the nearby table. But of course, Hyunjae just had to reach forward and pull you in by the waist.
You breathed out shakily, refusing to look him in the eye. 
“But you know that I can’t stop thinking about you and I,” He whispered, tilting his head ever so slightly.
That was when you paused in your tracks–though, you couldn’t move anyway with his arms wound around you. 
“Also,” He continued, grinning slyly. “That was my cousin.”
Embarrassment flamed throughout your body and you jerked in his hold.
“So tell me something.” Hyunjae leaned ever so closer. “Do you do the same? Think about us?”
You blinked at him, your hands fidgeting nervously. And then, shutting your eyes with mortification, you bowed your head down and whispered, “I do.”
The only thing you could hear after was a teasing huff of laughter before your surroundings were immediately deafened–deafened by the feeling of his lips on yours. You remembered his hand cupping the side of your face as he tilted your head up and how his other hand rested on your lower back to keep you from stumbling.
He was always a gentle kisser, much unlike how he looked on the outside.
“Thinking about something?” A familiar voice interrupted you out of your thoughts.
You shook out of it, coming face-to-face with none other than your boyfriend, sitting beside you on the floor. His notebook and computer were sprawled out on the table, completely untouched as he had abandoned them to… admire you apparently.
“Ah, just…” You trailed off then, narrowing your eyes at him. “Hey, focus.”
Hyunjae sighed, letting his hand trail down your side even though he knew you were ticklish there.
“Can’t I kiss you instead of learning about keyboard energy?” He looked at you pleadingly.
“Kinetic energy.”
“Same thing,” He groaned.
“And no,” You grumbled. “At least do one problem first.”
He frowned before turning back to his notebook. You watched, amused as he did in fact complete every single step of the problem. After he was done, you were about to congratulate him on getting the first right answer in about two weeks, when he suddenly turned around, pinned you against the couch, and kissed you like his life depended on it.
“Were you that excited?” You laughed when he pulled away, lips reddened.
“Always.” He smirked. “So tell me what you were thinking about.”
You internally sighed, hoping he would have forgotten by now. But, he always remembered things about you. Like how you secretly liked it when he kissed you instead of listening to your tutoring. 
“It’s nothing. Just that my friend says that we’re very different. And that it’s odd that we’re dating.”
“It is odd.”
 “Oh.” You looked at him in surprise.
“But that’s what makes it fun.” His eyes wandered over you. Yes, you still squirmed awkwardly. “I like that we’re different. You and your pretty outfits,” He explained, toying with the hem of your clothes as he smiled at the way you blushed. “And the fact that you get flustered so easily.”
“That’s because of you,” You shot back weakly.
“Precisely.” He leaned in before whispering, “And that you make me smile like an absolute idiot.”
“I do?” You bit back a smile.
“Don’t act all surprised,” He grumbled.
And this time, you let your smile break free. “Well, you do the same to me.”
“So did you also fall in love the day we first met?” His eyes widened almost hopefully.
“Not rea–” You gasped, it suddenly dawning on you. “Did you?”
And this time, he was the one who was blushing, even coughing awkwardly as he pulled away. Bringing a hand up to his face to cover his reddening cheeks, he stuttered over and over again.
“I– I just didn’t know how to act around you,” He desperately tried to defend himself. But this time, you could see right through him. 
“Wow, this is–” You laughed in disbelief. “Crazy. The man who’s supposed to be cold and ‘mean’ falls in love on the first day.” When you noticed that he was leaning back and fully covering his face, you smiled fondly. “And he’s shy now.”
He peeked an eye through before muttering a small, “Shut up.”
“Nope,” You sang. 
And this time, you wound your arms around his neck and allowed him to shut you up. With a kiss of course. His lips were roughly on yours again, his eyes shut adorably in concentration and embarrassment. That became a thing for the next few minutes. Every time you would try to tease him for his red cheeks, he would kiss you again, which would cause even more blushing.
“It’s an endless cycle,” You teased.
“Shut u–”
“Okay, go ahead.” You raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, you’re getting it.”
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