the four times tubatu didn't realise their maknae had a real girlfriend and the one unfortunate time that they did
pairing : hueningkai x fem!reader
word count : 10.7k
warnings : hueningkai is referred to as kai, freaky moments but like its not freaky cause they just kiss ??? but the members thnk they did sm freaky and kai doesn't correc them becuase theyre kinda dumb , dumb but loving txt , reader is describe to be shorter than kai (sorry!) doesnt have to be super short jsut enough to look slightly up at him
playlist : blue by yung kai, echoes by enhypen, honeymoon avenue by kasper, roller coster by tomorrow x together , dance with you by tomorrow x together , i love u by yuni
author's note: we need to normalize calling men pet names cause wtf am i supposoed to address them as but its okay i love hueningkai hes so cutesy + wrote this instead of studying for my math exam tomorrow γβ½γ
Kai Kamal Huening wasnβt good at hiding secrets.
It was something his sisters never let him forgetβespecially when he accidentally let it slip that a boy had been talking to them, right in the middle of family dinner.
Kai would only shrug in response, because it always ended the same way anyway: with him being rewarded with extra gummies for dessert.
It was a trait he had kept into adulthood, mostly because he found lying to be far too much effort.
But times had changed.
Kai had changed.
He was no longer the little boy who played the recorder while his sisters βtradedβ his plushies for one of their uglier ones.
He was a man nowβone who still played the recorder, but who also got to keep all his plushies to himself. And somehow, impossibly, he had something no one in his life ever thought he would have: a girlfriend.
Him having a girlfriend wasnβt entirely out of this world, but it was something everyone around him seemed convinced he couldnβt manage.
Maybe it was his lack of social activity.
Maybe it was his tendency to stay in his room.
Maybe it was his complete disregard for βtrendy clothing.β
Regardless of all these very real factors, Kai had managed to get a girlfriendβyou, to be specific.
He had met you on one of the rare occasions he decided to go on a solo trip around Seoul. Everyone else had a schedule that day: Yeonjun was busy working on his solo, Taehyun and Beomgyu were at the gymβmostly because Beomgyu was tired of being thrown around by the membersβand Soobin was probably getting lectured about his lack of media training. After all, who publicly admits they can eat a watermelon in three seconds and expects the internet to forget about it?
Which left Kai all aloneβand, for once, ready to go outside.
Kai messaged his manager, put on his mask, and embarked on his journey.
The walk there was about as nice as a walk could get. The weather was good, his playlist was playing every song he wanted it to, andβmost importantlyβhe hadnβt stepped in dog shit yet.
He sighed as he checked the time on his phone. It was 3:24 in the afternoon, which meant that if he made the fourteen-minute walk back to HYBE now, heβd be stuck doing workβsomething he very much did not want to be doing.
He figured he should probably find something to do before ordering a drinkβhe didnβt want to risk juggling one hand holding a drink while the other flipped through manga, something he had learned inevitably ended with at least one item hitting the floor.
Which left him wandering into one of the aisles lined with manga. He soon found himself scanning for Gintama, a familiar favorite.
Kai walked up and down the aisle, hoping to see the familiar spine.
Kai was so focused on finding his manga that he didnβt notice he wasnβt the only one in the aisle. He didnβt realize you were only four steps awayβuntil he walked right into you and sent your drink spilling all over his hoodie.
He looked down at his comfiest blue hoodie, now soaked in iced coffee.
βOhβoh my gosh!β you exclaimed. βIβm so sorry!β
Kai froze, trying to understand what was happening. He watched you pull your purse forward and dig for napkins, a small smile of relief appearing once you found some. He hesitated, unsure if he should say anything as you raised the napkins toward him, silently asking if it was okay to touch his hoodie.
You were pretty, really pretty.
Which made him want to curl up in a ball and never leave his room again because the one time he did he made an absolute fool of himself in front of the prettiest girl he had ever seen.
You cleared your throat, shaking the tissues as a reminder of the situation, snapping Kai back to reality. He quickly grabbed them from your hands and started dabbing at his hoodie, employing the method Yeonjun had once taught him when he was sixteen and utterly incapable of doing laundry.
βAre you okay?β you asked.
Kai could only nod.
You nodded back.
Kai decided he was finished trying to salvage the hoodie. If the stain survived the wash, it would simply be downgraded to a pyjama hoodie rather than an outdoor one.
You held out your hand, silently gesturing for him to give the tissues back, which he did without a word.
It was then that he truly saw your face for the first time.
His heart skipped. Your mouth slowly formed an βo,β and a spark of recognition lit up your eyes.
Kai couldnβt help but tense. He remembered practicing scenarios like this during media training seminars: if a fan recognizes you in public, you simply say hi, maybe sign somethingβbut never give personal information or take pictures. Stay calm. Stay calm.
And yet, you didnβt react with excitement or demand anything. You simply closed your mouth, quietly took the tissues from him, and held them with that calm, easy grace.
βIβm sorry,β he said.
βItβs okay,β you replied.
Kai decided then and there that you were preciousβbecause your voice sounded just as charming as you were.
The two of you stood in that aisle, quiet, each trying to think of something to say.
It was then that he noticed the orange keychain hanging from your purseβa Charmander, to be exact.
He noticed your small frown, as if you were a little disappointed he hadnβt gotten one.
Then, carefully, you unclipped the keychain from your purse. βHere,β you said, holding it out toward him.
Kaiβs eyes widened. βOhβ¦ I couldnβt take thisββ
βItβs okay,β you said with a small smile. βConsider it an apology for spilling my drink on you. I mean, itβs not every day you spill something on a famous idol.β
Kai nodded, bringing his hands forward to accept the precious gift. βAre you sure?β he found himself asking.
He found himself fumbling with the keychain, looking up to see if you had seen that.
βTake it,β you insisted. βSeriously, just take it.β
He placed it in his pocket, already imagining where he would put it in his room.
Then his eyes drifted to the manga you had been holding before the incident, and he froze at the familiar spine of Gintama.
βWaitβ¦ is that Gintama?β he asked, a spark of excitement cutting through his embarrassment. βYou like Gintama?β
You nodded, and just like that, the conversation fell into easy territory. The two of you traded favorite arcs and characters, Kai gesturing animatedly, completely forgetting the wet patch on his hoodie, the spilled drink, and even the passing time.
Then his phone rang, and the name on the screen made him groan: Soobin.
βWhere the hell have you been?β the voice demanded, half-angry, half-panicked.
Kai shot you a glance. βUhβ¦ just a sec,β he said, still distracted. You smiled and scribbled something on a piece of paper.
βHere,β you said, handing it to him. βYouβll probably need it forβ¦ you know, emergencies.β
He looked down. Your number. And even though his stomach did that weird fluttery thing, he couldnβt stop the grin spreading across his face.
βRight. Got it,β he said softly, tucking the paper into his pocket. βIβllβ¦ uh, text you.β
His girlfriend, who would listen patiently while he ranted about whatever he was watching at the moment.
His girlfriend, who would sit prettily on her couch as he came over to show her something he helped create.
His girlfriend, who, over time, grew bold enough to tease him relentlessly, because in your words, βYou're too pretty to not be appreciated.β
Because of you, Kai finally got to do all the βcouple thingsβ he had watched Lea gush about on the phone with her friends.
He could hug you whenever he wanted.
He could formally βadoptβ plushies together with you.
He could talk about anything he wanted, knowing youβd always listen and respond.
He loved having a girlfriend.
In fact⦠he loved you.
He told you on your three-month anniversary.
You responded by showing him matching figurines of Plusle and Minun holding hands in a heart-shaped box youβd painted.
Was it quick? Probably.
Did the two of you care? Absolutely not.
It was on your four-month anniversary that you asked the question that made his stomach flip:
βDo your members know about us?β
He watched as you slowly lifted yourself off his chest, the two of you still sprawled on the bed, watching Team Rocket get absolutely destroyed by ten-year-olds.
He hated to admit it, but he always missed youβeven if you were only ten centimetres away.
He shook his head, silently saying βNoβ.
βWhy not?β you asked.
Kai opened his mouth, then closed it again. The only answer he could come up with wasβ¦ weird. How do you tell the people who had practically raised you since the age of thirteen that youβre dating at twenty-three? How do you explain to the four people who had traveled the world with you, who had suffered with you, that you were no longer the kid with plushies that they had to take care of? That the kid remained a loser with plushiesβ¦ but also now made out with the prettiest girl in the world every other weekend?
How do you even begin to explain that?
So all he could manage was, βIt justβ¦ hasnβt come up in conversation.β
You raised an eyebrow. βAnd how exactly do you expect it to come up in conversation?β
Kai groaned and let his head fall back. βI donβt know!β he exclaimed dramatically, which made you giggle.
He turned to look at you, voice exasperated, βHow do you tell people whoβve taken care of youβand shared diarrhea with youβthat youβre suddenly dating someone?β
You made a face. βToo much information,β you muttered.
Kai shrugged. βBesides, what if they donβt like it? Itβs not like I can run away from themβIβm legally required to spend the next seven years with them!β
You hummed, weighing his words. Then you moved back to your spot on his chest. βFine,β you said, βdonβt tell themβbut donβt hide it from them either.β
Kai nodded.
βTheyβre important people in your life,β you continued, smiling down at him. βThey deserve to know that weβre together.β
Kai nodded again.
You leaned up and planted a soft kiss on his lipsβa kiss he gladly returned.
Regardless of his members, Kai simply loved his girlfriend.
THE FIRST TIME: WHY DO YOU HAVE HADILAO ON SPEED DIAL?
Yeonjun loved eating.
When it came to deciding the groupβs archetypes, he had claimed the βfoodieβ title immediatelyβand no one argued. He would eat anything. Everything.
But he knew his limits. After three consecutive days of takeout, a hand-made meal became necessaryβeven if it meant risking death by Taehyunβs glare. And he knew every other member shared this belief.
Which was why he was utterly confused when he saw the maknae frantically searching for the fastest route to Haidilao from their photoshoot location.
It was a photoshoot for somethingβhe wasnβt exactly sure whatβbut all Yeonjun had to do was pose and post it on Instagram. Simple enough.
And yet, there was the maknae, plotting a route to hotpot like his life depended on it.
There was nothing wrong with it. It was justβ¦ peculiar. Yeonjun could have sworn Kai had gone to Haidilao three days ago. And wasnβt he supposed to be dieting?
He narrowed his eyes at the maknae, trying to decipher the master plan.
βHyung?β Kaiβs voice broke him out of his trance.
Yeonjun blinked, looking up. βWhat?β
Kai shook his head, smirking. βWhy are you looking at me like I drew three-dot YJ again?β
Yeonjun squinted at him. βYouβre a brat, you know that, right?β
Kai simply smiled and nodded, as if this accusation was an everyday occurrence. (It was.)
Unsatisfied, Yeonjun glanced around, searching for backup.
Soobin was being debriefed by the photoshoot director about the promotion plan.
Taehyun was getting his outfit refittedβhis arms having somehow grown overnight.
Beomgyu was in the makeup chair, half asleep and fully unhelpful.
Which left Yeonjun alone, forced to interrogate the maknaeβs sudden devotion to hotpot by himself.
The plan commenced with a subtle shiftβmoving from standing in front of Kai to sitting beside him. Then leaning in, peeking over the maknaeβs increasingly broad shoulder, and glancing at his phone screen.
Kai was scrolling through the Haidilao menu. Specifically, the soup bases.
βWhatβcha doing?β Yeonjun asked casually.
Kai flinched and immediately locked his phone.
βNothing,β he stammered.
Yeonjun froze.
Now this was interesting. He had never seen Kai this shaken before.
βAre you sure?β he asked again.
Kai noddedβbut it was far too frantic to be convincing.
βBecause it looked like you were searching how to get to Haidilao from here.β
Yeonjun watched as Kai visibly slumped, like a man caught red-handed.
βI promised someone Iβd eat with them there today,β Kai admitted.
Yeonjunβs curiosity sharpened immediately. Kai never mentioned meeting new peopleβever.
βWho,β Yeonjun pressed, βare you planning to meet there?β
Kai muttered something under his breath and turned his head away.
Yeonjun bit back the urge to roll his eyes. Why was he suddenly this difficult?
βIβm sorry,β Yeonjun said sweetly, sarcasm dripping from every syllable, βI couldnβt hear you.β
Kai straightened, as if bracing himself, and forced eye contact with his hyung.
βMy girlfriend.β
Yeonjun stared at him.
βIβm sorryβwhat?β
Kai sighed, turning fully toward him now, resignation written all over his face. βMy girlfriend. I was trying to figure out the quickest way to get to Haidilao because I promised my girlfriend weβd eat there together.β
Yeonjun blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Did the word girlfriend just come out of Kaiβs mouth?
No. It couldnβt have.
It had to be something else. A misunderstanding. A joke. A lie. A very elaborate excuse involving hotpot.
The sheer absurdity of the idea hit him all at once, and Yeonjun burst out laughingβloud enough that Beomgyu jolted awake in his makeup chair.
βWhatβwhatβs happening?β Beomgyu croaked.
Kai remained entirely unimpressed, staring at Yeonjun like this reaction was deeply offensive.
βIf you wanted to go to Haidilao,β Yeonjun wheezed between laughs, βyou donβt have to make up some fake girlfriend just to do it.β
Kai blinked at him.
Once.
Slowly.
And thenβ
βSheβs not fake.β
βSure,β Yeonjun said, very close to ruining his eye makeup from how hard he was laughing.
Kai only sighed and went back to scrolling on his phone.
It took three full minutesβand two increasingly concerned side-eyes from nearby staffβfor Yeonjun to finally calm down.
βIβm so happy that the idea of me dating someone makes you want to pee your pants,β Kai said dryly, already tired of bowing apologetically to staff members who looked genuinely worried about the two of them.
Yeonjun snorted. βYou know you donβt have to make up a whole fake girlfriend just to go eat hotpot.β
He pushed himself upright, having nearly folded in half during his laughing fit. βItβs okay if you donβt want to eat Taehyunβs cooking today,β he continued, reaching out to pinch his maknaeβs cheeks. βIβll tell him you got called away by the producers or something. Itβs not like heβs going to murder you for skipping one healthy meal.β
Kai nodded along, deadpan, wondering if the concept of him having a girlfriend was truly that unbelievable that his membersβ most logical conclusion was that he was lying just to avoid eating clean.
βYep,β Kai said quietly. βThatβs exactly whatβs happening.β
Satisfied with the maknaeβs answer, Yeonjun turned around and went to his phone.
Kai has a girlfriend?
Yeah right!
When Kai finally spotted you waiting in a booth, scrolling on your phone, he felt the weight of the day melt off his shoulders.
You were sitting there in one of the hoodies that existed in joint custody between the two of you, your bag resting on your lap. A Plusle keychain dangled from itβperfectly matching the Minun clipped to the belt loop of his pants.
He couldnβt help but stand there for a moment, silently debating whether he should wait for you to notice him or poke you into acknowledging his presence.
The decision was made for him the moment you realised there was a 183-centimetre shadow looming in front of you, prompting you to look up.
βYou know, if you keep standing there, someone might think youβre haunting me,β you said, trying to get him to sit down.
Kai let himself slide into the seatβnot across from you, but beside you.
He couldnβt help it. You were comfort personified, and why would he want a table between the two of you when he could sit right here?
He wrapped an arm around you, slowly letting himself melt into your side.
Photoshoots werenβt new to Kai, but they were always just exhausting enough to make him want to curl up into a ball afterward.
Now, he could curl up with you beside himβand that made everything better.
βAre you ready to eat?β you asked, leaning into him just as easily.
As his head slowly drooped to rest against your shoulder, Kai briefly thought that this must be what people meant when they complained about couples being disgustingly affectionate in public. Still, he couldnβt find it in himself to care if anyone was watching.
His thoughts were interrupted by a small nudge. He followed your finger to the tablet displaying the menu.
He straightened up and ordered with you, making sure both of your cravings were met. He listened as you talked about your dayβabout the new anime you were watching, about your friendβs upcoming birthdayβand he realised he felt full in a way food had nothing to do with.
He really loved you.
When the food arrived, he made sure you ate first, even though this was the first proper meal heβd had all day.
It was halfway through feeding you your seventh bite that you asked, βSoβ¦ how was the photoshoot?β
Kai made sure the chopsticks were perfectly loaded with everything you liked. βIt was okay,β he said. βWe filmed some TikToksβyouβd probably like them. The outfits were fine.β
He lifted the chopsticks again, waiting patiently for you to open your mouth. βThe only weird thing was that Yeonjun laughed at me when I told him I was meeting you here.β
You immediately choked on your food.
Kai rushed to grab a glass of water, holding it up to your lips and steadying it as you drank.
Once you finally signalled that you were okay, he set the glass down and watched you try to compose yourself.
βHeββ you started. βYou told him?β
Kai nodded. βYeah. I said I was meeting my girlfriend here, and then he laughed like the Joker for twenty minutes.β
You snorted.
Then you started giggling.
Was he secretly a comedian? Why did everyone keep laughing at him?
βWell,β you said between laughs, βI guess they wouldnβt believe it even if you told them you had a girlfriend.β
He narrowed his eyes at you. βAre you saying that, in my membersβ eyes, I am eternally bitchless?β
You nodded, still laughing.
βItβs okay,β you said, finally calming down. βIβll still be with youβeven if the entire world thinks you canβt pull.β
Kai couldnβt help but smile, because he knew the same thing.
No matter what anyone said, heβd choose you every single time.
THE SECOND TIME : SINCE WHEN WERE YOU INTO SHOUJO ANIME?
Soobin practically knew everything about Kai.
He knew his likes and his dislikes. He knew which of Kaiβs many plushies was his favourite. He knew the small, subconscious habits Kai carried without realisingβthings Soobin had memorised over years of shared dorms and overlapping schedules.
Which was why this felt wrong.
Maybe it was because theyβd been busy latelyβthe new comeback, the sudden surge of solo schedules, or simply the lack of proper one-on-one timeβbut Soobin never imagined walking into the living room to find Kai willingly watching Kimi no Todoke.
For fun.
Not ironically. Not because someone else had it on. Not because heβd lost a bet.
NoβKai was curled up on the couch, eyes glued to the screen, fully immersed as Sawako awkwardly fumbled through her feelings.
Soobin stopped walking.
He stared.
Since when was Huening Kai into shoujo anime?
Soobin knew Kai had been trying to get more into anime latelyβbut he distinctly remembered nineteen-year-old Kai declaring that he would rather get abs than watch shoujo.
Soobin blinked, needing to confirm whether what he was witnessing was real or simply the result of his horrible sleeping habits finally catching up to him.
He closed his eyes.
He opened them again.
Kai was still there. Still watching Kimi no Todoke. Still wearing an expression of genuine focus that couldnβt possibly be faked.
Soobin couldnβt help himself.
βWhat the hell are you watching?β
Kai flinched, whipping his head around to find Soobin standing behind him.
Soobin slowly raised a hand and pointed at the TV. βWant to explain this?β
Kai tilted his head, genuinely confused. βHyung, youβve known I watch anime. Why is this weird?β
Soobin did a double take.
Why was this weird?
Oh. Right.
βAre we looking at the same thing right now?β
Kai turned back to the screen and paused the episode, then patted the space beside him, gesturing for Soobin to sit. βDo you want some water?β he added seriously. βMaybe all those media training lectures messed with your head.β
Soobin gaped at the maknaeβyet somehow still found himself sitting down moments later, a newly acquired glass of water resting in his hand.
Kai turned to face his leader, a blanket draped over his lap and his comfiest hoodie pulled on, looking painfully at ease.
βWhatβs the matter?β he asked.
Soobin searched for the right words. βWhy?β
Kai tilted his head. βWhy what?β
βWhy are you watchingββ Soobin gestured vaguely toward the TV, fingers flailing, βthis.β
Soobin nodded slowly, as if that explanation made sense.
It didnβt.
βBut you said youβd rather get abs than watch a school romance,β Soobin shot back.
Kai chuckled at the reminder. βI did,β he said, then gestured vaguely to his body. βBut, uhβlook at what happened to me.β
Soobin stared.
Abs were one thing. This? This was slander.
His brain began to whir. Loudly.
This wasnβt the Kai he knew. The Kai he raised. The Kai who once abandoned a drama five minutes in because βwhy are they staring at each other for so long?β
He looked at the screen again. Sawako was blushing.
Kai was smiling.
Oh no.
Heβs changed, Soobin thought, dread curling in his stomach. Someone did this to him.
Slowly, carefullyβlike he was approaching a wild animalβSoobin leaned forward.
βKai,β he said quietly. Dangerously calm.
Kai hummed, eyes still fixed on the paused screen.
βWho,β Soobin continued, pointing once at the TV, then very deliberately at Kai, βmade you do this?β
Kai finally looked at him. Blinked. ββ¦Hyung?β
βCβmon,β Soobin said. βYou mean to tell me that all of a sudden, youβre changing your personality.β
βPersonality?β Kai shot back. βIβm watching one anime and now youβre saying my entire DNA has changed?β
Soobin nodded. βExactly. So whatβs happening?β
Kai sighed, already knowing his hyung wouldnβt let this go. βYou want the truth?β
Soobin nodded.
Kai exhaled. βMy girlfriend told me it was good, so I decided to watch it.β
Soobin stared at his maknae.
Kai stared back at his leader.
βGirlfriend?β Soobin echoed.
Kai nodded, like this was the most normal sentence heβd ever said.
Soobin stared at the boy heβd known since he was fifteenβthe kid heβd practically raised. He lifted a hand and pointed straight at him. βGirlfriend?β
Kai nodded again. Still calm. Still normal.
Too normal.
Which could only mean one thing.
Kai was lying.
A big, fat liar.
Soobin blinked. βYou know,β he said carefully, βitβs okay to admit your tastes have evolved.β
Kai frowned. βWhat?β
βYou donβt have to make up a girlfriend for it.β
Soobin watched as Kai closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose, and let out a long sigh.
βYouβre telling me,β Kai said, locking eyes with him, βthat just because I said I have a girlfriend, you think Iβm making up an excuse to watch a romance anime?β
Soobin noddedβcompletely serious.
Kai pursed his lips. βYouβre right,β he surrendered. βYouβre absolutely right.β
Soobin nodded, satisfied with the explanation heβd decided on for Kai.
βGo on,β he said, leaning back with his arms crossed. βHave fun watching Kimi no Todoke.β
Kai opened his mouth to retort, then thought better of it, allowing Soobin his moment of victory.
Soobin settled back into the couch, proud of the conclusion heβd reached.
Kai canβt have a girlfriend, he decided firmly. Heβs just getting introduced to girls.
Kaiβs favourite part of the days when he couldnβt see you was when he got to call you.
It was always late at night, after heβd settled into his room and made sure heβd said goodnight to all the members. He would send you a simple messageβsomething like iβm free ~ βand then go about his nighttime routine, already anticipating the sound of your voice.
The thing that made long, exhausting days at the company feel worth it.
And he knew that for you, they were a break tooβa pause from daily stress, from everything that weighed on you.
Maybe that was why he cherished these calls just as much as he cherished seeing you in person. Because when the two of you were talking through a screen, it felt like your own small worldβ one that couldnβt be disturbed in the slightest.
Tonightβs call came while he was finishing his skincare. Heβd already said goodnight to the members after eating Taehyunβs homemade foodβthe same food heβd missed earlier when heβd gone to Haidilao to meet you.
He accepted the call and smiled immediately when your face appeared on the screen. It looked like you were just starting your own nighttime routine.
The conversation began the way it always did: small, simple questions.
How was your day? Did you eat? Are you tired?
But they were never small between the two of you.
Kai genuinely wanted to know everything youβd done, and he knew you loved hearing about the tiny moments that made his day special.
Tonightβs main story?
Soobin questioning him over watching Kimi no Todokeβand then outright refusing to believe him when he told the truth.
It sounded ridiculous when Kai said it out loud. But the way you reacted, laughing softly into your hand, made it worth it.
As much as he loved the sound, Kai couldnβt stop the pout that formed on his lips.
βWhy do all the members think thereβs no possible way for me to get a girlfriend?β he complained.
Your laughter slowly faded.
βMaybe,β you said gently, βitβs because youβre always their baby who hates romance?β
Kai let out a noise somewhere between a scoff and a sulk. βBut itβs not funny anymore.β
You triedβand failedβto contain another quiet laugh.
βImagine if you give them our wedding invitations and they still donβt believe you.β
Kai looked horrified at the thought.
βNo!β he exclaimed, face-palming as he pulled his blankets up and over himself like they could shield him from the idea.
That finally set you off, but when the laughter faded, Kai found himself just watching youβyour smile warm and fond in a way that made his chest ache.
βItβs okay,β you said softly. βThat just means when they finally do figure it out, itβll be even funnier.β
That was something Kai could agree on.
It went quiet for a moment. Comfortable. Unrushed.
And before he could stop himself, he said, βI miss you.β
You shifted in bed, getting more comfortable before smiling back at him.
βI miss you too, bubba.β
Kai wrinkled his nose. βBubba?β
You nodded. βItβs cute.β You leaned your head against your hand. βLike you.β
As much as Kai wanted to argue that you were much cuter, his cheeks were already turning pink.
βShut up,β he mumbled weakly.
Your small laugh echoed through his headphones.
Β βI love you.β
Kai muttered the words back, quieterβbut no less certain.
He really wouldnβt mind being married to you.
THE THIRD TIME: DID THE GHOST OF SHAKESPHERE POSSESS YOU?
Beomgyu had always admired Kai.
From the moment he learned that the groupβs maknae had originally come to the company to produceβnot sing, not danceβBeomgyu found himself genuinely impressed by the thirteen-year-old trainee. It wasnβt just talent. It was instinct. Kai heard music differently.
Whenever it came time to write lyrics or build a track, Beomgyu gravitated toward him without thinking. Beats, melodies, second opinionsβKai was always the one he trusted. The one who listened carefully before speaking. The one whose feedback actually made things better.
So when the producers suggested that the two in-house producers of the group sit together to brainstorm for the new album, Beomgyu didnβt hesitate.
He already had expectations.
Kai would write about friendship.
Or youth.
Or chasing dreams with that soft sincerity he was known for.
What Beomgyu did not expectβ
Was a romance song.
And not even the safe kind. Not a vague, abstract I like you from afar track that could be brushed off as fanservice or metaphor.
No.
Kai wanted to write about wanting to dance with someone.
The lyrics he showed Beomgyu made him think Kai might want to do more than just dance.
Beomgyu stared at the lyric sheet in silence.
Then, slowly, he looked up.
ββ¦Who possessed you?β
He stared at the maknaeβwho stared back at him with wide eyes.
βWhat do you mean?β Kai asked.
Beomgyu looked back down at the paper, skimming over lines like this long, sweet dance that canβt be done alone.
He blinked.
βWhen did the ghost of Shakespeare possess you?β
Kai frowned. βI donβt follow.β
Beomgyu gestured at the lyric sheet.
βWhat made you writeββ he paused, repressing both a shiver and a gag, ββsensual stuff?β
His face twisted. βSensual stuff?β he repeated, like the word physically hurt.
Kai frownedβnot offended. Justβ¦ confused. Genuinely so.
βWhatβs wrong with it?β he asked.
Beomgyu froze.
That was worse than denial. Worse than embarrassment.
That was indifference.
The maknae was absolutely indifferent to the fact that he had written something meant to be sung to someone.
βKai,β Beomgyu said carefully, βyou donβt just accidentally write lines like this long, sweet dance that canβt be done alone.β
Kai shrugged, rolling his chair a little closer to the desk. βItβs just honest.β
Beomgyuβs eye twitched.
βHonest.β
βYeah,β Kai said, leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees. βDancing isnβt just moving. Itβs timing. Trust. You have to listen to the other person. You canβt rush itβand you canβt do it by yourself.β
He spoke gently. Thoughtfully.
Like heβd rehearsed this explanation long before Beomgyu ever asked.
Beomgyu stared.
This wasnβt poetic nonsense.
This was a thesis.
βSo,β Kai continued, eyes flicking briefly back to the lyric sheet, βI wanted it to feel close. Like youβre aware of every step the other person takes.β
Silence.
Beomgyuβs brain began to short-circuit.
ββ¦Youβre aware,β he said slowly, βthat this is a love song.β
Kai nodded. βYeah.β
Immediate. No hesitation.
Beomgyu swallowed.
βAnd youβre aware,β he pressed, βthat this is supposed to be hypothetical.β
Kai tilted his head. βBut itβs not?β
Oh.
Beomgyu looked at him againβreally looked this time. The calm posture. The steady tone. The lack of deflection. No jokes. No embarrassment.
ββ¦Who,β Beomgyu asked quietly, βare you dancing with?β
Kai blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Then his ears turned red.
Something in Beomgyuβs soul cracked.
βKai,β he whispered, pointing accusingly, βdonβt you dare tell me this is about a real person.β
Kai shrugged, turning back to the soundboard and fiddling with a beat.
βGod forbid a man wants to write a song about dancing with his girlfriend.β
Beomgyu blinked at him.
Girlfriend?
ββ¦And by girlfriend, you mean a really hot actress, right?β
Kai turned around, eyes wide.
βWhy would I lie about having a girlfriend?β
Beomgyu scoffed. βWhen would you ever leave your room long enough to get a girlfriend?β
Kai nodded slowlyβless in agreement and more because he was still processing the audacity of that statement.
Beomgyu, meanwhile, seemed perfectly satisfied with his conclusion. He leaned forward and grabbed Kai by the shoulders.
βSo,β he said teasingly, eyes sparkling, βcare to tell me which actress made you want to finally become a man?β
Kai grimaced. βThatβs gross, hyung.β
Beomgyu gasped, recoiling like heβd been personally offended.
βYouβre disgusting! I didnβt mean it like that,β he protested, then pointed accusingly at Kai. βI just wanted to know what made you want to be all sensual,β he sang, dragging the word out obnoxiously.
βSheβs not an actress!β Kai exclaimed.
Beomgyu clutched his chest and gasped once more.
βIs it one of our sunbaes?β
Kai opened his mouth to defend himselfβbut nothing came out.
βIs that why you want to dance with them?β Beomgyu giggled, a new theory forming mid-sentence. βIs it because you want a collaboration?β
Kai sighed and nodded along.
βSure,β he said, patting Beomgyu as the older boy laughed himself silly. βWhatever floats your boat, hyung.β
Beomgyu continued to giggle.
The maknae having a girlfriend before him?
As if.
No matter how many times TXT released new music, it never stopped being nerve-wracking for Kai.
Questions always raced through his headβwhat if the fans didnβt like it? What if the directors butchered the music video? What if the company uploaded the wrong file and the wrong video went live?
Release day always left his stomach twisted into knots.
Today was no different.
If anything, it was worse.
Today was the day you would watchβand listen toβDance With You for the first time.
Kai paced back and forth across your apartment, hands running through his hair, stopping only to glance at your laptop every few seconds as you refreshed the page again and again. Meanwhile, you just watched him with quiet amusement, unfazed by his spiraling energy.
βItβs okay,β you called out gently.
And the practical part of his brain agreed. It was fine. Totally fine.
Itβs not like heβd written a song about you.
Not like it was basically dedicated to you.
And itβs not like this was your first time hearing it, considering the song had been out for weeksβweeks youβd spent waiting only because heβd begged you not to listen until the music video dropped.
Really. No big deal at all.
Then he heard you gasp.
Kai snapped his head toward you just in time to see you click on the thumbnailβhim, mid-dance, holding a mop.
He physically cringed.
What if you hated it?
What if you hated seeing him like thisβmore grown, more intentional, more romantic?
Oh my god⦠what if you broke up with him because you thought he was getting too close with a mop?
The thought was ridiculous. Completely irrational.
And yet Kai suddenly became very afraid that, in some distant future, heβd be remembered only as the ex who danced with cleaning suppliesβa cautionary tale youβd tell on dates because you hated the music video that much.
Kai was so consumed by his panic that he completely missed watching your reactions. It wasnβt until your voice cut through his thoughts with a weary, βKai?β that he snapped back into reality.
βYes?β he answered too quickly, silently begging his stomach to keep down the egg and toast heβd forced himself to eat that morning.
You were looking at himβnot at the screen, not at the paused video, but at him. There was something in your expression that made his chest tighten, something Kai could only describe as awe.
He swallowed hard, pushing down the lump forming in his throat.
ββ¦Did you like it?β he asked quietly, almost meekly.
You held your hands out to him, and when he placed his in yours, you gently tugged him down until he was sitting beside you.
βLike it?β you echoed, disbelief woven into your voice. βSweetheart, I loved it.β
Kai felt his body finally relax, like everything snapping back into its proper place. βReally?β
You nodded without hesitation. βWhatβs not to like?β
You reached for the laptop, replaying the music video as you continued, βMy boyfriend looking all pretty and handsome on screen, showing the whole world that heβs capable of incredible things.β
A small giggle slipped out of Kai before he could stop it, warmth blooming in his chest as he let himself soak in the praise.
He shifted closer, eventually settling into your lap, eyes fluttering shut as your hand instinctively moved to run through his hair.
βDid you read the lyrics yet?β he asked softly.
You shook your head. βConsidering I heard the song for the first time, like, seven minutes ago? I donβt think Iβve had time to properly digest the lyrics you wrote.β
βWell, you should,β he said, almost sheepishly. βThey made Beomgyu think Iβm crushing on a sunbae.β
You snorted. βWhat?β
He nodded seriously. βHe read the lyrics and straight-up refused to believe Iβm capable of writing about girls.β
You laughed, already following his logic. βAnother girlfriend reveal gone wrong?β
Kai hummed in agreement. βItβs obvious too. Iβm not even hiding you from them anymore, and they still donβt believe me when I tell them.β
He glanced up at you as you tried to think of a solution.
βMaybe theyβd believe it if they saw it?β you offered.
Kai considered that. You werenβt wrongβbut a small, anxious part of him worried theyβd just ask if heβd hired you as an actress.
βIβll think about it,β he said instead.
Which, in Kai-speak, really meant: I donβt want to think about this right now, but Iβll file it away as a potential Plan B.
You resumed playing with his hair, fingers gentle and familiar. βHey, Bubba?β you asked softly.
He looked up, expecting a question.
Instead, you kissed him.
He melted into it immediately, relaxing as he pressed his lips back against yours. When you pulled away moments later, you stayed close, your words barely a whisper against his mouth.
βI would love to dance with you.β
Kai kissed you again without hesitation, heart swelling in his chest.
And as he held you there, he couldnβt help but think that heβd dance with you every dayβevery lifetimeβif he could.
THE FOURTH TIME : IS YOUR LOVE LANGUAGE ABS?
Taehyun knew he was very different from Kai.
Taehyun hated being called cute.
Kai embraced it.
Taehyun hated watching romance.
Kai wasβapparentlyβgetting into it.
Taehyun didnβt mind showing skin.
Kai avoided it as much as he possibly could.
But Kai had been Taehyunβs first friend on the team.
One of the people closest to him.
Taehyun listened. He always did. He would sit beside Kai and let him talkβabout his day, about melodies stuck in his head, about ideas for projects that never quite left his thoughts. Taehyun didnβt interrupt. He didnβt rush him. He just stayed.
Which led to another realisation, another difference between them.
Taehyun loved working out.
Kai would rather do just about anything else than step into a gym.
Which was why Taehyun found himself surprisedβ and, admittedly, a little scaredβ when Kai asked if he could help him get abs.
Taehyun had agreed.
That decision led to a two-hour session at the HYBE gym, where Taehyun spotted the maknae and discoveredβmuch to his disbeliefβthat Kai was putting in a full, unwavering one hundred percent effort. No complaints. No excuses. Just stubborn focus and slightly shaky arms.
That alone was alarming.
It wasnβt until after the workout that Taehyun decided he needed answers.
As if that single scoop made all the difference in the world.
Taehyun cleared his throat.
βSo,β he began carefully, βwhat exactly made you want to getββ he paused, searching for the least awkward word possible, ββabs?β
Across from him, Kai slurped his mango concoction thoughtfully, eyes unfocused as he considered the question.
Taehyun waited.
This better be good.
Kai blinked. βWellβ¦ we had them for Love Language, so I thought I should keep them.β
Taehyun nodded slowly, not fully buying it.
βIf I remember correctly,β he said, βyou were always the first person to leave the gym the second the trainer said you were good to go.β
Kai hummed in response, leaning forward to take a bite of the egg tart heβd grabbed.
βSo?β Taehyun pressed, crossing his arms.
Kai finished chewing and let out a sigh.
A deep sigh.
That immediately worried Taehyun.
βIs everything okay?β he asked.
βYou wouldnβt believe me if I told you,β Kai said quietly.
Taehyunβs mind started racing.
What does he mean I wouldnβt understand?
He ran through every possibilityβevery reason Kai might suddenly change one of his most fundamental habits.
ββ¦Are you getting hate comments about your body again?β
Kaiβs eyes widened. βWhat? No.β
Taehyun raised an eyebrow. βAre you sure?β
Kai nodded. βI mean, I probably am. But Iβm not reading them anymore.β
Taehyun looked down at the table and let out a small, relieved sigh.
Okay. Not that.
So what else?
He cleared his throat again. βThen what is it that I wonβt believe?β
Kai took another sip of his drink.
Taehyun watched closely, silently praying that two hours at the gym hadnβt just gone to waste on a mango drink with a conscience.
Kai cleared his throat. βWell,β he trailed off, βmy girlfriend really liked my abs during Love Language, so I thought I should try to keep them.β
Taehyun blinked.
Then rubbed his ear, just to be sure.
βIβm sorry,β he said, rubbing it again, βcan you repeat that?β
Kai looked like he was used to this. He slumped further into his seat.
βIβm trying to keep my abs because my girlfriend likes them.β
Taehyun stared straight into Kaiβs eyes, searching desperately for a hint of humor.
There was none.
Which meant this had to be something else.
βYou donβt have to use a girlfriend as an excuse to better yourself,β Taehyun said gently.
That had to be it. He must be embarrassedβstarting now, when everyone else had been working out for years.
Kai looked exasperated. βWhat exactly are you talking about?β
Taehyun continued, βI understand that everyone around us has always pushed us to be fit, and you never listenedβwhich was completely fine, because you looked great without the muscle.β He paused, meeting Kaiβs eyes. βBut you donβt have to be embarrassed to admit you want to improve yourself now.β
Kai stared at him.
Then leaned forward, rested his arms on the table, and took another sip of his drink.
βSure, hyung,β he said dryly. βYou caught me. Iβm using a fake girlfriend as an excuse to get abs so I can keep watching anime and gaming in my roomβbut with abs.β
Taehyun nodded, satisfied.
βThat makes sense,β he said. βI meanβwhose love language is abs?β
Kai stared at him blankly. βYeah,β he said flatly. βSo weird.β
Taehyun opened his mouth to comment on the tone when his phone rangβa reminder for an interview he had to film alongside Yeonjun.
He stood, holding the phone up to Kai, who waved him off casually.
Taehyun walked down the hallway toward the makeup room, already shaking his head.
The maknae having a girlfriend?
There was absolutely no way.
When Kai was training, he always kept a small emotional-support plushie with him.
It wasnβt separation anxietyβhe swapped them out often.
It wasnβt to stand out or earn points with the producers during training sessions, like some of the other trainees tried to do.
He simply liked having something small and soft nearby. A reminder that even when things felt overwhelming or bleak, there were still gentle, cute things in the world.
People teased him for it.
His sisters teased him.
His members teased him too.
But he always knew it came from a place of fondness, so he never took it to heart. It became just another thing about himβsomething he accepted with a shrug and a smile.
Which was why his heart had started beating faster when, during a video call, you noticed the plushies in the background.
And instead of commenting on how many there were, you asked if they all had names.
And stories.
You were the first person in his life who didnβt treat his plushies like something to laugh atβbut like something that mattered.
What made it even better was that you had your own collection. A stash of stuffed animals you clearly adored just as much.
At the time, it felt like a small detail. Cute. Insignificant.
Later, it became something else entirely.
Something affectionately referred to as β the co-parenting practiceβ.
This happened every two to three weeks.
The two of you would meetβusually at your placeβand spend a few quiet hours together before exchanging plushies, so that you each left with a small piece of the other.
This week was no different.
In Kaiβs hands was a Tuxedo Sam plushie you had given him, tucked carefully alongside the strawberry Molang plushie he planned to give you in return.
But that wasnβt all he was carrying.
In his bag were three of his comfiest hoodiesβchosen specifically because, just the other day, you had complained about how the womenβs section never stocked properly oversized fits.
Kai wasnβt stupid. He had watched enough dramas to know that this was a thingβsomething you were supposed to do. Give someone your hoodies. Let them steal your warmth.
So he had spent a full ninety minutes standing in front of his closet, narrowing it down to his top three. He picked his favourite cologne, sprayed each hoodie lightly, then folded them neatly into the bag, placing the plushies on top like they were guarding them.
And somewhere between zipping the bag shut and slinging it over his shoulder, it hit him.
Thisβthisβwas what love meant.
Because he knew, without a doubt, that he would never do this for anyone else.
He quickly unlocked the door to his apartment and let himself in, immediately kicking off his shoes and hanging his jacket and mask on the designated hook you kept just for him.
He set his bag at the foot of the couch before heading to the kitchen to find you. Instead of greeting you properly, he opted to surprise you with a hug.
He couldnβt hide his smile when you flinched at the sudden contact.
βYou know I couldβve kicked you,β you said, even as you melted into his embrace.
βYeah,β Kai agreed easily, βbut then you wouldnβt be able to hug me, and youβd feel bad.β
You stopped stirring the pasta and turned to face him. βWell, that would be too bad, wouldnβt it.β
He smiled down at you. βHi,β he whispered.
βHi,β you smiled back.
βAre you ready for the exchange?β he asked, already looking forward to carrying another piece of you with him.
You nodded, placing a lid on the pot.
βSmells delicious, by the way,β Kai added as he followed you into the living room.
The exchange went on as it always didβsoft smiles, familiar movements, comforting habits. In return for his Squirtle plushie, he received a bread plush with a tiny bow tie, accompanied by your quiet remark that it reminded you of him.
He, in turn, excitedly handed you the Molang plushie, which you immediately cooed over, praising how cute it was.
You were just as overjoyed with his hoodie selection, admitting that youβd been eyeing his closet for a long time. Kai felt his heart warm as he helped you pull them on, one by one.
The meal that followed was delicious. Because of you, he had learned how amazing it was to eat something homemadeβsomething not packaged or ordered. He would happily eat your cooking no matter the consequences.
It was only when it came time to say goodbye that Kai found himself truly grateful for the arrangement the two of you had started. He couldnβt imagine not doing this with you.
He lingered in your doorway, procrastinating putting his jacket and shoes back on.
βOne more hug,β he pleaded, making small grabby hands in your direction.
You smiled. βIβve been hugging you all day.β
βThatβs different,β he argued. βThis is my goodbye hug.β
You played along. βYouβre right. It would be unjust to let you go without one.β
He opened his arms, already accepting you the moment you stepped into his space.
You shifted slightly in his embrace. He didnβt think much of itβuntil your voice came out muffled against his sweatshirt.
βHave you been working out?β
He nodded, arms still wrapped around you. βYou said you liked my abs, and I figuredβ¦ if you liked them, I might as well try to keep them a little longer.β
You looked up at him. βYou know you donβt have to.β
He hummed in agreement. βI know. But itβs for youβand itβs not a big deal either.β
βAre you sure?β you asked.
He smiled and nodded, pulling you even closer.
βIt even let me tell Taehyun about you,β he added after a moment, loosening his hold just enough to let you breathe.
βDid he believe you?β you asked.
βNo,β Kai said, a little dejected.
You giggled. βYouβd think heβd be the one to figure it out.β
βYouβd think,β Kai sighed, finally moving to put his shoes on.
βItβs okay,β you said, handing him his jacket. βWeβll tell them together?β
He nodded, slipping it on and grabbing the bag that held his childrenβread: plushies.
He paused, looking at you. βOne more hug before I leave?β
You smiled and indulged him.
Kai decided he wouldnβt mind staying in your embrace forever.
THE ONE TIME : WHY WERE YOUR LIPS MOVING LIKE THAT ?
Kai decided that everyone around him was, frankly, dumb.
There was no other explanation. No universe in which four grown men could repeatedly fail to comprehend the very simple fact that he had a girlfriendβespecially when he had spelled it out for them. Slowly. Clearly. Multiple times.
And yet.
They accused him of having everything but a girlfriend and moved on as if it never happened.
Which was why Kai decided it was time to test their cognitive skills.
By inviting you to the dorm.
The plan was simple. Heβd call you over, the two of you would hang out in his room, and that would be that. Undeniable proof. Visual confirmation. Case closed.
It started well enough. Despite everyone having the day off, the dormβs common areas were eerily empty, which made it easy for Kai to sneak you inside and coax you down the hallway to his room without running into anyone.
Heβd planned the afternoon meticulously. Snacks were arranged neatly on his desk. His laptop was fully charged. His bed had been transformed into the coziest possible setupβplushies piled high, hoodies layered over the mattress for extra comfort. He was nothing if not prepared.
And honestly? The day went well.
It was a little awkward at firstβKai adjusting to the reality of having a girl in his room, you adjusting to the fact that you were in your boyfriendβs roomβbut somewhere between the soft giggles, the easy conversation, and eventually curling up together on his bed, the nerves melted away.
Two hours slipped by without either of you noticing.
You talked. You scrolled on your phones in companionable silence. Eventually, you settled in properly, choosing My Neighbour Totoroβa mutual favoriteβand letting the movie play as you cozied closer together.
At some point during the film, Kai realized he had stopped paying attention entirely.
Totoro moved across the screen, the gentle music swelling and fading, but Kai couldnβt tell you what was happening anymore. His attention had driftedβquietly, naturallyβaway from the movie and onto you.
You were tucked into his side, knees drawn up slightly, your head resting against his shoulder like it belonged there. One of his hoodies swallowed you whole, sleeves covering your hands, fabric bunching up around your neck. Every now and then, you shifted closer without thinking, chasing warmth.
Kai swallowed.
He told himself to look back at the screen. He really did. But then you laughed softly at somethingβbarely louder than a breathβand the sound settled right into his chest.
He glanced down.
Bad idea.
Your face was relaxed, eyes reflecting the soft glow of the screen, lips slightly parted in concentration. Kai felt something twist low in his stomach, unfamiliar and dizzying. He adjusted his arm around you, intending only to get comfortable.
Instead, you leaned into the touch.
Your head tipped just enough for your cheek to brush his collarbone, and Kai froze. His heart began to race, loud enough that he was convinced you could hear it. He held his breath, waiting to see if youβd pull away.
You didnβt.
Minutes passed. Or seconds. Kai wasnβt sure anymore. The space between your faces felt suddenly noticeableβcharged in a way that made his palms sweat. He could feel your breathing, slow and steady, syncing with his own despite his best efforts to stay calm.
You tilted your head up slightly, eyes flicking from the screen to his face.
βKai?β you murmured, barely audible over the movie.
βYeah?β His voice came out softer than he intended.
βI think you stopped watching,β you said, a small smile tugging at your lips.
He huffed out a quiet, nervous laugh. βI think I did.β
Your gaze lingered. Too long to be accidental. The air between you felt heavy, expectant, like it was waiting for something to happen.
Kai leaned in before he could overthink it.
Slowly. Carefully. Giving you time to pull away.
You didnβt.
Instead, you met him halfway.
The kiss was gentleβsoft and hesitant, like the two of you were still figuring out how to exist in this moment. Your lips fit against his in a way that made his thoughts scatter completely, warmth blooming through his chest.
Someone on-screen said something profound.
Neither of you noticed.
The kiss lingered.
At first, neither of you movedβlike you were both waiting to see if the moment would disappear if you shifted even slightly. Kaiβs lips stayed against yours, warm and careful, his breath shallow. He could feel the way your hands tightened just a little in the fabric of his hoodie, like you were anchoring yourself there.
Then you leaned in again.
Just a fraction closer. Just enough.
Kai followed instinctively this time, his hand sliding from where it rested awkwardly at your side to your waist, fingers curling into the oversized hoodie. The movement was slow, almost shy, like he was asking permission with every inch.
Your lips parted slightly, and his heart stuttered.
The kiss deepenedβnot suddenly, not dramaticallyβbut naturally, like it had always been meant to get here. It was still gentle, still sweet, but warmer now. More intentional. Kai tilted his head, kissing you again, softer this time, slower, like he was trying to memorize the feeling.
He pulled back just enough for his forehead to rest against yours.
You were close enough that he could feel your breath, hear the tiny sound you made when you inhaled.
βSorry,β he whispered instinctively, even though he didnβt know what he was apologizing for.
You smiled, brushing your nose against his. βDonβt be.β
That was all it took.
Kai kissed you again, a little more confident now, his thumb moving absentmindedly at your waist. The world outside his roomβpractice, schedules, his members, the whole ridiculous planβfelt impossibly far away.
Right now, it was just this.
You. Him. The quiet glow of the movie still playing, completely forgotten.
And for the first time since inviting you over, Kai thought distantly:
Yeah. This was a really good idea.
β¦Which was, unfortunately, exactly what happened.
Somewhere between kissing you and getting completely lost in it, Kai failed to register the footsteps outside his door. He didnβt notice the handle turning. Didnβt hear the door creak open. Didnβt even process Beomgyuβs voice starting to say something about practice being moved to today.
Not until the scream.
It was loud. Sharp. Horrified.
Kai froze.
Time stalled in the worst way possibleβhis lips still barely parted, his hand still at your waist, the world crashing back into place all at once.
Kai broke the kiss and looked down at you, trying to make sure you were okay. He was about to ask when another scream tore from Beomgyu.
βCan you stop screaming, hyung?β Kai said, annoyance creeping into his voice.
Beomgyu just stared, eyes wide. βYouββ He pointed a trembling finger at Kai. βWhat the hell were your lips doing?β
Kai opened his mouth to retortβbut was interrupted as Yeonjun appeared, dragging a half-asleep Soobin behind him.
βWhat happened?β Yeonjun asked, out of breath.
His gaze followed Beomgyuβs finger, landing on Kaiβ¦ and youβ¦ in his bed. His eyes widened, and he dragged Soobin closer to see for himself.
The two eldest gulped, then simultaneously turned to Kai. βSheβs real,β they said at the exact same time.
Eerie, Kai thought.
Then Taehyun appeared, peeked insideβand Kai watched the most unfazed member of the groupβs jaw drop.
He was about to speak, but Soobin cleared his throat before he could.
βGroup meetingβ¦ in the living room. Now.β His leader's tone made it clear this was going to be serious.
Soobin then turned to you. βYouβ¦ should also come,β he stammered, clearly untrained in handling the concept of a girl in the maknaeβs room.
Soobin quickly dragged the members to the living room, muttering something about βletting the youngest get a decentββ The words sounded pained as they left his mouth.
Kai wanted to yell back that nothing inappropriate was happening, but he quickly realized that wouldnβt mean anything to them.
He turned to face you, bracing for shock or awkwardnessβemotions he knew heβd beat himself up for causing. Instead, he found your face carefully composed, tryingβand failingβto suppress a laugh.
You let out a small burst of laughter. βWell, I guess they know now.β
Kai relaxed slightly. βI guess they do.β
You turned to him, smiling. βShall we go?β
Kai nodded, helping you out of the cozy nest of his bed and holding your hand as you stood.
He led you to the living room, where his four older members were whispering and pointing at each other, clearly in the middle of a heated debate.
Kai cleared his throat, catching everyoneβs attention. βHello,β he said, bowing slightly as if this were some formal interview. He held up your joined hands. βThis is my girlfriend.β
You smiled, raising your free hand to wave. βItβs so nice to meet you! Iβve heard so many things about you.β
The four boys stared at you as if you were a unicorn.
βYou're real?β Beomgyu asked.
You nodded, βI would hope so,β
Soobin snapped back into reality.
βSit,β he gestured to the couple that he could barely make eye contact with.
Kai let you sit down and settle first before sitting beside you.
Yeonjun cleared his throat, βYou werenβt lying when you said you were going to Hadilao to see your girlfriend?βΒ
Kai nodded.
Soobin chimed in, βAnd you were watching Kimi No Todoke because she wanted you to watch it?β
Kai nodded again.
Beomgyu looked Kai in the eye, βTo be clear, you wrote Dance with You for her?β
Kai pursed his lips and nodded, remembering all the glances Beomfyu would give him any time they would pass a female sunbae.
Taehyun stared at him, βYou were training to get abs because of her?β
Kai let out a hum of agreement.
A collective βohβ let out by the group.
Beomgyu turned back to you, eyes wide. βSoβ¦ sheβs real. And heβsβ¦ yours?β His voice trembled slightly, as if this revelation were too big to process.
Kai, unfazed, simply nodded and gave your hand a small squeeze. βYep. All hers.β
The room went silent for a moment, each member letting the information sink in. Then, almost simultaneously, Yeonjun and Beomgyu groaned in unison.
βThis is so embarrassing for him,β Beomgyu muttered.
βAnd for us!β Yeonjun added, throwing his head back dramatically.
Soobin finally broke the silence, sighing heavily. βAlright. New rule: no more accidental walk-ins. And Kaiβ¦ maybe give us a heads-up before your βromance escapadesβ escalate again.β
Kaiβs ears turned red. βThatβs not what was happening!β
Beomgyu shook his head, pointing a finger at him. βNo, that was exactly what was happening. Iβm the one who had the misfortune of watching.β
Kai opened his mouth to argue, but was interrupted by Taehyun, who leaned forward with an unexpectedly serious expression. βAre youβ¦ happy with each other?β
You blinked, taken off guard by the sudden shift in mood. Clearing your throat, you smiled softly. βYeahβ¦ I think Iβm the happiest Iβve ever been when Iβm with Kai.β
Kaiβs chest fluttered. He leaned forward and pressed a small, tender kiss onto your intertwined hands.
Then came the gagging noises.
Kai didnβt care.
Because no matter what the worldβor his membersβthought, he was very much in love with his (very much real!) girlfriend.
@itsblasttothepast | Aeschylus: The Oresteia: Aeschylus | During the Impossible Age of Everyone: Ada LimΓ³n | @/starpeace | Sergio Perez details inside information over Red Bull Exit : Racing New 365 | Verstappen praises 'on fire' Perez's contribution: PlanetF1.com | Perez gives big compliments to Verstappen: GP Blog | Verstappen defends Perez, Slams Red Bull: The Judge 13 | Sergio Perez on Red Bull split: ESPN | Red Bull regrets split: The Race | Max Verstappen Defends Sergio Perez After Podcast Comments Questioned: Motorsport.com
truly insane that Kevin Magnussen was in the Sauber garage for Nico's first podium. like Shakespeare couldn't have written something as beautiful as this.
The fact that most of the F1 drivers basically live next door to each other sounds like it's from a fanfic but no they really are all united by a shared love of tax evasion.
ellievsbear
kianamaiart
vaporwave
prguitarman
kaledo-art
gummygunk
baratheonpilled
andulkaphoto
