Nico! ✰

“Maybe it was just a midsummers night dream.” -ˋˏ ༻✿༺ ˎˊ- ✯ My secret diary & storybook!

[anixvl]

꧁ hii, im new here! I like to write about random ideas that come to mind so it’s what i’ll be doing here! I mostly just stan Enhypen so it’s what i’ll be writing most frequently about. I’m not a minor so there will be instances where i’ll write about things that are mature, so if you feel uncomfortable feel free to stop reading! I do accept requests once in a while, but that will be when I have time and motivation to write. <3

MY MASTERLIST!

[anixvl]

SWEET || y.j

pairing: boxer!jungwon x detective!fem!reader

synopsis: After barely surviving a near-fatal injury, Jungwon wakes up with fractured memories, unable to remember the woman who once meant everything to him—you. Believing he’s better off without the painful past you shared, you make the heartbreaking choice to walk away, only for fate to keep pulling you back together. Despite your resistance, Jungwon relentlessly pursues you, drawn to the connection he doesn’t fully understand. But as pieces of his past resurface—memories of love, heartbreak, and the life you tried to leave behind—the truth becomes impossible to hide. Now, faced with the weight of everything lost, you must decide: will you risk it all for love again, or let the past remain forgotten? (pt 3 of bittersweet)

genre: strangers-to-lovers, second chance troupe, fate/destiny, Mix of angst and fluff!!

warnings: Smut MDNI, angst, infatuated jungwon, down-bad jungwon, oral!fem receiving, p in v, cursing, hospital, etc

wc: 13.7k

a/n: this is the end for the ‘bittersweet’ series! This one is a bit long, but it’s worth it! Thank you for all the support 🤍

The world was a blur of flashing red lights, distant voices, and the suffocating scent of antiseptic.

You sat motionless in the hospital hallway, your hands stained with his blood. It had dried beneath your fingernails, soaked into the fabric of your clothes, and no matter how much you scrubbed at your skin, it wouldn’t come off.

It felt like a permanent tattoo, a scar.

Jungwon had been alive when they took him from your arms. Barely.

But now? Now you didn’t know.

A machine beeped steadily behind the doors of the emergency room, each sound cutting through you like a blade.

"Take anything from me. Just let him live,” you cried, praying quietly.

The door swung open, and a doctor stepped out, his expression unreadable. You stood up quickly.

“Tell me," you begged.

The doctor sighed, exhaustion heavy in his gaze. "We managed to stabilize him. But the damage was extensive. He lost a lot of blood, which led him into an arrest and arrived here in a state of shock."

You exhaled a shaky breath, the weight on your chest lifting—just for a second.

“So…w-what does that mean?” you held onto your hands.

"He suffered global anoxic brain damage…”

“Wait…so—”

“He’s in a coma.”

The world stopped.

"A coma?" you echoed, your voice breaking on the word.

"His body fought hard to stay alive, but his brain… it’s still recovering. Right now, we don’t know when or if he’ll wake up."

Your knees nearly gave out. A wave of sickness washing over you.

This wasn’t supposed to happen. You had fought for justice, for truth—for both of you to make it out alive. But now, he was trapped somewhere you couldn’t reach.

And it was all your fault.

"Can I see him?" your eyes watered.

The doctor hesitated, then nodded.

You forced yourself to move, step by agonizing step, until you were inside his room.

Jungwon lay still beneath the dim hospital lights, the strong, unshakable fighter you knew now surrounded by machines keeping him alive. His face was pale, his lips chapped, his chest rising and falling in a slow, unnatural rhythm.

You reached for his hand, the same hand that had held yours so many times before.

But this time, he didn’t hold you back. This time, it lacked the comforting warmth he radiated.

Tears burned down your cheeks as you whispered, "Please, Jungwon. Don’t leave me like this. You have to wake up.”

But he didn’t respond.

And for the first time since you met him—

Jungwon was completely, utterly silent.

Days blurred together in the sterile glow of the hospital room. You lost track of time, only aware of the steady, mechanical beeping of Jungwon’s heart monitor.

You stayed by his side. Every day. Every night.

Doctors came and went, speaking in hushed tones, their expressions carefully blank when they looked at you. They told you he was stable, but stability wasn’t enough. You needed him to wake up. But he didn’t.

His brother, Seokjin, visited as frequent as you did. He moved Jungwon to a more private, expensive, hospital. But you didn’t care where he was as long as he just woke up.

"Ms. y/l/n?"

You startled, looking up from where you sat curled in the chair beside Jungwon’s bed. The doctor stood at the door, holding his clipboard with that same unreadable expression.

"Can we speak outside?"

Out in the hallway, the doctor sighed.

"There hasn’t been any improvement in his condition. His brain scans show activity, which means there’s a chance he could wake up, but…"

"But what?"

He gave you a careful look, "Even if he does wake up, there’s a possibility of… memory loss."

The words hit you like a slap.

"Memory loss?”

The doctor kept talking—explaining the effects of prolonged unconsciousness, the risks, the rehabilitation process—but you barely heard him.

Because all you could think about was the possibility that if Jungwon woke up—

He might not remember you.

You shook your head, forcing down the fear clawing at your chest, "But he will wake up, right?"

The doctor hesitated again.

"We hope so."

Hope.

That was all they could give you.

And somehow, it didn’t feel like enough.

A month later, still, you found yourself next to him. You’ve gotten used to the smell of antiseptic and the nurses that went by.

You should have gone home.

People told you to. Begged you to. But you couldn’t.

Instead, you sat in the same chair beside Jungwon’s bed, your fingers loosely wrapped around his unmoving hand. His body had healed—at least on the outside. The bruises had faded, the wounds had scarred over.

Looked as beautiful as the day he left you.

But still, he slept. Still, you waited.

You didn’t know what woke you, but you had the sudden urge to go out. To breathe, to leave the hospital for a bit.

You headed to the nearest convenience store, placing small to-go meals into your basket. You hadn’t much appetite since that day. And then, your phone ringed.

You take it out from your pocket, glancing at the contact. It’s Seokjin.

You quickly answer, tired and still groggy.

“Y/n, you need to get here. Fast,” his voice laced with urgency.

Your heart dropped, imagining the worse. Could it be that he let go? Could it be that he suddenly got worse?

“Why, what’s wrong? I’m on my way,” you scrambled out of the store, running back to the hospital with the phone in hand.

You ran across the road, cars honking at you at close range of almost hitting you. You continue running, your chest rising and sweat accumulating on your body.

You run down the hallways and into Jungwons room. You abruptly stop at the doorway. You’re panting, your eyes scanning him. You froze.

Because for the first time in two months, Jungwon’s eyes were open.

You sucked in a breath, so shocked that you nearly tipped over. His gaze was hazy, unfocused, his brows pinched like he was trying to make sense of where he was.

"Jungwon?" Seokjin called out, placing a hand over his head.

You approached him slowly, cautiously. Fearfully.

His eyes flickered to you, blinking slowly. And for a moment—just a moment—hope surged inside you.

Then he spoke, "...Who are you?"

The world went quiet.

He didn’t remember you.

And just like that—the love you fought so hard for was gone.

Silence filled the room, thick and suffocating.

You couldn’t move. You couldn’t breathe.

Because Jungwon was looking at you—like you were a stranger.

His deep brown eyes, the ones that once traced over you with warmth, curiosity, and that infuriating smirk, now held nothing but confusion.

"Who are you?"

The words rang in your head, like a broken melody.

You tried to speak, but your voice caught in your throat.

A doctor rushed in, nurses following behind, all of them suddenly moving around him, checking monitors, asking him questions.

But you just stood there, frozen, drowning in the reality of what had just happened.

"Jungwon, do you know where you are?" the doctor asked.

Jungwon blinked, his face still pale, his movements slow and stiff.

"Hospital?" His voice was hoarse, unused for too long.

"That’s right," the doctor said with a small nod, scribbling something onto his clipboard.

“Do you remember what happened to you?”

Jungwon’s brows furrowed, "No."

Your stomach twisted.

The doctor exchanged glances with a nurse before asking, "Do you remember your name?"

Jungwon hesitated for a second, “…Yeah. Jungwon. Yang Jungwon."

Relief flickered across the doctor’s face, “Good. Do you remember anyone in this room?"

Your breath caught in your throat.

Jungwon’s gaze slowly scanned the people around him. He glanced at the doctor. The nurses. Seokjin. Then—

His eyes landed on you.

He stared for a long moment, his lips slightly parted, like something was almost there, something he was trying to grasp—

Then, finally, he spoke.

“Apart from my brother. No. I don’t."

You didn’t remember walking out of the room. You didn’t remember how you ended up in the empty hospital hallway, your breath coming in shallow gasps as the weight of it all crashed down on you.

Your hands trembled. Your vision blurred.

This was worse than anything you had ever imagined.

Jungwon was alive. But he wasn’t yours anymore.

A voice called your name from behind, and you turned to see the doctor stepping out of the room, his expression careful.

"He suffered trauma to his brain. Cases like this… the memories might return, but it’s unpredictable. It could take weeks, months—years. Or…" He hesitated.

You swallowed, “Or never."

The doctor’s silence was answer enough.

You nodded numbly, your hands curling into fists, "So what now?"

"For now, we focus on rehabilitation. Reintroducing him to familiar places, people. It’s possible something could trigger his memories."

You let out a bitter laugh. Trigger his memories? The memories you fought for, bled for, nearly died for? It’s not even possible.

Would he ever remember the way he had held you? The way he had whispered your name like it was a promise? The way he had kissed you like you were the only thing keeping him alive?

Or were those moments gone forever?

The doctor sighed, “It’s your choice how much you want to be involved. Sometimes, familiarity helps. Other times… it makes things harder."

If Jungwon looked at you every day and still saw nothing… how could you bear it?

You inhaled sharply, forcing the tears down. Then, you made your decision.

"I think… it’s best if I don’t see him."

The words felt like a knife to your own chest, but you had to do this.

Jungwon had been given a second chance. A blank slate. He could find the happiness and peace he didn’t have with you leading to his very last moments.

And you would be selfish to take away that from him.

Maybe it was better if you let him have it—without you.

And so, you turned away.

Seokjin was waiting for you. You had barely made it down the hospital corridor when you saw him leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his usually unreadable expression clouded with something heavier. Something almost hesitant.

"You heard," you murmured, voice barely above a whisper.

He nodded, “Yeah."

Of course, he had. Seokjin had been here almost as much as you had. He never strayed far, watching over Jungwon in his own quiet, guilt-ridden way.

Now, his sharp gaze flickered over you, taking in your shaking hands, your too-pale face, the way you looked like you had just lost everything—because you had.

"He really doesn’t remember you…" he said, almost as if he couldn’t believe it either.

Your throat tightened, but you forced yourself to nod.

For a long moment, neither of you spoke. The hallway felt too quiet, the walls too suffocating.

Then, Seokjin pushed off the wall, his usual confidence dimmed by something close to regret. "So, what now? You’re just gonna leave?"

You stiffened, “It’s not that simple."

He scoffed, “It is, actually. Either you stay and fight for him, or you walk away and pretend none of it ever happened."

Your fingers curled into fists, “You think this is easy for me? That I want to leave?"

"Then don’t."

You swallowed hard, shaking your head, "He deserves a fresh start. If I stay, it’ll just confuse him. I won’t do that to him. Not when he has a shot of becoming happy—Truly, this time.”

Seokjin studied you for a long moment. Then, quietly, he said, "You think leaving will make it easier for him? Or for you?"

You turned away, staring at the ground, but Seokjin wasn’t finished.

“You’re scared," he said simply, “Scared that he’ll never remember. That you’ll stand in front of him every damn day and he’ll look right through you."

You flinched, his words cutting too deep, too true.

Seokjin exhaled, the usual sharp edge to his voice softening.

"Look. I’m not gonna tell you what to do. But I know my brother. Even if he doesn’t remember you now, he will. And if he doesn’t…" He hesitated, "Then you make him fall for you all over again."

Your breath hitched.

“You did it once, you can do it again. And oh, was he stupid in love with you. That dumbass,” he chuckled bitterly to himself.

You stayed silent, in battle with your heart and mind.

Seokjin sighed, raking a hand through his hair before stepping back, "You love him, don’t you?"

You didn’t answer. You didn’t need to.

Seokjin nodded, as if that was all he needed to hear, "Then ask yourself something: if the roles were reversed, would Jungwon give up on you?”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving you alone in the hallway with nothing but your fractured heart and the impossible weight of a choice you weren’t sure you were strong enough to make.

You told yourself you wouldn’t see him again. You told yourself it would be easier this way. But things never seem to go your way.

So when Seokjin asked you to check in on him while he handled something, you didn’t have the heart to say no.

And that’s how you ended up standing in front of Jungwon’s hospital room again, your pulse racing, your hands clenched into fists at your sides.

You hesitated before stepping inside.

Jungwon was sitting up now, something he hadn’t been able to do the last time you saw him awake. His dark hair was still slightly disheveled, his body thinner than before, but the strength in his posture, the sharp focus in his eyes—it was all undeniably him.

Except, he wasn’t looking at you with the familiarity you had once known.

His gaze flickered to you, polite but confused.

You forced a small smile, masking the ache behind it, “Hey. Your brother sent me here. How are you feeling?”

Jungwon exhaled, rolling his shoulders slightly.

“Like I got hit by a truck,” He paused, then gave a half-smirk, “Did I?”

You almost laughed. The familiarity of his humor, even without his memories, was a cruel kind of comfort. You gave a small smile, looking down.

“No,” you said softly, “Something worse.”

His expression shifted, but he didn’t push. Instead, he nodded towards the chair beside his bed, “You can sit, if you want.”

You hesitated.

You shouldn’t stay, but you sat anyway.

For a moment, silence settled between you. It should have been uncomfortable, but it wasn’t.

Jungwon studied you carefully, “You’ve been here before.”

You froze, “What?”

He tilted his head slightly, “We met. Before today, when I woke up. You were there. Also, the nurses mentioned you.”

You looked away, “I came to visit a few times.”

Jungwon hummed, “Thought so.”

He stared at you for a long moment before speaking again, “Were we close?”

The question knocked the air from your lungs.

Were we close?

No. We were everything.

But you didn’t say that.

Instead, you gave him the only answer you could, “Not really. I’m just a friend of your brother. We saw each other a few times. My name is y/n.”

Jungwon nodded, like he was accepting the answer without fully understanding it.

“Oh, so that’s it?” he murmured.

You frowned, “What is?”

He exhaled, leaning back against the pillows, “I don’t remember you, but… I feel like I should.”

His fingers brushed absentmindedly against yours, his voice softer now, “Like something’s missing.”

Your heart clenched.

It was missing. Everything.

You.

But you had already made your choice.

So you swallowed the lump in your throat and forced another smile.

“Maybe it’ll come back,” you said, even though you weren’t sure who you were trying to convince.

Jungwon watched you carefully, as if searching for something in your expression.

Then he nodded, “Maybe.”

The next few days passed in a blur of routine. Physical therapy sessions. Doctor check-ups. Seokjin’s protective presence hovering over Jungwon like a silent guardian.

And then there was you. You weren’t supposed to stay. You told yourself you wouldn’t.

But somehow, you always found yourself at the hospital.

Seokjin never said anything when you showed up. He just gave you a knowing look, then left you and Jungwon alone.

And Jungwon… he didn’t seem to mind your presence.

Even if he didn’t know why.

"You're here again," Jungwon noted, his voice laced with something you couldn’t quite place. Amusement? Curiosity?

You shifted in the chair beside his bed, “Seokjin asked me to check in."

Jungwon arched a brow, “He did?"

No. He hadn’t.

But you didn’t take it back.

Jungwon hummed, studying you, “I think you just like visiting me.”

You rolled your eyes, relieved that some things hadn’t changed—even if he didn’t remember you, his smugness remained intact, “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Jungwon grinned, but it faded quickly. His fingers traced along the IV line in his arm.

"I still don't remember anything," he admitted, quieter this time.

You looked down at the porridge in your hands, lifting it up to his mouth to eat, “It’ll take time.”

He nodded absently, taking the spoonful, "So tell me something..."

You hesitated, “What do you want to know?"

Jungwon tilted his head, “Are you with him? My brother?"

Your eyebrows furrowed, you lips parting, “w-what?”

“Are you my brother’s girlfriend? I knew he had a thing for women younger than him but this is…”

“I’m not his girlfriend,” you blinked, shocked at his misunderstanding.

Is that what he thought all along?

“good,” he mumbled.

Your eyes flickered. You looked up at him.

What does that even mean?

"You love strawberries with chocolate," you changed the topic.

Jungwon blinked, “Do I?"

You nodded, “You said it was the best combination. You ranted about it for at least twenty minutes.”

Jungwon laughed softly, shaking his head, “That does sound like me.”

For a second, something flickered in his eyes. Recognition? A trace of the past?

But then, just as quickly, it was gone.

You were helping Jungwon walk. His recovery was slow, frustratingly so. Every step took effort, every movement was a reminder of how weak his body had become.

And yet, he pushed through.

You kept your hands close, ready to catch him if he faltered, “You’re doing good,” you murmured.

Jungwon scoffed, “You don’t have to lie."

You almost smiled, “I’m not.”

He exhaled, eyes locked ahead, determined, “Were you always like this?"

< “Are you always this shameless?” >

Jungwon briefly stops. He shuts his eyes, trying to hide the pain in his head at the sudden voice in his head. What was that?

You blinked, “Like what?"

Jungwon’s grip tightened around the rail, shaking it off, as he took another shaky step, “Always looking at me like that.”

Your breath hitched.

"Like what?" you repeated, quieter this time.

Jungwon didn’t look at you, but his voice was softer, “Like you care.”

You wanted to tell him everything. Wanted to scream that you loved him, that you had never stopped.

But instead, you just smiled, “Maybe.”

Jungwon gave you a look, but he didn’t push.

Instead, he just kept walking. And you stayed beside him.

Even if he didn’t remember. Even if he never would.

Soon, Jungwon was improving.

Each day, his steps became steadier, his movements less strained. The bruises had faded, the wounds had healed—but the gaps in his memory remained.

And yet, there were moments.

Little moments.

Moments where he looked at you too long, as if his mind was trying to recognize something his heart already knew.

Moments where he reached for you instinctively, then pulled away before he could question why.

Moments where you caught him watching you when he thought you weren’t looking.

But he never said anything.

And neither did you.

Because you had made your choice. Even if it was getting harder to keep it.

You were sitting by his bedside, absentmindedly peeling an orange when Jungwon spoke.

“You’re different from Seokjin.”

You looked up, “What do you mean?”

Jungwon leaned back against the pillows, arms crossed, “He talks to me as if he’s afraid I’ll break if he says the wrong thing. He was never like that.”

You frowned, “He’s just worried about you.”

“I know,” Jungwon murmured, “But you don’t do that.”

You hesitated, unsure of what to say.

Jungwon studied you carefully, “Why?”

‘Because I know you. Because I’ve seen you at your strongest. Because I fell in love with you when you were unbreakable,’ you thought.

But you couldn’t say any of that.

So instead, you shrugged, “Maybe I just have more faith in you.”

Jungwon’s lips curled slightly, “I think you know more than you’re telling me.”

Your heart pounded, “What makes you say that?”

Jungwon reached for the orange in your hands, his fingers brushing yours, “Because every time I ask about my past, you look like you’re about to run.”

You stiffened, your grip tightening around the fruit.

Jungwon didn’t press. He just peeled a slice off, popping it into his mouth.

But the tension hung in the air. Because he was right.

You were running.

And deep down, you knew you couldn’t run forever.

The room smelled like antiseptic, and the hum of machines was always there, but today, there was something else.

Jungwon had been trying to walk on his own. You followed behind him, making sure he didn’t hurt himself.

“Careful,” you warned, your voice low as you followed his slow, deliberate steps.

Jungwon didn’t look back at you, his gaze focused ahead, but there was a glint in his eye, “I don’t need a babysitter.”

You rolled your eyes. “If you weren’t such a show-off, I wouldn’t have to babysit you.”

<Jungwon turned, searching the crowd, and when his eyes landed on you—he smirked.

“Show-off” you crossed your arms over your chest. >

He stumbled to a halt. His eyes flickered as the image before his eyes flashed, blurry and foggy. Who was that woman? And what was he doing there? He cleared his throat, dismissing the thoughts.

He scoffed, but his lips twitched up at the corners, “You mean you like being my personal nurse?”

You tilted your head, pretending to think, “You could say that. But I’m really just here to make sure you don’t fall and break your face.”

Jungwon shot you a side-glance, “I could break your heart, too, you know.”

The words hit you like a wave, and for a moment, everything else disappeared. That voice, that playful banter— it felt like the old Jungwon was there again.

You couldn’t stop the small laugh that escaped your lips, “What happened to the guy who worriedly asked if I was their brother’s girlfriend?”

Jungwon blinked, flustered and suddenly embarrassed.

“I was not worried! Secondly, I just wanted to know how my brother got a pretty girl by his side. You must be crazy to date that old hag,” he ranted, defensively.

You laughed at him, noticing how his shoulders relaxed as he took another step. Despite the weight of the situation, there was a lightness between you two.

“Well i’m not. Don’t worry,” you teased.

And for a fleeting moment, you imagined what it would be like to have things just as they were.

<Your face burned as you shoved his arm off and sat up, scowling at him, “You were the one holding onto me!”

Jungwon stretched lazily, completely unfazed, “I was asleep. You, on the other hand, let it happen.”

Your glare could have melted steel, “I was asleep, you idiot.” >

But the reality hit you again. He didn’t remember.

You caught yourself staring at him, your heart fluttering against your chest.

He must’ve felt your gaze, because he turned his head slightly, “What?”

You quickly looked away, your cheeks warm, “Nothing. Just making sure you don’t fall again.”

Jungwon chuckled, “I told you. I’m fine.”

But his voice had softened, his gaze secretly lingering on you as he thought back to the moment he had earlier.

You had fallen asleep in the chair next to his bed.

Jungwon watched you for a long time, studying the delicate rise and fall of your breath, the way your eyebrows furrowed even in rest—like you were still fighting some unseen battle in your dreams.

<"I love you," he breathed out, his voice firm but gentle, "so ardently." >

He didn’t understand it.

Didn’t understand why the sight of you filled him with something heavy, something aching. Every time, unlocking a new memory; Still foggy yet he feels it involves you every time. What is it about you?

Why did you feel familiar when nothing else did?

Jungwon reached out instinctively—his fingers barely ghosting over yours before he hesitated. He stopped abruptly at a piercing pain in his head.

<“I truly don’t think I can be without you, y/n. I love you so much it hurts. So please…please, baby…if you can find it in you to love me one more time, i’ll spend the rest of my life in proving it to you. Just one,” he begged, “please love me one more time.”>

His eyes flickered. If he wasn’t sure before, he is now. Its you. The woman in his foggy memories. His eyes teared up, yet he didn’t know why. Before he knew it, his mind acted on for him.

He gently brushed his fingertips against the back of your hand. Just for a second. Just to confirm that you were real.

You stirred, blinking blearily awake.

Jungwon froze. He wiped his teary eyes.

Your eyes found his, confusion laced with something deeper—something raw.

"Jungwon?" Your voice was hoarse from sleep.

He pulled back his hand, swallowing, “You fell asleep here.”

You sat up, rubbing your eyes, “Yeah, I—” You stopped, staring at him as if trying to read his thoughts, “Do you need something?”

Jungwon hesitated.

He wanted to say, ‘Tell me why my body reacts to you as if it’s known you forever. Tell me why my heart aches to be with you. Tell me why the woman in my memories resembles you.’

Instead, he just shook his head.

“Nothing,” he murmured, “It’s nothing.”

But the way you looked at him told him it was everything.

It was raining. The soft patter of water against the window created a soothing rhythm, but inside the hospital room, the stillness was punctuated only by the soft sounds of Jungwon stirring in his bed as he watched his old boxing competitions.

You were sitting beside him, pretending to read your own novel, but really, you were watching him.

His brows furrowed in concentration as he watched the TV, and for a moment, you could almost pretend nothing had changed.

“Do you ever stop staring at me?” Jungwon asked without looking away from the TV.

You blinked, startled, “I—what?”

He looked at you, turning the TV off, his lips curling into a teasing smile, “You’ve been staring at me for the past five minutes.”

You tried to play it cool, turning the pages of your book and pretending to be absorbed, “You’re imagining things.”

Jungwon’s smile widened, though there was a soft vulnerability behind it now, “Right. Of course.”

You glanced up again, your eyes meeting his. And for a second, everything seemed to fall away. He was looking at you differently now—like he was trying to remember something, something that might be just out of reach.

“Do you ever remember anything?” you asked, voice barely above a whisper.

Jungwon’s smile faded. He sighed, “I keep getting flashes. Moments that feel real. But it’s like I can’t put them together.”

You didn’t know what to say to that. You didn’t know he had them at all.

There were so many questions you wanted to ask. But instead, you just nodded, “Maybe it’ll come back to you.”

He nodded along, though there was a wistful look in his eyes.

“I hope it does,” he muttered. Then, after a pause, he turned toward you, his expression serious.

“You’re important to me,” his gaze softens, “Even if I don’t remember why, I… I can tell.”

Your heart skipped a beat.

“I’m here,” you whispered, unable to keep the truth from your voice, “I’ll always be here.”

For a long moment, Jungwon didn’t speak. He just looked at you, his gaze intense and thoughtful.

And then, as if without thinking, he reached out, his hand cupping your cheek.

The touch was soft, tentative, but it made your breath catch in your throat. His eyes glanced down at your lips, then back at your eyes.

You didn’t pull away.

Instead, you overlapped your hands over his.

And for the first time since the accident, you felt the spark—the undeniable, electric spark that had been there between you two all along.

But you were scared. Scared that it was fleeting. Scared that he’d pull away when the memories came back.

All you could do for now was hold on.

Finally, the day of Jungwon’s discharge arrived.

The doctors had signed off on his recovery, and though he still needs rest, they were confident he was well enough to leave the hospital.

But for you? It felt like the moment everything was going to break.

Jungwon had been through so much. His body had fought its way back to him, slowly but surely, and now, it was almost like he was starting to piece together some kind of new life. You’d been by his side through it all, and a part of you had let yourself believe that things could somehow go back to the way they were.

But they couldn’t. They shouldn’t.

He didn’t remember. He shouldn’t remember. He shouldn’t remember the bond you had, the love you shared. Because it was all, for the most part, painful memories. He didn’t even know who you were to him.

And yet, every day you spent with him, that pull—the undeniable connection—grew stronger. The more time passed, the harder it became to imagine walking away.

But you had to. You had to let him go.

You had to make a decision now, while he still didn’t remember. Because once he did, once those memories came rushing back, you knew the truth would tear you both apart.

So, while Jungwon was packing up the few things in his hospital room, you stood by the window, staring at the busy streets below.

“I’m almost ready,” Jungwon’s voice broke through your thoughts.

You glanced over your shoulder at him, forcing a smile. “I’ll go get the car ready,” you said.

Jungwon nodded, clearly distracted by his thoughts. He was back to his radiant, handsome, cocky self. Like he was before.

And that’s exactly why you had to leave.

You were standing by the car, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on you. The sky above was clouded, as if even the universe was mourning with you. You stared out at the passing cars, waiting for Jungwon to catch up to you.

But when you saw him approaching, something in your chest tightened.

His hair was still a little messy from the hospital bed, his eyes still a little too distant. But there was something there—something you couldn’t ignore. Something that reached inside of you and made everything feel more fragile.

Before, he looked through you blankly: like a stranger.

But now…now he’s looking at you. He may not know the you from before, but he knows the you of now.

Jungwon stopped a few feet away from you, his brow furrowed, “Hey, is everything okay?”

You swallowed hard, turning away from him so he wouldn’t see the tears that threatened to spill from your eyes, “Yeah, everything’s fine.”

But your voice cracked, betraying you.

Jungwon took a step forward, concern flashing across his face, “You don’t sound fine.”

He reached out to you, but before he could land a touch on your skin, you moved away.

“I’m fine. Let’s just go. We’re already late,” you opened the car door.

Jungwon studied you, his gaze unwavering, “I don’t believe you.”

“I just… I need to go back to my place for a bit,” you said quickly, your voice strained.

“I’ll meet you there in a couple of hours. Is that okay?” you continued.

Jungwon’s face softened, but there was still a question in his eyes, “Are you sure? Can I get your phone number just in ca—”

You cut him off, “Yeah, it’s fine. I just need some time to…” You trail off, not knowing how to finish the sentence.

But Jungwon didn’t push. Instead, he just nodded, his eyes still locked on you, “Okay. I’ll see you later.”

And then he turned and walked away.

And the moment he disappeared inside the chofer driver car Seokjin had sent for him, you felt your heart shatter in your chest.

You didn’t turn back to watch him leave. You didn’t let yourself.

Because if you did, you’d never be able to walk away.

You kept true to your word; You never showed up. You didn’t reach out. You didn’t come visit him at his house. Nothing.

Days passed. Then weeks. Each one felt heavier than the last. You kept yourself busy—burying yourself in work, drowning in cases, forcing yourself to move forward because if you stopped for even a second, the weight of everything would crash down on you.

But no matter how hard you tried to outrun it, the emptiness followed.

It didn’t go unnoticed; Jungwon waited, worriedly for you ever since that day you parted. He wanted to find you, to look for you. He didn’t know how, he didn’t know where to look. His brother wouldn’t give him answers either. He didn’t know why he cared so much. But he found himself angry, that you never came. He hated himself, for letting you occupy his mind when he’s only known you for such little time. Yet, he found himself looking for you in every room he entered. Hoping, wishing, you’d be there.

But you never came.

The city felt different without Jungwon. Even though he was still alive, it felt like you had lost him.

Seokjin called you a few times, but you never picked up. You didn’t need another reminder of what you had walked away from.

But then, after nearly a month of silence, he sent a message that shattered every last bit of distance you had tried to put between you and Jungwon.

‘He’s asking about you.’

Your hands trembled as you stared at the text.

You read it once. Then twice.

‘He’s asking about me,’ you thought.

You shouldn’t have let it affect you. You had promised yourself you wouldn’t let it hurt anymore.

But it did. It tore you apart.

And against your better judgment, you typed back.

‘What did he say?’

A few seconds later, Seokjin replied.

‘He doesn’t entirely remember you. But he keeps having dreams about someone. He thinks it might be you.’

You sucked in a sharp breath.

Your fingers curled around your phone, gripping it so tightly your knuckles turned white.

He doesn’t remember you entirely, but somehow—some part of him still feels you.

Your mind raced with everything this could mean. Was it just a coincidence? Was his subconscious trying to remember?

Or was fate just playing another cruel trick on you?

You had made your choice. You had walked away.

But what if Jungwon was already starting to find his way back?

And worse—what if you weren’t strong enough to stop him?

You weren’t supposed to see him again.

You told yourself that over and over as you tried to move on.

But fate had other plans.

The first time it happened was purely by accident.

You were rushing out of a café, coffee in one hand, your phone in the other, too distracted to notice the man walking toward you.

By the time you looked up, it was too late.

You crashed into him.

The impact sent your coffee spilling, the hot liquid seeping into your sleeve. You barely managed to stammer out a curse before you caught sight of the familiar face staring down at you.

Your breath caught in your throat.

Jungwon.

He had fully healed since the last time you saw him. His face was good as new, his walk was steady and normal, but his expression was still the same—sharp, intense. Only this time, there was something else behind his gaze.

Shock. Worry. Anger.

"Y/n…A-Are you okay?" he asked, his voice deeper than you remembered.

You swallowed hard, stepping back, “I’m fine."

His brows furrowed, eyes narrowing slightly as if he was trying to make sure it was really you. That he wasn’t dreaming.

Jungwon’s gaze lingered on you for a moment too long before he looked at the mess of coffee on your sleeve.

“Where have you been? Why didn’t you come see me?” He asked, this time his anger seeping in his worry.

Your lips parted slightly, “I…was busy. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t give me that shit,” he blurted.

It took you by surprise.

“Do you have any idea how worried I was for you? How could you disappear without a word?”

You should have walked away.

Instead, you caught yourself staring at him.

At the way his fingers twitched at his sides, at the way his brows furrowed like he was trying to figure you out. And the way his eyes pierced through you, filled with so much emotion.

"Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“I-I don’t know what to say, Jungwon. We barely knew each other, let alone call each other friends—”

He scoffed, “Yeah, right. Friends don’t tuck each other to bed, feed you, help you sleep, or stick by your side so insistently!”

Your eyes widen at his sudden confession. He grabbed your arm.

“We aren’t friends. Fuck—We’re far from just that. So don’t give me that bullshit,” his jaw tightened.

But to you, it was like reopening a wound you had barely managed to stitch closed.

Before you could say anything, he pulled you into an embrace. Taking in your scent, your warmth, and the way you feel against his body.

All familiar to him, yet he can’t place it.

Tears stubbed in your eyes. Why was he doing this? You worked so hard to let this go, yet fate would just simply not let you.

You held him back.

“Don’t leave again. I really won’t forgive you,” he mumbled.

You saw him again a week later. This time, it wasn’t an accident.

You had gone to visit Seokjin, but it was really for other intentions than you would have liked to admit.

You stepped inside the gym, that’s where you saw him.

Sweat dripped down his temple, his knuckles wrapped in tape as he threw a sharp jab at the punching bag. The sound echoed through the gym, each punch precise, calculated. The way it always had been.

Seokjin noticed you before Jungwon did. His expression tensed, but before he could say anything, Jungwon followed his gaze—straight to you.

Something flickered in his eyes.

Recognition. Joy.

“Y/n,” he muttered, wiping his face with the hem of his shirt. He walked over to you, a dimpled smile on his handsome face.

“You’re here,” he breathed out, shocked yet relieved.

You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to stay still, “Guess so.”

Seokjin cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden tension, “Jungwon, she was just here to speak with me—”

“Are you staying for dinner?” he cut in before Seokjin could say anything else.

You were taken by surprise, looking between Seokjin and Jungwon.

“…sure?” you hesitated.

Jungwon’s eyes lit, hiding his proud smile on his face, “cool.”

“Yeah. You should treat me after you almost burned my arm off with coffee,” you smiled.

A ghost of a smirk touched his lips, “You walked into me.”

The teasing was so natural, so him, that for a second, you almost forgot.

Forgot that he didn’t remember the way he used to tease you.

Forgot that this wasn’t the same Jungwon who used to call you annoying just to get a rise out of you, then kiss you like you were the only thing keeping him alive.

Seokjin cleared his throat. “Jungwon’s been training again,” he said, clearly trying to ease the tension, “He’s been doing well.”

Jungwon shrugged, “Guess muscle memory does the work for me.”

Seokjin shifted uncomfortably, “Hey, why don’t we—”

"Do you box?"

Jungwon’s sudden question caught you off guard.

You blinked at him, confused, “What?”

He tilted his head slightly, “You just… carry yourself like someone who knows how to fight.”

Seokjin stiffened beside you.

Your throat tightened. Of course he would notice. Even without his memories, he still saw you.

You forced yourself to relax, shrugging, “A little.”

Jungwon studied you for a long moment, then—he smirked.

It was barely there, but it was enough to send a shiver down your spine. “Seokjin talks about you, you know.”

Your heart stopped.

Seokjin immediately tensed beside you. “Jungwon—”

Jungwon ignored him. His eyes stayed on you, his expression unreadable, “Says you’re a good fighter.”

You didn’t know what to say. You didn’t know what this meant.

So you did the only thing you could: You smiled, “Seokjin flatters me.”

Jungwon let out a small chuckle, but there was something else behind it—something deeper, something lingering.

You eventually had dinner at their house, consequently leading to stay over in their guest room due to horrid weather conditions.

It happened late at night. Jungwon had a nightmare. You knew he had them when you would walk past his hospital room late at night. But you didn’t think he still had them. Going down the hallway for a glass of water in the middle of the night was when you heard him murmuring in his sleep—murmuring your name.

You froze. For a moment, you thought you had imagined it. But then—

“No… don’t go…”

Your stomach twisted.

You stepped inside, careful not to wake him. His brows were furrowed, his body tense, beads of sweat forming at his temple.

You hesitated, then, before you could stop yourself, you reached out.

Your fingers brushed against his softly. He tightly gripped onto your arm, startling you. And then, it got worse. His mumbles became more incoherent and loud. You needed to wake him up before it escalated.

You flinched in pain as his grip became tighter. You shook him, “Jungwon. Wake up, it’s just a dream.”

He didn’t budge the first time. You shook him harder, cupping his cheek tenderly. You called out to him, softly.

“Jungwon, Hey, it’s me, Y/n. I’m here. It’s okay, sh,” you comforted him.

And then, his stir stopped, his breathing steadied, and his grip became loose.

His eyes flicker open as you brush off his beaded sweat on his forehead with your soft hands.

“Y/n?” he asked, his voice raspy.

“Hey, you were having a nightmare,” you explained, softly.

His face relaxed at the sight of you, he pulled you onto him, embracing you.

You stiffen, unsure of what to do. You try to pull away but his grip became tighter.

“Don’t. Just…let me stay like this for a little,” he whispers.

You don’t fight it. This night, this moment, you let yourself succumb to all the hopes and dreams you had.

“Y/n,” he breathes out.

“yes?” you replied softly.

“Can i kiss you?” he asked.

You look up from his chest to face him, shocked.

“W-What?”

“Can I kiss you?” he repeated, his gaze unwavering.

You don’t say anything, you don’t know what to say.

You swallow, hard. Then you nod.

His eyes glance down at your lips before leaning in. His lips on yours fills the void inside your heart in an instant.

You sigh against the kiss, his arm slithers around your waist pulling you closer to him. He pulls the covers over both of you, trapping you. You break away, slowly. Your eyes look into his, searching for a sign of regret or confusion.

“Don’t stop,” he whispers, chasing your lips to kiss you again.

Before you knew it, he flips you onto your back, towering over you under the covers. Your eyes widen.

“Jungwon?”

“You’re driving me crazy. And I don’t even know why,” he said, kissing your neck.

your breath hitched, your mind melting under his body.

“We shouldn’t do this, why are you being like this…?”

“Tell me to stop,” he replied, pausing to wait for your response.

He caresses your cheek, tenderly. Your eyes flickered in pain at his familiar gaze.

A glimpse of what you both used to be. Of him.

“Tell me,” he repeated, more insistently. As if it was taking all of him to restrain himself.

Was it selfish to want to do this? To just pretend for a moment, that he was back to who he was? That he recognized you for the you he met?

You shook your head, “Don’t stop.”

He immediately smashed his lips onto yours, leaving a trail of wet kisses all over your neck. His hands travelled around your body, as if memorizing it.

Ironically, anyway.

Your hands found his hair, griping onto it slightly as he attacked your neck. He kissed back up from your neck, your jawline, to your lips once again. His touch was sweet, desperate, and frustrated.

What was it about you? What is it that draws him undoubtedly to you?

For a moment, you both lay in silence, gazing into each other’s eyes.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispers.

<He unclasped your bra, tossing it aside. He kissed you once more, “You’re so beautiful, it’s driving me insane.”>

Jungwon shuts his eyes in pain, briefly. He drops his head against your neck.

He mumbles, “Have we done this before?”

Your eyes flicker, caught by surprise. You hesitated.

“I should go…” You attempted to get out of his grip, yet he held you down.

His nose brushed against your temple, his lips hovering dangerously close to your jaw.

He wasn’t even kissing you anymore, but it was worse.

Because this wasn’t just physical. This was torture.

The kind that burned slow. The kind that left you aching. The kind that made you crave something you weren’t sure you could have anymore.

“Tell me,” Jungwon whispered.

Your hands shot up to push him away, but—

He caught them.

His fingers tangled with yours, gripping, holding, keeping you exactly where he wanted you.

You inhaled sharply, “Jungwon—”

“Tell me the truth,” he murmured, lips just barely grazing your cheek.

“I…”

His grip on your hands tightened slightly, “Say it.”

You closed your eyes, trying to wriggle yourself out from under him, but it was impossible.

Because Jungwon was everywhere.

His warmth. His scent. His breath against your skin.

And then, his lips—just barely brushing the corner of your mouth, too light to be a kiss, but enough to send your pulse into chaos.

Your chest rose and fell rapidly, “Jungwon, please…”

He hummed, lips still agonizingly close, “Please what?”

You knew exactly what he wanted to hear.

I love you.

And worst of all?

You wanted to say it. But you couldn’t. Not yet.

So instead, you did the only thing you could do.

You whipped your head from him—just enough to break the moment, just enough to breathe—and forced yourself to avoid his piercing eyes.

Jungwon searched your face, his own unreadable.

You needed to get away. Why was he doing this to you? When you’ve worked so hard to stay away and let him have his chance.

“You win,” you whispered, voice barely audible. A tear slipped from your eye.

His brow furrowed slightly,“What?”

You exhaled shakily, pressing a hand against his chest—feeling his heartbeat pound under your palm. You push him away, again.

“You win,” you repeated, softer this time, “I can’t fight this anymore.”

This time, Jungwon allowed you to push him off. He dropped next to you.

Then, ever so slowly—

His fingers released yours.

And just before you sprung from his bed and walked away, his voice—low and rough—sent a shiver through you.

“Then stop trying.”

After that night, you left early in the morning. You didn’t know how to face him, nor if you even wanted to. You told yourself to keep a distance. You needed to.

You weren’t sure why you went to the gym. Maybe habit, maybe restlessness. Maybe because the weight of the past few months was suffocating you, and fighting was the only way you knew how to breathe again.

But when you stepped inside—he was there.

Jungwon stood in the center of the ring, his hands wrapped in tape, his face set in quiet concentration. He was focused, but the second he saw you, he froze.

For a moment, neither of you spoke. You turned on your heel, ready to leave.

Then—

“You avoiding me?” he asked, voice laced with something unreadable.

You stopped in your tracks, looking behind your shoulder, “No.”

Liar.

Jungwon’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying you the way he always had—like you were a puzzle he wanted to solve.

And then, he did something unexpected.

He lifted his hand, gesturing toward the ring, “Spar with me.”

You stiffened, “What?”

He smirked, “You said you fight. Show me.”

You should have walked away. You should have told him no.

But then, he tilted his head, eyes dark with a challenge—and just like that, you were his again.

Even if he didn’t know it. Even if he never would.

“You’re crazy,” you muttered, moving toward the door.

But in an instant, he was there. Right behind you.

“Am I?” he murmured, voice barely above a whisper.

You clenched your fists, “Jungwon—”

“I remember the way you laugh,” he cut you off. His tone was calm, too calm, but the weight of his words slammed into you like a force you weren’t prepared for.

“I remember how your eyes light up when you talk about something you love,” he continued, and this time, his fingers ghosted over your wrist—so soft, yet so deliberate, “I remember the way you fidget when you’re trying to hide something.”

You pulled away as if burned, “Stop it.”

Jungwon exhaled a sharp breath, tilting his head slightly, “Why?”

“Because you don’t remember,” you snapped, spinning to face him, “You’re just—just guessing.”

His gaze darkened, “Am I?”

He took a step closer. Then another.

Until there was barely any space between you.

And then, his hand lifted—fingers brushing along your cheek, down to your jaw, before his thumb dragged ever so lightly across your lips.

“You know what’s funny?” His voice was softer now, but impossibly firm, “Every time I look at you… it feels like I already know exactly how you’ll react. As if I’ve touched you like this before.”

Your entire body tensed.

Jungwon’s thumb traced a slow, burning path along your bottom lip, his eyes flickering with something devastatingly familiar.

Something that made your heart scream he knows.

“I remember a feeling,” he murmured, tilting his head slightly, gaze locked onto yours, “Like something I lost… but never really let go of.”

“It’s just a meaningless feeling—”

“We kissed,” he leaned closer, frustrated, “Or are you also going to say that was meaningless?”

A shiver ran through you.

You had to get out of here. Fast.

Your hands shot up to push him away, but before you could, his fingers curled around your wrist—gently, but unyielding.

His grip wasn’t forceful. But it was intentional.

Your breath came uneven, “Let go—”

“Tell me,” he whispered, “Tell me why you look at me like you’re afraid I’ll remember everything.”

Your pulse thundered in your ears. Because he was right.

Afraid that if he truly remembered everything, you would have to face the truth. That you had chosen to let him go. That you had decided to keep your love buried, thinking it would protect him.

That you would have ruined his second shot at being truly happy. All because of you. But now?

Now, he was standing before you, undoing everything.

His fingers tightened ever so slightly around your wrist, his body impossibly close.

“Tell me,” he repeated, voice hushed, raw, desperate.

“Jungwon…” Your voice wavered.

His eyes dropped to your lips.

For a split second, you thought he would kiss you.

For a split second, you wanted him to.

But then, just as quickly as the moment had come, Jungwon let go.

He stepped back, exhaling sharply as if grounding himself.

“I’ll remember everything soon,” he murmured, “And once I do I want to hear the truth from you.”

He turned away, as if giving you a chance to escape.

And you did.

But not before hearing the quiet, almost broken whisper he thought you wouldn’t catch.

“I already know I loved you once.”

As if things couldn’t get worse after that encounter, Seokjin betrayed you.

You should have known he would find you. Jungwon.

After bothering Seokjin endlessly about where to find you, he gave up your whereabouts.

‘Would you have preferred me to have given him your number instead?’ he told you, earning a frustrated sigh from you. He was right, that would’ve been worse.

You didn’t understand why Jungwon was chasing this idea with no stop. Provoking you, leading you, acting out.

You were in Seokjin’s office, scanning through old case files you were here to give him, when the air suddenly changed.

A shift. A weight. A presence that sent every nerve in your body into high alert.

You didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

“Running away won’t stop it, you know.”

His voice was deep, smooth—too calm for the chaos he was stirring inside you.

You swallowed hard, keeping your eyes on the files, “Didn’t realize I had to check in with you before going to meet your brother.”

A scoff, low, amused, “You don’t. But considering the way you bolted that night, I figured I should check if you still knew how to breathe.”

You sighed, unamused.

“But no, you’re here to meet my brother instead of the man you kissed…” he mumbled, an obvious sulk in his expression.

You turned to him, glaring.

Is he seriously being petty, right now?

Your fingers tensed around the paper in your hand,“Why do you want?”

Jungwon exhaled, slow and measured. And then—

He closed the distance, causing you to stumble against Seokjins work desk. You grip onto the desk.

You felt him before you saw him—his warmth at your front, his presence consuming. Your breath hitched as he leaned down, caging you with his arms beside the sides of your body.

“You.”

Your entire body went rigid.

A slow smirk curled at his lips, “See? I knew it. You still react the same way.”

Your fingers twitched, your jaw clenching, “Jungwon—”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Tell you what?”

He exhaled sharply.

“That we—” He stopped, correcting himself, “That I—” Another pause.

Then, finally, a quiet, almost fragile, “That I loved you.”

Your breath came uneven, “You don’t know that.”

Jungwon let out a humorless laugh, “No? Then why does my heart ache every time I look at you?”

Silence.

He leaner closer, your faces only mere inches apart. His voice dropped lower.

“Why do I feel you in my bones?”

Your chest heaved, “can you stop doing th—”

“Why does my entire body know what it’s like to touch you, even though I can’t remember when I last did?”

You squeezed your eyes shut, “Please—”

Then, softly, almost broken—

“Why do you look at me like you remember too?”

Your breath hitched.

Jungwon reached out, fingers brushing along your wrist—light, testing, almost hesitant.

“Tell me the truth,” he murmured.

Your eyes burned. You couldn’t.

Because the truth was dangerous. The truth meant giving in. The truth meant letting yourself hope again.

And you weren’t sure if you could survive losing him twice.

So, you did the only thing you knew how to do.

You pulled away.

You stepped away, breaking the contact, breaking him.

Jungwon’s expression flickered—just for a second. Just long enough for you to see the hurt.

Anger surged through him.

His jaw clenched, his posture stiffening as he straightened, “I see.”

His voice was cool now, distant.

He took a slow step back. Then another.

And just when you thought he would walk away, he stopped. His gaze locked onto yours one last time, dark and unreadable.

Then—

“I will remember, you know.”

The promise sent a shiver down your spine. It didn’t sound like a sweet promise, but a threat.

Jungwon tilted his head slightly, a ghost of something unreadable in his gaze, “And when I do… I wonder what will hurt more—the memories, or the fact that you were the one who hid them from me.”

And then he left.

Leaving you standing there—shaken, breathless, and breaking all over again.

But things didn’t stop there. The rest of the month was a disaster.

Because everywhere you went, Jungwon was there.

Too close. Too intense. Too much.

It wasn’t just the stolen glances or the casual touches that sent fire racing through your veins. It was the way he watched you—like he remembered. Like his body knew even if his mind was still piecing the puzzle together.

By the time the sun began to set, you were seconds away from losing your grip entirely.

And then—

“Drinks. After work.”

You blinked, glancing up from your desk to see Jungwon standing there, hands in his pockets, looking far too casual for what he was suggesting.

You narrowed your eyes, “I don’t drink with people who annoy me.”

He smirked, “Good thing you like me, then.”

You rolled your eyes, sighing, “Fine. One drink.”

Jungwon’s smirk deepened, “One drink,” he repeated. “Sure.”

You didn’t trust him for a second.

And later that night, when you found yourself pressed against the wall of his apartment, breathless and aching for more, you realized—

You never should have trusted yourself either.

The kiss was sloppy and passionate, your body so hot you feel you could burn up. You blame the alcohol, the way you can’t rationally think. Or maybe you just choose not to.

Jungwon’s hands rest on your hips, pressing you up against him. He picked you up, heading towards his bedroom. Once onto the bed, he hovered over you, capturing your lips once again.

He uses one hand to slowly unbutton your pants, lips still on yours, pulling them down. He tosses them aside, breaking the kiss to take off his own shirt.

You lay there, breathless and without any pants. He pulls up your shirt, kissing the bare skin that laid under it. He cups your breasts, fondling with them. He unclasps your bra, wrapping his lips onto your sensitive buds. Your back arched into him, lacing your fingers into his hair.

His wet tongue circled around your nipples, sucking softly. A few soft moans escaped your tipsy lips.

He kissed all the way down to your lower belly. He stopped, looking up at you.

“Can i?” he asked.

You nodded, feeling your core pooling in your panties. You didn’t want to think anymore, you just wanted him. To feel all of him. Just like before.

He took off his pants before pulling down your panties, tossing it aside with the rest of your clothes.

Your eyes flickered down to his cock, hard and flushed against his abdomen.

“Spread those gorgeous legs for me,” he instructed.

He hovers right over you, eyeing you like prey. He gazes into your eyes, searching for any signs of regret. You wrap your arms around his neck. He aligns himself between your wet folds, slowly rubbing against your core but not enough to go in. He leaves soft pepper kisses around your cheek, a response to your whimper in impatience.

He plants a kiss onto your lips before pushing himself inside. You both sigh against the kiss in response. He slowly pulls out and pushes back in, helping you adjust to him.

Your moans become more insistent, giving him the signal to move. His pace quickens, causing a line of soft curses under your breath. You tighten your arms around his neck, feeling as his hips snap against yours.

Lewd sounds of skin and groans fill the bedroom. Your breath is rigid, broken moans escaping your lips. Your eyes fell to a half-lid, the pleasure becoming overwhelming.

You wrapped your arms around his torso, deepening the missionary position.

You yelped, feeling the new position hit your spot. He bit your neck, leaving love bites and other marks onto your skin.

“Fuck, don’t stop,” you whined, tears filling your eyes at the knot in your stomach.

“You feel so good, baby,” he mumbles against your skin.

He grunts, feeling his cock twitch inside you in desperation to cum. Your velvet walls clenched around him, feeling your own release approach.

He sat up, dragging your legs closer to him, pounding into you against the creaking mattress.

You moaned, your mouth falling agape at his relentless pace.

“You’re gonna cum for me? yeah?” he cooed, his cock deep within you.

“mhm, please,” you whined, gripping onto the sheets.

Hot tears fell from your eyes, your head melting from the pleasure and the alcohol.

This was your ecstasy. You swore you could see the stars.

With one last moan, your orgasm crashes hard onto you. Jungwon grunts, thrusting his hips against your core, riding out his orgasm.

“Fuck,” thrust.

“wanna make you,” thrust, “cum like this everyday.”

Thrust.

By the time you had realized what happened, on sober thoughts, it was already the next morning. Your memories of the previous night came crashing down. You looked beside you, to find a peacefully sleeping Jungwon. You both laid under the covers, still naked from last night. You cursed at yourself, feeling the red crimson tint of embarrassment creep onto your cheeks. You slowly made it out of his warm grip, rushing to put on your clothes. You left his house immediately, not before leaving a sticky note on his bed stand.

‘We’re never drinking again. Forget it ever happened. I left a hang-over remedy in your fridge. Take it when you wake up. - Y/n.’

The next day at work, Jungwon didn’t let up.

“Good morning, pretty,” His voice was teasing as he dropped a cup of coffee onto your desk.

You frowned at the drink, “I didn’t ask for this. Why are you here?”

He shrugged, propping a hip against your desk, “I know.”

You glanced at him suspiciously before taking a sip—only to freeze.

It was your exact order.

Your complicated, annoyingly specific order. The one he ordered for you many times before in the past.

You narrowed your eyes, “How do you know how I take my coffee?”

Jungwon smirked, arms crossing over his broad chest, “I pay attention.”

You hated how much those words affected you.

And you hated even more that your heart stuttered when he reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear like it was the most natural thing in the world.

“Careful, detective,” he murmured, eyes flickering to your lips for just a second too long. “You’re starting to look at me like you don’t actually hate me.”

You shoved the coffee back into his hands, “I take it back. I do hate you.”

Jungwon only grinned, like he knew. Like he could see the cracks forming in your walls.

And worse?

Like he planned to break them down completely.

Days turned into weeks, and no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t stop the shift happening between you.

Jungwon was shameless in his pursuit.

It became clear when he found you late one night, still working at your desk, exhaustion weighing on your shoulders.

Without a word, he dropped a takeout container in front of you and sat down across from you, his own meal in hand.

You raised an eyebrow, “What’s this? Why do you always show up at my workplace unannounced?”

“Dinner,” he said simply, already digging into his food.

You stared at the container, “…You got me food?”

Jungwon didn’t even glance up, “You don’t take care of yourself, so someone has to.”

Your heart squeezed in your chest.

You swallowed hard, ignoring the way warmth crept up your spine, “I could’ve bought my own food.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t,” he said, finally meeting your gaze, “So eat, or I’ll feed you myself.”

You huffed, grabbing your chopsticks, “You’re annoying.”

Jungwon grinned, “And yet, here we are.”

You took a bite of your food, trying to ignore the fact that your chest felt way too full.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

You weren’t supposed to let him in.

But when you glanced up and caught him watching you—soft, teasing, something else—you realized...

Maybe you already had.

“Stay still.”

You huffed, shifting in your seat, “You’re not a nurse, Jungwon.”

“And yet, I’m the one patching you up,” His voice was laced with amusement as he carefully dabbed a cotton ball against the cut on your cheek.

You sucked in a sharp breath, your fingers gripping the edge of the kitchen counter, “That stings.”

He tilted his head, eyes twinkling, “Maybe if you weren’t so stubborn, you wouldn’t keep getting hurt.”

You scowled, “Maybe if you weren’t so annoying, I wouldn’t be stuck here with you.”

Jungwon smirked, setting the first-aid supplies aside, “Right. Because you hate spending time with me.”

You opened your mouth—only to shut it when he leaned in, placing a soft kiss onto your lips.

His voice dropped, soft and teasing, “All done.”

You hated how fast your heart was racing.

And you hated that you didn’t pull away.

It was late—too late—when you stumbled into your apartment, exhaustion dragging at your limbs. You had spent the entire day chasing leads, and the last thing you expected was to find Jungwon already there, lounging on your couch like he belonged there.

You blinked, “How did you get in?”

He lifted his phone, “You texted me earlier, remember? Said you forgot to eat.”

You frowned, “That didn’t answer my question.”

Jungwon grinned, “I don’t know. I just…knew?”

your eyes flickered. Could it be that he…is starting to regain his memories?

Before you could protest, he held up a plate with pancakes, “Figured you’d need this.”

You sighed, dropping onto the couch beside him. “I really could’ve taken care of myself.”

Jungwon hummed, “Sure.”

Jungwon sprawled beside you, looking entirely too comfortable.

You stabbed at your food with unnecessary aggression, “If you wanted pancakes, you could’ve just gone to a diner.”

Jungwon hummed, taking a bite of his own, “Yeah, but then I wouldn’t have been able to see you in those.”

You froze mid-chew before glancing down at yourself.

Shit.

You were still in your sleep shorts and an oversized sweater—hardly the kind of thing you wanted to be wearing around him, especially when you were trying to keep your distance.

You scowled, “Pervert.”

Jungwon grinned, unbothered, “Nothing I haven’t already seen.”

You threw a pillow at him.

He caught it effortlessly, laughing, “Admit it, you like having me here.”

You turned your focus back to your pancakes, “You’re delusional.”

He wrapped his hands around your waist, tugging you closer.

You yelp in surprise, placing your plate onto the coffee table. He pulled you into his lap by your waist, straddling him. Your hands gripped onto his shoulders, blinking at him in confusion.

“What are you doing?”

“Take these off,” he demanded, tugging at your shorts.

Before you could protest, he smashes his lips against yours, his hands gripping onto your waist. He pressed you down against his bulge, gaining a soft gasp in pleasure from you. He rocked your hips against his aching boner, small grunts escaping his lips. He slumped against the couch, spreading his legs in a lazy manner. You take your shorts off, forgetting what you were going to protest about in the first place.

It didn’t matter, not anymore.

Your soaked panties made his cock grow harder, already anticipating to be inside you.

He lifted his hips, sliding off all that restrained his angry cock. His cock sprung onto his abdomen, a soft slapping sound from the release. Pre-cum leaked from his angry tip, his cock hard.

You wrapped your hands around his cock, causing him to curse under his breath, cocking his head back onto the couch.

You gave it a few strokes before aligning it to your dripping cunt. He gripped onto your waist as you slowly lowered yourself onto him.

A groan escaped his mouth, a soft whimper from yours. You slowly rock your hips on his cock, with broken breaths. You cupped Jungwon’s face, gazing into his eyes. He held a sexy, lewd expression.

He leans in to kiss you, your hips still rocking on his twitching cock. You moan against his lips, his strong hands gripping onto your ass.

He helps you rock your hips faster on his dick from his grip onto your ass. He leaves a harsh smack onto your ass, causing you to quicken your pace.

“you’re sucking me right in, baby,” he grunted.

“mhm, feel so full,” you whined, panting.

He notices your fatigue, his hands sliding up to your waist. He stops you, lifting you up slightly to thrust his cock into you.

You yelp, gripping onto him, your fingernails digging into his skin.

He pounds mercilessly into your dripping cunt, a strong grip onto your waist. You’re so loud, you’re sure you’ll get complaints the next day.

“Just like that, baby,” he groaned, “take my cock.”

It became a routine after that.

Jungwon found little ways to worm himself into your life—into you—and you let him.

You turned to put your glass in the sink, desperate for a distraction, “You should go home."

Jungwon hummed, the sound low, thoughtful, "Do you want me to?"

Your grip tightened around the edge of the counter.

You didn’t answer.

Because you didn’t want him to leave.

But you also weren’t ready to admit that.

Jungwon knew. He always knew.

He stepped forward, slow and deliberate, his presence consuming. You could feel the warmth radiating off of him before he even touched you.

And then—His hands found your waist.

Soft. Firm. Unshakable. Your breath stilled.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured, voice barely above a whisper.

Your heart hammered against your ribs.

You should have told him to stop. You should have.

But then he leaned in, his lips brushing just barely against your temple, lingering—waiting.

And suddenly, you couldn’t.

You didn’t remember who moved first.

All you knew was that one second, you were standing there, barely breathing, and the next, you were crashing into him.

His hands tightened around your waist, pulling you flush against him, and your fingers fisted in his shirt, anchoring yourself in the warmth of his body.

Your lips met, tentative at first—like testing uncharted waters.

But then, Jungwon made a sound. A quiet, desperate groan that sent a shiver down your spine.

And just like that, restraint was gone.

His hands slid up, fingers threading through your hair as he tilted your head back, deepening the kiss. His mouth was hot, insistent, like he’d been waiting for this, craving this as much as you had.

You gasped when he pressed you against the counter, his body molding perfectly against yours. Every inch of you burned where he touched, his hands sliding down your sides, tracing every curve, every dip, like he was memorizing you.

You felt powerless against him.

And yet, somehow, you’d never felt stronger.

Your fingers found his jaw, nails lightly scraping against his skin as you pulled him even closer. He groaned into your mouth, his grip tightening on your hips, his breathing ragged as he broke the kiss just long enough to murmur—

"Tell me you don’t want this."

You couldn’t.

Instead, you tangled your fingers in his hair and dragged him back down to you.

His laughter was husky against your lips, dark and full of something dangerous.

And as he lifted you effortlessly onto the counter, settling between your legs with a heat that threatened to consume you, you realized—

You had never stood a chance.

Moments later, you found yourself tugging at Jungwon’s hair as he devoured your cunt. Still on the kitchen counter, he sucked and swirled his tongue on your core. Moans filled the house, your legs quivering in pleasure.

He used his arms to push your legs from closing in, a trail of bite marks and dark hickeys on the inside of your thighs from earlier.

“Fuck,” you whined, “m’cumming.”

he went torturously slow, your eyes rolling back into your head as you gripped onto the counter with force. One hand still gripped tightly onto his hair. You pushed him deeper, earning a soft groan in satisfaction from him. Your juices dripped from his chin.

It was moments like those, that you realized Jungwon had you, body and soul, belonging to him.

And it was far too late to change it.

It had been building for weeks.

The tension. The near-misses. The way Jungwon would look at you, eyes narrowed like he was trying to remember something—something just out of reach.

And you had felt it. It was only a matter of time before the truth caught up to you.

And now—now you were here.

The night air was thick with the scent of rain. The city streets were slick beneath the glow of streetlights, casting ghostly reflections against the pavement.

Jungwon walked beside you, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable.

You had been avoiding this conversation all night.

But he wasn’t letting you escape this time.

"You knew, didn’t you?" His voice was quiet.

“Knew what?"

Jungwon came to a sudden stop, forcing you to halt as well. The street was empty, the world around you silent except for the distant hum of traffic.

He turned to face you, eyes burning with something dangerous.

"That we knew each other before."

Your stomach dropped.

Your lips parted, but no sound came out.

Jungwon exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair, "I’ve been having these… flashes. Dreams. Whatever the hell they are." His jaw clenched.

"At first, I thought I was going crazy. But then I realized—they all have one thing in common."

His gaze locked onto yours, sharp and unrelenting.

"You."

"You’re imagining things," you forced out.

Jungwon laughed. A bitter, humorless sound.

"Am I?" He took a step forward, invading your space. "Then why do I feel like I know you? Why do I remember the way you smile, the way you touch me, when I shouldn’t?" His voice dropped, rough with frustration.

"Why does every memory feel like it’s been ripped out of my head, except for you?"

You had been so careful.

You had spent months trying to avoid this, making sure he never knew the truth. But he was too smart.

And now, everything was unraveling.

You forced yourself to hold his gaze, “Jungwon, it’s not—"

"Don’t lie to me."

His voice was low, almost pleading.

Even when he was angry, even when he was broken, there was always something soft beneath it all.

Something that made your heart ache.

And that was exactly why you had to end this.

You took a step back.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about."

His entire body tensed.

You could see it—the moment the hurt set in, the second the doubt began creeping into his expression.

But then—He reached for you.

His fingers brushed against yours, just for a fleeting second.

And suddenly—A memory flickered through his mind.

The feeling of your hands tangled in his hair, your laughter against his skin, your voice whispering his name like it was the only thing that mattered in the world.

His breath caught.

He stumbled back, hand shooting up to his temple, a sharp pain blooming behind his eyes.

"Jungwon?" Panic seized you as he doubled over slightly, eyes squeezing shut.

Then, all at once—His head snapped up.

His pupils were blown wide, his chest rising and falling in harsh, uneven breaths.

And when he spoke—His voice was haunted.

"I remember."

His eyes—dark, unreadable—bore into you with something raw. Something you couldn’t name.

You hated the way he looked at you like you were the one who had done something wrong. Like you were the one keeping secrets, when all you had done was try to protect him.

But now—now it didn’t matter. Because it was over.

Everything you had been running from, everything you had tried to bury—it had all come crashing down around you.

"You lied to me,” His voice was low. Dangerous.

You sucked in a sharp breath, forcing yourself to meet his gaze. "Jungwon—"

"You lied to me," he repeated, his tone more forceful this time, his hands balling into fists at his sides.

And for the first time, you saw it. The anger.

The betrayal.

But underneath it all—The hurt.

You swallowed past the lump in your throat, the weight of your own decisions suffocating you, "I did what I had to do. I’m not the woman you think you know. So, please, forget it.”

Jungwon let out a sharp, humorless laugh, running a hand through his rain-soaked hair. "What you had to do? Not the woman I know? How can you say this?" His voice rose, thick with frustration.

"You let me think I didn’t know you. That we were strangers. Do you realize what you have asked me? any idea what that did to me?"

Your heart twisted violently in your chest.

Of course, you did. You had watched it happen.

Watched as he tried to piece his life back together, watched as he struggled with missing pieces he didn’t even realize were missing.

And worst of all—You had watched as he tried to move on. But fate wouldn’t let you stay away.

"You were better off not knowing,” you whispered.

"Better off?" His voice was quiet now, but there was fire in it, “So, what? You decided for me? You chose to erase yourself from my life?"

Tears burned behind your eyes, but you refused to let them fall.

"I thought I was doing the right thing," you murmured.

Jungwon’s eyebrows furrowed.

“I will fall in love with you, over and over again, with or without memories, no matter how long it’s been,” his voice became louder, “So don’t tell me you’re not the same person!”

Because the version of you he had fallen for—the woman who had fought beside him, laughed with him, loved him—had let him go.

The silence stretched between you, thick with words left unsaid.

Then, suddenly—A memory.

It struck him like lightning, sharp and searing.

Your voice—soft and teasing—whispering his name in the dead of night.

The warmth of your bare skin pressed against his, your laughter echoing in his ears.

The way you had looked at him, once upon a time, like he was your whole world.

And then—Gunshots. Pain. Blood. The hospital.

And you.

Sitting beside him, fingers trembling as you brushed a hand through his hair.

< ‘I love you. Did you hear? I said I love you! Please. Wake up. I forgive you, okay? You can’t leave me. You said you’d never leave…’>

The words hit him, shattering every lie, every missing piece in his head.

He stumbled back a step, his face pale, his hands shaking.

"I—" He choked on the words, his vision swimming. "I remember."

Your eyes widened, panic flashing across your face.

But it was too late.

Because now—He knew everything.

His voice was barely a murmur, "I remember the way you touched me... the way I kissed you. The way you..." His breath hitched, and his voice cracked under the weight of the unspoken.

"You were everything to me," Jungwon continued, his voice thick with emotion, "But I couldn’t remember. I couldn’t even feel you. And that killed me. I’m so sorry.”

His words cut through you like a blade, sharp and unrelenting. You wanted to reach out, to tell him that you hadn’t meant to take that from him, that you had only been trying to protect him, that he had no reason to apologize.

His hand lifted slowly, hesitating for just a second before gently cupping your cheek. The touch was tentative, but it sent a jolt through your body, igniting everything you had buried deep within yourself.

And then he said it—just barely above a whisper, but with such sincerity that it shattered whatever fragile resolve you had left.

"I remember loving you, Y/n."

A sob caught in your throat, but you bit it back, shaking your head as your heart raced.

"You can’t," you gasped, your voice trembling with the weight of it all, “You can’t remember me. Not like this. Not after everything I—"

But before you could finish, his lips pressed against yours, soft but desperate. A quiet reassurance in the midst of the chaos.

"I don’t care," he murmured, “I just need you by my side. I can’t be without you, Not again."

The days after that were filled with laughter, with quiet moments and passionate kisses. Jungwon was more than just the man you loved. He had become the person you needed—your partner, your equal.

“I love you, Jungwon,” you cried through a bittersweet laugh.

And, slowly, you realized something that you hadn’t allowed yourself to believe before.

“I love you, too. Always,” he smiled, wiping your tears away with his thumb.

You didn’t have to be perfect.

You didn’t have to have it all figured out.

You just had to be willing to love, to trust, and to walk forward together.

And as you stood beside Jungwon, looking out over the city that had once felt so cold and empty, you realized that this was only the beginning.

Because together, you could face anything.

No more running. No more hiding.

Just love and the complexities of it,

And that was enough.

[anixvl]

MASTERLIST!

• 𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐔𝐍𝐆

+ Tutoring Sessions; brother’s bsf troupe, fluff

+ High Infidelity; coming soon!

•𝐉𝐀𝐘

+ Lab rat!; sci-fi, smut

+Love to Hate you; coming soon

•𝐉𝐀𝐊𝐄

+ When we met; coming soon

• 𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐍

+ Everything comes back to you; coming soon

•𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐎𝐎

+ Entranced; coming soon

•𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐖𝐎𝐍

+Bittersweet; enemies-to-lovers troupe, smut (1)

+Bitter; crime, smut/angst (2)

+Sweet; second-chance troupe, smut/fluff! (3)

+Maybe this time; coming soon

•𝐍𝐈-𝐊𝐈

+What once was; second chance troupe, fluff/angst

+Forget me not; coming soon

•𝐎𝐓𝟕

+

[anixvl]

BITTER || Y.J

pairing: boxer!jungwon x detective!fem!reader

synopsis: Months after learning the truth of the real mastermind, you and Jungwon are left standing in the aftermath—scarred and unable to pretend that things will go back to what they once were. Just as you both begin to navigate your fragile connection, a new case arises—one that ties directly to your past. A series of brutal murders mimicking your late partner’s case resurface. The deeper you dig, the more it becomes clear: the original mastermind wasn’t working alone. Now, you are once again forced into each other’s lives, uncovering dark secrets while confronting the bitter unspoken emotions that still linger between you both. But trust isn’t easily rebuilt, and love doesn’t erase betrayal. (pt 2 of BITTERSWEET)

genre: Romance, LOTS OF ANGST, enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies trope, thriller, suspense

warnings: smut MDNI, oral f!receiving, d in p, lots of arguing/profanity, mentions of guns & blood, tears tears tears!

wc: 13.5k

a/n: hi!! there may be a pt 3, “sweet,” to finish off the series! but it’s still undecided, stay tuned <3

The rain fell in thin sheets, casting a silver haze over the city skyline. You tightened your grip on the steering wheel, your jaw clenched as you forced yourself to focus on the road ahead. The familiar weight of exhaustion pressed against your bones, but it wasn’t just from the late hours or the endless cases piling up on your desk.

It was him.

Jungwon sat in the passenger seat, silent. He hadn’t spoken in the last twenty minutes, not since you begrudgingly agreed to let him come with you. His presence filled the space between you like a loaded gun—dangerous, tense, and ready to explode at any moment.

you hated that he was here.

you hated that you still cared.

"We don’t have to talk, but you can at least stop pretending I don’t exist,” His voice was quieter than you expected, carrying none of the cocky arrogance he used to wear like armor.

You exhaled through your nose, your fingers tightening around the wheel, “I’m not pretending. I just have nothing to say to you."

Jungwon let out a soft laugh—bitter, edged with something unreadable, “That’s worse."

You didn’t respond.

Because what were you supposed to say?

That you haven’t stopped thinking about him in months since that day at your house?

That every time you closed your eyes, you could still feel the way his hands had held you, the way he had whispered your name like it meant something?

No. You wouldn’t give him that.

Not after what happened.

Not after shattering your heart.

The GPS beeped, signaling the destination. You turned off the ignition and reached for the case file in the back seat, ignoring the way Jungwon watched you. He was waiting for something—for a sign, a crack in your walls, anything to prove that you weren’t as indifferent as you pretended to be.

But you wouldn’t give him that, either.

you stepped out of the car, rain misting against your skin.

The warehouse loomed ahead, abandoned and rotting at the edges. The call had come in this morning—a body found inside, the method eerily similar to the one that had haunted you for the past year. Your partner’s murder.

Your stomach twisted.

Someone was playing with you.

And you weren’t sure you were ready to face it, but ready or not, you didn’t have much of a choice.

It all started on that day. The day at your house, when you first found out the sickening truth.

The tension in the room was suffocating. Seokjin sat behind his desk, his usual smirk absent, his sharp eyes locked onto you. The air between you was thick with months of bad blood, with every accusation you had ever thrown his way.

"You’ve got five minutes before I throw you out," Seokjin said coolly, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand.

You pulled the flash drive from your pocket and tossed it onto the table.

"Play it."

Seokjin arched an eyebrow but picked up the drive, inserting it into his laptop. The moment your partner’s voice filled the air, his expression shifted—just slightly.

By the time the recording ended, Seokjin exhaled through his nose, closing his eyes briefly.

"He tried to tell you," he muttered.

Your jaw clenched, “I didn’t know."

Seokjin let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head, "No, you didn’t. Because you were too busy trying to kill me."

You didn’t react. He wasn’t wrong.

You had let your grief blind you. Let the pain make you reckless. And in doing so, you had been chasing the wrong enemy this entire time.

"I need your help," you admitted.

The words felt foreign on your tongue, but you forced them out, "I don’t know how deep this goes, but I know my partner died trying to bring it to light. And if they find out I know the truth, I’ll be next."

Seokjin leaned back in his chair, studying you. Then, after a long moment, he let out a slow sigh.

"So. The detective finally realizes she’s been hunting the wrong man."

You clenched your fists, “I don’t need a speech, Seokjin. I need to finish what my partner started. He was our friend. Help me take down the people who really did this."

A tense silence stretched between you both. Then, to your surprise, Seokjin chuckled.

"You’re lucky I don’t hold grudges, detective."

You arched an eyebrow, “That’s funny, considering you spent months trying to kill me and even locked me up."

Seokjin smirked, standing up, “Fair enough."

Then, his expression darkened, “But you’re right about one thing. Whoever’s behind this? They’re not just coming for you. They’ll come for me. They’ll come for Jungwon, too. Which means…" He extended a glass of alcohol for you to take, "We’re in this together."

You hesitated—but only for a moment. Then you grasped the glass from his hand, swallowing it down—sealing the deal.

Because this time, you knew exactly who the real enemy was.

And you weren’t going to stop till you were satisfied.

The warehouse smelled of rust and decay. The air was thick with something else, too—something heavier, something familiar.

You stepped inside, your boots barely making a sound against the cracked concrete. The body lay in the center of the room, partially covered with a tarp. Red pooled beneath it, dark and glistening, seeping into the floor like a stain that would never wash away.

Jungwon moved beside you, silent. He watched you carefully as you looked at the scene before you. He wanted to be there for you, despite your barriers. He wasn’t supposed to be here—you didn’t want him here—but somehow, he had a way of inserting himself into things you wanted to keep far, far away from him.

"Same MO?"His voice was steady, but you knew him well enough to hear the tension beneath it.

You crouched beside the body, your fingers ghosting over the cold edge of the tarp before you pulled it back. The sight sent ice through your veins.

A clean shot to the chest. A knife wound to the abdomen. The precision of it was deliberate, almost surgical.

Exactly like your partner.

your stomach twisted.

"This isn’t a coincidence," you muttered, "Someone’s sending a message."

Jungwon was quiet for a moment before he asked the question you didn’t want to answer, "You think it’s connected to his murder?"

You exhaled, standing, “I don’t think. I know.”

You turned to face him, and for the first time since you let him come with you, you let yourself meet his gaze fully. There was something in his eyes—something unreadable, a storm brewing beneath the surface.

It irked you how, despite everything, your body never failed to react to him. You hated how your heart skips a beat at the sight of him. Your shortness of breath near him. And the stupid, stupid, feeling of wanting his touch. You looked away.

"This isn’t over," you said, your voice steady.

Jungwon nodded, his jaw tight, “Then let’s end it."

The words should have been comforting. They weren’t.

Because ending it meant reopening wounds that had never fully healed. It meant severing ties that bounded you both together. And you weren’t sure either of you were ready for that.

The night was thick with silence as you walked back to the car, the dim light from the streetlamps flickering over the rain-slick pavement. Your steps were quick, purposeful, though your mind was miles away. Every instinct told you to push him away—push him far away—but there he was, walking beside you like nothing had changed.

And everything had changed.

Jungwon was supposed to be a ghost in your life, an ex you had buried with the pain and regret of your past. Yet, somehow, he kept finding his way back. Every time you thought you had moved on, every time you thought you could lock away the pieces of yourself you had given him, he tore through the walls again, leaving you wide open.

You tried not to look at him as you fumbled with the keys to the car.

"You don’t have to come with me," you said quietly, your voice betraying none of the turbulence inside you.

Jungwon didn't respond immediately, and for a moment, you thought he might listen, that maybe he was starting to understand the depth of your walls. But then he spoke, his voice softer than you expected.

"You know I’m not going anywhere."

The rain had finally stopped, leaving behind a heavy mist that clung to the streets, distorting the neon glow of the city like a mirage. You leaned against the hood of the car, staring at the warehouse in front of you.

Jungwon was beside you, his presence like an anchor—his silence louder than any words he could’ve spoken. He hadn’t said much since you got in the car. He wasn’t the same cocky, reckless fighter you had once known. He was different, quieter, broken in a way you couldn’t understand. And yet, here he was, once again dragged into your mess, whether he liked it or not.

"You can’t keep chasing this, Y/n," Jungwon said, suddenly closer, his voice firm, bordering on pleading, “Whatever this is, it’s going to end up destroying you."

“You think I don’t know that?" You turned to face him, your fists clenched by your sides.

“I don’t care if this is bigger than us. My partner died without receiving justice. The murderer is still out there.”

"And you think you can fix it? By yourself?" Jungwon’s tone was almost incredulous, but there was a quiet fear in his eyes now—a fear that you hadn’t seen before.

"I don’t need your help, Jungwon,” Your words were cold, sharp.

But they weren’t the truth. You did need him. You needed him more than you cared to admit.

Jungwon’s face hardened, and for a moment, it felt like you were standing on the edge of a precipice—one wrong move and everything would crumble. He stepped back, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as he stared at you with a mixture of frustration and something else.

Something you hadn’t seen in a while.

He was always putting effort in trying to gain your forgiveness. Always supportive, taking care of you, sweet gestures, affectionate phrases, he’s tried doing it all.

This was his breaking point.

"Fine," he said after a long pause, his voice low, “Do it on your own then."

But just as he turned to leave, something in you snapped. The frustration, the years of pain, the endless cycle of not being able to fix the past—it all came crashing down.

And suddenly, for a split second, you were the girl from months ago who was head over heels for Jungwon. Before the betrayal, before the lies, before the pain.

You grabbed him by the arm, spinning him back around.

"I need you, Jungwon,” Your voice broke slightly, but you refused to let it show.

"I need you to help me fix this. Because if you don’t, I’ll do it myself. And I don’t care what happens to me in the process,” your eyes glossed as tears begin to form.

You didn’t understand it yourself, you hated him being around but hate it worse when he’s away from you.

Deep down, you must’ve known, you’ve gotten to the point in which you can’t be without him. Not even if you wanted to.

For the first time in what felt like forever, Jungwon’s guard lowered. He looked at you—really looked at you—like he was seeing you for the first time. Your eyes were full of desperation, yes, but also something darker, something you’d buried deep inside for far too long.

Love.

"You’re not alone," he whispered, his voice quieter and softer now, filled with something that almost sounded like regret.

He took his hands out from his pockets, cupping your face tenderly. You instantly melt into his touch, feeling your anger almost wash away. He looked into your eyes, searching for the girl you once were.

Back when you loved him so wholeheartedly.

"I’ll help you. But you have to promise me one thing,” he said, drawing soft circle on your cheek with his thumb.

Your brows furrowed, "What?"

"Promise me you won’t destroy yourself in the process."

The words hung between you, heavy with meaning. For a moment, you were quiet, the weight of everything pressing down on your shoulders. You didn’t know how to answer—didn’t know if you could promise him that. But in the end, you nodded.

"Fine," you said, your voice barely above a whisper. "I’ll try."

Jungwon didn’t speak again, but his kiss on your forehead was all the confirmation you needed. You were in this together, whether you wanted it or not.

The morning after was nothing like you imagined. Inside your bedroom, the light through the blinds was dim, casting long shadows over the space. You stood by the window, staring out at nothing in particular, your mind far away, racing over the events that had brought you to this point.

Jungwon was still asleep, sprawled across the bed with his face to you. The sight of him, so vulnerable in sleep, made something twist inside of you. He had become a person you could barely recognize, and yet, something about the way he protected you—no matter how messy it got—still made you believe there was something worth saving.

But you couldn’t forget how you had gotten here. The anger. The betrayal. It all still felt raw.

You had been fighting this case alone for so long. And in the back of your mind, you knew—no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t do it without him. But that didn’t mean you would let your guard down. You couldn’t afford to.

When you turned to look at him again, Jungwon was shifting in his sleep, a low groan escaping his lips. You hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to even approach him. You had so many questions, but none of them felt like they mattered. Not yet.

You walked over to the desk, grabbing the file that had caused everything to spiral. Your fingers skimmed the pages, still looking for something that could tie all the loose ends together. There was too much at stake. Too many pieces missing.

"You really can’t sleep, huh?"

His voice was rough, but it was familiar, and it made you freeze in place. You didn’t turn around immediately. Instead, you stood there, still clutching the file, wondering how to fix everything.

"You still thinking about last night?" he continued, his voice softer this time, like he knew exactly what you were feeling.

You finally turned around, meeting his gaze. His dark eyes were intense, but there was something unreadable in them. You couldn’t tell if he was angry, frustrated, or just tired.

"Yeah." The word came out sharper than you intended. "I need answers, Jungwon."

His gaze softened for a moment, and then his mouth twisted into a half-smile, “I know you do."

He sat up and opened his arms to you. The room felt smaller now, the space between you both charged with the tension that had been building ever since you decided to work together. He wasn’t who he used to be. But Neither were you. But in some ways, that was what made everything feel more real. You slowly made your way inside his arms. Your body instantly melted against him, feeling a soft, heavy, sigh escape your lips.

"You’re not gonna let it go, are you?" he asked quietly, holding you tightly, "You think I don’t see it in your eyes?"

You shook your head slowly, “I can’t. Not when I’m this close to finding out who did it."

He was silent for a long moment, and the only sound in the room was the hum of the air conditioner. You weren’t sure if he was contemplating something or just frustrated, but when he finally spoke again, it was with a weariness that didn’t match his usual bravado.

"You know, sometimes, there’s no closure."

The words hit you harder than you expected, and you could feel the sting in your chest. You knew that. You knew it better than anyone. But that didn’t mean you were willing to accept it.

"You’re wrong," you whispered, turning to face him, "I can’t just walk away from this. If I do, I’ll never be able to look at myself the same way again."

There was a long pause. Then you felt Jungwon tenderly caress the top of your head, gazing at you with such intensity. You could feel the weight of his touch, warm and familiar, and it made your heart race in a way you weren’t prepared for.

"I get it," he said, his voice gentle now. "But you promised me something."

You turned to face him, your breath catching in your throat.

"You won’t lose yourself in all of this. You can’t let it destroy you. You can’t let it be your whole world."

You swallowed hard, the weight of his words hitting you like a punch to the gut. How could you promise him that? How could you promise him you wouldn’t burn yourself out chasing after a ghost when you weren’t sure if you could handle the truth?

But in that moment, you realized something. You didn’t know how to let go. And you didn’t know how to trust again. But maybe—just maybe—he was right. Maybe you needed to find a way to let the case be part of your life, not your entire existence.

You nodded slowly, meeting his eyes, "I know."

And just like that, the air between you shifted. There was still so much left unsaid, but for the first time in a long time, you both knew you were on the same side. Together, for better or worse.

The investigation had hit a dead end. Every lead you chased only seemed to open more questions, but none of the answers ever brought you closer to the truth. Every night, you lay awake, staring at the ceiling of your bedroom, wondering if you were wasting your time, wondering if you had already missed something important.

Jungwon had been quieter since that night—still here, still present, but something had shifted. It was like a wall had gone up between the two of you, even though you were both stuck in the same place, in the same mess.

He could feel the distance growing. And that hurt more than anything.

Jungwon had spent the last few months trying to earn back your trust, be worthy of your love again. To go back to how things were, how much you loved each other despite the mess you both were in.

The touches, the gazes, the affection, the laughs, the nights you spent entangled in each other’s arms. He wanted it all back. More than anything. But it seemed the more he reached for you, the more you seemed far away. So close yet so far. Oceans apart.

He was done with it.

You pushed yourself up from the bed, throwing on your jacket and grabbing your keys. Your room was suffocating, its stale air mixing with the heavy tension in the room. You needed space, needed to think.

When you stepped outside, the cool air hit your face, a welcome relief from the suffocating silence inside. The world outside your room was just as empty as it felt in your mind. You walked down the street with no clear destination in mind, your thoughts swirling, trying to make sense of everything.

“Y/n."

Jungwon’s voice cut through the silence, and you stopped in your tracks, turning slowly. He stood a few feet behind you, his hands in his pockets, his frantic breath vaporizing into the cold air.

He had ran to follow you.

You didn’t say anything. Instead, you just met his gaze, your eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"You’re pushing yourself too hard,” His voice was low, his concern hidden beneath layers of uncertainty, "We need to step back, rethink the case. There’s something we’re missing."

You shook your head, “No. I’m close. I can feel it. I just need to find the right piece."

"You’ve been saying that for weeks!” he bursted, frustration creeping into his tone, “…But we’ve been chasing shadows, y/n. We need a new approach."

You were silent for a long time. The anger that had been simmering beneath the surface was bubbling up again, but this time, it was mixed with something else. Something raw. Something you didn’t want to face.

"You don’t get it, Jungwon," you finally snapped.

"You don’t know what it’s like to feel like you’re losing everything, and you can’t fix it. You don’t know what it’s like to be constantly looking over your shoulder, wondering if you’re going to lose another person you care about!”

Jungwon’s expression softened, and he stepped closer to you, his eyes locking onto yours with a tenderness that made your breath catch. He didn’t say anything at first—just let the words hang in the air between you.

And for a moment, you thought you might crack. You thought you might let the anger go and let him in.

But then the weight of everything came crashing back. You weren’t ready to let him back in, not when you still didn’t trust yourself.

You took a step back, your heart pounding in your chest.

"Don’t. Don’t say anything—Don’t do anything,” you stated, your voice trembling. Your eyes watered.

The words came out harsher than you intended, and you saw the flash of hurt in his eyes. But before he could respond, you turned away, walking quickly down the street, trying to outrun the suffocating feeling of being trapped.

You didn’t want to hurt him. You didn’t want to push him away. But you couldn’t help yourself. You were scared. Scared of losing him.

Scared of what would happen if you let him too close again.

You didn’t realize how far you’d gone until you found yourself standing in front of the alleyway, the one where your partner had died. The sight of it made your stomach turn. Memories flooded back—his laughter, his promise that everything would be okay. The days he would accompany you to your parent’s graveyard. Your birthdays he’d make sure to celebrate, knowing you were too busy to remember. He might not have been blood, but your connection went further than that. You had failed him.

And finally, you let go. You squat to the ground, soft and frustrated sobs escaping your mouth.

So close, yet so far. It’s never enough. Why?

"You’re not alone."

Jungwon’s voice echoed in your mind, and you felt the weight of his words like a rope pulling you back.

You were so focused on the past that you hadn’t even realized Jungwon had followed you. You turned, startled, only to see him standing a few feet behind you. He wasn’t angry anymore. He was just... there.

He met your glistening eyes. His face softened. You got up, wiping away your endless tears. You looked away.

"I know you’re scared," he said quietly, "But pushing me away won’t help you. You don’t have to carry this burden alone."

You stared at him, your heart aching. You wanted to fight it. You wanted to tell him to leave, that you didn’t need anyone. But the truth was, you did need him.

You needed him more than you were willing to admit.

You took a step closer to him, your voice trembling as you spoke in broken sobs.

"I’m scared, Jungwon. Scared that if I get too close to anyone again, I’ll lose them. And I don’t know if I can survive that again,” you cried, slightly losing your balance from exhaustion.

He reached out instantly, gripping onto your arm. He pulled you close. The touch was soft, comforting. He didn’t say anything at first. He didn’t need to. You could feel the understanding between you, the shared pain, the shared fear.

"I love you," he breathed out, his voice firm but gentle, "so ardently."

And for once, you allowed yourself to believe that. You didn’t have all the answers. You didn’t know how everything would turn out. But with Jungwon by your side, you felt like maybe—just maybe—you could find a way through the darkness.

And that was enough for now.

Before you knew it, his lips connected with yours. Your hands gripped onto his jacket, the force of his kiss pushing against you. Your lips instantly melted into his. He kissed you with such longing and relief. He sighed against your lips, placing his warm hand onto your cheek. He tilted your head back slightly, deepening the kiss. Your eyes shuttered close, allowing yourself to get lost into him.

your heart fluttered, a familiar feeling that brought you joy.

He pulled away, looking into your eyes in desperation.

“Let’s go back home,” he said.

Home.

Yes, that’s where you longed to be. That’s where you are meant to be. A place where you share a space and affection with Jungwon, Home.

You were too busy to notice it before. You had it there all along. You were never alone. He was there. Every second and step of the journey. He is home.

You nod, a genuine smile plastered across your face. He flashed you a dimpled smile, one you haven’t seen in a while. He grabbed your hand, interlocking his fingers with yours. He led the way back to your home, tightly gripped onto your hand.

As if savoring the moment, to make sure it’s real. Scared of letting go, as if you were to disintegrate with the wind. As if he was a threat of losing you any second.

You close the door behind you. When you turn around, Jungwon cups your face again, smashing his lips onto yours. You softly yelp against his lips, startled. You grip onto him tightly, closing your eyes. Despite being outside in the cold, you can’t help but to feel like you’re burning up.

Jungwon picks you up and you immediately wrap your legs around his torso, refusing to break the kiss. He leads you to your room, softly dropping you onto the bed. You both rush off your clothes, desperate and hungry for each other.

He hovers over you, kissing you passionately. Your eyes shuttered clothes, your arms wandering around his bare back and chest.

You needed this, badly. His touch, his warmth, his closeness to you. It had been a long time since you both last were ever this close, let alone this intimate.

“Missed this so much,” he murmured against the kiss, “missed you so much.”

His hand travelled down to your pantie lining, pulling it down slowly by its hem. You let him. His lips trailed down to your neck, sucking softly onto your skin, marking and leaving trails of him on you behind.

He unclasped your bra, sucking in the bud of your breasts. You moaned softly, closing your eyes in pleasure. He sucked onto the soft skin around your breasts, leaving more love bites. He rubs his fingers onto your wet cunt, plastering your wetness around his fingers. He inserts one finger in, slowly and almost punishingly.

“F-Fuck, Jungwon,” you breathed out, gripping onto him.

Then, he inserts another. He slowly pumps his fingers in and out of you, causing your mouth to fall agape in pleasure. He watched your lewd reactions to him, fascinated by your mesmerizing beauty and pleasure given to you. His dick became hard at the sight of you and the feeling of you clenching around his fingers.

“Yeah? you want me to continue, pretty?” he teased, kissing you sloppily in order to muffle your broken moans.

“Can you take my cock now, baby?” he said, kissing your neck softly.

You nodded, a moan in response, “mhm..”

He took his fingers out, sucking onto them. He took his boxers off, his cock begging to be released from the tightness of it. He aligned himself with your entrance, teasing you with his tip.

“You’re so fucking wet,” he breathed out, “so ready for me.”

And with that, he pushed himself into you. He groaned, as you clenched around his cock tightly. You instantly feel full. He starts to move slowly, waiting till you get adjusted to him.

“You’re so beautiful,” he gazed down at you under him, so defenseless and in pleasurable daze.

He picked up his pace, his cock glistening from your wetness. You whimpered, gripping onto the bed sheets.

He leaned over you once again, using his arms to prop himself up. He kisses you as he thrusts his hips deep against yours. You struggle to kiss him back, causing a sly smirk on his lips against the kiss. He breaks the kiss, quickening his pace mercilessly. whines and soft groans come from the both of you, in a rhythmic sync, deepening the intimacy shared between each other.

It’s just as you remembered. Connected, interlinked, as if no one has touched you quite the way Jungwon has. No one else compares.

The soft moans of his name drove him crazy. It was like a melody, an addictive tune he could never get tired of. All he wanted was to continue hearing it, pleasuring you. Loving you. Consuming you.

He pounded relentlessly into you, his cock twitching as he approached his orgasm. You gripped onto his back tightly, your nails digging into his skin.

“I love you,” he breathed, “I love you so much.”

Your body arched into him, feeling the tight knot in your stomach threatening to undo.

You wanted to say it back, but your mind was so fucked-out to build coherent words.

Instead, you just held him, tightly. You held his tender gaze, exchanging meaningful messages beyond words.

‘I know. I love you, too.’

His head rested on the crook of your neck, inhaling the scent of your skin and hair. The scent of both of your bodies interlinked. The scent of him on you.

You wrapped your legs around his hips, crying out in pleasure.

“Yes, oh, just like that,” you whined, “m’cumming.”

Jungwon thrusted his hips harder into you, hitting your spot with no fail. Your eyes shut close, mouth agape, as you reach your orgasm hard.

“Fuck, pretty, cum on my cock,” he grunted, thrusting slowly but hard, riding out your high.

His cock twitched as he released his load into you. Your legs quivered, feeling yourself recover from your hard orgasm. Jungwon kissed your cheek softly before plopping next to you, exhausted. You were both sweaty, tired, and still panting. His bare chest glistened in sweat yet he seems so attractive. You reach out to cup his face, he grabs your hand and plants a tender kiss on your palm. You smile.

“Do you want to take a bath or get some sleep?” he asked, moving away a strand of your hair from your face.

“To be honest, I don’t think I can walk right now,” you laughed.

He chuckles, “I’ll carry you.”

You nod, flashing him a soft smile. He gets up, sweeping you off the bed and into his arms. You hold onto him tightly, as he takes you to the bathroom. He places you gently onto the counter, capturing your lips softly. The kiss is softer this time, tender, and sweet. With a wet sound of the kiss, he breaks away. He turns around to prepare the bath for you. Dipping his hands into the bathtub, he looks over at you.

“It’s ready, pretty,” he said, walking over to you.

You climb off the counter, he holds you for support. You slowly get into the bathtub, Jungwon following. A soft sigh of relief escapes your lips at the feeling of the warm bubbly water. Jungwon holds you from behind, leaving soft kisses on your shoulder. You melt into him, allowing yourself to rest against his chest.

“Better?” he asks, kissing the side of your head.

You smile, “Much better. Thank you.”

The tension in the air had lessened in the days that followed. It was easier to breathe, to speak, and to be in each other’s company. It wasn’t exactly like how it used to be, but it was a step closer to it.

Every step you took seemed to lead you further into the web of lies, but none of the pieces fit. It wasn’t just about your partner’s death anymore. It was about a deeper conspiracy, something that reached far beyond what you had ever imagined.

Jungwon had been quieter, more thoughtful, his sharp eyes noticing things you missed. The two of you had spent hours combing through records, analyzing evidence, and following up on any leads that seemed even remotely promising. But nothing had connected. Nothing made sense.

Not until now.

You sat at the table in the dining room, your mind running through the reports in front of you. The scattered photos of your partner, the witness statements, the security footage that seemed to repeat the same things over and over again—until something caught your eye.

"Wait a second," you muttered, your finger tracing a line on the page. Jungwon, who had been sitting across from you, leaned in, his curiosity piqued.

"What is it?" He asked, a faint edge of urgency in his voice.

You flipped the page to a new report, showing the names of officers involved in the initial investigation. Most of the names were familiar—colleagues you had worked with, trusted for years. But one name stood out to you, circled in red ink by a source you hadn’t recognized.

"This guy," you said, tapping the name with your finger, “Officer Han Joon."

Jungwon frowned, “I don’t know him. Should I?"

"He’s one of the officers who was first on the scene after my partner was killed," you explained, your mind beginning to race, “But what I didn’t realize at the time was that he’s also been involved in a number of other high-profile cases that were later marked as unsolved or closed for ‘lack of evidence.’"

You paused, staring at the report, your pulse quickening.

"It doesn’t make sense. What if the rat is closer than we thought? What if it’s him, ‘someone inside the department,’ just as Hyunjin said?"

Jungwon leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he processed what you had said, "If Officer Han’s involved… that means someone in the department’s been helping the mastermind all along. Giving him the inside info, covering his tracks."

The weight of his words hit you hard. The realization that the danger you were facing wasn’t just coming from the outside—it really was also already inside the walls you had trusted.

"We need to get to him," you said, your voice low, determined, “We need to find out what he knows."

Jungwon nodded, standing up. He was already slipping on his jacket, his expression set, “We’ll need to be careful. We don’t know who’s watching us."

You nodded, the familiar chill of danger settling in. But this time, it didn’t feel like something you could run from. You couldn’t back down now—not when you were so close to the truth.

The two of you moved quickly, gathering the evidence you had and heading toward the police precinct where Officer Han worked. The building was busy with activity, the hum of officers and detectives moving between desks and filing cabinets. But despite the seeming normalcy, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching you. Every time you passed an officer, you felt their gaze linger just a little too long, a little too knowingly. It was almost as if they could tell you were onto something.

You and Jungwon split up, each of you taking different routes to avoid drawing suspicion. You knew Han’s schedule—he usually worked the late shift, spending hours at his desk. You made your way to the back of the department, where the file room was kept, the one that was usually off-limits to anyone except senior officers.

It wasn’t hard to find a way in. You had the right credentials—though they felt fake now, like you were wearing a mask you didn’t quite recognize. You slipped past the guarded door, heading straight for the row of locked cabinets where sensitive files were kept.

Jungwon had already hacked into the system, disabling the security cameras for the moment. You were in, but the clock was ticking. If Han showed up early, you would be trapped, exposed, and most likely caught. But you were running out of time.

You pulled out the files, your heart racing as you rifled through the papers, skimming over each one, looking for any clue that would tie Han Joon to the mastermind. You weren’t sure how long you had before the others would catch on, but you weren’t about to let that stop you. Not when you were so close.

"Found something," Jungwon’s voice echoed through the comms in your ear, and you froze. His tone was low, cautious.

"What is it?" you whispered, still flipping through the papers in front of you.

"Han’s phone records. He’s been in contact with someone outside the city. Someone with a criminal background. They’re scheduled to meet next week, at a warehouse on the outskirts of town."

Your heart skipped a beat. This was it. This was the break you had been waiting for.

"We need to go," you said, quickly grabbing the most relevant files. You didn’t hesitate.

"We’ll confront him. We take him down then, for now we need to make a plan."

As you and Jungwon raced to your car, your mind was already working through the next steps. This was the moment you’d been working toward, but with it came a sense of dread. Officer Han was one piece of the puzzle, alongside with other newly discovered suspects to investigate. But if you were right, it meant the mastermind was still out there, still pulling the strings. And now, you had a target on your back.

"Y/n," Jungwon said as you slid into the passenger’s seat, his voice low but steady, “We don’t know how deep this goes. We’ll need to be careful."

You nodded, bringing your hand to caress his cheek, “Of course.”

Tonight, you weren’t just chasing for the truth. You were fighting for your life. One you have found worth living for: Him.

Once you both returned home, you immediately went into inspecting all the files you took. Jungwon joined, as always, by your side. A few hours later, you had a list of prime suspects to investigate. Exhausted and evidently stressed, you slumped into your chair. You dropped the piles of paperwork onto the table, calling it a night.

Jungwon looked over at your tense expression. He got up from his seat, walking over behind you. He took a look at the paperwork you had. His hands gently massaged your shoulders, causing you to close your eyes in satisfaction.

“You need to relax, pretty,” he said, “you’re so tense.”

You keep your eyes closed, enjoying every bit of the massage. You softly moaned in satisfaction, a signal for him to continue. His mouth curled into a sly smirk. He leaned over to your neck, placing soft kisses from behind. Slow, sensual, deliberate.

“Jungwon,” you breathed out.

“yes, baby?” he whispered, walking over to lift you onto the table.

You open your eyes, startled. Before you can question him, he positions himself between your legs, his hands resting onto your waist. He kisses you, gently. You kiss him back, lazily, your exhaustion getting the best of you.

“Let me take care of you,” he offered, “just relax, okay?”

You don’t protest, instead you just nod. His hands pull onto the hem of your pants, pulling them off. He plays with the hem of your panties, before taking those off, too.

Too sleepy and in daze, you didn’t realize what was happening till your panties were on the floor. Your eyes widen slightly in realization. But it was already too late.

“Jungwon, wait—”

He takes a few long, slow, wet licks onto your cunt. You bit back a moan, gripping onto the table. He pushed open your legs apart, opening you up on display on the dining table like a meal. Then, he enfolds your cunt into his mouth. You moan, gripping onto his hair. Wet slurping sounds and the sound of your whines fill the room.

“ngh…jungwon,” you moaned.

He looked up at you, meeting your sultry expression. He swears he could cum at the sight of you like this. His tongue sloppily glides onto your cunt, sucking and flicking your bean. Your legs tremble, your breath is rigid.

“Feels so good,” you whimpered.

Jungwon stuffed his face deeper, savoring and devouring all your juices like a starved man. He needed more of you. All of you.

He pushed you onto your back, forcing you to lay on top of all the paperwork. Now propped open on the dining table, Jungwon ate you out passionately.

Your legs shifted uncontrollably, your hands laced within his hair. Insistent moans slipped from your mouth, instinctively pushing his head further into your cunt.

Jungwon wrapped his arms around your thighs, deepening his tongue into your cunt. Wetness dripped from his chin from his sloppy mess on your cunt.

“I’m—ngh,” you fisted his hair, pushing him closer as you approached your orgasm.

Your back arched into him, no longer caring a bit about the time you spent organizing the paperwork on the table.

And then, finally, with a loud gasp the knot in your stomach came undone. Your breathing was rigid, your body trembling from the ecstasy.

Jungwon smirked, wiping away the wetness from his chin.

“Let’s get you to bed, yeah?” he whispered, grabbing you from the table and tossing you over his shoulder.

You yelped in surprise, holding onto him. He gently dropped you onto the bed sheets, in which he tucked you into. It wasn’t long before he got under the covers, enfolding you into his arms. You melted in his arms, the rhythm of his heartbeat bringing a sense of calming to you. You inhaled his scent, as if memorizing it by heart. You both drifted off to sleep, entangled into each other’s arms. And even during the night, when you would quietly jerk awake from nightmares, you couldn’t help but to think.

‘I don’t want this to end,’ you thought.

‘I want to be selfish. I want to pursue this stupid dream with just the both of us.’

You could feel it in your bones, with every breath you took: the guilt. Could it really work out?

Could you really be happy, be selfish for once and have it all?

The past still crept up on you, even when you told yourself it was time to let go. Jungwon had started to repair your broken heart, putting back the pieces. Slowly, but surely.

You wanted to be selfish. You wanted to let your guard down. You deserved it.

But despite it all; it was only a matter of time before it all came crashing down.

it started with a lie.

Or maybe it started long before that—with the wounds they never let heal, with the trust you both never fully rebuilt. Either way, by the time you found out, it was already too late.

You stormed into your apartment, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the walls. Jungwon barely had time to react before you threw a crumpled piece of paper onto the table between you both.

"What the hell is this?" you demanded.

Jungwon frowned, picking it up. His chest tightened the second he saw what it was—a file, fresh off the precinct database, detailing an anonymous payment wired to a key witness in their case. One that was meant to be there at the meeting spot you figured out. But, now that Jungwon approached him, the key witness must’ve snitched on you and fled with the money by now. It was a dumb mistake: a fatal one.

Blood drained from his face.

You saw it.

"You bribed him?" you spat, your voice laced with disbelief and something far painful, “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?"

Jungwon exhaled, running a hand through his hair, "It wasn’t a bribe, y/n. You needed answers, and you were slowly becoming miserable without them. I couldn’t see you like that. And he wasn’t going to talk unless he had a reason to."

"So you threw money at him?" You let out a humorless laugh, "Great. That’s real reliable evidence."

‘Just an arrogant rich boy,’ you thought. You hated the selfish actions of him, which he carelessly does because he knows he can do them. With no worry, no thought. Because he has people to protect him, money to support him, and higher-ups to keep him out of trouble. You hated how low he stooped.

Doesn’t that make him equal to who you’re going after?

Jungwon’s jaw clenched, “I did what I had to do."

"No," you shot back, stepping closer, your eyes burning with rage, "You did what you wanted to do, without telling me. Without even thinking about the consequences."

Jungwon’s patience snapped, “And what the hell have you been doing, y/n? Losing yourself over this?You put a gun to my fucking head to force me into this shit, but now you’re acting like you’re the only one allowed to make choices?"

Your eyes narrowed at him, "I didn’t blackmail you for fun, Jungwon. I needed help—I needed someone I could trust."

Your voice broke slightly on the last word.

And that was what did it.

Because you had trusted him. And now, here you both were, in the same cycle of betrayal, the same aching disappointment.

Jungwon felt his pulse hammering in his skull. He wanted to explain. He wanted to tell you that it hadn’t been about secrecy, or control, or hurting you. He just wanted to end this war before it destroyed you both. But most importantly, you.

It’s always been about you.

But instead, the words that left his mouth were the wrong ones.

"Maybe I never should have come back."

And just like that, whatever fragile thread had been holding you both together—snapped.

Silence crashed over the room like a violent wave, drowning everything in it.

You stared at him, your breath catching in your throat. For a second, just a split second, he saw something in your eyes—something that almost looked like hurt. But then it was gone, replaced by cold, hard indifference.

You let out a short, humorless laugh, “Then go."

Jungwon clenched his jaw, running a hand through his hair as he exhaled sharply. He hadn’t meant it. Not like that. But the damage was already done, and you…

you weren’t the type to let a wound fester without striking back.

"You know what’s funny?" you said, stepping closer, her voice smooth, lethal.

“I used to think i needed you,” you said.

Jungwon’s heart slammed against his ribs.

"Y/n—"

"I thought that maybe—just maybe—you could make up for the way you left, for the way you let me fall apart alone,” your lips curled into something cold, something sharp, “But I should’ve known better. You were always good at running, weren’t you?"

His fists tightened, “You think I wanted to leave you?!" His voice came out raw, splintered.

“you think it was easy for me?” he stated.

"I don’t give a damn if it was easy," you snapped, "You still did it."

Jungwon let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head, "And you haven’t forgiven me since."

"Why should I?" you shot back, eyes burning with something dangerously close to fury, "You don’t deserve my forgiveness, Jungwon."

His breath caught.

And then, softer—deadlier— "You never did."

He didn’t know why it hurt so much. Maybe because deep down, he had been clinging to the idea that if he fought hard enough, you would let him back in. That if he proved himself, if he stayed this time, you would finally let yourself forgive him.

But maybe that had never been an option.

Maybe, he had been chasing your ghost this entire time.

Maybe, he had been a fool to think he still had a chance.

Jungwon exhaled slowly, his expression hardening,

"Then maybe I should stop trying."

Something flickered in your gaze, but before he could figure out what it was, he turned away, walking toward the door.

He didn’t stop.

He didn’t look back.

Your hands instinctively reached out for him, yet no words could come out of your mouth. Your hand fell back to your side at the sound of the front door slam. A unspoken sign of goodbye. And before you knew it, tears spilled from your eyes. It was a piercing feeling, a suffocating one. And before you knew it, you were sobbing on the living room floor. Where he had left you.

And for the first time since he came back into your life, You finally let yourself wonder—

Maybe you really had lost him for good.

He didn’t show up at your house anymore. The house was void, uncomfortably silent, and suffocating. The bedroom in which you would once walk in to find him already sprawled onto your bed, was empty. Intact, just as you left it. The bedroom was tidy, just as you had done it in the morning—a painful reminder that he was no longer here.

Only the smell of him lingered in the air. Along with his soothing voice, the one that hummed you to sleep when you were tormented at night.

But things didn’t stop there.

After many days had passed and the day of the secret meeting approached, you wondered if Jungwon would come find you at all. To accompany you, like he always would. You quickly resigned the idea, forcing yourself to grasp that he’s gone. Permanently.

But as you made your way out of your bedroom, you heard the sound of the front door open.

And then, somehow, it started all over again.

"…You’re not even thinking straight!" Jungwon’s voice echoed through the living room, raw with frustration.

“You’re so desperate to chase ghosts, you don’t even care if it gets you killed!" He continued.

You slammed the case file onto the table, papers scattering across the surface, “Don’t act like you give a shit, Jungwon. You didn’t care when you walked away the first time, so don’t pretend now."

His jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides, "You think I didn’t care? You think leaving didn’t fucking kill me?"

"You still did it.”

The words cut deep, sharper than any knife, and you saw the way they hit him—the way they hurt. But you didn’t stop. You couldn’t stop. The anger was still fresh, the resentment of his betrayal.

"You had a choice, Jungwon," you continued, voice laced with anger and something dangerously close to heartbreak, "And you chose to walk away. So don’t stand here and act like you have a right to tell me what to do now."

He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply, “y/n, I didn’t—" He stopped, shaking his head, as if even he didn’t know how to explain himself.

“You wanted me to stay, but for what? To watch you destroy yourself over something you couldn’t fix?"

"It wasn’t your decision to make,” you retaliated.

Jungwon let out a bitter laugh, stepping closer—too close, “And this?"

His voice dropped lower, "Dragging me back into your war? This was my decision to make?"

You felt the heat between them, thick and suffocating.

"You owe me," you said, your voice dangerously sharp, laced with pain and rage.

Jungwon’s eyes darkened, “I owe you?"

You lifted your chin, refusing to back down, "You let me believe I was alone. You gave me over, locked me up in your basement! You lied to me! You left me with nothing but questions, and now that I have the answers, you want me to stop? You want me to just let it go?"

He was so close now, close enough that you could see the way his chest rose and fell with uneven breaths, “I want you to stop throwing yourself into the fire like you have nothing left to lose."

"I don’t."

Silence.

Something shifted in his expression—something dangerous, something almost desperate.

"That’s bullshit,” he narrowed his eyes at you, “and you know it.”

You swallowed hard, refusing to let the weight of his words settle, “You don’t know me anymore, Jungwon."

His gaze dropped to your lips for just a second, before flicking back up to your eyes, "Yeah?"

“Then why do you still look at me like you wish I never left?"

your breath hitched.

Because he was right.

And that was the worst part of all.

You stared at him in silence, in disbelief. The tears rushing into your eyes like a hit of a merciless wave. You hold back a sob from your mouth with your trembling hands, forcing yourself to look away.

Standing only a few steps away, Jungwon instinctively reaches out for you.

His fingertips burn on your skin. You move, facing him once more with rage.

“Go right now!” you shouted, pushing him away, “go now!”

“Go!” You broke out into another painful sob, your harsh words now sounding like a desperate plea, a broken, pained one.

You didn’t know what else to do, grief crashing down on you at once.

You didn’t want to hurt him; You were terrified of what would happen if he was to stay around. In your own way, you wanted to protect him from you. Despite it all.

He could see it.

He shook his head, reaching out for you once again.

You rejected him. You pushed his hands away.

He tried again, taking a grip onto your arms, “Y/n, listen to me, baby…”

“No!” you moved frantically, trying to get out of his grip, “No! Let go of me!”

You hit him repeatedly in his chest, hot tears streaming down your distressed face.

He took every hit, gazing at you with such tenderness.

It broke you even more.

Your blows decreased. They became weaker and your voice trembled, “please…go home, Jungwon.”

Finally still, Jungwon pulled you into a warm and tight embrace.

You didn’t fight it this time. Maybe because you didn’t have the strength, or maybe simply because you wanted this. You needed it.

“I’m already where i’m supposed to be, y/n.”

You sobbed gently against his chest, melting into his arms. You gripped desperately onto him, every sensorial part of you obsessed with him. He caressed your head soothingly.

“I didn’t mean what i said the last time. I’m so sorry, I know it’s my fault. I don’t deserve you, nor your trust or your love. I know that,” he explained, “but i choose to continue trying. Even if you push me away. Hit me, curse at me, fuck—tell me you hate me. Anything. Just as long as it gives me your forgiveness.”

He brought his hands to cup your face, bringing your softened face towards his.

“And you know why?” he looked into your eyes, “because I love you, y/n.”

Your eyes flickered. He slowly lowers himself before you, his hands holding yours, getting on his knees.

“I truly don’t think I can be without you, y/n. I love you so much it hurts. So please…please, baby…if you can find it in you to love me one more time, i’ll spend the rest of my life in proving it to you. Just one,” he begged, “please love me one more time.”

And even though he tried to stabilize himself, you could hear the small tremble in his voice and the glistening in his eyes.

He so desperately wanted it to be you.

You stood there, lost at words. Many thoughts rushing through your mind. You weren’t sure what to do. You didn’t want to think.

“Okay…” you breathed out.

His face softened immediately, his shoulders relaxing. He kissed your hand, standing up once again. He cups your cheek, bringing you into a soft kiss. He left soft pepper kisses around your face, whispering ‘I love you’s in between.

“You don’t have to say it now,” he said, “this is enough for me.”

And then, he reconnected your lips tenderly. Your eyes flickered close, gripping onto his arms. He cocked your head back slightly, deepening the kiss. Close wasn’t close enough for him.

“Should we…go to my room?” you said, quietly.

He flashed you a dimpled smile, “Is that what you want? Are you sure? I don’t want to rush you—”

you cut him off with a kiss. He took the message, scooping you up in his arms. He led the way into the bedroom, sitting onto it with you on top of his lap.

And before you knew it, you were holding onto him, taking every single inch of him. He sat against the headboard of your bed, while you bounced on his cock. He wrapped his arms around your waist, his face snuggled into the crook of your neck. He left bite marks, kisses, and love bites all over your skin. Worshiping every part of you, honored to breathe the same air you breathe, let alone to have the privilege to touch you. He whispered a few affectionate words into your ear, gripping onto your ass to slam it back down on his cock. He guided your hips, rocking you. A few whines and groans left his mouth, thrusting further into your tight cunt.

you moaned, making a mess of his hair as you fisted it.

There weren’t many words exchanged, letting your body and small whispers exchange the message. You could feel it in every touch, every kiss, every gaze—the love he had for you.

Your body’s felt interlinked, your heart fulfilled with every inhale you took of his bare skin.

You took time to take in his touch, the way his warm, big, arms wrapped around you perfectly. In a protective stance, assertive, yet so tender.

It was a form of ecstasy only he could bring you.

Body and soul.

And it didn’t stop there. Jungwon took you the entire day, round after round without much of a break. He was a madman, deeply entranced and bewitched by his love for you. He wanted you, every part of you, he wanted to satisfy you. And he did his part, too well. He knew that.

He pleasured you all day, overstimulating you in the best way, till tears formed into your eyes and your eyes rolled back. Orgasm after orgasm.

By the time you both were done, you both laid entangled in each others arms. His chin rested on top of your head, while you laid against his chest. The sound of his breathing, soothing you. You woke up in the middle of the night, realizing your position. You stared at him, watching the way his chest rose and went down. His handsome face, his pretty features, every curve on his face.

You didn’t want to admit it, but you were far too in love with him than you let yourself think.

You smiled, planting a very gently and soft kiss onto his lips. He softly stirred, instinctively pulling you closer. You let him, closing your eyes to fall asleep once again.

And finally, the day had came in a blink of an eye.

The night air was thick with tension, the city lights fading behind you as you and Jungwon sped toward the warehouse on the outskirts of town. The roads were mostly empty, except for a few passing cars, but every shadow felt like a threat.

His grip on the steering wheel was tight, knuckles white as he saw the way you fought the unease creeping up your spine. You had spent years working inside the system, believing in the justice you served. But now, that same system had betrayed you. Someone on the inside had been feeding information to the mastermind all along. And if Han Joon was the rat, then confronting him wasn’t just about exposing the truth—it was about survival.

"If this goes sideways," he finally spoke, his voice quiet but firm, "you get out. You understand?"

Your eyebrows furrowed, you shot him a glare, “What are you talking about? Not happening."

"Y/n—"

"Don’t start," you cut him off, "We’re in this together. I’m not leaving without you. You don’t get to make that call."

Jungwon exhaled sharply, muttering something under his breath, but he didn’t argue further. He knew you too well. Knew that you weren’t the type to run.

As the warehouse came into view, he slowed the car, pulling into the shadows of an abandoned loading dock across the street. The building itself was old, its metal siding rusted and covered in graffiti. A single dim light flickered above the entrance, casting eerie shadows against the walls.

You scanned the perimeter. No guards. No backup. That was suspicious in itself.

"Too quiet," Jungwon murmured, voicing your exact thoughts.

"Han wouldn’t come here alone," you said, reaching for your gun, “He’s either already inside, or we’re walking into a setup."

Jungwon reached into his jacket, checking his own weapon, “Then let’s make sure we’re not the ones getting trapped."

He leaned over to the passengers seat to place a soft kiss onto your lips before getting out the car. You froze, blankly, before a small smile crept onto your face.

You moved together, keeping low as you approached the side entrance. The door was slightly ajar, a dark gap in the metal frame.

You glanced at Jungwon. He nodded once.

With careful steps, you pushed the door open just enough to slip inside. The warehouse was dark, save for a few overhead lights illuminating the main floor. Rows of crates and shipping containers lined the space, providing plenty of places to hide. The air smelled of dust and old metal, the silence heavy, almost suffocating.

Then, the sound of footsteps.

You pressed yourself against a metal beam, your breath steady as you peeked around the corner. Han Joon stood near the center of the warehouse, his back turned to you. He was talking to someone on his phone, his voice low but urgent.

"No, listen—this isn’t what we agreed on."

A pause.

"I told you I’d handle it. But if we move too soon, they’ll figure it out."

Another pause.

"Yes. I know. I’ll take care of it."

He hung up, shoving his phone into his pocket. His posture was tense, his fingers twitching like a man in over his head.

You exchanged a glance with Jungwon. This was it.

Gun raised, you stepped out from the shadows. "Put your hands where I can see them, Han."

He stiffened at the sound of your voice but didn’t turn immediately. Instead, he let out a slow, almost resigned sigh, “You’re persistent. I’ll give you that."

Jungwon moved beside you, his own gun trained on Han, “Who were you talking to?"

Han finally turned, his face unreadable, “Does it matter? You’re already too late."

A chill ran down your spine.

"Too late for what?" you demanded.

Han’s lips curled into a humorless smirk, “You still don’t get it, do you? This isn’t just about your partner. It never was. You think you’re solving one case, but you’re playing in a much bigger game. And the people pulling the strings?" He let out a low chuckle.

"They don’t lose,” Before you could react, Han moved.

His hand shot toward his waist, reaching for a weapon. Instinct took over—you fired.

The gunshot echoed through the warehouse as Han staggered backward, clutching his shoulder. He gritted his teeth in pain, but even then, there was something almost smug in his expression.

"You think this ends with me?" he panted, blood seeping through his fingers. "You’re chasing ghosts, y/n. And you have no idea who you’re really up against."

A sick feeling twisted in your stomach.

Jungwon stepped forward, grabbing Han by the collar and slamming him against the nearest crate, "Start talking. Now."

Han let out a low, pained laugh, “I’d love to, really. But I don’t think my boss would like that very much."

Then, the sound of a phone vibrating.

Han’s eyes flickered downward, and you followed his gaze—to his jacket pocket.

Jungwon yanked the phone out, glancing at the screen. An unknown number.

Your heart pounded. Whoever was calling, they were watching.

Jungwon answered without hesitation, “Who is this?"

Silence.

Then, a voice distorted by a voice modulator.

"You should have stayed out of this, detective."

The line went dead.

And then, the warehouse lights cut out.

Everything plunged into darkness.

Then—footsteps. Fast. Closing in.

"It’s a setup!" Jungwon shouted.

Gunfire erupted, the sharp cracks splitting through the silence. You barely had time to duck behind the crates before bullets ricocheted off the metal walls. Han slumped to the floor, his wound making him an easy target.

Shadows moved in the darkness. More than one. More than two.

You and Jungwon were outnumbered.

And the real mastermind was still out there, watching. Waiting. Smiling in the dark.

"They knew we were coming," you whispered, pressing your back against the crate.

Jungwon exhaled sharply, “Of course they did. Han was stalling—he led us right into this trap."

Han’s barely conscious body laid on the floor. He wasn’t your priority anymore. The real threat was closing in.

Another round of bullets tore through the air, forcing you and Jungwon to shift positions. You caught a brief silhouette moving in the distance—at least four shooters, maybe more. Well-trained. Tactical.

"We need to move," Jungwon muttered, “Sitting here makes us easy targets."

You nodded. There was no choice. You counted down in your head—three, two, one—then broke into a sprint, dodging between crates as more bullets chased your shadow. Jungwon was right behind you, firing precise shots that forced the gunmen into momentary cover.

As you weaved through the maze of containers, you spotted something—a narrow metal staircase leading up to a catwalk. Higher ground. An advantage.

"Up there!" you called out, and Jungwon followed your gaze.

You darted toward the staircase, your heart pounding, adrenaline surging through your veins. Gunfire rang out again, a bullet grazing your arm, but you bit down the pain and kept moving. Jungwon returned fire, covering you as you scrambled up the stairs.

From the catwalk, you finally got a better view of your attackers. Four men, all dressed in black, all moving in coordinated patterns. But then your stomach twisted.

One of them wasn’t just a man.

It was an officer.

Your blood ran cold.

"Jungwon," you said through gritted teeth, your voice barely above a whisper, “They’re not just hired guns. They’re cops."

Jungwon’s expression darkened, “That explains why we’ve been one step behind this whole time."

Your worst fears had been confirmed. The mastermind wasn’t just using a single rat inside the department—he had an entire network. People who had sworn the same oath you had. People willing to kill to protect their secret.

You took a slow breath, leveling your gun, “If the department’s compromised, we can’t trust anyone."

Jungwon nodded, his gaze sharp, “Then we take them out ourselves."

He moved first, a single shot taking out the closest shooter below. The man dropped before he could react. That left three.

You spotted the officer—the traitor—and aimed. But before you could fire, he shouted something into his radio.

"They’re here! Move now!"

Your gut twisted.

Move now?

Something was wrong.

Then, in the distance, you heard it—sirens.

Jungwon cursed, “They’re bringing reinforcements."

Your mind raced. If backup arrived, they wouldn’t be there to help you. They’d be here to clean up the mess—to silence you permanently.

"We have to get to Han," you said.

Jungwon glanced at you like you were insane, “Han? He’s dead weight. We need to get out of—”

"No," you cut in, "he knows something. And if we let them take him, we lose our last chance to expose them."

Jungwon hesitated—but then nodded. He trusted you.

With no time to waste, the two of you leaped down from the catwalk, landing hard on the concrete floor below. The remaining gunmen fired, but you ducked and rolled behind a metal crate. Jungwon grabbed Han, who was barely conscious, dragging him up.

The warehouse doors burst open, more figures flooding in. Too many.

You looked at Jungwon, He looked at you.

No words were needed.

This was it. It was all or nothing.

You took a breath, steadied your gun, and charged straight into the fire.

The warehouse was collapsing into chaos. Sirens wailed in the distance, gunfire echoed through the massive steel structure, and the acrid scent of smoke and blood filled the air. You and Jungwon moved as one, dodging bullets, returning fire, pushing forward through the swarm of corrupt officers determined to silence you.

Han Joon was slumped between you, barely able to stand as Jungwon dragged him along. He was your key—your last chance to expose the mastermind behind everything. But getting out alive was another story.

The loading dock was ahead, a massive set of double doors that led outside. Your car was parked just beyond them, a possible escape—if you could make it there.

"We need cover!" Jungwon shouted as more bullets rained down from the catwalk above.

You spotted a forklift and an overturned stack of crates, “There!"

Together, you moved swiftly, taking down one of the gunmen in your path. Blood splattered across the concrete as he crumpled. You had no time to hesitate. Every shot you fired, every step you took, was life or death.

Then, a voice cut through the chaos.

"Drop your weapons."

Everything stopped.

From the shadows, a man emerged. Dressed in a sleek black suit, calm despite the bloodbath surrounding him. His dark eyes met yours, and the moment they did, your breath caught.

Commissioner Park.

Your superior. Your mentor. The man who trained and watched you and Hyunjin grow into the detectives you once were.

The mastermind.

Your grip on your gun tightened, rage curling in your stomach, “It was you."

Park smiled, "It had to be me."

Jungwon stepped forward, his gun raised, “You killed Hana’s partner. You framed Kang. You let innocent people die just to keep your operation alive."

Park tilted his head, as if amused, “And yet, here we are. With you making the same mistake he did—getting too close to the truth."

At his signal, more officers surrounded you, guns drawn. You and Jungwon were outnumbered, outgunned. Even if you fought, it would be a massacre.

Han Joon coughed weakly, lifting his head, “You… bastard…" he rasped, his voice barely audible.

Park barely acknowledged him. Instead, he sighed. "I told you before, y/n. There are forces bigger than you at play. This city? It belongs to us. And you…?" His expression darkened, “You should’ve learned to stay in line."

Your mind raced. If you were arrested, you'd never see a courtroom. They’d kill you before you even had the chance to testify.

Jungwon must have realized the same thing. His grip on his gun shifted slightly, his muscles tensing. Ready to fight. He instinctively stepped in front of you, protectively.

And that’s when you saw it—Han Joon’s fingers twitching, slowly reaching into his jacket.

A grenade.

Your eyes widened, “Han, don’t—"

But it was too late.

With the last of his strength, Han pulled the pin.

"Run!"

The explosion was deafening. The shockwave sent you flying backward, crashing against a stack of metal pipes. The entire warehouse trembled as flames erupted from the blast site, smoke billowing into the air.

Dazed, ears ringing, you forced yourself to move. Jungwon was already pulling you to your feet, his face streaked with soot and blood. He cupped your face, worriedly. Although it was muffled, you could hear him ask, “are you okay?”

you nodded, signaling to move quick.

Park was still alive, thrown back by the explosion but struggling to stand. His men were scattered, some dead, others too disoriented to react.

This was your chance.

You staggered forward, gun in hand, leveling it at Park’s chest. His eyes locked onto yours, and for the first time, you saw something in them—fear.

"This is for my partner."

You pulled the trigger.

The shot rang out. Park staggered, a red bloom spreading across his suit. His body crumpled to the floor, lifeless.

It was over.

Jungwon grabbed your hand, tugging you toward the exit. "Come on, before the whole damn building collapses!"

With smoke filling your lungs and fire raging behind you, the two of you ran.

Justice had been served, But at what cost?

The morning air was crisp, a stark contrast to the chaos of that night. It had been a few days since then. You stood on the rooftop of the precinct, watching as the city slowly came to life beneath you.

Park’s corruption had been exposed. Every officer on his payroll was being investigated, and arrests were happening by the hour. The department was in shambles, but for the first time in a long time, it felt like real change was coming.

But the victory felt… hollow. Though it brought you peace, it wouldn’t bring back Hyunjin.

You watched Jungwon get out the car from your view, making his way to your apartment. He looked up, catching you looking at him. He smiled, waving at you enthusiastically. You smiled back, signaling him to quickly come up. He had a cake box in his hand, your favorite cake to celebrate for the victory.

Then, your eyes flickered over to the loud motorcycle speeding down the road.

Your smile faded. Your heart dropped to your stomach.

As if time was moving slowly, the motorcyclist took out a gun from their pocket, pointing it at Jungwon.

You looked over at Jungwon, “Jungwon, watch out!”

Jungwon followed your gaze, confused, but it was too late.

Then, you heard the gun fire. You screamed, instinctively reaching out for him as if you could safe him.

Your eyes widen, your body trembling and going cold.

Jungwon stumbled to the ground, the motorcyclist rushing off but crashing into a large truck. The force impact causing him to fall off his bike, taking hard blows. He fell unconscious.

You ran out of your apartment, tears falling out of your eyes. You took the emergency stairs, impatient to get down there. You were bare foot, still in your home clothes—nothing could prepare you for this.

By the time you made it out, people gathered around, watching. You dropped beside Jungwon, reaching out to him. You hands trembled terribly, hovered over him. Unsure of what to do, still in shock. You sobbed, holding onto his face.

“Oh my God,” you choked out, “please. Please hold on a little longer—jesus, someone call the police please!”

you sobbed frantically, looking around to the others for help. You placed your hands over his bloody wound on his lower stomach, your hands coated in his blood. As if you could stop it from flowing, but it was no use. He looked at you, trying to maintain a reassured expression. He cupped your cheek with one hand.

“Y/n—”

“No,” you cut him off, “don’t talk. Don’t use your energy. Everything is going to be okay, just wait till later—”

“Y/n, listen to me,” he continued, “I need you to promise me something.”

You shook your head, broken sobs escaping your lips, “No…no! for what? You’re going to be okay, I promise…”

He wiped away your tears with his thumb, his complexion looking worser by the second.

“Why aren’t they here yet,” You shouted, frustrated and desperate.

“Promise me,” his soft gaze lingered on you, “that you’ll live in peace now. That you won’t stress yourself out for things out of your control.”

You watched him, words becoming futile devices. You nodded, your breath rigid from the sobs. Your hands were dripping in his blood, his face flinched in pain.

“Please, hold on a little longer,” you sobbed quietly, caressing his head and cheek in desperation.

As if to memorize his face. His touch. His warmth. Of what was left of him, at least.

He tried to laugh but choked on it, grimacing. "Guess I’m not as invincible as I thought."

You pressed down on the wound, your heart hammering, “Stay with me. You hear me? You’re not going anywhere. You can’t leave me. You owe me, don’t forget that!”

His eyelids fluttered, his breathing ragged, “You’re bossy, you know that?"

"Shut up,” your voice trembled.

The sirens were distant, help on the way, but time felt slow. Too slow. You couldn’t lose him. Not now. Not after everything.

His fingers found yours, weak but firm, “I worry I may not have told you this as much as I wished to, I love you, y/n."

"Don’t say that,” Your voice broke.

“Promise me one more thing,” he brought his bloody hand to your cheek.

“w-what?”

“In some universe, if by some miracle we cross paths, fall in love with me,” his loving gaze softened, “but If one day you find yourself in the position to love someone again after i’m gone, allow yourself.”

Jungwon smiled faintly, but his grip was slipping.

Then, in the distance, the sirens grew louder. Help was coming.

You didn’t know if it would be enough. A few sobs escaped your lips at his words.

“No—”

“Yes. Promise me,” he replied.

“No!” you shouted, “If this is about my happiness, take it, I don’t want it without you!”

His eye lids grew heavy, he coughed a few times.

“Please, promise me…” a tear slipped from the corner of his eyes.

You felt sick to your stomach. You swallowed down, hard. You nodded.

“I promise,” you cried, “but that won’t need to happen. Because you’ll be okay, just hold on a bit more, help is on the way.”

Your attention was caught by the ambulances turning the corner. You felt hope. But as you turned to face Jungwon, you felt his hand slip down your face. His blood smudging against your cheek.

Your blood went cold.

His eyes were flickering close, his chest not rising fully.

You jerked forward, tapping his face.

“Jungwon, no, no, listen to me,” you said, “do you hear me?”

It hit you again, a wave of tears. Worse than what it was before. You held him in your arms.

“I love you,” you whispered, “did you hear me? I’m ready. I love you, Jungwon. So much.”

You sobbed loudly, your piercing screams for help breaking through the cold air. You planted soft kisses onto his lips.

“I love you. Did you hear? I said I love you!” you laid your forehead against his, “Please. Wake up. I forgive you, okay? You can’t leave me. You said you’d never leave…”

The ambulance responders rushed out the vehicle, checking him. The time felt like it went slow, everything sounded muffled, watching them take him from your arms. You watched as his hands separated from yours, dropping to his side. A harsh reminder that this was real, along with other things.

That he never got to hear you tell him you loved him.

And that he’ll never know you forgave him.

You sat there, watching as they took him from you. His blood all over you, becoming cold. You stared off into the air, the shock crashing down on you. As memories of him flashed through your mind, the many things you still had to say, the things there was still left to do.

You were left with a bitter taste in your mouth, and the pain of losing him forever.

to be continued…

[anixvl]

BITTERSWEET || Y. J

pairing: boxer!jungwon x detective!fem!reader

synopsis: Jungwon, a rising star in the boxing world, lives by discipline and focus, known for his relentless fights and handsome looks. But his world is thrown into chaos when he becomes the prime suspect in your investigation of a dangerous crime syndicate running illegal underground fight rings. To prove his innocence, you're both forced to work together and navigate the corrupt system. But as the lines between duty and desire begin to intersect, you realize that the hardest battles are fought not in the ring, but in the heart.

genre: smut, enemies-to-lovers trope, angst, forbidden love, some fluff

warning: smut MDNI. Rough sex, dirty talk, public sex, guns, kidnap, cursing, open ending ?,

wc: 15.1k

an: hey guys heres part 2, anyways i hope u enjoy! <3

You slammed the door to your car, the sound of your boots hitting the ground with your ever confident stride filled the air. You were determined to finish this case and get justice once in for all. Justice for the murder of your former partner, colleague, your close friend.

You were in complete hysteria when you found out the death of your long-term partner, Hyunjin. Unresolved, you made it your duty and mission to find Hyunjin’s murderer, and you know it starts here. After endless research, you found it. Mr. Yang, the mastermind of a crime syndicate running illegal underground fights. It was previously Hyunjin’s case, before they killed him. After being advised multiple times by the police department to let higher-ups handle it; the very own department you and Hyunjin worked for years, you continued on with the case solo regardless. It was only a matter of time before they found out. You will find the murderer and avenge Hyunjin. It’s a must.

With every breath you let out, it vaporized into the freezing wind. The anger you felt, finally coming so close to catching the murderer, warmed your skin. You wore a big black leather jacket over your black hoodie, which was propped over your head to not bring attention to you. And finally, you walked into the run-down building.

The dim glow of the boxing gym’s fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting long shadows over the empty ring. The scent of sweat and leather lingered in the air as Jungwon pounded his fists into the heavy bag, each strike landing with a satisfying thud. The rhythmic sound filled the otherwise silent space, save for the occasional shuffle of his feet against the worn-out mats.

It was late—too late for anyone else to be here. Just how he liked it. No distractions, no expectations. Just him, his gloves, and the fight ahead.

Or so he thought.

The gym doors burst open with a sharp bang, the force of the entry sending them swinging against the walls. Jungwon froze mid-punch, his head snapping toward the disturbance. You stood in the doorway, the neon “OPEN 24 HOURS” sign flickering behind you, casting a faint blue glow against your sharp alluring features.

You are immensely stunning—though the deadly glint in your dark eyes made it clear you aren’t here for small talk. Walking with your hands stuffed into your jacket’s pockets, you carried an air of authority, but no badge in sight.

No uniform. No backup.

Jungwon wiped the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand and exhaled, “Gym’s closed.”

You ignored him. In a flash, you reached behind your jacket, pulled out a folded document, and tossed it onto the gym floor between you both. It landed with a crisp slap, the bold lettering of WARRANT FOR QUESTIONING staring up at him.

Jungwon raised an eyebrow, amusingly, “You could’ve just asked nicely.”

You stepped forward, your boots echoing against the floor, “Shut it, you’re coming with me.”

Your voice was smooth but edged with something sharp—something personal. Jungwon exhaled through his nose, glancing between you and the warrant.

“What exactly am i being accused of?”

“Illegal underground fights. Money laundering. Possible ties to the Black Dragon Syndicate,” You stated, analyzing his undeniably handsome face.

God, not to mention the look of his body…

Jungwon let out a short laugh, shaking his head, “You’ve got the wrong guy.”

“Maybe,” you tilted your head, eyes locked onto his like you were waiting for him to slip up, “Maybe not. Either way, I have questions.”

Jungwon’s eyes trailed down your body, sensing something was off, “Where’s your badge?”

You raised your head defiantly, “I don’t need one.”

Liar.

Jungwon had been in enough situations to recognize when someone was playing outside the rules. And judging by the way your fingers twitched at your sides—like you are itching for a fight—this wasn’t just a routine questioning. This was personal. And he could read right through your pretty face.

“I see,” he mused, stepping out of the ring.

He smirked, “You’re not supposed to be here, are you?”

Your expression remained unreadable, “I’m here because your name keeps coming up in places it shouldn’t.”

“Or because you need answers you’re not getting through official channels.”

The flicker in your gaze told him he was right. Something dark coiled in his chest. He didn’t know what you were looking for, but if you are this desperate, you are dangerous. Maybe not to him—not yet—but to yourself.

Before he could think too hard on it, you moved.

Fast.

In one swift motion, you grabbed his wrist, yanking it behind his back with expert precision. Jungwon twisted out of your grip just as quickly, breaking free and stepping back.

You lunged again, and he dodged, catching your wrist before you could land a hit.

you were skilled—he could feel it in the way your muscles tensed, the way you adjusted your weight in a split second, ready to counter his next move. But so was he.

You both clashed, a flurry of movement and near-misses, neither fully committing to hurting the other but neither backing down.

Then, you changed the rhythm. Instead of another strike, you feinted—just enough for him to react—before sweeping his legs out from under him.

Jungwon hit the mat with a grunt. Before he could push himself up, you pointed a gun at him, your other hand held a pair of cuffs.

He looked up at you, lips still curled in amusement despite the fact that you’ve just floored him, “Woah, pretty, thats a dangerous toy you have there. Let’s put it down, yeah?”

You leaned down, voice low and firm, “This isn’t a game, Jungwon.”

Your mask had cracked—just a little—but enough for him to see it now. The anger simmering just beneath your calm exterior.

Jungwon’s smirk softened, “Who are you really after?”

Your eyebrows furrowed, “Stop acting. I know it’s you who’s been behind all of this.”

"I already said you have the wrong guy."

“Actually,” you murmured, reaching into your jacket pocket.

Jungwon barely had time to register the movement before you pulled out a sleek black USB drive, holding it between your fingers like a loaded gun.

His stomach twisted.

“Recognize this?” you asked, your voice quieter now, but no less sharp.

Jungwon kept his expression neutral, “Should I?”

You smirked, but there was no humor in it, "You should. Because I know exactly what’s on it.”

He clenched his jaw. He didn’t know what kind of information you had or how you got it—but if you were confident enough to use it against him, it couldn’t be good.

“Here’s how this is going to work,” you continued, stepping closer.

“You’re going to help me find the real culprit. The person responsible for all of this mess. And in return…” you twirled the USB between your fingers.

“This stays between us.”

Jungwon exhaled slowly, his mind racing. He could fight you on this. He could try to get away, call you bluff. But something told him you wouldn’t have come here without leverage you were willing to use and he just had too much to be guilty for to risk it.

So instead, he met your gaze, tilting his head slightly, “Blackmailing me, Detective?”

“Call it… an incentive," you shrugged.

He let the silence stretch between you both before finally giving you a small amused chuckle, “Alright, I’ll play along.”

You nodded, pocketing the USB again.

“Good,” you murmured, “Then let’s get to work.”

Jungwon sat in the passenger seat of your car, his body lazily slugged into the seat, his legs propped open. The soft hum of the engine filled the silence between you, the glow of streetlights casting fleeting shadows across his face as you sped down the empty roads.

He rolled his wrist as he played with the hem of the long bandages on his hands, "So, where are we going, Detective? Or do I not get that privilege?”

You kept your eyes on the road, your grip steady on the wheel, “We’re going to talk somewhere private.”

Jungwon smirked, tilting his head slightly, “Careful, that almost sounded like a date.”

You shot him a glare, “Are you always this shameless?”

Jungwon chuckled under his breath, his dimples showcasing his handsome face frustratingly, watching you from the corner of his eye. Now that he was sitting this close, he could see it—the exhaustion hidden beneath your sharp exterior. The tightness in your jaw, the way your shoulders never fully relaxed, as if you were constantly bracing for a fight.

Whatever you were after, it wasn’t just about justice. It was personal. He knew that. He looked out to the window.

"You never did tell me what’s on that USB.”

You remained silent for a moment, your fingers tightening slightly around the wheel. Then, you said, “Enough to ruin you.”

Jungwon whistled, “That bad, huh?”

“I don’t make threats I can’t back up.”

“Fair enough.” He studied you, curiosity growing, “But if you had enough to ‘ruin me,’ as you say, why not just use it? Why drag me into this?”

You exhaled through your nose in irritation, “Because you’re useful.”

Jungwon raised an eyebrow, “And here I thought you just wanted my charming company.”

You didn’t take the bait.

“My partner was murdered,” you said, your voice even, controlled.

“The higher-ups don’t want me on the case. They shut me out, told me to move on. But I know there’s more to this.”

Jungwon leaned forward slightly, intrigued despite himself, “And you think I can help because…?”

You hesitated. Just for a second.

“The Black Dragon Syndicate has connections to underground fights,” you admitted.

“I have reason to believe my partner’s killer is tied to them. And you?” you finally glanced at him, your gaze cutting.

“You may not be dirty, but you’re close enough to their world. Close enough to get me where I need to be.”

Jungwon considered your words carefully.

He wasn’t stupid—getting involved in something like this could destroy his career, his life. But then again… you weren't wrong. He knew people. He knew how the underground worked, how fighters got tangled up in things bigger than they could handle.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Alright, Detective. I’ll do what I can, but after that, we're done.”

“Okay.”

“But,” he added, smirking, “if I’m doing this, we do it my way. You’re good, but you don’t know their world like I do.”

You arched an eyebrow, “And what exactly is your way?”

Jungwon leaned back again, his smirk deepening, “We start with a fight.”

You pulled the car into an abandoned lot behind an old warehouse, the headlights cutting through the thick mist rolling in from the docks. The place looked empty, but Jungwon knew better. This wasn’t just some random stop—You brought him here for a reason.

He leaned forward, glancing around, “Let me guess. This is where you try to get me killed?”

You shut off the engine and unbuckled your seatbelt, “That depends on how cooperative you are.”

Jungwon looked down, a genuine smile plastered across his face.

And God, those dimples your heart can never get used to.

“You really know how to make a guy feel special, Detective.”

Ignoring him, you stepped out of the car. He followed, stuffing his hands in his jacket pockets as the cool night air settled around you.

you turned to face him, your expression unreadable, “If we’re doing this, I need you to prove you’re not just going to slow me down.”

Jungwon tilted his head, intrigued, “What, you want me to do push-ups or something?”

Your lips twitched—almost like you wanted to smirk—but you didn’t. Instead, you nodded toward the warehouse.

“There’s a fight happening inside. Illegal, no official records, all cash bets. It’s run by a middleman for the Black Dragon Syndicate.”

Jungwon frowned, “And you want me to fight?”

“No,” you closed the distance between both of you, “I want you to win.”

Jungwon's eyebrows furrow, he looks down at you, “You realize if I step into that ring, I blow my cover, right? I have a reputation to keep.”

“Then don’t lose.”

Jungwon studied you carefully, searching for any hesitation in your eyes. There was none. Your faces only mere inches apart. And although it was freezing outside, you can't help but to feel like you're burning up.

“You really are insane, aren’t you?”

You look away, trying to calm your rapid heartbeat, “You said we do this your way, Jungwon. This is your world. You know the rules. If I walk in there alone, I get nothing. But if you fight—if you win—you get me a seat at the table.”

“These people know me. They know what I can do. I don’t need to prove myself.”

“I know," You nodded, “all you have to do is get me close to the right people.”

Jungwon exhaled, irritated, leaning closer towards you, “You’re asking me to put everything on the line.”

You held his gaze, defiantly, “And I’m putting everything on the line, too.”

For a moment, neither of you spoke. You held your gazes, faces so close it made your hands clench. The distant echoes of voices from inside the warehouse filled the silence between you, the weight of what you both were about to do settling in. The tension palpable.

Then, finally, Jungwon smirked.

“Fine,” he said, walking past you, "Try to keep up, Detective. The moment we step inside, you’re in my world now.”

Jungwon led the way toward the warehouse, his steps unhurried, confident—like he owned the place. In a way, he did. His name carried weight in the underground. He didn’t need an invitation, didn’t need to sneak in through the back. Wherever there was a fight, Jungwon was welcomed. Respected. Feared.

You walked beside him, your sharp eyes scanning everything. Light on your feet, your guard completely up. Your presence just as commanding, but in an entirely different way. You are striking—undeniably so. Even in the dim, grungy surroundings, you turned heads. It wasn’t just your beauty; it was the way you carried yourself without needing to show much skin. The lethal grace in your movements. The sharp glint in your eyes that warned people you are no easy target.

Jungwon noticed, too. But unlike the others, he wasn’t staring in admiration—he was entertained. Curious.

"Didn’t peg you for the type to blend in," he murmured, amusement lacing his tone.

You didn't even glance his way, "And I didn’t peg you for the type to care."

You were used to it—being looked at, admired, but so underrestimated. It didn’t faze you. You were too busy to care about anything other than your mission, too uninterested in wasting time falling in love. After all, you had your fair share with men and saw glimpses of how disappointing they could be.

As you reached the entrance, a heavyset bouncer stepped forward, arms crossed over his chest. His gaze flickered from Jungwon to you, eyes narrowing.

“Didn’t expect to see you back so soon,” he grunted, “You fighting tonight?”

Jungwon smirked, “Maybe. Just here for business.”

The bouncer’s eyes shifted to you, “And her?”

Jungwon didn’t hesitate. He threw an arm around your shoulders, a smug grin tugging at his lips, “She’s with me.”

You barely resisted the urge to elbow him in the ribs. Instead, you turned your head slightly, giving him a mocking smile and a sharp glare which practically threatened, Touch me again, and I’ll break your wrist.

He returned a cocky smile.

He looked at Jungwon, smirking, “Didn’t think you were the type to settle down.”

Jungwon chuckled, “Who said anything about settling?”

His tone was playful, but you caught the knowing glint in his eyes. He was enjoying this too much. His comment irked you. You move away from him.

Finally, he stepped aside, jerking his head toward the entrance, “Try not to get blood on the floors.”

Jungwon shrugged, following behind you towards the entrance, “No promises.”

The moment you stepped inside, the air changed. The heat of bodies packed together, the metallic scent of sweat and blood, the roar of the crowd as fists met flesh—it was intoxicating.

You took it all in, your sharp gaze flicking from the ring in the center of the room to the men gathered around it, placing bets with wads of cash. The underground fights weren’t just brutal—they were a business. A business with deep ties to the Black Dragon Syndicate.

Jungwon leaned toward you, his voice low, “Welcome to the underworld, Detective.”

You ignored him, scanning the crowd, “Who do we need to talk to?”

Jungwon followed your gaze, spotting a familiar figure near the betting table.

“There. See the guy in the gray suit? That’s Kang Min-sik. He handles the syndicate’s finances—the bets, the payouts, the money laundering.”

You nodded. “Then he’s our way in.”

Jungwon chuckled, “Slow down, pretty. You can’t just walk up to him and start asking questions.”

You turned to him, crossing her arms, "Then what do you suggest?”

Jungwon glanced at the ring, where the current fight was wrapping up. The crowd was hungry for more, the energy in the room electric. His smirk widened.

“We make an entrance.”

Before you could question him, he stepped toward the announcer’s booth, his voice carrying over the noise, “I’m fighting.”

The announcer, a wiry man with a scar over his brow, lit up at the sight of him, “Jungwon! You sure? Last time you nearly put a man in a coma.”

Jungwon just grinned, “Then let’s see if anyone else wants to take the risk.”

The crowd erupted into cheers, and just like that, the stage was set.

You clenched your jaw. You had come here for information, not a spectacle. But as Jungwon stepped toward the ring, rolling his shoulders, your realized something.

Jungwon wasn’t just fighting for show.

He was sending a message.

And every man in this room—including Kang Min-sik—was about to hear it loud and clear.

You stood at the edge of the ring, arms crossed, watching Jungwon like a hawk. You told yourself you weren't impressed. That you didn’t care about his reputation or the way the entire room seemed to gravitate toward him. Or the small anxiousness of him getting hurt.

But when Jungwon stepped into the ring—the lights casting shadows over the sharp angles of his face—you felt something stir.

The crowd roared as his opponent climbed in, a towering brute covered in tattoos. A challenger who clearly thought Jungwon was just another name to add to his kill count.

Jungwon didn’t flinch. Didn’t waver. He only smirked, the same infuriating confidence he always carried, but now it felt different. Like he was proving something—to you.

The bell rang.

The brute charged, swinging a punch meant to take Jungwon’s head off.

But Jungwon was faster. He dodged, fluid and effortless, his movements precise. He ducked under the next swing, landed a brutal counterpunch to the ribs. The punch echoed through the warehouse, and the brute staggered back, gasping.

Your eyes flickered. He was playing with him.

You should have looked away. Should have focused on the mission.

But you didn’t.

Because watching Jungwon fight was like watching something untamed—dangerous but mesmerizing. There was no wasted movement, no hesitation. He was completely in control.

Another punch. A ruthless uppercut. The brute collapsed, unconscious before he hit the ground.

The warehouse erupted in chaos, cheers shaking the walls.

Jungwon turned, searching the crowd, and when his eyes landed on you—he smirked.

You scoffed, arms tightening over your chest, “Show-off.”

He climbed out of the ring, walking toward you, sweat glistening on his skin, knuckles bruised, lip busted, and a few cuts.

“Admit it, you were impressed.”

You rolled your eyes. “I’ve seen better.”

Jungwon smiled, “Liar.”

Before you could snap back, a new presence approached. Kang Min-sik, the man you had come here for, was watching Jungwon with a knowing smile.

“Still undefeated, I see,” Kang mused. His gaze flickered to you, “And who’s this?”

Jungwon wiped blood from his knuckles, glancing at you. For a split second, his expression softened, “Someone who needs answers.”

You stepped forward, meeting Kang’s eyes without fear, “And I think you’re going to give them to me.”

Kang laughed, but there was something calculating in his gaze, “Well, now I’m curious. Let’s talk.”

Jungwon leaned in close to your ear, his voice barely above a whisper, “Try not to get us both killed, alright pretty?”

Your eyes met, and for the first time, a genuine laugh escaped your lips. He faltered for a moment before falling into a smile.

"Sure."

You both followed Kang Min-sik through a dimly lit hallway behind the main warehouse, the muffled roars of the crowd fading into the background. The scent of old smoke and sweat clung to the walls, but you kept your focus sharp. This was the moment you had been waiting for.

Kang led you both into a small, lavishly furnished office—a stark contrast to the grunge of the underground fights. A leather couch, expensive whiskey bottles lining the shelves, and a single desk where he took his seat, gesturing for you to do the same.

Jungwon leaned against the wall instead, arms crossed, while you remained standing, you sharp gaze locked onto Kang.

"So," Kang began, swirling the amber liquid in his glass, "what exactly is it that you need from me?"

"My partner was murdered. I have reason to believe the Black Dragon Syndicate was involved. I need names. Connections. Anything you know."

Kang chuckled, shaking his head, "Bold. You storm in here with a notorious fighter at your side and expect me to just hand over information? What makes you think I’d betray my own?"

You didn’t blink, "Because you’re not loyal to anyone but money, and I’m willing to make it worth your while."

Kang raised an eyebrow, intrigued, but before he could respond, Jungwon stepped forward.

"Careful, doll," he murmured, "Men like him don’t just take money. They take leverage."

Kang smirked, "Smart man."

You had known walking into this that Kang wouldn’t just hand you what you wanted. But you also knew you couldn’t walk away empty-handed.

Jungwon sighed, "Alright. Let’s make it simple. She’s not a cop anymore. She’s working for herself. And I vouch for her."

Kang's gaze flicked to Jungwon, "You vouch for her?"

Jungwon hesitated for a brief second before nodding, "Yeah. I do."

you turned to him, surprise flickering in your eyes.

Kang hummed, studying you both, then leaned back, "Interesting."

He tapped his fingers against the desk, "I might have something. But if you want it, there’s a price."

you expected that much, "Name it."

Kang’s lips curled, "A job. There’s a man the syndicate needs… dealt with. Not killed, just taught a lesson. Someone who thinks he can run from his debts. You two take care of it, and I’ll tell you what I know."

you immediately stiffened, "I don’t do dirty work for criminals."

Kang shrugged, "Then you don’t get your information."

You clenched your fists, your pulse spiking with frustration.

Before you could speak, Jungwon let out a slow exhale, "We’ll do it."

you snapped your head toward him in disbelief.

Jungwon met your gaze, You want answers? This is how we get them.

Kang grinned, "I like you, Jungwon. It's not easy to find a reasonable man who knows how to get something he wants."

You bit back a curse, shooting Jungwon a glare. You wanted to fight him on this—wanted to push back—but you knew he was right. You were already deep in this. There was no easy way out.

Kang slid a slip of paper across the desk, "There’s the details. Handle it cleanly, and I’ll give you your lead."

Jungwon took the paper. Turning on your heel, you stormed toward the door. Jungwon followed you, but before he stepped out, Kang called after him.

"You’re playing a dangerous game, Jungwon. Does he know you're doing this?" he tilted his head. Jungwon looks towards your direction, no sign of you.

"I hope you know what you’re doing," he continues.

Jungwon smirked to himself before walking out, "Wouldn’t be fun otherwise."

Jungwon caught up to you, his footsteps deliberate. You spun around, shoving Jungwon against the car with surprising force.

"What the hell was that?" you hissed.

Jungwon, still pinned against the metal, raised an amused brow, "That was me getting you what you wanted. I was expecting a 'Thank you,' but sure, this works fine, pretty."

You glared up at him, your body close enough to feel the heat radiating off of him, "You don’t get to make deals for me."

Jungwon rolled his eyes, "And yet, here we are."

You hated how calm he was. Hated the way he looked at you—like you were some reckless fool who didn’t know how to play the game.

"I can't stand you already," you said, voice low.

Jungwon leaned in slightly, his breath warm against your ear, "Likewise, detective."

For a moment, the anger between you shifted into something else—something charged, electric.

Then you stepped back, snatching the paper from his hands, "Fine. But if you screw this up, I’ll be the one teaching you a lesson."

Jungwon grinned, "Now that’s a fight I’d actually look forward to."

Later, you both headed to a motel for the night. You knew it was only a matter of time before you were chased down and hunted. You needed to stay on the low. You changed into more comfortable clothes, waiting for Jungwon to step out of the shower. You sat at the couch, enjoying a cup of ramen. After a while, he showed up. He took a seat next to you, grabbing your cup of ramen and taking a bite. You furrowed your eyebrows, annoyed.

"Hey—"

You stopped at the sight of his busted lip and other injuries. Your face softened a bit. You sighed, mindlessly grabbing his hand to examine his knuckles. He freezes, looking at you as your fingers brush over his knuckles.

"This looks pretty bad. I'll treat your wounds. Stay right here," You stand up before he could protest.

You come back with the kit, sitting in front of him. You clear your throat, reaching for his hand.

"You don't have to do this, It's nothing serious," He protests.

"Just shut up," you scold.

You're slow and careful with his wounds, the sound of your breathing and Jungwon's soft groans in pain filling the silence. Then, you work your way to his face. You apply ointment to his cuts, softly blowing onto it. You lean closer to his face, treating his busted lip. You look up to meet his gaze, wavering a moment. You both look away and you pack everything up.

"Thanks," he mumbles.

"We should get some sleep. We have a lot of things to do," you suggest.

He nods.

"I'll sleep on the couch," he says, getting comfortable on it.

"Why not on the bed?" You asked.

"There's only one," He replied.

"So?" you raised an eyebrow at his uncharacteristic shy behavior, "I don't care whether or not you're on it."

He blinks, dumbfounded.

You walk into the room, making your way on it. He walks in, slowly making his way under the covers. Once settled, you turn the lamp off on the nightstand. Only the moonlight from the windows illuminates the bedroom.

You shift in bed, finding a comfortable position. You lay on your side, your eyes closed. You hear Jungwon shifting too, before it going all silent. Only the soft sounds of breathing can be heard.

"By the way," he broke the silence softly, "you never told me your name."

You open your eyes. You immediately find his eyes, him laying towards you. Your breath hitched.

"Y/n," you confessed softly, "My name is y/n."

There's a small moment of silence, staring at each other's faces under the moonlight.

"Y/n," he whispers your name tenderly.

You swear you've never loved the way you've heard your name be said before until now. Your favorite sound. Like it was meant for him to be said. Never sounded so correct, so right.

You woke to warmth. It took you a second to remember where you were—the dimly lit motel room, the scratchy motel sheets, the faint hum of traffic outside. But what startled you the most wasn’t the unfamiliarity of the room. It was the arm draped over your waist.

Jungwon.

your breath hitched as you realized how close he was, his body pressed lightly against yours, his warmth seeping through the thin barrier of fabric between you both. His breathing was slow, steady, still deep in sleep. You stiffened. You should move. You needed to move.

But for some reason, you hesitated. You couldn’t. You didn’t want to.

Jungwon, the man who drove you insane, the notorious fighter with an irritatingly charming smile and dimples to die for, felt… different like this. Vulnerable. At peace.

He’s still a criminal, you reminded yourself. A fighter who plays by no rules but his own.

But lying there, feeling the slow rise and fall of his chest, it was hard to see him as just that.

your movement must have disturbed him because, within seconds, his grip tightened slightly before his breathing shifted. He stirred, his body tensing as he slowly became aware of your positions.

And then, you heard the smirk in his voice before you even turned to look at him. Your face burned up in embarrassment.

“When you said you didn’t care about me being in bed beside you, i didn’t think it meant to this extent, detective,” he teased.

Your face burned as you shoved his arm off and sat up, scowling at him, “You were the one holding onto me!”

Jungwon stretched lazily, completely unfazed, “I was asleep. You, on the other hand, let it happen.”

Your glare could have melted steel, “I was asleep, you idiot.”

He smiled, sitting up as well, his blonde hair tousled in a way that made him look ridiculously attractive. It was infuriating.

“Relax, Y/n,” he said, voice still husky from sleep, “You were having a nightmare, shifting in your sleep uncomfortably and it didn’t stop until you were close.”

Your face softened.

“Oh…thanks,” you mumbled, before yanking the blanket off and standing up.

Jungwon laughed, low and amused, but he didn’t push it further. Instead, he ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “Alright, alright. So, what’s the plan?”

You grabbed your jacket, forcing yourself to focus, “We find Kang Min-sik’s target, deal with him cleanly, and get our information. And after that?”

you turned to face him, your expression serious, “I’ll let you go.”

Jungwon held your gaze for a long moment, something unreadable flickering in his dark eyes.

But then he gave a small smile, “Sure, Detective. Whatever you say.”

And for some reason, you had a sinking feeling that it wouldn’t be that simple.

The morning air was crisp as you stepped out of the motel, the scent of rain still lingering from the night before. You walked ahead, your mind sharp despite the exhaustion weighing down on you.

Jungwon followed, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets.

“You’re quiet,” he noted.

You didn’t look at him, “Just thinking.”

“About how much you enjoyed waking up next to me?” he teased.

You shot him a glare, “About how I’m going to break your nose if you don’t focus.”

Jungwon chuckled, “You’re the cutest when mad.”

The target Kang Min-sik had given you was a man named Park Sung-ho, a mid-level bookie who had been skimming money off the syndicate. He wasn’t dangerous—not in the way true criminals were—but he had crossed the wrong people.

And now, you had to decide how far you were willing to go for the information you needed.

you found him in a rundown café on the outskirts of the city, hunched over a newspaper with a half-finished cup of coffee in front of him. He looked harmless—just a man trying to disappear.

you exhaled, “This feels wrong.”

Jungwon leaned against the wall, watching you, “You knew what this was when you agreed to it.”

“I agreed to handle him, not do the syndicate’s dirty work,” you turned to him, your voice firm.

“We’re not going to hurt him,” you warned.

He reached over to move a hair strand from your face. Jungwon studied you for a second, then smirked, “Guess I’ll have to be the scary one, then.”

Before you could react, Jungwon strolled forward and casually slid into the seat across from Sung-ho. The man tensed immediately, his fingers tightening around his cup.

“I’m not looking for trouble,” Sung-ho muttered.

Jungwon tilted his head, “That’s the problem, isn’t it? Trouble’s looking for you.”

Sung-ho swallowed hard, “Listen, I don’t have the money—”

Jungwon leaned forward, his voice dropping into something low and lethal, “We’re not here for your money. We’re here to give you a message.”

You watched, arms crossed, as Jungwon’s entire demeanor shifted. This wasn’t the reckless fighter you had been dealing with. This was someone else. Someone who knew exactly how to make a man sweat. And you’d be lying if this wasn’t doing something to you in strange ways.

Sung-ho paled, “Please… I have a family.”

Jungwon’s expression didn’t change, but his fingers tapped once against the table, “Then you should’ve thought about that before stealing from people who don’t forgive.”

You exhaled sharply and stepped forward, placing a hand on Jungwon’s shoulder.

“That’s enough,” you said, your voice softer than before. Jungwon glanced up at you, something flickering in his gaze.

But after a moment, he leaned back and sighed, “Lucky you. The detective here has a soft spot for people like you.”

Sung-ho looked between you and Jungwon, eyes wide.

you pulled out a piece of paper and slid it across the table, “You disappear. Tonight. Take your family and leave the country. If the syndicate finds you again, we won’t be able to stop them.”

Sung-ho hesitated, then grabbed the paper. His hands trembled, “Thank you.”

You didn’t respond. You simply turned and walked out, Jungwon following behind you.

Once you were back on the street, he whistled, sulking.

“Didn’t take you for the merciful type. I’m starting to think you’re just nice to any man who isn’t me,” he shoved his hands in his pockets, kicking the rocks on the floor.

You shot him a look, confused, “And I didn’t take you for the type to play the villain so well.”

Jungwon shrugged, “I’m full of surprises.”

“oh, yeah?” you tried to meet his avoidant gaze.

was he…mad?

You walked in silence for a moment before he glanced at you again, “You know Kang’s not going to like this, right?”

you exhaled, “I don’t care what Kang likes. He gave us a job, and it’s done.”

Jungwon stared at you for a moment before breaking into a soft smile, “God, you’re stubborn.”

You couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his dimples, “You’re just figuring that out?”

His smile widened, but there was something different in his expression this time. Something closer to admiration.

As you made your way back to Kang Min-sik, you couldn’t ignore the shift between you both. The line between enemies and allies was already beginning to blur. And that was dangerous.

By the time you both returned to Kang Min-sik’s hideout, the air between you and Jungwon had changed. It wasn’t just the usual tension anymore—it was something heavier, something unspoken.

Kang was lounging in his leather chair when you walked in, a glass of whiskey in hand. He didn’t even bother looking up right away, his attention focused on the flickering television in the corner. When he finally did acknowledge you, it was with a slow, lazy smirk.

“You’re back early,” he mused, swirling the drink in his glass. “That means one of two things—either the job went smooth, or you decided to get creative.”

You crossed your arms, “The job is done.”

Kang arched a brow, glancing at Jungwon, “Is that so?”

Jungwon shrugged, all casual arrogance, “The guy got the message loud and clear. He won’t be a problem anymore.”

Kang studied you both for a long moment, tapping his fingers against the desk.

“Funny,” he murmured, “Because I heard a different story.”

Your spine stiffened. You should have known Kang would have eyes everywhere.

“I hear,” Kang continued, “that instead of teaching him a lesson, you let him go. Gave him a nice little escape route.”

He titled his head, “is that true?”

You held his gaze without flinching, “You wanted him dealt with. He’s gone. That’s all that matters.”

Kang’s smirk faded. “No, sweetheart. That’s not all that matters.”

Before you could react, one of Kang’s men moved. A blur of motion—faster than you expected. A blade flashed, aiming straight for your throat.

But Jungwon was faster.

In an instant, he grabbed the man’s wrist, twisting it sharply. The knife clattered to the floor, and before the attacker could react, Jungwon drove his fist into his ribs. The man doubled over with a pained grunt.

The room went still. The sound of liquid trickling onto the floor filled the room. You looked over to Jungwon, his palm was dripping in blood from the huge slit he got from the knife.

Your heart pounded, but your expression remained stone-cold.

Kang let out a slow exhale, standing up. “Impressive,” he murmured, “You’ve still got it, Jungwon.”

Jungwon glanced at his hand like he wasn’t affected, “You knew what you were getting when you asked for my help.”

Kang chuckled, but his amusement didn’t reach his eyes. “Yeah. I did.” He glanced at you, “And you, detective—I should’ve known you’d pull something like this.”

You lifted your chin, “Are you giving us our information or not?”

Kang studied you for a long moment before finally sighing, “You’ve got guts. I’ll give you that.”

He turned, grabbing a folder from his desk and tossing it toward you.

You caught it.

“There’s your lead,” Kang said. “But I’d watch my back if I were you. You made a lot of people unhappy today.”

You didn’t respond. You simply opened the folder, scanning the contents. Names, addresses, connections—pieces of the puzzle you had been chasing.

You looked up at Jungwon, who had gone unusually quiet. His jaw was tight, his fists still clenched.

what’s up with him?

“We’re done here,” you said, turning to leave.

But before you could step out, Kang’s voice stopped you.

“One last thing.”

You turned back.

Kang smirked, “You two make an interesting pair. Almost as if you trust in each other. That’s too bad.”

You furrowed your eyebrows but neither of you responded.

Kang’s smirk widened, “Careful with that. Trust is dangerous in this world. Especially when you think you have the other person all figured out.”

The night air was cold when you stepped out of the building, but you barely felt it. You clutched the folder tightly, your mind racing with the information inside. Jungwon was speeding ahead of you, you walked faster to catch up.

“Jungwon, wait! what’s up with you?” you called out to him.

Jungwon exhaled sharply beside you, “That could’ve gone worse.”

You examined him, “But it didn’t.”

He let out a low chuckle, anger plastered on his face, “You’ve got a bad habit of pissing off dangerous people.”

Trying to deescalate the situation, you smirked playfully, “You’re one of them.”

Jungwon turned to you, something unreadable in his expression. “Yeah,” he murmured, “I guess I am.”

He kept walking, your face fell to a frown. You held your breath. You grabbed his hand.

“What’s wrong with you!”

“Nothing!” he shouted.

Your eyes glanced down at the blood smudging on your hands as you hold his.

You shook your head, “this won’t do. Let’s go back to the motel to treat your wound.”

Before you could move, he yanked his hand from your grip.

“I don’t need your help,” he murmured, stuffing his hands in his jacket pockets.

Your eyebrows furrowed.

“Anyway, you have your leads and clues now, so this is over,” he locks eyes with you.

“This isn’t over. We haven’t even found the real culprit yet!”

“You can handle yourself perfectly fine!” He retorted.

“Stop…dragging me into this mess more than you have. Because of this, word is probably out about me being involved in this. Everything is on the line. My career. My reputation. Everything,” he continues, stepping closer to you.

The thought of being so close to finding out the long-awaited truth just for him to back out is killing you. You’re so close yet so far. And as much as you know you can handle yourself, you wouldn’t have gone this far without Jungwon. And you hated the thought of relying on him more than you thought you would.

“Jungwon,” you reached out for him, “I still need you. Please, we’re so close.”

Jungwon’s eyes flickered in something unreadable. He stepped impossibly closer to you. You could feel his heat radiating off him.

“Don’t…say stuff like that,” he fumed, “I can’t stand it. I can’t stand you a second longer.”

You looked up at him, meeting his gaze. With all the anger and confusion that went through your veins, you let impulsivity take ahold of you.

“God I hate you so much, Jungwon,” you hissed, before leaning in to kiss him.

A million bolts of adrenaline fired up within you, sighing against the kiss.

Jungwon took his hands out of his pocket, cupping your face with his bloody hands to deepen the kiss. His response was urgent, desperate, and yet so tender. You both forgot how to breathe, too focused on your lips on each other to worry about taking a single break from tasting each other.

And then, finally, you broke away to catch your breath. Small pants came from one another, processing what just happened. Jungwon leaned in almost immediately after breathing to give you small and slow pecks onto your lips, refusing to be away from you. You smiled against the kisses, trying to move away but he locked you against him with his arm around your waist.

“Jungwon, stop it. Let’s go treat your wounds, okay?”

“Okay, but i’ll drive,” he stated, grabbing the keys from your pockets.

The moment the door shut closed behind Jungwon, he quickly captured your lips. Caught off guard, you stumbled back against the wall, a soft thud in result. You softly groaned against his lips, grasping onto his shirt. Jungwons hands travel down to your waist, his fingers sliding under your shirt to touch your bare skin. Your heart fluttered at the sudden contact. The kiss was now sloppy, hot, and desperate. He lifted you against him without breaking the kiss. You wrapped your arms around his neck. He blindly carried you to the bedroom, softly laying you on top of the bed. You sat up slightly, going further into the bed.

You felt like prey, the look in his eyes eliciting a lewd response from you. He took off his jacket before his shirt, he crawled slowly onto the bed. Eyeing you down dangerously. He hovered over you, kissing you slowly. He tugged at your shirt before helping you take it off. You tossed it aside along with the other clothes. He left hot wet kisses along your neck, trailing down to your chest. His big hands wandered across your body, resting to cup your breasts slowly. He sucks and bites the skin of your neck and collarbone before leaving more love bites onto your breasts. You let out small airy moans, gripping onto his hair. He unclasped your bra, tossing it aside.

He kisses you once more, “You’re so beautiful, it’s driving me insane.”

Your hands slowly glide against his bare chest, feeling him as he sucks onto the sensitive buds of your breasts. A warm pulse between your legs becoming gradually unbearable.

He pulls away, playing with the hem of your pants. You nod, allowing him to slide it off. You shyly tighten your legs together, embarrassed of how damp your panties are from the arousal. As if he couldn’t get any harder, the sight of you under him, wet just for him, made his cock ache. He forcefully pulled your legs apart before settling in between them. He leaned over to kiss you, hungrily. His bulge rubbing against you, creating torturous friction. You moaned, your hips subconsciously bucking up to feel more of him. He groaned against the kiss, his cock begging to be released from his tight pants.

“Jungwon, please,” you tugged onto his pants.

“Please what, y/n?” He teased, slowly grinding his hips into you.

“Stop fucking teasing,”you replied, becoming frustrated by the second.

He smiled before quickly standing up to unbuckle his belt and slid what was left of him off. Your eyes swallow the sight of him whole. He slowly pulls off your wet panties down your legs. He leaves a trail of wet kisses down your stomach. Finally, he envelops your clit into his mouth. The sensation rushed right through your body, causing a yelp in pleasure to escape from you. You reach out to him, gripping onto him as he savors you. Lewd wet sounds fill the room.

“oh, fuck—oh, Jungwon…” you moaned, biting your lip in hopes to keep quiet.

He pulls away, aligning his twitching cock between your wet folds. He rubs it in a bit, slow and deliberate.

you groan, “I can’t wait any longer…”

“What was that, detective? Couldn’t hear you…” he taunted.

“oh, you asshol—!” you argued, but quickly cut yourself off with a moan at the feeling of Jungwon pushing himself into you.

You felt like you were being filled up. So full.

He was slow, gentle, yet unforgiving.

Once all the way in, he leaned over to give you a sloppy kiss.

“Does it hurt?” he asked.

You shake your head, softly whining at the stuffed feeling.

He smirked, pulling his hips back before pushing back in. He moved slowly at first, waiting till you adjusted to him. His face flinched in pleasure, your tight grip onto his cock driving him crazy. He cursed under his breath, picking up his pace. He threw one leg over his shoulder, wrapping his arm around it to secure. His hips snapped against yours, hitting spots deep within you. You moaned loudly, gripping onto the sheets beneath you in ecstasy.

“fuck…you’re taking me so good, pretty,” he whispered, admiring your fucked-out face.

“so pretty, just like this,” he continued, pressing a hand on your lower stomach, feeling where his cock thrusted within you.

“oh my—mhm,” you choked out, your mouth falling agape at the overwhelming sensation.

He let go of your leg, towering over you in missionary. He used his arm for support, kissing you tenderly. He left soft kisses onto your neck and jawline as he continued to thrust into you. The sound of leather jackets hitting the ground and lewd sounds filling the room.

“Not so bossy now, are you, detective?” he laughed, his voice coarse and airy.

“I still hate yo—!” you attempted to argue, but instantly failed at the feeling of Jungwon going deeper—faster.

“Shut up and take my cock,” he groaned, fisting your hair before slightly pulling your head back.

Your eyes rolled back, digging your nails onto his back. You clenched around him, approaching your high.

“So fucking pretty, my cockdrunk slut,” he grunted, his eyes locking with yours.

You stared back into his, feeling a knot begin to form in your stomach. It was all to intimate—too much to handle, yet neither of you could look away. Too scared as if to lose this special moment, this undeniable connection.

You cupped his cheek, glancing at his lips. Jungwon leaned in, kissing you lovingly.

“M’gonna cum,” you whined against his lips, wrapping your legs tighter around him.

“Me too,” he exhaled.

He quickened his pace, cursing under his breath. Finally, you let out one last yelp in pleasure, shaking violently against him as you reached your high. His cock twitched shortly after, filling you up entirely. He moaned your name like small prayers, thrusting a few more times to ride out the high. Then, he drops beside you. Sweating and panting, you both close your eyes and catch your breath. Lying on his stomach, he opens his eyes to face you. He meets your softly asleep expression and the way your chest rose and fell. He smiles to himself, finding it cute how fast you fell asleep. He reached to push out a strand of your hair from your face delicately, mesmerizing by your beauty. Wholeheartedly, just you. He loved the sound of your soft breathing, the smell of your hair, the warmth of your touch, and how perfectly you fit right in his arms. Like you were meant to be there for him. Just for him.

He scoot closer, wrapping you in his arms gently. You stirred softly in your sleep before snuggling up into his warm chest. He smiled, looking at you shift for a comfortable position. He analyzed your face until his eyes became heavy. He kissed your forehead before falling into a deep sleep of his own.

The next day, you hadn’t realized how long you fell asleep for. Your eyes flickered open at the stinging sensation of the sun. You looked around gently, finding yourself entangled in Jungwons arms. Your eyes widen as memories of the previous night flashed before your eyes. You freeze as he softly stirs in his sleep, groaning. Once it’s safe, you carefully and slowly manage to release yourself from his grip. You tip-toed across the room, picking up your pants from the floor. You hurriedly put them on, as you rushed down the hallway.

“Crazy,” you whispered to yourself scoldingly, “you must’ve gone crazy, Y/n!”

You threw on his jacket and put your shoes on before grabbing the keys from the table. You made yourself outside the motel, turning on the car. You sit there, recalling every single touch given to each other. You could still feel his lips on your body, his big and warm hands gripping onto your ass, and how broad his back felt as you scratched onto it. You groaned, resting your head onto the steering wheel in frustration.

How were you supposed to face him now? What is there to say after that?

You know you should ignore it, disregard it as a moment of weakness and desire, but you know it’s far much more than that. At least for you.

Jungwon reached out for you absentmindedly, only to be meet with a cold, empty, spot. He quickly sat up, looking around the room. Your clothes weren’t on the floor, the door was opened, and no sound of you. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Y/n?” he called out, putting on his pants.

No response.

He walked into the hallway, opening the bathroom door to check.

no one there.

He went into the living room, then the kitchen. He finally pieced it together. But then, the front door opened. He whipped his head around to catch your figure.

You held a plastic bag from the store and a nervous expression.

You tossed the keys onto the table.

“Y-you’re up…” you broke the suffocating silence.

You focused your attention onto the materials in the bag, trying to ignore his piercing gaze—and his unusual silence.

You took out the bandages and alcohol solution to treat his wounds.

“These are for you…we didn’t get to treat it yesterday so I—” You froze at Jungwon’s lips onto yours.

He cupped your face, pressing his body up against you. You lose your balance, your back hitting the wall. You softly moan against his lips, attempting to push him away but he deepens the kiss. You stop fighting it, gripping onto him tightly as you close your eyes and melt into him.

You break the kiss to catch your breath, your gazes meet. He glances down at your swollen lips. He leans in again, as if trying to devour you whole. You stop him, signaling to the table.

“Let’s get your wound treated first,” you swallowed, “please.”

“fine,” he mumbled, plopping himself onto the chair.

You let out a shaky exhale, sitting down in front of him. You open the contents, treating his wound delicately. His face would flinch here and there, but no sound. Jungwon observed you intently, as if watching an art piece. He couldn’t help it, and it frustrated him so much. He glanced down at his jacket you’re wearing. A small smiled crept onto his face, a prideful feeling in his chest arising at the sight of it.

You looked at his direction, realizing you’re wearing his jacket.

“Oh, i’m sorry…I grabbed the nearest jacket and i didn’t notice it was yours…”

“I don’t mind. It suits you better,” he smirked.

You blinked, dumbfounded.

After you finished treating his wound, you got up.

“We should get some days to rest…I’ve found the place and time that will lead us to Mr. Yang.”

He stiffened a bit before nodding.

You told yourself it would be the first and last time, that the first time was just a mistake, that you found him annoying, and that you couldn’t stand him.

Yet, you found yourself for the next few days in his arms over and over again, his lips worshiping your body, and his cock deep within you.

You both argue, fight, but end up making love to each other at the end of the day. It was a predictable, frustrating, routine. One which you both felt frustrated by but couldn’t change even if you wanted to. Because you both knew; you liked this more than you expressed.

And tonight, was just another one of those moments.

“ngh…fuck, Jungwon,” you moaned, riding his cock on the living room couch.

He looked up at you with his half-lidded gaze, immersed into the pleasure you gave him. His strong arms rested onto your ass, gripping and pulling it towards his cock every now and then.

“fuck, pretty, just like that,” he groaned, throwing his head back.

You bounced on his cock, your breasts mimicking your movement. Your moans became more persistent as you felt your orgasm approach. The room was filled with heavy breathing and the sound of skin. You were so adjusted to him, that he could easily slide in and out from you. It drove him crazy.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, kissing him sloppily. He returned the kiss almost immediately, locking you tightly against him with one arms around your waist and the other up your back. And then, he thrusted upward, forcing you to take every single each of him.

You yelped in pleasure, gripping onto his shoulder for support.

“You can take it, baby,” he cooed, watching your mouth fall agape.

You nodded insistently, biting back curses. Tears swelled the corner of your eyes, the pleasure becoming more and more intense.

“Jungwon I’m…” You cried out, digging your nails into his skin.

“I know, baby,” he moaned, “you’re taking me so fucking good…”

A ring of your cream built around his shaft, his cock glistening from how wet you are.

He slapped your ass harshly, leaving a permanent mark onto it. You whimpered, digging your nails into his shoulders. You clenched around him, his twitching cock begging for release.

And then, with a final thrust, you both come undone. He groans your name before coating your velvet walls with warmth. You shook vigorously, falling onto him in exhaustion. Panting, he welcomes you in his arms, embracing you.

You stirred softly in your sleep, slowly opening your eyes at the light of your phone turning on. You looked around, careful to not wake up Jungwon—who was sleeping peacefully in your arms. You felt a warm feeling in your heart at the sight of him. You reached for your phone from the nightstand. Your eyes gazed over the message from an unknown number.

‘Find the phone booth.’

The neon glow of the city flickered in the rain-soaked streets as you paced outside the dingy motel. You made your way inside the phone booth, just outside your motel room. You pressed the ringing phone to your ear. Static crackled on the other end before a voice—gruff and familiar—cut through.

“You’re in over your head, Detective."

Your grip on the phone tightened, “Then why don’t you tell me what I’m missing?"

A long pause.

“Mr. Yang. He’s a ghost. You won’t find him unless he wants to be found.”

"Good thing I make a habit of pissing off men like him,” you stated.

"And that’s exactly why you’re about to get yourself killed."

You exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over your face, “I don’t have time for riddles. My partner is dead, and I’m going to find out who put the bullet in his head—"

"Then stop looking where you shouldn’t."

Your face twitched, "What the hell does that mean?"

“See that key on top of the phone box? Take it to the mailbox. Go alone. And…” he warned, “Don’t show Jungwon.”

“What? why?”

The line went dead.

You lowered the phone, unease twisting in your gut. Something wasn’t adding up. Someone was playing you, nudging you closer to the edge of a trap you couldn’t see.

And the worst part?

You had a sinking feeling that Jungwon knew more than he was telling you.

You turned, heading to motel’s unit mailboxes. You opened the corresponding box with the key. Your hands trembled as you pulled the white envelope out, labeled with red pen ‘Y/N.’

You opened it to reveal various photos.

But, they weren’t just photos. They were surveillance footage snapshots of Jungwon.

The days and time leading to the murder and of the murder. At the same place of the crime scene.

Your blood runs cold and you feel yourself sick. You swallow hard, ignoring the familiar sting in your eyes and ache in your heart. But most of all, the boiling coursing through your veins.

No, this couldn’t be. Jungwon wouldn’t…?

Why was he there? Has he been lying to you this whole time? stringing you along?

The weight of the realization crushed you. You looked over at the glistening fire pit inside a metal can. You threw the pictures in. You made your way back inside. As you walked down the hallway, you felt sicker and sicker.

What does those photos mean? why should I trust him? Should I confront him? What should I even do?

You froze outside the bedroom door. Your hand hovered over the doorknob, hesitant. Then, you slowly opened it.

He was sitting on the edge of the bed, his hands clasped together, his expression unreadable. The room smelled like rain and worn-out tension, like two people teetering between trust and betrayal.

"Who was that?" he asked.

You hesitated, looking over at the window with shifted blinds. He must’ve heard the phone ring…and saw me out there.

You flashed a soft smile, “An old friend. Says I should stop looking.”

Jungwon’s jaw tightened but then relaxes, returning a teasing smile, "Maybe you should listen."

Your eyebrows furrowed, "You sound just like him."

He gets up to walk over to you, placing a tender kiss onto your lips, "And maybe that should tell you something."

And although you knew those words were teasing and light, you couldn’t help but to feel as if there was a deeper meaning to it.

The words hung between you, heavy and unspoken.

For the first time, you wondered if Jungwon was trying to protect you—Or if he was keeping you from the truth.

So you waited, watching.

You both went to the boxing gym he practiced at. This was the ways he wasted his time, so you accompanied him. He rented out a private room, claiming he needed to focus. So there you were, sitting on the mini couch in the corner, watching as he boxed away all his thoughts and feelings onto the bag. You tried to focus on your phone, but your eyes kept finding their way back to his figure. He was panting, a determined look on his face, and his forehead sweaty. It turned you on, weirdly enough. Your mind drifting off to many dirty fantasies. Jungwon looked over to you, catching your gaze.

“What is it, pretty?” He asked, walking over to you.

You shifted in your seat, embarrassed. He tossed his boxing gloves onto the couch.

“Nothing,” you lied.

He narrowed his eyes on you suspiciously, lifting his eyebrows in a flirty manner. You could tell he was frustrated from his boxing performance, you saw the irritation on his face when he missed something.

“Don’t lie,” he warned, gripping your face to look at him.

You batted your eyelashes at him, innocently. Albeit to the many fantasies flashing through your mind at the moment just at the sight of him.

He tilted his head slightly, examining you. His thumb made its way into your mouth, coating it with your salvia. You suck on it softly, to tease. His face flinches, a bulge growing in his pants. He lets out a low chuckle. He leans down to kiss you, slowly. You lean back onto the couch, allowing him to tower over you, his leg between your thighs and his arms resting on either side of you. You sigh against his lips, melting into him. He kisses you deliberately slow, passionately, as if to drive you mad. And it was working.

His hot, wet kisses trailed down your jawline up till your neck. You softly moaned, incapable of thinking rationally. You looked at the door through your half-lidded eyes, the fear of being caught arousing you. He lifts off your shirt, you let him. He tosses it onto the floor, cupping your breasts that sat so pretty in your laced bra.

“My God,” he mumbled, “I can never get enough of you.”

He recaptures your lips once again, his hand trailing down your bare waist to grip your ass. You whimper against his lips, your panties feeling soaked. Breathless, he pulls away.

“Get on all fours. Now,” he demanded.

You nod, pushing yourself further onto the couch. You take off your pants, tossing them alongside his pants and other clothes on the floor. You get on all fours, your cunt aching to be filled by him.

He goes behind you, giving you a harsh slap on your ass before pulling down your wet panties. Your hips moved closer to him, pressing against his throbbing cock. He griped onto your hips tightly.

“So desperate for me, aren’t you?” he teased, rubbing his dick between your wet folds.

He cursed under his breath, pushing into you with a harsh thrust. You cried out, gripping onto the couch for balance. He started to rock his hips against you, his pace deliberate and hard. You could tell something was on his mind, and he was using you to release all the pent-up emotions he had. But you didn’t mind.

The sound of skin filled the room, but it wasn’t louder than the people outside the room. Your moans were broken, the air taken out from you as Jungwon pushed his cock further into you. He was filling you up so good.

His pace quickened, he reached for your hair, pulling it back to deepen his cock within you.

“Take it like a good girl, I know you can do it, detective,” he cooed, watching as you struggled to form words.

Your moans became louder, the pleasure becoming intense the more he hit the deep spots. Tears formed the corner of your eyes, you were drowning in pleasure. You didn’t want this to stop.

Jungwon softly shushed you, “Do you want everyone out there to know you’re getting slut out by me?”

You shook your head, whimpering in attempt to bite back your sounds. He lets go of your hair harshly, the mess of your hair and makeup arousing him.

“fuck,” he groaned, “look at you. Such a gorgeous mess.”

His hips snapped against your hand-marked ass, tears falling down your face. You’re a moaning mess, uncontrollable panting and incoherent words. Jungwon grabbed a boxing glove, placing it in front of your mouth.

“Open,” he demanded before stuffing your mouth with it. You bit down on it, hard.

His pace was merciless, pounding into you till your legs trembled. Your loud cries were muffled against the glove, your eyes rolling back into your head as he repeatedly hit your spot. Tears dripped down your chin.

He fucked his anger out on you, focusing on where your dick entered and slid out your cunt. His breath rigid and unstable. He cursed under his breath, throwing his head back. He leaned forward to harshly press you against the couch, arching your back for him.

This new position brought you to the stars. Jungwon let out a loud groan, slowing down only momentarily to thrust harder into you.

“i’ma fucking cum,” he grunted, pressing you harder into the couch the closer he got.

You only whimpered in response, feeling your legs violently shake as you became closer to your orgasm.

“Fuck,” he breathes, releasing his warm load inside of you.

Your eyes roll back, letting out one last moan before coming undone. Your legs immediately give out, falling onto the couch. You both laid there, entangled in each other’s arms till you were ready to go home.

The underground fight club reeked of sweat, blood, and desperation. The crowd roared around the cage as two men beat each other senseless under the flickering overhead lights. You stood at the edge of the chaos, hidden in the shadows, your gaze locked onto one man.

Jungwon.

You followed him here, the middle of the night, after kissing you on the forehead while you were “sleeping.”

He moved like a predator—fluid, precise, devastating. With a swift hook, he sent his opponent crashing to the ground. The bell rang, signaling his victory, but he barely acknowledged the cheers. Instead, his gaze flickered to the edge of the ring—where a man in a black suit surrounded by countless bodyguards sat, watching. A face I couldn’t manage to see beyond the countless of people.

Your hands curled into fists. Who was he meeting in secret like this? Surely it isn’t to fight, he didn’t seem to enjoy it a bit in the ring. Why is he doing this?

And then, it clicks.

You had spent weeks tracking down leads on your partner’s murder, and every single road led back to this place. To the crime syndicate Mr. Yang ran. To the fights Jungwon couldn’t seem to walk away from.

And now, you knew why.

“He’s…meeting Mr. Yang,” you whispered to yourself. Realization crashing down onto you mercilessly.

As Jungwon exited the cage, wiping blood from his knuckles, Mr. Yang gestured for him to come closer. You pressed yourself against the wall, listening intently.

"You’ve done well," He mused, swirling a glass of whiskey in his hand, “But you and I both know fights like these won’t get you what you really want."

Jungwon didn’t reply. Your eyebrows furrowed.

Mr. Yang smirked, “I hear your detective has been getting too close. Poking around where she doesn’t belong. Looking for me?”

Your heart pounded.

"Leave her out of this," Jungwon said, voice cold.

Mr. Yang let out a low chuckle, “Oh, Jungwon. You don’t really believe you can protect her, do you?"

He leaned forward, his expression turning lethal, "Your little girlfriend is a problem. And problems need to be handled. You know this.”

A muscle in Jungwon’s jaw twitched, “What do you want, Seokjin?"

Seokjin smirk widened, "Y/n."

He took a slow sip of his drink before setting it down. "I’ll make it simple for you. You deliver Y/n to me. Alive. I’ll make sure she disappears, without a trace. No pain. No struggle. Just gone."

Your breath caught in your throat. You catch a glimpse of his face.

"You want me to turn her over to you?" Jungwon asked, the weight of it suffocating. "What happens if I refuse?"

Seokjin’s eyes turned colder, "You’ll make her an enemy, and you’ll be forced to kill her yourself. Your choice."

Jungwon clenched his jaw, the words burning like acid, “I’m not killing her."

Seokjin’s smile widened, “Then you’ll do what I say. It’s simple, little brother. You give me what I want, and I’ll give you what you need. Y/n will be safe. I’ll make sure of it."

Jungwon’s hands trembled, but he kept his face neutral. He wasn’t afraid of Seokjin. He was afraid of what he would become if he gave in. But there was no choice. Your life was in the balance.

"I’ll do it," Jungwon said quietly, “But this is the last thing I ever do for you."

Seokjin’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction, “I’ll hold you to that."

As Jungwon turned away, the weight of the decision hit him like a punch to the gut. He wasn’t just betraying you. He was betraying everything he had ever believed in.

His undeniable love for you, in which he held dearly.

And for what? To save your life. At least, that’s what he told himself.

But deep down, he knew that the moment he betrayed your trust, he would lose you forever.

He couldn’t look Seokjin in the eye any longer—not after the ultimatum, not after hearing those words, but just as he turned toward the exit, the harsh whisper of a breath cut through the air.

“I heard everything.”

Your voice sent a shockwave through him. His blood ran cold.

Your figure emerged from the shadows at the far end of the club, standing near the entrance with your gun still holstered at your side, but your expression was a mix of disbelief and crushing disappointment. Your eyes bore into his, like daggers, each one colder than the last.

Jungwon froze, his throat tightening. He had no idea how long you had been there, how much of the conversation you’ve overheard. But one thing was certain—everything had changed in that moment.

The distance between you both had just been measured in miles, and it felt like an ocean had opened up.

“Y/n…” His voice cracked despite himself. He couldn’t bring himself to take a step toward you. How could he? How could he explain this?

You didn’t move, your stance unyielding, "How long, Jungwon?”

Your voice was low, controlled, but there was a tremor in it, one that echoed deep inside him. Memories of all the moments you’ve spent together flashing before your angry eyes.

"How long were you planning to keep this from me?" you fought back the tears threatening to form in your eyes.

His eyes flickered between Seokjin, who stood silently, watching the scene unfold with a smug satisfaction, and you.

"I didn’t want you to know,” He hated the weakness in his voice, “I didn’t want you to be part of this."

"Part of this?" You laughed bitterly, though it didn’t sound like humor. It sounded like a wound being ripped open.

"You don’t get to decide that. I’ve been part of this from the very start. Every decision you’ve made, every lie you’ve told—I've been there. Has everything been in a lie?”

“No, I—”

“You think you were protecting me, huh? By keeping me in the dark? You think you’re a hero here?!” you shouted, your hands trembling in rage.

Your eyes were hard, unforgiving.

Jungwon clenched his jaw, but the words wouldn’t come. What could he say?

That he had betrayed you to save you? That in his twisted logic, letting you hate him would keep you alive?

He didn’t know if he could even convince himself of that anymore.

“You knew,” you whispered, “You knew what would happen to me the moment you decided to carry out this lie. You knew how much it meant to me! You knew you were signing my death sentence, but you still did it. You still betrayed me.”

His breath caught in his throat. You were right, and he knew it. Every excuse he had built up, every lie he had told himself to justify his actions shattered in that moment, leaving nothing but the truth. He had given you up to protect you... but in doing so, he had destroyed everything you’ve both built. Every kiss, every touch, every lingering gaze, every passionate night, the subtle phases. Everything.

"Y/n, listen—”

"No," you cut him off, your voice breaking.

The gun at your side glinted in the low light as you took a step forward, but this time, it wasn’t aimed at him. It was held loosely, the weight of it feeling heavier than anything you’ve ever felt.

“You don’t get to apologize now. You don’t get to fix this. You made your choice,” you hissed.

Seokjin finally spoke, his voice a chilling interruption, "She’s right, Jungwon. You’ve chosen your side. The moment you decided to play hero, you sealed your fate—and hers."

Your gaze shifted toward Seokjin, icy fury radiating from you, "You. I’m not afraid of you."

Seokjin raised his hands up, a mocking smirk on his face.

"You’re just a coward hiding behind your power, your money. You don’t control me,” you fumed.

Seokjin smiled, but there was no warmth in it—only a cold satisfaction, "I control everything. Including your fate, Detective."

You didn’t flinch. You took another step toward him, your eyes never leaving Seokjin’s, “Then come at me."

Jungwon’s heart sank as he watched you stand your ground, the fire in your eyes only growing stronger. You had no idea what you were dealing with. Seokjin wasn’t just a criminal—he was the mastermind, the puppet master who pulled every string in their world. And right now, he held all the cards.

But as you locked eyes with him, something shifted inside Jungwon. The familiar, heavy weight of guilt and regret flooded over him, and suddenly, it wasn’t about Seokjin anymore. It wasn’t about the choice he had made or the lies he’d told.

It was about you. He was so ardently in love with you.

The words exchanged between you both hit him harder than any punch could. You had never looked at him like that—never with such raw hurt and betrayal.

You turned to look back at Seokjin, but he was no longer in sight. Just a bunch of bodyguards.

"Where is he?" you asked, your voice steady despite the unease curling in your gut.

Jungwon didn’t answer right away. He just stared at you, his jaw tight, hands curled into fists.

"Jungwon," you warned.

"You need to leave," he said finally.

Your brows furrowed, “What?"

“Right now. Walk away and don’t look back."

A cold chill ran through you, “Why the hell would I do that?"

A low voice echoed from behind you, "Because you were never supposed to make it this far, Detective."

You whirled around, your gun drawn, but before you could react, strong hands gripped your arms, yanking you backward.

Jungwon didn’t move from his place, tightly having his hand fisted to prevent him from interfering. He looked away, couldn’t bare the sight of betraying you evermore.

Rage ignited inside you, hot and consuming, “You set me up."

You struggled against the men restraining you, fury twisting in your chest, “you bastard!”

Jungwon finally looked at you then, something unreadable in his gaze, "I’m sorry."

But you didn’t believe him. You couldn’t.

Because the man standing before you wasn’t the Jungwon you thought you knew. He was just another enemy. Another bittersweet memory.

The sharp sting of metal bit into your wrists as you struggled against the cuffs, your pulse hammering in your ears. The cold cement floor beneath you sent a chill up your spine, but it was nothing compared to the ice in your veins as you replayed the moment Jungwon betrayed you.

The moment he handed you over to his older brother, Seokjin Yang. The one you’ve been looking since the start.

Days had passed, and each one even worse than the other. Jungwon had returned home, where he was originally from, in Seokjins mansion. Where you were held captive, underground. It was a harsh awakening, to see that all this time you’ve known a version of him that wasn’t true.

But he didn’t try to correct you, nor open up about it either. And he technically didn’t lie, he wasn’t who you was looking for. But he knew…all this time. He stringed you along. He played with your feelings.

But it wasn’t the last time you’ve seen him. He would come down, everyday, with food trays and clothes. He looked different than when you first met him. He was properly clothed, his basic outfit probably costing a fortune. It was a bitter reminder that you hadn’t known him at all. He was just a rich, corrupt, boy after all.

And the family of your partner’s murderer.

He looked at the other untouched food trays from the previous days. He sighed, kneeling in front of you. You looked away, couldn’t bear the sight of him.

“You need to eat,” he urged angrily, “are you trying to kill yourself?”

You glared at him, your face pale and beads of sweat grouping on your forehead. Small cuts on your face and bruises on your body.

‘you did this to me,’ you thought.

You stayed silent. His expression softened, guilt plastered across his face. He placed the tray on the ground in front of you.

“Y/n, I know you’re angry, you have every right to be,” he pleaded, “but please. I beg you, eat something. At least drink some water.”

He grabbed a bottle of water and opened it, he pressed it to your lips. You hesitated at first, but then took a long sip. You brought your swollen wrists up to your mouth, wiping away dripping water.

His lip twitched into a hopeful smile. He grabbed a spoonful of hot soup, bringing it up to your lips. He blew on it before letting you swallow it.

But then, you spit it back to his face.

“I don’t want it,” you said coldly, “don’t show your face in front of me again. I don’t want to see you.”

He wiped off the food from his face with his shirt, revealing his bare chest. Your eyes flickered, memories of the intimacy you both once shared flashing for a split second.

The bodyguard at the door checked in and saw the scene. He came closer, ready to attack. Jungwon extended his hand, signaling to stop.

“Im fine. I provoked her,” he defended. He stood up, looking at me once more before turning to leave.

“I’ll be back,” he stated, “please eat.”

He didn’t come back for the rest of the day. You were slowly becoming impatient. You needed to leave.

How long were you going to stay like this? Helpless? You needed to leave.

Seokjins men paced outside the locked room, their voices low and guarded. They thought you were helpless. Powerless.

They had no idea who they were dealing with.

You forced yourself to stay still, controlling your breathing. Then, with one swift motion, you dislocated your thumb, ignoring the sharp pain as you wrenched your hand free from the cuffs. Blood trickled down your wrist, but you didn’t care. You had one goal.

Survive.

And then, make the Yang family pay.

You moved quickly, silently. One of Kang’s guards turned just in time to see you launch at him. Your elbow slammed into his throat, cutting off his air before he could sound the alarm. His gun clattered to the floor, and you caught it in one smooth motion, spinning just as another guard rushed toward you.

Two shots. Two bodies down.

The door burst open. You raised your weapon—

But it was him.

Jungwon stood in the doorway, breathing hard, his gun still lowered at his side. His dark eyes flickered between the unconscious men on the ground and you, standing there with a gun aimed at his chest.

For a moment, neither of you moved.

And for a moment, you had a flashback to the night you first met. You guys started like this, and now it seems like you’ll end like this.

Then your finger tightened on the trigger, “Give me one reason I shouldn’t shoot you right now."

Jungwon didn’t flinch. Didn’t even blink.

He exhaled slowly, stepping forward, “Because if you do, you’ll never know the whole truth."

Your hands trembled, anger and betrayal warring inside you, "You don’t get to talk about the truth. Not after what you did."

His jaw clenched, “I had no choice."

"There is always a choice, Jungwon."

Something flickered in his eyes—regret, guilt, something deeper. But you weren’t ready to listen. Not yet.

"Move," you ordered, keeping the gun trained on him.

“No,” he said, standing in front of the gun. But as you brushed past him, his voice was quiet—almost broken.

"If I had told you everything back then, would you have believed me?"

You didn’t answer. Because you weren’t sure.

You heard the commotion upstairs, probably back-up. Jungwon grabbed your wrist.

“where are you going?,” his face softened, “i’m coming with you.”

Your eyebrows furrowed, about to protest, but you had no time to spare. You both managed to rush out through a secret back way. It was cold, you were weak and exhausted, but you made it out. Your eyes frantically looked around for a car. You pointed the gun at Jungwon, signaling to the luxury lined cars.

“Turn one on. Hurry,” you threatened.

He nodded, grabbing keys from his pocket, he rushed to a car. You both got inside the car, he turned it on, you kept the gun pointed at him.

You left out a shaky exhale, clearly in pain. You flinched, glancing at your wound on your side and cut on your shoulder.

Jungwon glanced over to you, worriedly.

“Are you hurt?” he asked.

You tightened your grip onto the gun, “Eyes on the road.”

You guided him to a place. The only place you could think of now. The only place you wish to be.

Home.

You push him inside, gun still pointed to him.

His expression was unreadable, he looked around, observing the place. You carefully reach for his pocket, your hands coursing through his body, taking his gun out. He didn’t reach for his weapon. He didn’t try to run. He just stood there, staring at you like he was bracing for impact.

"You betrayed me."

The words barely made it past your lips. You hated how raw they sounded, how much hurt was laced in them.

Jungwon exhaled slowly, “I know."

“you lied to me!”

“I did.”

Your finger hovered over the trigger. You had pictured this moment a thousand times since the night he handed you over to Seokjin. Since the night he let you believe he had chosen the enemy over you. The night he gave what you both had up. If anything.

"Then why?" Your voice shook, but your stance remained firm. "Why did you sell me out? Why did you let me think—"

"Because it was the only way to keep you alive!" His voice cracked through the silence, loud, desperate.

He took a step forward, and you immediately cocked the gun, making him halt. His chest rose and fell with heavy breaths.

"Seokjin was going to kill you, and nothing—not your badge, not your skills, not even me—was going to be able to stop him. So, I made a deal."

"A deal?" You scoffed, rage clawing its way up your throat, "You handed me over like I was some bargaining chip!"

Jungwon shook his head, “I bought you time. I knew you'd escape."

His voice was strained, laced with something that sounded dangerously close to regret, "I had to make sure Seokjin didn’t see you as a threat long enough for you to get out of there alive."

Your pulse roared in your ears, “You think that justifies what you did?"

"No," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, "But I’d do it again if it meant keeping you breathing."

For a moment, all you could hear was the rain outside, the faint hum of the city beyond these walls. The weight of his words settled over you like a storm, suffocating and relentless.

"I don’t need you to protect me," you whispered.

“I know that. But i can’t…I can’t help it,” he confessed.

He took another step forward, and this time, you didn’t stop him.

"Then why?" you asked again, but this time, the question wasn’t just about the betrayal.

It was about everything. The tension, the lingering touches, the stolen glances. The way his eyes lingered too long when he kissed you. The way he caressed your hair as you slept in his arms.

Jungwon swallowed hard, "Because I love you."

The confession hit you like a blow to the chest.

Your hands trembled around the gun, but you refused to lower it. You didn’t know what was worse—the betrayal or the fact that some part of you had wanted to hear him say it.

“How do i know that’s not just another one of your lies? How am I supposed to trust you?”

Jungwon took one last step closer, close enough that the gun was pressed against his chest. The only barrier between you two. His voice was raw when he spoke.

"You can hate me. You can pull that trigger. But don’t ever doubt that I would’ve given up everything if it meant keeping you safe."

The gun in your hands felt impossibly heavy.

And for the first time, you weren’t sure if you had the strength to pull the trigger.

Then, finally, you sighed, “You really are an idiot."

Jungwon blinked, "Excuse me?"

"You love me, but you thought lying to me and betraying me was the way to protect me? Idiot."

“There is something I must give you,” he said, reaching for his pocket.

You observed carefully as he pulled out a flashdrive. Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“You need to see this,” he handed it over to you.

You grabbed your old laptop, the screen flickered on. You plugged in the chip. Jungwon sat at a safe distance beside you. The audio file played through the tiny speakers.

"Y/n… if you’re hearing this, then I didn’t make it."

Your heart clenched. It was him, Hyunjin.

"I don’t have much time. They know I’m close. But listen—Seokjin isn’t our enemy. He was helping me. He’s an old friend from high school…I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. But, I have proof that the real threat isn’t him—it’s someone inside our own department. Someone powerful. Someone who’s been playing both sides."

Your throat tightened as your partner’s voice cracked, “Seokjin tried to warn me, but I didn’t listen. And now I’m running out of time. If something happens to me, don’t trust anyone. Find the evidence. Finish what I started. And Y/n… whatever happens, don’t let them turn you into their pawn like they did me.”

The recording cut off.

You barely registered the moment the room started spinning. The flash drive felt like a dead weight in your palm.

You were too in shock. Hyunjin and Seokjin, friends? Hyunjin running from someone in your department?

This whole time…you had it wrong.

For months, you had poured every ounce of your rage into bringing Seokjin down. You had been convinced that he was the one who ordered the hit on your partner, that he was the reason for the blood on your hands. And now—

Now you know the truth.

Jungwon, who had been sitting beside you, finally spoke. His voice was careful, measured.

“Your partner had been investigating a dangerous underground crime syndicate—one even more powerful than Seokjin’s operations. He and Seokjin had a secret alliance, working together to take them down from the inside. Seokjin, despite his reputation as a crime boss, had been trying to dismantle the organization in his own way, using his influence to protect those who couldn’t go to the police. But then, Hyunjin got too close. He uncovered something that put him directly in the syndicate’s crosshairs—maybe evidence that tied corrupt officials and high-ranking officers to the criminals. He needed to get it out.”

“So he turned to Seokjin,” you continued.

He nodded, “But before Seokjin could move, the syndicate acted first. They made it look like Seokjin had ordered the hit on Hyunjin, knowing that it would shift all suspicion onto him. By the time we arrived to help as back-up, he was already dead. Which is why I was there the day of the murder. The real mastermind, A high-ranking official or someone within the police force who had been feeding information to the syndicate. They needed Hyunjin gone, and framing Seokjin was the perfect cover. That’s the real truth, Y/n.”

Your eyes flickered, tears stinging your eyes. This was your breaking point. You had been so blinded by rage, you hadn’t realized the answer was there all along.

Jungwon hesitantly reached for your shoulder, caressing it.

You turned to him, embracing him. He immediately welcomed you in his arms, caressing your back in comfort.

“It’s okay,” he soothed, “As long as i’m here, no one can hurt you…”

you pulled away, gently.

“I love you, Jungwon,” you confessed, “as much as I hate to admit it.”

He paused for a moment before flashing you a genuine smile, his dimples showcased.

“You don’t know how long I’ve waited for you to say that,” he whispered, towering over you.

He kissed you lovingly, soft, and slow. As if you were fragile, as if he was scared of hurting you.

As if he was going to lose you if he let go.

You wrapped your arms around him, pulling him closer. You fell back onto the couch, allowing him to hover over you.

“If I could go back and do it differently, I would. I’d choose you. Every time,” he whispered.

Your heart slightly ached.

"I don’t deserve you," he continued, “But if there’s even the smallest chance that you could forgive me… that we could try again… I swear, I won’t waste it."

"You’re going to have to prove it," you said softly.

Jungwon’s lips parted, as if he hadn’t expected you to give him even that much. But then, after a moment, he nodded, a small, almost broken smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He recaptured your lips again, this time more yearnfully.

"I will," he promised, “Every day, for as long as you’ll let me."

tbc…!

[anixvl]

WHAT ONCE WAS || NI-KI

pairing: idol!niki x actress!reader

synopsis: Years after your long-term relationship break up, you catch a glimpse of your ex on the news. But, he’s an upcoming star in a korean boy band group. Preparing for their upcoming music video, you're selected as the female lead. Will seeing each other after so long hender your hard-earned founded careers?

genre: Second-chance troupe, SUGGESTIVEE AFFFF, AU famous, use of irl famous people & films, kinda slow burn?

warnings: angst, suggestive, altered roles in films

wc: 7.5K

The lights of the studio were blinding, but you smiled through it, the practiced grace of an actress trained to charm cameras. It became second-nature to you, after years of blood, sweat, and tears. Many, tears.

Your undeniable hard work.

Across from you, the interviewer leaned in, her voice light but sharp, the way all seasoned hosts wrapped their punches in cunning enthusiasm. It was the 6th interview in the last 2 weeks, and every last one implemented the same topic. It was exhausting.

“You’ve worked with so many big names recently,” she said, her pen poised over her notepad.

“But I have to ask—there’s been a lot of talk about you and Ni-ki of Enhypen. Any truth to the rumors?”

There it was.

The repetitive, infuriating, question you've dreaded.

Your breath hitched, but you didn’t flinch. On the surface, the question was about your recent collaboration on the upcoming music video. Beneath it, though, was the unspoken truth you've spent years burying, desperately trying to forget.

To obliterate, completely.

Ni-ki wasn’t just a co-star or the idol dominating global charts. No, you both knew he was far from that.

You swallowed, pushing away all insistent memories you've forgotten you had. You laughed softly, the kind that said nice try without confirming anything.

“Ni-ki is an incredible talent,” you smiled, leaning back in your chair, “It was an honor to work with him and the boys.”

The interviewer smiled knowingly, “Some would say there’s more to the story. Any comment on the chemistry fans noticed between you two—both on and off-screen?”

you looked away, just for a heartbeat, as the memories rushed back.

Late-night walks in the quiet streets of the home-town you both grew up in, whispered dreams of making it big, and the final, shattering silence that left you both broken.

You smiled again, the professional mask slipping back into place.

“The chemistry,” you said, “is all part of the performance.”

You knew what it meant to be an actress, a global sensation, at that. You had dealt with hate, rumors, and scandals many times during your career. None of it was new to you, not that any of it was bigger than your fan base and public admiration towards you. You had billboards, luxury brand partnership, and magazines on your success and beauty. You're doing extraordinarily well. Romantic rumors between you and your co-stars wasn't new, fans love to group together actors with "chemistry." Not that it was bothersome, your publicity teams used this as advertisement to boost the views for your films, they even encouraged to subtly feed into your fans delusion. It was harmless.

4 years ago, you were nothing but a girl with passionate dreams. With huge dreams to be an actress, a star. If it wasn't for the profound heartbreak you went through back then, you wouldn't have had the courage to leave your small home-town without looking back once. As the years went by, you worked hard and gained recognition like wildfire. Not only were you talented but also undeniably beautiful, big roles were given to you insistently. You were incredibly grateful, to all your fans and support staff, so you worked evermore harder on your acting and events. It was all you felt you had after leaving your home-town, alone. You couldn't let them down, it was your motivation to be better. It was a testament of your hard work, that you could be someone in this world despite of your poor past. Or the betrayals.

A month ago, you were incredibly busy with your demanding schedule. After finally wrapping up Lovely Runner and only a few events left to attend, you had time to breathe. You barely had time to yourself, let alone to watch the news or care about the media. Not if it wasn't PR or about your work. That was, until you absentmindedly decided to turn on the channel news on a random Saturday night. Why would you do that? Out of all days, too. The only time you had to yourself, the only time you decide to indulge yourself with the media, you come face-to-face with the last person you ever thought you'd see again.

Your ex.

Only, he's not there as your ex but as an upcoming kpop idol.

Your heart drops at the sound of his name said by the reporter and his face up-close on the screen. Yes, its undoubtly him. You stop in your tracks, facing the screen of your echoing tv, in the living room of your penthouse. Suddenly, the cup of tea slips from your unresponsive hands and shatters onto the floor. Your assistant rushes out to you, her eyes widening in concern.

"y/n, are you okay? What happened?" She asks, pulling you away from the mess.

You stammer, "I'm...yeah, I'm fine. I-I don't know what...what happened. It must've slipped."

You manage to snap out of the trance, helping your assitant, Kate, clean up the mess. Your eyes frequently find the TV screen, attentively listening to the content. You feel as if a cold sweat has overcame you, you feel nauseous, the shock draining the color from your face.

Get a fucking grip, y/n. What difference does it make now that you know he's doing well? So what if he's a star? You're doing your own thing now, you wont ever cross paths with him. Let it go.

You take a final deep breath, turning off the TV and pushing back the memory of his face on the news.

You were sure you weren't going to see him again, after all, you're an actress. When will a busy actress like you ever meet with a busy idol?

The red carpet glistened under the camera flashes, a sea of faces cheering as you stepped out of the car, your gown flowing like liquid starlight. This was supposed to be your moment—a night to celebrate your tenth major acting award nomination. The big, luxurious, successful ten.

But then you heard it: a name called out by fans down the carpet, echoing like a forgotten melody. His name. Your heart stalled as you turned toward the commotion, and there he was, stepping onto the same carpet from a sleek black van, surrounded by his group members. The world knew him as the rising star of Enhypen, the global sensation boy band.

But to you, he was just Ni-ki—the boy who had once held your heart.

The crowd roared as the lights dimmed, the announcer’s voice booming through the grand stadium. The biggest night in entertainment had brought out the stars, and you were seated front and center, right where the cameras loved you most. Your stylist’s work was flawless—an elegant gown shimmering like stardust, paired with a smile that was as breathtaking and admirable as your reputation.

“And the award for Best International Collaboration goes to…”

The host's pause stretched endlessly, and you leaned back, feigning nonchalance for the cameras. But as soon as the name was announced, the room erupted in cheers.

“Enhypen, featuring Selena Grace!”

You clapped politely, your smile widening for the benefit of the cameras.

Of course, they’d win. Enhypen was unstoppable, and their song XO—an international smash—had cemented their status as global icons. Niki's face flashed on the massive screens as he and his bandmates stood, their tailored suits gleaming under the stage lights.

You kept your eyes onto the big displaying screens, your hands folded neatly in your lap as Jungwon signaled him to deliver the speech. He nods, stepping towards the mic.

“Thank you to the fans,” he began with a charming smile, his voice alluring and low.

“This wouldn’t have been possible without your love and support," He extends his hand out to signal at someone in the crowd, "And, of course, to Selena Grace, who brought magic to this project.”

The camera cut to Selena, seated just a few rows behind you, blowing him a kiss. Your smile faltered, just for a second. You quickly regain your composure, just in case the camera unexpectedly lands on you. You don't want to create unnecessary content for people to delude.

As the applause died down and the show moved on, you braced yourself for your category. Fame had taught you the art of composure, but tonight, you felt like you were unraveling. You wanted nothing than to go home and enjoy your peace.

The announcer’s voice rang through the stadium, cutting through the applause like a beacon.

“And the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role goes to… Y/n L/n!”

The room erupted into cheers and applause, the sound crashing over you like a wave. You felt the cameras zoom in, capturing every detail—the way you pressed your hands to your chest in mock surprise, the graceful way you rose to your feet, the dazzling smile that lit up you face. All of it was calculated, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t real.

As you made your way to the stage, your co-star Byeon Woo-seok in your latest drama Lovely Runner, helped the train of your gown that trailed behind you like liquid gold up the small case of stairs in courteously. But you knew it was also partly just a publicity stunt to feed into the fans who shipped you both together. The audience went louder at this, the host's smiling at the scene before them. It was a sweet gesture. He placed his hand on your lower back, protectively to ensure you could safely walk up the stage. Once safely on the stage, you exchange polite short talk and he rushes back to his seat. The cameras switch back to the crowd, It caught a flicker of movement in the audience.

Niki. He was clapping, his expression unreadable. For a fleeting moment, you locked eyes with him through the big screen. It was as if no time had passed, as if you were back in those quiet moments when it was just you and him in your small home-town.

Then the moment was gone, you quickly looked away and you were back in the spotlight.

The statuette was heavier than you expected as you accepted it, its shiny surface cool against your fingers. The host handed you the microphone, and you turned to face the audience—a sea of faces, cameras, and adoration.

“Wow,” you began, your voice steady and sweet despite the pounding of your heart.

“This… this is truly an honor. Acting has been my dream for as long as I can remember, and to be standing here once again tonight feels like a dream come true," you laugh, softly.

Polite laughter rippled through the room. You continued, your tone warm and heartfelt, the kind of sincerity that always won over the public. Like your last nine awards.

“There are so many people I need to thank—my director, my incredible cast," you smile as the camera cuts to your handsome co-star, "Woo-seok, thank you so much for being such a wonderful partner."

He smiles sheepishly, shaking his head.

"My team who works tirelessly behind the scenes, and, of course, my fans. You’ve made this journey possible, and I’m so grateful for your unwavering support," You continued.

The applause swelled again, and you smiled, letting it wash over you. But as you glanced out at the audience, your eyes land onto the big screen which found Niki once more. This time, his gaze was steady, his expression softer. For a split second, you faltered. Your attention shifts back to the mic.

“And to everyone out there chasing their dreams,” you added, your voice catching slightly, “never give up. You never know how far they’ll take you.”

The audience cheered as you stepped back from the microphone. Your heart was still racing as you made your way offstage, clutching the award like a lifeline.

When the award show was over, you lingered around, talking and socializing with other actors and idols. You spoke to some reporters and did quick interviews.

Kate stayed behind you, following you as you made your way through the crowd. Your smile lit up at the sight of Woo-seok waving you over. As you made your way, the view became clearer. Your eyes land on Woo-seok's company, Enhypen. Your smile faltered a bit. You stand next to Woo-seok as you exchange polite greetings with Enhypen.

“You were amazing up there," Jay said, flashing you a polite smile.

you return the smile, humbly denying.

"That was all you guys, congratulations on the new album," you beamed.

“That speech," Niki speaks up, "it reminded me of someone I used to know.”

The voice made your breath get stuck in your throat for a moment. Turning to face him, you found Niki standing, his hands tucked casually into the pockets of his tailored suit. It's the first time you've seen him since the incident.

your eyes flicker and before you knew it, your mind spoke for itself, “People change.”

“Some things don’t," His response is quick, as if he knew what you were going to say. His gaze lingered, heavy with unspoken words.

You both look into each other's eyes fiercely. Thankfully, Jake changes the topic, starting lively conversation between Woo-seok and the boys. Niki and I stay quiet for a bit, the tension unbearably suffocating. You shake it off, jumping back into conversation with them, completely disregarding NIki. Great, now they will start to suspect. Could this get any worse for you?

Soon after, their director comes over to you. You greet him as he showers you in humble compliments.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you something," he said, looking back and forth between you and Enhypen.

you tilt your head, actively listening.

“Our team’s planning a music video for Enhypen's next single. A big one. And I have someone specific in mind for the lead," he explains.

You look over at the boys, nodding your head cheerfully, "Is that so? That's really great, I'll be rooting for you guys!"

"Actually, Y/n..." Sunoo trails off, exchanging looks with the other members.

“Let me guess,” you said, “Selena Grace?”

“No,” Niki stepped closer, his voice lowering, “You.”

Your eyes widen in surprise, you whip your head toward the director for clarification. You've faced countless directors, producers, and critics, but this? This was different. You've never been in a music video, let alone for a famous Korean boy band.

“Really? Me? You think that’s a good idea?” you asked, your voice laced with denial yet gratitude.

The director smiled, nodding.

"We think you're perfect for the role," he turned to the boys, "don't we?"

You turn to face them, still in disbelief. Kate starts typing in her phone, probably sending off the information to your manager.

Niki holds a unreadable expression, “I think it’s the best idea.”

You furrowed your eyebrows at him, confused at his weird behaviour. You would think that after what happened the last time you both saw each other, your interactions would be vastly different. Yet, It's alarmingly peaceful, with a hint of passive-aggressive.

He smiled faintly, the kind that used to make your heart race.

That following week, news on your collaboration spread like wildfire, it became the most spoken topic and the shooting hasn't even finished. Papparazzi's followed and increased, appearing at your meetings sites with Enhypen. It was a global anticipation, your biggest project of all.

On the first official day of shooting, the set buzzed with energy as Enhypen arrived. Niki's bandmates were larger-than-life in person, their charisma radiating like a collective force field.

And, oh, so handsome.

They stood in a group, laughing and joking as if they hadn’t just stepped off a whirlwind tour.

The sun blazed high over the set, casting golden light across the sprawling outdoor location. The production team buzzed like a hive, cameras and lighting rigs being adjusted, assistants darting between trailers, and the director shouting final instructions. Amid the chaos, you sat in the makeup chair, staring at your reflection.

The makeup artist added the finishing touches, but your nerves weren’t about your appearance. Today was the first day of filming Enhypen's music video—and the first time you'd be working with Niki as professionals since your lives diverged. You hated it, utterly despised him and the thought of being around him another second longer. But you knew it wasn't fair for the rest of the nice crew, after all, it was just this and nothing more. You wouldn’t even need to really interact with him, right? Just endure it a little longer...

“Y/n L/n!” Jay called out, his voice warm and playful. You smoothed the soft fabric of the ethereal dress the costume team had chosen for you as you stepped out. All eyes seemed to follow, the weight of your “dream girl” reputation trailing like a shadow. The staff helped you out of the trailer, staying careful with your dress. You waved, cheerfully, greeting them.

Jungwon gave you a polite bow, “Thank you for agreeing to work with us. The fans are already calling this the collaboration of the year.”

“No pressure, right?” you joked, earning a few chuckles.

Behind him, the remaining members hung back slightly, though their smiles were welcoming. It was clear they all shared an easy camaraderie, the kind that came from years of working, traveling, and growing together.

As you filled your bottle with water, you could feel Niki's gaze, though he hadn’t said a word.

“Don’t be shy,” Heeseung chimed in, clearly relishing the opportunity to engage, “We were just talking about our most embarrassing moments on stage. Do you have one?”

you turned, tilting your head slightly in thought, “Embarrassing moments? Hmm…”

“There was one time during a premiere when I tripped on my dress. Right in front of a live audience and the cameras," you shook your head, recalling the embarrassment at just the thought.

Sunghoon gasped theatrically, “The dream girl… tripped?”

“It happens,” you said with a shrug, laughing.

“But I recovered gracefully, if I do say so myself," you boasted, playfully.

“Of course you did,” Sunoo said, flashing a sweet smile.

“You’re Y/n L/n. You probably made it look like part of the act," Jake joked.

The room burst into laughter, and you couldn’t help but feel a little at ease.

Niki finally spoke, his voice cutting through the lighthearted chatter, “You’ve always been good at making things look effortless.”

The tone of his compliment was subtle, but the room seemed to sense the shift. The laughter died down, and for a moment, the air between you both felt suffocating.

Jay, ever the mediator, clapped his hands together, “Well, since we’re all here, should we teach y/n some choreography from the song?”

you raised an eyebrow, laughing nervously, “Oh no, I’m not a dancer.”

Sunghoon smirked, “You’re an actress. You can pretend to be one.”

Before you could protest, Sunoo was pulling you closer to them, “It’s easy! Just the chorus—Niki, show her.”

Niki shifted reluctantly, but there was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. He positioned himself beside you, demonstrating a smooth trail with his arms followed by a quick footwork sequence.

“Like this,” he said, his voice quieter now.

you tried to mimic the movement, fumbling awkwardly. The group erupted into laughter, Jake doubling over onto Sunghoon dramatically.

“Okay, okay, I get it,” you said, throwing your hands up in surrender, “Stick to acting for me.”

Niki chuckled softly, his smile genuine, “You weren’t that bad.”

you met his gaze, and for a moment, you felt your breath get stuck in your throat. You quickly looked away, suppressing your thoughts.

“I swear i’m not this bad at dancing,” you defended, playfully, “it just went a little too fast for me to catch on to.”

As the crew finalized the next setup, the director approached, clapping his hands, “Alright, everyone! Let’s get the group shot lined up. Y/n, you’ll be center stage with the guys circling you. We want this to feel like a dream sequence—intense, almost otherworldly.”

you moved to your positions, and you found yourself surrounded by the seven of them. Each carried a distinct presence: Sunghoons quiet confidence, Jake’s playful energy, Heeseungs brooding intensity, Sunoo’s charming warmth, Jungwons calm concentration, Jay’s cool collectiveness, and Niki… well, Niki was Niki: Reserved.

“Alright, everyone, eyes on y/n,” the director called, “This is about the connection. She’s the muse, the untouchable figure you’re drawn to. Feel the tension.”

As the music swelled and the cameras rolled, the guys slipped effortlessly into their roles. You executed your simple choreography gracefully, focusing. Their gazes were piercing, their movements fluid, creating an aura that felt both surreal and magnetic.

But it was Niki’s gaze that unsettled you the most. His eyes locked onto yours, carrying an intensity that blurred the line between performance and reality.

“Cut!” the director called, sounding thrilled, “That was perfect. Let’s reset for the close-ups.”

As the crew adjusted the lighting, Jay leaned in conspiratorially, “You’re a natural at this.”

“Ever thought about switching careers? We could use a eighth member,” Sunoo smiled.

“Only if you want your fans to riot,” you teased.

The group laughed, but Niki stayed quiet, his focus still on you. It made you uncomfortable, catching his gazes frequently. You couldn’t think straight, and it frustrated you.

“Alright, alright,” the director interrupted, “Let’s keep this energy going.”

As you moved back into position, you caught Niki watching you again. This time, his expression was softer, almost unreadable.

“Ready?” he asked, his voice low enough that only you could hear.

“Always,” you replied, meeting his gaze head-on. You look away, giving him the cold shoulder.

After your small break, as you approached the director, he clapped his hands together.

“Perfect timing! Niki, y/n, let’s go over the first solo scene,” he instructed.

You falter for a moment.

You have a solo scene with Niki? Could the universe hate you even more?

you gathered around the monitor as he explained the setup. The concept was intimate: Niki, a mysterious figure, would catch glimpses of you in a dream-like world, your connection growing through fleeting encounters. The chemistry between you would carry the narrative.

“Chemistry,” you thought, biting back a wry smile. That wouldn’t be a problem. If anything, the challenge was hiding it.

The first shot involved you walking barefoot through a field, the breeze catching the hem of your dress, while Niki watched from a distance. Simple enough.

“Positions, everyone!” the assistant director called.

you took your mark, feeling the cool grass beneath your feet, and glanced at Niki. He stood at his mark, hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on you. The look in his eyes sent a ripple through you—curiosity, recognition, and something deeper that he didn’t try to hide.

“Action!”

Your eyes flickered as you snapped back into reality. The world around you fell silent as you moved through the scene, every step slow and deliberate. Niki’s presence loomed at the edge of your awareness, his gaze a constant weight. You glanced back over your shoulder as directed, and your eyes met.

Time seemed to slow.

For a moment, it wasn’t the camera capturing you but the past pulling you back to a place you both tried to leave behind.

“Cut!” the director called, breaking the trance.

He clapped enthusiastically, “That was beautiful. Perfect connection. Let’s reset for the next shot.”

you exhaled, only then realizing you’ve been holding your breath. Niki approached as the crew adjusted the setup.

“You’re good at this,” he said quietly, his voice low enough that only you could hear.

Yet it felt sarcastic to you. It irked you.

“Took a lot of hard work and many sacrifices,” you replied, keeping your tone neutral.

His eyes narrowed, his lips twitching into a faint smile, but his eyes searched yours as if trying to read what you weren’t saying.

The next scene involved you standing closer, your hands nearly touching but never quite meeting. The director called it a “moment of almost,” the kind of shot that fans would replay endlessly.

As you both stood there, your hands hovering inches apart, the tension between you both became palpable.

“Action!”

you turned toward him, your character’s longing meant to be subtle yet undeniable. But as your eyes met, the emotions spilling from him felt too real. For a second, you wondered if Niki was acting at all—or if he, like you, were still caught in the echoes of what you used to be.

Of what once was.

The final day of shooting had been grueling, but the wrap party was in full swing. The studio’s rooftop terrace glittered with string lights and a panoramic view of the city skyline. Cast, crew, and industry insiders mingled, laughing and toasting to the success of the project. You were tired of keeping a front for the reporters and photographers. Being close to Niki, feeling his touch on your skin, his gaze on yours—it was all too overwhelming. Moreover, it didn’t make anything better that fans and media shipped you both together after the music video was released. Countless of interviews included him, you felt as if all your hard work was underestimated because of Niki. As if your boost in popularity was mostly because of him. It irritated you.

You worked hard for this. You made it out for yourself. No thanks to him. All you wanted was to be as far as you could from him.

You leaned against the railing, a glass of champagne in hand, but your mind was elsewhere. The past few weeks had been a whirlwind of emotions. Working with Niki had stirred up everything you’ve buried—the longing, the heartbreak, the unresolved tension. And tonight, it felt like it was all teetering on the edge of spilling over. You were so fed up. The pretentious act, the subtle messages, the mixed signals. Everything.

“You’re quiet tonight.”

His voice came from behind you, gentle and steady. You didn’t have to turn to know it was Niki.

You exhaled slowly, irritated, “Just tired.”

He stepped closer, the warmth of his presence cutting through the cool night air.

“Tired, or avoiding me?”

you turn around to face him, “What are you talking about?”

His expression was calm, but his eyes spoke many messages. He shoves his hands in his pockets, sighing.

“You’ve been distant. Since that scene last week, you’ve barely looked at me, let alone talked to me. Why?” he urged, his expression holding a look of longing.

you roll your eyes, the frustration bubbling up, “I’m just doing my job. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to be doing?”

He shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping his lips, “Don’t do that. Don’t pretend this is just work. I know you felt it—every moment we’ve had together on set, it wasn’t just acting. And you’re running from it.”

your chest tightened, his words hitting too close to the truth than you like. You set your glass down on the railing, your hands trembling.

“What do you want me to say? That I feel something? That being around you again makes me question everything I’ve tried to move past?”

“Yes,” he said, his voice breaking slightly. Your eyebrows furrow.

“Because it’s the same for me. I tried to move on, y/n, but you… you’re everywhere. And now, working with you, it’s like every wall I built is crumbling.”

you stared at him, the weight of his confession crashing into you.

You scoffed, annoyed and in disbelief at his audacity. This isn’t how the story went in your book. No.

“You left, Niki! You chose this life, this path. You can’t just show yourself in front of me after not hearing from you for years and expect me to pretend like everything is fine,” you fumed, tears clouding your vision.

His jaw tightened, “I looked for you! I came back to our hometown, I…I searched for you everywhere. But it was too late. They told me you were gone. I didn’t know where to look for you, y/n...”

Your eyes flickered in shock. Your heart dropped. He looked for you? Why didn’t you know any of this? No one ever told you that he came back for you…but still, to act like this after leaving in the first place is uncalled for. What difference does it make, right? But why is your heart beating so fast? Why is your body longing for his touch?

He steps closer to you, “I was so stupid for leaving you alone in the first place, I know. I got caught up with my schedule and training that I couldn’t even sleep, let alone text. Training was intense and immersive at the company, we weren’t allowed to communicate. By the time they were more lenient with communicating, i left you so many messages and calls. Why didn’t you answer?”

You blink, slowly taking in the information, “I had changed my number. After being ghosted by my own boyfriend, seeing you be all successful on your own and feeling like you forgot about me, hurt me. It’s when I started my acting career.”

He shook his head, “I could never abandon you, it wasn’t on purpose, y/n. I thought about you every single second. You were my motivation. I thought once i was successful enough, i’d be able to find you quicker. That you’d come find me.”

“You just decided for both of us, and I was supposed to be okay with it? Do you know what it felt like to see you fade away without a word? I was worried sick for you! I didn’t know where to find you or reach you. I even worried that you were dead! Just like that, without even officially ending it, the relationship we had built was gone in an instant. How could you do this to me?” you bit your lip, holding back the urge to cry.

The silence that followed was deafening. His shoulders slumped slightly, the fight draining out of him, “I never meant for this to happen. I never meant to hurt you. But I see now that I hurt you more than anything else ever could. And I regret it so much.”

you crossed your arms, trying to keep a calm and collected composure despite the burning feeling in your throat from trying not to cry, “You did.”

For a moment, neither of you spoke, the sounds of the party fading into the background.

Then, softly, he said, “I don’t want to hurt you again, y/n. But I don’t know how to stop feeling this way.”

you shook your head, tears threatening to spill, “You don’t get to say that now, Niki. You don’t get to just… come back into my life and make me feel like this all over again. Not after years of loving you—waiting for you.”

He softly flinched, his expression softening. He reached for your hand, but you pulled away, stepping back.

“I can’t do this,” you whispered, your voice breaking, “I can’t go through this again.”

You turned on your heel, heading towards the exit. You quickly get pulled back by Niki, whose grip is desperate onto your wrist.

“Don’t go,” he pleaded, “please.”

“Niki, let go of me—”

“I love you.”

Your eyes widen slightly at his abrupt words. Your body loosens, forgetting to resist. Your eyes meet, his touch on your skin tingles.

“What are you saying?” You managed to say, your eyes looking into his for truth.

“I love you, y/n. I never stopped loving you,” he confessed, looking down at you in yearning.

“Don’t do this,” You pleaded, shaking your head softly as tears prickle at the corner of your eyes.

You didn’t know how much you could take, and all of this was just too sudden. Like salt on the wound.

And then, Jay barges through the doors of the rooftop.

“Niki, they need you,” he said, looking back and forth between you both.

You quickly turn away, hiding your teary expression. Before he could say anything, You quickly make your way past Jay and out the doors. As you push your way through the crowd, you feel your heart breaking further and further you walk away from him.

The echoes of the rooftop confrontation lingered long after you left the party. You replayed Niki’s words in your head, over and over, until they became a loop of emotions you couldn’t escape.

For the next few days, you threw yourself into work, avoiding every call, text, and notification. Niki hadn’t reached out directly, but articles about the music video were everywhere, the internet buzzing with speculation about your "chemistry." Fans had pieced together theories and speculations about you both. It was alarming.

When your phone buzzed with a new text from your manager, you hesitated before reading it.

"Director wants you on set tomorrow. Enhypen is doing some last-minute pickups for the video, and they want you in the final scene. Non-negotiable."

You stared at the message, your stomach knotting. Facing Niki again felt impossible, but walking away now would mean letting your emotions derail your hard earned career—a line you weren’t willing to cross.

The final scene was simple: Niki and I standing together, framed by soft lighting, as the camera panned out to symbolize resolution. When you arrived, Niki was already there, surrounded by makeup team. He looked up as you entered, his expression a mix of hesitation and relief.

“Y/n,” he said, standing.

you nodded curtly, keeping your distance, “Let’s just get this over with.”

The director wasted no time, positioning you both side by side under the glow of a massive artificial sunset. The scene required you to face each other, your hands almost touching as if the unspoken tension between you had finally resolved.

“Alright, action!”

you moved into position, your eyes meeting under the soft light. Your breath caught as Niki’s hand hovered close to yours, the warmth of his presence seeping through the small space between you. The scene was supposed to be quiet, but as the camera rolled, Niki broke the silence. His voice was barely audible, meant only for you.

“I meant what I said the other night,” he whispered, his eyes searching yours.

You tensed, your carefully maintained composure cracking.

“Niki…”

“No, listen,” he continued, his voice steady but full of emotion.

“I’ve spent every day since I left regretting it. I thought I was doing what was best for us, but I was a coward. I was afraid of being no one, so I worked tirelessly to debut. I wanted to be someone for you. To get us both out of that small town. But i was too careless and forgot what all of this was for. Who all of this was for… you were the only thing keeping me grounded,” he said.

Tears welled in your eyes, but you couldn’t respond. The director called, “Cut!” but neither of you moved. Niki’s hand finally closed the gap, his fingers brushing yours.

“Please, y/n. Just tell me if there’s still a chance. I’ll fight for it—I’ll fight for us—if you want me to,” he begged, squeezing your hand.

Your throat tightened as his words sank in, “Do you think it’s that easy? That we can just pick up where we left off?”

“No,” he admitted, his voice raw, “But I’ll do whatever it takes to make it right.”

The crew watched you both curiously as you stood there, the tension palpable even off-camera. Finally, you stepped back, breaking the moment.

“I need time,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper.

Niki nodded, though the pain in his eyes was evident, “I’ll wait.”

Back in your apartment that night, you sat alone in the dim light of your living room, replaying every word he’d said. Part of you wanted to believe him, to take the leap and trust that you both could find your way back to each other. But another part of you was terrified. Of being hurt again.

Weeks after that, you continued to replay those moments with Niki. Although shooting was wrapped up and the music video was out, you still felt stuck. You hadn’t reached out to him, you hesitated every time, afraid of what could happen if you decide to let him back in. But you knew, deep down, you were running away from what you truly felt.

Love.

You ardently and most irrevocably, loved Niki.

You stared at his name on your phone for the millionth time this month. Your thumb hovering over the call button before you sighed and put the phone down. You just didn’t have the courage to do it. Just as you were about to head to the kitchen for coffee, there was a knock at the door. You froze, your heart racing.

Yes, you just knew.

when you opened the door, there he was. Niki, standing in the hallway, looking like he hadn’t slept. His hair was a mess, his outfit still impeccable, but his eyes—those eyes that always seemed to see through you—were unwavering.

“What are you doing here?” you asked, your voice weaker than you intended.

“I couldn’t leave things like that,” he said, his voice low but steady. “Please, I just needed to see you.”

You hesitated, every part of you screaming to slam the door and protect what was left of your fragile heart. But something in his expression stopped you.

“Five minutes,” you said, stepping aside.

He walked in, his movements careful, as though afraid of pushing you further away. You stayed near the door, arms crossed, your defenses firmly in place.

“I know I hurt you,” he began, his hands clenching at his sides. “And I’ve been trying to figure out the right way to say this, but there isn’t one. I’ve been missing you, missing you like crazy.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with sincerity.

“You don’t know what it was like for me, Niki. Watching you rise, seeing your face everywhere while I was trying to forget—do you have any idea how that felt?”

“I do,” he said softly, “Because I was watching you too. Every movie, every headline—you were everywhere, y/n. And every time, I thought, ‘She’s better off without me.’ But now…”

He paused, his voice breaking slightly, “Now I know I was wrong. I don’t want to just be a memory in your life. I want to be part of it again.”

The vulnerability in his voice shattered something in you.

He took a step closer, his gaze never leaving yours,“let me prove it to you. Whatever it takes, I’ll do it. Just… don’t shut me out, y/n. Not again. I don’t want to lose you when i just got you back.”

“I can’t promise anything,” you said finally.

He holds you by your arms, looking down at you tenderly.

He nodded, a small, hopeful smile tugging at his lips. “That’s enough.”

You both stare at eachother in silence, the tension growing heavier and heavier. Your eyes glance down at his lips and then up at his eyes. And before you both knew it, you were drawing closer and closer to each other.

He kisses you, softly and tenderly. For a second, you’re stunned but quickly close your eyes in relief as you kiss him back. He lets out a soft, relieved, sigh as he moves his hands from your arms to cup your face. He deepened the kiss, savoring every taste of you. He starts to push forward, causing you to move backward until your back hits the wall. The kiss is yearnful, desperate, and so messy. Feelings you didn’t know you had emerged from you. Finally, you both pull away to catch your breath.

“I missed this,” he exhaled, both of your faces just mere inches away.

Both your foreheads rested against each other. You closed your eyes, catching your breath.

“Me too…” your breath hitched as his fingers found their way under your shirt.

He captures your lips once again, slowly yet hungrily. He picks you up, you wrap your legs around his torso and your arms around his neck. He leads you blindly to the bedroom, laying you on top of the bed. He positions himself between your legs as he towers over you, using his arms to support his weight. He doesn’t break the kiss as his hands trail all over your body. Feeling every inch of you, remembering, noting every feature of your trembling body. He breaks the kiss to leave a trail of wet kisses on your neck, his free hand sliding under your shirt. He feels your bare skin under his touch, he grips onto your waist. You let out a shaky exhale.

“Niki…”

"Y/n,” he murmured, his tone a mix of desperation and restraint, “I can’t do this halfway with you. If I continue kissing you—touching you like this—I won’t be able to stop.”

You swallow, hard. After a moment of hesitation, you nod. He captures your lips once again, this time slowly, meaningfully, and passionately. As if he was promising so many things in one kiss. He drags his arm down your legs, slowly pulling down your shorts alongside.

His touch became more insistent as he worshipped you with a fervor that left you breathless. Whispering and groaning sweet names and phrases to you like an alluring consolation. Time seemed to blur as you both gave yourselves over to each other, the years of longing and heartbreak dissolving in the heat of the moment.

For the first time in what felt like forever, you let yourself feel—completely, unapologetically, and without restraint. Niki made you forget everything but him, his touch grounding you while his kisses sent you soaring. And as the night stretched on, the walls you'd so carefully built around your heart began to crumble, leaving nothing but the raw, undeniable truth of what you've both been fighting all along: you were meant to find your way back to each other.

By the time the music awards came, your relationship with Niki had soared. Private, but not secret. For the better of your careers, for now at least.

The thunderous applause echoed through the arena as Enhypen's name lit up the massive screen behind the stage. They had just won the biggest award of the night—Song of the Year. Fans screamed, the cameras panned across the cheering crowd, and the members of Enhypen rose to their feet, hugging each other before heading up to the stage.

You sat in the audience, clapping politely, doing your best to remain composed despite the swell of pride bubbling in your chest. You avoided the cameras, knowing full well they’d zoom in on you if you looked too emotional. Niki caught your eye as he walked by, his smile quick and fleeting, but it was enough to make your heart stutter.

The group gathered on stage, their presence commanding as the arena quieted for their speech. Jungwon took the mic first, thanking their team, their fans, and their families. The other members chimed in, their voices laced with gratitude and joy.

Then the mic was passed to Niki.

“Wow,” he started, his deep voice carrying over the crowd. “This is… unbelievable. I don’t think there’s a word big enough to describe what this moment feels like.”

“I’ve been thinking a lot about this moment,” he continued, his voice steady but laced with something deeper—something vulnerable.

“When we started, we never imagined we’d make it this far. There were so many times we doubted ourselves, so many nights we wondered if we were good enough. But we had each other, and we had you—our fans—to remind us to keep going.”

The crowd roared again, but Niki wasn’t done. His hand tightened on the mic, and his eyes scanned the audience, stopping for a beat when they landed on you. Your breath hitched.

“And there’s one more person I need to thank,” he said, his tone softening.

“Someone who believed in me even before I believed in myself. Someone who’s been an inspiration, a muse, a best friend, and…” He hesitated, a small, almost nervous smile tugging at his lips, “The love of my life.”

Gasps and cheers rippled through the crowd. The cameras swiveled immediately to you, who froze in your seat, your cheeks flushing under the bright lights. Your eyes widen a bit. The crowd cheered lowly at the sight of your beautiful appearance.

Niki's voice grew steadier, more certain, “Y/n, I know this might be the last thing you want right now, but I can’t go up here and pretend you’re not the reason I’ve made it this far. You’ve challenged me, supported me, and even when things were hard, you never stopped being my light.”

“I’ve spent so long trying to prove that I’m worthy of standing next to you. And now, I’m standing here tonight, on this stage, with this award, and I want the world to know that it’s because of you. Thank you, Y/n.”

Tears pricked your eyes as the entire arena seemed to dissolve into chaos. Fans screamed, the cameras fixated on you, and Enhypen's members exchanged wide-eyed looks with one another.

Your gaze locked with Niki's, and despite the noise, the flashing lights, and the million eyes on you both, it felt like you were the only two people in the room.

Niki stepped back from the mic as the crowd continued to roar, his lips curling into a soft smile meant only for you.

You flashed a pretty smile, a chuckle following after. Maybe it was the shock, maybe it was how thoughtful this was, or simply you just loved him so much that nothing else mattered.

The night ended with fans buzzing, headlines exploding, and Enhypen securing their place as not just award winners but as the center of one of the most iconic love declarations in recent history.

[anixvl]

LAB RAT! || P.J

pairing: labrat!jay x fem!reader

synopsis: A successful creation of your manic scientist of a father, Jay’s kept on-the-low in your large estate. Unbeknownst to the secret romantic relationship between you and him, you’re obliged to sneak around and risk it all to see each other.

genre: sci-fi romance, forbidden love, fluff, smut

warnings: smut, cursing, jealousy (on both sides), possiveness, open ending, idkkk

wc: 3.5k

a/n: This was soooooo post-poned and rushed bc I just had so many other ideas & frequently lost motivation. This is a finished draft! I promise I'll get to writing better ones! :(

It was the year 2002 when your father reached his peak in biotechnology. Obsessed with the creation of life and the ability to create something far advanced than a mere human, fascinated him. Within the same year, with endless hard work and dedication, he achieved the impossible. The creation of the first bionic superhuman through illegal experimentation and testing. Donated from birth, Jay was the first successful test subject. Ever since, your father has kept him close by and under the raider from the government. A year later, you were born, and so both of you were raised together under the same roof, yet resided in different subdivisions of the huge mansion. you were strictly prohibited to see or to speak to him without authorization. Not that it stopped you, anyway.

Life continued normally for you outside of your house. Jay wasn’t allowed to go out the first 10 years of his life without supervision, he was homeschooled and busy with your father’s schemes. Jay’s bionic abilities all resided in his brain: telekinesis and intellectual advancement. He had no trouble getting by. It wasn’t only until the age of 14 that he was allowed to step foot outside the house on his own.

He knew he had nowhere to run, anyway. He had to come back home or else the implanted switches, by father, in his body would immobilize him and malfunction his ability to keep his bionics under stable control. He was, as much as he hated it, a labrat.

By the time he was an adult, he was beyond filthy rich. He worked for father, using his intelligence and telekinetic abilities, he was able to make off a civil living off of it. As he grew older, father got him a license, ID, a bank card, and all federal concepts he would need as an adult. Things to make him feel like a real, normal, person. Yet, it was never enough to let him fully leave. He was bound to your family and his predestined duties. It's what he was made for.

Though, It wasn’t the only thing that persuaded him to stay.

“Y/n,” someone softly whispers in your sleep.

you stir in bed, softly groaning as you wake up. your eyes flutter open, looking around your spacious room. The moon lit up your room beautifully through the balcony doors. you sit up, facing the figure at the edge of your bed.

“Jay? What are you doing here?” you whisper.

He shakes his head, gently caressing the side of your face.

“I missed you,” he frowned, analyzing your face in admiration. A face he’s never tired of seeing.

you had been gone for a week, sent to your aunts home in Italy. With not much to communicate, all you could do was wait till you came back to see him.

“I was going to find you after I slept, I was just so tired from the plane ride back,” you explained, overlapping your hand over his. you lean into his touch.

“why didn’t you call?” He asked, crawling closer to you.

“I was going to but I was really busy with my aunt,” you replied, scooting back cautiously.

He towered over you, eyeing you like prey, “Ah, I see. Busy.”

“I should’ve called, i’m sorry,” you look up at him, gripping onto his shirt.

He leans onto his rested arm beside your head, used as support. He leans in to kiss you, slowly, almost punishingly. your eyes shutter close. your hands roam around his soft skin, feeling him.

“Who’s Jake?” he asks, devouring your neck with wet kisses.

your mind becomes fuzzy at the stimulation, it’s hard to focus.

“H-How do you know about him? He’s my aunts friend son,” you reply, shakily.

Soft moans escape your lips at his roaming hands over your burning body and his trail of kisses lowering.

He bites at your collarbone, “Were you with him the entire week?”

you softly whimper, in pain and pleasure. your eyes are shut closed.

“Just for a few days,” you confessed, “whenever his family came over to my aunts.”

He harshly captures your lips once again, slowly sliding his hand under your shirt. He takes your breast in his hand, fondling it. you moan against his lips.

“Did you like being with him?” he asks, his eyes piercing through yours. The lights flickered.

you shake your head insistently, “Of course not, why would I?”

He grinds the tent inside his pants in between your legs. The barrier of mere fabric overwhelming the throb between your legs.

“I saw the pictures of you and him on the news, it's quite the talk now,” he stated, unintentionally ripping your shirt in eagerness to take it off.

you open your mouth, about to protest.

“I’ll buy you a new one,” his mouth takes in the bud of your sensitive breasts, “fuck, i’ll buy you as many as you want.”

you moan, lacing your fingers within his hair. He leaves wet kisses down to your stomach. He looks up at you as he places his hands on the hem of my shorts. you nod, reassuringly. He takes them off, sliding his hands down your soaked panties. He spreads the wetness of your cunt onto his fingers.

“Such a good girl, you’re so wet for me,” he takes off your panties, positioning himself in between your legs.

His mouth meets your cunt, taking a wet lick. He groans in satisfaction, wrapping his strong arms around your thighs, locking his face into your cunt. you cover your mouth from the involuntary sounds.

“Jay, what if someone hears us?” you shakily whisper, your legs quivering in pleasure.

He quickly glances at the door, the lock forcefully moving in place with just a look.

“There. Your dad left on a business trip, don’t worry,” he mumbles, focusing his attention back to between your legs.

Lewd, wet, slurping noises and soft moans fill the room.

“fuck, jay, im going to cum,” you whimper, your body trembling as it approaches its high.

He teases you with kisses onto your folds, causing you to squirm in eagerness.

“Jay, please,” you pleaded, he takes his pants off.

“Please, what?” he taunted, “use your words.”

“I need you,” you exhaled.

His thumb wipes off the precum from his tip, positioning his throbbing cock between your wet folds.

“I’ll make sure of it,” he affirmed, pushing into you with one swift thrust.

you shudder in pleasure, gripping onto his arms. His pace is slow and sensual, his gaze unwavering onto your expression. Your expressions and lewd sounds just makes his cock harder inside you. His mind trails back to your aunts pictures, his grip tightens.

“Why’d you smile at him like that?” his face flinches in pleasure, a subtle anger in his words and thrusts.

He leans down to devour your neck as he continues to thrusts deep. your nails dig deep into his back. your mind feels melted and your body is burning up in desire.

“Don’t smile like that to anyone but me,” he groans.

your insistent moans and the sound of skin slapping against each other fills your room.

“Jay,” you manage to say, “what’s up with y-you?”

He continues to leave sloppy kisses and love bites all over your collarbone and neck, his pace unwavering. His lips move beside your ear.

“Don’t go anywhere anymore,” he whispers in a low voice, “stay right here, with me.”

you lace your fingers through his hair and fist it, causing him to quicken his pace. you grip onto his hair, hard, incoherent words spilling from you. He let out a grunt, his hands moving to your calves to force them up over his shoulders. Ensuring his control over your body, every sound, every part of you, every breath, is his. The new position caused his cock to reach deep within you, your eyes rolling back over each one of his thrusts. Your breath was rigid and unsteady.

“Say it,” he demands, his pace mercilessly pounding into you.

“Say you’ll stay here with me. No one else,” his voice strained with groans.

“Yes, yes,” you breathe out, feeling a knot begin in my stomach.

“I won’t go anywhere. I love you, Jay,” you replied, your voice shaky.

He hums in response, satisfied. He groaned as you tightened around him, taking a hold of your wrists and pinning your hands down beside your head, interlocking your hands with his.

“Fuck, baby, just like that,” he grunted, “keep doing that.”

He kisses you, harshly. His thrusts become demanding, you struggle to kiss him back. you clench around his cock, the feeling in your stomach becoming intense by the second. He bites down on your neck, silencing his frequent grunts, getting louder and louder the more you clench around him.

“Jay, I’m—” you whimper, approaching your high.

“yeah?” he pounds into your cunt mercilessly, “you’re going to cum on my cock?”

you nod, whiny moans in response.

“Fuck,” he exhales, his grip onto your skin tightening.

You reach your high with a final cry, your body trembling from the electrifying bolt. A warm, filling, substance spurts deep within you following your orgasm. Jay continues to thrust within you, riding out each others high. Panting, he drops next to you, exhausted. His strong hands reach to grab you by your waist, pulling you into his warm bare chest. You immediately melt into his embrace. He plays with a strand of your hair, his breathing steadying. Your eyelids feel heavy against his warmth and strong embrace.

“I missed you,” Jay whispers, softly.

You chuckle, “you already said that.”

“I’ll say it many times and it still won’t be enough,” he replied, pulling away a bit to catch your gaze.

“I love you,” you state, gently.

“you already said that,” he teased.

You narrowed your eyes at him. He chuckles at your pouty expression.

He leans down to kiss you, softly and lovingly.

“I love you too,” he replied, drawing small circles on your skin amidst caressing your cheek.

His big hands travel all around your body, feeling every curve and feature about you like a precious artifact. He grips onto your ass, a low chuckle released from his lips as he pulls you closer to him. He buries his face in your neck.

“No one else can have you,” he mumbles against your skin, “you’re mine.”

You let out a happy sigh, relieved to be in his arms after time apart. There’s nowhere else you’d rather be.

The next morning, you woke up reaching for his warmth but was met with his absence. Your eyes blink open, sitting up, alarmed. You look around your room, hoping to find him here. You’re quickly met with disappointment. Your eyebrows knit together in confusion.

“Jay?” You call out softly.

No response.

You get up from your bed, walking over to your open balcony. The doors are cracked open, a familiar voice is heard from outside. You approach it cautiously, listening to the familiar voice and his conversation. You watch Jay on the phone through the cracked doors of the balcony.

“Is that really what you want? It’s never been a thought to you before, so why now? I don’t want to do it,” he spoke, his expression stern and irritated.

A faint voice is heard on the other line, Jay pinches the temple of his nose in distress.

“I don’t even know her,” he replies, “does she even know about me? who I am? what I am?”

Your eyebrows furrow in confusion, you step closer in curiosity. What could he be talking about? who’s “her”? And why does he look so distressed?

“Do I have any other choice? There must be another way,” he adds, sighing.

His expression seems angrily defeated, as he brings his phone from his ear into his sight. The phone call has ended. He turns around, catching you at the doors. His expression falls.

“What was that about?” you ask, examining his face.

“You’re awake. How’d you sleep, love?” he dismisses your question, walking back into the room.

He steps closer to you, cupping your face with his hands. He leans down to kiss your lips, softly.

“Jay, who was that?” you retract, searching into his eyes for a sign of truth.

He avoids your gaze, sitting at the edge of your bed. You cross your arms over your chest, worriedly.

“What is it, jay?” you step closer, “you’re scaring me.”

“It was your father,” he confessed, looking down at his hands.

“He…”

“he what?” you ask, anxious by the second.

“He wants me to marry the daughter of his business partner. He says it will be beneficial to us,” he explains, looking up to meet your heartbroken gaze.

Your breath catches in your throat, your legs threatening to betray you. You falter, Jay quickly launches forward to stabilize you.

“Y/n,” he looks at you worriedly, holding onto you.

“Jay, you can’t marry her. I wont let you,” you rambled, desperately holding onto his arm as if he were to disappear if you let go.

"I won't let this happen, I'll talk to father," you stated, determination coursing furiously through your veins.

Tears clouded your vision, reality was slowly setting in. It was bound to happen, an icebreaker in your relationship. You just didn’t think it would be so soon.

Jay shakes his head, wiping away your tears.

“I won’t marry her or anyone else,” he gently reassures, “not if they’re not you.”

You sniffle, feeling your heart warm at the thought. Marriage, you and Jay. Something you’ve dreamed of since you were just a young girl. You truly cannot imagine anyone else you’d want to spend the rest of your life with if it isn’t Jay.

He signals behind you with a soft expecting smile. You look behind your shoulder, confused. In middle air, floats a small black box. You turn around, walking towards it. You lift your hands to reach for it. You momentarily look at Jay, who's smiling at you proudly. You open the box carefully, your eyes slightly widen.

"Jay, this...?" you place a hand over your mouth in disbelief.

Inside the box displayed a beautiful diamond ring.

He walks over to you, "It's for you, love."

Jay takes the ring from the box and grabs your hand, sliding the ring onto your finger. He stares at your hand, arousing him in so many weird ways. It was a mark, a symbolism that showcased his profound love and claim over you. Your heart surges in happiness, feeling utterly shocked. You stare at the shiny ring, admiring its beautiful qualities.

"Oh Jay...When did you get this?" You ask, in complete awe.

"A while ago. I just...didn't want to seem too pathetic for buying you a ring so early into the relationship," he explained, sheepishly looking away.

That thought settled into your mind; Jay has been in love with you for so long. Pathetically, irrevocably, inevitably, in love with you. Body and Soul.

"Where's yours?" You frown.

He lifts his hand up, revealing a silver ring onto his finger.

"Right here, my dear," he reassures, a sly smirk onto his handsome face.

Your eyes immediately lighten up, finding happiness in the shared connection you and Jay now have. His heart skips a beat at your expression. It quickly disolves all his self-restraint.

He leans in to kiss you, tenderly and slowly.

Your stomach turned at the thought of someone else being able to kiss Jay.

“Don’t think about it,” he mumbled against the kiss.

“Stop reading me,” you complained, remembering his frustrating genius abilities and the way he can spot-on read your thoughts and feelings just by watching you. Studying you long enough, examining.

“Can’t help it, love,” he smirked, scooping you up in his arms and taking you to your bed.

He lightly sits down first, holding you in his lap.

You immediately welcome him, wrapping your arms around his neck to pull him closer. You need to feel any sort of his warmth against your skin. To prove he’s still here, still yours.

He leaves hot kisses over the hickeys he left on your neck last night, his hands traveling down to your hips. He grips onto you tightly, grinding your hips back and forth onto his growing member. You shift your head, giving him opening to attack your neck with more love bites. Your breath becomes rigid as you close your eyes, taking in every touch he leaves on your burning skin.

His hand goes under your shirt, brushing the side of your waist. He kisses your collarbone, engraving the feeling of your skin under his fingertips. He looks up at you, a glint of desire in his eyes. Breathless, your hips continue to rock against him, muffled moans threatening to intensify. You tug at his sweats, urging. He lets out a low chuckle before lifting himself up slightly to slide his sweats off. You follow him, taking your shorts off. You climb off him, placing yourself inbetween his legs. His eyebrows raise in amusement, caught in surprise. You were way more insistent than usual.

He eyed you intently as you slipped his boxers off. His cock popped out, hitting his stomach.

“You’re gonna suck me off, love?” he taunted, with a low voice.

You dont reply, you simply take his cock with your hand, a string of spit falls onto his tip. He lets out a shaky exhale. You take him in your mouth, only partly. He brings his hand to lift your face up to him by your chin, he caresses you softly as you suck him off. He holds his grip onto your face, maintaining eye contact as you take his cock deeper. His face flinches in pleasure, beads of sweat forming onto his forehead.

“Keep your eyes on me,” he growled, “don’t fucking look away.”

The lamp from your nightstand starts flickering intensely, a reflection of his immense uncontrollable feelings. You suck him further, his cock hardening as it hits the walls of your throat. He mumbles phrases and curses under his breath. His hand caresses the top of your head, occasionally fisting your hair. You manage to somehow keep your eyes on Jay, afraid of the consequences you'd face if you provoke him. Your eyes sting, hot tears falling at the corner of your eyes from him fucking your throat roughly. Your supply of oxygen is cut short, you push against his thighs. He curses under his breath, pushing you further onto his member at the feeling of his orgasm approaching. With a loud gasp from you, Jay lets you go. You sit onto the floor, panting. He leans over to grab you by your waist, his strong hands quickly taking your panties off. He lifts you onto his lap once again, this time rubbing his twitching member onto your wet folds. You whimper, gripping onto his shoulders. He slowly lowers you onto his member, gripping onto your ass as he forces you to take him all in.

your mouth falls agape, lacing your fingers within his hair.

“Fuck, jay…” you moan, savoring the feeling of his cock thrushing past your walls.

You look at him intensely, obscene thoughts accumulating in your mind at the sight.

It doesn’t matter who he marries, he’ll end up face deep between your thighs at the end of the night. His cock filling you up, his marks all over your skin.

Those lewd thoughts aroused you even more, your moans becoming more frequent.

You continue riding his cock, your breath becoming rigid and hot. He throws his head back, one hand tightly onto your ass and the other onto the bed to support him.

"Shit...just like that," he groans, "keep riding my cock, baby."

Your breasts mimic your bouncing movements onto his twitching cock. You hold onto him, your face buried into his neck. You bite him, leaving marks all over his soft skin. The light bulbs explode. Jay thrusts his hips upward into you the moment he feels you clentch around him. A loud gasp escapes your mouth, feeling your orgasm approach. He kisses you roughly at the sight of your sultry expression. You squeeze your eyes shut as your orgasm washes over your body. Jay grunts loudly soonly after, his warm seed filling you up. Your body trembles as you both lay onto the bed, hands interlocked. Both of your gazes rest onto the matching rings you share. A immense, peaceful, feeling lingers within both of you.

He buries his face into your hair.

"I love you, Jay."

"I love you too, Y/n."

You both knew the consequences and trials you were bound to face, but none of that mattered. As long as you had each other, nothing could change what you both shared.

Inseverable destiny.

[anixvl]

TUTORING SESSIONS !

synopsis: Since middle school, Heeseung and your brother, Yang Jungwon, have been inseparable friends. You’ve known Heeseung through Jungwon and frequently saw him a lot due to it. In your last year of high school, things began to take a rocky turn when you’re assigned to tutor Heeseung.

pairing: brothersfriend!heeseung x fem!reader

genre: fluff, angst, highschool au, suggestive, friends to lovers!

warnings: profanity, alcohol use, drug use, touchy!!

wc: 7.4k

You can’t seem to remember the first time you met Heeseung. It was all sudden, wild, yet natural. All that you could remember was the house being filled with laughter, the voice of Heeseung and your brother, in his room. He fit in your lives, like a puzzle. Even as time flew by, he grew up alongside you. You had gotten use to having him around. Just, there. Although he and your brother are a year older than you, they always make sure to include you in their plans.

You don’t remember the last time you guys did anything without the trio. Though, growing up, Heeseung and you always bickered about something. Never on the same page, you find that he’s completely different from you. You’re top 3 of your class, he’d rather skip school. You’re into books and self-care days, he’s into going out all the time and causing trouble. You question how your brother, who’s a mix of both of you two, can handle his mess. He’s completely annoying, loud, and cocky. He always has something to bother you about. You guys can never get along. And you won’t, ever. Right?

“Could you please do us the favor? We trust that no one can do this but you,” your homeroom teacher pleaded, glancing over at a unamused Heeseung.

He sat lazily onto the seat. As seniors, Heeseung needs to raise his grades to be qualified to graduate but—as expected—he’s flunking. As if things couldn’t get worse, you were particularly chosen to tutor him and hope it helps him raise his grades. You can’t escape his mess, no matter what. You glare at him before sighing. Turning to your teacher, you hesitate. You internally scold yourself in disbelief.

You’re really doing this…

“Sure. I’ll give it a try…” you force a smile.

“It’s settled, then! Thank you for your help, Y/n,” your homeroom teacher smiles, relieved.

You excuse yourself before walking out of the teachers lounge. As you walk down the hallway, footsteps trail behind you. Heeseung appears next to you with his bag thrown over his shoulder, carelessly.

“No way, you’re actually going to tutor me?” he asks, a mocking smirk on his face. You roll your eyes, irritated at just the thought of it.

“Unfortunately. If you actually had a brain and stopped skipping school maybe I wouldn’t have had to!” you scolded, walking to your desk to pack up your belongings.

“I lost track, I guess…” he shrugs.

The classroom is empty, school ended a few minutes ago. Jungwon is waiting at the front gate. You place your bag onto the desk and start shoving in what’s left. Heeseung leans onto the desk next to you, looking down at you furiously packing. He stares at you, analyzing every small gesture of your mood onto your face. You glance at him, catching a glimpse of his cocky smirk.

“Is this entertaining for you?”

“Very,” he taunted.

“You’re an idiot,” you flash him a mocking smile before heading out.

Jungwon looks up from his phone, waving at you and heeseung.

“What took you guys so long? Let’s go home,” He complained, walking beside you.

All three of you walk home, Heeseung to your right and Jungwon to your left. Jungwon and Heeseung talked most of the time about random things. You subconsciously zoned out.

“Heeseung, what did you do to y/n? She hasn’t spoken a word since we’ve left,” Jungwon snickered, glancing back at you.

“What makes you think it’s me?” Heeseung complained.

“It’s almost always you,” Jungwon chuckled.

It didn’t take long for Heeseung to bother you once sessions started. After only the first session, you felt like you wanted to quit. It was hard to get anywhere with him, when all you guys did was bicker. You spent the next 2 weeks, together, at your living room, tutoring him. Everyday, for 3 hours. You convinced yourself you were still sane. You weren’t.

At one point, things did get better. Progress was being done: finishing work and less arguing. He made sure to bring your favorite strawberry milk before every lesson, “to keep our peaceful truce,” you thought. It became a routine, one only him and you shared. Soon, It became easier to laugh with him instead of at him.

It’s been only a few hours since you’ve last saw him at school and he’s already texting you about coming over. you quickly type back.

‘Bring your notebook. I’ll see you in 15.’

‘yes ma’am.’

Later, you open the door to reveal Heeseung. A strong smell of alcohol stuns you. You glance over at the clock hung on your wall, furrowing your eyebrows.

“Heeseung, are you serious? It’s only 9pm and you’re already drinking?” you cross your arms.

He slides his way through the door. His chest slightly grazes against yours in the process. He tosses the untouched notebook onto the table before plopping onto the couch.

“I was hanging out with some friends, princess,” he comments, nonchalantly.

you scoff, in disbelief. Closing the front door, you pick up his notebook from the table. You turn to him.

“Not here. We’re going to my room, get up,” you demand, already irritated and session hasn’t even started.

He pauses. A thought runs through his mind,

you guys have never been in your room, alone.

He looks away and lifts himself up from the couch, slowly following you up the stairs.

You allow him to walk in first, closing the door behind you. You’ve set the table onto the floor to place the materials for the session. You both sit on opposite sides of each other from the table. Unusually, the silence is deafening. You swallow, hard. Why are you so tense? It’s not like you haven’t been alone with Heeseung before, so why does your body tremble the way it does now?

“Let’s start, then…”

An hour in, you come to realize how intelligent Heeseung actually is. It surprised you, even. He has so much potential, with the way he quickly picks up on things, he can be top 10. Yet he’d rather waste it away to alcohol and recklessness. A pang of disappointment hits you with the thought.

The sound of breathing and pencil on paper fills the room. It’s a nice, tranquil, type of silence. Comfortable. Natural. Uncommon, from the both of you. You try to focus on your work, yet catch yourself glancing at him working on the practice problems from time to time. A soft smile tugs at your lips without realizing.

“He looks cute, working hard like this,” you thought.

The way his handsome face rests onto his hand. The cute shape of his eyes and how they gaze at the paper. The soft sound of his breathing. God, and the way his eyebrows slightly flinch at the sight of a difficult problem…

“What is it?” he breaks you from your train of thought.

You prop up, dumbfounded.

Fuck, were you staring for too long? Why were you looking at that idiot, anyway?

He keeps his eyes on the paper, writing swiftly onto the surface.

“Nothing…” you shift your gaze away, your face burning up in embarrassment.

He glances at you, “By the way, where’s Jungwon?”

you shift your focus onto the work in front of you, trying to calm your unsteady heartbeat down. Why is it suddenly so suffocating in here?

“He’s not home.”

Heeseung visible tenses up.

“But he knows i’m here, right?” He asks, with an unusual hint of shyness in his voice.

“Beats me,” you shrug. You take a pause at writing and look up at him.

your eyes meet.

“What?” you ask, softly. Feeling your cheeks burn up in embarrassment.

“He doesn’t know i’m here? Are you crazy?” he replies, in disbelief.

“what’s the problem?” you question, feeling hot in this room. You subtly fan yourself with your shirt.

“Jungwon is going to kill me if he finds us in your room. You do know that, right?” he replied, analyzing my face.

“Why would he? we’re just studying,” you raise an eyebrow, “plus, it’s just you.”

He narrows his eyes at you. He raises an eyebrow, provoked.

“It’s just me?” he restates.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” he chided, slightly tilting his head.

“It just means Jungwon knows you wouldn’t do that…” you replied, gripping onto your hands in your lap.

He pauses, “Is that what you think?”

Your face slightly flinches at his subtle question. You look into his eyes.

“I’ve known you long enough to know what you would and wouldn’t do,” you protested, “…and what I wouldn’t do.”

His jaw tightens. He lifts himself from the floor.

“Where are you going—?” you began, following behind him.

“Just because i’m me, doesn’t make me less of a man. You shouldn’t be alone with a man when no one else is there to protect you. Doesn’t that worry or matter to you? or are you that much of an idiot?” He argued, making his way to the door.

you furrow your eyebrows, irritated and confused at his sudden outburst. What’s with his change of mood?

“What are you talking about? Why would I need anyone to protect me from you? Why are you suddenly being like this?” you argued, reaching out to grab the hem of his jacket.

He opens the front door, pausing to look at you one last time.

“You’re so infuriating.”

And then, he pulls away from your grip and slams the door in your face.

you stand there, dumbfounded and frustrated. Silence takes over the house once again. Yet, one that is not calm, or tranquil, nor comfortable. One that is suffocating, painful, and unbearable. Since when did you start to care about such trivial things?

you guys argue all the time. It’s fine. Everything is fine. This is just one of your many arguments. Silly bickering…right?

As you stare off—to what seems like— beyond the door, a pang of hurt emerges from your heart.

Your lives continued, everything was normal—as if nothing happened. The trio still walked together to school, had lunch together, and walked home from school. Normal, yet distant; at least between Heeseung and you. He’s so close yet so far. The week continued, leaving no time nor courage to talk about what happened that night. you tried to shake it off, the feeling that he was placing a boundary, a line, that you couldn’t cross. When you both talked, he kept it brief and simple. Yet when he talked to Jungwon, he was so talkative and friendly. He stopped showing up to your sessions, too. He always made up an excuse to every attempt you made to talk.

‘Heeseung, are you still coming to todays session?’

‘can’t. I’m out with friends. sorry.’

Anger pent up inside you.

Why is he acting like this? Why won’t he just use his words? There’s no need to ignore you like this. But worst of all, you can’t shake off the heartache of his mistreatment. You found yourself missing his presence around tutoring time and the way the silence when he was in the same room was peaceful. The sight of strawberry milk made you sick to your stomach. It reminded you greatly of him.

It was Friday night when Jungwon walked into your room.

“Hey y/n, I’m heading out to a party. I won’t be back in a while, don’t sleep too late,” He informed.

your eyes lit up at an intrusive thought, “Is Heeseung coming with you?”

“Yeah,” he nodded.

you bit your lip, contemplating. You gathered all the courage and pent-up anger you’ve had up until now.

“I want to come, let me go with you,” you said, getting up from bed.

Jungwon’s eyebrows raise in surprise, taken aback at your unusual interest.

“You? You want to come to a college party?” He asks, perplexed.

you swallow, hard. you nod. It’s been a while since you’ve been to a party, anyway. you needed to set off some steam. Plus, what’s wrong with a little break from constant studying?

Jungwon waits for you to get ready. You quickly find the nicest dress you own, do your makeup, your hair, and lastly spray the most alluring perfume you have. All things you didn’t realize, deep down, were hoping to somehow get back at Heeseung for everything he did. An hour and a half later, you’re done. Thankfully, your dearest brother is patient and very loving of you. If not, he’d leave you behind.

you make your way slowly down the stairs, Jungwon lifts his face from his phone. His face brightens up in surprise.

“Is this really my sister?” He teases, analyzing you.

you roll your eyes playfully, grabbing your purse.

“Although, that dress seems a bit short, don’t you think?” He complains, his protective instinct coming through as he narrows his eyes at the length.

you quickly push the both of you out the door before he makes you change, “Let’s go before we’re late, wonie!”

As Jungwon and you made your way inside the party, the music was blasting loudly and all you could hear was laughing, chatter, and the sound of plastic cups. It reeked of alcohol and drugs. Jungwon placed a protective hand over your back, pushing through the crowd as he looked for a familiar face. His attention gets caught by his friend, Jay, who already has a drink in hand for him.

Jungwon turns back to you, “Stay close by. Little to no drinking—Preferably no drinking. If you need me, just call me.”

He instructs, giving you a stern and warning look before walking off to his friends. You walk off into the abyss of the party, hoping to find a familiar face. Eyes trail on you as you walk by people, ignoring the uncomfortable and lustful looks of men. You go to grab a drink, even when you’re not a fan of it. You bring the cup to your face, smelling it. A wave of disgust washes over you. How can people drink this crap?

Your eyes trail off to the group of people at the living room. You pause. Not too far from you is Heeseung, on the couch, with some girl on his lap. The sight makes you sick to your stomach. His friend happens to see you and calls out to you. All eyes land on you. You freeze. Understandably.

“Hey, pretty girl! Come over here, let’s talk!” He shouts, waving you over to them.

You lock eyes with Heeseung, who has a stoic expression on his face. You stammer a bit but end up walking over to them, keeping your composure. You can’t let Heeseung win. You’ll be damned than to let a man affect you. Your blood boils underneath your skin.

“Let’s see just how far your pride can go until you talk to me. It takes two to play a game,” you thought.

You sit next to his friend, across from Heeseung and that girl on his lap.

“I’m Soobin, what’s your name, pretty?” the friendly guy asks, smiling at you.

You glance over at Heeseung and then back at Soobin.

“Y/n,” you smile, politely. You harshly tug down at your dress, which slightly lifts up when you move. You start to contemplate whether it was really short or not.

Heeseungs eyes glance down at your exposed legs before glancing back at his close conversation with the girl. She slightly bends forward to grab her drink from the table, looking straight into your eyes provokingly. It’s as if she’s rubbing it in your face that she’s the one on his lap, closely and intimately. It fuels your anger evermore.

You knew Heeseung liked to party a lot, and there were many rumors about him being a womanizer, but you never thought it to be true. It took you to see it to finally know.

Your focus shifts to the cup of alcohol Soobin hands you, “here, have some.”

you look at it, feeling disgusted at the sight. Heeseung’s eyes burn through you as you take the cup from Soobin, hesitantly. His jaw clenches, watching intently at the scene before him.

“She doesn’t drink,” he interrupts, sternly.

Everyone’s attention is suddenly turned to Heeseung, who washes down his throat with another gulp of alcohol. you furrow your eyebrows.

Why is he speaking for you? Who does he think he is?

Without thinking any more, you lift the cup to your lips and chug it down. A wash of disgust overcomes you, but you manage to quickly suppress it. you place the cup harshly onto the table, looking directly at him.

“Now I do,” you snarked.

lost track of time, you focused on talking and laughing with Soobin and his friends, taking drink after drink. It was strange, you hadn’t noticed how many you’ve taken and how subconsciously less intolerable it became. you’d occasionally look back at Heeseung and the girl, catching his gaze. you tried to pay no attention to him. you were undeniably tipsy by now, yet you couldn’t shake off the slowing effect it gave to you, soothing you in a unusual way.

“If I had known Jungwon had a pretty and charming sister, we’d have met sooner,” Soobin teases, tucking a strand of your hair behind your ear. Heeseung perks up slightly. His grip onto the girls waist tightens involuntarily, leaving a painful sting onto her waist.

you laugh, softly, pushing Soobin’s hand away.

“You wouldn’t have stood a chance,” you joked, placing your hand gently on his shoulder to rest.

Soobin reaches over for the bottle, pouring into your cup.

He hands you your cup, “drink up, pretty.”

you flash him a pretty smile, reaching for it.

Heeseung’s deep and stern voice pierces through your sensitive drunken hearing, “Y/n, that’s enough.”

You pause, looking over to catch his deadly stare. For a second, your breath gets stuck in your throat. You don’t think you’ve ever seen him this angry. It makes you want to explore it, how far can you push his buttons and get a reaction out of him? A side to him you’ve never seen? All the parts of him you want to explore. Will he show them to me?

you defiantly take the cup, crossing your legs seductively. Oblivious to how the dress lifts up significantly. Heeseung abruptly lifts himself from the couch, making his way over to you. He takes off his leather jacket and tosses it over your lap, protectively.

“Put it on,” he commanded, before firmly yanking your wrist toward him, causing your cup to spill on the floor.

“Heeseung, what the fuck—”

“You’re going home. Where’s Jungwon?” He demands, pulling you up from your seat. You quickly throw on his jacket, stumbling as he drags you away.

You struggle to free yourself from his tight grip and to keep up with his quickened pace.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Slow down!” you protest, angrily.

He leads you out of the party and down the street, stopping under a lamppost. Far, far from previous chaos. You yank your hand away from his grip, fuming in anger.

“What the hell was that?!” you argued.

He leans onto the lamppost, placing a cigarette between his lips and pulling out a lighter from his pocket. Your eyes flickered in disbelief.

“Are you serious?” you launch forward, pulling the cigarette from his mouth.

He steps closer to you, frustrated.

“Since when do you smoke? God, what else is there to you that I don’t know?” you step back.

“Give it to me,” he demands, reaching for the cigarette in your hand.

you quickly stretch your hand outward, keeping it further away from his grasp, “No.”

His chest pushes up against you, grabbing your wrist, the proximity of your faces close in unbearable tension. you both freeze. you look up at him, searching into his eyes for truth, for something real, for the Heeseung you know. His eyes met yours, looking down at you. The lamppost light behind him casting a perfect cast. It was all beautifully cinematic. Your breath hitches.

His eyes trail down to your lips, his adam’s apple bobbing hard as he swallowed.

The cigarette falls from your hand, into a puddle of rain. Suddenly becoming unimportant. His grip on your wrist loosens and you slowly bring your hand back down to your side. He backs away, leaning back onto the lamppost, shy.

“Why have you been ignoring me?” you ask, demanding.

“I haven’t…” He replied, avoiding your gaze.

you scoff, “Please. Is it because of that girl from earlier? Is she your girlfriend?”

you cross your arms, angrily. The memory of them together making you sick.

“What? No, she’s just a friend,” He explains, frustrated.

you roll your eyes, “Ah, just a friend. I see. You let all your friends sit on your lap and touch you that way?”

He scoffs, turning his back on you, running a hand through his hair angrily.

“And you? Since when do you drink? Let alone let other men flirt and touch you? His legs were basically touching your bare legs with that short ass dress you have on,” he lashed, turning back to look at you.

Irritation flashes across your face.

“Oh, I can’t have fun one night but you can? Whenever you feel like it, with whomever, and with however many women you want?” you retorted, closing the space between you both.

“Is your version of fun include being with other men?” he seethed in anger, his face close to yours.

Small, mere, inches.

your eyes blinked down to his lips. your faces only mere inches away. His eyes follow down to your lips. you let out a small shaky breath.

“…And if it is?” you whisper, defiantly.

His eyebrows furrow slightly in irritation before harshly closing the space between your lips. His kiss is yearning and needy. His hand swiftly slides behind your neck, pressing you closer. your lips melt and glide against each other. you don’t dare to break it. The light buzz in your head from the alcohol and the warmth of his kiss on your lips brings you a feeling of ecstasy. You grip onto his shirt, the intensity of the kiss overwhelming you.

After a while, you break the kiss, softly panting.

Heeseung and your eyes immediately find its way back to each other. your face becomes hot, flustered. you look away. His hand cups the side of your cheek, bringing your attention back to him. His thumb drew soft circles on your cheek, speaking to you in a gentle tone.

“Come on, I’ll take you home,” he says, interlocking his fingers within yours.

This time, you don’t protest, you just let him take you away to his car. Your heart beats fast in your chest, still unable to think properly. He opens the door to the passenger side for you, carefully leading you inside. He walks over to the drivers side, getting in. The car ride home is silent, filled with suffocating tension. Your mind flashes back to the kiss you guys had earlier, making your face to burn in embarrassment.

Outside of your house, he stops the car. you sit there, tensed and nervous. you can’t even bring yourself to look his way.

“Y/n,” he breaks the silence.

your name has never sounded so perfect.

“Yes?” you softly ask, gathering all your courage to face him.

“Let’s go out,” he blurts with an unreadable expression.

your eyes flicker in surprise. you stammer.

“What are you talking about?” you laugh, nervously.

“stop joking around, this isn’t funny,” you avoid his gaze.

“I’m not joking,” He rests his hand onto the steering wheel.

you look at him, dumbfounded. your face flushes up.

“We’re so different and we argue all the time, how are we ever supposed to work?” you explain, fully turned to him.

“Let’s try it first,” He scolded, exasperated.

you bit your lip, thinking. Wondering. Contemplating. Considering.

As if he can see the contemplation in your face, Heeseung cups your face and presses a soft kiss onto your lips. you immediately give in. He slightly pulls away.

“I know you want it as much as I do…stop thinking, let’s just try,” he whispers, his voice alluring and low.

With that desperate look in his eyes.

“Fine,” you shakily exhaled, “if in two weeks this doesn’t work, we’ll call it quits.”

A smile plasters on his face, leaning in to capture your lips once again.

you stop him before he could, “I have some conditions!”

He pauses, rolling his eyes a bit before plopping himself lazily onto his seat.

“I’m listening,” he huffs.

“We can’t let anyone know about us, if Jungwon was to find out, he’ll kill us!” you explained.

“Fine,” He replied, leaning in once again. you place your hands on his shoulders, stopping him again.

“And you still have to come over for our tutoring sessions,” you demanded, narrowing your eyes at him for missing sessions.

“Consider it done, princess…” he kisses you before you could say anything else, pulling you closer by your waist.

A soft moan muffles against his lips. He pulls away, slightly.

“I have something, too,” he swipes his thumb onto your bottom lip, “Let’s see each other everyday.”

A soft smile tugs onto your lips, I nod.

“Okay.”

And with that, you both seal unspoken promises with a sweet, loving kiss.

The first few days were rough trying to sneak away from Jungwon. Especially when Heeseung and Jungwon hang out all the time. Finding time and space from him was difficult, trying to make it not suspicious. But you guys made it work. The risk was exciting, scary, yet thrilling.

Whether it was when Heeseung came over to play video games with Jungwon or to go out with him and other friends, he always made sure to dedicate some part of his time and affection to you. Whether it was leaving strawberry milk by your door, leaving you flowers by your nightstand, or sneaking glances of admiration at you. Sneaking off to find each other in the bathroom or in the hallway, you guys somehow managed to be alone, even if it was briefly.

“Fuck, princess, I missed you,” he confessed, softly leaving kisses on your cheek, to your jaw, then your neck.

Onto the bathroom counter, he stood between your legs. your body slightly trembled under his touch.

“You saw me yesterday, idiot…” you teased, gripping onto him tightly as he trails lower.

He pulls away slightly, planting a soft kiss on your lips.

“Too long,” he replied, placing his hands on the counter by either side of your body.

“You should go back before Jungwon suspects you’re gone for too long,” you suggested, attempting to push him away.

He groans, annoyed, “It’s hard to leave when I have you all to myself like this.”

“Go,” you said, cupping his face.

His expression softens, not protesting any further.

“Fine,” he succumbed, “but i’ll pick you up later tonight.”

“Okay,” you smiled, “i’ll be waiting.”

Then, he’d leave first and you’d have to wait a few minutes before leaving afterwards.

A week and a half into the deal, Heeseung and you grew incredibly closer and evermore fond of each other’s presence. You guys still argued but almost immediately fixed it before the day was over.

“You could’ve gotten seriously hurt! Why can’t you just listen for once!” Heeseung scolds, grabbing your arm tightly.

You guys were cutting fruit to snack on while watching a movie and he had warned you about your knife position being wrong and risky. You ignored his nagging, arguing that you knew what you were doing, confident it would cut fine. The board moved last second, causing your hand to slip and accidentally cut your finger.

“Why are you screaming at me!” you shouted, holding back tears in frustration.

He sighs, his expression softening at your pained expression.

“I’m sorry,” he enfolds you into a warm embrace, “i’m sorry, baby.”

you close your eyes, small tears pricking from the corner of your eyes. You inhale, taking in the scent of him and the warmth of his arms around you. He pulls away slightly, kissing your forehead.

“I’m just worried about you, all I want to do is protect you,” he consoled, softly. He caressed your hair, looking into your eyes lovingly.

you sniffle, sulking.

He cups your face, “Come on, princess. Don’t give me that pout. I’m sorry…”

He brings your face towards his, kissing you. Your heart jumps in your chest.

“It’s so much harder to stay mad at him…” you thought.

“It hurts,” you sniffled, lifting your cut finger.

He briefly lets go to find a bandage from the cabinets. He opens it, grabbing your finger, then wrapping it around. He lifts your hand towards his lips, kissing the back of your fingers.

“There,” he smiles, “better?”

you smile, nodding.

“All better.”

Heeseung became more gentle and stopped opposing everything you’ve said or stood for. Too much, even. If you said the sky is pink, he’d find any excuse to prove that it was.

“Jungwon, can you please wash your dishes after using them! The sink is mounting up!” you scolded from the kitchen.

Jungwon and Heeseung were in the middle of a game in the living room. Your hands rested on the sides of your hips, angrily.

“After this game,” Jungwon dismisses, his eyes glued to the game.

Heeseung drops his console onto the table and makes his way over to the kitchen. Jungwon’s eyes flicker over to him, in surprise and confusion.

“What are you doing?” Jungwon asks, watching Heeseung help wash dishes beside you.

Your face holds a surprised expression but quickly composed yourself.

Why is he being so obvious? At this rate Jungwon will suspect.

“Heeseung…are you sick?” Jungwon asks, dumbfounded at Heeseungs unusual reaction to your nagging.

Usually, he’d ignore it or side with Jungwon. Yet, he’s took the matter in his hands, beside you. Your heart flutters at the thoughtful gesture. You smile to yourself as you wash the dishes. There’s a small, soft, yet comfortable silence. Tranquility, one you yearn for everyday. With him. One you can learn to love and look forward to, for the rest of your life.

‘Hey princess, I have to go to a party with jungwon. I won’t be able to see you tonight :(‘

‘ugh, i’m going to kill jungwon…’

‘end me too pls 🙏’

‘great idea bambi, that way you won’t go anywhere…’

‘you know where to find me, princess.’

“Who’s got you smiling like that?” Jungwon’s voice snaps you back into reality. His head peers through the crack of your door.

your smile fades immediately. you turn my phone off. you clear your throat, sitting up straight.

“No one,” you lie.

He hums in response, unconvinced. He doesn’t press the matter any further.

“I’m going out, wanna come with?” He offers, shoving his hands in his jacket.

your face lightens up, nodding.

“Sure!”

Stepping into the party, the blaring sound of the music found your ears. Your eyes scanned the room for your boyfriend.

“my boyfriend.”

A concept you haven’t yet gotten used to, yet feels so natural when you’re with him.

Shortly after, Jungwon found his friends and left you on my own. You explored further to find Heeseung. Annoyed at the lustful comments and uncomfortable stares, you were determined to find Heeseung even more. You needed the warmth of his touch, the alluring sound of his voice, and the safety you felt when he’s around. The place feels suffocating. Loud. Wrong. Your eyes lay on a familiar face.

“Oh? Hey, pretty girl!” Soobin greets, signaling you over.

you walk over to him, analyzing the room. Heeseung isn’t here.

“Hey Soobin, have you seen Heeseung?” you ask, politely rejecting the cup of alcohol he lifts towards you.

“Heeseung? Yeah, he should be upstairs with Lia,” he chuckles, exchanging mischievous looks with his rowdy friends.

you slightly waver, feeling your blood run cold. you ignore the pang of fear and worry in your heart. You forget to breathe for a second.

“Lia?” you restate.

“Yeah, the girl from last time. She’s like, I don’t know, in love with him,” he jokes, laughter erupting from his friends.

“Ah, I see…” you force a smile, softly chuckling.

you look over to the case of stairs. Your heart races in your chest, your mind blank yet running in millions of directions. your feet move before you can think. you make your way up the stairs, squeezing through the drunk people at the stairs. your heart sinks further and further the closer you get to the rooms.

Once on the top floor, you quickly start opening doors.

please don’t be here. Please don’t be here. Not with her.

And then, you hear his muffled voice behind closed doors, despite the music being loud. You bit your lip, ignoring the burning in your throat.

you slowly open the door.

Heeseung stands with the girl clinging onto him. Lipstick stains on his neck, her shirt slightly undone, and the sickening proximity between them.

your hand drops from the knob. Words become futile devices. your ears ring, the music becoming muffled. you’re unable to move and unable to process a single thought. your body and mind urging you to get out of there, to leave fast. Yet, all you could afford to do is tremble in anger, tears blurring your vision.

“Y/n,” He looks at you, like deer caught in headlights.

you look him in the eye, then shift your gaze to the smirking girl beside him. You back up, reality finally setting in.

“Wait, Y/n, please hear me out,” he begins, managing to pull himself away from her.

You rush down the hallway, needing to be away from this nightmarish setting. The blaring music, the chatter, the smell of alcohol, cigarettes, people making out with each other every corner—all things in a place you would’ve never thought you’d be in.

But it was all to be in some part of his world.

you left the comfortability of yours, to have a little more time with him. And in the end, this is how it turned out.

you quickly rush down the stairs, your movements becoming sloppy and hysteric. Hot tears streamed down your face, you quickly wiped them off. you was angry, not just at the situation but at yourself, primarily. you got carried away, too much. you had too much than you could handle.

“Y/n, wait, please,” Heeseung calls out, his footsteps relentlessly following behind you.

you don’t dare to turn around nor waver in your rushed pace, you continue till you’re far down the road from the party. you ignore every word he says to you.

“Wait a second, can you just stop and listen!” he shouts, catching up to you.

your feet throb from the heels you have on, you angrily pull them off as you walk, feeling the cold surface under your bare feet.

“For fucks sake, Y/n, look at me!” He grabs your arm, forcefully turning you to face him.

you quickly yank your hand from his grip, refusing to be close to him. Turning on your heel to run, as if he can read your mind, he quickly pulls you from your waist, locking you in an embrace from behind. you frantically fight him off, trying to get out of his tight grip in anger. you hit him repeatedly with your heels, yet he doesn’t waver a bit. your tears increase, fueled by anger and frustration.

“Let go of me!” you shout, hitting and shifting forcefully.

“I can’t, I’m sorry,” he replied, holding you tighter.

“I hate you! Let go!” you cried.

Soft sobs escape your lips, your body getting exhausted from exhorting so much force. you slowly give up, overcome by tears. He quickly turns you, placing your head against his chest. His arms enfold you, warmly and tightly. you grip onto him, your tears staining his shirt.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispers, “I love you.”

your body trembles, your eyes shut tightly as soft sobs muffle against his chest. you grip onto his shirt tighter.

“I love you, y/n,” he consoles, caressing your head.

Back at home, he places a hot cup of magnolia tea in front of you. you’re covered in a warm blanket, in your living room, your mascara is run down. He sits in the chair across from you. you stare at the steam coming from the cup, mindlessly. He takes a deep breath before speaking.

“Y/n, it’s really not what you think,” he begins, trying to meet your gaze.

No response.

“Yes, I was in a room with her, alone—and fuck, it even sounds horrible saying it—but I wasn’t there because I wanted to, princess…” he continues, running a hand through his hair, frustratingly.

you play with the hem of the cup. Anything to prevent you from going insane just by remembering.

“She knows about us,” he confesses.

Your eyes dart up at him. your eyes meet.

“She saw us by the lamppost that night. She took a picture and was going to use it as blackmail. She was going to tell Jungwon about us and I knew how horrible that would look, not only for us, but most importantly for you,” he explained, reaching out to take your hands in his.

“I know you want more than anything for Jungwon to hear it from us and not someone else,” he draws small circles at the back of your hand, “so, she asked me to meet her privately. She tried to throw herself on me, but I promise you, I didn’t do anything with her.”

Your expression softens. As much as his explanation makes sense, the sight of them together in that room makes you sick to recall.

“Nothing at all?” you speak up, gently.

“Nothing. I didn’t dare to touch her. All i wanted was to get her off of me, princess,” he reassures, kissing your hand.

He stands up, walking over to you. He lowers himself before you, bringing his hand to caress your cheek.

“I promise you nothing happened. I love you, y/n,” he states, looking up at your eyes desperately.

you caresses his head, sniffling.

“I believe you,” you replied, lowering your hand to his neck.

you smudge away the remains of the red lipstick. your eyes linger on it.

“But it doesn’t hurt any less to think about,” you whisper, strained.

He sighs, coming up to kiss you. your eyes flutter close, immediately melting into his kiss. Then, the front door opens.

“What. the. fuck.”

Jungwon stands at the door, his eyebrows furrowed at the sight before him. You quickly stand up beside heeseung.

“Jungwon,” you stammered, taken aback.

His eyes dart from you to Heeseung. His eyes narrow from your run down mascara and pieces the situation together. He rushes over to Heeseung, forcefully grabbing his collar.

“What’s the meaning of this? Did you make her cry?” He hissed, looking into heeseungs eyes angrily.

Heeseung holds a stoic expression on his face. you try to push yourself in between Jungwon and Heeseung.

“Jungwon, stop, please,” you beg, placing your hands against his chest to prevent him from coming closer.

“You’ve been with my sister? behind my back? Are you fucking serious?” he fumed.

“Jungwon, please!” you pleaded, staying in between both boys.

“And you,” he looks at you, “why him? Why did it have to be him! Out of everyone, you chose my best friend?”

your face softens in guilt.

“I care about her,” Heeseung speaks up.

“Oh, please! You don’t care about anyone!” Jungwon scoffed.

“You stay the fuck away from my sister, if not i’ll kill you,” Jungwon warned, grabbing your arm and pulling you upstairs.

You look back, taking one last look at Heeseung at the bottom of the stairs. He gives you a reassuring nod.

Jungwon forcefully pulls you in your room, slamming the door behind him.

“How long?” He asks, enraged.

“Less than a month,” you confess, sitting at the edge of your bed.

He shuts his eyes, taking a sharp breath.

“Jungwon—”

“As his best friend,” Jungwon raises his voice, “there’s nothing more I’d want than to see him happy.”

His face softens, his voice gentle.

“But as your brother,” he opens the door, “y/n, if you get back with him…I’ll never speak to you again.”

And with that, he leaves the room.

you sit there, staring off into space. Replaying the previous moment and the possibilities of what’s to come. What you once thought you knew, came quickly undone.

you didn’t see Heeseung after that day. you couldn’t bring yourself to. you was too afraid of losing your brother, and now you fear you’ve ruined his friendship, too. Everything completely flipped. you guys rarely saw Heeseung, you stopped hanging out all together. It was unbearable. you didn’t have the courage to text him nor respond to his messages. Little by little, you were consumed by an overwhelming sadness. Locked in your room, studying harder in hopes to find comfort in it, lost appetite, and in the end; you unintentionally lost the connection with your brother. you guys barely talked, and when you did it felt awkward and forced. The tension in your own home was suffocating. intolerable. Sickening.

All that was left was a mere strawberry milk cartoon in the empty refrigerator and the lingering warmth of heeseungs touch on your body.

“Make sure to bring an umbrella, I think it’ll rain,” Jungwon called out to you as you went for the door.

He sent you to the convenience store down the street.

“I’ll be home quick before then,” you replied, stepping outside.

“Yeah, okay…” he smiled, shutting the door.

It was dark out and cold. you had an oversized hoodie that belonged to heeseung over your head, covering any trace of your face. you were too unmotivated to care, after all, you were just going to the convenience store. you go in and search the isle of snacks for you and Jungwon. you grab a few things and head to the register. you fumble in your pockets to find cash.

“I’ll pay,” a deep voice behind you chimes in, a hand extending cash to the worker.

you whip your head over, to meet Heeseungs eyes. you blink, shocked. your eyes flicker down to his items.

Strawberry milk.

you quickly thank him before heading out. You stop abruptly under the roofing. It’s raining. you groan internally, remembering what Jungwon said earlier.

“Come on, I’ll take you home,” he offered, standing beside you with an open umbrella in hand.

you swallow, hard. you shake your head gently.

“It’s fine, bye,” you declined, rushing out from under the roofing into the pouring rain.

“Y/n,” He calls out, grabbing your wrist. You turn, looking up at him under his umbrella. your body shivers vigorously in the cold rain.

“What—”

his lips crashed onto yours.

you instantly melt into his kiss, like a promise, like a relief to an overwhelming ache. The bag drops to the ground followed by the umbrella. You grip onto his arms, he cups your face. His kiss is passionate, slow, yet yearned.

You couldn’t tell if what pricked the corner of your eyes were the rain or your tears of joy.

you pull away, slightly. you grip onto him tightly, as if he were to disappear if you let go.

“Heeseung,” you begin.

“I know. I know…” He shakes his head, caressing your cheek.

“I talked to Jungwon,” he confirmed, looking into your eyes lovingly.

“What…?”

“Everything’s okay. We’re okay. He’s allowing it,” he explains, a sweet smile on his face.

your eyes glisten, “really?”

He nods. Placing soft pecks on your lips.

“He told me you’d be here, I came as fast as I could,” he chuckled.

your foreheads laid against each other.

No wonder Jungwon urgently asked you to go to the convenience store and all alone. He’s so cunning…!

“I love you, Heeseung,” you whispered, tears of relief threatening to slip.

“I love you too,” he closes his eyes, “so much more.”