you can call it as it is|j.yh
summary: You and Yunho are the designated drivers for a night out with your friends
pairing: Jeong Yunho x gn reader
word count: 4k
genre: friends to lovers, slice of life, fluff
contents: mention of smoking, mutual pining, reader is very afraid of romantic feelings, Yunho is sickeningly sweet (let me know if I missed something), one of your friends is in a polyamorous relationship with woosan
a/n: This is wayyyy longer than my usual works but I felt shitty and needed some comfort. Also, I'm sorry for any mistakes, English is not my first language 🥹.
You love your friends, you really do.
But sometimes you really wish they were a little less noisy as soon some alcohol got into their systems.
It's twelve of you inside the karaoke room, all jamming and vibing to the songs playing.
And out of all of these people, just you and Yunho are completely sober as good designated drivers should be.
You have known this group for just a few months. You wouldn't say you're super close yet, but you really enjoy their company and you can really see yoirslef growing very close with them, plus one of your friend (the one that introduced your group to theirs) is in a lovey-dovey relationship with two of them so you know you find your group hanging out with theirs almost every time you go out and you will for quite some time. So you just feel lucky that they're all people you feel comfortable around and have fun with for now.
When someone in the group chat asked to do something tonight, you were pretty sure it would've been something not too crazy, just a chill night out with your friends.
Everything took a turn when you proposed for everyone to come over to your place since you were alone.
From the table games night you imagined, it became the "let's get shitface drunk and get home when the sun rises".
It was quite a turn of events but you didn't really mind it, you are enjoying yourself and so are your friends. Clearly.
Most of them are singing and dancing like their life depended on it while others were eating each other's faces out.
You get out of the cramped space for just a second to have a breathe and get a bottle of water before going back in and facing an inner crisis that you knew from the start would've happened sooner or later.
Out of all the sofas, going almost all the way around the room, the only available seats were either sides of Yunho.
He is the only other sober person in the room. You knew you had to talk with him at some point, but you just wanted to postpone it as long as you could.
It's not that you don't like him.
Actually, the problem is the exact opposite.
You aren't a very smooth talker to start with.
Entertaining any kind of conversation for you is a whole, complicated task. More so if you're completely sober and you have a (not so) small crush on your interlocutor.
You close the door behind you and make eye contact with him while moving towards the seat beside his and he just gives you a kind smile following your movements until you're sitting beside him, making a little bit more room for you to sit comfortably.
《how's your night going? everything okay?》he asks as soon as you settle on the soft cushions, leaning away from the back rest and slightly towards you to make sure you hear him over the noises
《yeah, I'm having a lot of fun, but sometimes I really need to get a little bit of fresh air from outside》 you answer honestly, chuckling lightly for reasons unknown even to you
《yes, it's very warm》 he just states, nodding and dropping back against the backrest. You understand that this is your cue to either drop the conversation or to make it continue.
You lean against the backrest just a few seconds after him, gaining another small smile from his lips.
《how is your night going? are you enjoying being the designated driver?》 you ask, ironically, making him laugh
《I don't think I remember how it feels going out and not be the designated driver》 he states with faux annoyance on his face before smiling brightly 《joking, I enjoy it very much and the night is going very well. Also, for once, I have someone not drunk to talk to, so...》 he laughs lightly and you with him, internally panicking, feeling every idea you had to continue the conversion, die in the back of your mind.
But Yunho quickly puts a remedy to that by looking at the time on his phone.
《it's quite late, whenever you want to go we can. Don't feel pressured to really wait until the sun rises just because Wooyoung proposed it》 he chuckles, and you shake your head amused
《I don't think he remembers what he said anyway》 you state, eyeing wooyoung sipping his nth glass of wine, struggling to even keep his spine straight and still.
You and Yunho laugh at the scene, shaking your heads.
《anyway, i think i can handle a little more before going home. But if you want to go, we can》 you give him a timid smile, suddenly aware of how close you two are.
He gives another smile back and nods 《I'd say we should take another ten minutes to relax, and then we will think on how to drag all of them into the cars》 he chuckles, making you nod
《I'm going out to smoke a cigarette, wanna keep me company?》 the words leave your mouth before you can think about them throughly, making yourself blush.
Luckily, he can't see it because the room is dark, green and blue lights are the only source of illumination in the room. But you can feel it very clearly, and it gets even worse when he just nods and gets up, stretching a hand out to help you.
You grab it more shyly than you wanted to show, letting him help you to get on your high heels.
Your hands and your eye contact linger a little more than what you would expect from the situation before you turn to collect your jacket and quickly put it on.
《let's go》 you give him a quick smile before moving to go outside.
Once you are finally met with the cold air of the night, you take a deep breath, leaning against a wall.
Yunho is settling against the car in front of you, looking at you attentively.
《you think they'll survive without both of us?》 you ask to break the ice, laughing more than you normally would; but the way he's looking at you is making you feel so tense it's nerve-wracking
《they'll find a way, i really needed the fresh air》 he answers, chuckling before resuming his staring.
He's not a creep, you don't feel in danger or uneasy, but you're anxious because you have no idea of what he's thinking, and you know he's thinking something very intently just by the way he's looking up an down your every inch with a concentrated face.
You keep your eyes on your hands, scrambling to gather everything you need to roll yourself a cigarette.
《everything okay?》 you ask, breaking the silence, refusing to look at his face.
You can still imagine his cheeks are now red from the way your peripheral vision catches him squirming uncomfortably like a kid that is being scolded.
《I'm sorry I didn't mean to stare》 he clears his throat 《I haven't really got a chance to be around you a lot even if our groups hang out frequently so, you know, I was collecting facts about you?》 he says questioningly before shaking his head 《I have no idea what I just said I'm sorry》 he's blushing and looking away from you while laughing nervously and you can't help but find him so cute it makes you want to punch him.
You know it's your fault that you two never really get around each other a lot.
To be clear: you adore the man.
Everything about him is mesmerizing to you, and that is terrifying.
And, as much as you wanted to, nothing seemed convincing enough for you to make a move. Not even your friends telling you that he likes you back a hundred times.
You just couldn't wrap your head around it, so you just decided that it was an absurd impression they got.
All of these things together resulted in avoiding alone time with him as a way to cope with your crush, fearing that your fluttering heart might betray the chill and uninterested appearance you were trying so hard to build.
You laugh, blushing as much as him, waiting a few seconds before speaking again 《and you found something interesting?》 you have no idea what to give the blame for this uncharacteristic forwardness.
He's taken aback as much as you, and you can't bring yourself to hold eye contact for more than three seconds, looking away and finishing to roll your cigarette so you can finally light it.
《not sure I want to share my observations with you》 he tries to contain his laugh behind an ironic intellectual tone
《what? but now I'm curious》 you complain
《you can survive, darling》 he smirks, his voice gaining confidence by the second.
You shake your head in fake annoyance, the pet name making you way more weak than you would like to admit.
A nice silence settles between you two, just enjoying the quiet and the breeze of the night.
In between the drags of your cigarette, you are looking around, trying not to stare at the tall man in front of you for too long.
But your attention is caught when you see him stare somewhere above you, following his gaze and catching a speck of the moon.
Delicately, you move beside him to be able to see its entirety and relish the view.
You make your shoulders accidentally touch, but he doesn't move, so neither do you.
《it looks amazing》 he comments, and you just make a noise of assent, so fascinated you can't take the eyes off of it.
But now you can feel he's looking at you, staring at your loving expression and following the movements of your hand moving the cigarette towards and away from your mouth.
Your skin shivers with anticipation, feeling like you're in a movie.
Both of you are moving ever so slowly towards each other.
His hand touches you with a delicacy you didn't think any human could have, and tucks some hair behind your ear, looking intently at what he's doing.
You can't help but look at him, if it was a movie you would've said that it was a cliche, the two protagonists don't even know each other that well and are already acting like they are the loves of each other's lives? Cringe and unrealistic.
But now you can't put together a sigle thought, only wishing he won't leave you hanging like they do in movies.
《I like the way you look at the moon》 it's a little more than a whisper, his fingers lingering behind your ear, playing gently with your hair
《I love the moon, it fascinates me like just a few other things in this world do》 you explain, your cigarette forgot between your fingers
《what are these other few things?》 he asks curiously, you think you see a glint of hope in his eyes, but maybe you're just feeding into your delusions
《I'm not sure I want to share that with you》 you repeat his words back to him, laughing and leaning slightly in his touch.
He opens his hand, giving you the chance to rest your cheek comfortably against his palm. So you tilt your head further against him.
《devious little thing you are》 he says with a little smile, his kind and warm tone in contrast with his words.
You can feel his fingers curling against your scalp, caressing it, always with the same delicacy.
《finish your cigarette so we can go home》 he says, kindly, gently stroking your cheekbone with his thumb a couple more times before moving away his hand.
There is a little disappointment settling inside your chest, but you just nod and resume your smoking.
《your hair is even softer than what i thought》 he states, his hand finding again purchase in between the strands of hair on the nape of your neck, caressing it gently
《you think about my hair a lot?》 you ask, mischievous, adoring his embarrassed reactions and his slightly flushed cheeks
《you mock me a lot for someone who can't concentrate enough to smoke as soon as i touch you》 he bites back, making your cheeks flush as much as his.
You feel like two teens trying to cope with their first crush, resorting to sneering and teasing each other.
You roll your eyes, making a display of an annoyance you don't really feel before resuming, once again, your smoke.
It doesn't take you long before you are forced to pull apart from Yunho to throw the cigarette stub in the trash and looking back at him.
《let's go call them》 you announce, tiredness seeping from your voice.
He nods and follows right behind you up until the door for the karaoke room
《take your things, I'll convince them to leave》 he smiles kindly before going in.
After quickly checking in with the barman that everything got paid for, you followed Yunho, gathering your bag and some of your friends.
It takes quite a struggle to make everybody get out of the pub and inside the car, but once you're finally done, you and Yunho smile at each other.
《I'll be behind you》 he states
《if you can keep up》 you tease, and he gives you a quick chuckle before looking at you apprehensively
《don't speed》
《damn, dad, okay》 you roll your eyes before laughing and getting into the car.
Both you and Yunho know that you are not the type to drive too fast, especially with people with you, but he likes to show that he cares and you like to feel when people care about you.
The ride to your home is quicker and quieter than you anticipated.
You throw a glance at the clock of your car noting it's past 4 in the morning so you imagine the euphoria your friends were feeling, given by the alcohol, now must be starting to be replaced by tiredness and you really enjoy the relaxed mood in your car.
Once you finally park it takes another few minutes to get everybody out of the cars, specially out of Yuno's since the 2 supplemental seats in the back required some mobility that your friends really don't have right now.
Regardless, everybody is finally home, and since the majority of the beds are upstairs most of your friends decide to just crush on the sofa or on the ground heedless of your and Yunho's effort to put them in a slightly more comfortable place.
So you just looked at each other and shrugged.
He smiles at you and, once again, tucks the same strand of hair behind your ear.
《let's go to sleep》 he suggests and although you feel tired you don't feel sleepy, but most of all now that you finally mustered up the courage to be alone with him you don't want to let it go just yet
《do you want a cup of tea?》 that's all that came to mind to try and stay in Yunho's company a little more.
He smiles sincerely and nods.
You give his hand, still beside your face, a gentle squeeze before going to prepare the teas as quietly as possible since everybody seemed knocked out.
Handing him his cup once it was done you get close to him 《it's better if we go upstairs, so we can leave them rest》 you whisper and, again, he nods and follows you.
《this is my room》 you say, opening the door.
You fear for a second that he might misunderstand your intention so you just stand still on the door, waiting for him to do something.
And he doesn't take long at all, getting into your room and sitting on the office chair comfortably.
《it's very nice》 he says kindly, spinning around the chair while looking around
《thanks, it took me a lot to finally find a place for everything that actually satisfied me》 you explain before sipping your tea
《I think the room tells a lot about the person》
《and what does it say about me?》 you ask, sincerely curios, but it takes one glance from Yunho to roll your eyes 《don't even try to say that you don't want to tell me》 you ironically scold him and he laughs
《you can't force me to say this》 he teases and you roll your eyes again.
And you keep shifting around teasing and getting to know each other, back and forth. Basking yourselves in the heart fluttering feeling you both have.
Soon enough both your cups are empty and both of you get relaxed, you on the bed and him still on the chair. Much so that you fall asleep without even fully realizing it.
In fact, you wake up an unknown amount of time later, shivering. The sun starting to slowly light up the sky.
You are in the same position in which you were talking with Yunho: laying on your side at the bottom of your bed to be close enough to the tall man.
He, just as you, is in the same position in which he was talking to you: on the chair, legs slightly spread and his arms crossed over his chest.
What is different was his clothing. In fact, the hoodie he was wearing all night is not around his fit torso anymore, but lovely spread over your curled body like a blanket.
You took a second to stretch your legs and spine before looking at Yunho.
His relaxed face is a delight to see, waking him feels almost criminal.
But you reason that he probably isn't that comfortable on the chair, plus he must be cold since he's just in a tight black t-shirt.
Your hand pats lightly his thigh, then his arms a little harder, then caresses his cheek until he finally regains consciousness.
《sorry to wake you, do you want to go to bed?》 you whisper.
He barely opens his eyes, putting a hand over yours.
《I'd love to sleep with you if it's okay for you》 he mumbles, still clearly groggy, before kissing your palm and closing his eyes back again, pressing his cheek against your hand.
You chuckle, it's not what you asked but you're glad he misinterpreted.
《come on, then》 you whispered again, soliciting him to get up by using your free hand to pat his thigh.
He sighs and stretches before coming into the bed quickly followed by you.
Now that you're so close, you feel sleepiness leave your body immediately. Forcing yourself to close your eyes trying not to disturb Yunho.
After just a few second his fingertips graze over your cheek and your eyes automatically open to meet his.
《do you have something I can wear as pants, sleeping with jeans is really uncomfortable》he whispers laughing quietly. You nod and move to give him a pair of unisex, oversized sweatpants hoping they will fit.
He thanks you and goes to the bathroom to change and so do you in your room, slipping into a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt.
Reality is: you're panicking. You're afraid you are the only one feeling what you're feeling and now he feels uneasy, looking for an excuse to put some distance in between you two.
When he comes back you're zoning out on the bed, sitting and staring into the void.
His gentle touch against your cheek snaps you out of it, making you instinctively turn to meet his gaze.
《they're a little short but I'll be fine》 he comments, amused by the lenght of the sweats 《now let's go to sleep》 he suggests getting back into bed and silently suggesting you to come closer by caressing your arm and then your back.
You stay still for a few seconds, taking in the idea that he was not trying to get away from you. Quite the opposite actually.
Before he could worry you complied, scooting closer into his chest and starting to play with his hair.
《what's on your mind?》 he asks whispering, his lips kissing softly your forehead.
You rise your head to meet his eyes.
His soft gaze making a small smile form on your face.
《nothing... it's nice being like this》 you whisper back, hoping you're not as flushed as you think
《I thought you would avoid me forever》 he chuckles
《what? I wasn't avoiding you》 you were
《you were》 he repeats your thought before bringing his face closer to yours, your heart almost bursting out your chest 《but it's fine because now I know why you were doing it》
《and why is that?》
《because you're head over heels for me》 he states, chuckling, trying to mask the fear to be wrong although you can still read it in his eyes
《head over heels is a bit too much》 you mock annoyance in your voice, your smile giving you away
《that's a shame because I am》 he's back to his soft, delicate whispering.
His eyes looking at you in anticipation, hoping he didn't say too much.
You don't even think about it, moving forward until your lips finally collide.
You feel him smile against you, holding you close to his chest, squeezing the fabric of your shirt in between his fingers almost like to stop you from slipping away.
You hold him too. Never in a million years even thinking about leaving now that you're finally here.
And you don't know how long you have been kissing when he delicately moves his face away.
《how much more time you wanted to gatekeep from me these kissing skills?》 he chuckles, grazing a thumb over your lips.
You burst out laughing, struggling to keep quiet and put your embarassed face back against his long neck 《go to sleep, dumbass》
《will you give me classes?》 he jokes, clearly amused by you embarassed face, trying to pull you from where you're hiding; but you're quick to turn over giving him your back and conceal your face with your hands
《shut up》 you laugh again
《alright, okay, I'll give you time to think about it》 he concedes, laughing in return.
He tightens his arms around you, pressing your back against his chest, before gently taking your hands off your face and intertwine his fingers with yours.
《good night, baby》 you feel him lever himself to be able to kiss delicately your cheek.
You smile and squeeze his hand closer to your body 《good night》 you say simply and close your eyes.
After just a few seconds, Yunho is hoisting himself back up, and you feel him look at you, so you open back your eyes to look at him.
《what’s wrong?》
《I can’t sleep》
《you didn’t even try》
《I did, I can’t》 the dramatic tone he is using it’s making it very hard for you to play along without burst out laughing
《I feel like you’re about to ask me something》
《not my fault if I’m sure that making out with you would help me》
And, laughing, you gladly comply.
You couldn’t say no, and you wouldn’t anyway.
But eventually, sleep got the best of the both of you.
Your bodies still tangled together, and his head is still on your chest when your sleep gets interrupted by some noises out your door and Yunho’s phone vibrating beside him.
《Yunho, wake up》 you stroke his hair, making him curl further against you
《unless someone’s dying, I don’t wanna wake up》 he mumbles, making you chuckle
《yeah I wanna go check if someone’s dying. Also, someone’s calling you》
He grunts and shuffles to find his phone before looking back at you, already out of the bed 《please be quick, I really want to go back to sleep》 he whines before calling whoever it was.
Venturing outside your room, you find your best friend with her face shoved in the toilet and one of her two boyfriends, Wooyoung, holding back her hair.
《you need help?》
《oh no, thank you, San went to get her some water. Sorry for waking you up》 he answers, smiling brightly like nothing’s wrong
《oh no worries, just tell me if you need something, okay?》 you smile back, and he nods before smirking
《you sure you don’t have anything to tell me?》 his eyebrows going up and down
《check your girlfriend’s well-being, Wooyo》 you scoff laughing before leaving the bathroom and going back to your room.
Yunho is lying on his back, an arm covering his eyes, and his hair splayed on the pillow.
《who was on the phone?》 you ask softly, to not startle him
《Hongjoong, but you’ll know as soon as you meet him》 he shakes his head amused, and you look at him questioningly, getting back in bed beside him
《what do you mean?》
《he came in earlier to check if there was an empty bed and saw us sleep together, and now he wants to know every detail》 he explains, his voice somewhere in between exhausted and amused.
It’s gonna be a long day.
The thought makes a small smile come up on your face and sigh.
《what?》 his curious eyes find yours
《nothing, I’ve seen Hongjoong question Yeosang when he wanted him to spill the tea about the chick he kissed in the pub the night before, so I was imagining how he will be with us》
《and what are you imagining you’ll say, then?》 he asks, hovering on top of you.
His head is tilted, fingers delicately grazing over your cheek and his eyes light up with a sparkle of hope, you think.
You love how he’s constantly wearing his heart on his sleeve and that’s also what kept you from get to close to him before yesterday night.
You’re terrified at the idea of seeing that spark die out because of you.
《what are you thinking?》 his gentle tone snaps you out of your swirling thoughts
《I am afraid I’ll give the wrong answer》 you admit, your voice quieter than what you anticipated
《just say what you’re thinking. If you’re feeling it, it can’t be wrong》 he comforted you, sitting up and pulling you gently to sit up with him
《I don’t want you to feel obligated, I fear I’m moving too fast》
《baby, just say it, I can take it》 he smiles, cupping your face with both his hands
《maybe we should, I don’t know, start to… seeing each other I guess, maybe?》 you ask, you feel so anxious it makes you mad
《that’s disappointing, I thought you were about to ask me to marry you》 he mocks you, making you blush
《shut up》 a chuckle betraying you, your eyes avoiding his and your cheeks on fire
《how am I supposed to know? Maybe you wanted a kid, your premises were vague》 he laughed, starting to press pecks all over your flushed face, hovering over your lips before speaking again 《not sure I want a child yet, but for sure I want to date, you can call it as it is》 he mocks before kissing you tenderly.
All of your negative thoughts immediately leaving your head, silently promising yourself you’ll do everything to keep this giant, amazing man and his spark safe.
