amia ⭑.ᐟ

𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 ˚. ᵎᵎ

[bamgyuuuri]

꒰🍓꒱ HEAVEN . the light of the sleeping stars awakens ,, heaven is not far away now, the moment that we kissed.

꒰💌꒱ masterlist. ꒰🧸꒱ taglist. ꒰💐꒱ fleur de destin.

──★ 🧺 ̟ !! my name is amia .ᐟ i am nineteen .ᐟ i write for txt only :3 i specialize in angst and fluff .ᐟ

anons and taglist: open!

© all rights reserved @.bamgyuuuri 2025

[bamgyuuuri]

i miss u bb :(((

rei omg :(( i miss u more TT

[bamgyuuuri]

⸝⸝ guilty ┈ cyj.

⸝⸝ WHEN he asks if you'll let him love you, the real question lingers—will you?

pairings and tags. smut!! mdni!!! fwb!yeonjun x afab!reader . angst . emotional hurt/comfort . confession . cunnilingus . fingering . body worship-ish . unprotected sex . praise . aftercare . tender intimacy . fluff

word count. 8.6k

short note! this is part two of casual !! probably one last fic before i go ia because of uni </3 ill still try to do the reqs sent to me little by little + login when i have the time !! i hope u guys like this one <3

part one.

you don’t let yourself. you can’t.

so you leave. you walk out the door, step into the cold night, let the air bite at your skin, hoping it’ll shake something loose—hoping it’ll shake him loose. the pavement was damp from a passing drizzle, and your shoes made soft, wet sounds with every step, but it didn't drown out the echo of your own heartbeat, hammering against your ribs. you focus on the steady rhythm of your footsteps, the distant hum of cars, the glow of streetlights pooling in uneven puddles. anything to keep yourself grounded. anything to stop yourself from turning back.

you tell yourself you’ll be fine. you tell yourself this is what you wanted. but his words don’t leave you.

they follow you home, slipping into the quiet spaces between your thoughts. they echoed in the silence of your apartment, lingering in the places he’s never been in but somehow still is. they play in your head when you stand in front of the mirror the next morning, eyes tired, fingers brushing over your own reflection like you were trying to find something—someone—who wasn’t unraveling at the edges.

you try to go about your day like normal. you meet up with friends, let them talk and laugh around you, nod at the right moments, force out smiles. but it’s like you’re moving through water, every sound muffled, every touch distant. because beneath it all, there’s him.

there’s the way his fingers curled in the sheets as you walked away. the way his voice cracked, just barely, when he spoke. the way his gaze burned into your back, full of something that felt too much like longing.

"one day, i hope you wish to stay."

you already do. every quiet moment was dangerous. every pause was a chance for his words to slip through the cracks, to wrap around your ribs, tight and unrelenting. you hear them in the static between songs, in the hush of the night when the world slows down and there’s nowhere to hide.

"one day, i hope you wish to stay."

you hear them when you wake up alone in your bed, the sheets cold beneath your fingertips. you hear them when you make your morning coffee, staring at the empty space across from you at the table, a space he’s never filled but somehow still owns.

you see him in the curve of a stranger’s smile, in the way someone leans back against a chair, lazy and confident, in the way a laugh rings out in a crowded room—light, teasing, his. and every time, your heart stumbles over itself, your breath catches, and for one stupid, fleeting second, you think about turning around, about going back, about giving in.

but you don’t. instead, you tell yourself it’s fine. that it’s temporary. that soon, you won’t hear his voice when you close your eyes, won’t feel the ghost of his touch in the middle of the night. you tell yourself that you’re stronger than this. that you won’t let him linger, won’t let him take up space in your mind and heart anymore. you tell yourself that you can move on.

you tell yourself that you can move on. you repeat it like a mantra, over and over, until the words lose their meaning. until they’re just empty syllables, hollow and weightless, floating in the spaces he used to fill. you convince yourself that one day, you’ll wake up and he won’t be the first thing on your mind. that his absence won’t feel like something tangible, something with sharp edges that presses into you when you least expect it. you tell yourself it’s fine.

but then night falls, and the quiet becomes unbearable. you lay in bed staring at the ceiling, counting the seconds, waiting for sleep to take you under. but sleep doesn’t come easily, because this was when he felt the closest—when the world was still and all you’re leftwith was him. so you roll onto your side, exhale slowly, press your hand against your chest like that might steady the ache.

maybe tomorrow, you think.

maybe tomorrow, he won’t feel like this much.

but then your phone buzzes.

and his name was there.

just sitting on your screen, waiting.

the glow of it illuminates the dark room, casting long shadows across your sheets, across your face. your heart stutters—one hard, aching beat against your chest, like it already knows what’s coming. like it remembers the way this always goes.

you don’t move. don’t breathe. just stare at the letters, at the way they seem to taunt you, pulling you back into something you swore you were walking away from. they sit there on the screen, harmless in theory, just words—but they may as well be a hand, his hand wrapped around your wrist, tugging you back into the depths of something you barely crawled out of.

your fingers twitch, hesitating over the screen. you shouldn’t. you know you shouldn’t. answering means unraveling all over again. means stepping back into the fire when you’re still burned from the last time.

but the thing about yeonjun is, he was like gravity—a pull so strong, so effortless, that resisting felt impossible. he doesn’t even have to try, doesn’t have to beg or plead. all he has to do is exist in the same space as you, even through a screen, and suddenly you’re falling all over again.

so when the phone buzzes again, a second notification lighting up your screen,

yeonjun (2) new messages:

can i see you?

your resolve cracks, just like it always does. just like it always will. because no matter how many times you tell yourself you’re done, no matter how many walls you build between you and him, it only ever takes one moment—one look, one word, one message—to bring them crashing down.

because you can already hear his voice in your head, soft and low, curling around your name like a secret only the two of you understand. can already see the way he’ll look at you when you show up at his door—like you’re something inevitable. like he knew you’d come back. like you were never meant to stay away in the first place.

your chest tightens. because you know exactly how this will go.

you’ll go to him. you’ll tell yourself it’s just another night, just another moment, just another fuck. but it won’t be. it never is. because yeonjun doesn’t touch you like this is temporary. he doesn’t kiss you like you’re something he can let go of.

he’ll pull you close, press his lips to your skin, slow and aching, like he’s memorizing you—like he’s mapping out every inch, every shiver, every place that makes you gasp his name. his hands will trace the curves of your body, not just in possession or in hunger, but in something deeper, something he doesn’t say out loud.

and you’ll feel it. again. that unbearable weight pressing against your chest, the thing you’ve been running from, the thing you refused to name. it’ll creep into your veins, settle into the spaces between your ribs, take root in all the places you swore he wouldn’t reach. you shouldn’t go. you remind yourself again. you know that. you should let it go to nothing, let his message sit unanswered, let whatever this is bleed out before it takes you both under. you should turn off your phone. bury it beneath your pillow, throw it across the room, anything to stop yourself from doing what you always do.

but you won’t. because you’re selfish, selfish in the way that only someone who has known the taste of him, the feel of him, the unbearable absence of him can be—selfish in the way that aches, in the way that leaves you hollow and restless and reaching for something you swore you wouldn’t come back to again. because you miss him, not just in the quiet moments, not just in the dead of night when the sheets feel too cold and too empty, but in the way the world feels duller without him, in the way your own laughter sounds different, more genuine when he’s the one pulling it from you, in the way your heart still stutters at the thought of him like it doesn’t know any better. you don’t remember making the decision to go. maybe you never had a choice to begin with. maybe this was always inevitable—like the way the tide surrenders to the shore, like how the night will always collapse into dawn. maybe your body just knows, moving before your mind can stop it, drawn back into his gravity, helpless against the pull.

the city blurs past you. streetlights smear into soft halos against the darkness, the cold wind lashes at your skin, but none of it reaches you. your pulse is the only thing you can hear, loud and unsteady, thrumming through your veins like a warning, like a plea. your feet move faster, and faster still, like running from the very thing you were rushing towards.

you tell yourself it’s just momentum.

but you know this is something worse.

his voice, his touch, his name—yeonjun. he's wrapped around your bones, tangled in your breath, woven into your skin in ways you don’t know how to undo. and tonight, with his words still ringing in your head, you don’t have the strength to try.

and you hate yourself for it.

when you reach his door, your hands are trembling. your chest is tight, your breath uneven, and you don’t know if it’s the cold or the weight of it all pressing down on you. your fingers hover over the knob, hesitation curling around your wrists, whispering that it isn’t too late to turn back. you could leave. you could pretend you never came. you could—

but before you can knock, the door swings open. and there he is.

yeonjun. he’s standing in the dim glow of his apartment, bathed in soft, golden light, and he looks wrecked. his hair is messy, his hoodie is loose around his frame, and his eyes—god, his eyes. they drag over you like he’s drinking you in, like he wasn’t sure if you’d actually come, like he doesn’t quite believe you’re real.

you should say something. you should break the silence before it drowns you both.

but you don’t get the chance.

because yeonjun exhales—soft, shaky—and suddenly you’re in his arms.

his hands grasp at you, desperate and unrelenting, pulling you against him so tightly it knocks the air from your lungs. his body is warm, solid, but his hold—his hold is almost frantic, like he’s afraid that if he loosens his grip even a fraction, you’ll slip through his fingers, gone before he can even say your name.

yeonjun buries his face into the curve of your shoulder, and you feel it—his breath, uneven and trembling, something close to relief, something that sounds like a prayer answered. his arms tighten around you, fingers gripping the fabric of your jacket like he’s afraid you’ll disappear, like if he holds you tight enough, he can make up for all the time spent apart, all the nights wasted in silence.

god.

“you came,” he murmurs, barely above a whisper.

you don’t answer. you can’t. because your throat is tight, and your chest is burning, and your hands are clutching at his hoodie like he’s the only thing keeping you upright, like letting go would mean crumbling entirely.

yeonjun pulls back just enough to look at you, his fingers ghosting over your jaw, tilting your face up to his. his touch is hesitant, like he’s waiting for you to push him away, but you don’t. you won’t.

his eyes search yours, deep and endless, something breaking apart in them, something raw and vulnerable that makes your stomach twist, makes your knees feel weak, makes it impossible to look away. there’s a plea in them, silent but deafening, the kind of longing that tastes like regret, like every moment wasted, every second spent apart.

but yeonjun isn’t moving. he’s right there—closer than he’s ever been, closer than you can handle, his forehead almost brushing against yours, his breath warm as it fans over your lips. his voice lingers in the air between you, thick with something desperate, something dangerous, something that threatens to rip you apart if you so much as breathe the wrong way.

yeonjun’s fingers curl against your jaw, just a little tighter, just enough to make you feel it—the heat of his skin, the unspoken plea in his touch, the quiet desperation seeping through every inch of him, raw and unfiltered. grounding you. anchoring you to this moment, to him, to everything you’ve spent so long trying to ignore.

his eyes are searching, burning, begging—digging into you, pulling apart every fragile piece of you until there’s nothing left to hide behind, until he’s staring straight into the parts of you that you swore you’d never let him see. then yeonjun speaks again. “tell me this doesn’t mean anything to you.”

tell me this doesn’t mean anything to you.his voice is quiet, but there’s nothing soft about it, breaking at the edges like he’s barely holding himself together. like he already knows the answer, like he’s daring you to lie to him, like it’s the last thing he’ll ever ask of you, and the only thing that will ruin him if you say the wrong words.

but how could you?

how could you, when your hands are trembling at your sides, itching to pull him closer. when your heart is slamming against your ribs, wild and frantic, screaming for something your lips won’t dare to name. when every inch of you aches with the weight of everything you’ve never said, everything you’ve ever felt, everything you’ve spent so long pretending doesn’t exist.

yeonjun swallows hard, and you watch the way his throat bobs, the way his jaw clenches like he’s bracing for impact. like he’s steadying himself for the inevitable wreckage that’s about to come crashing down around him, waiting for you to ruin him. like he already knows you will. his breath is uneven, warm where it ghosts against your skin, but his hands are steady—steady where they frame your face, thumbs brushing over your cheekbones with a tenderness that makes your chest ache.

“say it,” he whispers, softer this time, his voice cracking at the edges. “please.”

you could lie.

you should.

it would be easier, wouldn’t it? to spit out the words, to carve out the distance between you with something cruel, something final. to tell him that this doesn’t mean anything, that he doesn’t mean anything, that whatever fire is burning between you is nothing more than fleeting embers, destined to fade. to turn around, walk away, leave him standing here with nothing but the hollow ache of almost.

but when you open your mouth, all that comes out is—

“i can’t.”

it’s broken, barely audible, but yeonjun hears it.

his grip tightens—not rough, not forceful, just enough to make sure you’re real, to make sure you won’t slip away again. his breath hitches, his eyes dark and unreadable, his lips parting like he wants to say something, anything—

but he doesn’t.

because then his lips are on yours.

it’s not soft. it’s not careful. it’s everything he’s been holding back, everything he’s never said, pouring into you like he’s trying to drown you in it. his mouth is desperate against yours, teeth clashing, fingers tangling in your hair, pulling, pulling, pulling—like he wants to drag you so close there won’t be space for doubt, for hesitation, for anything but this.

and you let him.

because you were just as ruined.

your fingers curled against the fabric of his hoodie, your nails digging into the fabric, needing something to hold onto, needing something to keep you tethered as the world tilts beneath your feet. his hands are everywhere—on your waist, your back, cradling your face like you’re something precious, something breakable, something he’s terrified of losing but never quite had in the first place.

he breathes your name into your mouth, raw and wrecked, and it shatters something inside you, something you’ve spent so long trying to keep intact. it breaks open, spilling through the cracks, flooding every inch of you until there’s nothing left to hold onto, nothing left to fight against. just him—his voice, his hands, the way he’s kissing you like he’s been drowning without you, like you’re the first breath of air he’s had in weeks. your resolve breaks, crumbling beneath the weight of him—his touch, his voice, the desperate, unrelenting way his lips move against yours. and suddenly, restraint was nothing but a forgotten memory, a foreign concept, a language neither of you speak anymore. because how could you?  not when the space between you has been reduced to nothing but heat and want and the devastating, all-consuming ache of too much and not enough all at once. your hands are in his hair now, twisting into the soft strands, fingers tangling at the roots, tugging just enough to make him groan against your mouth. and god—god, the sound rips through you like a live wire, sharp and electric, a spark catching flame, spreading, devouring until there’s nothing left but want, nothing left but the sheer, unbearable need to pull him closer.

you kiss him back like you’re trying to brand yourself into his skin, like you need him to feel it, to understand it—to know, with every brush of your lips, every desperate pull of your hands, exactly what you can’t say. what you’ve been swallowing down for so long it’s made a home inside you, carving itself into your ribs, into your lungs, into the very core of you. your teeth catch his bottom lip, and he exhales something ragged, something close to a curse, before surging forward, pressing you back, back, back—

until your spine meets the doorframe with a breathless thud, the impact knocking the air from your lungs, stealing what little composure you had left. but yeonjun doesn’t stop. he won’t. you barely register the dull thud of the door slamming shut behind you, the finality of it swallowed whole by the way he tilts your head back, by the way his lips trace fire down the column of your throat, each kiss searing, each inhale sharp and uneven, like he’s breathing you in, like he’s trying to keep you as close as possible, hold you there, keep you his for just a little longer. “jjunie,” you gasp, and he shudders at the sound of his name in your mouth, his hands flexing against your skin.

yeonjun pulls back just enough to look at you, and it’s devastating—the way his eyes search yours, wide and desperate and filled with something so raw it makes your stomach twist, makes your lungs forget how to function, like he’s seeing something he never thought he’d have again. like he’s been starving for you, aching for you, barely surviving without you.

“tell me to stop,” he rasps, his forehead pressing against yours, his breath heavy and uneven, his voice laced with something strained, something trembling, something that sounds an awful lot like desperation. “tell me to stop, and i will.” but you don’t.

you never will.

instead, you pull him back in, crashing your mouth against his, because if this is a mistake, then it’s the only one you ever want to make.

you pull yeonjun with a desperation that feels raw, like the very act of kissing him is the only thing tethering you to reality. your hands move over him, memorizing the feel of him beneath your fingers—the soft stretch of his hoodie, the warmth of his skin, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat pounding in time with your own. he groans into your mouth as your fingers trace the lines of his jaw, as if you’re claiming him, carving your mark into him in the only way you know how.

he responds in kind, his hands cupping your face, thumbs brushing over your cheeks with a tenderness that contradicts the desperation in the way he kisses you, like he’s holding on for dear life. his lips move against yours, feverish and hungry, and it’s messy, unrestrained, a clash of teeth and tongues and raw, unspoken need.

yeonjun then shifts, his hands slipping down to your hips, fingers digging in as he lifts you with ease, pressing you into him like he can’t stand even an inch of space between you. your breath hitches, a soft gasp escaping before your back meets the couch, and he’s right there with you, following, never letting you go. the two of you tumble together in a tangle of limbs and burning skin, of hushed gasps and frantic hands that refused to stop moving, refused to stop reaching. he doesn’t break the kiss, doesn’t even falter, his lips moving against yours with a desperation that borders on ruin, as if he’s trying to chase away the time lost between you, trying to carve himself into you so deeply that nothing could ever pull you apart again. his hands move with purpose, trailing down the curve of your body, fingers unsteady yet determined, trembling against your skin like he’s barely holding himself together.

you barely have time to catch your breath before yeonjun pulls back just enough to hover above you, his forehead pressing against yours, breaths heavy, uneven, tangled in the space between you. "fuck," he murmurs, the word slipping out like a prayer, like he’s unraveling right here in your hands. there's nothing soft about the way he pulls you closer, his lips trailing down the line of your jaw, his breath hot against your skin. “i need you,” yeonjun mutters against your neck, the words strained, desperate, like he’s been holding them in for an eternity. “god, i need you so fucking much.” his hands pull at your jacket, not gentle, not slow, but as if every second spent not touching you is unbearable. you don’t stop him, can’t stop him, because you feel it too—the ache, the pull, the need. “please,” yeonjun’s voice cracks, desperate as he trails kisses along the skin of your neck, his lips barely grazing your skin. “don’t leave me again. not like this.” the way he says it, it feels like a fragile lifeline, like he’s asking for something more than just this—more than just your body, more than just the heat between you both. “i’m not going anywhere,” you whisper back, but the words feel too fragile, too broken to mean anything. because you know the truth—you’re both already lost to this, to each other.

“please,”  yeonjun says again, this time a jagged plea, barely a breath as his lips hover over yours, his voice breaking, trembling like he can’t hold himself together. the way he says it, it’s not a request—it’s a desperate command, a question without an answer. “let me have you.” his words hang in the air, a quiet plea that feels like it reverberates through the very core of your being. yeonjun’s breath is ragged, the tremor in his voice matching the pulse that’s thrumming through your veins. you can see it in the way his eyes flicker, the hesitation, the fear, but beneath it, the unwavering need. he’s asking for everything, and you know it. he’s not just asking to touch you; he’s asking to claim you, to make you his in a way that can never be undone. you should say something—something clever, something self-protective. but your body doesn’t let you. your hands are on him again, urgent, desperate, pulling him closer, your lips crashing into his in an instant. it’s all heat and hunger, no softness, no care for the world beyond this moment. all that matters is him. all that matters is this.

yeonjun groans into the kiss, his mouth moving with a desperation that mirrors your own. his hands slide to your back, pulling you against him, the force of it almost too much, like he’s trying to erase any space between you. the kiss is frantic now, broken and needy, tongues colliding in a frenzy, as if the world is slipping away and all that remains is this—this desperate, bittersweet mess of longing and need.

he pulls back just enough to look at you, his eyes searching yours with an intensity that takes your breath away. there’s no control anymore, no pretending this is temporary, no more games. only the truth in his gaze, the raw honesty in the way he holds you. “please,” he breathes again, his voice hoarse, but this time there’s something different in it—something final. “let me love you. please.”

you feel it in your bones, in the way your heart stutters, in the way your body seems to respond without thought. you don’t need to say anything. your lips find his again, sealing it with a kiss that is everything—everything you’ve been running from and everything you’ve been craving. it’s no longer just about the passion or the heat; it’s about something deeper, something terrifying, something that makes you feel more vulnerable than you’ve ever been.

and then, with your heart pounding and your hands shaking, you finally whisper it.

“okay.”

yeonjun stills for a moment, as though he’s trying to grasp the meaning of your words, as though he can’t believe this is real. his breath catches, his grip on you tightening for just a second, like he needs to ground himself in the reality of this moment, of you, of what you just said. his eyes search yours, wide and disbelieving, like he’s waiting for you to take it back, waiting for the ground to give way beneath him. but you don’t. you won’t.

he exhales shakily, his gaze searching yours, dark and glassy, filled with something that makes your chest ache. and then he moves—slowly, deliberately—his hands slipping beneath the hem of your jacket then your shirt, not in a rush, not greedy, but reverent, like he’s memorizing every inch of you, like he’s afraid this moment might slip away if he’s not careful.

yeonjun watches you as he pushes both the fabric up, waiting for any sign of hesitation, any indication that you’ll change your mind, that this will all come crumbling down before he even gets the chance to hold you the way he’s always wanted to. but you don’t stop him. you only lift your arms, letting him pull them over your head, letting him see you, just as you are—bare, vulnerable, now completely his.

his hands skim over your skin, featherlight, a stark contrast to the way his heart is racing against yours, his breathing uneven, his expression wrecked with something deeper than desire. “you’re so—” he starts, but the words falter, lost somewhere in the back of his throat. instead, he just shakes his head, his lips parting like he wants to say more, like he wants to tell you exactly how much this means to him, but he can’t.

so he shows you instead. yeonjun leans in, pressing a kiss to your shoulder, then another, trailing up to the curve of your neck, slow and lingering, like he’s sealing this moment into his skin. your hands find his hoodie, fingers trembling as you tug at it, and he lets out a shaky breath before pulling it over his head, letting it drop to the floor beside yours.

his arms wrap around you then, holding you close, skin against skin, warmth sinking into every part of you. and for a moment, there’s no rush, no urgency—just this. just you and him, fitting together like you were always meant to. yeonjun moves with a patience that borders on torturous, his lips tracing a slow, deliberate path downwards, leaving warmth in their wake. each kiss is unhurried, lingering against your skin as if he’s mapping out every inch of you, memorizing the way you shiver beneath his touch. his hands follow, fingertips tracing the curve of your waist, the dip of your hip, featherlight yet possessive in their exploration.

you squirm beneath him, your breath hitching as anticipation coils tight in your stomach, but he only chuckles against your skin, the sound low and filled with something dangerously fond. he glances up, and the sight of him—eyes dark with amusement, lips curled into a knowing smile—makes your pulse stutter.

“impatient now, aren’t we?” he murmurs, voice teasing, yet laced with something softer, something almost reverent.

his fingers hook onto the waistband of your panties, but he doesn’t rush, no, he takes his time, dragging the lace down with slow, careful movements, his gaze never leaving yours. it’s steady, unwavering, a silent promise woven between the space of his words, between the way he looks at you like you’re something sacred.

after what felt like an eternity of teasing, yeonjun finally leans towards your glistening heat, tongue jutting out to wet his lips at the sight before him. he rests his hands on your thighs, kneading the soft skin as he pulls them apart just a little more, before finally licking a long stripe against your folds, his eyes practically rolling back at the taste of you.

yeonjun laps at your pussy with vigor, groaning as he sucked on your clit. he moves with purpose, his touch reverent, every action a silent devotion. his lips press against your pussy with an urgency that sends a tremor through your body, his breath warm against your skin as he loses himself in the taste of you.

a gasp catches in your throat as your fingers tangle in his hair, gripping tight without realizing, your body reacting instinctively to the sensation that overtakes your entire being. you can feel the heat of his breath, the way his grip tightens at your response, like he wants nothing more than to pull you closer, to drown in you.

yeonjun watches you with hooded eyes, his smirk curling at the edges as he drinks in your reactions, savoring every tremor, every sharp intake of breath. as if your desperation alone isn’t enough to satisfy him, he lets the pads of his ring and middle finger trace a slow, teasing path against your entrance, hesitant at first, before sinking in with practiced ease, fitting against you like they were made to belong there.

you felt so hot, so dizzy, the mixed sensation of lips, his tongue, and his fingers sending you into overdrive. yeonjun continues to give attention to every inch of your heat, the warmth of his tongue and the deft way his fingers move with purpose, coaxing soft whimpers from your lips.

he pulls away just for a moment just to say, “god, you taste amazing,” only to immediately dip his tongue between your folds once again, eating you out and slurping you for all you’re worth, his fingers never stopping their ministrations as they curled and stretched your walls.

his name tumbles from your lips in a breathless plea, a broken whisper, and yeonjun shudders against you, the sound of it sinking into his skin, branding itself into the very core of him. your fingers tighten in his hair, pulling just enough to make him groan, the deep vibration sending a fresh wave of pleasure coursing through you. he doesn't falter, doesn't slow—if anything, it spurs him on, his movements growing more eager, more relentless, like he wants to pull you apart piece by piece and put you back together in his hands.

yeonjun’s grip on your thighs tightens, holding you in place as he buries himself deeper between your folds, pressing his lips against your skin with an almost worshipful reverence. every shift of his mouth, every stroke of his fingers, is deliberate—he’s learned you, mapped out every place that makes you tremble, every spot that has you gasping for air, and he revels in it, in the way you arch beneath him, in the way your body betrays you, giving in so easily to the way he touches you.

as if sensing your want for more, yeonjun stops momentarily to sit on his knees his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths, eyes dark and half-lidded as he drinks in the sight of you—disheveled, breathless, utterly unraveled beneath him. the dim light casts shadows over his face, accentuating the sharp line of his jaw, the curve of his lips still slick with the evidence of his devotion. his tongue darts out, slow and deliberate, swiping over his bottom lip as if he’s savoring the remnants of you, as if he’s reluctant to let a single drop go to waste. his fingers slip from you, leaving an aching emptiness in their wake, and the soft whimper that escapes your lips makes his smirk deepen. he watches you with something unreadable in his gaze—something dangerously tender, something reverent. and then, with an almost languid ease, he lifts his fingers, coated in the remnants of your desire, and brings his fingers to his lips.

yeonjun’s movements are unhurried, intentional, as he takes them into his mouth, his lashes fluttering as he hums low in his throat. his tongue curls around them, savoring every trace of you, his expression one of indulgence, of quiet satisfaction. when he pulls them free with a soft pop, his gaze finds yours again, and the intensity of it makes your breath catch in your throat.

"you taste unreal," he murmurs, voice low and thick with something that makes your stomach twist. his free hand ghosts over your thigh, tracing absent-minded patterns into your skin, grounding you in the moment, in him. “but..” yeonjun leans forward, his breath fanning over your lips, his presence all-consuming, wrapping around you like a tide pulling you under. his hands, steady yet trembling with restraint, skimming along the length of your waist, sliding over the dips and curves as if grounding himself in the reality of you.

"i need you to tell me," he murmurs, forehead pressing against yours, the weight of the moment settling between you like something sacred, something fragile yet unbreakable. "tell me you want more. tell me you want me." you swallow, your heart hammering against your ribs, your fingers splay across his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath beneath your touch as if it’s the only thing tethering you to the earth. "choi yeonjun," you breathe, his name falling from your lips like a cry, “i need you. so badly.”

yeonjun stills for a fraction of a second, like he’s letting your words sink into his skin, letting them brand him from the inside out. his breath shudders, heavy and uneven, and when he exhales, it feels like he’s been holding it in for too long. his fingers, warm and slightly trembling, trace their way up your arms, over the curve of your shoulders, until they find your face—cupping it, cradling it as if you’re something delicate, something precious. his thumbs brush over your cheekbones, slow and reverent, memorizing the feel of you beneath his touch. his lips find yours again, softer this time, but no less consuming. he kisses you like he’s trying to pour every unspoken thought, every unsaid word, into you—like he’s trying to make you understand just how much of him already belongs to you.

his hands move lower, trailing down the length of your spine, fingertips pressing into the dip of your waist, mapping the curve of your hips as if he’s committing it all to memory. he moves with deliberate care, taking his time, savoring every reaction, every sharp inhale, every whispered sound that leaves your lips. “let me take care of you,” he breathes, voice low, pleading. “let me show you.” yeonjun then shifts, his body pressing against yours, his warmth seeping into your skin as he settles between your legs. his touch unhurried, reverent, fingers brushing over your sides, up your ribcage, lingering just beneath your arms as if he’s trying to gather every part of you into his grasp. his forehead presses against yours, his breath fanning across your lips, warm and uneven, laced with restraint and unadulterated devotion.

his hands slide to your thighs, splaying over your skin, thumbs tracing idle circles as he leans in, brushing his nose against yours, as if savoring the moment, as if grounding himself in you. “you’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, voice barely above a whisper, full of something so heavy it made you shiver. yeonjun then leans back, his hands falling to his waistband, movements careful, deliberate. the fabric slides down, the soft rustle of clothing filling the quiet space between you. the dim light casts golden hues over his skin, highlighting the strong lines of his body, the way his muscles shift beneath the surface. your gaze follows the movement, lingering on the way his breath stutters, as if the weight of this moment is pressing down on him just as much as it is on you. he lets his pants pool at his feet, kicking them aside without a second thought, but still, he doesn’t move forward, not yet, instead, he watches you, eyes dark with something unreadable, something that makes your pulse race. without wasting another second, he tugs off his underwear too, letting his painfully hard cock free from its confines. you unknowingly gulp at the sight of him, bare in front of you, even though you’ve seen him like this more times than you can count. and yet, somehow, this time feels different—like the air between you has shifted, like the moment is heavier, laced with something more intimate than before. your fingers twitch at your sides, aching to reach for him, to close the distance, to map the familiar lines of his body like it’s the first time all over again. and maybe, in a way, it is, because this time, there is no haze of fleeting desire, no rush to chase the heat that always simmers between you. this time, there was something more, something no longer hidden. “you’re staring,” yeonjun murmurs, a breathy laugh escaping him, but there’s no teasing in his tone, no smugness in the curve of his lips. if anything, he sounds just as breathless as you feel, just as caught in the gravity of this moment.

“i know,” you whisper, voice barely there, but the way his expression softens tells you that he heard it anyway. with a soft chuckle, he inches closer, the warmth of his body radiating against yours, and when his hands find your waist, grounding you, steadying you, you realize that you’re trembling. not with nerves, not with fear, but with the overwhelming weight of this; the realization that this is different, that this is new.

with his one hand, yeonjun gave his cock a few strokes, enough for pre-cum to ooze out, letting out a sigh as he lined himself up with your entrance, teasingly rubbing his cockhead against your skin, making you groan in protest. he only chuckles once more in response before finally burying his cock into you.

yeonjun groans as he slowly pushes his length even further, bottoming out almost immediately as his grip on your waist tightens just slightly, as if anchoring himself, as if holding back from completely losing himself in the warmth of you. his fingers dig in just enough to make you feel the weight of him, the restraint in his touch, the way he fights against the urge to move too soon, to give in to the sheer need coursing through his veins.

“fuck,” he breathes, his voice strained, almost pained, and when he finally dares to lift his gaze to yours, his eyes are dark, pupils blown wide with something unreadable. “you feel—” he cuts himself off with a sharp inhale, shaking his head as if words wouldn’t be enough to explain the way he feels at this moment. with slightly trembling fingers, you reach up, brushing against the damp strands of his hair, pushing them back before cupping his face, your thumbs smoothing over the flushed heat of his cheeks. he leans into your touch instinctively, his eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment, his lashes casting delicate shadows against his skin.

“you can move, jjunie… go on…”

yeonjun exhales shakily, unmoving for just a moment longer, as if savoring this fragile, fleeting second before everything shifts. his fingers flex against your skin, his grip tightening just slightly, like he’s grounding himself in you, in the reality of this—of being here, of having you. his thumb brushes over your hip in slow, absentminded circles, a silent reassurance, a quiet promise. and then, after a moment that feels suspended in time, he moves.

he was careful, thrusting into you with a tenderness that made your chest tighten. yeonjun’s hips met yours with unhurried precision, a rhythm that wasn’t rushed but filled with something deeper, something that stole the air from your lungs and replaced it with nothing but him. the way he fit inside you was maddening—stretching you just right, a feeling so overwhelming.

the warmth of him, the steady weight of his presence anchors you, leaving you breathless with each thrust. yeonjun’s breath fans over your shoulder, warm and uneven, as he buries his face against the crook of your neck, his lips brushing against your skin.

you lace your hands around his neck, pulling him impossibly closer, the quiet sounds escaping your lips brush against his ear, a breathy symphony of sighs and whimpers, and he shudders, his grip on you tightening, his arms caging you in as if he wants to shield you from the rest of the world.

yeonjun pulls back just enough to meet your gaze, his eyes dark, his expression open and unguarded. his thumb brushes against your cheek, smoothing away strands of hair, before his lips are on yours again—gentle at first, then deeper, more consuming, his pace beginning to quicken, making you moan deliciously against his lips.

yeonjun drinks in your every reaction, his breath hitching at the way your body responds to him so effortlessly. his movements grew more fervent, his lips molding against yours with a hunger that speaks volumes, as if he’s trying to convey everything he feels—every ounce of adoration, every unsaid word—through every kiss, every lingering touch.

his free hand, warm and steady, began its descent, fingers tracing a slow, deliberate path down your body, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. his touch is electric, setting every inch of your skin alight, but it’s when his thumb presses against your clit that your breath catches in your throat, moving and rubbing against the sensitive bundle of nerves hastily. a soft gasp escapes you, your fingers tightening around his shoulders as a shiver runs through you.

the added sensation was overwhelming, your body arching instinctively, seeking more of his touch, more of the pleasure that builds so effortlessly under his ministrations. your eyes flutter open, wide and hazy with something akin to awe, and you break away from the kiss, a soft whimper falling from your lips before you can stop it.

yeonjun’s gaze locks onto yours instantly, his lips slightly parted, his own breath coming in uneven pants as he watches you unravel beneath him. his thumb moves in slow, practiced circles, his free hand pressing into the small of your back, holding you closer, grounding you as he murmurs, “hm, you’re close, aren’t you? come on, cum for me.. you can do it.”

his words are a promise, and as the tension builds—coiling like a tightly wound spring inside you—you found yourself holding onto him tighter, fingers digging into his shoulders as a breathless whimper slips past your lips, your release washing over you like the tide crashing against the shore, waves of warmth washing over you as a broken sigh escapes you, your body melting into his hold.

“that’s it,” he whispers, voice filled with nothing but quiet reverence. “that’s my girl.”

yeonjun holds you close, his arms wrapped around you like a shield, keeping you pressed against him as you come down from your high, your breath mingling with his in the space between you. his fingers trace gentle, aimless patterns against your back, his touch reverent, grounding.

but he isn’t far behind.

his movements slow, though not by much—each one more deliberate, more desperate, his body seeking its own release as he tried not to overstimulate you, inhaling deeply as if he could commit the very scent of you to memory. his hands tremble slightly as they grasp at you, fingertips pressing into your skin as if you might slip away, as if holding you tighter would somehow make this moment last forever.

yeonjun’s breathing grows heavier, more uneven, his lips parting as a low, shaky sound escapes him. his pace falters for a moment, his forehead pressing against yours, and when he dares to open his eyes, he finds you already looking at him—your gaze soft, half-lidded, full of something that makes his chest feel impossibly tight.

"you feel so good," he breathes, his voice quiet, strained, as if the weight of his emotions is too much to bear. his fingers brush over your cheek, smoothing away strands of hair damp with sweat, before he cups your face with both hands, his thumbs tracing along your jaw. "so perfect…"

his words die on his tongue as a deep, shuddering breath overtakes him, his body tensing against yours as the final wave crashes over him. his grip on you tightens ever so slightly, his lips parting as he lets out a shaky, almost reverent sigh, his head dropping to rest against your shoulder.

yeonjun stays there for a moment, breath warm against your skin, his arms still encircling you as he slowly comes down, his heart hammering against yours in a steady rhythm.

and then, as if suddenly realizing how tightly he’s holding you, yeonjun loosens his grip, pulling back just enough to meet your gaze once more. his expression softens instantly, his features bathed in the dim glow of the room, and he smiles—small, tired, but full of fondness and warmth.

"are you okay?" he murmurs, his voice hushed, gentle, like he’s afraid of shattering the quiet intimacy of the moment.

you nod, exhaling softly, and his smile widens, relief washing over his face. he leans in, pressing the softest of kisses against your temple, then your cheek, then the tip of your nose, as if he can’t help himself.

"good," he whispers, pulling you closer once again, his arms wrapping securely around you. "just stay like this for a while, okay? let me hold you."

you hum softly against his chest, your fingers tracing lazy, delicate shapes over the bare expanse of his skin. the warmth of him seeps into you, settling deep into your bones, his steady breathing lulling you into a peaceful haze. outside, the night hums—crickets singing their quiet lullaby, the distant rustling of trees swayed by the wind—but here, in the safety of his arms, everything feels still.

"i like it when you hold me," you murmur, the words slipping out unguarded, unfiltered. your voice is barely above a whisper, yet he hears you as if you had spoken directly into his soul.

yeonjun stills for a moment before his arms tighten around you, his grip firm yet impossibly gentle. he exhales a quiet chuckle, but there’s a fragility to it, something hesitant and uncertain, as if he’s grappling with a thought he’s too scared to voice. and then, after a moment, he does.

"did you mean it?" he asks, his voice softer this time, cautious, careful. his breath ghosts over the crown of your head, his fingers twitch slightly against your back, like he’s gathering the courage to face whatever answer you might give. "what you said earlier… that you’d let me love you?"

your heart stutters, your breath catching slightly, and you lift your head to look at him. his eyes are searching, wide and dark and brimming with something raw, something vulnerable. it tugs at your heart, the way he looks at you like he’s afraid of the answer, like he’s readying himself for something he doesn’t want to hear.

so you reach for him, cupping his face in your hands, your thumbs smoothing over the flushed warmth of his cheeks.

"yes, yeonjun," you whisper, your voice steady, firm. "i meant it."

his lips part slightly, his breath catching, but no words come out. for a moment, he only stares at you, his expression unreadable, as if he’s trying to convince himself that this is real, that he’s not dreaming. his grip on you tightens, grounding himself in the moment, to the weight of your words.

you swallow, the depth of this moment settling into you, and with all the tenderness you can gather, you whisper, "i want you to love me, because… i love you too."

the words fall into the space between you, delicate yet unshakable, and for a fleeting second, the world holds its breath. yeonjun’s lips part slightly, his brows drawing together, his entire body going still as if he’s processing each syllable, carving them into his memory.

then, in the next heartbeat, he exhales sharply—a sound that’s almost a laugh, but there’s something wobbly about it, something disbelieving. his eyes glisten in the dim light, his smile unsteady as he leans in, pressing his forehead against yours, closing his eyes like he’s afraid that if he looks at you any longer, he might fall apart.

"you have no idea," he breathes, his voice thick, frayed around the edges, "how long i’ve wanted to hear that." he swallows hard, his fingers pressing into the small of your back, holding you closer, as if he’s afraid you might slip away. "i—god, i love you so much, you don’t even know."

your heart clenches, a warmth blooming in your chest so intense it nearly steals your breath away. you tilt your head up, closing the distance between you, and press the softest of kisses against his lips—tender, reassuring. yeonjun sighs into it, melting against you, and in that moment, you feel it—the way he surrenders completely, the way he lets himself believe.

when you pull back, he’s still looking at you with that same awestruck expression, like you’ve just handed him the entire universe. you giggle softly, your fingers slipping into his hair, threading through the strands as you murmur, "then believe it." you let your forehead rest against his once more, breathing him in. "because it’s true."

his grin spreads slowly, boyish and bright, a flicker of something lighter, freer, in his eyes. then, without a word, he buries his face against your shoulder, his arms wrapping around you so tightly it’s as if he’s trying to memorize the shape of you in his embrace. he lets out a deep, content sigh, one that seems to release every ounce of tension he’s been holding.

"okay," he whispers, his voice thick with emotion, laced with something indescribable. "just… let me love you. for a long, long time."

you close your eyes, letting yourself sink into the warmth of him, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your palm. the certainty in his words wraps around you like a promise, like something unbreakable.

"for as long as you want," you whisper, pressing a kiss to the curve of his shoulder.

and with the way yeonjun holds you—his arms strong, unrelenting, unwavering—you already know his answer.

꒰🧸꒱ @pagelets @jettithink @killa-1009 @j-ji-jia @frankghgr @dawngyu @usuallyunlikelyfox @sxmmerberries @napipope-ta @bamgeutori @xylatox @hyunj00 <3

[apeachty]

amia, dear, it's just—

i have absolutely no words to describe how unbelievably marvellous the fic is. each word is beautiful, your way of choosing and placing them is amazing, it's like honey [ yay for weird comparisons! ]

it's absolutely stunning. and thank you for writing a happy ending for the heartbreaking angsty—but no doubt beautiful nevertheless—first part 🩷

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀— your fellow sucker for happy endings in fwb fics; love you

[bamgyuuuri]

#1 moawajjunie i know complimenting my fic ?!?:&:&: i am in shambles 😭🙏 thank you sm angel i love you more than words T_T <3

[bamgyuuuri]

⸝⸝ guilty ┈ cyj.

⸝⸝ WHEN he asks if you'll let him love you, the real question lingers—will you?

pairings and tags. smut!! mdni!!! fwb!yeonjun x afab!reader . angst . emotional hurt/comfort . confession . cunnilingus . fingering . body worship-ish . unprotected sex . praise . aftercare . tender intimacy . fluff

word count. 8.6k

short note! this is part two of casual !! probably one last fic before i go ia because of uni </3 ill still try to do the reqs sent to me little by little + login when i have the time !! i hope u guys like this one <3

part one.

you don’t let yourself. you can’t.

so you leave. you walk out the door, step into the cold night, let the air bite at your skin, hoping it’ll shake something loose—hoping it’ll shake him loose. the pavement was damp from a passing drizzle, and your shoes made soft, wet sounds with every step, but it didn't drown out the echo of your own heartbeat, hammering against your ribs. you focus on the steady rhythm of your footsteps, the distant hum of cars, the glow of streetlights pooling in uneven puddles. anything to keep yourself grounded. anything to stop yourself from turning back.

you tell yourself you’ll be fine. you tell yourself this is what you wanted. but his words don’t leave you.

they follow you home, slipping into the quiet spaces between your thoughts. they echoed in the silence of your apartment, lingering in the places he’s never been in but somehow still is. they play in your head when you stand in front of the mirror the next morning, eyes tired, fingers brushing over your own reflection like you were trying to find something—someone—who wasn’t unraveling at the edges.

you try to go about your day like normal. you meet up with friends, let them talk and laugh around you, nod at the right moments, force out smiles. but it’s like you’re moving through water, every sound muffled, every touch distant. because beneath it all, there’s him.

there’s the way his fingers curled in the sheets as you walked away. the way his voice cracked, just barely, when he spoke. the way his gaze burned into your back, full of something that felt too much like longing.

"one day, i hope you wish to stay."

you already do. every quiet moment was dangerous. every pause was a chance for his words to slip through the cracks, to wrap around your ribs, tight and unrelenting. you hear them in the static between songs, in the hush of the night when the world slows down and there’s nowhere to hide.

"one day, i hope you wish to stay."

you hear them when you wake up alone in your bed, the sheets cold beneath your fingertips. you hear them when you make your morning coffee, staring at the empty space across from you at the table, a space he’s never filled but somehow still owns.

you see him in the curve of a stranger’s smile, in the way someone leans back against a chair, lazy and confident, in the way a laugh rings out in a crowded room—light, teasing, his. and every time, your heart stumbles over itself, your breath catches, and for one stupid, fleeting second, you think about turning around, about going back, about giving in.

but you don’t. instead, you tell yourself it’s fine. that it’s temporary. that soon, you won’t hear his voice when you close your eyes, won’t feel the ghost of his touch in the middle of the night. you tell yourself that you’re stronger than this. that you won’t let him linger, won’t let him take up space in your mind and heart anymore. you tell yourself that you can move on.

you tell yourself that you can move on. you repeat it like a mantra, over and over, until the words lose their meaning. until they’re just empty syllables, hollow and weightless, floating in the spaces he used to fill. you convince yourself that one day, you’ll wake up and he won’t be the first thing on your mind. that his absence won’t feel like something tangible, something with sharp edges that presses into you when you least expect it. you tell yourself it’s fine.

but then night falls, and the quiet becomes unbearable. you lay in bed staring at the ceiling, counting the seconds, waiting for sleep to take you under. but sleep doesn’t come easily, because this was when he felt the closest—when the world was still and all you’re leftwith was him. so you roll onto your side, exhale slowly, press your hand against your chest like that might steady the ache.

maybe tomorrow, you think.

maybe tomorrow, he won’t feel like this much.

but then your phone buzzes.

and his name was there.

just sitting on your screen, waiting.

the glow of it illuminates the dark room, casting long shadows across your sheets, across your face. your heart stutters—one hard, aching beat against your chest, like it already knows what’s coming. like it remembers the way this always goes.

you don’t move. don’t breathe. just stare at the letters, at the way they seem to taunt you, pulling you back into something you swore you were walking away from. they sit there on the screen, harmless in theory, just words—but they may as well be a hand, his hand wrapped around your wrist, tugging you back into the depths of something you barely crawled out of.

your fingers twitch, hesitating over the screen. you shouldn’t. you know you shouldn’t. answering means unraveling all over again. means stepping back into the fire when you’re still burned from the last time.

but the thing about yeonjun is, he was like gravity—a pull so strong, so effortless, that resisting felt impossible. he doesn’t even have to try, doesn’t have to beg or plead. all he has to do is exist in the same space as you, even through a screen, and suddenly you’re falling all over again.

so when the phone buzzes again, a second notification lighting up your screen,

yeonjun (2) new messages:

can i see you?

your resolve cracks, just like it always does. just like it always will. because no matter how many times you tell yourself you’re done, no matter how many walls you build between you and him, it only ever takes one moment—one look, one word, one message—to bring them crashing down.

because you can already hear his voice in your head, soft and low, curling around your name like a secret only the two of you understand. can already see the way he’ll look at you when you show up at his door—like you’re something inevitable. like he knew you’d come back. like you were never meant to stay away in the first place.

your chest tightens. because you know exactly how this will go.

you’ll go to him. you’ll tell yourself it’s just another night, just another moment, just another fuck. but it won’t be. it never is. because yeonjun doesn’t touch you like this is temporary. he doesn’t kiss you like you’re something he can let go of.

he’ll pull you close, press his lips to your skin, slow and aching, like he’s memorizing you—like he’s mapping out every inch, every shiver, every place that makes you gasp his name. his hands will trace the curves of your body, not just in possession or in hunger, but in something deeper, something he doesn’t say out loud.

and you’ll feel it. again. that unbearable weight pressing against your chest, the thing you’ve been running from, the thing you refused to name. it’ll creep into your veins, settle into the spaces between your ribs, take root in all the places you swore he wouldn’t reach. you shouldn’t go. you remind yourself again. you know that. you should let it go to nothing, let his message sit unanswered, let whatever this is bleed out before it takes you both under. you should turn off your phone. bury it beneath your pillow, throw it across the room, anything to stop yourself from doing what you always do.

but you won’t. because you’re selfish, selfish in the way that only someone who has known the taste of him, the feel of him, the unbearable absence of him can be—selfish in the way that aches, in the way that leaves you hollow and restless and reaching for something you swore you wouldn’t come back to again. because you miss him, not just in the quiet moments, not just in the dead of night when the sheets feel too cold and too empty, but in the way the world feels duller without him, in the way your own laughter sounds different, more genuine when he’s the one pulling it from you, in the way your heart still stutters at the thought of him like it doesn’t know any better. you don’t remember making the decision to go. maybe you never had a choice to begin with. maybe this was always inevitable—like the way the tide surrenders to the shore, like how the night will always collapse into dawn. maybe your body just knows, moving before your mind can stop it, drawn back into his gravity, helpless against the pull.

the city blurs past you. streetlights smear into soft halos against the darkness, the cold wind lashes at your skin, but none of it reaches you. your pulse is the only thing you can hear, loud and unsteady, thrumming through your veins like a warning, like a plea. your feet move faster, and faster still, like running from the very thing you were rushing towards.

you tell yourself it’s just momentum.

but you know this is something worse.

his voice, his touch, his name—yeonjun. he's wrapped around your bones, tangled in your breath, woven into your skin in ways you don’t know how to undo. and tonight, with his words still ringing in your head, you don’t have the strength to try.

and you hate yourself for it.

when you reach his door, your hands are trembling. your chest is tight, your breath uneven, and you don’t know if it’s the cold or the weight of it all pressing down on you. your fingers hover over the knob, hesitation curling around your wrists, whispering that it isn’t too late to turn back. you could leave. you could pretend you never came. you could—

but before you can knock, the door swings open. and there he is.

yeonjun. he’s standing in the dim glow of his apartment, bathed in soft, golden light, and he looks wrecked. his hair is messy, his hoodie is loose around his frame, and his eyes—god, his eyes. they drag over you like he’s drinking you in, like he wasn’t sure if you’d actually come, like he doesn’t quite believe you’re real.

you should say something. you should break the silence before it drowns you both.

but you don’t get the chance.

because yeonjun exhales—soft, shaky—and suddenly you’re in his arms.

his hands grasp at you, desperate and unrelenting, pulling you against him so tightly it knocks the air from your lungs. his body is warm, solid, but his hold—his hold is almost frantic, like he’s afraid that if he loosens his grip even a fraction, you’ll slip through his fingers, gone before he can even say your name.

yeonjun buries his face into the curve of your shoulder, and you feel it—his breath, uneven and trembling, something close to relief, something that sounds like a prayer answered. his arms tighten around you, fingers gripping the fabric of your jacket like he’s afraid you’ll disappear, like if he holds you tight enough, he can make up for all the time spent apart, all the nights wasted in silence.

god.

“you came,” he murmurs, barely above a whisper.

you don’t answer. you can’t. because your throat is tight, and your chest is burning, and your hands are clutching at his hoodie like he’s the only thing keeping you upright, like letting go would mean crumbling entirely.

yeonjun pulls back just enough to look at you, his fingers ghosting over your jaw, tilting your face up to his. his touch is hesitant, like he’s waiting for you to push him away, but you don’t. you won’t.

his eyes search yours, deep and endless, something breaking apart in them, something raw and vulnerable that makes your stomach twist, makes your knees feel weak, makes it impossible to look away. there’s a plea in them, silent but deafening, the kind of longing that tastes like regret, like every moment wasted, every second spent apart.

but yeonjun isn’t moving. he’s right there—closer than he’s ever been, closer than you can handle, his forehead almost brushing against yours, his breath warm as it fans over your lips. his voice lingers in the air between you, thick with something desperate, something dangerous, something that threatens to rip you apart if you so much as breathe the wrong way.

yeonjun’s fingers curl against your jaw, just a little tighter, just enough to make you feel it—the heat of his skin, the unspoken plea in his touch, the quiet desperation seeping through every inch of him, raw and unfiltered. grounding you. anchoring you to this moment, to him, to everything you’ve spent so long trying to ignore.

his eyes are searching, burning, begging—digging into you, pulling apart every fragile piece of you until there’s nothing left to hide behind, until he’s staring straight into the parts of you that you swore you’d never let him see. then yeonjun speaks again. “tell me this doesn’t mean anything to you.”

tell me this doesn’t mean anything to you.his voice is quiet, but there’s nothing soft about it, breaking at the edges like he’s barely holding himself together. like he already knows the answer, like he’s daring you to lie to him, like it’s the last thing he’ll ever ask of you, and the only thing that will ruin him if you say the wrong words.

but how could you?

how could you, when your hands are trembling at your sides, itching to pull him closer. when your heart is slamming against your ribs, wild and frantic, screaming for something your lips won’t dare to name. when every inch of you aches with the weight of everything you’ve never said, everything you’ve ever felt, everything you’ve spent so long pretending doesn’t exist.

yeonjun swallows hard, and you watch the way his throat bobs, the way his jaw clenches like he’s bracing for impact. like he’s steadying himself for the inevitable wreckage that’s about to come crashing down around him, waiting for you to ruin him. like he already knows you will. his breath is uneven, warm where it ghosts against your skin, but his hands are steady—steady where they frame your face, thumbs brushing over your cheekbones with a tenderness that makes your chest ache.

“say it,” he whispers, softer this time, his voice cracking at the edges. “please.”

you could lie.

you should.

it would be easier, wouldn’t it? to spit out the words, to carve out the distance between you with something cruel, something final. to tell him that this doesn’t mean anything, that he doesn’t mean anything, that whatever fire is burning between you is nothing more than fleeting embers, destined to fade. to turn around, walk away, leave him standing here with nothing but the hollow ache of almost.

but when you open your mouth, all that comes out is—

“i can’t.”

it’s broken, barely audible, but yeonjun hears it.

his grip tightens—not rough, not forceful, just enough to make sure you’re real, to make sure you won’t slip away again. his breath hitches, his eyes dark and unreadable, his lips parting like he wants to say something, anything—

but he doesn’t.

because then his lips are on yours.

it’s not soft. it’s not careful. it’s everything he’s been holding back, everything he’s never said, pouring into you like he’s trying to drown you in it. his mouth is desperate against yours, teeth clashing, fingers tangling in your hair, pulling, pulling, pulling—like he wants to drag you so close there won’t be space for doubt, for hesitation, for anything but this.

and you let him.

because you were just as ruined.

your fingers curled against the fabric of his hoodie, your nails digging into the fabric, needing something to hold onto, needing something to keep you tethered as the world tilts beneath your feet. his hands are everywhere—on your waist, your back, cradling your face like you’re something precious, something breakable, something he’s terrified of losing but never quite had in the first place.

he breathes your name into your mouth, raw and wrecked, and it shatters something inside you, something you’ve spent so long trying to keep intact. it breaks open, spilling through the cracks, flooding every inch of you until there’s nothing left to hold onto, nothing left to fight against. just him—his voice, his hands, the way he’s kissing you like he’s been drowning without you, like you’re the first breath of air he’s had in weeks. your resolve breaks, crumbling beneath the weight of him—his touch, his voice, the desperate, unrelenting way his lips move against yours. and suddenly, restraint was nothing but a forgotten memory, a foreign concept, a language neither of you speak anymore. because how could you?  not when the space between you has been reduced to nothing but heat and want and the devastating, all-consuming ache of too much and not enough all at once. your hands are in his hair now, twisting into the soft strands, fingers tangling at the roots, tugging just enough to make him groan against your mouth. and god—god, the sound rips through you like a live wire, sharp and electric, a spark catching flame, spreading, devouring until there’s nothing left but want, nothing left but the sheer, unbearable need to pull him closer.

you kiss him back like you’re trying to brand yourself into his skin, like you need him to feel it, to understand it—to know, with every brush of your lips, every desperate pull of your hands, exactly what you can’t say. what you’ve been swallowing down for so long it’s made a home inside you, carving itself into your ribs, into your lungs, into the very core of you. your teeth catch his bottom lip, and he exhales something ragged, something close to a curse, before surging forward, pressing you back, back, back—

until your spine meets the doorframe with a breathless thud, the impact knocking the air from your lungs, stealing what little composure you had left. but yeonjun doesn’t stop. he won’t. you barely register the dull thud of the door slamming shut behind you, the finality of it swallowed whole by the way he tilts your head back, by the way his lips trace fire down the column of your throat, each kiss searing, each inhale sharp and uneven, like he’s breathing you in, like he’s trying to keep you as close as possible, hold you there, keep you his for just a little longer. “jjunie,” you gasp, and he shudders at the sound of his name in your mouth, his hands flexing against your skin.

yeonjun pulls back just enough to look at you, and it’s devastating—the way his eyes search yours, wide and desperate and filled with something so raw it makes your stomach twist, makes your lungs forget how to function, like he’s seeing something he never thought he’d have again. like he’s been starving for you, aching for you, barely surviving without you.

“tell me to stop,” he rasps, his forehead pressing against yours, his breath heavy and uneven, his voice laced with something strained, something trembling, something that sounds an awful lot like desperation. “tell me to stop, and i will.” but you don’t.

you never will.

instead, you pull him back in, crashing your mouth against his, because if this is a mistake, then it’s the only one you ever want to make.

you pull yeonjun with a desperation that feels raw, like the very act of kissing him is the only thing tethering you to reality. your hands move over him, memorizing the feel of him beneath your fingers—the soft stretch of his hoodie, the warmth of his skin, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat pounding in time with your own. he groans into your mouth as your fingers trace the lines of his jaw, as if you’re claiming him, carving your mark into him in the only way you know how.

he responds in kind, his hands cupping your face, thumbs brushing over your cheeks with a tenderness that contradicts the desperation in the way he kisses you, like he’s holding on for dear life. his lips move against yours, feverish and hungry, and it’s messy, unrestrained, a clash of teeth and tongues and raw, unspoken need.

yeonjun then shifts, his hands slipping down to your hips, fingers digging in as he lifts you with ease, pressing you into him like he can’t stand even an inch of space between you. your breath hitches, a soft gasp escaping before your back meets the couch, and he’s right there with you, following, never letting you go. the two of you tumble together in a tangle of limbs and burning skin, of hushed gasps and frantic hands that refused to stop moving, refused to stop reaching. he doesn’t break the kiss, doesn’t even falter, his lips moving against yours with a desperation that borders on ruin, as if he’s trying to chase away the time lost between you, trying to carve himself into you so deeply that nothing could ever pull you apart again. his hands move with purpose, trailing down the curve of your body, fingers unsteady yet determined, trembling against your skin like he’s barely holding himself together.

you barely have time to catch your breath before yeonjun pulls back just enough to hover above you, his forehead pressing against yours, breaths heavy, uneven, tangled in the space between you. "fuck," he murmurs, the word slipping out like a prayer, like he’s unraveling right here in your hands. there's nothing soft about the way he pulls you closer, his lips trailing down the line of your jaw, his breath hot against your skin. “i need you,” yeonjun mutters against your neck, the words strained, desperate, like he’s been holding them in for an eternity. “god, i need you so fucking much.” his hands pull at your jacket, not gentle, not slow, but as if every second spent not touching you is unbearable. you don’t stop him, can’t stop him, because you feel it too—the ache, the pull, the need. “please,” yeonjun’s voice cracks, desperate as he trails kisses along the skin of your neck, his lips barely grazing your skin. “don’t leave me again. not like this.” the way he says it, it feels like a fragile lifeline, like he’s asking for something more than just this—more than just your body, more than just the heat between you both. “i’m not going anywhere,” you whisper back, but the words feel too fragile, too broken to mean anything. because you know the truth—you’re both already lost to this, to each other.

“please,”  yeonjun says again, this time a jagged plea, barely a breath as his lips hover over yours, his voice breaking, trembling like he can’t hold himself together. the way he says it, it’s not a request—it’s a desperate command, a question without an answer. “let me have you.” his words hang in the air, a quiet plea that feels like it reverberates through the very core of your being. yeonjun’s breath is ragged, the tremor in his voice matching the pulse that’s thrumming through your veins. you can see it in the way his eyes flicker, the hesitation, the fear, but beneath it, the unwavering need. he’s asking for everything, and you know it. he’s not just asking to touch you; he’s asking to claim you, to make you his in a way that can never be undone. you should say something—something clever, something self-protective. but your body doesn’t let you. your hands are on him again, urgent, desperate, pulling him closer, your lips crashing into his in an instant. it’s all heat and hunger, no softness, no care for the world beyond this moment. all that matters is him. all that matters is this.

yeonjun groans into the kiss, his mouth moving with a desperation that mirrors your own. his hands slide to your back, pulling you against him, the force of it almost too much, like he’s trying to erase any space between you. the kiss is frantic now, broken and needy, tongues colliding in a frenzy, as if the world is slipping away and all that remains is this—this desperate, bittersweet mess of longing and need.

he pulls back just enough to look at you, his eyes searching yours with an intensity that takes your breath away. there’s no control anymore, no pretending this is temporary, no more games. only the truth in his gaze, the raw honesty in the way he holds you. “please,” he breathes again, his voice hoarse, but this time there’s something different in it—something final. “let me love you. please.”

you feel it in your bones, in the way your heart stutters, in the way your body seems to respond without thought. you don’t need to say anything. your lips find his again, sealing it with a kiss that is everything—everything you’ve been running from and everything you’ve been craving. it’s no longer just about the passion or the heat; it’s about something deeper, something terrifying, something that makes you feel more vulnerable than you’ve ever been.

and then, with your heart pounding and your hands shaking, you finally whisper it.

“okay.”

yeonjun stills for a moment, as though he’s trying to grasp the meaning of your words, as though he can’t believe this is real. his breath catches, his grip on you tightening for just a second, like he needs to ground himself in the reality of this moment, of you, of what you just said. his eyes search yours, wide and disbelieving, like he’s waiting for you to take it back, waiting for the ground to give way beneath him. but you don’t. you won’t.

he exhales shakily, his gaze searching yours, dark and glassy, filled with something that makes your chest ache. and then he moves—slowly, deliberately—his hands slipping beneath the hem of your jacket then your shirt, not in a rush, not greedy, but reverent, like he’s memorizing every inch of you, like he’s afraid this moment might slip away if he’s not careful.

yeonjun watches you as he pushes both the fabric up, waiting for any sign of hesitation, any indication that you’ll change your mind, that this will all come crumbling down before he even gets the chance to hold you the way he’s always wanted to. but you don’t stop him. you only lift your arms, letting him pull them over your head, letting him see you, just as you are—bare, vulnerable, now completely his.

his hands skim over your skin, featherlight, a stark contrast to the way his heart is racing against yours, his breathing uneven, his expression wrecked with something deeper than desire. “you’re so—” he starts, but the words falter, lost somewhere in the back of his throat. instead, he just shakes his head, his lips parting like he wants to say more, like he wants to tell you exactly how much this means to him, but he can’t.

so he shows you instead. yeonjun leans in, pressing a kiss to your shoulder, then another, trailing up to the curve of your neck, slow and lingering, like he’s sealing this moment into his skin. your hands find his hoodie, fingers trembling as you tug at it, and he lets out a shaky breath before pulling it over his head, letting it drop to the floor beside yours.

his arms wrap around you then, holding you close, skin against skin, warmth sinking into every part of you. and for a moment, there’s no rush, no urgency—just this. just you and him, fitting together like you were always meant to. yeonjun moves with a patience that borders on torturous, his lips tracing a slow, deliberate path downwards, leaving warmth in their wake. each kiss is unhurried, lingering against your skin as if he’s mapping out every inch of you, memorizing the way you shiver beneath his touch. his hands follow, fingertips tracing the curve of your waist, the dip of your hip, featherlight yet possessive in their exploration.

you squirm beneath him, your breath hitching as anticipation coils tight in your stomach, but he only chuckles against your skin, the sound low and filled with something dangerously fond. he glances up, and the sight of him—eyes dark with amusement, lips curled into a knowing smile—makes your pulse stutter.

“impatient now, aren’t we?” he murmurs, voice teasing, yet laced with something softer, something almost reverent.

his fingers hook onto the waistband of your panties, but he doesn’t rush, no, he takes his time, dragging the lace down with slow, careful movements, his gaze never leaving yours. it’s steady, unwavering, a silent promise woven between the space of his words, between the way he looks at you like you’re something sacred.

after what felt like an eternity of teasing, yeonjun finally leans towards your glistening heat, tongue jutting out to wet his lips at the sight before him. he rests his hands on your thighs, kneading the soft skin as he pulls them apart just a little more, before finally licking a long stripe against your folds, his eyes practically rolling back at the taste of you.

yeonjun laps at your pussy with vigor, groaning as he sucked on your clit. he moves with purpose, his touch reverent, every action a silent devotion. his lips press against your pussy with an urgency that sends a tremor through your body, his breath warm against your skin as he loses himself in the taste of you.

a gasp catches in your throat as your fingers tangle in his hair, gripping tight without realizing, your body reacting instinctively to the sensation that overtakes your entire being. you can feel the heat of his breath, the way his grip tightens at your response, like he wants nothing more than to pull you closer, to drown in you.

yeonjun watches you with hooded eyes, his smirk curling at the edges as he drinks in your reactions, savoring every tremor, every sharp intake of breath. as if your desperation alone isn’t enough to satisfy him, he lets the pads of his ring and middle finger trace a slow, teasing path against your entrance, hesitant at first, before sinking in with practiced ease, fitting against you like they were made to belong there.

you felt so hot, so dizzy, the mixed sensation of lips, his tongue, and his fingers sending you into overdrive. yeonjun continues to give attention to every inch of your heat, the warmth of his tongue and the deft way his fingers move with purpose, coaxing soft whimpers from your lips.

he pulls away just for a moment just to say, “god, you taste amazing,” only to immediately dip his tongue between your folds once again, eating you out and slurping you for all you’re worth, his fingers never stopping their ministrations as they curled and stretched your walls.

his name tumbles from your lips in a breathless plea, a broken whisper, and yeonjun shudders against you, the sound of it sinking into his skin, branding itself into the very core of him. your fingers tighten in his hair, pulling just enough to make him groan, the deep vibration sending a fresh wave of pleasure coursing through you. he doesn't falter, doesn't slow—if anything, it spurs him on, his movements growing more eager, more relentless, like he wants to pull you apart piece by piece and put you back together in his hands.

yeonjun’s grip on your thighs tightens, holding you in place as he buries himself deeper between your folds, pressing his lips against your skin with an almost worshipful reverence. every shift of his mouth, every stroke of his fingers, is deliberate—he’s learned you, mapped out every place that makes you tremble, every spot that has you gasping for air, and he revels in it, in the way you arch beneath him, in the way your body betrays you, giving in so easily to the way he touches you.

as if sensing your want for more, yeonjun stops momentarily to sit on his knees his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths, eyes dark and half-lidded as he drinks in the sight of you—disheveled, breathless, utterly unraveled beneath him. the dim light casts shadows over his face, accentuating the sharp line of his jaw, the curve of his lips still slick with the evidence of his devotion. his tongue darts out, slow and deliberate, swiping over his bottom lip as if he’s savoring the remnants of you, as if he’s reluctant to let a single drop go to waste. his fingers slip from you, leaving an aching emptiness in their wake, and the soft whimper that escapes your lips makes his smirk deepen. he watches you with something unreadable in his gaze—something dangerously tender, something reverent. and then, with an almost languid ease, he lifts his fingers, coated in the remnants of your desire, and brings his fingers to his lips.

yeonjun’s movements are unhurried, intentional, as he takes them into his mouth, his lashes fluttering as he hums low in his throat. his tongue curls around them, savoring every trace of you, his expression one of indulgence, of quiet satisfaction. when he pulls them free with a soft pop, his gaze finds yours again, and the intensity of it makes your breath catch in your throat.

"you taste unreal," he murmurs, voice low and thick with something that makes your stomach twist. his free hand ghosts over your thigh, tracing absent-minded patterns into your skin, grounding you in the moment, in him. “but..” yeonjun leans forward, his breath fanning over your lips, his presence all-consuming, wrapping around you like a tide pulling you under. his hands, steady yet trembling with restraint, skimming along the length of your waist, sliding over the dips and curves as if grounding himself in the reality of you.

"i need you to tell me," he murmurs, forehead pressing against yours, the weight of the moment settling between you like something sacred, something fragile yet unbreakable. "tell me you want more. tell me you want me." you swallow, your heart hammering against your ribs, your fingers splay across his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath beneath your touch as if it’s the only thing tethering you to the earth. "choi yeonjun," you breathe, his name falling from your lips like a cry, “i need you. so badly.”

yeonjun stills for a fraction of a second, like he’s letting your words sink into his skin, letting them brand him from the inside out. his breath shudders, heavy and uneven, and when he exhales, it feels like he’s been holding it in for too long. his fingers, warm and slightly trembling, trace their way up your arms, over the curve of your shoulders, until they find your face—cupping it, cradling it as if you’re something delicate, something precious. his thumbs brush over your cheekbones, slow and reverent, memorizing the feel of you beneath his touch. his lips find yours again, softer this time, but no less consuming. he kisses you like he’s trying to pour every unspoken thought, every unsaid word, into you—like he’s trying to make you understand just how much of him already belongs to you.

his hands move lower, trailing down the length of your spine, fingertips pressing into the dip of your waist, mapping the curve of your hips as if he’s committing it all to memory. he moves with deliberate care, taking his time, savoring every reaction, every sharp inhale, every whispered sound that leaves your lips. “let me take care of you,” he breathes, voice low, pleading. “let me show you.” yeonjun then shifts, his body pressing against yours, his warmth seeping into your skin as he settles between your legs. his touch unhurried, reverent, fingers brushing over your sides, up your ribcage, lingering just beneath your arms as if he’s trying to gather every part of you into his grasp. his forehead presses against yours, his breath fanning across your lips, warm and uneven, laced with restraint and unadulterated devotion.

his hands slide to your thighs, splaying over your skin, thumbs tracing idle circles as he leans in, brushing his nose against yours, as if savoring the moment, as if grounding himself in you. “you’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, voice barely above a whisper, full of something so heavy it made you shiver. yeonjun then leans back, his hands falling to his waistband, movements careful, deliberate. the fabric slides down, the soft rustle of clothing filling the quiet space between you. the dim light casts golden hues over his skin, highlighting the strong lines of his body, the way his muscles shift beneath the surface. your gaze follows the movement, lingering on the way his breath stutters, as if the weight of this moment is pressing down on him just as much as it is on you. he lets his pants pool at his feet, kicking them aside without a second thought, but still, he doesn’t move forward, not yet, instead, he watches you, eyes dark with something unreadable, something that makes your pulse race. without wasting another second, he tugs off his underwear too, letting his painfully hard cock free from its confines. you unknowingly gulp at the sight of him, bare in front of you, even though you’ve seen him like this more times than you can count. and yet, somehow, this time feels different—like the air between you has shifted, like the moment is heavier, laced with something more intimate than before. your fingers twitch at your sides, aching to reach for him, to close the distance, to map the familiar lines of his body like it’s the first time all over again. and maybe, in a way, it is, because this time, there is no haze of fleeting desire, no rush to chase the heat that always simmers between you. this time, there was something more, something no longer hidden. “you’re staring,” yeonjun murmurs, a breathy laugh escaping him, but there’s no teasing in his tone, no smugness in the curve of his lips. if anything, he sounds just as breathless as you feel, just as caught in the gravity of this moment.

“i know,” you whisper, voice barely there, but the way his expression softens tells you that he heard it anyway. with a soft chuckle, he inches closer, the warmth of his body radiating against yours, and when his hands find your waist, grounding you, steadying you, you realize that you’re trembling. not with nerves, not with fear, but with the overwhelming weight of this; the realization that this is different, that this is new.

with his one hand, yeonjun gave his cock a few strokes, enough for pre-cum to ooze out, letting out a sigh as he lined himself up with your entrance, teasingly rubbing his cockhead against your skin, making you groan in protest. he only chuckles once more in response before finally burying his cock into you.

yeonjun groans as he slowly pushes his length even further, bottoming out almost immediately as his grip on your waist tightens just slightly, as if anchoring himself, as if holding back from completely losing himself in the warmth of you. his fingers dig in just enough to make you feel the weight of him, the restraint in his touch, the way he fights against the urge to move too soon, to give in to the sheer need coursing through his veins.

“fuck,” he breathes, his voice strained, almost pained, and when he finally dares to lift his gaze to yours, his eyes are dark, pupils blown wide with something unreadable. “you feel—” he cuts himself off with a sharp inhale, shaking his head as if words wouldn’t be enough to explain the way he feels at this moment. with slightly trembling fingers, you reach up, brushing against the damp strands of his hair, pushing them back before cupping his face, your thumbs smoothing over the flushed heat of his cheeks. he leans into your touch instinctively, his eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment, his lashes casting delicate shadows against his skin.

“you can move, jjunie… go on…”

yeonjun exhales shakily, unmoving for just a moment longer, as if savoring this fragile, fleeting second before everything shifts. his fingers flex against your skin, his grip tightening just slightly, like he’s grounding himself in you, in the reality of this—of being here, of having you. his thumb brushes over your hip in slow, absentminded circles, a silent reassurance, a quiet promise. and then, after a moment that feels suspended in time, he moves.

he was careful, thrusting into you with a tenderness that made your chest tighten. yeonjun’s hips met yours with unhurried precision, a rhythm that wasn’t rushed but filled with something deeper, something that stole the air from your lungs and replaced it with nothing but him. the way he fit inside you was maddening—stretching you just right, a feeling so overwhelming.

the warmth of him, the steady weight of his presence anchors you, leaving you breathless with each thrust. yeonjun’s breath fans over your shoulder, warm and uneven, as he buries his face against the crook of your neck, his lips brushing against your skin.

you lace your hands around his neck, pulling him impossibly closer, the quiet sounds escaping your lips brush against his ear, a breathy symphony of sighs and whimpers, and he shudders, his grip on you tightening, his arms caging you in as if he wants to shield you from the rest of the world.

yeonjun pulls back just enough to meet your gaze, his eyes dark, his expression open and unguarded. his thumb brushes against your cheek, smoothing away strands of hair, before his lips are on yours again—gentle at first, then deeper, more consuming, his pace beginning to quicken, making you moan deliciously against his lips.

yeonjun drinks in your every reaction, his breath hitching at the way your body responds to him so effortlessly. his movements grew more fervent, his lips molding against yours with a hunger that speaks volumes, as if he’s trying to convey everything he feels—every ounce of adoration, every unsaid word—through every kiss, every lingering touch.

his free hand, warm and steady, began its descent, fingers tracing a slow, deliberate path down your body, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. his touch is electric, setting every inch of your skin alight, but it’s when his thumb presses against your clit that your breath catches in your throat, moving and rubbing against the sensitive bundle of nerves hastily. a soft gasp escapes you, your fingers tightening around his shoulders as a shiver runs through you.

the added sensation was overwhelming, your body arching instinctively, seeking more of his touch, more of the pleasure that builds so effortlessly under his ministrations. your eyes flutter open, wide and hazy with something akin to awe, and you break away from the kiss, a soft whimper falling from your lips before you can stop it.

yeonjun’s gaze locks onto yours instantly, his lips slightly parted, his own breath coming in uneven pants as he watches you unravel beneath him. his thumb moves in slow, practiced circles, his free hand pressing into the small of your back, holding you closer, grounding you as he murmurs, “hm, you’re close, aren’t you? come on, cum for me.. you can do it.”

his words are a promise, and as the tension builds—coiling like a tightly wound spring inside you—you found yourself holding onto him tighter, fingers digging into his shoulders as a breathless whimper slips past your lips, your release washing over you like the tide crashing against the shore, waves of warmth washing over you as a broken sigh escapes you, your body melting into his hold.

“that’s it,” he whispers, voice filled with nothing but quiet reverence. “that’s my girl.”

yeonjun holds you close, his arms wrapped around you like a shield, keeping you pressed against him as you come down from your high, your breath mingling with his in the space between you. his fingers trace gentle, aimless patterns against your back, his touch reverent, grounding.

but he isn’t far behind.

his movements slow, though not by much—each one more deliberate, more desperate, his body seeking its own release as he tried not to overstimulate you, inhaling deeply as if he could commit the very scent of you to memory. his hands tremble slightly as they grasp at you, fingertips pressing into your skin as if you might slip away, as if holding you tighter would somehow make this moment last forever.

yeonjun’s breathing grows heavier, more uneven, his lips parting as a low, shaky sound escapes him. his pace falters for a moment, his forehead pressing against yours, and when he dares to open his eyes, he finds you already looking at him—your gaze soft, half-lidded, full of something that makes his chest feel impossibly tight.

"you feel so good," he breathes, his voice quiet, strained, as if the weight of his emotions is too much to bear. his fingers brush over your cheek, smoothing away strands of hair damp with sweat, before he cups your face with both hands, his thumbs tracing along your jaw. "so perfect…"

his words die on his tongue as a deep, shuddering breath overtakes him, his body tensing against yours as the final wave crashes over him. his grip on you tightens ever so slightly, his lips parting as he lets out a shaky, almost reverent sigh, his head dropping to rest against your shoulder.

yeonjun stays there for a moment, breath warm against your skin, his arms still encircling you as he slowly comes down, his heart hammering against yours in a steady rhythm.

and then, as if suddenly realizing how tightly he’s holding you, yeonjun loosens his grip, pulling back just enough to meet your gaze once more. his expression softens instantly, his features bathed in the dim glow of the room, and he smiles—small, tired, but full of fondness and warmth.

"are you okay?" he murmurs, his voice hushed, gentle, like he’s afraid of shattering the quiet intimacy of the moment.

you nod, exhaling softly, and his smile widens, relief washing over his face. he leans in, pressing the softest of kisses against your temple, then your cheek, then the tip of your nose, as if he can’t help himself.

"good," he whispers, pulling you closer once again, his arms wrapping securely around you. "just stay like this for a while, okay? let me hold you."

you hum softly against his chest, your fingers tracing lazy, delicate shapes over the bare expanse of his skin. the warmth of him seeps into you, settling deep into your bones, his steady breathing lulling you into a peaceful haze. outside, the night hums—crickets singing their quiet lullaby, the distant rustling of trees swayed by the wind—but here, in the safety of his arms, everything feels still.

"i like it when you hold me," you murmur, the words slipping out unguarded, unfiltered. your voice is barely above a whisper, yet he hears you as if you had spoken directly into his soul.

yeonjun stills for a moment before his arms tighten around you, his grip firm yet impossibly gentle. he exhales a quiet chuckle, but there’s a fragility to it, something hesitant and uncertain, as if he’s grappling with a thought he’s too scared to voice. and then, after a moment, he does.

"did you mean it?" he asks, his voice softer this time, cautious, careful. his breath ghosts over the crown of your head, his fingers twitch slightly against your back, like he’s gathering the courage to face whatever answer you might give. "what you said earlier… that you’d let me love you?"

your heart stutters, your breath catching slightly, and you lift your head to look at him. his eyes are searching, wide and dark and brimming with something raw, something vulnerable. it tugs at your heart, the way he looks at you like he’s afraid of the answer, like he’s readying himself for something he doesn’t want to hear.

so you reach for him, cupping his face in your hands, your thumbs smoothing over the flushed warmth of his cheeks.

"yes, yeonjun," you whisper, your voice steady, firm. "i meant it."

his lips part slightly, his breath catching, but no words come out. for a moment, he only stares at you, his expression unreadable, as if he’s trying to convince himself that this is real, that he’s not dreaming. his grip on you tightens, grounding himself in the moment, to the weight of your words.

you swallow, the depth of this moment settling into you, and with all the tenderness you can gather, you whisper, "i want you to love me, because… i love you too."

the words fall into the space between you, delicate yet unshakable, and for a fleeting second, the world holds its breath. yeonjun’s lips part slightly, his brows drawing together, his entire body going still as if he’s processing each syllable, carving them into his memory.

then, in the next heartbeat, he exhales sharply—a sound that’s almost a laugh, but there’s something wobbly about it, something disbelieving. his eyes glisten in the dim light, his smile unsteady as he leans in, pressing his forehead against yours, closing his eyes like he’s afraid that if he looks at you any longer, he might fall apart.

"you have no idea," he breathes, his voice thick, frayed around the edges, "how long i’ve wanted to hear that." he swallows hard, his fingers pressing into the small of your back, holding you closer, as if he’s afraid you might slip away. "i—god, i love you so much, you don’t even know."

your heart clenches, a warmth blooming in your chest so intense it nearly steals your breath away. you tilt your head up, closing the distance between you, and press the softest of kisses against his lips—tender, reassuring. yeonjun sighs into it, melting against you, and in that moment, you feel it—the way he surrenders completely, the way he lets himself believe.

when you pull back, he’s still looking at you with that same awestruck expression, like you’ve just handed him the entire universe. you giggle softly, your fingers slipping into his hair, threading through the strands as you murmur, "then believe it." you let your forehead rest against his once more, breathing him in. "because it’s true."

his grin spreads slowly, boyish and bright, a flicker of something lighter, freer, in his eyes. then, without a word, he buries his face against your shoulder, his arms wrapping around you so tightly it’s as if he’s trying to memorize the shape of you in his embrace. he lets out a deep, content sigh, one that seems to release every ounce of tension he’s been holding.

"okay," he whispers, his voice thick with emotion, laced with something indescribable. "just… let me love you. for a long, long time."

you close your eyes, letting yourself sink into the warmth of him, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your palm. the certainty in his words wraps around you like a promise, like something unbreakable.

"for as long as you want," you whisper, pressing a kiss to the curve of his shoulder.

and with the way yeonjun holds you—his arms strong, unrelenting, unwavering—you already know his answer.

꒰🧸꒱ @pagelets @jettithink @killa-1009 @j-ji-jia @frankghgr @dawngyu @usuallyunlikelyfox @sxmmerberries @napipope-ta @bamgeutori @xylatox @hyunj00 <3

[xylatox-deactivated20260509]

Definitely did not expect to get a part 2 of casual but I'm absolutely not complaining 😭. There are so many moments that left be absolutely feral but here are just a few:

he’ll pull you close, press his lips to your skin, slow and aching, like he’s memorizing you—like he’s mapping out every inch, every shiver, every place that makes you gasp his name. his hands will trace the curves of your body, not just in possession or in hunger, but in something deeper, something he doesn’t say out loud. — like, I'm absolutely not doing okay, the biggest lover of yeonjun fics but this. the yearning omg.

what you’ve been swallowing down for so long it’s made a home inside you, carving itself into your ribs, into your lungs, into the very core of you. your teeth catch his bottom lip, and he exhales something ragged, something close to a curse, before surging forward, pressing you back, back, back— what if I just passed away

you swallow, the depth of this moment settling into you, and with all the tenderness you can gather, you whisper, "i want you to love me, because… i love you too." — sobbing. on. the. floor.

I really did love this :( yeonjun fics make me so soft like 🫠<- me everytime

[bamgyuuuri]

AAAAA adeline omg whenever you reblog my fics i already know i’ll be smiling ear to ear after reading your words T_T i love and appreciate u so much omg

[bamgyuuuri]

⸝⸝ guilty ┈ cyj.

⸝⸝ WHEN he asks if you'll let him love you, the real question lingers—will you?

pairings and tags. smut!! mdni!!! fwb!yeonjun x afab!reader . angst . emotional hurt/comfort . confession . cunnilingus . fingering . body worship-ish . unprotected sex . praise . aftercare . tender intimacy . fluff

word count. 8.6k

short note! this is part two of casual !! probably one last fic before i go ia because of uni </3 ill still try to do the reqs sent to me little by little + login when i have the time !! i hope u guys like this one <3

part one.

you don’t let yourself. you can’t.

so you leave. you walk out the door, step into the cold night, let the air bite at your skin, hoping it’ll shake something loose—hoping it’ll shake him loose. the pavement was damp from a passing drizzle, and your shoes made soft, wet sounds with every step, but it didn't drown out the echo of your own heartbeat, hammering against your ribs. you focus on the steady rhythm of your footsteps, the distant hum of cars, the glow of streetlights pooling in uneven puddles. anything to keep yourself grounded. anything to stop yourself from turning back.

you tell yourself you’ll be fine. you tell yourself this is what you wanted. but his words don’t leave you.

they follow you home, slipping into the quiet spaces between your thoughts. they echoed in the silence of your apartment, lingering in the places he’s never been in but somehow still is. they play in your head when you stand in front of the mirror the next morning, eyes tired, fingers brushing over your own reflection like you were trying to find something—someone—who wasn’t unraveling at the edges.

you try to go about your day like normal. you meet up with friends, let them talk and laugh around you, nod at the right moments, force out smiles. but it’s like you’re moving through water, every sound muffled, every touch distant. because beneath it all, there’s him.

there’s the way his fingers curled in the sheets as you walked away. the way his voice cracked, just barely, when he spoke. the way his gaze burned into your back, full of something that felt too much like longing.

"one day, i hope you wish to stay."

you already do. every quiet moment was dangerous. every pause was a chance for his words to slip through the cracks, to wrap around your ribs, tight and unrelenting. you hear them in the static between songs, in the hush of the night when the world slows down and there’s nowhere to hide.

"one day, i hope you wish to stay."

you hear them when you wake up alone in your bed, the sheets cold beneath your fingertips. you hear them when you make your morning coffee, staring at the empty space across from you at the table, a space he’s never filled but somehow still owns.

you see him in the curve of a stranger’s smile, in the way someone leans back against a chair, lazy and confident, in the way a laugh rings out in a crowded room—light, teasing, his. and every time, your heart stumbles over itself, your breath catches, and for one stupid, fleeting second, you think about turning around, about going back, about giving in.

but you don’t. instead, you tell yourself it’s fine. that it’s temporary. that soon, you won’t hear his voice when you close your eyes, won’t feel the ghost of his touch in the middle of the night. you tell yourself that you’re stronger than this. that you won’t let him linger, won’t let him take up space in your mind and heart anymore. you tell yourself that you can move on.

you tell yourself that you can move on. you repeat it like a mantra, over and over, until the words lose their meaning. until they’re just empty syllables, hollow and weightless, floating in the spaces he used to fill. you convince yourself that one day, you’ll wake up and he won’t be the first thing on your mind. that his absence won’t feel like something tangible, something with sharp edges that presses into you when you least expect it. you tell yourself it’s fine.

but then night falls, and the quiet becomes unbearable. you lay in bed staring at the ceiling, counting the seconds, waiting for sleep to take you under. but sleep doesn’t come easily, because this was when he felt the closest—when the world was still and all you’re leftwith was him. so you roll onto your side, exhale slowly, press your hand against your chest like that might steady the ache.

maybe tomorrow, you think.

maybe tomorrow, he won’t feel like this much.

but then your phone buzzes.

and his name was there.

just sitting on your screen, waiting.

the glow of it illuminates the dark room, casting long shadows across your sheets, across your face. your heart stutters—one hard, aching beat against your chest, like it already knows what’s coming. like it remembers the way this always goes.

you don’t move. don’t breathe. just stare at the letters, at the way they seem to taunt you, pulling you back into something you swore you were walking away from. they sit there on the screen, harmless in theory, just words—but they may as well be a hand, his hand wrapped around your wrist, tugging you back into the depths of something you barely crawled out of.

your fingers twitch, hesitating over the screen. you shouldn’t. you know you shouldn’t. answering means unraveling all over again. means stepping back into the fire when you’re still burned from the last time.

but the thing about yeonjun is, he was like gravity—a pull so strong, so effortless, that resisting felt impossible. he doesn’t even have to try, doesn’t have to beg or plead. all he has to do is exist in the same space as you, even through a screen, and suddenly you’re falling all over again.

so when the phone buzzes again, a second notification lighting up your screen,

yeonjun (2) new messages:

can i see you?

your resolve cracks, just like it always does. just like it always will. because no matter how many times you tell yourself you’re done, no matter how many walls you build between you and him, it only ever takes one moment—one look, one word, one message—to bring them crashing down.

because you can already hear his voice in your head, soft and low, curling around your name like a secret only the two of you understand. can already see the way he’ll look at you when you show up at his door—like you’re something inevitable. like he knew you’d come back. like you were never meant to stay away in the first place.

your chest tightens. because you know exactly how this will go.

you’ll go to him. you’ll tell yourself it’s just another night, just another moment, just another fuck. but it won’t be. it never is. because yeonjun doesn’t touch you like this is temporary. he doesn’t kiss you like you’re something he can let go of.

he’ll pull you close, press his lips to your skin, slow and aching, like he’s memorizing you—like he’s mapping out every inch, every shiver, every place that makes you gasp his name. his hands will trace the curves of your body, not just in possession or in hunger, but in something deeper, something he doesn’t say out loud.

and you’ll feel it. again. that unbearable weight pressing against your chest, the thing you’ve been running from, the thing you refused to name. it’ll creep into your veins, settle into the spaces between your ribs, take root in all the places you swore he wouldn’t reach. you shouldn’t go. you remind yourself again. you know that. you should let it go to nothing, let his message sit unanswered, let whatever this is bleed out before it takes you both under. you should turn off your phone. bury it beneath your pillow, throw it across the room, anything to stop yourself from doing what you always do.

but you won’t. because you’re selfish, selfish in the way that only someone who has known the taste of him, the feel of him, the unbearable absence of him can be—selfish in the way that aches, in the way that leaves you hollow and restless and reaching for something you swore you wouldn’t come back to again. because you miss him, not just in the quiet moments, not just in the dead of night when the sheets feel too cold and too empty, but in the way the world feels duller without him, in the way your own laughter sounds different, more genuine when he’s the one pulling it from you, in the way your heart still stutters at the thought of him like it doesn’t know any better. you don’t remember making the decision to go. maybe you never had a choice to begin with. maybe this was always inevitable—like the way the tide surrenders to the shore, like how the night will always collapse into dawn. maybe your body just knows, moving before your mind can stop it, drawn back into his gravity, helpless against the pull.

the city blurs past you. streetlights smear into soft halos against the darkness, the cold wind lashes at your skin, but none of it reaches you. your pulse is the only thing you can hear, loud and unsteady, thrumming through your veins like a warning, like a plea. your feet move faster, and faster still, like running from the very thing you were rushing towards.

you tell yourself it’s just momentum.

but you know this is something worse.

his voice, his touch, his name—yeonjun. he's wrapped around your bones, tangled in your breath, woven into your skin in ways you don’t know how to undo. and tonight, with his words still ringing in your head, you don’t have the strength to try.

and you hate yourself for it.

when you reach his door, your hands are trembling. your chest is tight, your breath uneven, and you don’t know if it’s the cold or the weight of it all pressing down on you. your fingers hover over the knob, hesitation curling around your wrists, whispering that it isn’t too late to turn back. you could leave. you could pretend you never came. you could—

but before you can knock, the door swings open. and there he is.

yeonjun. he’s standing in the dim glow of his apartment, bathed in soft, golden light, and he looks wrecked. his hair is messy, his hoodie is loose around his frame, and his eyes—god, his eyes. they drag over you like he’s drinking you in, like he wasn’t sure if you’d actually come, like he doesn’t quite believe you’re real.

you should say something. you should break the silence before it drowns you both.

but you don’t get the chance.

because yeonjun exhales—soft, shaky—and suddenly you’re in his arms.

his hands grasp at you, desperate and unrelenting, pulling you against him so tightly it knocks the air from your lungs. his body is warm, solid, but his hold—his hold is almost frantic, like he’s afraid that if he loosens his grip even a fraction, you’ll slip through his fingers, gone before he can even say your name.

yeonjun buries his face into the curve of your shoulder, and you feel it—his breath, uneven and trembling, something close to relief, something that sounds like a prayer answered. his arms tighten around you, fingers gripping the fabric of your jacket like he’s afraid you’ll disappear, like if he holds you tight enough, he can make up for all the time spent apart, all the nights wasted in silence.

god.

“you came,” he murmurs, barely above a whisper.

you don’t answer. you can’t. because your throat is tight, and your chest is burning, and your hands are clutching at his hoodie like he’s the only thing keeping you upright, like letting go would mean crumbling entirely.

yeonjun pulls back just enough to look at you, his fingers ghosting over your jaw, tilting your face up to his. his touch is hesitant, like he’s waiting for you to push him away, but you don’t. you won’t.

his eyes search yours, deep and endless, something breaking apart in them, something raw and vulnerable that makes your stomach twist, makes your knees feel weak, makes it impossible to look away. there’s a plea in them, silent but deafening, the kind of longing that tastes like regret, like every moment wasted, every second spent apart.

but yeonjun isn’t moving. he’s right there—closer than he’s ever been, closer than you can handle, his forehead almost brushing against yours, his breath warm as it fans over your lips. his voice lingers in the air between you, thick with something desperate, something dangerous, something that threatens to rip you apart if you so much as breathe the wrong way.

yeonjun’s fingers curl against your jaw, just a little tighter, just enough to make you feel it—the heat of his skin, the unspoken plea in his touch, the quiet desperation seeping through every inch of him, raw and unfiltered. grounding you. anchoring you to this moment, to him, to everything you’ve spent so long trying to ignore.

his eyes are searching, burning, begging—digging into you, pulling apart every fragile piece of you until there’s nothing left to hide behind, until he’s staring straight into the parts of you that you swore you’d never let him see. then yeonjun speaks again. “tell me this doesn’t mean anything to you.”

tell me this doesn’t mean anything to you.his voice is quiet, but there’s nothing soft about it, breaking at the edges like he’s barely holding himself together. like he already knows the answer, like he’s daring you to lie to him, like it’s the last thing he’ll ever ask of you, and the only thing that will ruin him if you say the wrong words.

but how could you?

how could you, when your hands are trembling at your sides, itching to pull him closer. when your heart is slamming against your ribs, wild and frantic, screaming for something your lips won’t dare to name. when every inch of you aches with the weight of everything you’ve never said, everything you’ve ever felt, everything you’ve spent so long pretending doesn’t exist.

yeonjun swallows hard, and you watch the way his throat bobs, the way his jaw clenches like he’s bracing for impact. like he’s steadying himself for the inevitable wreckage that’s about to come crashing down around him, waiting for you to ruin him. like he already knows you will. his breath is uneven, warm where it ghosts against your skin, but his hands are steady—steady where they frame your face, thumbs brushing over your cheekbones with a tenderness that makes your chest ache.

“say it,” he whispers, softer this time, his voice cracking at the edges. “please.”

you could lie.

you should.

it would be easier, wouldn’t it? to spit out the words, to carve out the distance between you with something cruel, something final. to tell him that this doesn’t mean anything, that he doesn’t mean anything, that whatever fire is burning between you is nothing more than fleeting embers, destined to fade. to turn around, walk away, leave him standing here with nothing but the hollow ache of almost.

but when you open your mouth, all that comes out is—

“i can’t.”

it’s broken, barely audible, but yeonjun hears it.

his grip tightens—not rough, not forceful, just enough to make sure you’re real, to make sure you won’t slip away again. his breath hitches, his eyes dark and unreadable, his lips parting like he wants to say something, anything—

but he doesn’t.

because then his lips are on yours.

it’s not soft. it’s not careful. it’s everything he’s been holding back, everything he’s never said, pouring into you like he’s trying to drown you in it. his mouth is desperate against yours, teeth clashing, fingers tangling in your hair, pulling, pulling, pulling—like he wants to drag you so close there won’t be space for doubt, for hesitation, for anything but this.

and you let him.

because you were just as ruined.

your fingers curled against the fabric of his hoodie, your nails digging into the fabric, needing something to hold onto, needing something to keep you tethered as the world tilts beneath your feet. his hands are everywhere—on your waist, your back, cradling your face like you’re something precious, something breakable, something he’s terrified of losing but never quite had in the first place.

he breathes your name into your mouth, raw and wrecked, and it shatters something inside you, something you’ve spent so long trying to keep intact. it breaks open, spilling through the cracks, flooding every inch of you until there’s nothing left to hold onto, nothing left to fight against. just him—his voice, his hands, the way he’s kissing you like he’s been drowning without you, like you’re the first breath of air he’s had in weeks. your resolve breaks, crumbling beneath the weight of him—his touch, his voice, the desperate, unrelenting way his lips move against yours. and suddenly, restraint was nothing but a forgotten memory, a foreign concept, a language neither of you speak anymore. because how could you?  not when the space between you has been reduced to nothing but heat and want and the devastating, all-consuming ache of too much and not enough all at once. your hands are in his hair now, twisting into the soft strands, fingers tangling at the roots, tugging just enough to make him groan against your mouth. and god—god, the sound rips through you like a live wire, sharp and electric, a spark catching flame, spreading, devouring until there’s nothing left but want, nothing left but the sheer, unbearable need to pull him closer.

you kiss him back like you’re trying to brand yourself into his skin, like you need him to feel it, to understand it—to know, with every brush of your lips, every desperate pull of your hands, exactly what you can’t say. what you’ve been swallowing down for so long it’s made a home inside you, carving itself into your ribs, into your lungs, into the very core of you. your teeth catch his bottom lip, and he exhales something ragged, something close to a curse, before surging forward, pressing you back, back, back—

until your spine meets the doorframe with a breathless thud, the impact knocking the air from your lungs, stealing what little composure you had left. but yeonjun doesn’t stop. he won’t. you barely register the dull thud of the door slamming shut behind you, the finality of it swallowed whole by the way he tilts your head back, by the way his lips trace fire down the column of your throat, each kiss searing, each inhale sharp and uneven, like he’s breathing you in, like he’s trying to keep you as close as possible, hold you there, keep you his for just a little longer. “jjunie,” you gasp, and he shudders at the sound of his name in your mouth, his hands flexing against your skin.

yeonjun pulls back just enough to look at you, and it’s devastating—the way his eyes search yours, wide and desperate and filled with something so raw it makes your stomach twist, makes your lungs forget how to function, like he’s seeing something he never thought he’d have again. like he’s been starving for you, aching for you, barely surviving without you.

“tell me to stop,” he rasps, his forehead pressing against yours, his breath heavy and uneven, his voice laced with something strained, something trembling, something that sounds an awful lot like desperation. “tell me to stop, and i will.” but you don’t.

you never will.

instead, you pull him back in, crashing your mouth against his, because if this is a mistake, then it’s the only one you ever want to make.

you pull yeonjun with a desperation that feels raw, like the very act of kissing him is the only thing tethering you to reality. your hands move over him, memorizing the feel of him beneath your fingers—the soft stretch of his hoodie, the warmth of his skin, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat pounding in time with your own. he groans into your mouth as your fingers trace the lines of his jaw, as if you’re claiming him, carving your mark into him in the only way you know how.

he responds in kind, his hands cupping your face, thumbs brushing over your cheeks with a tenderness that contradicts the desperation in the way he kisses you, like he’s holding on for dear life. his lips move against yours, feverish and hungry, and it’s messy, unrestrained, a clash of teeth and tongues and raw, unspoken need.

yeonjun then shifts, his hands slipping down to your hips, fingers digging in as he lifts you with ease, pressing you into him like he can’t stand even an inch of space between you. your breath hitches, a soft gasp escaping before your back meets the couch, and he’s right there with you, following, never letting you go. the two of you tumble together in a tangle of limbs and burning skin, of hushed gasps and frantic hands that refused to stop moving, refused to stop reaching. he doesn’t break the kiss, doesn’t even falter, his lips moving against yours with a desperation that borders on ruin, as if he’s trying to chase away the time lost between you, trying to carve himself into you so deeply that nothing could ever pull you apart again. his hands move with purpose, trailing down the curve of your body, fingers unsteady yet determined, trembling against your skin like he’s barely holding himself together.

you barely have time to catch your breath before yeonjun pulls back just enough to hover above you, his forehead pressing against yours, breaths heavy, uneven, tangled in the space between you. "fuck," he murmurs, the word slipping out like a prayer, like he’s unraveling right here in your hands. there's nothing soft about the way he pulls you closer, his lips trailing down the line of your jaw, his breath hot against your skin. “i need you,” yeonjun mutters against your neck, the words strained, desperate, like he’s been holding them in for an eternity. “god, i need you so fucking much.” his hands pull at your jacket, not gentle, not slow, but as if every second spent not touching you is unbearable. you don’t stop him, can’t stop him, because you feel it too—the ache, the pull, the need. “please,” yeonjun’s voice cracks, desperate as he trails kisses along the skin of your neck, his lips barely grazing your skin. “don’t leave me again. not like this.” the way he says it, it feels like a fragile lifeline, like he’s asking for something more than just this—more than just your body, more than just the heat between you both. “i’m not going anywhere,” you whisper back, but the words feel too fragile, too broken to mean anything. because you know the truth—you’re both already lost to this, to each other.

“please,”  yeonjun says again, this time a jagged plea, barely a breath as his lips hover over yours, his voice breaking, trembling like he can’t hold himself together. the way he says it, it’s not a request—it’s a desperate command, a question without an answer. “let me have you.” his words hang in the air, a quiet plea that feels like it reverberates through the very core of your being. yeonjun’s breath is ragged, the tremor in his voice matching the pulse that’s thrumming through your veins. you can see it in the way his eyes flicker, the hesitation, the fear, but beneath it, the unwavering need. he’s asking for everything, and you know it. he’s not just asking to touch you; he’s asking to claim you, to make you his in a way that can never be undone. you should say something—something clever, something self-protective. but your body doesn’t let you. your hands are on him again, urgent, desperate, pulling him closer, your lips crashing into his in an instant. it’s all heat and hunger, no softness, no care for the world beyond this moment. all that matters is him. all that matters is this.

yeonjun groans into the kiss, his mouth moving with a desperation that mirrors your own. his hands slide to your back, pulling you against him, the force of it almost too much, like he’s trying to erase any space between you. the kiss is frantic now, broken and needy, tongues colliding in a frenzy, as if the world is slipping away and all that remains is this—this desperate, bittersweet mess of longing and need.

he pulls back just enough to look at you, his eyes searching yours with an intensity that takes your breath away. there’s no control anymore, no pretending this is temporary, no more games. only the truth in his gaze, the raw honesty in the way he holds you. “please,” he breathes again, his voice hoarse, but this time there’s something different in it—something final. “let me love you. please.”

you feel it in your bones, in the way your heart stutters, in the way your body seems to respond without thought. you don’t need to say anything. your lips find his again, sealing it with a kiss that is everything—everything you’ve been running from and everything you’ve been craving. it’s no longer just about the passion or the heat; it’s about something deeper, something terrifying, something that makes you feel more vulnerable than you’ve ever been.

and then, with your heart pounding and your hands shaking, you finally whisper it.

“okay.”

yeonjun stills for a moment, as though he’s trying to grasp the meaning of your words, as though he can’t believe this is real. his breath catches, his grip on you tightening for just a second, like he needs to ground himself in the reality of this moment, of you, of what you just said. his eyes search yours, wide and disbelieving, like he’s waiting for you to take it back, waiting for the ground to give way beneath him. but you don’t. you won’t.

he exhales shakily, his gaze searching yours, dark and glassy, filled with something that makes your chest ache. and then he moves—slowly, deliberately—his hands slipping beneath the hem of your jacket then your shirt, not in a rush, not greedy, but reverent, like he’s memorizing every inch of you, like he’s afraid this moment might slip away if he’s not careful.

yeonjun watches you as he pushes both the fabric up, waiting for any sign of hesitation, any indication that you’ll change your mind, that this will all come crumbling down before he even gets the chance to hold you the way he’s always wanted to. but you don’t stop him. you only lift your arms, letting him pull them over your head, letting him see you, just as you are—bare, vulnerable, now completely his.

his hands skim over your skin, featherlight, a stark contrast to the way his heart is racing against yours, his breathing uneven, his expression wrecked with something deeper than desire. “you’re so—” he starts, but the words falter, lost somewhere in the back of his throat. instead, he just shakes his head, his lips parting like he wants to say more, like he wants to tell you exactly how much this means to him, but he can’t.

so he shows you instead. yeonjun leans in, pressing a kiss to your shoulder, then another, trailing up to the curve of your neck, slow and lingering, like he’s sealing this moment into his skin. your hands find his hoodie, fingers trembling as you tug at it, and he lets out a shaky breath before pulling it over his head, letting it drop to the floor beside yours.

his arms wrap around you then, holding you close, skin against skin, warmth sinking into every part of you. and for a moment, there’s no rush, no urgency—just this. just you and him, fitting together like you were always meant to. yeonjun moves with a patience that borders on torturous, his lips tracing a slow, deliberate path downwards, leaving warmth in their wake. each kiss is unhurried, lingering against your skin as if he’s mapping out every inch of you, memorizing the way you shiver beneath his touch. his hands follow, fingertips tracing the curve of your waist, the dip of your hip, featherlight yet possessive in their exploration.

you squirm beneath him, your breath hitching as anticipation coils tight in your stomach, but he only chuckles against your skin, the sound low and filled with something dangerously fond. he glances up, and the sight of him—eyes dark with amusement, lips curled into a knowing smile—makes your pulse stutter.

“impatient now, aren’t we?” he murmurs, voice teasing, yet laced with something softer, something almost reverent.

his fingers hook onto the waistband of your panties, but he doesn’t rush, no, he takes his time, dragging the lace down with slow, careful movements, his gaze never leaving yours. it’s steady, unwavering, a silent promise woven between the space of his words, between the way he looks at you like you’re something sacred.

after what felt like an eternity of teasing, yeonjun finally leans towards your glistening heat, tongue jutting out to wet his lips at the sight before him. he rests his hands on your thighs, kneading the soft skin as he pulls them apart just a little more, before finally licking a long stripe against your folds, his eyes practically rolling back at the taste of you.

yeonjun laps at your pussy with vigor, groaning as he sucked on your clit. he moves with purpose, his touch reverent, every action a silent devotion. his lips press against your pussy with an urgency that sends a tremor through your body, his breath warm against your skin as he loses himself in the taste of you.

a gasp catches in your throat as your fingers tangle in his hair, gripping tight without realizing, your body reacting instinctively to the sensation that overtakes your entire being. you can feel the heat of his breath, the way his grip tightens at your response, like he wants nothing more than to pull you closer, to drown in you.

yeonjun watches you with hooded eyes, his smirk curling at the edges as he drinks in your reactions, savoring every tremor, every sharp intake of breath. as if your desperation alone isn’t enough to satisfy him, he lets the pads of his ring and middle finger trace a slow, teasing path against your entrance, hesitant at first, before sinking in with practiced ease, fitting against you like they were made to belong there.

you felt so hot, so dizzy, the mixed sensation of lips, his tongue, and his fingers sending you into overdrive. yeonjun continues to give attention to every inch of your heat, the warmth of his tongue and the deft way his fingers move with purpose, coaxing soft whimpers from your lips.

he pulls away just for a moment just to say, “god, you taste amazing,” only to immediately dip his tongue between your folds once again, eating you out and slurping you for all you’re worth, his fingers never stopping their ministrations as they curled and stretched your walls.

his name tumbles from your lips in a breathless plea, a broken whisper, and yeonjun shudders against you, the sound of it sinking into his skin, branding itself into the very core of him. your fingers tighten in his hair, pulling just enough to make him groan, the deep vibration sending a fresh wave of pleasure coursing through you. he doesn't falter, doesn't slow—if anything, it spurs him on, his movements growing more eager, more relentless, like he wants to pull you apart piece by piece and put you back together in his hands.

yeonjun’s grip on your thighs tightens, holding you in place as he buries himself deeper between your folds, pressing his lips against your skin with an almost worshipful reverence. every shift of his mouth, every stroke of his fingers, is deliberate—he’s learned you, mapped out every place that makes you tremble, every spot that has you gasping for air, and he revels in it, in the way you arch beneath him, in the way your body betrays you, giving in so easily to the way he touches you.

as if sensing your want for more, yeonjun stops momentarily to sit on his knees his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths, eyes dark and half-lidded as he drinks in the sight of you—disheveled, breathless, utterly unraveled beneath him. the dim light casts shadows over his face, accentuating the sharp line of his jaw, the curve of his lips still slick with the evidence of his devotion. his tongue darts out, slow and deliberate, swiping over his bottom lip as if he’s savoring the remnants of you, as if he’s reluctant to let a single drop go to waste. his fingers slip from you, leaving an aching emptiness in their wake, and the soft whimper that escapes your lips makes his smirk deepen. he watches you with something unreadable in his gaze—something dangerously tender, something reverent. and then, with an almost languid ease, he lifts his fingers, coated in the remnants of your desire, and brings his fingers to his lips.

yeonjun’s movements are unhurried, intentional, as he takes them into his mouth, his lashes fluttering as he hums low in his throat. his tongue curls around them, savoring every trace of you, his expression one of indulgence, of quiet satisfaction. when he pulls them free with a soft pop, his gaze finds yours again, and the intensity of it makes your breath catch in your throat.

"you taste unreal," he murmurs, voice low and thick with something that makes your stomach twist. his free hand ghosts over your thigh, tracing absent-minded patterns into your skin, grounding you in the moment, in him. “but..” yeonjun leans forward, his breath fanning over your lips, his presence all-consuming, wrapping around you like a tide pulling you under. his hands, steady yet trembling with restraint, skimming along the length of your waist, sliding over the dips and curves as if grounding himself in the reality of you.

"i need you to tell me," he murmurs, forehead pressing against yours, the weight of the moment settling between you like something sacred, something fragile yet unbreakable. "tell me you want more. tell me you want me." you swallow, your heart hammering against your ribs, your fingers splay across his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath beneath your touch as if it’s the only thing tethering you to the earth. "choi yeonjun," you breathe, his name falling from your lips like a cry, “i need you. so badly.”

yeonjun stills for a fraction of a second, like he’s letting your words sink into his skin, letting them brand him from the inside out. his breath shudders, heavy and uneven, and when he exhales, it feels like he’s been holding it in for too long. his fingers, warm and slightly trembling, trace their way up your arms, over the curve of your shoulders, until they find your face—cupping it, cradling it as if you’re something delicate, something precious. his thumbs brush over your cheekbones, slow and reverent, memorizing the feel of you beneath his touch. his lips find yours again, softer this time, but no less consuming. he kisses you like he’s trying to pour every unspoken thought, every unsaid word, into you—like he’s trying to make you understand just how much of him already belongs to you.

his hands move lower, trailing down the length of your spine, fingertips pressing into the dip of your waist, mapping the curve of your hips as if he’s committing it all to memory. he moves with deliberate care, taking his time, savoring every reaction, every sharp inhale, every whispered sound that leaves your lips. “let me take care of you,” he breathes, voice low, pleading. “let me show you.” yeonjun then shifts, his body pressing against yours, his warmth seeping into your skin as he settles between your legs. his touch unhurried, reverent, fingers brushing over your sides, up your ribcage, lingering just beneath your arms as if he’s trying to gather every part of you into his grasp. his forehead presses against yours, his breath fanning across your lips, warm and uneven, laced with restraint and unadulterated devotion.

his hands slide to your thighs, splaying over your skin, thumbs tracing idle circles as he leans in, brushing his nose against yours, as if savoring the moment, as if grounding himself in you. “you’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, voice barely above a whisper, full of something so heavy it made you shiver. yeonjun then leans back, his hands falling to his waistband, movements careful, deliberate. the fabric slides down, the soft rustle of clothing filling the quiet space between you. the dim light casts golden hues over his skin, highlighting the strong lines of his body, the way his muscles shift beneath the surface. your gaze follows the movement, lingering on the way his breath stutters, as if the weight of this moment is pressing down on him just as much as it is on you. he lets his pants pool at his feet, kicking them aside without a second thought, but still, he doesn’t move forward, not yet, instead, he watches you, eyes dark with something unreadable, something that makes your pulse race. without wasting another second, he tugs off his underwear too, letting his painfully hard cock free from its confines. you unknowingly gulp at the sight of him, bare in front of you, even though you’ve seen him like this more times than you can count. and yet, somehow, this time feels different—like the air between you has shifted, like the moment is heavier, laced with something more intimate than before. your fingers twitch at your sides, aching to reach for him, to close the distance, to map the familiar lines of his body like it’s the first time all over again. and maybe, in a way, it is, because this time, there is no haze of fleeting desire, no rush to chase the heat that always simmers between you. this time, there was something more, something no longer hidden. “you’re staring,” yeonjun murmurs, a breathy laugh escaping him, but there’s no teasing in his tone, no smugness in the curve of his lips. if anything, he sounds just as breathless as you feel, just as caught in the gravity of this moment.

“i know,” you whisper, voice barely there, but the way his expression softens tells you that he heard it anyway. with a soft chuckle, he inches closer, the warmth of his body radiating against yours, and when his hands find your waist, grounding you, steadying you, you realize that you’re trembling. not with nerves, not with fear, but with the overwhelming weight of this; the realization that this is different, that this is new.

with his one hand, yeonjun gave his cock a few strokes, enough for pre-cum to ooze out, letting out a sigh as he lined himself up with your entrance, teasingly rubbing his cockhead against your skin, making you groan in protest. he only chuckles once more in response before finally burying his cock into you.

yeonjun groans as he slowly pushes his length even further, bottoming out almost immediately as his grip on your waist tightens just slightly, as if anchoring himself, as if holding back from completely losing himself in the warmth of you. his fingers dig in just enough to make you feel the weight of him, the restraint in his touch, the way he fights against the urge to move too soon, to give in to the sheer need coursing through his veins.

“fuck,” he breathes, his voice strained, almost pained, and when he finally dares to lift his gaze to yours, his eyes are dark, pupils blown wide with something unreadable. “you feel—” he cuts himself off with a sharp inhale, shaking his head as if words wouldn’t be enough to explain the way he feels at this moment. with slightly trembling fingers, you reach up, brushing against the damp strands of his hair, pushing them back before cupping his face, your thumbs smoothing over the flushed heat of his cheeks. he leans into your touch instinctively, his eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment, his lashes casting delicate shadows against his skin.

“you can move, jjunie… go on…”

yeonjun exhales shakily, unmoving for just a moment longer, as if savoring this fragile, fleeting second before everything shifts. his fingers flex against your skin, his grip tightening just slightly, like he’s grounding himself in you, in the reality of this—of being here, of having you. his thumb brushes over your hip in slow, absentminded circles, a silent reassurance, a quiet promise. and then, after a moment that feels suspended in time, he moves.

he was careful, thrusting into you with a tenderness that made your chest tighten. yeonjun’s hips met yours with unhurried precision, a rhythm that wasn’t rushed but filled with something deeper, something that stole the air from your lungs and replaced it with nothing but him. the way he fit inside you was maddening—stretching you just right, a feeling so overwhelming.

the warmth of him, the steady weight of his presence anchors you, leaving you breathless with each thrust. yeonjun’s breath fans over your shoulder, warm and uneven, as he buries his face against the crook of your neck, his lips brushing against your skin.

you lace your hands around his neck, pulling him impossibly closer, the quiet sounds escaping your lips brush against his ear, a breathy symphony of sighs and whimpers, and he shudders, his grip on you tightening, his arms caging you in as if he wants to shield you from the rest of the world.

yeonjun pulls back just enough to meet your gaze, his eyes dark, his expression open and unguarded. his thumb brushes against your cheek, smoothing away strands of hair, before his lips are on yours again—gentle at first, then deeper, more consuming, his pace beginning to quicken, making you moan deliciously against his lips.

yeonjun drinks in your every reaction, his breath hitching at the way your body responds to him so effortlessly. his movements grew more fervent, his lips molding against yours with a hunger that speaks volumes, as if he’s trying to convey everything he feels—every ounce of adoration, every unsaid word—through every kiss, every lingering touch.

his free hand, warm and steady, began its descent, fingers tracing a slow, deliberate path down your body, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. his touch is electric, setting every inch of your skin alight, but it’s when his thumb presses against your clit that your breath catches in your throat, moving and rubbing against the sensitive bundle of nerves hastily. a soft gasp escapes you, your fingers tightening around his shoulders as a shiver runs through you.

the added sensation was overwhelming, your body arching instinctively, seeking more of his touch, more of the pleasure that builds so effortlessly under his ministrations. your eyes flutter open, wide and hazy with something akin to awe, and you break away from the kiss, a soft whimper falling from your lips before you can stop it.

yeonjun’s gaze locks onto yours instantly, his lips slightly parted, his own breath coming in uneven pants as he watches you unravel beneath him. his thumb moves in slow, practiced circles, his free hand pressing into the small of your back, holding you closer, grounding you as he murmurs, “hm, you’re close, aren’t you? come on, cum for me.. you can do it.”

his words are a promise, and as the tension builds—coiling like a tightly wound spring inside you—you found yourself holding onto him tighter, fingers digging into his shoulders as a breathless whimper slips past your lips, your release washing over you like the tide crashing against the shore, waves of warmth washing over you as a broken sigh escapes you, your body melting into his hold.

“that’s it,” he whispers, voice filled with nothing but quiet reverence. “that’s my girl.”

yeonjun holds you close, his arms wrapped around you like a shield, keeping you pressed against him as you come down from your high, your breath mingling with his in the space between you. his fingers trace gentle, aimless patterns against your back, his touch reverent, grounding.

but he isn’t far behind.

his movements slow, though not by much—each one more deliberate, more desperate, his body seeking its own release as he tried not to overstimulate you, inhaling deeply as if he could commit the very scent of you to memory. his hands tremble slightly as they grasp at you, fingertips pressing into your skin as if you might slip away, as if holding you tighter would somehow make this moment last forever.

yeonjun’s breathing grows heavier, more uneven, his lips parting as a low, shaky sound escapes him. his pace falters for a moment, his forehead pressing against yours, and when he dares to open his eyes, he finds you already looking at him—your gaze soft, half-lidded, full of something that makes his chest feel impossibly tight.

"you feel so good," he breathes, his voice quiet, strained, as if the weight of his emotions is too much to bear. his fingers brush over your cheek, smoothing away strands of hair damp with sweat, before he cups your face with both hands, his thumbs tracing along your jaw. "so perfect…"

his words die on his tongue as a deep, shuddering breath overtakes him, his body tensing against yours as the final wave crashes over him. his grip on you tightens ever so slightly, his lips parting as he lets out a shaky, almost reverent sigh, his head dropping to rest against your shoulder.

yeonjun stays there for a moment, breath warm against your skin, his arms still encircling you as he slowly comes down, his heart hammering against yours in a steady rhythm.

and then, as if suddenly realizing how tightly he’s holding you, yeonjun loosens his grip, pulling back just enough to meet your gaze once more. his expression softens instantly, his features bathed in the dim glow of the room, and he smiles—small, tired, but full of fondness and warmth.

"are you okay?" he murmurs, his voice hushed, gentle, like he’s afraid of shattering the quiet intimacy of the moment.

you nod, exhaling softly, and his smile widens, relief washing over his face. he leans in, pressing the softest of kisses against your temple, then your cheek, then the tip of your nose, as if he can’t help himself.

"good," he whispers, pulling you closer once again, his arms wrapping securely around you. "just stay like this for a while, okay? let me hold you."

you hum softly against his chest, your fingers tracing lazy, delicate shapes over the bare expanse of his skin. the warmth of him seeps into you, settling deep into your bones, his steady breathing lulling you into a peaceful haze. outside, the night hums—crickets singing their quiet lullaby, the distant rustling of trees swayed by the wind—but here, in the safety of his arms, everything feels still.

"i like it when you hold me," you murmur, the words slipping out unguarded, unfiltered. your voice is barely above a whisper, yet he hears you as if you had spoken directly into his soul.

yeonjun stills for a moment before his arms tighten around you, his grip firm yet impossibly gentle. he exhales a quiet chuckle, but there’s a fragility to it, something hesitant and uncertain, as if he’s grappling with a thought he’s too scared to voice. and then, after a moment, he does.

"did you mean it?" he asks, his voice softer this time, cautious, careful. his breath ghosts over the crown of your head, his fingers twitch slightly against your back, like he’s gathering the courage to face whatever answer you might give. "what you said earlier… that you’d let me love you?"

your heart stutters, your breath catching slightly, and you lift your head to look at him. his eyes are searching, wide and dark and brimming with something raw, something vulnerable. it tugs at your heart, the way he looks at you like he’s afraid of the answer, like he’s readying himself for something he doesn’t want to hear.

so you reach for him, cupping his face in your hands, your thumbs smoothing over the flushed warmth of his cheeks.

"yes, yeonjun," you whisper, your voice steady, firm. "i meant it."

his lips part slightly, his breath catching, but no words come out. for a moment, he only stares at you, his expression unreadable, as if he’s trying to convince himself that this is real, that he’s not dreaming. his grip on you tightens, grounding himself in the moment, to the weight of your words.

you swallow, the depth of this moment settling into you, and with all the tenderness you can gather, you whisper, "i want you to love me, because… i love you too."

the words fall into the space between you, delicate yet unshakable, and for a fleeting second, the world holds its breath. yeonjun’s lips part slightly, his brows drawing together, his entire body going still as if he’s processing each syllable, carving them into his memory.

then, in the next heartbeat, he exhales sharply—a sound that’s almost a laugh, but there’s something wobbly about it, something disbelieving. his eyes glisten in the dim light, his smile unsteady as he leans in, pressing his forehead against yours, closing his eyes like he’s afraid that if he looks at you any longer, he might fall apart.

"you have no idea," he breathes, his voice thick, frayed around the edges, "how long i’ve wanted to hear that." he swallows hard, his fingers pressing into the small of your back, holding you closer, as if he’s afraid you might slip away. "i—god, i love you so much, you don’t even know."

your heart clenches, a warmth blooming in your chest so intense it nearly steals your breath away. you tilt your head up, closing the distance between you, and press the softest of kisses against his lips—tender, reassuring. yeonjun sighs into it, melting against you, and in that moment, you feel it—the way he surrenders completely, the way he lets himself believe.

when you pull back, he’s still looking at you with that same awestruck expression, like you’ve just handed him the entire universe. you giggle softly, your fingers slipping into his hair, threading through the strands as you murmur, "then believe it." you let your forehead rest against his once more, breathing him in. "because it’s true."

his grin spreads slowly, boyish and bright, a flicker of something lighter, freer, in his eyes. then, without a word, he buries his face against your shoulder, his arms wrapping around you so tightly it’s as if he’s trying to memorize the shape of you in his embrace. he lets out a deep, content sigh, one that seems to release every ounce of tension he’s been holding.

"okay," he whispers, his voice thick with emotion, laced with something indescribable. "just… let me love you. for a long, long time."

you close your eyes, letting yourself sink into the warmth of him, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your palm. the certainty in his words wraps around you like a promise, like something unbreakable.

"for as long as you want," you whisper, pressing a kiss to the curve of his shoulder.

and with the way yeonjun holds you—his arms strong, unrelenting, unwavering—you already know his answer.

꒰🧸꒱ @pagelets @jettithink @killa-1009 @j-ji-jia @frankghgr @dawngyu @usuallyunlikelyfox @sxmmerberries @napipope-ta @bamgeutori @xylatox @hyunj00 <3

[bamgyuuuri]

⸝⸝ guilty ┈ cyj.

⸝⸝ WHEN he asks if you'll let him love you, the real question lingers—will you?

pairings and tags. smut!! mdni!!! fwb!yeonjun x afab!reader . angst . emotional hurt/comfort . confession . cunnilingus . fingering . body worship-ish . unprotected sex . praise . aftercare . tender intimacy . fluff

word count. 8.6k

short note! this is part two of casual !! probably one last fic before i go ia because of uni </3 ill still try to do the reqs sent to me little by little + login when i have the time !! i hope u guys like this one <3

part one.

you don’t let yourself. you can’t.

so you leave. you walk out the door, step into the cold night, let the air bite at your skin, hoping it’ll shake something loose—hoping it’ll shake him loose. the pavement was damp from a passing drizzle, and your shoes made soft, wet sounds with every step, but it didn't drown out the echo of your own heartbeat, hammering against your ribs. you focus on the steady rhythm of your footsteps, the distant hum of cars, the glow of streetlights pooling in uneven puddles. anything to keep yourself grounded. anything to stop yourself from turning back.

you tell yourself you’ll be fine. you tell yourself this is what you wanted. but his words don’t leave you.

they follow you home, slipping into the quiet spaces between your thoughts. they echoed in the silence of your apartment, lingering in the places he’s never been in but somehow still is. they play in your head when you stand in front of the mirror the next morning, eyes tired, fingers brushing over your own reflection like you were trying to find something—someone—who wasn’t unraveling at the edges.

you try to go about your day like normal. you meet up with friends, let them talk and laugh around you, nod at the right moments, force out smiles. but it’s like you’re moving through water, every sound muffled, every touch distant. because beneath it all, there’s him.

there’s the way his fingers curled in the sheets as you walked away. the way his voice cracked, just barely, when he spoke. the way his gaze burned into your back, full of something that felt too much like longing.

"one day, i hope you wish to stay."

you already do. every quiet moment was dangerous. every pause was a chance for his words to slip through the cracks, to wrap around your ribs, tight and unrelenting. you hear them in the static between songs, in the hush of the night when the world slows down and there’s nowhere to hide.

"one day, i hope you wish to stay."

you hear them when you wake up alone in your bed, the sheets cold beneath your fingertips. you hear them when you make your morning coffee, staring at the empty space across from you at the table, a space he’s never filled but somehow still owns.

you see him in the curve of a stranger’s smile, in the way someone leans back against a chair, lazy and confident, in the way a laugh rings out in a crowded room—light, teasing, his. and every time, your heart stumbles over itself, your breath catches, and for one stupid, fleeting second, you think about turning around, about going back, about giving in.

but you don’t. instead, you tell yourself it’s fine. that it’s temporary. that soon, you won’t hear his voice when you close your eyes, won’t feel the ghost of his touch in the middle of the night. you tell yourself that you’re stronger than this. that you won’t let him linger, won’t let him take up space in your mind and heart anymore. you tell yourself that you can move on.

you tell yourself that you can move on. you repeat it like a mantra, over and over, until the words lose their meaning. until they’re just empty syllables, hollow and weightless, floating in the spaces he used to fill. you convince yourself that one day, you’ll wake up and he won’t be the first thing on your mind. that his absence won’t feel like something tangible, something with sharp edges that presses into you when you least expect it. you tell yourself it’s fine.

but then night falls, and the quiet becomes unbearable. you lay in bed staring at the ceiling, counting the seconds, waiting for sleep to take you under. but sleep doesn’t come easily, because this was when he felt the closest—when the world was still and all you’re leftwith was him. so you roll onto your side, exhale slowly, press your hand against your chest like that might steady the ache.

maybe tomorrow, you think.

maybe tomorrow, he won’t feel like this much.

but then your phone buzzes.

and his name was there.

just sitting on your screen, waiting.

the glow of it illuminates the dark room, casting long shadows across your sheets, across your face. your heart stutters—one hard, aching beat against your chest, like it already knows what’s coming. like it remembers the way this always goes.

you don’t move. don’t breathe. just stare at the letters, at the way they seem to taunt you, pulling you back into something you swore you were walking away from. they sit there on the screen, harmless in theory, just words—but they may as well be a hand, his hand wrapped around your wrist, tugging you back into the depths of something you barely crawled out of.

your fingers twitch, hesitating over the screen. you shouldn’t. you know you shouldn’t. answering means unraveling all over again. means stepping back into the fire when you’re still burned from the last time.

but the thing about yeonjun is, he was like gravity—a pull so strong, so effortless, that resisting felt impossible. he doesn’t even have to try, doesn’t have to beg or plead. all he has to do is exist in the same space as you, even through a screen, and suddenly you’re falling all over again.

so when the phone buzzes again, a second notification lighting up your screen,

yeonjun (2) new messages:

can i see you?

your resolve cracks, just like it always does. just like it always will. because no matter how many times you tell yourself you’re done, no matter how many walls you build between you and him, it only ever takes one moment—one look, one word, one message—to bring them crashing down.

because you can already hear his voice in your head, soft and low, curling around your name like a secret only the two of you understand. can already see the way he’ll look at you when you show up at his door—like you’re something inevitable. like he knew you’d come back. like you were never meant to stay away in the first place.

your chest tightens. because you know exactly how this will go.

you’ll go to him. you’ll tell yourself it’s just another night, just another moment, just another fuck. but it won’t be. it never is. because yeonjun doesn’t touch you like this is temporary. he doesn’t kiss you like you’re something he can let go of.

he’ll pull you close, press his lips to your skin, slow and aching, like he’s memorizing you—like he’s mapping out every inch, every shiver, every place that makes you gasp his name. his hands will trace the curves of your body, not just in possession or in hunger, but in something deeper, something he doesn’t say out loud.

and you’ll feel it. again. that unbearable weight pressing against your chest, the thing you’ve been running from, the thing you refused to name. it’ll creep into your veins, settle into the spaces between your ribs, take root in all the places you swore he wouldn’t reach. you shouldn’t go. you remind yourself again. you know that. you should let it go to nothing, let his message sit unanswered, let whatever this is bleed out before it takes you both under. you should turn off your phone. bury it beneath your pillow, throw it across the room, anything to stop yourself from doing what you always do.

but you won’t. because you’re selfish, selfish in the way that only someone who has known the taste of him, the feel of him, the unbearable absence of him can be—selfish in the way that aches, in the way that leaves you hollow and restless and reaching for something you swore you wouldn’t come back to again. because you miss him, not just in the quiet moments, not just in the dead of night when the sheets feel too cold and too empty, but in the way the world feels duller without him, in the way your own laughter sounds different, more genuine when he’s the one pulling it from you, in the way your heart still stutters at the thought of him like it doesn’t know any better. you don’t remember making the decision to go. maybe you never had a choice to begin with. maybe this was always inevitable—like the way the tide surrenders to the shore, like how the night will always collapse into dawn. maybe your body just knows, moving before your mind can stop it, drawn back into his gravity, helpless against the pull.

the city blurs past you. streetlights smear into soft halos against the darkness, the cold wind lashes at your skin, but none of it reaches you. your pulse is the only thing you can hear, loud and unsteady, thrumming through your veins like a warning, like a plea. your feet move faster, and faster still, like running from the very thing you were rushing towards.

you tell yourself it’s just momentum.

but you know this is something worse.

his voice, his touch, his name—yeonjun. he's wrapped around your bones, tangled in your breath, woven into your skin in ways you don’t know how to undo. and tonight, with his words still ringing in your head, you don’t have the strength to try.

and you hate yourself for it.

when you reach his door, your hands are trembling. your chest is tight, your breath uneven, and you don’t know if it’s the cold or the weight of it all pressing down on you. your fingers hover over the knob, hesitation curling around your wrists, whispering that it isn’t too late to turn back. you could leave. you could pretend you never came. you could—

but before you can knock, the door swings open. and there he is.

yeonjun. he’s standing in the dim glow of his apartment, bathed in soft, golden light, and he looks wrecked. his hair is messy, his hoodie is loose around his frame, and his eyes—god, his eyes. they drag over you like he’s drinking you in, like he wasn’t sure if you’d actually come, like he doesn’t quite believe you’re real.

you should say something. you should break the silence before it drowns you both.

but you don’t get the chance.

because yeonjun exhales—soft, shaky—and suddenly you’re in his arms.

his hands grasp at you, desperate and unrelenting, pulling you against him so tightly it knocks the air from your lungs. his body is warm, solid, but his hold—his hold is almost frantic, like he’s afraid that if he loosens his grip even a fraction, you’ll slip through his fingers, gone before he can even say your name.

yeonjun buries his face into the curve of your shoulder, and you feel it—his breath, uneven and trembling, something close to relief, something that sounds like a prayer answered. his arms tighten around you, fingers gripping the fabric of your jacket like he’s afraid you’ll disappear, like if he holds you tight enough, he can make up for all the time spent apart, all the nights wasted in silence.

god.

“you came,” he murmurs, barely above a whisper.

you don’t answer. you can’t. because your throat is tight, and your chest is burning, and your hands are clutching at his hoodie like he’s the only thing keeping you upright, like letting go would mean crumbling entirely.

yeonjun pulls back just enough to look at you, his fingers ghosting over your jaw, tilting your face up to his. his touch is hesitant, like he’s waiting for you to push him away, but you don’t. you won’t.

his eyes search yours, deep and endless, something breaking apart in them, something raw and vulnerable that makes your stomach twist, makes your knees feel weak, makes it impossible to look away. there’s a plea in them, silent but deafening, the kind of longing that tastes like regret, like every moment wasted, every second spent apart.

but yeonjun isn’t moving. he’s right there—closer than he’s ever been, closer than you can handle, his forehead almost brushing against yours, his breath warm as it fans over your lips. his voice lingers in the air between you, thick with something desperate, something dangerous, something that threatens to rip you apart if you so much as breathe the wrong way.

yeonjun’s fingers curl against your jaw, just a little tighter, just enough to make you feel it—the heat of his skin, the unspoken plea in his touch, the quiet desperation seeping through every inch of him, raw and unfiltered. grounding you. anchoring you to this moment, to him, to everything you’ve spent so long trying to ignore.

his eyes are searching, burning, begging—digging into you, pulling apart every fragile piece of you until there’s nothing left to hide behind, until he’s staring straight into the parts of you that you swore you’d never let him see. then yeonjun speaks again. “tell me this doesn’t mean anything to you.”

tell me this doesn’t mean anything to you.his voice is quiet, but there’s nothing soft about it, breaking at the edges like he’s barely holding himself together. like he already knows the answer, like he’s daring you to lie to him, like it’s the last thing he’ll ever ask of you, and the only thing that will ruin him if you say the wrong words.

but how could you?

how could you, when your hands are trembling at your sides, itching to pull him closer. when your heart is slamming against your ribs, wild and frantic, screaming for something your lips won’t dare to name. when every inch of you aches with the weight of everything you’ve never said, everything you’ve ever felt, everything you’ve spent so long pretending doesn’t exist.

yeonjun swallows hard, and you watch the way his throat bobs, the way his jaw clenches like he’s bracing for impact. like he’s steadying himself for the inevitable wreckage that’s about to come crashing down around him, waiting for you to ruin him. like he already knows you will. his breath is uneven, warm where it ghosts against your skin, but his hands are steady—steady where they frame your face, thumbs brushing over your cheekbones with a tenderness that makes your chest ache.

“say it,” he whispers, softer this time, his voice cracking at the edges. “please.”

you could lie.

you should.

it would be easier, wouldn’t it? to spit out the words, to carve out the distance between you with something cruel, something final. to tell him that this doesn’t mean anything, that he doesn’t mean anything, that whatever fire is burning between you is nothing more than fleeting embers, destined to fade. to turn around, walk away, leave him standing here with nothing but the hollow ache of almost.

but when you open your mouth, all that comes out is—

“i can’t.”

it’s broken, barely audible, but yeonjun hears it.

his grip tightens—not rough, not forceful, just enough to make sure you’re real, to make sure you won’t slip away again. his breath hitches, his eyes dark and unreadable, his lips parting like he wants to say something, anything—

but he doesn’t.

because then his lips are on yours.

it’s not soft. it’s not careful. it’s everything he’s been holding back, everything he’s never said, pouring into you like he’s trying to drown you in it. his mouth is desperate against yours, teeth clashing, fingers tangling in your hair, pulling, pulling, pulling—like he wants to drag you so close there won’t be space for doubt, for hesitation, for anything but this.

and you let him.

because you were just as ruined.

your fingers curled against the fabric of his hoodie, your nails digging into the fabric, needing something to hold onto, needing something to keep you tethered as the world tilts beneath your feet. his hands are everywhere—on your waist, your back, cradling your face like you’re something precious, something breakable, something he’s terrified of losing but never quite had in the first place.

he breathes your name into your mouth, raw and wrecked, and it shatters something inside you, something you’ve spent so long trying to keep intact. it breaks open, spilling through the cracks, flooding every inch of you until there’s nothing left to hold onto, nothing left to fight against. just him—his voice, his hands, the way he’s kissing you like he’s been drowning without you, like you’re the first breath of air he’s had in weeks. your resolve breaks, crumbling beneath the weight of him—his touch, his voice, the desperate, unrelenting way his lips move against yours. and suddenly, restraint was nothing but a forgotten memory, a foreign concept, a language neither of you speak anymore. because how could you?  not when the space between you has been reduced to nothing but heat and want and the devastating, all-consuming ache of too much and not enough all at once. your hands are in his hair now, twisting into the soft strands, fingers tangling at the roots, tugging just enough to make him groan against your mouth. and god—god, the sound rips through you like a live wire, sharp and electric, a spark catching flame, spreading, devouring until there’s nothing left but want, nothing left but the sheer, unbearable need to pull him closer.

you kiss him back like you’re trying to brand yourself into his skin, like you need him to feel it, to understand it—to know, with every brush of your lips, every desperate pull of your hands, exactly what you can’t say. what you’ve been swallowing down for so long it’s made a home inside you, carving itself into your ribs, into your lungs, into the very core of you. your teeth catch his bottom lip, and he exhales something ragged, something close to a curse, before surging forward, pressing you back, back, back—

until your spine meets the doorframe with a breathless thud, the impact knocking the air from your lungs, stealing what little composure you had left. but yeonjun doesn’t stop. he won’t. you barely register the dull thud of the door slamming shut behind you, the finality of it swallowed whole by the way he tilts your head back, by the way his lips trace fire down the column of your throat, each kiss searing, each inhale sharp and uneven, like he’s breathing you in, like he’s trying to keep you as close as possible, hold you there, keep you his for just a little longer. “jjunie,” you gasp, and he shudders at the sound of his name in your mouth, his hands flexing against your skin.

yeonjun pulls back just enough to look at you, and it’s devastating—the way his eyes search yours, wide and desperate and filled with something so raw it makes your stomach twist, makes your lungs forget how to function, like he’s seeing something he never thought he’d have again. like he’s been starving for you, aching for you, barely surviving without you.

“tell me to stop,” he rasps, his forehead pressing against yours, his breath heavy and uneven, his voice laced with something strained, something trembling, something that sounds an awful lot like desperation. “tell me to stop, and i will.” but you don’t.

you never will.

instead, you pull him back in, crashing your mouth against his, because if this is a mistake, then it’s the only one you ever want to make.

you pull yeonjun with a desperation that feels raw, like the very act of kissing him is the only thing tethering you to reality. your hands move over him, memorizing the feel of him beneath your fingers—the soft stretch of his hoodie, the warmth of his skin, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat pounding in time with your own. he groans into your mouth as your fingers trace the lines of his jaw, as if you’re claiming him, carving your mark into him in the only way you know how.

he responds in kind, his hands cupping your face, thumbs brushing over your cheeks with a tenderness that contradicts the desperation in the way he kisses you, like he’s holding on for dear life. his lips move against yours, feverish and hungry, and it’s messy, unrestrained, a clash of teeth and tongues and raw, unspoken need.

yeonjun then shifts, his hands slipping down to your hips, fingers digging in as he lifts you with ease, pressing you into him like he can’t stand even an inch of space between you. your breath hitches, a soft gasp escaping before your back meets the couch, and he’s right there with you, following, never letting you go. the two of you tumble together in a tangle of limbs and burning skin, of hushed gasps and frantic hands that refused to stop moving, refused to stop reaching. he doesn’t break the kiss, doesn’t even falter, his lips moving against yours with a desperation that borders on ruin, as if he’s trying to chase away the time lost between you, trying to carve himself into you so deeply that nothing could ever pull you apart again. his hands move with purpose, trailing down the curve of your body, fingers unsteady yet determined, trembling against your skin like he’s barely holding himself together.

you barely have time to catch your breath before yeonjun pulls back just enough to hover above you, his forehead pressing against yours, breaths heavy, uneven, tangled in the space between you. "fuck," he murmurs, the word slipping out like a prayer, like he’s unraveling right here in your hands. there's nothing soft about the way he pulls you closer, his lips trailing down the line of your jaw, his breath hot against your skin. “i need you,” yeonjun mutters against your neck, the words strained, desperate, like he’s been holding them in for an eternity. “god, i need you so fucking much.” his hands pull at your jacket, not gentle, not slow, but as if every second spent not touching you is unbearable. you don’t stop him, can’t stop him, because you feel it too—the ache, the pull, the need. “please,” yeonjun’s voice cracks, desperate as he trails kisses along the skin of your neck, his lips barely grazing your skin. “don’t leave me again. not like this.” the way he says it, it feels like a fragile lifeline, like he’s asking for something more than just this—more than just your body, more than just the heat between you both. “i’m not going anywhere,” you whisper back, but the words feel too fragile, too broken to mean anything. because you know the truth—you’re both already lost to this, to each other.

“please,”  yeonjun says again, this time a jagged plea, barely a breath as his lips hover over yours, his voice breaking, trembling like he can’t hold himself together. the way he says it, it’s not a request—it’s a desperate command, a question without an answer. “let me have you.” his words hang in the air, a quiet plea that feels like it reverberates through the very core of your being. yeonjun’s breath is ragged, the tremor in his voice matching the pulse that’s thrumming through your veins. you can see it in the way his eyes flicker, the hesitation, the fear, but beneath it, the unwavering need. he’s asking for everything, and you know it. he’s not just asking to touch you; he’s asking to claim you, to make you his in a way that can never be undone. you should say something—something clever, something self-protective. but your body doesn’t let you. your hands are on him again, urgent, desperate, pulling him closer, your lips crashing into his in an instant. it’s all heat and hunger, no softness, no care for the world beyond this moment. all that matters is him. all that matters is this.

yeonjun groans into the kiss, his mouth moving with a desperation that mirrors your own. his hands slide to your back, pulling you against him, the force of it almost too much, like he’s trying to erase any space between you. the kiss is frantic now, broken and needy, tongues colliding in a frenzy, as if the world is slipping away and all that remains is this—this desperate, bittersweet mess of longing and need.

he pulls back just enough to look at you, his eyes searching yours with an intensity that takes your breath away. there’s no control anymore, no pretending this is temporary, no more games. only the truth in his gaze, the raw honesty in the way he holds you. “please,” he breathes again, his voice hoarse, but this time there’s something different in it—something final. “let me love you. please.”

you feel it in your bones, in the way your heart stutters, in the way your body seems to respond without thought. you don’t need to say anything. your lips find his again, sealing it with a kiss that is everything—everything you’ve been running from and everything you’ve been craving. it’s no longer just about the passion or the heat; it’s about something deeper, something terrifying, something that makes you feel more vulnerable than you’ve ever been.

and then, with your heart pounding and your hands shaking, you finally whisper it.

“okay.”

yeonjun stills for a moment, as though he’s trying to grasp the meaning of your words, as though he can’t believe this is real. his breath catches, his grip on you tightening for just a second, like he needs to ground himself in the reality of this moment, of you, of what you just said. his eyes search yours, wide and disbelieving, like he’s waiting for you to take it back, waiting for the ground to give way beneath him. but you don’t. you won’t.

he exhales shakily, his gaze searching yours, dark and glassy, filled with something that makes your chest ache. and then he moves—slowly, deliberately—his hands slipping beneath the hem of your jacket then your shirt, not in a rush, not greedy, but reverent, like he’s memorizing every inch of you, like he’s afraid this moment might slip away if he’s not careful.

yeonjun watches you as he pushes both the fabric up, waiting for any sign of hesitation, any indication that you’ll change your mind, that this will all come crumbling down before he even gets the chance to hold you the way he’s always wanted to. but you don’t stop him. you only lift your arms, letting him pull them over your head, letting him see you, just as you are—bare, vulnerable, now completely his.

his hands skim over your skin, featherlight, a stark contrast to the way his heart is racing against yours, his breathing uneven, his expression wrecked with something deeper than desire. “you’re so—” he starts, but the words falter, lost somewhere in the back of his throat. instead, he just shakes his head, his lips parting like he wants to say more, like he wants to tell you exactly how much this means to him, but he can’t.

so he shows you instead. yeonjun leans in, pressing a kiss to your shoulder, then another, trailing up to the curve of your neck, slow and lingering, like he’s sealing this moment into his skin. your hands find his hoodie, fingers trembling as you tug at it, and he lets out a shaky breath before pulling it over his head, letting it drop to the floor beside yours.

his arms wrap around you then, holding you close, skin against skin, warmth sinking into every part of you. and for a moment, there’s no rush, no urgency—just this. just you and him, fitting together like you were always meant to. yeonjun moves with a patience that borders on torturous, his lips tracing a slow, deliberate path downwards, leaving warmth in their wake. each kiss is unhurried, lingering against your skin as if he’s mapping out every inch of you, memorizing the way you shiver beneath his touch. his hands follow, fingertips tracing the curve of your waist, the dip of your hip, featherlight yet possessive in their exploration.

you squirm beneath him, your breath hitching as anticipation coils tight in your stomach, but he only chuckles against your skin, the sound low and filled with something dangerously fond. he glances up, and the sight of him—eyes dark with amusement, lips curled into a knowing smile—makes your pulse stutter.

“impatient now, aren’t we?” he murmurs, voice teasing, yet laced with something softer, something almost reverent.

his fingers hook onto the waistband of your panties, but he doesn’t rush, no, he takes his time, dragging the lace down with slow, careful movements, his gaze never leaving yours. it’s steady, unwavering, a silent promise woven between the space of his words, between the way he looks at you like you’re something sacred.

after what felt like an eternity of teasing, yeonjun finally leans towards your glistening heat, tongue jutting out to wet his lips at the sight before him. he rests his hands on your thighs, kneading the soft skin as he pulls them apart just a little more, before finally licking a long stripe against your folds, his eyes practically rolling back at the taste of you.

yeonjun laps at your pussy with vigor, groaning as he sucked on your clit. he moves with purpose, his touch reverent, every action a silent devotion. his lips press against your pussy with an urgency that sends a tremor through your body, his breath warm against your skin as he loses himself in the taste of you.

a gasp catches in your throat as your fingers tangle in his hair, gripping tight without realizing, your body reacting instinctively to the sensation that overtakes your entire being. you can feel the heat of his breath, the way his grip tightens at your response, like he wants nothing more than to pull you closer, to drown in you.

yeonjun watches you with hooded eyes, his smirk curling at the edges as he drinks in your reactions, savoring every tremor, every sharp intake of breath. as if your desperation alone isn’t enough to satisfy him, he lets the pads of his ring and middle finger trace a slow, teasing path against your entrance, hesitant at first, before sinking in with practiced ease, fitting against you like they were made to belong there.

you felt so hot, so dizzy, the mixed sensation of lips, his tongue, and his fingers sending you into overdrive. yeonjun continues to give attention to every inch of your heat, the warmth of his tongue and the deft way his fingers move with purpose, coaxing soft whimpers from your lips.

he pulls away just for a moment just to say, “god, you taste amazing,” only to immediately dip his tongue between your folds once again, eating you out and slurping you for all you’re worth, his fingers never stopping their ministrations as they curled and stretched your walls.

his name tumbles from your lips in a breathless plea, a broken whisper, and yeonjun shudders against you, the sound of it sinking into his skin, branding itself into the very core of him. your fingers tighten in his hair, pulling just enough to make him groan, the deep vibration sending a fresh wave of pleasure coursing through you. he doesn't falter, doesn't slow—if anything, it spurs him on, his movements growing more eager, more relentless, like he wants to pull you apart piece by piece and put you back together in his hands.

yeonjun’s grip on your thighs tightens, holding you in place as he buries himself deeper between your folds, pressing his lips against your skin with an almost worshipful reverence. every shift of his mouth, every stroke of his fingers, is deliberate—he’s learned you, mapped out every place that makes you tremble, every spot that has you gasping for air, and he revels in it, in the way you arch beneath him, in the way your body betrays you, giving in so easily to the way he touches you.

as if sensing your want for more, yeonjun stops momentarily to sit on his knees his chest rising and falling with uneven breaths, eyes dark and half-lidded as he drinks in the sight of you—disheveled, breathless, utterly unraveled beneath him. the dim light casts shadows over his face, accentuating the sharp line of his jaw, the curve of his lips still slick with the evidence of his devotion. his tongue darts out, slow and deliberate, swiping over his bottom lip as if he’s savoring the remnants of you, as if he’s reluctant to let a single drop go to waste. his fingers slip from you, leaving an aching emptiness in their wake, and the soft whimper that escapes your lips makes his smirk deepen. he watches you with something unreadable in his gaze—something dangerously tender, something reverent. and then, with an almost languid ease, he lifts his fingers, coated in the remnants of your desire, and brings his fingers to his lips.

yeonjun’s movements are unhurried, intentional, as he takes them into his mouth, his lashes fluttering as he hums low in his throat. his tongue curls around them, savoring every trace of you, his expression one of indulgence, of quiet satisfaction. when he pulls them free with a soft pop, his gaze finds yours again, and the intensity of it makes your breath catch in your throat.

"you taste unreal," he murmurs, voice low and thick with something that makes your stomach twist. his free hand ghosts over your thigh, tracing absent-minded patterns into your skin, grounding you in the moment, in him. “but..” yeonjun leans forward, his breath fanning over your lips, his presence all-consuming, wrapping around you like a tide pulling you under. his hands, steady yet trembling with restraint, skimming along the length of your waist, sliding over the dips and curves as if grounding himself in the reality of you.

"i need you to tell me," he murmurs, forehead pressing against yours, the weight of the moment settling between you like something sacred, something fragile yet unbreakable. "tell me you want more. tell me you want me." you swallow, your heart hammering against your ribs, your fingers splay across his chest, feeling the steady rise and fall of his breath beneath your touch as if it’s the only thing tethering you to the earth. "choi yeonjun," you breathe, his name falling from your lips like a cry, “i need you. so badly.”

yeonjun stills for a fraction of a second, like he’s letting your words sink into his skin, letting them brand him from the inside out. his breath shudders, heavy and uneven, and when he exhales, it feels like he’s been holding it in for too long. his fingers, warm and slightly trembling, trace their way up your arms, over the curve of your shoulders, until they find your face—cupping it, cradling it as if you’re something delicate, something precious. his thumbs brush over your cheekbones, slow and reverent, memorizing the feel of you beneath his touch. his lips find yours again, softer this time, but no less consuming. he kisses you like he’s trying to pour every unspoken thought, every unsaid word, into you—like he’s trying to make you understand just how much of him already belongs to you.

his hands move lower, trailing down the length of your spine, fingertips pressing into the dip of your waist, mapping the curve of your hips as if he’s committing it all to memory. he moves with deliberate care, taking his time, savoring every reaction, every sharp inhale, every whispered sound that leaves your lips. “let me take care of you,” he breathes, voice low, pleading. “let me show you.” yeonjun then shifts, his body pressing against yours, his warmth seeping into your skin as he settles between your legs. his touch unhurried, reverent, fingers brushing over your sides, up your ribcage, lingering just beneath your arms as if he’s trying to gather every part of you into his grasp. his forehead presses against yours, his breath fanning across your lips, warm and uneven, laced with restraint and unadulterated devotion.

his hands slide to your thighs, splaying over your skin, thumbs tracing idle circles as he leans in, brushing his nose against yours, as if savoring the moment, as if grounding himself in you. “you’re so beautiful,” he murmurs, voice barely above a whisper, full of something so heavy it made you shiver. yeonjun then leans back, his hands falling to his waistband, movements careful, deliberate. the fabric slides down, the soft rustle of clothing filling the quiet space between you. the dim light casts golden hues over his skin, highlighting the strong lines of his body, the way his muscles shift beneath the surface. your gaze follows the movement, lingering on the way his breath stutters, as if the weight of this moment is pressing down on him just as much as it is on you. he lets his pants pool at his feet, kicking them aside without a second thought, but still, he doesn’t move forward, not yet, instead, he watches you, eyes dark with something unreadable, something that makes your pulse race. without wasting another second, he tugs off his underwear too, letting his painfully hard cock free from its confines. you unknowingly gulp at the sight of him, bare in front of you, even though you’ve seen him like this more times than you can count. and yet, somehow, this time feels different—like the air between you has shifted, like the moment is heavier, laced with something more intimate than before. your fingers twitch at your sides, aching to reach for him, to close the distance, to map the familiar lines of his body like it’s the first time all over again. and maybe, in a way, it is, because this time, there is no haze of fleeting desire, no rush to chase the heat that always simmers between you. this time, there was something more, something no longer hidden. “you’re staring,” yeonjun murmurs, a breathy laugh escaping him, but there’s no teasing in his tone, no smugness in the curve of his lips. if anything, he sounds just as breathless as you feel, just as caught in the gravity of this moment.

“i know,” you whisper, voice barely there, but the way his expression softens tells you that he heard it anyway. with a soft chuckle, he inches closer, the warmth of his body radiating against yours, and when his hands find your waist, grounding you, steadying you, you realize that you’re trembling. not with nerves, not with fear, but with the overwhelming weight of this; the realization that this is different, that this is new.

with his one hand, yeonjun gave his cock a few strokes, enough for pre-cum to ooze out, letting out a sigh as he lined himself up with your entrance, teasingly rubbing his cockhead against your skin, making you groan in protest. he only chuckles once more in response before finally burying his cock into you.

yeonjun groans as he slowly pushes his length even further, bottoming out almost immediately as his grip on your waist tightens just slightly, as if anchoring himself, as if holding back from completely losing himself in the warmth of you. his fingers dig in just enough to make you feel the weight of him, the restraint in his touch, the way he fights against the urge to move too soon, to give in to the sheer need coursing through his veins.

“fuck,” he breathes, his voice strained, almost pained, and when he finally dares to lift his gaze to yours, his eyes are dark, pupils blown wide with something unreadable. “you feel—” he cuts himself off with a sharp inhale, shaking his head as if words wouldn’t be enough to explain the way he feels at this moment. with slightly trembling fingers, you reach up, brushing against the damp strands of his hair, pushing them back before cupping his face, your thumbs smoothing over the flushed heat of his cheeks. he leans into your touch instinctively, his eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment, his lashes casting delicate shadows against his skin.

“you can move, jjunie… go on…”

yeonjun exhales shakily, unmoving for just a moment longer, as if savoring this fragile, fleeting second before everything shifts. his fingers flex against your skin, his grip tightening just slightly, like he’s grounding himself in you, in the reality of this—of being here, of having you. his thumb brushes over your hip in slow, absentminded circles, a silent reassurance, a quiet promise. and then, after a moment that feels suspended in time, he moves.

he was careful, thrusting into you with a tenderness that made your chest tighten. yeonjun’s hips met yours with unhurried precision, a rhythm that wasn’t rushed but filled with something deeper, something that stole the air from your lungs and replaced it with nothing but him. the way he fit inside you was maddening—stretching you just right, a feeling so overwhelming.

the warmth of him, the steady weight of his presence anchors you, leaving you breathless with each thrust. yeonjun’s breath fans over your shoulder, warm and uneven, as he buries his face against the crook of your neck, his lips brushing against your skin.

you lace your hands around his neck, pulling him impossibly closer, the quiet sounds escaping your lips brush against his ear, a breathy symphony of sighs and whimpers, and he shudders, his grip on you tightening, his arms caging you in as if he wants to shield you from the rest of the world.

yeonjun pulls back just enough to meet your gaze, his eyes dark, his expression open and unguarded. his thumb brushes against your cheek, smoothing away strands of hair, before his lips are on yours again—gentle at first, then deeper, more consuming, his pace beginning to quicken, making you moan deliciously against his lips.

yeonjun drinks in your every reaction, his breath hitching at the way your body responds to him so effortlessly. his movements grew more fervent, his lips molding against yours with a hunger that speaks volumes, as if he’s trying to convey everything he feels—every ounce of adoration, every unsaid word—through every kiss, every lingering touch.

his free hand, warm and steady, began its descent, fingers tracing a slow, deliberate path down your body, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. his touch is electric, setting every inch of your skin alight, but it’s when his thumb presses against your clit that your breath catches in your throat, moving and rubbing against the sensitive bundle of nerves hastily. a soft gasp escapes you, your fingers tightening around his shoulders as a shiver runs through you.

the added sensation was overwhelming, your body arching instinctively, seeking more of his touch, more of the pleasure that builds so effortlessly under his ministrations. your eyes flutter open, wide and hazy with something akin to awe, and you break away from the kiss, a soft whimper falling from your lips before you can stop it.

yeonjun’s gaze locks onto yours instantly, his lips slightly parted, his own breath coming in uneven pants as he watches you unravel beneath him. his thumb moves in slow, practiced circles, his free hand pressing into the small of your back, holding you closer, grounding you as he murmurs, “hm, you’re close, aren’t you? come on, cum for me.. you can do it.”

his words are a promise, and as the tension builds—coiling like a tightly wound spring inside you—you found yourself holding onto him tighter, fingers digging into his shoulders as a breathless whimper slips past your lips, your release washing over you like the tide crashing against the shore, waves of warmth washing over you as a broken sigh escapes you, your body melting into his hold.

“that’s it,” he whispers, voice filled with nothing but quiet reverence. “that’s my girl.”

yeonjun holds you close, his arms wrapped around you like a shield, keeping you pressed against him as you come down from your high, your breath mingling with his in the space between you. his fingers trace gentle, aimless patterns against your back, his touch reverent, grounding.

but he isn’t far behind.

his movements slow, though not by much—each one more deliberate, more desperate, his body seeking its own release as he tried not to overstimulate you, inhaling deeply as if he could commit the very scent of you to memory. his hands tremble slightly as they grasp at you, fingertips pressing into your skin as if you might slip away, as if holding you tighter would somehow make this moment last forever.

yeonjun’s breathing grows heavier, more uneven, his lips parting as a low, shaky sound escapes him. his pace falters for a moment, his forehead pressing against yours, and when he dares to open his eyes, he finds you already looking at him—your gaze soft, half-lidded, full of something that makes his chest feel impossibly tight.

"you feel so good," he breathes, his voice quiet, strained, as if the weight of his emotions is too much to bear. his fingers brush over your cheek, smoothing away strands of hair damp with sweat, before he cups your face with both hands, his thumbs tracing along your jaw. "so perfect…"

his words die on his tongue as a deep, shuddering breath overtakes him, his body tensing against yours as the final wave crashes over him. his grip on you tightens ever so slightly, his lips parting as he lets out a shaky, almost reverent sigh, his head dropping to rest against your shoulder.

yeonjun stays there for a moment, breath warm against your skin, his arms still encircling you as he slowly comes down, his heart hammering against yours in a steady rhythm.

and then, as if suddenly realizing how tightly he’s holding you, yeonjun loosens his grip, pulling back just enough to meet your gaze once more. his expression softens instantly, his features bathed in the dim glow of the room, and he smiles—small, tired, but full of fondness and warmth.

"are you okay?" he murmurs, his voice hushed, gentle, like he’s afraid of shattering the quiet intimacy of the moment.

you nod, exhaling softly, and his smile widens, relief washing over his face. he leans in, pressing the softest of kisses against your temple, then your cheek, then the tip of your nose, as if he can’t help himself.

"good," he whispers, pulling you closer once again, his arms wrapping securely around you. "just stay like this for a while, okay? let me hold you."

you hum softly against his chest, your fingers tracing lazy, delicate shapes over the bare expanse of his skin. the warmth of him seeps into you, settling deep into your bones, his steady breathing lulling you into a peaceful haze. outside, the night hums—crickets singing their quiet lullaby, the distant rustling of trees swayed by the wind—but here, in the safety of his arms, everything feels still.

"i like it when you hold me," you murmur, the words slipping out unguarded, unfiltered. your voice is barely above a whisper, yet he hears you as if you had spoken directly into his soul.

yeonjun stills for a moment before his arms tighten around you, his grip firm yet impossibly gentle. he exhales a quiet chuckle, but there’s a fragility to it, something hesitant and uncertain, as if he’s grappling with a thought he’s too scared to voice. and then, after a moment, he does.

"did you mean it?" he asks, his voice softer this time, cautious, careful. his breath ghosts over the crown of your head, his fingers twitch slightly against your back, like he’s gathering the courage to face whatever answer you might give. "what you said earlier… that you’d let me love you?"

your heart stutters, your breath catching slightly, and you lift your head to look at him. his eyes are searching, wide and dark and brimming with something raw, something vulnerable. it tugs at your heart, the way he looks at you like he’s afraid of the answer, like he’s readying himself for something he doesn’t want to hear.

so you reach for him, cupping his face in your hands, your thumbs smoothing over the flushed warmth of his cheeks.

"yes, yeonjun," you whisper, your voice steady, firm. "i meant it."

his lips part slightly, his breath catching, but no words come out. for a moment, he only stares at you, his expression unreadable, as if he’s trying to convince himself that this is real, that he’s not dreaming. his grip on you tightens, grounding himself in the moment, to the weight of your words.

you swallow, the depth of this moment settling into you, and with all the tenderness you can gather, you whisper, "i want you to love me, because… i love you too."

the words fall into the space between you, delicate yet unshakable, and for a fleeting second, the world holds its breath. yeonjun’s lips part slightly, his brows drawing together, his entire body going still as if he’s processing each syllable, carving them into his memory.

then, in the next heartbeat, he exhales sharply—a sound that’s almost a laugh, but there’s something wobbly about it, something disbelieving. his eyes glisten in the dim light, his smile unsteady as he leans in, pressing his forehead against yours, closing his eyes like he’s afraid that if he looks at you any longer, he might fall apart.

"you have no idea," he breathes, his voice thick, frayed around the edges, "how long i’ve wanted to hear that." he swallows hard, his fingers pressing into the small of your back, holding you closer, as if he’s afraid you might slip away. "i—god, i love you so much, you don’t even know."

your heart clenches, a warmth blooming in your chest so intense it nearly steals your breath away. you tilt your head up, closing the distance between you, and press the softest of kisses against his lips—tender, reassuring. yeonjun sighs into it, melting against you, and in that moment, you feel it—the way he surrenders completely, the way he lets himself believe.

when you pull back, he’s still looking at you with that same awestruck expression, like you’ve just handed him the entire universe. you giggle softly, your fingers slipping into his hair, threading through the strands as you murmur, "then believe it." you let your forehead rest against his once more, breathing him in. "because it’s true."

his grin spreads slowly, boyish and bright, a flicker of something lighter, freer, in his eyes. then, without a word, he buries his face against your shoulder, his arms wrapping around you so tightly it’s as if he’s trying to memorize the shape of you in his embrace. he lets out a deep, content sigh, one that seems to release every ounce of tension he’s been holding.

"okay," he whispers, his voice thick with emotion, laced with something indescribable. "just… let me love you. for a long, long time."

you close your eyes, letting yourself sink into the warmth of him, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath your palm. the certainty in his words wraps around you like a promise, like something unbreakable.

"for as long as you want," you whisper, pressing a kiss to the curve of his shoulder.

and with the way yeonjun holds you—his arms strong, unrelenting, unwavering—you already know his answer.

꒰🧸꒱ @pagelets @jettithink @killa-1009 @j-ji-jia @frankghgr @dawngyu @usuallyunlikelyfox @sxmmerberries @napipope-ta @bamgeutori @xylatox @hyunj00 <3

[bamgyuuuri]

can we be besties :(

?!?!? ARENT WE ALREADY BESTIES YUN

[gyorouis]

── ✦ jeepney love story.

⋆˚ 𝜗𝜚 ˚⋆ synopsis⸝⸝ the guy you always end up riding the jeep with on the way to school—well, he’s kinda cute

꒰ genre⸝⸝ FLUFF!! strangers to lovers trope, beoms and reader is SOOO cute pairing⸝⸝ architecture student!beomgyu x afab!reader wc⸝⸝ 2.1k warning⸝⸝ this contains tagalog words but don’t worry, i put english translation for it!! and they’re just cute i don’t think thats a warning tune in⸝⸝ yeng constantion — jeepney love story ୨ৎ ꒱

you never thought your daily commute could be the start of something. it was just a routine, a necessary part of life: wake up early, squeeze into a crowded jeepney, and endure the slow crawl through manila’s traffic. same roads, same stops, same tired faces.

but amidst the usual faces, his face stood out.

it started months ago. you didn’t even notice him at first—just another student trying to survive the city. but then, little things started to catch your attention. the way he adjusted his glasses when they slid down his nose. the way he always carried a large canister, probably for his architecture supplies. and the way he’d pull his hoodie over his head like he was shielding himself from the world.

you weren’t sure why you noticed him more than anyone else. maybe it was his calm presence in the chaos, or the quiet confidence he exuded without trying. whatever it was, he became your “jeepney crush,” the one person you secretly hoped to see every morning.

it was a rainy monday morning. the streets glistened with puddles, and the air was thick with the smell of wet asphalt. you clutched your umbrella tightly, hopping onto the jeepney just as the rain picked up. the driver glanced at you through the rearview mirror, waiting for your fare.

“bayad po,” (this means giving your payment) you said, handing over your coins.

just as the driver reached out, another hand brushed against yours. you looked up—and there he was. his hair was damp from the rain, a few strands sticking to his forehead. he wore a hoodie, as usual, but today, it was soaked through.

“sorry,” he murmured, taking his own fare back after realizing the driver already had yours.

“it’s okay,” you replied softly, your voice barely audible over the rain pounding on the jeepney roof.

he nodded, giving you a small, almost apologetic smile before retreating to his spot near the entrance. your heart thumped louder than it should have. it wasn’t a big deal, just a small interaction, but it lingered with you for the rest of the ride.

you tried not to stare, turning your gaze out the window as he stepped into the jeep. your heart betrayed you, quickening with every move he made. he didn’t look at you, of course. he never did. he was always absorbed in his own world—his phone, his music, or sometimes just staring blankly ahead as if lost in thought.

he handed his fare to the driver and took a seat across from you. your breath caught for a moment as he settled in, pulling his hoodie tighter around him. he seemed tired today, his hair slightly messy as if he had rushed to catch the ride.

you shifted your focus, pretending to look out the window, but your mind was hyper-aware of every small movement he made—the way his fingers tapped lightly against his knee in rhythm with whatever song was playing through his headphones, the way he adjusted his glasses every now and then.

the jeepney jerked forward, and you grabbed onto the metal bar for support. the sudden movement made your shoulder brush against the student next to you, and you muttered a soft apology. your heart pounded—not because of the bump, but because you realized beomgyu had glanced up at the commotion.

you quickly averted your eyes, praying he didn’t notice you staring earlier. the song playing through your earphones wasn’t loud enough to drown out your thoughts. what if he saw? what if he thinks i’m weird?

you peeked at him through your peripheral vision. he was back to minding his own business, leaning back against the seat, eyes half-closed as if the ride was his only moment of peace.

the jeepney stopped again to pick up more passengers, forcing everyone to shift. the space grew tighter, and your knees almost touched his. you felt a blush creeping up your neck.

“bayad po,” someone said from the back, passing their fare forward.

the driver took it without missing a beat. beomgyu reached up, helping pass the fare along, his hand briefly brushing against yours as he handed it to the driver. it was so fleeting, but it left your skin tingling.

you wondered what kind of music he listened to. was it something upbeat? mellow? did he like the same songs as you? did he ever notice you in the same way you noticed him?

probably not, you thought. why would he?

the jeepney slowed again, and you recognized the stop—manila city hall. this was where he usually got off. you watched as he gathered his things, his movements slow and deliberate. he didn’t rush, didn’t seem to care about the hustle around him.

he stood up, grabbing onto the overhead bar for balance. the jeepney hadn’t fully stopped yet, and as it jerked slightly, he stumbled—just for a second—catching himself. your breath hitched, but he straightened, his expression unchanged.

as he stepped off, the sunlight caught the side of his face, illuminating his features for just a moment. he adjusted his glasses, gave a slight nod to the driver, and disappeared into the crowd.

you let out a soft sigh, a mix of relief and disappointment. he was gone again, just like every other day. the ride continued, and so did the city’s relentless rhythm, but your mind stayed with him.

your friends were relentless.

"so, did you see him again today?" elaine asked with a grin, raising an eyebrow.

you sighed, trying to act casual. "yeah, of course. he was on the jeepney again."

"always on the jeepney," anna teased. "does he ever miss a ride?"

"i swear, he’s like a part of the furniture now," elaine added. "same spot, same headphones, just sitting there looking all mysterious."

"i’m telling you, you’re totally in love with him," anna said with a laugh. "you should just go up to him and be like, 'hey, i see you every day, wanna make it official?'"

you rolled your eyes. "it’s not like that."

"oh really?" elaine said, narrowing her eyes. "then why do you keep talking about him? we know you’re crushing hard, come on, just admit it."

"i’m not admitting anything," you mumbled, feeling your face heat up. "he’s just some guy, alright?"

"uh-huh," anna said, clearly not buying it. "you’ve been saying that for weeks, but we both know you’re low-key obsessed."

"obsessed?" you laughed nervously, "no. i just... notice him, that’s all."

"right, notice," elaine smirked. "well, does he ever notice you?"

you paused, trying to think of something to say. "i don’t even know his name."

"seriously?" anna gasped. "you’re over here crushing on him and you don’t even know his name?"

you shrugged, pretending it didn’t matter. "does it really matter? i’m not gonna talk to him anyway."

"yet," elaine grinned. "one of these days, you’ll figure out how to talk to him. just don’t make it awkward when you do."

you groaned, burying your face in your hands. "this is the worst."

"nah," anna said with a wink. "it’s adorable. just make sure we’re there when you finally get his name, alright?"

"deal," you muttered, knowing they weren’t going to let you live this down anytime soon.

a few days passed and you just finished eating dinner with your friend and now are waiting for a ride home. you hopped onto the jeepney at the corner of taft avenue, squeezing into the tight space between a student from feu and an older woman clutching her grocery bags. the usual hum of conversation filled the air, blending with the faint honks and distant chatter of street vendors. you leaned back, letting the comfort of routine wash over you—until he stepped in.

your jeepney crush.

he was unmistakable. tall, with messy hair that seemed to fall perfectly no matter how disheveled it looked. his thick glasses caught the dim streetlights, making his eyes almost glow beneath them. the adamson university lanyard around his neck hung loosely, and, as always, his ID was flipped backward, denying you the chance to know his name. his hoodie was slightly wrinkled, the canister slung over his shoulder adding to his effortlessly cool, laid-back vibe.

“kuya, kasiya pa po ba?” (is there still a space?) his voice, calm yet confident, broke through the noise.

your heart thudded in your chest. he was standing right there, waiting for an answer. you glanced around quickly, hoping there was space, but the driver shook his head.

“wala na, nak, puno na,” (there’s no more space, kid, it’s full) the driver replied, his voice gruff but not unkind.

he didn’t seem fazed. instead, he nodded, gripping the side of the jeepney with one hand and balancing himself effortlessly, his other hand adjusting his glasses. his fingers brushed against his hoodie pocket, and for a brief second, you wondered if he noticed you looking.

you nudged nina, your closest friend and the only one who knew about your silly, one-sided infatuation. “nina, it’s him again,” you whispered, your excitement barely contained.

nina turned her head, eyes lighting up in amusement. “seriously? the adamson guy?” she grinned mischievously. “you’ve got to find out his name.”

“no way,” you shook your head, face flushing. “that’s too embarrassing.”

“then i will,” she teased, already leaning forward, eyes narrowing at his ID.

you grabbed her arm, trying to pull her back. “nina, stop it! you’re making it obvious!”

“shhh, i got this,” she whispered, undeterred. her eyes widened suddenly, and she gasped, covering her mouth.

“what?” you hissed, heart pounding.

nina leaned closer, her excitement palpable. “his name’s choi beomgyu,” she whispered.

choi beomgyu.

choi… beom…gyu.

you repeated the name silently, tasting every syllable. choi beomgyu. it felt almost magical, like knowing his name somehow made him more real. you glanced at him again, his profile outlined against the city lights.

that night, you couldn’t sleep. his name echoed in your mind, over and over. choi beomgyu. the boy from the jeepney. it was like a spell you couldn’t break. as soon as you got home, you opened your phone, fingers flying across the screen as you searched his name on social media. nothing. no matches, no clues, nothing to satisfy the growing curiosity in your chest.

the next morning, you dragged yourself out of bed, feeling the weight of disappointment. still, you boarded the jeepney, hopeful yet resigned. maybe it was just a fleeting moment, you told yourself. maybe that’s all it was meant to be.

but fate had other plans.

the jeepney slowed as it approached united nations avenue, and there he was again. this time, he wasn’t alone. two friends flanked him—one tall and reserved, the other shorter with a playful smirk that bordered on cocky. they boarded, squeezing into the limited space, their laughter filling the small vehicle.

you tried to focus on anything else—the passing street signs, the faded posters on the jeepney ceiling—but their conversation was impossible to ignore.

“bro, are you serious about this project?” the cocky friend nudged beomgyu.

beomgyu shrugged, adjusting his canister. “as if i had a choice.”

the taller friend chuckled, glancing briefly in your direction before turning back to his phone.

you kept your gaze down, fingers nervously gripping your bag. but then, something unexpected happened. the cocky friend elbowed beomgyu, jerking his head slightly in your direction. you couldn’t hear their words, but the teasing was evident.

beomgyu rolled his eyes, playfully shoving him away.

when the jeepney reached manila city hall, the three of them stood to disembark. you followed, keeping a safe distance. they headed towards the underpass leading to intramuros, their laughter echoing off the tunnel walls.

just as you were about to hop onto another jeepney bound for ust, the cocky friend turned back, waving. you hesitated, confused. then he pointed at beomgyu and tapped his own pocket, a knowing grin on his face.

your heart raced. what was that supposed to mean?

you looked down, fingers brushing against your uniform pocket. something crinkled inside. cautiously, you pulled out a small, torn piece of yellow paper. the words scribbled on it made your breath hitch:

“alam mo na yung pangalan ko, sana pati pangalan mo malaman ko.” (you know my name now, i’d love to know yours too.)

below it was an instagram username with a cheeky message:

“kahit i-follow mo lang ako, ako na bahala sa first move at sa lahat :)) - beomgyu” (just follow me on socmed, i’ll handle the rest)

a laugh escaped your lips, soft and incredulous. all this time, you thought you were just a silent admirer, unnoticed and invisible. but now, you realized: maybe he was paying attention all along.

gyo's note: HAPPY HEART DAY EVERYONE !! beomgyu as your college crush is just 🤌🏻🤌🏻 ++ him in art field heheheh ACTUALLY i wrote this when i saw someone who gives off beom vibe when i was riding jeep one time and this ideal automatically came to me. if you made it to this part, thank you so much! you will be loved. xoxo!

✮ 2024 gyozies, all rights reserved.

[bamgyuuuri]

AAAA A FELLOW FILO MOA WRITER + JEEPNEY LOVE STORY ?! i will be reading this later

[bamgyuuuri]

Except for being super talented, which tips can you give to someone who wants to start writing here on tumblr? I see you built such a great blog here. It's kinda inspirational 🌹

aaaa so sorry i’m replying to this so late but ?!! first and foremost thank you so much omg T_T

anyw,,, my biggest advice would be to simply write what you like!! don’t stress too much about whether it’s long or short, or if it fits a certain style—what matters most is that you enjoy what you’re creating. when you write something you genuinely love, that passion naturally comes through, and there will always be people who resonate with it. and don’t be afraid to experiment !! tumblr is such a great place to explore different styles and genres, and you never know what might click with you until you try. and if you ever feel stuck, reading, watching, or listening to things that inspire you can help a lot too! most of my works are inspired by either music i listen to and/or moments i've experienced in real life hehe wishing you all the best on your writing journey!! sending you lots of love <3

[bamgyuuuri]

smiling giggling rn but then i remember classes start again in less than two days . im gonnajump

[bamgyuuuri]

okay but txt winning three awards tonight + yeonjun's first solo award and their first daesang ?!?!?! so well deserved i swear omfg i love my tubatu bears so much </3 plus the fact that they won the daesang for best performance is just so fitting like... truly the performers of the century my Gosh

[bamgyuuuri]

⸝⸝ blue hydrangeas ┈ kth.

⸝⸝ IN a world where soulmates are tied by "soulblooms," flowers that manifest on the hand when touched by fate’s match, you have spent your life with an empty wrist and a guarded heart. but when a fleeting touch with taehyun—a boy you find insufferably perfect—awakens a blue hydrangea on your grasp, everything you thought you knew about fate, connection, and him, turned on its head.

pairings and tags. academicrival!taehyun x fem!reader . soulmate au. enemies to lovers . slowburn . grumpy x sunshine . forced proximity . slowburn . taehyun is a huge tease . tension !!!! not actually unrequited love? angst

word count. 29.7k

short note! it's finally here!!!! it was such an honor to work alongside such talented moas! i am beyond grateful to be part of something this special >< every moment spent working on this was filled with so much love and excitement, and i hope you all enjoy it as much as we did creating it!! <3

you hated kang taehyun with every fiber of your being.

there was something about him that irked you to your very core, something that made your teeth grit and your stomach twist every time you were forced to be near him.

it wasn't just his irritatingly perfect smile, or his perfect grades, or his constant ability to somehow do everything just a little bit better than you, no. it was something more insidious—something about how effortlessly he seemed to exist in a world where everything was perfectly aligned in his favor. he was always better, always one step ahead.

and it wasn’t just in the classroom either. taehyun's reach extended far beyond that, into places where you thought you had some semblance of control. in the student council, for example, where you held the position of vice president—a role you worked your ass off to attain—taehyun somehow made being the president look like a walk in the park.

with his easy charm and flawless leadership, he outshone you at every turn. it wasn’t that you didn’t have the capacity for leadership, you knew you were just as capable. more capable. but taehyun? he was like a magnet, drawing the attention of everyone in the room with a simple flash of his smile, a soft laugh that echoed off the walls of the council room.

you hated how easy he made it look.

every time you thought you had finally gained some ground, taehyun would be there. standing just a little bit taller, a little bit more poised—effortlessly securing the praise, the respect, the adoration. it was maddening.

you hated him.

and yet, it wasn’t just the ways he made you feel small, it was how he never let you hide it. how, no matter how obviously you displayed your contempt for him, he remained annoyingly unfazed, like he could see right through the walls you tried to build. he never flinched, never reacted in the way you expected. he’d simply laugh, his voice low and warm, as though everything you did to push him away was just a minor inconvenience.

the worst part? taehyun was nice to you. you could never understand it.

it was almost like he reveled in it—like he enjoyed seeing you fume in frustration. he would do things like open doors for you, something so simple and innocent, yet it felt like a taunt. he’d hold the door wide, with that stupid, gentle smile of his. he would always ask how you were, even though it felt like a question that was both too casual and too personal, as if he could sense the tension in your voice, the subtle crack in your facade whenever you answered him.

you hated how taehyun made you feel seen, how he seemed to know you better than anyone else, even though you barely let anyone in. he noticed the way you hesitated, the way your voice would shake when you pretended not to care. it was infuriating. you’d shove it all down, but he’d always come back for more, always patient, always gentle, like a relentless force pulling at the edges of your defenses.

you hated that no matter how many times you tried to push him away, he would be right back the next day, like nothing ever happened. you’d look away, stubborn and angry, trying to ignore the faint flutter in your chest when he smiled at you. his smile—always so warm, so effortless—made everything worse. because deep down, you knew you hated it... but you couldn’t look away.

before you could shove the thought away, before you could shake off the way his gaze lingered just a second too long, the static hum of the intercom crackled through the classroom, making you flinch.

“president and vice president of the student council, please report to the principal’s office.”

the words rang in your ears, a sudden disruption to the taut thread of your thoughts. you let out a slow breath, forcing your shoulders to relax, pushing down whatever unwanted feeling had started to creep in.

you turned on your heel without another glance in his direction, your steps measured and purposeful as you headed towardss the door. the room buzzed faintly behind you, students murmuring about why the two of you were being called this time. probably another event to oversee, another responsibility stacked onto the ever-growing pile. 

but just as you reached the door, he moved ahead of you, stopping right at the threshold. his hand rested lightly against the frame as he turned back, expression as unreadable as ever—soft yet calculated, warm yet knowing.

“after you,” taehyun says smoothly, tilting his head ever so slightly.

your eyes flickered to him, lingering for only a second before you scoffed. of course. always so proper, so polite. always so perfectly composed.

“just go, kang.” your voice was clipped, your patience thinning at the edges.

but he didn’t budge. instead, a small chuckle escaped him, low and unhurried, like he found your irritation amusing. he remained still, waiting, that same infuriatingly gentle smile tugging at his lips.

for a moment, you considered pushing past him, ignoring his presence entirely. but something about the way he stood there—calm, unshaken, as if he had all the time in the world—made your skin prickle. unwilling to prolong the moment, you rolled your eyes and stepped through first, feeling the weight of taehyun’s gaze trailing behind you as he finally followed.

the hallway was quieter than usual, the usual rush of students dwindling between periods. your footsteps echoed faintly against the polished floors, the rhythmic tap of your shoes the only sound filling the space between you. for once, you wished it would stay that way.

but taehyun was never one to let silence settle for too long.

“you did well on the last presentation,” he said, his voice cutting through the quiet with an ease that made your fingers twitch.

you kept your gaze ahead, eyes fixed on the stretch of hallway before you. “so?”

taehyun hummed, slow and thoughtful. “the teachers were impressed. even the principal didn’t have anything to correct, which is rare.”

there was something in his tone—something easy yet deliberate. you weren’t sure if he was just making conversation or if he was testing you, seeing how long it would take before you snapped at him.

your fingers curled at your sides. “is that supposed to mean something?”

taehyun let out a soft chuckle, hands tucked casually into his pockets. “it means you’re good at what you do.”

you stole a glance at him from the corner of your eye, but his expression remained neutral, unreadable. there was no teasing lilt to his voice, no smugness in his words. just a simple statement, spoken like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

you looked away, exhaling through your nose. “obviously.”

taehyun laughs, a quiet, breathy sound that sent a shiver up your spine. “you’re awfully cute when you’re smug.”

your steps faltered—just barely, just for a second—before you snapped your head towardss him with a sharp glare. “don’t say weird things.”

but he only smiled, eyes twinkling with something unreadable, something that made your stomach twist.

“it’s not weird if it’s true.”

your fingers twitched at your sides, a heat creeping up the back of your neck. you hated this. hated how easily he got under your skin, how effortlessly he chipped away at your walls like it was second nature to him. like he wasn’t even trying.

but more than anything, you hated that, despite everything, you never had it in you to stop him.

before you knew it, the office door was already looming ahead, its dark wooden surface polished to a near mirror-like shine, reflecting the dim glow of the hallway’s overhead lights. despite the countless times you had stood before it, waiting to be summoned inside for meetings, discussions, and the occasional reprimand over minor council disputes, it never failed to fill you with a familiar sense of dread. not because you feared the principal—he was reasonable enough—but because you knew that whatever awaited you beyond that door would inevitably mean more work, more responsibilities, and more time spent in taehyun’s infuriating presence.

your fingers twitched at your sides, itching to get this over with. but before you could reach for the handle, taehyun was already moving, stepping forward with that effortless confidence that made your teeth grind.

his knuckles met the wood in three firm, evenly spaced knocks—never too loud, never too soft. just right. of course.

then, without hesitation, he twisted the handle and pushed the door open, but instead of stepping through, he turned to you, that familiar, insufferably polite smile curving his lips.

“after you,” he says once again, his voice smooth, as if this wasn’t the hundredth time he’d done this.

your lips pressed into a thin, irritated line, and you felt the immediate, burning need to roll your eyes. instead, you inhaled sharply, resisting the urge to push past him just to spite him.

“stop doing that,” you muttered, stepping into the office without sparing him a glance.

behind you, taehyun let out a quiet chuckle, the sound low and warm, like he had been expecting your reaction all along. you could practically feel the amusement radiating off him as he followed you inside at an easy, unhurried pace, as if this was all some game to him.

the office was warm, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the faintest traces of old paper and polished wood. the large mahogany desk stood at the center, stacked neatly with files, reports, and what you assumed were upcoming event proposals.

behind the desk sat the principal, an older man with sharp, perceptive eyes that held a kindness just beneath their surface. his neatly pressed suit was accompanied by a tie that looked slightly askew, as if he had been rushing between meetings all morning. at the sight of you both, he offered a welcoming nod, his hands clasping together in front of him.

“ah, president, vice president,” he greeted, his voice carrying that authoritative weight you had grown used to. “thank you for coming on such short notice.”

you returned the gesture with a curt nod, holding your hands behind your back in an attempt to brace yourself for whatever was about to be dropped onto your already full plate. beside you, taehyun dipped his head in acknowledgment, his posture effortlessly composed.

the principal didn’t waste time, leaning forward slightly as he rested his forearms on the desk. his sharp gaze flickered between the two of you, a knowing glint settling in his eyes.

“i’m sure you both know what time of year it is,” he began, his tone measured, expectant.

your brows furrowed slightly, the question lingering in the air for only a second before taehyun, ever the perfect student, filled the silence.

“the winter ball,” he supplied smoothly, the answer rolling off his tongue like second nature.

the principal’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “precisely. it’s one of our school’s most anticipated events, and this year, we want it to be even more memorable than the last.” he gestured towardss the neatly stacked files on his desk, his fingers tapping lightly against the topmost folder. “as always, we’re prepared to provide you with all the budget you need to bring it to life. however, the student council will be in charge of every aspect of the planning.”

your stomach twisted.

of course it was. as if the student council didn’t already have enough responsibilities—event coordination, student affairs, disciplinary oversight—now you had to organize the biggest event of the year on top of everything else.

your fingers curled slightly at your sides, a quiet sigh threatening to escape before you swallowed it back.

“understood,” taehyun said without missing a beat, his tone carrying that same unwavering confidence he always spoke with. “we’ll handle everything.”

your eyes snapped to him, barely concealing your incredulity. we? we weren’t the ones who would end up buried in logistical nightmares and last-minute disasters. you were. while taehyun would breeze through meetings with his stupid, easy charm, you’d be the one pulling late nights, making sure every detail was perfect.

but of course, he looked completely at ease, his expression betraying none of the stress you already felt settling onto your shoulders.

the principal nodded in approval, leaning back in his chair. “good. i expected nothing less.” he glanced between the two of you once more before offering a small, knowing smile. “i trust that the two of you, along with the rest of the council, will make this year’s ball unforgettable.”

as the meeting wrapped up, you and taehyun dipped into a synchronized bow, offering the principal a respectful farewell before turning towardss the door. you moved first, your steps quick and purposeful, eager to escape the weight of expectations that had just been placed on your shoulders.

the moment you stepped out into the hallway and the door clicked shut behind you, the sigh you had been holding back finally slipped past your lips. it was long and heavy, filled with every ounce of exasperation you had swallowed down in that office.

taehyun must have noticed, because just as you were trying to compose yourself, you caught the slightest movement from the corner of your eye—his hand, lifting ever so slightly, as if to place a reassuring touch on your shoulder.

you moved away before he could.

your sharp glare met his gaze, and for a second, the air between you crackled with tension. his hand dropped back to his side, but the teasing curve of his lips remained.

“don’t,” you warned, voice flat.

taehyun let out a soft chuckle, utterly unbothered. “what? i was just going to tell you that you’re gonna do great.”

“oh, shut up,” you muttered, rubbing your temple as if that would somehow ease the headache forming at the thought of the endless planning ahead. “this is a lot of work. again. do they not realize how much we already do?”

taehyun hummed in thought, shoving his hands into the pockets of his blazer. “well, to be fair, the winter ball is a big deal. people look forward to it all year. it makes sense they want to go all out.”

“great. good for them,” you deadpanned. “meanwhile, i’ll be drowning in event proposals, budgeting spreadsheets, and people asking if we can add a ‘winter wonderland’ theme for the fourth time.”

taehyun chuckled, tilting his head slightly as he glanced at you. “you’re being dramatic.”

you shot him an exasperated look, one that should’ve been enough to burn through his unshakable confidence. should’ve been, but of course, this was kang taehyun you were dealing with—unfazed, infuriating, and always ready with some smooth remark that made your blood boil.

“oh, am i? am i really, kang?” you seethed, voice laced with frustration. “because guess who’s going to be stuck micromanaging everything while everyone else just throws out random ideas and disappears?”

taehyun blinked at you, the picture of innocence. “us?”

you let out a humorless laugh, shaking your head as you leveled him with a sharp glare. “me,” you corrected, jabbing a finger against your chest. “because you’ll probably just sit there smiling and nodding while i suffer.”

his laughter came easily, light and unhurried, like the idea of your impending misery was genuinely amusing to him. the corners of his eyes crinkled in that stupidly endearing way, and for a moment, you forgot what you were mad about.

“come on, give me some credit,” taehyun replies, and before you could take a step back, he nudged your arm playfully—so effortless, so natural, like touching you was just second nature to him. you recoiled instantly, pulling away before the warmth of his skin could linger against your jacket. “i help out a lot too. i mean, i am the president.”

“oh, please,” you scoffed, folding your arms over your chest like a barrier, like it would somehow protect you from his relentless confidence. “you showing up to meetings with an iced americano and nodding along to whatever’s being said is not helping.” taehyun’s grin widened, all sharp amusement, like he was enjoying this far more than he should. “hey, that’s unfair. sometimes i write stuff down.”

“you doodle.”

“art is important for brainstorming.”

you shot him a deadpan look. “so is actual brainstorming.”

but taehyun didn’t waver. his smile softened just a fraction, the teasing edge in his tone giving way to something quieter, something dangerously close to sincerity.

“i do mean it,” taehyun said, and this time, he didn’t laugh. didn’t flash that insufferable, knowing smirk. didn’t lace his words with teasing or smug amusement. instead, his voice came quieter, steadier—like an oath meant to be kept. “i’m not just going to let you do all the work. i’ll help, i promise.”

his words should have rolled right off you, should have been easy to dismiss like every other time he made empty assurances with that effortless confidence of his. but something about the way he said it—the way he looked at you—made you pause for just a fraction of a second too long.

you scoffed again, but the usual sharpness in your voice was missing, dulled by the unexpected sincerity lingering between you. “i know you,” you muttered, grasping for the familiar rhythm of irritation that kept you balanced around him. “you’ll just charm everyone into doing things for you while i handle the logistics.”

taehyun’s grin stretched wider, his eyes glinting with something dangerously playful—like you had just unknowingly handed him the perfect setup for a joke. “well, yeah,” he admitted with a casual shrug, the corners of his lips twitching. “that’s called teamwork.”

you groaned dramatically, tilting your head back, pressing your fingers against the bridge of your nose as if you could physically push away the headache he was undoubtedly going to give you. “you are so—”

“but,” he cut in smoothly, and there was something in his tone that made you drop your hand and actually look at him. he wasn’t done. “since you’re so convinced i’m just going to sit back and make you do everything, let me put it on record—i’ll be in charge of buying the decorations. i’ll help with booking the venue, the catering, and dealing with the faculty.”

your arms, which had been folded tightly against your chest, slackened just slightly.

“i’ll help set up, too,” taehyun continued easily, ticking things off on his fingers like he was reading off a checklist. “and—” he shot you a knowing glance, “—i’ll make sure no one dumps last-minute work on you like they always do.”

your mouth opened—whether to argue or to question him, you weren’t even sure—but nothing came out.

taehyun noticed. he always did.

“what?” he teased, leaning in slightly like he was studying your reaction up close. “shocked into silence? i should say sincere things more often.”

you snapped out of it, glaring as you stepped back. “i just didn’t expect you to actually think about any of this.”

“what, you think i don’t pay attention?” taehyun hummed, tilting his head. “i know you do all the heavy lifting every year. i know you always end up picking up the slack when people flake. and i know you’d rather pretend you don’t care than let anyone see you stressed about it.”

taehyun smiled, but it wasn’t smug this time. it was softer. easier. genuine.“so, yeah,” he said, as if his words hadn’t just shaken something loose inside you. “i’ll help. properly.”

you swallowed, forcing yourself to scoff, to keep your defenses up. “yeah, well,” you muttered, looking away. “you better.”

he chuckled, unfazed as always. “see? we’re making progress already.”

“i hate you.”

“no, you don’t,” he said, and the worst part was that he sounded like he knew it. ꒰💐꒱ the student council room buzzed with the quiet shuffle of papers and the faint hum of conversation as the members gathered around the long wooden table, settling into their seats. the late afternoon sunlight filtered in through the windows, casting elongated shadows across the polished surface.

you sat near the head of the table, arms crossed, posture composed, but your patience already thinning before the meeting had even begun. beside you, taehyun leaned forward slightly, his usual composed expression unreadable as he flipped through a neatly organized binder—probably filled with notes and plans that he had somehow managed to put together in the few hours since you both left the principal’s office.

the moment the last person took their seat, you cleared your throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “alright, let’s get this over with,” you said, ignoring the amused glance taehyun shot your way. “as you all know, the winter ball is coming up, and since the school is giving us the budget we need, it’s up to us to handle all the planning.”

taehyun, ever the composed leader, leaned forward with his arms resting against the table, scanning the three of you with his usual unreadable expression. “which means first things first,” he says, “we need a theme.”

a beat of silence followed, filled only by the distant chatter of students lingering in the hallways and the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall. then, with a loud thud, beomgyu—who had been balancing his chair precariously on two legs—let it drop back down, the abrupt sound making jiwon, the treasurer, flinch. he leaned forward, propping his elbow on the table and resting his chin on his palm, his eyes glinting with easy confidence. "what about… a black-and-white party?"

you blinked, eyebrows furrowing. “you mean… just two colors?”

"yeah," beomgyu confirmed, nonchalant. "like, everyone wears black or white. sleek. simple. no weird decorations." he shrugged as if he had just solved an age-old dilemma, clearly satisfied with himself. "it’ll be easy."

taehyun hummed, tapping the end of his pen against his notebook in thought. "it’s not bad, but it might be too minimal. people like having something to work with beyond just a color palette."

you nodded, already envisioning how utterly lifeless it would be. "and it could get boring fast. we need something with more… i don’t know. atmosphere."

before beomgyu could defend his idea, jiwon suddenly straightened in his seat, his perfectly styled hair falling slightly over his forehead as he tilted his head in what you knew was supposed to be a calculated display of charm. “hmm,” he mused, twirling his pen between his fingers. “what about an enchanted garden theme? twinkling fairy lights, roses everywhere, maybe even a little love-seat corner for couples…” his eyes flickered towardss taehyun, the end of his sentence laced with a easy lilt. “it’d be so cool, don’t you think, taehyun?”

taehyun, either genuinely oblivious or just expertly unfazed, regarded him with a blank expression, blinking once. “...that’s just a prom with plants.” jiwon’s smile faltered for half a second before he recovered, running a hand through his neatly styled hair. “well, not just a prom! we could—”

“it’s a winter formal,” taehyun cut in smoothly, his tone polite but unwavering. “not a midsummer night’s dream.” jiwon huffed, his expression tightening for a split second before he forced another airy laugh, though the slight flicker of irritation in his eyes didn’t go unnoticed by you. “fine. whatever,”

taehyun paid him no mind, glancing at the rest of you. "anyone else?"

beomgyu, who was still highly entertained by the exchange, perked up once more, his lips stretching into a grin. "okay, okay," he sighed, lifting his hands in mock surrender. "what if we do… a retro neon theme?"

you, taehyun, and jiwon turned to look at him at the exact same time, identical expressions of sheer disbelief written across your faces.

“…beomgyu,” you deadpanned, eyeing him as if he had just suggested you all hold the event in a convenience store parking lot. “this is a winter formal.”

beomgyu blinked innocently. “yeah, and?”

taehyun tilted his head slightly, looking at him as if he were trying to decipher an alien language. “so, you want people to slow dance under fluorescent pink lights?”

beomgyu crossed his arms, clearly standing by his idea. “who said anything about slow dancing? picture this—electric blues, neon signs, a dance floor that actually lights up. vintage, but modern.”

you stared at him. “that literally makes no sense.”

beomgyu groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. "you guys are impossible.”

before another argument could erupt, jiwon clapped his hands together, his eyes brightening with excitement. "ooh! what about a winter wonderland?"

you physically felt your soul leave your body. slowly, deliberately, you turned to face him, fingers tightening around your pen. "jiwon," you said, voice calm yet edged with thinly veiled exasperation, "it is already winter. people are literally living in a winter wonderland right now."

he pouted slightly, tilting his head as if that would somehow make his idea sound more appealing. "but we could make it cute! like, snowflakes everywhere, and maybe a big fake ice castle—"

“so… the exact same theme the school has used like four times before?” beomgyu interjected, raising an eyebrow.

jiwon frowned, tapping his pen against the table in thought. “well, i mean… yeah, but it’s classic.”

you exhaled through your nose, pressing your fingers against your temple. classic or not, it was painfully predictable, and if you had to sit through another event drowning in fake icicles and blue-tinted lights as if you were in the antartica, you were going to lose your mind.

“we need something fresh,” you muttered. “something that actually makes people excited to go.”

taehyun glanced at you, a knowing glint in his eyes. "so, you want something that stands out?"

you turned to him, narrowing your eyes. "obviously." beomgyu, who had been silent for a beat too long, suddenly leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head. “alright, then.” he let his arms drop back down, his gaze flickering between the three of you before a slow grin curved on his lips. “what about a masquerade ball?”

the room went quiet.

taehyun’s pen stilled between his fingers. you turned your head just in time to catch the way his gaze flickered to yours, brows raising slightly in silent acknowledgment. huh.

you narrowed your eyes, already seeing the gears turning in his head.

he knew.

you knew.

and beomgyu, perceptive as ever, caught onto the silent exchange in an instant. his grin widened, mischief flickering behind his eyes as he leaned forward, bracing his forearms against the table. “what’s with the looks? did i just blow your tiny little minds?”

you scoffed, but the corners of your lips twitched, betraying your amusement. “please. let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

taehyun hummed, drumming his fingers against his notebook, the sound a steady, thoughtful rhythm. “she’s right. however, it’s actually a solid concept.”

beomgyu clutched his chest dramatically, leaning back in his chair like he had just been struck by an arrow. “oh my god. did the two scariest people in student council just agree with me?”

jiwon, who had been slouching in his seat ever since his winter wonderland idea got shot down, straightened up slightly, interest piqued. “so… like those fancy, mysterious balls in movies?”

“exactly,” beomgyu confirmed, voice brimming with satisfaction. “dim lighting, chandeliers, intricate masks—people get to dress up and pretend to be someone else for a night.” he wagged his brows. “cool, isn’t it?”

taehyun ignored his theatrics, already scribbling down notes. “formal but not boring. atmospheric without being overly complicated. it works.”

you tapped a finger against your chin, pretending to deliberate. “hmm. it does sound good, but i don’t know, gyu. the fact that it came from you makes me a little skeptical.”

beomgyu gasped, feigning betrayal as he placed a hand over his heart. “come on, don’t you have faith in me?.”

you smirked, tilting your head. “oh, i have faith in you. just not in your taste.” “says the girl who still thinks vanilla ice cream is the superior flavor,” beomgyu shot back, eyes gleaming.

your jaw dropped. “what does that have to do with anything?”

taehyun, barely glancing up from his notes, murmured, “she’s right, though. it’s a classic.”

beomgyu let out an exasperated groan, throwing his hands up. “oh, so she gets a pass for being boring, but i make one suggestion and suddenly—”

“masquerade it is,” taehyun interrupted smoothly, tapping his pen against the page for emphasis. “it’s decided.”

beomgyu sat up a little straighter, his usual playful arrogance giving way to something softer—something closer to pride. he actually contributed something worthwhile, and he knew it.

you glanced around the table, noting the shift in energy. what started as a frustrating mess of half-baked ideas had finally settled into something concrete. something promising.

as the meeting neared its end, the room gradually emptied, leaving behind the quiet remnants of rustling papers and the faint echo of footsteps against the tiled floor. beomgyu was the first to sling his bag over his shoulder, stretching his arms high above his head with a satisfied groan. he looked far too pleased with himself, as if he had just single-handedly saved the winter formal instead of throwing out the most ridiculous suggestions until he accidentally landed on the perfect one.

“alright, my job here is done,” he announced, adjusting his strap before flashing a lopsided grin at you and taehyun. “don’t stay too late, lovebirds.”

“we are not—” you started, only for beomgyu to duck out the door before you could finish.

you let out a frustrated huff, but before you could dwell on it, jiwon stepped forward, his movements unhurried as he gathered his things. he lingered near taehyun’s side, adjusting the strap of his bag with an easygoing air, as if trying to find the right words.

“hey,” he started, offering a small, casual smile, “if you ever need help with anything, you can call me. you know, student council teamwork and all.”

taehyun, ever the picture of polite indifference, barely spared him a glance. “sure, noted.”

jiwon hesitated, clearly expecting something more—maybe a nod of acknowledgment, maybe even a small thanks—but when taehyun remained as detached as ever, he let out a short laugh, shaking his head as if to brush it off. “right. see you guys later, then. goodluck!”

and then, it was just you and taehyun.

the door clicked shut behind him, sealing your fate.

you exhaled, resting your elbows against the table before letting your forehead drop against the cool surface. “this is cruel and unusual punishment.”

taehyun barely looked up from his notes. “it’s called responsibility.”

you groaned. “i have plenty of responsibilities, thank you very much. this just happens to be the one i want to run from the most.”

“too bad.”

taehyun’s tone was frustratingly even, the very definition of someone who had already accepted his fate. you peeked up at him through your arms, watching as he methodically sorted through the remaining paperwork, his expression unreadable. it was strange. you were used to him being sharp, snarky, always finding ways to make your life harder rather than easier. but right now?

right now, he was just… doing the work. without complaint. without prodding.

you slowly sat up, watching him with narrowed eyes.

“okay, what’s your deal?”

taehyun finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. “what?”

“you.” you gestured vaguely at him, then at the neatly arranged papers in front of him. “you’re being helpful. like, actually helpful. it’s weird.”

his lips curled slightly, though the amusement didn’t quite reach his eyes. “i told you i’d help, didn’t i?”

“yeah, but not like.. this..” 

he huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head before flipping through one of the documents. “you seriously underestimate me.”

“i seriously don’t.” you crossed your arms. “which is why i’m suspicious.”

taehyun sighed, tapping his pen against the table. “if it makes you feel better, i’ll handle the layout and catering logistics. you can start drafting the seating arrangements.”

you stared at him.

he stares back.

“…you already planned half of this, didn’t you?”

his silence was answer enough.

you blinked, momentarily thrown off by the sheer efficiency of it all. then, something flickered in his expression—something almost unreadable, something sincere—and suddenly, you didn’t know where to look.

“i told you,” taehyun murmured, his voice quieter now, as if he didn’t want to break whatever fragile moment had settled between you, “i’ll help.” you huffed out a breath, pushing aside the odd weight pressing at the edges of your mind, and refocused on the papers spread before you. whatever strange moment had just passed between you and taehyun—whatever flicker of something that had settled in the quiet between you—it didn’t matter. you had work to do.

the room sank into a silence that, against all odds, felt… natural. not suffocating, not strained, not heavy with the usual tension that came with being near taehyun for too long. it was a stark contrast to the earlier chaos of the meeting, the air now humming with something softer—less sharp edges, less sharp words.

it was almost unsettling how easily you both worked like this.

every now and then, one of you would break the silence.

“do we need to confirm the dj by the end of the week?”

“yeah, and the photographer too.”

or—

“should we let people vote for their own ball court, or do you think it’ll just turn into a popularity contest?”

“kang, every ball court is a popularity contest.”

for once, there were no playful jabs, no attempts to rile each other up—just efficiency. a rare, mutual understanding.

and yet, the hours dragged.

outside, the sun had begun to dip below the horizon, casting the room in streaks of orange and pink, elongating shadows across the table. the once-bright fluorescent lights above now felt too harsh, highlighting the exhaustion that had begun creeping into your bones. the weight of the day settled over you in increments—shoulders aching, head growing heavier, eyelids drooping ever so slightly.

then, as you were scanning through a list of venue restrictions, a yawn tore its way out of you before you could stop it.

taehyun’s head lifted at once. “tired?”

you blinked at him, rubbing your eyes as inconspicuously as possible. “no.”

his gaze flickered towardss you, sharp yet unreadable. “you should just go home. i can finish the rest.”

you scoffed, dropping your hand from your face. “what, and let you mess everything up? not on my watch.”

his brows raised slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching. “mess everything up? bold words, considering i’ve been handling student council work longer than you have.”

“exactly,” you countered, deadpan. “which means i know what you’re capable of, and frankly, it’s concerning.”

taehyun exhaled, shaking his head in mock disbelief. “you really don’t trust me with this, huh?”

“would you trust you?”

his lips curled, eyes glinting with amusement. “i trust myself way more than i trust you.”

you let out an exaggerated gasp. “excuse me?”

“you heard me.”

“taehyun, i carry the weight of this council on my back, and you know it.”

he let out a soft chuckle, leaning back in his chair. “right, because your world would fall apart if you admitted i actually help out around here.”

you narrowed your eyes, pointing a pen at him. “if you actually helped, i wouldn’t be here right now.”

“or maybe,” he mused, tilting his head, “you just like spending time with me.”

you nearly choked.

“as if,” you spluttered, eyes widening.

taehyun smirked, seemingly satisfied with your reaction. “so dramatic.”

you let out an exasperated groan, dragging a hand down your face. “you’re insufferable.”

“and yet, you’re still here.”

“because i have to be,” you shot back.

he hummed, tapping his fingers against the table. “alright, then. let me—”

without thinking, your hand shot out, curling firmly around his wrist.

your breath caught in your throat, the moment stretching impossibly thin, charged with something you couldn’t name. your fingers were wrapped around the bare skin of taehyun’s wrist, his pulse thrumming steadily beneath your touch—warm, solid, real.

taehyun stilled.

for once, he looked just as caught off guard as you felt, his gaze flickering downward, lips parting slightly. you could see the exact moment realization dawned on him, something shifting in his expression, his breath coming just a fraction sharper.

but neither of you moved.

the air between you thickened, something unspoken curling into the space left behind by your bickering. your heart pounded against your ribs, so loud, you were convinced he could hear it. your palm burned against his skin, a sensation you weren’t sure was entirely physical.

you ripped your hand away, as if you had been scorched.

taehyun blinked at you, his expression unreadable, caught between something unreadable and something almost… curious. then, his lips twitched, the ghost of a smirk forming, though this one was softer—less teasing, more thoughtful.

“okay, okay,” he said, voice quieter now, almost teasing but not quite. “i’ll let you finish your own work.” you barely heard taehyun’s voice. barely registered the joyful lilt of his words or the soft chuckle that followed.

because something felt wrong.

not wrong in the way that set off alarms in your head—not danger, not fear—but something different. something foreign pressing against the edges of your awareness, unfamiliar yet impossibly warm. your wrist tingled, the sensation starting as a faint whisper beneath your skin before deepening into something more insistent, something that crawled up your arm like a quiet, lingering heat. it wasn’t painful, but it burned in a way that made your breath catch, a way that made your fingers curl against the table as if grounding yourself would somehow steady the sudden unease settling in your chest. your brows furrowed as the warmth pulsed again, slow and steady, like a heartbeat against your palm. for a second, you tried to ignore it, forcing your focus back onto the scattered documents before you. but the feeling refused to fade, refused to be dismissed as something inconsequential. it lingered, curling beneath your skin, insistent, waiting. a strange, quiet whisper of a sensation that made something stir uneasily in your chest.

your fingers twitched.

the urge to check clawed at you.

hesitantly, almost cautiously, you turned your palm over. your breath felt uneven, the steady rhythm of your chest rising and falling suddenly harder to control. your fingers flexed once, twice, before finally, with a sharp inhale, you reached for the sleeve of your jacket.

you hesitated.

just for a second.

then, slowly, you peeled the fabric back—

and you felt your breath hitch.

there, resting in the curve of your palm, was a single blue hydrangea.

it was small, delicate, impossibly soft-looking, its petals shimmering faintly with an ethereal glow. the light was subtle, barely noticeable, but it was there, a quiet pulse of something that shouldn’t be real. your eyes widen, your chest tightening, the air around you suddenly feeling too thick, too heavy, as if the weight of the moment itself was pressing down on you, demanding to be acknowledged. your fingers twitched again, hesitant, unsure, before finally moving—just barely grazing the petals. they were cool beneath your fingertips, soft as silk, fragile in a way that made your stomach twist. and yet, the moment you made contact, a warmth surged through you—different from before, deeper, curling through your chest, spreading outward in gentle waves, like ripples disturbing still water.

panic clawed at your ribs.

this wasn’t real.

it couldn’t be real.

cautiously, carefully, you lifted your gaze—

taehyun wasn’t even looking at you.

he was still focused on his own work, completely unaware of the storm unraveling within you. his expression remained neutral, his hands moving with practiced ease as he gathered the last of the documents, his posture relaxed as if nothing had happened. he hadn’t noticed the way you had frozen. he hadn’t heard the sharp breath that had caught in your throat. he hadn’t felt what you had felt.

you sat there, staring, mind spinning in frantic circles, barely registering the movement of his hands, the faint sound of paper rustling as he organized everything into neat stacks. he was still working. he had moved on.

your fingers tightened around your sleeve, pressing the fabric into your palm, concealing the impossible proof still resting there.

taehyun had no idea.

he hadn’t seen it.

but you had. suddenly, the way taehyun had been looking at you earlier—the way his voice had softened when he told you he’d help, the way his fingers had tapped against the table absentmindedly, as if waiting for something—felt different.

suddenly, the small, glowing flower sitting against your skin felt heavier than anything you had ever held.

your stomach twisted, fingers still curled tightly around your sleeve as you forced yourself to keep your expression neutral, to act as if your world hadn’t just been turned upside down.

but deep down, you already knew.

taehyun was your soulmate.

the chair scraped against the floor as you pushed back suddenly, the legs dragging loud and jarring against the quiet that had settled between you and taehyun. the movement was too sharp, too abrupt, and when you stood, a wave of dizziness hit you like a punch to the chest. taehyun’s head snapped up at the sudden movement, brows knitting together in something close to confusion. “where are you going?” his voice was steady, but there was a slight edge to it—one that might’ve gone unnoticed if your heart wasn’t already hammering in your chest. “i thought you wanted to stay?”

you swallowed, trying to mask the way your breath felt uneven, the way something inside you trembled like a frayed wire sparking against itself. “i—” your throat felt dry. you shook your head, barely able to string together a convincing excuse. “i-i just remembered i have something to do.”

taehyun’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze sharp and assessing as he leaned back in his chair. “really?”

you exhaled sharply, trying to pull yourself together, trying to keep your feet moving before you did something foolish. “yes, really,” you bit out, words a little too rushed, too forced. you took a step back, then another. “i should go.”

“now?” taehyun’s voice carried a note of incredulity, as if he was trying to make sense of the contradiction. just minutes ago, you had argued tooth and nail about staying, yet now, here you were, bolting for the door like something was chasing you.

you nodded once, stiffly, pressing your lips together. “yes. now.”

before he could say anything else, before the weight of his gaze could pin you down, you spun on your heel and hurried for the door. your heart thundered violently against your ribs, your pulse roaring in your ears, but you didn’t stop. you couldn’t.

the cool evening air hit you like a shock to the system when you finally stepped outside, your lungs burning with the weight of everything you had just run from. but even then, even with the distance now stretching between you and taehyun, your fingers curled instinctively tighter around your sleeve, as if the mere act of holding it close could somehow make the truth disappear.

but it didn’t.

because pressed against your palm, glowing softly beneath the fabric, the tiny blue hydrangea still remained. ꒰💐꒱ you couldn't sleep.

you lay on your bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, but the silence in your room was anything but peaceful. it was suffocating—thick and pressing, curling around your ribs like invisible vines, making it impossible to breathe. every time you closed your eyes, you saw it. that flower. delicate and impossibly vibrant, glowing softly against your palm as if mocking you. and with it came the realization you still weren’t ready to accept, the one that had rattled you so deeply you could barely think straight.

kang taehyun was your soulmate.

your stomach twisted, a cold weight settling deep in your gut. it didn’t make sense. it couldn’t make sense. the universe, fate—whatever cruel force had determined this—must have made a mistake. had to have made a mistake. because out of all the people in the world, why him? why the one person you could barely stand, the one person who got under your skin like no one else could?

a frustrated breath tore from your lips as you sat up abruptly, shoving your blanket off. you couldn’t just sit here, drowning in the sheer absurdity of it all. your fingers reached for your phone, unlocking it in one swift motion before you began typing furiously into the search bar, your heart hammering so loudly it nearly drowned out the quiet hum of the device.

how to break a soulmate bond?

your thumb hovered over the screen as you hesitated, an uneasy feeling creeping into your chest.

then you pressed enter.

your eyes scanned the results, fingers scrolling hastily, only for a sharp sting of disappointment to hit you when the answers all read the same:

soulmates are predetermined from birth.a soulmate bond cannot be unbound.a soulmate connection is permanent.

your grip on your phone tightened.

you tried again.

can you reject your soulmate?can a soulmate connection fade?is there a way to erase a soulmate bond?

but again, every response remained cruelly, infuriatingly unchanged. your chest constricted, heat rising to your cheeks as frustration built like a storm inside you. you hated this. hated the idea that some unseen force had decided your fate without your consent, tying you to taehyun in a way you couldn’t even begin to understand.

your pulse pounded in your ears, but you forced yourself to keep reading, scanning through endless articles, forums, old folklore—anything that might give you a loophole.

and then, finally, you found something.

your eyes locked onto a passage buried within a lengthy explanation on soulmate manifestations. the words swam before you, but you forced yourself to focus, breath catching as you reread the key line over and over again.

"the flower will continue to appear until the bond is acknowledged and reciprocated."

you swallowed hard, gripping your phone tighter.

"only through mutual recognition—through intertwined touch—can the cycle be broken."

a shiver crawled up your spine, slow and deliberate, like a creeping realization settling deep into your bones. the weight of it pressed against your chest, making it harder to breathe, harder to think past the overwhelming truth that had been forced upon you. your stomach twisted at the thought. as long as he didn’t know—as long as you never let your hands fully intertwine—he wouldn’t find out. the flower would keep returning, yes, but it wasn’t permanent. it wasn’t an unshakable mark of fate binding the two of you together in an irreversible way.

your breath caught as you hesitated, then slowly peeled back your sleeve, heart hammering wildly against your ribs. but when your gaze flickered down—

nothing.

the flower was gone. a sharp exhale left you, a rush of relief so sudden it nearly made you laugh. it wasn’t a mark you were doomed to wear forever. it could be hidden, erased, kept entirely to yourself. your fingers curled into a fist, as if trying to physically trap the secret away, to hold it tight before it could slip through the cracks and ruin everything.

taehyun didn’t have to know.

you could keep this to yourself. you could pretend it never happened. as long as you avoided direct contact, as long as you stayed careful, the truth would remain buried. and taehyun—your soulmate—would never have to find out.

the thought should have been comforting, should have eased the sick feeling that had settled in your stomach. but it didn’t. because no matter how much you tried to ignore it, push it down, pretend it wasn’t real—

the fact remained.

the universe had chosen taehyun for you.

and worse—

it had chosen you for him.

you exhaled slowly, pressing your palms over your eyes as if the darkness behind your lids could somehow erase the thoughts running rampant in your mind. it was useless—no matter how much you tried to push it away, the truth remained, lodged deep beneath your skin like a splinter that refused to be ignored.

still, you had to at least try.

dragging in a breath, you shifted onto your side, curling beneath the covers in a last-ditch effort to find rest, even if only for a few fleeting hours. the room was silent, save for the faint ticking of the clock on your desk, a reminder of just how little time you had left before the world would start moving again. you squeezed your eyes shut, forcing yourself to focus on the steady rise and fall of your chest, on the softness of the sheets beneath your fingertips. if you could just empty your mind, even just for a moment.

but sleep never truly came.

instead, you drifted in and out of a restless haze, thoughts tangling and unraveling like threads in your mind. each time you closed your eyes, you swore you could still feel the lingering warmth against your palm, the faint ghost of a touch that had changed everything. and before you knew it, the sun had already risen.

a sliver of golden light filtered through your curtains, painting soft, dappled shapes across your walls. you barely had time to register the shift before your alarm blared to life, the sharp, grating sound pulling you straight back into reality.

with a heavy sigh, you rolled onto your back, staring at the ceiling as exhaustion settled deep in your bones. the weight in your chest hadn't lessened overnight—if anything, it had only grown heavier, sinking deeper now that you had to face what came next.

school. preparing for the winter ball. more responsibilities.

and worse than that, taehyun.

your jaw tightened at the thought. there was no avoiding him. no ignoring his presence, no pretending he didn’t exist when he was the student council president, when you had to work with him to organize the ball, when he was everywhere. when, no matter how much you wanted to, you couldn't just erase him from your world.

but today, you had no choice but to pretend.

pretend like nothing had changed. pretend like you weren’t walking into the same room as the person you were now inexplicably tied to. pretend like he wasn’t your soulmate.with one last deep breath, you swung your legs over the side of the bed, steeling yourself for the day ahead.

as you got ready, the soft rustle of fabric filled the quiet of your room as you slipped into your jacket, fingers instinctively pulling the sleeves down past your wrists. you had always worn one out of habit, for comfort more than anything else, but today—it served a different purpose.

today, it was a barrier.

a thin layer of protection between you and the one person who could never know the truth.

your hands lingered for a moment, curling around the edges of your sleeves as if gripping them tighter would somehow ease the weight pressing against your chest. it didn’t. but still, you exhaled slowly, steeling yourself, before finally grabbing your bag and heading out the door.

as you got off the bus, the walk to school felt longer than usual. every step was heavy, your mind still tangled in the sleepless hours of the night before. the closer you got, the more you could feel it—that slow, creeping sense of unease settling in your bones, tightening its hold with each passing second.

but you kept your head low.

you had no interest in conversation. no interest in being perceived. the last thing you needed was someone taking notice of the way your mind was still reeling, the way your body was thrumming with something unsettled, something wrong.

“you in a hurry or something?”

your breath caught.

a voice. familiar. casual. far too easy going for how completely, utterly not easy this situation was. you didn’t have to look to know who it was. your fingers curled tighter around the strap of your bag, your knuckles turning faintly white from the force of your grip. as if holding on to something tangible could tether you, could anchor you to a reality that suddenly felt unbearably fragile.

his voice was light, threaded with that signature confidence that made your stomach curl uncomfortably.

"you practically ran out of the council room yesterday," taehyun mused, the curiosity in his voice so casual, so innocent, that it almost sounded like he wasn’t completely prying. but you knew better. taehyun never asked without reason. "thought you were so insistent on staying late and finishing up the work. kind of weird that you suddenly changed your mind."

your pulse stuttered.

so he noticed.

of course he did.

you forced yourself to keep your expression neutral, to fight against the tension creeping into your shoulders, the way your skin still buzzed with the weight of yesterday’s discovery.

"i changed my mind," you muttered, your voice clipped, carefully detached. "had more important things to do."

a hum. slow. drawn out. deliberate.

"oh?" taehyun says, his voice dipping ever so slightly, laced with a knowing lilt that sent an uncomfortable prickle down your spine. "that doesn’t sound like you. you never leave work unfinished, no matter how late it gets. if anything, you’d rather scold me for trying to leave early. i think that’s why it’s kind of… suspicious."

your fingers twitched. he was digging. picking at the cracks in your carefully composed exterior, sifting through the spaces where your walls weren’t quite thick enough. and you could feel it—the weight of his gaze as he examined you, silently cataloging every tiny inconsistency, every hesitation, every shift in your posture.

your stomach twisted.

he couldn’t know.

"look, i don’t know what you’re talking about," you said, feigning indifference, eyes fixed ahead. "i went home. did what i needed to do. end of story."

a silence stretched between you, thin yet impossibly dense.

"you’re a terrible liar."

the words were soft. simple. but they landed like a blow, striking something deep within you.

"seriously, what’s up with you?" taehyun continued, voice quieter now, softer around the edges, but no less insistent. his eyes were sharp, searching, tracing over your profile like he was trying to piece together a puzzle he wasn’t meant to solve. "you’ve been acting weird since yesterday. not just weird—weird in a way that actually bothers me. and that’s saying something."

your breath hitched before you could stop it, and for just a fraction of a second, your steps faltered.

it was slight—barely noticeable, barely anything—but taehyun caught it.

his gaze sharpened, quiet and unrelenting, brushing over the rigid line of your shoulders, the tightness in your grip, the way your breath had become just a little too controlled.

"seriously," he pressed again, more deliberate this time. "what’s going on with you? you don’t usually avoid eye contact like this. or, you know, sprint out of rooms like you just saw a ghost." he was watching you. waiting. reading between the spaces of your words, searching for something—an answer, a tell, the truth.

and it was too much.

too much when your thoughts were still tangled in the ghost of a blue hydrangea, too much when the memory of it felt like a brand against your skin, too much when your own chest felt like it was caving under the weight of what you could not let him know.

"i told you, it’s nothing!"

the word came out too fast, too sharp, too frayed at the edges, spilling into the space between you like a crack in fragile glass.

"nothing’s wrong, okay?" you snapped, exasperation bleeding into every syllable as you finally turned to glare at him. "i don’t know why you’re so fixated on this, but if i say it’s nothing, then it’s nothing!"

taehyun’s steps slowed, just barely, but enough for you to feel it.

then, after a beat, his lips curled.

"there’s my girl."

the words were light, teasing, but something about the way he said them—low, warm, unbearably fond—made your breath catch in your throat.

your stomach flipped.

heat crept up your neck, curling at the edges of your resolve, licking at the barriers you had so carefully built.

"don’t call me that," you snapped, voice edged with irritation, but the way your chest tightened betrayed you. taehyun only grinned wider, unfazed. "why not?” you let out a scoff, shoving past him with a force that felt more like fleeing than anything else, quickening your pace towardss the school entrance, desperate to put space between you, to shake off the warmth he left behind.

taehyun only chuckled, the sound rich with amusement, smooth and unbothered, trailing after you like a shadow you couldn’t escape.

as you and taehyun made your way towardss the principal’s office, you could still feel the weight of his earlier words clinging to your skin, but you forced yourself to push it aside, straightening your posture and steeling your expression as the two of you stepped into the office.

the principal greeted you both with a bright, approving smile, clearly pleased that the student council had taken the initiative to organize such an elaborate event. as you and taehyun pitched the ideas you had gathered from the meeting—the masquerade ball, the theme, the various activities planned—their expression only grew more delighted, nodding along enthusiastically.

"this all sounds wonderful!" he beamed, already reaching for the budget reports. "i'll grant you the funds you requested, and since this will require a lot of preparation, i'll allow you both to skip certain classes leading up to the event. just make sure to check in with your teachers and stay on top of your work."

you forced a polite smile, nodding in agreement, though internally, you grimaced at the thought of spending even more time with taehyun outside of your usual council duties. meanwhile, beside you, taehyun merely gave an easy, knowing grin, as if he could already sense your reluctance.

with the necessary approvals in hand, the two of you left the office and quickly made your way to find beomgyu and jiwon, easily spotting them in the hallway between classes. after explaining the situation, excusing them from their schedules, and going over the event details, the four of you gathered in the council room once again to divide the responsibilities.

"beomgyu, jiwon, you’ll be in charge of designing and putting up the promotional posters," taehyun started, his voice smooth and sure, as if he had already planned out the entire structure of the event in his head. "you’ll also be handling the setup for the photobooth and confirming everything with the dj and photographer."

beomgyu perked up at that, a spark of excitement in his eyes as he nodded. "oh, i have ideas already. don’t worry, the posters are gonna be a masterpiece." “so do i!” jiwon chimed in, nodding with a soft smile.

"good," taehyun said before turning to you. his gaze was steady, too steady, and you already had a bad feeling about what was coming. "that leaves us to handle the venue arrangements, the catering, and organizing the seating plans."

your stomach dropped.

"wait, what?" you blurted, brows knitting together. "why do i have to be paired with you? can't i switch?"

taehyun barely looked fazed, tilting his head in amusement. "because you’re the vice president, and i’m the president. it makes sense that we handle the major logistics together."

"but—"

"besides," he cut you off smoothly, a teasing lilt creeping into his voice, "you wouldn't want to leave all the important decision-making to me, would you? i might pick the absolute worst venue just to spite you."

you opened your mouth to protest, only to close it again when you realized he had you cornered. he knew you couldn’t let him handle this alone—not because you trusted his judgment, but because you absolutely didn’t.

your fingers clenched around the edge of the table before you finally let out a sharp exhale, shoulders dropping in reluctant defeat. "fine," you muttered, crossing your arms. "but if you make this unbearable for me, i swear—"

"i wouldn’t dream of it," taehyun interjected smoothly, lips quirking up in that ever-infuriating smirk of his.

beomgyu, watching the exchange, let out a low whistle, shooting you a look that was half amused, half pitying. "good luck," he mused, already turning towardss jiwon to start discussing the poster designs.

as much as you wanted to drag your feet and stall for time, taehyun was already leading the way towardss the computer lab, walking with that effortless confidence that somehow always managed to get under your skin. you followed begrudgingly, arms still crossed over your chest, every step weighed down by the unfortunate reality that you were stuck with him for this part of the planning.

the computer lab was mostly empty when you entered, save for a few students hunched over their screens, quietly typing away. the hum of the machines filled the air, the glow of the monitors casting a cool, sterile light over the room. taehyun wasted no time claiming a spot near the corner, settling into one of the chairs and gesturing for you to take the seat beside him.

reluctantly, you did.

"all right," he murmured, fingers already flying across the keyboard as he pulled up a search tab. "we need a venue that’s available in less than two weeks, big enough for the whole student body, and actually within our budget."

you scoffed, leaning back against your chair with an unimpressed look. "wow, really? i had no idea. it's not like i wasn’t at the meeting where we came up with this idea or anything."

taehyun barely spared you a glance, but you could see the corner of his mouth twitch. "just making sure we’re on the same page," he said smoothly, scrolling through a list of banquet halls. "i know how slow you can be sometimes."

your head snapped towardss him, eyes narrowing. "excuse me?"

he hummed, feigning deep concentration as he clicked through different options. "i mean, it took you ages to realize you liked working with me. maybe this will take just as long." "i do not like working with you," you shot back, voice low and sharp.

"mhm," he hummed, tilting his head. "whatever helps you sleep at night."

your fingers curled into fists as you resisted the urge to reach over and shove him off his chair. instead, you let out a long, slow exhale, rolling your shoulders before refocusing on the task at hand. arguing with him was getting you nowhere, and you refused to give him the satisfaction of throwing you off track.

"just focus," you muttered, pulling up a different search window. "we need to find a venue, not waste time on whatever nonsense is coming out of your mouth."

"you wound me," taehyun sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. "but fine, i’ll behave. for now."

you didn’t believe that for a second.

the next minutes were spent in a tense yet oddly efficient silence, both of you scanning through listings, occasionally typing out emails or jotting down notes. but of course, peace was never meant to last when taehyun was involved.

"how about this one?" he asked suddenly, turning his screen towardss you. "it’s big, has great lighting, and look—it even comes with a dance floor."

you barely glanced at it before shaking your head. "too expensive."

"oh, so now you're frugal?" he teased, clicking his tongue. "you didn't seem to care when we were talking about decorations."

"because decorations actually matter," you retorted. "unlike whatever overpriced ballroom you're looking at right now."

"overpriced?" taehyun leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "you have no taste." "and you have no concept of budgeting," you shot back, matching his posture with a challenging stare.

he grinned. "fine. your turn. pick a place."

you turned back to your screen, scanning through the options until you found one that seemed promising—spacious, reasonably priced, and still available within your tight timeframe. with a victorious smirk, you turned your laptop towardss him. "this one."

taehyun hummed, skimming over the details. then, to your immense irritation, he shrugged. "eh. it's decent."

"decent?" you repeated, your eye twitching. "it's perfect."

"i don't know," he mused, dragging out the words. "it’s a little plain, don’t you think?"

"you're plain," you grumbled under your breath.

taehyun chuckled, shaking his head as he clicked on the venue’s contact page. "all right, i’ll admit—it’s not bad. let’s call and see if it’s available."

"thank you," you huffed, leaning back in your chair.

taehyun shot you a look, his smirk still annoyingly present. "see? wasn’t that fun?"

"you’re insufferable."

"oh, please," he said, spinning slightly in his chair, "we both know that’s not true."

you exhaled sharply, closing your eyes for a brief moment to collect what little patience you had left. taehyun wasted no time pulling out his phone, fingers tapping swiftly as he dialed the number listed on the venue’s website. you followed suit, opening your email and drafting a message to another potential location, your heart already sinking at the thought of waiting for replies.

"come on, pick up," taehyun muttered under his breath, tapping his fingers against the desk impatiently as the call rang. his expression remained neutral, but you could tell from the slight furrow of his brows that he wasn’t the biggest fan of uncertainty either.

you pressed send on your email, leaning back with a sigh. "i hate this part," you admitted, watching as the message disappeared into the abyss of cyberspace. "just sitting around, waiting, hoping someone actually gets back to us soon."

"patience, grasshopper," taehyun mused, shooting you a teasing glance before straightening when someone finally answered his call. "yes, hi," he said smoothly, his tone shifting into something professional yet casual. "i was wondering if your venue is available for a school event in—"

he suddenly went quiet. you watched as his lips pressed into a thin line, his expression darkening slightly.

"... oh," he said after a pause, voice flat. "i see. no, that’s fine. thanks anyway."

you already knew what had happened before he even ended the call. "booked?"

"booked," taehyun confirmed with a sigh, tossing his phone onto the desk. "for the next three months."

"great," you muttered, rubbing your temples. "just our luck."

"don't be so dramatic," taehyun teased, picking up his phone again. "we still have options. just gotta keep trying."

"yeah, yeah," you sighed, refreshing your inbox just in case. nothing yet. not that you expected an immediate response, but it didn't stop the impatience from creeping in. your fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard, the soft clicks filling the quiet space between you and taehyun as you sent out the last of your inquiries. with a sigh, you leaned back in your chair, rubbing your temples before glancing at him. "i'll start looking for catering too," you said, already pulling up a new tab. "no point in wasting time while we wait."

taehyun glanced up from his phone, his lips curling into an approving smile. "look at you," he mused, amusement laced in his tone. "so efficient. what would we do without you?"

you rolled your eyes. "fail, probably."

he chuckled, tilting his head as if considering it. "you might be right." then, before you could react, his hand lifted slightly, fingers reaching towardss your head, the familiar motion making it painfully clear what he was about to do.

your body reacts before your mind fully processed it. panic surged through you, a sharp, instinctual jolt of alarm shooting down your spine as you immediately ducked out of his reach. your chair scraped against the floor as you leaned away, eyes widening slightly before narrowing into a glare. "don’t," you snapped, voice sharp with warning.

taehyun blinked at you, startled for all of a second before a slow, knowing grin stretched across his face. "wow," he laughed, clearly entertained by your reaction. "didn't realize you hated me that much."

you scowled, heat prickling at the back of your neck. "i just don’t like being touched."

"uh-huh," he drawled, unconvinced, but he let it go, instead leaning back in his chair with a smirk that made you want to throw your laptop at him. "whatever you say."

you huffed, turning back to your screen with more force than necessary. ignoring the way your heartbeat was still uneven, you focused on scrolling through catering options, clicking on the ones that looked promising. taehyun, meanwhile, resumed his calls, his voice switching between polite and slightly frustrated as he dealt with yet another rejection.

"seriously?" he muttered under his breath after hanging up. "do people just book venues for fun? why is everything taken?" you barely spared him a glance, typing out another inquiry. "maybe the universe just enjoys watching you suffer."

taehyun exhaled a sharp laugh, shaking his head as he dialed another number. "if that's the case, then it really needs to get a new hobby." your lips parted slightly as a soft chuckle slipped out before you even realized it, the sound light and fleeting amidst the quiet hum of the computer lab. you didn’t dwell on it, simply shaking your head before shifting your focus back to your screen, fingers gliding over the keyboard as you continued to scroll through catering services, listing them down one by one in a growing document. beside you, taehyun remained engrossed in his own task, his voice occasionally dipping in and out of conversation as he made yet another call.

and so, the afternoon passed in a steady rhythm—clicks of the keyboard, the quiet murmur of emails being typed, the occasional sigh of frustration whenever another rejection came through. time blurred into an endless cycle of inquiries and planning, every second dedicated to ensuring the ball would come together despite the ridiculous time constraint.

but eventually, exhaustion began to creep in, a slow and subtle weight pressing against you. the lack of sleep from the night before clawed at your consciousness, your eyelids growing heavier with every passing moment. at first, you tried to fight it, blinking rapidly and straightening your posture, but it was no use. the lull of soft ambient noise, the gentle warmth of the room, the repetitive motions all pooled together into something dangerously lulling, and before you knew it, your head dipped slightly, your body leaning into the comfortable haze of rest.

meanwhile, taehyun was still fully engaged in his work, the tip of his tongue pressed against the inside of his cheek as he skimmed through his emails. his patience was wearing thin after what felt like the hundredth rejection, but then, his screen lit up with a notification, a new message appearing in his inbox. when he opened it, his eyes widened slightly.

"finally," he breathed, his tone shifting from weary to triumphant in an instant. then, louder, "we got one! a venue just confirmed they’re available!" but no response came.

taehyun furrowed his brows, turning his head slightly. "hey, are you—"

he stopped mid-sentence.

his gaze landed on you, and for the first time that day, he fell completely silent.

your body was relaxed, posture softened in a way he’d never seen before. your breathing was slow, steady, your lashes resting lightly against your cheeks as you remained completely still. the exhaustion you had been so clearly fighting had finally won, lulling you into an unguarded moment of peace.

taehyun’s lips parted slightly as he took in the sight before him, the sharp edges of his usual teasing demeanor smoothing out into something gentler.

his eyes traced the curve of your cheek, the way a few stray strands of hair had fallen into your face, shifting slightly with each slow exhale. for a fleeting second, his fingers twitched, the urge to reach out and tuck them away bubbling up inside him.

but he hesitated.

he knew you wouldn’t like that. instead, taehyun simply sighed, a quiet, barely-there smile tugging at the corners of his lips. shaking his head to himself, he leaned back in his chair, voice a hushed murmur as he muttered,

"maybe another time." ꒰💐꒱ the world around you was slow to come into focus. a quiet groan slipped past your lips as you sat up, stretching your arms over your head, your body protesting the hours spent slumped over in an awkward position. your fingers moved to rub the sleep from your eyes, the lingering haze of exhaustion still clinging to you like a thick fog. for a moment, everything was a blur—the dim hum of computer screens, the distant echoes of muffled footsteps from outside, the faint glow of the overhead lights. but as your mind caught up with your surroundings, realization settled over you like a sudden jolt.

you were still in the computer lab.

blinking away the remnants of sleep, your gaze drifted over the space, taking in the faint glow of the monitors, the scattered notes, and the quiet that had settled into the room like a thick, undisturbed blanket. it was late. way too late.

but then, as your eyes continued to wander, they landed on something—or rather, someone. just beside you, head tilted ever so slightly to the side, arms loosely crossed over his chest, was taehyun. asleep.

you stilled.

for a long moment, you simply stared, your breath caught somewhere between surprise and something far too unnameable to grasp. taehyun was never this still, never this quiet. he was all sharp edges and smooth confidence, all witty remarks and knowing smirks. yet, in this moment, every single ounce of that usual energy had melted away.

your eyes traced the softened lines of his face, the way his lashes rested against his cheeks, casting delicate shadows against his skin. his lips, usually curved into something smug or teasing, were parted just slightly, his breathing even and unhurried. he looked… peaceful.

your fingers twitched slightly against your lap, as if unsure of what to do with themselves. you had never seen him like this before, had never had the chance to observe him without his usual air of unwavering self-assurance. your body moved before your mind could even begin to comprehend what you were about to do.

it was irrational. reckless, even. completely devoid of the careful distance you had sworn to maintain between the two of you. but despite every screaming thought urging you to stop, despite the warning bells ringing furiously in the back of your mind, your hand was already moving, trembling slightly as it hovered just above taehyun’s skin, caught in a delicate hesitation that lasted all but a second.

and then, before you could so much as blink, before common sense could come crashing down like a tidal wave and pull you away—

your fingertips brushed against his cheek.

warm.

taehyun was warm.

so impossibly warm that the contrast against the cool air of the computer lab sent a shiver down your spine. it wasn’t much—just the lightest touch, barely there, fleeting like a whisper of wind. so delicate it could have easily been mistaken for a trick of the mind.

but it wasn’t.

because the moment your skin made contact with his, an all-too-familiar heat unfurled across your wrist—burning, spreading, blooming like ink in water. your breath caught in your throat, your entire body stiffening as realization slammed into you with the force of a freight train.

oh.

oh no.

it was happening again.

the hydrangea—it was back. you didn’t even need to roll up your sleeve to check. you felt it, felt the warmth seeping into your skin like an irreversible brand, a cruel reminder of the connection you were desperately trying to ignore.

your heartbeat stuttered, then picked up pace, pounding against your ribs like it was attempting to escape. what have you done? what on earth had possessed you to—

a shift.

a breath.

a quiet inhale, followed by the faintest stir of movement.

taehyun was waking up.

your stomach twisted painfully, panic slamming into your chest with dizzying force as his body tensed slightly, as his lashes fluttered ever so faintly, as the slow pull of consciousness dragged him from sleep.

you ripped your hand away as if burned, shoving it into your lap, curling your fingers into the fabric of your skirt in a poor attempt to ground yourself. but the damage was already done. you had been too late.

taehyun’s eyes cracked open, hazy with sleep, dark irises unfocused as they attempted to adjust to the dim lighting. for a moment, he looked dazed, blinking sluggishly, his expression lost in the remnants of slumber. but then his gaze settled on you.

still sitting too close.

still stiff with the remnants of panic.

taehyun’s brows furrowed slightly, a quiet breath escaping his lips, his voice still heavy with drowsiness. “were you just—?”

“no.”

the word shot out of your mouth before he could even finish his sentence, abrupt and sharp, too quick, too defensive. you barely resisted the urge to flinch at how obvious it sounded, how guilty it made you seem.

taehyun blinked again, sluggish and confused, his gaze flickering between your face and the way you were suddenly clutching your hands together as if you were trying to physically restrain yourself. his gaze lingered for a second too long, sharp despite the remnants of sleep still clouding his features, and then, as if a switch had flipped, his lips stretched into that insufferable, knowing grin—the one that always meant trouble.

taehyun sat up straighter, stretching his arms out with a low hum before tilting his head towardss you, expression brimming with mischief. “so,” he drawled, eyes glinting, “are you gonna tell me what that was about, or should i start guessing?”

“nothing,” you muttered, a little too quickly, shifting in your seat, fingers curling tighter around the ends of your sleeves, your grip near suffocating as you tugged the fabric down as far as it would go.

taehyun leaned in slightly, feigning deep contemplation. “hm, you sure? because it really seemed like—”

“it wasn’t,” you snapped, gaze locked stubbornly on the desk, anywhere but at him, anywhere but those sharp eyes that always seemed to see far too much. “just thought you had dirt in your face.”

“you’re a terrible liar.”

“and you’re annoying.”

“a little defensive, don’t you think?”

your grip on your sleeves tightened further, fingers curling so desperately around the fabric that your knuckles turned white, nails pressing in with enough force that they nearly pierced through.

taehyun simply leaned back against his chair, smugness dripping from every inch of him as he studied you with lazy amusement. “what, did you get tired of glaring at me and decide watching me sleep was more entertaining?”

your patience, already worn dangerously thin, snapped. “i told you, it’s not what you think!” you groaned, pushing yourself up from your seat and shoving your things into your bag with far more force than necessary, each motion sharp and hurried—zipping up folders with a little too much vigor, stuffing loose papers inside with no care for whether they crumpled or not. taehyun’s grin only widened as he watched you all but stuff your things into your bag, each movement hurried and brimming with frustration. you could practically hear the amusement dripping from his voice as he tilted his head, unbothered by your growing irritation.

“you know,” he mused, stretching his arms out as if he had all the time in the world, “you’re acting really suspicious right now.”

you rolled your eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn’t get stuck. “oh, please. if anyone’s suspicious, it’s you.”

“me?” he gasped, placing a hand over his chest in mock offense, though the effect was ruined by the barely contained smirk tugging at his lips. “i just woke up, and now i’m being accused? unbelievable.”

“yeah, well, believe it,” you shot back, zipping up your bag with more force than necessary. “you’re always up to something.”

taehyun hummed, resting his chin on his hand as he studied you with lazy amusement. “you’re deflecting.”

“you’re projecting.”

he let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “this is the worst attempt at changing the subject i’ve ever seen.”

your grip on your bag strap tightened. “maybe if you shut up, we wouldn’t need to change the subject at all.”

taehyun only smirked, his eyes glinting in that way that always made your stomach twist. “so, let me get this straight,” he says, tapping a finger against his chin as if deep in thought. “you’re telling me you really weren’t just staring at me while i was sleeping? because from where i’m standing, it really looked like you were admiring me.”

your entire body went rigid. “i was not—!”

“no need to be shy,” taehyun continued, his voice syrupy sweet, the kind of tone that dripped with amusement and a touch of self-satisfaction, tilting his head just slightly, leaning into your space like he was savoring every second of your frustration. “i get it. i mean, you don’t get to see me this peaceful that often. i must’ve looked pretty cute, huh?”

your jaw nearly dropped, lips parting in sheer disbelief at the audacity—the absolute gall—he had to say that with a straight face. “oh my god. shut up.”

taehyun gasped again, clutching his chest as if you had just personally wounded him, eyes wide with faux shock, though the mischief never left his face. “you were watching me, weren’t you? i knew it!”

your fingers curled around the strap of your bag, knuckles turning bone-white from how hard you were gripping it, the pressure grounding you against the unbearable mix of panic and irritation bubbling in your chest. “you know what?” you huffed, your voice sharp and clipped, already done with this conversation before it could escalate any further. “i don’t have to stand here and listen to this.”

without another word, you spun on your heel, movements stiff with frustration as you stormed towardss the door, each step fueled by the desperate need to escape before he could dig any deeper into your flustered state. but, of course, taehyun was already up, barely missing a beat before falling into step beside you, effortlessly matching your hurried pace with infuriating ease. his laughter trailed after you like an ever-present shadow, light and teasing, his amusement practically radiating off of him.

“hey, don’t run away now,” he drawled, his voice laced with amusement, the playfulness evident in every syllable as he shot you a look that only made your irritation spike further. “i have more questions!”

you groaned, pressing your lips together in a firm line, refusing to dignify him with a response as you quickened your steps—but taehyun was right there, undeterred, his grin only widening as if he thrived on seeing you squirm.

as if sensing the utter exasperation radiating off you in waves, taehyun finally—mercifully—let the teasing subside, falling into step beside you without another word. you kept to yourself, keeping your gaze ahead, shoulders still slightly tense from the lingering remnants of his antics.

every now and then, your fingers twitched at your side before subtly moving to check your wrist, barely lifting the fabric of your sleeve as you stole a glance at the skin beneath. you weren’t sure why you kept looking, but each time, your stomach twisted with a strange mix of nerves and anticipation.

eventually, on what must have been your fifth or sixth check, you finally let out a quiet sigh, relief washing over you at the sight of bare skin. the soft exhale wasn’t loud by any means, but taehyun, ever perceptive, immediately picked up on it.

“what’s got you so relieved?” he chirped, his voice breaking through the quiet with an almost childlike curiosity.

you tensed for half a second before quickly schooling your features back into indifference, rolling your eyes as if to dismiss his question entirely. “none of your business,” you muttered, keeping your voice even, though you didn’t miss the way his gaze lingered on you for just a moment longer than necessary.

but instead of prying, which was something he would normally do just to get a rise out of you, taehyun simply smiled. not the usual smirk, not the playful glint of mischief, but something softer, something almost… fond.

“okay,” he said easily, like he wasn’t the least bit offended by your refusal to answer. the two of you walked in silence after that, the rhythmic tapping of your footsteps against the pavement filling the space between you. the air was crisp, carrying with it the distant hum of the city, the occasional rustle of leaves as the wind passed through.

after a while, taehyun spoke again, this time without any trace of teasing in his tone. “by the way, the venue’s set,” he said, glancing at you briefly before turning his gaze back ahead. “we got the confirmation while you were asleep. the deal’s all settled.”

you hummed at that, not quite looking at him as you muttered, “that’s good.”

another beat of silence stretched between you before something nudged at the back of your mind, something that had been lingering there ever since you had woken up in the computer lab. furrowing your brows slightly, you turned to him, your voice laced with mild confusion as you asked, “why were you sleeping too, anyway? you could’ve just gone home.”

taehyun barely blinked, as if he had been expecting the question. his expression remained as casual as ever, hands tucked into his pockets as he shrugged. “well, i couldn’t just leave you sleeping there all alone,” he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “and i’m pretty sure you wouldn’t have liked it if i woke you up either, so…”

his voice trailed off, but the implication lingered between you. your steps faltered for just a fraction of a second, eyes flickering towardss him instinctively, but he wasn’t looking at you. instead, he just kept walking, his expression unreadable, as if what he had said wasn’t anything significant at all.

the silence lingered between you, stretching with each step as the station gradually came into view. the sky had dimmed to a deeper shade of blue, the distant hum of the city settling into its evening rhythm. streetlights flickered on one by one, casting pools of golden light onto the pavement, their glow catching in the strands of taehyun’s hair as he walked just a little ahead of you.

you weren’t sure why, but you found yourself slowing down, your feet moving with less urgency now that you were nearing your stop. it was strange; usually, by this point, you would’ve been itching to part ways, to shake off the exhausting push and pull that always came with being around taehyun. but tonight, the usual exasperation felt… muted. replaced by something quieter. something you couldn’t quite name. taehyun was the first to break the silence.

“well,” he said, stopping just before the steps leading down to the station. he turned to you then, hands still tucked into his pockets, his smile softer now, lacking its usual sharp edge. “guess this is where we part ways.”

you blinked, caught off guard by the sudden finality of it. but before you could even think of something to say, he was already stepping back, tilting his head slightly as he regarded you with something unreadable in his expression.

“don’t stay up too late,” taehyun added, and though his tone remained casual, there was a quiet sincerity beneath it, woven into the way his gaze lingered for just a second longer than necessary.

your fingers curled around the strap of your bag, tightening for reasons you didn’t quite understand. “yeah,” you muttered, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. “you too.”

taehyun exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head as if amused by your halfhearted response. then, with one last glance, he turned, descending the steps with an ease that made it seem like this was nothing more than an ordinary parting.

but as you stood there, watching his figure disappear into the station, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. that, for the first time, you weren’t entirely relieved to see him go. ꒰💐꒱ the next few days blurred into a whirlwind of endless tasks, a relentless cycle of emails, phone calls, and meetings that left little room for anything else. mornings bled into afternoons, and afternoons stretched deep into the night, each one spent buried under an ever-growing to-do list. it felt as if the four of you were caught in the eye of a storm—one of your own making—drowning in preparations with barely a moment to come up for air.

the student council room had practically become your second home, its once neat and organized space now overrun with scattered papers, sample designs, and half-empty cups of coffee that none of you had the energy to clean up. rolls of fabric for table decorations sat in one corner, half-unfurled and abandoned, while poster drafts covered every available surface, some marked with hurried notes and others discarded altogether. the air was thick with the scent of paper and ink, the soft hum of printers and the occasional frustrated groan the only constants in the chaos.

beomgyu and jiwon were deep into their share of responsibilities, bouncing between designing promotional posters and confirming song choices with the dj. beomgyu, ever the perfectionist, went through what felt like a hundred drafts, grumbling under his breath every time jiwon pointed out a detail he had missed. their bickering became white noise at this point—background music to the madness—though, to be fair, it was nowhere near as bad as yours and taehyun’s.

because while the two argued over shades of blue and font choices, you and taehyun had the far more tedious task of finalizing the seating arrangements and catering. it meant making endless calls, negotiating over prices, and somehow fitting everything within the budget. it meant working side by side for hours on end, forced to cooperate despite how often you got on each other’s nerves. and somehow, even in the midst of all this exhaustion, taehyun still found the time to tease you—throwing in an unnecessary comment every chance he got just to watch your patience wear thinner and thinner.

"what would you do without me?" he mused one afternoon, stretching his arms behind his head as he leaned back in his chair. "actually, don’t answer that. i already know—this whole event would be a disaster."

you didn’t even look up from your laptop. "i swear to god, kang, if you don’t shut up—"

"what?" taehyun grinned, feigning innocence. "you’d miss me."

your glare could’ve set something on fire.

but despite all of it—the chaos, the exhaustion, the relentless teasing—the ball was finally beginning to take shape. details were falling into place, confirmations were being made, and the days that once seemed endless were now hurtling towardss the event itself. there was still so much to do, but for the first time, it felt within reach. the halls of the campus were practically buzzing with anticipation, filled with the kind of excitement that only came around during events like this. everywhere you looked, people were either wrapped up in their own little worlds with their significant others or fluttering around in hopeful search of their soulmates, their eyes filled with that dreamy sort of longing. laughter echoed off the walls, whispered confessions were exchanged in corners, and the air itself seemed to hum with something light and intoxicating.

it was nauseating.

you rolled your eyes, a quiet scoff slipping past your lips as you adjusted the strap of your bag over your shoulder. the entire scene before you was so painfully cliché, it almost made your skin crawl. and yet, despite the irritation bristling at the back of your mind, there was something else beneath it—something quiet, something you didn’t want to name. a strange unease settled in the pit of your stomach, an odd sort of weight pressing against your chest.

but like always, you ignored it.

beside you, taehyun walked with easy strides, hands tucked into his pockets, the usual self-assured air about him. today, the two of you were heading out to check on the venue for the winter masquerade ball, making sure the decorations were all set and that everything was coming together smoothly. with only a few days left before the event, the pressure was starting to settle in, but for now, you were stuck navigating through the suffocating atmosphere of romance filling the campus.

taehyun, ever perceptive, caught the eye roll almost instantly.

"oh? what’s this?" his voice was dripping with amusement, and when you turned to look at him, he was already wearing that insufferably smug smirk. "jealous, aren’t we?"

your head snapped towardss him, shooting him a glare sharp enough to cut through steel. "excuse me?"

taehyun only laughed, clearly enjoying this far too much. "come on, it’s okay to admit it. all these happy couples, all these people finding their soulmates just in time for the ball—" he gestured lazily at the scene around you. "i get it. it must be hard, watching all this when you’re still so tragically alone."

your lips parted, utterly scandalized. "i am not—" you sucked in a breath, fingers curling into your sleeves as you struggled to find a proper retort. "oh, shut up. just because you have nothing better to do than pester me doesn’t mean you get to act like you’re above all of this."

he hummed thoughtfully, tilting his head as if he was actually considering your words. then, with a completely straight face, he replied, "oh, but i am above all of this."

you groaned, throwing your hands up in exasperation as you quickened your pace, determined to put some distance between yourself and his insufferable teasing. but, as always, he was right there beside you, matching your steps with ease, his laughter trailing behind him like an echo.

the crisp winter air greeted you the moment you stepped outside, biting at the exposed skin of your cheeks despite the layers of warmth wrapped around you. the sun hung low in the sky, its golden light diffused by thin clouds, casting long, spindly shadows across the pavement like delicate cracks in ice. you barely spared a thought for the route ahead, already expecting taehyun to lead the way towardss the bus station, except, when you glanced over, he was walking in an entirely different direction, his strides unbothered, as if this was the plan all along.

your steps faltered, boots scuffing against the pavement as you abruptly came to a halt, brows knitting together in confusion. your gaze followed his path, trailing after him as he moved further and further away from the usual route. "...where are you going?" you called out, your voice carrying across the quiet afternoon air, laced with equal parts bewilderment and suspicion.

"to the venue."

his response was casual, so effortlessly nonchalant that for a brief second, you thought you had misheard him. but he didn’t stop walking. he didn’t even bother to glance back at you, hands shoved into his pockets as he strode ahead with unwavering confidence.

you blinked. once. twice. then, as if compelled by some cruel force, you turned your head slightly, following the path of his footsteps until—

your stomach plummeted.

there, parked neatly along the sidewalk, was a row of bicycles, their metal frames gleaming coldly beneath the pale winter sun. they stood like silent witnesses to your impending doom, completely harmless to anyone else—but to you, they may as well have been a death sentence.

"you're joking," you deadpanned, your voice void of any amusement, the words falling from your lips like lead.

finally, taehyun turned his head just enough to flash you a slow, lazy grin, the kind that sent warning bells clanging in your head. "nope."

"you're going the wrong way," "nope," a sharp huff of disbelief escaped you, frustration curling in your chest as you hastened your steps to catch up with him. "taehyun," you said, his name leaving your lips like a warning, like a thread pulled taut. "the station’s that way." with a swift movement, you jabbed a gloved finger behind you, pointing at the correct direction as if he had somehow forgotten the most basic detail of your usual routine.

but taehyun didn’t so much as falter. instead, he merely hummed, finally coming to a stop beside the bicycles, his movements as fluid as ever as he bent down, fingers deftly unfastening one of the helmets before straightening back up. "and the buses during noon are either overflowing with people or completely nonexistent," he countered smoothly, his voice carrying that infuriating ease that told you he had already thought this through. "so, unless you’d rather stand around for an hour getting elbowed and shoved by strangers, we’re going by bike."

your breath caught in your throat.

by bike.as in, you would have to sit behind him. on the same seat. with your hands gripping onto him for balance. close. too close.

panic flared within you like a sudden spark, igniting a wildfire of dread that spread rapidly through your veins. this was bad. this was very, very bad.

your fingers curled at your sides, tightening into fists as you scrambled for an excuse, anything that would get you out of this. "absolutely not," you blurted out, the words spilling out in an instant, rushed and firm. "there is no way i’m getting on that thing."

taehyun finally turned to you fully, one brow arching in that insufferable way that made your blood simmer with irritation. "oh?" he drawled, tilting his head slightly, his lips twitching at the corners as if barely restraining a smirk. "what, scared you'll fall?"

"no!" you snapped, far too quickly, far too defensive.

his smirk widened, amusement twinkling in his dark eyes like a cat who had cornered its prey. "then what's the problem?"

you opened your mouth, ready to throw back a sharp retort, ready to argue—but nothing came out. because you had no real excuse. not one that you could say aloud, at least.

because what were you supposed to tell him? that if you got too close, if your fingers so much as brushed against his skin, the hydrangea might bloom? that if he saw it, if he noticed, he would know?

taehyun, of course, was not one to back down so easily. he tapped his fingers against the bicycle’s handlebars, pretending to contemplate something, his expression exaggeratedly thoughtful. "hmm," he mused aloud, his tone light, almost playful. "well, if i go by myself, i’ll just have to check on the decor alone." taehyun sighed dramatically, shaking his head as if the very thought was exhausting. "and you know what that means. one second, the decorations are fine, the next, they’re a complete disaster. bows tied the wrong way, color schemes clashing, centerpieces all tilted and uneven—" your eye twitched violently.

"you're doing this on purpose," you accused, voice tight, heat creeping into your tone as frustration bubbled dangerously close to the surface.

"i have no idea what you’re talking about."

your teeth clenched.

you inhaled sharply, a single, measured breath, before exhaling just as forcefully. then, with a muttered curse under your breath, you ripped the helmet from his hands, yanking it onto your head with far more aggression than necessary. the strap snapped against your chin, stinging slightly, but you ignored it, too preoccupied with the simmering frustration roiling in your chest.

taehyun simply grinned, utterly unfazed by your obvious annoyance, and with an easy flick of his wrist, he patted the seat behind him before nudging his chin towardss it. “alright, hop on.” your entire body refused to move.

standing there, feet rooted firmly to the ground, you stared at the bicycle as if it were some kind of trap, a snare carefully laid out just for you. your fingers twitched slightly at your sides, curling inward, heart drumming steadily against your ribs as your mind whirred through all the possible ways this could go wrong.

if you got on, you wouldn’t be able to avoid touching him—not entirely. even the smallest brush of your skin against his, even the briefest moment of contact, could be enough. and if it bloomed, if the petals unfurled along your wrist, or worse, his—

you swallowed hard.

the helmet suddenly felt suffocating, its strap pressing against your chin as if trying to ground you, trying to force you into action. but you hesitated, standing frozen on the pavement, unable to shake off the overwhelming weight of uncertainty pressing down on you. taehyun notices. “what? don’t tell me you’re scared now,” he drawled, amusement still evident in his voice, but there was a flicker of something else in his expression—curiosity, maybe, or just the simple act of waiting.

you scowled, snapping yourself out of your daze with a sharp inhale through your nose. you couldn’t stand here forever.

gathering whatever was left of your resolve, you stepped forward, moving stiffly as you approached the bicycle. your movements felt painfully deliberate, like you were walking straight towardss a decision you couldn’t take back. then, with a slow, reluctant motion, you lifted your leg over the seat, settling yourself behind taehyun, barely touching him.

your hands hovered uncertainly in the air, fingers twitching slightly as you debated where to place them. his shoulders? his waist? no. definitely not his waist. the thought alone sent a rush of warmth up your cheeks.

finally, hesitantly, you let your hands rest lightly on his shoulders, barely applying any pressure, as if keeping yourself from pressing too close would somehow change anything.

taehyun must have felt your hesitance, because he turned his head slightly, a knowing grin tugging at his lips. “you’re gonna fall off if you sit like that,” he remarked, his voice laced with something dangerously close to amusement.

“i’m fine.”

“mhm. sure.” he didn’t sound convinced.

then, without warning, he pushed off the ground with an effortless ease, his foot pressing against the pavement before the bike lurched forward.

the sudden movement sent a sharp jolt through your entire body, a startled gasp slipping past your lips before you could swallow it down. the world tilted for a split second, the ground beneath you no longer stable, no longer unmoving, and the realization crashed over you all at once—you were on a bike, with taehyun, and you were moving. Fast.

your fingers curled around his shoulders, grip tightening instinctively, and for a brief, terrifying second, you thought you felt something stir beneath your sleeve—a faint, barely-there sensation, like a whisper against your skin. but before panic could sink its claws into you, taehyun’s voice broke through the moment. "relax," he mused, his voice carrying that ever-present amusement, like he was thoroughly enjoying your distress. "hold on tight, yeah? don’t want you flying off."

your head snapped up, indignation flaring in your chest as you gritted your teeth. "don’t move so fast, idiot! you’re gonna kill us both!"

but taehyun only laughed, the sound warm and unbothered, like the very thought of crashing was so far-fetched that it didn’t even deserve consideration. the bike swayed slightly as he shifted his weight, adjusting the pedals with a practiced ease, and your breath hitched, grip tightening further.

"oh, come on," he sighed dramatically, though there was no mistaking the grin in his voice. "have a little faith, will you?"

you squeezed your eyes shut for a brief second, inhaling sharply as you willed your nerves to settle. the cold air whipped past your face, stinging against your skin, but that was the least of your worries right now, no, what truly had your heart in a vice grip was the fact that you were still on his stupid bike, still pressed far too close to taehyun, still painfully aware of every little movement he made.

you prayed silently, desperately to whoever was out there listening that you wouldn’t fall off to your untimely demise, that you wouldn’t end up sprawled across the pavement in a tangled heap of limbs and regret. but, more than anything, you prayed that your skin wouldn’t touch his. not even for a second. not even the faintest brush.

your hands remained stiff where they rested on his shoulders, fingers curled awkwardly, hovering more than gripping, as if maintaining even the smallest gap would somehow be enough to stop the inevitable. it was ridiculous. stupid, even. and yet, you couldn’t shake the fear that if your wrists so much as grazed against him, the delicate petals of a hydrangea might bloom in betrayal.

taehyun, of course, was completely unaware of your silent internal crisis. if anything, he seemed to be enjoying himself, weaving through the streets with an effortless ease, as if he wasn’t carrying the weight of someone actively trying not to touch him. the bike glided smoothly along the pavement, tires humming against the road, and despite the sheer panic buzzing in your chest, you had to admit—he was good at this. confident. steady. in control.

not that you would ever tell him that.

“you’re awfully quiet back there,” taehyun noted after a moment, his voice laced with amusement. "don't tell me you're actually scared."

you scowled, even though he couldn’t see it. “i'm not scared,” you muttered through gritted teeth.

"right," he drawled, clearly unconvinced. "is that why you’re holding onto me like i’m your last hope for survival?"

your cheeks burned. "i’m most definitely not—"

before you could finish, he suddenly shifted his weight again, making a sharp but controlled turn onto a smaller road, and you barely swallowed down a yelp, fingers tightening against his shoulders by instinct.

taehyun laughed, a full, delighted laugh that rang through the air like a bell. "see? told you to hold on tight."

if the threat of a hydrangea blooming on either of your wrists wasn’t dangling over you like a guillotine—if it wouldn’t immediately make it known to taehyun that you were soulmates—you would have already smacked him straight to the ends of the earth without hesitation.

but, as it stood, you could only grit your teeth and endure, willing yourself to focus on anything else, anything other than the warmth radiating from where your fingers clutched his shoulders, anything other than the way his laughter curled around you like an infuriatingly bright ribbon. thankfully, after what felt like an eternity of praying, of resisting the urge to strangle him, of cursing whoever decided bikes were a viable mode of transportation, the venue finally came into view.

and it was… perfect.

even from the outside, the building exudes elegance, standing tall with its grand, arched windows and smooth stone façade. the entrance is framed by a set of wide, ornate double doors, the deep mahogany polished to a gleam, reflecting the soft, winter light. despite the season, the space feels warm and inviting, as if it had been plucked straight out of a fairy tale and placed in the heart of the city.

the mere thought of the upcoming event—the swirling gowns, the mystery of masked faces, the way the night will undoubtedly hold something unforeseen—sends a strange sensation curling in your chest. something close to anticipation, but not quite.

you quickly shove the feeling aside, choosing instead to focus on the fact that you have, miraculously, survived the journey in one piece.

taehyun rolls the bike to a stop just outside the entrance, planting his foot down to steady you both before tilting his head back slightly. "see?" he hums, the smugness practically dripping from his voice. "told you i'd get us here alive."

you roll your eyes, exhaling sharply as you finally hop off his godforsaken bike, your legs feeling slightly wobbly beneath you. stretching your arms over your head, you try to shake off the lingering tension, as if that might somehow erase the memory of the past ten minutes clinging onto taehyun for dear life.

taehyun, of course, was completely unaffected, effortlessly swinging his leg over and parking the bike right near the entrance. you followed suit, brushing your hands against your coat, as if smoothing out invisible creases, before the two of you step forward, pushing through the grand double doors and into the venue.

and the minute you do, it's… everything. you step further into the ballroom, your gaze sweeping across the breathtaking transformation before you. for a moment, you allow yourself to take it all in—the warm, golden light filtering through the chandeliers, the way the sheer, icy-blue drapes cascade from the walls like frozen waterfalls, the way the entire space shimmers with an almost dreamlike quality.

it feels unreal. after all the planning, the endless meetings, the stress and exhaustion of making sure everything fell into place… it’s finally here. almost.

taehyun lets out a low whistle beside you, shoving his hands into his pockets as he surveys the room. “not bad,” he muses, tilting his head. “almost looks too good, actually. like if someone breathes wrong, the whole thing will fall apart.”

you scoff, “let’s hope that doesn’t happen, then.”

as if summoned by your words, one of the hired decorators suddenly calls out, struggling with a particularly stubborn garland that refuses to stay in place. without hesitation, taehyun strides over, sleeves rolling up as he offers a hand, his sharp eyes quickly assessing the situation. you follow, stepping in to adjust a centerpiece that’s slightly off-center, making sure every little detail is aligned to perfection.

but as you reach for the delicate arrangement, your gloves—thick and slightly cumbersome from the cold—made it difficult to adjust the smaller details. you hesitate, glancing down at your hands before exhaling softly. with a swift motion, you tug them off, tucking them into your coat pocket. bare fingers now meeting the cool surface of the table, you press forward, ensuring everything was as precise as possible.

it took a while, moving from one area to another, helping the staff tweak small things here and there—fixing a misplaced bow, adjusting the arrangement of fairy lights along the balcony railing, making sure the candles in the lanterns were evenly spaced. the chill in the air bites at your exposed skin, but you barely register it, too focused on making sure everything is just right.

but then, just as you’re adjusting the placement of one of the floral centerpieces, your fingers freeze mid-motion.

blue hydrangeas.among the delicate clusters of winter roses and baby’s breath, the soft, cerulean petals stand out like tiny fragments of the sky, woven seamlessly into the arrangements, as if they belonged there all along.

your heart stutters.

you turn to taehyun, pointing at the flowers, your voice carefully neutral. “since when were these part of the arrangement?”

he follows your gaze, eyes landing on the hydrangeas, before he shrugs with an easy, unconcerned expression. “i don’t know. added them to the mix since i thought they’d look really pretty.”

you swallowed, shifting your weight from one foot to the other, fingers absently curling onto the fabric of your coat sleeve. they were just flowers. nothing more. just a simple, aesthetic choice. that’s all.

and yet, you couldn’t shake the feeling that the universe was laughing at you.

at one point, you found yourself untangling a mess of fairy lights that had somehow gotten knotted beyond reason. your fingers worked through them carefully, but the knots were stubborn, refusing to budge no matter how gently you pried them apart. frustration bubbles up in your chest as you huff, brows furrowing in concentration.

and then, without warning, taehyun’s hands appear beside yours.

your breath stills, body going rigid, heart lurching into your throat as his fingers slip effortlessly into the tangled mess. for one agonizing second, panic flares beneath your skin—what if you touch? what if, just for a moment, his fingertips graze yours? what if—

but before the thought can spiral any further, before disaster can strike, he’d already flicked his wrist, unraveling the last of the tangles with infuriating ease, his hands retreating just as quickly as they arrived. "you're too slow," taehyun teases, a smug grin tugging at his lips.

you exhale sharply, a breath you hadn’t realized you’d been holding, forcing yourself to relax as you straighten. you narrowed your eyes at him, trying to will away the lingering tension in your spine, but before you could snap back with something equally smug, he was already walking off, adjusting the final row of lanterns along the walls like nothing had happened. time slips by unnoticed as you both continue, making minor adjustments, ensuring that every single detail was as perfect as it could be. and when you finally step back, surveying the entirety of the ballroom, it hits you—this is it. it was done.

everything was set.

with a slow, satisfied exhale, you turned to taehyun, who stood a few feet away, hands on his hips as he scanned the space with an approving nod. "not bad," he mutters, more to himself than to you.

"not bad?" you echo, raising a brow. "try amazing."

taehyun chuckles, shaking his head before motioning towardss the stage. "c’mon, let’s sit for a bit before heading back. i think we earned it."

you don’t argue, your feet already aching from standing for so long. together, the two of you made your way towardss the stage, slipping past the elegant centerpieces and rows of carefully arranged chairs. as soon as you reach the steps leading up to the platform, you drop down onto the edge of it, stretching your legs out with a quiet sigh. for a moment, neither of you spoke, simply taking in the sight before you. the ballroom, once a hollow, undecorated space, now glows under the golden hue of the chandeliers, the candlelight flickering against the polished floors, the sheer drapery billowing gently with the faintest movement of air. the hydrangeas—those damned, perfectly arranged hydrangeas—stood out among the floral displays, their deep blue petals catching the light in a way that made them look almost otherworldly.

it was beautiful. truly.

and yet, as your eyes flicker to taehyun, who sits beside you on the stage steps, you find the weight of his gaze is already on you.

your breath catches in your throat.

his eyes held a certain softness to them, something quiet and knowing, as if he had been watching you for longer than you realized. it sends a strange, unwelcome warmth creeping up your neck, and before it can spread any further, you quickly tear your gaze away, looking straight ahead instead.

"the flowers," you murmur, forcing the words out before the silence stretches too long. "they're really pretty."

you didn’t look at him when you said it. you didn’t dare.

but taehyun, who kept his gaze trained on you, only smiles—slow and fond, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes.

"yeah," he says, his voice impossibly gentle. "really pretty indeed." the silence stretches between you again, heavier this time, though you refused to acknowledge it. you kept your gaze fixed ahead, determined to avoid taehyun’s eyes, pretending that the steady warmth of his presence beside you wasn’t throwing you off balance.

you shift slightly, putting a little more distance between you. it wasn’t much, but it was enough to make you feel like you could breathe properly again.

and then, taehyun spoke.

"say…" his voice was casual, almost too casual, but there was a lilt of something unreadable beneath it. "do you already have your date for the winter ball?"

your fingers, still idly toying with the edge of your sleeve, still at his words. you scoffed, more out of reflex than anything, before rolling your shoulders in an attempt to feign nonchalance. "i’ll be too busy," you say, as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. "you know, making sure everything goes smoothly. unlike you, who’ll probably spend the whole night slacking off."

taehyun huffs out a laugh, shaking his head. "still have no faith in me?" he says, placing a dramatic hand over his chest. "and here i was, thinking you’d at least take a break to enjoy the night."

"not happening."

"oh, come on," he drawls, nudging your arm with his elbow. "you mean to tell me that out of everyone in the entire school, no one's lined up to ask the vice president to be their date?"

"i don’t know, kang," you deadpan, finally glancing at him, only to be met with his smug little smirk. "why don’t you take a wild guess?"

his smirk deepens, a flash of white against the dim glow of the fairy lights. “ouch,” taehyun drawls, tilting his head slightly as he watches you with playful intent. “so, what, are you just gonna spend the whole night running around, making sure forks are perfectly aligned or something?”

you let out a huff, crossing your arms over your chest, trying to ignore the way his teasing lilt sends an unwelcome flutter through your stomach. “someone has to,” you counter, lifting your chin in defiance.

taehyun hums, a quiet sound that vibrates in the space between you, and for a moment, his gaze flickers—just for a fraction of a second, like he’s thinking about something, weighing his words before he speaks. and then, after a pause that stretches just long enough to make you shift uncomfortably, he says, voice smooth, casual, yet somehow deliberate.

“well, if you don’t have a date… then go with me.”

the world seems to tilt beneath you. your breath stills, caught somewhere between your lungs, your entire body locking into place as if you’ve been turned to stone. the words didn’t register at first—not fully, not properly—because there was no way he just said that.

but then, taehyun’s eyes were on you, unwavering, unreadable, and suddenly, it was real.

your head snaps towardss him so fast that your vision blurs for a second, a sharp jolt running down your spine from the sheer force of your reaction. “what?”

taehyun doesn’t laugh. he doesn’t smirk, doesn’t follow it up with some teasing remark like you expected him to. instead, he just looks at you, gaze steady, unwavering. there was something different in his expression—something softer, something that sent your heartbeat into an erratic, stuttering rhythm that you couldn’t seem to control.

he tilts his head slightly, brows lifting in the faintest hint of amusement, but his voice remains even, genuine, when he repeats, “be my date for the winter ball.”

and that’s when it truly sinks in.

taehyun wasn’t joking.

he wasn’t messing with you, not throwing out an empty invitation just to get a reaction out of you. he was asking—really asking.

your pulse pounds so loudly in your ears that you almost missed the way his fingers tapped idly against his knee, the only sign that he might not be as unaffected as he looked.

you stare at him, mouth opening, then closing, then opening again, but no sound comes out. your brain was short-circuiting, struggling to process this new reality, to make sense of the fact that kang taehyun—the sharp-witted, ever-teasing, infuriatingly smug student council president—just asked you to be his date.

and what’s worse was he was still looking at you like he was waiting for an answer. your throat feels dry as you blinked rapidly, the weight of his words settling over you like a thick, suffocating fog. you struggle to find your voice, to piece together a response that doesn’t make you sound completely and utterly unhinged, but all that comes out is a broken, stuttering—

“w-why are you asking me?”

taehyun stiffened, just slightly.

it was barely noticeable; the way his shoulders tensed for half a second before he exhales slowly, as if trying to compose himself. and then, just like that, the boy in front of you suddenly wasn’t quite as composed as before.

he clears his throat, glancing away for a moment, his fingers absently picking at an invisible thread on his sleeve. “well,” he starts, voice a little quieter now, a little less teasing. “i just thought… i mean, you’re always so busy with everything—running around, making sure everything is perfect, taking care of things no one even notices..”

taehyun pauses, pressing his lips together as if debating whether to continue, but then he sighs and pushes forward, gaze flickering back to you.

“i guess i just wanted you to have a reason to enjoy it, too. with me.”

his words hung between you, soft yet unbearably heavy. and maybe it’s the way he says it, so matter-of-factly, like it was the most natural thing in the world—like it was obvious, like it was something he’s thought about before.

maybe that was what left you speechless.

your lips part before you could stop them, the words slipping past your tongue in a breath, barely louder than a whisper—fragile, uncertain, like a secret not meant to be spoken aloud.

"that’s it..?"

the moment they left your mouth, you realized your mistake. taehyun stilled.

it was subtle at first, just a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes, a split-second shift in his posture, the faintest tension in his shoulders. but then the silence swells, thick and suffocating, pressing against your lungs like a weight you couldn’t shake off. your own breath falters, hitching ever so slightly, and you swore you could hear the soft, sharp inhale taehyun took in response.

he didn’t expect that.

and neither did you.

and you didn’t know what was worse—the fact that you let it slip or the fact that taehyun seems so thrown off by it.

his fingers twitched at his sides, just the barest movement, but you noticed. you noticed the way his lips parted slightly, as if he had something to say, only to press them together again, hesitation flickering behind his sharp gaze.

then, finally—

"do you really want me to say it?"

taehyun’s voice was softer this time, lower, laced with something heavier, something cautious, yet impossibly steady. his gaze never wavers, eyes locked onto yours with an intensity that sent a sharp jolt down your spine.

you didn’t realize you’ve stopped breathing until the air rushes back into your lungs all at once, too fast, too sharp. because he was close again, too close, and the space between you felt thinner than paper, more fragile than glass.

and as if the moment wasn’t already dangerous enough, he leaned in. not much, just a fraction, just enough to make the air around you shift, just enough that you could feel the heat radiating off his skin, just enough that you panic.

you shifted back almost instantly, pressing yourself further against the stage as if it’ll somehow create more distance, more space, more room to breathe. but all it did was make your flustered state even more obvious, the warmth on your cheeks burning deeper, spreading to the tips of your ears.

taehyun notices.

his eyes flicker, his lips twitch, and for the briefest moment, he almost looks amused—like he caught onto something, like he learned something. but there was something else beneath it, something more hesitant, more careful, as if he was testing the waters, as if he was waiting for you to stop him.

"do you really want to know why i asked you?"taehyun’s voice was impossibly softer, if that was even possible, barely above a whisper, yet it crashes into you like a tidal wave. your stomach twists, your hands curling into the fabric of your coat, as if that might somehow ground you, as if that might keep you from spiraling any further into whatever this is.

the space between you grew smaller, inch by inch, breath by breath. it was agonizingly slow, deliberate in a way that made your pulse pound against your ribs, making your breath hitch at the back of your throat. he wasn’t just leaning in, he was watching you—taking in every flicker of emotion that crossed your face, every shallow inhale, every unspoken thought that lingered in the air between you. you couldn’t do this.

the weight of his gaze, the closeness, the way his voice curled around the edges of something unspoken—it was too much. your breath was coming in short, uneven bursts now, your heartbeat hammering loudly in your ears, and you know, you know, if you stayed here any longer, if you let him get any closer, you were going to fall into something you wouldn't be able to climb back out of. so you move.

your legs pushed you up before you could think twice, a desperate attempt to escape the heavy pull of his presence. but you barely take a step before—

warm hands hold around your wrists. your world tilts.

not in the way it had earlier, when taehyun had sent his bike into motion and nearly launched you both into the afterlife, but in a way that felt heavier, deeper—like the very foundation of your understanding has cracked beneath your feet, sending you spiraling into something you weren’t prepared for.

because there, just above the place where his fingers wrap around your wrist, something was blooming.

not metaphorically, not in some abstract, romantic sense, but literally.

soft blue petals unfurled against your skin like a whisper, delicate yet impossibly real. a hydrangea, its blue hue rich and vibrant, appearing right where his touch lingered, as if drawn forth by the warmth of his hand against your bare wrist.

and before you could even comprehend it, before the weight of what’s happening can fully settle, you see it—

another one.

on his wrist.

a mirror to yours.

your breath stutters.

a sharp, unsteady inhale rushes through your lungs, but the air felt thick, too thick, like the moment itself was pressing down on you, sinking into your bones, refusing to be ignored. you couldn't move. couldn't breathe. couldn't  think. the world has shrunk down to this single, impossible reality, this moment suspended in time where nothing existed but this.

taehyun sucks in a breath.

his grip on you falters, just slightly, but it was enough. enough to tell you that he was feeling it too—the way the air has shifted, the way the ground no longer felt steady beneath your feet. and when you forced yourself to look at him, to really look at him, what you saw made your stomach twist.

he was frozen.

taehyun, who always had something to say, who teased and taunted and never hesitated to throw a playful jab, was speechless.

his eyes were wide, dark pupils blown with something unreadable, something teetering between disbelief and sheer, undiluted shock. his lips parted, then pressed together again, as if he was trying to find the right words but coming up completely empty.

he blinked once.

twice.

then, slowly, almost hesitantly, his gaze dropped back down—to where his hand still holds your wrist, then to where the hydrangea had bloomed against his skin.

the proof.

the impossible, undeniable proof.

you didn’t know how long you both stood there like that, suspended in the moment, locked in place by something you didn’t yet have the words for. the silence between you was deafening, thick and weighted, pulsing with something neither of you know how to name.

“what…” taehyun’s voice finally comes, but it was quiet. too quiet. fragile.

“what just—”

but he didn’t finish. didn’t have to. because the answer was right there, imprinted against your wrists, marking you both in a way that cannot be ignored. “you’re my soulmate?”you couldn’t speak.

you couldn’t reply.

you couldn't do anything.

the weight of reality crashes down on you with an intensity that made your head spin, your breath hitching painfully in your throat. the room suddenly felt much too small, the air thick and unsteady, pressing in from all sides as if the universe itself was forcing you to acknowledge the truth—the truth that had been lingering just beneath the surface for weeks, waiting, biding its time, until this exact moment. until now.

taehyun knows.

he finally knows.

and you didn’t know what was worse—the fact that you kept it from him, or the fact that deep down, a part of you had always known this moment would come. you had feared it, dreaded it, had told yourself over and over again that you were prepared for it, that you had built up enough walls to keep yourself safe when the inevitable finally arrived. but standing here now, under the weight of his gaze, you realize you weren’t prepared at all. your body refused to move. your fingers, still curled slightly from where they had almost—almost—reached back for him, felt like they were frozen in place, caught between instinct and hesitation. the silence between you was so thick, so deafening, it drowned out every other sound in the room, leaving only the frantic pounding of your own heartbeat, a desperate, uneven rhythm that betrays every attempt at composure.

taehyun was just as still, just as caught in the moment as you were. his expression was unreadable, his lips parted slightly as if he wants to say something but doesn’t know where to start. his gaze flickers down to his wrist, his breath visibly hitching when he takes in the intricate petals of the blue hydrangea, now settled against his skin like an unspoken truth that neither of you can deny. his fingers twitch once, twice, as though testing to see if the mark is real, as though part of him is still grappling with the weight of what this meant.

it was real.

it had always been real.

finally, after what felt like a lifetime, taehyun spoke.

“did you know?”

his voice was barely above a whisper, each syllable laced with a quiet, underlying emotion that you couldn’t quite place. there was no anger, no accusation, nothing sharp or cutting—only something softer, something careful, something almost hesitant. it was a question, but more than that, a plea, a desperate attempt to bridge the gap between you, to make sense of the revelation that had just unraveled before him.

but still, you said nothing.

your throat was dry, your mouth refusing to form the words that sat heavy on your tongue. your breath came in shallow, uneven exhales, your fingers on your other hand curling into the fabric of your sleeve as if that alone might keep you from falling apart.

and that silence—your silence—was all he needed to know. taehyun exhales, the sound slow and measured, but you saw the way his jaw tightens, the way his fingers pressed onto your skin before uncurling again, the way his entire posture shifted ever so slightly as realization settled deep into his bones. his face remained composed, but his eyes—his eyes that have always been so sharp, so piercing, so impossibly hard to fool—betrayed him entirely.

“why…” his voice faltered, catching slightly before he swallowed and tried again, this time more resolute, more certain. “why didn’t you tell me?”

taehyun took a single step forward, slow, hesitant, and careful in a way that made your stomach twist with unease. it was as if he was afraid that any sudden movement would send you running, as if he was walking on fragile ground, unsure of what might shatter beneath him.

you felt your breath catch, the air between you growing heavier, charged with an intensity that made it impossible to look away.

“how long have you known?”

your hands trembled, the weight of his words pressing down on you like a force you couldn't  escape. you swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in your throat, willing yourself to find your voice, to say something, anything.

“i…” the word barely made it past your lips before you had to clear your throat, forcing yourself to steady the shake in your voice. “since about… two weeks ago…”

taehyun breathed in sharply, his expression flickering with something you couldn’t figure out, something shifting, something unraveling. you watched as his gaze drops slightly, as though he was replaying every moment, every conversation, every fleeting glance from the past two weeks with a new understanding.

and then he laughs.

soft, breathless, light as air.

not in mockery, not in disbelief, not with amusement, but something else entirely.

relief.

taehyun’s shoulders eased, his posture relaxing just slightly as the realization settled deep within him. he lifted his free hand, pushing back the hair that had fallen into his eyes, before shaking his head with a quiet chuckle.

“i knew it,” he murmured, more to himself than to you, as if the words had been lingering in the back of his mind all this time, just waiting to be spoken. “so this was why… why i’ve always felt this… pull towardss you… no matter how much you tried to push me away.”

his voice was filled with certainty, with something raw, something so achingly sincere that it makes your breath stutter in your chest.

because you know exactly what he meant.

that pull.

the way your eyes always found him in a crowded room, the way his voice had always cut through the noise, the way his laughter had always settled so easily in the spaces between you. the way his presence had always been something you could never quite shake, no matter how much you tried to ignore it and tell yourself that you hated it.

and now you both know why.

taehyun takes another step forward, closer this time, close enough that the warmth of his presence began to seep into your skin, making your pulse pound against your chest.

his hand lifts, his fingers brushing against your other one, just barely, just enough to send a spark of warmth racing up your arm. it was the softest touch, barely there, but it made your entire body go still.

he hesitated for only a moment before fully taking your hand in his.

you inhaled sharply.

his grip was firm but gentle, steady but careful, like he was afraid of pushing too far, like he was still waiting for you to pull away. his thumb brushes against the side of your palm, the warmth of his skin bleeding into yours, grounding you, anchoring you to the moment.

“you feel it too, right?”

your lips part, the answer right there, right at the tip of your tongue, so close you can taste it.

but then—

panic.

it surged through your veins like wildfire, swallowing you whole before you could stop it, before you could even try to fight against it. your chest tightened, breath shallow and uneven, and for a split second, the weight of taehyun’s touch—the warmth of his fingers wrapped gently around you—became unbearable. because if you admit it—if you said it aloud, if you give in, if you let yourself fall—there would be no turning back.

no running.

no pretending.

no more hiding behind the walls you spent so long building.

your fingers twitched, your entire body tensing as if preparing to flee even before your mind could catch up. taehyun’s presence was everywhere—his touch, his gaze, the quiet steadiness of his breath filling the space between you. it was overwhelming, suffocating in a way that had nothing to do with discomfort and everything to do with fear.

so you do the only thing you know how to do.

you yanked yourself away. the movement was so sudden, so desperate, that taehyun barely had time to react before you were stumbling back, ripping yourself from the warmth of his grasp as though it burnt. his hands slipped away from yours, the loss of contact immediate, startling, like stepping into the cold after being wrapped in the sun’s embrace. but the absence wasn’t just physical—it was something deeper, something that lingered in the air between you like a wound torn open too soon.

taehyun didn’t move.

his brows furrowed, the lines of his face tightening, a flicker of confusion passing through his wide, searching eyes. his mouth parted slightly, as if he was about to say something—to ask, to reach, to hold—but you didn't give him the chance.

you didn’t even give yourself the chance to think.

you turned.

your breath hitches, your pulse roaring in your ears as your legs move on instinct, on impulse, on fear.

and then you ran.

you didn’t stop, didn’t look back, didn’t let yourself process the way your vision blurs at the edges or the way your heartbeat pounded against your chest, each thud a deafening reminder of what you’ve just done. your limbs felt weightless yet heavy all at once, like you were floating through a dream you desperately wished to wake up from. your hands tremble at your sides, curled into fists so tight that your nails bite into your palms, a feeble attempt to anchor yourself, to ground yourself against the storm raging inside you.

but there was no grounding yourself from this.

there was no outrunning the way your soul ached, the way something inside you screamed at you to stop, to turn back, to look at him just once, just for a second.

but you couldn’t.

not when his words still echoed in your mind, wrapping around your thoughts and pressing against your lungs. you feel it too, right?

not when the memory of his laughter still lingered, warm and full of relief, the sound of someone who had just found something they had spent their whole life searching for.

not when you know—when you know—that if you let yourself turn back now, you will never have the strength to leave again.

so you kept going. you push past the door, your movements frantic, your breath coming out in broken, uneven exhales as you slipped away, disappearing into the night like a shadow retreating from the light.

and taehyun?

taehyun just stood there.

his hands were still outstretched, fingers curled ever so slightly, as if still reaching for something—someone—who was no longer there. his expression was blank, his chest rising and falling with steady, measured breaths, but his eyes—his impossibly expressive eyes—were frozen in place, locked onto the spot where you stood only moments before.

and yet, despite the stillness, despite the quiet composure he had always carried so effortlessly, taehyun looked shattered. ꒰💐꒱ the night felt endless. you lay in bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, but sleep refused to come. the weight of your actions, of everything that had unfolded just hours ago, sat heavy on your chest, pressing down like an unbearable force. you tried to shut your eyes, tried to will yourself into oblivion, but every time you did, you saw him—saw the look on his face when he realized, saw the way eyes brightened like never before.

taehyun was happy. no, he was ecstatic.

you could still hear his laugh, that breathless, wondrous kind, like the world had just revealed its greatest secret to him. i knew it… he said, voice laced with something so soft, so full of relief, as if everything in his life had suddenly fallen into place. you had never seen him like that before—never seen kang taehyun, with all his sharp wit and unwavering confidence, look so utterly and completely at peace.

and then. and then you ripped it all away.

the moment your hands had left his, the moment your body turned, his joy had shattered. you had felt it, even with your back to him, even as you pushed past the door, as you fled like a coward. you had felt the shift in the air, the quiet devastation settling in behind you.

now, as you lay in the suffocating silence of your room, you wondered if taehyun was still standing there, staring at the empty space where you had been. wondered if he was replaying everything in his mind the way you were, trying to make sense of it, trying to understand why—why—you ran.

you squeezed your eyes shut, but it didn’t help. the memory of his expression—the way his brows drew together, the way his mouth parted just slightly in stunned disbelief—burned behind your eyelids.

the ache in your chest only grew heavier, sinking deep into your bones like a weight you couldn’t shake off. it was unbearable—this gnawing, twisting feeling of guilt, regret, and something else, something even more terrifying.

because it wasn’t just taehyun’s expression that haunted you. it wasn’t just the way his joy crumbled into confusion, into hurt, into quiet devastation—it was the way he had reached for you, the way his fingers had brushed against yours so gently, so tentatively, as if he was afraid you might disappear if he held on too tightly. and in the end, you did.

you saw the light in his eyes, the unguarded, unfiltered joy written all over his face, and you destroyed it.

a strangled breath left your lips as you curled in on yourself, pressing your hands against your chest as if that could somehow hold everything in, as if that could stop your heart from unraveling at the seams. the past few weeks—every moment, every lingering glance, every teasing remark that had felt just a little too soft—they all came crashing down on you at once, suffocating in their intensity. and morning arrived too soon.

no matter how tightly you curled into yourself, no matter how desperately you tried to will the world away, time didn’t stop for you. it marched forward, indifferent to the storm that raged inside you throughout the night.

you didn’t sleep a wink—you simply drifted, slipped in and out of restless, fragmented dreams, only to jolt awake each time with his voice echoing in your head, with the memory of his warmth ghosting over your skin. you turned onto your side, onto your back, onto your stomach, but no position, no adjustment, no desperate attempt to push the thoughts away helped.

so when your alarm finally rang, shrill and unforgiving in the silence of your room, you had no choice but to face the day.

your limbs felt heavy as you dragged yourself out of bed, exhaustion pressing down on you like a weight. the mirror was unkind, reflecting back dark circles beneath your eyes, the dullness in your gaze, the exhaustion carved into every line of your face. you moved through the motions of getting ready on autopilot—washing up, dressing, gathering your things—but the entire time, your mind remained stuck on one single, inescapable fact.

you would see him today.

you would step into the council room, and taehyun would be there. and you had no idea what would be waiting for you on the other side of that door.

was he angry? hurt? indifferent? did he spend the night thinking about it, just as you did? had he regretted it?

or worse, did he realize that maybe, maybe this whole thing had been a mistake?

your thoughts clung to you as you made your way to school, each step feeling heavier than the last. the usual morning sounds—the chatter of students, the rustling of papers, the distant ringing of a bell—faded into background noise as you moved through the halls, your heart hammering with each step that brought you closer to the council room.

and then you stepped inside.

you barely had time to take in the familiar sight of scattered documents, opened planners, and the faint scent of coffee before your eyes landed on him.

taehyun.

and he… he looked hollow.

the sight nearly knocked the breath out of you.

gone was the sharp glint in his eyes, the ever-present amusement, the effortless ease he carried himself with. instead, his features were dull, tired—shoulders slumped, gaze distant as he stared down at the papers in front of him, pen loosely gripped in his hand.

the weight in your chest only grew heavier as you hesitantly stepped further into the room, the familiar scrape of the chair against the floor sounding much louder than it should have in the suffocating silence. you lowered yourself into your usual seat, forcing yourself to settle, to breathe, to act as if everything was fine.

but nothing was.

because taehyun didn’t even look at you.

not a glance. not a teasing remark. not even the usual exasperated sigh when you made a little too much noise pulling out your notes. nothing. he simply remained as he was, unmoving, his gaze still fixed on the papers before him as if they held the answers to something greater, something deeper, something that could explain why.

and the absence of his attention, of his presence, of him—stung far more than you ever anticipated.

you swallowed hard, fingers curling into your lap, nails pressing into your palms as you willed yourself to keep your expression neutral, to not let the weight of your own guilt show. but the silence stretched, pressing down on you like a vice, wrapping itself around your throat until you thought you might suffocate under it—

“what’s with you two?”

the voice cut through the tension like a blade, startling you from your spiraling thoughts.

beomgyu.

you turned your head just slightly, enough to see him watching the both of you with furrowed brows, arms crossed over his chest. his gaze flickered between you and taehyun, sharp, calculating, observant.

beside him, jiwon leaned back in his chair, one elbow propped on the table as he arched a brow. “yeah, seriously. it’s weird in here.” he gestured vaguely between the two of you, lips pulling into a frown. “you guys didn’t, like, mess up the decor together yesterday and made a pact of silence, right?”

you flinched.

taehyun didn’t even blink.

beomgyu’s frown deepened. “okay, what the hell. what is going on?”

you spoke—too forced, too strained. “nothing.”

“bullshit.”

jiwon scoffed, nudging beomgyu with his elbow. “look, man, maybe they’re just in a bad mood.”

beomgyu didn’t look convinced. but taehyun didn’t give him a chance to press further, because before beomgyu could open his mouth again, he quietly cleared his throat, finally shifting, finally moving—only to stand from his seat, pushing his chair back with slow, deliberate movements.

“i need some air,” taehyun muttered, and just like that, he walked out, and now it was your turn to be left dumbfounded and hurt.

the days leading up to the ball passed in a blur, but the weight in your chest remained the same. if anything, it only grew heavier, sinking deeper into your bones with each passing moment.

and throughout it all, taehyun didn’t speak to you. to anyone, rather.

he wasn’t gone, not physically—he was still here, still doing his work with the same meticulous precision, still showing up early, still staying late. but he was missing in a way that was impossible to ignore, and the weight of it pressed against you, suffocating and relentless.

and it wasn’t just you who noticed. at first, beomgyu had been the most vocal about it. he had tried everything—nudging taehyun’s shoulder playfully, cracking jokes that usually earned him an exaggerated eye-roll or a deadpan retort, even deliberately messing up the seating chart just to get a reaction. but nothing worked. taehyun barely reacted, only offering the occasional hum of acknowledgment or a clipped, indifferent response before returning to whatever task was in front of him.

he had always been diligent, always the type to follow through with his responsibilities, but this was no longer dedication, this was detachment.

"seriously, what is his problem?" beomgyu had muttered under his breath one afternoon, throwing his pen onto the table with a frustrated sigh. he turned towardss you then, his brows furrowed, gaze sharp. "he’s been acting like a ghost for days.”

your breath caught in your throat, fingers tightening instinctively around the clipboard in your lap.

jiwon, who had been watching the entire exchange with thinly veiled curiosity, shifted in his seat, drumming his fingers idly against the desk. "maybe he’s just tired,” he mused, though even he didn’t sound convinced.

beomgyu scoffed, shaking his head. "no. no, this isn’t tired—this is something else. he’s not just quiet, he’s—” beomgyu hesitated, frowning as he searched for the right word before finally settling on, “empty.”

and god, wasn’t that the truth?

taehyun had always been level-headed, composed, but never like this. never so distant. his sharp wit and effortless charm had dulled into something barely there, and the shift was so stark, so jarring, it left an undeniable hollowness in the air.

you wanted to say something, needed to say something. but what could you possibly say? that it was your fault? that you had seen the light in his eyes, the happiness that had appeared in his features when he first saw the flower on both your wrists, and how you crushed it beneath your own fear?

the weight of your own cowardice sat heavy on your shoulders, suffocating, unbearable. so you said nothing.

the ball was only days away. the decorations were finalized, the arrangements had been double-checked, and everything was falling into place, piece by perfect piece. and yet, for all that careful planning, for all the progress and preparation, everything still felt like it was falling apart. ꒰💐꒱ the night of the ball finally arrived.

golden lights illuminated the grand hall, casting a soft, ambient glow that seeped through the tall windows, flickering like distant stars against the darkness of the evening. inside, the sound of laughter and lively chatter drifted through the open doors, mingling with the faint melody of a waltz playing from within. everything was perfect—just as the council had planned, just as everyone had spent weeks ensuring.

but you simply stood outside.

your fingers curled around the delicate mask in your hands, the material pressing against your skin. the evening breeze brushed against your shoulders, carrying with it the distant hum of celebration, but you couldn't bring yourself to move forward, to step inside and immerse yourself in it all.

your dress, a simple yet breathtaking gown, clung to your frame in all the right places, accentuating without overwhelming, elegant without being extravagant. the fabric, a soft black satin that shimmered under the moonlight, cascaded down your figure in smooth waves, pooling ever so slightly at your feet. it was understated, refined, beautiful, and yet, despite how perfectly it fit, despite how much care had gone into choosing it, you had never felt more out of place.

you had spent days, weeks, preparing for this night. every detail had been planned, every decoration meticulously arranged. this was supposed to be a night of celebration, of triumph—a culmination of all the hard work the council had poured into making this event a reality.

but the thought of stepping inside, of weaving through the sea of masks and laughter, of pretending that everything was fine? it terrified you.

because you didn’t know how you would feel once you see him tonight. and perhaps, worse than that, you didn’t know if you even would.

your stomach twisted painfully, an ache that no amount of deep breaths could ease. would taehyun even be here? had he decided to stay away, just as you had considered doing? or would he be inside, blending into the crowd, masked and distant, just another face in a room full of strangers?

or would he be there, looking the same as always, standing in a corner with that quiet confidence, that knowing gaze, that presence that you could never quite shake, no matter how much distance you tried to put between you?

your heart pounded at the thought.

you had spent the past week avoiding his eyes, ducking away from his presence, watching helplessly as he withdrew further and further into himself. and yet, even as he distanced himself, even as the banter faded and the stolen glances disappeared, he never confronted you. never pushed, never asked for an explanation.

but tonight, there would be no desks between you, no schedules to hide behind.

if taehyun was here—if he sees you—then there would be no more avoiding it.

the weight of that realization sat heavy in your chest, pressing down, making it harder and harder to breathe.

you squeezed your eyes shut, willing yourself to move, to take a single step forward.

but your legs felt rooted in place, your body paralyzed by the what-ifs, by the uncertainty, by the unbearable truth that no matter how much you wanted to run, no matter how much you wanted to hide, you wanted to see him. god, you wanted to see him.

but did he still want to see you? taking a deep breath, you steeled yourself, gripping the delicate mask in your hands one final time before slipping it over your face. the satin ribbon tied keeping it in place felt tighter than necessary, as if it was binding you in place, but you refused to let yourself hesitate any longer.

with slow, deliberate steps, you moved forward, the soft fabric of your gown brushing against your ankles as you entered the venue. the moment you crossed the threshold, you were met with a breathtaking sight—warm golden light spilling from crystal chandeliers, illuminating a sea of elegantly dressed students, their gowns and suits shimmering beneath the glow.

a small smile ghosted over your lips, a rare moment of relief settling in your chest. this was it. after weeks of planning, after endless discussions and meticulous arrangements, the masquerade ball came to life. and seeing it unfold, watching as your peers twirled across the floor, their laughter ringing through the air, made all of the exhaustion worth it. it was beautiful.

as you weaved through the crowd, exchanging polite nods and returning greetings, a sudden poke at your shoulder made you pause. blinking, you turned on your heel, only to be met with a grinning masked beomgyu, standing beside someone whose presence, even behind an intricately designed mask, was unmistakable—soobin. their hands were intertwined, fingers loosely laced together, a silent testament to their bond.

“there you are!” beomgyu beamed, his enthusiasm practically radiating off him as he gestured wildly around the venue. “you have to admit, this is pretty amazing.”

soobin, ever the calmer presence, chuckled softly before dipping his head slightly in greeting. “congratulations,” he said, his voice smooth and sincere. “everything turned out beautifully. thank you for all the effort you put into making this happen.”

before you could even respond, beomgyu huffed, dramatically tossing an arm over soobin’s shoulder. “my idea, by the way,” he interjected, puffing out his chest in pride.

soobin, despite his mask obscuring half of his face, still managed to exude exasperation as he shot beomgyu a tired look. “i know, beomgyu. you’ve told me like a billion times.”

a quiet laugh left your lips as you shook your head, momentarily allowing yourself to bask in their familiar bickering. there was something comforting about it, something steady and unchanging. but just as quickly as that warmth settled, it vanished, replaced by a dull ache in your chest. because watching them—watching the ease in their dynamic, the way they played off each other so effortlessly—it only reminded you of one person.

your breath hitched, the tightening in your chest returning with full force. you forced a smile, pushing down the lump forming in your throat. “i should, um, check on the food,” you murmured, the words slipping from your lips before you could second-guess them.

soobin gave you a small nod, and beomgyu, thankfully, didn’t press further, only giving you a playful salute as you stepped away. with each step, your heart felt heavier, your resolve beginning to crumble once again.

you barely registered the laughter, the music, the clinking of glasses around you. all you could focus on was the overwhelming weight pressing against your ribs, the relentless pounding of your own thoughts. you shouldn't have come.

but then—

but then you saw him.

it was almost cruel how effortlessly your eyes found him, how no amount of dim lighting or the sea of masks could ever make him anything less than noticeable.

taehyun stood near the far side of the ballroom, a vision of effortless poise and sophistication. his suit was a deep shade of charcoal, tailored perfectly to his frame, accentuating the sharp lines of his shoulders and the lean definition of his form. the crisp white of his dress shirt contrasted against the dark fabric, and the black tie on his collar was neatly knotted, adding to the refined elegance of his appearance. but it was his presence—the sheer gravity of him—that made your breath catch.

his mask, sleek and simple, framed his eyes in a way that only enhanced their depth, making them appear even more calculating. the dim lighting cast delicate shadows over his features, highlighting the sharp cut of his jaw, the soft curve of his lips—lips that had once smiled so easily, so playfully, but now remained pressed into a thin, unreadable line.

you stopped in your tracks. you watched taehyun, unable to look away, unable to tear your gaze from the way he stood—poised yet distant, present yet entirely unreachable. the ballroom carried on around you, the music swelling, distant conversations rippling through the air, but it all faded into nothing as your eyes remained fixed on him.

his posture was impeccable, as always, shoulders squared, chin lifted ever so slightly, an image of effortless control. but there was something different now, something restrained in the way his fingers curled slightly at his sides, in the way his weight shifted subtly from one foot to the other, as if he were caught between the instinct to move and the need to stay still.

and then, as if he could feel your gaze, as if some invisible thread had finally pulled tight between the two of you—

his eyes found yours.

and the moment they did, something in the air shifted, as if the world seemed to narrow, the sounds around you dulling into nothing more than a distant hum.

taehyun’s stare widened just slightly, the faintest flicker of surprise betraying his otherwise composed expression. and god, was he taking you in.

taehyun was looking at you—truly looking at you. not like the stolen glances from before, not with the distance he carefully put between you these past few days. this was different. this was open, raw, something achingly vulnerable slipping through the cracks of his carefully built composure.

and the way he looked at you…

it was as if he had never seen you before.

as if he were discovering something entirely new, something he hadn’t realized until this very second. his gaze traced over you, taking in every detail, every curve of your form, every shimmering fold of your gown. his lips parted slightly, his breath hitching just the tiniest bit, and even with the mask covering half his face, even with the dim lighting softening his features, you could see it—the quiet, unspoken admiration that flickered across his face.

your heartbeat roared in your ears, your body frozen in place, unable to move, unable to breathe. neither of you stepped forward, neither of you dared to break the fragile silence that had settled between you, balancing on the edge of something terrifyingly real.

and then—

he blinked.

just once.

but when his eyes opened again, something was different. something had shifted.

taehyun’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. his hands twitched at his sides, his fingers curling inward like they ached to reach for something—for someone. you watched as a breath, deep and shaky, left his lips, his shoulders rising with the weight of it.

and then he turned away.

the moment shattered.

the spell broke.

before you could process it, before you could make sense of the way your chest constricted so violently at the loss, taehyun pivoted on his heel, his movements sharp, hurried. his polished shoes barely made a sound against the ballroom floor as he slipped past the sea of guests, weaving through the crowd with quick, purposeful steps.

he was leaving.your heart lurched, panic flaring in your veins, the shock of it slamming into your chest like a physical blow.

no.

your breath caught in your throat, the realization settling in all at once. he was running away.

and before you could stop yourself, before the fear could paralyze you, before you could make the same mistake twice—

you ran after him.

you pushed through the crowd, rushing between the clusters of students lost in conversation, their voices nothing but a muffled blur against the frantic pounding of your heartbeat. your pulse roared in your ears, your breath coming in sharp, uneven bursts as you dodged flurries of students and pressed forward, not caring if you stumbled, not caring if you brushed too roughly against someone.

taehyun was running, and you couldn’t let him get away. not again.

your fingers clenched at the fabric of your dress, lifting the hem just enough to keep yourself from tripping, but your feet barely felt the ground beneath you. all that mattered was him. all that mattered was the sight of his retreating figure, slipping past the grand archway leading to the open night air, disappearing beyond the cascading ivy that framed the ballroom’s second entrance.

the cool night hit you like a breath of fresh air the moment you broke free from the suffocating warmth of the ballroom. the murmurs of the crowd dulled, replaced by the soft rustle of the wind through the trees, the distant hum of music fading behind you. but none of it registered, not the chill against your bare skin, not the way your lungs burned from exertion, because taehyun was still ahead, his silhouette cutting through the garden’s moonlit paths.

the silvery glow of the moon bathed everything in an ethereal light, casting long shadows along the pathway, painting the world in hushed shades of blue and silver. the neatly trimmed hedges and delicate blooms swayed gently with the breeze, their fragrance lingering in the crisp air.

your steps faltered as you sucked in a breath, throat dry, chest tight—but you couldn’t stop now. not when he was slipping away again.

so you did the only thing you could.

"kang taehyun!!"

your voice cut through the quiet, sharp and desperate, carrying through the still night air.

and just like that, he finally stopped. taehyun’s steps slowed, hesitating, before finally coming to a full halt. your fingers curled into the fabric of your gown, gripping tightly, as if grounding yourself, as if holding on to the last bit of courage you had left. you didn’t trust your voice—not when your heart was still hammering like crazy, not when the ache in your throat made it impossible to swallow. but still, you forced the words out, soft, almost fragile in the way they broke past your lips.

"please..."

the sound barely carried over the distance between you, but it reached him somehow. you knew it did.

but taehyun remained unmoving.

his back stayed rigid, his shoulders taut, rising and falling in slow, measured breaths. he didn’t turn, didn’t even so much as flinch, as if he was willing himself to stay still, as if he was caught in the same unbearable moment as you, yet refused to acknowledge it.

the silence between you stretched, thick and suffocating, heavy with the weight of all the words neither of you had spoken. it clung to the air, to the space that felt impossibly vast despite the few feet separating you.

and then, after what felt like an eternity—so slow it nearly made you dizzy—he turned around.

taehyun’s body tensed before he shifted, hesitant, deliberate, as if caught in a decision he hadn’t quite made yet. the motion was almost careful, painfully slow, as though he feared what he would see when he finally turned to face you.

taehyun’s gaze met yours instantly, locking onto you with an intensity that stole the breath straight from your lungs. the silver glow of the moon framed his silhouette, casting soft shadows over his face, over the smooth planes of his mask.

and his eyes… they held something unreadable. something you couldn’t name, something tangled between a dozen emotions, flickering too fast, too fleeting for you to grasp.

but he was looking at you.

yet for the first time, you didn’t know if that was a good thing.

taehyun’s gaze never wavered, never softened, not even for a second. it was sharp, cutting through the space between you like a blade, dissecting, waiting. and you, standing beneath the weight of it all, feeling it press into your skin, into the marrow of your bones, suddenly felt small. exposed. self-conscious.

your throat tightened, the sudden awareness of yourself creeping in, making you shift where you stood. your shoulders straightened, your hands fidgeting at your sides, as if fixing your posture would somehow anchor you, would somehow make you feel like you belonged in this moment instead of drowning in it. your tongue darted out, wetting your dry lips, yet the words—whatever words you were meant to say—refused to come.

it was silent. painfully, deafeningly silent.

now that he was here, standing before you, now that you finally had him where you had been desperate to keep him—you didn’t know what to do. what to say.

"if you're not going to say anything, then i'm leaving."

taehyun’s voice cut through the stillness, low and cold, distant in a way that sent a sharp pang straight to your chest. it was piercing, impassive—so unlike him. where was the warmth? the teasing edge? where was the taehyun who never let a moment pass without a quip, a smirk, a knowing look? where was the taehyun who once made the air between you feel light, easy? the thought hit you so hard that it sent you stumbling forward, hands moving on instinct, reaching—desperate. and before you could stop yourself, before hesitation could creep in and steal this moment away from you, your fingers closed around his wrist.

a sight too familiar.

but this time, you weren’t the one running.

this time, you were the one trying to stop him.

"wait," the word barely came out, breathless, trembling. you let go of taehyun’s wrist, and then—then, the floodgates broke. "taehyun…"

his name wobbled on your lips, barely a breath, barely a sound, but it held every ounce of desperation clawing at your chest, every ounce of regret that weighed heavy on your shoulders. your throat tightened, a lump lodging itself deep within, suffocating, unrelenting, but you forced yourself to swallow it down. because if you didn’t speak now—if you let this moment slip through your fingers like sand—you knew you’d never forgive yourself.

"i’m sorry."

the words trembled, cracked, barely held together by the fragile threads of your unraveling composure. and yet, they still weren’t enough. nothing felt like enough—not for all the pain you had caused him, not for all the hurt you had left in your wake, not for the way you had looked into his eyes that night and still walked away.

"i’m so sorry, taehyun."

his name shattered from your lips this time, breaking somewhere between a sob and a plea.

"i was stupid. i was so, so stupid."

you inhaled sharply, hands curling into fists, nails biting into your palms in a desperate attempt to keep yourself from completely falling apart. but it was no use. everything was spilling over—emotions too big, too raw, too heavy to be contained anymore. "i didn’t mean to push you away. i didn’t mean to hurt you. god, i never wanted to hurt you." your voice wavered, cracking under the weight of your own words, and you squeezed your eyes shut for a fleeting second, trying yet failing to steady yourself. "but i did."

you exhaled shakily, forcing yourself to meet his gaze even as your own blurred with unshed tears. "i hurt you, and i was too much of a coward to admit anything." your fingers twitched at your sides, aching to reach for him, aching to grasp onto something—anything—that could ground you in the midst of the storm raging inside you. "i was scared," you whispered, voice barely above a breath, the admission tasting bitter, like guilt and shame and every unsaid thing you had buried deep inside yourself for far too long.

"i was scared because i didn’t understand it," a hollow laugh escaped you, but there was no humor in it. only pain. "because i didn’t understand you." you exhaled sharply, shaking your head as if that could erase all the years of denial, all the wasted time, all the moments you had spent pretending. "from the very start, taehyun, you made me feel things i had never felt before—things i didn’t know how to name, things that made my heart race and my hands shake and my mind spin and i—" your breath hitched, a sob catching in your throat, but you pushed through it, voice trembling. "i hated you for it. or at least... i thought i did."

you felt him stiffen, barely perceptible, but you noticed it. of course, you noticed it. your lips quivered, your hands clenched, and you forced yourself to take a step forward, closing even the slightest bit of distance between you. "but it wasn’t hate, was it? it never was," you whispered, voice softer now, gentler, but heavy with the weight of every unspoken word you had swallowed down over the years, every moment you had ignored, every glance you had forced yourself to look away from.

"it was fear."

you sucked in a shaky breath, blinking rapidly against the tears threatening to spill over. "you saw through me. you knew me—really knew me—even when i didn’t want you to," another step, another shaky breath. "and i hated that. i hated that no matter how much i tried to convince myself you were nothing more than a rival, a nuisance, an annoying presence in my life, i—" you exhaled sharply, voice breaking, barely holding yourself together, "i was wrong."

you were right in front of him now, so close, yet still, he hadn’t moved. he just stood there, staring at you, silent, unreadable, unflinching.

"i was wrong about everything," your voice wavered, barely above a whisper now, but the words carried the weight of everything—of every mistake, every regret. your fingers twitched at your sides before, finally, finally, you found the courage to reach out, grasping his wrists once more with trembling hands.

"i never should've left that night," you choked out, shaking your head, tears clinging to your lashes. "i should’ve turned back, should’ve looked at you, should’ve realized what was right in front of me." a single tear slipped down your cheek, warm against your skin, but you didn’t wipe it away. "i should’ve told you then," you hesitated, voice cracking, "i should’ve told you that it was always you."

the words shattered from your lips like glass, like something irreparable, something fragile and delicate and painfully, unbearably sincere. "it was always you, taehyun." your voice trembled, thick with emotion, thick with everything you had locked away for so long, and yet, for the first time, you weren’t afraid to say it. "and i’m so, so sorry it took me this long to see it." you sniffled, the sound barely audible over the pounding of your heart, a weight lifting off your shoulders with every word that had finally, finally escaped your lips. yet, despite the relief that came with your admission, fear still gripped you, sinking its claws into your chest, twisting deep. because this—this was the part that terrified you the most. not the confession, not the rawness of your emotions spilling over, but his response. what he might say. how he might look at you now. how he might—

taehyun moved.

and for a split second, panic seized you as he pulled away from your grasp, slipping from your trembling hands. your breath hitched, your body tensed, and your mind raced with the worst possibilities, already bracing for the moment he’d turn his back on you. already dreading the sharp sting of rejection. but he didn’t leave. he didn’t take a step back, didn’t let the silence stretch too long, didn’t let the space between you grow. instead, taehyun lifted his hands, reaching for you, cupping your tear-streaked cheeks in the warmth of his palms, grounding you in the way only he ever could.

your lips parted, a sharp breath escaping as his thumbs brushed over your damp skin, gentle, deliberate, erasing the remnants of your sorrow with the softest touch. your eyes widened, searching his face, drinking in the features you had spent so long memorizing yet never truly allowing yourself to admire.

and then, without a word, taehyun reached for the ribbon of your mask, fingers curling around the delicate material before he carefully, slowly, undid the knot and lifted it away.

your breath caught, the cool night air brushing against your now-exposed skin, and before you could react, he let the mask slip from his fingers, the sound of it hitting the ground barely registering in your ears.

but taehyun wasn’t done.

with the same tenderness, the same certainty, he lifted one hand to his own mask, unfastening it, letting it fall to the earth beside yours. and for the first time in what felt like forever, he smiled. not the small, hesitant smiles you had seen him give in passing, not the careful, guarded ones he wore when he was unsure, not the polite ones he had offered in fleeting moments. no. this was real. genuine. a smile that stretched across his face, lighting up his features, reaching his eyes in a way you had forgotten was possible.

"that’s it?"

his voice was warm, teasing, laced with something light and playful—something unmistakably him.

and the moment you heard it, the moment you saw that expression on his face, it was as if every last bit of fear, every last trace of doubt, melted away.

a breath of laughter left you, a mix of relief and disbelief, and before you could even think, before you could hesitate, before you could convince yourself otherwise, you surged forward—hands finding his face, fingers threading into his hair as you pulled him in, pressing your lips to his in a kiss that was everything.

the moment your lips crashed against his, it was as if something had burst open—years of pent-up emotions, unsaid words, restless nights, stolen glances, all unraveling in a single heartbeat. and taehyun kissed you back like he, too, had been waiting for this his entire life.

his hands, still cradling your face, tightened their grip, fingers digging into your skin as if he was terrified you might slip away again. but you weren’t going anywhere. not anymore. your hands slid up to his jaw, trembling, desperate, pulling him impossibly closer. the sheer warmth of him, the way he exhaled shakily against your lips—it was dizzying. intoxicating. you were drowning, and you never wanted to come up for air.

the kiss was frantic, a collision of breaths, sighs, and need. his lips moved against yours like he had something to prove, something to make up for, something he couldn’t put into words—but you understood. you understood in the way his hands fell from your face to your waist, fingers curling into the fabric of your dress, gripping like he needed something to hold on to, something to anchor him. you understood in the way he let out a shuddering breath when you tugged at his hair, when your fingers slipped into the strands, when your body pressed flush against his.

a sharp exhale left taehyun, something like a laugh, something breathless and wrecked, and then he was kissing you harder, deeper, like he wanted to consume you, like he wanted to make up for every second lost, every moment wasted. and you let him. you let him steal your breath, let him take everything you had to give, because god, you had been starving for this. for him.

his fingers traced up your spine, slow, deliberate, and you shivered at the feeling. it was overwhelming—the heat of him, the taste of him, the way he kissed you like he was afraid you would vanish if he stopped. your back hit the edge of the stone fountain behind you, but neither of you cared, too caught up in the way your mouths moved together, in the sheer desperation between you.

when you finally broke apart, foreheads pressed together, gasping for air, taehyun’s grip on you never loosened. his fingers stayed at your waist, his breath fanning over your lips, and when you opened your eyes, his gaze was already on you—dark, burning, fond. taehyun exhaled, a quiet, breathy sound that mingled with the space between you, and when he smiled—soft, real, yours—you felt something in you finally settle.

"so... you like me." he murmured, his fingers curling just a little tighter at your waist, as if he still didn’t quite trust that you were here, that this was real.

you blinked, still dazed, still trying to catch up to everything—everything you had just spilled, everything that had just happened, everything you had just done.

"kang."

"no, no, say it." taehyun grinned, the teasing lilt returning to his voice, but there was something softer beneath it, something almost in awe. "i need to hear you say it."

heat crept up your neck, the weight of his hands still lingering on your skin, his touch burned into your memory. "i just confessed my entire soul to you, what more do you want?"

"just three little words." his voice dropped slightly, his fingers brushing along your jaw, tilting your chin up ever so slightly. "for confirmation."

you groaned, tilting your head back, but the fondness in taehyun’s eyes, the warmth in his touch, the way he was looking at you like you were all he needed, it was unfair.

"i like you, taehyun." the words left you in a sigh, as if they had been waiting to escape all along.

"yeah?"

you rolled your eyes, but your smile betrayed your feigned annoyance. "yeah."

taehyun hummed, looking entirely too pleased with himself before he leaned in again, murmuring against your lips, "about time." “i like you too.”

꒰🧸꒱ @pagelets @hoefororeo @sbnslver @missychief1404 @brrytears @saejinniestar @imlonelydontsendhelp @urlocal-moa @melmochii @jettithink, @killa-1009, @j-ji-jia, @frankghgr, @usuallyunlikelyfox @sxmmerberries @napipope-ta @bamgeutori @xylatox @hyunj00 <3

this is 1/5 from a valentine’s event with other talented and incredible moas! click here to see the full masterlist <3

[xylatox-deactivated20260509]

And I've made it to Amia's Valentine Fic!!!! It's of Taehyun (1 of my 2 biases) so I'm extra excited AND academic rivals so it's enemies to lovers, so excited. Also it's my first time reading a long fic from her too so I'm so excited!!!!

it wasn't just his irritatingly perfect smile, or his perfect grades, or his constant ability to somehow do everything just a little bit better than you, no. it was something more insidious—something about how effortlessly he seemed to exist in a world where everything was perfectly aligned in his favor. he was always better, always one step ahead. — I absolutely love how instantly we see that reader's irritation with Taehyun has a borderline of attraction to it, they do say hate and love are on 2 sides of the same coin.

I also love that they're president and vice president, it somehow makes the tension between them do much more appealing. It's even more hilarious when we're told that Taehyun is nice to us like😭😭 I love this dynamic instantly.

you hated how taehyun made you feel seen, how he seemed to know you better than anyone else, even though you barely let anyone in. he noticed the way you hesitated, the way your voice would shake when you pretended not to care. it was infuriating. you’d shove it all down, but he’d always come back for more, always patient, always gentle, like a relentless force pulling at the edges of your defenses.— god I love this, I love that the grumpy x sunshine trope is reader being the grumpy one omg, I'm living for this.

but he didn’t budge. instead, a small chuckle escaped him, low and unhurried, like he found your irritation amusing. he remained still, waiting, that same infuriatingly gentle smile tugging at his lips. – God he's so sweet but infuriating, intentional and calculated.

taehyun laughs, a quiet, breathy sound that sent a shiver up your spine. “you’re awfully cute when you’re smug.”—SCREAMING TAEHYUN IS SO CUTE :(((

Reader's response is so black cat coded (me), I absolutely love her so much. I love their banter after meeting with the principal, it's so natural and just the back and forth is absolutely amazing.

a beat of silence followed, filled only by the distant chatter of students lingering in the hallways and the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall. then, with a loud thud, beomgyu—who had been balancing his chair precariously on two legs—let it drop back down, the abrupt sound making jiwon, the treasurer, flinch. — I love beomgyu so much his personality is absolutely amazing.

taehyun, either genuinely oblivious or just expertly unfazed, regarded him with a blank expression, blinking once. “...that’s just a prom with plants.” — this is so hilarious to me because it's so Taehyun coded, it reminds me of the video where it's a qna and they ask them what they're most afraid of and Taehyun says death in the most deadpan way, yeah, this moment reminds me exactly of that LOL.

you tapped a finger against your chin, pretending to deliberate. “hmm. it does sound good, but i don’t know, gyu. the fact that it came from you makes me a little skeptical.” — this is what I was absolutely thinking LOL, like after Gyu's last ideas even I'm skeptical. I am loving the conversations so far, it makes me so happy.

“says the girl who still thinks vanilla ice cream is the superior flavor,” beomgyu shot back, eyes gleaming. — absolutely unrelated but i had to read this line twice because I genuinely thought it said villain icecream and I was so confused.

I love that after the idea is settled the banter seems to have mellowed out a tiny bit, it's so cute and the moment after like—taehyun blinked at you, his expression unreadable, caught between something unreadable and something almost… curious. then, his lips twitched, the ghost of a smirk forming, though this one was softer—less teasing, more thoughtful.— god I love them.

it was small, delicate, impossibly soft-looking, its petals shimmering faintly with an ethereal glow. the light was subtle, barely noticeable, but it was there, a quiet pulse of something that shouldn’t be real. your eyes widen, your chest tightening, the air around you suddenly feeling too thick, too heavy, as if the weight of the moment itself was pressing down on you, demanding to be acknowledged. there, resting in the curve of your palm, was a single blue hydrangea. your fingers twitched again, hesitant, unsure, before finally moving—just barely grazing the petals. they were cool beneath your fingertips, soft as silk, fragile in a way that made your stomach twist. and yet, the moment you made contact, a warmth surged through you—different from before, deeper, curling through your chest, spreading outward in gentle waves, like ripples disturbing still water. — and the fic title makes an appearance hehe, I love this so much!! I was so invested in them I forgot it was a soulmates au😭😭

there's a part of me that hopes that Taehyun somehow knows they're already soulmates, but I may be asking for too much😔😞 my heart breaks that reader's first instinct is to see if the bond can be broken somehow despite small signs of feelings for Taehyun being there.

"seriously, what’s up with you?" taehyun continued, voice quieter now, softer around the edges, but no less insistent. his eyes were sharp, searching, tracing over your profile like he was trying to piece together a puzzle he wasn’t meant to solve. "you’ve been acting weird since yesterday. not just weird—weird in a way that actually bothers me. and that’s saying something."— crying because Taehyun is so observant to realize how odd her behaviour is :((

he knew you wouldn’t like that. instead, taehyun simply sighed, a quiet, barely-there smile tugging at the corners of his lips. shaking his head to himself, he leaned back in his chair, voice a hushed murmur as he muttered, "maybe another time." — god this is so sweet, I genuinely love them so much, again the way you do conversations brings so much joy to me.

I love that her walls were down for a moment and touched Tae while he was asleep and was so in denial after, reader is adorable

but instead of prying, which was something he would normally do just to get a rise out of you, taehyun simply smiled. not the usual smirk, not the playful glint of mischief, but something softer, something almost… fond. — Tae either knows theyre soulmates, likes her or both, and I vote both.

but as you stood there, watching his figure disappear into the station, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. that, for the first time, you weren’t entirely relieved to see him go. — and the walls have crumbled more, I love the progression thus far.

The moment with them on the bike is so cute, their banter is my absolute favorite thing. God, taehyun adding Blue Hydrangeas into the mix, now he's just being a tease honestly either knowinglyor unknowingly. This entire moment where they're in the venue is so cute, from the conversation, to him asking her to the winter ball, oh my god, I'm holding my heart.

HE DIDNT KNOWWW😭😭😭😭😭😭 OH MY GOD IM SOBBING IM GOINGNDNSJ?????? He just really liked her all along omg this is amazing.

But his reaction is adorable like —"i knew it,” he murmured, more to himself than to you, as if the words had been lingering in the back of his mind all this time, just waiting to be spoken. “so this was why… why i’ve always felt this… pull towards you… no matter how much you tried to push me away.” —god this is so sweet

NOT READER RUNNING AWAY NOOO😭😭 and we see how it affected Tae no :(((( The moment on the day of the ball breaks my heart too no :(((

"i never should've left that night," you choked out, shaking your head, tears clinging to your lashes. "i should’ve turned back, should’ve looked at you, should’ve realized what was right in front of me." a single tear slipped down your cheek, warm against your skin, but you didn’t wipe it away. "i should’ve told you then," you hesitated, voice cracking, "i should’ve told you that it was always you." — oh my goodness :((( the kiss awwwww my heart is so full, I love that he still has the audacity to tease her after that like ugh

I loved this soso much Amia, it was so amazing, I will say it again, your way to carry the conversations while showing the dynamics between characters is amazing as it also shows the progression. This really was an amazing piece and I'm so glad I finally read it.

[bamgyuuuri]

adeline omg i am honestly$#%$% at a lost for words right now,, the way you noticed almost every single added detail, how you wrote out such heartwarming reactions and everything in between im so T____T thank you so, so much for reading omg i appreciate and love you a whole bunch 😞😞🩷🩷🩷

[bamgyuuuri]

⸝⸝ blue hydrangeas ┈ kth.

⸝⸝ IN a world where soulmates are tied by "soulblooms," flowers that manifest on the hand when touched by fate’s match, you have spent your life with an empty wrist and a guarded heart. but when a fleeting touch with taehyun—a boy you find insufferably perfect—awakens a blue hydrangea on your grasp, everything you thought you knew about fate, connection, and him, turned on its head.

pairings and tags. academicrival!taehyun x fem!reader . soulmate au. enemies to lovers . slowburn . grumpy x sunshine . forced proximity . slowburn . taehyun is a huge tease . tension !!!! not actually unrequited love? angst

word count. 29.7k

short note! it's finally here!!!! it was such an honor to work alongside such talented moas! i am beyond grateful to be part of something this special >< every moment spent working on this was filled with so much love and excitement, and i hope you all enjoy it as much as we did creating it!! <3

you hated kang taehyun with every fiber of your being.

there was something about him that irked you to your very core, something that made your teeth grit and your stomach twist every time you were forced to be near him.

it wasn't just his irritatingly perfect smile, or his perfect grades, or his constant ability to somehow do everything just a little bit better than you, no. it was something more insidious—something about how effortlessly he seemed to exist in a world where everything was perfectly aligned in his favor. he was always better, always one step ahead.

and it wasn’t just in the classroom either. taehyun's reach extended far beyond that, into places where you thought you had some semblance of control. in the student council, for example, where you held the position of vice president—a role you worked your ass off to attain—taehyun somehow made being the president look like a walk in the park.

with his easy charm and flawless leadership, he outshone you at every turn. it wasn’t that you didn’t have the capacity for leadership, you knew you were just as capable. more capable. but taehyun? he was like a magnet, drawing the attention of everyone in the room with a simple flash of his smile, a soft laugh that echoed off the walls of the council room.

you hated how easy he made it look.

every time you thought you had finally gained some ground, taehyun would be there. standing just a little bit taller, a little bit more poised—effortlessly securing the praise, the respect, the adoration. it was maddening.

you hated him.

and yet, it wasn’t just the ways he made you feel small, it was how he never let you hide it. how, no matter how obviously you displayed your contempt for him, he remained annoyingly unfazed, like he could see right through the walls you tried to build. he never flinched, never reacted in the way you expected. he’d simply laugh, his voice low and warm, as though everything you did to push him away was just a minor inconvenience.

the worst part? taehyun was nice to you. you could never understand it.

it was almost like he reveled in it—like he enjoyed seeing you fume in frustration. he would do things like open doors for you, something so simple and innocent, yet it felt like a taunt. he’d hold the door wide, with that stupid, gentle smile of his. he would always ask how you were, even though it felt like a question that was both too casual and too personal, as if he could sense the tension in your voice, the subtle crack in your facade whenever you answered him.

you hated how taehyun made you feel seen, how he seemed to know you better than anyone else, even though you barely let anyone in. he noticed the way you hesitated, the way your voice would shake when you pretended not to care. it was infuriating. you’d shove it all down, but he’d always come back for more, always patient, always gentle, like a relentless force pulling at the edges of your defenses.

you hated that no matter how many times you tried to push him away, he would be right back the next day, like nothing ever happened. you’d look away, stubborn and angry, trying to ignore the faint flutter in your chest when he smiled at you. his smile—always so warm, so effortless—made everything worse. because deep down, you knew you hated it... but you couldn’t look away.

before you could shove the thought away, before you could shake off the way his gaze lingered just a second too long, the static hum of the intercom crackled through the classroom, making you flinch.

“president and vice president of the student council, please report to the principal’s office.”

the words rang in your ears, a sudden disruption to the taut thread of your thoughts. you let out a slow breath, forcing your shoulders to relax, pushing down whatever unwanted feeling had started to creep in.

you turned on your heel without another glance in his direction, your steps measured and purposeful as you headed towardss the door. the room buzzed faintly behind you, students murmuring about why the two of you were being called this time. probably another event to oversee, another responsibility stacked onto the ever-growing pile. 

but just as you reached the door, he moved ahead of you, stopping right at the threshold. his hand rested lightly against the frame as he turned back, expression as unreadable as ever—soft yet calculated, warm yet knowing.

“after you,” taehyun says smoothly, tilting his head ever so slightly.

your eyes flickered to him, lingering for only a second before you scoffed. of course. always so proper, so polite. always so perfectly composed.

“just go, kang.” your voice was clipped, your patience thinning at the edges.

but he didn’t budge. instead, a small chuckle escaped him, low and unhurried, like he found your irritation amusing. he remained still, waiting, that same infuriatingly gentle smile tugging at his lips.

for a moment, you considered pushing past him, ignoring his presence entirely. but something about the way he stood there—calm, unshaken, as if he had all the time in the world—made your skin prickle. unwilling to prolong the moment, you rolled your eyes and stepped through first, feeling the weight of taehyun’s gaze trailing behind you as he finally followed.

the hallway was quieter than usual, the usual rush of students dwindling between periods. your footsteps echoed faintly against the polished floors, the rhythmic tap of your shoes the only sound filling the space between you. for once, you wished it would stay that way.

but taehyun was never one to let silence settle for too long.

“you did well on the last presentation,” he said, his voice cutting through the quiet with an ease that made your fingers twitch.

you kept your gaze ahead, eyes fixed on the stretch of hallway before you. “so?”

taehyun hummed, slow and thoughtful. “the teachers were impressed. even the principal didn’t have anything to correct, which is rare.”

there was something in his tone—something easy yet deliberate. you weren’t sure if he was just making conversation or if he was testing you, seeing how long it would take before you snapped at him.

your fingers curled at your sides. “is that supposed to mean something?”

taehyun let out a soft chuckle, hands tucked casually into his pockets. “it means you’re good at what you do.”

you stole a glance at him from the corner of your eye, but his expression remained neutral, unreadable. there was no teasing lilt to his voice, no smugness in his words. just a simple statement, spoken like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

you looked away, exhaling through your nose. “obviously.”

taehyun laughs, a quiet, breathy sound that sent a shiver up your spine. “you’re awfully cute when you’re smug.”

your steps faltered—just barely, just for a second—before you snapped your head towardss him with a sharp glare. “don’t say weird things.”

but he only smiled, eyes twinkling with something unreadable, something that made your stomach twist.

“it’s not weird if it’s true.”

your fingers twitched at your sides, a heat creeping up the back of your neck. you hated this. hated how easily he got under your skin, how effortlessly he chipped away at your walls like it was second nature to him. like he wasn’t even trying.

but more than anything, you hated that, despite everything, you never had it in you to stop him.

before you knew it, the office door was already looming ahead, its dark wooden surface polished to a near mirror-like shine, reflecting the dim glow of the hallway’s overhead lights. despite the countless times you had stood before it, waiting to be summoned inside for meetings, discussions, and the occasional reprimand over minor council disputes, it never failed to fill you with a familiar sense of dread. not because you feared the principal—he was reasonable enough—but because you knew that whatever awaited you beyond that door would inevitably mean more work, more responsibilities, and more time spent in taehyun’s infuriating presence.

your fingers twitched at your sides, itching to get this over with. but before you could reach for the handle, taehyun was already moving, stepping forward with that effortless confidence that made your teeth grind.

his knuckles met the wood in three firm, evenly spaced knocks—never too loud, never too soft. just right. of course.

then, without hesitation, he twisted the handle and pushed the door open, but instead of stepping through, he turned to you, that familiar, insufferably polite smile curving his lips.

“after you,” he says once again, his voice smooth, as if this wasn’t the hundredth time he’d done this.

your lips pressed into a thin, irritated line, and you felt the immediate, burning need to roll your eyes. instead, you inhaled sharply, resisting the urge to push past him just to spite him.

“stop doing that,” you muttered, stepping into the office without sparing him a glance.

behind you, taehyun let out a quiet chuckle, the sound low and warm, like he had been expecting your reaction all along. you could practically feel the amusement radiating off him as he followed you inside at an easy, unhurried pace, as if this was all some game to him.

the office was warm, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the faintest traces of old paper and polished wood. the large mahogany desk stood at the center, stacked neatly with files, reports, and what you assumed were upcoming event proposals.

behind the desk sat the principal, an older man with sharp, perceptive eyes that held a kindness just beneath their surface. his neatly pressed suit was accompanied by a tie that looked slightly askew, as if he had been rushing between meetings all morning. at the sight of you both, he offered a welcoming nod, his hands clasping together in front of him.

“ah, president, vice president,” he greeted, his voice carrying that authoritative weight you had grown used to. “thank you for coming on such short notice.”

you returned the gesture with a curt nod, holding your hands behind your back in an attempt to brace yourself for whatever was about to be dropped onto your already full plate. beside you, taehyun dipped his head in acknowledgment, his posture effortlessly composed.

the principal didn’t waste time, leaning forward slightly as he rested his forearms on the desk. his sharp gaze flickered between the two of you, a knowing glint settling in his eyes.

“i’m sure you both know what time of year it is,” he began, his tone measured, expectant.

your brows furrowed slightly, the question lingering in the air for only a second before taehyun, ever the perfect student, filled the silence.

“the winter ball,” he supplied smoothly, the answer rolling off his tongue like second nature.

the principal’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “precisely. it’s one of our school’s most anticipated events, and this year, we want it to be even more memorable than the last.” he gestured towardss the neatly stacked files on his desk, his fingers tapping lightly against the topmost folder. “as always, we’re prepared to provide you with all the budget you need to bring it to life. however, the student council will be in charge of every aspect of the planning.”

your stomach twisted.

of course it was. as if the student council didn’t already have enough responsibilities—event coordination, student affairs, disciplinary oversight—now you had to organize the biggest event of the year on top of everything else.

your fingers curled slightly at your sides, a quiet sigh threatening to escape before you swallowed it back.

“understood,” taehyun said without missing a beat, his tone carrying that same unwavering confidence he always spoke with. “we’ll handle everything.”

your eyes snapped to him, barely concealing your incredulity. we? we weren’t the ones who would end up buried in logistical nightmares and last-minute disasters. you were. while taehyun would breeze through meetings with his stupid, easy charm, you’d be the one pulling late nights, making sure every detail was perfect.

but of course, he looked completely at ease, his expression betraying none of the stress you already felt settling onto your shoulders.

the principal nodded in approval, leaning back in his chair. “good. i expected nothing less.” he glanced between the two of you once more before offering a small, knowing smile. “i trust that the two of you, along with the rest of the council, will make this year’s ball unforgettable.”

as the meeting wrapped up, you and taehyun dipped into a synchronized bow, offering the principal a respectful farewell before turning towardss the door. you moved first, your steps quick and purposeful, eager to escape the weight of expectations that had just been placed on your shoulders.

the moment you stepped out into the hallway and the door clicked shut behind you, the sigh you had been holding back finally slipped past your lips. it was long and heavy, filled with every ounce of exasperation you had swallowed down in that office.

taehyun must have noticed, because just as you were trying to compose yourself, you caught the slightest movement from the corner of your eye—his hand, lifting ever so slightly, as if to place a reassuring touch on your shoulder.

you moved away before he could.

your sharp glare met his gaze, and for a second, the air between you crackled with tension. his hand dropped back to his side, but the teasing curve of his lips remained.

“don’t,” you warned, voice flat.

taehyun let out a soft chuckle, utterly unbothered. “what? i was just going to tell you that you’re gonna do great.”

“oh, shut up,” you muttered, rubbing your temple as if that would somehow ease the headache forming at the thought of the endless planning ahead. “this is a lot of work. again. do they not realize how much we already do?”

taehyun hummed in thought, shoving his hands into the pockets of his blazer. “well, to be fair, the winter ball is a big deal. people look forward to it all year. it makes sense they want to go all out.”

“great. good for them,” you deadpanned. “meanwhile, i’ll be drowning in event proposals, budgeting spreadsheets, and people asking if we can add a ‘winter wonderland’ theme for the fourth time.”

taehyun chuckled, tilting his head slightly as he glanced at you. “you’re being dramatic.”

you shot him an exasperated look, one that should’ve been enough to burn through his unshakable confidence. should’ve been, but of course, this was kang taehyun you were dealing with—unfazed, infuriating, and always ready with some smooth remark that made your blood boil.

“oh, am i? am i really, kang?” you seethed, voice laced with frustration. “because guess who’s going to be stuck micromanaging everything while everyone else just throws out random ideas and disappears?”

taehyun blinked at you, the picture of innocence. “us?”

you let out a humorless laugh, shaking your head as you leveled him with a sharp glare. “me,” you corrected, jabbing a finger against your chest. “because you’ll probably just sit there smiling and nodding while i suffer.”

his laughter came easily, light and unhurried, like the idea of your impending misery was genuinely amusing to him. the corners of his eyes crinkled in that stupidly endearing way, and for a moment, you forgot what you were mad about.

“come on, give me some credit,” taehyun replies, and before you could take a step back, he nudged your arm playfully—so effortless, so natural, like touching you was just second nature to him. you recoiled instantly, pulling away before the warmth of his skin could linger against your jacket. “i help out a lot too. i mean, i am the president.”

“oh, please,” you scoffed, folding your arms over your chest like a barrier, like it would somehow protect you from his relentless confidence. “you showing up to meetings with an iced americano and nodding along to whatever’s being said is not helping.” taehyun’s grin widened, all sharp amusement, like he was enjoying this far more than he should. “hey, that’s unfair. sometimes i write stuff down.”

“you doodle.”

“art is important for brainstorming.”

you shot him a deadpan look. “so is actual brainstorming.”

but taehyun didn’t waver. his smile softened just a fraction, the teasing edge in his tone giving way to something quieter, something dangerously close to sincerity.

“i do mean it,” taehyun said, and this time, he didn’t laugh. didn’t flash that insufferable, knowing smirk. didn’t lace his words with teasing or smug amusement. instead, his voice came quieter, steadier—like an oath meant to be kept. “i’m not just going to let you do all the work. i’ll help, i promise.”

his words should have rolled right off you, should have been easy to dismiss like every other time he made empty assurances with that effortless confidence of his. but something about the way he said it—the way he looked at you—made you pause for just a fraction of a second too long.

you scoffed again, but the usual sharpness in your voice was missing, dulled by the unexpected sincerity lingering between you. “i know you,” you muttered, grasping for the familiar rhythm of irritation that kept you balanced around him. “you’ll just charm everyone into doing things for you while i handle the logistics.”

taehyun’s grin stretched wider, his eyes glinting with something dangerously playful—like you had just unknowingly handed him the perfect setup for a joke. “well, yeah,” he admitted with a casual shrug, the corners of his lips twitching. “that’s called teamwork.”

you groaned dramatically, tilting your head back, pressing your fingers against the bridge of your nose as if you could physically push away the headache he was undoubtedly going to give you. “you are so—”

“but,” he cut in smoothly, and there was something in his tone that made you drop your hand and actually look at him. he wasn’t done. “since you’re so convinced i’m just going to sit back and make you do everything, let me put it on record—i’ll be in charge of buying the decorations. i’ll help with booking the venue, the catering, and dealing with the faculty.”

your arms, which had been folded tightly against your chest, slackened just slightly.

“i’ll help set up, too,” taehyun continued easily, ticking things off on his fingers like he was reading off a checklist. “and—” he shot you a knowing glance, “—i’ll make sure no one dumps last-minute work on you like they always do.”

your mouth opened—whether to argue or to question him, you weren’t even sure—but nothing came out.

taehyun noticed. he always did.

“what?” he teased, leaning in slightly like he was studying your reaction up close. “shocked into silence? i should say sincere things more often.”

you snapped out of it, glaring as you stepped back. “i just didn’t expect you to actually think about any of this.”

“what, you think i don’t pay attention?” taehyun hummed, tilting his head. “i know you do all the heavy lifting every year. i know you always end up picking up the slack when people flake. and i know you’d rather pretend you don’t care than let anyone see you stressed about it.”

taehyun smiled, but it wasn’t smug this time. it was softer. easier. genuine.“so, yeah,” he said, as if his words hadn’t just shaken something loose inside you. “i’ll help. properly.”

you swallowed, forcing yourself to scoff, to keep your defenses up. “yeah, well,” you muttered, looking away. “you better.”

he chuckled, unfazed as always. “see? we’re making progress already.”

“i hate you.”

“no, you don’t,” he said, and the worst part was that he sounded like he knew it. ꒰💐꒱ the student council room buzzed with the quiet shuffle of papers and the faint hum of conversation as the members gathered around the long wooden table, settling into their seats. the late afternoon sunlight filtered in through the windows, casting elongated shadows across the polished surface.

you sat near the head of the table, arms crossed, posture composed, but your patience already thinning before the meeting had even begun. beside you, taehyun leaned forward slightly, his usual composed expression unreadable as he flipped through a neatly organized binder—probably filled with notes and plans that he had somehow managed to put together in the few hours since you both left the principal’s office.

the moment the last person took their seat, you cleared your throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “alright, let’s get this over with,” you said, ignoring the amused glance taehyun shot your way. “as you all know, the winter ball is coming up, and since the school is giving us the budget we need, it’s up to us to handle all the planning.”

taehyun, ever the composed leader, leaned forward with his arms resting against the table, scanning the three of you with his usual unreadable expression. “which means first things first,” he says, “we need a theme.”

a beat of silence followed, filled only by the distant chatter of students lingering in the hallways and the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall. then, with a loud thud, beomgyu—who had been balancing his chair precariously on two legs—let it drop back down, the abrupt sound making jiwon, the treasurer, flinch. he leaned forward, propping his elbow on the table and resting his chin on his palm, his eyes glinting with easy confidence. "what about… a black-and-white party?"

you blinked, eyebrows furrowing. “you mean… just two colors?”

"yeah," beomgyu confirmed, nonchalant. "like, everyone wears black or white. sleek. simple. no weird decorations." he shrugged as if he had just solved an age-old dilemma, clearly satisfied with himself. "it’ll be easy."

taehyun hummed, tapping the end of his pen against his notebook in thought. "it’s not bad, but it might be too minimal. people like having something to work with beyond just a color palette."

you nodded, already envisioning how utterly lifeless it would be. "and it could get boring fast. we need something with more… i don’t know. atmosphere."

before beomgyu could defend his idea, jiwon suddenly straightened in his seat, his perfectly styled hair falling slightly over his forehead as he tilted his head in what you knew was supposed to be a calculated display of charm. “hmm,” he mused, twirling his pen between his fingers. “what about an enchanted garden theme? twinkling fairy lights, roses everywhere, maybe even a little love-seat corner for couples…” his eyes flickered towardss taehyun, the end of his sentence laced with a easy lilt. “it’d be so cool, don’t you think, taehyun?”

taehyun, either genuinely oblivious or just expertly unfazed, regarded him with a blank expression, blinking once. “...that’s just a prom with plants.” jiwon’s smile faltered for half a second before he recovered, running a hand through his neatly styled hair. “well, not just a prom! we could—”

“it’s a winter formal,” taehyun cut in smoothly, his tone polite but unwavering. “not a midsummer night’s dream.” jiwon huffed, his expression tightening for a split second before he forced another airy laugh, though the slight flicker of irritation in his eyes didn’t go unnoticed by you. “fine. whatever,”

taehyun paid him no mind, glancing at the rest of you. "anyone else?"

beomgyu, who was still highly entertained by the exchange, perked up once more, his lips stretching into a grin. "okay, okay," he sighed, lifting his hands in mock surrender. "what if we do… a retro neon theme?"

you, taehyun, and jiwon turned to look at him at the exact same time, identical expressions of sheer disbelief written across your faces.

“…beomgyu,” you deadpanned, eyeing him as if he had just suggested you all hold the event in a convenience store parking lot. “this is a winter formal.”

beomgyu blinked innocently. “yeah, and?”

taehyun tilted his head slightly, looking at him as if he were trying to decipher an alien language. “so, you want people to slow dance under fluorescent pink lights?”

beomgyu crossed his arms, clearly standing by his idea. “who said anything about slow dancing? picture this—electric blues, neon signs, a dance floor that actually lights up. vintage, but modern.”

you stared at him. “that literally makes no sense.”

beomgyu groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. "you guys are impossible.”

before another argument could erupt, jiwon clapped his hands together, his eyes brightening with excitement. "ooh! what about a winter wonderland?"

you physically felt your soul leave your body. slowly, deliberately, you turned to face him, fingers tightening around your pen. "jiwon," you said, voice calm yet edged with thinly veiled exasperation, "it is already winter. people are literally living in a winter wonderland right now."

he pouted slightly, tilting his head as if that would somehow make his idea sound more appealing. "but we could make it cute! like, snowflakes everywhere, and maybe a big fake ice castle—"

“so… the exact same theme the school has used like four times before?” beomgyu interjected, raising an eyebrow.

jiwon frowned, tapping his pen against the table in thought. “well, i mean… yeah, but it’s classic.”

you exhaled through your nose, pressing your fingers against your temple. classic or not, it was painfully predictable, and if you had to sit through another event drowning in fake icicles and blue-tinted lights as if you were in the antartica, you were going to lose your mind.

“we need something fresh,” you muttered. “something that actually makes people excited to go.”

taehyun glanced at you, a knowing glint in his eyes. "so, you want something that stands out?"

you turned to him, narrowing your eyes. "obviously." beomgyu, who had been silent for a beat too long, suddenly leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head. “alright, then.” he let his arms drop back down, his gaze flickering between the three of you before a slow grin curved on his lips. “what about a masquerade ball?”

the room went quiet.

taehyun’s pen stilled between his fingers. you turned your head just in time to catch the way his gaze flickered to yours, brows raising slightly in silent acknowledgment. huh.

you narrowed your eyes, already seeing the gears turning in his head.

he knew.

you knew.

and beomgyu, perceptive as ever, caught onto the silent exchange in an instant. his grin widened, mischief flickering behind his eyes as he leaned forward, bracing his forearms against the table. “what’s with the looks? did i just blow your tiny little minds?”

you scoffed, but the corners of your lips twitched, betraying your amusement. “please. let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

taehyun hummed, drumming his fingers against his notebook, the sound a steady, thoughtful rhythm. “she’s right. however, it’s actually a solid concept.”

beomgyu clutched his chest dramatically, leaning back in his chair like he had just been struck by an arrow. “oh my god. did the two scariest people in student council just agree with me?”

jiwon, who had been slouching in his seat ever since his winter wonderland idea got shot down, straightened up slightly, interest piqued. “so… like those fancy, mysterious balls in movies?”

“exactly,” beomgyu confirmed, voice brimming with satisfaction. “dim lighting, chandeliers, intricate masks—people get to dress up and pretend to be someone else for a night.” he wagged his brows. “cool, isn’t it?”

taehyun ignored his theatrics, already scribbling down notes. “formal but not boring. atmospheric without being overly complicated. it works.”

you tapped a finger against your chin, pretending to deliberate. “hmm. it does sound good, but i don’t know, gyu. the fact that it came from you makes me a little skeptical.”

beomgyu gasped, feigning betrayal as he placed a hand over his heart. “come on, don’t you have faith in me?.”

you smirked, tilting your head. “oh, i have faith in you. just not in your taste.” “says the girl who still thinks vanilla ice cream is the superior flavor,” beomgyu shot back, eyes gleaming.

your jaw dropped. “what does that have to do with anything?”

taehyun, barely glancing up from his notes, murmured, “she’s right, though. it’s a classic.”

beomgyu let out an exasperated groan, throwing his hands up. “oh, so she gets a pass for being boring, but i make one suggestion and suddenly—”

“masquerade it is,” taehyun interrupted smoothly, tapping his pen against the page for emphasis. “it’s decided.”

beomgyu sat up a little straighter, his usual playful arrogance giving way to something softer—something closer to pride. he actually contributed something worthwhile, and he knew it.

you glanced around the table, noting the shift in energy. what started as a frustrating mess of half-baked ideas had finally settled into something concrete. something promising.

as the meeting neared its end, the room gradually emptied, leaving behind the quiet remnants of rustling papers and the faint echo of footsteps against the tiled floor. beomgyu was the first to sling his bag over his shoulder, stretching his arms high above his head with a satisfied groan. he looked far too pleased with himself, as if he had just single-handedly saved the winter formal instead of throwing out the most ridiculous suggestions until he accidentally landed on the perfect one.

“alright, my job here is done,” he announced, adjusting his strap before flashing a lopsided grin at you and taehyun. “don’t stay too late, lovebirds.”

“we are not—” you started, only for beomgyu to duck out the door before you could finish.

you let out a frustrated huff, but before you could dwell on it, jiwon stepped forward, his movements unhurried as he gathered his things. he lingered near taehyun’s side, adjusting the strap of his bag with an easygoing air, as if trying to find the right words.

“hey,” he started, offering a small, casual smile, “if you ever need help with anything, you can call me. you know, student council teamwork and all.”

taehyun, ever the picture of polite indifference, barely spared him a glance. “sure, noted.”

jiwon hesitated, clearly expecting something more—maybe a nod of acknowledgment, maybe even a small thanks—but when taehyun remained as detached as ever, he let out a short laugh, shaking his head as if to brush it off. “right. see you guys later, then. goodluck!”

and then, it was just you and taehyun.

the door clicked shut behind him, sealing your fate.

you exhaled, resting your elbows against the table before letting your forehead drop against the cool surface. “this is cruel and unusual punishment.”

taehyun barely looked up from his notes. “it’s called responsibility.”

you groaned. “i have plenty of responsibilities, thank you very much. this just happens to be the one i want to run from the most.”

“too bad.”

taehyun’s tone was frustratingly even, the very definition of someone who had already accepted his fate. you peeked up at him through your arms, watching as he methodically sorted through the remaining paperwork, his expression unreadable. it was strange. you were used to him being sharp, snarky, always finding ways to make your life harder rather than easier. but right now?

right now, he was just… doing the work. without complaint. without prodding.

you slowly sat up, watching him with narrowed eyes.

“okay, what’s your deal?”

taehyun finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. “what?”

“you.” you gestured vaguely at him, then at the neatly arranged papers in front of him. “you’re being helpful. like, actually helpful. it’s weird.”

his lips curled slightly, though the amusement didn’t quite reach his eyes. “i told you i’d help, didn’t i?”

“yeah, but not like.. this..” 

he huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head before flipping through one of the documents. “you seriously underestimate me.”

“i seriously don’t.” you crossed your arms. “which is why i’m suspicious.”

taehyun sighed, tapping his pen against the table. “if it makes you feel better, i’ll handle the layout and catering logistics. you can start drafting the seating arrangements.”

you stared at him.

he stares back.

“…you already planned half of this, didn’t you?”

his silence was answer enough.

you blinked, momentarily thrown off by the sheer efficiency of it all. then, something flickered in his expression—something almost unreadable, something sincere—and suddenly, you didn’t know where to look.

“i told you,” taehyun murmured, his voice quieter now, as if he didn’t want to break whatever fragile moment had settled between you, “i’ll help.” you huffed out a breath, pushing aside the odd weight pressing at the edges of your mind, and refocused on the papers spread before you. whatever strange moment had just passed between you and taehyun—whatever flicker of something that had settled in the quiet between you—it didn’t matter. you had work to do.

the room sank into a silence that, against all odds, felt… natural. not suffocating, not strained, not heavy with the usual tension that came with being near taehyun for too long. it was a stark contrast to the earlier chaos of the meeting, the air now humming with something softer—less sharp edges, less sharp words.

it was almost unsettling how easily you both worked like this.

every now and then, one of you would break the silence.

“do we need to confirm the dj by the end of the week?”

“yeah, and the photographer too.”

or—

“should we let people vote for their own ball court, or do you think it’ll just turn into a popularity contest?”

“kang, every ball court is a popularity contest.”

for once, there were no playful jabs, no attempts to rile each other up—just efficiency. a rare, mutual understanding.

and yet, the hours dragged.

outside, the sun had begun to dip below the horizon, casting the room in streaks of orange and pink, elongating shadows across the table. the once-bright fluorescent lights above now felt too harsh, highlighting the exhaustion that had begun creeping into your bones. the weight of the day settled over you in increments—shoulders aching, head growing heavier, eyelids drooping ever so slightly.

then, as you were scanning through a list of venue restrictions, a yawn tore its way out of you before you could stop it.

taehyun’s head lifted at once. “tired?”

you blinked at him, rubbing your eyes as inconspicuously as possible. “no.”

his gaze flickered towardss you, sharp yet unreadable. “you should just go home. i can finish the rest.”

you scoffed, dropping your hand from your face. “what, and let you mess everything up? not on my watch.”

his brows raised slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching. “mess everything up? bold words, considering i’ve been handling student council work longer than you have.”

“exactly,” you countered, deadpan. “which means i know what you’re capable of, and frankly, it’s concerning.”

taehyun exhaled, shaking his head in mock disbelief. “you really don’t trust me with this, huh?”

“would you trust you?”

his lips curled, eyes glinting with amusement. “i trust myself way more than i trust you.”

you let out an exaggerated gasp. “excuse me?”

“you heard me.”

“taehyun, i carry the weight of this council on my back, and you know it.”

he let out a soft chuckle, leaning back in his chair. “right, because your world would fall apart if you admitted i actually help out around here.”

you narrowed your eyes, pointing a pen at him. “if you actually helped, i wouldn’t be here right now.”

“or maybe,” he mused, tilting his head, “you just like spending time with me.”

you nearly choked.

“as if,” you spluttered, eyes widening.

taehyun smirked, seemingly satisfied with your reaction. “so dramatic.”

you let out an exasperated groan, dragging a hand down your face. “you’re insufferable.”

“and yet, you’re still here.”

“because i have to be,” you shot back.

he hummed, tapping his fingers against the table. “alright, then. let me—”

without thinking, your hand shot out, curling firmly around his wrist.

your breath caught in your throat, the moment stretching impossibly thin, charged with something you couldn’t name. your fingers were wrapped around the bare skin of taehyun’s wrist, his pulse thrumming steadily beneath your touch—warm, solid, real.

taehyun stilled.

for once, he looked just as caught off guard as you felt, his gaze flickering downward, lips parting slightly. you could see the exact moment realization dawned on him, something shifting in his expression, his breath coming just a fraction sharper.

but neither of you moved.

the air between you thickened, something unspoken curling into the space left behind by your bickering. your heart pounded against your ribs, so loud, you were convinced he could hear it. your palm burned against his skin, a sensation you weren’t sure was entirely physical.

you ripped your hand away, as if you had been scorched.

taehyun blinked at you, his expression unreadable, caught between something unreadable and something almost… curious. then, his lips twitched, the ghost of a smirk forming, though this one was softer—less teasing, more thoughtful.

“okay, okay,” he said, voice quieter now, almost teasing but not quite. “i’ll let you finish your own work.” you barely heard taehyun’s voice. barely registered the joyful lilt of his words or the soft chuckle that followed.

because something felt wrong.

not wrong in the way that set off alarms in your head—not danger, not fear—but something different. something foreign pressing against the edges of your awareness, unfamiliar yet impossibly warm. your wrist tingled, the sensation starting as a faint whisper beneath your skin before deepening into something more insistent, something that crawled up your arm like a quiet, lingering heat. it wasn’t painful, but it burned in a way that made your breath catch, a way that made your fingers curl against the table as if grounding yourself would somehow steady the sudden unease settling in your chest. your brows furrowed as the warmth pulsed again, slow and steady, like a heartbeat against your palm. for a second, you tried to ignore it, forcing your focus back onto the scattered documents before you. but the feeling refused to fade, refused to be dismissed as something inconsequential. it lingered, curling beneath your skin, insistent, waiting. a strange, quiet whisper of a sensation that made something stir uneasily in your chest.

your fingers twitched.

the urge to check clawed at you.

hesitantly, almost cautiously, you turned your palm over. your breath felt uneven, the steady rhythm of your chest rising and falling suddenly harder to control. your fingers flexed once, twice, before finally, with a sharp inhale, you reached for the sleeve of your jacket.

you hesitated.

just for a second.

then, slowly, you peeled the fabric back—

and you felt your breath hitch.

there, resting in the curve of your palm, was a single blue hydrangea.

it was small, delicate, impossibly soft-looking, its petals shimmering faintly with an ethereal glow. the light was subtle, barely noticeable, but it was there, a quiet pulse of something that shouldn’t be real. your eyes widen, your chest tightening, the air around you suddenly feeling too thick, too heavy, as if the weight of the moment itself was pressing down on you, demanding to be acknowledged. your fingers twitched again, hesitant, unsure, before finally moving—just barely grazing the petals. they were cool beneath your fingertips, soft as silk, fragile in a way that made your stomach twist. and yet, the moment you made contact, a warmth surged through you—different from before, deeper, curling through your chest, spreading outward in gentle waves, like ripples disturbing still water.

panic clawed at your ribs.

this wasn’t real.

it couldn’t be real.

cautiously, carefully, you lifted your gaze—

taehyun wasn’t even looking at you.

he was still focused on his own work, completely unaware of the storm unraveling within you. his expression remained neutral, his hands moving with practiced ease as he gathered the last of the documents, his posture relaxed as if nothing had happened. he hadn’t noticed the way you had frozen. he hadn’t heard the sharp breath that had caught in your throat. he hadn’t felt what you had felt.

you sat there, staring, mind spinning in frantic circles, barely registering the movement of his hands, the faint sound of paper rustling as he organized everything into neat stacks. he was still working. he had moved on.

your fingers tightened around your sleeve, pressing the fabric into your palm, concealing the impossible proof still resting there.

taehyun had no idea.

he hadn’t seen it.

but you had. suddenly, the way taehyun had been looking at you earlier—the way his voice had softened when he told you he’d help, the way his fingers had tapped against the table absentmindedly, as if waiting for something—felt different.

suddenly, the small, glowing flower sitting against your skin felt heavier than anything you had ever held.

your stomach twisted, fingers still curled tightly around your sleeve as you forced yourself to keep your expression neutral, to act as if your world hadn’t just been turned upside down.

but deep down, you already knew.

taehyun was your soulmate.

the chair scraped against the floor as you pushed back suddenly, the legs dragging loud and jarring against the quiet that had settled between you and taehyun. the movement was too sharp, too abrupt, and when you stood, a wave of dizziness hit you like a punch to the chest. taehyun’s head snapped up at the sudden movement, brows knitting together in something close to confusion. “where are you going?” his voice was steady, but there was a slight edge to it—one that might’ve gone unnoticed if your heart wasn’t already hammering in your chest. “i thought you wanted to stay?”

you swallowed, trying to mask the way your breath felt uneven, the way something inside you trembled like a frayed wire sparking against itself. “i—” your throat felt dry. you shook your head, barely able to string together a convincing excuse. “i-i just remembered i have something to do.”

taehyun’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze sharp and assessing as he leaned back in his chair. “really?”

you exhaled sharply, trying to pull yourself together, trying to keep your feet moving before you did something foolish. “yes, really,” you bit out, words a little too rushed, too forced. you took a step back, then another. “i should go.”

“now?” taehyun’s voice carried a note of incredulity, as if he was trying to make sense of the contradiction. just minutes ago, you had argued tooth and nail about staying, yet now, here you were, bolting for the door like something was chasing you.

you nodded once, stiffly, pressing your lips together. “yes. now.”

before he could say anything else, before the weight of his gaze could pin you down, you spun on your heel and hurried for the door. your heart thundered violently against your ribs, your pulse roaring in your ears, but you didn’t stop. you couldn’t.

the cool evening air hit you like a shock to the system when you finally stepped outside, your lungs burning with the weight of everything you had just run from. but even then, even with the distance now stretching between you and taehyun, your fingers curled instinctively tighter around your sleeve, as if the mere act of holding it close could somehow make the truth disappear.

but it didn’t.

because pressed against your palm, glowing softly beneath the fabric, the tiny blue hydrangea still remained. ꒰💐꒱ you couldn't sleep.

you lay on your bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, but the silence in your room was anything but peaceful. it was suffocating—thick and pressing, curling around your ribs like invisible vines, making it impossible to breathe. every time you closed your eyes, you saw it. that flower. delicate and impossibly vibrant, glowing softly against your palm as if mocking you. and with it came the realization you still weren’t ready to accept, the one that had rattled you so deeply you could barely think straight.

kang taehyun was your soulmate.

your stomach twisted, a cold weight settling deep in your gut. it didn’t make sense. it couldn’t make sense. the universe, fate—whatever cruel force had determined this—must have made a mistake. had to have made a mistake. because out of all the people in the world, why him? why the one person you could barely stand, the one person who got under your skin like no one else could?

a frustrated breath tore from your lips as you sat up abruptly, shoving your blanket off. you couldn’t just sit here, drowning in the sheer absurdity of it all. your fingers reached for your phone, unlocking it in one swift motion before you began typing furiously into the search bar, your heart hammering so loudly it nearly drowned out the quiet hum of the device.

how to break a soulmate bond?

your thumb hovered over the screen as you hesitated, an uneasy feeling creeping into your chest.

then you pressed enter.

your eyes scanned the results, fingers scrolling hastily, only for a sharp sting of disappointment to hit you when the answers all read the same:

soulmates are predetermined from birth.a soulmate bond cannot be unbound.a soulmate connection is permanent.

your grip on your phone tightened.

you tried again.

can you reject your soulmate?can a soulmate connection fade?is there a way to erase a soulmate bond?

but again, every response remained cruelly, infuriatingly unchanged. your chest constricted, heat rising to your cheeks as frustration built like a storm inside you. you hated this. hated the idea that some unseen force had decided your fate without your consent, tying you to taehyun in a way you couldn’t even begin to understand.

your pulse pounded in your ears, but you forced yourself to keep reading, scanning through endless articles, forums, old folklore—anything that might give you a loophole.

and then, finally, you found something.

your eyes locked onto a passage buried within a lengthy explanation on soulmate manifestations. the words swam before you, but you forced yourself to focus, breath catching as you reread the key line over and over again.

"the flower will continue to appear until the bond is acknowledged and reciprocated."

you swallowed hard, gripping your phone tighter.

"only through mutual recognition—through intertwined touch—can the cycle be broken."

a shiver crawled up your spine, slow and deliberate, like a creeping realization settling deep into your bones. the weight of it pressed against your chest, making it harder to breathe, harder to think past the overwhelming truth that had been forced upon you. your stomach twisted at the thought. as long as he didn’t know—as long as you never let your hands fully intertwine—he wouldn’t find out. the flower would keep returning, yes, but it wasn’t permanent. it wasn’t an unshakable mark of fate binding the two of you together in an irreversible way.

your breath caught as you hesitated, then slowly peeled back your sleeve, heart hammering wildly against your ribs. but when your gaze flickered down—

nothing.

the flower was gone. a sharp exhale left you, a rush of relief so sudden it nearly made you laugh. it wasn’t a mark you were doomed to wear forever. it could be hidden, erased, kept entirely to yourself. your fingers curled into a fist, as if trying to physically trap the secret away, to hold it tight before it could slip through the cracks and ruin everything.

taehyun didn’t have to know.

you could keep this to yourself. you could pretend it never happened. as long as you avoided direct contact, as long as you stayed careful, the truth would remain buried. and taehyun—your soulmate—would never have to find out.

the thought should have been comforting, should have eased the sick feeling that had settled in your stomach. but it didn’t. because no matter how much you tried to ignore it, push it down, pretend it wasn’t real—

the fact remained.

the universe had chosen taehyun for you.

and worse—

it had chosen you for him.

you exhaled slowly, pressing your palms over your eyes as if the darkness behind your lids could somehow erase the thoughts running rampant in your mind. it was useless—no matter how much you tried to push it away, the truth remained, lodged deep beneath your skin like a splinter that refused to be ignored.

still, you had to at least try.

dragging in a breath, you shifted onto your side, curling beneath the covers in a last-ditch effort to find rest, even if only for a few fleeting hours. the room was silent, save for the faint ticking of the clock on your desk, a reminder of just how little time you had left before the world would start moving again. you squeezed your eyes shut, forcing yourself to focus on the steady rise and fall of your chest, on the softness of the sheets beneath your fingertips. if you could just empty your mind, even just for a moment.

but sleep never truly came.

instead, you drifted in and out of a restless haze, thoughts tangling and unraveling like threads in your mind. each time you closed your eyes, you swore you could still feel the lingering warmth against your palm, the faint ghost of a touch that had changed everything. and before you knew it, the sun had already risen.

a sliver of golden light filtered through your curtains, painting soft, dappled shapes across your walls. you barely had time to register the shift before your alarm blared to life, the sharp, grating sound pulling you straight back into reality.

with a heavy sigh, you rolled onto your back, staring at the ceiling as exhaustion settled deep in your bones. the weight in your chest hadn't lessened overnight—if anything, it had only grown heavier, sinking deeper now that you had to face what came next.

school. preparing for the winter ball. more responsibilities.

and worse than that, taehyun.

your jaw tightened at the thought. there was no avoiding him. no ignoring his presence, no pretending he didn’t exist when he was the student council president, when you had to work with him to organize the ball, when he was everywhere. when, no matter how much you wanted to, you couldn't just erase him from your world.

but today, you had no choice but to pretend.

pretend like nothing had changed. pretend like you weren’t walking into the same room as the person you were now inexplicably tied to. pretend like he wasn’t your soulmate.with one last deep breath, you swung your legs over the side of the bed, steeling yourself for the day ahead.

as you got ready, the soft rustle of fabric filled the quiet of your room as you slipped into your jacket, fingers instinctively pulling the sleeves down past your wrists. you had always worn one out of habit, for comfort more than anything else, but today—it served a different purpose.

today, it was a barrier.

a thin layer of protection between you and the one person who could never know the truth.

your hands lingered for a moment, curling around the edges of your sleeves as if gripping them tighter would somehow ease the weight pressing against your chest. it didn’t. but still, you exhaled slowly, steeling yourself, before finally grabbing your bag and heading out the door.

as you got off the bus, the walk to school felt longer than usual. every step was heavy, your mind still tangled in the sleepless hours of the night before. the closer you got, the more you could feel it—that slow, creeping sense of unease settling in your bones, tightening its hold with each passing second.

but you kept your head low.

you had no interest in conversation. no interest in being perceived. the last thing you needed was someone taking notice of the way your mind was still reeling, the way your body was thrumming with something unsettled, something wrong.

“you in a hurry or something?”

your breath caught.

a voice. familiar. casual. far too easy going for how completely, utterly not easy this situation was. you didn’t have to look to know who it was. your fingers curled tighter around the strap of your bag, your knuckles turning faintly white from the force of your grip. as if holding on to something tangible could tether you, could anchor you to a reality that suddenly felt unbearably fragile.

his voice was light, threaded with that signature confidence that made your stomach curl uncomfortably.

"you practically ran out of the council room yesterday," taehyun mused, the curiosity in his voice so casual, so innocent, that it almost sounded like he wasn’t completely prying. but you knew better. taehyun never asked without reason. "thought you were so insistent on staying late and finishing up the work. kind of weird that you suddenly changed your mind."

your pulse stuttered.

so he noticed.

of course he did.

you forced yourself to keep your expression neutral, to fight against the tension creeping into your shoulders, the way your skin still buzzed with the weight of yesterday’s discovery.

"i changed my mind," you muttered, your voice clipped, carefully detached. "had more important things to do."

a hum. slow. drawn out. deliberate.

"oh?" taehyun says, his voice dipping ever so slightly, laced with a knowing lilt that sent an uncomfortable prickle down your spine. "that doesn’t sound like you. you never leave work unfinished, no matter how late it gets. if anything, you’d rather scold me for trying to leave early. i think that’s why it’s kind of… suspicious."

your fingers twitched. he was digging. picking at the cracks in your carefully composed exterior, sifting through the spaces where your walls weren’t quite thick enough. and you could feel it—the weight of his gaze as he examined you, silently cataloging every tiny inconsistency, every hesitation, every shift in your posture.

your stomach twisted.

he couldn’t know.

"look, i don’t know what you’re talking about," you said, feigning indifference, eyes fixed ahead. "i went home. did what i needed to do. end of story."

a silence stretched between you, thin yet impossibly dense.

"you’re a terrible liar."

the words were soft. simple. but they landed like a blow, striking something deep within you.

"seriously, what’s up with you?" taehyun continued, voice quieter now, softer around the edges, but no less insistent. his eyes were sharp, searching, tracing over your profile like he was trying to piece together a puzzle he wasn’t meant to solve. "you’ve been acting weird since yesterday. not just weird—weird in a way that actually bothers me. and that’s saying something."

your breath hitched before you could stop it, and for just a fraction of a second, your steps faltered.

it was slight—barely noticeable, barely anything—but taehyun caught it.

his gaze sharpened, quiet and unrelenting, brushing over the rigid line of your shoulders, the tightness in your grip, the way your breath had become just a little too controlled.

"seriously," he pressed again, more deliberate this time. "what’s going on with you? you don’t usually avoid eye contact like this. or, you know, sprint out of rooms like you just saw a ghost." he was watching you. waiting. reading between the spaces of your words, searching for something—an answer, a tell, the truth.

and it was too much.

too much when your thoughts were still tangled in the ghost of a blue hydrangea, too much when the memory of it felt like a brand against your skin, too much when your own chest felt like it was caving under the weight of what you could not let him know.

"i told you, it’s nothing!"

the word came out too fast, too sharp, too frayed at the edges, spilling into the space between you like a crack in fragile glass.

"nothing’s wrong, okay?" you snapped, exasperation bleeding into every syllable as you finally turned to glare at him. "i don’t know why you’re so fixated on this, but if i say it’s nothing, then it’s nothing!"

taehyun’s steps slowed, just barely, but enough for you to feel it.

then, after a beat, his lips curled.

"there’s my girl."

the words were light, teasing, but something about the way he said them—low, warm, unbearably fond—made your breath catch in your throat.

your stomach flipped.

heat crept up your neck, curling at the edges of your resolve, licking at the barriers you had so carefully built.

"don’t call me that," you snapped, voice edged with irritation, but the way your chest tightened betrayed you. taehyun only grinned wider, unfazed. "why not?” you let out a scoff, shoving past him with a force that felt more like fleeing than anything else, quickening your pace towardss the school entrance, desperate to put space between you, to shake off the warmth he left behind.

taehyun only chuckled, the sound rich with amusement, smooth and unbothered, trailing after you like a shadow you couldn’t escape.

as you and taehyun made your way towardss the principal’s office, you could still feel the weight of his earlier words clinging to your skin, but you forced yourself to push it aside, straightening your posture and steeling your expression as the two of you stepped into the office.

the principal greeted you both with a bright, approving smile, clearly pleased that the student council had taken the initiative to organize such an elaborate event. as you and taehyun pitched the ideas you had gathered from the meeting—the masquerade ball, the theme, the various activities planned—their expression only grew more delighted, nodding along enthusiastically.

"this all sounds wonderful!" he beamed, already reaching for the budget reports. "i'll grant you the funds you requested, and since this will require a lot of preparation, i'll allow you both to skip certain classes leading up to the event. just make sure to check in with your teachers and stay on top of your work."

you forced a polite smile, nodding in agreement, though internally, you grimaced at the thought of spending even more time with taehyun outside of your usual council duties. meanwhile, beside you, taehyun merely gave an easy, knowing grin, as if he could already sense your reluctance.

with the necessary approvals in hand, the two of you left the office and quickly made your way to find beomgyu and jiwon, easily spotting them in the hallway between classes. after explaining the situation, excusing them from their schedules, and going over the event details, the four of you gathered in the council room once again to divide the responsibilities.

"beomgyu, jiwon, you’ll be in charge of designing and putting up the promotional posters," taehyun started, his voice smooth and sure, as if he had already planned out the entire structure of the event in his head. "you’ll also be handling the setup for the photobooth and confirming everything with the dj and photographer."

beomgyu perked up at that, a spark of excitement in his eyes as he nodded. "oh, i have ideas already. don’t worry, the posters are gonna be a masterpiece." “so do i!” jiwon chimed in, nodding with a soft smile.

"good," taehyun said before turning to you. his gaze was steady, too steady, and you already had a bad feeling about what was coming. "that leaves us to handle the venue arrangements, the catering, and organizing the seating plans."

your stomach dropped.

"wait, what?" you blurted, brows knitting together. "why do i have to be paired with you? can't i switch?"

taehyun barely looked fazed, tilting his head in amusement. "because you’re the vice president, and i’m the president. it makes sense that we handle the major logistics together."

"but—"

"besides," he cut you off smoothly, a teasing lilt creeping into his voice, "you wouldn't want to leave all the important decision-making to me, would you? i might pick the absolute worst venue just to spite you."

you opened your mouth to protest, only to close it again when you realized he had you cornered. he knew you couldn’t let him handle this alone—not because you trusted his judgment, but because you absolutely didn’t.

your fingers clenched around the edge of the table before you finally let out a sharp exhale, shoulders dropping in reluctant defeat. "fine," you muttered, crossing your arms. "but if you make this unbearable for me, i swear—"

"i wouldn’t dream of it," taehyun interjected smoothly, lips quirking up in that ever-infuriating smirk of his.

beomgyu, watching the exchange, let out a low whistle, shooting you a look that was half amused, half pitying. "good luck," he mused, already turning towardss jiwon to start discussing the poster designs.

as much as you wanted to drag your feet and stall for time, taehyun was already leading the way towardss the computer lab, walking with that effortless confidence that somehow always managed to get under your skin. you followed begrudgingly, arms still crossed over your chest, every step weighed down by the unfortunate reality that you were stuck with him for this part of the planning.

the computer lab was mostly empty when you entered, save for a few students hunched over their screens, quietly typing away. the hum of the machines filled the air, the glow of the monitors casting a cool, sterile light over the room. taehyun wasted no time claiming a spot near the corner, settling into one of the chairs and gesturing for you to take the seat beside him.

reluctantly, you did.

"all right," he murmured, fingers already flying across the keyboard as he pulled up a search tab. "we need a venue that’s available in less than two weeks, big enough for the whole student body, and actually within our budget."

you scoffed, leaning back against your chair with an unimpressed look. "wow, really? i had no idea. it's not like i wasn’t at the meeting where we came up with this idea or anything."

taehyun barely spared you a glance, but you could see the corner of his mouth twitch. "just making sure we’re on the same page," he said smoothly, scrolling through a list of banquet halls. "i know how slow you can be sometimes."

your head snapped towardss him, eyes narrowing. "excuse me?"

he hummed, feigning deep concentration as he clicked through different options. "i mean, it took you ages to realize you liked working with me. maybe this will take just as long." "i do not like working with you," you shot back, voice low and sharp.

"mhm," he hummed, tilting his head. "whatever helps you sleep at night."

your fingers curled into fists as you resisted the urge to reach over and shove him off his chair. instead, you let out a long, slow exhale, rolling your shoulders before refocusing on the task at hand. arguing with him was getting you nowhere, and you refused to give him the satisfaction of throwing you off track.

"just focus," you muttered, pulling up a different search window. "we need to find a venue, not waste time on whatever nonsense is coming out of your mouth."

"you wound me," taehyun sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. "but fine, i’ll behave. for now."

you didn’t believe that for a second.

the next minutes were spent in a tense yet oddly efficient silence, both of you scanning through listings, occasionally typing out emails or jotting down notes. but of course, peace was never meant to last when taehyun was involved.

"how about this one?" he asked suddenly, turning his screen towardss you. "it’s big, has great lighting, and look—it even comes with a dance floor."

you barely glanced at it before shaking your head. "too expensive."

"oh, so now you're frugal?" he teased, clicking his tongue. "you didn't seem to care when we were talking about decorations."

"because decorations actually matter," you retorted. "unlike whatever overpriced ballroom you're looking at right now."

"overpriced?" taehyun leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "you have no taste." "and you have no concept of budgeting," you shot back, matching his posture with a challenging stare.

he grinned. "fine. your turn. pick a place."

you turned back to your screen, scanning through the options until you found one that seemed promising—spacious, reasonably priced, and still available within your tight timeframe. with a victorious smirk, you turned your laptop towardss him. "this one."

taehyun hummed, skimming over the details. then, to your immense irritation, he shrugged. "eh. it's decent."

"decent?" you repeated, your eye twitching. "it's perfect."

"i don't know," he mused, dragging out the words. "it’s a little plain, don’t you think?"

"you're plain," you grumbled under your breath.

taehyun chuckled, shaking his head as he clicked on the venue’s contact page. "all right, i’ll admit—it’s not bad. let’s call and see if it’s available."

"thank you," you huffed, leaning back in your chair.

taehyun shot you a look, his smirk still annoyingly present. "see? wasn’t that fun?"

"you’re insufferable."

"oh, please," he said, spinning slightly in his chair, "we both know that’s not true."

you exhaled sharply, closing your eyes for a brief moment to collect what little patience you had left. taehyun wasted no time pulling out his phone, fingers tapping swiftly as he dialed the number listed on the venue’s website. you followed suit, opening your email and drafting a message to another potential location, your heart already sinking at the thought of waiting for replies.

"come on, pick up," taehyun muttered under his breath, tapping his fingers against the desk impatiently as the call rang. his expression remained neutral, but you could tell from the slight furrow of his brows that he wasn’t the biggest fan of uncertainty either.

you pressed send on your email, leaning back with a sigh. "i hate this part," you admitted, watching as the message disappeared into the abyss of cyberspace. "just sitting around, waiting, hoping someone actually gets back to us soon."

"patience, grasshopper," taehyun mused, shooting you a teasing glance before straightening when someone finally answered his call. "yes, hi," he said smoothly, his tone shifting into something professional yet casual. "i was wondering if your venue is available for a school event in—"

he suddenly went quiet. you watched as his lips pressed into a thin line, his expression darkening slightly.

"... oh," he said after a pause, voice flat. "i see. no, that’s fine. thanks anyway."

you already knew what had happened before he even ended the call. "booked?"

"booked," taehyun confirmed with a sigh, tossing his phone onto the desk. "for the next three months."

"great," you muttered, rubbing your temples. "just our luck."

"don't be so dramatic," taehyun teased, picking up his phone again. "we still have options. just gotta keep trying."

"yeah, yeah," you sighed, refreshing your inbox just in case. nothing yet. not that you expected an immediate response, but it didn't stop the impatience from creeping in. your fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard, the soft clicks filling the quiet space between you and taehyun as you sent out the last of your inquiries. with a sigh, you leaned back in your chair, rubbing your temples before glancing at him. "i'll start looking for catering too," you said, already pulling up a new tab. "no point in wasting time while we wait."

taehyun glanced up from his phone, his lips curling into an approving smile. "look at you," he mused, amusement laced in his tone. "so efficient. what would we do without you?"

you rolled your eyes. "fail, probably."

he chuckled, tilting his head as if considering it. "you might be right." then, before you could react, his hand lifted slightly, fingers reaching towardss your head, the familiar motion making it painfully clear what he was about to do.

your body reacts before your mind fully processed it. panic surged through you, a sharp, instinctual jolt of alarm shooting down your spine as you immediately ducked out of his reach. your chair scraped against the floor as you leaned away, eyes widening slightly before narrowing into a glare. "don’t," you snapped, voice sharp with warning.

taehyun blinked at you, startled for all of a second before a slow, knowing grin stretched across his face. "wow," he laughed, clearly entertained by your reaction. "didn't realize you hated me that much."

you scowled, heat prickling at the back of your neck. "i just don’t like being touched."

"uh-huh," he drawled, unconvinced, but he let it go, instead leaning back in his chair with a smirk that made you want to throw your laptop at him. "whatever you say."

you huffed, turning back to your screen with more force than necessary. ignoring the way your heartbeat was still uneven, you focused on scrolling through catering options, clicking on the ones that looked promising. taehyun, meanwhile, resumed his calls, his voice switching between polite and slightly frustrated as he dealt with yet another rejection.

"seriously?" he muttered under his breath after hanging up. "do people just book venues for fun? why is everything taken?" you barely spared him a glance, typing out another inquiry. "maybe the universe just enjoys watching you suffer."

taehyun exhaled a sharp laugh, shaking his head as he dialed another number. "if that's the case, then it really needs to get a new hobby." your lips parted slightly as a soft chuckle slipped out before you even realized it, the sound light and fleeting amidst the quiet hum of the computer lab. you didn’t dwell on it, simply shaking your head before shifting your focus back to your screen, fingers gliding over the keyboard as you continued to scroll through catering services, listing them down one by one in a growing document. beside you, taehyun remained engrossed in his own task, his voice occasionally dipping in and out of conversation as he made yet another call.

and so, the afternoon passed in a steady rhythm—clicks of the keyboard, the quiet murmur of emails being typed, the occasional sigh of frustration whenever another rejection came through. time blurred into an endless cycle of inquiries and planning, every second dedicated to ensuring the ball would come together despite the ridiculous time constraint.

but eventually, exhaustion began to creep in, a slow and subtle weight pressing against you. the lack of sleep from the night before clawed at your consciousness, your eyelids growing heavier with every passing moment. at first, you tried to fight it, blinking rapidly and straightening your posture, but it was no use. the lull of soft ambient noise, the gentle warmth of the room, the repetitive motions all pooled together into something dangerously lulling, and before you knew it, your head dipped slightly, your body leaning into the comfortable haze of rest.

meanwhile, taehyun was still fully engaged in his work, the tip of his tongue pressed against the inside of his cheek as he skimmed through his emails. his patience was wearing thin after what felt like the hundredth rejection, but then, his screen lit up with a notification, a new message appearing in his inbox. when he opened it, his eyes widened slightly.

"finally," he breathed, his tone shifting from weary to triumphant in an instant. then, louder, "we got one! a venue just confirmed they’re available!" but no response came.

taehyun furrowed his brows, turning his head slightly. "hey, are you—"

he stopped mid-sentence.

his gaze landed on you, and for the first time that day, he fell completely silent.

your body was relaxed, posture softened in a way he’d never seen before. your breathing was slow, steady, your lashes resting lightly against your cheeks as you remained completely still. the exhaustion you had been so clearly fighting had finally won, lulling you into an unguarded moment of peace.

taehyun’s lips parted slightly as he took in the sight before him, the sharp edges of his usual teasing demeanor smoothing out into something gentler.

his eyes traced the curve of your cheek, the way a few stray strands of hair had fallen into your face, shifting slightly with each slow exhale. for a fleeting second, his fingers twitched, the urge to reach out and tuck them away bubbling up inside him.

but he hesitated.

he knew you wouldn’t like that. instead, taehyun simply sighed, a quiet, barely-there smile tugging at the corners of his lips. shaking his head to himself, he leaned back in his chair, voice a hushed murmur as he muttered,

"maybe another time." ꒰💐꒱ the world around you was slow to come into focus. a quiet groan slipped past your lips as you sat up, stretching your arms over your head, your body protesting the hours spent slumped over in an awkward position. your fingers moved to rub the sleep from your eyes, the lingering haze of exhaustion still clinging to you like a thick fog. for a moment, everything was a blur—the dim hum of computer screens, the distant echoes of muffled footsteps from outside, the faint glow of the overhead lights. but as your mind caught up with your surroundings, realization settled over you like a sudden jolt.

you were still in the computer lab.

blinking away the remnants of sleep, your gaze drifted over the space, taking in the faint glow of the monitors, the scattered notes, and the quiet that had settled into the room like a thick, undisturbed blanket. it was late. way too late.

but then, as your eyes continued to wander, they landed on something—or rather, someone. just beside you, head tilted ever so slightly to the side, arms loosely crossed over his chest, was taehyun. asleep.

you stilled.

for a long moment, you simply stared, your breath caught somewhere between surprise and something far too unnameable to grasp. taehyun was never this still, never this quiet. he was all sharp edges and smooth confidence, all witty remarks and knowing smirks. yet, in this moment, every single ounce of that usual energy had melted away.

your eyes traced the softened lines of his face, the way his lashes rested against his cheeks, casting delicate shadows against his skin. his lips, usually curved into something smug or teasing, were parted just slightly, his breathing even and unhurried. he looked… peaceful.

your fingers twitched slightly against your lap, as if unsure of what to do with themselves. you had never seen him like this before, had never had the chance to observe him without his usual air of unwavering self-assurance. your body moved before your mind could even begin to comprehend what you were about to do.

it was irrational. reckless, even. completely devoid of the careful distance you had sworn to maintain between the two of you. but despite every screaming thought urging you to stop, despite the warning bells ringing furiously in the back of your mind, your hand was already moving, trembling slightly as it hovered just above taehyun’s skin, caught in a delicate hesitation that lasted all but a second.

and then, before you could so much as blink, before common sense could come crashing down like a tidal wave and pull you away—

your fingertips brushed against his cheek.

warm.

taehyun was warm.

so impossibly warm that the contrast against the cool air of the computer lab sent a shiver down your spine. it wasn’t much—just the lightest touch, barely there, fleeting like a whisper of wind. so delicate it could have easily been mistaken for a trick of the mind.

but it wasn’t.

because the moment your skin made contact with his, an all-too-familiar heat unfurled across your wrist—burning, spreading, blooming like ink in water. your breath caught in your throat, your entire body stiffening as realization slammed into you with the force of a freight train.

oh.

oh no.

it was happening again.

the hydrangea—it was back. you didn’t even need to roll up your sleeve to check. you felt it, felt the warmth seeping into your skin like an irreversible brand, a cruel reminder of the connection you were desperately trying to ignore.

your heartbeat stuttered, then picked up pace, pounding against your ribs like it was attempting to escape. what have you done? what on earth had possessed you to—

a shift.

a breath.

a quiet inhale, followed by the faintest stir of movement.

taehyun was waking up.

your stomach twisted painfully, panic slamming into your chest with dizzying force as his body tensed slightly, as his lashes fluttered ever so faintly, as the slow pull of consciousness dragged him from sleep.

you ripped your hand away as if burned, shoving it into your lap, curling your fingers into the fabric of your skirt in a poor attempt to ground yourself. but the damage was already done. you had been too late.

taehyun’s eyes cracked open, hazy with sleep, dark irises unfocused as they attempted to adjust to the dim lighting. for a moment, he looked dazed, blinking sluggishly, his expression lost in the remnants of slumber. but then his gaze settled on you.

still sitting too close.

still stiff with the remnants of panic.

taehyun’s brows furrowed slightly, a quiet breath escaping his lips, his voice still heavy with drowsiness. “were you just—?”

“no.”

the word shot out of your mouth before he could even finish his sentence, abrupt and sharp, too quick, too defensive. you barely resisted the urge to flinch at how obvious it sounded, how guilty it made you seem.

taehyun blinked again, sluggish and confused, his gaze flickering between your face and the way you were suddenly clutching your hands together as if you were trying to physically restrain yourself. his gaze lingered for a second too long, sharp despite the remnants of sleep still clouding his features, and then, as if a switch had flipped, his lips stretched into that insufferable, knowing grin—the one that always meant trouble.

taehyun sat up straighter, stretching his arms out with a low hum before tilting his head towardss you, expression brimming with mischief. “so,” he drawled, eyes glinting, “are you gonna tell me what that was about, or should i start guessing?”

“nothing,” you muttered, a little too quickly, shifting in your seat, fingers curling tighter around the ends of your sleeves, your grip near suffocating as you tugged the fabric down as far as it would go.

taehyun leaned in slightly, feigning deep contemplation. “hm, you sure? because it really seemed like—”

“it wasn’t,” you snapped, gaze locked stubbornly on the desk, anywhere but at him, anywhere but those sharp eyes that always seemed to see far too much. “just thought you had dirt in your face.”

“you’re a terrible liar.”

“and you’re annoying.”

“a little defensive, don’t you think?”

your grip on your sleeves tightened further, fingers curling so desperately around the fabric that your knuckles turned white, nails pressing in with enough force that they nearly pierced through.

taehyun simply leaned back against his chair, smugness dripping from every inch of him as he studied you with lazy amusement. “what, did you get tired of glaring at me and decide watching me sleep was more entertaining?”

your patience, already worn dangerously thin, snapped. “i told you, it’s not what you think!” you groaned, pushing yourself up from your seat and shoving your things into your bag with far more force than necessary, each motion sharp and hurried—zipping up folders with a little too much vigor, stuffing loose papers inside with no care for whether they crumpled or not. taehyun’s grin only widened as he watched you all but stuff your things into your bag, each movement hurried and brimming with frustration. you could practically hear the amusement dripping from his voice as he tilted his head, unbothered by your growing irritation.

“you know,” he mused, stretching his arms out as if he had all the time in the world, “you’re acting really suspicious right now.”

you rolled your eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn’t get stuck. “oh, please. if anyone’s suspicious, it’s you.”

“me?” he gasped, placing a hand over his chest in mock offense, though the effect was ruined by the barely contained smirk tugging at his lips. “i just woke up, and now i’m being accused? unbelievable.”

“yeah, well, believe it,” you shot back, zipping up your bag with more force than necessary. “you’re always up to something.”

taehyun hummed, resting his chin on his hand as he studied you with lazy amusement. “you’re deflecting.”

“you’re projecting.”

he let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “this is the worst attempt at changing the subject i’ve ever seen.”

your grip on your bag strap tightened. “maybe if you shut up, we wouldn’t need to change the subject at all.”

taehyun only smirked, his eyes glinting in that way that always made your stomach twist. “so, let me get this straight,” he says, tapping a finger against his chin as if deep in thought. “you’re telling me you really weren’t just staring at me while i was sleeping? because from where i’m standing, it really looked like you were admiring me.”

your entire body went rigid. “i was not—!”

“no need to be shy,” taehyun continued, his voice syrupy sweet, the kind of tone that dripped with amusement and a touch of self-satisfaction, tilting his head just slightly, leaning into your space like he was savoring every second of your frustration. “i get it. i mean, you don’t get to see me this peaceful that often. i must’ve looked pretty cute, huh?”

your jaw nearly dropped, lips parting in sheer disbelief at the audacity—the absolute gall—he had to say that with a straight face. “oh my god. shut up.”

taehyun gasped again, clutching his chest as if you had just personally wounded him, eyes wide with faux shock, though the mischief never left his face. “you were watching me, weren’t you? i knew it!”

your fingers curled around the strap of your bag, knuckles turning bone-white from how hard you were gripping it, the pressure grounding you against the unbearable mix of panic and irritation bubbling in your chest. “you know what?” you huffed, your voice sharp and clipped, already done with this conversation before it could escalate any further. “i don’t have to stand here and listen to this.”

without another word, you spun on your heel, movements stiff with frustration as you stormed towardss the door, each step fueled by the desperate need to escape before he could dig any deeper into your flustered state. but, of course, taehyun was already up, barely missing a beat before falling into step beside you, effortlessly matching your hurried pace with infuriating ease. his laughter trailed after you like an ever-present shadow, light and teasing, his amusement practically radiating off of him.

“hey, don’t run away now,” he drawled, his voice laced with amusement, the playfulness evident in every syllable as he shot you a look that only made your irritation spike further. “i have more questions!”

you groaned, pressing your lips together in a firm line, refusing to dignify him with a response as you quickened your steps—but taehyun was right there, undeterred, his grin only widening as if he thrived on seeing you squirm.

as if sensing the utter exasperation radiating off you in waves, taehyun finally—mercifully—let the teasing subside, falling into step beside you without another word. you kept to yourself, keeping your gaze ahead, shoulders still slightly tense from the lingering remnants of his antics.

every now and then, your fingers twitched at your side before subtly moving to check your wrist, barely lifting the fabric of your sleeve as you stole a glance at the skin beneath. you weren’t sure why you kept looking, but each time, your stomach twisted with a strange mix of nerves and anticipation.

eventually, on what must have been your fifth or sixth check, you finally let out a quiet sigh, relief washing over you at the sight of bare skin. the soft exhale wasn’t loud by any means, but taehyun, ever perceptive, immediately picked up on it.

“what’s got you so relieved?” he chirped, his voice breaking through the quiet with an almost childlike curiosity.

you tensed for half a second before quickly schooling your features back into indifference, rolling your eyes as if to dismiss his question entirely. “none of your business,” you muttered, keeping your voice even, though you didn’t miss the way his gaze lingered on you for just a moment longer than necessary.

but instead of prying, which was something he would normally do just to get a rise out of you, taehyun simply smiled. not the usual smirk, not the playful glint of mischief, but something softer, something almost… fond.

“okay,” he said easily, like he wasn’t the least bit offended by your refusal to answer. the two of you walked in silence after that, the rhythmic tapping of your footsteps against the pavement filling the space between you. the air was crisp, carrying with it the distant hum of the city, the occasional rustle of leaves as the wind passed through.

after a while, taehyun spoke again, this time without any trace of teasing in his tone. “by the way, the venue’s set,” he said, glancing at you briefly before turning his gaze back ahead. “we got the confirmation while you were asleep. the deal’s all settled.”

you hummed at that, not quite looking at him as you muttered, “that’s good.”

another beat of silence stretched between you before something nudged at the back of your mind, something that had been lingering there ever since you had woken up in the computer lab. furrowing your brows slightly, you turned to him, your voice laced with mild confusion as you asked, “why were you sleeping too, anyway? you could’ve just gone home.”

taehyun barely blinked, as if he had been expecting the question. his expression remained as casual as ever, hands tucked into his pockets as he shrugged. “well, i couldn’t just leave you sleeping there all alone,” he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “and i’m pretty sure you wouldn’t have liked it if i woke you up either, so…”

his voice trailed off, but the implication lingered between you. your steps faltered for just a fraction of a second, eyes flickering towardss him instinctively, but he wasn’t looking at you. instead, he just kept walking, his expression unreadable, as if what he had said wasn’t anything significant at all.

the silence lingered between you, stretching with each step as the station gradually came into view. the sky had dimmed to a deeper shade of blue, the distant hum of the city settling into its evening rhythm. streetlights flickered on one by one, casting pools of golden light onto the pavement, their glow catching in the strands of taehyun’s hair as he walked just a little ahead of you.

you weren’t sure why, but you found yourself slowing down, your feet moving with less urgency now that you were nearing your stop. it was strange; usually, by this point, you would’ve been itching to part ways, to shake off the exhausting push and pull that always came with being around taehyun. but tonight, the usual exasperation felt… muted. replaced by something quieter. something you couldn’t quite name. taehyun was the first to break the silence.

“well,” he said, stopping just before the steps leading down to the station. he turned to you then, hands still tucked into his pockets, his smile softer now, lacking its usual sharp edge. “guess this is where we part ways.”

you blinked, caught off guard by the sudden finality of it. but before you could even think of something to say, he was already stepping back, tilting his head slightly as he regarded you with something unreadable in his expression.

“don’t stay up too late,” taehyun added, and though his tone remained casual, there was a quiet sincerity beneath it, woven into the way his gaze lingered for just a second longer than necessary.

your fingers curled around the strap of your bag, tightening for reasons you didn’t quite understand. “yeah,” you muttered, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. “you too.”

taehyun exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head as if amused by your halfhearted response. then, with one last glance, he turned, descending the steps with an ease that made it seem like this was nothing more than an ordinary parting.

but as you stood there, watching his figure disappear into the station, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. that, for the first time, you weren’t entirely relieved to see him go. ꒰💐꒱ the next few days blurred into a whirlwind of endless tasks, a relentless cycle of emails, phone calls, and meetings that left little room for anything else. mornings bled into afternoons, and afternoons stretched deep into the night, each one spent buried under an ever-growing to-do list. it felt as if the four of you were caught in the eye of a storm—one of your own making—drowning in preparations with barely a moment to come up for air.

the student council room had practically become your second home, its once neat and organized space now overrun with scattered papers, sample designs, and half-empty cups of coffee that none of you had the energy to clean up. rolls of fabric for table decorations sat in one corner, half-unfurled and abandoned, while poster drafts covered every available surface, some marked with hurried notes and others discarded altogether. the air was thick with the scent of paper and ink, the soft hum of printers and the occasional frustrated groan the only constants in the chaos.

beomgyu and jiwon were deep into their share of responsibilities, bouncing between designing promotional posters and confirming song choices with the dj. beomgyu, ever the perfectionist, went through what felt like a hundred drafts, grumbling under his breath every time jiwon pointed out a detail he had missed. their bickering became white noise at this point—background music to the madness—though, to be fair, it was nowhere near as bad as yours and taehyun’s.

because while the two argued over shades of blue and font choices, you and taehyun had the far more tedious task of finalizing the seating arrangements and catering. it meant making endless calls, negotiating over prices, and somehow fitting everything within the budget. it meant working side by side for hours on end, forced to cooperate despite how often you got on each other’s nerves. and somehow, even in the midst of all this exhaustion, taehyun still found the time to tease you—throwing in an unnecessary comment every chance he got just to watch your patience wear thinner and thinner.

"what would you do without me?" he mused one afternoon, stretching his arms behind his head as he leaned back in his chair. "actually, don’t answer that. i already know—this whole event would be a disaster."

you didn’t even look up from your laptop. "i swear to god, kang, if you don’t shut up—"

"what?" taehyun grinned, feigning innocence. "you’d miss me."

your glare could’ve set something on fire.

but despite all of it—the chaos, the exhaustion, the relentless teasing—the ball was finally beginning to take shape. details were falling into place, confirmations were being made, and the days that once seemed endless were now hurtling towardss the event itself. there was still so much to do, but for the first time, it felt within reach. the halls of the campus were practically buzzing with anticipation, filled with the kind of excitement that only came around during events like this. everywhere you looked, people were either wrapped up in their own little worlds with their significant others or fluttering around in hopeful search of their soulmates, their eyes filled with that dreamy sort of longing. laughter echoed off the walls, whispered confessions were exchanged in corners, and the air itself seemed to hum with something light and intoxicating.

it was nauseating.

you rolled your eyes, a quiet scoff slipping past your lips as you adjusted the strap of your bag over your shoulder. the entire scene before you was so painfully cliché, it almost made your skin crawl. and yet, despite the irritation bristling at the back of your mind, there was something else beneath it—something quiet, something you didn’t want to name. a strange unease settled in the pit of your stomach, an odd sort of weight pressing against your chest.

but like always, you ignored it.

beside you, taehyun walked with easy strides, hands tucked into his pockets, the usual self-assured air about him. today, the two of you were heading out to check on the venue for the winter masquerade ball, making sure the decorations were all set and that everything was coming together smoothly. with only a few days left before the event, the pressure was starting to settle in, but for now, you were stuck navigating through the suffocating atmosphere of romance filling the campus.

taehyun, ever perceptive, caught the eye roll almost instantly.

"oh? what’s this?" his voice was dripping with amusement, and when you turned to look at him, he was already wearing that insufferably smug smirk. "jealous, aren’t we?"

your head snapped towardss him, shooting him a glare sharp enough to cut through steel. "excuse me?"

taehyun only laughed, clearly enjoying this far too much. "come on, it’s okay to admit it. all these happy couples, all these people finding their soulmates just in time for the ball—" he gestured lazily at the scene around you. "i get it. it must be hard, watching all this when you’re still so tragically alone."

your lips parted, utterly scandalized. "i am not—" you sucked in a breath, fingers curling into your sleeves as you struggled to find a proper retort. "oh, shut up. just because you have nothing better to do than pester me doesn’t mean you get to act like you’re above all of this."

he hummed thoughtfully, tilting his head as if he was actually considering your words. then, with a completely straight face, he replied, "oh, but i am above all of this."

you groaned, throwing your hands up in exasperation as you quickened your pace, determined to put some distance between yourself and his insufferable teasing. but, as always, he was right there beside you, matching your steps with ease, his laughter trailing behind him like an echo.

the crisp winter air greeted you the moment you stepped outside, biting at the exposed skin of your cheeks despite the layers of warmth wrapped around you. the sun hung low in the sky, its golden light diffused by thin clouds, casting long, spindly shadows across the pavement like delicate cracks in ice. you barely spared a thought for the route ahead, already expecting taehyun to lead the way towardss the bus station, except, when you glanced over, he was walking in an entirely different direction, his strides unbothered, as if this was the plan all along.

your steps faltered, boots scuffing against the pavement as you abruptly came to a halt, brows knitting together in confusion. your gaze followed his path, trailing after him as he moved further and further away from the usual route. "...where are you going?" you called out, your voice carrying across the quiet afternoon air, laced with equal parts bewilderment and suspicion.

"to the venue."

his response was casual, so effortlessly nonchalant that for a brief second, you thought you had misheard him. but he didn’t stop walking. he didn’t even bother to glance back at you, hands shoved into his pockets as he strode ahead with unwavering confidence.

you blinked. once. twice. then, as if compelled by some cruel force, you turned your head slightly, following the path of his footsteps until—

your stomach plummeted.

there, parked neatly along the sidewalk, was a row of bicycles, their metal frames gleaming coldly beneath the pale winter sun. they stood like silent witnesses to your impending doom, completely harmless to anyone else—but to you, they may as well have been a death sentence.

"you're joking," you deadpanned, your voice void of any amusement, the words falling from your lips like lead.

finally, taehyun turned his head just enough to flash you a slow, lazy grin, the kind that sent warning bells clanging in your head. "nope."

"you're going the wrong way," "nope," a sharp huff of disbelief escaped you, frustration curling in your chest as you hastened your steps to catch up with him. "taehyun," you said, his name leaving your lips like a warning, like a thread pulled taut. "the station’s that way." with a swift movement, you jabbed a gloved finger behind you, pointing at the correct direction as if he had somehow forgotten the most basic detail of your usual routine.

but taehyun didn’t so much as falter. instead, he merely hummed, finally coming to a stop beside the bicycles, his movements as fluid as ever as he bent down, fingers deftly unfastening one of the helmets before straightening back up. "and the buses during noon are either overflowing with people or completely nonexistent," he countered smoothly, his voice carrying that infuriating ease that told you he had already thought this through. "so, unless you’d rather stand around for an hour getting elbowed and shoved by strangers, we’re going by bike."

your breath caught in your throat.

by bike.as in, you would have to sit behind him. on the same seat. with your hands gripping onto him for balance. close. too close.

panic flared within you like a sudden spark, igniting a wildfire of dread that spread rapidly through your veins. this was bad. this was very, very bad.

your fingers curled at your sides, tightening into fists as you scrambled for an excuse, anything that would get you out of this. "absolutely not," you blurted out, the words spilling out in an instant, rushed and firm. "there is no way i’m getting on that thing."

taehyun finally turned to you fully, one brow arching in that insufferable way that made your blood simmer with irritation. "oh?" he drawled, tilting his head slightly, his lips twitching at the corners as if barely restraining a smirk. "what, scared you'll fall?"

"no!" you snapped, far too quickly, far too defensive.

his smirk widened, amusement twinkling in his dark eyes like a cat who had cornered its prey. "then what's the problem?"

you opened your mouth, ready to throw back a sharp retort, ready to argue—but nothing came out. because you had no real excuse. not one that you could say aloud, at least.

because what were you supposed to tell him? that if you got too close, if your fingers so much as brushed against his skin, the hydrangea might bloom? that if he saw it, if he noticed, he would know?

taehyun, of course, was not one to back down so easily. he tapped his fingers against the bicycle’s handlebars, pretending to contemplate something, his expression exaggeratedly thoughtful. "hmm," he mused aloud, his tone light, almost playful. "well, if i go by myself, i’ll just have to check on the decor alone." taehyun sighed dramatically, shaking his head as if the very thought was exhausting. "and you know what that means. one second, the decorations are fine, the next, they’re a complete disaster. bows tied the wrong way, color schemes clashing, centerpieces all tilted and uneven—" your eye twitched violently.

"you're doing this on purpose," you accused, voice tight, heat creeping into your tone as frustration bubbled dangerously close to the surface.

"i have no idea what you’re talking about."

your teeth clenched.

you inhaled sharply, a single, measured breath, before exhaling just as forcefully. then, with a muttered curse under your breath, you ripped the helmet from his hands, yanking it onto your head with far more aggression than necessary. the strap snapped against your chin, stinging slightly, but you ignored it, too preoccupied with the simmering frustration roiling in your chest.

taehyun simply grinned, utterly unfazed by your obvious annoyance, and with an easy flick of his wrist, he patted the seat behind him before nudging his chin towardss it. “alright, hop on.” your entire body refused to move.

standing there, feet rooted firmly to the ground, you stared at the bicycle as if it were some kind of trap, a snare carefully laid out just for you. your fingers twitched slightly at your sides, curling inward, heart drumming steadily against your ribs as your mind whirred through all the possible ways this could go wrong.

if you got on, you wouldn’t be able to avoid touching him—not entirely. even the smallest brush of your skin against his, even the briefest moment of contact, could be enough. and if it bloomed, if the petals unfurled along your wrist, or worse, his—

you swallowed hard.

the helmet suddenly felt suffocating, its strap pressing against your chin as if trying to ground you, trying to force you into action. but you hesitated, standing frozen on the pavement, unable to shake off the overwhelming weight of uncertainty pressing down on you. taehyun notices. “what? don’t tell me you’re scared now,” he drawled, amusement still evident in his voice, but there was a flicker of something else in his expression—curiosity, maybe, or just the simple act of waiting.

you scowled, snapping yourself out of your daze with a sharp inhale through your nose. you couldn’t stand here forever.

gathering whatever was left of your resolve, you stepped forward, moving stiffly as you approached the bicycle. your movements felt painfully deliberate, like you were walking straight towardss a decision you couldn’t take back. then, with a slow, reluctant motion, you lifted your leg over the seat, settling yourself behind taehyun, barely touching him.

your hands hovered uncertainly in the air, fingers twitching slightly as you debated where to place them. his shoulders? his waist? no. definitely not his waist. the thought alone sent a rush of warmth up your cheeks.

finally, hesitantly, you let your hands rest lightly on his shoulders, barely applying any pressure, as if keeping yourself from pressing too close would somehow change anything.

taehyun must have felt your hesitance, because he turned his head slightly, a knowing grin tugging at his lips. “you’re gonna fall off if you sit like that,” he remarked, his voice laced with something dangerously close to amusement.

“i’m fine.”

“mhm. sure.” he didn’t sound convinced.

then, without warning, he pushed off the ground with an effortless ease, his foot pressing against the pavement before the bike lurched forward.

the sudden movement sent a sharp jolt through your entire body, a startled gasp slipping past your lips before you could swallow it down. the world tilted for a split second, the ground beneath you no longer stable, no longer unmoving, and the realization crashed over you all at once—you were on a bike, with taehyun, and you were moving. Fast.

your fingers curled around his shoulders, grip tightening instinctively, and for a brief, terrifying second, you thought you felt something stir beneath your sleeve—a faint, barely-there sensation, like a whisper against your skin. but before panic could sink its claws into you, taehyun’s voice broke through the moment. "relax," he mused, his voice carrying that ever-present amusement, like he was thoroughly enjoying your distress. "hold on tight, yeah? don’t want you flying off."

your head snapped up, indignation flaring in your chest as you gritted your teeth. "don’t move so fast, idiot! you’re gonna kill us both!"

but taehyun only laughed, the sound warm and unbothered, like the very thought of crashing was so far-fetched that it didn’t even deserve consideration. the bike swayed slightly as he shifted his weight, adjusting the pedals with a practiced ease, and your breath hitched, grip tightening further.

"oh, come on," he sighed dramatically, though there was no mistaking the grin in his voice. "have a little faith, will you?"

you squeezed your eyes shut for a brief second, inhaling sharply as you willed your nerves to settle. the cold air whipped past your face, stinging against your skin, but that was the least of your worries right now, no, what truly had your heart in a vice grip was the fact that you were still on his stupid bike, still pressed far too close to taehyun, still painfully aware of every little movement he made.

you prayed silently, desperately to whoever was out there listening that you wouldn’t fall off to your untimely demise, that you wouldn’t end up sprawled across the pavement in a tangled heap of limbs and regret. but, more than anything, you prayed that your skin wouldn’t touch his. not even for a second. not even the faintest brush.

your hands remained stiff where they rested on his shoulders, fingers curled awkwardly, hovering more than gripping, as if maintaining even the smallest gap would somehow be enough to stop the inevitable. it was ridiculous. stupid, even. and yet, you couldn’t shake the fear that if your wrists so much as grazed against him, the delicate petals of a hydrangea might bloom in betrayal.

taehyun, of course, was completely unaware of your silent internal crisis. if anything, he seemed to be enjoying himself, weaving through the streets with an effortless ease, as if he wasn’t carrying the weight of someone actively trying not to touch him. the bike glided smoothly along the pavement, tires humming against the road, and despite the sheer panic buzzing in your chest, you had to admit—he was good at this. confident. steady. in control.

not that you would ever tell him that.

“you’re awfully quiet back there,” taehyun noted after a moment, his voice laced with amusement. "don't tell me you're actually scared."

you scowled, even though he couldn’t see it. “i'm not scared,” you muttered through gritted teeth.

"right," he drawled, clearly unconvinced. "is that why you’re holding onto me like i’m your last hope for survival?"

your cheeks burned. "i’m most definitely not—"

before you could finish, he suddenly shifted his weight again, making a sharp but controlled turn onto a smaller road, and you barely swallowed down a yelp, fingers tightening against his shoulders by instinct.

taehyun laughed, a full, delighted laugh that rang through the air like a bell. "see? told you to hold on tight."

if the threat of a hydrangea blooming on either of your wrists wasn’t dangling over you like a guillotine—if it wouldn’t immediately make it known to taehyun that you were soulmates—you would have already smacked him straight to the ends of the earth without hesitation.

but, as it stood, you could only grit your teeth and endure, willing yourself to focus on anything else, anything other than the warmth radiating from where your fingers clutched his shoulders, anything other than the way his laughter curled around you like an infuriatingly bright ribbon. thankfully, after what felt like an eternity of praying, of resisting the urge to strangle him, of cursing whoever decided bikes were a viable mode of transportation, the venue finally came into view.

and it was… perfect.

even from the outside, the building exudes elegance, standing tall with its grand, arched windows and smooth stone façade. the entrance is framed by a set of wide, ornate double doors, the deep mahogany polished to a gleam, reflecting the soft, winter light. despite the season, the space feels warm and inviting, as if it had been plucked straight out of a fairy tale and placed in the heart of the city.

the mere thought of the upcoming event—the swirling gowns, the mystery of masked faces, the way the night will undoubtedly hold something unforeseen—sends a strange sensation curling in your chest. something close to anticipation, but not quite.

you quickly shove the feeling aside, choosing instead to focus on the fact that you have, miraculously, survived the journey in one piece.

taehyun rolls the bike to a stop just outside the entrance, planting his foot down to steady you both before tilting his head back slightly. "see?" he hums, the smugness practically dripping from his voice. "told you i'd get us here alive."

you roll your eyes, exhaling sharply as you finally hop off his godforsaken bike, your legs feeling slightly wobbly beneath you. stretching your arms over your head, you try to shake off the lingering tension, as if that might somehow erase the memory of the past ten minutes clinging onto taehyun for dear life.

taehyun, of course, was completely unaffected, effortlessly swinging his leg over and parking the bike right near the entrance. you followed suit, brushing your hands against your coat, as if smoothing out invisible creases, before the two of you step forward, pushing through the grand double doors and into the venue.

and the minute you do, it's… everything. you step further into the ballroom, your gaze sweeping across the breathtaking transformation before you. for a moment, you allow yourself to take it all in—the warm, golden light filtering through the chandeliers, the way the sheer, icy-blue drapes cascade from the walls like frozen waterfalls, the way the entire space shimmers with an almost dreamlike quality.

it feels unreal. after all the planning, the endless meetings, the stress and exhaustion of making sure everything fell into place… it’s finally here. almost.

taehyun lets out a low whistle beside you, shoving his hands into his pockets as he surveys the room. “not bad,” he muses, tilting his head. “almost looks too good, actually. like if someone breathes wrong, the whole thing will fall apart.”

you scoff, “let’s hope that doesn’t happen, then.”

as if summoned by your words, one of the hired decorators suddenly calls out, struggling with a particularly stubborn garland that refuses to stay in place. without hesitation, taehyun strides over, sleeves rolling up as he offers a hand, his sharp eyes quickly assessing the situation. you follow, stepping in to adjust a centerpiece that’s slightly off-center, making sure every little detail is aligned to perfection.

but as you reach for the delicate arrangement, your gloves—thick and slightly cumbersome from the cold—made it difficult to adjust the smaller details. you hesitate, glancing down at your hands before exhaling softly. with a swift motion, you tug them off, tucking them into your coat pocket. bare fingers now meeting the cool surface of the table, you press forward, ensuring everything was as precise as possible.

it took a while, moving from one area to another, helping the staff tweak small things here and there—fixing a misplaced bow, adjusting the arrangement of fairy lights along the balcony railing, making sure the candles in the lanterns were evenly spaced. the chill in the air bites at your exposed skin, but you barely register it, too focused on making sure everything is just right.

but then, just as you’re adjusting the placement of one of the floral centerpieces, your fingers freeze mid-motion.

blue hydrangeas.among the delicate clusters of winter roses and baby’s breath, the soft, cerulean petals stand out like tiny fragments of the sky, woven seamlessly into the arrangements, as if they belonged there all along.

your heart stutters.

you turn to taehyun, pointing at the flowers, your voice carefully neutral. “since when were these part of the arrangement?”

he follows your gaze, eyes landing on the hydrangeas, before he shrugs with an easy, unconcerned expression. “i don’t know. added them to the mix since i thought they’d look really pretty.”

you swallowed, shifting your weight from one foot to the other, fingers absently curling onto the fabric of your coat sleeve. they were just flowers. nothing more. just a simple, aesthetic choice. that’s all.

and yet, you couldn’t shake the feeling that the universe was laughing at you.

at one point, you found yourself untangling a mess of fairy lights that had somehow gotten knotted beyond reason. your fingers worked through them carefully, but the knots were stubborn, refusing to budge no matter how gently you pried them apart. frustration bubbles up in your chest as you huff, brows furrowing in concentration.

and then, without warning, taehyun’s hands appear beside yours.

your breath stills, body going rigid, heart lurching into your throat as his fingers slip effortlessly into the tangled mess. for one agonizing second, panic flares beneath your skin—what if you touch? what if, just for a moment, his fingertips graze yours? what if—

but before the thought can spiral any further, before disaster can strike, he’d already flicked his wrist, unraveling the last of the tangles with infuriating ease, his hands retreating just as quickly as they arrived. "you're too slow," taehyun teases, a smug grin tugging at his lips.

you exhale sharply, a breath you hadn’t realized you’d been holding, forcing yourself to relax as you straighten. you narrowed your eyes at him, trying to will away the lingering tension in your spine, but before you could snap back with something equally smug, he was already walking off, adjusting the final row of lanterns along the walls like nothing had happened. time slips by unnoticed as you both continue, making minor adjustments, ensuring that every single detail was as perfect as it could be. and when you finally step back, surveying the entirety of the ballroom, it hits you—this is it. it was done.

everything was set.

with a slow, satisfied exhale, you turned to taehyun, who stood a few feet away, hands on his hips as he scanned the space with an approving nod. "not bad," he mutters, more to himself than to you.

"not bad?" you echo, raising a brow. "try amazing."

taehyun chuckles, shaking his head before motioning towardss the stage. "c’mon, let’s sit for a bit before heading back. i think we earned it."

you don’t argue, your feet already aching from standing for so long. together, the two of you made your way towardss the stage, slipping past the elegant centerpieces and rows of carefully arranged chairs. as soon as you reach the steps leading up to the platform, you drop down onto the edge of it, stretching your legs out with a quiet sigh. for a moment, neither of you spoke, simply taking in the sight before you. the ballroom, once a hollow, undecorated space, now glows under the golden hue of the chandeliers, the candlelight flickering against the polished floors, the sheer drapery billowing gently with the faintest movement of air. the hydrangeas—those damned, perfectly arranged hydrangeas—stood out among the floral displays, their deep blue petals catching the light in a way that made them look almost otherworldly.

it was beautiful. truly.

and yet, as your eyes flicker to taehyun, who sits beside you on the stage steps, you find the weight of his gaze is already on you.

your breath catches in your throat.

his eyes held a certain softness to them, something quiet and knowing, as if he had been watching you for longer than you realized. it sends a strange, unwelcome warmth creeping up your neck, and before it can spread any further, you quickly tear your gaze away, looking straight ahead instead.

"the flowers," you murmur, forcing the words out before the silence stretches too long. "they're really pretty."

you didn’t look at him when you said it. you didn’t dare.

but taehyun, who kept his gaze trained on you, only smiles—slow and fond, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes.

"yeah," he says, his voice impossibly gentle. "really pretty indeed." the silence stretches between you again, heavier this time, though you refused to acknowledge it. you kept your gaze fixed ahead, determined to avoid taehyun’s eyes, pretending that the steady warmth of his presence beside you wasn’t throwing you off balance.

you shift slightly, putting a little more distance between you. it wasn’t much, but it was enough to make you feel like you could breathe properly again.

and then, taehyun spoke.

"say…" his voice was casual, almost too casual, but there was a lilt of something unreadable beneath it. "do you already have your date for the winter ball?"

your fingers, still idly toying with the edge of your sleeve, still at his words. you scoffed, more out of reflex than anything, before rolling your shoulders in an attempt to feign nonchalance. "i’ll be too busy," you say, as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. "you know, making sure everything goes smoothly. unlike you, who’ll probably spend the whole night slacking off."

taehyun huffs out a laugh, shaking his head. "still have no faith in me?" he says, placing a dramatic hand over his chest. "and here i was, thinking you’d at least take a break to enjoy the night."

"not happening."

"oh, come on," he drawls, nudging your arm with his elbow. "you mean to tell me that out of everyone in the entire school, no one's lined up to ask the vice president to be their date?"

"i don’t know, kang," you deadpan, finally glancing at him, only to be met with his smug little smirk. "why don’t you take a wild guess?"

his smirk deepens, a flash of white against the dim glow of the fairy lights. “ouch,” taehyun drawls, tilting his head slightly as he watches you with playful intent. “so, what, are you just gonna spend the whole night running around, making sure forks are perfectly aligned or something?”

you let out a huff, crossing your arms over your chest, trying to ignore the way his teasing lilt sends an unwelcome flutter through your stomach. “someone has to,” you counter, lifting your chin in defiance.

taehyun hums, a quiet sound that vibrates in the space between you, and for a moment, his gaze flickers—just for a fraction of a second, like he’s thinking about something, weighing his words before he speaks. and then, after a pause that stretches just long enough to make you shift uncomfortably, he says, voice smooth, casual, yet somehow deliberate.

“well, if you don’t have a date… then go with me.”

the world seems to tilt beneath you. your breath stills, caught somewhere between your lungs, your entire body locking into place as if you’ve been turned to stone. the words didn’t register at first—not fully, not properly—because there was no way he just said that.

but then, taehyun’s eyes were on you, unwavering, unreadable, and suddenly, it was real.

your head snaps towardss him so fast that your vision blurs for a second, a sharp jolt running down your spine from the sheer force of your reaction. “what?”

taehyun doesn’t laugh. he doesn’t smirk, doesn’t follow it up with some teasing remark like you expected him to. instead, he just looks at you, gaze steady, unwavering. there was something different in his expression—something softer, something that sent your heartbeat into an erratic, stuttering rhythm that you couldn’t seem to control.

he tilts his head slightly, brows lifting in the faintest hint of amusement, but his voice remains even, genuine, when he repeats, “be my date for the winter ball.”

and that’s when it truly sinks in.

taehyun wasn’t joking.

he wasn’t messing with you, not throwing out an empty invitation just to get a reaction out of you. he was asking—really asking.

your pulse pounds so loudly in your ears that you almost missed the way his fingers tapped idly against his knee, the only sign that he might not be as unaffected as he looked.

you stare at him, mouth opening, then closing, then opening again, but no sound comes out. your brain was short-circuiting, struggling to process this new reality, to make sense of the fact that kang taehyun—the sharp-witted, ever-teasing, infuriatingly smug student council president—just asked you to be his date.

and what’s worse was he was still looking at you like he was waiting for an answer. your throat feels dry as you blinked rapidly, the weight of his words settling over you like a thick, suffocating fog. you struggle to find your voice, to piece together a response that doesn’t make you sound completely and utterly unhinged, but all that comes out is a broken, stuttering—

“w-why are you asking me?”

taehyun stiffened, just slightly.

it was barely noticeable; the way his shoulders tensed for half a second before he exhales slowly, as if trying to compose himself. and then, just like that, the boy in front of you suddenly wasn’t quite as composed as before.

he clears his throat, glancing away for a moment, his fingers absently picking at an invisible thread on his sleeve. “well,” he starts, voice a little quieter now, a little less teasing. “i just thought… i mean, you’re always so busy with everything—running around, making sure everything is perfect, taking care of things no one even notices..”

taehyun pauses, pressing his lips together as if debating whether to continue, but then he sighs and pushes forward, gaze flickering back to you.

“i guess i just wanted you to have a reason to enjoy it, too. with me.”

his words hung between you, soft yet unbearably heavy. and maybe it’s the way he says it, so matter-of-factly, like it was the most natural thing in the world—like it was obvious, like it was something he’s thought about before.

maybe that was what left you speechless.

your lips part before you could stop them, the words slipping past your tongue in a breath, barely louder than a whisper—fragile, uncertain, like a secret not meant to be spoken aloud.

"that’s it..?"

the moment they left your mouth, you realized your mistake. taehyun stilled.

it was subtle at first, just a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes, a split-second shift in his posture, the faintest tension in his shoulders. but then the silence swells, thick and suffocating, pressing against your lungs like a weight you couldn’t shake off. your own breath falters, hitching ever so slightly, and you swore you could hear the soft, sharp inhale taehyun took in response.

he didn’t expect that.

and neither did you.

and you didn’t know what was worse—the fact that you let it slip or the fact that taehyun seems so thrown off by it.

his fingers twitched at his sides, just the barest movement, but you noticed. you noticed the way his lips parted slightly, as if he had something to say, only to press them together again, hesitation flickering behind his sharp gaze.

then, finally—

"do you really want me to say it?"

taehyun’s voice was softer this time, lower, laced with something heavier, something cautious, yet impossibly steady. his gaze never wavers, eyes locked onto yours with an intensity that sent a sharp jolt down your spine.

you didn’t realize you’ve stopped breathing until the air rushes back into your lungs all at once, too fast, too sharp. because he was close again, too close, and the space between you felt thinner than paper, more fragile than glass.

and as if the moment wasn’t already dangerous enough, he leaned in. not much, just a fraction, just enough to make the air around you shift, just enough that you could feel the heat radiating off his skin, just enough that you panic.

you shifted back almost instantly, pressing yourself further against the stage as if it’ll somehow create more distance, more space, more room to breathe. but all it did was make your flustered state even more obvious, the warmth on your cheeks burning deeper, spreading to the tips of your ears.

taehyun notices.

his eyes flicker, his lips twitch, and for the briefest moment, he almost looks amused—like he caught onto something, like he learned something. but there was something else beneath it, something more hesitant, more careful, as if he was testing the waters, as if he was waiting for you to stop him.

"do you really want to know why i asked you?"taehyun’s voice was impossibly softer, if that was even possible, barely above a whisper, yet it crashes into you like a tidal wave. your stomach twists, your hands curling into the fabric of your coat, as if that might somehow ground you, as if that might keep you from spiraling any further into whatever this is.

the space between you grew smaller, inch by inch, breath by breath. it was agonizingly slow, deliberate in a way that made your pulse pound against your ribs, making your breath hitch at the back of your throat. he wasn’t just leaning in, he was watching you—taking in every flicker of emotion that crossed your face, every shallow inhale, every unspoken thought that lingered in the air between you. you couldn’t do this.

the weight of his gaze, the closeness, the way his voice curled around the edges of something unspoken—it was too much. your breath was coming in short, uneven bursts now, your heartbeat hammering loudly in your ears, and you know, you know, if you stayed here any longer, if you let him get any closer, you were going to fall into something you wouldn't be able to climb back out of. so you move.

your legs pushed you up before you could think twice, a desperate attempt to escape the heavy pull of his presence. but you barely take a step before—

warm hands hold around your wrists. your world tilts.

not in the way it had earlier, when taehyun had sent his bike into motion and nearly launched you both into the afterlife, but in a way that felt heavier, deeper—like the very foundation of your understanding has cracked beneath your feet, sending you spiraling into something you weren’t prepared for.

because there, just above the place where his fingers wrap around your wrist, something was blooming.

not metaphorically, not in some abstract, romantic sense, but literally.

soft blue petals unfurled against your skin like a whisper, delicate yet impossibly real. a hydrangea, its blue hue rich and vibrant, appearing right where his touch lingered, as if drawn forth by the warmth of his hand against your bare wrist.

and before you could even comprehend it, before the weight of what’s happening can fully settle, you see it—

another one.

on his wrist.

a mirror to yours.

your breath stutters.

a sharp, unsteady inhale rushes through your lungs, but the air felt thick, too thick, like the moment itself was pressing down on you, sinking into your bones, refusing to be ignored. you couldn't move. couldn't breathe. couldn't  think. the world has shrunk down to this single, impossible reality, this moment suspended in time where nothing existed but this.

taehyun sucks in a breath.

his grip on you falters, just slightly, but it was enough. enough to tell you that he was feeling it too—the way the air has shifted, the way the ground no longer felt steady beneath your feet. and when you forced yourself to look at him, to really look at him, what you saw made your stomach twist.

he was frozen.

taehyun, who always had something to say, who teased and taunted and never hesitated to throw a playful jab, was speechless.

his eyes were wide, dark pupils blown with something unreadable, something teetering between disbelief and sheer, undiluted shock. his lips parted, then pressed together again, as if he was trying to find the right words but coming up completely empty.

he blinked once.

twice.

then, slowly, almost hesitantly, his gaze dropped back down—to where his hand still holds your wrist, then to where the hydrangea had bloomed against his skin.

the proof.

the impossible, undeniable proof.

you didn’t know how long you both stood there like that, suspended in the moment, locked in place by something you didn’t yet have the words for. the silence between you was deafening, thick and weighted, pulsing with something neither of you know how to name.

“what…” taehyun’s voice finally comes, but it was quiet. too quiet. fragile.

“what just—”

but he didn’t finish. didn’t have to. because the answer was right there, imprinted against your wrists, marking you both in a way that cannot be ignored. “you’re my soulmate?”you couldn’t speak.

you couldn’t reply.

you couldn't do anything.

the weight of reality crashes down on you with an intensity that made your head spin, your breath hitching painfully in your throat. the room suddenly felt much too small, the air thick and unsteady, pressing in from all sides as if the universe itself was forcing you to acknowledge the truth—the truth that had been lingering just beneath the surface for weeks, waiting, biding its time, until this exact moment. until now.

taehyun knows.

he finally knows.

and you didn’t know what was worse—the fact that you kept it from him, or the fact that deep down, a part of you had always known this moment would come. you had feared it, dreaded it, had told yourself over and over again that you were prepared for it, that you had built up enough walls to keep yourself safe when the inevitable finally arrived. but standing here now, under the weight of his gaze, you realize you weren’t prepared at all. your body refused to move. your fingers, still curled slightly from where they had almost—almost—reached back for him, felt like they were frozen in place, caught between instinct and hesitation. the silence between you was so thick, so deafening, it drowned out every other sound in the room, leaving only the frantic pounding of your own heartbeat, a desperate, uneven rhythm that betrays every attempt at composure.

taehyun was just as still, just as caught in the moment as you were. his expression was unreadable, his lips parted slightly as if he wants to say something but doesn’t know where to start. his gaze flickers down to his wrist, his breath visibly hitching when he takes in the intricate petals of the blue hydrangea, now settled against his skin like an unspoken truth that neither of you can deny. his fingers twitch once, twice, as though testing to see if the mark is real, as though part of him is still grappling with the weight of what this meant.

it was real.

it had always been real.

finally, after what felt like a lifetime, taehyun spoke.

“did you know?”

his voice was barely above a whisper, each syllable laced with a quiet, underlying emotion that you couldn’t quite place. there was no anger, no accusation, nothing sharp or cutting—only something softer, something careful, something almost hesitant. it was a question, but more than that, a plea, a desperate attempt to bridge the gap between you, to make sense of the revelation that had just unraveled before him.

but still, you said nothing.

your throat was dry, your mouth refusing to form the words that sat heavy on your tongue. your breath came in shallow, uneven exhales, your fingers on your other hand curling into the fabric of your sleeve as if that alone might keep you from falling apart.

and that silence—your silence—was all he needed to know. taehyun exhales, the sound slow and measured, but you saw the way his jaw tightens, the way his fingers pressed onto your skin before uncurling again, the way his entire posture shifted ever so slightly as realization settled deep into his bones. his face remained composed, but his eyes—his eyes that have always been so sharp, so piercing, so impossibly hard to fool—betrayed him entirely.

“why…” his voice faltered, catching slightly before he swallowed and tried again, this time more resolute, more certain. “why didn’t you tell me?”

taehyun took a single step forward, slow, hesitant, and careful in a way that made your stomach twist with unease. it was as if he was afraid that any sudden movement would send you running, as if he was walking on fragile ground, unsure of what might shatter beneath him.

you felt your breath catch, the air between you growing heavier, charged with an intensity that made it impossible to look away.

“how long have you known?”

your hands trembled, the weight of his words pressing down on you like a force you couldn't  escape. you swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in your throat, willing yourself to find your voice, to say something, anything.

“i…” the word barely made it past your lips before you had to clear your throat, forcing yourself to steady the shake in your voice. “since about… two weeks ago…”

taehyun breathed in sharply, his expression flickering with something you couldn’t figure out, something shifting, something unraveling. you watched as his gaze drops slightly, as though he was replaying every moment, every conversation, every fleeting glance from the past two weeks with a new understanding.

and then he laughs.

soft, breathless, light as air.

not in mockery, not in disbelief, not with amusement, but something else entirely.

relief.

taehyun’s shoulders eased, his posture relaxing just slightly as the realization settled deep within him. he lifted his free hand, pushing back the hair that had fallen into his eyes, before shaking his head with a quiet chuckle.

“i knew it,” he murmured, more to himself than to you, as if the words had been lingering in the back of his mind all this time, just waiting to be spoken. “so this was why… why i’ve always felt this… pull towardss you… no matter how much you tried to push me away.”

his voice was filled with certainty, with something raw, something so achingly sincere that it makes your breath stutter in your chest.

because you know exactly what he meant.

that pull.

the way your eyes always found him in a crowded room, the way his voice had always cut through the noise, the way his laughter had always settled so easily in the spaces between you. the way his presence had always been something you could never quite shake, no matter how much you tried to ignore it and tell yourself that you hated it.

and now you both know why.

taehyun takes another step forward, closer this time, close enough that the warmth of his presence began to seep into your skin, making your pulse pound against your chest.

his hand lifts, his fingers brushing against your other one, just barely, just enough to send a spark of warmth racing up your arm. it was the softest touch, barely there, but it made your entire body go still.

he hesitated for only a moment before fully taking your hand in his.

you inhaled sharply.

his grip was firm but gentle, steady but careful, like he was afraid of pushing too far, like he was still waiting for you to pull away. his thumb brushes against the side of your palm, the warmth of his skin bleeding into yours, grounding you, anchoring you to the moment.

“you feel it too, right?”

your lips part, the answer right there, right at the tip of your tongue, so close you can taste it.

but then—

panic.

it surged through your veins like wildfire, swallowing you whole before you could stop it, before you could even try to fight against it. your chest tightened, breath shallow and uneven, and for a split second, the weight of taehyun’s touch—the warmth of his fingers wrapped gently around you—became unbearable. because if you admit it—if you said it aloud, if you give in, if you let yourself fall—there would be no turning back.

no running.

no pretending.

no more hiding behind the walls you spent so long building.

your fingers twitched, your entire body tensing as if preparing to flee even before your mind could catch up. taehyun’s presence was everywhere—his touch, his gaze, the quiet steadiness of his breath filling the space between you. it was overwhelming, suffocating in a way that had nothing to do with discomfort and everything to do with fear.

so you do the only thing you know how to do.

you yanked yourself away. the movement was so sudden, so desperate, that taehyun barely had time to react before you were stumbling back, ripping yourself from the warmth of his grasp as though it burnt. his hands slipped away from yours, the loss of contact immediate, startling, like stepping into the cold after being wrapped in the sun’s embrace. but the absence wasn’t just physical—it was something deeper, something that lingered in the air between you like a wound torn open too soon.

taehyun didn’t move.

his brows furrowed, the lines of his face tightening, a flicker of confusion passing through his wide, searching eyes. his mouth parted slightly, as if he was about to say something—to ask, to reach, to hold—but you didn't give him the chance.

you didn’t even give yourself the chance to think.

you turned.

your breath hitches, your pulse roaring in your ears as your legs move on instinct, on impulse, on fear.

and then you ran.

you didn’t stop, didn’t look back, didn’t let yourself process the way your vision blurs at the edges or the way your heartbeat pounded against your chest, each thud a deafening reminder of what you’ve just done. your limbs felt weightless yet heavy all at once, like you were floating through a dream you desperately wished to wake up from. your hands tremble at your sides, curled into fists so tight that your nails bite into your palms, a feeble attempt to anchor yourself, to ground yourself against the storm raging inside you.

but there was no grounding yourself from this.

there was no outrunning the way your soul ached, the way something inside you screamed at you to stop, to turn back, to look at him just once, just for a second.

but you couldn’t.

not when his words still echoed in your mind, wrapping around your thoughts and pressing against your lungs. you feel it too, right?

not when the memory of his laughter still lingered, warm and full of relief, the sound of someone who had just found something they had spent their whole life searching for.

not when you know—when you know—that if you let yourself turn back now, you will never have the strength to leave again.

so you kept going. you push past the door, your movements frantic, your breath coming out in broken, uneven exhales as you slipped away, disappearing into the night like a shadow retreating from the light.

and taehyun?

taehyun just stood there.

his hands were still outstretched, fingers curled ever so slightly, as if still reaching for something—someone—who was no longer there. his expression was blank, his chest rising and falling with steady, measured breaths, but his eyes—his impossibly expressive eyes—were frozen in place, locked onto the spot where you stood only moments before.

and yet, despite the stillness, despite the quiet composure he had always carried so effortlessly, taehyun looked shattered. ꒰💐꒱ the night felt endless. you lay in bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, but sleep refused to come. the weight of your actions, of everything that had unfolded just hours ago, sat heavy on your chest, pressing down like an unbearable force. you tried to shut your eyes, tried to will yourself into oblivion, but every time you did, you saw him—saw the look on his face when he realized, saw the way eyes brightened like never before.

taehyun was happy. no, he was ecstatic.

you could still hear his laugh, that breathless, wondrous kind, like the world had just revealed its greatest secret to him. i knew it… he said, voice laced with something so soft, so full of relief, as if everything in his life had suddenly fallen into place. you had never seen him like that before—never seen kang taehyun, with all his sharp wit and unwavering confidence, look so utterly and completely at peace.

and then. and then you ripped it all away.

the moment your hands had left his, the moment your body turned, his joy had shattered. you had felt it, even with your back to him, even as you pushed past the door, as you fled like a coward. you had felt the shift in the air, the quiet devastation settling in behind you.

now, as you lay in the suffocating silence of your room, you wondered if taehyun was still standing there, staring at the empty space where you had been. wondered if he was replaying everything in his mind the way you were, trying to make sense of it, trying to understand why—why—you ran.

you squeezed your eyes shut, but it didn’t help. the memory of his expression—the way his brows drew together, the way his mouth parted just slightly in stunned disbelief—burned behind your eyelids.

the ache in your chest only grew heavier, sinking deep into your bones like a weight you couldn’t shake off. it was unbearable—this gnawing, twisting feeling of guilt, regret, and something else, something even more terrifying.

because it wasn’t just taehyun’s expression that haunted you. it wasn’t just the way his joy crumbled into confusion, into hurt, into quiet devastation—it was the way he had reached for you, the way his fingers had brushed against yours so gently, so tentatively, as if he was afraid you might disappear if he held on too tightly. and in the end, you did.

you saw the light in his eyes, the unguarded, unfiltered joy written all over his face, and you destroyed it.

a strangled breath left your lips as you curled in on yourself, pressing your hands against your chest as if that could somehow hold everything in, as if that could stop your heart from unraveling at the seams. the past few weeks—every moment, every lingering glance, every teasing remark that had felt just a little too soft—they all came crashing down on you at once, suffocating in their intensity. and morning arrived too soon.

no matter how tightly you curled into yourself, no matter how desperately you tried to will the world away, time didn’t stop for you. it marched forward, indifferent to the storm that raged inside you throughout the night.

you didn’t sleep a wink—you simply drifted, slipped in and out of restless, fragmented dreams, only to jolt awake each time with his voice echoing in your head, with the memory of his warmth ghosting over your skin. you turned onto your side, onto your back, onto your stomach, but no position, no adjustment, no desperate attempt to push the thoughts away helped.

so when your alarm finally rang, shrill and unforgiving in the silence of your room, you had no choice but to face the day.

your limbs felt heavy as you dragged yourself out of bed, exhaustion pressing down on you like a weight. the mirror was unkind, reflecting back dark circles beneath your eyes, the dullness in your gaze, the exhaustion carved into every line of your face. you moved through the motions of getting ready on autopilot—washing up, dressing, gathering your things—but the entire time, your mind remained stuck on one single, inescapable fact.

you would see him today.

you would step into the council room, and taehyun would be there. and you had no idea what would be waiting for you on the other side of that door.

was he angry? hurt? indifferent? did he spend the night thinking about it, just as you did? had he regretted it?

or worse, did he realize that maybe, maybe this whole thing had been a mistake?

your thoughts clung to you as you made your way to school, each step feeling heavier than the last. the usual morning sounds—the chatter of students, the rustling of papers, the distant ringing of a bell—faded into background noise as you moved through the halls, your heart hammering with each step that brought you closer to the council room.

and then you stepped inside.

you barely had time to take in the familiar sight of scattered documents, opened planners, and the faint scent of coffee before your eyes landed on him.

taehyun.

and he… he looked hollow.

the sight nearly knocked the breath out of you.

gone was the sharp glint in his eyes, the ever-present amusement, the effortless ease he carried himself with. instead, his features were dull, tired—shoulders slumped, gaze distant as he stared down at the papers in front of him, pen loosely gripped in his hand.

the weight in your chest only grew heavier as you hesitantly stepped further into the room, the familiar scrape of the chair against the floor sounding much louder than it should have in the suffocating silence. you lowered yourself into your usual seat, forcing yourself to settle, to breathe, to act as if everything was fine.

but nothing was.

because taehyun didn’t even look at you.

not a glance. not a teasing remark. not even the usual exasperated sigh when you made a little too much noise pulling out your notes. nothing. he simply remained as he was, unmoving, his gaze still fixed on the papers before him as if they held the answers to something greater, something deeper, something that could explain why.

and the absence of his attention, of his presence, of him—stung far more than you ever anticipated.

you swallowed hard, fingers curling into your lap, nails pressing into your palms as you willed yourself to keep your expression neutral, to not let the weight of your own guilt show. but the silence stretched, pressing down on you like a vice, wrapping itself around your throat until you thought you might suffocate under it—

“what’s with you two?”

the voice cut through the tension like a blade, startling you from your spiraling thoughts.

beomgyu.

you turned your head just slightly, enough to see him watching the both of you with furrowed brows, arms crossed over his chest. his gaze flickered between you and taehyun, sharp, calculating, observant.

beside him, jiwon leaned back in his chair, one elbow propped on the table as he arched a brow. “yeah, seriously. it’s weird in here.” he gestured vaguely between the two of you, lips pulling into a frown. “you guys didn’t, like, mess up the decor together yesterday and made a pact of silence, right?”

you flinched.

taehyun didn’t even blink.

beomgyu’s frown deepened. “okay, what the hell. what is going on?”

you spoke—too forced, too strained. “nothing.”

“bullshit.”

jiwon scoffed, nudging beomgyu with his elbow. “look, man, maybe they’re just in a bad mood.”

beomgyu didn’t look convinced. but taehyun didn’t give him a chance to press further, because before beomgyu could open his mouth again, he quietly cleared his throat, finally shifting, finally moving—only to stand from his seat, pushing his chair back with slow, deliberate movements.

“i need some air,” taehyun muttered, and just like that, he walked out, and now it was your turn to be left dumbfounded and hurt.

the days leading up to the ball passed in a blur, but the weight in your chest remained the same. if anything, it only grew heavier, sinking deeper into your bones with each passing moment.

and throughout it all, taehyun didn’t speak to you. to anyone, rather.

he wasn’t gone, not physically—he was still here, still doing his work with the same meticulous precision, still showing up early, still staying late. but he was missing in a way that was impossible to ignore, and the weight of it pressed against you, suffocating and relentless.

and it wasn’t just you who noticed. at first, beomgyu had been the most vocal about it. he had tried everything—nudging taehyun’s shoulder playfully, cracking jokes that usually earned him an exaggerated eye-roll or a deadpan retort, even deliberately messing up the seating chart just to get a reaction. but nothing worked. taehyun barely reacted, only offering the occasional hum of acknowledgment or a clipped, indifferent response before returning to whatever task was in front of him.

he had always been diligent, always the type to follow through with his responsibilities, but this was no longer dedication, this was detachment.

"seriously, what is his problem?" beomgyu had muttered under his breath one afternoon, throwing his pen onto the table with a frustrated sigh. he turned towardss you then, his brows furrowed, gaze sharp. "he’s been acting like a ghost for days.”

your breath caught in your throat, fingers tightening instinctively around the clipboard in your lap.

jiwon, who had been watching the entire exchange with thinly veiled curiosity, shifted in his seat, drumming his fingers idly against the desk. "maybe he’s just tired,” he mused, though even he didn’t sound convinced.

beomgyu scoffed, shaking his head. "no. no, this isn’t tired—this is something else. he’s not just quiet, he’s—” beomgyu hesitated, frowning as he searched for the right word before finally settling on, “empty.”

and god, wasn’t that the truth?

taehyun had always been level-headed, composed, but never like this. never so distant. his sharp wit and effortless charm had dulled into something barely there, and the shift was so stark, so jarring, it left an undeniable hollowness in the air.

you wanted to say something, needed to say something. but what could you possibly say? that it was your fault? that you had seen the light in his eyes, the happiness that had appeared in his features when he first saw the flower on both your wrists, and how you crushed it beneath your own fear?

the weight of your own cowardice sat heavy on your shoulders, suffocating, unbearable. so you said nothing.

the ball was only days away. the decorations were finalized, the arrangements had been double-checked, and everything was falling into place, piece by perfect piece. and yet, for all that careful planning, for all the progress and preparation, everything still felt like it was falling apart. ꒰💐꒱ the night of the ball finally arrived.

golden lights illuminated the grand hall, casting a soft, ambient glow that seeped through the tall windows, flickering like distant stars against the darkness of the evening. inside, the sound of laughter and lively chatter drifted through the open doors, mingling with the faint melody of a waltz playing from within. everything was perfect—just as the council had planned, just as everyone had spent weeks ensuring.

but you simply stood outside.

your fingers curled around the delicate mask in your hands, the material pressing against your skin. the evening breeze brushed against your shoulders, carrying with it the distant hum of celebration, but you couldn't bring yourself to move forward, to step inside and immerse yourself in it all.

your dress, a simple yet breathtaking gown, clung to your frame in all the right places, accentuating without overwhelming, elegant without being extravagant. the fabric, a soft black satin that shimmered under the moonlight, cascaded down your figure in smooth waves, pooling ever so slightly at your feet. it was understated, refined, beautiful, and yet, despite how perfectly it fit, despite how much care had gone into choosing it, you had never felt more out of place.

you had spent days, weeks, preparing for this night. every detail had been planned, every decoration meticulously arranged. this was supposed to be a night of celebration, of triumph—a culmination of all the hard work the council had poured into making this event a reality.

but the thought of stepping inside, of weaving through the sea of masks and laughter, of pretending that everything was fine? it terrified you.

because you didn’t know how you would feel once you see him tonight. and perhaps, worse than that, you didn’t know if you even would.

your stomach twisted painfully, an ache that no amount of deep breaths could ease. would taehyun even be here? had he decided to stay away, just as you had considered doing? or would he be inside, blending into the crowd, masked and distant, just another face in a room full of strangers?

or would he be there, looking the same as always, standing in a corner with that quiet confidence, that knowing gaze, that presence that you could never quite shake, no matter how much distance you tried to put between you?

your heart pounded at the thought.

you had spent the past week avoiding his eyes, ducking away from his presence, watching helplessly as he withdrew further and further into himself. and yet, even as he distanced himself, even as the banter faded and the stolen glances disappeared, he never confronted you. never pushed, never asked for an explanation.

but tonight, there would be no desks between you, no schedules to hide behind.

if taehyun was here—if he sees you—then there would be no more avoiding it.

the weight of that realization sat heavy in your chest, pressing down, making it harder and harder to breathe.

you squeezed your eyes shut, willing yourself to move, to take a single step forward.

but your legs felt rooted in place, your body paralyzed by the what-ifs, by the uncertainty, by the unbearable truth that no matter how much you wanted to run, no matter how much you wanted to hide, you wanted to see him. god, you wanted to see him.

but did he still want to see you? taking a deep breath, you steeled yourself, gripping the delicate mask in your hands one final time before slipping it over your face. the satin ribbon tied keeping it in place felt tighter than necessary, as if it was binding you in place, but you refused to let yourself hesitate any longer.

with slow, deliberate steps, you moved forward, the soft fabric of your gown brushing against your ankles as you entered the venue. the moment you crossed the threshold, you were met with a breathtaking sight—warm golden light spilling from crystal chandeliers, illuminating a sea of elegantly dressed students, their gowns and suits shimmering beneath the glow.

a small smile ghosted over your lips, a rare moment of relief settling in your chest. this was it. after weeks of planning, after endless discussions and meticulous arrangements, the masquerade ball came to life. and seeing it unfold, watching as your peers twirled across the floor, their laughter ringing through the air, made all of the exhaustion worth it. it was beautiful.

as you weaved through the crowd, exchanging polite nods and returning greetings, a sudden poke at your shoulder made you pause. blinking, you turned on your heel, only to be met with a grinning masked beomgyu, standing beside someone whose presence, even behind an intricately designed mask, was unmistakable—soobin. their hands were intertwined, fingers loosely laced together, a silent testament to their bond.

“there you are!” beomgyu beamed, his enthusiasm practically radiating off him as he gestured wildly around the venue. “you have to admit, this is pretty amazing.”

soobin, ever the calmer presence, chuckled softly before dipping his head slightly in greeting. “congratulations,” he said, his voice smooth and sincere. “everything turned out beautifully. thank you for all the effort you put into making this happen.”

before you could even respond, beomgyu huffed, dramatically tossing an arm over soobin’s shoulder. “my idea, by the way,” he interjected, puffing out his chest in pride.

soobin, despite his mask obscuring half of his face, still managed to exude exasperation as he shot beomgyu a tired look. “i know, beomgyu. you’ve told me like a billion times.”

a quiet laugh left your lips as you shook your head, momentarily allowing yourself to bask in their familiar bickering. there was something comforting about it, something steady and unchanging. but just as quickly as that warmth settled, it vanished, replaced by a dull ache in your chest. because watching them—watching the ease in their dynamic, the way they played off each other so effortlessly—it only reminded you of one person.

your breath hitched, the tightening in your chest returning with full force. you forced a smile, pushing down the lump forming in your throat. “i should, um, check on the food,” you murmured, the words slipping from your lips before you could second-guess them.

soobin gave you a small nod, and beomgyu, thankfully, didn’t press further, only giving you a playful salute as you stepped away. with each step, your heart felt heavier, your resolve beginning to crumble once again.

you barely registered the laughter, the music, the clinking of glasses around you. all you could focus on was the overwhelming weight pressing against your ribs, the relentless pounding of your own thoughts. you shouldn't have come.

but then—

but then you saw him.

it was almost cruel how effortlessly your eyes found him, how no amount of dim lighting or the sea of masks could ever make him anything less than noticeable.

taehyun stood near the far side of the ballroom, a vision of effortless poise and sophistication. his suit was a deep shade of charcoal, tailored perfectly to his frame, accentuating the sharp lines of his shoulders and the lean definition of his form. the crisp white of his dress shirt contrasted against the dark fabric, and the black tie on his collar was neatly knotted, adding to the refined elegance of his appearance. but it was his presence—the sheer gravity of him—that made your breath catch.

his mask, sleek and simple, framed his eyes in a way that only enhanced their depth, making them appear even more calculating. the dim lighting cast delicate shadows over his features, highlighting the sharp cut of his jaw, the soft curve of his lips—lips that had once smiled so easily, so playfully, but now remained pressed into a thin, unreadable line.

you stopped in your tracks. you watched taehyun, unable to look away, unable to tear your gaze from the way he stood—poised yet distant, present yet entirely unreachable. the ballroom carried on around you, the music swelling, distant conversations rippling through the air, but it all faded into nothing as your eyes remained fixed on him.

his posture was impeccable, as always, shoulders squared, chin lifted ever so slightly, an image of effortless control. but there was something different now, something restrained in the way his fingers curled slightly at his sides, in the way his weight shifted subtly from one foot to the other, as if he were caught between the instinct to move and the need to stay still.

and then, as if he could feel your gaze, as if some invisible thread had finally pulled tight between the two of you—

his eyes found yours.

and the moment they did, something in the air shifted, as if the world seemed to narrow, the sounds around you dulling into nothing more than a distant hum.

taehyun’s stare widened just slightly, the faintest flicker of surprise betraying his otherwise composed expression. and god, was he taking you in.

taehyun was looking at you—truly looking at you. not like the stolen glances from before, not with the distance he carefully put between you these past few days. this was different. this was open, raw, something achingly vulnerable slipping through the cracks of his carefully built composure.

and the way he looked at you…

it was as if he had never seen you before.

as if he were discovering something entirely new, something he hadn’t realized until this very second. his gaze traced over you, taking in every detail, every curve of your form, every shimmering fold of your gown. his lips parted slightly, his breath hitching just the tiniest bit, and even with the mask covering half his face, even with the dim lighting softening his features, you could see it—the quiet, unspoken admiration that flickered across his face.

your heartbeat roared in your ears, your body frozen in place, unable to move, unable to breathe. neither of you stepped forward, neither of you dared to break the fragile silence that had settled between you, balancing on the edge of something terrifyingly real.

and then—

he blinked.

just once.

but when his eyes opened again, something was different. something had shifted.

taehyun’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. his hands twitched at his sides, his fingers curling inward like they ached to reach for something—for someone. you watched as a breath, deep and shaky, left his lips, his shoulders rising with the weight of it.

and then he turned away.

the moment shattered.

the spell broke.

before you could process it, before you could make sense of the way your chest constricted so violently at the loss, taehyun pivoted on his heel, his movements sharp, hurried. his polished shoes barely made a sound against the ballroom floor as he slipped past the sea of guests, weaving through the crowd with quick, purposeful steps.

he was leaving.your heart lurched, panic flaring in your veins, the shock of it slamming into your chest like a physical blow.

no.

your breath caught in your throat, the realization settling in all at once. he was running away.

and before you could stop yourself, before the fear could paralyze you, before you could make the same mistake twice—

you ran after him.

you pushed through the crowd, rushing between the clusters of students lost in conversation, their voices nothing but a muffled blur against the frantic pounding of your heartbeat. your pulse roared in your ears, your breath coming in sharp, uneven bursts as you dodged flurries of students and pressed forward, not caring if you stumbled, not caring if you brushed too roughly against someone.

taehyun was running, and you couldn’t let him get away. not again.

your fingers clenched at the fabric of your dress, lifting the hem just enough to keep yourself from tripping, but your feet barely felt the ground beneath you. all that mattered was him. all that mattered was the sight of his retreating figure, slipping past the grand archway leading to the open night air, disappearing beyond the cascading ivy that framed the ballroom’s second entrance.

the cool night hit you like a breath of fresh air the moment you broke free from the suffocating warmth of the ballroom. the murmurs of the crowd dulled, replaced by the soft rustle of the wind through the trees, the distant hum of music fading behind you. but none of it registered, not the chill against your bare skin, not the way your lungs burned from exertion, because taehyun was still ahead, his silhouette cutting through the garden’s moonlit paths.

the silvery glow of the moon bathed everything in an ethereal light, casting long shadows along the pathway, painting the world in hushed shades of blue and silver. the neatly trimmed hedges and delicate blooms swayed gently with the breeze, their fragrance lingering in the crisp air.

your steps faltered as you sucked in a breath, throat dry, chest tight—but you couldn’t stop now. not when he was slipping away again.

so you did the only thing you could.

"kang taehyun!!"

your voice cut through the quiet, sharp and desperate, carrying through the still night air.

and just like that, he finally stopped. taehyun’s steps slowed, hesitating, before finally coming to a full halt. your fingers curled into the fabric of your gown, gripping tightly, as if grounding yourself, as if holding on to the last bit of courage you had left. you didn’t trust your voice—not when your heart was still hammering like crazy, not when the ache in your throat made it impossible to swallow. but still, you forced the words out, soft, almost fragile in the way they broke past your lips.

"please..."

the sound barely carried over the distance between you, but it reached him somehow. you knew it did.

but taehyun remained unmoving.

his back stayed rigid, his shoulders taut, rising and falling in slow, measured breaths. he didn’t turn, didn’t even so much as flinch, as if he was willing himself to stay still, as if he was caught in the same unbearable moment as you, yet refused to acknowledge it.

the silence between you stretched, thick and suffocating, heavy with the weight of all the words neither of you had spoken. it clung to the air, to the space that felt impossibly vast despite the few feet separating you.

and then, after what felt like an eternity—so slow it nearly made you dizzy—he turned around.

taehyun’s body tensed before he shifted, hesitant, deliberate, as if caught in a decision he hadn’t quite made yet. the motion was almost careful, painfully slow, as though he feared what he would see when he finally turned to face you.

taehyun’s gaze met yours instantly, locking onto you with an intensity that stole the breath straight from your lungs. the silver glow of the moon framed his silhouette, casting soft shadows over his face, over the smooth planes of his mask.

and his eyes… they held something unreadable. something you couldn’t name, something tangled between a dozen emotions, flickering too fast, too fleeting for you to grasp.

but he was looking at you.

yet for the first time, you didn’t know if that was a good thing.

taehyun’s gaze never wavered, never softened, not even for a second. it was sharp, cutting through the space between you like a blade, dissecting, waiting. and you, standing beneath the weight of it all, feeling it press into your skin, into the marrow of your bones, suddenly felt small. exposed. self-conscious.

your throat tightened, the sudden awareness of yourself creeping in, making you shift where you stood. your shoulders straightened, your hands fidgeting at your sides, as if fixing your posture would somehow anchor you, would somehow make you feel like you belonged in this moment instead of drowning in it. your tongue darted out, wetting your dry lips, yet the words—whatever words you were meant to say—refused to come.

it was silent. painfully, deafeningly silent.

now that he was here, standing before you, now that you finally had him where you had been desperate to keep him—you didn’t know what to do. what to say.

"if you're not going to say anything, then i'm leaving."

taehyun’s voice cut through the stillness, low and cold, distant in a way that sent a sharp pang straight to your chest. it was piercing, impassive—so unlike him. where was the warmth? the teasing edge? where was the taehyun who never let a moment pass without a quip, a smirk, a knowing look? where was the taehyun who once made the air between you feel light, easy? the thought hit you so hard that it sent you stumbling forward, hands moving on instinct, reaching—desperate. and before you could stop yourself, before hesitation could creep in and steal this moment away from you, your fingers closed around his wrist.

a sight too familiar.

but this time, you weren’t the one running.

this time, you were the one trying to stop him.

"wait," the word barely came out, breathless, trembling. you let go of taehyun’s wrist, and then—then, the floodgates broke. "taehyun…"

his name wobbled on your lips, barely a breath, barely a sound, but it held every ounce of desperation clawing at your chest, every ounce of regret that weighed heavy on your shoulders. your throat tightened, a lump lodging itself deep within, suffocating, unrelenting, but you forced yourself to swallow it down. because if you didn’t speak now—if you let this moment slip through your fingers like sand—you knew you’d never forgive yourself.

"i’m sorry."

the words trembled, cracked, barely held together by the fragile threads of your unraveling composure. and yet, they still weren’t enough. nothing felt like enough—not for all the pain you had caused him, not for all the hurt you had left in your wake, not for the way you had looked into his eyes that night and still walked away.

"i’m so sorry, taehyun."

his name shattered from your lips this time, breaking somewhere between a sob and a plea.

"i was stupid. i was so, so stupid."

you inhaled sharply, hands curling into fists, nails biting into your palms in a desperate attempt to keep yourself from completely falling apart. but it was no use. everything was spilling over—emotions too big, too raw, too heavy to be contained anymore. "i didn’t mean to push you away. i didn’t mean to hurt you. god, i never wanted to hurt you." your voice wavered, cracking under the weight of your own words, and you squeezed your eyes shut for a fleeting second, trying yet failing to steady yourself. "but i did."

you exhaled shakily, forcing yourself to meet his gaze even as your own blurred with unshed tears. "i hurt you, and i was too much of a coward to admit anything." your fingers twitched at your sides, aching to reach for him, aching to grasp onto something—anything—that could ground you in the midst of the storm raging inside you. "i was scared," you whispered, voice barely above a breath, the admission tasting bitter, like guilt and shame and every unsaid thing you had buried deep inside yourself for far too long.

"i was scared because i didn’t understand it," a hollow laugh escaped you, but there was no humor in it. only pain. "because i didn’t understand you." you exhaled sharply, shaking your head as if that could erase all the years of denial, all the wasted time, all the moments you had spent pretending. "from the very start, taehyun, you made me feel things i had never felt before—things i didn’t know how to name, things that made my heart race and my hands shake and my mind spin and i—" your breath hitched, a sob catching in your throat, but you pushed through it, voice trembling. "i hated you for it. or at least... i thought i did."

you felt him stiffen, barely perceptible, but you noticed it. of course, you noticed it. your lips quivered, your hands clenched, and you forced yourself to take a step forward, closing even the slightest bit of distance between you. "but it wasn’t hate, was it? it never was," you whispered, voice softer now, gentler, but heavy with the weight of every unspoken word you had swallowed down over the years, every moment you had ignored, every glance you had forced yourself to look away from.

"it was fear."

you sucked in a shaky breath, blinking rapidly against the tears threatening to spill over. "you saw through me. you knew me—really knew me—even when i didn’t want you to," another step, another shaky breath. "and i hated that. i hated that no matter how much i tried to convince myself you were nothing more than a rival, a nuisance, an annoying presence in my life, i—" you exhaled sharply, voice breaking, barely holding yourself together, "i was wrong."

you were right in front of him now, so close, yet still, he hadn’t moved. he just stood there, staring at you, silent, unreadable, unflinching.

"i was wrong about everything," your voice wavered, barely above a whisper now, but the words carried the weight of everything—of every mistake, every regret. your fingers twitched at your sides before, finally, finally, you found the courage to reach out, grasping his wrists once more with trembling hands.

"i never should've left that night," you choked out, shaking your head, tears clinging to your lashes. "i should’ve turned back, should’ve looked at you, should’ve realized what was right in front of me." a single tear slipped down your cheek, warm against your skin, but you didn’t wipe it away. "i should’ve told you then," you hesitated, voice cracking, "i should’ve told you that it was always you."

the words shattered from your lips like glass, like something irreparable, something fragile and delicate and painfully, unbearably sincere. "it was always you, taehyun." your voice trembled, thick with emotion, thick with everything you had locked away for so long, and yet, for the first time, you weren’t afraid to say it. "and i’m so, so sorry it took me this long to see it." you sniffled, the sound barely audible over the pounding of your heart, a weight lifting off your shoulders with every word that had finally, finally escaped your lips. yet, despite the relief that came with your admission, fear still gripped you, sinking its claws into your chest, twisting deep. because this—this was the part that terrified you the most. not the confession, not the rawness of your emotions spilling over, but his response. what he might say. how he might look at you now. how he might—

taehyun moved.

and for a split second, panic seized you as he pulled away from your grasp, slipping from your trembling hands. your breath hitched, your body tensed, and your mind raced with the worst possibilities, already bracing for the moment he’d turn his back on you. already dreading the sharp sting of rejection. but he didn’t leave. he didn’t take a step back, didn’t let the silence stretch too long, didn’t let the space between you grow. instead, taehyun lifted his hands, reaching for you, cupping your tear-streaked cheeks in the warmth of his palms, grounding you in the way only he ever could.

your lips parted, a sharp breath escaping as his thumbs brushed over your damp skin, gentle, deliberate, erasing the remnants of your sorrow with the softest touch. your eyes widened, searching his face, drinking in the features you had spent so long memorizing yet never truly allowing yourself to admire.

and then, without a word, taehyun reached for the ribbon of your mask, fingers curling around the delicate material before he carefully, slowly, undid the knot and lifted it away.

your breath caught, the cool night air brushing against your now-exposed skin, and before you could react, he let the mask slip from his fingers, the sound of it hitting the ground barely registering in your ears.

but taehyun wasn’t done.

with the same tenderness, the same certainty, he lifted one hand to his own mask, unfastening it, letting it fall to the earth beside yours. and for the first time in what felt like forever, he smiled. not the small, hesitant smiles you had seen him give in passing, not the careful, guarded ones he wore when he was unsure, not the polite ones he had offered in fleeting moments. no. this was real. genuine. a smile that stretched across his face, lighting up his features, reaching his eyes in a way you had forgotten was possible.

"that’s it?"

his voice was warm, teasing, laced with something light and playful—something unmistakably him.

and the moment you heard it, the moment you saw that expression on his face, it was as if every last bit of fear, every last trace of doubt, melted away.

a breath of laughter left you, a mix of relief and disbelief, and before you could even think, before you could hesitate, before you could convince yourself otherwise, you surged forward—hands finding his face, fingers threading into his hair as you pulled him in, pressing your lips to his in a kiss that was everything.

the moment your lips crashed against his, it was as if something had burst open—years of pent-up emotions, unsaid words, restless nights, stolen glances, all unraveling in a single heartbeat. and taehyun kissed you back like he, too, had been waiting for this his entire life.

his hands, still cradling your face, tightened their grip, fingers digging into your skin as if he was terrified you might slip away again. but you weren’t going anywhere. not anymore. your hands slid up to his jaw, trembling, desperate, pulling him impossibly closer. the sheer warmth of him, the way he exhaled shakily against your lips—it was dizzying. intoxicating. you were drowning, and you never wanted to come up for air.

the kiss was frantic, a collision of breaths, sighs, and need. his lips moved against yours like he had something to prove, something to make up for, something he couldn’t put into words—but you understood. you understood in the way his hands fell from your face to your waist, fingers curling into the fabric of your dress, gripping like he needed something to hold on to, something to anchor him. you understood in the way he let out a shuddering breath when you tugged at his hair, when your fingers slipped into the strands, when your body pressed flush against his.

a sharp exhale left taehyun, something like a laugh, something breathless and wrecked, and then he was kissing you harder, deeper, like he wanted to consume you, like he wanted to make up for every second lost, every moment wasted. and you let him. you let him steal your breath, let him take everything you had to give, because god, you had been starving for this. for him.

his fingers traced up your spine, slow, deliberate, and you shivered at the feeling. it was overwhelming—the heat of him, the taste of him, the way he kissed you like he was afraid you would vanish if he stopped. your back hit the edge of the stone fountain behind you, but neither of you cared, too caught up in the way your mouths moved together, in the sheer desperation between you.

when you finally broke apart, foreheads pressed together, gasping for air, taehyun’s grip on you never loosened. his fingers stayed at your waist, his breath fanning over your lips, and when you opened your eyes, his gaze was already on you—dark, burning, fond. taehyun exhaled, a quiet, breathy sound that mingled with the space between you, and when he smiled—soft, real, yours—you felt something in you finally settle.

"so... you like me." he murmured, his fingers curling just a little tighter at your waist, as if he still didn’t quite trust that you were here, that this was real.

you blinked, still dazed, still trying to catch up to everything—everything you had just spilled, everything that had just happened, everything you had just done.

"kang."

"no, no, say it." taehyun grinned, the teasing lilt returning to his voice, but there was something softer beneath it, something almost in awe. "i need to hear you say it."

heat crept up your neck, the weight of his hands still lingering on your skin, his touch burned into your memory. "i just confessed my entire soul to you, what more do you want?"

"just three little words." his voice dropped slightly, his fingers brushing along your jaw, tilting your chin up ever so slightly. "for confirmation."

you groaned, tilting your head back, but the fondness in taehyun’s eyes, the warmth in his touch, the way he was looking at you like you were all he needed, it was unfair.

"i like you, taehyun." the words left you in a sigh, as if they had been waiting to escape all along.

"yeah?"

you rolled your eyes, but your smile betrayed your feigned annoyance. "yeah."

taehyun hummed, looking entirely too pleased with himself before he leaned in again, murmuring against your lips, "about time." “i like you too.”

꒰🧸꒱ @pagelets @hoefororeo @sbnslver @missychief1404 @brrytears @saejinniestar @imlonelydontsendhelp @urlocal-moa @melmochii @jettithink, @killa-1009, @j-ji-jia, @frankghgr, @usuallyunlikelyfox @sxmmerberries @napipope-ta @bamgeutori @xylatox @hyunj00 <3

this is 1/5 from a valentine’s event with other talented and incredible moas! click here to see the full masterlist <3

[hyunj00]

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS TROPE AND THIS IS SOOO WELL WRITTEN!!!

[bamgyuuuri]

AAAA THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

[bamgyuuuri]

Psssst, amia over here!!

AWWWW OMYHGOSH REI i want gyU too ><

[bamgyuuuri]

⸝⸝ blue hydrangeas ┈ kth.

⸝⸝ IN a world where soulmates are tied by "soulblooms," flowers that manifest on the hand when touched by fate’s match, you have spent your life with an empty wrist and a guarded heart. but when a fleeting touch with taehyun—a boy you find insufferably perfect—awakens a blue hydrangea on your grasp, everything you thought you knew about fate, connection, and him, turned on its head.

pairings and tags. academicrival!taehyun x fem!reader . soulmate au. enemies to lovers . slowburn . grumpy x sunshine . forced proximity . slowburn . taehyun is a huge tease . tension !!!! not actually unrequited love? angst

word count. 29.7k

short note! it's finally here!!!! it was such an honor to work alongside such talented moas! i am beyond grateful to be part of something this special >< every moment spent working on this was filled with so much love and excitement, and i hope you all enjoy it as much as we did creating it!! <3

you hated kang taehyun with every fiber of your being.

there was something about him that irked you to your very core, something that made your teeth grit and your stomach twist every time you were forced to be near him.

it wasn't just his irritatingly perfect smile, or his perfect grades, or his constant ability to somehow do everything just a little bit better than you, no. it was something more insidious—something about how effortlessly he seemed to exist in a world where everything was perfectly aligned in his favor. he was always better, always one step ahead.

and it wasn’t just in the classroom either. taehyun's reach extended far beyond that, into places where you thought you had some semblance of control. in the student council, for example, where you held the position of vice president—a role you worked your ass off to attain—taehyun somehow made being the president look like a walk in the park.

with his easy charm and flawless leadership, he outshone you at every turn. it wasn’t that you didn’t have the capacity for leadership, you knew you were just as capable. more capable. but taehyun? he was like a magnet, drawing the attention of everyone in the room with a simple flash of his smile, a soft laugh that echoed off the walls of the council room.

you hated how easy he made it look.

every time you thought you had finally gained some ground, taehyun would be there. standing just a little bit taller, a little bit more poised—effortlessly securing the praise, the respect, the adoration. it was maddening.

you hated him.

and yet, it wasn’t just the ways he made you feel small, it was how he never let you hide it. how, no matter how obviously you displayed your contempt for him, he remained annoyingly unfazed, like he could see right through the walls you tried to build. he never flinched, never reacted in the way you expected. he’d simply laugh, his voice low and warm, as though everything you did to push him away was just a minor inconvenience.

the worst part? taehyun was nice to you. you could never understand it.

it was almost like he reveled in it—like he enjoyed seeing you fume in frustration. he would do things like open doors for you, something so simple and innocent, yet it felt like a taunt. he’d hold the door wide, with that stupid, gentle smile of his. he would always ask how you were, even though it felt like a question that was both too casual and too personal, as if he could sense the tension in your voice, the subtle crack in your facade whenever you answered him.

you hated how taehyun made you feel seen, how he seemed to know you better than anyone else, even though you barely let anyone in. he noticed the way you hesitated, the way your voice would shake when you pretended not to care. it was infuriating. you’d shove it all down, but he’d always come back for more, always patient, always gentle, like a relentless force pulling at the edges of your defenses.

you hated that no matter how many times you tried to push him away, he would be right back the next day, like nothing ever happened. you’d look away, stubborn and angry, trying to ignore the faint flutter in your chest when he smiled at you. his smile—always so warm, so effortless—made everything worse. because deep down, you knew you hated it... but you couldn’t look away.

before you could shove the thought away, before you could shake off the way his gaze lingered just a second too long, the static hum of the intercom crackled through the classroom, making you flinch.

“president and vice president of the student council, please report to the principal’s office.”

the words rang in your ears, a sudden disruption to the taut thread of your thoughts. you let out a slow breath, forcing your shoulders to relax, pushing down whatever unwanted feeling had started to creep in.

you turned on your heel without another glance in his direction, your steps measured and purposeful as you headed towards the door. the room buzzed faintly behind you, students murmuring about why the two of you were being called this time. probably another event to oversee, another responsibility stacked onto the ever-growing pile. 

but just as you reached the door, he moved ahead of you, stopping right at the threshold. his hand rested lightly against the frame as he turned back, expression as unreadable as ever—soft yet calculated, warm yet knowing.

“after you,” taehyun says smoothly, tilting his head ever so slightly.

your eyes flickered to him, lingering for only a second before you scoffed. of course. always so proper, so polite. always so perfectly composed.

“just go, kang.” your voice was clipped, your patience thinning at the edges.

but he didn’t budge. instead, a small chuckle escaped him, low and unhurried, like he found your irritation amusing. he remained still, waiting, that same infuriatingly gentle smile tugging at his lips.

for a moment, you considered pushing past him, ignoring his presence entirely. but something about the way he stood there—calm, unshaken, as if he had all the time in the world—made your skin prickle. unwilling to prolong the moment, you rolled your eyes and stepped through first, feeling the weight of taehyun’s gaze trailing behind you as he finally followed.

the hallway was quieter than usual, the usual rush of students dwindling between periods. your footsteps echoed faintly against the polished floors, the rhythmic tap of your shoes the only sound filling the space between you. for once, you wished it would stay that way.

but taehyun was never one to let silence settle for too long.

“you did well on the last presentation,” he said, his voice cutting through the quiet with an ease that made your fingers twitch.

you kept your gaze ahead, eyes fixed on the stretch of hallway before you. “so?”

taehyun hummed, slow and thoughtful. “the teachers were impressed. even the principal didn’t have anything to correct, which is rare.”

there was something in his tone—something easy yet deliberate. you weren’t sure if he was just making conversation or if he was testing you, seeing how long it would take before you snapped at him.

your fingers curled at your sides. “is that supposed to mean something?”

taehyun let out a soft chuckle, hands tucked casually into his pockets. “it means you’re good at what you do.”

you stole a glance at him from the corner of your eye, but his expression remained neutral, unreadable. there was no teasing lilt to his voice, no smugness in his words. just a simple statement, spoken like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

you looked away, exhaling through your nose. “obviously.”

taehyun laughs, a quiet, breathy sound that sent a shiver up your spine. “you’re awfully cute when you’re smug.”

your steps faltered—just barely, just for a second—before you snapped your head towards him with a sharp glare. “don’t say weird things.”

but he only smiled, eyes twinkling with something unreadable, something that made your stomach twist.

“it’s not weird if it’s true.”

your fingers twitched at your sides, a heat creeping up the back of your neck. you hated this. hated how easily he got under your skin, how effortlessly he chipped away at your walls like it was second nature to him. like he wasn’t even trying.

but more than anything, you hated that, despite everything, you never had it in you to stop him.

before you knew it, the office door was already looming ahead, its dark wooden surface polished to a near mirror-like shine, reflecting the dim glow of the hallway’s overhead lights. despite the countless times you had stood before it, waiting to be summoned inside for meetings, discussions, and the occasional reprimand over minor council disputes, it never failed to fill you with a familiar sense of dread. not because you feared the principal—he was reasonable enough—but because you knew that whatever awaited you beyond that door would inevitably mean more work, more responsibilities. more time spent in taehyun’s infuriating presence.

your fingers twitched at your sides, itching to get this over with. but before you could reach for the handle, taehyun was already moving, stepping forward with that effortless confidence that made your teeth grind. it was miniscule but it never fails to cause irritation to bubble up into your already wounded ego.

his knuckles met the wood in three firm, evenly spaced knocks—never too loud, never too soft. just right. of course.

then, without hesitation, he twisted the handle and pushed the door open. but instead of stepping through, he turned to you—that familiar, insufferably polite smile curving his lips.

“after you,” he says once again, his voice smooth, as if this wasn’t the hundredth time he’d done this.

your lips pressed into a thin, irritated line, and you felt the immediate, burning need to roll your eyes. instead, you inhaled sharply, resisting the urge to push past him just to spite him.

“stop doing that,” you muttered, stepping into the office without sparing him a glance.

behind you, taehyun let out a quiet chuckle, the sound low and warm, like he had been expecting your reaction all along. you could practically feel the amusement radiating off him as he followed you inside at an easy, unhurried pace, as if this was all some game to him.

the office was warm, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the faintest traces of old paper and polished wood. the large mahogany desk stood at the center, stacked neatly with files, reports, and what you assumed were upcoming event proposals.

behind the desk sat the principal, an older man with sharp, perceptive eyes that held a kindness just beneath their surface. his neatly pressed suit was accompanied by a tie that looked slightly askew, as if he had been rushing between meetings all morning. at the sight of you both, he offered a welcoming nod, his hands clasping together in front of him.

“ah, president,”  he greeted, his voice carrying that authoritative weight you had grown used to. “vice president,” somehow, the fact that he regarded you a little later adds another stack of reasons to be vexed as you remain in this room with not only him, but also the principal. “thank you for coming on such short notice.”

you returned the gesture with a curt nod, holding your hands behind your back in an attempt to brace yourself for whatever was about to be dropped onto your already full plate. beside you, taehyun dipped his head in acknowledgment, his posture effortlessly composed.

the principal didn’t waste time, leaning forward slightly as he rested his forearms on the desk. his sharp gaze flickered between the two of you, a knowing glint settling in his eyes.

“i’m sure you both know what time of year it is,” he began, his tone measured, expectant.

your brows furrowed slightly, the question lingering in the air for only a second before taehyun, ever the perfect student, filled the silence.

“the winter ball,” he supplied smoothly, the answer rolling off his tongue like second nature.

the principal’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “precisely. it’s one of our school’s most anticipated events, and this year, we want it to be even more memorable than the last.” he gestured towards the neatly stacked files on his desk, his fingers tapping lightly against the topmost folder. “as always, we’re prepared to provide you with all the budget you need to bring it to life. however, the student council will be in charge of every aspect of the planning.”

your stomach twisted.

of course it was. as if the student council didn’t already have enough responsibilities—event coordination, student affairs, disciplinary oversight—now you had to organize the biggest event of the year on top of everything else. had it not been for your role and how you regaled yourself as orderly, you would have questioned if the school boards even did anything apart from providing budgetary funds. you held your tongue and kept yourself poised despite yourself.

swallowing the sigh that threatens to escape your lips, you focus on maintaining your total composure. breaking would be unnecessary and you knew better than to crack under pressure just because something began to grind your gears.

“understood,” taehyun said without missing a beat, his tone carrying that same unwavering confidence he always spoke with. “we’ll handle everything.”

your eyes snapped to him, barely concealing your incredulity. we? we weren’t the ones who would end up buried in logistical nightmares and last-minute disasters. you were. while taehyun would breeze through meetings with his stupid, easy charm, you’d be the one pulling late nights, making sure every detail was perfect.

but of course, he looked completely at ease, his expression betraying none of the stress you already felt settling onto your shoulders.

the principal nodded in approval, leaning back in his chair. “good. i expected nothing less.” he glanced between the two of you once more before offering a small, knowing smile. “i trust that the two of you, along with the rest of the council, will make this year’s ball unforgettable.”

as the meeting wrapped up, you and taehyun dipped into a synchronized bow, offering the principal a respectful farewell before turning towards the door. you moved first, your steps quick and eager to escape the weight of unadulterated expectations that had just been placed on your shoulders.

the moment you stepped out into the hallway and the door clicked shut behind you, the sigh you had been holding back finally slipped past your lips. it was long and heavy, filled with every ounce of exasperation you had swallowed down in that office.

taehyun must have noticed, because just as you were trying to compose yourself, you caught the slightest movement from the corner of your eye—his hand, lifting ever so slightly, as if to place a reassuring touch on your shoulder.

you moved away before he could.

your sharp glare met his gaze, and for a second, the air between you crackled with tension. his hand dropped back to his side, but the teasing curve of his lips remained.

“don’t,” you warned, voice flat.

taehyun let out a soft chuckle, utterly unbothered. “what? i was just going to tell you that you’re gonna do great.”

“oh, shut up,” you muttered, rubbing your temple as if that would somehow ease the headache forming at the thought of the endless planning ahead. “this is a lot of work. again. do they not realize how much we already do?”

taehyun hummed in thought, shoving his hands into the pockets of his blazer. “well, to be fair, the winter ball is a big deal. people look forward to it all year. it makes sense they want to go all out.”

“great. good for them,” you deadpanned. “meanwhile, i’ll be drowning in event proposals, budgeting spreadsheets, and people asking if we can add a ‘winter wonderland’ theme for the fourth time.”

taehyun chuckled, tilting his head slightly as he glanced at you. “you’re being dramatic.”

you shot him an exasperated look, one that should’ve been enough to burn through his unshakable confidence. should’ve been, but of course, this was kang taehyun you were dealing with—unfazed, infuriating, and always ready with some smooth remark that made your blood boil.

“oh, am i? am i really, kang?” you seethed, voice laced with frustration. “because guess who’s going to be stuck micromanaging everything while everyone else just throws out random ideas and disappears?”

taehyun blinked at you, the picture of innocence. “us?”

you let out a humorless laugh, shaking your head as you leveled him with a sharp glare. “me,” you corrected, jabbing a finger against your chest. “because you’ll probably just sit there smiling and nodding while i suffer.”

his laughter came easily, light and unhurried, like the idea of your impending misery was genuinely amusing to him. the corners of his eyes crinkled in that stupidly endearing way, and for a moment, you forgot what you were mad about.

“come on, give me some credit,” taehyun replies, and before you could take a step back, he nudged your arm playfully—so effortless, so natural, like touching you was just second nature to him. you recoiled instantly, pulling away before the warmth of his skin could linger against your jacket. “i help out a lot too. i mean, i am the president.”

“oh, please,” you scoffed, folding your arms over your chest like a barrier, like it would somehow protect you from his relentless confidence. “you showing up to meetings with an iced americano and nodding along to whatever’s being said is not helping.” taehyun’s grin widened, all sharp amusement, like he was enjoying this far more than he should. “hey, that’s unfair. sometimes i write stuff down.”

“you doodle.”

“art is important for brainstorming.”

you shot him a deadpan look. “so is actual brainstorming.”

but taehyun didn’t waver. his smile softened just a fraction, the teasing edge in his tone giving way to something quieter, something dangerously close to sincerity.

“i do mean it,” taehyun said, and this time, he didn’t laugh. didn’t flash that insufferable, knowing smirk. didn’t lace his words with teasing or smug amusement. instead, his voice came quieter, steadier—like an oath meant to be kept. “i’m not just going to let you do all the work. i’ll help, i promise.”

his words should have rolled right off you, should have been easy to dismiss like every other time he made empty assurances with that effortless confidence of his. but something about the way he said it—the way he looked at you—made you pause for just a fraction of a second too long.

you scoffed again, but the usual sharpness in your voice was missing, dulled by the unexpected sincerity lingering between you. “i know you,” you muttered, grasping for the familiar rhythm of irritation that kept you balanced around him. “you’ll just charm everyone into doing things for you while i handle the logistics.”

taehyun’s grin stretched wider, his eyes glinting with something dangerously playful—like you had just unknowingly handed him the perfect setup for a joke. “well, yeah,” he admitted with a casual shrug, the corners of his lips twitching. “that’s called teamwork.”

you groaned dramatically, tilting your head back, pressing your fingers against the bridge of your nose as if you could physically push away the headache he was undoubtedly going to give you. “you are so—”

“but,” he cut in smoothly, and there was something in his tone that made you drop your hand and actually look at him. he wasn’t done. “since you’re so convinced i’m just going to sit back and make you do everything, let me put it on record—i’ll be in charge of buying the decorations. i’ll help with booking the venue, the catering, and dealing with the faculty.”

your arms, which had been folded tightly against your chest, slackened just slightly.

“i’ll help set up, too,” taehyun continued easily, ticking things off on his fingers like he was reading off a checklist. “and—” he shot you a knowing glance, “—i’ll make sure no one dumps last-minute work on you like they always do.”

your mouth opened—whether to argue or to question him, you weren’t even sure—but nothing came out.

taehyun noticed. he always did.

“what?” he teased, leaning in slightly like he was studying your reaction up close. “shocked into silence? i should say sincere things more often.”

you snapped out of it, glaring as you stepped back. “i just didn’t expect you to actually think about any of this.”

“what, you think i don’t pay attention?” taehyun hummed, tilting his head. “i know you do all the heavy lifting every year. i know you always end up picking up the slack when people flake. and i know you’d rather pretend you don’t care than let anyone see you stressed about it.”

taehyun smiled, but it wasn’t smug this time. it was softer. easier. genuine.“so, yeah,” he said, as if his words hadn’t just shaken something loose inside you. “i’ll help. properly.”

you swallowed, forcing yourself to scoff, to keep your defenses up. “yeah, well,” you muttered, looking away. “you better.”

he chuckled, unfazed as always. “see? we’re making progress already.”

“i hate you.”

“no, you don’t,” he said, and the worst part was that he sounded like he knew it. ꒰💐꒱ the student council room buzzed with the quiet shuffle of papers and the faint hum of conversation as the members gathered around the long wooden table, settling into their seats. the late afternoon sunlight filtered in through the windows, casting elongated shadows across the polished surface.

you sat near the head of the table, arms crossed, posture composed, but your patience was already thinning before the meeting had even begun. beside you, taehyun leaned forward slightly, his usual composed expression unreadable as he flipped through a neatly organized binder—probably filled with notes and plans that he had somehow managed to put together in the few hours since you both left the principal’s office. you wondered if an actual job would be just as exhausting as this—but at least having work meant you were paid for all of this trouble.

the moment the last person took their seat, you cleared your throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “alright, let’s get this over with,” you said, ignoring the amused glance taehyun shot your way. “as you all know, the winter ball is coming up, and since the school is giving us the budget we need, it’s up to us to handle all the planning.”

taehyun, ever the composed leader, leaned forward with his arms resting against the table, scanning the three of you with his usual unreadable expression. “which means first things first,” he says, “we need a theme.”

a beat of silence followed, filled only by the distant chatter of students lingering in the hallways and the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall. then, with a loud thud, beomgyu—who had been balancing his chair precariously on two legs—let it drop back down, the abrupt sound making jiwon, the treasurer, flinch. he leaned forward, propping his elbow on the table and resting his chin on his palm, his eyes glinting with easy confidence. "what about… a black-and-white party?"

you blinked, eyebrows furrowing. “you mean… just two colors?”

"yeah," beomgyu confirmed, nonchalant. "like, everyone wears black or white. sleek. simple. no weird decorations." he shrugged as if he had just solved an age-old dilemma, clearly satisfied with himself. "it’ll be easy."

taehyun hummed, tapping the end of his pen against his notebook in thought. "it’s not bad, but it might be too minimal. people like having something to work with beyond just a color palette."

you nodded, already envisioning how utterly lifeless it would be. "and it could get boring fast. we need something with more… i don’t know. atmosphere."

before beomgyu could defend his idea, jiwon suddenly straightened in his seat, his perfectly styled hair falling slightly over his forehead as he tilted his head in what you knew was supposed to be a calculated display of charm. “hmm,” he mused, twirling his pen between his fingers. “what about an enchanted garden theme? twinkling fairy lights, roses everywhere, maybe even a little love-seat corner for couples…” his eyes flickered towardss taehyun, the end of his sentence laced with a easy lilt. “it’d be so cool, don’t you think, taehyun?”

taehyun, either genuinely oblivious or just expertly unfazed, regarded him with a blank expression, blinking once. “...that’s just prom with plants.” jiwon’s smile faltered for half a second before he recovered, running a hand through his neatly styled hair. “well, not just a prom! we could—”

“it’s a winter formal,” taehyun cut in smoothly, his tone polite but unwavering. “not a midsummer night’s dream.” jiwon huffed, his expression tightening for a split second before he forced another airy laugh, though the slight flicker of irritation in his eyes didn’t go unnoticed by you. “fine. whatever,”

taehyun paid him no mind, glancing at the rest of you. "anyone else?"

beomgyu, who was still highly entertained by the exchange, perked up once more, his lips stretching into a grin. "okay, okay," he sighed, lifting his hands in mock surrender. "what if we do… a retro neon theme?"

you, taehyun, and jiwon turned to look at him at the exact same time, identical expressions of sheer disbelief written across your faces.

“…beomgyu,” you deadpanned, eyeing him as if he had just suggested you all hold the event in a convenience store parking lot. “this is a winter formal.”

beomgyu blinked innocently. “yeah, and?”

taehyun tilted his head slightly, looking at him as if he were trying to decipher an alien language. “so, you want people to slow dance under fluorescent pink lights?”

beomgyu crossed his arms, clearly standing by his idea. “who said anything about slow dancing? picture this—electric blues, neon signs, a dance floor that actually lights up. vintage, but modern.”

you stared at him. “that literally makes no sense.”

beomgyu groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. "you guys are impossible.”

before another argument could erupt, jiwon clapped his hands together, his eyes brightening with excitement. "ooh! what about a winter wonderland?"

you physically felt your soul leave your body. slowly, deliberately, you turned to face him, fingers tightening around your pen. "jiwon," you said, voice calm yet edged with thinly veiled exasperation, "it is already winter. people are literally living in a winter wonderland right now."

he pouted slightly, tilting his head as if that would somehow make his idea sound more appealing. "but we could make it cute! like, snowflakes everywhere, and maybe a big fake ice castle—"

“so… the exact same theme the school has used like four times before?” beomgyu interjected, raising an eyebrow.

jiwon frowned, tapping his pen against the table in thought. “well, i mean… yeah, but it’s classic.”

you exhaled through your nose, pressing your fingers against your temple. classic or not, it was painfully predictable, and if you had to sit through another event drowning in fake icicles and blue-tinted lights as if you were in the antartica, you were going to lose your mind.

“we need something fresh,” you muttered. “something that actually makes people excited to go.”

taehyun glanced at you, a knowing glint in his eyes. "so, you want something that stands out?"

you turned to him, narrowing your eyes. "obviously." beomgyu, who had been silent for a beat too long, suddenly leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head. “alright, then.” he let his arms drop back down, his gaze flickering between the three of you before a slow grin curved on his lips. “what about a masquerade ball?”

the room went quiet.

taehyun’s pen stilled between his fingers. you turned your head just in time to catch the way his gaze flickered to yours, brows raising slightly in silent acknowledgment. huh.

you narrowed your eyes, already seeing the gears turning in his head.

he knew.

you knew.

and beomgyu, perceptive as ever, caught onto the silent exchange in an instant. his grin widened, mischief flickering behind his eyes as he leaned forward, bracing his forearms against the table. “what’s with the looks? did i just blow your tiny little minds?”

you scoffed, but the corners of your lips twitched, betraying your amusement. “please. let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

taehyun hummed, drumming his fingers against his notebook, the sound a steady, thoughtful rhythm. “she’s right. however, it’s actually a solid concept.”

beomgyu clutched his chest dramatically, leaning back in his chair like he had just been struck by an arrow. “oh my god. did the two scariest people in the student council just agree with me?”

jiwon, who had been slouching in his seat ever since his winter wonderland idea got shot down, straightened up slightly, interest piqued. “so… like those fancy, mysterious balls in movies?”

“exactly,” beomgyu confirmed, voice brimming with satisfaction. “dim lighting, chandeliers, intricate masks—people get to dress up and pretend to be someone else for a night.” he wagged his brows. “cool, isn’t it?”

taehyun ignored his theatrics, already scribbling down notes. “formal but not boring. atmospheric without being overly complicated. it works.”

you tapped a finger against your chin, pretending to deliberate. “hmm. it does sound good, but i don’t know, gyu. the fact that it came from you makes me a little skeptical.”

beomgyu gasped, feigning betrayal as he placed a hand over his heart. “come on, don’t you have faith in me?.”

you smirked, tilting your head. “oh, i have faith in you. just not in your taste.” “says the girl who still thinks vanilla ice cream is the superior flavor,” beomgyu shot back, eyes gleaming.

your jaw dropped. “what does that have to do with anything?”

taehyun, barely glancing up from his notes, murmured, “she’s right, though. it’s a classic.”

beomgyu let out an irked groan, throwing his hands up. “oh, so she gets a pass for being boring, but i make one suggestion and suddenly—”

“masquerade it is,” taehyun interrupted smoothly, tapping his pen against the page for emphasis. “it’s decided.”

beomgyu sat up a little straighter, his usual playful arrogance giving way to something softer—something closer to pride. he actually contributed something worthwhile, and he knew it.

you glanced around the table, noting the shift in energy. what started as a frustrating mess of half-baked ideas had finally settled into something concrete. something promising.

as the meeting neared its end, the room gradually emptied, leaving behind the quiet remnants of rustling papers and the faint echo of footsteps against the tiled floor. beomgyu was the first to sling his bag over his shoulder, stretching his arms high above his head with a satisfied groan. he looked far too pleased with himself, as if he had just single-handedly saved the winter formal instead of throwing out the most ridiculous suggestions until he accidentally landed on the perfect one.

“alright, my job here is done,” he announced, adjusting his strap before flashing a lopsided grin at you and taehyun. “don’t stay too late, lovebirds.”

“we are not—” you started, only for beomgyu to duck out the door before you could finish.

you let out a frustrated huff, but before you could dwell on it, jiwon stepped forward, his movements unhurried as he gathered his things. he lingered near taehyun’s side, adjusting the strap of his bag with an easygoing air, as if trying to find the right words.

“hey,” he started, offering a small, casual smile, “if you ever need help with anything, you can call me. you know, student council teamwork and all.”

taehyun, ever the picture of polite indifference, barely spared him a glance. “sure, noted.”

jiwon hesitated, clearly expecting something more—maybe a nod of acknowledgment, maybe even a small thanks—but when taehyun remained as detached as ever, he let out a short laugh, shaking his head as if to brush it off. “right. see you guys later, then. goodluck!”

and then, it was just you and taehyun.

the door clicked shut behind him, sealing your fate.

you exhaled, resting your elbows against the table before letting your forehead drop against the cool surface. “this is cruel and unusual punishment.”

taehyun barely looked up from his notes. “it’s called responsibility.”

you groaned. “i have plenty of responsibilities, thank you very much. this just happens to be the one i want to run from the most.”

“too bad.”

taehyun’s tone was frustratingly even, the very definition of someone who had already accepted his fate. you peeked up at him through your arms, watching as he methodically sorted through the remaining paperwork, his expression unreadable. it was strange. you were used to him being sharp, snarky, always finding ways to make your life harder rather than easier. but right now?

right now, he was just… doing the work. without complaint. without prodding.

you slowly sat up, watching him with narrowed eyes.

“okay, what’s your deal?”

taehyun finally looked up, raising an eyebrow. “what?”

“you.” you gestured vaguely at him, then at the neatly arranged papers in front of him. “you’re being helpful. like, actually helpful. it’s weird.”

his lips curled slightly, though the amusement didn’t quite reach his eyes. “i told you i’d help, didn’t i?”

“yeah, but not like.. this..” 

he huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head before flipping through one of the documents. “you seriously underestimate me.”

“i seriously don’t.” you crossed your arms. “which is why i’m suspicious.”

taehyun sighed, tapping his pen against the table. “if it makes you feel better, i’ll handle the layout and catering logistics. you can start drafting the seating arrangements.”

you stared at him.

he stares back.

“…you already planned half of this, didn’t you?”

his silence was answer enough.

you blinked, momentarily thrown off by the sheer efficiency of it all. then, something flickered in his expression—something almost unreadable, something sincere—and suddenly, you didn’t know where to look.

“i told you,” taehyun murmured, his voice quieter now, as if he didn’t want to break whatever fragile moment had settled between you, “i’ll help.” you huffed out a breath, pushing aside the odd weight pressing at the edges of your mind, and refocused on the papers spread before you. whatever strange moment had just passed between you and taehyun—whatever flicker of something that had settled in the quiet between you—it didn’t matter. you had work to do.

the room sank into a silence that, against all odds, felt… natural. not suffocating, not strained, not heavy with the usual tension that came with being near taehyun for too long. it was a stark contrast to the earlier chaos of the meeting, the air now humming with something softer—less sharp edges, less sharp words.

it was almost unsettling how easily you both worked like this.

every now and then, one of you would break the silence.

“do we need to confirm the dj by the end of the week?”

“yeah, and the photographer too.”

or—

“should we let people vote for their own ball court, or do you think it’ll just turn into a popularity contest?”

“kang, every ball court is a popularity contest.”

for once, there were no playful jabs, no attempts to rile each other up—just efficiency. a rare, mutual understanding.

and yet, the hours dragged.

outside, the sun had begun to dip below the horizon, casting the room in streaks of orange and pink, elongating shadows across the table. the once-bright fluorescent lights above now felt too harsh, highlighting the exhaustion that had begun creeping into your bones. the weight of the day settled over you in increments—shoulders aching, head growing heavier, eyelids drooping ever so slightly.

then, as you were scanning through a list of venue restrictions, a yawn tore its way out of you before you could stop it.

taehyun’s head lifted at once. “tired?”

you blinked at him, rubbing your eyes as inconspicuously as possible. “no.”

his gaze flickered towardss you, sharp yet unreadable. “you should just go home. i can finish the rest.”

you scoffed, dropping your hand from your face. “what, and let you mess everything up? not on my watch.”

his brows raised slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching. “mess everything up? bold words, considering i’ve been handling student council work longer than you have.”

“exactly,” you countered, deadpan. “which means i know what you’re capable of, and frankly, it’s concerning.”

taehyun exhaled, shaking his head in mock disbelief. “you really don’t trust me with this, huh?”

“would you trust you?”

his lips curled, eyes glinting with amusement. “i trust myself way more than i trust you.”

you let out an exaggerated gasp. “excuse me?”

“you heard me.”

“taehyun, i carry the weight of this council on my back, and you know it.”

he let out a soft chuckle, leaning back in his chair. “right, because your world would fall apart if you admitted i actually help out around here.”

you narrowed your eyes, pointing a pen at him. “if you actually helped, i wouldn’t be here right now.”

“or maybe,” he mused, tilting his head, “you just like spending time with me.”

you nearly choked.

“as if,” you spluttered, eyes widening.

taehyun smirked, seemingly satisfied with your reaction. “so dramatic.”

you let out a groan, too tired to argue as you drag a hand down your face. “you’re insufferable.”

“and yet, you’re still here.”

“because i have to be,” you shot back.

he hummed, tapping his fingers against the table. “alright, then. let me—”

without thinking, your hand shot out, curling firmly around his wrist.

your breath caught in your throat, the moment stretching impossibly thin, charged with something you couldn’t name. your fingers were wrapped around the bare skin of taehyun’s wrist, his pulse thrumming steadily beneath your touch—warm, solid, real.

taehyun stilled.

for once, he looked just as caught off guard as you felt, his gaze flickering downward, lips parting slightly. you could see the exact moment realization dawned on him, something shifting in his expression, his breath coming just a fraction sharper.

but neither of you moved.

the air between you thickened, something unspoken curling into the space left behind by your bickering. your heart pounded against your ribs, so loud, you were convinced he could hear it. your palm burned against his skin, a sensation you weren’t sure was entirely physical.

you ripped your hand away, as if you had been scorched.

taehyun blinked at you, his expression unreadable, caught between something unreadable and something almost… curious. then, his lips twitched, the ghost of a smirk forming, though this one was softer—less teasing, more thoughtful.

“okay, okay,” he said, voice quieter now, almost teasing but not quite. “i’ll let you finish your own work.” you barely heard taehyun’s voice. barely registered the joyful lilt of his words or the soft chuckle that followed.

because something felt wrong.

not wrong in the way that set off alarms in your head—not danger, not fear—but something different. something foreign pressing against the edges of your awareness, unfamiliar yet impossibly warm. your wrist tingled, the sensation starting as a faint whisper beneath your skin before deepening into something more insistent, something that crawled up your arm like a quiet, lingering heat. it wasn’t painful, but it burned in a way that made your breath catch, a way that made your fingers curl against the table as if grounding yourself would somehow steady the sudden unease settling in your chest. your brows furrowed as the warmth pulsed again, slow and steady, like a heartbeat against your palm. for a second, you tried to ignore it, forcing your focus back onto the scattered documents before you. but the feeling refused to fade, refused to be dismissed as something inconsequential. it lingered, curling beneath your skin, insistent, waiting. a strange, quiet whisper of a sensation that made something stir uneasily in your chest.

your fingers twitched.

the urge to check clawed at you.

hesitantly, almost cautiously, you turned your palm over. your breath felt uneven, the steady rhythm of your chest rising and falling suddenly harder to control. your fingers flexed once, twice, before finally, with a sharp inhale, you reached for the sleeve of your jacket.

you hesitated.

just for a second.

then, slowly, you peeled the fabric back—

and you felt your breath hitch.

there, resting in the curve of your palm, was a single blue hydrangea.

it was small, delicate, impossibly soft-looking, its petals shimmering faintly with an ethereal glow. the light was subtle, barely noticeable, but it was there, a quiet pulse of something that shouldn’t be real. your eyes widen, your chest tightening, the air around you suddenly feeling too thick, too heavy, as if the weight of the moment itself was pressing down on you, demanding to be acknowledged. your fingers twitched again, hesitant, unsure, before finally moving—just barely grazing the petals. they were cool beneath your fingertips, soft as silk, fragile in a way that made your stomach twist. and yet, the moment you made contact, a warmth surged through you—different from before, deeper, curling through your chest, spreading outward in gentle waves, like ripples disturbing still water.

panic clawed at your ribs.

this wasn’t real.

it couldn’t be real.

cautiously, carefully, you lifted your gaze—

taehyun wasn’t even looking at you.

he was still focused on his own work, completely unaware of the storm unraveling within you. his expression remained neutral, his hands moving with practiced ease as he gathered the last of the documents, his posture relaxed as if nothing had happened. he hadn’t noticed the way you had frozen. he hadn’t heard the sharp breath that had caught in your throat. he hadn’t felt what you had felt.

you sat there, staring, mind spinning in frantic circles, barely registering the movement of his hands, the faint sound of paper rustling as he organized everything into neat stacks. he was still working. he had moved on.

your fingers tightened around your sleeve, pressing the fabric into your palm, concealing the impossible proof still resting there.

taehyun had no idea.

he hadn’t seen it.

but you had. suddenly, the way taehyun had been looking at you earlier—the way his voice had softened when he told you he’d help, the way his fingers had tapped against the table absentmindedly, as if waiting for something—felt different.

suddenly, the small, glowing flower sitting against your skin felt heavier than anything you had ever held.

your stomach twisted, fingers still curled tightly around your sleeve as you forced yourself to keep your expression neutral, to act as if your world hadn’t just been turned upside down.

but deep down, you already knew.

taehyun was your soulmate.

the chair scraped against the floor as you pushed back suddenly, the legs dragging loud and jarring against the quiet that had settled between you and taehyun. the movement was too sharp, too abrupt, and when you stood, a wave of dizziness hit you like a punch to the chest. taehyun’s head snapped up at the sudden movement, brows knitting together in something close to confusion. “where are you going?” his voice was steady, but there was a slight edge to it—one that might’ve gone unnoticed if your heart wasn’t already hammering in your chest. “i thought you wanted to stay?”

you swallowed, trying to mask the way your breath felt uneven, the way something inside you trembled like a frayed wire sparking against itself. “i—” your throat felt dry. you shook your head, barely able to string together a convincing excuse. “i-i just remembered i have something to do.”

taehyun’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze sharp and assessing as he leaned back in his chair. “really?”

you exhaled sharply, trying to pull yourself together, trying to keep your feet moving before you did something foolish. “yes, really,” you bit out, words a little too rushed, too forced. you took a step back, then another. “i should go.”

“now?” taehyun’s voice carried a note of incredulity, as if he was trying to make sense of the contradiction. just minutes ago, you had argued tooth and nail about staying, yet now, here you were, bolting for the door like something was chasing you.

you nodded once, stiffly, pressing your lips together. “yes. now.”

before he could say anything else, before the weight of his gaze could pin you down, you spun on your heel and hurried for the door. your heart thundered violently against your ribs, your pulse roaring in your ears, but you didn’t stop. you couldn’t.

the cool evening air hit you like a shock to the system when you finally stepped outside, your lungs burning with the weight of everything you had just run from. but even then, even with the distance now stretching between you and taehyun, your fingers curled instinctively tighter around your sleeve, as if the mere act of holding it close could somehow make the truth disappear.

but it didn’t.

because pressed against your palm, glowing softly beneath the fabric, the tiny blue hydrangea still remained. ꒰💐꒱ you couldn't sleep.

you lay on your bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, but the silence in your room was anything but peaceful. it was suffocating—thick and pressing, curling around your ribs like invisible vines, making it impossible to breathe. every time you closed your eyes, you saw it. that flower. delicate and impossibly vibrant, glowing softly against your palm as if mocking you. and with it came the realization you still weren’t ready to accept, the one that had rattled you so deeply you could barely think straight.

kang taehyun was your soulmate.

your stomach twisted, a cold weight settling deep in your gut. it didn’t make sense. it couldn’t make sense. the universe, fate—whatever cruel force had determined this—must have made a mistake. had to have made a mistake. because out of all the people in the world, why him? why the one person you could barely stand, the one person who got under your skin like no one else could?

a frustrated breath tore from your lips as you sat up abruptly, shoving your blanket off. you couldn’t just sit here, drowning in the sheer absurdity of it all. your fingers reached for your phone, unlocking it in one swift motion before you began typing furiously into the search bar, your heart hammering so loudly it nearly drowned out the quiet hum of the device.

how to break a soulmate bond?

your thumb hovered over the screen as you hesitated, an uneasy feeling creeping into your chest.

then you pressed enter.

your eyes scanned the results, fingers scrolling hastily, only for a sharp sting of disappointment to hit you when the answers all read the same:

soulmates are predetermined from birth.a soulmate bond cannot be unbound.a soulmate connection is permanent.

your grip on your phone tightened.

you tried again.

can you reject your soulmate?can a soulmate connection fade?is there a way to erase a soulmate bond?

but again, every response remained cruelly, infuriatingly unchanged. your chest constricted, heat rising to your cheeks as frustration built like a storm inside you. you hated this. hated the idea that some unseen force had decided your fate without your consent, tying you to taehyun in a way you couldn’t even begin to understand.

your pulse pounded in your ears, but you forced yourself to keep reading, scanning through endless articles, forums, old folklore—anything that might give you a loophole.

and then, finally, you found something.

your eyes locked onto a passage buried within a lengthy explanation on soulmate manifestations. the words swam before you, but you forced yourself to focus, breath catching as you reread the key line over and over again.

"the flower will continue to appear until the bond is acknowledged and reciprocated."

you swallowed hard, gripping your phone tighter.

"only through mutual recognition—through intertwined touch—can the cycle be broken."

a shiver crawled up your spine, slow and deliberate, like a creeping realization settling deep into your bones. the weight of it pressed against your chest, making it harder to breathe, harder to think past the overwhelming truth that had been forced upon you. your stomach twisted at the thought. as long as he didn’t know—as long as you never let your hands fully intertwine—he wouldn’t find out. the flower would keep returning, yes, but it wasn’t permanent. it wasn’t an unshakable mark of fate binding the two of you together in an irreversible way.

your breath caught as you hesitated, then slowly peeled back your sleeve, heart hammering wildly against your ribs. but when your gaze flickered down—

nothing.

the flower was gone. a sharp exhale left you, a rush of relief so sudden it nearly made you laugh. it wasn’t a mark you were doomed to wear forever. it could be hidden, erased, kept entirely to yourself. your fingers curled into a fist, as if trying to physically trap the secret away, to hold it tight before it could slip through the cracks and ruin everything.

taehyun didn’t have to know.

you could keep this to yourself. you could pretend it never happened. as long as you avoided direct contact, as long as you stayed careful, the truth would remain buried. and taehyun—your soulmate—would never have to find out.

the thought should have been comforting, should have eased the sick feeling that had settled in your stomach. but it didn’t. because no matter how much you tried to ignore it, push it down, pretend it wasn’t real—

the fact remained.

the universe had chosen taehyun for you.

and worse—

it had chosen you for him.

you exhaled slowly, pressing your palms over your eyes as if the darkness behind your lids could somehow erase the thoughts running rampant in your mind. it was useless—no matter how much you tried to push it away, the truth remained, lodged deep beneath your skin like a splinter that refused to be ignored.

still, you had to at least try.

dragging in a breath, you shifted onto your side, curling beneath the covers in a last-ditch effort to find rest, even if only for a few fleeting hours. the room was silent, save for the faint ticking of the clock on your desk, a reminder of just how little time you had left before the world would start moving again. you squeezed your eyes shut, forcing yourself to focus on the steady rise and fall of your chest, on the softness of the sheets beneath your fingertips. if you could just empty your mind, even just for a moment.

but sleep never truly came.

instead, you drifted in and out of a restless haze, thoughts tangling and unraveling like threads in your mind. each time you closed your eyes, you swore you could still feel the lingering warmth against your palm, the faint ghost of a touch that had changed everything. and before you knew it, the sun had already risen.

a sliver of golden light filtered through your curtains, painting soft, dappled shapes across your walls. you barely had time to register the shift before your alarm blared to life, the sharp, grating sound pulling you straight back into reality.

with a heavy sigh, you rolled onto your back, staring at the ceiling as exhaustion settled deep in your bones. the weight in your chest hadn't lessened overnight—if anything, it had only grown heavier, sinking deeper now that you had to face what came next.

school. preparing for the winter ball. more responsibilities.

and worse than that, taehyun.

your jaw tightened at the thought. there was no avoiding him. no ignoring his presence, no pretending he didn’t exist when he was the student council president, when you had to work with him to organize the ball, when he was everywhere. when, no matter how much you wanted to, you couldn't just erase him from your world.

but today, you had no choice but to pretend.

pretend like nothing had changed. pretend like you weren’t walking into the same room as the person you were now inexplicably tied to. pretend like he wasn’t your soulmate.with one last deep breath, you swung your legs over the side of the bed, steeling yourself for the day ahead.

as you got ready, the soft rustle of fabric filled the quiet of your room as you slipped into your jacket, fingers instinctively pulling the sleeves down past your wrists. you had always worn one out of habit, for comfort more than anything else, but today—it served a different purpose.

today, it was a barrier.

a thin layer of protection between you and the one person who could never know the truth.

your hands lingered for a moment, curling around the edges of your sleeves as if gripping them tighter would somehow ease the weight pressing against your chest. it didn’t. but still, you exhaled slowly, steeling yourself, before finally grabbing your bag and heading out the door.

as you got off the bus, the walk to school felt longer than usual. every step was heavy, your mind still tangled in the sleepless hours of the night before. the closer you got, the more you could feel it—that slow, creeping sense of unease settling in your bones, tightening its hold with each passing second.

but you kept your head low.

you had no interest in conversation. no interest in being perceived. the last thing you needed was someone taking notice of the way your mind was still reeling, the way your body was thrumming with something unsettled, something wrong.

“you in a hurry or something?”

your breath caught.

a voice. familiar. casual. far too easy going for how completely, utterly not easy this situation was. you didn’t have to look to know who it was. your fingers curled tighter around the strap of your bag, your knuckles turning faintly white from the force of your grip. as if holding on to something tangible could tether you, could anchor you to a reality that suddenly felt unbearably fragile.

his voice was light, threaded with that signature confidence that made your stomach curl uncomfortably.

"you practically ran out of the council room yesterday," taehyun mused, the curiosity in his voice so casual, so innocent, that it almost sounded like he wasn’t completely prying. but you knew better. taehyun never asked without reason. "thought you were so insistent on staying late and finishing up the work. kind of weird that you suddenly changed your mind."

your pulse stuttered.

so he noticed.

of course he did.

you forced yourself to keep your expression neutral, to fight against the tension creeping into your shoulders, the way your skin still buzzed with the weight of yesterday’s discovery.

"i changed my mind," you muttered, your voice clipped, carefully detached. "had more important things to do."

a hum. slow. drawn out. deliberate.

"oh?" taehyun says, his voice dipping ever so slightly, laced with a knowing lilt that sent an uncomfortable prickle down your spine. "that doesn’t sound like you. you never leave work unfinished, no matter how late it gets. if anything, you’d rather scold me for trying to leave early. i think that’s why it’s kind of… suspicious."

your fingers twitched. he was digging. picking at the cracks in your carefully composed exterior, sifting through the spaces where your walls weren’t quite thick enough. and you could feel it—the weight of his gaze as he examined you, silently cataloging every tiny inconsistency, every hesitation, every shift in your posture.

your stomach twisted.

he couldn’t know.

"look, i don’t know what you’re talking about," you said, feigning indifference, eyes fixed ahead. "i went home. did what i needed to do. end of story."

a silence stretched between you, thin yet impossibly dense.

"you’re a terrible liar."

the words were soft. simple. but they landed like a blow, striking something deep within you.

"seriously, what’s up with you?" taehyun continued, voice quieter now, softer around the edges, but no less insistent. his eyes were sharp, searching, tracing over your profile like he was trying to piece together a puzzle he wasn’t meant to solve. "you’ve been acting weird since yesterday. not just weird—weird in a way that actually bothers me. and that’s saying something."

your breath hitched before you could stop it, and for just a fraction of a second, your steps faltered.

it was slight—barely noticeable, barely anything—but taehyun caught it. of course he did.

his gaze sharpened, quiet and unrelenting, brushing over the rigid line of your shoulders, the tightness in your grip, the way your breath had become just a little too controlled.

"seriously," he pressed again, more deliberate this time. "what’s going on with you? you don’t usually avoid eye contact like this. or, you know, sprint out of rooms like you just saw a ghost." he was watching you. waiting. reading between the spaces of your words, searching for something—an answer, a tell, the truth.

and it was too much.

too much when your thoughts were still tangled in the ghost of a blue hydrangea, too much when the memory of it felt like a brand against your skin, too much when your own chest felt like it was caving under the weight of what you could not let him know.

"i told you, it’s nothing!"

the word came out too fast, too sharp, too frayed at the edges, spilling into the space between you like a crack in fragile glass.

"nothing’s wrong, okay?" you snapped, exasperation bleeding into every syllable as you finally turned to glare at him. "i don’t know why you’re so fixated on this, but if i say it’s nothing, then it’s nothing!"

taehyun’s steps slowed, just barely, but enough for you to feel it.

then, after a beat, his lips curled.

"there’s my girl."

the words were light, teasing, but something about the way he said them—low, warm, unbearably fond—made your breath catch in your throat.

your stomach flipped.

heat crept up your neck, curling at the edges of your resolve, licking at the barriers you had so carefully built.

"don’t call me that," you snapped, voice edged with irritation, but the way your chest tightened betrayed you. taehyun only grinned wider, unfazed. "why not?” you let out a scoff, shoving past him with a force that felt more like fleeing than anything else, quickening your pace towards the school entrance, desperate to put space between you, to shake off the warmth he left behind.

taehyun only chuckled, the sound rich with amusement, smooth and unbothered, trailing after you like a shadow you couldn’t escape.

as you and taehyun made your way towards the principal’s office, you could still feel the weight of his earlier words clinging to your skin. you forced yourself to set it aside, straightening your posture and steeling your expression as the two of you stepped into the office.

the principal greeted you both with a bright, approving smile, clearly pleased that the student council had taken the initiative to organize such an elaborate event. as you and taehyun pitched the ideas you had gathered from the meeting—the masquerade ball, the theme, the various activities planned—their expression only grew more delighted, nodding along enthusiastically.

"this all sounds wonderful!" he beamed, already reaching for the budget reports. "i'll grant you the funds you requested, and since this will require a lot of preparation, i'll allow you both to skip certain classes leading up to the event. just make sure to check in with your teachers and stay on top of your work."

you forced a polite smile, nodding in agreement, though internally, you grimaced at the thought of spending even more time with taehyun outside of your usual council duties. meanwhile, beside you, taehyun merely gave an easy, knowing grin, as if he could already sense your reluctance.

with the necessary approvals in hand, the two of you left the office and quickly made your way to find beomgyu and jiwon, easily spotting them in the hallway between classes. after explaining the situation, excusing them from their schedules, and going over the event details, the four of you gathered in the council room once again to divide the responsibilities.

"beomgyu, jiwon, you’ll be in charge of designing and putting up the promotional posters," taehyun started, his voice smooth and sure, as if he had already planned out the entire structure of the event in his head. "you’ll also be handling the setup for the photobooth and confirming everything with the dj and photographer."

beomgyu perked up at that, a spark of excitement in his eyes as he nodded. "oh, i have ideas already. don’t worry, the posters are gonna be a masterpiece." “so do i!” jiwon chimed in, nodding with a soft smile.

"good," taehyun said before turning to you. his gaze was steady, too steady, and you already had a bad feeling about what was coming. "that leaves us to handle the venue arrangements, the catering, and organizing the seating plans."

your stomach dropped.

"wait, what?" you blurted, brows knitting together. "why do i have to be paired with you? can't i switch?"

taehyun barely looked fazed, tilting his head in amusement. "because you’re the vice president, and i’m the president. it makes sense that we handle the major logistics together."

"but—"

"besides," he cut you off smoothly, a teasing lilt creeping into his voice, "you wouldn't want to leave all the important decision-making to me, would you? i might pick the absolute worst venue just to spite you."

you opened your mouth to protest, only to close it again when you realized he had you cornered. he knew you couldn’t let him handle this alone—not because you trusted his judgment, but because you absolutely didn’t.

your fingers clenched around the edge of the table before you finally let out a sharp exhale, shoulders dropping in reluctant defeat. "fine," you muttered, crossing your arms. "but if you make this unbearable for me, i swear—"

"i wouldn’t dream of it," taehyun interjected smoothly, lips quirking up in that ever-infuriating smirk of his.

beomgyu, watching the exchange, let out a low whistle, shooting you a look that was half amused, half pitying. "good luck," he mused, already turning towards jiwon to start discussing the poster designs.

as much as you wanted to drag your feet and stall for time, taehyun was already leading the way towards the computer lab, walking with that effortless confidence that somehow always managed to get under your skin. you followed begrudgingly, arms still crossed over your chest, every step weighed down by the unfortunate reality that you were stuck with him for this part of the planning.

the computer lab was mostly empty when you entered, save for a few students hunched over their screens, quietly typing away. the hum of the machines filled the air, the glow of the monitors casting a cool, sterile light over the room. taehyun wasted no time claiming a spot near the corner, settling into one of the chairs and gesturing for you to take the seat beside him.

reluctantly, you did.

"all right," he murmured, fingers already flying across the keyboard as he pulled up a search tab. "we need a venue that’s available in less than two weeks, big enough for the whole student body, and actually within our budget."

you scoffed, leaning back against your chair with an unimpressed look. "wow, really? i had no idea. it's not like i wasn’t at the meeting where we came up with this idea or anything."

taehyun barely spared you a glance, but you could see the corner of his mouth twitch. "just making sure we’re on the same page," he said smoothly, scrolling through a list of banquet halls. "i know how slow you can be sometimes."

your head snapped towards him, eyes narrowing. "excuse me?"

he hummed, feigning deep concentration as he clicked through different options. "i mean, it took you ages to realize you liked working with me. maybe this will take just as long." "i do not like working with you," you shot back, voice low and sharp.

"mhm," he teased, tilting his head. "whatever helps you sleep at night."

your fingers curled into fists as you resisted the urge to reach over and shove him off his chair. instead, you let out a long, slow exhale, rolling your shoulders before refocusing on the task at hand. arguing with him was getting you nowhere, and you refused to give him the satisfaction of throwing you off track.

"just focus," you muttered, pulling up a different search window. "we need to find a venue, not waste time on whatever nonsense is coming out of your mouth."

"you wound me," taehyun sighed dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. "but fine, i’ll behave. for now."

you didn’t believe that for a second.

the next minutes were spent in a tense yet oddly efficient silence, both of you scanning through listings, occasionally typing out emails or jotting down notes. but of course, peace was never meant to last when taehyun was involved.

"how about this one?" he asked suddenly, turning his screen to your direction. "it’s big, has great lighting, and look—it even comes with a dance floor."

you barely glanced at it before shaking your head. "too expensive."

"oh, so now you're frugal?" he teased, clicking his tongue. "you didn't seem to care when we were talking about decorations."

"because decorations actually matter," you retorted. "unlike whatever overpriced ballroom you're looking at right now."

"overpriced?" taehyun leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "you have no taste." "and you have no concept of budgeting," you shot back, matching his posture with a challenging stare.

he grinned. "fine. your turn. pick a place."

you turned back to your screen, scanning through the options until you found one that seemed promising—spacious, reasonably priced, and still available within your tight timeframe. with a victorious smirk, you veered your laptop in his direction. "this one."

taehyun hummed, skimming over the details. then, to your immense irritation, he shrugged. "eh. it's decent."

"decent?" you repeated, your eye twitching. "it's perfect."

"i don't know," he mused, dragging out the words. "it’s a little plain, don’t you think?"

"you're plain," you grumbled under your breath.

taehyun chuckled, shaking his head as he clicked on the venue’s contact page. "all right, i’ll admit—it’s not bad. let’s call and see if it’s available."

"thank you," you huffed, leaning back in your chair.

taehyun shot you a look, his smirk still annoyingly present. "see? wasn’t that fun?"

"you’re insufferable."

"oh, please," he said, spinning slightly in his chair, "we both know that’s not true."

you exhaled sharply, closing your eyes for a brief moment to collect what little patience you had left. taehyun wasted no time pulling out his phone, fingers tapping swiftly as he dialed the number listed on the venue’s website. you followed suit, opening your email and drafting a message to another potential location, your heart already sinking at the thought of waiting for replies.

"come on, pick up," taehyun muttered under his breath, tapping his fingers against the desk impatiently as the call rang. his expression remained neutral, but you could tell from the slight furrow of his brows that he wasn’t the biggest fan of uncertainty either.

you pressed send on your email, leaning back with a sigh. "i hate this part," you admitted, watching as the message disappeared into the abyss of cyberspace. "just sitting around, waiting, hoping someone actually gets back to us soon."

"patience, grasshopper," taehyun mused, shooting you a teasing glance before straightening when someone finally answered his call. "yes, hi," he said smoothly, his tone shifting into something professional yet casual. "i was wondering if your venue is available for a school event in—"

he suddenly went quiet. you watched as his lips pressed into a thin line, his expression darkening slightly.

"... oh," he said after a pause, voice flat. "i see. no, that’s fine. thanks anyway."

you already knew what had happened before he even ended the call. "booked?"

"booked," taehyun confirmed with a sigh, tossing his phone onto the desk. "for the next three months."

"great," you muttered, rubbing your temples. "just our luck."

"don't be so dramatic," taehyun teased, picking up his phone again. "we still have options. just gotta keep trying."

"yeah, yeah," you sighed, refreshing your inbox just in case. nothing yet. not that you expected an immediate response, but it didn't stop the impatience from creeping in. your fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard, the soft clicks filling the quiet space between you and taehyun as you sent out the last of your inquiries. with a sigh, you leaned back in your chair, rubbing your temples before glancing at him. "i'll start looking for catering too," you said, already pulling up a new tab. "no point in wasting time while we wait."

taehyun glanced up from his phone, his lips curling into an approving smile. "look at you," he mused, amusement laced in his tone. "so efficient. what would we do without you?"

you rolled your eyes. "fail, probably."

he chuckled, tilting his head as if considering it. "you might be right." then, before you could react, his hand lifted slightly, fingers reaching towards your head, the familiar motion making it painfully clear what he was about to do.

your body reacts before your mind fully processed it. panic surged through you, a sharp, instinctual jolt of alarm shooting down your spine as you immediately ducked out of his reach. your chair scraped against the floor as you leaned away, eyes widening slightly before narrowing into a glare. "don’t," you snapped, voice sharp with warning.

taehyun blinked at you, startled for all of a second before a slow, knowing grin stretched across his face. "wow," he laughed, clearly entertained by your reaction. "didn't realize you hated me that much."

you scowled, heat prickling at the back of your neck. "i just don’t like being touched."

"uh-huh," he drawled, unconvinced, but he let it go, instead leaning back in his chair with a smirk that made you want to throw your laptop at him. too bad you had nothing to reimburse the ruin if you did decide to do just that. "whatever you say."

you huffed, turning back to your screen with more force than necessary. ignoring the way your heartbeat was still uneven, you focused on scrolling through catering options, clicking on the ones that looked promising. taehyun, meanwhile, resumed his calls, his voice switching between polite and slightly frustrated as he dealt with yet another rejection.

"seriously?" he muttered under his breath after hanging up. "do people just book venues for fun? why is everything taken?" you barely spared him a glance, typing out another inquiry. "maybe the universe just enjoys watching you suffer."

taehyun exhaled a sharp laugh, shaking his head as he dialed another number. "if that's the case, then it really needs to get a new hobby." your lips parted slightly as a soft chuckle slipped out before you even realized it, the sound light and fleeting amidst the quiet hum of the computer lab. you didn’t dwell on it, simply shaking your head before shifting your focus back to your screen, fingers gliding over the keyboard as you continued to scroll through catering services, listing them down one by one in a growing document. beside you, taehyun remained engrossed in his own task, his voice occasionally dipping in and out of conversation as he made yet another call.

and so, the afternoon passed in a steady rhythm—clicks of the keyboard, the quiet murmur of emails being typed, the occasional sigh of frustration whenever another rejection came through. time blurred into an endless cycle of inquiries and planning, every second dedicated to ensuring the ball would come together despite the ridiculous time constraint.

but eventually, exhaustion began to creep in, a slow and subtle weight pressing against you. the lack of sleep from the night before clawed at your consciousness, your eyelids growing heavier with every passing moment. at first, you tried to fight it, blinking rapidly and straightening your posture, but it was no use. the lull of soft ambient noise, the gentle warmth of the room, the repetitive motions all pooled together into something dangerously lulling, and before you knew it, your head dipped slightly, your body leaning into the comfortable haze of rest.

meanwhile, taehyun was still fully engaged in his work, the tip of his tongue pressed against the inside of his cheek as he skimmed through his emails. his patience was wearing thin after what felt like the hundredth rejection, but then, his screen lit up with a notification, a new message appearing in his inbox. when he opened it, his eyes widened slightly.

"finally," he breathed, his tone shifting from weary to triumphant in an instant. then, louder, "we got one! a venue just confirmed they’re available!" but no response came.

taehyun furrowed his brows, turning his head slightly. "hey, are you—"

he stopped mid-sentence.

his gaze landed on you, and for the first time that day, he fell completely silent.

your body was relaxed, posture softened in a way he’d never seen before. your breathing was slow, steady, your lashes resting lightly against your cheeks as you remained completely still. the exhaustion you had been so clearly fighting had finally won, lulling you into an unguarded moment of peace.

taehyun’s lips parted slightly as he took in the sight before him, the sharp edges of his usual teasing demeanor smoothing out into something gentler.

his eyes traced the curve of your cheek, the way a few stray strands of hair had fallen into your face, shifting slightly with each slow exhale. for a fleeting second, his fingers twitched, the urge to reach out and tuck them away bubbling up inside him.

but he hesitated.

he knew you wouldn’t like that.

instead, taehyun simply sighed, a quiet, barely-there smile tugging at the corners of his lips. shaking his head to himself, he leaned back in his chair, voice a hushed murmur as he muttered, "maybe another time." ꒰💐꒱ the world around you was slow to come into focus. a quiet groan slipped past your lips as you sat up, stretching your arms over your head, your body protesting the hours spent slumped over in an awkward position. your fingers moved to rub the sleep from your eyes, the lingering haze of exhaustion still clinging to you like a thick fog. for a moment, everything was a blur—the dim hum of computer screens, the distant echoes of muffled footsteps from outside, the faint glow of the overhead lights. but as your mind caught up with your surroundings, realization settled over you like a sudden jolt.

you were still in the computer lab.

blinking away the remnants of sleep, your gaze drifted over the space, taking in the faint glow of the monitors, the scattered notes, and the quiet that had settled into the room like a thick, undisturbed blanket. it was late. way too late.

but then, as your eyes continued to wander, they landed on something—or rather, someone. just beside you, head tilted ever so slightly to the side, arms loosely crossed over his chest, was taehyun. asleep.

you stilled.

for a long moment, you simply stared, your breath caught somewhere between surprise and something far too unnameable to grasp. taehyun was never this still, never this quiet. he was all sharp edges and smooth confidence, all witty remarks and knowing smirks. yet, in this moment, every single ounce of that usual energy had melted away.

your eyes traced the softened lines of his face, the way his lashes rested against his cheeks, casting delicate shadows against his skin. his lips, usually curved into something smug or teasing, were parted just slightly, his breathing even and unhurried. he looked… peaceful.

your fingers twitched slightly against your lap, as if unsure of what to do with themselves. you had never seen him like this before, had never had the chance to observe him without his usual air of unwavering self-assurance. your body moved before your mind could even begin to comprehend what you were about to do.

it was irrational. reckless, even. completely devoid of the careful distance you had sworn to maintain between the two of you. but despite every screaming thought urging you to stop, despite the warning bells ringing furiously in the back of your mind, your hand was already moving, trembling slightly as it hovered just above taehyun’s skin, caught in a delicate hesitation that lasted all but a second.

and then, before you could so much as blink, before common sense could come crashing down like a tidal wave and pull you away—

your fingertips brushed against his cheek.

warm.

taehyun was warm.

so impossibly warm that the contrast against the cool air of the computer lab sent a shiver down your spine. it wasn’t much—just the lightest touch, barely there, fleeting like a whisper of wind. so delicate it could have easily been mistaken for a trick of the mind.

but it wasn’t.

because the moment your skin made contact with his, an all-too-familiar heat unfurled across your wrist—burning, spreading, blooming like ink in water. your breath caught in your throat, your entire body stiffening as realization slammed into you with the force of a freight train.

oh.

oh no.

it was happening again.

the hydrangea—it was back. you didn’t even need to roll up your sleeve to check. you felt it, felt the warmth seeping into your skin like an irreversible brand, a cruel reminder of the connection you were desperately trying to ignore.

your heartbeat stuttered, then picked up pace, pounding against your ribs like it was attempting to escape. what have you done? what on earth had possessed you to—

a shift.

a breath.

a quiet inhale, followed by the faintest stir of movement.

taehyun was waking up.

your stomach twisted painfully, panic slamming into your chest with dizzying force as his body tensed slightly, as his lashes fluttered ever so faintly, as the slow pull of consciousness dragged him from sleep.

you ripped your hand away as if burned, shoving it into your lap, curling your fingers into the fabric of your skirt in a poor attempt to ground yourself. but the damage was already done. you had been too late.

taehyun’s eyes cracked open, hazy with sleep, dark irises unfocused as they attempted to adjust to the dim lighting. for a moment, he looked dazed, blinking sluggishly, his expression lost in the remnants of slumber. but then his gaze settled on you.

still sitting too close.

still stiff with the remnants of panic.

taehyun’s brows furrowed slightly, a quiet breath escaping his lips, his voice still heavy with drowsiness. “were you just—?”

“no.”

the word shot out of your mouth before he could even finish his sentence, abrupt and sharp, too quick, too defensive. you barely resisted the urge to flinch at how obvious it sounded, how guilty it made you seem.

taehyun blinked again, sluggish and confused, his gaze flickering between your face and the way you were suddenly clutching your hands together as if you were trying to physically restrain yourself. his gaze lingered for a second too long, sharp despite the remnants of sleep still clouding his features, and then, as if a switch had flipped, his lips stretched into that insufferable, knowing grin—the one that always meant trouble.

taehyun sat up straighter, stretching his arms out with a low hum before tilting his head towardss you, expression brimming with mischief. “so,” he drawled, eyes glinting, “are you gonna tell me what that was about, or should i start guessing?”

“nothing,” you muttered, a little too quickly, shifting in your seat, fingers curling tighter around the ends of your sleeves, your grip near suffocating as you tugged the fabric down as far as it would go.

taehyun leaned in slightly, feigning deep contemplation. “hm, you sure? because it really seemed like—”

“it wasn’t,” you snapped, gaze locked stubbornly on the desk, anywhere but at him, anywhere but those sharp eyes that always seemed to see far too much. “just thought you had dirt in your face.”

“you’re a terrible liar.”

“and you’re annoying.”

“a little defensive, don’t you think?”

your grip on your sleeves tightened further, fingers curling so desperately around the fabric that your knuckles turned white, nails pressing in with enough force that they nearly pierced through.

taehyun simply leaned back against his chair, smugness dripping from every inch of him as he studied you with lazy amusement. “what, did you get tired of glaring at me and decide watching me sleep was more entertaining?”

your patience, already worn dangerously thin, snapped. “i told you, it’s not what you think!” you groaned, pushing yourself up from your seat and shoving your things into your bag with far more force than necessary, each motion sharp and hurried—zipping up folders with a little too much vigor, stuffing loose papers inside with no care for whether they crumpled or not. taehyun’s grin only widened as he watched you all but stuff your things into your bag, each movement hurried and brimming with frustration. you could practically hear the amusement dripping from his voice as he tilted his head, unbothered by your growing irritation.

“you know,” he mused, stretching his arms out as if he had all the time in the world, “you’re acting really suspicious right now.”

you rolled your eyes so hard it was a wonder they didn’t get stuck. “oh, please. if anyone’s suspicious, it’s you.”

“me?” he gasped, placing a hand over his chest in mock offense, though the effect was ruined by the barely contained smirk tugging at his lips. “i just woke up, and now i’m being accused? unbelievable.”

“yeah, well, believe it,” you shot back, zipping up your bag with more force than necessary. “you’re always up to something.”

taehyun hummed, resting his chin on his hand as he studied you with lazy amusement. “you’re deflecting.”

“you’re projecting.”

he let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “this is the worst attempt at changing the subject i’ve ever seen.”

your grip on your bag strap tightened. “maybe if you shut up, we wouldn’t need to change the subject at all.”

taehyun only smirked, his eyes glinting in that way that always made your stomach twist. “so, let me get this straight,” he says, tapping a finger against his chin as if deep in thought. “you’re telling me you really weren’t just staring at me while i was sleeping? because from where i’m standing, it really looked like you were admiring me.”

your entire body went rigid. “i was not—!”

“no need to be shy,” taehyun continued, his voice syrupy sweet, the kind of tone that dripped with amusement and a touch of self-satisfaction, tilting his head just slightly, leaning into your space like he was savoring every second of your frustration. “i get it. i mean, you don’t get to see me this peaceful that often. i must’ve looked pretty cute, huh?”

your jaw nearly dropped, lips parting in sheer disbelief at the audacity—the absolute gall—he had to say that with a straight face. “oh my god. shut up.”

taehyun gasped again, clutching his chest as if you had just personally wounded him, eyes wide with faux shock, though the mischief never left his face. “you were watching me, weren’t you? i knew it!”

your fingers curled around the strap of your bag, knuckles turning bone-white from how hard you were gripping it, the pressure grounding you against the unbearable mix of panic and irritation bubbling in your chest. “you know what?” you huffed, your voice sharp and clipped, already done with this conversation before it could escalate any further. “i don’t have to stand here and listen to this.”

without another word, you spun on your heel, movements stiff with frustration as you stormed towards the door, each step fueled by the desperate need to escape before he could dig any deeper into your flustered state. but, of course, taehyun was already up, barely missing a beat before falling into step beside you, effortlessly matching your hurried pace with infuriating ease. his laughter trailed after you like an ever-present shadow, light and teasing, his amusement practically radiating off of him.

“hey, don’t run away now,” he drawled, his voice laced with amusement, the playfulness evident in every syllable as he shot you a look that only made your irritation spike further. “i have more questions!”

you groaned, pressing your lips together in a firm line, refusing to dignify him with a response as you quickened your steps—but taehyun was right there, undeterred, his grin only widening as if he thrived on seeing you squirm.

as if sensing the utter exasperation radiating off you in waves, taehyun finally—mercifully—let the teasing subside, falling into step beside you without another word. you kept to yourself, keeping your gaze ahead, shoulders still slightly tense from the lingering remnants of his antics.

every now and then, your fingers twitched at your side before subtly moving to check your wrist, barely lifting the fabric of your sleeve as you stole a glance at the skin beneath. you weren’t sure why you kept looking, but each time, your stomach twisted with a strange mix of nerves and anticipation.

eventually, on what must have been your fifth or sixth check, you finally let out a quiet sigh, relief washing over you at the sight of bare skin. the soft exhale wasn’t loud by any means, but taehyun, ever perceptive, immediately picked up on it.

“what’s got you so relieved?” he chirped, his voice breaking through the quiet with an almost childlike curiosity.

you tensed for half a second before quickly schooling your features back into indifference, rolling your eyes as if to dismiss his question entirely. “none of your business,” you muttered, keeping your voice even, though you didn’t miss the way his gaze lingered on you for just a moment longer than necessary.

but instead of prying, which was something he would normally do just to get a rise out of you, taehyun simply smiled. not the usual smirk, not the playful glint of mischief, but something softer, something almost… fond.

“okay,” he said easily, like he wasn’t the least bit offended by your refusal to answer. the two of you walked in silence after that, the rhythmic tapping of your footsteps against the pavement filling the space between you. the air was crisp, carrying with it the distant hum of the city, the occasional rustle of leaves as the wind passed through.

after a while, taehyun spoke again, this time without any trace of teasing in his tone. “by the way, the venue’s set,” he said, glancing at you briefly before turning his gaze back ahead. “we got the confirmation while you were asleep. the deal’s all settled.”

you hummed at that, not quite looking at him as you muttered, “that’s good.”

another beat of silence stretched between you before something nudged at the back of your mind, something that had been lingering there ever since you had woken up in the computer lab. furrowing your brows slightly, you turned to him, your voice laced with mild confusion as you asked, “why were you sleeping too, anyway? you could’ve just gone home.”

taehyun barely blinked, as if he had been expecting the question. his expression remained as casual as ever, hands tucked into his pockets as he shrugged. “well, i couldn’t just leave you sleeping there all alone,” he said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “and i’m pretty sure you wouldn’t have liked it if i woke you up either, so…”

his voice trailed off, but the implication lingered between you. your steps faltered for just a fraction of a second, eyes flickering towards him instinctively, but he wasn’t looking at you. instead, he just kept walking, his expression unreadable, as if what he had said wasn’t anything significant at all.

the silence lingered between you, stretching with each step as the station gradually came into view. the sky had dimmed to a deeper shade of blue, the distant hum of the city settling into its evening rhythm. streetlights flickered on one by one, casting pools of golden light onto the pavement, their glow catching in the strands of taehyun’s hair as he walked just a little ahead of you.

you weren’t sure why, but you found yourself slowing down, your feet moving with less urgency now that you were nearing your stop. it was strange; usually, by this point, you would’ve been itching to part ways, to shake off the exhausting push and pull that always came with being around taehyun. but tonight, the usual exasperation felt… muted. replaced by something quieter. something you couldn’t quite name. taehyun was the first to break the silence.

“well,” he said, stopping just before the steps leading down to the station. he turned to you then, hands still tucked into his pockets, his smile softer now, lacking its usual sharp edge. “guess this is where we part ways.”

you blinked, caught off guard by the sudden finality of it. but before you could even think of something to say, he was already stepping back, tilting his head slightly as he regarded you with something unreadable in his expression.

“don’t stay up too late,” taehyun added, and though his tone remained casual, there was a quiet sincerity beneath it, woven into the way his gaze lingered for just a second longer than necessary.

your fingers curled around the strap of your bag, tightening for reasons you didn’t quite understand. “yeah,” you muttered, shifting your weight from one foot to the other. “you too.”

taehyun exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head as if amused by your halfhearted response. then, with one last glance, he turned, descending the steps with an ease that made it seem like this was nothing more than an ordinary parting.

but as you stood there, watching his figure disappear into the station, you couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. that, for the first time, you weren’t entirely relieved to see him go. ꒰💐꒱ the next few days blurred into a whirlwind of endless tasks, a relentless cycle of emails, phone calls, and meetings that left little room for anything else. mornings bled into afternoons, and afternoons stretched deep into the night, each one spent buried under an ever-growing to-do list. it felt as if the four of you were caught in the eye of a storm—one of your own making—drowning in preparations with barely a moment to come up for air.

the student council room had practically become your second home, its once neat and organized space now overrun with scattered papers, sample designs, and half-empty cups of coffee that none of you had the energy to clean up. rolls of fabric for table decorations sat in one corner, half-unfurled and abandoned, while poster drafts covered every available surface, some marked with hurried notes and others discarded altogether. the air was thick with the scent of paper and ink, the soft hum of printers and the occasional frustrated groan the only constants in the chaos.

beomgyu and jiwon were deep into their share of responsibilities, bouncing between designing promotional posters and confirming song choices with the dj. beomgyu, ever the perfectionist, went through what felt like a hundred drafts, grumbling under his breath every time jiwon pointed out a detail he had missed. their bickering became white noise at this point—background music to the madness—though, to be fair, it was nowhere near as bad as yours and taehyun’s.

because while the two argued over shades of blue and font choices, you and taehyun had the far more tedious task of finalizing the seating arrangements and catering. it meant making endless calls, negotiating over prices, and somehow fitting everything within the budget. it meant working side by side for hours on end, forced to cooperate despite how often you got on each other’s nerves. and somehow, even in the midst of all this exhaustion, taehyun still found the time to tease you—throwing in an unnecessary comment every chance he got just to watch your patience wear thinner and thinner.

"what would you do without me?" he mused one afternoon, stretching his arms behind his head as he leaned back in his chair. "actually, don’t answer that. i already know—this whole event would be a disaster."

you didn’t even look up from your laptop. "i swear to god, kang, if you don’t shut up—"

"what?" taehyun grinned, feigning innocence. "you’d miss me."

your glare could’ve set something on fire.

but despite all of it—the chaos, the exhaustion, the relentless teasing—the ball was finally beginning to take shape. details were falling into place, confirmations were being made, and the days that once seemed endless were now hurtling towards the event itself. there was still so much to do, but for the first time, it felt within reach. the halls of the campus were practically buzzing with anticipation, filled with the kind of excitement that only came around during events like this. everywhere you looked, people were either wrapped up in their own little worlds with their significant others or fluttering around in hopeful search of their soulmates, their eyes filled with that dreamy sort of longing. laughter echoed off the walls, whispered confessions were exchanged in corners, and the air itself seemed to hum with something light and intoxicating.

it was nauseating.

you rolled your eyes, a quiet scoff slipping past your lips as you adjusted the strap of your bag over your shoulder. the entire scene before you was so painfully cliché, it almost made your skin crawl. and yet, despite the irritation bristling at the back of your mind, there was something else beneath it—something quiet, something you didn’t want to name. a strange unease settled in the pit of your stomach, an odd sort of weight pressing against your chest.

but like always, you ignored it.

beside you, taehyun walked with easy strides, hands tucked into his pockets, the usual self-assured air about him. today, the two of you were heading out to check on the venue for the winter masquerade ball, making sure the decorations were all set and that everything was coming together smoothly. with only a few days left before the event, the pressure was starting to settle in, but for now, you were stuck navigating through the suffocating atmosphere of romance filling the campus.

taehyun, ever perceptive, caught the eye roll almost instantly.

"oh? what’s this?" his voice was dripping with amusement, and when you turned to look at him, he was already wearing that insufferably smug smirk. "jealous, aren’t we?"

your head snapped towards him, shooting him a glare sharp enough to cut through steel. "excuse me?"

taehyun only laughed, clearly enjoying this far too much. "come on, it’s okay to admit it. all these happy couples, all these people finding their soulmates just in time for the ball—" he gestured lazily at the scene around you. "i get it. it must be hard, watching all this when you’re still so tragically alone."

your lips parted, utterly scandalized. "i am not—" you sucked in a breath, fingers curling into your sleeves as you struggled to find a proper retort. "oh, shut up. just because you have nothing better to do than pester me doesn’t mean you get to act like you’re above all of this."

he hummed thoughtfully, tilting his head as if he was actually considering your words. then, with a completely straight face, he replied, "oh, but i am above all of this."

you groaned, throwing your hands up in exasperation as you quickened your pace, determined to put some distance between yourself and his insufferable teasing. but, as always, he was right there beside you, matching your steps with ease, his laughter trailing behind him like an echo.

the crisp winter air greeted you the moment you stepped outside, biting at the exposed skin of your cheeks despite the layers of warmth wrapped around you. the sun hung low in the sky, its golden light diffused by thin clouds, casting long, spindly shadows across the pavement like delicate cracks in ice. you barely spared a thought for the route ahead, already expecting taehyun to lead the way towards the bus station, except, when you glanced over, he was walking in an entirely different direction, his strides unbothered, as if this was the plan all along.

your steps faltered, boots scuffing against the pavement as you abruptly came to a halt, brows knitting together in confusion. your gaze followed his path, trailing after him as he moved further and further away from the usual route. "...where are you going?" you called out, your voice carrying across the quiet afternoon air, laced with equal parts bewilderment and suspicion.

"to the venue."

his response was casual, so effortlessly nonchalant that for a brief second, you thought you had misheard him. but he didn’t stop walking. he didn’t even bother to glance back at you, hands shoved into his pockets as he strode ahead with unwavering confidence.

you blinked. once. twice. then, as if compelled by some cruel force, you turned your head slightly, following the path of his footsteps until—

your stomach plummeted.

there, parked neatly along the sidewalk, was a row of bicycles, their metal frames gleaming coldly beneath the pale winter sun. they stood like silent witnesses to your impending doom, completely harmless to anyone else—but to you, they may as well have been a death sentence.

"you're joking," you deadpanned, your voice void of any amusement, the words falling from your lips like lead.

finally, taehyun turned his head just enough to flash you a slow, lazy grin, the kind that sent warning bells clanging in your head. "nope."

"you're going the wrong way," "nope," a sharp huff of disbelief escaped you, frustration curling in your chest as you hastened your steps to catch up with him. "taehyun," you said, his name leaving your lips like a warning, like a thread pulled taut. "the station’s that way." with a swift movement, you jabbed a gloved finger behind you, pointing at the correct direction as if he had somehow forgotten the most basic detail of your usual routine.

but taehyun didn’t so much as falter. instead, he merely hummed, finally coming to a stop beside the bicycles, his movements as fluid as ever as he bent down, fingers deftly unfastening one of the helmets before straightening back up. "and the buses during noon are either overflowing with people or completely nonexistent," he countered smoothly, his voice carrying that infuriating ease that told you he had already thought this through. "so, unless you’d rather stand around for an hour getting elbowed and shoved by strangers, we’re going by bike."

your breath caught in your throat.

by bike.as in, you would have to sit behind him. on the same seat. with your hands gripping onto him for balance. close. too close.

panic flared within you like a sudden spark, igniting a wildfire of dread that spread rapidly through your veins. this was bad. this was very, very bad.

your fingers curled at your sides, tightening into fists as you scrambled for an excuse, anything that would get you out of this. "absolutely not," you blurted out, the words spilling out in an instant, rushed and firm. "there is no way i’m getting on that thing."

taehyun finally turned to you fully, one brow arching in that insufferable way that made your blood simmer with irritation. "oh?" he drawled, tilting his head slightly, his lips twitching at the corners as if barely restraining a smirk. "what, scared you'll fall?"

"no!" you snapped, far too quickly, far too defensive.

his smirk widened, amusement twinkling in his dark eyes like a cat who had cornered its prey. "then what's the problem?"

you opened your mouth, ready to throw back a sharp retort, ready to argue—but nothing came out. because you had no real excuse. not one that you could say aloud, at least.

because what were you supposed to tell him? that if you got too close, if your fingers so much as brushed against his skin, the hydrangea might bloom? that if he saw it, if he noticed, he would know?

taehyun, of course, was not one to back down so easily. he tapped his fingers against the bicycle’s handlebars, pretending to contemplate something, his expression exaggeratedly thoughtful. "hmm," he mused aloud, his tone light, almost playful. "well, if i go by myself, i’ll just have to check on the decor alone." taehyun sighed dramatically, shaking his head as if the very thought was exhausting. "and you know what that means. one second, the decorations are fine, the next, they’re a complete disaster. bows tied the wrong way, color schemes clashing, centerpieces all tilted and uneven—" your eye twitched violently.

"you're doing this on purpose," you accused, voice tight, heat creeping into your tone as frustration bubbled dangerously close to the surface.

"i have no idea what you’re talking about."

your jaw clenched.

you inhaled sharply, a single, measured breath, before exhaling just as forcefully. then, with a muttered curse under your breath, you ripped the helmet from his hands, yanking it onto your head with far more aggression than necessary. the strap snapped against your chin, stinging slightly, but you ignored it, too preoccupied with the simmering frustration roiling in your chest.

taehyun simply grinned, utterly unfazed by your obvious annoyance, and with an easy flick of his wrist, he patted the seat behind him before nudging his chin towards it. “alright, hop on.” your entire body refused to move.

standing there, feet rooted firmly to the ground, you stared at the bicycle as if it were some kind of trap, a snare carefully laid out just for you. your fingers twitched slightly at your sides, curling inward, heart drumming steadily against your ribs as your mind whirred through all the possible ways this could go wrong.

if you got on, you wouldn’t be able to avoid touching him—not entirely. even the smallest brush of your skin against his, even the briefest moment of contact, could be enough. and if it bloomed, if the petals unfurled along your wrist, or worse, his—

you swallowed hard.

the helmet suddenly felt suffocating, its strap pressing against your chin as if trying to ground you, trying to force you into action. but you hesitated, standing frozen on the pavement, unable to shake off the overwhelming weight of uncertainty pressing down on you. taehyun notices. “what? don’t tell me you’re scared now,” he drawled, amusement still evident in his voice, but there was a flicker of something else in his expression—curiosity, maybe, or just the simple act of waiting.

you scowled, snapping yourself out of your daze with a sharp inhale through your nose. you couldn’t stand here forever.

gathering whatever was left of your resolve, you stepped forward, moving stiffly as you approached the bicycle. your movements felt painfully deliberate, like you were walking straight towards a decision you couldn’t take back. then, with a slow, reluctant motion, you lifted your leg over the seat, settling yourself behind taehyun, barely touching him.

your hands hovered uncertainly in the air, fingers twitching slightly as you debated where to place them. his shoulders? his waist? no. definitely not his waist. the thought alone sent a rush of warmth up your cheeks.

finally, hesitantly, you let your hands rest lightly on his shoulders, barely applying any pressure, as if keeping yourself from pressing too close would somehow change anything.

taehyun must have felt your hesitance, because he turned his head slightly, a knowing grin tugging at his lips. “you’re gonna fall off if you sit like that,” he remarked, his voice laced with something dangerously close to amusement.

“i’m fine.”

“mhm. sure.” he didn’t sound convinced.

then, without warning, he pushed off the ground with an effortless ease, his foot pressing against the pavement before the bike lurched forward.

the sudden movement sent a sharp jolt through your entire body, a startled gasp slipping past your lips before you could swallow it down. the world tilted for a split second, the ground beneath you no longer stable, no longer unmoving, and the realization crashed over you all at once—you were on a bike, with taehyun, and you were moving. Fast.

your fingers curled around his shoulders, grip tightening instinctively, and for a brief, terrifying second, you thought you felt something stir beneath your sleeve—a faint, barely-there sensation, like a whisper against your skin. but before panic could sink its claws into you, taehyun’s voice broke through the moment. "relax," he mused, his voice carrying that ever-present amusement, like he was thoroughly enjoying your distress. "hold on tight, yeah? don’t want you flying off."

your head snapped up, indignation flaring in your chest as you gritted your teeth. "don’t move so fast, idiot! you’re gonna kill us both!"

but taehyun only laughed, the sound warm and unbothered, like the very thought of crashing was so far-fetched that it didn’t even deserve consideration. the bike swayed slightly as he shifted his weight, adjusting the pedals with a practiced ease, and your breath hitched, grip tightening further.

"oh, come on," he sighed dramatically, though there was no mistaking the grin in his voice. "have a little faith, will you?"

you squeezed your eyes shut for a brief second, inhaling sharply as you willed your nerves to settle. the cold air whipped past your face, stinging against your skin, but that was the least of your worries right now, no, what truly had your heart in a vice grip was the fact that you were still on his stupid bike, still pressed far too close to taehyun, still painfully aware of every little movement he made.

you prayed silently, desperately to whoever was out there listening that you wouldn’t fall off to your untimely demise, that you wouldn’t end up sprawled across the pavement in a tangled heap of limbs and regret. but, more than anything, you prayed that your skin wouldn’t touch his. not even for a second. not even the faintest brush.

your hands remained stiff where they rested on his shoulders, fingers curled awkwardly, hovering more than gripping, as if maintaining even the smallest gap would somehow be enough to stop the inevitable. it was ridiculous. stupid, even. and yet, you couldn’t shake the fear that if your wrists so much as grazed against him, the delicate petals of a hydrangea might bloom in betrayal.

taehyun, of course, was completely unaware of your silent internal crisis. if anything, he seemed to be enjoying himself, weaving through the streets with an effortless ease, as if he wasn’t carrying the weight of someone actively trying not to touch him. the bike glided smoothly along the pavement, tires humming against the road, and despite the sheer panic buzzing in your chest, you had to admit—he was good at this. confident. steady. in control.

not that you would ever tell him that.

“you’re awfully quiet back there,” taehyun noted after a moment, his voice laced with amusement. "don't tell me you're actually scared."

you scowled, even though he couldn’t see it. “i'm not scared,” you muttered through gritted teeth.

"right," he drawled, clearly unconvinced. "is that why you’re holding onto me like i’m your last hope for survival?"

your cheeks burned. "i’m most definitely not—"

before you could finish, he suddenly shifted his weight again, making a sharp but controlled turn onto a smaller road, and you barely swallowed down a yelp, fingers tightening against his shoulders by instinct.

taehyun laughed, a full, delighted laugh that rang through the air like a bell. "see? told you to hold on tight."

if the threat of a hydrangea blooming on either of your wrists wasn’t dangling over you like a guillotine—if it wouldn’t immediately make it known to taehyun that you were soulmates—you would have already smacked him straight to the ends of the earth without hesitation.

but, as it stood, you could only grit your teeth and endure, willing yourself to focus on anything else, anything other than the warmth radiating from where your fingers clutched his shoulders, anything other than the way his laughter curled around you like an infuriatingly bright ribbon. thankfully, after what felt like an eternity of praying, of resisting the urge to strangle him, of cursing whoever decided bikes were a viable mode of transportation, the venue finally came into view.

and it was… perfect.

even from the outside, the building exudes elegance, standing tall with its grand, arched windows and smooth stone façade. the entrance is framed by a set of wide, ornate double doors, the deep mahogany polished to a gleam, reflecting the soft, winter light. despite the season, the space feels warm and inviting, as if it had been plucked straight out of a fairy tale and placed in the heart of the city.

the mere thought of the upcoming event—the swirling gowns, the mystery of masked faces, the way the night will undoubtedly hold something unforeseen—sends a strange sensation curling in your chest. something close to anticipation, but not quite.

you quickly shove the feeling aside, choosing instead to focus on the fact that you have, miraculously, survived the journey in one piece.

taehyun rolls the bike to a stop just outside the entrance, planting his foot down to steady you both before tilting his head back slightly. "see?" he hums, the smugness practically dripping from his voice. "told you i'd get us here alive."

you roll your eyes, exhaling sharply as you finally hop off his godforsaken bike, your legs feeling slightly wobbly beneath you. stretching your arms over your head, you try to shake off the lingering tension, as if that might somehow erase the memory of the past ten minutes clinging onto taehyun for dear life.

taehyun, of course, was completely unaffected, effortlessly swinging his leg over and parking the bike right near the entrance. you followed suit, brushing your hands against your coat, as if smoothing out invisible creases, before the two of you step forward, pushing through the grand double doors and into the venue.

and the minute you do, it's… everything. you step further into the ballroom, your gaze sweeping across the breathtaking transformation before you. for a moment, you allow yourself to take it all in—the warm, golden light filtering through the chandeliers, the way the sheer, icy-blue drapes cascade from the walls like frozen waterfalls, the way the entire space shimmers with an almost dreamlike quality.

it feels unreal. after all the planning, the endless meetings, the stress and exhaustion of making sure everything fell into place… it’s finally here. almost.

taehyun lets out a low whistle beside you, shoving his hands into his pockets as he surveys the room. “not bad,” he muses, tilting his head. “almost looks too good, actually. like if someone breathes wrong, the whole thing will fall apart.”

you scoff, “let’s hope that doesn’t happen, then.”

as if summoned by your words, one of the hired decorators suddenly calls out, struggling with a particularly stubborn garland that refuses to stay in place. without hesitation, taehyun strides over, sleeves rolling up as he offers a hand, his sharp eyes quickly assessing the situation. you follow, stepping in to adjust a centerpiece that’s slightly off-center, making sure every little detail is aligned to perfection.

but as you reach for the delicate arrangement, your gloves—thick and slightly cumbersome from the cold—made it difficult to adjust the smaller details. you hesitate, glancing down at your hands before exhaling softly. with a swift motion, you tug them off, tucking them into your coat pocket. bare fingers now meeting the cool surface of the table, you press forward, ensuring everything was as precise as possible.

it took a while, moving from one area to another, helping the staff tweak small things here and there—fixing a misplaced bow, adjusting the arrangement of fairy lights along the balcony railing, making sure the candles in the lanterns were evenly spaced. the chill in the air bites at your exposed skin, but you barely register it, too focused on making sure everything is just right.

but then, just as you’re adjusting the placement of one of the floral centerpieces, your fingers freeze mid-motion.

blue hydrangeas.among the delicate clusters of winter roses and baby’s breath, the soft, cerulean petals stand out like tiny fragments of the sky, woven seamlessly into the arrangements, as if they belonged there all along.

your heart stutters.

you turn to taehyun, pointing at the flowers, your voice carefully neutral. “since when were these part of the arrangement?”

he follows your gaze, eyes landing on the hydrangeas, before he shrugs with an easy, unconcerned expression. “i don’t know. added them to the mix since i thought they’d look really pretty.”

you swallowed, shifting your weight from one foot to the other, fingers absently curling onto the fabric of your coat sleeve. they were just flowers. nothing more. just a simple, aesthetic choice. that’s all.

and yet, you couldn’t shake the feeling that the universe was laughing at you.

at one point, you found yourself untangling a mess of fairy lights that had somehow gotten knotted beyond reason. your fingers worked through them carefully, but the knots were stubborn, refusing to budge no matter how gently you pried them apart. frustration bubbles up in your chest as you huff, brows furrowing in concentration.

and then, without warning, taehyun’s hands appear beside yours.

your breath stills, body going rigid, heart lurching into your throat as his fingers slip effortlessly into the tangled mess. for one agonizing second, panic flares beneath your skin—what if you touch? what if, just for a moment, his fingertips graze yours? what if—

but before the thought can spiral any further, before disaster can strike, he’d already flicked his wrist, unraveling the last of the tangles with infuriating ease, his hands retreating just as quickly as they arrived. "you're too slow," taehyun teases, a smug grin tugging at his lips.

you exhale sharply, a breath you hadn’t realized you’d been holding, forcing yourself to relax as you straighten. you narrowed your eyes at him, trying to will away the lingering tension in your spine, but before you could snap back with something equally smug, he was already walking off, adjusting the final row of lanterns along the walls like nothing had happened. time slips by unnoticed as you both continue, making minor adjustments, ensuring that every single detail was as perfect as it could be. and when you finally step back, surveying the entirety of the ballroom, it hits you—this is it. it was done.

everything was set.

with a slow, satisfied exhale, you turned to taehyun, who stood a few feet away, hands on his hips as he scanned the space with an approving nod. "not bad," he mutters, more to himself than to you.

"not bad?" you echo, raising a brow. "try amazing."

taehyun chuckles, shaking his head before motioning towards the stage. "c’mon, let’s sit for a bit before heading back. i think we earned it."

you don’t argue, your feet already aching from standing for so long. together, the two of you made your way towards the stage, slipping past the elegant centerpieces and rows of carefully arranged chairs. as soon as you reach the steps leading up to the platform, you drop down onto the edge of it, stretching your legs out with a quiet sigh. for a moment, neither of you spoke, simply taking in the sight before you. the ballroom, once a hollow, undecorated space, now glows under the golden hue of the chandeliers, the candlelight flickering against the polished floors, the sheer drapery billowing gently with the faintest movement of air. the hydrangeas—those damned, perfectly arranged hydrangeas—stood out among the floral displays, their deep blue petals catching the light in a way that made them look almost otherworldly.

it was beautiful. truly.

and yet, as your eyes flicker to taehyun, who sits beside you on the stage steps, you find the weight of his gaze is already on you.

your breath catches in your throat.

his eyes held a certain softness to them, something quiet and knowing, as if he had been watching you for longer than you realized. it sends a strange, unwelcome warmth creeping up your neck, and before it can spread any further, you quickly tear your gaze away, looking straight ahead instead.

"the flowers," you murmur, forcing the words out before the silence stretches too long. "they're really pretty."

you didn’t look at him when you said it. you didn’t dare.

but taehyun, who kept his gaze trained on you, only smiles—slow and fond, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes.

"yeah," he says, his voice impossibly gentle. "really pretty indeed." the silence stretches between you again, heavier this time, though you refused to acknowledge it. you kept your gaze fixed ahead, determined to avoid taehyun’s eyes, pretending that the steady warmth of his presence beside you wasn’t throwing you off balance.

you shift slightly, putting a little more distance between you. it wasn’t much, but it was enough to make you feel like you could breathe properly again.

and then, taehyun spoke.

"say…" his voice was casual, almost too casual, but there was a lilt of something unreadable beneath it. "do you already have your date for the winter ball?"

your fingers, still idly toying with the edge of your sleeve, still at his words. you scoffed, more out of reflex than anything, before rolling your shoulders in an attempt to feign nonchalance. "i’ll be too busy," you say, as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. "you know, making sure everything goes smoothly. unlike you, who’ll probably spend the whole night slacking off."

taehyun huffs out a laugh, shaking his head. "still have no faith in me?" he says, placing a dramatic hand over his chest. "and here i was, thinking you’d at least take a break to enjoy the night."

"not happening."

"oh, come on," he drawls, nudging your arm with his elbow. "you mean to tell me that out of everyone in the entire school, no one's lined up to ask the vice president to be their date?"

"i don’t know, kang," you deadpan, finally glancing at him, only to be met with his smug little smirk. "why don’t you take a wild guess?"

his smirk deepens, a flash of white against the dim glow of the fairy lights. “ouch,” taehyun drawls, tilting his head slightly as he watches you with playful intent. “so, what, are you just gonna spend the whole night running around, making sure forks are perfectly aligned or something?”

you let out a huff, crossing your arms over your chest, trying to ignore the way his teasing lilt sends an unwelcome flutter through your stomach. “someone has to,” you counter, lifting your chin in defiance.

taehyun hums, a quiet sound that vibrates in the space between you, and for a moment, his gaze flickers—just for a fraction of a second, like he’s thinking about something, weighing his words before he speaks. and then, after a pause that stretches just long enough to make you shift uncomfortably, he says, voice smooth, casual, yet somehow deliberate.

“well, if you don’t have a date… then go with me.”

the world seems to tilt beneath you. your breath stills, caught somewhere between your lungs, your entire body locking into place as if you’ve been turned to stone. the words didn’t register at first—not fully, not properly—because there was no way he just said that.

but then, taehyun’s eyes were on you, unwavering, unreadable, and suddenly, it was real.

your head snaps towards him so fast that your vision blurs for a second, a sharp jolt running down your spine from the sheer force of your reaction. “what?”

taehyun doesn’t laugh. he doesn’t smirk, doesn’t follow it up with some teasing remark like you expected him to. instead, he just looks at you, gaze steady, unwavering. there was something different in his expression—something softer, something that sent your heartbeat into an erratic, stuttering rhythm that you couldn’t seem to control.

he tilts his head slightly, brows lifting in the faintest hint of amusement, but his voice remains even, genuine, when he repeats, “be my date for the winter ball.”

and that’s when it truly sinks in.

taehyun wasn’t joking.

he wasn’t messing with you, not throwing out an empty invitation just to get a reaction out of you. he was asking—really asking.

your pulse pounds so loudly in your ears that you almost missed the way his fingers tapped idly against his knee, the only sign that he might not be as unaffected as he looked.

you stare at him, mouth opening, then closing, then opening again, but no sound comes out. your brain was short-circuiting, struggling to process this new reality, to make sense of the fact that kang taehyun—the sharp-witted, ever-teasing, infuriatingly smug student council president—just asked you to be his date.

and what’s worse was he was still looking at you like he was waiting for an answer. your throat feels dry as you blinked rapidly, the weight of his words settling over you like a thick, suffocating fog. you struggle to find your voice, to piece together a response that doesn’t make you sound completely and utterly unhinged, but all that comes out is a broken, stuttering—

“w-why are you asking me?”

taehyun stiffened, just slightly.

it was barely noticeable; the way his shoulders tensed for half a second before he exhales slowly, as if trying to compose himself. and then, just like that, the boy in front of you suddenly wasn’t quite as composed as before.

he clears his throat, glancing away for a moment, his fingers absently picking at an invisible thread on his sleeve. “well,” he starts, voice a little quieter now, a little less teasing. “i just thought… i mean, you’re always so busy with everything—running around, making sure everything is perfect, taking care of things no one even notices..”

taehyun pauses, pressing his lips together as if debating whether to continue, but then he sighs and pushes forward, gaze flickering back to you.

“i guess i just wanted you to have a reason to enjoy it, too. with me.”

his words hung between you, soft yet unbearably heavy. and maybe it’s the way he says it, so matter-of-factly, like it was the most natural thing in the world—like it was obvious, like it was something he’s thought about before.

maybe that was what left you speechless.

your lips part before you could stop them, the words slipping past your tongue in a breath, barely louder than a whisper—fragile, uncertain, like a secret not meant to be spoken aloud.

"that’s it..?"

the moment they left your mouth, you realized your mistake. taehyun stilled.

it was subtle at first, just a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes, a split-second shift in his posture, the faintest tension in his shoulders. but then the silence swells, thick and suffocating, pressing against your lungs like a weight you couldn’t shake off. your own breath falters, hitching ever so slightly, and you swore you could hear the soft, sharp inhale taehyun took in response.

he didn’t expect that.

and neither did you.

and you didn’t know what was worse—the fact that you let it slip or the fact that taehyun seems so thrown off by it.

his fingers twitched at his sides, just the barest movement, but you noticed. you noticed the way his lips parted slightly, as if he had something to say, only to press them together again, hesitation flickering behind his sharp gaze.

then, finally—

"do you really want me to say it?"

taehyun’s voice was softer this time, lower, laced with something heavier, something cautious, yet impossibly steady. his gaze never wavers, eyes locked onto yours with an intensity that sent a sharp jolt down your spine.

you didn’t realize you’ve stopped breathing until the air rushes back into your lungs all at once, too fast, too sharp. because he was close again, too close, and the space between you felt thinner than paper, more fragile than glass.

and as if the moment wasn’t already dangerous enough, he leaned in. not much, just a fraction, just enough to make the air around you shift, just enough that you could feel the heat radiating off his skin, just enough that you panic.

you shifted back almost instantly, pressing yourself further against the stage as if it’ll somehow create more distance, more space, more room to breathe. but all it did was make your flustered state even more obvious, the warmth on your cheeks burning deeper, spreading to the tips of your ears.

taehyun notices.

his eyes flicker, his lips twitch, and for the briefest moment, he almost looks amused—like he caught onto something, like he learned something. but there was something else beneath it, something more hesitant, more careful, as if he was testing the waters, as if he was waiting for you to stop him.

"do you really want to know why i asked you?"taehyun’s voice was impossibly softer, if that was even possible, barely above a whisper, yet it crashes into you like a tidal wave. your stomach twists, your hands curling into the fabric of your coat, as if that might somehow ground you, as if that might keep you from spiraling any further into whatever this is.

the space between you grew smaller, inch by inch, breath by breath. it was agonizingly slow, deliberate in a way that made your pulse pound against your ribs, making your breath hitch at the back of your throat. he wasn’t just leaning in, he was watching you—taking in every flicker of emotion that crossed your face, every shallow inhale, every unspoken thought that lingered in the air between you. you couldn’t do this.

the weight of his gaze, the closeness, the way his voice curled around the edges of something unspoken—it was too much. your breath was coming in short, uneven bursts now, your heartbeat hammering loudly in your ears, and you know, you know, if you stayed here any longer, if you let him get any closer, you were going to fall into something you wouldn't be able to climb back out of. so you move.

your legs pushed you up before you could think twice, a desperate attempt to escape the heavy pull of his presence. but you barely take a step before—

warm hands hold around your wrists. your world tilts.

not in the way it had earlier, when taehyun had sent his bike into motion and nearly launched you both into the afterlife, but in a way that felt heavier, deeper—like the very foundation of your understanding has cracked beneath your feet, sending you spiraling into something you weren’t prepared for.

because there, just above the place where his fingers wrap around your wrist, something was blooming.

not metaphorically, not in some abstract, romantic sense, but literally.

soft blue petals unfurled against your skin like a whisper, delicate yet impossibly real. a hydrangea, its blue hue rich and vibrant, appearing right where his touch lingered, as if drawn forth by the warmth of his hand against your bare wrist.

and before you could even comprehend it, before the weight of what’s happening can fully settle, you see it—

another one.

on his wrist.

a mirror to yours.

your breath stutters.

a sharp, unsteady inhale rushes through your lungs, but the air felt thick, too thick, like the moment itself was pressing down on you, sinking into your bones, refusing to be ignored. you couldn't move. couldn't breathe. couldn't  think. the world has shrunk down to this single, impossible reality, this moment suspended in time where nothing existed but this.

taehyun sucks in a breath.

his grip on you falters, just slightly, but it was enough. enough to tell you that he was feeling it too—the way the air has shifted, the way the ground no longer felt steady beneath your feet. and when you forced yourself to look at him, to really look at him, what you saw made your stomach twist.

he was frozen.

taehyun, who always had something to say, who teased and taunted and never hesitated to throw a playful jab, was speechless.

his eyes were wide, dark pupils blown with something unreadable, something teetering between disbelief and sheer, undiluted shock. his lips parted, then pressed together again, as if he was trying to find the right words but coming up completely empty.

he blinked once.

twice.

then, slowly, almost hesitantly, his gaze dropped back down—to where his hand still holds your wrist, then to where the hydrangea had bloomed against his skin.

the proof.

the impossible, undeniable proof.

you didn’t know how long you both stood there like that, suspended in the moment, locked in place by something you didn’t yet have the words for. the silence between you was deafening, thick and weighted, pulsing with something neither of you know how to name.

“what…” taehyun’s voice finally comes, but it was quiet. too quiet. fragile.

“what just—”

but he didn’t finish. didn’t have to. because the answer was right there, imprinted against your wrists, marking you both in a way that cannot be ignored. “you’re my soulmate?”you couldn’t speak.

you couldn’t reply.

you couldn't do anything.

the weight of reality crashes down on you with an intensity that made your head spin, your breath hitching painfully in your throat. the room suddenly felt much too small, the air thick and unsteady, pressing in from all sides as if the universe itself was forcing you to acknowledge the truth—the truth that had been lingering just beneath the surface for weeks, waiting, biding its time, until this exact moment. until now.

taehyun knows.

he finally knows.

and you didn’t know what was worse—the fact that you kept it from him, or the fact that deep down, a part of you had always known this moment would come. you had feared it, dreaded it, had told yourself over and over again that you were prepared for it, that you had built up enough walls to keep yourself safe when the inevitable finally arrived. but standing here now, under the weight of his gaze, you realize you weren’t prepared at all. your body refused to move. your fingers, still curled slightly from where they had almost—almost—reached back for him, felt like they were frozen in place, caught between instinct and hesitation. the silence between you was so thick, so deafening, it drowned out every other sound in the room, leaving only the frantic pounding of your own heartbeat, a desperate, uneven rhythm that betrays every attempt at composure.

taehyun was just as still, just as caught in the moment as you were. his expression was unreadable, his lips parted slightly as if he wants to say something but doesn’t know where to start. his gaze flickers down to his wrist, his breath visibly hitching when he takes in the intricate petals of the blue hydrangea, now settled against his skin like an unspoken truth that neither of you can deny. his fingers twitch once, twice, as though testing to see if the mark is real, as though part of him is still grappling with the weight of what this meant.

it was real.

it had always been real.

finally, after what felt like a lifetime, taehyun spoke.

“did you know?”

his voice was barely above a whisper, each syllable laced with a quiet, underlying emotion that you couldn’t quite place. there was no anger, no accusation, nothing sharp or cutting—only something softer, something careful, something almost hesitant. it was a question, but more than that, a plea, a desperate attempt to bridge the gap between you, to make sense of the revelation that had just unraveled before him.

but still, you said nothing.

your throat was dry, your mouth refusing to form the words that sat heavy on your tongue. your breath came in shallow, uneven exhales, your fingers on your other hand curling into the fabric of your sleeve as if that alone might keep you from falling apart.

and that silence—your silence—was all he needed to know. taehyun exhales, the sound slow and measured, but you saw the way his jaw tightens, the way his fingers pressed onto your skin before uncurling again, the way his entire posture shifted ever so slightly as realization settled deep into his bones. his face remained composed, but his eyes—his eyes that have always been so sharp, so piercing, so impossibly hard to fool—betrayed him entirely.

“why…” his voice faltered, catching slightly before he swallowed and tried again, this time more resolute, more certain. “why didn’t you tell me?”

taehyun took a single step forward, slow, hesitant, and careful in a way that made your stomach twist with unease. it was as if he was afraid that any sudden movement would send you running, as if he was walking on fragile ground, unsure of what might shatter beneath him.

you felt your breath catch, the air between you growing heavier, charged with an intensity that made it impossible to look away.

“how long have you known?”

your hands trembled, the weight of his words pressing down on you like a force you couldn't  escape. you swallowed hard, forcing down the lump in your throat, willing yourself to find your voice, to say something, anything.

“i…” the word barely made it past your lips before you had to clear your throat, forcing yourself to steady the shake in your voice. “since about… two weeks ago…”

taehyun breathed in sharply, his expression flickering with something you couldn’t figure out, something shifting, something unraveling. you watched as his gaze drops slightly, as though he was replaying every moment, every conversation, every fleeting glance from the past two weeks with a new understanding.

and then he laughs.

soft, breathless, light as air.

not in mockery, not in disbelief, not with amusement, but something else entirely.

relief.

taehyun’s shoulders eased, his posture relaxing just slightly as the realization settled deep within him. he lifted his free hand, pushing back the hair that had fallen into his eyes, before shaking his head with a quiet chuckle.

“i knew it,” he murmured, more to himself than to you, as if the words had been lingering in the back of his mind all this time, just waiting to be spoken. “so this was why… why i’ve always felt this… pull towards you… no matter how much you tried to push me away.”

his voice was filled with certainty, with something raw, something so achingly sincere that it makes your breath stutter in your chest.

because you know exactly what he meant.

that pull.

the way your eyes always found him in a crowded room, the way his voice had always cut through the noise, the way his laughter had always settled so easily in the spaces between you. the way his presence had always been something you could never quite shake, no matter how much you tried to ignore it and tell yourself that you hated it.

and now you both know why.

taehyun takes another step forward, closer this time, close enough that the warmth of his presence began to seep into your skin, making your pulse pound against your chest.

his hand lifts, his fingers brushing against your other one, just barely, just enough to send a spark of warmth racing up your arm. it was the softest touch, barely there, but it made your entire body go still.

he hesitated for only a moment before fully taking your hand in his.

you inhaled sharply.

his grip was firm but gentle, steady but careful, like he was afraid of pushing too far, like he was still waiting for you to pull away. his thumb brushes against the side of your palm, the warmth of his skin bleeding into yours, grounding you, anchoring you to the moment.

“you feel it too, right?”

your lips part, the answer right there, right at the tip of your tongue, so close you can taste it.

but then—

panic.

it surged through your veins like wildfire, swallowing you whole before you could stop it, before you could even try to fight against it. your chest tightened, breath shallow and uneven, and for a split second, the weight of taehyun’s touch—the warmth of his fingers wrapped gently around you—became unbearable. because if you admit it—if you said it aloud, if you give in, if you let yourself fall—there would be no turning back.

no running.

no pretending.

no more hiding behind the walls you spent so long building.

your fingers twitched, your entire body tensing as if preparing to flee even before your mind could catch up. taehyun’s presence was everywhere—his touch, his gaze, the quiet steadiness of his breath filling the space between you. it was overwhelming, suffocating in a way that had nothing to do with discomfort and everything to do with fear.

so you do the only thing you know how to do.

you yanked yourself away. the movement was so sudden, so desperate, that taehyun barely had time to react before you were stumbling back, ripping yourself from the warmth of his grasp as though it burnt. his hands slipped away from yours, the loss of contact immediate, startling, like stepping into the cold after being wrapped in the sun’s embrace. but the absence wasn’t just physical—it was something deeper, something that lingered in the air between you like a wound torn open too soon.

taehyun didn’t move.

his brows furrowed, the lines of his face tightening, a flicker of confusion passing through his wide, searching eyes. his mouth parted slightly, as if he was about to say something—to ask, to reach, to hold—but you didn't give him the chance.

you didn’t even give yourself the chance to think.

you turned.

your breath hitches, your pulse roaring in your ears as your legs move on instinct, on impulse, on fear.

and then you ran.

you didn’t stop, didn’t look back, didn’t let yourself process the way your vision blurs at the edges or the way your heartbeat pounded against your chest, each thud a deafening reminder of what you’ve just done. your limbs felt weightless yet heavy all at once, like you were floating through a dream you desperately wished to wake up from. your hands tremble at your sides, curled into fists so tight that your nails bite into your palms, a feeble attempt to anchor yourself, to ground yourself against the storm raging inside you.

but there was no grounding yourself from this.

there was no outrunning the way your soul ached, the way something inside you screamed at you to stop, to turn back, to look at him just once, just for a second.

but you couldn’t.

not when his words still echoed in your mind, wrapping around your thoughts and pressing against your lungs. you feel it too, right?

not when the memory of his laughter still lingered, warm and full of relief, the sound of someone who had just found something they had spent their whole life searching for.

not when you know—when you know—that if you let yourself turn back now, you will never have the strength to leave again.

so you kept going. you push past the door, your movements frantic, your breath coming out in broken, uneven exhales as you slipped away, disappearing into the night like a shadow retreating from the light.

and taehyun?

taehyun just stood there.

his hands were still outstretched, fingers curled ever so slightly, as if still reaching for something—someone—who was no longer there. his expression was blank, his chest rising and falling with steady, measured breaths, but his eyes—his impossibly expressive eyes—were frozen in place, locked onto the spot where you stood only moments before.

and yet, despite the stillness, despite the quiet composure he had always carried so effortlessly, taehyun looked shattered. ꒰💐꒱ the night felt endless. you lay in bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, but sleep refused to come. the weight of your actions, of everything that had unfolded just hours ago, sat heavy on your chest, pressing down like an unbearable force. you tried to shut your eyes, tried to will yourself into oblivion, but every time you did, you saw him—saw the look on his face when he realized, saw the way eyes brightened like never before.

taehyun was happy. no, he was ecstatic.

you could still hear his laugh, that breathless, wondrous kind, like the world had just revealed its greatest secret to him. i knew it… he said, voice laced with something so soft, so full of relief, as if everything in his life had suddenly fallen into place. you had never seen him like that before—never seen kang taehyun, with all his sharp wit and unwavering confidence, look so utterly and completely at peace.

and then. and then you ripped it all away.

the moment your hands had left his, the moment your body turned, his joy had shattered. you had felt it, even with your back to him, even as you pushed past the door, as you fled like a coward. you had felt the shift in the air, the quiet devastation settling in behind you.

now, as you lay in the suffocating silence of your room, you wondered if taehyun was still standing there, staring at the empty space where you had been. wondered if he was replaying everything in his mind the way you were, trying to make sense of it, trying to understand why—why—you ran.

you squeezed your eyes shut, but it didn’t help. the memory of his expression—the way his brows drew together, the way his mouth parted just slightly in stunned disbelief—burned behind your eyelids.

the ache in your chest only grew heavier, sinking deep into your bones like a weight you couldn’t shake off. it was unbearable—this gnawing, twisting feeling of guilt, regret, and something else, something even more terrifying.

because it wasn’t just taehyun’s expression that haunted you. it wasn’t just the way his joy crumbled into confusion, into hurt, into quiet devastation—it was the way he had reached for you, the way his fingers had brushed against yours so gently, so tentatively, as if he was afraid you might disappear if he held on too tightly. and in the end, you did.

you saw the light in his eyes, the unguarded, unfiltered joy written all over his face, and you destroyed it.

a strangled breath left your lips as you curled in on yourself, pressing your hands against your chest as if that could somehow hold everything in, as if that could stop your heart from unraveling at the seams. the past few weeks—every moment, every lingering glance, every teasing remark that had felt just a little too soft—they all came crashing down on you at once, suffocating in their intensity. and morning arrived too soon.

no matter how tightly you curled into yourself, no matter how desperately you tried to will the world away, time didn’t stop for you. it marched forward, indifferent to the storm that raged inside you throughout the night.

you didn’t sleep a wink—you simply drifted, slipped in and out of restless, fragmented dreams, only to jolt awake each time with his voice echoing in your head, with the memory of his warmth ghosting over your skin. you turned onto your side, onto your back, onto your stomach, but no position, no adjustment, no desperate attempt to push the thoughts away helped.

so when your alarm finally rang, shrill and unforgiving in the silence of your room, you had no choice but to face the day.

your limbs felt heavy as you dragged yourself out of bed, exhaustion pressing down on you like a weight. the mirror was unkind, reflecting back dark circles beneath your eyes, the dullness in your gaze, the exhaustion carved into every line of your face. you moved through the motions of getting ready on autopilot—washing up, dressing, gathering your things—but the entire time, your mind remained stuck on one single, inescapable fact.

you would see him today.

you would step into the council room, and taehyun would be there. and you had no idea what would be waiting for you on the other side of that door.

was he angry? hurt? indifferent? did he spend the night thinking about it, just as you did? had he regretted it?

or worse, did he realize that maybe, maybe this whole thing had been a mistake?

your thoughts clung to you as you made your way to school, each step feeling heavier than the last. the usual morning sounds—the chatter of students, the rustling of papers, the distant ringing of a bell—faded into background noise as you moved through the halls, your heart hammering with each step that brought you closer to the council room.

and then you stepped inside.

you barely had time to take in the familiar sight of scattered documents, opened planners, and the faint scent of coffee before your eyes landed on him.

taehyun.

and he… he looked hollow.

the sight nearly knocked the breath out of you.

gone was the sharp glint in his eyes, the ever-present amusement, the effortless ease he carried himself with. instead, his features were dull, tired—shoulders slumped, gaze distant as he stared down at the papers in front of him, pen loosely gripped in his hand.

the weight in your chest only grew heavier as you hesitantly stepped further into the room, the familiar scrape of the chair against the floor sounding much louder than it should have in the suffocating silence. you lowered yourself into your usual seat, forcing yourself to settle, to breathe, to act as if everything was fine.

but nothing was.

because taehyun didn’t even look at you.

not a glance. not a teasing remark. not even the usual exasperated sigh when you made a little too much noise pulling out your notes. nothing. he simply remained as he was, unmoving, his gaze still fixed on the papers before him as if they held the answers to something greater, something deeper, something that could explain why.

and the absence of his attention, of his presence, of him—stung far more than you ever anticipated.

you swallowed hard, fingers curling into your lap, nails pressing into your palms as you willed yourself to keep your expression neutral, to not let the weight of your own guilt show. but the silence stretched, pressing down on you like a vice, wrapping itself around your throat until you thought you might suffocate under it—

“what’s with you two?”

the voice cut through the tension like a blade, startling you from your spiraling thoughts.

beomgyu.

you turned your head just slightly, enough to see him watching the both of you with furrowed brows, arms crossed over his chest. his gaze flickered between you and taehyun, sharp, calculating, observant.

beside him, jiwon leaned back in his chair, one elbow propped on the table as he arched a brow. “yeah, seriously. it’s weird in here.” he gestured vaguely between the two of you, lips pulling into a frown. “you guys didn’t, like, mess up the decor together yesterday and made a pact of silence, right?”

you flinched.

taehyun didn’t even blink.

beomgyu’s frown deepened. “okay, what the hell. what is going on?”

you spoke—too forced, too strained. “nothing.”

“bullshit.”

jiwon scoffed, nudging beomgyu with his elbow. “look, man, maybe they’re just in a bad mood.”

beomgyu didn’t look convinced. but taehyun didn’t give him a chance to press further, because before beomgyu could open his mouth again, he quietly cleared his throat, finally shifting, finally moving—only to stand from his seat, pushing his chair back with slow, deliberate movements.

“i need some air,” taehyun muttered, and just like that, he walked out, and now it was your turn to be left dumbfounded and hurt.

the days leading up to the ball passed in a blur, but the weight in your chest remained the same. if anything, it only grew heavier, sinking deeper into your bones with each passing moment.

and throughout it all, taehyun didn’t speak to you. to anyone, rather.

he wasn’t gone, not physically—he was still here, still doing his work with the same meticulous precision, still showing up early, still staying late. but he was missing in a way that was impossible to ignore, and the weight of it pressed against you, suffocating and relentless.

and it wasn’t just you who noticed. at first, beomgyu had been the most vocal about it. he had tried everything—nudging taehyun’s shoulder playfully, cracking jokes that usually earned him an exaggerated eye-roll or a deadpan retort, even deliberately messing up the seating chart just to get a reaction. but nothing worked. taehyun barely reacted, only offering the occasional hum of acknowledgment or a clipped, indifferent response before returning to whatever task was in front of him.

he had always been diligent, always the type to follow through with his responsibilities, but this was no longer dedication, this was detachment.

"seriously, what is his problem?" beomgyu had muttered under his breath one afternoon, throwing his pen onto the table with a frustrated sigh. he turned towards you then, his brows furrowed, gaze sharp. "he’s been acting like a ghost for days.”

your breath caught in your throat, fingers tightening instinctively around the clipboard in your lap.

jiwon, who had been watching the entire exchange with thinly veiled curiosity, shifted in his seat, drumming his fingers idly against the desk. "maybe he’s just tired,” he mused, though even he didn’t sound convinced.

beomgyu scoffed, shaking his head. "no. no, this isn’t tired—this is something else. he’s not just quiet, he’s—” beomgyu hesitated, frowning as he searched for the right word before finally settling on, “empty.”

and god, wasn’t that the truth?

taehyun had always been level-headed, composed, but never like this. never so distant. his sharp wit and effortless charm had dulled into something barely there, and the shift was so stark, so jarring, it left an undeniable hollowness in the air.

you wanted to say something, needed to say something. but what could you possibly say? that it was your fault? that you had seen the light in his eyes, the happiness that had appeared in his features when he first saw the flower on both your wrists, and how you crushed it beneath your own fear?

the weight of your own cowardice sat heavy on your shoulders, suffocating, unbearable. so you said nothing.

the ball was only days away. the decorations were finalized, the arrangements had been double-checked, and everything was falling into place, piece by perfect piece. and yet, for all that careful planning, for all the progress and preparation, everything still felt like it was falling apart. ꒰💐꒱ the night of the ball finally arrived.

golden lights illuminated the grand hall, casting a soft, ambient glow that seeped through the tall windows, flickering like distant stars against the darkness of the evening. inside, the sound of laughter and lively chatter drifted through the open doors, mingling with the faint melody of a waltz playing from within. everything was perfect—just as the council had planned, just as everyone had spent weeks ensuring.

but you simply stood outside.

your fingers curled around the delicate mask in your hands, the material pressing against your skin. the evening breeze brushed against your shoulders, carrying with it the distant hum of celebration, but you couldn't bring yourself to move forward, to step inside and immerse yourself in it all.

your dress, a simple yet breathtaking gown, clung to your frame in all the right places, accentuating without overwhelming, elegant without being extravagant. the fabric, a soft black satin that shimmered under the moonlight, cascaded down your figure in smooth waves, pooling ever so slightly at your feet. it was understated, refined, beautiful, and yet, despite how perfectly it fit, despite how much care had gone into choosing it, you had never felt more out of place.

you had spent days, weeks, preparing for this night. every detail had been planned, every decoration meticulously arranged. this was supposed to be a night of celebration, of triumph—a culmination of all the hard work the council had poured into making this event a reality.

but the thought of stepping inside, of weaving through the sea of masks and laughter, of pretending that everything was fine? it terrified you.

because you didn’t know how you would feel once you see him tonight. and perhaps, worse than that, you didn’t know if you even would.

your stomach twisted painfully, an ache that no amount of deep breaths could ease. would taehyun even be here? had he decided to stay away, just as you had considered doing? or would he be inside, blending into the crowd, masked and distant, just another face in a room full of strangers?

or would he be there, looking the same as always, standing in a corner with that quiet confidence, that knowing gaze, that presence that you could never quite shake, no matter how much distance you tried to put between you?

your heart pounded at the thought.

you had spent the past week avoiding his eyes, ducking away from his presence, watching helplessly as he withdrew further and further into himself. and yet, even as he distanced himself, even as the banter faded and the stolen glances disappeared, he never confronted you. never pushed, never asked for an explanation.

but tonight, there would be no desks between you, no schedules to hide behind.

if taehyun was here—if he sees you—then there would be no more avoiding it.

the weight of that realization sat heavy in your chest, pressing down, making it harder and harder to breathe.

you squeezed your eyes shut, willing yourself to move, to take a single step forward.

but your legs felt rooted in place, your body paralyzed by the what-ifs, by the uncertainty, by the unbearable truth that no matter how much you wanted to run, no matter how much you wanted to hide, you wanted to see him. god, you wanted to see him.

but did he still want to see you? taking a deep breath, you steeled yourself, gripping the delicate mask in your hands one final time before slipping it over your face. the satin ribbon tied keeping it in place felt tighter than necessary, as if it was binding you in place, but you refused to let yourself hesitate any longer.

with slow, deliberate steps, you moved forward, the soft fabric of your gown brushing against your ankles as you entered the venue. the moment you crossed the threshold, you were met with a breathtaking sight—warm golden light spilling from crystal chandeliers, illuminating a sea of elegantly dressed students, their gowns and suits shimmering beneath the glow.

a small smile ghosted over your lips, a rare moment of relief settling in your chest. this was it. after weeks of planning, after endless discussions and meticulous arrangements, the masquerade ball came to life. and seeing it unfold, watching as your peers twirled across the floor, their laughter ringing through the air, made all of the exhaustion worth it. it was beautiful.

as you weaved through the crowd, exchanging polite nods and returning greetings, a sudden poke at your shoulder made you pause. blinking, you turned on your heel, only to be met with a grinning masked beomgyu, standing beside someone whose presence, even behind an intricately designed mask, was unmistakable—soobin. their hands were intertwined, fingers loosely laced together, a silent testament to their bond.

“there you are!” beomgyu beamed, his enthusiasm practically radiating off him as he gestured wildly around the venue. “you have to admit, this is pretty amazing.”

soobin, ever the calmer presence, chuckled softly before dipping his head slightly in greeting. “congratulations,” he said, his voice smooth and sincere. “everything turned out beautifully. thank you for all the effort you put into making this happen.”

before you could even respond, beomgyu huffed, dramatically tossing an arm over soobin’s shoulder. “my idea, by the way,” he interjected, puffing out his chest in pride.

soobin, despite his mask obscuring half of his face, still managed to exude exasperation as he shot beomgyu a tired look. “i know, beomgyu. you’ve told me like a billion times.”

a quiet laugh left your lips as you shook your head, momentarily allowing yourself to bask in their familiar bickering. there was something comforting about it, something steady and unchanging. but just as quickly as that warmth settled, it vanished, replaced by a dull ache in your chest. because watching them—watching the ease in their dynamic, the way they played off each other so effortlessly—it only reminded you of one person.

your breath hitched, the tightening in your chest returning with full force. you forced a smile, pushing down the lump forming in your throat. “i should, um, check on the food,” you murmured, the words slipping from your lips before you could second-guess them.

soobin gave you a small nod, and beomgyu, thankfully, didn’t press further, only giving you a playful salute as you stepped away. with each step, your heart felt heavier, your resolve beginning to crumble once again.

you barely registered the laughter, the music, the clinking of glasses around you. all you could focus on was the overwhelming weight pressing against your ribs, the relentless pounding of your own thoughts. you shouldn't have come.

but then—

but then you saw him.

it was almost cruel how effortlessly your eyes found him, how no amount of dim lighting or the sea of masks could ever make him anything less than noticeable.

taehyun stood near the far side of the ballroom, a vision of effortless poise and sophistication. his suit was a deep shade of charcoal, tailored perfectly to his frame, accentuating the sharp lines of his shoulders and the lean definition of his form. the crisp white of his dress shirt contrasted against the dark fabric, and the black tie on his collar was neatly knotted, adding to the refined elegance of his appearance. but it was his presence—the sheer gravity of him—that made your breath catch.

his mask, sleek and simple, framed his eyes in a way that only enhanced their depth, making them appear even more calculating. the dim lighting cast delicate shadows over his features, highlighting the sharp cut of his jaw, the soft curve of his lips—lips that had once smiled so easily, so playfully, but now remained pressed into a thin, unreadable line.

you stopped in your tracks. you watched taehyun, unable to look away, unable to tear your gaze from the way he stood—poised yet distant, present yet entirely unreachable. the ballroom carried on around you, the music swelling, distant conversations rippling through the air, but it all faded into nothing as your eyes remained fixed on him.

his posture was impeccable, as always, shoulders squared, chin lifted ever so slightly, an image of effortless control. but there was something different now, something restrained in the way his fingers curled slightly at his sides, in the way his weight shifted subtly from one foot to the other, as if he were caught between the instinct to move and the need to stay still.

and then, as if he could feel your gaze, as if some invisible thread had finally pulled tight between the two of you—

his eyes found yours.

and the moment they did, something in the air shifted, as if the world seemed to narrow, the sounds around you dulling into nothing more than a distant hum.

taehyun’s stare widened just slightly, the faintest flicker of surprise betraying his otherwise composed expression. and god, was he taking you in.

taehyun was looking at you—truly looking at you. not like the stolen glances from before, not with the distance he carefully put between you these past few days. this was different. this was open, raw, something achingly vulnerable slipping through the cracks of his carefully built composure.

and the way he looked at you…

it was as if he had never seen you before.

as if he were discovering something entirely new, something he hadn’t realized until this very second. his gaze traced over you, taking in every detail, every curve of your form, every shimmering fold of your gown. his lips parted slightly, his breath hitching just the tiniest bit, and even with the mask covering half his face, even with the dim lighting softening his features, you could see it—the quiet, unspoken admiration that flickered across his face.

your heartbeat roared in your ears, your body frozen in place, unable to move, unable to breathe. neither of you stepped forward, neither of you dared to break the fragile silence that had settled between you, balancing on the edge of something terrifyingly real.

and then—

he blinked.

just once.

but when his eyes opened again, something was different. something had shifted.

taehyun’s throat bobbed as he swallowed, his jaw tightening ever so slightly. his hands twitched at his sides, his fingers curling inward like they ached to reach for something—for someone. you watched as a breath, deep and shaky, left his lips, his shoulders rising with the weight of it.

and then he turned away.

the moment shattered.

the spell broke.

before you could process it, before you could make sense of the way your chest constricted so violently at the loss, taehyun pivoted on his heel, his movements sharp, hurried. his polished shoes barely made a sound against the ballroom floor as he slipped past the sea of guests, weaving through the crowd with quick, purposeful steps.

he was leaving.your heart lurched, panic flaring in your veins, the shock of it slamming into your chest like a physical blow.

no.

your breath caught in your throat, the realization settling in all at once. he was running away.

and before you could stop yourself, before the fear could paralyze you, before you could make the same mistake twice—

you ran after him.

you pushed through the crowd, rushing between the clusters of students lost in conversation, their voices nothing but a muffled blur against the frantic pounding of your heartbeat. your pulse roared in your ears, your breath coming in sharp, uneven bursts as you dodged flurries of students and pressed forward, not caring if you stumbled, not caring if you brushed too roughly against someone.

taehyun was running, and you couldn’t let him get away. not again.

your fingers clenched at the fabric of your dress, lifting the hem just enough to keep yourself from tripping, but your feet barely felt the ground beneath you. all that mattered was him. all that mattered was the sight of his retreating figure, slipping past the grand archway leading to the open night air, disappearing beyond the cascading ivy that framed the ballroom’s second entrance.

the cool night hit you like a breath of fresh air the moment you broke free from the suffocating warmth of the ballroom. the murmurs of the crowd dulled, replaced by the soft rustle of the wind through the trees, the distant hum of music fading behind you. but none of it registered, not the chill against your bare skin, not the way your lungs burned from exertion, because taehyun was still ahead, his silhouette cutting through the garden’s moonlit paths.

the silvery glow of the moon bathed everything in an ethereal light, casting long shadows along the pathway, painting the world in hushed shades of blue and silver. the neatly trimmed hedges and delicate blooms swayed gently with the breeze, their fragrance lingering in the crisp air.

your steps faltered as you sucked in a breath, throat dry, chest tight—but you couldn’t stop now. not when he was slipping away again.

so you did the only thing you could.

"kang taehyun!!"

your voice cut through the quiet, sharp and desperate, carrying through the still night air.

and just like that, he finally stopped. taehyun’s steps slowed, hesitating, before finally coming to a full halt. your fingers curled into the fabric of your gown, gripping tightly, as if grounding yourself, as if holding on to the last bit of courage you had left. you didn’t trust your voice—not when your heart was still hammering like crazy, not when the ache in your throat made it impossible to swallow. but still, you forced the words out, soft, almost fragile in the way they broke past your lips.

"please..."

the sound barely carried over the distance between you, but it reached him somehow. you knew it did.

but taehyun remained unmoving.

his back stayed rigid, his shoulders taut, rising and falling in slow, measured breaths. he didn’t turn, didn’t even so much as flinch, as if he was willing himself to stay still, as if he was caught in the same unbearable moment as you, yet refused to acknowledge it.

the silence between you stretched, thick and suffocating, heavy with the weight of all the words neither of you had spoken. it clung to the air, to the space that felt impossibly vast despite the few feet separating you.

and then, after what felt like an eternity—so slow it nearly made you dizzy—he turned around.

taehyun’s body tensed before he shifted, hesitant, deliberate, as if caught in a decision he hadn’t quite made yet. the motion was almost careful, painfully slow, as though he feared what he would see when he finally turned to face you.

taehyun’s gaze met yours instantly, locking onto you with an intensity that stole the breath straight from your lungs. the silver glow of the moon framed his silhouette, casting soft shadows over his face, over the smooth planes of his mask.

and his eyes… they held something unreadable. something you couldn’t name, something tangled between a dozen emotions, flickering too fast, too fleeting for you to grasp.

but he was looking at you.

yet for the first time, you didn’t know if that was a good thing.

taehyun’s gaze never wavered, never softened, not even for a second. it was sharp, cutting through the space between you like a blade, dissecting, waiting. and you, standing beneath the weight of it all, feeling it press into your skin, into the marrow of your bones, suddenly felt small. exposed. self-conscious.

your throat tightened, the sudden awareness of yourself creeping in, making you shift where you stood. your shoulders straightened, your hands fidgeting at your sides, as if fixing your posture would somehow anchor you, would somehow make you feel like you belonged in this moment instead of drowning in it. your tongue darted out, wetting your dry lips, yet the words—whatever words you were meant to say—refused to come.

it was silent. painfully, deafeningly silent.

now that he was here, standing before you, now that you finally had him where you had been desperate to keep him—you didn’t know what to do. what to say.

"if you're not going to say anything, then i'm leaving."

taehyun’s voice cut through the stillness, low and cold, distant in a way that sent a sharp pang straight to your chest. it was piercing, impassive—so unlike him. where was the warmth? the teasing edge? where was the taehyun who never let a moment pass without a quip, a smirk, a knowing look? where was the taehyun who once made the air between you feel light, easy? the thought hit you so hard that it sent you stumbling forward, hands moving on instinct, reaching—desperate. and before you could stop yourself, before hesitation could creep in and steal this moment away from you, your fingers closed around his wrist.

a sight too familiar.

but this time, you weren’t the one running.

this time, you were the one trying to stop him.

"wait," the word barely came out, breathless, trembling. you let go of taehyun’s wrist, and then—then, the floodgates broke. "taehyun…"

his name wobbled on your lips, barely a breath, barely a sound, but it held every ounce of desperation clawing at your chest, every ounce of regret that weighed heavy on your shoulders. your throat tightened, a lump lodging itself deep within, suffocating, unrelenting, but you forced yourself to swallow it down. because if you didn’t speak now—if you let this moment slip through your fingers like sand—you knew you’d never forgive yourself.

"i’m sorry."

the words trembled, cracked, barely held together by the fragile threads of your unraveling composure. and yet, they still weren’t enough. nothing felt like enough—not for all the pain you had caused him, not for all the hurt you had left in your wake, not for the way you had looked into his eyes that night and still walked away.

"i’m so sorry, taehyun."

his name shattered from your lips this time, breaking somewhere between a sob and a plea.

"i was stupid. i was so, so stupid."

you inhaled sharply, hands curling into fists, nails biting into your palms in a desperate attempt to keep yourself from completely falling apart. but it was no use. everything was spilling over—emotions too big, too raw, too heavy to be contained anymore. "i didn’t mean to push you away. i didn’t mean to hurt you. god, i never wanted to hurt you." your voice wavered, cracking under the weight of your own words, and you squeezed your eyes shut for a fleeting second, trying yet failing to steady yourself. "but i did."

you exhaled shakily, forcing yourself to meet his gaze even as your own blurred with unshed tears. "i hurt you, and i was too much of a coward to admit anything." your fingers twitched at your sides, aching to reach for him, aching to grasp onto something—anything—that could ground you in the midst of the storm raging inside you. "i was scared," you whispered, voice barely above a breath, the admission tasting bitter, like guilt and shame and every unsaid thing you had buried deep inside yourself for far too long.

"i was scared because i didn’t understand it," a hollow laugh escaped you, but there was no humor in it. only pain. "because i didn’t understand you." you exhaled sharply, shaking your head as if that could erase all the years of denial, all the wasted time, all the moments you had spent pretending. "from the very start, taehyun, you made me feel things i had never felt before—things i didn’t know how to name, things that made my heart race and my hands shake and my mind spin and i—" your breath hitched, a sob catching in your throat, but you pushed through it, voice trembling. "i hated you for it. or at least... i thought i did."

you felt him stiffen, barely perceptible, but you noticed it. of course, you noticed it. your lips quivered, your hands clenched, and you forced yourself to take a step forward, closing even the slightest bit of distance between you. "but it wasn’t hate, was it? it never was," you whispered, voice softer now, gentler, but heavy with the weight of every unspoken word you had swallowed down over the years, every moment you had ignored, every glance you had forced yourself to look away from.

"it was fear."

you sucked in a shaky breath, blinking rapidly against the tears threatening to spill over. "you saw through me. you knew me—really knew me—even when i didn’t want you to," another step, another shaky breath. "and i hated that. i hated that no matter how much i tried to convince myself you were nothing more than a rival, a nuisance, an annoying presence in my life, i—" you exhaled sharply, voice breaking, barely holding yourself together, "i was wrong."

you were right in front of him now, so close, yet still, he hadn’t moved. he just stood there, staring at you, silent, unreadable, unflinching.

"i was wrong about everything," your voice wavered, barely above a whisper now, but the words carried the weight of everything—of every mistake, every regret. your fingers twitched at your sides before, finally, finally, you found the courage to reach out, grasping his wrists once more with trembling hands.

"i never should've left that night," you choked out, shaking your head, tears clinging to your lashes. "i should’ve turned back, should’ve looked at you, should’ve realized what was right in front of me." a single tear slipped down your cheek, warm against your skin, but you didn’t wipe it away. "i should’ve told you then," you hesitated, voice cracking, "i should’ve told you that it was always you."

the words shattered from your lips like glass, like something irreparable, something fragile and delicate and painfully, unbearably sincere. "it was always you, taehyun." your voice trembled, thick with emotion, thick with everything you had locked away for so long, and yet, for the first time, you weren’t afraid to say it. "and i’m so, so sorry it took me this long to see it." you sniffled, the sound barely audible over the pounding of your heart, a weight lifting off your shoulders with every word that had finally, finally escaped your lips. yet, despite the relief that came with your admission, fear still gripped you, sinking its claws into your chest, twisting deep. because this—this was the part that terrified you the most. not the confession, not the rawness of your emotions spilling over, but his response. what he might say. how he might look at you now. how he might—

taehyun moved.

and for a split second, panic seized you as he pulled away from your grasp, slipping from your trembling hands. your breath hitched, your body tensed, and your mind raced with the worst possibilities, already bracing for the moment he’d turn his back on you. already dreading the sharp sting of rejection. but he didn’t leave. he didn’t take a step back, didn’t let the silence stretch too long, didn’t let the space between you grow. instead, taehyun lifted his hands, reaching for you, cupping your tear-streaked cheeks in the warmth of his palms, grounding you in the way only he ever could.

your lips parted, a sharp breath escaping as his thumbs brushed over your damp skin, gentle, deliberate, erasing the remnants of your sorrow with the softest touch. your eyes widened, searching his face, drinking in the features you had spent so long memorizing yet never truly allowing yourself to admire.

and then, without a word, taehyun reached for the ribbon of your mask, fingers curling around the delicate material before he carefully, slowly, undid the knot and lifted it away.

your breath caught, the cool night air brushing against your now-exposed skin, and before you could react, he let the mask slip from his fingers, the sound of it hitting the ground barely registering in your ears.

but taehyun wasn’t done.

with the same tenderness, the same certainty, he lifted one hand to his own mask, unfastening it, letting it fall to the earth beside yours. and for the first time in what felt like forever, he smiled. not the small, hesitant smiles you had seen him give in passing, not the careful, guarded ones he wore when he was unsure, not the polite ones he had offered in fleeting moments. no. this was real. genuine. a smile that stretched across his face, lighting up his features, reaching his eyes in a way you had forgotten was possible.

"that’s it?"

his voice was warm, teasing, laced with something light and playful—something unmistakably him.

and the moment you heard it, the moment you saw that expression on his face, it was as if every last bit of fear, every last trace of doubt, melted away.

a breath of laughter left you, a mix of relief and disbelief, and before you could even think, before you could hesitate, before you could convince yourself otherwise, you surged forward—hands finding his face, fingers threading into his hair as you pulled him in, pressing your lips to his in a kiss that was everything.

the moment your lips crashed against his, it was as if something had burst open—years of pent-up emotions, unsaid words, restless nights, stolen glances, all unraveling in a single heartbeat. and taehyun kissed you back like he, too, had been waiting for this his entire life.

his hands, still cradling your face, tightened their grip, fingers digging into your skin as if he was terrified you might slip away again. but you weren’t going anywhere. not anymore. your hands slid up to his jaw, trembling, desperate, pulling him impossibly closer. the sheer warmth of him, the way he exhaled shakily against your lips—it was dizzying. intoxicating. you were drowning, and you never wanted to come up for air.

the kiss was frantic, a collision of breaths, sighs, and need. his lips moved against yours like he had something to prove, something to make up for, something he couldn’t put into words—but you understood. you understood in the way his hands fell from your face to your waist, fingers curling into the fabric of your dress, gripping like he needed something to hold on to, something to anchor him. you understood in the way he let out a shuddering breath when you tugged at his hair, when your fingers slipped into the strands, when your body pressed flush against his.

a sharp exhale left taehyun, something like a laugh, something breathless and wrecked, and then he was kissing you harder, deeper, like he wanted to consume you, like he wanted to make up for every second lost, every moment wasted. and you let him. you let him steal your breath, let him take everything you had to give, because god, you had been starving for this. for him.

his fingers traced up your spine, slow, deliberate, and you shivered at the feeling. it was overwhelming—the heat of him, the taste of him, the way he kissed you like he was afraid you would vanish if he stopped. your back hit the edge of the stone fountain behind you, but neither of you cared, too caught up in the way your mouths moved together, in the sheer desperation between you.

when you finally broke apart, foreheads pressed together, gasping for air, taehyun’s grip on you never loosened. his fingers stayed at your waist, his breath fanning over your lips, and when you opened your eyes, his gaze was already on you—dark, burning, fond. taehyun exhaled, a quiet, breathy sound that mingled with the space between you, and when he smiled—soft, real, yours—you felt something in you finally settle.

"so... you like me." he murmured, his fingers curling just a little tighter at your waist, as if he still didn’t quite trust that you were here, that this was real.

you blinked, still dazed, still trying to catch up to everything—everything you had just spilled, everything that had just happened, everything you had just done.

"kang."

"no, no, say it." taehyun grinned, the teasing lilt returning to his voice, but there was something softer beneath it, something almost in awe. "i need to hear you say it."

heat crept up your neck, the weight of his hands still lingering on your skin, his touch burned into your memory. "i just confessed my entire soul to you, what more do you want?"

"just three little words." his voice dropped slightly, his fingers brushing along your jaw, tilting your chin up ever so slightly. "for confirmation."

you groaned, tilting your head back, but the fondness in taehyun’s eyes, the warmth in his touch, the way he was looking at you like you were all he needed, it was unfair.

"i like you, taehyun." the words left you in a sigh, as if they had been waiting to escape all along.

"yeah?"

you rolled your eyes, but your smile betrayed your feigned annoyance. "yeah."

taehyun hummed, looking entirely too pleased with himself before he leaned in again, murmuring against your lips, "about time." “i like you too.”

꒰🧸꒱ @pagelets @hoefororeo @sbnslver @missychief1404 @brrytears @saejinniestar @imlonelydontsendhelp @urlocal-moa @melmochii @jettithink, @killa-1009, @j-ji-jia, @frankghgr, @usuallyunlikelyfox @sxmmerberries @napipope-ta @bamgeutori @xylatox @hyunj00 <3

this is 1/5 from a valentine’s event with other talented and incredible moas! click here to see the full masterlist <3

[bamgyuuuri]

⸝⸝ please? ┈ csb.

⸝⸝ ABSORBED in your studies, you could barely even spare soobin an ounce of your time, leaving him fighting and desperate for your attention. but when an idea strikes, perhaps the two of you can find a way to make it work after all.

pairings and tags. smut!! mdni!! fwb!soobin x afab!reader . sub!soobin . cockwarming . soobin's really whiny . hella begging . slowburn smut . teasing . handjob . edging . reader calls soobin "bunny" . soobin calls reader "miss" . shes highkey mean and he's highkey into it . slight brat taming . lmk if i missed any!

word count. 5.7k

short note ... surprise surprise! so ermmm i tried to . write smut again !!$% idk,, i think i went too far with the "slowburn" part T_T plz do let me know what you think !!!

midterms were creeping closer, and so here you were, slumped over your desk as if the weight of your endless notes, both digital and handwritten, had pinned you in place. the dim light of your laptop cast long shadows across the pages, highlighting every scribbled word and underlined phrase.

your back ached, your legs were numb from sitting too long, and the faint buzz of fatigue pressed against your temples. still, none of it was enough to pull you away. the thought of a failing grade lingered like a dark cloud, pushing you to study harder, longer, and with a desperation you couldn’t ignore.

you were so deeply engrossed in rewriting your notes that everything else seemed to fall away. the steady hum of traffic outside your window and the occasional creak of the house barely registered.

your phone sat beside you on the desk, its screen lighting up over and over, but you didn’t notice. messages stacked one after another, calls came and went, and still, you didn’t even spare it a glance. the name on the screen was always the same—soobin. he didn’t stop, his persistence evident in the flurry of notifications that went unanswered.

but what actually managed to pull you out of your trance was the sudden, sharp knock on your door. the sound echoed through the quiet room, startling you enough to make your head whip towards it, breaking your focus entirely.

for a moment, you just stared, your brows knitting together as you tried to figure out who it could possibly be at this hour. letting out a small sigh, you pushed back your chair and stood, the stiffness in your legs reminding you just how long you’d been sitting. slowly, you made your way to the door, dragging your feet a little as exhaustion clung to you.

when you opened it, the last person you expected to see was soobin himself.

but there he was, standing in front of you with an expression that was both determined and oddly relieved. before you could even ask why he was here, his hands found your waist, pushing you back into your dorm then pulling you close in one swift motion. and the next thing you knew, his lips were on yours in a kiss so sudden and eager that it left you completely stunned.

your eyes widened comically as your brain scrambled to process what was happening. the warmth of his hands on your waist and the familiar scent of him were almost enough to make you forget everything, but the shock won out. “soobin...!” you managed to squeak, breaking away as you placed your hands on his chest, pushing him back gently but firmly.

you quickly closed the door behind you, leaning against it as you stared at him with a mixture of disbelief and annoyance. your glare wasn’t particularly intimidating—he was clearly unfazed—but you tried anyway. “dude, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” you hissed, your voice low but sharp enough to convey your frustration.

soobin, though momentarily surprised by your rejection, let out a long, exaggerated sigh before trying to close the distance between you once more. “don’t call me ‘dude,’ we literally just kissed. now, where were we—” his voice dripped with teasing charm as he leaned in again, his confidence seemingly unshaken.

before his lips could meet yours, you placed your hands firmly on his shoulders, stopping him mid-movement. your face twisted into a clear expression of annoyance, and you pushed back slightly, glaring at him. “hey, cut it out! i’m not in the mood to mess around right now!” your tone was sharp, though tinged with the frustration of someone desperately trying to focus.

soobin only laughed, the sound soft and infuriatingly carefree. ignoring your protests, he gently pried your hands from his shoulders and brought them down, his palms quickly finding their way to your cheeks.

his thumbs brushed lightly over your skin, the warmth of his touch almost making you falter. “you can’t be serious,” he murmured, his voice dipping into a whisper as his gaze locked onto yours. “you’re never not in the mood for this.” with that, he leaned in again, his intentions clear and unwavering.

but this cannot happen, not right now, at least. the thought hit you like a splash of cold water as you wriggled out of his hold, stepping back and shaking your head. why was he suddenly acting so clingy? “i-i’m being serious...! don’t you have exams to study for too?” you stammered, desperate to regain some semblance of control over the situation.

soobin tilted his head slightly, his expression softening for a brief moment before his lips curled into a mischievous smile. “i studied enough before coming over,” his voice trailed off as his gaze darkened, a hint of something unreadable flashing through his eyes.

stepping forward, he grabbed your wrist firmly, his hold just tight enough to send a jolt through you. “besides, i thought you loved spending time with me,” he added, his voice low and smooth as he pulled you closer with little effort.

though his actions might have left you breathless on another day, all you could do now was roll your eyes. “oh, please. just because we’re fuckbuddies doesn’t mean you get to barge into my place and disrupt me from my studies,” you shot back, your tone dripping with exasperation.

that’s right. that was the setup with soobin—fuckbuddies, friends with benefits, casual partners, whatever label you chose to slap on it. it was simple, uncomplicated, no strings attached. there were no expectations, no deep feelings, just two people who enjoyed each other’s company and a good fuck when the mood struck.

it was supposed to be easy, a little escape from the chaos of everyday life, a way to blow off steam without any pressure. at least, that’s what you told yourself when you both agreed to it.

but right now? you were anything but relaxed. you were deep into studying, drowning in deadlines, and the last thing you needed was him barging into your space and pulling you away from your studies.

soobin laughs at your attempts to brush him off, his chuckle light and teasing as he leans in closer, his eyes glinting with mischief. “you know you want it too, don’t be a hypocrite.” his words were enough to make you feel a wave of heat rush to your face, though you’re not sure if it's from embarrassment or frustration.

before you can say anything else, he pulls you into his arms with surprising gentleness. you can feel his heartbeat, rapid and strong against your chest, as if the closeness between you both made him as eager as you’d ever seen him. soobin leans closer, his lips hovering just a breath away from yours.

but just as you thought he was about to kiss you, he pulls back, turning on his heel and heading towards your bedroom. you’re left standing there, your hand still outstretched, his absence already making the air feel colder. but he then tugs on your hand, dragging you along with him.

the moment you both enter, you pull your hand away from his grasp, feeling the weight of your exhaustion settle in. “soobin, please. i really need to study. i can’t—you know how i feel about failing remarks…” your voice comes out more pleading than you expected, the seriousness of your upcoming exams sinking deeper in your gut.

soobin stops for a moment, his expression softening, though his playful grin never quite fades. “i’ll help you study afterwards, i promise,” he says, his tone almost coaxing as he gently wraps his hand around your wrist once more. the warmth of his touch is enough to make you falter for a moment, but you hold your ground, trying to focus on the bigger picture.

you sigh, your fingers pressing against your temple as the weight of the stress pulls on you. you’re too worn out to give him the earful he deserves, too consumed by the looming exams to even think of giving him a proper lecture.

but the word "help" slipping past his lips does strike a chord deep within you.

without saying another word, you went and walked towards your desk. grabbing your laptop and binder, you walk over to your bed, setting them down with a soft thud. soobin watches you curiously, his brow furrowing in confusion.

his eyes follow your every move, his head tilting slightly as if trying to piece together what you’re doing. soobin opens his mouth to ask, but you cut him off before he can say anything.

“help me study then, if you’re so eager.” you say, flipping open your binder to a page covered in equations and math problems. you glance at him briefly, noticing how his gaze falls on the page, eyes skimming over the numbers and symbols.

soobin scoffs, a small, amused smirk curling at the corners of his lips as he crosses his arms over his chest. “you know i’m not... well-versed on stuff like this. why are you asking me for help?” his voice carries a teasing tone, but there’s a hint of mockery in it too, as if the idea of him being useful in this situation is laughable.

you let out another exasperated sigh, unable to hide the frustration bubbling in your chest. without much thought, you tap the bed next to you, signaling for him to sit. “not that kind of help, dumbass. something else,” you mutter, your voice sharp but laced with a hint of tired amusement.

soobin raises an eyebrow at your response but doesn’t hesitate to sit on your bed anyway. his back presses against the headboard as he crosses his legs, a casual posture that contradicts the curiosity in his eyes. he watches you expectantly, waiting for you to elaborate, but you’re too busy grabbing your things, not giving him the chance to speak.

you set the notebook and your laptop down beside him, your movements smooth but determined. then, without a word, you climb onto the bed, positioning yourself in front of him. when your eyes meet his, there’s no doubt left—your expression is set, your intentions clear.

“okay, you want to fuck, but i want to study. so… why don’t we make the best of both worlds?” your words were deliberate, like you’re proposing a deal that’ll benefit you both.

soobin just stares at you for a moment, his lips curling into an amused smile, but there’s also a flicker of surprise in his eyes. he raises his brow again, clearly intrigued. “and how are we going to do that exactly?” he asks, his tone playful but with a hint of challenge.

you smile at the glimmer of curiosity in his gaze. “it’s simple. but first..” you let the words hang in the air, drawing out the tension.

but before soobin can protest or ask for more details, you lean in, finally closing the distance between you both.

your lips find his in a kiss that’s soft at first, just a hint of heat lingering in the contact. one of your hands sneaks up into his hair, your fingers tangling in the strands as you deepen the kiss. the suddenness catches him off guard, but it only takes a second before he responds, his hand moving to rest on your waist, the energy of the moment shifting into something more intense.

soobin reciprocates the passion, urgency laced through the press of softness against him. any level of space that could exist between you and him diminished from existence, the need for skinship being the only thing running through his mind.

the kiss was unrelenting, heated, each movement mirroring the tension building between you both. you could feel the intensity of the moment, his touch growing more assertive, drawing you in deeper.

you didn’t even notice his legs spreading apart to accommodate you, your body instinctively making you sit in between them. it wasn’t until that slight movement reminded you of what you were supposed to be doing that a small part of your brain snapped back to reality.

without breaking the kiss, your free hand moved downwards, finding the growing ache beneath soobin’s sweatpants. your fingers and your palm pressed and teased him through the fabric, earning a delicious moan from him that vibrated against your lips.

soobin was the one to pull away, his eyes darkening, and for a brief moment, you see a flicker of surprise in them. his lips are parted slightly, his breath ragged as he lets out a soft groan, the sound barely audible.

"really? so quickly?" he breathes, his voice hushed but laced with amusement. his eyes hold yours, a teasing glint in them, but there’s no hiding the desire building within them. the question had a joyful lilt, but the way his body reacts betrays his words. his arm wraps around your waist, pulling you even closer, and you feel the tension rising again as his gaze never leaves yours.

you hummed, your hands moving to hastily pull down his sweatpants, a certain glint in your eyes as you did so.

“oh,” a response soobin could not keep in, his breath nearly dying in his throat, surprise palpable in his features as he follows your actions. he takes a moment to regain his bearings before helping you remove the rest of his undergarments while he feels the excitement grow from the sudden change of pace.

he pulls you in for another kiss, determined to make it escalate into something more this time, his hands gently cupping your face as if grounding himself in the connection.

but before soobin got the chance to do just that, you pull away from him with a playful tut, teasing him gently.

“don’t be so impatient.” you scold him in amusement, words holding no real bite as you relish his growing embarrassment. you strip yourself from your shorts, slipping off the flimsy piece of clothing as you acknowledge his gaze that traces all over your curves. face flushed, soobin feels a small throb when you situate yourself back between his legs.

when you look up to finally meet his gaze, you held him by his chin, “listen, this is going to be our agreement; i sit on your dick, then you don’t distract me while i study. do we have a deal?”

soobin looked at you with wide eyes, a small, mischievous smile tugging at the corners of his lips. he gave a little nod, the look in his eyes making it clear he was fully on board with the plan.

"i don't think there's any downsides," he says with a light laugh, his voice airy and teasing. he leaned in and placed a small, quick peck on your lips, his smile growing even more.

you rolled your eyes, exasperated but amused. this was the nth time today you’d had to do it, but it didn’t stop you from replying with a smirk, “okay, good. now, be quiet or i’ll kick you out.”

wordlessly, you turn around, your back now facing soobin as you grab your laptop and notebook, setting them in front of you. then, without warning, you lift yourself up again as you slowly sank down onto soobin’s cock, sucking in a breath as you try not to react too much to the sudden stretch.

soobin lets out a soft moan at the action, electricity shooting up his body as he feels your warm walls take almost all of him at once. his eyes are locked on to your figure, then to your laptop, a curious expression on his face. he leans forwards slightly, peering over your shoulder and trying to look at your notes, but it's futile. he can't make out the words through all of the haze.

he could already feel his composure wavering, and so as a way to ground himself a little, with one hand gripping the sheets below him tightly, the other making its way to your thigh, slowly massaging it with gentle circles, trying to calm his racing thoughts.

you furrowed your eyebrows, sensing his movements, and without even looking at him, you swatted his hand away. “i said no distractions. i’m studying,” you muttered, your focus unwavering as you went back to rereading your notes.

soobin whimpers a bit, but his hand does as he’s been told and retreats from your thigh. he instead places it back in his lap, curling his hands into soft fists as he attempts to keep himself occupied and to resist the temptation to touch you again or buck his hips up.

it was quiet for a while, except the occasional turn of a page, typing here and there, and the poor boy behind you shifting in his position. you had started to actually read some of the notes in your laptop, but of course, with soobin occasionally moving, and his cock brushing against all the right spots without him trying, it was rather difficult to maintain focus.

"you’re not actually going to study the whole time… right?" soobin suddenly asks, his tone shaky and almost petulant. his voice broke through the quiet, and you could feel the irritation—and something else you didn’t wish to name—start to bubble up within you.

“i will. now stop moving and talking too much, it’s distracting.” you hiss as you lean back a little, effectively taking more of soobin in, the tiny bit of friction eliciting a moan from his lips.

soobin’s face flushes with a deep red color, eyes immediately shutting as he lets out a breathy whine. his hips stutter a little, his hands trembling just the tiniest bit as they come over to hold onto your hips tightly.

“come on, please,” he whines, his tone soft. he sounds almost pathetic. “please, i…” soobin bites his bottom lip, his mind a hazy mush. 

he hardly sounds coherent to himself, and even if his mind could comprehend it, he was more than certain that he’d be ashamed of how much pride he was letting go just to have you. with his voice squeezed to a pathetic plea, he shakily exhales, “i need you.”

“no. we had an agreement, and so you have to wait.” you reply coldly, your tone firm and adamant, making it clear that you were set on focusing on the task at hand. but despite your sharp words, with the way he begged so sweetly... the flutter in your stomach betrayed you, your heart racing a little faster than usual.

soobin lets out another long, sulky whine at your words, but he still does as told again and stops moving in your lap, opting instead to lean his weight against the headboard and look down at you, his eyes half-lidded as he watches you read some of the notes silently.

this was tougher than he had initially expected. no, actually, it was torturous. soobin was starting to think this agreement isn’t as beneficial to him as he first thought it would be…

the minutes seemed to stretch and warp, each one dragging on longer than the last, turning into an agonizing experience that was almost unbearable. it was as if time itself had decided to punish him, to make him wait, to force him to endure this ever-growing ache in his body that refused to be ignored.

his skin was burning, hot to the touch, and the feeling only worsened the longer he stayed in this position. every muscle in his body ached, tense and wound up so tightly that he could almost feel the strain in his bones.

soobin glanced over at you every few moments, your focus unwavering as you sat there, your attention fixed on the laptop screen in front of you. you were completely absorbed in your work, occasionally typing or flipping through pages, completely unaware of the struggle he was going through.

growing more and more sour by the minute, soobin knew he couldn’t wait long at this rate. he whines softly, his voice strained with frustration, and his breathing grew heavier, just enough to make it obvious that he was struggling. his movements became more restless, shifting from one position to another, his body practically vibrating with the need for attention.

he let out a small, breathy sigh, deliberately making it louder than necessary, his chest rising and falling with each slight gasp. his eyes flickered towards you, hoping you’d notice the subtle signs of his impatience, but you were too focused on your notes to give him any acknowledgment.

"dude. be quieter," you snapped, your patience wearing thin, yet you didn’t even spare him a glance.

soobin's face flushed bright red at the sudden chastisement, your words making his skin crawl with want. his teeth dug into his bottom lip, trying to suppress a whimper that threatened to escape. the effort was clear in his eyes; he was trying his best not to annoy you further, but the longer he held back, the more frustrated he became.

"i-i'm sorry. i’ll try..." he replies meekly, not daring to defy you, his hands gripping tighter on your waist to keep himself from fucking into you like he so desperately wanted to.

surprisingly enough, soobin manages to compose himself somewhat after that.

his body was still trembling with an undercurrent of tension, muscles wound tight and every inch of him screaming for release. but despite the discomfort, he’s determined to hold on, to keep still, and to control his breathing.

it’s a battle of willpower now, and for the first time, he begins to wonder if he should just put an end to this himself. the ache was almost unbearable, and his thoughts are becoming a jumbled mess of frustration and want.

he leans forward slightly, his lips parting as he opens his mouth to speak, ready to let out another whiny protest or maybe even beg for your attention. but just as he’s about to say something, you shift—just a slight movement, barely noticeable at first—but the effect on him was immediate.

soobin bites down hard on his bottom lip to hold back any noise, but even so, a whimper still escapes from his lips. unable to hold back, he starts to rut his hips a little against you, his hands moving to now grip your thighs.

"i-i can't," he whispers, his voice strained and shaky, as if he's on the brink of losing control. "i… i just can't anymore.. please, please, i-" his voice breaks, the desperation evident in every syllable. his chest heaves as he breathes heavily, eyes wide with a mixture of pleading and helplessness. "i can’t take it anymore,"

you let out a small gasp as you could feel him beginning to move inside you, making you ball your hands up into fists as you fought to urge to moan and give into his advances. you purse your lips as you place a barely controlled hand on his thigh, “stop moving, or i really will kick you out.”

soobin lets out a pitiful whimper at your words, his head lowering again. "but…!" he tries to argue again, unable to stop himself anymore, but he stops himself, too afraid of actually being kicked out as you warned. and so the trembling boy just settles himself, panting and squirming underneath you, while he waits for you to let him move.

soobin’s lips trembled slightly as he mutters again, his voice barely a whisper. “how long do i... have to wait exactly...?” there’s a quiver in his tone, a hint of vulnerability that betrays his growing desperation.

you don’t respond.

he swallows hard, his throat dry, and the silence between you both feels suffocating. his body is rigid, his hands trembling slightly in his lap, and his frustration builds with every passing second.

he shifts in his seat, trying to make himself comfortable, but it’s impossible. soobin’s body was too tense, his mind too chaotic. his thoughts trail off as the discomfort grows, the pressure in his chest and the urge to just screw it all and just fuck you right here intensifying.

soobin bites his lip to stifle a frustrated groan, his gaze dropping to the floor, lost in his thoughts. what am i supposed to do? he wonders, feeling like he’s both trapped and helpless.

but then, an idea hits him.

soobin's eyes flicker with a sudden spark as a thought forms in his mind, unbidden but undeniable. it’s crazy, reckless even, but in this moment, it’s the only thing that feels like it might work. he hesitates, his mind racing with the implications, but the desperation gnaws at him, urging him forward. what do i have to lose anyway?

soobin suddenly leans his head forward, planting a soft kiss on your neck, then another one, peppering your sensitive skin with kisses and sucks, making it all the way up to your earlobe.

this finally catches your attention, as your typing comes to an abrupt pause and your hands still above your keyboard, the sudden break in your concentration hitting soobin like a wave of satisfaction.

“bin, stop it,” you say, your tone firm but tinged with a sharp edge he’s grown so familiar with, your brows furrowing slightly as you turn your head to meet his gaze, still trying to maintain your focus, though the flicker of annoyance (and something else) was evident in the way your lips pressed together.

soobin’s lips curl into a small, sly smile as he hears your words. he could tell he was finally grabbing your attention, and the fact that he could affect you at all sent a strange rush of excitement through his body.

he leans in a little closer, his hand gently resting at the back of your neck, his thumb brushing against the sensitive skin there. the soft touch sends a shiver down your spine, but you try to ignore the fluttering feeling building inside you.

“you want me too, don’t you?” soobin whispers, his voice barely audible over the tension hanging between you two. there’s a slight teasing edge in his words, but also something else—a hint of softness, as if he knows he’s getting under your skin.

you stiffen for a moment, trying to focus on your work, but the feeling of his fingers against your skin makes it nearly impossible to keep your composure. you swallow hard, the weight of the moment slowly starting to affect your thoughts more than you'd like.

“you like it when i kiss..” soobin teases, allowing the anticipation to build up. mischief builds up within him from gaining an upper hand, his voice dipping an octave lower as another kiss was chastely pressed on your earlobe. “..here, right?”

“s-soobin, cut it out….”

soobin smiles as he hears how shaky your voice has become, continuing to kiss along your neck, slowly moving to your jawline. he lets out a little breathy chuckle, whispering into your ear again,

“make me.”

꒰💭꒱

"h-hah—!” soobin's voice cracks, his words tumbling out in a breathy whimper. beads of sweat form on his forehead, his chest rising and falling unevenly. his eyes, wide and pleading, search yours for any sign of mercy, a faint flush spreading across his cheeks as he struggles to hold himself together. “please—i.. i can’t take this anymore…!” fed up with soobin's relentless assault of kisses trailing up and down your neck while you were clearly trying to focus, you finally slammed your laptop shut. the sharp sound echoed in the room, making him freeze mid-action. you turned to face him fully, your expression exasperated but resolute. if he wanted your attention so badly, then fine—you’d give it to him, but on your terms.

and so here you are now, abruptly stopping the movements of your hand, denying soobin his fourth release.

his entire body was flushed a deep red, the poor man's chest heaving as he tries to catch his breath. soobin looks at you, the pleading obvious in his eyes. his lips were slightly parted, his mouth open slightly as he tries to take deep breaths.

"p-please... i-i promise i'll be good..!" soobin gulps as he pleads, his voice trembling and breathless. his eyes were wide and glossy, glistening with desperation, as if he’s clinging to the last thread of your patience. "i... i won’t distract you anymore..! just... please..."

“is that so?” you murmur lowly with a scoff, smirking as soobin lets out another whimper as you squeeze his sensitive cock and flick your thumb ever so slightly on his tip, making his back arch in both pleasure and frustration.

“if you really are good, then i’m sure you can take more, bunny.”

despite his better judgment, soobin nods frantically, his head bobbing with an almost childlike eagerness that contrasts the flush of his cheeks. his breaths come out in uneven pants, his chest rising and falling as he desperately tries to collect himself. he swallows hard, his adam’s apple bobbing visibly, before finally managing to stammer out a reply.

"o-okay... okay, i can take more for you, miss," he says, his voice trembling with a mixture of resolve and vulnerability. his wide eyes meet yours, searching for any sign of approval, as though your acknowledgment is the only thing anchoring him at this moment.

with his confirmation, you offer soobin a sweet smile that makes his breath hitch. your hand began to move with practiced precision, flicking your wrist and rubbing over his sensitive cockhead just the way he likes it, and it elicits an immediate reaction—a stuttered gasp as his body tenses for a brief moment.

"there we go," you murmur softly, your voice carrying a gentle edge of satisfaction. soobin’s head tilts back slightly, his lips parting as his breath quickens again, though this time it’s laced with a relief he’s been chasing. his wide eyes flutter shut, and a faint, almost shy smile graces his lips in response to your gesture.

“thank you.. so much.. hah…” he gasps, his voice trembling with every word. a shaky, almost broken sound escapes his lips, his chest rising and falling with the effort to steady himself. his fingers, still trembling, slowly find their way to your wrist, their touch warm and a little hesitant as he tries to make you move faster. "please... just like that," he murmurs, the words falling from his lips in a whisper, tinged with relief and something deeper.

and when you happily oblige with his request to fasten your pace, soobin lets out a shaky gasp as his hips twitch up, a soft moan passing his lips. he looks up at you with his half-lidded eyes, and lets out a breath, his voice low.

with every glide and jerk of your hand on his shaft, soobin feels his head spin just a little more, reacting to every movement he feels with a pretty moan or a whimper escaping his quivering lips. soobin’s back then arches slightly, his muscles tensing as his breathing grows uneven, sensing his climax approaching, each inhale shaky and shallow. his voice comes out strained, barely above a whisper but heavy with need.

"m-more... more, please... more," he stammers, his words tumbling out in quick succession, each one carrying the weight of his growing desperation. his hands grip tightly at whatever they can find—your arm, the fabric beneath him—seeking any form of grounding as his body seems to betray him, trembling with anticipation.

“more? hm, okay.” you hum, your hand now going up and down his length at an even quicker pace.

soobin lets out a soft whimper at the increased movement, his breathing becoming even more heavy, the sound coming out more like gasps at this point. “a-ah… i think.. i-i’m about to—please… please!” he says with a broken moan, looking up at you with glossy eyes, his vision turning blurry and his mind spinning.

but just as you could sense him about to reach the height of his release, you stop abruptly once more, letting go of his aching cock.

soobin lets out a loud whine as you stop, his body writhing a little in protest. he shut his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling as he tries to catch his breath.  

“n-no..! no, not again…” his voice trembles as the words spill from his lips, both his body and his shaft twitching with an almost unbearable ache. he groans, the sound coming out as a mixture of frustration and desperation, his breath ragged as he shifts slightly, trying to ease the tension that’s building up.

“please…” soobin pleads again, his voice barely above a whisper as he tries to steady himself, but the words break with the sheer desperation clinging to them. his tears were threatening to spill as his hand fell helplessly by his side, the weight of his need pressing on him more heavily than before. "it... hurts.." he whimpers again, his lips trembling.

soobin then tries to reach for you with trembling hands, the desperation evident in the way his fingers twitch in the air, as if he can’t bear the thought of being so far away from you. he looks at you with wide, pleading eyes, begging without saying a word, his body unable to stay still.

but you only scoot farther away, crossing your arms in a deliberate gesture that sharpens the ache in his chest. “no. you’ve been bad, and this is what impatient and insatiable bunnies get,” you spat out, your words cutting through the air, colder than the distance you’ve put between you. 

the harshness in your tone stabs through him, the sting reverberating in his chest like an open wound, raw and aching. his face contorts in pure agony, the weight of your rejection heavy on his heart. he’s never felt more exposed, more vulnerable, than in this moment, and it overwhelms him in the worst way.

"p-please.. i'm sorry…" soobin stammers, his voice barely a whisper but thick with vulnerability, the tremor in his words making it clear how much this is breaking him. 

"i'm—i'm sorry." he pants, trying to jog up to a breath that he knows he will not be able to catch up to just yet. "i'll be... g-good, i promise." his voice sounds pathetic with every word but he supposes that he is under your undoing.

"won't do it again, miss. please forgive me." he sobs out, pleading for something that he already knows the answer of deep down.

“no.” you say firmly and coldly, the word almost like a verdict. the finality of it stings him more than he expected, and it makes him flinch slightly, “now next time, you ought to think twice before misbehaving.”

꒰🧸꒱ @pagelets, @jettithink, @killa-1009, @j-ji-jia, @frankghgr, @dawngyu, @usuallyunlikelyfox, @sxmmerberries, @napipope-ta, @bamgeutori, @xylatox <3 (click here if you would like to be added! ^^)

[bamgyuuuri]

also omg 300 notes ?!?!? thank you guys sm omg i am forever grateful 😞🙏🙏🙏🙏

[bamgyuuuri]

yk who i am hehe we're working together :3 but when i'll send you reqs, i'll be anon. i'll be ☁️ anon mwehehe

barista beomgyu. please. i beg.

⸝⸝ brewing love ┈ cbg.

⸝⸝ now playing : can't stop - taehyun & hueningkai

pairings and tags. barista!beomgyu x reader . fleeting glances . mutual pining . not-actually unrequited love . cute mutual crush shenanigans . beomgyu is the actual sweetest im crying . slow burn-ish . cheeky clichés . shy yet abrupt confession . tooth-rutting fluff

word count. 8.8k

short note! OOOOH i think i already know who u are mwehehe, hello ☁️ anon !! <3 i made this extra special just for you, i hope u like it :3

barista!beomgyu, who just so happens to begin working at the newly opened café a few buildings down your apartment. you were walking down the street, lost in thought, when something pulls your attention toward the soft hum of a new place. the café stands there, tucked in the corner of the street, windows wide open to let the fresh air in, light spilling onto the sidewalk. you slow down your pace, drawn to the cozy space inside. 

beomgyu was behind the counter, his hair a little tousled, falling into his eyes in a way that makes him look effortlessly adorable. his smile was the first thing you notice—bright, welcoming, and easy, like he’s been expecting you all along. it’s a smile that makes you pause, heart fluttering just a little faster, and before you even know what you were doing, your feet were taking you closer to the door, pulling you inside without a second thought.

“hi, welcome in!” beomgyu greets, his voice smooth and warm, with a hint of curiosity that makes you feel like he’s genuinely happy to see you. it’s more than just the usual greeting—there’s something about the way his eyes light up when he looks at you, something that makes you feel a little self-conscious and yet strangely special at the same time.

you hesitate for a moment, not knowing what to say. your usual confidence has fled, leaving behind a slight nervousness that catches in your throat. “uh… just a cappuccino, please,” you manage, your words coming out softer than you intended.

beomgyu doesn’t miss a beat, his smile widening a fraction as he nods. “coming right up.”

as he turns to prepare your drink, you find yourself watching him more than you mean to—his fingers moving smoothly over the espresso machine, his soft hums filling the quiet space, and the way his movements are almost… graceful. the whole scene feels so cozy, and as you stand there waiting for your coffee, you can’t help but catch yourself stealing glances at him. you’re suddenly so aware of how your pulse quickens every time he looks back at you, even just for a second.

when he hands you your cappuccino, the slight brush of his fingers against yours sends a tiny jolt through you, and your breath catches for a moment. it’s only for a heartbeat, but it feels like something more than just a simple touch. his eyes flicker to yours again, and there’s a softness in them that makes your cheeks heat up, though you’re not sure if it’s from the warmth of the coffee or the warmth of his gaze.

“enjoy,” he says, his voice low and sweet, and you feel a sudden longing to stay, to continue this moment, to keep this connection alive just a little longer. but you have to leave, so you turn away, suddenly feeling like the moment has slipped through your fingers too quickly.

the next morning, you’re walking down the same street, and without even thinking about it, your feet lead you straight to the door of the café. the anticipation builds in your chest, a little flutter each step closer, like you’re preparing for something—but you’re not sure what.

“good morning!” beomgyu greets, his voice as smooth as the morning light filtering through the windows. he’s leaning against the counter, his smile easy but warm, like he remembers you, and that makes your stomach flip a little. you try to act casual, but your words stumble out. “morning… uh, just the cappuccino please.”

“of course, i remember,” he chuckles softly, his eyes crinkling at the corners in a way that makes your heart soften. he’s so effortlessly kind, and it hits you a little harder than expected, making the air between you feel softer, more familiar.

as he prepares your drink, you can’t help but notice the little things—the way his hands move with purpose, yet they’re gentle, precise. when he hums to himself as he works, you catch yourself listening more intently, savoring the moment. you wonder if he always has this effect on people, or if it’s just you.

when he slides the cappuccino across the counter toward you, there’s that small moment again—his fingers brush against yours, light and almost fleeting, but the feeling lingers, like something unspoken. “here you go, have a great day!” beomgyu says, his eyes meeting yours again, and for a moment, everything feels still.

“thank you,” you murmur, a little shy, a little more self-aware than usual, but you can’t help the small smile that tugs at your lips. you walk to a table, feeling the heat from your drink and from the gentle attention you’ve been getting from him.

over the next few days, you found yourself in the café more often than you mean to. it starts with little things—a smile, a laugh, the warmth of his presence filling the space whenever you enter. you can’t quite put your finger on it, but each time you see beomgyu, there’s this soft, almost electric feeling in your chest that keeps you coming back. “how’s your day going?” he asks one morning, leaning closer to the counter, his eyes bright with curiosity. you feel the familiar rush of butterflies in your stomach as you answer, and somehow, even the smallest of exchanges makes you feel a little lighter.

“pretty good actually, just the usual,” you respond with a smile, trying to act cool, though your heart is racing a little faster than it should.

beomgyu gives you that knowing smile again, the one that makes your knees feel weak. “i'm glad to hear that! if you need anything else, i’m here,” he adds, and the way he says it feels… different this time, like there’s something more beneath the surface.

over the next few visits, you start noticing small things—the way he remembers your name, the way he greets you like he’s genuinely happy to see you. and it’s not just the coffee anymore; it’s the quiet moments between you, the way you both linger just a little longer each time you speak. you catch yourself smiling to yourself when you’re walking away, your heart swelling a little bit more with each passing day. then, one morning, as you approach the counter, beomgyu slides a pastry next to your drink without you even asking. you blink in surprise, your heart skipping a beat as you stare at the delicate pastry he’s just placed in front of you.

“here,” he says smoothly, his voice warm, almost like it’s a secret shared only between the two of you. “for our most loyal customer.”

you’re caught off guard, unsure whether to laugh or melt into a puddle. your lips curl into a shy smile as you look up at him, surprised by the kindness—and maybe the hint of something else in his voice.

“what?” you laugh softly, raising an eyebrow, “i didn’t order that, though..”

“you didn’t have to,” he replies, his smile soft and knowing, like he’s been paying attention to all the little things about you. “you’ve been coming here every day. thought you deserved a treat.”

there’s something in the way beomgyu says it, something that feels more personal, more thoughtful than just a simple gesture. it makes your heart flutter, and for a second, you’re not sure if it’s the sweetness of the pastry or the sweetness of his words that makes your cheeks heat up.

“why, thank you,” you say, feeling a little shy but undeniably touched. you take a small bite of the pastry, and the sweetness was almost enough to make your heart race, but it’s the way he’s watching you—patient, interested—that truly has your heart fluttering.

“how is it?” he asks, his tone casual, but his eyes never leave you, watching intently as you savor the bite.

you look up at him, a playful smile tugging at your lips. “it’s perfect,” you reply, feeling your chest warm in more ways than one.

beomgyu’s smile grows a little, and he leans against the counter, his presence filling the space between you both. there’s a small, shared moment of silence, and you’re left wondering if he’s feeling the same way—that strange, undeniable pull that’s slowly building between you two.

as you continue to visit the café over the next few days, the pastries continue. each time, he seems to know exactly what to offer, like he’s learned your preferences by heart. one day it’s a soft cinnamon roll that he claims is “extra special today,” and the next it’s a delicate almond cookie that you don’t even know you’d wanted until he suggests it.

it’s not just the pastries that stand out, though. it’s the way he makes sure to slide your coffee over with a smile that’s just a little more genuine each time, the way his hand brushes yours ever so slightly when handing you your order. you can’t help but notice the subtle things—the way his eyes linger just a little longer than they should, the way he seems to always find an excuse to keep talking to you.

one afternoon, you’re sipping your coffee by the window, watching the world outside, when beomgyu leans over the counter, his voice lowering as he speaks to you.

“just made a fresh batch of croissants,” he says, his eyes twinkling with something mischievous. “i think you’ll really like them.”

you raise an eyebrow, intrigued. “oh? you think so?” you tease lightly, glancing up at him. there’s something so endearing about how he’s trying to impress you with something so simple, yet it feels like a small, intimate moment shared between you two.

“oh, i know so,” beomgyu replies, his voice light and playful. he looks at you with a hint of mischief, and you can’t help but feel your heart skip a little faster. it’s not just the words, it’s the way he says them, the way his eyes sparkle with a knowing glint, as if he’s already certain that you’ll like whatever he’s offering.

“well, i’ll take your word for it,” you reply, your smile softening. “thanks.”

beomgyu slides the warm croissant toward you, his fingers brushing the edge of the pastry just lightly before pulling away. you can’t help but notice how he lingers, his gaze fixed on you, almost as if he’s waiting for your reaction. you take the croissant carefully, the golden flaky layers crumbling slightly as you break off a piece. the warm, buttery scent envelops you, and with your first bite, you feel the soft, rich texture melt in your mouth. it was perfect—the sweet, delicate flavor that you didn’t even know you were craving, and as you chew, you can feel the warmth spreading through you. it’s not just the pastry that’s making your heart race, though. you glance up at him, noticing that he’s watching you intently, his eyes a little wider, as if he’s holding his breath, waiting for you to speak. it’s the kind of look that makes your stomach flip, like he’s unsure whether you’ll like it or not, but he wants you to.

“this is…” you pause, savoring another bite, “amazing,” you finally say, your voice quieter this time, a soft smile curving your lips. you’re not just complimenting the pastry anymore, you realize.

“i’m glad you like it,” he says, his voice a little softer now, almost shy. his eyes flicker to yours, and you can feel the weight of his gaze, the way it lingers a fraction longer than usual. there’s something more here, something unspoken that passes between you both in the quiet of the café. too lost in the taste, you don’t even realize there was a delicate crumb on the corner of your lips until beomgyu’s gaze drops, focusing on your mouth. his hand moves before his mind seems to catch up, reaching out gently, his thumb brushing the corner of your lips, swiping away the tiny remnant of pastry. the touch was featherlight, his skin warm against yours, and the unexpected intimacy of it makes your breath hitch. his eyes widen slightly as he realizes what he’s done, his thumb still lingering close to your mouth, the warmth of his touch seeping into your skin.

“s-sorry…! there was…” his voice trails off, and he looks almost as flustered as you feel, a rosy tint coloring his cheeks as he quickly pulls his hand back. “crumb…” he finishes, his gaze darting away, but there’s a small, bashful smile pulling at his lips that makes your heart twist in the sweetest way.

“thanks,” you murmur, your own cheeks warming with a blush you can’t quite hide. the air between you shifts, a new layer of awareness settling in, making the moment stretch longer, deeper. and his sweetness didn't stop there. it started happening more often—small, thoughtful gestures that make your heart stir in ways you’re not quite ready to admit. little things, quiet things, but they settle into your chest like warmth spreading through your fingertips, like the first sip of coffee he made on a chilly morning. one afternoon, you’re hunched over your table, forehead resting against your palm as you stare at the endless pages of study material in front of you. the words blur together, your highlighter poised but unmoving, frustration pressing into your temples. your coffee sits untouched beside you, long forgotten, the steam no longer curling from the rim. with a tired sigh, you rub your temple, your free hand tugging absentmindedly at the edge of your sleeve.

then, out of nowhere, a plate slides onto the table in front of you.

your breath catches, startled by the sudden presence of something new amidst your sea of notes and papers. you blink, momentarily confused, before your gaze lands on a small slice of cake sitting neatly on a ceramic plate. delicate layers of sponge and cream, dusted lightly with powdered sugar, topped with a single, perfectly ripe strawberry. it looks almost too pretty to eat, like something out of a display case rather than a last-minute kindness.

but what truly made your heart stutter was the tiny yellow post-it pressed gently against the edge of the plate.

good luck! i know you can do it!

beneath the words, there was a small, round bear doodle, its arms raised in encouragement, as if cheering you on from the sidelines.

your lips part slightly, caught between surprise and gratitude. you reach for the note with careful fingers, peeling it away like it’s something delicate, something you want to keep. your eyes lift instinctively, searching for him, and sure enough, beomgyu stood behind the counter, absentmindedly wiping down a tray, but his attention was on you.

the moment your gazes meet, he doesn’t look away. he doesn’t smirk, doesn’t tease—he just smiles, small and knowing, like he’s glad you noticed, like he doesn’t expect anything in return.

your chest tightens, a breath catching somewhere between your ribs.

you duck your head, trying to hide the way your lips curve upward as you tuck the post-it safely between the pages of your book. picking up your fork, you take a bite of the cake, and somehow, the taste feels richer, the flavors sinking into your tongue like warmth itself.

but that was just the start. one morning, when you pick up your usual coffee, something immediately catches your eye. the foam wasn't just smooth and swirled like usual, no, nestled right in the center is a tiny, delicate heart, drawn so subtly that it almost disappears the moment you tilt the cup. your fingers tighten around the sleeve, the heat from the drink seeping into your skin. you glance up instinctively, and there he was, standing behind the counter like always, completely occupied with the espresso machine. or at least, pretending to be. beomgyu's head was slightly turned, watching—waiting—for your reaction, though his hands continue their practiced motions, adjusting knobs and pressing buttons with casual ease.

the moment your gaze meets his, he looks away. just a fraction too fast.

the next time, it wasn't just a heart.

you got this!

the words werescrawled across the side of your cup in his familiar, slightly slanted handwriting, the exclamation mark punctuated with a tiny, grinning bear doodle. your fingers hesitate for a moment before grazing over the ink, tracing the shape of the little bear as a small, involuntary smile tugs at your lips.

he’s never written on your cup before.

your eyes lift almost instinctively, seeking him out, and sure enough—beomgyu was already looking at you from behind the counter. he’s pretending to wipe down the counter, but the smug tilt of his lips betrays him.

“cute bear,” you murmur, lifting the cup slightly as you meet his gaze.

his brows lift, feigning confusion. “hmm?”

you nod toward the cup. “the one you drew.”

“huh.” beomgyu leans against the counter, tapping his chin as if deep in thought. “i have no idea what you’re talking about.”

you roll your eyes, though you can’t hide the way your fingers tighten around the cup, like you’re holding onto something fleeting, something precious.

then there’s the day he spells your name wrong.

not in the way baristas usually do—an honest mistake, a simple mishearing. no, this was very much on purpose.

you stare down at your cup, brows furrowing at the ridiculous, utterly incorrect jumble of letters scribbled across the surface.

“really?” you deadpan, lifting an unimpressed gaze toward him.

beomgyu grins, slow and wide, the kind of grin that spells trouble, one eyebrow quirking in amusement. “oops,” he says, resting his chin in his palm, eyes twinkling with mischief.

you narrow your eyes. “oops?”

he nods, unbothered. “must’ve misheard you.”

“you spelled it right yesterday. and the day before that. and the week before that.”

he gasps, hand flying to his chest in exaggerated offense. “are you accusing me of something?”

you take a slow, deliberate sip of your coffee, not breaking eye contact.

his smirk deepens, but then—just as you’re about to turn away—

“… thanks, though,” you murmur, just loud enough for him to hear.

and he does.

because his smile falters for just a second, something softer, something almost shy flickering across his face before he covers it up with another teasing grin. then on a particularly dreary evening, when the sky split open with rain and the wind howls against the buildings, you push open the café door, the small bell jingling softly above you. droplets cling to your sleeves, your hair damp from the unexpected downpour, and despite your best efforts, your clothes were thoroughly soaked.

beomgyu looks up the moment you step inside. his usual playful greeting dies on his lips, replaced by a flicker of concern. without a word, he disappears into the back, his apron swaying slightly as he moves. you barely have time to register his absence before he returns, something folded neatly in his hands.

a clean, fluffy towel.

he hands it to you like it’s second nature, like this is something he would’ve done regardless of who walked through that door. but you can feel the difference—the softness of the fabric, the way it’s still warm, like he pulled it fresh from somewhere just for you.

“you’ll catch a cold like that,” beomgyu murmurs, propping an elbow against the counter as he watches you pat down your damp sleeves. his voice is gentle, but there was something almost scolding beneath the words, something fond.

you let out a small, sheepish laugh, pushing away your damp hair with the edge of the towel. “i didn’t expect it to rain… and i don't really own umbrellas, so..” you mumble, voice quieter than usual.

beomgyu hums, shaking his head lightly, an amused sort of fondness flickering in his eyes. he doesn’t say anything else, just lets you dry off at your own pace, and when you finally return the towel with a grateful smile, he takes it without hesitation, like it was never an inconvenience in the first place.

the next time you visit, the rain has long since stopped, the streets drying beneath the weak afternoon sun. but when you settle into your usual seat, something unfamiliar catches your eye.

tucked neatly against the chair, as if it had always been there, is a small, folded umbrella. a sticky note rests on the handle.

just in case. :)

there’s no name. no signature. but the handwriting was unmistakable—slightly slanted, the letters round in a way that feels familiar.

and you didn't need to guess who left it. but your sweet routine was soon disrupted though. the morning rush hits like a wave, and you were caught in its current. the alarm blares louder than usual, dragging you out of bed faster than you'd like. the clock blinks a terrifyingly late hour, and you scramble to get dressed, brush your teeth, grab your things—anything to make it out the door on time.

you were running late, leaving you no time for the comforting morning stop at the café. you grab your things in a rush, throwing a jacket over your shoulders, your bag slung messily across your body. as you rush out the door, you can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment in the pit of your stomach. you had been looking forward to seeing beomgyu, the thought of his soft smile and the warmth of your usual drink always adding a little extra brightness to your mornings.

but today, it wasn’t meant to be.

still, as you rush through your classes, his face keeps popping into your thoughts. there were moments when you caught yourself smiling, thinking about his little jokes, the way he always makes sure to ask if your coffee’s to your liking. and then there were the fleeting moments when you'd remember the feeling of his gaze on you, how it lingers a little longer than you expect.

it’s silly, you tell yourself. he’s just being nice, right?

but then, your heart betrays you again, fluttering a little faster as you recall the sound of his voice, the way he’d tease you so effortlessly. it’s hard not to feel the small stirrings of something more, something that you can’t quite place. back at the café, beomgyu finds himself glancing toward the door more often than he cares to admit, a soft frown tugging at his lips each time it doesn’t swing open. his mind wanders, his usual focus slipping as the minutes stretch on, each one feeling longer than the last.

he’d noticed you weren’t there that morning, and it had been bothering him more than he would’ve liked to admit. usually, you’d walk in with that soft smile of yours, maybe a joke or two about the day ahead, but today—nothing. the absence of your usual routine feels strange, like a missing piece he hadn’t realized was so important until it was gone.

his hand moves to adjust the espresso machine, but it feels clumsier than usual, as though his thoughts were tangled with the same energy that swirls in the foam he’s trying to perfect. his fingers slip on the cup, almost knocking it over, and he pauses, taking a breath to steady himself.

it’s just one morning, beomgyu tries to convince himself, but the thought doesn’t settle. there was a quiet, persistent worry gnawing at him. his mind races. he wonders if something happened, if you just had a busy morning. he wonders if he’d done something wrong—if he’d said something that might’ve made you not want to come in. his gaze flickers back to the door, the hope of seeing you there quickly replaced by the sinking feeling that maybe you wouldn’t show up at all.

he sighs, wiping a hand over his face as he leans against the counter.

a few, agonizing hours later, you glance at the clock as your last class finally wraps up, the familiar weight of the day’s exhaustion settling into your bones. but there’s something else tugging at you, a quiet pull that urges you to make your way to the café. you can’t shake the feeling that you need to see him, to catch that last sliver of the day before it slips away.

there’s a fleeting hope in your chest, a hope that maybe, just maybe, he would still be there. you hurry through the campus, your steps quickening as the cold night air nips at your skin. your thoughts are scattered, your mind drifting between assignments, thoughts of the morning, and, of course, beomgyu.

by the time you reached the café, you were almost breathless, your heart beating a little faster than usual. you push open the door, the familiar chime ringing through the quiet space, and you freeze for just a moment.

and there he was

beomgyu was behind the counter as always, wiping down the last of the espresso machine with his back to you. the soft hum of the machine is the only sound in the room as he moves, his motions deliberate, like he’s trying to finish up for the night but something—someone—was keeping him here a little longer.

you hesitate for a moment, unsure if you should interrupt or just slip out quietly, but then he hears the door open, his head turning toward you with that smile that makes your heart leap in your chest.

“you’re here,” he says, his voice softer than usual, like he’s surprised to see you after the day you’ve both had. his gaze holds yours a moment longer than it needs to, his eyes catching on yours in that familiar, lingering way that always seems to make you forget how to breathe.

he looks... relieved.

you feel that same flutter in your chest, your nerves buzzing from the way he’s looking at you, like he’d been waiting for this moment too. without thinking, you find yourself smiling a little wider. “i didn’t want to miss seeing you today,” the moment they’re out, your breath catches in your throat. what did i just say? it feels like the room falls completely still, like everything has paused for just a second. your face burns instantly, a deep, flushed heat spreading across your cheeks, and you can’t stop yourself from mentally cringing. oh no, that came out way too—but then, beomgyu’s face shifts ever so slightly. his eyebrows raise, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. you can almost see the moment he processes your words, like his brain is trying to catch up with what just happened. he stands frozen for a heartbeat, as if unsure of how to respond.

and then, almost without thinking, he steps closer, his voice soft but undeniably sincere. “i…” he trails off, his gaze dropping for a second before meeting yours again. there’s an almost sheepish quality to his smile as he shifts his weight, his fingers nervously tapping against the counter. “i didn’t want to miss seeing you either,” he says, and his voice is quieter now, a little unsure but genuine.

your heart does a little flip, and for a second, the air between you both feels thick with something unexpressed, yet shared. the words were simple, but there’s a vulnerability to them, like you both opened up without meaning to. beomgyu clears his throat, shifting slightly, but you notice the way his fingers were trembling just a little as he adjusts the cloth in his hands. it’s the kind of nervous energy you recognize in yourself too, the same shy warmth you both feel in each other’s presence.

“so… how was your day? uh, i mean, not that you have to tell me. but, you know—did you—did you get up to anything fun? i noticed you weren’t here this morning, and i… uh, just…” he trails off, the words spilling out faster than he can control. “i was, uh, wondering if everything was okay? did something happen? you didn’t—um, you didn’t have time to swing by, or—uh, maybe you just didn’t feel like it? or—”

he stops suddenly, his eyes wide with embarrassment, realizing he’s been rambling. his hand moves to the back of his neck in that familiar gesture, the same bashful movement you’ve come to recognize in him. “sorry… i’m just, uh, rambling. didn’t mean to… go on like that.”

you can’t help but laugh softly, the sound light and warm, and it instantly makes his face turn pink. “no, it’s okay,” you say with a small chuckle, trying to reassure him. “i didn’t come by because i, uh, got caught up with some stuff at uni. i was running late and just… didn’t have time to swing by this morning, that’s all.”

beomgyu nods slowly, relief washing over his face as he lets out a quiet breath. “ah, i see…” he murmurs, and there’s another beat of silence, the tension between you two settling into something quieter, more comfortable. you then break the silence, your voice soft but curious. “so, um, are you closing soon?” he looks up, his eyes lighting up a little as he remembers the time. “ah, right, yeah…” he says, glancing around the almost-empty café. “i was about to start cleaning up, actually…” he looks back at you, a small, unsure smile tugging at his lips. you shift awkwardly, feeling the weight of his gaze on you as you try to offer a smile. “if it’s not too much trouble… i don’t mind waiting. i can, uh, keep you company while you finish up,” you say, your words coming out a bit more hesitant than you intended.

beomgyu’s expression softens even further, a small smile tugging at his lips as he looks at you. “you’d do that?” he asks, his voice quiet but filled with something genuine, something appreciative.

you nod, trying to ease the slight tension you’re both feeling. “yeah, of course. i don’t mind,” you reply, your voice warmer now, a little more confident in the offer. the idea of spending more time with him, even in the quiet space of the café, feels comfortable. natural, almost.

his eyes flickered with surprise, then melted into a small, shy grin. “well, in that case… i’d really like that,” he says softly, and there’s a softness in his tone that makes your heart flutter more than you’d like to admit.

as beomgyu begins wiping down the counter, the sound of the rag against the wood fills the quiet café, but there was something soothing about it. the atmosphere between you two had shifted, the awkwardness melting away, replaced by a mutual understanding.

he casually glances over at you, his eyes soft, and you find yourself easing into the rhythm of the moment. the gentle hum of the espresso machine still lingers in the background, and the quietness of the café feels oddly intimate now. it’s just the two of you, and for the first time in a while, it feels like time has slowed down.

you both start talking about your usuals, banter flowing effortlessly between you. you laugh at his silly jokes, the kind that seem to roll off his tongue without any effort, and he grins at your reactions, eyes sparkling with a joyful glint. the sound of your shared laughter fills the air, light and genuine. there’s no rush, no pressure to say anything in particular—just the soft cadence of two people enjoying the quiet connection between them.

"i saw that movie you mentioned last week," beomgyu says, his tone casual as he dries the cups, but his eyes flicker over to you, awaiting your response. "it was way better than i expected."

you smile, nodding. "i knew you’d like it! i was practically bouncing in my seat the whole time." the memory makes you laugh softly, and beomgyu chuckles along with you, his eyes crinkling at the corners, that familiar warmth present in his expression.

"yeah, i could tell," he teases lightly. "you were so into it, you probably didn’t even notice when the popcorn started spilling."

you laugh again, shaking your head. "hey, that's not true! well... maybe just a little bit... but it was totally worth it."

the comfortable back-and-forth continues, and the more you talk, the more natural it feels. you realize how easy it is to be with him—how effortlessly the conversation flows. beomgyu listens intently, his smile never quite leaving his face. you, in turn, find yourself talking more freely, your words coming quicker now, as if the walls you hadn’t even realized you put up were slowly crumbling.

as the minutes ticked by, you both seemed to settle into the quiet ease of the moment, the kind where you don’t have to worry about saying the right thing. the soft clinking of dishes, the occasional hum of the fridge, and your shared laughter fill the space, making the café feel like your own little world.

as beomgyu wipes down the last of the counters and sets everything back in place, the realization settles in—the night was truly winding down. you watch as he moves with practiced ease, stacking chairs, flipping the sign on the door to closed, and turning off the glowing menu board behind the counter. the once-lively café has now quieted into something more intimate, bathed in the soft glow of the streetlights filtering through the windows.

you linger near the door, the warmth of his presence still wrapped around you even as he finishes tidying up. when he finally steps out from behind the counter, he stretches his arms above his head with a tired but satisfied sigh, his sweater riding up slightly in the process. you look away quickly, swallowing the sudden flustered feeling creeping up your neck.

"all done," he announces, running a hand through his hair, making it fluffier than before. he looks over at you with a small, almost reluctant smile. “guess it’s time to head out.”

you nod, though there’s a quiet hesitation between you both, like neither of you really want to leave just yet. still, you step outside together, the cool night air brushing against your skin as beomgyu locks up the café behind him. the street was quieter now, the usual buzz of the day replaced by the occasional passing car and the distant hum of the city settling in for the night.

you turn to him, shifting slightly on your feet. “well… thanks for letting me keep you company,” you say softly, offering a small smile. “i’ll see you tomorrow?”

beomgyu looks at you for a beat longer than necessary, his lips pressing together before curling into something shy and thoughtful. “yeah… see you tomorrow,” he murmurs, but he doesn’t move, his fingers still loosely holding onto the keys in his hand.

you hesitate too, caught in the strange, quiet space between goodbye and something else. and then, just as you were about to turn, beomgyu shifts on his feet, sucking in a small breath before blurting out, “wait.”

you blink up at him, surprised. "yeah?"

he clears his throat, suddenly looking uncharacteristically shy as he scratches the back of his neck. "uh, are you… walking home?” his voice is casual, but there’s something tentative underneath, something unsure.

you tilt your head slightly, nodding. “i am, why...?”

beomgyu lets out a breath, as if he’d just made up his mind about something. “then—” he pauses, shifting again, fingers fidgeting with the strap of his bag. “let me walk you home.”

your heart stutters in your chest.

you stare at him, caught off guard by the unexpected offer, and beomgyu, ever so slightly, begins to fidget under your gaze. "i mean—" he stammers, rubbing the back of his neck. “only if you want me to! if you’d rather walk alone, that’s totally fine! i just—y’know, it’s late, and you were rushing this morning, so i figured you probably had a long day and—”

he’s rambling again, words tumbling over themselves in his rush to explain, but there’s something endearing about it, something warm about the way he’s trying so hard not to make this feel like a big deal. and maybe it isn’t—to him, maybe it’s just him being considerate. but to you, the offer lingers in the air, heavier than just a simple walk home.

you find yourself smiling, something soft and fond curling in your chest. “i’d like that,” you say quietly, and the way his expression shifts—relief flickering across his face, followed by something almost bashful—makes your heart skip a beat.

“yeah?” he asks, as if he hadn’t expected you to agree so easily.

“yeah.. i really would..” you nod, and beomgyu presses his lips together to hide the growing smile threatening to spread across his face.

“okay,” he breathes out, glancing ahead before turning back to you. “then… let’s go.”

and so, the two of you fall into step, walking side by side under the glow of the streetlights. the air between you was lighter now, tinged with something warm and comfortable, and though neither of you said it out loud, there was an unspoken understanding lingering in the quiet spaces between your footsteps.

the night air feels softer than usual, the quiet hum of the city settling around you like a warm embrace. each step you took beside beomgyu feels slower, more deliberate—the way your arms sway just slightly too close, the way the sound of your footsteps seems to sync up in a steady rhythm, the way neither of you seem to be in any real rush to get anywhere. his presence beside you was warm, almost grounding, and yet, there was something just barely there; a tension that isn’t quite awkward, but isn’t entirely absent either. it lingers in the spaces between words, in the pauses that stretch just a little too long, in the way you catch him glancing at you before quickly looking away.

beomgyu clears his throat after a moment, the sound small but noticeable in the hush of the evening. “so… do you live close?” he asks, his voice carrying that usual casual lilt, yet it also held just the tiniest bit of hesitance. you glance at him, catching the way his head tilts slightly, his eyes soft in the dim light. he’s watching you, waiting—not impatiently, not expectantly, just curiously, like he genuinely wants to know, like he’s trying to hold onto the conversation for as long as he can.

“yeah,” you answer, voice light but honest. “not too far, actually. just a few more blocks.” beomgyu hums in acknowledgment, nodding slightly as his gaze flickers to the sidewalk ahead. he shifts a little, stuffing his hands deeper into the pockets of his hoodie, and for a moment, it feels like that should be the end of it. just a casual exchange, a small piece of information shared and then left behind. but you find yourself glancing at him again, feeling the question lingering on your tongue before you even fully process the thought. “what about you?”

he lets out a quiet, almost amused breath, as if he wasn’t expecting you to ask. then, with a small shake of his head, he admits, “kind of far, honestly... i usually take the bus home.” you frown slightly, your steps slowing just a little. “then… won’t you miss the last bus?”

beomgyu pauses for half a second before waving a dismissive hand. “no worries, i’ll be fine. there’s a late-night one that still runs. besides…” he sneaks a glance at you, his voice quieter now, “this is the longest i’ve ever spent time with you, anyway.” your breath catches, just for a second, and suddenly, the night air feels heavier, thicker, charged with something neither of you fully acknowledge but both undeniably feel.

beomgyu doesn’t look at you after saying it, doesn’t give any indication that he’s aware of how deeply his words just affected you. but you see it—the way his fingers twitch slightly where they’re tucked into his hoodie, the way the tips of his ears, barely visible beneath his hair, grow a faint shade darker under the streetlights. he’s nervous, you realize, and the thought makes something warm bloom in your chest.

neither of you spoke immediately after that, letting the moment stretch between you, the silence thick but not uncomfortable. the city continues on around you, distant sounds of traffic somewhere far away, but here, in this quiet little bubble of time, it feels like it was just the two of you.

and then, after a beat, beomgyu clears his throat, breaking the silence with a soft but distinct exhale. “so, um… i was actually kinda worried when you didn’t show up today.”

you blink, surprised by the sudden vulnerability in his voice, and turn to him fully. his words catch you off guard, like a quiet breeze that brushes past unexpectedly. “worried?” you ask, your voice soft, the question almost coming out as a whisper. beomgyu nods, a slight blush coloring his cheeks as he scratches the back of his neck, his eyes flickering to the ground for a moment before meeting yours again. “yeah,” he admits, his voice quieter now, “i mean… i know you don’t have to come in every morning or anything, but…” he trails off for a moment, as if trying to find the right way to phrase it. “it just felt weird not seeing you,” he finally says, and the simplicity of it hits you, but it’s also layered with something more—something soft and real that you didn’t expect. beomgyu suddenly exhales, dragging a hand through his hair in a familiar gesture, almost as if he’s trying to smooth over the awkwardness that’s starting to creep in. “god, listen to me,” he chuckles, looking down at his shoes like they’re the most fascinating thing in the world. “i sound so—i dunno. i really thought maybe something happened. or—or maybe you got tired of the coffee.” you smile, feeling a warmth bubble up in your chest at the thought of him being concerned, at the idea that he missed your presence even a little. it felt good, almost comforting. shaking your head, you meet his gaze and reassure him softly, “definitely not tired of the coffee.”

beomgyu gasps dramatically, pressing a hand to his chest in mock offense, and for a moment, the tension between you two lightens. his expression shifts into something playful, teasing. “so just tired of me, then? great,” he quips, his lips curling into a grin, his eyes sparkling with the same mischievous energy he always has.

you roll your eyes, nudging him lightly with your shoulder. “i told you, i overslept, dummy.” you tease back, a small laugh escaping you at the way his face contorts in exaggerated surprise. “right...” beomgyu mutters, his voice lighter now. his eyes flicker over to you for a brief moment, a small but genuine smile tugging at the corners of his lips. then, after a beat, he groans, dragging a hand down his face in frustration, his fingers tugging at his hair as if he’s mortified by himself. “god, i rambled again, didn’t i?” he mutters, his voice sounding a little defeated, but there’s a humorous edge to it, like he’s simultaneously amused and embarrassed by how he’s acting. you grin wider, not able to help yourself as you watch him. it’s almost endearing, seeing him so flustered and out of his element. “you kinda did, yeah.” you tease, your tone light but affectionate, knowing exactly what he’s feeling. beomgyu groans even louder this time, as if the embarrassment was too much for him to bear, dramatically tossing his head back with a sigh. “honestly.. why do i keep doing this around you?” his words were laced with a humor that was so raw and real, but there was an underlying vulnerability to it too. and that's when it happens—before you even have time to think, before you can stop yourself, the words slip from your lips as if they’ve always been there, just waiting for the right moment. “maybe it’s because you like me.” the moment the words leave your mouth, time seemed to have stopped. oh god, no. you freeze, a wave of panic crashing over you as you realize what you just said, your heart practically thundering in your chest. beomgyu’s reaction was almost instantaneous—he freezes too, his breath catching in his throat, his steps faltering, and when you glance up at him, his wide eyes meet yours. he looks stunned, like his brain needs a moment to catch up, his mouth opening slightly like he’s about to say something—but then nothing comes out. you can’t look away from him, your breath stuck in your throat as you process what just happened. oh my god, i just said that, you think, panicking. your heart races, your chest tightens, and before you can think of anything to say to backtrack, he just stands there, blinking at you as if he’s trying to understand the weight of your words. but then, out of nowhere, beomgyu speaks, his words tumbling out before he could think. “do you wanna go on a date with me?” now it was your turn to freeze. what? the words were almost absurd in their suddenness, completely unexpected, and you can feel the ground beneath you shift as if the world itself just stopped turning. it takes a second for your brain to even process what he just said. there’s a full moment of stunned silence before your heart stops completely, and in that moment, all you can hear is the rush of blood in your ears and the soft thrum of your pulse. beomgyu, bless him, doesn’t seem to realize what he just did. he’s standing there, red as a tomato, his hands fumbling with his hoodie as he tries to make himself smaller, as if he could physically hide from the mess he’s just made of himself. his eyes were wide, the embarrassment practically radiating off him, but still—still, he doesn’t backtrack.

then, out of nowhere, he speaks. beomgyu’s words tumble out like he's trying to catch up with himself, his voice shaky. “w-wait, no, i—i didn’t mean it like that,” he stammers, his hands nervously twitching at his sides, unsure of whether to shove them in his pockets or rub them together. “i mean... like... uh... that sounded so much less—i mean... you know what i mean, right? it wasn’t supposed to sound like... like that—i wasn’t—i mean, i do like you but like—oh god—” the way his words crash into each other, barely making sense but all spilling out in one chaotic rush, only makes you smile. it was impossible not to. the sight of him, so flustered, trying to explain himself while stumbling over every word, was so endearing that you couldn’t help but laugh softly. the moment was so... him—so sweetly awkward, it made your heart flutter even more. beomgyu swallows hard, and you can practically see the nerves radiating off him. he grips the hem of his hoodie again, as if it’s the only thing keeping him tethered to reality. his eyes were fixed on you, waiting for something, anything—his words a breathless jumble. “maybe you already knew that, or—or maybe i just embarrassed myself completely, but if you feel the same way... uh... y’know... would you wanna, like, you know, go on a date with me?” every single word beomgyu said was wrapped up in vulnerability, but there was still something undeniably hopeful in his eyes, something that made the tension in the air grow even thicker, as if the world was holding its breath with you.

and before either of you could take another breath, you just do it. without thinking, without hesitation, you lean in—fast—and pressed a soft, quick kiss to his cheek, right there in the middle of the street, in the quiet of the night. it was light, quick, and maybe a little impulsive—but it was enough. it was everything.

beomgyu stills, eyes wide, his entire body stiffening for a moment, before his hands slowly creep up to his cheek where your lips just were, as if he’s trying to figure out if it really happened. his face was so red, you think it might burst, and the awkwardness that settles in the moment was palpable, but it was also beautiful.

“there,” you say, your voice a little softer than before, your smile warm and genuine. “that’s your answer.”

beomgyu doesn’t say anything at first. his mind clearly short-circuiting as his fingers hover over his cheek, still in disbelief that you actually did that. it takes him a full moment to process what just happened before he lets out a strangled, breathless laugh, eyes still wide.

“wait, does this mean—is that a yes…?” he asks meekly, his voice a little more unsure this time, the words tumbling out in a rush as he tries to piece it all together.

you can’t help but laugh softly at how sweetly flustered beomgyu was, the corners of your lips curving into a gentle smile. “mhm,” you answer, your voice soft and teasing, like you’re savoring the moment. you try your best to hide the warmth that rushes to your cheeks, but it was impossible when he looked at you like that, with such a mix of relief, hope, and something else—something that made your chest tighten with a quiet excitement.

“i would love to go on a date with you, gyu,” you add, and the words come so naturally now, like they’ve been waiting to slip out for ages. there was no hesitation, just the soft certainty of it all.

beomgyu’s eyes widen, and his smile, though shy, spreads across his face like sunlight breaking through clouds. it was slow at first, but then it deepens, his entire face lighting up with a happiness so pure, it almost makes you forget how to breathe. he then lets out a breath after a moment, a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sigh, something light and nervous. “so… uh, when do we… uh… go on this date, then?” he asks, his voice soft but uncertain.

you couldn't help but smile, feeling the warmth of the moment settle in your chest. without thinking, you suggest, “how about tomorrow?” beomgyu falters for just a second as he processes your words. his eyebrows knit together slightly, his lips parting as if he’s about to say something, but nothing comes out at first. he blinks a few times, clearly taken aback by the quickness of your offer.

“wait—tomorrow?” he repeats, his voice barely above a whisper, and for a moment, he looks almost stunned by the suddenness of it all. there was something undeniably adorable about the way he’s trying to catch up with the pace of your words.

you bite your lip, feeling the nerves creep up your spine, but you don’t back down. “yeah,” you say with a playful shrug, trying to sound casual, like suggesting tomorrow as a date wasn't the most nerve-wracking thing you’ve ever done. “why wait when we could just… go ahead and do it, right?” beomgyu looks at you for a long moment, his mouth opening and closing as if he’s trying to process what just happened. then, slowly, as if the weight of your suggestion has finally registered, his lips curl up into a shy, crooked smile. “that is true, yeah,” he says, his voice shaky but filled with that same eagerness that makes your heart skip a beat. “tomorrow sounds.. perfect. yeah. let’s do that.” you let out a breath you didn’t realize you were holding, the excitement swirling in your chest. “it’s a date, then,” you say, your grin spreading wider, the words feeling so right as they leave your mouth.

beomgyu’s face was still flushed, and you can see his hands twitching at his sides, like he doesn’t know what to do with them. he laughs nervously, the sound filling the quiet street around you. “yeah, tomorrow,” he repeats, as if saying it out loud helps solidify the reality of it all.

then, without a word, he reaches his hand toward you. it was a simple gesture, but in that moment, it felt like everything you could ask for and more. you looked at his hand for just a second, a tiny flutter of nervousness in your chest, before you reach out, your fingers brushing against his.

beomgyu’s hand closes around yours, the warmth of his skin sending a quiet thrill through you. there’s a sense of quiet satisfaction, of happiness shared in the simplest touch, and you both fall into step side by side, fingers intertwined. the world feels a little quieter, a little softer, as you walk together into the night, the promise of tomorrow’s date lingering between you.

꒰🧸꒱ @pagelets @jettithink @killa-1009 @j-ji-jia @frankghgr @dawngyu @usuallyunlikelyfox @sxmmerberries @napipope-ta @bamgeutori @xylatox @hyunj00 <3 (click here if you want to be added !! ^^)

[love-be0m]

this was so cute I’ve burst into confetti 🥹

[bamgyuuuri]

NAWWW OMG THANK U SM 🙏🙏🙏