yuna | she/her | libra | certified introvert | former writer |
❗❗ account closed. ❗❗
(i don't write anymore... but i still do intercat if u wanna have a chat 💗)
Monterey Bay Aquarium

shark vs the universe

izzy's playlists!
Mike Driver
YOU ARE THE REASON
cherry valley forever

祝日 / Permanent Vacation

Origami Around
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we're not kids anymore.
2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year
trying on a metaphor
occasionally subtle

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@bbyyuuu
yuna | she/her | libra | certified introvert | former writer |
❗❗ account closed. ❗❗
(i don't write anymore... but i still do intercat if u wanna have a chat 💗)
happy birthday to you!
it's your birthday! so you spend it with your eight idiot (lovingly) boyfriends
pairing: poly!skz x fem!reader genre: smau, humor content: the gc throughout the day of your birthday, loveable idiots, chan has the braincell, slightly suggestive at times ss: 14 a/n: happy birthday to meeee <3 i hope you all enjoy!! come back and read it on your birthday 🙂↕️ ♡ m.list
permanent taglist: @11racha @jisuperboard @kloversung @sourtae @binniebb @b4echo @hanjinology @lynsbng @eyyyylucieeee @bbyyuuu @viisstrayy @starlostjisung @stryscribbles @miniseungkimcami @embobema @sssoulesss @awkwardlyshawna @fuzzylard
COCKY.
FINAL CHAPTER
Hyunjin x reader. (s)
MASTERLIST
Synopsis: When you signed up for a paid product testing program, you expected free samples and money. What you didn’t expect was to be paired with Hwang Hyunjin and assigned to test a series of increasingly questionable sexual wellness products together. (26,1k words)
Author's note: It's here. The final chapter is here. Thank you to each and every one of you who have been following this series. I hope you enjoy this one last one ❣️
You wake slowly. Your lashes flutter, the world still soft around the edges as you shift slightly against the bed, the sheets tangled somewhere around your legs. For a second, you don’t move, just lying there, letting sleep cling to you before you put your hand reaches and fumbles blindly across the bedside table, grabbing your phone, bringing it close enough to squint at the screen.
You slightly jolt at the realization that half of the day went by. “What—?” Your voice comes out hoarse, disbelieving.
You push yourself up slightly, brushing your hair away from your face and just sit there, back leaning against the headboard to give your brain time to catch up. You turn your head to the side and find Hyunjin still asleep. He’s sprawled across the bed with arms stretched, one leg half hanging off the mattress, the duvet completely kicked aside. It’s like he’s making snow angel in his dream.
You shake your head as a soft laugh slips out of you. You move his arm, setting it beside him as you shift closer. Your body naturally finding its place against his, and you nuzzle your face into the warm curve of his neck.
“Hey, wake up,” your voice comes out low and a little hoarse.
He’s too deep in his slumber to even respond. You try again by gently poking his cheek with your finger, followed by small, ticklish kisses along his jaw. Still, nothing. Not even a twitch.
You pull back slightly, narrowing your eyes at him as you sigh in annoyance, “Unbelievable…”
Well, if he won’t wake up, you will make him. You slide off the bed and walk over to the window, fingers gripping the curtain before pulling it open in one swift motion. Daylight instantly floods in, filling every corner of the room with bright, unforgiving late afternoon sun.
You turn to look at him, waiting if it does something to him and to your surprise, nothing. You exhale sharply through your nostrils and march back to the bed. You don’t even hesitate to jump and the mattress sinks as you land beside him, bouncing slightly as you lean over him.
“Come on! Wake up!” You say, pulling at his arm.
Finally, he stirs just slightly and groans. Then his arms moves as it reaches for you, wrapping around your waist and pulling you down with him. You let out a small sound of surprise as you collapse onto his chest.
Hyunjin is already settling again, eyes remain closed, breathing slow and even. Like he’s already halfway back to sleep again.
You huff softly and stack your hands together on his chest, resting your chin on it. Then you just watch him, all his beautiful features that complement each other perfectly. At the sight of his lips, an intrusive thought pops in your head and almost without thinking, your fingers lift, tracing lightly over his soft, plump lips.
Another intrusive thought pops and you cave in immediately — you lean down to press your lips against his, placing a gentle, lingering kiss on him.
You pull away just enough to put an inch between your lips. “Wake up. I’m hungry…” you mumble with coaxing tone.
He doesn’t answer, but his arms tighten around you, holding you closer. A bit later, he shifts and lifts his head to close the inch between your lips for a soft, sleepy kiss. Then he drops back onto the pillow.
He takes a moment to gather his senses and then his eyes fluttering open. When they meet yours, he breaks into a lazy grin. A gentle hand lands on the top of your head, thumb tucking away a strand of hair on your temple.
“Room service?” he murmurs.
You shake your head. “No. Let’s go out.”
He stares at the ceiling, like he’s thoughtfully considering it. Then he nods. “Okay.”
You smile and place a quick kiss on his lips. “I’m going to get ready,” you say.
You press your hands into the mattress, about to push yourself up when all of a sudden, his arms tighten again and holding you in place.
“Hey—”
“Five more minutes,” he mumbles, voice thick with sleep.
You glare down at him. “Just five?”
“Mmm-hm.”
“Just five more minutes,” you warn as you let yourself sink back down, melting into him.
However, five minutes turn into… more than five. By the time the two of you step out of the hotel for a late lunch and it turns into an early dinner. Despite it, the food tastes better and maybe because you skipped an entire half of the day with sleep. Or maybe it’s just him. Either way, you both finish the meals rather too quickly.
On the bright side, it gives you and him time to walk down to the beach, just in time to enjoy the sunset.
By the time you’re sitting on the sand, side by side, the sky is already starting to shift, the blue deepening, warm colors slowly bleeding into the horizon as the sun lowers itself toward the water.
You pull your knees up slightly, arms wrapped loosely around them as you watch. “Can’t believe we just wasted another day like that…” you sigh with a pout.
Hyunjin leans back, hands propping against the sanding behind him. “We didn’t just waste it,” he mutters in disagreement.
You turn your head and narrow your eyes at him. “If only you weren’t scowling and upset with me all the time,” you say, teasing him.
He scoffs at that and without looking at you, he says, “Pfft… I told you I wasn’t upset.”
“Yeah, but you were scowling.”
“I wasn’t.”
You softly laugh and then playfully bump his shoulder with yours. “Yet you’re the one who says why I’m the girl with the adorable scowl,” you casually say, glancing sideway to see his reaction.
It takes him seconds to process your words and realizes where they came from. Yet, he decides to act oblivious and coyly says, “What are you talking about?”
You glare at him, giving him another shoulder bump. “Oh, don’t act like you don’t know.”
He just looks at you, feigning innocence like he never heard it before. Or that those exact words firstly came out of his own mouth.
“I know you recommended me to Jane. For the test program,” you tell him.
Hyunjin pauses for a second and then smirks. Like you figuring it out just now is entertaining.
Offended, you elbow his side, but he barely reacts. “You acted so convincingly at the seminar. Like you didn’t know we were paired.”
That gets him bursting into laughter, his head tilting back slightly, shoulders shaking as the sound escapes him freely.
It annoys you even more so you elbow him again, a little harder. “Stop laughing.”
“Sorry,” he says, not sounding sorry at all.
You cross your arms slightly, turning more serious now. “Why did you choose me anyway?”
That question lingers a little longer than the others. Hyunjin simply shrugs and says, “Because I wanted to annoy you.”
You elbow him again. “Be serious!”
He laughs again, dodging slightly this time. “Okay, okay—”
He thinks for a second and then tries again. “Because it’d be fun. Doing it with you.”
The answer is more honest than before but you elbow him anyway. Harder. “Try again.”
“Hey—” he winces, hand coming up to his side. “That one hurt.”
“Good.”
He exhales, rubbing his ribcage. This time, he looks at you as he seriously answers. “Because I always wanted to get close to you and I just didn’t know how.”
You go quiet. Your gaze softens without you meaning it to. A smile starts to form anyway and you look away before he can see too much of it, looking back to the horizon where the sky is now painted in orange and pink, the sun dipping lower, reflecting across the water.
“You should’ve chosen Gabe,” you say, almost absentmindedly.
“What’s the fun in doing it with someone who already likes me?” he says without a beat.
You let out a scoff of disbelief. “Yeah, sure, the girls go crazy for a cocky guy like you,” you sneer.
He turns to you and beams as he lightly says, “See? Who needs affection when I have blind hatred?”
You try not to fall in easily but a soft laugh slips out before you can stop it. And when he puts his arm around you, you instantly lean into him, fitting there easily.
Hyunjin leans in to press a kiss on the top of your head and then brings his mouth close to the side of your head. “I know you like this cock,” he whispers with a teasing edge.
You tilt your head up, meeting his eyes and letting him see the way yours widen in surprise. You elbow him again, but this time is more like a nudge.
He laughs in satisfaction and draws you closer to his side. “I mean, I know you like this cocky guy,” he corrects, still laughing.
A beat later, he corrects again, “A charming, cocky guy.”
You shake your head at that but at the same time, can’t help the way your lips curve into a smile.
He looks at you, still with that grin on his face and then he presses a gentle kiss on your lips, long enough for the warmth of it to spread all over you.
When the kiss breaks, the two of you turn your head back to the way the sun sinking deeper into the horizon, the sky darkens and the air cooling. The way everything else feels like it’s slowing down around you.
Aside from the fact that everything happened before this is not as accidental as you think.
But this, here, right now — you’re both here because you chose to be with each other.
In this moment.
-
The elevator is empty when you step in. Hyunjin hurriedly presses the number to your hotel floor without letting go of your hand and soon, the doors slide shut. Before the elevator even starts moving, you reach for him. Your fingers gripping the front of his shirt, pulling him forward until he’s standing right in front of you, your back pressing lightly against the wall.
He doesn’t resist. Instead, his hands come to your waist, holding you steady as his eyes drop to meet yours. “So, what’s our plan for the night?” he casually asks, but there’s something underneath it.
You glide your hands up his arms, hands resting on the nape of his neck, playing softly with the strands of hair there. You don’t answer. You just keep looking at him and that alone is enough to create tension between you and him.
His grip tightens just slightly at your waist. “Are you hungry already? Should we get room service later?” he asks, a smirk threatening to show.
With the hand rested on the back of his head, you pull him closer and without the slightest bit of hesitation, you kiss him.
It catches him off guard for a fraction before he melts into it, kissing you back like he’s been waiting for it with one hand stays on one side of your waist, the other trailing up your spine.
You open your mouth wider just to let him have as much taste as he can, letting him deepens the kiss and then slowly, you pull away. But he follows, chasing for your lips, for another kiss.
Before he can execute it, the elevator dings and the doors slide open. Then a group of people steps inside. And just like that, Hyunjin stops and straightens, but he stays where he is, close to you.
You can’t help but chuckle seeing his exasperated expression and the way he tries to compose himself. But his eyes— His eyes are still on you.
Feeling mischievous, you tilt your head just slightly, gaze dropping to his lips before flicking your eyes up and stare deeply into his eyes. You pull him close, close enough that only he can hear you when you speak.
“I have a plan for us tonight.”
This time, he stops himself from hiding his smirk. “Yeah?”
You rise onto your tiptoes, allowing you to speak right into his ear. Your lips lightly grazing the shell of his ear as you whisper, “Trust me. It’ll be fun.”
You linger there for a few more seconds before pulling back and look at him. The smile you give him is flirtatious and knowing. Like you didn’t just leave him there, caught between curiosity, intrigue… And something else entirely.
The elevator continues to climb, floor by floor and you can tell that Hyunjin is wondering what you have planned for tonight.
-
The second Hyunjin closes the door behind him and then turns, you run to him. Your hands grabbing onto him, your body colliding into his hard enough that it pushes him back a step and at the same time, your lips crash into his.
Hyunjin lets out a soft, surprised sound against your mouth, caught off guard by the force of it, but it only takes him a heartbeat before he’s kissing you back. Eagerly, like this is the only thing he thinks about since the elevator.
Your bodies tangle immediately, moving clumsily that your feet stepping over each other, as you push him backward, guiding him toward the bed without breaking the kiss. The kiss is messy and breathless, desperate in places. Yet you don’t stop, you keep steering until the back of his knees hit the edge of the bed. And then, you pull away, gasping for air when your mouths finally detached.
You flash him a smirk as you put both hands on his chest and then push him, hard and he falls back onto the mattress. A soft exhale escaped his parted as he lands, eyes already on you with excitement flickering in them. His smirk returns like a tell that he’s already enjoying this. Like he wants to see what you’ll do next.
You don’t make him wait for it. You climb onto him, straddling him easily, your knees settling on either side of his hips as you lean down and put your lips on him again. This time, you kiss him harder and deeper, teeth gently biting at his lower lip, tongue twirling around his.
Hyunjin’s hands coming up to your waist, gripping, pulling you closer like there’s even space left between you. You let him yourself get drawn to the temptation, feeding in on his hunger for you.
When your lungs start to burn and your breath turns uneven, only then do you pull away. Reluctantly. Your hand comes up beside his head, bracing yourself as you hover over him, looking down.
He’s already looking back at you with dark, lustful eyes and solely focused on you. His hand lifts, brushing your hair away from your face, tucking it back gently like he doesn’t want anything in the way of seeing you.
“Is this the fun plan?” he asks, voice a little rough.
You seductively smile and then lean down to press a quick, innocent kiss to his lips. “No.”
That throws him and you immediately see the confusion on his face. You pull back with a small smirk and cup his jaw. “Give me a few minutes as I get things ready,” you say.
His eyebrow lifts and you can almost see every thought running through his head, every possibility stacking on top of each other. It almost makes you laugh at how much you enjoy this. Instead, you lean in again, stealing one more kiss before pulling away completely.
“Now, wait here and don’t come out until I call you.”
With that, you slide off him, off the bed, leaving him there watching you as you step back. You walk toward the sliding doors, each hand reaching to pull them closed. Before you shut them completely, you pop your head in between and warn him one last time.
“Stay and wait here.”
You doubt that he hears you right or that he’d listen to your warn anyway. You lift a finger and pointing it at him. “Don’t come out until I call you,” you warn again, firmer but with a playful smile decorated your face.
Hyunjin doesn’t answer or confirm, he only grins at you. You choose to trust him that he’ll be a good boy and does as you instructed. Then you take one last step back and close the doors
-
Hyunjin stays where you left him. He’s lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling and patitently waiting for your call. It’s only been a minute, he’s sure he needs to wait longer so he lets out a quiet sigh, a disbelieving huff slipping past his lips as one hand brushes his dark locks to the back.
What just happened?
Hyunjin slowly backtracked everything he did together with you. Waking up to your soft, loving call of his name. Ate late lunch/early dinner together. Enjoyed the beautiful sunset together. You found out that he recommended you to Jane and wasn’t upset about it as he thought you would. You whispered that you have a fun plan prepared for tonight. You kissed him, pushed him hard onto the bed. You kissed him more, straddling him and pining him under. And now, you’re making him wait as you’re preparing something behind those doors.
He lets his arms stretch out before tucking them behind his head and stares up as his mind slowly catching up with everything.
It’s a lot to process all at once, but strangely, he doesn’t feel overwhelmed. If anything… He feels good that everything is out and that it doesn’t make things awkward or complicated. He feels really, really good.
And while he waits, his thoughts drift back to you, to whatever you’re doing behind those doors. There’s only so many directions his brain wants to go and none of them are exactly innocent. He exhales through his nose, a smirk forming as he shifts slightly on the bed as he lets himself indulges in the imaginations.
Maybe you’re changing into something… nice. Something you know would surprise him in so many ways, except innocently. Or maybe, you’re going around the room, setting a few things to be more ‘in the mood’. Or maybe—
Oh, man. The longer he waits, the more his imagination fills in the blanks and the more impatient he gets.
With a small groan, he rolls onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow, eyes fixed on the doors like he can somehow will them open faster. But nope, they’re still closed, still quiet.
“Few minutes are up,” he calls out, voice just loud enough to carry through.
A while later, he can hear the faint sound of your laughter. “Just a little bit more,” you reply.
He smiles just from hearing your voice and laugh — Which honestly is kind of insane. He shakes his head slightly, amused at himself before deciding to push it further.
“I’m getting sleepy,” he says, dragging out the words.
“Then go to sleep,” you answer without a beat.
Hyunjin breaks into laughter as he’s dropping his head back onto the bed again, one arm falling over his eyes. God. Love is so silly and embarrassing.
A moment later, you finally call for him. “Okay, you can come out now.”
Hyunjin scrambles to get up, swings his legs off the bed and stands. He pauses for a brief moment by the doors, hands on the handles like he’s bracing himself for whatever’s on the other side.
After a deep inhale of air, Hyunjin parts the doors open and his eyes automatically sweep over the room, looking for the ‘fun plan’ you’ve been talking about. He notices that the lights aren’t dimmed, no candles surrounded the space or the sofa has not been cozied up for a certain activity. And when his eyes land on you, you’re still wearing the same dress, more covered than what he imagined earlier. He only sees you there, sitting on the carpeted floor right in front of the low table.
Your arms thrown wide in the air, beaming at him like you’ve just revealed something spectacular. “TADA!”
He gives it another look-around, scanning the room like maybe he’s missing something, but no. But when his gaze return to you, he finally notices something on the table. Some kind of board game.
He takes a slow step forward, still processing. “This is your fun plan?”
You grin as you nod in confirmation.
He steps closer, like proximity might somehow change what he’s seeing. “Board game?”
You nod again. “Yes.”
Hyunjin just stands there for a second, staring at you and at the board. And then back at you. A breath escapes him. Half disbelief. Half laughter threatening to break through. “You made me wait for this?”
There’s no real complaint in his voice. He’s just… slightly baffled yet amused. But also, he knows this is just so you.
You smile as you pat the space on the carpeted floor beside you. “Come. Sit.”
He obeys, lowering himself onto the carpet, crossing his legs as he settles in, his gaze flicking from your bright, expectant grin to the board in front of him. Still confused.
“What kind of board game is this?” he asks, brows slightly drawn together.
Before you can answer, there’s knocking on the door. You’re moving, quick on your feet as you hurry to the door, leaving him sitting there, blinking after you like this whole thing just keeps getting stranger.
When you return, you have a bottle of champagne cradled in one arm and carrying a tray with both hands. His eyes follow every step as you lower it onto the table, two champagne flutes with a wine opener and then, something mysterious hidden under a metal lid.
As if you know he’s curious with what’s inside, you lift the lid to reveal a bowl of strawberries and melted chocolate in the other smaller bowl. The memory of that one movie night hits him instantly.
You hand him the bottle of champagne, along with the wine opener. “Will you please open it?”
“Certainly,” he says as he takes them. His hands skilfully working with the cork until it loosens and pops open. A soft fizz follows, bubbling at the neck as he quickly pours into both glasses, careful not to spill a drop. He quickly clinks his glass gently against yours and takes a big sip to not let it spill over. The wine is slightly fruity and smooth, instantly refreshing him.
He exhales quietly, setting the glass aside before leaning forward again, eyes back on the board. It looks like a game of monopoly but he knows for sure that it’s not it.
“What kind of game is this?” he asks again.
“It’s a fun game,” you simply answer with a grin.
He lets out a small sigh, already half-exasperated. “I mean, how do you play it?”
You softly giggle and then patiently explain that it’s just like any other board game. He only needs to roll dice and then moves the pieces according to the number he gets, but even that feels vague, like you’re intentionally leaving things open.
“Let’s just learn as we go,” you finish, waving it off.
He doubts that that’s all it is. But he chooses to trust you, for now. “Okay.”
You take another sip of wine, then glance at him. “Ready to play?”
He mirrors you, lifting his glass for a quick sip before setting it down. “Yeah.”
He straightens a little, focus settling in and gets his head in the game. But then, you look at him again.
“To start, we have to look lovingly into each other’s eyes,” you carefully instruct, setting the two pieces on the starting square. “And whoever blinks last gets the first turn.”
He scoffs lightly, a competitive spark lighting up immediately. “Just so you know, I’m good at staring games.”
You smile like you already know something he doesn’t. “Let’s begin by close our eyes first and open them at the count of three.”
Hyunjin closes his eyes right away and across from him, he hears the subtle shift of you turning to face him fully.
Your voice slower and softer now as you start to count down. “One… two…”
He breathes in and as soon as the word “three” is out of your mouth, he opens his eyes. and it startles him just a little to find you leaning in so close. Your face right there, merely an inches away from his with a sly smile playing on your lips as you look straight into his eyes.
Suddenly, this isn’t a game anymore. Something about the way you’re just looking at him and the unspoken words flickering in them — It does something to him. Because all he can think about is how easy it would be to close the gap between your lips. It’s a test on his restraint.
“We’re supposed to lovingly look into each other’s eyes,” he mutters, trying to hold onto some control.
You giggle and when you stop, your teeth fainty biting at your lower lip. Then, you lean in even closer. “What do you think I’m doing?” you murmur.
He knows you’re baiting him, knows you’re pushing him right to that edge on purpose.
And still, he holds onto his restraint just a little longer, a little stronger. But god, the way you’re looking at him. The way your eyes don’t waver, almost daring him. The way your lips are right there. He feels his restraint slipping and eventually, he gives in.
He lifts his hand, cupping your face as he closes the distance and finally, kisses you. Like that’s what this was always leading to. The kiss is gentle yet deep
“I won,” you triumphantly declare as soon as he pulls away.
He exhales, dropping his head back slightly as he rolls his eyes. “Yeah, okay. Take the first turn. Whatever.”
But as he turns toward the board, there’s a smile tugging at his lips anyway. Because honestly? He doesn’t feel like he lost at all.
-
Hyunjin leans forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees as he watches you take the dice.
You shake it in your hand in confidence and then toss it onto the table. It rolls and then stops on a five.
His eyes follow your hand as you move your piece across the board, counting softly under your breath until it lands on a square marked with a small cherry. He tilts his head, curious. “What does that mean?”
“It means I get a sweet treat,” you answer, reaching for the tray. You pick up a strawberry and dip it slowly into the melted chocolate. Then take a bite.
His eyes stay on you, watching the way your lips wrap around it, the chocolate catching slightly at the corner of your mouth.
You chew and smile a little to yourself. Then glance at him. “It’s your turn.”
He quickly snaps himself out of it. He grabs the dice, rolling it between his fingers before tossing it onto the table. Three. He moves his piece and it lands on a square marked with a pair of lips.
His brow lifts slightly in confusion. “And what this one means?”
“You get to kiss.”
His mouth twitch but before it can form into a smile, you place a different dice into his hand. This one is red and eight-sided, there are words written on each side of it.
“Now, roll this one,” you instruct.
He barely has time to read what’s written on each side of the dice. He rolls and then tosses it onto the table. It lands on… Hand.
“Hand?”
You nod, like this is completely normal. “That means you get to kiss me on the hand.”
He scoffs lightly. Not because he doesn’t want to, but because he wants to kiss you somewhere else. But still, a kiss is a kiss, it counts when it’s with you. He takes your hand and brings it up. Then gently presses a kiss on the back of it and another on your wrist. He doesn’t stop there as his lips trail upward, making a trail of ferocious, little kisses up your arm.
You giggle in reaction, trying to pull back. “You only have to kiss my hand!”
“I am,” he says, half-laughing, not stopping. “I’m kissing your whole hand.”
You laugh harder, finally tugging your arm away, but he’s already smiling to himself, satisfied.
He picks up the red dice again, this time actually reading it. Lips, cheek, forehead, neck. His eyebrow lifts when he reads, ‘Free’.
“Free?”
“That means you can kiss wherever you want,” you casually answer.
His lips curve into a seductive smirk. “Wherever?”
“Wherever,” you repeat.
You roll again before he can say anything else and this time, your piece steps on a square with a question mark on it. You reach for the stack of card with identical mark, picking up a card and flipping it over to read what’s written on it.
“What’s the sexiest part of your partner’s body?”
His gaze slightly intensifies. A slow smirk forming as he leans back slightly, waiting in anticipation for your answer.
He suddenly aware of the way your eyes travel down his body. Not just looking, but scanning, taking him in. He notices the way your eyes linger around the lower half of his body before flicking back up to meet his eyes.
You flash him a cryptic, naughty smile before finally say your answer. “Your eyes.”
He lets out a quiet chuckle, doubting your answer. “My eyes? Really?”
You nod, certain.
Hyunjin leans in, leaning in too close that his breath ghosts your lips. “I thought you’d say something else.”
Your head tilts slightly, eyes daringly stare back at him. “Huh? What did you think it is?”
His gaze dips for a second and instead of answering, he chooses to show you. He takes your hand again, bringing it up, brushing your fingers lightly against his lips. His voice is dropping lower now. “Are you sure it’s not my lips?”
You smile as he continues to use your fingertips to feel the softness of his lips. “Your lips are sexy too. But…”
“But…?”
You catch his chin in your hand and then turn his face back toward the board game. “But it’s your turn now.”
He huffs out a laugh and then takes the dice again, rolling it with a small shake of his head.
It lands on a martini glass.
“You get to drink,” you quicky explains.
“That’s boring,” he grumbles. Yet, his hand reaching for his glass, taking a sip of the bubbly wine, feeling refreshed once again.
You’re already rolling again. Six. You waste no time to move your piece forward, landing on a square marked with a chili pepper. You take a card from another stack with the same drawing on the, and read it out loud.
“Give your partner a passionate kiss for 15 seconds.”
Oh. That’s how this game works. Each square is a command but the cards are specified commands depend on their signs. So far, the question mark is for questions. The chili pepper one is for spicy commands. Then, there’s another stack with a heart on it and that one is still unknown.
But wow! Finally! Something exciting.
You dramatically sigh as you prop a hand under your chin. “Why does this feel like a punishment?”
He doesn’t even try to hide his smile, turning his body slightly facing you and patiently wait for you to come to him.
You let out another sigh before crawling your way toward him and then, you climb onto his lap like you’ve already accepted your fate. His heart starts beating faster as your hands come up, cupping his face as you look down at him.
For a second, you just look, letting the anticipation builds and builds. When you close your eyes, he does the same. The first touch of your lips is light, testing and you pull back just slightly, just enough to tilt your head to the side. You part your mouth open before leaning in once more, kissing him deeper yet slower, letting him feeling every brush of your lips on his, the way you suck on his lower lip and coaxing him to open his mouth by gently biting at it. Of course, he caves in eventually and the kiss grows more certain, more consuming.
The tension keeps building with every second as you lean more into him, your tongue brushes his and twirling it with his, enough to pull a quiet breath from him before you latch on him again, kissing him with everything you’ve got.
Fifteen seconds suddenly feels way too short. Because just when he’s getting lost in it, you pull away.
You’re smiling as you mutter, “Time’s up.”
He chases after your lips, wanting more, needing more. “Just a bit more…” he breathlessly whine, almost pathetically.
You only give him a quick peck on the lips and then slide off his lap, settling back to your spot like nothing happened. He almost shakes his head at the way you mercilessly tease him and act like you didn’t just do that.
You grab the dice again and he stops you by wrapping his hand around yours. “Hey, it’s my turn.”
“I got six,” you say, opening his grip on your hand. “So I get to roll again.”
Hyunjin reluctantly lets go and you toss the dice onto the table. Five. Your piece lands on the cherry. He sighs because it’s the boring one, but he quickly reaches for the bowl of strawberries.
“I’ll do it for you,” he says.
You let him and watch as he takes one, dipping the strawberry into the chocolate, holding it up to your lips. Once you take a bite of it, he shoves the rest into his mouth and licks the chocolate off his fingers.
When you look at the board, you grin and clap your hands together. “I finished one lap.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“First to finish three laps wins.”
Okay, now that he understands how the game works, —well, most of it— he realizes that winning the game is not really the point.
Hyunjin takes his turn, still feeling the warmth of you lingering in his arms as he rolls the dice. Four. His piece stops on a square with the heart on it.
You point at the stack of card. “Pick a card.”
He eyes you suspiciously before reaching for the stack, picking one from the top and flipping it over. He reads the command loud enough for the two of you to hear.
“Hug your partner for 30 seconds.”
He puts the card down and mumbles, “Only 30 seconds? That’s cruel.”
You softly laugh at that but don’t seem to mind as he’s already moving. He stands on his knees and offers you his hands, helping you up with him until you’re facing each other. First, he puts his hands on your waist and then slowly, he pulls you in until there’s no space left between you. And just like that, you’re in his arms.
Your arms loop around his shoulders, one hand drifting up to the back of his head, fingers lightly scratching there. It makes him relax and leans in further, burying his face into the crook of your neck like he’s just found the most comfortable, safest place for him to be.
Time flew by and when you murmur softly that time’s up, he only tightens his hold.
“Give me like…” his voice is muffled by your skin. “…thirty more hours of it.”
You chuckle at that and let him, your hand sliding to his back, landing comforting rubs there. And for a moment, he forgets everything else, including the fact that this is a part of a game.
You pull back just enough to look at him and say, “We have to continue.”
Reluctantly and with a dramatic pout, he lets you go and the two of you settle back onto the carpeted floor.
You take your turn and you land on the chili pepper. Again. His interest peaked as you grab a card and read it. “Sit on your partner’s lap until your next turn.”
The grin on his face is so wide that his cheeks hurt. He folds his legs together and pats his lap. “Come, girl. Come on!” he calls for you like he’s summoning his pet puppy.
The annoyed sigh makes a return as you move and sit on his lap. His arm wraps around your waist immediately, holding you close like you’d float away if he didn’t. He leans in without thinking, sneaking a kiss on your neck. You sharply glare at him for it, but he ignores it as puts his focus on the game.
His piece lands on the question mark and he confidently picks up a card from the stack. “When do you find your partner the most beautiful?”
Hearing the question, you turn your head, looking at him over your shoulder, putting all of your attention on him.
He tosses the card aside, both arms wrapping around you now as he thoughtfully thinking like this is a question that will alter his life. “You’re the most beautiful when… you’re working.”
Your expression is pure confusion for one second and turns a little surprised in the next one.
“When you’re focused… serious… you have that faint little scowl on your face,” He can see the way you’re holding yourself back from smiling as he continues. “You’re too busy taking care of… everything else you don’t even realize how beautiful you look.”
You let your smile shows and then narrow your eyes at him. “Correction! It’s an adorable scowl,” you playfully say with a grin.
He nods at that and before your smile disappears, he kisses the corner of your mouth.
“It’s my turn now,” you say, sliding off his lap. You give a dice a good shake and roll it onto the table. Five. The piece lands on the kiss square.
His eyebrow perks up in excitement as you take the red dice and roll it across the table. It stops just on the edge and on the word, ‘Neck’. Before he can even tease you for it, you lean in to place a quick, fleeting kiss press of your lips against his neck. Barely there.
“Hey, that doesn’t count,” he instantly protests.
“But it was a kiss. On the neck,” you say, matter-of-factly with a faint grin.
“That was nothing.”
You crack a laugh and this time, when you lean in, you lean in slower and more deliberate. Your lips press to his neck, warm and soft, and then, your tongue brushes over the skin in a light, teasing lick. It’s quick but enough to make his eyes fluttering and sending a shiver down his spine. A quiet inhale slipping from between his parted lips before you pull away, smiling like you know exactly what you just did.
You place the dice in his hand. “Your turn.”
Hyunjin is still reeling from the kiss and he inhales air to recover from it, shaking the dice in his palm, eyes already locked on a specific square. The chili pepper square. Three steps away. He brings his fist to his mouth, blowing on it like it’ll bring him luck and then tosses it.
Three. He lets out a quiet, satisfied hum. He keeps his calm as he picks up the card from the stack and reads it silent.
“This is fun,” he mutters with a slow, dangerous smirk stretches across his face.
You lean in, trying to read what’s written on the card. “What does it say?”
He reads it aloud for you. “Take one piece of your partner’s clothing off.”
You groan immediately as you look down and realize there’s not much to undress as you’re in a dress. “Great. I should’ve worn layers.”
He leans back slightly, considering his options and watching your cute, annoyed face. It seems obvious to you that he’d go for the dress and he lets you think that by reaching for the hem of your dress, lifting it slowly.
Your eyes lock with his as your thighs are now exposed and you slightly lift your hips off the floor as he lifts the hem higher and higher and then—
He changes direction, letting go of the hem and slips his hand under, and then higher until his fingers meeting the waistband of your underwear. Your eyes widening in reaction, a low gasp contained behind your pressed lips and that alone is enough to push him further.
He takes his time as he hooks his fingers in the fabric and then pulls it down, slowly and deliberately. He lets out a sigh when the silky fabric comes into sight and keeps his eyes on it as he continues to pull it down your legs until it’s off of you. He shamelessly takes a quick sniff and shoves it into the pocket of his shirt after. Then leans back with a satisfied look, like he just won something.
You shake your head at him, taking a sip of your drink like you’re suddenly thirsty from the little stunt he pulled. You breathe in air before taking the dice in your hand again and roll it. Your piece stands on the square with the heart on it.
You pick up a card from the stack and read it. “Whisper three compliments to your partner.”
You put the card away with a sigh. “Oh, man, I wish I have something nice to say to you,” you jokingly mutter, giving him a side glance.
Hyunjin only smiles at you and calmly says, “You can say I’m charming. I’m fun to be with. Or that I’m good at annoying you.”
“The last one sounds about right,” you say with a smile. You scoot closer, bringing your mouth close to his side and get quiet as you think.
When you’re ready, you lean in closer and he tilts his head to meet you halfway. Your lips brushing near his ear as you whisper, “I think you’re a talented artist.”
He smiles and nods. “A hundred percent agree!”
You hum as you pause and think again. “You’re very good at annoying me,” you whisper.
He opens his mouth to protest but you quickly add, “… As good as making me smile and laugh.”
And he can’t help but smile at that. He doesn’t expect that one to make his heart fluttering inside his chest.
“And…” you whisper as you continue.
He softly gazes into your eyes and echoes, “And…?”
“You’re good at…” your words trail off as your finger playing with the button on his shirt, intentionally making him wait for it. When your eyes meet his again, you finally finish the sentence. “You’re good at making me feel good.”
That compliment has double entendre and he knows you did that on purpose. Because now he can’t decide whether he should be touched or aroused, or both. But one thing for sure, the compliment gives him a boost of confidence.
You hold his gaze for second longer, letting him read the intention behind your compliments before taking the dice and put it in his hand. “Okay, time to roll.”
With a sigh, Hyunjin takes the dice in his hand and gets four. The piece lands on the kiss square and he knows his way around the game now. He grabs the red dice. His eyes darken slightly as the dice stops on the word, ‘Free’.
“Kiss wherever I want…” he mutters with a look of mischief.
You only shake your head in defeat, a smile supressed to hide your amusement.
He crawls to you, taking your legs and turning you to face him. He uses his hand to part them open, the hem of your dress covering what’s in between but not the fact that you’re bare underneath.
You stay where you are, calmly leaning back with your hands propped against the floor, legs parted open. A faint smirk lingering on your lips.
Hyunjin flashes you a seductive smile before lowering his mouth, lower and lower until his head buried between your legs. He presses his nose against your inner thigh, drinking in the scent that clings to your skin.
You remain still as he trails up your thigh and not stopping until his mouth meeting your bare sex, warm and wet. He hums as he inhales the arousing smell and then leans in to kiss your clit. Your body jerks for a fraction as he uses his tongue next, just the tip, circling on your bundle of nerves and then taking it into his mouth again. He got you. He got you good. But the truth is he’s just as affected. Maybe more.
A breathless gasp falls out of your mouth as he continues kissing at your clit. Like he’s making out with it. A hand comes to tangle it in his dark locks, gently tugging at it. “It says a kiss,” you tell him.
Hyunjin smiles against your heating cunt and drags his lips to the side, kissing on the skin around your arousal. “It is a kiss.”
Then he pulls back just enough to put his tongue out. “It’s one—” he pauses to land a lick between your folds. “…long—” a lick. “…continuous—” another lick. “…kiss.”
A soft, amused chuckle escaped your lips as one knee bends higher than the other, toes curling against the carpet. But you manage to stay calm despite the way his tongue and lips hungrily eating your cunt.
“I’m going to take my turn anyway,” you casually say.
A hand stay tangled in his hair while the other reaches for the dice, shaking it in your palm and toss it onto the table. He can hear the way you shift and move your piece on the board. Then—
“I won.”
With his head buried between your legs and the hem of your dress cloaked over it, Hyunjin couldn’t care less about anything else, whether he wins or loses. He’s got everything he wants and needs right here, on his mouth.
You tug harder at his hair, forcing him to pull away and he reluctantly detaches his mouth, looking up at you with his mouth glistening wet with your essence. “Didn’t you hear me? I won,” you tell him.
Hyunjin innocently shrugs and says, “So?
“That means I get to do whatever I want,” you say with a triumphant grin.
His brows knitted into a questioning look. “You didn’t mention it earlier,” he grumbles.
You cup the side of his face and coyly smile. “It’s not like you care about the rules and all that.”
Hyunjin kind of expected that you kept something from him and that whoever wins get to have that privilege. But then again, he doesn’t really care about it. He has you and therefore, he won. Without thinking, he throws himself at you and taking you with him, collapsing onto the carpeted floor. Then wastes not another second to plant his mouth on yours.
The game completely forgotten now as you kiss him back, legs wrapping around his waist as you draw him close until there’s not even an inch left between your bodies. You let him put his weight on you, arms wrapped around his back as he deepens the kiss, kissing you without restraint now.
When he deems you need a second to breathe, he lets go. His big hand frames the side of your face, keeping you still so he can stare at your face as he pleases.
“I won,” you say again, a hand braced against his chest.
“Yeah, I heard the first time,” he waves you off while continuously gazing into your eyes.
You glide your hand up to his neck, feeling his pulse there and smiles. “It’s time for the real fun plan,” you declare.
His brows lift in curiosity. “What is it?”
Your hand reaches under the table and pulls out the box. He immediately recognizes it as a welcome gift from the pharmaceutical company. You lift the lid, put your hand inside to look for something without looking. Once you found it, you lift it up.
Furry handcuffs. His eyes slightly widen at it while you tilt your head slightly, a teasing smile tugging at your lips. “The fun plan.”
-
The bed makes a soft creak as you get on top of him again, straddling his hips, your weight grounding him into the mattress as your lips crash into his. The kiss is unlike ones you’ve given him before. It’s heat and urgency and something reckless threaded through it. His breath catches against your mouth as he tries to keep up, hands feeling you through your clothes.
You’re just as impatient, clumsy fingers working on his shirt, tugging at buttons like you don’t have the patience to do it properly.
He huffs a quiet laugh into the kiss, half breathless, half wrecked by it. The sound dissolves when your mouth presses harder, stealing whatever thought he had left. So he gives in, pushing himself up just enough to shrug the shirt off his shoulders, tossing it somewhere behind him without looking.
You don’t even pause. Your lips are back on his instantly, coming at him like you’ve been waiting for it and he lets himself fall back again, fully pinned beneath you as you take what you want, and he gives it just as eagerly. His hands tighten on you, pulling you closer, like there’s still space left between your bodies when there isn’t.
When you finally pull away, his chest rises and falls a little faster, eyes already searching yours.
“It’s fun time,” you breathlessly murmur with a wicked smile.
“Is that necessary?” he asks, head tipping back slightly as you bring the handcuffs back into view.
“Yes,” you answer without a beat.
“I swear I’ll keep my hands off. All the time,” he assures though his eyes hinting at mischief.
You drop your head to the side, eyes staring into his. “Why? You don’t trust me?”
He scoffs lightly, a playful edge to it. “Yeah. I don’t.”
“Exactly.”
Despite his reluctance, he doesn’t move, doesn’t stop you when you reach for his hand. Instead, he watches the way your fingers wrap around his wrist, the way you put too much focus as you secure one cuff and guide his arm up, looping it around the headboard until there’s a soft click and then another. His other hand follows and just like that, his movement is limited. His arms stretched, restrained and the faint clink of metal echoing in the room.
Hyunjin tests it once, just enough to feel the resistance. Then he sees you, catching that look on your face — of satisfaction and amusement.
He tilts his head, voice softening, tone coaxing. “You could at least let one of my hands free.”
You shake your head immediately. “No. Can’t do.”
The answer sounds final and non-negotiable. Your hand comes up to cup his jaw, thumb brushing along his cheek as you look down at him like you’ve already decided everything.
“It’d be fun to blindfold you too,” you add, almost thoughtfully. “But… I want you to see everything.”
Oh, you really do know how to drive him crazy. How to get him aroused and excited and waiting for you in anticipation. Before he can guess what you’re going to do next, you lean down and kiss him again before pulling back with a grin that feels like a secret.
“First things first,” you say as you shift back, your gaze dropping, and his follows without thinking. “I kind of made a mess.”
Hyunjin glances down, bending his leg slightly and yeah, there it is. A darkened, wet patch on his jeans. He guesses you’ve been rubbing yourself against his thigh. He lets out a breath through his nose, half amused, half… fucking aroused.
You don’t look sorry at all, if anything, you’re pleased by it. “So let’s take these off first,” you say, reaching for the waistband of his jeans.
His chest caves as he holds his breath, watching as your fingers work the button open, then the zipper in such calmness that somehow arouses him. He lifts his hips instinctively to help you get it off, watching the way you don’t hesitate or falter.
Once the jeans are out of the way, your eyes automatically land on the evident proof of how aroused he is. To his hardening member, flushed and pulsating with so much desire. A small lift of your brow is enough to say that you’re impressed by what you’re seeing. And you just have no idea what it does to him, do you?
You sit back then, taking in the sight of his naked body against the white sheets with hands chained up and all of him, restrained and aroused under you. Just for you. “I’ll make it fair,” you say.
It gets him clueless for a second until you reach for the zipper at the back of your dress. He doesn’t realize how still he’s gone until the sound of it sliding down fills the room and the fabric slips away. Your hands reaching to the back again, unclasping your bra and then toss it away.
And just like that, there’s nothing left between his gaze and you now.
The cuffs clink softly as his hands shift, instinct pulling against restraint, a quiet frustration threading through the want that hits him all at once. He wants to touch you, kiss you, feel you whole. He wants to be all over you. He didn’t even realize how much he missed this. You and your heavenly body. His eyes darkening as he looks you, eyes trailing every line, every curve of you.
You notice. He knows you do from that little smirk flickers across your lips before you brush it off like it’s nothing, already moving on. “Now for the fun part.”
Your voice turns low and sultry, enough to make his stomach tighten. You reach toward the nightstand, dragging the box onto the bed, pushing the lid aside that it falls onto the floor.
Hyunjin watches with curiosity as your hand disappears inside for a second and then comes back holding a small bottle.
You lift it, tilting it just enough for him to see it. “I’m sure you remember this.”
From the familiar package, he recognizes it right away. Edible lubricant. He huffs a quiet laugh, head tipping back for a second before he looks at you again with double the intensity in his gaze. “Of course I do.”
The way you smile after that tells him he’s in trouble. You open the bottle and tilt it over the back of your hand. The small, clear drop glistens against your skin, you lean in and taste it.
“It tastes just like watermelon,” you say, almost surprised.
That pulls a low chuckle out of him, amused. “What were you expecting?” he asks, voice warm, a little rough.
You shrug, entirely unfazed. “It’s not as good as the cherry one, but… not bad.”
The casual way you say it does nothing to ease the tension curling tight in his chest. If anything, it makes it worse. He notices the way your gaze shifts lower, to the noticeable erection and his breath dips when you bring the bottle closer, positioning it over him without hesitation.
“Oops…” you lowly gasp as you squeeze lubricant onto his cock. But the way you say it doesn’t sound like you’re sorry at all.
Hyunjin grips at the chain on his handcuffs, bracing himself for what’s coming for him. Yet a shiver running through him as the cool sensation hits him as you add a little more and watch it drips down his length.
Your lips curve as you toss the bottle away like it’s already served its purpose. You look at him and keep your eyes on him as you’re using your hand next, lathering the lubricant down his shaft. Your fingers lightly tickling the crest and tighten when it goes down. By the time your hand wrapped around the base, he sharply exhales through his nose.
Your hand trailing over him once more before settling into steady movements, slowly and deliberately, like you’re learning the reaction, memorizing it.
Hyunjin swallows, eyes locked on yours, the tension in his body pulling tighter with every second you take your time. The way you hold his gaze while pumping him, the way you don’t look away, not even for a second—says everything. And it’s the eye contact that gets to him more than anything.
His fingers curl uselessly against the restraint, metal knocking softly against wood as his body reacts, every instinct telling him to reach for you, to pull you closer, but he can’t. The fact that you notice his struggle and do nothing about it is cruel, but it only sends another wave of heat through him.
When you lean down, he stops breathing for a second, half-lidded eyes watching you as you smearing some more lubricant around the head and then lick your fingers after.
“Are you going to put it into your mouth?” he asks, voice heavy with lust.
You put your index finger into your mouth and slowly pulls it away. “Should I?”
Hyunjin forces himself to stay calm after watching that and manages to put on a smirk. “Not sure you can take it though,” he says with a challenging tone.
You only reply with low, flirty giggles and you drop your body lower until your chest hovering above his thighs. You put a hand over him, resting your head on it as your hand mindlessly playing with his cock, taking your time with it. Finger lightly tracing the shape, thumb pressing on the little slit on the tip as you watch it with almost bored eyes.
He scoffs a laugh, watching you treat his cock like a mere toy but fuck, that is just so fucking hot. He doesn’t know you have this wild side of you and wishes he’d see it often in the future.
“You’re making a mess of it,” he protests, voice rough around the edges. “You should clean it up.”
You lift your head and then nonchalantly shrug. “Maybe I should.”
And with that, you lean in and start licking the tip. Your tongue swirls around it repeatedly, licking the lubricant clean before dragging it down his shaft. You tilt your head to the other side, doing the same thing on the other side. The hold around him tighten just slightly as you lift his length, keeping it up as you head for the base, teasing his knob by lightly sucking on it.
“Fuck, baby,” he blurts out. He’s pretty sure you feel him twitching in your hand just now, clearly not expecting that.
You pull back with a sly smile on your face and you give him no time to recover as you put him into your mouth. You don’t go easy on him, you hollowed out your cheeks and suck him hard. A hand compensates the rest that you can’t take.
“Oh, fuck, look at that mouth…” he hisses through his gritted teeth. There’s a hint of a smile in his voice. A surrender he didn’t mean to give. Hands straining against the handcuffs like he could break away from the sheer will alone.
Just as he starts to sink into it, to the feel of your mouth around him and the way you please, just as he’s about to give in completely, you stop and pull back. He almost sighs out of frustration. Almost.
“Wait,” you say lightly, like you’ve just thought of something. “I need to get on a better position.”
You don’t wait for him to ask or say anything, you crawl over him and turn, straddling him again, knees bracing each side of his waist, but this time, your back is facing him. You glance over your shoulder, eyes glinting with something playful, something a little wicked.
“Enjoy the view.”
Hyunjin’s fingers curl again, instinct taking over as he strains against the restraint only to be met with the sharp, unyielding reminder of metal against wood. “Fuck…” he exhales under his breath, half a groan, half a laugh, because you’re right there and he can’t even touch you.
A soft, almost mocking laugh slipped out of you as you turn your head back and then, you lean down. Again, not giving him time to brace himself as you take him into your mouth.
The feeling of your mouth alone is enough to drive him mad but god, you know how to take it further by intentionally jutting your ass higher, exposing your cunt, soaking wet with arousal, giving him a view you know he can’t do anything about.
Instinctively, he lifts his head, leaning forward as much as he can, just enough to put his mouth on you, but failed. He swears under his breath, strained laugh following right after.
His head falling back for a second before lifting again, strained his neck forward, trying to reach you, even just a little. He barely gets anywhere before gravity wins, dropping him back onto the pillow with a frustrated groan. And it frustrates him so much because you’re so close, yet out of his reach.
“You’re so wet, baby. You’re dripping for me,” he sighs, voice rough, edged with something dangerously close to desperation.
The chain rattles again when his hands flex, a sharp inhale catching in his chest as he fights the urge to just grab you, pull you down, close the distance himself.
You seem to have finally noticed his struggle as you pause for a second and glance over your shoulder. “You okay back there?” you ask too casually.
He lets out a breathless laugh, eyes narrowing slightly. “You think?” he shoots back, but there’s no harshness to it. Just heat, just frustration tangled up with want.
You only smile and then you’re right back to it, like nothing happened. Mouth sucking hard, tongue tickling the tip, hand wrapped tightly around the base, endlessly pleasing him.
Hyunjin’s head falls back again, a deeper groan slipping out now as his control starts slipping through his fingers. He shifts under you, restless, unable to stay still anymore, the tension in him coiling tighter and tighter.
When he opens his eyes, the sight of your dripping cunt tantalizes him once more. “Let me have you on my mouth. Let me taste you,” he says in a rush, voice rough and barely held together like he needs it. Urgently needs it.
You pause again, letting go of him with a loud pop and looking at him with your lips glistening wet. “What was that?” you ask, like you didn’t hear him.
He lets out a disbelieving huff, almost laughing despite himself. “Want you on my mouth,” he says without stuttering.
That gets you smirking and swiftly, you turn anyway, shifting until you’re facing him again, straddling him like before—except now, his view is filled with you, your face, your eyes, that expression that tells him you’re enjoying every second of this. Your hand comes up, thumb brushing lightly over his lips, tracing the shape of them in a way that makes his breath quivers.
“You want me on your mouth, you say?” you murmur softly.
He nods immediately, no hesitation, lips parting slightly beneath your touch. “Yeah, I do.”
You lean closer, hovering just above him, close enough that he can feel your breath. “Say it properly,” you whisper.
Hyunjin’s patience has run thin and he breaks whatever composure he had left. “I want your wet pussy on my mouth and ride it endlessly,” both his voice and his gaze don’t waver as he says it.
You smile, satisfied with what you heard but you take your time after that, making him wait, to let it sink in, to let the anticipation stretch until it almost hurts.
“Okay,” you finally answer and a beat later, you add, “But only for a bit.”
He nods immediately, almost too quickly, like he’s afraid you’ll take it back if he hesitates. And when you move closer, when his world narrows down to just you, his eyes darkening and completely focused on you.
You slowly lower yourself on him and his head tilts up instinctively, meeting you halfway, taking whatever you give without question, without restraint. There’s no hesitation in him now—only want, only the need to feel you, to be this close.
His hands pull again against the cuffs, useless, but he doesn’t even care anymore. Not when he finally gets what he wants. Not when he finally has you like this. Not when your wet pussy presses on his mouth.
A hand gripped the headboard to steady yourself and the other grabs at the crown of his hair, tugging at it as you’re moving your hips, riding his mouth as you please. When he darts his tongue out, you switch into pulsating your hips against him, letting his tongue fucking your little hole.
“Oh, god…” you breathlessly moan with your head tilted back, overwhelmed.
He smirks against your flesh and opens his mouth wider, taking more of you, letting your essence flooding his mouth. Breathing become second in his priorities and what comes first is you, you and you. And just as quickly as it builds, you pull away.
Hyunjin exhales sharply, a quiet protest slipping out before he can stop it, his head falling back again, chest rising and falling unevenly. “Just a little bit more,” he breathlessly mutters, licking at his lower lip after.
You don’t submit to his wish but instead, you get off of him and lay down beside him. Half of your body overlaps him, hand reaching for his chin and turn his head your way, leaning in to press your lips against him. Then you’re kissing him, slowly yet passionately, like you’re making up for it.
He responds immediately, kissing you back and deepening it, tasting himself on you as you’re tasting yourself on him, and it does something to him that’s almost overwhelming. His hands flex again, frustrated, wanting to hold you properly.
As your lips continue locked with his in a heated kiss, your hand moving down south, finding his stiff member and begin slowly stroking on it
When the kiss breaks, he exhales against your lips, still close, still hovering. “Are you going to let me out of these now?” he asks, hopeful, but still edged with that same heat.
You softly smile at him and for a second, he thinks you might. But then you pull away and say, “Not yet.”
He lets out a soft groan, head dropping back again. But you completely ignore that, already reaching for the box again, pulling something else out this time. A pack of condom.
“Let’s put this one first,” you say, holding it up. “Just to be safe.”
Hyunjin watches every second of it. The careful way you tear the foil, slower than necessary like you’re aware he’s looking. His head rests back against the pillow but his eyes continue tracking your hands as you put it on him next.
You put so much focus on it, a crease formed between your brows like you can’t mess this up. Using your finger, you roll the rubber down his length.
“You’re getting good at that,” he mutters, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
You don’t even look up. Just finish what you’re doing with that same quiet concentration before answering, almost casually, “Well, I’ve had a lot of practice.”
That earns a low chuckle from him, something amused and disbelieving, but it fades the moment you crawl back over him and your lips meet his again. There’s something about the kiss now, it’s not rushed, not frantic, just… warm and deep and consuming in a different way.
He melts into it despite himself, tilting his head, chasing it when you shift, trying to pull you closer even when he can’t.
When you pull away, he chases after your lips. “Are you going to let me out of these now?” he asks, softer now.
You press a quick kiss to his lips only to say, “No.”
And just like that, he drops his head back with a helpless groan. But he doesn’t fight it anymore. Not when you settle over him again and grab the bottle of edible lubricant, squeezing the content onto your palm. Then you rub it all over his cock.
He shudders, hips jerking for a fraction and every reaction only seems to amuse you more, and he can see it now. The way your lips curve, the way your eyes flick up to check on him like you’re studying him. And yeah, he’s done for.
He exhales sharply when you begin stroking him again, hands tightening uselessly against the cuffs, the soft clink of metal punctuating the moment as he sinks back into the pillow.
There’s no winning here. Not when you’re like this.
“When are you going to let me go?” he asks, almost like a whine, like he knows it might get to you.
You lean in, close enough that he thinks you’re going to kiss him, but you stop with your lips hovering just a breath away from his. “Until I’m done,” you murmur.
Something about that certainty, the confidence undoes him. His gaze stays locked on yours, unwavering, even as you scoot closer, allowing you to rub his length against your wetness, pressing the tip on your clit.
Then, you slightly lift yourself as you positioning his cock into your entrance. Without the slightest of hesitation, you ease yourself down on him, pausing after an inch or two, letting out a breathless moan of pain and pleasure.
Hyunjin can’t look away. His eyes stuck to the way you’re taking more and more of him into you. The tension coiled inside him now, jaw tightening briefly before relaxing again, eyes focused on the way he’s disappearing into you. He lets himself fall into the feel of you, the warmth and tightness, into the way you easily take all of him like you were made for him.
To calm himself down, Hyunjin deeply inhales air before letting it out in one long, shaky exhale. “Look at you now… you take me so damn well,” he sweetly praises.
Instead of answering, you’re putting your hands on his chest, lowly giggling and moaning like something tickles you. A foolish, satisfied grin filled your face.
“Have you always been this tight,” he sighs, subtly rolling his hips to feel you around him. “Or it’s because I haven’t fucked you in so long?”
You don’t deny nor confirm, but you suddenly clench around him, earning a raw groan from him. A smirk tugging at you lips as you begin rolling your hips in slow, circular motions, making his groans grow louder and unrestrained now. A moment later, you move by pulsating your hips against him.
Hyunjin keeps his eyes on you, the way his cock slips in and out of you, the way your breasts bouncing along to your movements, making him once again, uselessly trying to break away from the cuffs that restrained him.
The sound of your breathless, sultry moans that’s echoing in the room doesn’t help, he’s completely into this intimacy that feels less physical, more emotional. And because it’s not just the feeling—it’s you. The way your expression shifts, the way your confidence flickers into something more vulnerable for just a moment, the way you stay right there with him, holding his gaze like this is something shared, not one-sided.
He stays where he is, telling himself to be present in this moment with eyes looking at you in admiration and want. He puts aside his needs, letting you have him, letting you take what you want from him. And he can see the way you tirelessly moving, chasing for it.
When the tension finally peaks and you come around him, he watches you through it, doesn’t look away, doesn’t miss a second of it. Because that’s what he wanted, just you, like this, with him.
When you melt against him, your body warm and pliant on top of his, your breathing uneven, matching his in soft, staggered rhythm. He lets his head fall back for a second, eyes closing, trying to steady himself but it doesn’t last long. Not when you’re right there. Not when he can feel you like this, close and real and his.
He needs to touch you, holds you so he nudges his forehead lightly against yours. “Can you let me go now?” he murmurs, voice turning breathless at the end of the sentence.
You lift your head just enough to look at him, eyes heavy-lidded, lips curved in that slow, knowing smile and he already knows you’re going to say yes before you do. “Okay.”
You grab the keys from the nightstand, eyes half-focused as you unlock it until there’s the soft click of the cuffs.
The second they fall away, his hands are on you. He wraps his arms around you and pulls you down against him, holding you tight like he’s been waiting for this, like he’s been patient for far too long. His lips find yours again, kissing you deeper, claiming.
As he keeps your mouth busy with kisses, his hand reaches down between your bodies, taking his cock and slips it between your legs, rubbing it against your heating wetness. He feels the little, breathless gasps you make against his mouth. It drives him further, impatient to be inside you again and he does, slipping his stiff member back into you in one smooth slide until he’s completely buried in you again.
He softly groans into your mouth, feeling you still quivering from your previous orgasm. His hands slide along your back and move sideways, taking your hands in him and then folds them together. He keeps them there, grounding you against him as his lips trail the column of your throat and jaw, and only to return to your lips, hastily kissing you.
You laugh softly against his mouth and mutters, “Been waiting for that, huh?”
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he begins moving his hips, bucking into you from under. Soon, the sound of your shared breaths mixing with the squelching sounds of his cock ramming into you, slow but purposeful.
“Missed you. Missed the way you feel,” he sighs into the curve of your neck, breath hot and tickling. “And the way you cling to my cock.”
From those words alone, you clench around him tighter, moaning his name in incoherent, breathless pleads for more —of this, of him. And of course, he’ll give it to you. Anything for you.
Everything that follows feels less like a game and more like something inevitable. Like all that tension, all those moments before, have finally found somewhere to go. His movements are no longer restrained, no longer careful in the same way—they’re certain, driven by the way you respond to him, the way you cling to him, the way your breath turns ragged.
And honestly, Hyunjin can’t hold himself back anymore so he finally, finally lets himself go with your name caught somewhere between a breath and a whisper.
Afterward, he brings your hands and lets them fall round his shoulders as he puts his around you, holding you close like you’re not already pressed onto him.
You lift your head, mouth instinctively finding his and taking it for an earned, slow kiss, a kiss that guides him to gradually come down from his high. When you pull away, you pull away with a soft smile. “Have you always come this fast or is it because we haven’t fucked for so long?”
This is your way to get back at him and he lets out a breathless laugh in response, a little tired and still undone. “Both,” he shamelessly answers.
You laugh at that, sending his body shaking along with your laughter. It feels warm and nice as his arm stays wrapped around you, hand resting at your back, thumb tracing slow, absentminded patterns against your skin. You fit there too easily. Like you’ve always known the shape of him.
Hyunjin tilts his head slightly, cheek brushing against your hair, eyes half-lidded as he stares at the ceiling. “You’re a lot to handle, you know that?” he says with a smile still lingering on his lip. A lazy, satisfied smug.
He feels your quiet laugh against his chest before he hears it. “You’re just saying that because you lost.”
His scoff is more breath than anything. His fingers pause for a second before resuming their slow drawing on your skin. “Lost?” he echoes, like the word doesn’t quite sit right with him.
You shift just enough to look at him, chin propped lightly against his chest, eyes curious but already amused—like you’re waiting for whatever nonsense he’s about to say next. “Yes. You lost, sir,” you playfully say.
Hyunjin looks at you, the way your hair is a little messy, lips still soft and flushed, eyes warm and bright in a way that makes him take a second to imprint this into the back of his head. He exhales through his nose, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Still unfair though,” he says after a moment, tone light and teasing. “You set me up from the start.”
You scoff softly, nudging his chest. “You agreed to play.”
“Didn’t know the stakes were this high.”
“That’s because you don’t read the rules.”
He chuckles at that, the sound rumbling beneath your ear. “Wouldn’t have changed my answer anyway.”
“Since when do you care about the rules anyway,” you conclude, easily resting your head on his chest like you’ve decided that it’s your safe place.
For once, Hyunjin doesn’t feel the need to fill the silence. He just stays with you. His hand drifts lazily along your arm, then back again, grounding himself in the simple fact that you’re here, still close, still warm against him.
“Next time, I’m picking the game,” he suddenly declares.
You tilt your head slightly, smiling against his chest. “Sure you are.”
He smiles too, eyes closing for a second as he rests his cheek against your hair again.
But his arm doesn’t loosen. If anything, it tightens just a little like he’s not quite ready to let you go yet. And maybe he won’t be. Not anytime soon.
-
The next morning, you wake up to the warmth seeping from behind you, the weight of an arm draped securely around your waist and then the faint brush of lips against your shoulder… your neck… light and almost lazy, like whoever’s behind you has nowhere else to be.
You hum softly, still half-asleep, shifting just enough to tuck yourself closer.
Noticing it, Hyunjin exhales against your skin, amused. “So you’re awake,” he murmurs, voice still thick with sleep, lips ghosting along your shoulder again.
You don’t answer right away. Just tilt your head slightly, giving him more space without even thinking about it. “Mm… depends. Are you going to keep doing that?”
His low chuckles vibrating through you. “Probably.”
That’s enough of an answer. You turn slowly in his arms, eyes still heavy with sleep, and find him already looking at you with messy hair, eyes soft, lips curved into that small, sleepy smile that feels too attractive for how early it is. Or late. You don’t even know what time it is anymore.
His hand comes up, brushing your hair away from your face, thumb lingering along your cheek. “Morning,” he says.
You huff a quiet laugh. “Pretty sure it’s not morning.”
“Still counts.”
You don’t argue because he leans in and softly kisses you like he’s easing into it instead of chasing anything. It lingers just long enough to make your chest feel warm before he pulls back, forehead resting lightly against yours.
And just like that… the day starts.
-
The rest of the vacation turns into a blur after that.
You’re in the passenger seat with the windows down, wind tugging at your hair while Hyunjin drives with one hand on the wheel and the other lazily resting on your thigh. Music plays low in the background and every now and then, he glances over at you like he’s checking you’re still there. Like you might disappear if he doesn’t.
But here you are, choosing to stay. In this. With him.
You wander through little streets you’ve never seen before, duck into random shops just because something in the window catches your eye. You try things on, hold things up to him, laugh when he gives you opinions you didn’t ask for.
“You’re unhelpful,” you tell him at one point.
“I like everything on you,” he easily replies.
You roll your eyes, but you don’t put the item back.
-
In every place you visit, Hyunjin makes sure to take photos, documenting everything, every moment. Of the sea, of the sky, of random corners that feel oddly beautiful and of each other. He catches you mid-laugh more than once, camera lifted before you can hide it, and you groan every time.
“Delete that.”
“No.”
“Hyunjin—”
“It’s good.”
“Because you like my annoyed face more than anything, huh?”
“Yep.”
When it gets too hot and the sea looks too tempting, you both end up in the water. The ocean water somehow feels cool against your skin but not biting. You splash him first this time, unprovoked, and he stares at you like he’s offended. Then immediately retaliates.
It turns into a mess of laughter and water and hands grabbing at each other to stay upright, neither of you really trying to win anything.
Just trying to stay close.
-
By the time night falls, you’re both exhausted in the good kind. Yet, you always get each other in the best way. In the best, most seductive way.
Some nights, he has you bent over the edge of the bed, lips making a trail of kisses down your spine before he enters you from behind, one hand pressed onto your shoulder, pining you down as he thrusts into you, and not stopping until you fall apart around him.
Some other nights, you barely make it back to the bed. Once, you settled onto the sofa, clothes littering the hotel floor, limbs tangled, a cushion propped under you, giving him that delicious angle to thrust into you deeper. Though it doesn’t stop you from asking him to get deeper inside you.
The second him, your hands braced against the floor-to-ceiling window, your breath fogging the glass as you moan from the way Hyunjin hungrily eating you from behind, tongue jamming into your hole as one hand curve around, fingers skilfully circling on your clit. Your legs shake as you come into his mouth and he doesn’t wait, he turns you around, an arm lifts you and keeps you off the floor, one hand impatiently lining his cock with your entrance and once he’s fully sheathed in your warm, tight walls, he fucks you tirelessly, making you loudly moaning that you sure whoever stays in the next room could hear it.
And in each time, the room eventually fades into background noise and you end up in each other’s arms. You learn that the only thing that matters is the way he holds you, the way he stays close and most importantly, choosing to stay.
And each time, before sleep gets to you, you think about how easy this feels. How right.How you wish, just for a second, maybe longer… That life could stay like this.
-
You don’t realize how quickly it’s ending until you start gathering your things. It hits you somewhere between folding a shirt and setting aside the small souvenirs you’ve picked up over the past few days. You move slowly, almost reluctantly because something in you resists finishing it.
“Already packing?” Hyunjin’s voice drifts from behind you.
You glance over your shoulder, offering a small shrug. “Just… putting things together. I’ll pack later.”
He leans against the wall, watching you in silence like he understands exactly what you’re doing and why. After a moment, he offers you a comforting smile and asks, “Want to go out and watch the sunset?”
You keep your suitcase open, half-packed and ditch it entirely. “Sure,” you answer without thinking, already getting on your feet.
The beach greets you again like it always has. The sand is cool beneath you as you sit, shoulders brushing, hands naturally lacing together like it’s something you’ve always done. The sky is painted in warm hues, the sun slowly dipping lower, stretching the moment as if it’s giving you time.
You lean slightly into him and softly sigh. “Can’t believe this is the last day,” you say, a little incredulous, a little reluctant.
Hyunjin lets out a quiet breath beside you. “Yeah.”
You turn your head just enough to look at him. “We spent it well though, right?” There’s a hint of something in your voice like you need to hear it.
“Yeah,” he says again, softer this time. Then he leans in, pressing a quick kiss to your lips, offering comfort as best as he can.
You smile into it and when you pull back, you rest your head on his shoulder, watching as the sun sinks lower and lower until it finally disappears beneath the horizon, marking that another day has gone.
-
The two of you decide to have dinner out, probably something special to commemorate the moment. You walk side by side, fingers loosely lacing together until they eventually intertwine without either of you making a big deal out of it.
After browsing through some restaurants and their menus, you settle on one that seems exactly like what you’ve been craving.
“I’d love the chicken pesto pasta for dinner,” you mutter, getting hungry just from the picture of it.
Hyunjin’s eyes are still scanning the menu as he comments, “Yeah, that looks nice.”
“We could share the steak,” you add as he flips into a new page.
“Good plan,” he says with a smile.
After a mutual agreement and strategically planned dinner meals, the two of you walk up to the waiter. “Table for two, please!” Hyunjin politely says.
The waiter offers an apologetic smile as she says, “Sorry, we’re fully booked tonight.”
The excitement inside you deflates and turns into a frown, turning to Hyunjin like he somehow could fix it. “I really wanted that…”
He patiently and softly smiles at you. “I’m sure we’ll find somewhere else to have dinner.”
You let out a short, heavy sigh before accepting it. “Okay.”
He doesn’t miss the way you’re still frowning so he leans in and kisses you without warning.
You lowly gasp in surprise and crack a laugh, feeling lifted up already.
“Let’s go,” he says, taking your hand, fingers threading through yours again. “We’ll find something better.”
You let him pull you along but three steps later, you hear a voice calling for you. “Hey!”
You and Hyunjin turn almost in sync and the second you recognize them, your face lights up.
“Jules—Diane!”
They look just as delighted, already moving toward you, arms open for quick hugs that feel oddly familiar despite how little time you’ve actually spent together. “Well, look at this! Our favorite couple,” Jules beams.
You and Hyunjin laugh at the same time, instinctively. “It’s so nice to see you again,” you say with a bright smile.
“Aren’t you guys getting dinner?” Diane asks, hand vaguely gesturing toward the restaurant.
“Well, yeah. But it’s fully booked,” you answer.
“We have a reservation. We can share the table,” Diane immediately offers.
This time, Hyunjin cuts in by kindly refusing the offer. “Oh, no. It’s okay. You guys should enjoy your dinner.
“Oh, nonsense,” Diane waves it off immediately. “I’m sure they can arrange something and make it dinner for four.”
You kindly refuse again, smiling as you do. “Oh—you should enjoy that then, we can—”
“Also, because we’re sick of each other. We really need to talk to other people,” Jules playfully says with a serious face.
“No, it’s okay,” you insist gently, shaking your head. “Really, we don’t want to—”
“It’s settled,” Diane says, already turning back toward the restaurant like the conversation is over. “We’ll just tell them.”
“Diane—” Jules laughs, but she’s already hooking her arm through yours, tugging you along anyway. “Come on, it’ll be fun.”
You glance back at Hyunjin, caught between protest and amusement. He just shakes his head lightly, lips curved into a small smile like he saw this coming and then follows without a word.
-
Dinner settles into something easy and comfortable in a way that feels almost surprising, considering how all of this started.
The four of you sit around the table, laughter woven in between bites of food and sips of wine, stories overlapping, little interruptions that don’t feel rude—just… lived-in. You find yourself leaning in more than you usually would, listening, talking, laughing without overthinking it.
Jules dabs the corner of her lips with her napkin before smiling at the two of you. “So, what have you two been up to all week?” she asks, eyes bright with curiosity.
You glance at Hyunjin instinctively before answering, like the memories are shared between you. “A bit of everything. Beach, shopping, exploring… eating way too much.”
Hyunjin hums in agreement beside you. “She’s not exaggerating.”
You nudge him lightly under the table. “This is actually our last day. We’re flying home tomorrow,” you share with a melancholic smile.
Jules’ expression drops into something genuinely sympathetic. “Already?”
Diane sighs, shaking her head. “That’s just rude. Time shouldn’t move that fast on vacation.”
You laugh softly, but there’s a quiet truth in it. “I think it’s because we enjoyed it too much,” you admit.
There’s a brief pause and then Diane leans forward slightly, eyes flicking between you and Hyunjin, a playful glint returning. “So…” she says, dragging the word just a little, “are you two still co-workers?”
You choke slightly on your drink. Heat rushes to your face instantly, your mind flashing back to earlier where Hyunjin kissed you and they must have seen everything. You glance at him, letting him answer this one.
“Yeah,” he says casually, reaching for his glass. “Still co-workers.”
Then, without missing a beat, he adds, “Sadly, I still need the paycheck.”
The table bursts into laughter. Diane shakes her head, smiling knowingly. “Oh, please. There’s definitely something going on here.”
You skip on answering again. You just smile a small, shy smile, a little caught.
“There is,” he says lightly like it’s no big deal. “I’ve liked her for a while but she didn’t know it.”
You keep your calm, eyes on the glass of wine you’re holding as you’re listening to his side of story.
“But once she did,” he continues, like he’s telling a harmless story. “She’s playing hard to get.”
Your head automatically turn toward him and stare at him in disbelief. “Excuse me?”
Jules and Diane laugh again, clearly enjoying every second of this. Diane looks at you then, softer this time, her smile warm as she says, “You’re doing the right thing.”
You smile at that before looking at Hyunjin again and give his knee a gentle slap under the table, a playful warning. But you can see that it doesn’t affect him whatsoever as he only grins in reaction.
By the time dessert comes, you’re comfortably full, but you still take another bite anyway. It’s too good not to.
Hyunjin excuses himself to the restroom and you’re watching him go for a second before turning back to your plate.
Jules notices your expression immediately. “Glad you’re enjoying the food,” she says with a soft smile.
You quickly wipe your mouth with your napkin, a little embarrassed. “Everything is just… really good.”
Diane nods approvingly. “Worth the trouble earlier.”
Jules looks at you, there’s hesitation in her eyes but she eventually leans in anyway. “I hope you don’t mind me asking. But … what took you this long?”
You put down your dessert spoon. “Pardon me?”
“I mean, I don’t know him that well but I can see that Hyunjin is great. And that boy is in love with you,” Jules explains, rather too seriously.
You’re a little taken aback by the mention of that word. Love. “I wouldn’t say—”
“He’s got these twinkles in his eyes every time he looks at you,” Diane cuts in before sipping her wine.
“So why do you hesitate much?” Jules asks again.
Your fingers curl lightly around your glass as you take a sip of water, buying yourself a second to think. You look at Diane and Jules and realize that you’ve only known them in matter of hours, but you feel comfortable to share openly.
“I think…” you start slowly, eyes dropping to the table for a moment, “I had this idea in my head that I’m… hard to love.”
The words come out lighter than you expect despite the fact that you’ve never shared this with anyone before. “And like… easy to leave.”
The table quiets like your openness, your honestly dazzle them. Jules reaches over without hesitation, her hand resting over yours, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I know it can feel that way. But that’s not the truth,” she says, voice as soft as her gaze. “There’s no such thing as someone being hard to love. Sometimes people just don’t try hard enough. Or they’re not patient enough to learn how.”
Something in your chest loosens at that. You hadn’t realized how tightly you were holding onto it and how you let it held you back from getting what you want, what you deserve.
“You’re not hard to love,” Jules assures you once again, her other hand tapping gently at the back of your hand now.
“You know, I believe Hyunjin would give you the world,” Diane suddenly says, slightly off topic. But then she adds, “All you have to do is ask for it.”
You take a second to process their words and let them sink into you. Then you nod. “Thank you,” you genuinely say in gratitude.
You let out a short laugh of disbelief because you didn’t think that you would hear these words from two strangers and yet, they seem to know what you needed to hear. Like it’s meant to be.
“Were you talking about me?” Hyunjin says when he returns, sliding back into his seat and looking the three of you, suspiciously amused.
Diane doesn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”
You and Jules burst out laughing. Diane follows after sipping her wine.
Hyunjin blinks, caught off guard for half a second before he laughs too. “Wow.”
“We also talked if we should do a round of drinks since this is your last day,” Jules adds, already opening the cocktails menu.
“That might be a problem,” Hyunjin says with a faint grimace.
You glance at him, sensing that he’s doing something. Something that is most likely mischievous. “What did you do?”
He shrugs and then digs into his dessert. “I already paid for everything.”
Jules and Diane immediately soften at that.
“That’s very kind of you,” Jules says.
Diane turns to you dramatically. “Marry him already.”
You laugh, shaking your head.
Jules flags down a waiter anyway. “Well, the drinks are on us,” she insists.
Hyunjin doesn’t even argue and instead, he playfully says, “Let’s make it three rounds then.”
“Deal,” Jules says in agreement, holding her hand out at him.
Hyunjin takes it and shakes it. “No takeback,” he says.
The table fills with laughter again and you realize that this is exactly how you wanted the night to end.
-
There’s another couple in the elevator, standing near the panel and rapidly talking to each other in a language you don’t understand, and you can’t tell if they’re just talking or arguing. You decide not to mind someone else’s business and focus on how content you feel tonight, how the night couldn’t have ended better than this.
Then you feel the way Hyunjin’s hand finds yours and laces it together with yours. You turn to meet his eyes only for him to begin steering you toward the corner until your back meets the wall.
He steps in close and your breath catches just a little as he stops right in front of you, leaving only inches between your bodies. You look up at him and he’s already looking at you. A smile etched on his face, knowing and a little dangerous.
You swallow, trying to keep your composure. “That was…” you start, forcing your voice to stay light, “a really nice way to end the last day.”
He nods once, eyes never leaving yours. “Yeah.”
You try again, grasping for something normal, less intense. “It’s a shame we still have to pack after this.”
He slowly shakes his head and then, leans in until his mouth hovers near your ear, close enough that you feel it before you even process the words. “There’s a better way to end the night,” he murmurs, voice is low and warm, sending a quiet shiver down your spine.
You try not to react, try not to give in so easily. But then he leans in again, just a fraction closer, and this time, his breath brushes your ear as he whispers, “Way better.”
When he pulls back, just enough for you to see his face again, that grin is still there with mischief written all over it, like he already knows exactly what he’s doing to you. And worse,
like he knows it’s working.
-
After everything that’s already happened between you. After the way his eyes have seen and admired your body, hands have learned the shape of it. You don’t expect to the nerves, they’re subtle yet slowly creeping in as you stand in the bathroom, fingers fixing the ties of your bikini. You exhale slowly to calm yourself down and reach for the bathrobe, wrapping yourself in it before stepping out.
The balcony doors are open and the night air greets you first, cool and salted, brushing against your skin. You linger there on the doorway, one hand braced against the glass door as you find Hyunjin is already in the tub. His arms are stretched along the edge, posture relaxed. Water glows softly around him under dim lights, tracing the line of his back muscles, the broad shoulder, the slope of his back. His hair is tied up, messy, a few damp strands clinging to the nape of his neck.
You stay there and take a moment to take him in, the way he looks like a Greek God with the sea stretches against him, dark and endless, catching the half-moon in broken reflections.
It’s like he senses your eyes on him, he slowly turns his head and lights up when he sees you. “You made me wait,” he says, turning to the side, one hand draping over the edge of the tub.
You suddenly get flustered, like you’ve been caught doing something you shouldn’t. You recover quickly, stepping toward him, lifting a brow. “Well, you seem to be enjoying yourself.”
His grin answers that for him, running his wet hand through his hair.
You untie the robe, letting it fall open before slipping it off, and his eyes slightly widen at the reveal — the white bikini you’re wearing underneath.
He hurriedly holds his hand out, guiding you into the tub and you take it, kicking your slippers off your feet before finally putting a foot into the tub and then another. The water welcomes you instantly, a soft sigh leaving your lips as you lower yourself into it, heat curling around your body until you’re submerged, weightless in a way that feels almost unreal.
You barely settle before he pulls you onto his lap, your back meets his solid chest and you melt into it without thinking like your body already knows the shape of him, the way you fit.
His arms wrap around you, one draped low across your abdomen, the other circling you fully, holding you in place. Holding you with him.
All of a sudden, the nerves vanish and fade into the water.
His lips brush your shoulder first and then higher, along your neck, each touch lingering just enough to make you feel it twice. You lowly giggle as he places ticklish kisses on that sensitive skin behind your ear. Instead of stopping, he gently grabs your chin to turn your head to the side, allowing him to capture your lips in his.
The kiss is deep and unrushed in a way that steals the air from your lungs more effectively than anything hurried ever could. His tongue tirelessly coaxing you to part your lips open, the second you don, he sucks on your tongue before twirling it with his. He deepens the kiss once more and it gradually softens from there. By the time he pulls back, you’re gasping for air, chest rising and falling against his.
He lets you settle again, arms tightening, keeping you close to him.
You sink into him, head tipping back against his shoulder, eyes half-lidded. “This feels nice,” you murmur.
He hums, low and pleased, lips brushing your neck again like punctuation.
Your hand lifts, finding his jaw blindly, fingers grazing his skin. “We should’ve done this every day.”
Another hum. Agreement. Or maybe just contentment. He shifts slightly, turning his head to the other side of your neck, burying his face there like he’s claiming the space and you let him.
For a long moment, the two of you stay like that. The water laps quietly. The ocean beyond mirrors the sky. The world narrows to warmth, to the steady rhythm of two people not needing to say anything.
Until Hyunjin opens his mouth and curiously asks, “What makes you think you’re hard to love?”
You stiffen just a little, realizing that Hyunjin probably listened in on the deep talk you shared with Jules and Diane earlier. Your head turns sharply, eyes narrowing in a playful glare. “You’re not supposed to eavesdrop on our talk. Our girls’ talk.”
He grins, unapologetic. He probably didn’t mean to and just happened to be there when you shared.
You click your tongue at him. You’re not actually mad, just surprised that he heard it, that he heard it this soon. But he’s not a stranger and eventually, he’d know and you want him to understand.
So you sigh softly, gaze drifting out toward the sea. “I used to think… that love is something you have to earn. That you have to give… more. Do more. Be more. That you have to greatly sacrifice yourself for it.”
You rest your hand on his forearm, fingers tighten slightly over it. “Otherwise… they leave.”
He lets go of your hand only to catch it in his, intertwining them together and rests it over your chest. And to your surprise, he says, “Yeah, you weren’t easy.”
You huff a quiet laugh, slightly offended. “Huh?”
“You know… with your plans,” he adds, brushing his nose lightly against your temple, “your schedules… your rules.”
You smile despite yourself, feeling called out and slightly embarrassed.
When he speaks again, he waits until your eyes looking at him. “But you you’re not hard to love,” he says, voice is as soft as his gaze.
You nod, slowly. Because you’re starting to believe that. Because maybe it was never about being hard to love. Just being loved the wrong way.
His lips press gently to your temple. “All you have to do is let it happen.”
You turn your head slightly, looking at him. “Okay,” you say, and really mean it.
“And yes, I’d give you the world if you ask for it,” he adds with a playful grin.
You softly smile at that and before it can fade, he captures it with a kiss, so soft it almost feels like a promise rather than a kiss. It lingers long enough to make your chest tighten. Long enough to make something inside you shift.
When he pulls away, your hand comes up to cup his cheek, thumb brushing lightly over his skin.
“This vacation changed you,” you tease.
He scoffs softly, dramatically correcting you. “Free vacation.”
“Right,” you say, kissing him again.
This time, you turn on his lap, shifting until you’re facing him, straddling him now, water rippling around you both. You put your hands on his shoulders, staring into the brown of his eyes and Diane was right, you can see the twinkles in them as he looks at you.
A hand comes up to his jaw and tenderly holds the side of his face. Then slowly, you lean in, kissing him with your heart open and letting the content pours into the kiss, into him.
His hands sliding along your sides, over your waist, mapping you out like he’s allowed to now. Like he knows he is. He’s pulling you closer, holding you tighter.
You let yourself fall into it easily. Because it’s him. Because it feels right. Because you don’t want to stop.
When he breaks the kiss, it’s only to drag his mouth lower, lips trailing along your neck. He trails lower still, opening his mouth slightly wider as he places searing little kisses down your chest until he’s buried between your soft mounds.
Instinctively, your hands trail along his shoulders and gather in the back of his neck, fingers tangled in his damp hair. Your breath stutters as he plants his soft lips on the skin before his mouth opens slightly wider to take a mouthful of your flesh and lightly sucking on it.
A low, breathless gasp falls out of your mouth as he yanks down the cup of your bikini, wasting no time to take your hardening nipple into his mouth, tongue circling on it. your hands tangled deeper in his hair, mouth buried in his dark locks as you cradle his head close to your chest.
You’re humming from the feel of his mouth devouring your breast and yet, it doesn’t quite satisfy his hunger. So impatiently, a hand trails up your spine, finding the knot of your bikini straps there, tied on the nape of your neck and clumsily pulling at it until it snaps open. In the end, he takes the whole thing off of you, tossing your wet bikini top aside.
Hyunjin pulls back just enough to look at you, at your bare chest and the way your breasts hung beautifully on your chest, inviting him to touch, to feel. He doesn’t stop himself for using both hands, each one kneading, fingers pinching at the sensitive buds.
You shake your head, looking down at his wide eyes, dark with lust. Half-amused, half-aroused. “Are you trying to put on a show?”
He presses a warm kiss on your sternum and then pulls away with a dazed smile, eyes glinting. “Maybe.”
The answer sends a small, unexpected thrill through you. So you lean in and kiss him, but it only lasts for a few seconds as he breaks the kiss. He shifts his focus back to your chest. Hands pushing them to the middle so he can greedily take both nipples at once.
“Hyunjin…” you breathlessly call, uselessly trying to stop him.
But of course, he pretends not to hear or decides to ignore you completely, his mouth too busy sucking on your breasts, teeth lightly tugging at your nipples just to tease you, making you whimper in reaction.
You gently cup his jaw, tilting his head up just enough for his eyes to meet yours. You run your hand through his hair as you look at him and say, “What don’t we go inside… and I’ll put on a good show for you?”
That works to make him pause, eyebrow raised in curiosity. He slowly detaches his mouth, leaving your nipples wet with his saliva and raw from all of his sucking. He looks at you, lips curving into a smirk.
“Then what are we waiting for?”
-
You barely make it out of the shower without touching him again. It’s ridiculous how quickly the tension comes back, how the heat clings even after the water washes everything clean. Your robe sticks lightly to your skin and Hyunjin’s the same, hair still wet and brushed to the back.
The second you step into the room, your hand finds his, guiding—no, steering—him straight to the bed. He drops onto the edge of the mattress, looking up at you like he already knows he’s about to lose whatever control he thought he had.
You climb onto his lap, knees settling on either side of his hips, and the moment your bodies meet—he exhales, like he’s been holding that breath since the hot tub. Your hands find his face first and then your lips. The kiss lands deep, immediate, like you’re trying to pick up where you left it.
He responds just as quickly, hands coming up to your waist, pulling you closer like he needs to feel all of you at once. The kiss goes on, long enough to blur the line between breath and touch. Until he breaks it and then rests his forehead against yours.
“So… when does the actual show start?” he asks, voice low and a little hoarse.
You click your tongue softly, pulling back just enough to look at him. “You’re not even ready for it.”
His plush lips curve into a sly smirk. “I’m always ready.”
“Yeah?” you murmur, fingers slipping to the edges of his robe. “Let’s see.”
Your hands work slowly as you untie it and then pull it open just until it drapes around his shoulders. You place a hand on his chest, still warm and damp from the shower. Yet, you lean in without hesitation, placing kisses along his neck, down to his collarbone, letting each touch of your lips on his skin linger just long enough to make him react.
He does. He reacts in sharp inhales and quiet hisses, his grip on your waist tightening.
You pull back and slip the robe off your shoulders until it’s falling away completely, and for a second, his hands just stay on your waist. Like he’s still deciding where to start.
Once he’s decided, his hands move without hesitation. They’re on you, all at once, warm and little greedy. You’re joining him as he once again fondling on your breasts, feeling the way he touches you, feeling yourself. Your head tilting side to side as you humming in delight.
You let go as he leans in, burying his head between your soft mounds and let him stay there, shivering just slightly as he inhales your skin like he couldn’t get enough of your scent.
When he tilts his head up, looking at you again, you catch him off guard with a haste, messy kiss. As you keep his mouth busy, your hand slips between you, finding his cock strained and hot to the touch. His breath stutters against your mouth as you stroke him slowly, thumb circling around the head, feeling him pulsating for you.
A small hum escapes you. Your half-lidded eyes locked with his as you mutter, “Yeah… you’re ready.”
He lets out a soft laugh that doesn’t quite sound like a laugh anymore.
Your hands move to his shoulders, gripping at them firmly as you lift yourself just slightly, positioning his cock to your entrance and then, slowly taking him into you.
Hyunjin stills, his grip tightening on you, mouth dropping open like he’s about to say something but the pleasure overwhelms him, knocking the thoughts out of his head. His eyes flick down, widening at the way you easily ease down yourself on his cock. And then, it hits him.
“Wait,” he says in a rushed tone, his grip is impossibly hard now. “The condom.”
You hush him softly, while continue taking more of him into you. “It’s okay,” you murmur.
There’s a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, like he’s not convinced yet. “But—"
You press a kiss to his lips. A gentle, reassuring kiss. “I’m on the pills. It’s okay,” you calmly say.
Slowly, his grip loosens as he decides to trust you and you do the same, wrapping your arms around his shoulders, leaning in closer as you take the remaining of his length. You let the distance disappear in a way that feels less like urgency and more like choice. Like you’re both stepping into it together.
Hyunjin’s mouth stays open the whole time, eyes dazed and dark, continuously locked in a heated gaze with yours. A low sound caught somewhere between surprise and something deeper.
The second he’s fully sheathed in your warm, velvety walls. You wrap your arms tighter around his shoulder, drawing yourself closer to him until there’s no gap left between your bodies. You press your forehead against his, letting out breathe that more like a soft laugh of relief.
“My god, you feel so good inside me,” you mutter in a hint of disbelief, lips grazing his as you speak.
Hyunjin, still overwhelmed, swallows air and forces himself to say something, do something. A beat later, he glides his hands up, holding you by the ribcage now, thumbs absentmindedly rubbing over the skin. “Is it really okay?” he asks again, voice barely audible, like he’s still processing this.
You laugh softly and then place a soft kiss on his lips. “More than okay,” you answer with a smile.
That seems to be all what he needs to hear. His hands slide up your back, holding you closer. A hand gently curves around the nape of your neck, angling your head slightly to the side as he leans in and kisses you, slower this time, like he’s trying to give himself a chance to catch up.
When you pull away, you put on the softest smile and ask, “So, how does it feel?”
He lets out a quiet exhale, almost a laugh. “You feel… so fucking perfect. So perfect for me.”
That makes you smile and you tilt your head, eyes softly gaze into his eyes. “How much would you rate it?” you ask, playful but edged with curiosity.
He captures your lips in a slow, heated kiss. “Infinite out of ten,” he finally answers after pulling away, a faint grin tugging at his lips.
That also makes you smile and you hastily kiss him, conveying that words couldn’t. You shift slightly on his lap and the slightest movement is enough to remind you of his whole size inside you, filling you, stretching you deliciously.
“I’m going to move, mmh?” you say.
“No, wait,” he says, gripping at you like he wouldn’t let go. “If you move now, I think I’m done for.”
You chuckle at that and kiss him again instead of answering, slow and reassuring, giving him a moment to adjust, to compose himself. And when you finally move, you move just a little, just enough but it draws a reaction out of him that he can’t hide, his head tipping back slightly, grip tightening again.
“You’re driving me crazy,” he sighs, half scolding, half in pleasure.
You keep your rhythm slow and steady, moving your hips in rolling motions and somehow, without the layer of protection, you feel even more sensitive around him. And oh, he just feels so good. Hot and hard, penetrating you deeper and deeper in each passing second.
“You feel so good,” you say again and again, not caring how much you’ve said it before.
It’s so easy to fall into it, into the feeling of him and the way his eyes stay on you, heavy and focused, like he doesn’t want to miss a single second of it. The way your name almost slips from his lips but doesn’t quite make it out.
It’s clear that it’s getting overwhelming for both of you so you pause. You kiss his mouth, deep and messy, lips and tongues crashing together. Once you pulled away, you lean back with one hand still gripping his shoulder as support and then continue moving.
Seeing your breasts bouncing merely inches away from him, he doesn’t skip the chance but cling to it, mouth sucking hard on your nipple like he’s one thirsty man.
You gasp when he sucks too hard, but the added stimulation keeps you going, keeps you moving and tirelessly chasing your high. Your hand slides up to his neck, grounding yourself there as you lean in again, pressing your lips against the top of his head, on his temple and then forehead. Then pull away just slightly, just enough to look down at him.
“I want this to last,” you whisper, voice small and quivering on the edges.
He pulls away with a gasp before lifting his head, looking back into your eyes. A soft smile pulling at his mouth despite everything. “Then let’s stay like this,” he murmurs back, pressing a kiss to your lips. “Forever.”
There’s something in the way he says it. Playful? Yes. But not entirely. You feel that thread of something real, woven into all the heat and closeness. You let yourself believe it that maybe this could last longer than just tonight.
-
You stay there with him, moving slowly, letting the rhythm build instead of chasing it, letting yourself feel every shift, every reaction he gives you. And he gives you plenty.
His hands tighten around you, fingers digging into your skin like he’s trying to keep you right where you are—like he already knows you’re getting close.
You are.
It creeps up on you in waves, soft at first, then stronger, until your breath starts to falter and your grip on him changes without you meaning to.
His arms wrap tighter around you, pulling you flush against him, his face dipping into the curve of your neck as if he wants to hide there, breathe you in, anchor himself to you while everything starts to tip over.
“You’re close, mmh?” he lowly asks, almost swallowed against your skin.
But you’re already there, already slipping.
When you hit your high, it pulls a soft, unfiltered sound from you and he holds you through it, closer than before, like he’s not letting you drift too far from him even for a second.
His lips find yours again almost immediately, kissing you deeper. Like he’s chasing you through it. Like he wants to stay right there with you, even as you’re still catching your breath.
“You look so beautiful…” he pauses, brushing his thumb across your cheek, gaze heavy and soft all at once. “Coming around me like this.”
You can only manage a small, breathless smile as you cling to him and trying to steady yourself again.
But his grip shifts, and before you can fully process it, he’s guiding you back until your back meets the bed. He moves with utmost care, almost protective, like he’s making sure you land softly, like nothing about this moment is meant to be rushed.
He hovers over you, eyes searching yours and then he kisses you again. His mouth drifts from yours, trailing down your jaw, your neck and each kiss lighter than before, but somehow just as intense. It’s not about urgency anymore. It’s about staying.
Your fingers find his hair, brushing it back, holding him there when he dips lower, making a long trail of kisses down your front and only stopping when his mouth lands on your still sensitive, still pulsating clit.
He burrows onto the mattress, arms curve under your thighs and makes himself comfortable there, on the space between your legs. Like this is where he lives now.
He takes his time to please you with his mouth, tongue landing small, featherlight licks, lips capturing your clit in soft kisses while his mouth occasionally sucking on it. Just enough to make you restless. Just enough to make your legs tremble and your toes curl.
He lets go only to place kisses on your inner thighs before crawling over you, hovering above you once more. He takes a moment to just admire, one hand gliding down your torso and then settles on the curve of your waist.
“So beautiful, so perfect…” he murmurs in a mix of disbelief and awe. Then he crashes his mouth onto yours, taking your breath away in every brush of his lips against yours.
When he finally settles between your legs again, the tension is thicker and heavier now. He doesn’t rush back into you. Not yet. Just rubbing his length between your slick folds, letting your essence lubricating it. He lets the moment stretch, lets you feel him how hard he is, lets you want it until you can’t help but touch him, guiding his cock to your clit and circling the tip around it. You keep your eyes locked with his as you do and there’s something in the way he looks at you now — he’s almost gone. In the best way.
You push the tip down, aiming it toward your entrance and push it just an inch. And yet, it’s enough to elicit a quiet, low sound he doesn’t even try to hide. You arch your body, letting him feel the way you wrapped around him once more.
Hyunjin sighs, like he’s trying to calm himself down before finally does the rest, pushing forward and penetrating you again. His eyes don’t stray, they focused on the way his length sliding into you little by little. By the time he’s fully bottomed out, he stills. Like he needs to adjust, to steady himself, to not lose it right then and there.
You feel it the way he trembles slightly, the way his hands flex at your sides, the way his breathing changes. And then—
“You take me so easily now,” he murmurs, rough around the edges. His thumb presses on your clit, gently circling and applying just the right pressure on it
You slyly smile in return, lifting your knees higher and cupping your breasts in your hands, giving yourself the extra stimulation your body seeks.
The sight arouses Hyunjin so much that for a brief moment, he just stays there, watching you touching yourself. His hips begin moving then, ever so slowly but the motions only allow him to feel you more. More intense than before.
Hyunjin’s eyes screwed shut for a second like he’s struggling to keep up with what he’s feeling and seeing. When he opens them, they meet you right away. “I fucked you so many times that you’ve taken the shape of me, yeah?” he murmurs, followed by a shaky exhale.
Instead of answering, you put your legs down and around his waists, hands reaching for his shoulders to bring him close until he’s settled on top of you. You kiss him and he kisses you back in the same eagerness, almost sloppy.
And at the same time, Hyunjin keeps moving his hips in rolling motions and it always impresses you how he moves like his body made of fluid, flowing and unrestrained. Each motion measured, like he’s trying to hold onto control while still giving into it.
Praises slipping between kisses—soft murmurs that make you flutter in a way that has nothing to do with the physical anymore. You’re too deep in it now. Not just the feeling.
Him.
The way he’s looking at you. The way he’s holding you. The way this doesn’t feel like just a shared intimate moment—it feels like something more.
Your hands find his, and he laces your fingers together, pressing them into the bed as he quickens the pace, enough to pull another breath from you, enough to bring you right back to that edge again.
“Hyunjin…” you whisper his name.
He hums against your lips, barely pulling away. “Yeah?”
“I’m close…”
The words come out softer, more vulnerable than you expect.
He exhales, pressing his forehead to yours for a brief second before kissing you again. “Just—stay with me a little longer.”
You nod, even if you’re not sure you can. And when he deepens his thrusting, it becomes harder to think about anything else. Harder to hold back.
“I can’t—” you mutter breathlessly, body squirming and quivering. “I can’t hold it back anymore.”
When you finally let go, it takes him with you. There’s no holding it this time, no stopping it. He breaks with a rough, guttural groan that spills out of his mouth as he pulls you closer, burying himself against you, the moment crashing over him just as hard.
The soft, quiet stillness comes after. His forehead rests against yours, breath still uneven, a small, disbelieving smile tugging at his lips. He looks at you like he’s seeing something new. Something important.
He waits until your eyes are focused and meeting him. And the he says it.
“I love you.”
The words hang between you for a moment, you let them sink in, let them seep into somewhere deep in your chest. you have the answer but the words feel strange, feel heavy on your tongue. You try anyway, opening your mouth, but he stops with a kiss.
“You don’t have to say it back,” he murmurs, thumb swiping across your lips.
You smile lazily at that. “Well, I don’t want to,” you playfully say.
He huffs a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “Then don’t.”
But your hand comes up to his cheek, thumb brushing lightly across his skin, your gaze steady on his. And this time, you don’t hesitate.
“But I love you.”
He stills for a second. Like he didn’t expect it. Like he’s not sure he heard it right. And then he breaks into laughter as if he’s trying to release the nerves, the worries and concerns.
And with that, he leans in and kisses you again, body lowering until he’s settled on top of you. Until your bodies fit together. Until your hearts are lying close to each other with mere bones and flesh in between. The hearts that have chosen each other.
Hopefully—
Forever.
-
Hyunjin doesn’t think he’s ever been this aware of silence before. The kind that hums softly, wrapped around the steady drone of the plane, tucked between the quiet breaths you take beside him. The kind that feels comfortable, content.
He shifts slightly in his seat, shoulder brushing yours, just to make sure you’re still there, still real. Because a part of him keeps whispering that this was all too good to be true. Like something his mind would make up just to torture him later.
He exhales slowly, running a hand through his long hair before turning his head and there you are, sitting beside him with legs tucked in just a little, scrolling through your phone with that faint crease between your brows—the one he’s grown ridiculously fond of. The one he used to call annoying. The one he now thinks about at the most inconvenient times.
As if you feel him looking, you glance up and softly smile at him. And just like that, the noise in his head quiets.
You lean closer, talking so low that it feels like it’s just for him. “The pharmaceutical company emailed. They want a review for the couple’s test program.”
“Really?” he asks, one brow lifted.
You nod, already shrugging it off and shoving your phone into your bag. “Let’s just do it later.”
Later. He lingers on that word for a second.Later means this continues.Later means you’re not… done.
You nudge him lightly, already leaning close to his. “Wanna watch something?”
He nods, clearing his throat a little. “Yeah. Let’s finish that movie we didn’t get to watch.”
You hum, already leaning forward to scroll through the in-flight screen, mumbling under your breath. “I don’t even know if they have it…”
A moment later, you look at him and shake your head, lips slightly curled into a pout. “They don’t have it.”
And god, that face. He smiles without meaning to, something soft and helpless slipping through before he can stop it. “Just pick anything.”
You drop your hand to your lap. “No. You pick this time.”
He huffs out a quiet laugh, like he’s been handed something far more serious than choosing a movie. “Alright.”
He scrolls through the options, squinting like he’s studying for an exam. Then, he jokingly mutters, “I don’t think they have porn on this thing.”
Your hand flies to his mouth, muffling him as you half-laugh, half-scold, “Are you insane? There are kids around.”
His eyes widen in mock innocence as he glances around, deliberately dramatic. “I don’t see any.”
“Just pick a movie,” you tell him while gently patting his cheek. “A normal, flight-friendly movie.”
Another moment passed with him scrolling through the movie selection and ends up with something light, a teen comedy movie. You both slip on the headsets, and before the opening scene even finishes, you link your arm through his, head settling comfortably against his shoulder. Like you’ve done it a hundred times. Like you’re going to do it a hundred more.
Hyunjin presses play and for the first half of the movie, the two of you share quiet commentary, soft chuckles, the occasional glance at each other when something particularly dumb happens on screen.
He lets himself sink into it this time, lets himself believe that just because the vacation is over, doesn’t mean it’s over. It’s still happening. You and him.
Somewhere in the middle of the movie, you get quiet and he notices it a little too late. He tilts his head, looking down and as expected, you’re fast asleep. Your face slightly smushed against his arm, lips parted in the softest pout, brows relaxed now, all that focus and awareness melted into something unbearably soft.
He exhales a quiet laugh. “Again?” he murmurs under his breath. But his voice is fond. So, so fond.
Carefully, he leans in and presses a gentle kiss to your pout. The kiss lingers there for half a second longer than he intended to before pulling back, eyes soft as he stares at your face. Then he reaches up, slipping your headset off, then his.
The movie keeps playing silently for a moment before he pauses it altogether. He straightens on his seat, wrapping an arm around you, pulling you closer until you’re properly tucked against his side, your head resting more comfortably now against his chest.
You instinctively curl into him, like even in your sleep, you know he’s safe. Like you trust him. Completely. And that means more than anything.
The restlessness fades. Not completely. Because maybe things will change when you land. Maybe work will get in the way. Maybe reality will creep back in. But this isn’t something that disappears the moment the plane touches the ground. He knows that now. He presses his cheek lightly against the top of your head, eyes drifting shut for just a second.
Some things stay the same.
And some things change.
And for once, he’s not afraid of either.
-
Hyunjin doesn’t realize how tightly he’s been holding onto that quiet, fragile feeling until the door clicks open. You step in first and he follows, wheeling both suitcases in with a soft thud against the floor. He turns back to close the door, hand lingering on the handle a second too long like he’s sealing something in, or maybe trying to keep something from slipping away.
When he turns around, you’re already looking at him. Your smile is soft and content, a little tired too, but that’s understandable.
“It’s so nice to be home,” you sigh.
Yeah. It is.
You don’t give him time to sit in it, though. You walk right up to him, slipping a hand to his waist, tugging him closer. The kiss you give him is a quick brush of your lips against him, but his heart flips anyway.
Then you look at him, casual as anything. “Are you hungry?”
He huffs a small laugh, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Yeah.”
You grin, reaching up to pat his cheek lightly like he’s done something right. “Can you please order something delicious for us?”
How can he say no when you look at him with a soft gaze and a soft smile?
“Of course,” he answers without argument. He pulls his phone out immediately, scrolling through options while you disappear briefly to set your things down.
By the time the food arrives, you’re both settled at the dining table, still in your travel clothes, too comfortable to care. In between bites of food, the two you talk about the vacation — the rocky beginning, the fun bits, the unexpected things you encountered and discovered.
You talk with such zest and Hyunjin finds himself watching you more than listening sometimes. The way your eyes crinkle, the way your hand gestures mid-story, the way you lean back in your chair when you laugh like you’ve forgotten everything else exists.
He wants to stay here, right in this version of things. Where it’s just you and him, a table between you, shared food, shared stories, no expectations pressing in from the outside. A small, selfish part of him wonders if it’s possible to stretch this moment, make it last just a little longer before reality starts knocking again.
But eventually, the plates are empty and you push your chair back with a quiet sigh, stretching slightly as you stand.
He gets ahead of you, collecting plates and stacking them together. “I’ll do it,” he offers.
“Thanks,” you murmur before walking up to him, pressing a quick kiss to his lips.
And when you pull away, you look at him like you know exactly what that did to him. “I’ll be waiting for you upstairs.”
You say it so casually and don’t say anything else after, but let him figure it out himself.
Hyunjin just stands there with dirty dishes in hand. Brain lagging behind. He watches you cross the living room, grab your bag from the sofa, then head upstairs without a second glance back. Your footsteps fade, followed by the soft sound of a door opening and then closing.
Upstairs? Does that mean you want him in your bedroom?His eyes flick briefly toward the staircase, then back down at the dishes in his hands.
“You’re definitely inviting me,” he says to no one, shaking his head in disbelief.
There’s no point pretending otherwise. Still, he forces himself to finish cleaning, faster and a little rushed, his thoughts already halfway upstairs with you. Because all he can think about is you, up there, waiting for him.
-
Hyunjin pushes the door open with his shoulder, backpack hanging loosely from his hand. He steps into your room, slower than he needs to, like he’s taking it in properly this time.
You’re not there, but he hears the sound of water running from the bathroom.
He lets out a quiet breath, something between relief and anticipation, and walks further in, setting his backpack down by the nightstand before lowering himself onto the edge of the bed.
The room already feels familiar. It’s still in the same layout. The same sheets. The same faint scent that lingers in the air, something that’s just… you. But it feels different.
Last time he was here, he wasn’t supposed to be. He remembers moving around quietly, careful not to leave a trace, like he was borrowing something that didn’t belong to him.
Now? Now he’s sitting here because you told him to come. Because you want him here. Because this is no longer something hidden between moments.
He leans back slightly on his hands, eyes drifting around the room, a small smile tugging at his lips before he even realizes it.
The bathroom door creaks open and he turns his head instantly to find you standing in the doorway with your hair down, dressed down in a simple night dress that somehow does more to him than anything else you’ve worn all day.
“Hey!” you call out with an edge to it. Like you’re seeing something that doesn’t belong in your room.
Did he—? Did he get it wrong? Did he read too much into everything?
But before the thought can even settle, you walk toward him, stopping just close enough to look down at where he’s sitting. “That’s my side of the bed.”
God. He overthinks it again. He shakes his head at himself, dragging a hand through his hair. “Right. Of course it is.”
You cross your arms, still holding onto that mock glare, but there’s a grin threatening at the corner of your lips.
He plays along, letting out an exaggerated sigh as he grabs his things. “I come all the way here and I don’t even get a good spot.”
You roll your eyes, but you’re smiling now.
He walks around the bed, dropping onto the other side, tossing his things down like he’s been doing this forever.
You watch him for a second before nodding toward the bathroom. “Go wash up. Hurry.”
He groans softly, dragging himself up again. “Bossy.”
“Go. Now!”
“Okay, okay,” he mutters with hands lifted in defeat, already heading toward the bathroom.
Soon enough, Hyunjin comes out of the bathroom with a towel slung over his shoulder, hair still slightly damp, the warmth from the shower clinging to his skin.
The first thing he sees is you, sitting comfortably against the headboard, legs stretched out under the blanket, phone in your hands as your thumbs move quickly across the screen. The warm glow of the bedside lamp lights up your face, softening your features.
You glance up the second he steps into view and smile. It hits him instantly that he should get used to it now.
“Well,” you say, a teasing edge in your voice, “thank you for not taking forever in there.”
He huffs out a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he walks over. “You’re welcome. I tried my best not to inconvenience you.”
You narrow your eyes playfully, but the smile stays.
He sets his things down on your nightstand while you lock your phone and put it aside without a second thought. Then you shift, sliding further down into the bed, patting the space next to you. “Hurry. Get in.”
He rolls his eyes, dragging out a dramatic sigh like he’s being forced into it. “So demanding.”
He takes his time anyway, pulling the covers back, settling in beside you, but the second he’s there, you snuggle up to him. Like it’s where you’re meant to be.
He doesn’t even think about it but offers his arm, letting you rest your head on it, adjusting slightly so you’re comfortable. Your body melts into his side, and he feels the soft hum you let out against him.
His fingers drift to your hair, brushing through it gently, slow and absent-minded. His other hand finds yours, threading your fingers together before softly kissing the your knuckle and resting your laced hands over his chest.
The room is quiet except for the sound of your breathing, the faint rustle of sheets shifting with every small movement. This is nice and he is relaxes, and yet, one thing sitting in the back of his mind, refusing to stay quiet.
He swallows, then nudges you slightly. “Hey.”
You hum in response, eyes already half-closed. “Mmh?”
“You’re not gonna get weird tomorrow, right?”
You let out a small scoff of laughter against him. “Get weird how?”
He keeps his voice steady and the tone casual. “Like… you’re not gonna go back to how you used to be with me.”
You tilt your head up to look at him, brows lifting. “And how did I used to be with you?”
He grins, a little sheepish now. “You know. Like you’re always annoyed by me. Like… I’m just your test partner.”
A quiet chuckle leaves you and your eyes flutter, forcing them open to look at him. “First thing first, I’ll always be annoyed by you,” you murmur with a playful smile.
Hyunjin rolls his eyes and sighs, but he knows that part is true. He doesn’t think he’ll stop annoying you sometime soon.
“Secondly,” you continue, looking and sounding a little serious now. “Congratulations, you just got promoted as my long-term booty call.”
He lets out a breath that should turn into a laugh. But your answer is not quite the one he wants to hear, not the kind of assurance he seeks. Before he can say anything else, you suddenly burst into laughter, shifting over him until you’re half on top of him, looking down at him like he’s the most ridiculous person alive.
“We’ve been—” you cut yourself off with another laugh, shaking your head, “—we’ve been fucking each other for days, said ‘I love you,’ and now you’re here, in my bed… and you’re still asking what we are?”
He presses his lips together, trying to hold it in and fails. A laugh escapes him out of embarrassment. “Just making sure,” he mutters while nodding to himself.
You roll your eyes and then drop your head to the side, quietly chuckling.
He looks at you and carefully asks, “Can I tell people about it?”
“I’d rather keep it low-key,” you eloquently answer like you expected that question from him.
His brows knit slightly. “Why?”
You reach up, brushing a strand of his hair back. “I don’t want to mix work and personal stuff. And I definitely don’t want to give the office something to gossip about.”
He gets it. He fully understands it. But still, he pouts because a part of him wants to the tell the world that you’re his. “So… I can’t tell anyone?”
You smile, amused. “You can.”
His eyes light up slightly at that, but then you quickly add, “Only if someone asks.”
The pout comes back immediately and you barely have time to laugh before he suddenly rolls over, flipping you onto your back beneath him. You let out a small sound of surprise, but you’re smiling.
He hovers over you, looking down with that familiar mix of mischief and something softer underneath. “Do you really love me?” he asks.
You grin instantly. “Do you really love me?”
He leans down, nudging his nose against yours. “I asked first.”
You hold his gaze and just to make this difficult, you answer, “Sometimes, I do.”
He narrows his eyes, leans in and gently bites your nose.
You shriek, laughing, hands flying to his face as you cup his jaw, pressing a quick kiss there.
“I want to take things slow. I want to keep this between us for a bit longer.”
He nods in understanding. But then—
“Can I at least tell our CMO?”
You laugh immediately, knowing that Seungmin will be likely the first person Hyunjin would declare this relationship to. “Yes.”
He nods, satisfied. “That’s enough.”
And just like that, he leans down, giving you a long, lingering kiss. A kiss that says more than he bothers putting into words.
“No more questions. I’m tired,” you half mumble with eyes closed.
“Okay,” he says, tangling his hand in your hair and gently brushing it. But not even a second later, he asks, “How about one more kiss?”
You sharply exhale air through your nostrils before tilting your head up. “Just one more kiss,” you murmur.
Hyunjin makes the best of it, capturing your soft lips in his and kissing you. Less heat, more intent. With his whole heart. When he pulls away, he smiles and lowly murmurs against your lips, “Goodnight.”
You smile with your eyes closed. “Goodnight,” you say back, just as softly.
Then he rolls back onto his side, pulling you with him, tucking you close like before. You fit there perfectly. His arm wraps around you, hand resting at your back, holding you close as your breathing slowly evens out.
And this time, his mind is quiet because when morning comes, he knows you’ll still be right here.
-
The moment you open your eyes, you see him.
Hyunjin, right beside you. So close that you can feel his breath, soft and even against your skin. His face is slightly smushed into the pillow, lips parted in the faintest pout, hair a mess in the way that makes him look softer and unguarded. And somehow, a lot more attractive.
There’s something about seeing him like this that makes your chest feel a little too full and your lips curve into a smile
Carefully, you shift closer. Your fingers hover for a moment before brushing lightly along his jaw, tracing the line of it. Then you lean in, pressing small, lingering kisses there—one, two, three—slow and gentle, just enough to feel the warmth of his skin under your lips.
He doesn’t stir. Not even a little as you smile against him. So you press one more kiss and this time to his lips and to no one surprise, still nothing.
It’s only when you start adjusting the blanket and shifting your leg, he finally reacts. A low groan slips out of him as he burrows deeper into the pillow, voice rough with sleep. “What time is it?”
You reach for your phone, squinting slightly at the brightness before answering, “Six seventeen.”
He groans louder like he has issues with those numbers, and immediately turns his face further into the pillow. “Wake me up in an hour,” he mumbles.
He sounds so serious about it. Like it’s a real plan. You can’t help the smile that spreads across your face.
Then, after a beat, his voice comes again, slurred and drifting. “Actually… don’t wake me up at all.”
You let out a soft chuckle, shaking your head a little as you hum in response. “Noted.”
You lean down again, pressing another gentle kiss to his lips. And this time, he reacts, just barely. As you pull away, his lips follow yours, chasing for a second before he catches you in a lazy, lingering peck. It’s clumsy, half-asleep, but warm in a way that settles in your chest. Then just as quickly, he’s burrowing back into the pillow, arm loosely draped where you were moments ago and go back to sleep.
You watch him for a brief moment before willing yourself to start moving. You stretch slightly, easing yourself out of bed, careful not to disturb him again. Morning is here and for once, you don’t feel like you have to brace yourself for anything.
You fall into your routine almost instinctively—shower, clothes, skincare and by the time you’re in the kitchen, the sun is already filtering in through the windows, warm and bright. You set breakfast together from whatever you have left in your fridge. Oatmeal, a few extras on the side and pour yourself a cup of coffee.
You’re halfway through your first sip when you hear his slow, dragging footsteps. You glance up just as Hyunjin appears at the bottom of the stairs with messy hair and eyes barely open, one hand rubbing at his face like he’s still negotiating with the idea of being awake. Yet, his expression changes instantly the second he sees you. He smiles as he walks into the kitchen.
“Morning,” he murmurs, voice still heavy with sleep.
“Morning,” you softly say back.
He passes by you, leaning in to press a quick kiss to the top of your head before reaching up to the cabinet. It’s so natural, like it’s always been part of the routine. You don’t even hesitate to grab his mug as he takes it down, pouring coffee into it for him.
He glances at you, grin tugging at his lips. “Thanks.”
You nod toward the counter. “Want some oatmeal?”
He pauses mid-sip and grimaces. “I’m pretty sure I still have cereal left,” he says, already turning to rummage through your cabinet where he last put it.
Not long after, he finds the cereal box and pulls it out, opening the lid to peek inside. His brow furrows and slowly, he turns his head toward you. “Why is there barely anything left in my cereal?”
You lean against the counter, keeping your expression neutral, lifting your cup for another sip like you have no idea what he’s talking about.
His eyes narrow as he takes a step closer. And you can feel the way he’s looking at you, like he’s waiting for the crack to show.
You tell yourself to stay calm but it only lasts for two seconds and then your lips twitch. “I might’ve eaten it. Occasionally,” you admit, rather casually.
He scoffs, shaking his head as he closes the distance. “You’re still bad at lying.”
You grin, completely unbothered. “Oatmeal?” you offer again, just to annoy him.
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he cups your face with both hands and then leans in, kissing you. The kiss is quick, but it lingers just enough to make a low gasp escaping you when he pulls aways.
He looks at you like he’s already decided something and says, “No, thank you. I’ll stick to my cereal.”
A few minutes later, you sit across from Hyunjin, one leg tucked under you, spoon lazily circling your oatmeal while he crunches through his cereal. But every now and then, he glances at you like he’s checking you’re still there.
You pretend not to notice. Instead, you reach for your phone resting beside your bowl, unlocking it and sliding it across the table toward him.
“Hey, we should probably do this now before we forget,” you begin.
He pauses mid-bite, spoon hovering in the air. “Do what?”
You tap the screen lightly, where the form is pulled up. “The couple test program review. They asked for it.”
He leans forward, squinting a little as he reads, then lets out a quiet ah of realization before leaning back in his chair. “Right. That thing.”
He shoves a spoonful of cereal into his mouth, chews on it and then, he asks, “We’re filling it together?”
You raise a brow at him like it’s obvious. “We were in it together, weren’t we?”
That earns you a soft huff of a laugh. He nods, scooting his chair a little closer, elbow coming to rest on the table as he angles your phone toward both of you. “Okay, let’s see,” he says, suddenly a little more awake.
You take your mug, sipping your coffee as your eyes scan the first question. “How would you rate your overall experience?” you read aloud, then glance at him. “Be honest.”
He tilts his head, considering it for a brief moment like he’s weighing something heavier than the question itself. “Good. Not excellent.”
You narrow your eyes slightly. “Not excellent?”
His gaze flicks to you, slow, deliberate, the corner of his mouth tugging. “Well, we had… complications.”
You scoff under your breath, already tapping “Good” anyway. “You mean you couldn’t stay professional.”
“I stayed professional,” he counters, completely unbothered. “You’re the one who—”
You kick his foot lightly under the table. “Next.”
He laughs and lets you move on.
You go through the aspects together, taking your time with it. You read them out, and he answers, sometimes immediately, sometimes after a pause, sometimes after a quiet debate between the two of you that ends in a compromise and a shared glance that lingers just a second too long.
“Partner coordination,” you murmur, tapping the screen. “Four?”
“Four,” he agrees. Then, after a beat— “Could’ve been a five.”
You hum, pretending to think about it. “You complained a lot.”
“You liked it.”
You don’t answer that. Just press the rating and move on. And each time, your lips curl into a smile.
“Did the program have a positive impact on your relationship?” you ask, voice softer now. You don’t look at him right away like you did before. Your thumb hovers over the screen.
“Yeah,” he says before you can ask.
You glance up then, and he’s already looking at you. You nod once, almost to yourself, before tapping “Yes.”
Neither of you says anything for a second after that. Then you clear your throat, nudging the moment forward. “Favorite part?”
He leans back in his chair again, dragging his spoon lazily through the empty bowl now. “Working together,” he says, like it’s obvious. Then, after a beat, quieter— “Getting to see you like that.”
“Like what?”
“Focused and bossy,” he answers without a beat. A grin blooms on his small face as he adds, “A little scary.”
You roll your eyes, but your fingers hesitate over the screen before typing it in. The rest comes easier from there until you reach the last new question.
You tilt the phone slightly toward him. “Would you be interested in joining another couple test program in the future?”
He doesn’t even pretend to think about it. “Yes.”
You smile a little at how fast that was. “That was quick.”
He shrugs, but his eyes don’t leave you. “Depends on the condition.”
You raise a brow. “Oh?”
He leans in, raising his eyebrow as a flirty gesture. “For an instance, same partner.”
Your fingers still for a second over the screen and you try to fight it, but the smile tugging at your lips anyway. You nod as you tap the answer in, exactly like that. Then you set your phone down and reach for your coffee again.
He watches you over the rim of his mug, quiet for a moment. Then—
“So… we’re doing another one?”
You meet his eyes over the table, sunlight catching in them, in yours, in everything that’s changed without either of you saying it out loud. You tilt your head, a small smile pulling at your lips.
“Looks like it,” you say.
And maybe this time, it won’t feel like a test at all.
-
COUPLE TEST PROGRAM PARTICIPANT REVIEW FORM Participant 1 ID: P-260319 Participant 2 ID: P-260320 Program Duration: 30 Days 1. Overall Experience How would you rate your overall experience? ☐ Excellent ☑ Good ☐ Average ☐ Poor 2. Program Aspects (Rate 1–10) Product Quality & Variety: 9 Clarity of Testing Instructions: 9 Ease of Use (Products): 8 Reporting & Documentation Process: 8 Partner Coordination & Task Balance: 8 3. Relationship Impact Did the program have a positive impact on your relationship? ☑ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unsure If yes, how? (optional) It encouraged consistent communication, cooperation, and adaptability. We became more aware of each other’s preferences, working styles, and boundaries through repeated interactions. 4. Highlights & Challenges Favorite part of the program: Testing products in a shared setting and comparing perspectives. The process felt interactive and allowed for genuine reactions and discussions. Any challenges or concerns: Maintaining objectivity while working closely as partners could be challenging at times. Differences in opinions occasionally affected the evaluation process. 5. Recommendation Would you recommend this program to other couples? ☑ Yes ☐ No ☐ Maybe 6. Future Participation Would you be interested in joining another couple test program in the future? ☑ Yes ☐ No ☐ Maybe If yes, under what conditions? (optional) Preferably with the same partner to maintain consistency in evaluation and communication. 7. Additional Feedback The program is well-structured and effective for observing real-time partner dynamics. Slight improvements in reporting flexibility and clearer expectations for subjective evaluations would enhance the experience. 8. Final Comment Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the Couple Test Program. The experience was insightful, engaging, and unexpectedly meaningful for both of us. Beyond product evaluation, the program encouraged stronger communication, teamwork, and understanding between partners in everyday situations. We appreciate the effort put into creating realistic testing environments and activities that allowed authentic interactions and feedback. Overall, it was a valuable experience that we would gladly participate in again. Submission Status: ✔ Successfully Submitted
-
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u doing okay bby?
Yes honeyy :D
how about youu?👀
COCKY.
CHAPTER FIVE
Hyunjin x reader. (s)
MASTERLIST
Synopsis: When you signed up for a paid product testing program, you expected free samples and money. What you didn’t expect was to be paired with Hwang Hyunjin and assigned to test a series of increasingly questionable sexual wellness products together. (16,8k words)
Author's note: Ok guys, brace yourself for impact* and hope you enjoy it (*reads angst 🫣)
The email comes in quietly. Just a soft ping somewhere between the clutter of unread messages and half-finished drafts.
Hyunjin almost ignores it. He’s slouched in his chair, one leg stretched out under the desk, the other hooked loosely around it, pencil spinning lazily between his fingers while his screen glows with a half-done sketch he hasn’t touched in the last ten minutes. His mind isn’t there. It hasn’t been all morning. Not since—
He exhales through his nose, stopping the thought before it finishes and the ping comes again.
This time, he glances at it and the subject line catches his attention:
Final Submission Deadline – Product Testing Program
The pencil slips from his fingers, rolling across the desk until it bumps against his phone with a dull tap. For a second, he just stares at the screen and considers not to open it. Like maybe if he just let it sits there, unread. It won’t be real.
At one point, he caves in with a sigh and clicks it open.
Dear Participants,
This is a reminder that the final product evaluation must be submitted by the end of this week. Please ensure all testing sessions are completed and documented accordingly. Late submissions will not be accepted and therefore, will not receive full compensation and ineligible to enter the drawing for main prize.
Hyunjin slowly leans back in his chair as the weight of it settling somewhere uncomfortable in his chest. The test program ends this week and then… that’s it. No test schedule. No product testing. Just— done.
His jaw shifts slightly as he reads the email again, like maybe the words will rearrange themselves into something less absolute. Instead, his mind drifts to you and all the times he’s shared with you and with it, the chances he let slipped away.
His tongue presses against the inside of his cheek because to him it means more than just a test. More than the compensation and the mere promise of a free vacation. More than he’s comfortable admitting.
Hyunjin huffs out a quiet breath, dragging a hand through his dark locks before leaning forward again, elbows resting on the desk as he stares at the email.
“One more,” he mutters under his breath.
One more test. One more night. One more excuse. And then what?
His gaze flicks to his phone and he hopes that you’d have sent him something. But nothing. Nothing after that night. But that’s how you are. Clean lines. Clear boundaries. He used to like that but now— now it just irritates him.
Hyunjin reaches for his phone, unlocking it without thinking, thumb hovering over your name and thinks that at least, he has a reason to text you now.
So when are we going to do the final test?
He stares at the message for a second. It’s casual and normal, but… detached. So not what he’s actually thinking and wanting to say. Still, he hits send.
The message goes through instantly, delivered and Hyunjin grabs his pencil back, trying to continue working but his mind won’t quiet. He thought this would be simple and fun. Something temporary, but somewhere along the way, it stopped feeling that way. And the next thing he knows, the end is here — looming, inevitable and he finds himself dreading it. Because once it’s over and so are you. Or at least, the version of you he gets to have like this.
Hyunjin manages to force himself to work, mostly because he needs the distraction. An hour passed in a blink of an eye and he allows himself a break, or rather, a chance to check his phone. His fingers work fast to open the messaging app and the last message he sent you just… sits there. Delivered and seen, but no reply. Which is worse.
Hyunjin refreshes and refreshes it again, like that’ll somehow speed things up. Your chat stays exactly the same. No answer.
He exhales, pushing himself up from his chair. “Alright, guess I’m coming to you,” he mutters.
And at least now, he has a reason to see you.
-
Once the elevator doors slide open, Hyunjin makes a turn to the right, toward your office and he notices right away that you’re not on your desk. He continues walking as he spots Gabe is there, hunched over her laptop, fingers flying across the keyboard like she’s in a race against time.
“Morning,” Hyunjin calls out.
“Mm,” she half-heartedly replies without looking up.
That’s new. He arches a brow but doesn’t comment, instead making himself comfortable by perching on the edge of your desk. He takes a look at your things on the desk and impressed by how organized they are. His fingers reach for a bowl of candies without asking, fishing one out, unwrapping it lazily before popping it into his mouth.
He patiently waits as he sucks on the sweetness of caramel in his mouth, letting the silence stretch, only filled by the rapid clicking of keys and the occasional frustrated sigh from Gabe.
When she finally stops, she looks up and just like that, her expression brightens, like she’s remembered her manners. “Oh—hi, when did you get here?” she says properly this time, smiling.
Hyunjin shrugs, chewing slowly. “Long enough.”
“So, what are you doing here?” There’s a playful lilt to her voice as she asks it. Then her eyes light up, her smile brightens. “Wait—are you here to tell me you’re taking me as your plus one for the hotel voucher?”
God, she makes this too easy. Hyunjin grins and leans back slightly, slipping into the lie without hesitation. “Actually, my friend just got married. I gave the voucher to him as a wedding gift.” he says, dragging it out just a little.
Gabe’s smile falters. Just a little. “Aww… what a shame,” she mutters, deflating.
For a second, Hyunjin almost feels bad. Almost. “I’ll make it up to you with a lunch. My treat,” he adds quickly.
That works to make the smile on Gabe’s face widens and brightens. She perks up instantly, eyes lighting again. “Really?”
“Yeah,” Hyunjin answers without the slightest of hesitation.
She holds his gaze and grins. “I’m holding you to that.”
He raises a hand, putting it over his chest dramatically. “Please do.”
Hyunjin pushes himself off your desk then, wandering over to hers like this was his plan all along. He mindlessly plays with little figurine on Gabe’s desk and then too casually, he asks, “Where’s Miss Perfect Planner?”
Gabe props her chin on her hands, elbows on the desk, clearly slipping into her favorite mode now—gossip. “She got called to the CMO’s office about fifteen minutes ago,” she says.
Hyunjin pretends to be busy playing with the figurine to care. If only Gabe is clever enough to notice, there’s a flicker behind his expression before he smooths it over.
“Ah,” he hums.
Instead, Gabe leans in slightly, lowering her voice like she’s about to share state secrets. “I wonder what they’re talking about in there.”
Hyunjin lets out a small, dismissive chuckle. “Work, probably.”
Gabe scrunches her nose. “Yeah… probably.”
When he thought she’s about to drop the conversation there, she takes a sip of her coffee, eyes narrowing slightly in thought as she adds, “Could be something else...”
Hyunjin laughs again, lighter this time, like it doesn’t matter. Like it doesn’t bother him at all. “Wow. You’re really invested in this.”
Gabe holds his mug with both hands and then shrugs, unapologetic. “I like a good story.”
Honestly, Hyunjin can’t ignore that possibility too. But you can’t be, right? You’re all about rules and professional, you couldn’t be talking about something other than work with Seungmin.
“Anyway, what did you come here for?” Gabe asks, snapping Hyunjin out of his thoughts.
Hyunjin opens his mouth, ready to lie again but he stops when he hears the clicking sounds of heels against the floor. He turns his head to the side and there you are.
You step in, mid-thought, mid-motion and pause when you see him sitting there like he’s been waiting. Your brows knit together slightly, confused. Caught off guard, maybe.
“Oh, there you are,” he says easily, getting off Gabe’s desk.
Before you can question him, Hyunjin closes the distance, his hand landing lightly on your shoulder as he steers you away. “I need to talk to you,” he adds, already walking.
“About what?” you ask.
“The invitation design we talked about the other day,” he lies smoothly, still steering you away.
He opens the door to the empty meeting room and you don’t resist as he gently pushes you inside. Then he steps in after you.
The second the door shuts behind him, you turn on your feet to face him and still convinced that it’s about work. “What design are we talking about? I don’t think—” you stop talking when you see his grin.
Your face drops instantly into annoyance and flatly say, “Don’t joke about work.”
He shrugs, completely unbothered. “But it’s fun seeing you like that.”
You glare, arms crossing over your chest. “Then what do you need?”
He leans back against the table, hands resting along the edge. “Did you get my text?”
“Yes.”
“And…?”
“I was in a meeting.”
Right. Hyunjin nods slowly. “With Seungmin?”
“With the CMO, yes,” you correct him.
“What kind of meeting?” he asks it casually, but the intention is not.
Your eyes narrow just slightly. “That’s not your business.”
There it is. The line. He decides to let go. “Did you see the email about the test program deadline?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
You nonchalantly shrug. “I’m not worried because we’ll finish it on time.”
Hyunjin studies you for a second before asking, “And when are we doing the final test?”
With a tilt of your head and a playful glint in your eyes, you tease, “Ooo, someone’s impatient.”
Hyunjin is thrown off for a second because that’s not what he expected. He recovers quickly, a grin sliding back into place. “Of course, I am. We’re going to win that free vacation, remember?”
You nod like that makes sense and think for a second. “How about tomorrow then?”
“No.
His answer is too fast and rather, suspicious. He quickly schools his face to remain calm, not willing to let it show that tomorrow is too soon for him. That he’s not ready for it. And that he actually doesn’t want it to end soon.
“Didn’t you just say we need to finish it on time?” you ask with eyes slightly narrowed.
Hyunjin opens his mouth and then closes it. Then scrambles to explain, “Well—yeah, but… It’s the last one. It should be special.”
You let out a long, tired sigh. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
He scoffs. “Why not?”
“Because you’re the one planning it.”
He grins at that, stepping closer, hands finding your arms without hesitation. “You’ll like it this time.”
You roll your eyes. But you don’t pull away from the idea. “When, then?” you ask.
Hyunjin thinks quickly, but carefully. Since they only have to submit within the duration, he can definitely push it to the final date. “This weekend,” he decides.
You take a second to consider it and then nod. “I’ll see you then.”
And just like that, you’re turning toward the door.
Hyunjin straightens slightly as he calls after you. “It’ll be special,” he assures you.
You open the door, glancing back over your shoulder and offering him a faint smile. “Can’t wait,” you flatly say.
The you step out of the door and Hyunjin stands there for a second with a smile slowly rises on his face. Because you said can’t wait. But the way you said it? Yeah. You’re not the only one pretending.
-
The days slip past him faster than he expects. Everything feels… suspended, like he’s just waiting for something to arrive and then, it does.
The weekend is here and by the time he pulls up in front of your house, the late afternoon sun is dipping low, casting everything in that soft golden light that makes things feel warmer than they actually are.
He cuts the engine, reaches into the backseat, grabbing what he needs—a backpack slung over one shoulder, a paper bag hooked in his fingers.
For a second, his gaze flicks to the door. He still has your spare key. He could just walk in. But, no. Tonight deserves more than that.
So he steps out, shuts the car door, and walks up to the front door like he doesn’t already know this place inside out. Then knocks on it. Once. Twice.
He doesn’t have to wait long for the door to open and there you are, leaning against the frame, casual, like you’ve been expecting him—but not this early.
Hyunjin’s grin comes easy as he lifts the paper bag in his hand and cheerily announces, “Dinner’s here.”
It earns him exactly what he wants— that faint, reluctant smile tugging at your lips. “You’re early. That’s new,” you say, one brow lifting.
He shrugs, shifting the bag in his hand. “I’m full of surprises.”
You don’t even bother entertaining that. Just step aside, opening the door wider for him.
Hyunjin steps in, crossing the threshold and dropping his things in the living room without much thought before following you toward the kitchen.
You stop there, turning slowly, hands braced against the counter behind you. “So, what’s for dinner?”
Hyunjin watches you for a second. Then smiles. “There’s something you have to do first.”
A flicker of confusion crosses your face. “What?”
He jerks his chin toward the chair. “Sit. Wait here.”
You sigh immediately, suspicion written all over your face. “If this is another one of your experimental cooking techniques—”
“It’s not,” he cuts in quickly. His grin widening as he adds, “It’s worse.”
Your eyes widen in horror and that’s enough to make him laugh. “Relax,” he quickly assures you, shaking his head. “Do you want dinner or not?”
“Yes. And I’d like to have it now,” you say in a firm, impatient tone.
“Then sit and I’ll tell you when it’s ready,” he simply says.
Another sigh escapes you, in defeat this time. “Please, hurry.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He steps closer before you can move, hands finding your shoulders easily, guiding you back into the chair. You let him even if you roll your eyes while doing it.
Hyunjin lingers behind you for a second longer than necessary, bending down just enough so his mouth hovers close to your ear. “Sit still and be patient,” he murmurs.
Before you can stop him, he presses a quick kiss to your cheek and triumphantly grins when he sees your surprised, slightly flustered expression. He quickly straightening himself, grabbing his things and heads toward the back.
When you see him walk past the kitchen, you shout, “You don’t want to mess with a hungry girl.”
He chuckles under his breath, stopping for a second to shout back, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
He continues walking toward the back door. Toward whatever ridiculous, over-the-top plan he’s cooked up this time. And as he steps out into the backyard, Hyunjin can’t help the small smile tugging at his lips. Because if this is how it ends, he’s making sure it’s anything but forgettable.
-
The sun hangs low, dipping toward the horizon, painting everything in warm gold and soft orange. Hyunjin gets to work, setting everything up for his special night. He lays the picnic mat first—right in the middle of the yard where the view is best. The projector takes him a minute to set up, adjusting the angle, stepping back, squinting, stepping forward again until the image lands cleanly against the blank wall of your house. He leaves the garden lights off and instead, he flicks on the back porch light, letting it spill softly into the yard.
He steps back once more, scanning everything and a quiet breath leaves him.
“Not bad,” he mutters.
Satisfied, Hyunjin turns and heads back inside. He walks into the house like he has springs on his feet but he abruptly stops on his track when he sees you’re not in the kitchen where he told you to wait. He pauses, glancing around briefly before moving toward the living room and finds you curled on the sofa, a book in your hands, completely at ease like time moves slower around you. His steps slow without him realizing and admires the sight for a bit. Because you look… soft like this. Untouched by everything that’s been circling between the two of you.
When you notice him, you stretch—arms lifting above your head, back arching slightly as you set the book aside. “Is it ready?” you ask.
He doesn’t answer right away. Just walks up to you, a smile already tugging at his lips as he holds his hands out.
You slip your glasses off first, putting it away along with the book. Then place your hands in his with no hesitation at all
Hyunjin helps you up, his grip steady, one hand lingering around yours even after you’re standing. “Come on,” he says.
He doesn’t let go. He leads you through the house, toward the back door with that quiet anticipation building with every step. Right before opening it, he stops and turns slightly toward you. “Don’t be too surprised.”
You tilt your head, putting on an exaggerated, almost mocking expression—wide-eyed, smitten. “Wow, I’m already impressed,” you say dryly.
He knows you’re teasing but it doesn’t matter. You’re cute even when you faked a delighted expression. He smiles anyway, then turns the knob and pulls the door open. “After you.”
You step out first and stop right there on the porch, taking in the picnic setup in the middle of the backyard, the soft light, the sky melting into evening hues. You turn your head slightly, glancing at him.
“The forecast says it’s going to rain tonight,” you inform.
Your tone is light, matter-of-factly but he catches that quiet, reluctant approval underneath. “Nope, not going to let you ruin it,” he decides, taking your hand in his and then guides you down the steps, toward the mat, steadying you without making it obvious. He waits until you’re comfortably seated before taking his place beside you.
When you look at him again, there’s that question in your eyes. “This what you meant by special?”
Hyunjin grins, proud and completely unashamed. “And by special, it means…” he says, gesturing loosely around, “…romantic.”
He pauses for effect and then proudly declares. “That’s the theme for tonight. Romance.”
Your lips part slightly, probably ready to protest, but he cuts you off immediately. “Now—for dinner.”
He reaches for the brown paper bag, setting it between you both like it’s something grand.
And then ruins the illusion completely as he pulls out a burger and hands it to you. Then another for himself. He rips open the bag, dumping the fries right into it without ceremony before grabbing two soda cans from the side.
When he looks back at you, you’re staring at him. Unimpressed. “Burger and lukewarm soda? Really?”
Hyunjin just smiles. Unbothered. “It’s not about the food. It’s about who you’re eating it with.”
He gestures upward and continues talking, “Together. Under the stars.”
You follow his gaze, looking at the sky and… there are no stars. Just fading light and clouds slowly gathering. “There’s no starts because it’s going to rain soon,” you point out.
He gives you a small shake of head and ignores that. “And I prepared a movie.”
“Oh, no,” you groan immediately.
“I found the dirtiest, nastiest porn on—”
You don’t wait for him to finish, but rise from the mat.
Hyunjin quickly stops you, grabbing you by the wrist and stopping you from leaving the mat. “I’m joking,” he says, half-laughing.
You sit back down with your lips curl into a pout.
“I actually have something worse,” he says proudly. Then, quickly add, “But on theme.”
“Romantic?”
“Very.”
You relax slightly at that and then glance back at the food. “Can I eat now?”
He holds up a finger. “Wait.”
Hyunjin pops the tab on your soda first, handing it to you, then opens his only for it to fizz violently, foam rising too fast. “Ah—hurry, lift your can!” He mutters in a rush.
You do, confused.
He rushes to clink his can against yours in a rushed, uneven toast. “To—whatever this is—”
“To a romantic night,” you correct with lack of enthusiasm.
“Yes, that,” he says and hastily takes a long drink before it spills over.
Hyunjin catches the way you let out a small soft, amused chuckle before sipping yours and the soda feels warms as he swallows it down. He leans back slightly, looking at you, then at the sky, then at everything he’s set up around you both.
It’s simple, a little chaotic, far from perfect but, it feels like it might be. And Hyunjin has a feeling that tonight is going to be a beautiful night.
-
Hyunjin barely registers the movie anymore because you’re right here next to him. Close enough that your knee brushes his every now and then, close enough that he can hear the quiet rhythm of your chewing, the small hums you make when you take a sip of your soda.
He pops another fry into his mouth, glancing at you as you do the same—bite of burger, sip of soda, repeat, like some unspoken rhythm the two of you have fallen into.
“It’s good, right?” he asks, mouth half full, already knowing the answer.
You nod, chewing.
Hyunjin leans back slightly, smug. “Of course it is. You’re eating it with me.”
You nod again, like you’re entertaining him, like you might actually. “Could be that,” you say lightly.
And then you swallow, tilt your head just slightly, and ruin it. “But I think it’s mostly because I’m hungry,” you cheekily add.
His cheeks puff out, full of food, as he stares at you in disbelief. “You never let me win,” he mumbles around the bite, a soft, offended whine slipping through.
You just grin and it’s unfair. The way you look tonight—relaxed, softer, brighter than he’s used to seeing you. It throws him off in the best way.
After a moment, he swallows and gestures vaguely. “You done?”
You nod, brushing your fingers together.
Hyunjin moves immediately, gathering the wrappers, the empty containers, shoving everything into a plastic bag. Then he pauses, digging into his bag again. “Wait,” he says, already pulling out wet wipes.
You don’t argue. You just sit there, letting him take your hand and gently clean your fingers.
The gesture is simple, but something about it says otherwise.
“Thank you,” you murmur with a soft smile.
He shrugs like it’s nothing, even as something quietly flips inside his chest. He wipes his own hands next, then straightens, clapping once. “Alright, time for dessert,” he announces.
Your brows immediately lift in interest and that alone makes him grin.
He pulls out the container, flips it open with a little flourish, and offers it to you. Chocolate-covered strawberries. The chocolate glistening, melting from the warmth of spring night.
Your face lights up, already reaching for one. “They look so good,” you beam.
Hyunjin watches you take a bite, watches the way your expression brightens instantly, the delighted hum of approval that slips from you.
“And they’re so sweet too,” you murmur.
And God—he could live in that expression. Right there. That ease, that warmth. He leans back slightly, studying you and then carefully says, “You’re tame tonight.”
You lick a bit of chocolate from your thumb, slow and absentminded, then sigh softly.
“Maybe because it’s the final test tonight,” you honestly answer and then briefly glance at him. “This nightmare is almost over.”
Hyunjin lets out a loud, dramatic gasp. His hand clutching at his chest like you’ve just offended him.
You laugh and the sound is crisp, almost melodic and he feels something fluttering in his stomach.
“I’m just relieved we’re finishing on time,” you say with a soft sigh. Then, a second later, you look at him and add, “And safely.”
“You’re forgetting that one incident on out first test,” he mumbles, then bites into his strawberry.
You laugh again and this time, with your mouth full of food. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“My mouth was numb for hours,” he insists.
“You’re so dramatic.”
He huffs, but he’s smiling. He always is, around you. Without thinking, he reaches over, thumb brushing the corner of your lips.
“Hold still,” he murmurs.
You do and even lean in close enough so he can wipe the smudge of chocolate away and then, without breaking eye contact, licks it from his thumb.
“You should admit though that this has been fun,” he says, too casually after what he’s just done.
You take your time finishing the strawberry, like you’re thinking, like you’re deciding whether to give him the answer he wants.
He leans in slightly, gaze locking onto yours, challenging you to lie to his face.
A soft chuckle slips from you and you finally admit, “Yeah, it’s been fun.”
A grin slowly rises on his small face and he leans back onto his elbows, stretching out. “We should do it again sometime.”
You shake your head immediately, laughing. “No.”
He turns his head, slightly offended by the immediate rejection. “No?”
You keep shaking your head.
He tilts closer and his tone flirtatious as he asks, “Not to the test program… or no to the sex?”
You lean in then, daringly close an inch or two between your faces and Hyunjin tells himself to stay cool.
Your lips curve into a sly smile and say, “No to you.”
He gasps again, louder this time. Scandalized. But he recovers quickly, grin slipping back into his plush lips. “At least you said yes to the sex.”
You scoff at that but you don’t argue. And he takes that as a win.
“Feed me,” he says, nudging the container toward you.
You stare at him. “No.”
“Come on, romance me for once,” he whines.
You roll your eyes but you reach for a strawberry anyway. You hold it by the stem as he opens his mouth, waiting. You shove half of it in and he bites down, the sweetness bursting across his tongue, chocolate melting after it—and before he can even finish, you pop the other half into your own mouth.
You lick your fingers clean and chuckle when you look at him. “There’s chocolate on your lips,” you say.
He leans in immediately. “Clean it for me then.”
Your hand lifts but he’s quick to catch it, lowering it. “Not with your hand.”
You pause for a second to finally get what he demanded and to his surprise, you go ahead with it. You lean in closer and closer until your breath brushes his lips. You gently hold his chin, keeping his head turned slightly to the side and then land a soft lick, tongue barely grazing but enough to clean the smudge of chocolate on the corner of his mouth
Hyunjin doesn’t want to miss this chance. He turns his head to meet your lips and crash them against yours. He takes the hand holding his chin, pulling you in and deeper. You don’t fight it, but melt into it. He feels the way you give in, the way your body leans into his instead of pulling away. And oh, your lips are so sweet, so soft, so… fucking addictive. And he chases it again and again. And again.
His hand slides along your side, feeling the warmth of you through the fabric, the subtle curve beneath his palm. You shift closer, and suddenly the space between you disappears entirely. He moves without thinking, guiding you down onto the cushion, hovering over you as his mouth finds yours again.
The movie? Forgotten.
The dessert? Left behind.
It’s just you and him.
Until all of a sudden, you break the kiss and look at him with a questioning look on your face. “Did you drool?”
He looks at you, eyes blinking innocently, caught off guard. “What—”
A drop hits his cheek, cold and wet, and for a second, both of you exchange a look. Another drop lands on the top of his head. Then another.
“It’s raining,” you mutter.
Chaos erupts. You scramble up, grabbing the edge of the picnic mat, dragging it toward the house while he fumbles with the projector, nearly dropping it in the process.
“I got it, I got it—!” he assures as he’s forgetting the bag of food still sitting there, on the process of getting soaked by the rainwater and runs for it.
You don’t got it, he absolutely does not got it and by the time you both make it inside, slightly breathless, a little damp, the rain has already picked up outside.
You turn to him immediately. “I told you it was going to rain.”
He breathlessly laughs, unbothered and you try to stay annoyed, but you break, laughing with him.
The sound fills the room, mingling with the sound of the rain outside and eventually, the hilarity slowly fades. The silence returns. Not the awkward kind, but the kind that sets the sparks alive between you and him.
Hyunjin looks at you, at your hair slightly damp, strands clinging together. Your lashes stuck together from the rain. The wet marks of rain on your powder blue dress. You look softer like this, like something he can hold close and treasure all night.
Your voice drops, quieter now. “Guess the romantic night is over.”
“Not really,” he mutters, stepping closer and before you can say anything else, his arms wrap around your waist, pulling you in, lifting you effortlessly off the ground.
You gasp in surprise, hands instinctively grabbing onto him and Hyunjin just grins as he carries you toward the guest bedroom.
-
A laugh spills out of you as Hyunjin tosses you gently onto the bed and you land with a soft bounce.
“Wait, that’s not romantic at all,” you complain between breaths.
He climbs over you immediately, caging you in, one knee sinking into the mattress beside your hip, hands braced on either side of your head. A grin blooms on his face as he simply retorts. “It is in my head.”
He leans in, a hand reaches for your chin. His thumb lightly tracing your lower lip, pulling it down and that’s when he kisses you again. He feels the hint of chocolate and rain on your lips, and the way your laughter fades into it, adding a different kind of sweetness into it.
His mouth moves against yours, deeper, hungrier. His hands begin to wander, impatiently so, finding the seams of your dress, the zipper at your back. He fumbles with it as he’s having a hard time to split his focus in two: kissing you and unzipping your dress.
You break the kiss with a low breath, reaching behind you to help, your fingers quick and practiced where his aren’t. Soon, the zipper gives, the fabric loosens, and suddenly the space between you feels thinner.
You push at his shoulders, just enough to flip the dynamic for a second, fingers working at ease as you unbutton them. When you part it open, you gasp.
“What?” he asks immediately, a flicker of panic cutting through the haze.
You sit up slightly, eyes narrowing as you lean closer to his neck. “You have a mosquito bite.”
“What?” he says, still puzzled. His hand cluelessly rubbing over his neck.
“This one is even bigger,” you say, fingers moving to his shoulder, tracing lightly over the raised skin.
The soft gaze and the genuine concern make something warm curl in his chest. He has to bite back a smile. “Now that you’ve pointed it out. I can feel it itching,” he mutters playfully.
Your hand doesn’t stop rubbing over it and you say, almost sweetly, “Good. I hope it itches so badly.”
“Hope it itches so badly,” he repeats with a quiet laugh and then retaliates.
He dips his head into your neck, pressing ticklish kisses, teeth lightly nibbling on your skin, and you immediately squirm beneath him, laughter breaking out again.
“Hyunjin—stop—!”
He doesn’t stop. Not until your laughter softens, until your body settles again under his, until the space between you crackles with sparks again. Then his mouth finds yours again and just like that, the heat returns. Stronger.
His jeans become the next obstacle as your hands fiddle with the button but not long after, the sound of zipper opening echoes between you, obscenely louder than it should. He flips to the side, removing the whole thing until he’s bare beside you.
Before he can react, you get on top of him, body pressing from above him, warm and soft all over. Your mouths automatically locked again in a kiss, hands going all over your back and eventually meeting the strap of your bra. He works slowly as he unclasps it and he feels your low gasp against his mouth when it snaps open.
You break the kiss to sit up, taking the bra off of you, exposing your bare chest and soft mounds to him, only to him. For a brief moment, you just sit there straddling him, a smirk tugging at your lips as you look down on him, a seductive, dangerous smirk.
You lower your mouth on him again and Hyunjin is more than eager to welcome it, a hand settles on the back of your neck. The rest of your body follows after, slowly molding into his shape and your crotch somehow burrowing deeper, seeking heat though there’s the flimsy layer of your underwear separating them in between.
The hand on the back of your neck moves, tracing down your spine and resting for a bit on the arch of your back, fingers edging the elastic band of your underwear before slips them inside. He doesn’t stop himself from fondling on your ass cheeks, feeling the flesh gives in to his greedy touches.
Impatient, he yanks your underwear down just as far as his arms let him and they stuck somewhere around your thighs. He brings his hand upward, fingers running between your ass cheeks and a little lower to the source of heat. He sighs against your mouth at the feeling your wetness welcoming his fingers. And oh, it’s just good to know that he’s not the only one wanting this, burning from this.
You pull away just enough to give an inch or two between your faces, allowing him to see your expression shifts as he pushes two fingers into you — the way your brows furrowing just slightly, the way your face tenses just for a fraction before it loosens, the way your mouth falls open with a breathless gasp escaping it.
He continues, pumping his fingers in and out of you, drawing your essence to flood and eventually drips onto him. As if drawn by the heat, he pulls away only to reach down between your bodies, hand wrapping around his semi-hard and put it between your legs. You instinctively close your thighs around it and he feels it, your wet, hot cunt pressing against his shaft.
Through his half-lidded eyes, he notices the way you’re watching his face for reaction as you cross your legs together around the ankles to give him that tightness he seeks. He doesn’t hold himself back from letting a groan slips out of his mouth and you quickly capture it with a kiss, a haste, deep kiss.
It’s just you and him now. Skin to skin. Heat meeting heat. Your bodies fit together like they’ve already learned each other, like this isn’t new anymore—and maybe that’s what makes it more intimate. More dangerous. More… real.
Then Hyunjin moves, subtly moving his hips enough to rub his length against your wetness. Hands gripping each side your hips, keeping you still as his moves turning into pulsating motions. He loses himself in it for a moment. In the way you respond, in the way your hands braced on each side of his head, in the way you lowly moan into his mouth.
This alone feels so much to him and he doesn’t want to stop. If he could, he would stop the time and stays in this—
But then, you break the kiss with a gasp and shift, dropping to his side. Eyes dazed and a little unfocused as you mutter, “We should start.”
Right. It’s a test. He stops for a second, trying to redirect his focus to the main reason why the two of you are here in the first place. “Yep, I’ll get on it,” he says.
Hyunjin exhales, dragging a hand through his hair before sitting up and reaching to the bedside table. The product sits there, waiting. Unopened.
You settle back into the bed after removing your underwear and then watch him with a small, knowing smile tugging at your lips. “You must be excited for this.”
He glances at you, already tearing into the packaging. “Very.”
You softly giggle under your breath. “Do you even know how to put it on?”
He flips the box over, reading the instructions with exaggerated seriousness, brows slightly furrowed like he’s studying for an exam. “Tucks the two little wings under the labia—"
“Give me that,” you cut in with a light laugh, taking it from his hands before he can overthink it.
He allows himself to watch you for a moment, the ease in your gestures, the quiet confidence as you put the device on you. Then he busies himself too with the condom, practicing the same cautiousness as he puts the thin rubber down his length. He checks once more before rejoining you on the bed.
There’s a beat where you just… look at each other.
You’re the first one to break into a soft laugh. “You did a good job,” you praise, eyes briefly glancing down at his length.
“We did a good job,” he corrects you with a smirk.
You laugh again and put a hand on his neck, bringing his head close. “Good job, you two,” you playfully mutter before crashing your lips against him.
Soon, it’s your bodies tangling in heat again, slithering against the bedsheets, limbs around each other. When he finally pulls back just enough, your legs part instinctively for him, welcoming, and something sparks within him from the silent invitation.
He glances down at your wetness, glistening and tantalizing him the longer he looks. He uses his fingers next, brushing over the device still attached to you, right on the clit with the little wings tucked under the labia per instructions said on the manual sheets. There’s a small, discreet button there and he presses on it.
You gasp softly as the device starts to vibrate, the sudden sensation catching you off guard
“Just testing,” he cheekily says with a crooked grin.
“Well, it works just fine,” you say, already pulling him back into a kiss, like you’re trying to distract him from his own mischief.
As your lips move together again, he finally gives in to the pull between you. He uses his fingers first, two digits barely pumping, just enough to draw more essence out of you. He lets the moment stretch, letting you melt into his touch before finally shifting.
Without looking and relying more on instinct, Hyunjin aligns himself with your entrance. He pushes just barely yet you gasp against his mouth as the blunt head of his cock pressing into you. It’s not the first, but each time, it feels like it. He still finds himself overwhelmed by the feeling of being inside you.
He takes his time despite the urge to feel you all at once. He knows better to not force you, to treat you gentle. With utmost care and patience. He eases into you little by little, hands braced on each side of you, lips continuously placing kisses on your skin if not on your lips.
He notices the way you glance down to where your bodies joined, how most of his length has disappearing into you, wrapped tightly in your velvety walls and sigh, a breathless, arousing sigh.
Out of instinct, your legs parting wider like an unspoken permission to enter you further and he takes it. He allows himself to move forward, pushing the remaining length into you until he’s fully sheathed in that delicious tightness. Until he feels the device pressing against him and the buzzing sensation it offers. He gets it then, the purpose of the product. How it offers the same sensation to both of you, at the same time.
Hyunjin lingers there for a second, letting the closeness settle, letting you adjust, letting himself feel the warmth, the connection, the faint hum of the product caught between you.
“Oh,” he breathes against your lips, a grin tugging through it. “Yeah… I feel it now.”
You smile an almost shy smile, but it barely lasts before he’s kissing you again, deeper this time, his body beginning to move with slow, steady intent.
Your back arches beneath him, instinctive, giving him more depth, allowing him to launch deeper into you, and he takes it easily, like his body already knows how to find that rhythm with yours.
The room fills with the soft sounds. Warm breaths. The quiet, building tension that wraps around both of you and pulls tighter with every movement. He loses track of time of everything.
Until the rhythm breaks. Something off. He stills, frowning slightly as the device slips out of place, disrupting the moment in the smallest but most irritating way.
“Wait,” he mutters.
He adjusts it, making sure he puts it on properly and resume. He wills himself to forget that small inconvenient, not wanting to ruin this perfect moment. His hips moving in rolling movements now, like he’s swimming into the depth of ocean, the depth of you and the rhythm picks up, the tension climbs higher.
Then, the device slips again.
You slowly sit up on the bed, fixing it for both of you. You lay back down after and wrap your legs tighter around him, not letting anything to go wrong, to go out of place. You hastily kiss him as if you try to erase the seconds of interruption off his memory. In a way, it does.
“You can move now,” you mutter against his lips.
Hyunjin doesn’t want to waste time by lingering on it. He moves, thrusting into you carefully now. Not too slow. Not too fast either. He realizes that his purpose slightly shifting from pleasing you, to testing, to making sure that the device stays where it is.
But on the third time it slips again, you both can’t ignore the interruption. The frustration. He exhales sharply, pushing himself up slightly, trying to fix it again but it doesn’t stay, doesn’t cooperate, doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to.
And just like that, the moment breaks. You both pause, breathing uneven, the heat still there but tangled now with annoyance and disappointment.
Hyunjin stills completely, then slowly pulls back, the space between you returning inch by inch.
You look at him, a little apologetic. “I can’t— it’s not… I don’t think we can continue.”
“Yeah,” he says with a small nod.
“I’m sorry,” you meekly mutter with a gentle hand on his arm.
“Hey, it’s not you,” he cuts in with a soft smile, shaking his head. “It’s the product.”
He lets out a quiet huff of a laugh, running a hand over his face. “Wow, that’s—” he can’t even find the word to say, but know that he doesn’t want to ruin it further. And yet—
“What a letdown,” he says with a humorless laugh.
Silence settles after that. The kind that doesn’t quite know where to go next.
Hyunjin looks at you and for the first time that night, he realizes he didn’t plan for this part where it doesn’t go as he imagined it in his head. The part where the night turns into a big disappointment. And he has no idea what comes after.
-
The bathroom light feels too bright as Hyunjin stands there for a second too long, palms braced against the sink, staring at his own reflection. His hair’s a mess, his lips still a little flushed, his breathing not quite steady yet and yet the room behind him feels… empty. Like something got cut off halfway through, like a song that never reached its chorus.
So that’s how it ends?
The final test. The last night. The one he kept building up in his head like it was supposed to mean something bigger, something more —and it fizzles out because of a faulty product.
He lets himself feel it for a second. The disappointment. The irritation. The quiet, stubborn frustration that it didn’t go the way he imagined. That it didn’t feel the way he wanted it to. Then he exhales again, straighter this time, like he’s forcing himself to let it go.
It’s just a test. Right?
Still, he lingers for one more second, eyes flicking up to his reflection again, like he’s trying to catch whatever thought keeps slipping just out of reach. Then he pushes off the sink and heads out.
His feet halt to a stop, hand lingers on the knob of the bathroom door when he finds you still there, sitting at the edge of the bed with his shirt draped over your frame, fingers working through the buttons like you’re in no rush at all.
This is rare. You usually leave the second the test ended. Like staying longer than necessary would complicate something neither of you wants to address, but not tonight.
You glance at him over your shoulder, still buttoning up, and say casually, “Since the test finished early—”
You pause to huff out a laugh. “No pun intended.”
His lips twitch despite himself and finally let go of the door knob, body turning fully facing you now.
You don’t look embarrassed. If anything, you look… lighter. Like the awkward ending didn’t stick to you the way it did to him. “I was thinking,” you continue, finishing the last button, “we could just… continue the movie?”
It’s just a suggestion but to Hyunjin, it feels like a second chance. A second chance that falls right onto his lap.
You fold a leg under you as you shift and casually say, “Well, I think we should just watch the movie from the start.”
“Yeah,” he says quickly—too quickly. Then clears his throat, trying to smooth it out. “Yeah, we can— I’ll set the projector again.”
You nod at that, already pushing yourself off the bed. “I’ll get the snacks.”
And just like that, you’re heading for the door.
Hyunjin watches you go, the faint sound of your footsteps fading down the hall, and only when you’re out of sight does he let the smile fully settle on his face. Because tonight isn’t over yet and maybe it doesn’t have to end like that.
He falls into preparation right away. He sets the projector on the small shelf mounted to the wall behind the bed. He turns it on, aligning the screen on the blank wall. Once he’s done, he moves to smooth out the sheets, fluffs the pillows to make it cozy, comfortable. The room still holds traces of what happened earlier but he pushes past it, focusing on small, tangible things. By the time he’s done, the bed looks almost untouched.
He hears your footsteps before he sees you and when he turns, you’re already there in the doorway, balancing a bowl of sliced fruits in one arm, a bottle of wine and two glasses in the other.
“Careful—” he starts, already moving toward you.
You barely get a step in before he takes the bottle and the bowl from your hands, steadying the rest as he nudges the door shut behind you with his foot. You both climb onto the bed after that, settling into opposite sides like you’ve done this a hundred times.
You pop open the cork and pour the wine one glass at a time. The earthy, aphrodisiac smell of wine instantly filling the room. You hand the glass you have filled to him and then pour another for yourself.
Hyunjin puts the bowl on his lap, a brow raised in question as he looks into the sliced fruits inside. “Do you have better snacks?”
“These are healthy late-night snacks,” you simply reply. To end the argument, you pick up a grape and then shoves it into his mouth.
For a second, he just looks at you in disbelief. Then he bites on the grape and chewing on it, smiling as the sweetness flooding his mouth.
You put the bottle of wine away then lift your glass slightly, a small tilt of your head. “To romantic night part two?”
He lifts his glass and smiles as he repeats the words, “To romantic night part two.”
The glasses clink quietly and almost at the same time, you both take a sip, exchanging a warm gaze after. Hyunjin almost forgot about it. He quickly reaches for the remote and then presses play.
This time, you both actually watch as the movie flickers across the wall, soft light dancing over your faces as you settle deeper into the pillows. It’s surprisingly easy how the conversation flows between scenes, between sips of wine and bites of fruit. You comment on the characters. He disagrees, dramatically. You shove a slice of fruit into his mouth mid-argument just to shut him up. He laughs around it.
At one point, you glance at him, eyes narrowing slightly like you’re studying something. “You must’ve taken a lot of girls to do this.”
“What?” he asks while refilling his wine.
“This,” you gesture vaguely toward the movie, the wine, the setup. “Watching romantic movies. Dates like this.”
Hyunjin scrunches his nose immediately. “Nah.”
You look at him like you don’t believe a word of it.
So he adds, quieter this time, “It’s my first time, actually.”
Your brows lift. “With a girl?” you joke.
He huffs a small laugh. “First time watching a movie with a girl and actually paying attention.”
That earns a snort from you. “Wow, lucky me,” you flatly mutter.
He grins, but it fades quicker than usual. Because the room goes quiet after that. Not uncomfortable. Just full, content.
You shift, sinking deeper into your pillow, eyes fixed on the screen for a moment before you speak again. “Since you know all about my dating history…” you start, voice lighter than the words that follow, “what about you?”
He already knows where this is going and usually, he’d quickly shift the conversation to something else. Yet, he doesn’t do it. Instead, he lets you.
“When was the last time you were in a relationship?”
He doesn’t hesitate, but he doesn’t really answer either. “A long time ago.”
It’s vague. Intentionally so. And you understand right away that he’s reluctant to share more than that. Your eyes narrow slightly, a teasing edge returning. “She must’ve done a number on you, huh?”
He doesn’t respond, doesn’t look at you. Just takes a sip of his wine instead.
You don’t push like the good person you are. But you sigh, slumping lower on your pillow, and when you speak again, your voice is quieter. “I get it, though,” you murmur, eyes still on the screen but they’re distant. “Some experiences just… mess with you.”
Hyunjin looks at you then. But you don’t look at him.
“It makes you question everything,” you continue, almost to yourself. “Like… if you’re just not someone worth staying for.”
His chest tightens at that. Like you’re hearing the voices that haunt him whenever emotional feelings show up.
“Or if it’s too much to ask,” you add, voice dipping just slightly, “to be loved properly.”
There’s a long pause. You sink further into the pillow, letting out a small, humorless laugh. “Sometimes I wonder if I even allowed to want love at all.”
Hyunjin’s mouth is open but nothing comes out of it. Because for once, he doesn’t have anything clever to say, to tease you or to at least, lighten up the moment. Just the weight of your words, hanging there between you, heavier than anything that happened earlier tonight.
He can’t focus on the rest of the movie after that and when he finally turns his head again, you’re curled slightly into yourself, sleeping soundly like none of it ever left your lips in the first place.
Hyunjin watches you for longer than he means to, soft and peaceful, untouched by the things you just said, and something shifts in his chest again, something heavy and unsettling. He can’t help the thought that creeps in.
Do I even deserve this? Do I have anything real to give you?
He exhales slowly, like he’s trying to push the thought away. He doesn’t let himself linger on it and reaches for the duvet, pulling it gently up to your chest. His fingers brush your hair back from your face, almost reverent.
God. You’re beautiful like this. Too beautiful. Too easy to want something more with.
He knows he shouldn’t. He knows this ends soon. But still, if there’s one thing he wants to do for the last time, it’s this. He leans in and then innocently, softly presses his lips against yours, a quiet, fleeting kiss that doesn’t ask for anything in return.
When he pulls back, he lingers close for a second, eyes tracing your features like he’s trying to memorize them. “Goodnight,” he whispers.
He reaches for the remote, turns the movie off and the room suddenly falls into darkness, lit only by the faint glow from outside.
Hyunjin settles back beside you, the space between you smaller than before and as sleep finally pulls him under, it’s your face that follows him there.
-
Hyunjin slowly opens his eyes, the ceiling coming into focus as his body stirs, still heavy with sleep. For a second, he doesn’t move, just lies there, listening and realizes that there’s no soft breathing beside him. No warmth pressed into his side.
He turns his head and your side of the bed is already empty. It doesn’t surprise him anymore, he’s gotten used to it—but still, something in him pauses there for a second, eyes lingering on the faint crease your body left behind.
Then, slowly, a smile pulls at his lips as he recalls last night. The picnic, the rain, the way you both scrambled to get back inside and that darn product. The way you two continued to part two. The movie, the wine, the way you fell asleep mid-thought like the weight of everything finally let you rest.
He exhales softly through his nose, pushing himself up and he immediately spots the shirt you wore last night, draped carelessly over the chair, exactly where you must’ve left it. He reaches for it without thinking, fingers brushing over the fabric before he lifts it, bringing it close to his nose. He smiles because it smells like you now.
He puts the shirt back on the chair, doing it carefully like the scent of you would vanish if he drops it. Then heads to the bathroom after that.
He washes up, brushing his teeth, splashing water over his face until the last traces of sleep are gone. He changes into something more comfortable, running a hand through his hair one last time before he steps out.
He enters the kitchen and walks straight into you. Well—not literally. But close. You’re sitting at the dining table, a laptop open in front of you. A plate of breakfast in one hand, fork in the other, like you’ve been up for hours.
You notice him immediately and smile. “Morning.”
The gesture is simple and sweet. He lets himself savor it before returning it. “Morning.”
Hyunjin moves like he belongs there—because at this point, he kind of does. He grabs his cereal, takes the milk from your fridge without asking, pouring the two into a bowl. He brings it to the table, sits across from you.
For a while, there’s nothing but comfortable quiet. He continues eating but his eyes are glancing at you once in a while, catching you enjoying your avocado toast while reading something on your laptop. This version of you is also soft, but last night, you were much softer.
“You fell asleep last night,” he teases between spoonful of cereal.
You don’t even look embarrassed. You just nod, taking another bite before answering, “I was really sleepy.”
He hums, thinking that’s it. But then you add, almost absentmindedly. “Probably the best sleep I’ve had in a while.”
Something in the way you say it pulls tight in his chest. He doesn’t react but shoves a spoonful of cereal into his mouth, chewing a little slower than before. “Mm.”
Another moment later, you finish with your toast and now nursing a mug of coffee. Then you turn slightly toward him.
“Are you ready to give your feedback?”
Ah. Right. The evaluation form. Hyunjin exhales through his nose, then picks up his bowl and drinks the milk straight from it before setting it down with a quiet clink. “Yeah.”
He scoots his chair closer until he’s right beside you, shoulder almost brushing yours. The setting is intentional, allowing him to see your laptop screen and noticing that the evaluation form is already open. Of course it is. You’re always prepared.
“Okay, comfort rating?” you ask.
He doesn’t expect you to go right into it. He leans back and thinks for a second. “Five.”
You nod, typing it in. Then add your own. Four.
His head snaps toward you. “Change mine to four too.”
You shoot him a look. “It’s not a competition.”
He glares right back. “We’re a team. We should have matching answers.”
You sigh—but there’s no real annoyance behind it. Still, you obey and change his answer into four. “Stimulation rating?”
“Six,” he says, this time without hesitation. “It has potentials.”
You nod, typing. You write the same number for your answer. “Describe your experience while using the product,” you prompt.
He leans forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. “It is promising. The concept’s good. But it doesn’t stay in place. Keeps slipping off during use.”
You hum in agreement, typing it all down. Then adding your own touch.
He notices the way you refine things, polish them and make it sound better than it came out of his mouth.
“Additional feedback?”
“Adjustable wing size. More vibration levels too.”
You type. Then add your own after. Great material but the design needs further improvement.
Hyunjin nods, approving.
“Final comment?”
He takes a second before answering this one. “The intention is good. There aren’t many good couple vibrators in the market. But this one needs a lot of improvement.”
You glance at him, then nod, fingers moving again. “Give me a second,” you murmur, already editing, refining, making it seamless.
He watches you, clicking his tongue softly. “You’re scary good at this.”
You flash him a quick, smug smile. “I know,” you confidently say.
A moment later, you turn the laptop toward him, letting him take a good look at it before submitting it.
Honestly, he barely scans it because he knows that you’re good at this, better even so he gives you two thumbs-up. “Approved.”
You smile faintly, turning the laptop back to you.
It hits him then. This is it. One click. And it’s done. He leans back slightly, exhaling through his nose, watching as your finger hovers over the trackpad.
All of a sudden, you stop and turn the laptop toward him again. “You do it.”
“What?” he asks, puzzled.
“I’m letting you do the honor,” you say, making a dramatic gesture toward the laptop.
He huffs a laugh and stares at the screen, at the looming end. And to be honest, he’s not ready for this to be over. Not for everything to just… go back to normal.
Beside him, you look fine and calm. Like this is just another task on your list. And maybe, to you, it is.
Hyunjin swallows. Then, because he’s him, he lifts his hand dramatically, blowing on his fingers like he’s about to perform surgery. “Blow on them for good luck,” he says.
You stare at him for a second and burst into laughter. But you lean in anyway, softly blowing over his fingers.
And just like that, he clicks on the button and a small notification pops up. Submission successful.
Something in his chest just… caves. And then drops. He leans back in his chair, quietly processing what he’s just done.
You close the laptop with a soft sigh and push it aside. “Such a shame the last product was a disappointment.”
He nods, but it’s not what’s bothering him. Not really. Before he can think too much about it, your hand reaches for his.
You squeeze gently, smiling at him. “Hey, we did well.”
And just like that, he lights up again. He squeezes your hand back and says, “Yeah. We did.”
He lifts your joined hands slightly, confidence slipping back into his voice. “And we’re going to win that free vacation.”
You chuckle and give the smallest nod at that. “Yeah… free vacation.”
But the way you say it makes him realize how distant you already seem to him.
-
Hyunjin doesn’t expect anything when he drops into his chair after returning from a meeting. Just know that he has to finish his design soon but first, he checks his emails. There, a notification sitting neatly at the top of his inbox.
Test Program - Transfer Fund Receipt.
Hyunjin clicks it open, eyes scanning the details and then his brows lift at the sum of money he received from the test program. The number is… generous. A slow grin spreads across his face, tongue pressing against the inside of his cheek as he leans back in his chair. His mind jumps to you immediately because you must’ve gotten yours too.
The thought comes easy, but the decision— the decision comes easier. He’s already pushing his chair back before he can question it—already on his feet, already heading out of his office.
It’s just to confirm, just to ask whether you have received the money and nothing more. Not that he wants to see you or anything. Or that annoyed expression on your face that he grew fond of. No, not really that. And yet, the balls of his feet won’t stop bouncing as he rides the elevator down to your floor.
The elevator doors slide open and he’s about to turn toward your office when he spots you in the pantry. His feet pivot the other way, walking up to you as you’re standing by the coffee machine, phone in hand, brows slightly drawn together like whatever you’re reading matters more than anything else around you. Including the coffee that’s already done.
Hyunjin watches for a second, sighing when you don’t even notice him there standing next to you. He reaches past you without a word, pulling the cup out of the machine before it overflows or goes cold, placing it neatly on the counter in front of you.
That’s when you finally look up and there it is — that tired, faintly annoyed expression you always pull when you see him. That one thing he’s secretly missed of seeing.
“Thanks,” you simply say and then drag the cup toward you, phone shoved into the pocket of your blazer.
“You’re very welcome,” he replies with a bright grin, leaning against the counter facing you. “Got your compensation yet?” he asks casually.
“Yes,” you answer without looking at him.
Something about it makes his grin falter just a little, but he smooths it over quickly. “Pretty nice, right?”
“Yes,” you answer again, reaching for a sugar packet, tearing it open and dumping it into your coffee.
He watches you stir and the way you avoid looking at him. But still, he won’t back down just yet. “What are you going to do with it?” he asks, tilting his head to the side and teasingly add, “A whole carton of chia seed, perhaps?”
You snort softly but you answer seriously. “I’m thinking of getting a bigger bookshelf.”
Hyunjin immediately blows a raspberry and gives you a thumb-down. “Bo-ring!”
“It’s my money. I can do what I want with it,” you calmly say but the glare you give him as you reach a pack of creamer is sharp and cutting.
He scoots closer and loosely crosses his arms in front of him. “I have a better idea,” he says in a whispered tone, conspiratory.
“Not interested,” you flatly say.
He clicks his tongue at you. “At least, hear me out first.”
You don’t say anything but grab a spoon to stir your coffee with.
He leans in just slightly and still in whispered tone, he says, “Why don’t we spend it together? On a fancy dinner? You know, celebrate our…” he trails off for a second to find the right word to say. “…success.”
You scoff and finally turn your head his way. “You mean… splitting the bill?”
He scoffs back and retorts, “No. It means celebrating our excellent teamwork.”
You shake your head immediately and flatly reject the suggestion. “No.”
“Fine,” he amends quickly. “My treat then.”
He notices the way you pause and your stirring slows just a little, seriously considering it like it’s a business deal instead of an invitation for a dinner.
He presses, softer this time. “I can get us a reservation at Farfalle.”
Your eyebrow perks up at the mention of the renowned Italian restaurant. “When?”
Hyunjin holds himself back from smiling yet. “This Friday.”
The lights in your eyes dim just a little and then you sigh. “No, I can’t.”
His brows knit together. “Why not?”
You take a sip of your coffee before answering, like you’re buying time. “I have something to attend Friday night.”
“Something?” he echoes, narrowing his eyes slightly. “What something?”
“Work-related.”
The answer is vague. Too vague. He leans in closer, grin creeping back, but there’s an edge to it now. “Or, you could take me with you,” he smoothly says.
You glance at him and he holds your gaze.
“We get to celebrate. None of us have to spend money on it,” he proudly says like that’s the issue here. “It’s a win-win.”
You shake your head. “You can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s invitation only.”
He doesn’t miss a step. “I’ll be your plus-one then.”
That’s when you hesitate and he feels something tightening in his chest as he waits. He kind of already guessed the answer in his head, but needs you to say it.
“I’m the plus-one,” you finally answer.
Hyunjin’s grins falter for a second because his mind doesn’t even consider other possibilities. It goes straight to one name. Seungmin.
“Let’s have dinner some other time, yeah?” you say, taking your coffee and stepping past him like nothing just shifted.
Hyunjin nods, accepting it. “Yeah, sure. Just text me when.”
You move to leave and he tries so hard to not show how annoyed he is, but something pushes him to move. He reaches out, takes your cup from your hand and takes a long sip until half of it gone. He lets out an exaggerated gasp and then hands it back with a grin.
“Thanks for the coffee.”
You stare at him in disbelief but he doesn’t wait for a response.
He turns and starts walking like the decision makes itself before he can think it through. And, Gabe is right where he expects her to be. Head down, fingers flying across her keyboard, a phone wedged between her shoulder and ear.
Hyunjin walks straight over with determination. A plan. He doesn’t interrupt as Gabe talks into the phone and just waves his hand at her, letting her know that he’s here.
Gabe looks up, startled at first—then her face lights up almost instantly. “Oh—hey!” she lowly mutters, making a small wave of hand.
He patiently waits until she finishes talking and puts down the phone. Then a hand on her desk and put on a sweet smile like he didn’t just storm out of the pantry with something sour sitting in his chest. “Hey, you remember that lunch I owe you?” he asks.
Her brows lift, pleasantly surprised. “Of course I do.”
“Good,” he says, pushing off the desk. “I’m taking you now.”
The surprise on Gabe’s face settles into something brighter—excited, even—but before she can say anything, he’s already moving.
“Wait—now?” she asks, half-laughing as she glances around.
Hyunjin doesn’t give her time to process. He reaches behind her chair, grabs her jacket, and drapes it over her shoulders in one smooth motion before she can even stand.
“Hyunjin—” she starts laughing a little more now, flustered.
He picks up her purse next, handing it to her like it’s all already decided. “Let’s go.”
“I—hold on, I should tell—”
“The place is going to be packed. We go now or we don’t go at all,” he cuts in smoothly.
Gabe hesitates and her eyes flick instinctively toward your desk. She pushes her chair back slowly, half-standing. “I should at least let—”
Right on cue, you walk in with what he safely assumes a new cup of coffee since he’s drained half of what you made earlier.
Hyunjin doesn’t hesitate. He reaches for Gabe’s wrist and gently tugs her along as he closes the distance between him and you.
You barely have time to register what’s happening before he’s right there. “What is—”
“I’m taking your assistant for lunch,” he cuts in with a grin. Not exactly asking for permission.
Your eyes flick between him and Gabe, confused. “Right now?” you ask.
“Right now,” he confirms easily.
Gabe lets out a small, awkward laugh beside him. “I was just about to—”
But Hyunjin’s already moving again, turning and pulling her along. “Don’t wait up,” he tosses over his shoulder and keep dragging Gabe with him before you can say anything else. Before he can second-guess it.
-
Hyunjin and Gabe made it right on time before the restaurant gets flooded with people and orders alike. They secured a table near the window and the second they’re seated, Gabe is already losing her mind.
“Oh my god, I’ve been wanting to come here forever,” she gushes, practically bouncing in her seat as she flips through the menu with bright eyes, bright smile. “Do you know how hard it is to get a table here?”
Hyunjin only smiles, leaning back in his chair. “Order anything. It’s my treat.”
Her head snaps up, eyes wide. “Anything?”
He nods, amused. “Anything.”
And just like that, she’s completely absorbed in the euphoria. No suspicion. No second-guessing. Just pure, unfiltered excitement.
Good. That makes this easier.
When the food arrives, it’s… a lot. Stacks of fluffy pancakes, glossy with syrup and topped with sunny-side up egg with crispy bacons on the side. The other are on the dessert side — the pancakes basked in caramel, sliced mangoes on the side and whipped cream piled like clouds.
“Wait—don’t touch anything,” Gabe quickly says, already grabbing her phone.
Hyunjin snorts under his breath, watching as she leans over the table, angling her phone this way and that. Click. Click. Click.
“Here. Let me take the pictures for you,” he kindly offers.
“Yes, please!” she lights up.
He takes her phone, patiently snapping a few photos while she poses—smiling, tilting her head, adjusting her hair, holding a plate of pancakes with her hands.
“Let’s take one together!” Gabe excitedly suggests.
Hyunjin doesn’t argue. He leans in just enough as she holds the phone up, both of them fitting into the frame. He hands the phone back. “Are they good?” he asks, lifting his drink and have a sip with a straw.
“Very,” she grins, already scrolling through them.
“Let’s eat before they get cold,” Hyunjin says with a smile.
Gabe eagerly nods, picking up her fork and knife, hesitantly cuts through her pancake like she’s tearing through an artwork. She stabs a piece with her fork and eats it. From her delighted expression, he can tell she likes it.
Hyunjin picks up his fork as well and starts digging into his own and waits for the right moment to casual drop a question.
“How is it?”
Her face lights up instantly. “So good.”
“Yeah?”
She nods quickly, mouth full, then swallows just to say it again. “So good.”
“Worth the hype?”
“Absolutely.”
“Glad you like it.”
“Thank you for this. Seriously.”
He waves it off. “Don’t mention it.”
She does anyway, a few more times after that and he lets her enjoy it and only when she’s settled, that’s when he slips it in.
“So,” he says, cutting into his pancakes like it’s nothing. “I heard Miss Perfect Planner got something on Friday.”
Gabe nods immediately. “Yeah, probably the dinner.”
He keeps his expression neutral. “What dinner?”
She pauses mid-bite, like she just realized she’s about to explain something. Then shrugs. “You know—there’s this business magazine…”
And she’s off. There’s talking and explaining, a lot of rambling. Something about rankings, features, recognition—words that blur together because Hyunjin’s only half-listening. He nods where he should and hums when it sounds right. And waits until she comes to a point.
“There’s this list—30 young leaders. And guess who made it?”
He doesn’t answer. Doesn’t have to.
“…Seungmin.”
There it is. Hyunjin presses his tongue against the inside of his cheek and continues to casually shoving food into his mouth.
Gabe keeps going, energized now. “Do you remember when she got called to the CMO’s office?” she asks.
He nods.
“Well,” she leans in slightly, lowering her voice like it’s gossip, “I checked her schedule after that.”
Of course she did.
“And she had dinner blocked off for Friday.”
Hyunjin keeps his eyes on his plate. “Okay.”
“So I’m pretty sure—like, pretty sure—she’s going to the gala dinner.”
Oof, he missed something in her ramble. He finally looks up and asks, “What gala dinner?”
Gabe pauses chewing, then quickly swallows. “The one for the 30 young leaders thing. They’re hosting this big event to celebrate them or something.”
Hyunjin doesn’t respond right away but chewing on the pancake that tastes like Styrofoam now. He washes it down with water. “So you’re saying that Seungmin is taking her to that event?”
Gabe doesn’t confirm right away but grabs her phone. She types something quickly, then turns the screen toward him. “Here. Look!”
It’s an Instagram post for the upcoming event held by the business magazine. Annual Gala Dinner honoring the Top 30 Young Leaders.
The date and time match perfectly. Hyunjin stares at it for a second longer than necessary. Then nods once. “Yeah.”
Gabe pulls her phone back, completely unaware. “See? I told you.”
She goes back to her food like nothing just happened, humming softly as she bites into a strip of bacon. Then, mid-chew, she glances at his plate. “Can I try yours?”
“Yes,” he answers too fast, too eager and doesn’t even realize it until he’s already pushing the plate toward her.
She grins as she digs into his food. “Thanks!”
Hyunjin leans back in his chair, hands resting idly in his lap. He doesn’t touch his fork again.
Doesn’t even look at the food. Because suddenly, he’s not hungry anymore.
-
Hyunjin knows he shouldn’t be doing this. He knows it the moment his fingers tighten around the steering wheel, the moment he ignores the turn that would take him anywhere else—anywhere that isn’t you. It’s not his place. It’s not his business. But it feels like it is.
So he drives and the city blurs past him in streaks of color and light, but he barely registers any of it. His mind is somewhere else—already at your house, already replaying the image of you in his head, already building excuses before you can even ask.
I’m just here to collect my things.
It’s simple and harmless. He repeats it in his head often enough that he almost believes it. By the time he turns onto your street, something in his chest loosens. He gets that same familiar sense of relief, like he’s pulled into a place that knows him, that lets him in without question. Like home.
Hyunjin exhales slowly as he parks, fingers tapping once against the steering wheel before he kills the engine. He lingers there, dragging it out, slowing time down in the only way he knows how.
When he finally steps out, the evening air greets him softly, carrying a faint scent of the last of spring days. He shuts the door with a quiet click and walks up to your place with an ease that feels practiced.
The spare key opens the back door without much problem and he lets himself in. The house is exactly the same—and not. He slowly moves through the hallway, footsteps muted against the floor. His gaze drifts instinctively to the guest bedroom as he passes, the door slightly ajar. He pauses just long enough to glance inside. There’s a faint, clean scent in the air of fabric softener and he guesses that you must have changed the sheets. The room already feels like his and that realization sits strangely in his chest. He swallows and keeps moving.
The kitchen is empty when he reaches it, the silence settling around him in a way that makes everything feel suspended. He leans a hand against the counter, glancing around like he expects you to just appear.
You’re probably upstairs. Getting ready. For whatever’s waiting for you tonight. His jaw tightens slightly at the thought, but before he can go any further down that line, he catches movement in his peripheral.
He looks up and for a second, Hyunjin forgets how to breathe, how to think. You stand at the top of the stairs, framed by the soft light behind you, and it hits him all at once how the dress clings to you in all the right ways, how the cut traces your shape like it was made for you, how the color pulls something out of you that makes it impossible to look away. Your hair is swept up, neat and elegant, with a few loose strands softening everything. You look—
He almost moves without thinking, almost walks right up to you, hand already half-lifted in his mind, already imagining the way you’d place yours in it, the way he could just… take you and keep you, have you selfishly for himself tonight.
By the time the thought finishes, you reach the bottom step and reality snaps back into place. You jerk slightly when you see him, surprise flashing across your face before you let out a small, disbelieving laugh.
“God! Hyunjin!” you shriek and shake your head, recovering quickly, “you could’ve told me you were coming.”
Hyunjin forces himself to breathe and just get it together. “I—” his voice comes out tighter than he wants, almost mechanical, “I came to collect my things.”
It sounds flat. Even to him. But you trust the lie anyway, accepting it, moving past him toward the kitchen like it makes perfect sense. Your scent hits him, soft and intoxicating in a way that makes something in him lean closer without permission, makes him drawn to you.
By the time he realizes it, he’s standing behind you as you reach for a glass. He shifts quickly, leaning against the counter to ground himself, to make it look casual.
You step back, turning slightly as you pour water into the glass, and glance at him with a teasing look. “Afraid I’ve been eating your cereal, huh?”
He huffs out a quiet laugh, shaking his head.
“I assure you that I have no interest in your cereal,” you state like it matters, like any of this is actually about the damn cereal.
He watches you take a sip. And then, before he can stop himself, he blurts out, “You look beautiful tonight.”
It comes out softer and honest. Too honest.
You lower the glass, a small smile touching your lips. “Thank you.”
It does something to him. Something dangerous. So he pushes forward, keeps it light, keeps it moving. “Where are you actually going?”
You don’t answer right away. You move toward the dining table instead, picking up your phone like it’s more interesting than the question. “To some… boring event.”
He lets out a faint scoff, but his gaze doesn’t soften. “You look a little too prepared for a boring event.”
“It’s the dress code,” you barely glance at him as you talk and type on your phone. Then, almost absentmindedly, you add, “It’s a gala dinner, after all.”
And there it is. The confirmation. His jaw tightens as he says his name. “With Seungmin?”
It slips out sharper than he intends and you freeze for a second. Then, he sees how you weren’t expecting him to know.
“Yeah,” you say eventually, like it’s nothing. Like it’s easy.
Something in him snaps into place. Hyunjin closes the distance in a few quick steps, stopping right in front of you, forcing you to look at him. “Are you… getting back together with him?”
You let out a quiet laugh, trying to brush it off. “It’s for work,” you say, not quite answering his question.
He doesn’t believe you and asks again. “Are you?”
This time, you hesitate. Your expression shifts, slipping into that reserved, guarded version of you. “It’s not your business.”
The words land hard. Hyunjin shakes his head, something restless, something frustrated building under his skin. “How can you just—let him back in? After everything?” his voice tightens, broken in places.
Your brows knit, confusion flashing across your face.
“He hurt you. He made you feel like you weren’t enough, like you didn’t deserve—”
The shocked, disbelief look on your face cuts him off like he’s crossed a line he wasn’t supposed to even see. Your hand presses against his chest, pushing him back just enough to put a safe space between you. Like you’re drawing a line and tells him to stay behind it.
“That’s enough,” you firmly say, leaving no room for anything else.
Your phone rings and the sound slices through everything. You answer it without looking away from him, your voice clipped as you talk but focused somewhere else.
He doesn’t need to hear the other end because he knows, he hears a car pulls up outside.
You hang up, shove your phone into your purse, and look at him. “Do what you came here to do and don’t even think of taking that spare key with you,” you warn and then turn, heading for the door.
And Hyunjin—
He could stop here. He should. He’s never had any problem doing so — staying behind the line because it’s easier, uncomplicated, untouched by anything real. But tonight, he can’t.
He moves before he thinks. His hand wraps around your wrist, stopping you just before you reach the door. You turn, startled, and the next second you’re pressed back against the wall, his presence closing in around you.
“Don’t go.”
It’s not a suggestion. Not a tease or a witty remark. It’s something else entirely.
“Let go,” you say, but there’s something unsteady under it.
He doesn’t let go but closing the last inch of gap. “Please, don’t go.”
You open your mouth but he doesn’t let any word out. His lips crash into yours, urgent, desperate, like this is the only language he has left. The kiss is everything he’s been holding back, everything he shouldn’t be feeling, everything he doesn’t know how to say.
You fight it at first but eventually, your resistance softens and breaks. Your purse slips from your hand, hitting the floor with a dull sound he barely registers.
He kisses you through it all—your anger, your hesitation, the mess of it—and when your phone starts ringing again from inside your purse, he only pulls you closer, like he can drown it out, like he can keep you here if he just—
Then, the knocking comes and a voice, Seungmin’s voice, calling for your name.
Reality crashes back in and Hyunjin pulls back just enough to look at you, breath uneven, eyes searching yours. “Stay,” he says again, softer now, but somehow more desperate.
You don’t answer. You just stare into his eyes like you’re trying to see past everything he is, into something deeper.
He leans in, forehead resting against yours. His voice fragile now, fraying around the edges. “Stay.”
Another knock. Another call of your name, louder and urgent this time.
You shift and he senses that you’re about to slip away. Out of frustration, desperation — the words just come out of his mouth.
“I’d love you better.”
The words hang there, raw and hopeless.
“Better than he did.”
Something flickers across your face and he can’t tell what it is. Hope. Doubt. Fear. All of it. He can’t tell.
“You don’t know what you’re saying,” you talk so low it’s almost like a whisper.
“I do,” he insists, voice breaking at the edges. “I know I would.”
You hold his gaze for a moment that stretches too long and he thinks— Maybe. Maybe you’ll stay.
But then your hands press against his chest, gently and that’s worse than anything. “I’m sorry.”
The apology is soft, almost merciful. And final. You step to the side and pick up your purse from the floor.
This time, he doesn’t stop you as you get the door and he stays there, listening as Seungmin’s voice greets you rather sweetly and asks if you’re ready. You don’t answer but grip your purse tighter and then steps out of the house.
The door closes yet Hyunjin stay there, standing and listening to your footsteps, to Seungmin’s voice, to the way your footsteps eventually fall into a shared rhythm as you walk away from him. Each step quieter than the last until there’s nothing but silence.
And the sound of his heart breaking.
-
Hyunjin doesn’t remember the drive home. Not the traffic lights, not the turns, not the way the city folds into itself at night. It’s all blank like his body moved on instinct while his mind stayed behind, stuck in your hallway, stuck on your voice, your eyes, that quiet I’m sorry that keeps echoing like it refuses to fade.
His apartment greets him in silence and he doesn’t bother with the lights. The door shuts behind him with a dull click, and for a moment, he just stands there like he’s waiting for something to catch up to him.
It does. All at once. He exhales sharply and moves, shrugging off his jacket, tossing his keys somewhere he won’t remember later. His steps are restless, carrying him straight to the kitchen like there’s only one place he knows how to go.
The cabinet door swings and he takes whatever’s closest. A bottle of whiskey he plans to have for special occasion. It’s not a special occasion but the situation calls for a hard liquor like this. The cap twists off with a rough jerk, and he brings it straight to his lips, no glass, not even a small sip but a long, burning swallow that hits his throat like punishment.
Good. He wants it to hurt. He moves to the couch, dropping onto it with a heavy exhale, one hand dragging over his face before reaching blindly for his headphones. They slip over his ears, and he turns the volume all the way up to drown out everything. Or at least, that’s the plan.
It doesn’t work because his mind is louder. It cuts through the music, through the noise, through everything. He sees it again in the back of his head. You—standing there, framed in the doorway, your eyes searching his like you were trying to find something real in him.
Stay.
The way your lips parted. The way you almost. Almost did.
“I’d love you better.”
His own voice, raw and exposed. God!
Hyunjin lets out a short, humorless laugh, the sound swallowed by the music blasting in his ears. He tilts his head back against the couch, bringing the bottle up again and taking another long drink. It burns worse this time. Or maybe he just feels it more. Because it doesn’t matter how many times he replays the moment, it always ends the same.
Your gentle hands on his chest, pushing him away. “I’m sorry.”
He squeezes his eyes shut, jaw tightening as the memory hits again like it just happened seconds ago instead of hours ago. He exhales shakily, dragging a hand through his hair.
Why did he think—
Why did he actually think—
That you’d choose him?
A bitter laugh slips out, harsher this time, cutting through his chest. He brings the bottle to his lips again, swallowing hard, chasing something that won’t come but it just settles in his chest, heavy and weighing him down.
Because the truth is for a second… For one stupid, reckless second, he believed it. Believed that you’d stay. Believed that what was between you was enough to pull you back, to make you choose him over everything else, over Seungmin. The name alone feels like acid that burns his tongue.
Hyunjin lets out another quiet, broken laugh, shaking his head as he stares at nothing. “I’d love you better,” he mutters under his breath, repeating it like it’s something foreign now, something ridiculous.
Who is he kidding?
He takes another drink and this time, he doesn’t even flinch at the burn. Just lets it drag down his throat, lets it sit heavy in his stomach, lets it do nothing at all. Because no matter how loud the music is, no matter how much he drinks, no matter how many times he tries to replay it, the pain doesn’t dull. It stays exactly the same.
And the worst part? He still sees the way you looked at him. Like you almost believed him. Like you wanted to. That’s what’s going to ruin him. Not the rejection. Not even the way you walked away. But that one fragile, fleeting moment where it felt like you might not.
His grip tightens around the bottle and for the first time since he walked in, he doesn’t take another drink. He just sits there, listening to the music he can’t hear and thinking about you anyway.
-
Hyunjin wakes with a headache, the kind that pulses quietly but insistently, like a reminder of everything he tried to drown the night before. For a moment, he just lies there, staring at the ceiling, letting the light seep in through the curtains.
He lets out a long exhale and makes a decision — he’s not going to think about it. About last night—what he said, what you said, the way it ended—he tucks it away somewhere out of reach, like shoving a mess into a drawer and forcing it shut.
Out of sight. Out of mind. Yeah, that’s the plan.
He gets up and lets the routine takes over. First is the bathroom, a few splashes of cold water to his face, brush his teeth, then slip into something comfortable. The kitchen is next. Breakfast is cereal and milk. Same as always. He moves in autopilot and that’s okay. If he just keeps moving, he won’t have to stop and feel anything.
He sits, takes a bite and slows. The spoon lingers in the milk, circling lazily. Because, of course, this reminds him of you. The way you looked at him across the dining table, watching him eating his cereal like he’s doing something fundamentally wrong just by existing.
“That milk and cereal ratio is insane.”
“Do you even taste the cereal at that point?”
Or worse—
“You know that’s basically sugar and food coloring, right?”
He lets out a small breath through his nose, something almost like a laugh but not quite. He’s barely started his day and he’s already failed on following the plan.
How is he supposed to do this? How is he supposed to walk into work and act like nothing happened—like he didn’t stand in your house and ask you to stay, like you didn’t look at him like that, like he didn’t—
He exhales sharply and drops the spoon into the bowl with a soft clink. He leans back in his chair and he knows he said he wouldn’t think about it. So why is it the only thing sitting at the front of his mind?
He sighs and forces himself to move again, deciding that his phone will be the ultimate distraction. He picks it up, thumb scrolling through notifications that piled up overnight because he was busy drowning his sorrow with alcohol and then hunched over the toilet bowl at the end of the night until there was nothing left to throw up.
He winces when he recalls his bad decision. “Yeah, great night,” he mutters to himself.
He scoffs when he opens his emails because apparently, some people have the nerves to send work emails on the weekends. He flicks past them and his thumb pauses when he notices the familiar pharmacy company email address.
His chest tightens instinctively and for a second, his mind jumps to irrational fears. Did they find something wrong? Did he mess up the submission? Are they asking for the compensation back?
He knows it’s ridiculous, but his heart still picks up as he taps the email open. This time, he promises himself that he won’t skip anything but reads everything, line by line.
Congratulations!
It’s literally the first word in the email but his mind jumps somewhere else entirely— somewhere tropical with lots of sunlight, ocean, exotic cocktails and far away from everything that feels heavy right now. He reads the rest and it confirms everything as they attached the details and instructions on how to claim the prize.
Hyunjin won the free vacation. He won. The free vacation. For a moment, he just sits there, phone in hand, the quiet stretching around him as it sinks in.
A grin slowly blooms on his face, small and disbelieving at first. Then wider and wider until it turns into a full, triumphant grin.
His fingers move before he can stop them, opening your chat because, of course, that’s the first thing he does. Because who else would he tell? Who else would understand what this means—what it took, everything the two of you did to get here?
His thumbs hover over the screen and then stop, his grin falters and fades. Because reality catches up. Because last night exists, whether he wants to ignore it or not. Because you— You’re not his person to share things with anymore. If you ever were.
Hyunjin stares at the screen for a long second, something tight pulling in his chest. He hates it. Hates that the first instinct—the only instinct—is you. Happy, sad, frustrated, drunk—it always comes back to you.
He lets out a quiet breath and locks his phone, setting it down like it suddenly weighs too much. You probably got the email too. Right? Maybe you’re already reading it. Maybe you’re smiling about it. Maybe you’re—
He cuts the thought off. No. He’s not doing that. He shouldn’t care if you claim it, or deciding to go. He shouldn’t care about any of it. He picks up his coffee instead, taking a slow sip, letting the bitterness settle on his tongue.
This is a win and it’s supposed to feel like one.
But sitting here now, in the quiet of his apartment, with your absence louder than anything—
It doesn’t feel like a win.
It feels like an escape.
-
Hyunjin earned this. He deserved this. That’s what he’s been telling himself as he packed his things and the whole taxi ride to the airport. More than that, he needs a few days away from everything that’s been sitting too heavy on his chest.
He repeats it in his head like a script as he steps onto the plane, boarding pass still in his hand, eyes scanning the cabin until he finds his row.
Wow. First class. He huffs a quiet breath through his nose, almost amused. The pharmacy company spoiled him too much.
He adjusts the strap of his backpack as he’s taking it in, then steps forward and settles in like he belongs there. Because he does. His bag goes into the overhead compartment then he drops into the seat, leaning back slightly, testing the comfort. It’s soft, spacious, too nice for how restless he still feels.
Then, his eyes flick to the empty seat beside him which he believes booked for you. Because it was supposed to be a couple trip. He looks away, not giving the chance for the thought to settle, doesn’t let it grow into anything bigger than it needs to be. Maybe it’ll stay empty the whole flight. Maybe no one booked it at all. Maybe—
He exhales quietly and shakes his head to himself. It doesn’t matter whether you’re coming or not. It’s not his business. Not anymore. He forces his focus elsewhere, adjusting the seat, loosening his shoulders, trying to sink into the moment instead of everything he’s been carrying.
A flight attendant approaches, offering him a selection of drinks and he settles on a glass of champagne. He takes it without hesitation. “Thanks.”
The glass is cool in his hand, the bubbles rising lazily to the surface. He stares at it for a second before taking a sip even though it feels a little too celebratory for how he actually feels.
Still, he drinks again. Because he’s supposed to celebrate it. For winning, for getting the one thing he wanted since the start of the test program and worked hard on it. He leans back further into the seat, exhaling slowly, letting his head rest as he brings his headphones up and slips them over his ears. The world dulls immediately, replaced by music. The kind of sound that doesn’t demand anything from him.
He closes his eyes for a moment, letting himself settle. He tells himself he’ll relax and that he’ll enjoy this. He doesn’t look at the seat beside him again, doesn’t think about who could be there. He doesn’t let his mind wander to what it would’ve been like—
No. He doesn’t.
Instead, he sinks deeper into the seat, exhales slowly, and get ready for take-off.
-
Product Evaluation Submission Participant Product Testing Program Product Name: VIBE – Hands-free Couple Vibrator Product Code: VBH-0810 Participant 1 ID: P-260319 Participant 2 ID: P-260320 Date of Evaluation: Friday, April 17. 1. Rate Comfort (1–10) Participant 1: 4 Participant 2: 4 2. Rate Stimulation Intensity (1–10) Participant 1: 6 Participant 2: 6 3. Describe Your Experience Using the Product The product shows strong potential in concept and intention. The vibration is present and noticeable, offering a decent level of stimulation. However, during use, the device fails to remain securely in place, frequently slipping out of position. This significantly disrupts continuity and overall experience. While advertised as suitable for various body types, the fit does not adequately accommodate movement, leading to repeated interruptions. 4. Additional Feedback The material quality is good—soft, body-safe, and comfortable on contact. The design requires improvement, particularly in stability and fit. Adjustable wing sizes or a more adaptive structure may enhance usability. Additional vibration levels and customizable intensity settings would improve user satisfaction. Overall construction is promising, but functionality does not yet match the intended experience. 5. Are you satisfied with the product? (Rate 1-10) Participant 1: 4 Participant 2: 4 6. Would You Buy This Product? (Rate 1-10) Participant 1: 4 Participant 2: 4 7. Would You Recommend This Product To Others? (Rate 1-10) Participant 1: 3 Participant 2: 3 Final Comment The product has a compelling concept and fills a gap in the couple-oriented category. However, execution falls short due to design limitations that affect stability and consistency during use. With refinement—particularly in fit, adjustability, and performance—it has the potential to become a strong contender in its category. Submission Status: ✔ Successfully Submitted
✨ COCKY: FINAL CHAPTER is available on Patreon ✨
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I'M GONNAM JUMP OFF THE CLIFF 😭😭 WHAT THE FUCK Y/N????!!!!!!!
testing bsfs boyfriend jeongin and his limits against you!
🍐 warnings : 18+ dry humping, sexual acts with another person in the room, lwk sub jeongin, getting caught, crying, light degradation kink.
authors note : lwk missed writing quite a bit but we all be knowing im dipping after posting ts. Once again
it wasnt that he could resist you, just the thought of his dear Girlfriend waking up and seeing her own best friend topping her boyfriend brought an ounce of guilt up to his chest, yet he still found himself trying his hardest to push them down with the further you brought yourself up his body.
He was trapped completely still between your thighs, locked up either side of his hips as a teasing graze came clawing up the tough muscles that splayed atop of his torso. Defined and locking up with every gentle touch.
"are you gonna pay attention to me? i promise you she wont wake up." he didnt even realise he was staring at his gilfriend for that long. Awaiting the moment she finally notices. Yet her body stayed ompletely still. Heavy with sleep.
"I didnt-"
SMACK.
"eyes up here. Not on her. Whats special about her? when im ontop of you?"
his eyes were blown wide, just, staring as you continued moving about to get comfortable, every time your fabric covered cunt just as brushed against his growing bulge, a small but noticeable whine could be heard escaping right from his throat, breath going heavy with every movement.
it wasnt until you forcefully pushed your palm up against the side of his jaw, pushing up to give yourself some sort of balance as your brought yourself up, just to push yourself back down with a horribly rough roll of your hips against his, his moans were silenced, brewing right under your hand, adams apple bobbing undeneath your touch.
His skin was getting sweaty, he didnt even know where to place his hands, nor keep them, wether to put them on your hips, your thighs, or just knuckle them down onto the sheets to keep himself together.
"shh, your doing so good for me, yeah? just a little more."
your words were only adding onto the attrociously embarassing situation he had going on right under you, and he coudnt even relieve himself, not with you quickly swatting his hands back to their place every time he tried to speed you up himself, recieving a rough tug to his hair every time.
"so fucking desperate arent you? all this for me? your disgusting."
you spat, tears were brinking at the corners of his eyes, threatening to fall. It was almost painful now, his erection was just blantly obvious. Stood up, thick and heavy against you as you grinded down against him, denying any skin to skin contact what so ever.
"you wanna look so bad? then look. look at her whilst your taking whatever i give you like a fucking whore."
he coudnt, he couldnt bring himself to move any part of him, to engrossed in the way you moved, the way your back arched just the right amount, pushing yourself forward, but it wouldnt stay like that for long.
SMACK.
SMACK.
"look at her. She doesnt even know. Her sweet little boyfriend so fucked up for her bestfriend, isnt that right?"
The words were stuck. he opened his mouth to speak, but all that came out was a pathetic whine as you grinded down as soon as he tried.
"so fucking pathetic." you were getting harsher, yet his dick was straining more and more with every little word. Every degrading name you gave him, he took eagerly with a fast nod or a slow moan, the knot in his stomach was coiling tight, he didnt even know if he'd orgasm at this point, to pent up in the adrenaline and guilt of being caught. But as you carried on, and on..it was inching closer, muscles growing tight and rigged right under you. And with one last rock of your hips, he was making a mess.
you could feel the embarassingly huge wet patch forming on his sweats, his cheeks were flushed red, head turned away from you. Completely avoiding eye contact. just, all up in the feeling.
But not until a distraught gasp filled the room, cancelling out whatever noises he thought he was making. whch in no doubt, he was.
"what the fuck jeongin?!"
a/n : idk bout this one but we roll with whatever lowkey..
♡︎ : @bbyyuuu @g0matchi
Theme under construction y'all 😭
Hieee my babyy 👀💗
HIHIHIHIHIIII I WAS JUST ABOUT TO DROP SOMETHING IN YOUR INBOX MY LOVE💕💕
luv?? omggg you're back!!
- 🌻
yesss bbg!!
your intuition goes crazy
babe?? i don't get youu (╥﹏╥) am so dumb gosh
feels like home
you’re broke and you move in with a friend of a friend, changbin, to save money, and he's exactly your type
pairing: roommate!changbin x fem!reader genre: roommates to lovers, fluff, smut content: reader is down bad (same), light food play, light temperature play, dry humping, fingering, handjob, unprotected sex (p in v), pet names, aftercare, minsung mention (i can't help myself) word count: 5.9k a/n: my writing slump is over mwahaha! this one kinda got out of hand but i hope everything makes sense and you all enjoy! ♡ ♡ m.list
When you lost your job, the first place you had to cut costs was rent. Which fucking sucked, because you hardly know anyone in the city as it is, and the people you did know didn’t need a roommate.
Enter Changbin. He’s a friend of a friend, clean enough, and is always out of the house. Busy guy, your friend Jisung tells you.
“You want me to live with a guy?” you ask your friend over the phone.
“He’s like a walking green flag, calm down. Nice guy, really. He won’t bother you and he’s loaded so he’ll give you a deal,” Jisung explains over the phone. “And those muscles aren’t half bad to stare at.”
“Are you trying to set me up with your friend?”
“No! I mean, listen, you could use a good lay, but my intentions are pure, I swear!”
You’ve been single for far too long, and Jisung knows that. But the last thing you need is to hook up with the guy who’s supposed to be your new roommate. Whom you don’t even know, by the way.
“I can’t just sleep on yours and Minho’s couch until I find another place?” you ask, hoping to get out of it.
“Absolutely not,” he says sternly. “Changbin is a nice guy, and plus, you wouldn’t want to live here. Minho doesn’t wear pants, like, ever.”
Fine. You’ll take his word for it.
You show up the next day to look at the room. Changbin opens the door and greets you with a smile. Fuck, he’s pretty.
“Uh, hello! You must be Changbin,” you greet him. “It’s nice to meet you, Jisung has told me a lot about you!”
“It’s nice to meet you, too. I’m sorry to hear about your job,” he says. “I’m happy to help if I can.” He steps aside to let you into the apartment.
Jesus Christ, his place is massive. The ceilings have to be at least 15 feet tall, and the massive windows in the living room span the entire wall. It has the most incredible view of the Han River, and you’re almost positive the kitchen counters are 100% marble. And it’s certainly out of your price range.
“The spare room is this way,” he says, motioning down the hallway past the kitchen. He leads you through the apartment, and you catch a glimpse of an office space with a desk covered in music production gear.
The bedroom is huge in comparison to what you’re used to. There’s so much natural light, your houseplants would be in heaven. You could probably fit the entirety of your belongings in this room alone. There’s even a walk-in closet, which you have never, ever had before. It’s great, perfect even, and you’d move in immediately if you could afford it.
“Do you like it?” Changbin asks from the doorway as you’re walking around the room.
You let out a big sigh. “It’s perfect, truly, but it’s definitely out of my price range.” What a shame. A beautiful apartment and a hot roommate? It hurts to walk away from.
“No price,” he says, shaking his head. “You’re in a tight spot, I get it. Don’t even worry about it for the first few months, then you can just pay what you’re comfortable with.”
You stare at him, completely dumbfounded. “I can’t ask you to do that,” you say, shaking your head back at him.
“I’m happy to help. Any friend of Jisung’s is a friend of mine. I mean it, no backpaying needed, let’s just get you on your feet.”
You could kiss him right now, and you just met him. It’s the kindest offer you could ever have dreamed of, especially coming from a complete stranger. You’d normally be wary of something like this, it’s almost too good to be true. But Jisung’s known him for years, and you trust him more than anyone else in the world.
“That’s extremely generous of you, thank you,” you say. “Really, you’re saving me from a much worse fate.”
“It’s no problem, really. I can help you move your stuff, too.”
You almost want to cry tears of joy. Changbin walks you to the door and you say thank you, again, and plan to move in later this week.
The cab hasn’t even pulled away from the building when you call Jisung again.
“I hate you,” you tell him when he picks up the phone.
“What did I do?” he whines.
“You didn’t tell me your friend was hot.”
“I said he had nice muscles!”
You groan into the speaker. You love your friend, but now you’re sure he’s trying to set you up.
“He is, quite literally, exactly my type, Jisung.”
“I’m struggling to find the issue.”
You groan again. “I’m not supposed to want to fuck my roommate,” you say, lowering your voice.
He howls out a laugh. “So you’re taking it, right? His offer?”
“He’s not charging me anything.”
“Yeah, I know. I told you he’s rich.”
It’s still an insane thing to offer a complete stranger. But right now, you’ll take your luck wherever you can get it. Even if that means moving in with a roommate who looks like he’ll get you into a whole lot of trouble.
You moved in two days later, and it was the least stressful move-in day you’ve ever had. Jisung had helped you pack the day before, although he mostly just stood around handing you things to wrap and commenting on your weird trinkets. Changbin had called a truck for you, and also called over Jisung and their friend Chan to help unload it. You didn’t lift a damn finger, but you did buy them a pack of beers to share for the trouble.
“You really don’t have a lot of stuff,” Changbin comments when all of your boxes and furniture are in your room. Most of the furniture in your old apartment was your roommate’s, but it feels weird all laid out in front of you like this.
“Yeah…I don’t even have a bed frame…” You pout, as the two of you stand in the doorway. You survey what you do have, and it’s not much. An old wood dresser you got from a thrift store, your full-size mattress, and a single nightstand you had in college.
You let out a big sigh. You don’t have much unpacking to do, but you’re a bit drained from the stress, and you’d like to at least lie down for a bit.
“Don’t worry about dinner,” Changbin says as he heads out into the hallway. “I can whip something up for us. I’ll leave you to unpack your things.”
He’s been so kind, and it almost distracts you from the fact that you’re living with a stranger. And that you lost your job. That part still sucks. But you can’t lie, he is really nice to look at. There’s nothing wrong with looking.
Forty-five minutes later, Changbin lets you know that dinner is ready. You’ve been able to smell it the entire time packing, and it smells divine. The spread is pork belly, rice, kimchi, and several other side dishes you’re not used to seeing outside of a restaurant. You’re used to living off of ramen, which makes this a five-star meal.
“Thank you so much, you didn’t have to do all of this,” you say, taking your seat at the island counter.
He lets out a huff of air through his nose. “Uh, this is just how I eat normally.”
“Oh, right…well, still, thank you.” You almost forgot. He’s rich. And apparently, eats like a king daily.
“You’re welcome.” He sends you a soft smile and joins you at the island counter.
The two of you get to chatting, and you learn a lot about him. He works with Jisung and Chan at his producing studio and is a personal trainer at the gym on the side. He lives alone because, well, he wants to.
You’re unemployed, but he already knows that.
“Sorry for ruining your peaceful atmosphere,” you joke, but there’s a part of you that feels like maybe he said yes because Jisung owed him something.
“No, no, no, it’s okay, really. It’s nice having someone around. It was getting lonely around here. I almost got a dog. And I’m allergic.”
The evening dissolves into laughter, and you get the feeling that this won’t be as strange as you thought.
It takes several days, but you finally get your stuff out of boxes and organize it the way you like it. Your bedspread is hastily thrown over the floor mattress and your clothes don’t even fill half of the giant closet. You feel out of place, but you shake the feeling and try to be grateful.
Overall, living with Changbin is really great. You’re home quite a bit, only really leaving the house to pick up food or going to a job interview. He’s pretty busy, like Jisung told you, but he’s home most evenings.
You’re usually watching some tv show, and he takes a second out of his day to sit down and chat with you. It’s nice to have company, your old roommate wasn’t much of a talker. But with Changbin, it’s easy, and nothing feels forced.
“I can’t believe they’re back together again,” he comments as you’re watching a tv show. He mentioned he was never one for dramas like this, but he’d hover behind the couch when you’d watch it out in the living room, making jokes at the stupid situations the characters got themselves into. It took only a week for him to ask you to restart it from the beginning so he could watch the whole thing. You started looking forward to the evenings after that, waiting for him to get back from the gym for your nightly watch party.
The first moment you realize you maybe, possibly, might have a crush on your roommate is during one evening in the kitchen. You can smell something cooking from your room, and it smells delicious, you can’t help but peek around the corner to see what it is.
Changbin’s at the stovetop cooking, still in his gym outfit, muscles peeking through the fabric. You try not to drool at the sight, quietly walking over to him to see what he’s making. He jumps a bit as he sees you.
“Sorry!” you say apologetically. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he says, dipping his spoon into the soup he was making. “Can you try this for me? I feel like it needs more salt.”
He takes a couple of steps closer to you, holding his hand under the spoon to catch the drip. You don’t even have a chance to decline before he’s bringing the spoon closer to your face, urging you to take a sip. He blows on it a couple of times to cool it before bringing it to your lips. He’s standing so close, you feel your stomach tie into a knot. You take a sip slowly and carefully, taking note of the flavors.
“No, I think it’s perfect,” you say, licking your lips. You’re probably not just talking about the soup, but he smiles and thanks you for being his taste tester.
You push any and all thoughts of what those lips might feel like against yours to the side. Roommate, you remind yourself.
The second time is when you bump into him in the hallway, he just showered and has a towel wrapped low around his waist.
“Oh, god! I’m so sorry!” Your eyes naturally drift across his torso, still wet from the shower, before realizing you should definitely not be staring. You shield your eyes and move around him.
“Sorry! Not used to living with other people.” He scurries into his room and shuts the door. You let out the breath you’ve been holding, and quickly go back to your bedroom.
You tell yourself it’s just the proximity, that anyone would be feeling this way if they had an attractive roommate parading around half naked. He’s your roommate, you remind yourself. He’s been so kind to you, and he doesn’t deserve the less than respectful stares you’ve been giving him. It’s a temporary situation after all, and it’ll continue to be a good one so long as you don’t cross any lines.
The third time was when it really hit you. You came home from another awful job interview to the sound of tools clanking and something pounding against the floor. Changbin’s room was off to the left of the living room, but the sound was coming from the right. Where your room is.
You set your bag down on the floor and quietly kick off your shoes before rounding the corner. Your bedroom door was propped open, light on, and the banging sounds were coming from in there.
You’re not sure what you expected to find. Maybe Changbin would be patching some drywall you chipped off by accident. Or maybe the screws on your ceiling fan loosened, and he was tightening them for you.
Changbin’s sitting in the middle of a bunch of pieces of wood, holding a screwdriver in his mouth and fumbling with paper. He didn’t even hear you walk into the house.
“Uh…hi?” you say to him, standing in the doorway.
“Oh, hi,” he says, taking the screwdriver from between his teeth and laying the paper to the side.
“Whatcha doin'?”
“Building a bed frame.”
“I see that…why?”
“You didn’t have one.”
“Okay…”
“So I’m building you one.”
“Why?” you question him, one eyebrow raised.
“You’re sleeping on a mattress on the floor,” he says, like the answer is obvious.
“I know, but I could’ve done this myself.”
“I wanted to do something nice for you.”
You feel guilty immediately. You don’t want to be seen as some charity case that someone has to take in and look after, like a burden. “Thank you…I can pay you back for this—”
“Don’t,” he cuts you off. “Think of it as a housewarming gift.” He smiles at you as he turns back to the instructions.
“It’s your apartment…”
“Please just let me do something nice for you.”
“You’re already being nice by letting me stay here!”
He stands up as you say that, walking towards you, still grinning. His hands come up to your shoulders, and he meets your eyes. “I want to do this.”
You gulp. He’s standing so close you can smell his body wash. His gaze is intense, but you can’t look away. You resort to a nod and a small “thank you”, and he turns to continue working on the bed frame.
“At least let me help you—” You cut yourself off this time when he gives you the biggest sigh, and looks at you like you already know what he’s going to say. You have a crush on your roommate. Your handsome, incredibly fit, incredibly rich, generous, and kind roommate. What could go wrong?
Everything feels different after that.
You find yourself thinking of him all the time, wanting to make sure you’re already home when he gets home, spending as little time in your bedroom as possible just to hang out with him. You swear you feel him doing it, too.
It starts innocently. First, he’s grazing the small of your back when he passes behind you in the kitchen. He bumps into you in the hall and grabs your waist to move past you. Your thighs touch his on the couch, and neither of you moves. Plausible deniability.
Until the air conditioning breaks in the middle of a heat wave. Because, of course it would. Now you’re forced to watch him walk around the apartment shirtless and dripping in sweat. Forced is a strong word. More like, your eyes are blessed every waking hour until this gets fixed. Which doesn’t seem to be any time soon, considering the whole city’s affected by rolling blackouts and HVAC issues.
You’re convinced he was put on this earth just to torture you. It’s impossible, really, to be that attractive and walk around like he doesn’t even know it.
You’re hyper aware of every movement he makes. A drag through his damp hair, him leaning against the counter, muscles flexing. You make every earnest effort not to look, but you can’t help it.
“I’m no better than a man,” you groan, flopping on the bed.
“What’s wrong now?” Jisung asks on the other end of the phone. You had to tell someone, and he’s the one person you feel comfortable enough with who knows you both.
“Changbin. Shirtless. Like all the time. The AC went out.”
“Again, I’m struggling to see the issue. Dude’s hot, I get it.”
“He’s. My. Roommate.” Emphasis on roommate.
“You’re both single, I don’t see anything wrong with it.” He has a point. “I’m sure if he was uncomfortable, he would’ve said something.”
“I want him to crush my head with his biceps.” The heat is irritating you, and you have no filter. Not that you ever do with Jisung.
“Jesus Christ, you hornball,” Jisung laughs on the other line. “Maybe you just need to get it out of your system.”
“What?”
“Put a dick in it!” Minho’s voice rings through the speaker. Of course Jisung told him. You’re not even mad, but you’re caught off guard by the statement.
“What?”
“Minho’s right. There’s so much tension built up, you’re psyching yourself out. If you just…put a dick in it…it might go away!”
“I’m not sure about that.” At this point, you wonder if it’s even about how attractive Changbin is, or if you’re starting to genuinely like him.
“C’mon, you could both use a fun one-night stand. And you wouldn’t even have to leave the apartment!”
“Jisung, he built me a fucking bed frame.”
“Oh.” Yeah, oh. “Ohhhh, I get it. You like him!” You groan at him, again.
“What do I do?” Your hand drags across the side of your face. Hearing Jisung say it out loud makes it real, and now you’re panicking.
“Girl up! Go get your man!”
You don’t even know what he means by that, and you don’t know if you should even try. Jisung’s just being a good friend, supportive of all your delusions. All you know is that it’s fucking hot in here, but if you see Changbin shirtless one more time, you might accidentally pounce on him.
You peek down the hallway to check that the coast is clear before tiptoeing your way to the kitchen to grab a cold glass of water. You bring the glass up to your face, the condensation running down your forehead and cheek, offering a little relief from the heat. It’s not nearly enough to cool you down, though. You place the glass on the island behind you and open the fridge and freezer doors, and just stand there, eyes closed, taking in the cool air.
“Feeling okay?” You hear Changbin’s voice on the other side of the fridge. And you’re standing with your head inside the fridge looking like an idiot.
You whip the door closed and find him leaning just on the other side of it against the wall, still half-clothed, skin shiny from the heat.
“Oh! Yeah, I was just getting some water,” you sputter out. You’re focusing on his face, and the way sweat is dripping from his hairline, doing anything to desperately not let your eyes wander too far south. You’re trying really hard to be respectful.
It’s like he can hear your thoughts. After a few moments of silence, he lets out a breathy laugh, rubbing his hands through his damp hair. His biceps flex, and you force yourself to grab your glass of water and walk into the living room before you combust.
Your thighs stick to the leather cushions as you sit down. It’s fucking miserable in here, the air is choking you every chance it gets. And just when you thought it couldn’t get any harder to breathe, Changbin comes and sits down next to you. He looks at you, brows furrowed, concerned.
Without saying anything, he leans over and places the back of his hand on your forehead. The movement startles you, and the warmth of his hand hitting your damp forehead sends a buzz through your body.
“You’re overheating,” he says simply, before getting up and going to his room. You let out the breath you didn’t realize you were holding, staring down the hall in confusion. You can hear him rustling around in his room, and a few minutes later, he comes out with a giant fan in hand.
He walks over to the wall to plug it in and angles it towards where you’re sitting on the couch. “There,” he says proudly. “Sorry, I only have the one.”
“Thank you,” you manage to mumble. The air feels good as it hits your skin, even if it’s a bit warm. He keeps standing there for a second, just watching, making sure it’s working properly before walking back into the kitchen.
You sip your water, flipping through various apps on your phone, trying not to think about the heat or the half-naked man in the kitchen. He walks back a couple of seconds later, two popsicles in hand. He unwraps one and hands it to you, plopping back down on the couch.
You’re trying really, really hard to focus on whatever show Changbin decided to throw on. He leans forward in his seat, absentmindedly licking over the sweet treat, and you can’t help but stare. You catch yourself and tear your eyes away, hoping he didn’t notice.
He leans back to make a comment, his knee brushes against yours, and you feel like you’re going to combust. You don’t dare move, hoping he doesn’t notice your skin touching his. Your eyes keep drifting back to him, no matter how hard you try to stay focused. His shorts are tight against his thighs, and you can see the faint outline of his muscles through them. His stomach and chest are on display, thick and firm. His arms are always out, probably as thick as your entire head, and his lips—
“Do I have something on my face?” he asks, wiping his mouth with a napkin. Your eyes dart up to his, and he’s looking at you. He definitely just saw you staring. Fuck.
“N-no! No, you’re good.” Nice save. A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth, but he doesn’t say anything about it. He finishes his popsicle and throws the stick on the coffee table with the remaining trash.
“You okay?” he asks, voice low and far too casual.
“Yeah, it’s just—hot.” You don’t know if you’re talking about the literal temperature of the room, him, or both.
“It’s melting.” He nods his head towards the abandoned popsicle in your hand. You haven’t even taken a single bite, just letting it melt down your wrist. God, you’re so down bad for him, it’s not even funny anymore.
You snap out of whatever trance you were in previously and look at your hand. “Shit.” You chuckle a bit, and your face grows even warmer from embarrassment.
“Let me help.” He smiles at you, inching even closer. He takes the popsicle from your hand and pulls your arm closer to him. Before you can even register what’s happening, he brings your wrist to his mouth and licks the cold juice off with a slow movement.
“It’s sweet,” he comments. What the fuck. Your eyes are locked with his as he cleans you up with his mouth, moving slowly over your palm, before taking two of your fingers in his mouth and sucking slowly. He’s watching your reaction intently. Your lips part, and your thighs press together on instinct as a heat begins to grow inside your body.
“Thank you…,” your voice trails off. You don’t know whether you should move closer or run back into your room screaming.
“This fans not really cutting it, huh?” He gestures to the hunk of metal in the corner. You shake your head with a laugh, because as hard as it’s trying, it’s doing jack shit to help with the actual temperature of the room.
“Lean forward.” He’s fully turned to face you now, one leg folded between the two of you. He gestures for you to move closer, and you do. “Close your eyes.” Your eyes snap shut, painfully aware of how you didn’t even bother to ask why. Your curiosity is getting the better of you.
He takes the popsicle you didn’t really eat and brings it to your collarbone. The cold sensation against your warm skin makes you gasp, but you keep your eyes closed. He traces a line with the tip of the treat along your collarbone, and you can feel it dripping down your chest. A shiver runs through you, goosebumps raising along your whole body.
“Better?” he whispers. You nod your head, unable to form the words, and he continues to drag the popsicle along your skin, bringing it lower to the swell of your breast. The cold trickle down your skin feels really good in this heat, but there’s a growing ache between your legs you can’t stop thinking about.
The empty stick lands on the coffee table, and your eyes snap open. You’re breathing heavier than is considered normal, and Changbin is inches from your face. His eyes are tracing down your neck, watching the liquid drip down under your tank top.
“Can I?” he asks, leaning closer. Again, you nod your head, watching as he leans in. His mouth meets your collarbone, his tongue flicking out to lap up the mess. You shudder under his touch, and your hands fly up to his shoulders. Everything is hot—his mouth, his skin, your body.
You moan as he works his way between your breasts, throwing your head back. Your brain is foggy, only able to focus on him.
“Is this okay?” he says softly against your skin. The cool air hits the spots he’s licked away, sending tingles through your body. You nod aggressively, squeezing his shoulders to ask for more.
He leans you back against the couch’s armrest, moving a pillow behind you, before he dips back down to lap at your neck. The mess has been mostly cleaned up, but you’re both too worked up to stop.
He’s sucking softly at your skin, and his hands trail under your tank top. You moan under his touch, pulling him closer to you. He props himself up above you, looking you in the eyes. He pauses a moment, as if asking for permission. You give him a slight nod, and he closes the gap, capturing your lips with his.
The kiss is slow, tentative, careful, as if he hadn’t just had his whole tongue on you moments before. Your hands tangle in his hair, and he moans into your mouth when you tug lightly.
It grows heated quickly. Your legs wrap around his body, encouraging him to put his weight on you. His hand moves further up, squeezing your breast. Every movement makes the heat in your belly grow, and you buck your hips up against him, chasing any kind of friction.
“Bin…please,” you whisper. “More...”
Your hands trail down his sides, guiding his hips down to meet yours. He grinds against you, and you feel him through his shorts, thick and hard. You can feel your insides burning, and you’re already wet for him. He swallows your moans and sits up to pull you onto his lap.
Your lips meet again, moving sloppier and faster than before. He pulls your bottom lip between his teeth, and you whimper at the feeling. His hands are everywhere—your chest, your ass, your thighs. He’s grabbing and kneading at your skin, sending a buzz through you.
“You made it…so hard not to touch you,” he grunts between kisses. “Walking around…in those shorts…no bra.” The words give you a fluttering feeling. You had sensed the attraction wasn’t one-sided, but hearing him say it out loud brought feelings of relief and excitement.
“Says you,” you say, hands drifting down his chest. “I’ve been fighting for my life since I moved in.”
That earns a chuckle from him. He moves to lift your tank top off and licks away any remnants of popsicle juice that might still be left on your chest. He moves to suck on one of your nipples, holding the other in his hand. He sucks a little harder, and the slight sting has your eyes squeezing shut in pleasure. He gives your other breast the same treatment, and you grind down in his lap to relieve the tension between your legs.
“More?” he asks.
You nod your head. “Yes—fuck, please, God yes.”
He shuffles under you to slide down his shorts and boxers, revealing his thick cock to you. You almost choke on your own spit because, fuck, he’s girthy.
You slide off his lap to discard your shorts and underwear. You climb back in his lap, spit in your palm, and bring it to his length. You stroke him gently, watching him intently as his head falls back against the couch.
“Shit—that feels so good,” he moans. You lean forward to kiss his neck, gently sucking on the sensitive spot there. He moans louder, egging you in, and you move your hand faster.
“You’re so big, Bin.” You nibble at his earlobe and whisper low. “If I’d have known, I would’ve pounced on you a lot sooner.”
“Don’t say that to me right now .” He’s smiling, but there’s a serious undertone in his voice. “Or I’m gonna come.”
And you’d love nothing more. But before you get the chance to increase your pace, he grabs your wrist tight and yanks it away. You don’t even get the chance to protest before he’s dragging his fingers through your folds.
“Oh, fuck!” you cry out as he slips two fingers inside of you. You fall onto his chest, squeezing his shoulders tight. Your head starts to spin as he increases his pace, and you can hear how wet you are.
“You sound so pretty,” he whispers in your ear. “So warm and wet.” He’s still fucking into you at a relentless pace, and the heat in your body is reaching to its peak.
“Bin, fuck, I’m gonna—,” you cry, gripping him for dear life. Just then, he slows his pace down, leaving you whining at your denied orgasm.
“Not yet, sweetheart,” he says. “I want to feel you come around me, if you’ll let me.” You lean back to look at him, his eyes begging you for more. You nod your head quickly and bring him in for a kiss. He kisses you back gently, slowly easing his fingers out. You whine at the loss, but he’s soon moving you into a better position.
You prop yourself up on your knees, keeping your balance on his shoulders, as he lines himself up with your entrance.
“Ready?” he asks, gripping your waist. You reply with a quick “mhm” and take a deep breath.
You lower yourself down slowly as he guides you onto his cock, moaning in unison as the head enters you. The stretch stings a bit, but it feels so good.
“You’re taking me so well,” he says, letting out a deep breath and flashing you a smile. Inch by inch, you take him, feeling him nice and deep inside you. He gives you a moment to adjust to his size before he helps you rock back and forth.
“S-so big—,” you whine, your forehead falling against his. Your foreheads are still damp from the heat, skin still sticky from a mixture of sweat, popsicle, and spit. “Fuck, Bin—faster.”
Your legs are already shaking at his sides, and he takes over. His hands squeeze your hips hard as he thrusts up into you, fast and rough.
“So fuckin’ tight, baby,” he grunts. The sounds of him smacking against you fill the room. Your cunt is soaked, and you can feel the heat in your belly bubbling back up again.
“Close, close,” you warn him, and your head falls to his shoulder.
He wraps one arm around you tightly and moves his hand to your clit. His fingers make quick but gentle circles around your nub, and you’re seeing stars.
“Oh—fuck! Changbin!” you cry out as the heat boils over, sending shockwaves through your body. Your entire body spasms around him, and you feel yourself leaking around him.
He fucks you through the aftershocks, careful to be gentle and not overstimulate you. But you want him to feel good, too. You need him to.
You brace yourself to take control and ride him in earnest. You’re slamming into his cock, sensitivity be damned. He’s moaning your name through it, holding onto you. You feel him twitch inside of you, and you know that he’s close.
“Come for me, Bin,” you moan in his ear. “Fill me up.”
He breaks seconds later, filling you up with his hot white liquid. You slow your pace until he finishes, and collapse against his chest. You’re both breathing heavily, sweaty bodies pressed together.
“You’re incredible,” he breathes out, rubbing your back.
You sit up straight to kiss him again, cupping his face in your hands. “That was…so good…God, you’re so hot.” He smiles at your compliment, kissing you back.
“Let’s get cleaned up.”
He helps you off of him, and you try to keep everything from leaking out of you. He leads you into his bathroom and warms up the water. He cleans you up gently, even helping you wash your hair.
You both dry off and grab some clean pjs from your room before meeting back in the living room.
He plops down on the couch next to you, and his arm reaches around you to pull you close. It’s still hot as fuck in your apartment, but you wouldn’t dare move away. You can’t help but giggle at the situation that’s unfolded.
“What?” he asks, laughing with you even though he’s not sure why.
“Jisung said I needed to get laid,” you chuckle. “He’s going to have a field day when he finds out.”
“He’s one to talk,” Changbin laughs. “He’s been crushing on Minho for years and hasn’t done a thing about it.”
“I know, right? God, he’s so blind that poor boy’s in love with him.”
You spend a good amount of time just cuddling and talking on the couch. It feels really, really nice. You’re not exactly sure what any of it means, but you know you want it to keep going.
“Bin,” you whisper after the conversation comes to a lull.
“Hmm?” he hums.
“This is…nice. I know this living situation is only temporary—”
“Temporary?” he asks, looking at you with a confused expression. “I never said it was temporary.”
“Oh.” You look back at him with the same confusion written on your face. “I just thought you might want your space back.”
He adjusts himself so he’s looking directly at you, and holds both of your hands in his. “You moved into my space, my home, and into my heart. I never want you to leave.”
The confession makes your face grow hot again. You’re giddy and glad that this wasn’t a one-time thing. “Okay,” you manage to squeak out. “I won’t leave.”
He leans forward to kiss you, and a warm, fuzzy feeling washes over you. Home. This feels like home.
“What now?” you ask, leaning back against the couch.
“Hmmm…” He thinks for a moment. “We could break in your new bed frame.” “Absolutely.”
permanent taglist: @11racha @jisuperboard @kloversung @sourtae @binniebb @b4echo @hanjinology @lynsbng @eyyyylucieeee @bbyyuuu @viisstrayy @starlostjisung @stryscribbles @miniseungkimcami
COCKY.
CHAPTER FOUR
Hyunjin x reader. (s)
MASTERLIST
Synopsis: When you signed up for a paid product testing program, you expected free samples and money. What you didn’t expect was to be paired with Hwang Hyunjin and assigned to test a series of increasingly questionable sexual wellness products together. (24,1k words)
Author's note: Cut a few part bcs tumblr won't let me post the whole thing. It's long so savor it and take your time with it. And lastly, hope you enjoy it ❣️
Morning comes too fast. You feel it in your bones before you even open your eyes. That you still need rest. Or at least, an hour more of sleep. But routine is routine, and you move through it anyway. You get up. Shower. Get dressed. Eat breakfast. Step out.
By the time you arrive at the office, you feel ready for what’s ahead of you. You push through the doors, greeted by the clacking sounds of fingers on keyboards and low chatters of employees in between.
“Morning,” you greet lightly as you pass Gabe’s desk.
“Mm—morning,” she replies, distracted, eyes glued to her laptop, fingers moving quickly across the keyboard like she’s in the middle of something urgent.
You don’t question it but continue making your way to your desk, set your bag down, slide into your chair, and open your laptop. The screen flickers to life, emails loading in one by one as you’re taking off your blazer and hang it on the back of your chair.
“Hey,” Gabe suddenly says.
You hum in response, barely glancing up.
“Can I borrow your ID card?”
“For what?” you ask in confusion, but your hand is already reaching into your bag.
“Checking something…” she mutters, still not looking away from her screen.
You take the lanyard from around your neck and hand it over without suspicion, attention already drifting back to your own laptop.
After a moment, Gabe briefly glances away from her laptop and explains, “I’m checking if I won anything from the anniversary raffle.”
“Ah, I see,” you respond, letting out a small, amused breath under your nose.
Another moment later, she turns to you with a pout already forming on her lips. “I only got the company souvenir.”
You glance at her, lips twitching. “That’s still something.”
“A notebook and a pen? Who needs that?” she grumbles.
That earns a soft chuckle from you before you shake your head and return to your screen.
Gabe sighs dramatically and turns back to her laptop. “I’m going to check yours.”
You don’t think much of it. Just nod absentmindedly, clicking through another email and you’re in the middle of replying to an email when Gabe’s sharp gasp interrupt you. You turn your head and find her wide eyes locked on the screen before she slowly turns her head toward you, disbelief written all over her face.
“Oh my God! You won a body care package,” she says, a hand flies over her mouth.
You slowly tilt your head to the side. “Oh?”
“You deserve it though since you’re Miss Perfect Planner and all…” she sighs in defeat.
“Hey!” You weakly scold her for calling you that.
“I’m so jealous,” she whines, already pouting again, this time worse. “It even has the hair dryer I wanted.”
You lean back slightly in your chair, completely unfazed. “If you want it that much. You can have it.”
Gabe shoots up from her seat. “WHAT?”
Before you can even process it, she’s out of her chair, practically launching herself toward you. Her hands grab onto your arms, her face way too close, eyes wide and sparkling.
“Are you serious?” she asks, blinking up at you like she might cry if you take it back.
You nod, a small smile tugging at your lips. “Yeah.”
That’s all it takes for her to wrap her arms around you in a tight hug, squeezing you like you’ve just handed her the best day of her life. “I love you. I love you. I literally love you,” she groans into your shoulder.
You laugh softly, patting her back. “It’s just a prize, Gabe.”
“No, it’s my prize now,” she corrects immediately, pulling back just enough to look at you again. “And I’m treating you to lunch later.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I do,” she insists, already stepping back, clutching your ID card like it’s her winning ticket. “Also, you need to come with me to claim it later.”
You sigh, but there’s no real resistance in it. Just a small nod. “Alright.”
Gabe beams, clearly satisfied, before returning to her desk like nothing just happened—except now she’s noticeably happier, already typing away again.
You do the same. You turn back to your laptop, fingers resting on the keyboard and everything feels normal again.
-
After lunch, you and Gabe joining the queue with the other employees who’s lining up for the prize booth to claim theirs. The energy is buzzing with leftover excitement from the anniversary.
Gabe, of course, is fully invested. She shifts her weight from one foot to another, peeking over shoulders, overhearing the conversations around her and then muttering under her breath about how unfair it is that she only got a company souvenir.
“…I mean, I would like a neck massager too,” she mumbles, lips curling dramatically.
Not even a second later, her pout turns into a bright smile. She lifts her hand high and waving it in the air while calling someone, “Hey! Right here!”
You follow her line of sight to see the person she’s calling over and the second you know, you instantly regret it.
Hyunjin walks with the same wide, confident strides, that same grin that settles on his full lips like it belongs there permanently. Hands tucked casually into his jeans, shoulders relaxed like he just wandered into the scene without a care in the world. But his eyes find you first, lingering for a second before it turns to Gabe.
“Here to claim your prizes?” he asks, voice light, teasing already curling at the edges.
Gabe launches straight into a dramatic rant about the unfairness, about her tragic luck, about how you won something she desperately wants. You let her talk, arms loosely crossed, gaze flicking between them but never settling too long on him.
After a good minute, Gabe finally ends her rant with a question. “What about you?”
“I actually just claimed mine,” he adds with a faint smirk.
“What did you get?” she asks, leaning forward, eyes wide with anticipation.
Hyunjin hums thoughtfully, like he’s deciding whether to reveal it or not. Then, he slowly reaches into the back pocket of his jeans and pulls out a folded piece of paper. He takes his time unfolding it and then shows it to her.
Gabe lets out a low, deep gasp and somehow, she clings at your arm as she gushes, “A five-star hotel voucher?!”
Her voice rises just enough to turn a few heads nearby, and she immediately clamps a hand over her mouth, but the damage is done. Her eyes dart back to the paper, then to Hyunjin, then back again like she’s hoping it’ll magically change into hers.
“Okay, now I’m so jealous,” she mumbles again. But the disappointment doesn’t last long as her curiosity wins, just like it always does.
You can’t keep your curiosity as well and secretly take a peek at the paper. The voucher is for two days one night stay at a five-star hotel eligible for two persons.
“So…” she starts, drawing the word out as she tilts her head at him, “who are you taking?”
Hyunjin taps his lips with his finger, pretending to think. It’s exaggerated—almost theatrical.
His eyes flick to you, fast but it’s long enough for you to notice that there’s something in them. Like a thought he almost let slip.
Then the grin comes back as he turns to Gabe and says, “Still thinking about it.”
All of a sudden, Gabe raises her hand like she’s volunteering in class, flashing him a bright, shameless smile. “I’m free.”
You turn your head slowly, fixing her with a flat, unimpressed look but as expected, she ignores you completely.
“Alright,” he says, half chuckling and nodding like he’s making a serious note of it. “You’re on the list for now.”
It’s not a yes. It’s barely even a maybe. But Gabe beams like she just secured the spot anyway.
You shake your head under your breath, a quiet exhale slipping past your lips as you reach for her wrist. “Come on. The line’s moving,” you mutter, tugging her forward just as the people ahead of you step aside.
She lets herself be pulled along but she looks over her shoulder at Hyunjin. “Call me!” she mouths.
Behind you, Hyunjin smiles and steps back, already turning to leave. “Good luck!”
The claiming process doesn’t take long. In ten minutes, you and Gabe are already walking back into the office side by side.
“I still can’t believe you gave it to me,” she gushes for what feels like the tenth time, clutching her phone to her chest like the body care package is already in her possession. “Do you even know how expensive those sets are? It has that silk shampoo that I want—oh my god—”
You let out a small laugh, shaking your head as you make your way toward your desk. “You already paid me back with lunch,” you lightly say.
“It was not enough,” she insists immediately. “Next time, I’ll treat you something better.”
You huff out a quiet chuckle, about to kindly refuse the offer but abruptly stop when you see Seungmin there, standing beside your desk. Your steps slow almost instantly. Your posture straightens without you thinking about it, shoulders pulling back, chin lifting just slightly.
Next to you, Gabe goes quiet too. You can feel the shift in the way her arm, still loosely linked with yours, stiffens before she slowly unhooks it, creating just enough space.
Seungmin turns at the subtle change in movement and when his eyes land on you, his expression softens. Then, a smile. That gentle and knowing smile, familiar in a way that still unsettles you.
Gabe recovers first. Her voice dropping into something polite, almost careful as she says, “Good afternoon, Sir!”
Seungmin nods at her, then at you. “Good afternoon.”
You step forward, stopping just short of your desk, hands settling neatly at your sides.
“Is there something I can help you with?” you ask, tone professional, steady.
He shifts slightly, now fully facing you. “I was looking for you,” he says simply.
Your heart skips a beat. Surprised by how he casually revealed his reason for coming here.
Seungmin keeps his eyes on you as he continues talking. “I wanted to let you know—I’ll be taking you and your team out for dinner. A thank-you for the anniversary event.”
For a split second, you hesitate.
You’re already forming a response, to politely refuse, to check with everyone first before saying yes — but Gabe beats you to it.
“We’d be happy to,” she says brightly.
You don’t even have time to react before Seungmin continues, nodding once. “Good. I wanted to check if tomorrow night works.”
“Tomorrow works!” Gabe chirps.
You quietly grab Gabe’s hand, fingers closing around hers and give her a firm squeeze. A warning. And as usual, she ignores it.
Seungmin nods, satisfied. His gaze flickers back to you, lingering just a fraction longer than necessary. “Then I’ll leave the details to you. Ask your team what they’d prefer. My assistant will handle the arrangements.”
You force a small, polite smile. “Alright.”
He holds your gaze for a brief moment, something flickering in his eyes before stepping back. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
You know he’s not personally addressing you but somehow, it feels like it. You wait until Seungmin is completely out of sight before turning sharply to Gabe. “You shouldn’t have answered for me. I was going to ask everyone first,” you say, your voice low but firm.
Gabe’s expression falters immediately. She looks down, shoulders dropping slightly as the excitement from earlier drains out of her. “I’m sorry. I just… thought everyone deserved it. We worked so hard for the anniversary event.”
You exhale, the tension in your chest loosening just a little. “I wasn’t going to reject it. I just wanted to make sure the timing works for everyone,” you clarify, softer now.
She nods quickly, guilt settling in her features. “I know. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”
You hold her gaze for a second, then sigh. “Just… please, don’t do that again.”
“Yes. I won’t. I’m really sorry,” she says immediately.
You give a small nod before turning back to your desk. But you look over your shoulder to add, “And since you already said yes, you can inform the team.”
Gabe perks up slightly at the task, nodding as she hurries back to her laptop. “Got it.”
You pull your chair out and sit, finally letting your body relax into it. Your laptop screen glows back at you, but your mind— It’s everywhere.
You lean back slightly, exhaling through your nose. Yeah. This day really is… a little bit of everything all at once.
-
From the moment you wake up, you get the feeling that today will be your least favorite day.
When you glance at the time, there’s still time left in the workday. But when you glance toward Gabe’s desk, you find her already halfway through touching up her makeup, a compact mirror propped against her laptop screen.
You don’t say anything but give her a quiet look before you shift your attention back to your laptop, to the tasks that demand just enough attention to keep your mind from drifting too far. You let yourself sink into it, into the routine, into the comfort of things you can control.
However, time doesn’t stop and before you know it, the office begins to thin out. You feel it again, the weight of the night waiting for you.
By the time you arrive at the restaurant with Gabe and the rest of the team, the sky has already deepened into that soft, in-between blue just before night fully settles in.
The place is warm and cozy, loud in a comforting way. You’re seated along a long table, the grill embedded in the center already prepped. Menus are passed around, but no one really commits to anything yet. Because everyone is waiting for him. For Seungmin.
You sit there, one hand lying flat on the wooden table, eyes skimming over the menu without actually reading it.
“Should we just order first?” someone suggests.
“I think it’s not right to order before he comes,” Gabe says and then she turns to you, arm lightly nudges yours. “Right?”
“Yeah, let’s just wait for a bit more,” you say while nodding. But then, a thought slips in.
Maybe he won’t come. Maybe something came up. Maybe he got busy. You let yourself believe it. Just a little.
However, the illusion shatters when you see him walking into the restaurant. Everyone suddenly straightens, the chairs scraping lightly against the floor as they stand.
Right. You were only fooling yourself. You push your chair back and stand too with less enthusiasm. And honestly, a little reluctantly.
Seungmin’s presence is effortless. The kind that draws attention without asking for it. He smiles when he reaches the table, a polite, measured smile.
“I’m sorry I’m late. The meeting ran longer than expected,” he begins with a genuine apology.
There’s a ripple of responses that are said all at once.
“It’s okay, sir—”
“No problem at all—”
“We just got here too—”
Everyone suddenly feels smaller, stiffer and you can see it in the way shoulders square, in the way voices polished just slightly in formality.
Seungmin, of course, notices. “Please, sit down,” he says, a hint of amusement in his tone.
With that being said, people settle back into their seats, though not quite the same as before.
Gabe gestures toward the empty seat at the end of the table. “You can sit here—”
Yet Seungmin doesn’t move toward it. His gaze flicks to your side of the table. To Gabe’s seat. It’s subtle. But apparently, not subtle enough that Gabe catches it immediately.
“Or here. You can sit here,” she says, already moving.
Gabe gets up from her seat, pulling the chair for Seungmin and sliding over toward the end instead.
The next thing you know, Seungmin is next to you, closer than you were prepared for. You keep your expression calm. Like it doesn’t matter. Like he doesn’t matter beyond professionalism.
Seungmin slips off his suit jacket, folding it neatly before settling into the seat. He continues to rolling the sleeves of his shirt to his elbows, exposing the expensive wristwatch and prominent veins on his forearms.
You look away and clear your throat softly, gesturing to the others. “You guys can start ordering.”
The conversation slowly picking back up—careful at first, then gradually loosening as menus are opened and being discussed again.
Seungmin leans back slightly in his chair, glancing around the table. “Please, order anything you want. It’s on the company’s card anyway,” he lightly jokes with a faint smirk.
There’s a small ripple of laughter, but edged with restraint. People start pointing at items, discussing options, passing menus around.
You pick up the menu as well, just to have something to do even though you’re not that hungry. You stare at the list of food, the words blurring slightly as your mind drifts somewhere else entirely.
You’re aware of him beside you. The way it feels like no time has passed and too much time has passed all at once. Your fingers tighten slightly around the edge of the menu before you gently set it down. And for a fleeting second, you wonder if you’ll be able to get through this night pretending like everything is fine.
-
The dinner starts off stiff but food has a way of softening people. Plates fill, the grill sizzles, drinks are poured and refilled, and slowly, the table begins to sound like a team again instead of a room full of employees trying to impress their boss.
Someone starts a story, someone else interrupts, and for a moment, it almost feels normal. You keep your role intact by checking if everyone has enough to eat, making sure orders are coming through, answering questions when needed—but you don’t miss the way your glass keeps getting refilled.
Or the way Gabe’s does and she’s definitely feeling it now. She leans forward slightly, cheeks flushed, chin resting on her hand, eyes a little brighter than usual as she looks across the table at Seungmin.
“Hey, Mr. CMO,” she calls, grinning.
Seungmin turns his head side to side. “Did she call me?” he asks you.
“Yes,” you simply answer while keeping your eyes on the meat you’re grilling.
Seungmin wraps his hand around his glass of beer. “Yes, Miss Gabe?”
Gabe giggles at that. “Can I ask something a little… personal?”
There’s no use in scolding Gabe because what makes you think she would listen? Especially after four pints of beer in. You pretend not to hear it and focus on distributing food to everyone.
Seungmin, on the other hand, is unfazed. He sips his beer and then sets it down. “You can try.”
Gabe grins wider. “Are you single?”
The table suddenly quiets—not completely, but enough for the question to hang in the air. You keep your focus on your plate, cutting into a piece of meat that you’re not even sure you want to eat.
Seungmin rush to answer but picks up his chopsticks. “I’m not seeing anyone at the moment,” he says, then casually shoves a piece of meat into his mouth.
shoves a piece of meat into his mouth
Gabe hums like she’s filing that away for future reference. “Interesting…”
You can almost see the gears turning in her head and know for sure they do when she turns to you.
“Do you know that our Miss Perfect Planner is also single?” she says.
You pause mid-motion, fork hovering just slightly above your plate. “Gabe!” You hiss.
It doesn’t end there as Gabe shields the side of her mouth and loudly whispers, “I’ve been working with her for a while and I’ve never seen her go on a date. Like, ever.”
You feel the attention from everyone on the table and you hate it. You force a small, dismissive smile. “That’s not true.”
“When?” Gabe presses immediately.
You open your mouth but the word doesn’t come out. Because Gabe is telling the truth. You stopped going on dates ever since…
“See?” Gabe beams like she’s just proven a point.
You exhale quietly through your nose, shaking your head as you take a sip of your drink instead of engaging further.
But Gabe isn’t done, she looks at Seungmin, conspiratorial now. “I’m just saying that you’re both smart, and charismatic, and shared a history… you two would make a great couple.”
You can’t ignore it this time. You take her half-finished beer and put it away from her reach. “No more drinking for you, Gabe,” you warn with a firm glare.
That should be warning enough but Gabe turns back to Seungmin, eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Was she always like that? Back then? When you worked together?”
There’s a small pause before Seungmin answers. Just long enough to make a couple of heads turn toward you and him.
“No,” Seungmin finally says.
One word and that’s already too much.
Gabe leans in, intrigued. “No?”
You finally glance up, ready to make say anything to deflect from the truth but it’s a big mistake because Seungmin is already looking at you that it feels like the conversation has narrowed down to just the two of you.
“She wasn’t always like that. She used to—” He stops himself or maybe he chooses to.
You don’t want to hear the rest. You don’t want him to finish that sentence. Please, don’t.
Gabe tilts her head in curiosity. “Used to what?”
Seungmin’s gaze lingers on you for half a second longer before he looks away, reaching for his drink. “She used to be more… open,” he says instead.
It’s vague but it tells enough. Because you know what he means and worse is, now you know that he remembers.
Gabe glances between the two of you, something clicking in her head. “Oh—wait,” she says slowly, eyes widening just a little. “Did you two—”
The sound of your phone ringing cutting through the conversation and you don’t even check who’s calling, but grab it and use it a way out. “Excuse me. I need to take this,” you quickly say, already pushing your chair back.
No one can stop you because you’re already standing, already stepping away from the table before the question can fully form. Before anyone can answer it. Before he can.
-
The moment you step out of the restaurant, the door closing behind you muffles everything until it’s replaced by the quiet hum of the night.
Cool air brushes against your skin, slipping beneath the thin fabric of your clothes, and you inhale deeply, like you’ve been holding your breath this whole time without realizing it.
You inhale and exhale. Once. Twice. Your phone still vibrating in your hand before you finally answer it.
“Hello—”
“You sound busy.”
You don’t even need to check the screen. You can hear the grin. You close your eyes briefly, exhaling through your nose. “What?”
On the other end, there’s a faint crunch. He’s snacking on something and you can only hope it’s not something from your fridge. “Where are you? Why haven’t you come home yet?” he asks like a fussy child that’s left alone in the house.
Right. Tonight. The test. The realization hits you late. You wince and drag a hand down your face. “Oh no, I forgot.”
Seconds passed in silence and then,“You… forgot?” he asks in disbelief,
“I’m having a team dinner tonight and—” you stop for a second and decide not to share the details. Seungmin detail. “I have to cancel our test tonight.”
There’s another crunching sound and then, “What am I supposed to do now?”
It comes out less like a question and more like a complaint. You pull the phone slightly away from your ear, staring at it for a second like that’ll somehow change the tone of his voice.
“You can do whatever you want. You’re an adult,” you flatly say.
He clicks his tongue, annoyed. “Mm. No. I’ll just wait for you,” he finally decides.
Your brows pull together. “Hyunjin—”
The line goes dead before you can say any other word and you stare at your phone, sighing in disbelief. You shove it back into your pocket, shoulders dropping slightly as the quiet settles around you again.
For a moment, you just stand there and let the cool air wrap around you, let yourself not think. Because the second you do, it all comes rushing back. You exhale slowly, arms crossing loosely over yourself as you lean back against the wall.
Honestly, you consider not going back in. You don’t want to. You don’t want to sit there and smile and pretend like nothing just happened. You don’t want to—
The door opens behind you and from the gait, the footsteps, you know who it is and the next thing you know he’s there, beside you. Standing so innocently like he didn’t just corner you minutes ago with half-truths and almost-confessions.
For a moment, neither of you says anything. Silence stretches between you, strained but not tense. Not hollow either.
After a while, you push yourself off the wall, turning slightly to face him, arms still crossed. “Why did you do that?”
There’s no preamble. No softness. You go straight to it.
Seungmin doesn’t react like he’s been accused of anything. If anything, he looks calm. “Do what?”
You let out a short, disbelieving breath. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?” he repeats like he genuinely doesn’t understand. Or like he’s pretending not to.
“Back there. With Gabe. With the way you—” you stop yourself, shaking your head. “Why are you bringing it up?”
“I didn’t bring anything up,” he says simply.
You’re in awe at how committed he is to this innocent act. You let out a humorless laugh. “You implied it.”
There’s a second of pause and then, he steadily says, “I answered her question.”
“You went further than that.”
“I stopped.”
That makes you falter because he’s right. He could’ve said more. He didn’t. You shake your head, frustrated. “Why does it feel like you’re playing some kind of game?”
“I’m not playing anything.”
“You are,” you insist, stepping closer without realizing it. “You show up, you act like nothing happened, and then you—drop things like that in front of everyone like it doesn’t mean anything.”
Seungmin finally turns fully toward you and there’s something in his expression now. “It does mean something.”
You burst into sarcastic laughter. “Oh, now it does?”
“It always did.”
You shake it off immediately. “You don’t get to say that.”
“Why not?”
“Because you left,” you snap, the words coming out quicker, harsher than you intended. “You left and you didn’t—” you stop yourself again, jaw tightening. “So don’t stand here and act like it still matters.”
For a second, you feel like you’re about to break into tears and he’s going to argue, defend himself. But he just looks at you. “I’m not acting,” he says quietly.
That does something to your chest. Something you don’t want to feel. You shake your head again, stepping back this time. “I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but I’m not falling into it.”
His brows pull together slightly. “Falling into what?”
“Whatever this is,” you gesture vaguely between the two of you. “You don’t get to just walk back in and—rewrite things.”
“I’m not rewriting anything.”
“Then what are you doing?” you accidentally raise your voice a little louder.
This time, he doesn’t answer immediately and the silence that follows after, it tells you more than anything he could say. You let out a slow breath, already done with this.
“Yeah. That’s what I thought.” you mutter, shaking your head.
You don’t wait but turn on your feet, pushing the door open and stepping back into the restaurant. Because as suffocating as it is in there, it’s still easier than standing out here with him.
Easier than whatever this is trying to become again.
-
The noise hits you the second you step back inside and it feels too loud after the quiet outside. You don’t look back. You don’t want to know if he’s following. You walk straight to the table, slipping back into your seat like nothing just happened, like your chest isn’t still tight, like your thoughts aren’t still tangled somewhere out there in the cold night air.
“Hey—there you are!”
Gabe’s voice cuts through first, bright and a little too loud, her cheeks flushed, her eyes glassy with just enough alcohol to loosen her up. She lifts a glass toward you, sloshing the liquid slightly over the rim. “Come drink this. You deserve it.”
You glance at it and for a second, considering what comes with a glad of drink and then—heck it.
You take it from her hand and down it in one go and the burn hits instantly as it slides down your throat, settling heavy in your chest.
Gabe’s eyes widen. “Oh—okay—”
“Another one,” you say, already setting the empty glass down.
She looks at you with dazed eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Another one.”
She refills the glass and you take it. Drink. And do it again. And again. Somewhere along the way, the taste stops mattering. It all blurs into the same bitter and biting hollow. You just keep going until the voices around you start to slightly muted, the tension in your shoulders loosens, your thoughts slowing just enough to dull everything that happened outside. Of everything he said. Or didn’t say.
“Hey, slow down—” Gabe mutters beside you, half-laughing now, half-concerned as she reaches for your wrist. “You’re not trying to win another prize here—”
“I’m fine,” you cut in, already reaching for the next glass.
Your fingers brush against someone else’s hand and you look up to see that it’s Seungmin. He’s standing there, a glass in his own hand, gaze steady on you. You quickly pull your hand back like it burned.
“I’ve got it,” he says quietly, setting a fresh glass in front of you before you can grab another.
You stare at it and then at him. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know.”
Something about the way he calmly says it makes your jaw tighten. You let out a small, humorless breath, then pick up the glass anyway. “Thanks,” you mutter, not meaning it.
You drink and this time, slower. But only because his eyes are still on you. You can feel it even when you don’t look. Even when you try to ignore it. The alcohol settles deeper and heavier now, your limbs loosening, your thoughts slipping just enough that it’s easier to pretend. Easier to sit there and smile when someone talks to you, nod along like you’re still part of the conversation.
But every now and then, you feel that awareness. Like no matter how much noise fills the room, how much you drink, how much you try to drown it out—
He’s still there and somehow, that’s the one thing you can’t seem to blur.
-
Hyunjin stares at his phone for a second after he hangs up your call and then scoffs.
“Having fun without me,” he mutters under his breath, tossing the phone onto the cushion beside him.
He sinks deeper into your sofa, one leg thrown over the armrest, a half-empty box of cereal resting on his stomach. He reaches in lazily, crunching down on another mouthful, eyes glued to the ceiling like it personally offended him.
“You forgot,” he adds, quieter this time, almost like he’s testing how it sounds out loud.
He shoves another handful of cereal into his mouth and the crunching sound echoing in the room, drifting upstairs.
Upstairs…
Hyunjin has been good.Very good.He didn’t snoop, didn’t wander, didn’t climb the stairs despite the fact that he’s had the chances to. Despite his curiosity. A whole gold star performance, honestly.
But tonight, he can’t seem to contain the inquisitive little ferret in him. He tilts his head, eyes narrowing slightly as he chews. “You’d be home late, right?”
Silence answers him. He taps his fingers against the cereal box, thinking. Then, like he’s already lost the argument with himself—
“Just looking,” he says, pointing vaguely at nothing. “Not touching.”
A promise. A very loose one. He pushes himself up from the sofa, brushing crumbs off his shirt, and heads toward the stairs. He takes two steps at a time, feet practically bouncing in every step.
Upstairs is quiet and still. Very you.
Hyunjin steps lightly, like the floor might betray him, glancing around with curiosity tucked behind that usual, careless ease. First door is the study and he nudges it open, just enough to look inside. Desk. Computer. Books. Everything annoyingly in place. He walks in, glances around, taps a pen against the table, spins once in the chair—just because—and then stands again.
“Boring,” he decides, already halfway out.
Next is the space tucked between the study and the bathroom. The shelf catches his attention first—rows of books lining the wall, neat but lived-in. The couch looks too comfortable, the throw pillows practically inviting him to flop down. It’s a reading nook.
He can safely assume this is your favorite part of the house. From how much attention you put in it. How comfortable it is.
His eyes drift to the side and there’s a mini fridge. He can safely assume that this is where you spend most of your time, just hiding here with your books, surrounded by soft, fluffy throw pillows and eating the snacks from your mini fridge.
And talking about the mini fridge… He crouches, opens it, and lets out a low whistle. There are cans of sparkling juices, seltzer and mini packs of snack in many variations. He shakes his head, amused. “This is how you have fun?”
He grabs a pack of blueberries without hesitation, popping a few into his mouth as he stands again. “Stealing these,” he announces to no one with a big grin, already walking out like it’s a done deal.
After that, there’s not much left but a linen closet, the bathroom and the last door at the end of the hallway. The main bedroom. Your bedroom.
Hyunjin hovers there for a second, hand on the knob. He looks around like you’d magically appear and catch him in the act.
“Just looking,” he repeats as he slowly twists it open. Like you might actually be inside.
The door creaks just slightly as he pushes it open and steps in. The first thing that he notices is that faint, sweet scent of your perfume that lingers in the air. His steps slow as his mind drifts away, following where the scent takes him.
And for a second, he’s somewhere else. He’s there with you, his head buried in the crook of your neck, his lips on that sensitive skin behind your ear. You’re close and warm, your breath against his—
Hyunjin exhales sharply, dragging a hand through his hair. “Get it together,” he mutters.
He moves to the dresser first. He pulls open one drawer after another. On the second drawer, he pauses, brows lifting at the collection of bras arranged by its colors. His fingers hover before picking up one in cream color, the fabric is of silk and lace. His thumb brushes over it absentmindedly as he imagines you in it, soft and delicate.
“That’s a nice one.”
The words come out lower than he expects and sets it back carefully before his mind drifts too far. He closes the drawer and moves on to the vanity next. He sits on the round cushioned stool, scanning the lineup of makeup, skincare, bottles of perfume. His gaze lands on one in particular, noticeably more used than the rest. He picks it up, gives it a small spray into the air, then leans into it.
There it is again, the scent that reminds him of your skin, the softness and the warmth, the way it feels against him. He smiles without meaning to and the bottle clicks softly as he puts it down.
“Yeah… that’s you.”
The next one is the closet and it’s no surprise that it’s organized. Shoes, purses, bags, they’re all color-coded. He takes a step closer to the hanged clothes, hand trails along the fabrics as he slowly, lazily walks—jackets, shirts, dresses— they’re all arranged by its type before its colors and he scoffs, half impressed, half offended.
He stops when he finds the dress you wore to the anniversary. His fingers curl lightly around the fabric. “…Yeah.”
He smiles as he remembers how unaware you were with how beautiful you looked in it. He remembers looking at you from across the room and just standing there, pretending to listen to someone else while his attention kept drifting back to you. Over. And over. And over again.
He remembers how his heart did a flip in his chest and the way he had to calm himself down before walking up to you. He should’ve said something about it then, complimenting you sooner and tell you that you were the only one that caught his attention that night.
The moment has sadly passed so he lets go of the dress and steps back.
He gets out of the closet and saunters his way to the bed. He drops onto the edge of it, testing it with a small bounce before letting out a quiet laugh.
“Ooo, good bounce,” he notes, like it’s a review.
He said not touching but he didn’t say he can try your bed by lying down on it. Just for a second, he promises to himself.
He takes his slippers off and lays down on your bed, long legs stretched, arms folded under his head. Then, he closes his eyes. Just staying still like this feels… good. Peaceful. Until he turns to the side and catches the scent clinging to the sheets and pillows. It’s of you, that same subtle, sweet smell whenever he leans in, kissing you on the neck, on the column of your throat—
He scrambles to get up and sits on the edge of the bed again. He quickly distracts himself with the stuff on your bedside table. He picks up a rectangular case and flips the lid open to find a pair of reading glasses inside. He takes them out, slides them on.
“Wow. I feel smarter already,” he says flatly, looking around.
They come off just as quickly as his attention turns to the book you’re currently reading. From the cover, he can tell that it’s sci-fi, not quite his taste. Still, he flips it open, scanning where you left off and something slips out from between the pages.
A piece of card landing right on his lap. He sets the book aside and picks it up.
“What’s this?” he asks himself.
He flips it over and reads the cursive handwriting on it. “Can’t have you wearing what’s lying around in your closet.”
His brows furrowing slightly because those words sound familiar. He sits there in quiet as he tries to recall where he heard it before. A moment later—
The conversation he had with you in the control room. He jokingly suggested you to wear a leopard dress to the anniversary party and you said those exact words to him in respond. And that day—
“Who else heard that?” he mutters, a small scoff following.
It couldn’t possibly the operator guy. But it would be funny if it is. Then, his eyes drop to the signature on the bottom corner and just like that, the amusement fades.
Kim Seungmin.
The name sits heavy on his tongue. Hyunjin leans back slightly, card still in hand, eyes narrowing just a fraction as something shifts behind them as a quiet realization settling in.
“So that’s how it is...”
-
The house feels different when he comes back down. Like something followed him downstairs and stubbornly clinging to his back. Hyunjin drops back onto the sofa, the stolen pack blueberries in his hand, the card now tucked somewhere in the back of his mind where it refuses to stay quiet. He pops one blueberry into his mouth and chews. And his mind drifts to you, to Seungmin and the question mark in between.
Hyunjin exhales through his nose, shifting slightly on the couch, stretching one arm over his head. He’s never cared because from what he’s seen, you and Seungmin didn’t look like anything. If anything, it looked like the opposite. Like something that ended before it could even begin.
So Hyunjin never questioned it. Never bothered too. But now, after what he’s just discovered, gets him questioning everything. And suddenly, it doesn’t look like nothing anymore. It looks restrained. Like something’s being held back.
His head tilts back against the sofa, eyes closing for a second as if that’ll quiet his thoughts.
It doesn’t as a new question pressing in. Is it still happening?
The thought sits there in the back of his mind, taunting, unsettling. Persistent.
Hyunjin scoffs softly to himself and shouts into the void. “Not my business.”
But it is his business and something in his chest twists just slightly.
He puts his headphones on. He presses play and blasts the volume all the way up, willing to tune out everything. Even if he has to sacrifice the well-being of his eardrums.
For a long moment, it works. He doesn’t think, but singing along to the lyrics of the song with eyes closed, swinging his legs hanging from the armrest of the sofa to the beat of the music.
Then, he hears it. Noises outside. And at first, he thinks he imagined it. The music’s still playing faintly in his ears, so he reaches up, pulling the headphones down around his neck, staying still as he’s intently listening.
There is a sound of car engine on idle outside. Hyunjin sits up, all thoughts instantly redirected, and moves toward the window. He parts the curtain just enough to peek through and he’s right, a car is parked outside.
He stays there, watching as the passenger door opens and you spill out of it. Your feet are a little unsteady as they step onto the pavement. You’re tipping forward and for a split second, he thinks you’re going to hit the ground. But someone catches you on time, arms wrapping around you and quickly steadying you, holding you.
Hyunjin’s eyes narrow to make out the person but it’s too dark to tell. The man takes your bag, slinging it one on shoulder and then he puts an arm around your waist as he guides you, helping you walk the path leading to your house. It’s when the two of you pushing past the small gate and the streetlight shines on you both, the realization hits him.
The man is Kim Seungmin and you— You’re barely there. Head tilted, body leaning into him, completely unaware.
Hyunjin watches as the two of you move toward the house in slow, careful steps. Without thinking, he stops watching and steps back. By the time they reach the door, he’s already there, hand on the handle, pulling it open before Seungmin even get the chance to unlock the door for you.
Seungmin stops for a moment, eyes sharpen and alerted, filled with glints of suspicion. “Who are you?” he asks, voice cold and full of authority.
Hyunjin lets out a low, disbelieving scoff. Slightly offended that Seungmin doesn’t recognize him as the employee in his company. Instead, he says, “I’m her roommate.”
Seungmin, of course, doesn’t believe in Hyunjin right away. But he isn’t going to give him a chance to ask further either.
“I’ll take it from here,” Hyunjin says, leaving no room for argument. His hands move to your shoulders, steady but firm as he pulls you toward him, easing you out of Seungmin’s hold.
Your body slumps into his, warm and heavy, your hands instinctively clutching at his shirt like you recognize him even if you don’t fully see him.
Hyunjin steadies you against him, one arm wrapping around your back and then he stretches his free hand out at Seungmin. “Bag.”
Seungmin doesn’t move right away. His gaze sharpens, flicking between Hyunjin’s face and the way you’re clinging to him now.
“Bag!” Hyunjin says again, firmer.
Seungmin’s jaws tighten for a brief moment before he decides on giving in. slowly, he takes your bag off his shoulder and hand it over with a sharp, cutting look. Like he’s trying to place something that doesn’t quite fit.
Hyunjin takes it. He offers a tight, almost polite smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Thanks for bringing her home.”
And before anything else can be said, Hyunjin closes the door right in front of him and the click of the lock echoes louder than it should.
-
Hyunjin doesn’t realize how tightly he’s holding you until he starts moving.
Your weight settles against him, one arm slung around his shoulders, your face buried into the side of his neck as you softly mumble broken sounds that don’t quite form words, just warm breath ghosting over his skin.
“Hey… careful,” Hyunjin mutters, more to himself than to you as he adjusts his grip.
You cling tighter like you might fall if you don’t.
He exhales, steadying both of you, guiding you toward the stairs—but halfway up, you stumble, your steps turning uneven, your body going slack against him.
“Okay, yeah. No more walking.”
He figures that it’s safer if he carries you. So he scoops you up. One arm under your knees, the other braced around your back.
You make a small sound, something between a protest and a sigh, your fingers curling into his shirt as your head lolls against his shoulder.
Hyunjin steadily carries you to the end of the hallway, nudges the bedroom door open with his shoulder before kicking it open with his foot. The room greets him with that same faint scent of your perfume. Of you.
He doesn’t linger on it like earlier, but crosses the room and lowers you onto the bed carefully, like you might break if he’s too rough.
The second your back hits the mattress, you curl instinctively, knees drawing in, arms folding close to your chest, making you appear smaller than you actually are.
Hyunjin finally exhales a long, quiet breath he didn’t know he was holding. “You’re a mess,” he mutters under his breath, though there’s no bite to it.
He sets your bag down on the nearest chair, then crouches at the edge of the bed, fingers moving to your shoes. He takes it off and then the other. He slides them off gently, placing them aside before straightening slightly.
He stands there, just watching you until you get up, hands carelessly yanking at the opening of your blouse.
“It’s hot…” you slur with eyes closed while tugging at the fabric like it’s suddenly become unbearable.
He lets out a short breath, something almost like a laugh. “Yeah? That’s the problem?”
You nod faintly like you’re under a suggestion while still struggling with the buttons.
He shifts onto the bed, gently catching your hands before they make more of a mess of it. “Stop. I got it.”
Your hands go limp under his touch, trusting him to do it for you.
His fingers move quicker, undoing the buttons properly. He keeps his eyes where they should be as he slides the blouse off your shoulders, easing it away from you.
“There. Better?” he murmurs.
You hum something unintelligible but then your hands move to your skirt next, tugging the waistband down your body.
Hyunjin huffs softly, glancing at you. “You want that off too?”
Another mumble. Another soft, breathy, “Hot…”
He shakes his head, a quiet chuckle escaping him. Still—he helps. He’s carefully unzipping it, guiding the fabric down, making sure you don’t tangle yourself up in it. And the second he’s done, he reaches for the duvet, pulling it over you without hesitation.
“Okay. All done now.”
You curl immediately under the covers, like a child seeking warmth, clutching the fabric close as you settle into yourself. Still mumbling. Still drifting somewhere between here and not.
Hyunjin decides to join you on the bed, just lying there with a safe space separating him from you and just watches you. There’s something about you like this— Soft. Disarmed. Unfiltered. Small. The sight does something strange to his chest.
He exhales and shifts closer. A hand propped under his head, the other reaching out to brush your hair away from your face, fingers gentle as they tuck loose strands behind your ear.
“Need anything else?” he asks quietly.
No response except for more soft, broken murmurs.
“What are you even saying, mmh?” he softly asks with a fond smile.
He leans in without thinking, lowering himself just enough so his ear is close to your lips to hear what you’re actually mumbling.
“…you should’ve stayed…”
He goes completely stills, ears still pressing close to your lips and hears it again, softer, almost fragile.
“…you should’ve stayed…”
Each repetition thinner than the last. More desperate.
Hyunjin slowly pulls back, just enough to see your face and that’s when he notices the tears slipping quietly from the corners of your closed eyes, tracing slow, glistening paths down your cheeks.
“Hey…” His hand comes up instinctively, resting against your arm, rubbing gently up and down in slow, soothing motions. “Are you okay?”
Your eyes squeezed for a brief moment like you can’t bear the pain contained behind them and then let out a small sniffle.
“You shouldn’t have left…” you whisper, voice cracking, barely there. Your fingers clutch at the front of his t-shirt. “But you left…”
Then, your eyes flutter open and they look… lost. When you look at him, the sadness in your gaze flickers and breaks, turning into confusion. “…you’re not him.”
The words land softly but they hit harder than anything else tonight. Your grip loosens and falls away. And just like that, you turn from him, burying your face into the pillow, clutching the duvet tight around you.
Soon, your breathing evens out slowly and the tension leaves your body. Sleep takes you quickly this time, but even then, another tear slips free.
Hyunjin reaches out, his thumb brushing gently against your cheek, wiping it away before it can seep into the pillow. “Who hurt you?” he murmurs, voice low, almost swallowed by the silence.
There’s no answer. Just the soft rhythm of your breathing as you sleep soundly, lost in what he hopes is a peaceful dream.
-
Later that night, Hyunjin lies on his back in the guest room, one arm tucked behind his head, the other resting lazily over his stomach, staring up at a ceiling that isn’t his. It’s so quiet and still. Yet, his mind won’t shut up.
His mind drifts backwards, uninvited, to months ago. Another night. Another version of you—just as drunk, just as unsteady. He remembers the way you leaned into him back then too, your steps uneven as he guided you toward your door, one arm braced around your waist to keep you upright. You were lighter than you looked, softer somehow when you let yourself fall like that.
“Got your keys?” he had muttered, half to himself as he dug through your bag.
You didn’t answer but clung to him. Your fingers bunching into the fabric of his shirt as your forehead dropped against his shoulder.
“I missed you,” you had mumbled.
Hyunjin had laughed. Dismissively. “Yeah? You trying to flirt with me right now?” he teased.
But you didn’t laugh, you murmured instead, voice small and distant, “You didn’t call… you didn’t say anything at all…”
He remembers frowning a little at that and brushed it off as quickly. Because it didn’t make sense. Because it couldn’t be about him. So he ignored it, focusing instead on the keys finally sliding free from your bag, on getting the door open, on getting you inside.
He had steadied you at the entrance, one hand on your arm, guiding you forward, but you just held on tighter. When he looked at you, he found your eyes glassy and pooled with sadness. A kind of sadness that didn’t belong to the moment.
It wasn’t just drunkenness. It was… missing something. Or rather — someone.
Hyunjin remembers the way his chest tightened, a second before you suddenly leaned in and kissed him. He hadn’t expected it. Not from you. Not like that.
He froze. He knew better not to take advantage of a drunk girl. But something about it, something soft and aching, like you were pouring something into him that had nowhere else to go.
And for a second, he didn’t know what to do with that but he decided to kiss you back. Because he couldn’t not. Because something about it pulled at him in a way he didn’t understand.
And the moment his lips moved against yours, it hit him all at once that this wasn’t like anything he’d had before. There was no game in it. No teasing. No performance. Just… longing. Quiet and heavy, almost desperate. It lingered in the way you held onto him. In the way your lips moved like you didn’t want it to end.
When you pulled away, he remembers the way his body reacted before his mind could catch up. That small, involuntary shift forward. Like he was about to chase it.
“Hey—”
But you didn’t look at him, didn’t say anything but stepped inside and closed the door, leaving him standing there. Alone and confused. And—
He exhales slowly, staring at the ceiling again and that was it. That was the beginning of it all. The kiss that didn’t belong to him. He knows that now and he knew it then too, if he’s being honest.
It all clicks into place now. The things you said. The way you said them. The way you looked tonight when you. And suddenly, all those moments he brushed off don’t feel random anymore. They feel connected like pieces of something bigger he wasn’t supposed to see and now that he has, he can’t unsee it.
A question sits heavy in his chest. Simple yet annoyingly persistent. How deep did it go?
And worse— Is it over?
And then, the last question. The one he can’t shake. The one that settles somewhere uncomfortable in his chest. Is he the one who hurt you?
There’s no answer. Only the quiet. And the distant memory that started it all.
And a kiss that was never really his to begin with.
-
The next morning, Hyunjin sits at your dining table, sketchbook laid open in front of him, a mug of coffee slowly cooling by his elbow. The pencil moves almost lazily between his fingers. He’s not really drawing anything specific. Just filling the page. Passing time.
Every now and then, his eyes drift up. To the staircase. To the room at the end of the hallway and wonders if you have woken up. Or if he should check on you, making sure you’re okay. Once, he almost gets up but then he stops himself. He sits back down and shakes his head lightly to himself. He knows better not to cross boundaries. Instead, he returns to his sketchbook, continues drawing until the clock creeps past nine. And finally, there it is. The soft, dragging sound of footsteps.
Hyunjin doesn’t look up right away. Even though he wants to. But he forces himself to focus on his drawing. Like he’s not been waiting for this exact moment. He hears you walking down the stairs and only then he glances up. You’re barefaced, hair pulled into a messy bun that looks like you didn’t bother fixing it after waking up, looking comfortable in your bed robe. Your arms loosely folded in front of you, looking like shielding yourself more than anything.
Hyunjin puts on his brightest grin and cheerily greets, “Good morning.”
“Morning,” you weakly reply.
Somehow, that feels okay. He sets his pencil down, leaning back slightly in his chair. “Want coffee?”
You shake your head, already moving past him into the kitchen. “No, thank you.”
He watches quietly as you grab a glass, fill it with water, then rummage through the kitchen drawer for the medical box and take it out. He assumes you’re taking an ibuprofen for the hangover. He winces a little in sympathy as you dry-swallow it with a long sip of water.
“Rough night?” he murmurs, more to himself than to you.
“Kind of,” you shortly answer with a small smile that barely there.
You move to the fridge next, taking out a few things — Yogurt, fruit, almonds and mixing them into a bowl. Then you bring it with you to the table and sit across from him.
Hyunjin picks his pencil back up, though he’s not really drawing anymore. Just letting the tip hover over the page while he watches you from the corner of his eye. The way you eat slowly. The way your shoulders stay slightly tense. The way you don’t quite look at him.
“You okay?” he asks after a while.
You pause mid-bite and then, without looking up, you answer, “I will be.”
He leaves it at that because pushing doesn’t feel right. Because he knows there’s more under that answer—and also knows you’re not going to give it. Not now. Maybe not ever.
A few more quiet minutes pass before you set your spoon down. “I’m sorry about last night.”
He glances up and finds that you’re still not looking at him.
“Sorry I forgot about the test,” you say again.
Hyunjin huffs a small breath through his nose, shaking his head. “It’s fine,” he says easily.
“And… for, uh—” you hesitate, like you’re choosing your words carefully, “—burdening you.”
That makes his brows lift slightly. “Burdening me?”
“You carried me upstairs.”
Ah. That. He leans back in his chair, lips curving just a little. “Yeah, well, would’ve been completely fine if you didn’t drool on my t-shirt,” he teasingly says.
Your eyes lift to him and for the first time this morning, you really look at him. There’s a flicker there—something between disbelief and faint embarrassment.
Hyunjin grins, pleased with himself. “Just a little,” he adds, holding up two fingers like he’s measuring it.
You don’t take the bait fully and say, “I’ll find time for the rescheduled test.”
His grin lingers, but something in his chest tightens just slightly at the way you phrase it like you’re putting things back into their proper boxes.
“And since we’re not doing it today,” you continue, finally holding his gaze properly now, “you can leave.”
Hyunjin leans forward a little, resting his forearms on the table, grin still in place. “Or I can stay and brighten your day,” he offers lightly.
You continue holding his gaze and honestly, flatly say, “Actually, I’d love to be alone.”
It lands exactly how it’s meant to and Hyunjin understands right away. He smiles and nods. “Yes. Of course.”
He leans back, tapping his pencil once against the page. “I’ll pack up after I finish this.”
You nod and look at him right into his eyes. “Thank you.”
Hyunjin stares back into your eyes, looking past the exhaustion and then he smiles a small, genuine smile. “Anytime.”
And this time, when he looks back down at his sketchbook, the lines he draws aren’t as aimless anymore.
-
Instead of finishing his design, working like the other employees, Hyunjin is busy thinking, planning…
He leans back in his chair, spinning his pen between his fingers, eyes unfocused as they drift toward nothing in particular. His mind keeps circling back to you, getting drunk, coming home in Seungmin’s arms before you clung to him and all the questions that followed after.
Yeah. He’s not getting any answers by doing nothing. So on lunchtime, he heads out, knowing where he can get some answers.
The balcony.
As expected, Gabe is there, leaning against the railing, cigarette between her fingers, chatting with someone.
The moment Hyunjin steps out, the warm air hits him. He makes his presence known by appearing in Gabe’s line of sight. It doesn’t take long for her to notice him.
She lights up and waves her hand at him. “Hyunjin!” she excitedly calls, a curl of white smoke slips past her lips as she grins.
He grins right back, slipping into his charming personality like second nature. “Gabe,” he greets. “Perfect timing.”
She tilts her head, amused. “Yeah?”
He walks over in easy, slightly lifting the extra cup he’s holding in his right hand. “Barista messed up my order. So I had to get another one.”
He pauses just long enough, then adds, “Saw you here and thought—why not?”
Gabe’s brows lift as he hands her the drink and takes it, glancing at the label. “No way. This is my usual.”
Hyunjin feigns surprise like he didn’t calculate every detail of this interaction. “Really?”
“Vanilla latte, extra shot—this is literally it,” she says, already taking a sip.
He shrugs, taking his own drink, hiding the faintest hint of a smirk behind it. “Guess the barista messed up in your favor.”
Gabe hums, clearly pleased, already forgetting to question it further. She taps her cigarette into the ashtray, then stubs it out completely, attention fully on the coffee now.
Hooked!
Hyunjin leans beside her, shoulder brushing the railing, gaze drifting out toward the city like he has nowhere else to be.
“Hot today. Feels like summer just decided to show up overnight,” he begins.
Gabe nods, fanning herself lightly with her hand. “Seriously. I’m not ready for it.”
“Any big plans for summer break?”
She shakes her head slowly, then glances at him with a playful smile. “Nope. Waiting for you to take me out, actually.”
Hyunjin lets out a soft chuckle, turning his head toward her. “Oh yeah?” he says, tone dipping just slightly, teasing but smooth. “You might want to clear your schedule then. I’m very high maintenance.”
She laughs, nudging his arm lightly. “I can handle it.”
He grins but doesn’t let it settle for long. Instead, he takes a sip of his drink, then casually, smoothly shifts the conversation. “I heard you guys had dinner with the CMO the other night.”
Gabe nods, sipping her coffee again. “Yeah, that.”
“How was it?”
“Pretty fun, actually. He let everyone order whatever they wanted. And he’s… surprisingly chill.”
Hyunjin tilts his head, interest mild on the surface. “Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah,” she nods as she swallows her coffee. “Once he had a few drinks, he was way more relaxed than I expected. And he can really hold his liquor.”
Hyunjin lets out a small, impressed hum. “Damn. Wish I was there.”
“You would’ve loved it,” Gabe says with a smirk.
“What about Miss Perfect Planner?” he asks, like an afterthought. “Did she have fun?”
Gabe nods without hesitation. “Yeah. Everyone did.”
Everyone. Not helpful. Hyunjin nods anyway, taking another sip of his coffee, giving himself a second so it doesn’t look like he’s digging.
“Anything fun happen?” he casually.
Gabe launches into a rant, talking about drinking games, the juicy office gossips passed around the table, people getting drunk and Hyunjin listens, nodding here and there, but it’s all just noise. Not what he’s looking for.
“Did the CMO play too?” he cuts in at one point.
Gabe snorts. “He played but none of us dare to ask anything.”
Hyunjin huffs a quiet laugh, gaze dropping to his drink. It’s a dead end.
He’s about to let it go, chalk it up as a failed attempt when Gabe suddenly gasps mid-sip.
“Oh!”
Hyunjin’s eyes flick to her immediately. “What?”
She lowers her cup, eyes widening slightly like she just remembered something. “At one point, he kind of hinted that they were closer than I thought.”
Hyunjin keeps his face straight. Then he tilts his head, brows lifting in mild curiosity. “Oh?”
Gabe coyly shrugs, but there’s something knowing in her expression. “I don’t know, I just got the vibe. Like… there was something there before. Romantic, maybe.”
Hyunjin lets out a soft chuckle, shaking his head like it’s just gossip. “What makes you think that?”
“I just can tell from the way they were tense around each other. Like some kind of weird magnetic pull. I could misinterpret the whole interaction but I’m sure there’s something there,” she vaguely shares then laughs it off after, like it’s not a big deal.
But Hyunjin hears it and secretly files it. So it’s just as mystery to Gabe as it is to him.
“Also, we were about to share a taxi,” Gabe suddenly adds, hand moving the coffee cup in circular motions, sending the ice cubes clinking against each other. “But Mr. CMO insisted on taking her home.”
“Ah, very gentleman of him,” Hyunjin beams, his smile a little strained.
Gabe cluelessly nods in agreement. “Right?”
Hyunjin hums, gaze drifting back out to the city. On the outside, he looks unbothered. But inside, he’s putting the pieces together. But not enough to know everything. There’s more.
This isn’t something he’s going to figure out from the sidelines. If he wants answers, he’s going to have to get them from you.
Hyunjin turns his head at Gabe, smiling as he asks, “What’s Miss Perfect Planner doing today?”
-
The bar isn’t open yet. Lights are half on, casting a soft amber glow over polished surfaces and stacked chairs. There are movements of staff going back and forth, boxes being stacked and opened.
Hyunjin’s gaze sweeps over the place and eventually lands on you. You’re in the middle of the room, talking to one of the staff, your voice is steady yet dripping of authority. Your posture is straight, your hands occasionally gesturing as you give instructions.
“…no, move that to the left—yeah, a little more. We need space for the installation tonight.”
Hyunjin leans against the bar counter, setting his elbows back against it, arms loose at his sides as he watches.
There’s something about this version of you. The way you carry yourself, confident and in control. The way you don’t second-guess yourself for even a second. The way you don’t hesitate nor fumble. This version of you knows what she wants and gets it.
And somehow, Hyunjin finds that very attractive.
You finish talking and turn on your feet, your expression just a fraction when you see him there.
Hyunjin’s grin slides into place—effortless, just the right amount of smug. The one that always gets under your skin. And sure enough, he notices the tiny shift of your expression, that flicker of annoyance from few feet away. Weirdly, that’s what he’s been expecting the most.
Cute. He mutters inside his head. Then he lifts a hand and waves.
You sigh and can’t hear it, but he knows it. He watches as you excuse yourself and walk over, each step slow and measured, until you stop just a step away from him.
With no greeting, no smile, you immediately ask, “How do you know I’m here?”
Hyunjin only grins in respond, letting you figure out the answer yourself.
It takes you a second to finally get it. “Ah, Gabe…” you sigh.
Still leaning back against the counter, completely unbothered. Hyunjin lightly asks, “Done yet?”
You look at him in confusion and despite it, you answer anyway, “I just need to inform the owner about the overnight installation. Then I’m done.”
He nods, like that’s all he needed to hear. “Cool. I’ll wait.”
Your brows knit slightly. “For what?”
He straightens just a little, but the grin stays. “I’m here to drive you home.”
You stare at him for a second and sigh again—this time he definitely hears it. But you don’t argue. “Just… Wait here,” you say instead, already turning away.
Then you stop after a few steps, turn back and point at him. “Don’t do anything. Wait here.”
Hyunjin’s grin widens. He lifts his hand in a mock salute, posture straightening just enough to sell it. “Alright, boss.”
That earns him another look somewhere between unimpressed and barely tolerant. You shake your head slightly before walking away.
Hyunjin leans back against the counter, arms folding loosely now, eyes following the way you slip right back into that role, like he never interrupted in the first place. His eyes are on you again, drawn by that strange attraction of watching you bossing people around.
Boss. The word lingers on his tongue, amused.
-
Hyunjin drives the car just above the allowed speed and keeping it steady with one hand gripping the steering wheel. His other hand propped against the side of the car, fingers mindlessly rubbing his lips.
You’re in the passenger seat, angled slightly toward the window, phone in hand, thumbs moving fast across the screen. Focused. Locked in. Like the world outside of whatever you’re typing doesn’t exist.
Hyunjin glances at you and then back at the road. “You know, you really shouldn’t be working this hard for just one paycheck.”
As expected, there’s no response. Your fingers keep moving, the tapping sounds of your fingers on the screen filling the space.
He clicks his tongue softly, but there’s a hint of amusement in it. He tries again with a different approach. “Are you hungry? We could stop somewhere. Get dinner.”
You don’t even look up as you say, “I’m not that hungry.”
Hyunjin pouts slightly, eyes still on the road. “That’s a problem. My plan involved talking over food.”
“You can skip the food. And just talk,” you flatly reply, still typing.
He lets out a soft, exaggerated whine. “Then at least give me your attention.”
The sigh comes and finally, you stop typing. You set your phone down on your lap, turning your head slightly toward him. “Okay. You can talk now.”
Hyunjin grins to himself, eyes still forward. “Okay,” he brightly says.
He takes a second to gather his thoughts before speaking. “You know, there’s only a week left in the test program,” he begins.
“I told you. I’ll find time for the rescheduled—”
“Hey,” he cuts in immediately, shushing you. “It’s still my turn to talk.”
You close your mouth, letting him finish and he glances at you for a split second, seeing the way you actually listen. The way you fall quiet. It does something small and strange to his chest.
Cute.
For a brief moment, he forgot what he’s about to say. He clears his throat to put his focus back on and says, “This time, I decide when the next test is.”
You open your mouth and close it the second you realize that it’s still his time to talk.
“And before you say anything, we’re in this together. I get a say too,” he adds.
Out of the corner of his eye, he sees the way you hesitate—like you’re searching for a counter, for something to push back with. But nothing comes.
“Okay,” you quietly say with a hint of reluctance.
Hyunjin nods once, satisfied. Then lets a moment pass—just enough to make it feel natural.
“It’s tomorrow night, by the way.”
Your head turns fully this time, eyes narrowing slightly. “But it’s so sudden,” you groan.
“I’ve already checked your schedule and I know you’re free tomorrow night,” Hyunjin easily replies.
You sigh, slumping on your seat. “Gabe…” you correctly guess.
He hums and nods.
You stare at him like you’re trying to read between the lines. “What’s your plan this time?”
Hyunjin’s lips curve, slow and knowing. “Just dress nicely.”
“Why do I have to dress nicely?” you ask in confusion, brows knitted together. “We’ll be in the house.”
He finally glances at you only to shake his head. “Actually, we’ll go somewhere… romantic?” he teasingly says.
You groan at that and flatly reject it. “No!”
“Hey, we agreed. Mutual decision,” he reminds you, holding out a fist at you.
You don’t punch it as a form of agreement, but cross your arms, leaning back into your seat. “Yeah, okay.”
“Eight works for you, right?”
You pinch the bridge of your nose and tilt your head up. “Yeah,” you answer, lacking enthusiasm.
Hyunjin grins anyway. In victory. “Tomorrow night. At eight.”
“Okay,” you repeat, completely flat.
“And dress nicely,” he adds.
This time, you don’t answer but pout, annoyed and somehow, that makes him grin even more.
By the time he pulls up in front of your house, Hyunjin feels like time passes too quickly. He watches as you unbuckle your seatbelt, gather your things, shoving your phone into your bag. Then you turn to him and softly say, “Thanks for the lift home.”
Hyunjin knows that he can’t let this moment pass like this. He moves quickly, leaning in just enough to press a kiss on your cheek. Quick, featherlight. Gone before it can become anything else.
He pulls back with a grin already in place. “Too fast. You can’t stop me,” he says, amused.
You stare at him, a hand hovering over your cheek. “You’re so—”
“Wholesome? Charming?” he cuts in immediately, trying to finish the sentence for you.
Your eyes narrow and turn into a glare. “Annoying.”
He laughs under his breath. “Yeah, that too.”
You shake your head, pushing the door open and step out. But before you close it, he leans toward you again and softly smiles. “See you tomorrow night.”
You subtly roll your eyes but he notices the smile threatening your face and you hold it back well. Then, you shut the door and walk away.
Hyunjin stays, watching you the whole time as you walk down the path to your house. You stop before the door, rummaging through your bag and then unlock the door. You push the door just enough to let yourself in and to his surprise, he finds you looking at him before finally, closing the door.
Only then Hyunjin turns the car engine on and starts driving.
-
Tomorrow night is here and Hyunjin stands in front of his mirror longer than he needs to. Tie in hand. Shirt already on. Top buttons undone. He tilts his head slightly, studying his reflection like he’s trying to read something deeper than just appearance.
“Alright,” he mutters under his breath.
One pull and the tie tighten just right. The suit jacket comes next, shrugged on without hassle, shoulders settling into it like it was made for him. He adjusts the cuffs, runs his fingers along the fabric, brushing away imaginary creases.
It’s not his usual look but tonight, he wants to look good. No, wait— he knows he always look good no matter what but for tonight, he wants to look like he means something to you.
A quiet exhale leaves him as he reaches for his watch, fastening it around his wrist. The subtle weight grounds him, pulls him back into the moment.
Because underneath it all, he knows that tonight isn’t just a date. It’s not just another test. It’s a way in. A way to figure out what the hell happened between you and Seungmin. A way to see if it’s over. Or if you’re still standing in it without realizing.
He grabs his keys from the counter, spinning them once around his finger out of habit before catching them in his palm. Excitement flickers under his skin now because despite everything, he’s looking forward to it.
Hyunjin glances at himself one last time in the mirror and smirks. “Let’s see how long you hold up tonight.”
And with that, he heads out and steps into the night.
-
Hyunjin cuts the engine, the low hum of the car dying into a quiet that feels… anticipatory.
For a second, he just sits there, fingers tapping once against the steering wheel before he exhales and leans forward, catching his reflection faintly in the windshield. He adjusts his collar, smooths down the front of his suit. Then he’s out of the car.
The night air is cool as he walks up your path, hands sliding into his pockets for a moment before he pulls one out to knock. Once. Twice.
Soon, there’s a faint sound of your footsteps inside, approaching and something in his chest tightens. Anticipation, maybe?
The door opens and for a moment, Hyunjin forgets every witty remark he had prepared. You stand there exactly how he pictured and somehow still better. Like the good girl you are, you dressed nicely as he asked. Hair pulled into that neat bun that leaves your neck bare, elegant, untouchable… except it’s not, not really. The neckline of your dress dips just enough to make his eyes flick in one inquisitive glance before he drags them back up to your face like he didn’t just do that.
He leans against the doorway anyway, a slow whistle slipping past his lips. “Wow,” he drawls, eyes dragging over you again, intentional this time. “If I knew you’d take me this seriously, I would’ve asked you to dress up like this way sooner.”
You don’t even flinch. Just that usual unimpressed look and then you slowly let go of your hand on the door. “I just need to grab my purse,” you say flatly, already turning away.
Hyunjin grins to himself as he follows you inside. “You’re forgetting something,” he says.
You stop, turning slowly, suspicion written all over your face. “What?”
He doesn’t answer, but disappears into the guest room like he it’s his own house which, at this point, he kind of does. The drawer slides open, the box sitting right where he last put it. He takes it, shuts the drawer, and walks back out.
Your eyes follow the box the second it appears in his hands and there it is, that narrowing of your gaze he’s grown weirdly fond of. He places it down on the coffee table with a soft thud, flipping it open like he’s unveiling something important. His fingers move with purpose as he picks out tonight’s choice. Which is also part of the plan.
He holds it out to you. “This. You’re forgetting this.”
The box has an all-white design with pink accent. On the center, written in bold silver, it says LUVE – App-Controlled Wearable Vibrator. You take one look at it and scoff. “This isn’t for tonight.”
He tilts his head, unfazed. “Says who?”
“We’re supposed to agree on the product.”
“And I agree on it,” he says immediately, lips twitching.
Your glare sharpens and he holds himself back from smiling. “Last time, you chose. I agreed. Now it’s my turn. You should agree,” he says, or rather, gaslights.
You get quiet all of a sudden and he can see the hesitation. The way your fingers tighten just slightly before you exhale, already knowing you’ve lost this one. You take it from him anyway, reluctant.
Hyunjin watches you like he’s won something as you move to slip it into your purse, but his hand shoots out, catching your wrist lightly. “Wear it now.”
You snort, like it’s ridiculous. Like he’s joking.
He just looks at you, eyes unwavering. Letting you know that he’s not.
That’s when you realize. “You’re serious?”
“Yes,” he answers without a beat.
Your eyes narrow, searching his face. “What are you planning?”
Hyunjin glances around, exaggerated, like he’s considering his answer carefully, dragging it out just to get under your skin before he looks back at you with a mischievous grin. “A fun night.”
You don’t buy it. He knows you don’t. But you also know you’re not getting anything else out of him.
“Be a good girl and wear it,” he adds lightly, already steering you toward the stairs, hands settling on your shoulders before you can argue again, “or we’ll be late.”
You groan under your breath, but you go anyway. Your feet dragging, steps heavy, each one louder than the last like you’re protesting through sheer attitude.
Hyunjin watches you disappear upstairs, a quiet chuckle leaving him as he leans back against the wall, slipping his hands into his pockets again. As he waits, he digs through the manual sheets and follows the instruction on it with his phone.
A moment later, you finally appear at the top of the stairs, hands smoothing your dress, that same unimpressed look on your face — And gosh, you’re cute when you’re annoyed. Too cute.
He’s stepping forward, stopping at the base of the stairs with one hand extended toward you like something out of a period drama.
You hesitate. Of course you do. Like you’re actually considering not taking it.
Hyunjin doesn’t give you the chance. He takes your hand anyway, fingers wrapping around yours. And says, in a tone sudden theatrical, a hint of mock elegance curling through it. “Come, milady. The night awaits.”
You sigh, roll your eyes but you fall into step beside him, close enough that your shoulder almost brushes his. The coo night air greeting you both as you step outside and you linger for a moment to lock the door.
Hyunjin jogs toward the car, unlocking it and walks around to your side before you can even reach for the handle. “Get in,” he says, offering his hand again.
You take his hand but your gaze remains suspicious. “You’re being awfully nice.”
Hyunjin’s other hand keeping the car door open for you. “What? I can’t treat my partner well?”
“Partner,” you repeat flatly.
“In testing,” he adds quickly, but the grin lingers like he knows exactly how that sounded.
You shake your head and get in before he can say anything worse. He makes sure you’re fully settled before closing the door carefully.
The car fills with a quiet kind of tension, engine humming low, city lights flickering past the windows as he pulls out onto the street. Hyunjin doesn’t speak right away. Neither do you. And it’s strange… because for once, it doesn’t feel like comfortable silence. It feels loaded. Like both of you are waiting for something to start.
His fingers tap lightly against the steering wheel and after a while, he glances at you. Then down. Then back to the road.
“So, how does it feel?” he says, too casually.
Your brows knit. “What?”
He flicks his eyes toward the purse on your lap. Hinting at what you’re wearing underneath. “You know what I’m asking,” he lightly says.
He notices how you slightly get flustered. You turn your head toward the window, pretending to watch the passing lights. “It’s fine.”
“Just fine? That’s not very detailed feedback,” he presses his lips together, stopping himself from smiling.
“It’s not even turned on,” you mutter under your breath.
“Doesn’t mean you don’t feel it.”
“It’s there,” you admit finally, fingers fiddling with the strap of your purse. “That’s all.”
Hyunjin hums, satisfied with that. But he doesn’t push further. Not yet. Instead, he leans back slightly into his seat, one hand steady on the wheel, the other resting loosely near the gear shift.
In a poor attempt of shifting the conversation, you ask, “Can you tell me where are we going?”
Hyunjin keeps his eyes on the road, the city stretching out ahead like something waiting to unfold and calmy says, “You’ll see.”
-
Hyunjin doesn’t slow down as he walks into the hotel lobby that is humming with quiet luxury, he walks confidently like he’d been here many times before. He glances at you from the corner of his eye, catching the way your gaze flicks across the space, taking in the reception desk, the chandeliers, the way everything looks just a little too expensive for a casual night out. Your lips part slightly, like the thought is forming, but you don’t say it yet.
Good. You’re starting to get it. He doesn’t leave you guessing for long. He’s guiding you toward the reception desk, he leans in just enough and says, “We’re staying the night.”
And discreetly, he slides the voucher across the desk. The receptionist accepts it right away, reading fast of what’s written inside and nods. Then she processes it right away.
He waits for the reaction, the scoff, the eye roll, the sharp little comment you usually throw at him. But nothing comes. When he glances at you again, you’re looking ahead, expression calm, like you’ve decided to tuck every question neatly into the back of your mind for later.
That’s new. Hyunjin exhales a quiet laugh under his breath. He checks in smoothly, exchanging a few polite words with the receptionist while you stand beside him with hands resting lightly at your sides. When the keycard is finally handed over, he takes it with a nod, slipping it into the inner pocket of his suit jacket.
Then he turns to you, fingers finding yours, threading together with deliberate ease. “Come on, darling.”
The word rolls off his tongue so naturally it almost surprises even him. Almost. He catches the tiny roll of your eyes, the barely-there exhale through your nose and it pulls a grin out of him. There you are.
He leads you toward the elevator, stepping inside just as the doors slide open, guiding you in before pressing the button to 8th floor.
“Isn’t your room on the 20th floor?” you mutter, brows knitting just slightly, suspicion finally slipping through.
Hyunjin leans back against the mirrored wall, hands sliding into his pockets, grin widening. “We should have dinner first, of course.”
The elevator dings and the doors slide open. Hyunjin pushes himself off the wall and, without missing a beat, takes your hand again. He steps out first, guiding you into the corridor that leads to the restaurant.
It’s quieter here in the restaurant. Intimate in a way that presses in close with the low lights, crisp linens, the fancy glassware and everyone is dressed up for the occasion. Like these matters. This place matters.
Hyunjin pulls your chair out before you can protest, one hand lightly brushing your back as you sit. It’s subtle but it lingers just enough to make his presence known. He takes his seat across from you, long fingers reaching for the menu, though his eyes flick up almost immediately, checking and observing you. Still too calm.
He expected resistance. A witty comment. At least a glare. Instead, you just sit there, flipping through the menu like you didn’t just follow him into a hotel for the night. It throws him off a little, but not enough to stop.
You both place your orders, the server nodding politely before slipping away, leaving behind the quiet hum of the restaurant and whatever this is between you.
Hyunjin leans forward then, elbows resting on the table, lowering his voice into something conspiratorial and dramatic. “I might’ve made a mistake,” he whispers loudly.
Your brows knit instantly. “What mistake?”
He glances around, as if checking who might overhear, before leaning in even closer. “You’re right. I can’t afford this place.”
Your mouth drops open and for a split second, he sees the crack in your composure. It’s so good that he can’t hold it in and Hyunjin bursts into laughter, head tipping back, shoulders shaking as he grins at you like he’s just won something.
“I’m joking,” he says, grinning from ear to ear.
Your expression hardens immediately. “Hyunjin!” you hiss.
He’s still smiling. “What?”
“Stop joking and tell me honestly.”
There’s something about the way you say that makes his grin soften just a little. And that’s when he realizes you’re actually worried. Worried for him. He tilts his head, studying you. “You don’t trust me?”
You shrug, noncommittal, eyes already drifting away from toward the chandeliers, the elegant arrangement of the space, anything but him.
And for a moment, he lets you. Then, casually, he explains, “I do commissioned art, you know. Pays pretty well if the client’s annoying enough. And I model sometimes.”
You snort at that and wrap your hand on your glass of water, still chuckling quietly,
Hyunjin pouts immediately. “I’m serious.”
“Mhm.”
“I am.”
But you’re not even looking at him anymore, too busy taking in the place, the elegant decorations, the atmosphere.
And Hyunjin… Hyunjin forgets the conversation entirely because now he’s the one staring. At the way the light catches your skin. The way your dress curves along your frame. The way your hair is pulled up just enough to leave your neck exposed. He wonders if you know what you look like right now. He wonders if you’d care if you did. His gaze lingers a second too long.
When you turn back to him, catching him in it, he doesn’t even try to look away, doesn’t pretend. You narrow your eyes slightly. “Was this your plan all along?”
“Which part?” he calmly asks.
“Doing the test in the hotel.”
“Maybe,” he says with an easy grin.
You lean back in your chair, unimpressed. “Huh!” you scoff a humorless laugh.
“I got bored of your guest room.”
“You said it has a nice view. And you were the one who insisted on staying.”
“And now I’m insisting on upgrading.”
That earns him a subtle shake of your head, like you’ve already given up trying to argue with him.
Good. He likes it better when you stop fighting him.
The server returns then, placing a bottle of red wine on the table, expertly pouring into both glasses. The deep ruby liquid catches the light, the aphrodisiac smell of it wafting around you both.
“Enjoy your evening,” the server says before stepping away.
Hyunjin reaches for his glass immediately, lifting it with a small tilt of his head toward you. There’s something different in his eyes now. Less teasing. More intent.
“To another successful test?” he offers.
You sigh—but you still lift your glass. Still meet him halfway. “To another successful test,” you echo.
The glasses clink softly and it settles between you like a promise neither of you fully understands yet.
-
Hyunjin waits until you finish the last bite of your tiramisu before he makes his move. He’s patient about it, watching the way your spoon drags through the soft layers, the way your eyes soften just a little at the taste. He almost forgets what he came here to do, almost lets himself stay in this version of the night where it’s just dinner, soft lighting, and you across from him.
As if you know that this dinner is not the end of it, you set your spoon down, and ask, “What now?”
You have a sip of water before asking again, “We head to the room?”
Hyunjin smiles. He shakes his head at your suggestion and lightly, teasingly says, “Not yet. I’ve got something more fun in mind.”
The way your brows knit together makes something flicker low in his chest. He reaches for his phone, opening an app.
You don’t notice at first. Or maybe you do, but you don’t think much of it. Not until he turns the screen toward you, thumb hovering, expression far too pleased with himself.
“What is that?” you carefully ask.
Hyunjin leans forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table like he’s about to share a secret. “The app to control the vibrator you’re wearing.”
He sees the way your eyes widening, your posture going still, your breath catching just a fraction too late. “You, what? But— but when?” you ask, slightly stammering.
“I downloaded it earlier. Followed the instruction on the manual. Pretty straightforward.”
For a second, you just stare at him and then at the app. Speechless. And God, he shouldn’t enjoy that as much as he does.
You lean in, voice dropping, tight. “You can’t be seriously testing it… here?”
He tilts his head, a grin slowly blooming on his face. “Kind of.”
Your hand moves fast like you’re about to grab his phone, or maybe shove it away but he’s faster. Hie pulls his phone closer, out of your reach. “Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you,” he assures you.
But his assurance seems to only do the opposite on you. You don’t relax. If anything, your glare sharpens. “Hyunjin—”
“Rules first,” he cuts in, bright again, like this is a game. Like this is harmless. “I know you like rules.”
You hate that look and he loves that you hate it.
“For every question I ask,” he continues, tapping the screen lightly, “you must answer honestly.”
Your lips part, ready to shut this down.
“And if you lie—” he adds, almost lazily, “I turn it up.”
“I didn’t agree to this,” you protest in hushed tone.
Hyunjin beams and announces, “First lie of the night.”
His thumb presses the screen and he knows it’s turning on. He can see it from your reaction — the smallest jolt in your shoulders. The way your breath dips. The way your fingers tighten around the edge of the table like something just caught you off guard beneath the surface.
Level one. He’s sure it’s barely anything. But enough for one.
You swallow, trying to compose yourself, and he almost laughs at how quickly you’re trying to rebuild control.
“We agreed on it, remember?” he lightly says.
You let out a quiet, frustrated sound, but you don’t argue again. Because you know he’s right.
Hyunjin leans back, satisfied and begins talking like he’s hosting a game show. “Alright, let’s start easy.”
You narrow your eyes at him but you brace yourself for it, knowing that there’s nothing easy about his intention.
“Do you think I’m charming?”
Your answer comes instantly. “Not at all.”
Hyunjin doesn’t even hesitate to decide. “Lie.”
Level two. This time, your reaction is noticeable — your spine straightening, your lips pressing together. You expected it, but expectation doesn’t soften the sensation, doesn’t dull the way it hums just beneath your composure.
He watches you carefully before moving on to the next question. “Question number two,” he says, still with gameshow voice. “Are you happy doing this test program with me?”
A beat later, you answer, “Not really.”
He huffs out a laugh. “Another lie.”
Level three. Your fingers curl against the table now. Your legs shift slightly beneath it. Still composed but he can see the cracks starting to form.
Good. Very good. Hyunjin leans forward again as he’s done with the warm-up questions and now, time to get down to the real business. “What’s your relationship with Seungmin?”
There’s a quick twitch of your lips, like you finally discovered the true intention of all this. “He’s my superior at work,” you easily answer.
Hyunjin’s thumb moves but you’re faster this time. Your hand shoots forward, grabbing his wrist, stopping him from moving the toggle to the next level.
“I’m telling the truth,” you snap and quickly lower your voice after, aware of where you are.
Hyunjin grins apologetically and says, “Sorry. I get too excited.”
You let go of his hand but your eyes locked with his.
“Alright, let me rephrase the question,” he says as he leans closer. Closer than before. “Are you in a romantic relationship with him?”
The silence settles a fraction too long and then, you answer, “No.”
Hyunjin exhales through his nose, almost amused. “Lie.”
Level four. This time, it hits. He sees the way your breath falters, the way your composure slips for just a second, the way your thighs press together beneath the table like you’re trying to ground yourself.
“Hyunjin—” you start, a little too loud, before catching yourself. Your voice drops immediately. “I told you the truth.
He tilts his head and watches you. Then rephrase the question again. “Were you in a romantic relationship with Seungmin?”
Your silence is louder than any answer and he doesn’t wait to slide his thumb until it settles on level five. Your hand immediately grips the edge of the table now. Hard. Your lips part,but all that comes out is just a sharp inhale, like the sensation is climbing faster than you can contain it.
He shouldn’t feel this pull in his chest. This strange mix of satisfaction and something darker. “Time limit,” he reminds softly.
The glare you make could cut him but as always, it unfazed him as he takes it to level six.
That’s when you break. Not completely. More noticeable now. You bite your lip, hard, your shoulders tensing, your breath uneven now. One of your legs crosses over the other under the table, like you’re trying to hold yourself together in a room full of people who have no idea what’s happening just inches away from them.
“Okay. Okay—” you say quickly, breathlessly, like you just ran a mile.
He shows a little mercy by waiting and you look at him like you hate him a little. Then the truth comes out in a blurt of words. “We secretly dated when we worked together. For three months.”
There it is. The truth he’s been dying to know, but he’s not done. “What happened then?”
You hesitate again and Hyunjin turns merciless once more, he takes it to level seven. A sharp breath spilled out of your parted lips, your hand pressing flat against the table, your composure slipping in a way you can’t fully hide anymore.
“Hyunjin—stop—”
“Answer first,” his voice is quieter now but full of assertiveness.
You look at him and for the first time tonight, he doesn’t see annoyance, or defiance. He sees pain in them. Like recalling the memory evoking the hurt all over again.
“He didn’t end it. He just left. He stopped calling and didn’t say anything…” your voice cracks, just slightly. “Nothing. For two years.”
The words hang there between you and suddenly, this isn’t a game anymore. Your eyes flick back to his, softer but tired. “Turn it off,” you firmly demand.
Hyunjin looks at you for a long second and taps the button to turn it off.
The silence that follows is immediate, almost deafening. You exhale like you’ve been holding your breath for minutes, your shoulders dropping, your body slowly unwinding from the tension. You adjust in your seat, trying to regain yourself, trying to put the walls back up.
But he’s already seen behind them and now he can’t unsee it.
You look at him again and this time, there’s no fight left in your voice. “Now, can we leave?”
-
The elevator is not empty when it arrives on the 8th floor. Hyunjin steps in first, guiding you in with a hand on the small of your back, but the moment the doors slide shut, people start to follow—one after another, until the space fills with low chatter, the soft chime of each passing floor, the faint jazzy music humming overhead.
Somehow, in the middle of all that, it still feels like it’s just you and him. He shifts without thinking, angling his body so you’re pressed into the corner, his back slightly turned toward the rest of the elevator, shielding you from wandering eyes, from accidental brushes. From everything, except him.
You’re so close that he can see the faint tension still lingering in your expression, the way your lips press together like you’re holding something back, the way your breathing hasn’t quite settled.
Hyunjin waits until you look up, until your eyes are on him and when you do, he leans in. Then stops just a breath away. “I didn’t say I was done,” he murmurs.
Your eyes flicker with betrayal, something wounded passing through them so quickly it almost disappears. But he sees it and ignores it. Because if he lets himself stop now, he won’t get what he came for.
His hand slips into his pocket, pulling out his phone like it’s nothing, like this is just another step in whatever game he’s built around the two of you. “We’ll pick up where we left off,” he adds quietly.
Your expression tightens but you don’t argue. Instead, you daringly stare into his eyes, challenging him.
As he mentioned, he turns it on, thumb sliding to level six. A soft, involuntary gasp slips past your lips, it’s barely there and you swallowed quickly, but your body gives you away in ways your voice doesn’t. Your hand shoots back, gripping the metal handlebar behind you, knuckles tightening as the sensation returns, stronger, deeper, harder to ignore.
Hyunjin watches every little shift, every breath and then leans closer. “I’ve only got one more question,” he says, voice low, threading through the quiet noise around you. “So you’d better answer honestly.”
You don’t respond but look at him with annoyed, tired and betrayed eyes.
He smiles as he murmurs, “I’ll take that as a yes.”
Your silence holds but your gaze doesn’t waver.
He inhales air before asking the one question: “Do you still love him?”
The way it hits you makes it seem like you didn’t expect it at all, maybe you do but you hide it well. But the way your expression changes is enough for him to know this one matter more than the rest.
You hesitate longer than before and that’s all the patience he has. His thumb slides the toggle to level seven. Your grip tightens. Your shoulders stiffen, just for a second, like your body betrays you before your mind can catch up.
Hyunjin tilts his head, watching you closely. “Let me try that again,” he murmurs.
He leans in closer, closer to you ear so you can hear it properly. “Do you still love Seungmin?”
You inhale slowly, like you’re trying to steady yourself, trying to rebuild something that’s already slipping. “No,” you answer, voice faltering just a little.
Hyunjin doesn’t move right away but watches your eyes and waits until he sees it— that tiny falter, that flicker that tells you’re not telling the truth.
He leans in, lips brushing close to your ear now. “Still bad at lying,” he whispers.
Level eight. Your hand flies to his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt like you need something solid to hold onto. Your body instinctively leaning into him, seeking the warmth, the closeness.
The elevator still going, climbing higher and higher. There is a dozen of people in this enclosed space but no one notices, except him.
His arm slips around your waist, steadying you, pulling you just a little closer enough that he can feel the tension running through you. “Answer me,” he murmurs, almost like he’s pleading.
Your eyes are different now—glossy, unfocused at the edges, like you’re fighting two battles at once. One inside your head. One inside your body. Yet, your lips stay sealed. Stubbornly so.
Hyunjin exhales slowly as he has no other option now, but drives you off to the edge, closer to the truth.
Your body reacts before you can stop it. A sharp inhale through your nostrils, your fingers fisting at his shirt now, your weight shifting into him like you don’t even realize you’re doing it anymore. Your breathing quickens, uneven now, your control slipping in pieces and finally— you break.
“I… I–I don’t know,” you whisper, voice breaking in the middle.
The truth comes out rushed but fragile. And all of a sudden, everything else fades as he processes it, as he tries to understand that the answer is not a yes, not a no either. It’s something that still lingers, unfinished.
The moment he turns it off, your body gives in immediately—melting into him, your forehead pressing into his chest, your breath uneven as you try to recover, to gather yourself again.
His hand tightens slightly at your waist, holding you steady. Protective now. He leans down, lips close to your ear again. “Thank you for being honest,” he murmurs.
Hyunjin gives you another moment to reorganize your breathing, to steady yourself before he leans in again and smirks. “But it wouldn’t be very gentleman of me to not let you finish,” he adds softly.
Before you can process his words, Hyunjin moves it to the highest setting. Level ten.
Your body tenses against him, fingers clutching at his shirt again, your breath catching hard this time as the sensation rushes back, overwhelming, sudden, impossible to ignore.
Hyunjin doesn’t give you time to think, he pulls you close until you’re flushed against him and kisses you. Then, he slowly opens his mouth, swallowing the low, breathless moans you can’t let escape, every breath you lose to the intensity, every tremor that runs through you as you cling to him, as the world narrows down to this moment, this space, this dangerous line he keeps pulling you across.
His arm tightens around you, holding you close and closer until he can feel everything, the tension, the heat, the faint vibration through the layers of clothing and the way your body reacts to it despite yourself.
Soon, it crests and he knows for sure from the way you tense, then soften, your grip loosening just slightly as everything washes through you, leaving you warm, unsteady, breathless. He breaks the kiss but his arms still tight around you, keeping you close and upright. Because he knows you wouldn’t be able to stand on your own right now.
The elevator dings as it arrives on the 20th floor. Hyunjin quickly adjusts his hold on you, arm firm around your waist as he half-guides, half-supports you out of the elevator. Your steps are unsteady, your breathing still uneven, your body not fully back under your control. Yet, no one notices, no one looks twice.
Hyunjin keeps you close as he walks because whatever game this started as—
It stopped being just a game somewhere between your hesitation… and “I don’t know.”
-
Hyunjin barely waits for the elevator doors to close behind you before guiding you down the hall. Your steps are still uneven from the way your hand clings to his, in the slight drag of your pace and instead of pulling away, you hold on to him. He doesn’t say anything about it, but leads you to the door, slips the keycard in, and pushes it open.
The soft click feels like a quiet welcome. He turns slightly, offering his hand again out of instinct more than anything and this time, you’re reaching for him without the slightest of hesitation like you don’t want the distance between you to exist at all. That alone does something to him, something deep and dangerous.
He lets you step in first and he follows right after, the door shutting softly behind him. The keycard ends up somewhere on the table by the entrance, forgotten almost immediately.
He doesn’t turn on the lights as the pale moonlight and city lights spilling into the room through the wide glass windows in a dim, restless glow.
And you— you stand right in the middle of it, quiet and still. A silhouette cut against the skyline. Beautiful in a way that Hyunjin can’t comprehend, making him exhales slowly as he tries to wrap his head around it, around what he’s looking at.
Hyunjin exhales again, slower, trying to steady something inside himself and failed. Because the next second, he’s already moving, crossing the space between you in a few quick steps, hands coming up to cup your face without hesitation. And then—
Your lips and his collide in a kiss, raw and immediate. It takes you a second to catch up to him, your breath hitching, your hands finding his jacket like you need something to anchor yourself and then you’re kissing him back just as hard, just as desperate.
Hyunjin’s grip tightens in reaction. He shifts, guiding you backward, step by step, until your back meets the cool surface of the glass. The city stretches out behind you, distant and unaware, while everything here narrows down to the heat building between your bodies.
Knowing you’re running out of breath, Hyunjin pulls away only to shift his attention somewhere else. His lips moving, trailing down your jaw, along your neck, slow and searing, like he’s mapping you out with every brush of his plush lips.
Your breath breaks on his shoulder and his name almost forms, but soon dissolves into something softer, something he feels more than hears.
He doesn’t stop. He can’t stop. His hands move with him, sliding along your sides, your waist, pulling you closer, pressing you into him until there’s no space left between you at all. Until you feel the proof his need of you, straining through his dark slacks.
The friction alone is enough to make you react — he feels it in the way your body moves along in subtle, pulsating motions. In the way your head tilts back just slightly as he finds that sensitive spot on your neck.
“Hyunjin—” you sigh, barely there.
Then he pulls back just long enough to look at you and notices how your eyes are different now. Hazy and open, filled with wanting.
In that moment, something in him snaps. He plants his mouth on you again, harder and deeper now, he swallows the gasp you let out in reaction. Then he moves again, dragging his lips lower, traveling down your body and planting little, searing kisses along the way. He’s taking his time, like he’s savoring every inch of you, every reaction you give him.
Until patience runs out. Until want takes over again. Then, he drops to his knees. His hands find the hem of your dress, pushing it up in one smooth motion, his breath catching just slightly at the sight of your lacey underwear with the vibrator still attached to it, the way it clings to your sex, the way it frames everything he’s been trying not to think about all night.
“God…” he exhales under his breath. Half disbelief. Half something darker and urgent.
His fingers hook at the fabric, impatiently pulling it down to get it out of the way, to remove the last barrier between him and what he wants.
Your underwear slides down your legs in one smooth motion, it makes a faint thudding sound as it hits the floor and suddenly, the room feels smaller now, filled with tension. He glances up at you again like he needs to see your face, your reaction, your permission without asking for it out loud.
And the way you look at him with eyes wide and dark with lust — that’s all the answer he needs.
He puts a hand behind your thigh, pulling it to the side, making space between your legs. His eyes instantly flick down and focused on the heating, wet mess. His tongue darts out in instinct, licking his lips as a thirst grows in him. A thirst for you. In a low, sultry voice and laced in amusement, he murmurs, “What a mess!”
The first touch is of his fingers running between your slick folds, he lowly sighs as your essence coated them and then, glides them upward, meeting your bundle of nerves still pulsating with desire.
He looks up, playful glints flashing through his brown eyes. “Were you expecting it that much?” he teases, fingertips circling on your clit now.
You bite your lower lip, hips begin to subtly moving, chasing his touch despite it. Your back is slightly arching, but you will yourself to keep leaning against the glass.
“Look at you…” he murmurs, but there’s no mockery in it. Just something rougher. “Can’t even stand still.”
His mouth replaces his hand next. He leans in but doesn’t dive in right away. His mouth hovering close, testing how long can he resist the temptation and as expected, it only lasts a few seconds before he caves in, surrendering himself to this sinful indulgence.
One taste. One taste and all the restraint in him goes out of the window. His nose pressing against your pubic bone as he dips lower, deeper. His lips wrapped around your clit, sucking on it gently, making your eyes fluttering as your moans cutting through the silence that hangs in the room.
Hyunjin grabs your leg by the back of your knee and lifts it, enough to allow him more access, more depth to please you with his mouth. He steadily holds your leg against his ribs as he pulls away for a second just to dive back in. His mouth attached to your cunt, harder and relentless now. Then he lets instinct take over, letting the sounds you make guide him instead of thought.
You don’t even try to hold it — your body arching now, chasing that hot and slick of his mouth on yours. Your hand flying to his shoulder like you need to hold onto something.
In the haze of the moment, he opens his eyes and watches as your eyes screwed shut, mouth parted open with moans spilling out of you, breathless and broken in places. He feels the tremble of your legs, of your body needing to meet its earned high.
Everything about it pushes him further, makes him stay right there, focused in the way he draws those reactions out of you, like he’s chasing something only you can give him.
And yes, Hyunjin will give it to you and you can have it.
And in return, he lets himself have it and lets himself want. Lets himself take in the way you lean into him, the way your footing stumbles, the way your breath stuttering. There’s no rush because he’s done playing.
Now, he just wants you.
-
It takes everything in him to stop. He’s far from done though you’re close to finish. But he stops.
Hyunjin’s mouth glistening wet with your essence when he finally lets go. He’s still chasing his breathe as his head tilted up, looking for your eyes. They instantly meet in a shared heat and stays there for a second longer. He allows himself a moment to take in the sight of you because something about this—about you like this—feels dangerously close to something he won’t be able to walk away from.
He slowly puts down your leg and places his hands on each side of your hips. “No, not yet,” he mutters.
You seem confused for a brief moment. Then, your hand slides down from his shoulder to his collar, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt, tugging him upward and pulling him against you. As if you want him close, wanting him to come back.
He rises in one smooth motion, hands moving to your waist now, pulling you flush against him as his mouth crashes back onto yours. The kiss is different now, hungrier and needier. Consuming.
You kiss him as fiercely, hands roaming around his body — his broad shoulders, chest, abdomen, pushing and pulling until he finally lets you have what you want. The jacket slides off first, discarded somewhere behind him without a second thought.
He smiles against your lips at your impatience and you’re too busy to notice, too busy working at the buttons of his shirt, your fingers a little rushed, a little desperate. He lets you take control for a moment, watching the way your brows pull together in concentration, the way your lips part slightly as you focus—God, even that is enough to drive him a little crazy.
“Careful,” he murmurs, catching your wrist gently when you nearly skip one. “You’ll ruin the whole thing.”
You glare but it softens just as quickly when he leans in again, brushing his mouth along your jaw, distracting you on purpose this time. And it works.
The rest comes off quicker after that—his shirt, your dress, his slacks, your bra, layers slipping away between kisses, between touches that grow erratic, more certain with each passing second.
There’s nothing careful about it anymore. Just heat. Just hands learning, relearning, mapping each other out in real time. He doesn’t remember crossing the room. Only that at some point, his hands are guiding you until the edge of the bed hits the back of your knees.
You falter slightly and he’s there, lowering you down. He follows right after, doesn’t give you space to drift away, to think, to second-guess. His body settles over yours, one hand braced beside your head, the other tracing down your side like he’s trying to feel every inch of you at once.
Not willing his eyes to stray away from you even for a second, his hand wildly groping around the side of the bed. Once he finds the button, he presses on it and in a second, warm lights spilling onto the bed. But it hits differently on you.
You’re glowing even under the dim of light. Your body is heavenly even what you’re about to do is far from grace. And when he pulls back just enough to look at you, at your bare body against the white sheets, he realizes that this what he’s been dreaming of every night.
His hand suddenly hesitates to touch you, afraid that it’d shatter what he thinks is a just his imagination. When his palm pressed against the warmth of your ribs, he sighs in relief. This is real.
His fingertips tracing a light path as he moves his hand up the valley between your breasts. Knuckles brushes your chin just a fraction before his thumb swipes across your lips, feeling the softness of them, the warm of your breath escaping in between them. The rest of his fingers frame the side of your face, keeping you still as he looks at you as long enough to imprint this in the back of his mind.
“You’re—” he starts, then stops, shaking his head slightly like he can’t even find the right word.
Instead, Hyunjin shows his admiration another way. He leans in, pressing his lips against your, soft and warm, melting into one tender kiss. Soon, he’s drawn into your warmth, into the softness of your skin under him and lets himself fall, collapsing on top of you. Your lips stay locked the whole time. Your legs shift around him instinctively, inviting. It nearly undoes him until—
“The condom,” he mutters breathlessly against your lips. “Just a second—”
His body feels heavy, or rather, reluctant to get away from you. Once he found it lying on the floor, he crouches down and reaches into the inner pocket for his wallet, the packet of condom tucked in one of the compartments.
He couldn’t walk faster than this, impatient to feel your body against him again. The foil packet glinting under the low light and Hyunjin stops on the edge of the bed, ripping through the wrapper and steadying himself as he works with the thin material. Then, carefully rolls it down his length. He takes another look at it, making sure it’s securely on before turning on the bed, facing you.
You’re still there, patiently waiting for him and he can’t make you wait another second. He hovers above you, lowering his mouth on you. The kiss is full of intention now, hungrily but steadier. Controlled.
“I’m going in, yeah?” he mutters when he pulls away from the kiss.
You give him a small nod and open your legs wider, giving him the permission.
Hyunjin settles himself between your legs, fingers smearing the lubricant down his protected length. Then, he aims it to your cunt, the head pressing just lightly against your entrance. instead of entering you, he pushes his length upward, using the tip to tease your clit.
Your limbs slithering around the sheets, hands crumpling the fabric, toes curling and loosening, hips lifted off the mattress. You’re so pliant, so sensitive to his touch and he likes that. So much.
When he’s sure you’re ready, he enters you, pushing just an inch or two into you. Your body arching, surprised by sudden fullness, the stiffness, the shared heat in this very moment. His eyes remain on where your bodies connected, in awe at how your little hole can take him, the size and the girth. The depth.
He rubs the side of your thigh as if he tries to soothe you as he pushes another inch and stops. Then, he allows the groans he’s been contained behind his gritted teeth to spill. A louder groan slips past his lips when he feels you clenched around him.
“Do that again… and I’ll lost it,” he mutters with eyes closed, a fair warning.
You don’t feel threatened at all, nor warned. You put a hand on the nape of his neck and pull him close, close enough for you to kiss him. Your legs wrapped around him again, easily like they belong there in the first place. In the process, you’re sending him just a tiny bit deeper into you. “I’ll lost it… I swear,” he warns again but loses its bite now.
Hyunjin’s mouth stiffens against you yet you continue kissing him, taking his lower lip between yours and gently sucking on it. He moves in instinct now, opening his mouth wider for you, tongue twirling with yours, letting you have as much of his taste as you want.
“Hyunjin,” you suddenly call with your lips attached to the corner of his lips.
He tilts his head down and looks at you with heavy-lidded eyes. “Mmh?”
You run your fingers down his sharp jaw, hesitating for a second before saying, “More.”
“More?” he asks, dark brows furrows in confusion
You tighten your legs around his waist, answering his question without actually saying the words.
His lips stay parted open but all that comes out is, “Oh?”
You put your hands on his shoulders as if bracing yourself. Then, you say it again. “More.”
“More, okay,” he repeats like a broken robot. He’s malfunctioning for a moment before finally shifting, hands bracing on each side of you and then, pushes more of him into you.
Your hips lift higher off the mattress, hands gripping the sides of your pillow. Yet, you say again, “More.”
He doesn’t question it this time. He shifts again and this time, his hands gripping your hips. His eyes flick down to where you tightly wrapped around his thick, hot length, take him more than before. It doesn’t feel right to keep pushing so Hyunjin pulls back and then enters you again, slower now.
“Oh…” you breathlessly moan, hands moving to cup your breasts and squeezing on them.
“Fuck,” the profanity falls without him meaning to. The sight of you bare and wet, stuffed with his cock and touching yourself — calls for it.
His body moves out of instinct, hips moving forward, putting more of him, or rather, all of him into you. He can’t stop himself, his body knows what it wants and won’t stop until it gets it.
“Argh—” The groan cuts off as he closes his mouth, lips forming a thin line. Like letting it spill would make him losing it.
Your grip on his shoulders tightens, fingers digging into the flesh and he doesn’t mind it, he barely feels the pain when the pleasure of fully buried inside you overpowers everything. “It’s all in now, it’s all in…” he mutters. Half disbelief. Half in something raw and dark.
He exhales sharply, dropping his forehead to yours for a brief second, like he needs to steady himself. The two of you stay like that. Just existing, adjusting and connecting. Enveloped in a tenderness of the moment that feels like it’s destined for just the two of you.
When he opens his eyes, he finds your face contorted in both pain and pleasure. He doesn’t know which one is dominating. He cups your jaw, leaning in until his nose brushes with yours and softly asks, “Hey, still with me?”
You deeply, shakily inhale air and your eyes fluttering open, looking a little dazed like you’re still deciding if this is a dream or not.
“Still with me?” he asks, even softer.
“Yes,” you murmur, but it’s more like a sigh.
“Okay,” he says with a smile, hands finding yours and lacing them together beside your head. “Stay with me.”
He leans down again, capturing your mouth in another kiss—slower yet deeper. Slowly, he lets go of one hand to slide down your side, settling on the dip of your waist. He keeps it there as he begins to move in slow, almost lazy thrusting.
“Okay?” he asks, making sure you’re ready for it.
You nod repeatedly and wrap your free arm around his shoulder, fingers tangled in the hair on the back of his head.
With that, Hyunjin allows himself to add intensity to his thrusting and set a steady pace. His eyes flick down to check and the sight of his cock slipping in and out of you only undo him further. “Fuck—” The profanity spills free this time.
He kisses you to stop himself from cursing more, planting his lips to part of you that is within reach. He drags his lips down the column of your throat, lips gently sucking, teeth lightly nibbling and tongue licking the salt on your skin.
Somehow, his body quicken the pace without him meaning to. Or maybe, it does and that he’s just following what his body wants and needs. The hand gripping your waist slips under you, keeping your body arched and allowing him that delicious angle to penetrate you deeper.
You react to this new position in a mix of whimpers and moans, but he knows you like it, you enjoy it from the way your walls tightening, fluttering around him. His hips continuously moving, hammering into you hard enough that the skin-slapping sounds grow louder, louder than your shared breath and moans, endlessly echoing in the room, lewd and arousing.
He decides to continue the trail of kiss down your chest, dragging his lips around your areola before finally, taking your nipple in his mouth and sucking on it, latching on it as he incessantly thrusting into you, harder and rough around the edges.
Between your breathless moan, you call his name again and that’s when he lets go of your nipple, leaving it raw and glistening wet with his saliva. “Yeah?”
You don’t talk but pull him into a kiss, a kiss that drowns him further and deeper into you. into the pleasure, the crackling heat, the intimacy of it all. He feels it before he understands it.
Somewhere between the way your hands stop fumbling and start holding, somewhere between the way your breaths fall into the same rhythm—something changes.
It slows. Not the intensity. But the intention behind it.
Hyunjin moves with you, not just over you—each motion answered, each pause met halfway, like the two of you are learning a language neither of you knew you spoke. Your fingers slide up his back, keeping him close. And he stays.
God, he stays.
Every time he thinks about pulling away, about teasing, about dragging this out the way he usually would—he doesn’t. He can’t. Because this doesn’t feel like a game anymore. It doesn’t feel like testing, or teasing, or chasing a reaction. It feels like— you.
Your name slips from his lips without him meaning it to, low and unguarded, like a whispered prayer you didn’t mean to hear. He presses his forehead to yours, eyes closing for a second as he exhales, trying to steady himself, but it only makes everything sharper. More vivid. More felt.
“Look at me,” he murmurs, not quite a command.
You obey anyway like you always do and when your eyes meet his, it’s like something in his chest gives way. Because there’s no pretending in that look anymore, just you, right here with him.
The world narrows and softens, in a way it wasn’t before, in a way that there’s something that pulls instead of pushes. The two of you move together, breathing in sync, eyes remained locked in a heated, steady gaze.
The heat builds, rising, drawing both of you into it together. Your hand tightens against him. His grip answers without thought. And when you fall apart, you fall apart around each other, at the same time. Overwhelming pleasure crashing over both of you in the same breath, the same heartbeat, the same quiet unraveling.
Hyunjin stills against you, breath catching, his grip tightening just slightly before easing again as the moment washes through him. His forehead drops to yours, eyes closing for a brief second like he needs it—like he needs to feel all of it without distraction. Without distance.
When he opens his eyes again, you’re right there. Still close. Still his. He studies your face, more open than he’s ever allowed himself to be with anyone else. There’s no performance left in him. Just the truth. And something in his chest shifts so deeply it almost scares him.
He brushes his thumb along your cheek again, reverently. “Yeah…” he exhales, barely above a whisper.
Not to you, but to himself. Because now he knows that all the chasing, all the games, all the things that used to feel enough— They don’t even come close to this. To you.
Hyunjin leans in, pressing his lips to yours again, ever so gently like he’s afraid that if he lets go too quickly, this moment might disappear with it. When he pulls back, he doesn’t move far. He stays there, close enough that your breaths still mix, his hand still resting against your face, thumb brushing absentmindedly like he’s memorizing the feeling.
I’m not done with this. he murmurs quietly inside his head. His gaze flickers between your eyes and then steadies. Not with you.
And this time—
It doesn’t sound like a game.
Not even a little.
-
Soft light spills through the curtains, painting the room in pale gold and muted shadows. Hyunjin stirs before he fully wakes, his senses catching up one by one—the warmth, the weight, the steady rhythm of breathing that isn’t his own.
It settles a second later. You. You’re still here. Pressed close against him, your back fitting against his chest like you’re cut from the same piece, your body warm and relaxed beneath his arm. His hand rests low on your stomach, fingers splayed, like he fell asleep holding you and never let go.
He doesn’t dare to move. Not even an inch. Not when you feel like this—soft, warm, real in a way that makes last night feel less like something fleeting and more like something… kept. His face is tucked into the crook of your neck, your scent intoxicates him, clinging to his skin, his pillow, his thoughts. It makes him breathe slower, quieter, like even the smallest movement might break whatever fragile peace has settled between you.
So he stays there, letting his eyes drift over you—what little he can see from this angle. The curve of your shoulder, the line of your neck, the way your hair spills messily across the pillow. You look… peaceful. Too peaceful for someone who spent the night tangled up with him.
And God, you’re beautiful like this.
He lets himself smile because if this is all he gets—this quiet moment before everything back to controlled normal again—he’ll take it. He’ll take it and hold onto it for as long as it lasts.
And maybe that’s why, when you start to stir, your eyes fluttering open like you’re being pulled out of peaceful dream— Hyunjin reacts before he can think and shuts his eyes instantly. He pretends to still sleep. But he doesn’t really stop watching. There’s the faintest sliver of space where his lashes part just enough to catch the way you just lay there, staring at the ceiling and looking disoriented, trying to piece together where you are.
He sees the confusion and the realization creeping in. He closes his eyes fully when you turn your head toward him and waits. He feels your hand grabbing the arm around your waist and move it away from you. Gently, but not uncertainly.
Hyunjin lets out a low groan, shifting like he’s just been pulled from sleep, turning his face deeper into the pillow as if he’s unaware of anything else happening. He plays it well from years of practice.
You’re already moving and soon, he can hear the rustle of sheets, the quick, almost frantic movement as you scoot away, creating space where there wasn’t any just seconds ago.
Hyunjin rolls onto his back slowly, one arm coming up to shield his eyes from the light as he squints toward the room. “What time is it…” he mutters, voice rough with sleep.
You don’t answer. Instead, he hears you continue moving around, searching for something on the floor. He turns his head just slightly, watching through half-lidded eyes as you grab the first thing within reach—his shirt—and pull it on.
The corners of his mouth twitch. He has to stop himself from smiling, seeing you in his shirt and the way you’re buttoning it wrong. Too fast. Too distracted.
Hyunjin lets out a quiet breath, dropping his arm from his eyes as he finally looks at you properly. “Morning,” he says, voice hinted with playfulness.
He thought you’d just ignore it like before. But then, you turn to the side and say, “It’s way past morning.”
He hums in response, stretching slightly, like none of this affects him the way it clearly affects you. “I’ll order breakfast anyway,” he says easily, reaching for the landline phone. “What do you—”
He barely finishes his sentence as you’re disappearing into the bathroom and close the door behind you with a soft click.
The room quiets again and Hyunjin exhales slowly, staring at the ceiling for a second before turning his head toward the closed door. Then, finally, he lets himself smile. Because for all your rushing, your avoiding, your pretending— you didn’t leave, or run. And that means more than you probably realize.
-
Hyunjin drags a hand through his damp hair as he steps back into the room, halfway through fastening the belt of his bathrobe when he looks up and finds you already dressed. The dress from last night sits perfectly on you again, like nothing happened. Like the hours between then and now didn’t exist. Your back is to him as you gather your hair and twist it up into a neat bun.
Hyunjin’s brows pull together slightly, the belt of his robe tightening under his hands as he finishes tying it. “You’re in a hurry,” he says, tone light, but strained in places.
You don’t turn around immediately. “I'm leaving.”
Hyunjin exhales through his nose, tilting his head as he watches you in the mirror now, catching your reflection instead. “Stay. Relax for a bit,” he says, like it’s obvious. Like it shouldn’t even be a question.
You slowly turn on your feet and this time, he can tell that you have your guard back up, already halfway out the door even though you haven’t taken a single step yet. “You need to check out before four,” you point out.
Hyunjin pouts, the expression coming easier than it should, like he’s refusing to let the moment turn into something stiff and distant. “That’s still five hours away,” he counters, almost immediately, like he’s been waiting for an excuse.
The conversation gets interrupted by the knocking on the door. Hyunjin’s lips curve, glancing toward the door before looking back at you. “And breakfast just got here,” he adds, a hint of satisfaction slipping into his voice.
He doesn’t wait for you to argue. He turns, crossing the room and pulling the door open. The server wheels in the tray and then sets everything neatly on the small glass table by the window—the same window where the city had stretched endlessly behind you last night. Now it’s all morning light, soft and almost innocent.
Hyunjin thanks him absently, barely paying attention as the dishes are arranged—coffee, fruit, warm plates, more than enough for two people who didn’t plan on staying this long.
But he notices the way you pause. The way your movements slow just slightly as your eyes drift toward the table.
He doesn’t say anything at first. He walks over, pulling out one of the chairs with a quiet scrape against the floor before dropping into the other, stretching his legs out casually like he’s got nowhere else to be. Which—right now—he doesn’t.
His hand lifts, patting the empty chair across from him. “Come on,” he says, softer this time. Less teasing. More coaxing. “Sit and eat with me.”
Then, with a pout and a pleading tone, he adds, “Come on. I can’t finish all this myself.”
He sees the conflict, the resistance… the temptation. But he decides not to push harder. He just leans back, reaching for his coffee like he’s already won, like he knows exactly how this will end.
A few seconds pass and then the chair across from him shifting, scraping against the floor. A second later, you sit on it.
Hyunjin doesn’t look up right away, but the corner of his mouth lifts anyway. Because you stayed.
-
Hyunjin watches you from across the small glass table, his coffee long forgotten in his hand.
Sunlight spills through the window, catching on the curve of your cheek, the soft line of your neck, the way your hair, still a little undone from sleep, falls just slightly out of place. You don’t notice it. You don’t fix it. You just sit there, quiet and composed, taking a small sip of your coffee before biting into your toast like this is any other morning. Like last night didn’t happen. Like you didn’t fall apart around him. Like he didn’t.
There’s something almost… dangerous about how normal this feels.
Hyunjin knows that it’s best to not let you slip back into your default self for long. His phone slides into his hand, thumb unlocking it without much thought. He opens the site, choosing the product on the list and the evaluation form loads immediately.
He places the phone down between the two of you, letting it sit there for a moment while you take another bite, completely unaware. Or maybe you are aware and choosing not to look.
“Isn’t it time,” he says lightly, almost casual, “to fill the evaluation form?”
You pause mid-chew and you shift, like you’ve been pulled out of something warm and dropped back into what this supposed to be. A test. You go quiet for a second before swallowing, fingers tightening slightly around your cup. “I don’t have my laptop,” you say.
Hyunjin simply lifts his phone, turning the screen toward you with the evaluation form already open. “I’ve got it.”
You reach for it instinctively—but he pulls it away from your reach and then shakes of his head. “Since you’re the one experiencing it, I’ll do the asking.”
Just like that, you straighten on your seat. Posture shifting, expression smoothing out, like you’ve slipped into your default setting.
It makes him press his lips together to keep from smiling. “Alright,” he says, glancing at the screen. “First question. Comfort rating?”
“Nine.”
He nods, typing it in. “Stimulation intensity?”
His eyes lift from the screen, watching you and this time, you make him wait as you take your time finishing your bite of toast. He almost huffs a quiet laugh. Then—
“Nine,” you finally answer.
He types it in anyway, though something about the answer feels like it means more than just a number. That despite everything, you’re actually enjoyed the product. He doesn’t linger on the thought too long and moves on to the next question. “Describe your experience using the product,” he reads the question verbatim and almost teasing in how serious it sounds.
You make him wait again as a blueberry disappears between your lips. You chew and swallow. Then, take a sip of water. “The vibration is smooth and strong. Good range of levels. The design is discreet. The magnetic clip is secure and easy to wear,” you talk fast and efficiently, as expected of you.
He’s impressed how you’re actually taking this seriously, how you’re not just testing but also providing useful, insightful feedback. He nods repeatedly, typing quickly and he feels the need to contribute as well, so he adds his own — Good Bluetooth connection.
“Additional feedback?” he prompts.
This time, you don’t stall. “I like the smooth silicone material. But I wish it could be quieter. And more variation in patterns would be better.”
The elevator moment instantly flashes through his head and Hyunjin can’t help, but lets out a soft, amused sound. He types in your answer and adds his own note at the end. Would be better with long-distance control.
Then he leans back slightly, crossing one leg over the other, reading the next question. “Final comment?”
That’s when you look at him, still serious and composed. And somehow, something about it unnerves him. “I think it’s a great product. Good for public play. Ideal for couples.”
He nods slowly, a grin tugging at his lips despite himself. Of course you’d phrase it like that. Instead of being blunt and say what a great fucking sex toy it is. He turns the screen toward you, letting you read it over.
You scan it briefly before shaking your head just a little. “Save it as a draft. I’ll rewrite it later,” you calmly instruct.
He lets you take over then because paper works, forms, words —you’ll do it better at it than him. Then, he puts down his phone back on the table.
The conversation fades after that and breakfast resumes. Like the two of you didn’t just reduce something intense into numbers and bullet points and neat little sentences. Like it didn’t mean more.
But then, you clear your throat and look at him. “It means there’s only one product left to test, right?” you say.
Hyunjin stills because he knows what you’re really saying. This is ending soon. Time closing in. Chances slipping out of his fingers. He swallows air and the way his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat is noticeable.
“Yeah,” he answers, barely a whisper.
And for once, he doesn’t smile.
-
Product Evaluation Submission Participant Product Testing Program Product Name: LUVE – App-controlled wearable vibrator. Product Code: LUVE-0810 Participant 1 ID: P-260319 Participant 2 ID: P-260320 Date of Evaluation: Friday, April 10. 1. Rate Comfort (1–10) Participant 1: 9 Participant 2: 9 2. Rate Stimulation Intensity (1–10) Participant 1: 9 Participant 2: 9 3. Describe Your Experience Using the Product The device sits securely and comfortably during extended wear. The material is soft against the skin, and the magnetic clip ensures stability without causing discomfort. Slight bulkiness may be noticeable depending on outfit choice. The vibration is smooth and strong, with a reliable range of intensity levels. Bluetooth connectivity remains stable throughout use, allowing uninterrupted control. 4. Additional Feedback The silicone material feels high-quality and comfortable. However, the device could benefit from quieter operation for more discreet use. Additional vibration patterns and more varied intensity modes would enhance the overall experience. Long-distance control functionality would also be a valuable feature. 5. Are you satisfied with the product? (Rate 1-10) Participant 1: 10 Participant 2: 10 6. Would You Buy This Product? (Rate 1-10) Participant 1: 10 Participant 2: 10 7. Would You Recommend This Product To Others? (Rate 1-10) Participant 1: 10 Participant 2: 10 Final Comment A well-designed and effective product, particularly suited for couples and interactive use. Its discreet form and strong performance make it ideal for controlled environments as well as more adventurous, public settings. Submission Status: ✔ Successfully Submitted
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✨ COCKY: CHAPTER FIVE is available on Patreon ✨
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hru loveee? just checking in on u ♡︎
Hellooo hun <3 I'm doing good except I've been struggling since am receiving threats to leave the app. anywayss hru myy luv? you weren't active much..ig (?)
People tell me I don't belong here.
#. Shush! ft. 𝓗wang hyunjin
MDNI
synopsis- It was a night that supposed to be enjoyed. a night full of cameras, drinks and dance. but as always, you couldn't hold your mouth. your 'harmless joke' made the night a day you can't forget. and hyunjin is determined to show it to you that he is romantic enough.
💌 yuuu's notes- hyunjin has been wrecking me lately and i plan on not to suffer alone. enjoyy <3 sry for the synopsis luviess, my brain is fogged.
Standing in front of the full length mirror, you adjusted the straps of your dress. The satin shimmered under the soft lighting, perfectly hugging your body in all the right places. You felt a sense of excitement and nervousness pulse through every part of your body as you were going to attend the event hyunjin has been invited to. And he decided to take you with him.
Your thoughts were interrupted by the soft creak of the door cracking open and you caught the sight of hyunjin's head peeping in from the mirror. His eyes met yours and they sparked up instantly, he moved towards you slowly— steps agonizingly slow, his eyes taking in every inch of in that dress. The deep emerald green complimented your skin tone, highlighting every part, the tiny gold finishing adding a elegant look.
You stared at him through the mirror, a small smile spread across your lips. He is breathtaking as usual. Each step holding a subtle aura as he stopped few inches away from you. His outfit matched yours, the same satin fabric hugging his frame, making him look even hotter. The white satin shirt hung loosely around his body, his neck wrapped perfectly with the matching silk scarf and the dark trousers.
Hyunjin's breath ghosted over the back of your neck as he wrapped his arms around your waist—grounding you against him. "You look...stunning, baby." His voice echoed in your ears, lips brushing against the shell ever so slightly. Your smile deepened as you looked at him through the mirror, humming at his compliment. "Yeah..?" He nodded, lips curving into a smile.
"trying to steal the spotlight?" Hyunjin teased, his voice low and soft, fingers curling in the fabric as he moved to inch closer. You chuckled, placing your own hands on top of his, leaning back against him "maybe..? I thought I was just dressing for my boyfriend." You asked feigning innocence. He let out a small laugh, "please. You definitely know what you're doing."
You chuckled softly in response, enjoying the warmth of his body as you both stood there, lost in each other. Hyunjin's chin in tucked on your shoulder, his breath brushing your nape. His hand which had been caressing your sides, slid up slowly—almost feather-light.
You glanced at the clock once, the time almost 6 PM. You tried to loosen his grip but hyunjin didn't seem to budge, so you let him cling to you for some more time. That's when his hands moved again, trailing higher before they brushed past your ribs, inching closer to your chest.
You sharply inhaled as his fingers brushed the underside of your breast every so slightly, your hands gripping your dress as you tried not to react much. His hands moved again and brushed directly on top now, his thumb pressed on the soft mound. You breath hitched. A shiver ran down your spine. "hyunjin..." You voice came out, shaky but still holding the slight warning as you glared at him through the mirror. "we're getting late."
Hyunjin laughed lightly before pulling away, smoothing down your dress. "alright, alright," he raised his hands in defense as if he didn't do anything. "I can't help it when you're looking this breathtaking, babe." His comment made your cheeks heat up, before you composed yourself and rolled your eyes at him.
Hyunjin shook his head, laughing, at the sight of your eye roll before he pressed a soft kiss to your forehead, hands intertwining yours. "Let's go baby."
—
The moment you stepped out of the car, camera started to click pictures. Paparazzi pushing each other to get the images of the strikingly handsome man who owns every single brand in the area. The crowd equally cheered for both of you, complimenting your looks. Hyunjin smiled with ease like it's just another normal thing in his life.
You both walked in, passing the dangling lights, and into the building. As you walked, his hand at the small of your back, passing through the hallway you reached stairs which disappeared down, indicating a room hidden. And the moment you stepped in? you know this is not the boring event like usual. Because, the inside was practically a bar, disco lights casting colors all over them room, bass thumps under your foot as the lively music set people's body on fire.
Your smile brightened as you spotted some of your influencer friends there, feet moving before your brain can catch on. Hyunjin let you go, joining in the conversation with his dudes, blending in. You let out cheers and squeals as you hugged every one of them like you just met them despite talking every damn day.
The room buzzed, song changed and so did your conversation. One of them, Jane, who is a fashionista with a very uncontrollable tongue suddenly spoke, "So..anyone have their eye on the new earrings Cartier released?"
All of girls sighed, some them rolled their eyes, of course Jane have her eyes on them. Meanwhile, you smiled, coughing a little to gain their attention as you tucked your hair behind your ear, showing the same damn earrings.
Jane gasped, so did Ella and others, leaning in to take a look close. The gold rings fit your ear perfectly, matching your dress. The stones shined under the light, screaming luxury. "of course this bish have them" Kelly joked, pointing toward hyunjin who is busy chatting with the guys, drinks in hand. You chuckled, showing off a bit more to rile them up which only made them slap your arm playfully.
Jane chuckled at your attempt to rile the girls up, "You're lucky you have him. He spoils you rotten, huh?" she asked, eyeing you. "You could say that." You replied, flipping your hair which made Jane roll her eyes playfully. "yeah, we could see it totally." She joked, making all of you laugh loudly, enjoying every damn minute.
Hyunjin is equally happy, laughing non-stop at some joke Chan said. He is comfortable around them, years of friendship clearly showing. It's those kind of nights he liked, not just cameras and models but true happiness and ease. People danced on the floor like it's their last night, not caring to hide their profiles.
Without you noticing, hyunjin and his friends moved, right behind your seats. They seated themselves there, continuing the chat. You only came to know that when you searched for him in the crowd, sensing his presence inches away from you. The room crowded. Hyujin's eyes met yours and he gave you a small smile, like 'it's okay, am here, baby." before diving back into the chat.
You smiled to yourself and turned away, getting yourself lost in the moment.
The alcohol burned in your throat as you took another sip, mindlessly cheering you friend as she made a move on a hot guy across the room, probably another influencer and to all of your surprise, she succeeded. Your head spinned from the amount of alcohol you had consumed but god, it was so damn addicting.
Jane, who is clearly drunk, inched closer toward you, eyes holding some mischievous glint and you know that look. "soo..hyunjin.." You sighed as she started, now all the girls attention suddenly on you. They always seemed interested in the topic, always damn eager to tease you whenever they get the chance, "what about him..?" You asked, bracing yourself.
"Nah..we just want to know who is more touchy and romantic..?" Jane questioned, wiggling her eyebrows as she waited for you to speak. You groaned, your throat burning as you shot her a deadpan look. "seriously?" Jane hummed like it's nothing, "c'mon we want to hear, spill it honey. Right girls?" You let out another sigh as they all instantly started to chant 'yes yes' like kindergarten kids answering their teacher.
Hyunjin, who had been busy chatting with the guys, suddenly took interest in your conversation at the mention of your names, pretending he is still busy with the guys. And you felt it, your senses high. And that's when something slipped in your mind. is it because of the alcohol? you are not sure, but the thought of it just felt thrilling.
You leaned closer, elbows on the table, your voice low— soft that only the girls could hear and hyunjin."yeah..? want to know..?" you smiled cheekily before replying, "He is not that romantic, he doesn't like skin ship much too." of course that's a lie, only known to you and him, but god, you know it would rile him up.
You loved teasing him. testing his patience.
Hyunjin's jaw clenched every so slightly at your response, but he kept the cool and composed facade. But in his mind? he freaking wanted to laugh, because wasn't he the one who was fondling with your tits earlier before you arrived here? wasn't he the one to fuck you senseless every single night? and you have the audacity to label him as 'anti-romantic.' Like he doesn't care for you, like he doesn't buy you every thing you looked at, like he doesn't coddle you when you're grumpy, like hell he didn't plan a candle light dinner at a private beach casually just because you said you wanted to know how it feels on a random tuesday.
The girls protested, shaking their heads like they knew it was a lie. "what.?" you questioned, taking a sip of your drink. "I'm saying the truth." and hyunjin's jaw clenched harder, teeth grinding against eachother. The topic stretched for few more minutes with them demanding for answer and you barking you meant every word. And that every word set hyunjin's patience at the edge.
—
The chatter had down after an hour, by now most of them are either heavily drunk or passed out on the couches. You are in a haze, not drunk yet but still feeling the fluid's effect coursing through you. You suddenly felt a cold hand on your arm and you blinked up to see hyunjin, your mouth twitching into a smile. You stood up, waving at the girls who waved back giggling, drunk.
you turned to him and smiled.
but he didn't.
not even close. he just walked, tugging you outside.
You followed hyunjin outside, unaware, not actually of the thoughts in his mind. You stumbled in the heels, each sound echoing as they clicked on the pavement. You hadn't realized it's almost midnight, like it still feels like you went into in the bar just minutes ago. Hyunjin jaw is clenched tight, fingers gripping his phone too hard the case might crack as he led you into the passenger seat before settling in.
The ride back to home was silent. You can't quite grasp the atmosphere in the car but nonetheless you didn't care, just tipped your head back and hummed to yourself. The night seemed to stretch on, the streetlight illuminating soft glow inside the dark car, the silence only broken by the sound of your slurry hum, all while hyunjin tried his best to hold the anger bubbling in him.
The moment you stepped into the living room, hyunjin slammed the door shut behind him. The sound made you flinch as you turned to him. And god, he looked insanely hot. His jaw is set tight, veins popping in his neck as he ripped off the satin scarf off his neck. Muscles tense. And then he shifted. His eyes met yours.
Dark and barely contained with anger.
You gulped, all you were suddenly aware of the situation. His presence itself felt like a cold shower that sobered you up instantly, you shifted you wait to your left foot. "Baby..?" Your voice is low, shaky. Hyunjin moved, his steps slow but he reached you in seconds, and seeing his face twisted in raw anger that close tipped you over.
"anti-romantic." He said, not questioning. Just a statement. And his hands gripped your wrists now, eyes boring into you. "nice label, sweetheart." And boy, you felt the fear pulse in your veins, of course there had been moments of anger, or just pure madness when you teased him over border, but this? it felt different...
You didn't speak, didn't respond. Your mouth sealed shut, breath hitching. His hands tugged you wrist, voice rough. "upstairs," and he didn't wait, he dragged you like a child who needed to be put in timeout. His kicked the door open and slammed it shut the moment you both stepped it.
The room felt thick with tension, and you are hyper aware of his every more, every breath. His hands found you waist, fingers gripping the satin as he held you toward the mirror, the same place you were standing before leaving for the event. For a moment, he stayed still, dark eyes trailing over your face, taking in every inch. "Care to explain..?"
Your hearth thumped inn your chest and you swear you can heart it out loud. "hyunjin..." you breathed his name out,nails digging into your palms. "it's...it's a joke.."
Hyunjin laughed, the sound dull. "joke? but why did it seem like you mean it?" you shook your head quickly, trying to clear things but his hand shot up to grip your jaw, forcing you to stare at yourself in the mirror. Your breath hitched as you did, your small frame covered upp by his looming behind you, his hands gripping your waist, deep purple veins visible.
Hyunjin leaned closer, biting gently on your earlobe, "you really know how to push me huh..?" His hand slid lower, brushing your waist as they settled on your hips. "I'm not romantic? i don't touch you?" You shook your head, pulse quickening, heat pooling. "baby, that's not what i meant-"
"oh shut up." Hyunjin hissed, his hand gripping your thigh now. His pressed himself closer, straining against you. "you are wearing the dress i brought you, showing off those damn earrings i brought for you, live under my damn roof and you say am not romantic enough?" He moved, bending a little to reach the hem of your dress from back as he slipped his hands in. Your eyes widened, cunt throbbing. "hyun-" You squirmed as his hand brushed your ass before slipping front, brushing your clothed mound.
"i think you've mistaken my actions, sweetheart." He leaned in, nibbling on your ear. "let me show you. remind you."
And that was it. He didn't stop. didn't tease. His fingers pressed harder on the dampness, straight over the heat. Fingers working with ease. He rubbed, pinched, circled you clit making you cry out, knees buckling with every stroke. Hyunjin growled in your ear, fingers still working as he marked up your neck, kissing your skin, setting you on fire.
His hands slipped beneath the soaked fabric and he roughly cupped your heat, rubbing the whole on his palm before pressing two fingers directly over your clit, harder. You moaned—no cried out— thighs trembling but he barely started. Tears from pleasure pricked the corner of your eyes, hands moving to tangle in his behind you. "f-fuck.."
He took the opportunity to kiss you, lips crashing against yours. The kiss is anything but gentle. It felt searing, teeth clashing, tongues tangling as he worked on unraveling you. he broke the kiss, lips finding your neck again, biting, licking. You moaned out, heat clinging. "baby..please.." you cried out.
"shush, sweety. you're going to save that begging for later, okay? you should've thought about the consequences earlier."
Hyunjin is buzzing with need, but he needed to prove you wrong. tease you until you beg. writhe. cry. and then fuck you so good that you won't remember saying that anymore. His fingers moved again, rubbing your clit and without warning, he plunged two fingers right into your entrance. "fuck—this pussy. Goddamn pussy."
You moaned out, barely holding yourself as he gripped you two keep you in place, you eyes moved to the mirror and his eyes found yours at the same time. Your glossy eyes, ruined makeup, messy hair snapped something in him and he growled against you ear, moving his other hand to shove your dress up. And the sight? it was fucking insane.
You stared at yourself in mirror, neck red with shame and need as you stared at yourself, dress bunched up at your waist giving a perfect view of your slick folds, glistening under the lights, dripping. His fingers buried deep inside you, the same fingers which sparkled with the Cartier rings he wore everyday now glistened with your arousal.
Hyunjin smirked, his hooked his hand under you thigh and lifted in, and you know well something is going to happen. "I'm going to ruin you." And that's it, you had no time to react before he started to pump his fingers quickly, so fast that your brain fogged. His other hand gripped you tighter as the other worked you open and he can everything clearly in the full length mirror.
His pulled out and plunged them deep in one go. fingers moved in an out of you in a quick pace, the sounds filthy. wet. squelching. you swear you can see some of your slick slipping out in the mirror. your body trembled so hard, knees giving out but hyunjin held you, fucking you with his fingers roughly. you moaned louder, tears rolling down from the intense pressure and pleasure. As he sensed your climax, he paused.
You whined out at the loss, "babyy-" Hyunjin shut you up instantly with a kiss, he grabbed your thighs and pulled you up, your legs wrapping around his waist as he dropped you onto the bed. He didn't waste time, he moved like a man starving, gripping your dress and ripped it off of you, the fabric tearing into pieces. Your eyes went wide, "baby that was-" You were cut off by your moan as he rutted against you deep, hard and straining against his trousers. "i can buy it later" and of course he will.
You were breathless, face down, skin sticky, stretched open for him. You can her him ripping his clothes behind you, and before you could look back, he moved. One large hand clamped around your waist, his fingers digging into the soft flesh there, pulling you toward him on the bed until your hips were aligned with his. The other hand gripped your thigh, pushing your leg up, bending your knee. The position opened you up, exposed you completely, and a shudder ran through you.
He leaned over you, his body a shadow blocking the light. His cock, heavy and thick, pressed against your entrance. He didn’t slide in. He nudged, a blunt, insistent pressure that made your muscles flutter in anticipation.
“Look at me,” hyunjin hissed, his free hand coming up to cradle your jaw, his thumb pressing into your cheek. You met his gaze, your own eyes wide. He kissed you then, not soft or exploratory, but a claiming. His tongue pushed past your lips before you could even think to open them, diving deep into your mouth. It was a mirror of what was about to happen below, and the thought made you moan into the kiss. He tasted like salt and heat, and his tongue moved against yours with a rhythm that was already setting the pace.
When he broke the kiss, he kept his hand on your jaw. “Keep looking.”
He pushed.
It wasn’t slow. It was a relentless, steady invasion that stretched you, filled you, owned you in one long, breathtaking motion. You cried out, a sharp sound that melted into a groan as he buried himself to the root. The feeling of being so utterly full was overwhelming. He was so much larger than you in physique, and your body strained around him, a tight, hot sheath accepting every inch.
Hyunjin held there, hilted deep, letting you feel the full, shocking stretch. His hand left her jaw and moved to your breast, pinching your nipple hard before his mouth descended. He sucked the peak into his mouth, his tongue circling the hardened bud, his teeth grazing it lightly. The dual sensation—the deep, penetrating fullness below and the sharp, pulling pleasure above—made you arch off the bed, your back bowing.
“Fuck,” you whimpered.
"Yeah? you like that? filthy."
He began to move.
The first thrusts were deliberate, slow, and deep. He pulled back almost completely, leaving just the tip inside, then slammed forward again, a smooth, powerful glide that punched a gasp from your lungs each time. His hips met yours with a soft slap of skin, the sound punctuating the wet slide within. He controlled your body with his hands, one still gripping your bent thigh to keep you open, the other now splayed across your stomach, pressing down as if to feel his own movement inside you.
“You feel it,” he murmured, watching your face. “Every inch.”
and you did. The drag of his cock along your inner walls was exquisite, a friction that built heat like a furnace. But it was the depth that began to change everything. As he established a rhythm, his thrusts started to land differently. The broad head of his cock began to meet a different kind of resistance, a soft, internal barrier that yielded under pressure.
Hyujin groaned, growled, hips snapping into you. "make..fuck- i'll make sure you remember that am romantic and damn will make sure everyone out there could hear how i make you feel."
He angled his hips, adjusting your leg higher on his shoulder with a rough tug, and the next thrust changed.
It wasn’t just deep. It was invasive.
The head of his cock pressed against the very core of you a firm, undeniable nudge against your cervix. A shock of sensation—not pain, but a profound, breathtaking pressure—rippled through your belly. your eyes watered instantly, tears blurring your vision of his focused face.
He saw the tears and his expression hardened with a kind of dark triumph. “There,” he growled, and he didn’t retreat. He ground into it, the crown of his cock applying persistent pressure against that soft, internal gate. It felt like he was trying to unlock you, to push past the final frontier. The sensation was dizzying, a mixture of intense pleasure and a shocking, full-bodied vulnerability. Your stomach tightened, cramping around the incredible intrusion.
"you feel that? f-fuck..d-do you? ahhh- that's how i make you feel." He snapped his hips faster making you cry out, your 'ah ah ah's' filling the room as the bed creaked beneath you. "y-you're mine, fuck-ngh.."
He fucked you like that for a dozen thrusts, each one a deliberate battering of that inner limit, each one making you cry out, your moans becoming higher, more desperate. The tears spilled over, tracking down your temples into your hair.
Then he shifted again.
His hands moved to your hips, fingers digging in so hard you knew marks would form later. He pulled your body down into the mattress as he drove upwards, his pace shifting from a grinding pressure to something more brutal.
The slow, deep fucking was over.
Now he fucked you hard.
His hips pistoned, slamming into you with a force that jolted your whole body. The bed shook. The wet, slapping sounds of your coupling became frantic. Each thrust was a deep, punishing drive that went past mere fullness—it felt like he was reaching into your stomach, the head of his cock spearing past the yielding cervix with a brutal, glorious breach. The feeling was obscene.
Your insides fluttered, then clenched around him in a vice-like spasm, your body trying to accommodate the impossible depth. A visible bulge appeared low on your stomach, a slight tenting of skin where he filled you beyond reason.
“You take it,” he commanded, his voice ragged with his own effort. His thrusts became erratic, faster, a frenzied rhythm that chased his own peak. One hand moved to your throat, not squeezing, but holding, a firm weight that pinned you in place as he ravaged you. “fucking remember this-.”
You could do nothing else. Your mind shattered under the physical onslaught. The rough, fast penetration, the manhandling that left your body completely under his control—it corrupted every last reservation you had.
your orgasm built not as a wave, but as a detonation, triggered by one final, devastating thrust where he held deep, his cock buried so completely you felt him in your very center followed by him after, spilling hot inside you..
—
you both lay there, completely spent up. Hyunjin have his arm wrapped around you, spooning you from behind while his palm rubbed your belly like trying to erase the pain he had caused you. He opened his mouth, closed again before he exhaled sharply. "sorry baby, i didn't mean- fuck i didn't mean to get carried away but you...your words just took a toll on me."
You heard the tremble in his voice, the way he is trying to explain himself and oh god, your heart fluttered. You gripped his hand, bringing it up to kiss his knuckles—which tasted like you. "dummy, i'm not hurt. just...spent and tired in a good way. i loved every second of it, should try it again." you paused, and added slowly, "i shouldn't have pushed too."
Hyunjin sighed softly, relieved. "my brat. lovely brat." His kissed your back, spooning you like a baby, clinging to you. And you let him. loving the skin on skin warmth after the heavy session. You turned to him, eyes locked onto his. and for a second, the world stopped for both of you. The love poured out, as he gently met your forehead with his, pressing a small kiss to your mouth. You smiled before snuggling into his chest, letting the soreness blend into your sleep.
He is indeed romantic. and you just love riling him up.
Feel free to comment, reblogs and likes are hyped. they make my day & Taglist is open.
taglist: @sourtae
Fuck if I knew I was going to read a work of art today I would have mentally prepared myself 🤤
Haha, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It means a lot 💖😁
I SENT A TEXT I STARTED A CONVERSATION ON MY OWN PRAISE ME
COCKY.
CHAPTER THREE
Hyunjin x reader. (s)
MASTERLIST
Synopsis: When you signed up for a paid product testing program, you expected free samples and money. What you didn’t expect was to be paired with Hwang Hyunjin and assigned to test a series of increasingly questionable sexual wellness products together. (21,7k words)
Author's note: Here's what you've been waiting for. Hope you enjoy it. Pls let me know what you think about it after ❣️
Two years ago. Back when your desk was smaller, tucked in the corner of the marketing floor, just close enough to the project manager’s office for you to be called in at any second. Back when your job was simple. No decisions, no authority. Just work.
You remembered how you liked it that way. Predictable, manageable. Safe. You also remembered the struggle, the menial tasks, the scoldings you got when you made mistakes. You also remembered that one particular morning. So clearly. Not because it was special, but because of how ordinary it felt before everything shifted.
You were halfway through organizing a stack of campaign drafts, color-coded tabs lined up perfectly, your laptop open beside you with three different timelines pulled up, when the office felt different. Quieter and more aware. Like everyone in the room held their breath. You were used to it by then—whispers about someone important visiting, someone from the family. It happened often enough that you learned not to care because… who would care with someone like you?
“Hey,” your project manager called from her office doorway. “Drop that for a second.”
You glanced up, mildly confused but already pushing your chair back. “Yes?”
She gestured for you to come over, her expression unusually attentive. You walked up to her and then noticed someone standing beside her. You didn’t get to see his face as he was standing with his back turned to you.
“Let me introduce you to someone,” your project manager said.
And that was when he revealed himself.
The first thing you noticed was his calmness and the steady, confident way he carried himself. Not arrogance. Not humility either. Just… awareness.
“Well,” your manager started, clearing her throat slightly, “this is—”
“Seungmin,” he finished for himself. His eyes met yours and stayed. “I’ll be joining the marketing team for a while.”
Joining. You processed the word like you had heard it for the first time in your life. Not overseeing. Not observing. Joining.
“Field learning. Part of the rotation,” your project manager explained.
That was when you learned that he was one of them. A part of the family who owned the company. A few of them had taken their part in the company, so you guessed it was his turn. You nodded, a professional smile already in place. “Ah, I see.”
Your manager nodded and then gently placed a hand on your shoulder. “You’ll help him get up to speed.”
“M-me?” you slightly stammered, a mix of surprise and confusion.
“Yeah, you.” She waved it off like it was obvious. “You knew the workflow, you were organized—just let him shadow you, show him how things ran.”
You hesitated not because you couldn’t do it, but because this wasn’t your job. You were just an assistant, and he—
You glanced at Seungmin again, and he was watching you.
“Sure,” you finally said, because saying no would cause you problems. Or worse, your dismissal.
Your manager smiled, already halfway back into her office. “Great. I’ll leave him to you.”
And just like that, it was the two of you standing there, and the silence stretched between you until you awkwardly turned, gesturing toward your desk. “You could—uh, sit there.”
There wasn’t even a proper chair for him yet, and you noticed that a little too late. Thankfully, Seungmin didn’t comment on it. He just walked over, pulled the spare chair from the adjacent desk without asking, and sat.
You watched him for a second and then sat back down yourself. “So,” you began, fingers hovering over your keyboard, “we were currently working on an event campaign. The timeline was tight, so things moved fast.”
He put his hands neatly on his lap and nodded once. “I’ll keep up,” he politely said.
You glanced at him again, and there was something about the way he listened and gave you all of his attention—not interrupting, not pretending to know more than he did. It threw you off more than it should have.
“Okay, you can start here,” you said, turning your screen slightly toward him.
You expected questions or confusion. At least something. But instead, Seungmin leaned in slightly, eyes scanning the screen, taking everything in without a word.
Minutes passed, and then he looked at you and said, “This doesn’t align.”
You stiffened in your seat. “What?”
“This timeline and the vendor confirmation. They overlap,” he explained.
You looked at it closer, and there was a minor detail that you had clearly missed. You glanced at him again, and he was still looking at the screen with observant eyes.
“Thank you for pointing it out,” you said with a flustered smile.
He hummed softly, leaning back again. “You missed it because you were working on too many layers at once.”
You playfully narrowed your eyes slightly. “You’d been here for five minutes.”
“And I was right,” he simply said.
“You were,” you replied, not even trying to argue.
For the first time, you saw his smile. A smile that matched the softness in his gaze, and something about it—about him—stuck. More than you realized at the time. Because if you had known what his presence would become in your life… you might’ve kept your distance, might’ve drawn a line, might’ve protected yourself before it ever got complicated.
But you didn’t, because that was the day you met him—and the day everything started.
-
And today, standing here in front of Seungmin brings you back when you were younger, brighter and eager. And you know that this time it’s different. He’s different and you’re different as well because now— now you know better.
Your name is spoken somewhere in the middle of introductions and that’s when his gaze finds you again. Steady. Unwavering. And then—there it is, that smile. Soft yet controlled like he’s keeping a secret from everyone else but you.
“Please greet our new CMO,” someone says beside him, voice bright with forced enthusiasm.
Seungmin nods once, acknowledging it, but his attention doesn’t stray. It stays on you.
There’s no avoiding it now as he steps forward and holds his hand out at you.
For a second, your body doesn’t move. A part of you holding you back from welcoming him. but everyone is watching and they grow antsy for each second that passed with you just staring at Seungmin’s hand.
So you take a step forward and take his hand out of courtesy, out of respect and nothing more than that. And the moment your hand meets his, it’s like something clicks back into place that you didn’t ask for. A rush. A flicker. A thousand small, buried things clawing their way up at once.
You pull away quicker than necessary, not willing to let the memories floods back in. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Sir,” you say, your voice steady in a way that surprises even you.
Seungmin doesn’t respond immediately but his eyes linger, taking you in like he’s measuring the distance between who you were and who you’ve become.
“You’re the event planner now?” he asks, an eyebrow quirks up in curiosity.
You open your mouth, but Gabe gets ahead of you, eager to make a great first impression. Which reminds you of you from two years ago. “Oh, she’s more than that, she basically runs everything related to client events and internal functions,” she says with a proud grin.
You appreciate her for answering on your behalf but you’re not really want to impress anyone in this moment. Especially Seungmin. Not now. Not ever.
He’s still looking at you when he nods. Then, as innocent as it gets, he says, “It’s good to see again.”
There’s something in the way he says it. Something that sits just beneath the surface. You can’t tell if it’s genuine. Or if it’s a way to coax a reaction out of you.
You do the only thing you can. You smile a polished, careful smile and say, “Thank you.”
The always observant, Gabe, of course, doesn’t miss a thing. Her eyes flick between the two of you, curiosity practically sparkling. “Wait… you two know each other?”
Seungmin smiles again and this time, it’s softer, closer to something real.
“We have a history,” he casually says.
The second those words are out of his mouth, you can almost feel all the eyes, the attention shifted to you. You can’t believe he said it just like that, out in the open, like it’s nothing. Like it didn’t mean anything more than that.
Before anyone can twist it to fit their narrative, Seungmin looks at you, still smiling and adds, “She helped me a lot when I first started here in the company. I joined the marketing team two years ago.”
Low gasps of relief ripples through the room, Gabe’s included. “Oh, that’s amazing,” she says rather too cheerfully.
You almost laugh because you can see that she’s slightly disappointed. Instead, you keep your expression neutral.
“Well, we’re happy to have you back!” Gabe says with a saccharine smile.
Seungmin smiles and then turns to you as he asks, “Are you?”
“Pardon me?” you ask, suddenly being put on the spot.
He tilts his head slightly and asks the question again, clearer this time. “Are you happy to have me back?”
Everything always circles back to you and for a moment, the office disappears. All you can see is him. All you can feel is the echo of what used to be—late nights at the office, shared glances over coffee cups, conversations that stretched a little too long, meant a little too much. And how it all ended.
Yeah, they were happy, warm memories but what matters is the one that still lingers: the hurt.
So you lift your chin slightly and daringly meet his gaze to let him know that what you’re going to say next don’t mean more than what it is. “Yes. We’re happy to have you back in the company.”
For a fraction too long, his eyes falter but he quickly masks it with a smile. And somehow, he makes it seems like he’s still winning with the way he almost looks like he’s been waiting to hear that.
“Then I’m happy to be back,” he simply concludes, his smile widening.
Luckily, someone beside him starts talking again and starts to pull him to another direction to meet more people and do more introduction. Soon, the rhythm of the office picks back up like nothing just happened.
“Okay—” Gabe’s voice snaps you right out of it.
You quickly turn back just in time to see her already halfway leaning over your desk, tablet forgotten in her hand, eyes lit up with something dangerously close to excitement.
“Don’t even try to act normal right now,” she says, pointing at you like she’s caught you red-handed. “You know I’m going to ask.”
You sigh, already moving back to your chair, pulling it out and sitting down like routine alone can save you from this conversation. “What?” you mutter and sigh as you open your laptop.
“What what? That—” she gestures vaguely toward the hallway where he disappeared, “—was not just a ‘we used to work together’ situation.”
You don’t look at her and put top much focus on your emails, opening the ones you already read and replied. Refresh. Scroll. Anything.
“He literally said you have history,” she presses, dropping into the chair across from you without invitation. “People don’t just say that unless—” she pauses, eyes narrowing, “—unless there’s something there.”
There isn’t. But there was.
“We didn’t work together for long,” you say, finally glancing up at her. “He joined the team for a bit, that’s all. Then he left abroad.”
Gabe watches you for a second, clearly trying to read between the lines. “And that’s it?” she asks, skeptical.
You nod once. “That’s it.”
It hangs there. Not convincing. But not disprovable either.
Gabe leans back slowly, still eyeing you like she doesn’t buy it entirely but then, just as quickly, her expression shifts. “Okay, but can we talk about him?”
Here we go. You close your eyes for half a second. Enough to brace yourself for it.
“He’s—” she searches for the word, then gives up entirely, “—he’s insane.”
You raise a brow. “Insane?”
“In a good way! Like—calm, put-together, but you can tell he’s not boring, you know? That kind of dangerous quiet type?”
Dangerous. If only she knew. You huff a quiet breath, looking back at your screen.
“And the way he talks?” Gabe continues, fully invested now as she clutches her tablet close to her chest. “So polite, but not fake. And his smile? Did you see that? It’s like—subtle but also—ugh, I don’t know, it just—works.”
Yes. You did see it. In fact, you’ve seen it a hundred times before.
“And he’s CMO,” Gabe adds, like that’s the final, undeniable point. “Like, that’s insane. He’s young, he’s smart, he’s—”
“Gabe,” you cut in, not sharply, but enough to slow her down. “You’re getting carried away.”
She narrows her eyes at you again, but there’s a grin tugging at her lips now. “You’re just saying that because you knew him before he got hot.”
You let out a soft, disbelieving laugh, shaking your head as you finally turn your attention fully back to your laptop. “Yeah, something like that,” you mumble.
Gabe lets go for now as she stands, smoothing out her floral dress, already halfway back into work mode. “Well, if there’s anything you’re not telling me, I’ll find out eventually,” she says, glancing back at you,
You don’t doubt that. You worked with her long enough to know how tenacious she can be. She gives you one last look before walking off, already tapping away on her tablet again.
The moment you’re left by yourself, alone with your thoughts — the noise dips, your fingers stop moving over the keyboard and your mind… goes right back to him. To the way he looked at you. To the way your name sat in his mouth like it still belonged there. To everything you didn’t say.
You might have told Gabe you didn’t work together for long, long enough for it to mean anything. That it was just… a brief overlap.
But the truth is… his presence begs the question that you’ve been wondering but now afraid to find out the answer: Have you really moved on past it? past him?
-
When you receive the email of the new CMO asking the marketing team to gather for a meeting first thing in the morning, you know he means business. To everyone else, it seems like Seungmin is trying to make an impression on his new job title. But to you, that’s just Seungmin, focused and ambitious, going straight for what he wants and work hard on it, fights for it until he gets it.
The meeting room is already half full when you step in, the low hum of conversation bouncing off walls and tables. Laptops open, chairs scraping, people settling into place with the kind of energy that only comes when someone important is about to walk in. You take a seat somewhere in the middle, blending in with everyone else as Gabe slides into the chair beside you.
A minute left to the appointed time, the door opens and Kim Seungmin walks in with that ease, that same certainty like he knows he was born with it, born into it and he’s going to make use of it.
Conversations fade as everyone’s attention is now locked on Seungmin. He takes his place at the head of the table, setting down a thin folder before glancing around the room, taking everyone in.
“Good morning, everyone,” he begins with a warm, polite greeting. His voice is calm. Even. Controlled in a way that makes people listen without trying. “I won’t take too much of your time, but I do want to address something important.”
The screen behind him lights up, showing slides, timelines, clean layouts.
“The company’s anniversary is coming up. This isn’t just another annual event,” he continues, hands resting lightly against the table as he leans forward just slightly. “It’s an opportunity.”
His gaze moves across the room again, measured, intentional. “To reinforce the company’s identity. To make an impression—internally and externally.”
He pauses to let what he says sit with everyone. “You’re all here because you’re capable of delivering that.”
There’s no fluff in his tone. No exaggerated praise. Just expectation. “And I expect exactly that,” he adds.
You somehow find yourself sitting a little straighter. So does everyone else.
“I want your best ideas. Your best execution. No shortcuts. No half-measures. And if there are challenges—bring them up early. Solve them early. I’d rather deal with problems head-on than clean up after them.”
This part is familiar. The way he speaks. The way he leads. It pulls something from memory you didn’t ask to revisit. Two years ago. Standing beside him in smaller rooms, team meetings, when he was still learning, but even then, he sounded like this. Like he always knew where he was going.
“And for the event itself. I’ll be working closely with the planning team,” Seungmin continues.
You stiffen at that. Just slightly.
“Coordination between departments will be key.”
There’s a brief pause and then, almost casually, his gaze hovers and then lands on you. This time, it stays.
“Which means I’ll be relying on you,” he says.
He addresses not your title. Not “the team.” You.
The room follows his gaze and you feel every pair of eyes turning, curious, expectant. You keep your expression steady and professional.
“Understood,” you reply, voice even.
Seungmin nods once and then moves on to the next things. But you’re still reeling from it because the way he said it— feels like this wasn’t about work. Which leads you to believe that this isn’t just another project. Not with him here. Not with things the way they are. Because whether you like it or not, you’re working with him again.
And this time, there’s a lot more at stake.
-
By the time you step back into your office, you’ve already slipped back into your role, mind reorganizing itself into lists and timelines, planning the next steps.
Gabe is right behind you and she doesn’t even wait for you to sit. “Okay,” she starts, dropping into her chair like she’s been holding it in this entire time, “be honest—has he always been like that?”
You pause halfway through pulling your chair out. “Like what?”
Gabe gestures vaguely, searching for the words. “Cool. Composed. Charismatic. Like he walked in and just—owned the room?”
You sit down, turning your laptop toward you, buying yourself a second. “I don’t know,” you answer, a little too quickly. “We didn’t work together that long, remember?”
You know that’s not true. You knew him. You knew exactly how he was. But it’s safer that way, sticking to your initial response. Dismissive, even.
Gabe doesn’t look convinced but she hums and nods, letting it slide.
“Good morning!”
The voice comes with a grin you can feel before you even look up and you already know.
You sigh, deep and annoyed before finally looking up and see Hyunjin walking toward your desk, one hand casually holding a tablet like it weighs nothing, the other shoved deep into the pocket of his jeans, hair tied in that effortless half-up style that somehow looks intentional. And that grin. Always that grin.
You paste on a smile but your eyes? Your eyes shoot a laser glare that could bore a hole between his eyes.
Hyunjin doesn’t flinch. Not even a little. Instead, he walks right up to your desk like the rest of the office doesn’t exist, plants one hand against the surface, and leans down just enough to meet you at eye level.
“Rule number one,” you mutter under your breath with jaws clenched. “Remember?”
He just smiles and instead of answering, he hands you the tablet. “Here’s the revised designs for the event invitations,” he informs.
You stare at him and then at the tablet. Then back at him. Your eyes still suspicious but you take it anyway. Leaning back into your chair, you start flipping through the designs and assessing them.
Meanwhile, Hyunjin makes himself at home. Literally. He perches on the edge of your desk, completely unbothered, and then—because he cannot help himself—he turns to Gabe.
“I like your glasses. They suit you really well.”
You don’t even need to look to know Gabe melts from Hyunjin’s compliment. She giggles and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear like this is a completely normal reaction. You resist the urge to roll your eyes and continue assessing the designs.
“So, ladies,” Hyunjin suddenly says, picking up your stress ball and squeezing it absentmindedly, “what do we think about the new CMO?”
Your fingers stop hover over the tablet screen for a second.
Gabe, however, lights up immediately. “Oh, I think he’s amazing. Handsome, charismatic, smart—like, the whole package,” she says without the slightest of hesitation.
Hyunjin nods slowly, like he’s considering it. “Is he your type, Gabe?”
“No,” Gabe shortly answers, shaking her head before turning to Hyunjin with a pointed look, “you are.”
You quietly scoff and roll your eyes.
Hyunjin, to his credit, plays it cool. “Good to know,” he says, winking at Gabe.
Gabe giggles again and props a hand under her chin. “I think he feels more like her type,” she adds, glancing at you now.
Your eyebrow twitches and you force to keep your focus on your work. However, from your peripheral, you see the way Hyunjin shifts, turning slightly and his attention moves back to you.
“Is he your type?” he asks.
You keep your eyes on the tablet, flipping to the next design like this conversation is beneath you. “He’s… alright,” you say, noncommittal. It’s the safest answer you can give.
Hyunjin hums, like he’s filing that away.
But Gabe, sweet little Gabe is thriving in it. “They actually used to work together, you know,” she chimes in, way too casually like this is a public knowledge.
You close your eyes for a brief moment hoping that it would help you escape this. No. No, no—
“Is that true?” Hyunjin asks, looking at you again.
Before you can answer, Gabe confirms proudly. “It is! He even said it himself—said they ‘have history’.”
You don’t even process the exact words because all you notice is the way Hyunjin goes still for a second. “History, huh?” he repeats, quieter now.
You don’t let it breathe and grow. You decide to cut it off from here. “Designs look good,” you say quickly, sitting up and handing the tablet back to him. “This one needs a slight font adjustment, but overall, it’s fine.”
Hyunjin takes the tablet from you and with it, he lets the conversation slides. Or at least, it looks like it. He hops off your desk, attention shifting back to the screen as he nods. “Got it.”
For a second, you think he’s leaving and you’re about to let out a sigh of relief when he suddenly turns back and grins.
“One more thing,” he says, holding up a finger like he’s just remembered something.
Of course.
He taps on his tablet, pulling something up before holding it out toward you. “Which one should I wear for the anniversary party?”
Is he serious? On the screen are photos of suits. On the left is a pinstripe with a pocket square. On the right is a sleek black one, minimal, no tie.And you just know—there are way more options in there, but he’s only showing you these two.
He’s waiting for your answer and you open your mouth, but nothing comes out. Not because you don’t have an opinion. But because your head is… somewhere else.
Gabe, bless her, jumps in immediately. “I personally think you’d look good in anything,” she says, then points to the left one, “but I vote pinstripe.”
Hyunjin nods, accepting it with an easy smile. “Noted.”
You think that’s the only answer he needs but his eyes flick back to you, still waiting. After a moment passes with no answer, he exhales softly, like he expected that and closes the tablet.
“I’ll give you more time to think,” he says, almost teasing. He presses the tablet lightly against his chest and takes a step back.
“Have a great day,” he adds, glancing between you and Gabe before turning to leave.
You watch him walking away in wide, confident strides and with this ease within him, effortless and almost reckless. So different from the other person. So— you stop that thought immediately because you know where it leads and you’re not going there.
You shake your head once, hard enough that you feel like it’s about to roll down the floor and turn back to your laptop.
-
The days start to blur after that. Deadlines stack. Emails multiply. Meetings bleed into one another until you can’t quite tell where one ends and the next begins. The anniversary event sits at the center of it all and you handle it as best as you can.
The exhaustion eventually gets to you in the way your shoulders ache a little more each night. In the way your thoughts lag just a second too long. In the way sleep doesn’t quite feel like rest anymore.
So one morning, you wake up tired and lie there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, trying to gather enough energy just to get up. Eventually, you do and you get to your routine like always.
By the time you make it to the kitchen, you’re already running through your schedule for the day. But when you open the fridge, there’s no overnight oats for you, no chia pudding you prepared for a busy morning like this. You stare at it for a second longer than necessary before closing it with a quiet sigh.
You don’t feel like cooking. Even the thought of it is already making you tired. You drag yourself toward the counter, reaching for a mug, deciding on coffee first to help your brain works faster.
But when you open the cabinet and see Hyunjin’s cereal box, a thought pops in your head. Yeah, you’re sworn to never touch it, not even considered it. But… considering that it’s an urgent situation and you kind of need the energy to get through the day—
You glance around the kitchen, once, twice like he might suddenly appear out of nowhere, leaning against the counter, grinning at you like he caught you doing something you shouldn’t. But after a while, you realize how stupid it is.
“He’s not here,” you scold yourself.
You reach for the cereal box and slowly take it out of the cabinet. Like you’re committing a minor crime. You put just enough cereal to fill half a bowl and then pour the milk after. You grab a spoon and take it to the dining table with you.
You sit, open your laptop and then shove a spoonful of cereal into your mouth. You taste it and oh, it’s not that bad. It’s sweeter than your preferred taste but now you get it why he likes it so much. It’s simple and easy. Comforting, almost.
You huff out a quiet breath, shaking your head slightly as you take another spoonful. “Alright. I see it now,” you mumble, more to yourself than anything.
-
The anniversary is tomorrow and at this point, you’re running on caffeine and fumes.
You push the door open to the control room with your shoulder, one hand still clutching your tablet, the other already reaching to tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear.
The space greets you with a low mechanical hum of panel full of blinking buttons and toggles and little monitors. It’s quiet and peaceful in here, but with Hyunjin in the room, you doubt it stays like that.
He sits in one of the swivel chairs, long legs stretched out, tablet recklessly sits on his thigh. His hair is tied in a messy bun with a few strands falling loose, beautifully framing his small, angular face. When he hears the door open, he doesn’t turn immediately. He waits and then slowly, he tilts his head just enough to glance at you over his shoulder, that familiar grin already there like he’s been expecting you.
“Look who finally showed up.”
You don’t entertain it. Instead, you walk straight past him, placing your tablet down on the console as your eyes immediately go to the main screen. “Have you tested the final render?” you ask, all business.
Hyunjin spins the chair around lazily, stretching his arms above his head like he’s just woken up from a nap. “Relax. I was waiting for you.”
“Go ahead and play it then,” you say, standing closer to the panel.
Hyunjin nudges the operator sitting next to him and says, “You hear the boss lady.”
The operator flicking a few buttons and not long after, the screen on the main stage comes alive. The opening sequence rolls out smoothly across the massive display, colors blooming in rich gradients, transitions clean and fluid. The theme of the anniversary threads through every frame. It’s… good. No—better than good.
“Oh—” you let out softly, stepping a little closer to the glass window. “This…”
Hyunjin only looks at you, patiently wait for you to finish your sentence.
You glance at him briefly before looking back at the visuals. “It’s perfect,” you shake your head slightly, impressed despite yourself. “It’s simple, but it works. It feels… expensive.”
A small smile tugs at your lips as you look at him and genuinely praise him for his work. “You did a good job.”
You already brace yourself for his witty respond or a tease but Hyunjin isn’t smirking. He’s just looking at you, something quieter sitting behind his eyes.
It throws you off. You narrow your eyes slightly. “What?”
He nods once, like he’s snapping out of something. Then the corner of his mouth lifts into a soft smile, eyes forming into crescents. “Just didn’t expect you to compliment me so sincerely.”
You scoff lightly, turning back to the panel. “Don’t get used to it.”
“Oh, I will. I might even frame it,” he jokingly says.
You shake your head, but there’s a faint breath of amusement in it. “So, have you decided what you’re wearing tomorrow?”
Hyunjin hums, tapping his pen against his screen. “Nope.”
You glance at him. “Still?”
“I’ll look good in anything anyway,” he says with a coy shrug.
You roll your eyes at that. “That wasn’t the question.”
He grins, unapologetic.
You exhale through your nose before stepping closer and reaching for his tablet. “Give me that.”
He hands it over without resistance, watching you with quiet curiosity as you scroll through the gallery. And you were right — he actually saved more outfit photos on his gallery. You scan through them, brows knitting slightly in concentration until one catches your eye. You stop, tilt the screen toward him. “I vote for his one.”
Hyunjin leans in, studying it and his lips slowly curl into a smirk. “Interesting…”
“It suits you. Better than the others,” you say, handing the tablet back.
He takes it, still looking at the image for a second longer before nodding. “Alright. I’ll trust you.”
Hyunjin leans back on his chair and looks at you. “How about you?” he suddenly asks.
“What about me?”
“Have you decided what you’re going to wear tomorrow night?”
You shake your head. “No.”
“Want my help?”
“No,” you instantly refuse.
But you can see his fingers moving, already typing something into the search bar. A second later, he turns the tablet toward you, showing you a picture of a leopard print dress.
“I vote for this one,” he says with a wide, unapologetic grin.
You let out a short laugh under your breath. “Absolutely not.”
“It’d look hot,” he insists, completely serious.
“Nope,” you flatly reject the idea.
“What are you going to wear then?”
“I don’t know. But I’m sure there’s something lying around in my closet.”
Hyunjin clicks his tongue, unimpressed. “No. You can’t. You should wear something special.”
Special? You scoff at that. What you need to wear is something simple since you’d be running around the place to make sure everything is running smoothly. You wave him off, already turning away—done with the conversation.
That’s when you see him. Seungmin. He stands by the doorway, unnoticed until now. His gaze moves from you to Hyunjin, then back to you again.
“Everything going well?” he asks.
You straighten immediately and your mouth moves before your brain catches up. “Yes—everything is on track. We’ve finalized the visual assets, lighting cues are being synced, and we’re running full tests today to ensure everything transitions smoothly during the event.”
You keep going with the details, timelines, backup plans and anything to fill the space, to keep it professional, distant.
Seungmin listens, nodding occasionally. “Good. Keep me updated,” he says when you finally pause.
“Yes, of course,” you politely answer.
That’s all he needs to know but Seungmin’s eyes linger on you, a little too long. You catch something flickers in his eyes before he smooths it over with a polite smile. “I’ll leave you to it.”
You give him a polite nod and then watch him walk away. You don’t realize you’ve been holding your breath until it leaves you in a quiet rush.
Behind you, Hyunjin leans back and crosses his arms together. A hand comes up to his lips, absentmindedly rubbing on it as he solemnly thinks. “Wow, I can see why he’s your type,” he mutters, voice laced with amusement.
“Ugh. Don’t start,” you groan, shoulder slumped.
“Yeah. I can see the chemistry,” he teasingly says with eyes slightly narrowed.
You exhale sharply. “There’s nothing.”
“You two definitely have a history,” he teases with a grin plastered to his face.
You refuse to be his entertainment. Not now. You huff a breath and mutter, “Whatever.”
You look down at your tablet, put your focus back on work, but you’re barely reading anything. Because all you can think about is the way Seungmin looked at you and the way Hyunjin noticed.
-
By the time the last checklist in your head ticks itself off, you finally allow yourself to let out a long exhale of air before turning on your heel and leave the hall.
The building feels quieter as you step out into the hallway. You’re aware that it’s because most of the employees have already been dismissed early, rushing home to get ready for the anniversary party. Their absence leaves behind a strange kind of calm like the pause before something big begins.
Your heels echo faintly against the floor as you make your way upstairs to your office. You push the door open, already listing what you need to grab before heading home. But you stop once you noticed there’s a big paper bag sitting on your desk.
Your brows pull together, puzzled. “What?”
You glance around instinctively, like someone might suddenly appear and explain it, but the office is empty. There are only a couple of janitors emptying trash cans and sweeping the floor.
It’s just you and the bag. You circle your desk, stopping just behind your chair, staring at the thing like it might explain itself if you look hard enough. There’s only a small card hanging from the handle with your name written on it.
So, the bag is clearly meant for you but now, you wonder who sent it. You peek inside and there’s only a big box. You can’t see exactly what it is yet, not without taking it out. Before your hand can reach inside, your phone chimes on your desk and the screen lights up. You don’t check the notification that just came, but at the time.
You gasp because you’re running out of time so without thinking, you shove all of your things into your bag and decide to grab the mysterious paper bag, taking it home with you.
When you get home, you barely remember kicking your shoes off or setting your bag down somewhere along the way. You go straight on getting ready for the night. You showered, dried your hair as best as you can and put on some skincare. By the time you step out of the bathroom, you feel lighter. Still tired, but much lighter.
With a towel still wrapped around you, you head for your closet to choose something to wear but the sight of the paper bag stops you on your track. It’s been sitting there on the bedroom floor, reminding you of its mysterious content and sender.
You walk toward it, staring at it before finally, reaching inside for the box and take it with you. You sit on the edge of the bed and place the box next to you. Your fingers move to the lid, slowly and carefully like whatever’s inside might be fragile.
The lid comes off with barely a sound and inside is fabric, black fabric. Folded neatly, wrapped in thin layers of tissue paper that crinkle softly as you peel them back. You slip your fingers under the material and almost gasp when you feel the softness of the fabric, then carefully lift it out like you’re afraid it might tear.
The dress unfolds in your hands and it’s beautiful. It’s black, with a clean square neckline that frames the collarbone, lace detailing woven delicately along the edges. It’s simple yet elegant in a way that doesn’t try too hard.
To get a better look at it, you get up and hold the dress close to your body. Something slips from between the fabric. A small piece of paper drifting down onto the bed. You fold the dress on your arm as your other arm reaches for the card. You flip it over and you instantly recognize the handwriting, cursive letter with delicate curls on certain letters.
Can’t have you wearing what’s lying around in your closet.
It says on it and your fingers tighten slightly around the edge of the card when you catch the name of the sender on the bottom corner. Kim Seungmin.
Your heart dips because that means… he heard it. Yesterday. That conversation you had with Hyunjin in the control room. He was there. He heard it. And worse, he took notes and decided to act on it.
Your gaze drifts back to the dress and your grip loosens just slightly. Because now, it’s not just a dress. It’s what it means. It’s the fact that after all this time, after everything— he still notices. Still pays attention. Still cares.
And that, that’s what unsettles you the most.
You swallow, your throat suddenly dry. Your eyes flicker between the dress and the card again, staring at them while wondering why it still affects you this much.
You don’t take either of them, but put everything back into the box and pretend that you didn’t just open it. You sit on your vanity and start doing your makeup. Then you do your hair next. You don’t give yourself a time to sit and think but keep moving, keep going.
Your closet door slides open with a quiet sound, revealing rows of familiar choices. Your hand moves, brushing past fabrics, pulling one dress out… then another. You lay them on the bed, side by side, evaluating.
But your eyes— your eyes drift without permission to the box still sitting there on the edge of your bed. The sheen of the black fabric catches the light just enough to draw you in again, inviting you to take another look.
You look away and shake your head lightly, like that alone is enough to clear it. “No,” you murmur under your breath.
Because what would that even mean? Wearing it. Accepting it. Letting Seungmin have that kind of… presence over you again.
You turn back to your closet, firmer this time and pick one dress you’ve worn before. You slip it on, adjust it, turn toward the mirror. And, it’s fine. That’s all.
You stare at yourself for a second longer than necessary. Then you exhale, peel it off. You put on the next one, check the mirror again and still, it’s not right.
“Why does this feel…” you trail off, not finishing the thought.
None of them feel right. Each one ending the same way—half a second of consideration before that quiet dissatisfaction settles in your chest again. Your room grows messier with each attempt, discarded options piling onto the bed, onto the chair, onto the floor. And through it all, that box sits there. Unbothered.
Your gaze drifts back to it again and don’t fight it this time. You look at the dress and how it falls so effortlessly even when it’s not being worn. You know exactly this is a bad idea. A terrible idea.
Wearing it would send a wrong message and you don’t even know what the message is, you just know that it will. And then you look at the mirror, at your reflection. Then at the clock.
Time is slipping and you don’t have the luxury to overthink this anymore.
“Just pick something,” you mutter.
But your feet stay there, they don’t move toward the closet. They move toward the bed. You stop in front of the box and look down at it.
One last chance to walk away and you don’t take it. Instead, you reach in. Your fingers wrap around the fabric, lifting it out again, feeling the weight of it settle into your hands. And with an exasperated sigh, you’ve decided.
You slip the dress over your body, the fabric gliding over your skin like it was made to sit there and as expected, it feels right. Like it was always meant to be worn. You adjust the neckline, smooth the sides and turn toward the mirror.
You look good and more than that, it feels good. And from the look of it, you know it’s expensive and it would be a shame to not wear it. Right?
But you also can’t ignore the fact that now, you have to face what comes with it.
-
The anniversary part is going as planned and a part of it, is because of you. You stand at the edge of it all, half-hidden from the spotlight, your eyes scanning the room like you’re still expecting something to slip through the cracks. The walkie-talkie stays glued to your hand as your eyes sweep through the room.
“Lighting check, west side,” you murmur into it.
A beat later, a confirmation crackles back.
You nod to yourself, even though they can’t see it. Your gaze moves again to the scattered tables, the stage, VIP booths on the second level, entrances and everything in its place. Everything right.
Still, you don’t relax. You don’t give yourself a chance to slack off. Anything can get—
“Here, you can have the first sip,” a voice says, a hip flask pressed toward you, close enough that you catch a whiff of that sharp, strong smell of alcohol.
You slowly turn your head to the side and find Hyunjin there, standing beside you like he’s been there all along, a grin already playing on his lips as he lifts the flask slightly in your direction. “You look like you need it.”
You glance at the flask. Then back at him. “No thanks,” you say, lightly pushing his hand away.
Hyunjin shrugs like he expected that, bringing it to his lips anyway. He takes a small sip and immediately winces. “Ugh,” he mutters under his breath, capping it again.
You take a step back, finally letting your eyes properly take him in and realize that he’s wearing the suit you picked. And as expected, the 70s cut fits him perfectly, especially with the tall, lean figure he was born with. Added with the fact that he let his hair down, giving the look that much needed flair of a 70s rockstar.
You nod, almost unconsciously. “So you went with my suggestion.”
Hyunjin glances down at himself, then back at you, acting like it’s no big deal. “Maybe.”
You tilt your head slightly, studying him a little more openly now. “You look like George Harrison,” you say.
Then, with a faint smirk, you teasingly add, “If I squint hard enough.”
He cracks a laugh. “That your favorite Beatles?”
You innocently nod. “Yeah.”
He pouts slightly, thoughtful. “I thought you’d be a Paul McCartney kind of girl.”
You scoff lightly. “What can I say? I’m full of surprises.”
Hyunjin nudges your shoulder, leaning in just a little too close, his voice dropping into something teasing. “Does that mean I’m your favorite?”
You scoff again, shaking your head. “If you grow the mustache, then I might consider it.”
He chuckles at that, staying right there beside you, close enough that you can feel the warmth of him without even trying.
For a moment, you both just watch. The room alive in front of you. The night unfolding exactly the way it should.
You glance at him briefly and smile. “You must be having fun.”
He tilts his head. “Why’s that?”
You gesture vaguely toward the crowd. “This is your playground. All the hot girls in this company are here tonight.”
Hyunjin follows your gaze, nodding once. But he doesn’t say anything.
That alone makes you narrow your eyes slightly. You playfully nudge him and tease, “So, who’s the lucky girl, Romeo?”
He lets out a quiet chuckle, shrugging. “Don’t think my type’s here.”
You scoff, turning your head to scan the room again. Your eyes land on a group of girls gathered around one table, dressed to impress, drinks in hand, they’re chatting and laughing but their eyes, the eyes are actively searching.
You lean slightly closer to Hyunjin, pointing subtly at the girl in pink chiffon dress that looks beautiful against her fair skin. “What about her?”
He doesn’t even look. “What about her?”
You shoot him a look. “I think she has potential.”
“Oh yeah?”
You nod, serious now, like you’re evaluating a candidate. “Great hair. Pretty face. Nice smile. She looks like she could handle a charming fuckboy like you. There’s a chance that she has a high tolerance in bad jokes too.”
Hyunjin clutches his chest dramatically, offended. “Ouch.”
You laugh in satisfaction but then his arm comes up, settling loosely around your shoulders as he turns you slightly, guiding your attention elsewhere. “Look over there,” he murmurs.
Your eyes follow to the VIP section where a group of older executives, seated comfortably—but one stands out. White hair, ash grey suit, posture stiff, a walking stick resting in front of him.
Hyunjin leans in closer, voice dropping conspiratorially. “That one looks like he’d enjoy a heated argument as foreplay.”
You snort at that.
“And would absolutely love your overnight oats the morning after.”
You turn your head toward him and it doesn’t faze you that his face is merely inches away from yours. “Shame on you. I already have my type of man with me tonight,” you murmur, a hint of amusement still in your voice.
An eyebrow raised in intrigue. “Who?”
Instead of answering, you lift the walkie-talkie slightly in your hand. Then you shrug his arm off your shoulders, stepping away.
“Control room, confirm stage reset in five,” you speak into it, already slipping back into work mode.
Hyunjin’s confused look replaced with something brighter, almost like a relief as he watches you walk away.
Feeling mischievous, you walk straight toward the table where the girls are gathered and to the girl you pointed out earlier. You gently tap her shoulder gently.
She turns, confused. But before she can say anything, you lean in slightly. “That guy—” you point subtly toward Hyunjin, “—says you look beautiful tonight.”
Her eyes widen just a little before immediately finding him across the room, already riveted by Hyunjin’s appearance.
Behind her back, you look at Hyunjin, giving him a thumbs-up and mouth. You can thank me later.
Then you turn away like nothing happened, bringing the walkie-talkie back to your lips as you disappear into the flow of the night again. Back where you belong, on the sidelines and in control.
Even if, for a second there, you weren’t.
-
The kitchen is chaos as waiters come and go, delivering trays of finger foods and drinks for guests and you’re right in the middle of it as you help arranging delicate portions onto pristine plates meant for people who will barely take two bites.
You don’t notice Gabe at first until her voice cuts clean through the noise. “What are you doing?”
You barely glance up, too busy cleaning the edge of the plates with a napkin. “Plating for the VIP section. They mixed up the—”
“No,” she cuts in again, firmer this time, stepping closer. “What are you doing here?”
You properly look at her, brows knitting just slightly. “I just told you—”
“And I’m telling you that’s not your job tonight,” she says and something in her tone makes you stop moving for a second.
You open your mouth to argue, to insist, to default back into responsibility because it’s easier than… whatever else is out there but Gabe is faster. She plucks the walkie-talkie straight out of your hand.
“Hey—” You protest dies down as she shoves it into her purse like it’s been confiscated.
“Nope.” She grabs your wrist next, already pulling you away from the counter. “You’ve done enough. If something explodes, someone else can handle it for once.”
“I need to—”
“No. You need,” she interrupts, dragging you through the swinging kitchen doors, “to stop acting like the entire company will collapse if you’re not supervising every olive on a toothpick.”
The music hits you the second you step back into the hall. The DJ’s taken over now, the atmosphere completely different from earlier. The lights are lower, shifting with the beat. People are laughing, dancing, leaning into each other like the night has finally loosened its grip on professionalism.
Gabe snatches a glass of champagne from a passing tray, and shoves it into your hand. “There,” she says, looking at you like she just handed you a lifeline. “Drink.”
You stare at the glass. Then at her. “Gabe, I really—”
“Stop worrying,” she scolds, gentler now but no less firm. “Just… enjoy it. For once.”
There’s no room left to argue. Not with the way she’s looking at you. So you lift the glass and in one go, you drink it down completely. The bubbles burn a little on the way down. You barely even taste it.
Gabe’s expression softens, just slightly, like she’s satisfied enough. “Good. Now go.”
Before you can question that, she nudges — no, pushes you forward, right into the edge of the dance floor. Bodies move around you instantly, caught in the rhythm of the music. You just stand there for a second, completely out of place, like someone dropped you into the wrong scene.
You turn back and Gabe’s still there, arms crossed, watching you like a hawk. And somehow, that’s more intimidating than anything else tonight. So you do the only thing you can think of, you nod and turn.
Instead of staying where she can see you, instead of even attempting to blend in with the dancing crowd, you slip sideways—cutting through people, murmuring quick apologies, weaving your way out with practiced ease. An escape route.
You’re almost at the exit, hand lifting to push the door open when something catches your eye. Off to the side, near one of the cocktail tables is Hyunjin. He’s leaning in slightly, that easy posture, talking to the girl you pointed out earlier.
For a second, you just watch and then you shake your head, a small smile tugging at your lips despite yourself. Then, you push the door open and step out into the quiet beyond, the music dulling instantly behind you as it closes.
And for the first time all night, you finally breathe.
-
The balcony is not empty, not crowded either. There’s a couple of people scattering around, chatting and laughing in muted voices, curls of smoke escaped in between them. You slip past them without much thought, drawn instinctively to the far end, the quieter side of the balcony where the railing overlooks the stretch of city lights glowing gold and white beneath the dark sky. You lean against it, palms pressing lightly to the cool metal and then… you breathe. Slow. Deep. Again. And again.
It feels like the first real breath you’ve taken all night—maybe all week. The tension that’s been sitting tight in your shoulders finally loosens, just a little. The music inside becomes a distant pulse, muffled by glass and distance, no longer demanding your attention.
For a moment, you let yourself exist without thinking. Just stay there, enjoying the night while ignoring the gust of wind sweeps through the balcony, slipping easily past the thin fabric of your dress. You shiver, instinctively crossing your arms over yourself, hands gripping your upper arms as if you can trap some warmth there.
It doesn’t quite work but still, you stay. Still, you breathe.
And then, something settles over your shoulders. You stiffen immediately before slowly turning to find Seungmin there.
He’s closer than you expected, his hands still resting lightly on your shoulders for just a second longer before he lets them fall away. A soft smile lingers on his lips, subtle, controlled like he’s holding more of it back. He steps beside you, close enough that you can feel his presence without him touching you again, his gaze shifting out to the city like he belongs here just as much as you do.
For a moment, neither of you say anything.
“You did well tonight,” Seungmin says, his voice calm and familiar in a way that does something to your chest. “You and your team… it shows. The anniversary is a successful night.”
You nod, almost automatically, your fingers curling slightly into the fabric draped over your shoulders. “We’re just doing our job,” you say, deciding on a safe, humble answer.
Seungmin hums softly, like he expected that answer. “Still, I should treat everyone to a meal soon,” he announces.
You give him a polite smile. “You don’t have to.”
He shrugs, unconcerned. “I want to.”
It goes quiet again but it’s filled with things unsaid. With things remembered. You keep your eyes on the city. But you notice it anyway, the way he turns slightly toward you, the weight of his attention settling fully on you.
“We haven’t had time to properly catch up,” he says, loosely clasping his hands together in front of him.
You actively telling yourself to not look at him. Stay still. Stay steady.
Then he turns his head and asks, in the most innocent way possible. “How are you?”
It’s such a simple question. So normal but at the same time, so… unfair. Because it makes it sound like nothing happened. Like time didn’t stretch and pull and break in between the last time you saw him and now. Like the space between then and now can be folded neatly into a polite conversation on a balcony.
You could tell him. You could tell him about the months that felt like the hardest part of your life you had to go through. About the way everything shifted after he left. About how long it took to feel like yourself again.
However, the words don’t come. Because you don’t even know if he remembers it the same way you do. If he remembers it at all.
“I’m fine,” you say and it comes out easier than you expect.
Seungmin nods, taking it as it is. Then he nods and says, “I’m happy to see you doing well.”
Something about it feels like he’s trying to poke at you. Like he knows just enough to acknowledge it, poking around it without having to address it directly.
You do what you always do in this situation. You offer him a smile, a polished, detached smile.
“I feel great knowing we’ll be working together again,” he says.
That makes you look at him, just for a second, just to see if there’s a clue flickering in his eyes.
“It’ll feel like old times. Just you and me.”
Old times? If there’s anything you want, you hope that’s not the case. You shake your head slightly, forcing a small, dismissive smile. “You won’t need that. There are plenty of people here who’s more than willing to help you.”
He doesn’t respond right away but when he does, it’s quieter but more direct. “You know it’d mean more to me if it’s you.”
Another gust of wind cuts through the balcony, colder and sharper. Something catches in your eye, making you flinch slightly, your hand lifting instinctively to shield your face as you blink it away.
Then, his hand is there, warm against your jaw. He tilts your face up just slightly, his other hand moving to gather your hair away from your face. His fingers brush along your temple as he tucks it behind your ear, holding it there for just a moment longer than necessary.
He waits until you’re looking at him to say, “I want you by my side.”
This, right here — feels something like old times. His eyes, they haven’t changed. The warmth. The same quiet intensity. The same way they used to look at you like you were something dear, something certain, something… his. The same eyes that made you believe he wouldn’t let you go.
But he did. He did let you go and the realization crashes into you all over again like a bucket of cold-water washes over you.
You take a step back and it forces his hand away from you. You hurriedly shrug off the jacket from your shoulders, the warmth suddenly too much, too suffocating, and press it back into his hands without meeting his eyes again.
“I have to get back inside,” you say while avoiding his eyes.
You don’t wait for a response but start walking toward the door. A few steps later, you hear him softly calling your name, so softly that his voice blurs with the wind.
You stop, debating for a second whether to turn or keep walking. Curiosity gets to you and your feet moving before your brain can catch up. You turn around, finding him leaning against the railing now, the suit jacket hanging on one arm.
“It looks great on you,” he says, his lips curling into an amused smile.
You’re puzzled for the first five seconds until he gestures toward you. Toward your dress. Oh, shit, the dress.
Now that he’s seen it, you have no other option but acknowledge it and say the magic word. “Thank you,” you say, politely and in defeat.
He nods and smiles. “You’re very welcome,” he says.
With that, you turn away and walk back toward the noise, the lights, the crowd. Just anywhere but here. Anywhere but with him.
-
From the upper level, the party looks different. Like a wave finally pulling back after crashing all night.
The crowd has thinned—clusters breaking apart, people slipping out in twos and threes, heels in hand, jackets thrown over shoulders. The music still plays, but it’s lost its urgency now, settling into something slower, something that hums instead of pulses.
A few remain on the dance floor, stubborn or simply unwilling to let the night end. Their laughter drifts upward, faint but warm. You lean slightly against the railing, watching it all unfold and thinking. You try not to—but your mind circles back anyway. To the balcony. To him. To the way Seungmin looked at you like nothing had changed. Like time hadn’t carved distance between you. Like you could just… step back into it. You don’t even know if he remembers it the same way. If it meant the same thing to him. If it still does.
No. You’re not doing this tonight. You tear your gaze away from the floor below, forcing yourself to move. You head down and find Gabe almost immediately. She’s exactly where you’d expect her to be—lounging at the bar, one elbow propped up, looking far too relaxed for someone who’s been running alongside you all week.
You slide onto the stool beside her. “How’s everything?”
She turns her head slowly before looking back at the small cluster of people on the dance floor, swaying their bodies to the slow music. “As you can see, it’s wrapping up,” she says, like she’s already answered this question a hundred times. “You can stop hovering now. It’s a successful night.”
You nod and let on a small smile. “Yeah, it is a successful night,” you murmur in part pride, part relief that this is over.
This calls for a proper celebration. You lift your hand, signaling the bartender. “Two champagnes.”
Gabe raises a brow but doesn’t argue, and a moment later, two glasses are placed in front of you. You pick one up, handing the other to her. “To surviving this week,” you say.
She clinks her glass against yours. “To you finally letting go for five minutes.”
You huff out a quiet laugh, bringing the glass to your lips. This time, you don’t rush it.
You let yourself actually taste it —that hard-earned sweetness of triumph fizzles your tongue. You set the glass down after, turning to her. “You can leave. I’ll stay and handle the tear-down.”
Gabe doesn’t even hesitate. “No.”
You scoff in disbelief at the sheer rebelliousness in the way she answered. “No?”
She turns fully toward you now, grabbing your shoulders like she’s about to physically shake sense into you. “You’ve done enough. This is where you trust your team to do their job.”
You scoff again, but there’s no bite in it. “That’s a dangerous suggestion.”
“I’m serious.”
You exhale, leaning back slightly, finishing the last of your champagne. “…So I can leave early?” you ask, more carefully this time.
Gabe squints at you. “Depends. Are you leaving early to go to an after party or—”
“There’s no after party,” you cut in, already shaking your head. “I just want to go home.”
She pauses and then snorts. “Yes. You can go home early, grandma,” she says, waving you off. “
You softly laugh and grab her arm, gently squeezing on it. “Thank you.”
You slide off the stool and pull her into a quick hug, brief but tight. “I’m trusting everything to you,” you murmur.
“Yeah, yeah,” she says, pushing you away lightly. “Go before I change my mind.”
You grin, stepping back. “Thanks again.”
The hall feels different now as you walk through it like it’s already letting go of the night. You move past lingering conversations, past laughter that doesn’t quite reach you anymore. And then, you feel that pull and your gaze lifts without meaning to.
There, on the upper level, mid-conversation with someone is Seungmin. His suit jacket is still nowhere to be seen. As if he feels the same pull, his eyes find you and lingers.
Oh, no. Not again. You don’t give him the chance. You look away immediately, picking up your pace, heels clicking faster against the floor as you head toward the lobby. You’re almost there when you suddenly feel a hand catches your arm.
You nearly gasp, heart jumping before you turn and see Hyunjin. He’s grinning like he’s been waiting for this exact moment.
“Why are you here?” you ask, breath still slightly uneven.
“I’m… an employee here therefore I’m invited and we talked earlier,” he rambles as he explains everything.
You inhale air and exhale it slowly before speaking. “No, I mean, why are you still here?”
“I was looking for you.”
“Why?”
“So I can drive you home.”
Huh? He waited for you to drive you home. The intention is good but a part of you still wondering why he goes to this length. But you can feel some of the tension slips off your shoulders, just a little.
Before you can say anything else, his arm swings around your shoulders, casual and familiar, pulling you into his side. “Come on. Let’s go home.”
You let out a soft, incredulous laugh. “You’ve been drinking. How are you going to drive?”
He turns his head, grinning down at you. “That’s where you come in.”
You abruptly stop walking. “What?”
“I need you to drive.”
So the intention is not fully good. You try to shrug him off, but his hold only tightens slightly, not enough to trap you—just enough to keep you there.
“It’s been great night,” he murmurs, already steering the both of you toward the exit. “Let’s not ruin it.”
You shake your head, but you don’t fight him anymore. And just like that, the two of you walk out together, his weight leaning into yours just enough that you can feel it, his presence warm and steady at your side.
Behind you, the party fades.
Ahead of you, the quieter night waits.
-
The drive is quieter than you expect and with it, the city has thinned out, streets stretching wider, calmer.
Hyunjin, on the other hand, is anything but quiet. He’s sunk into the passenger seat, one arm draped lazily against the door, the other resting somewhere near his lap. Too comfortable. Way too comfortable for someone who insisted he needed a ride.
You keep your eyes on the road. Your tone flat but edged with curiosity as you ask, “So, where do you live?”
“I’m not going home,” he shortly answers.
You glance at him, puzzled. “So where are we going?”
“We’re going home,” he corrects, like it’s obvious. “Your place.”
You stare at him for a second longer than necessary before looking back at the road. “No.”
“I’m staying over tonight.”
You let out a dry breath, tightening your grip on the steering wheel. “My house is not a hotel.”
He shrugs like that’s irrelevant. “We have a test tomorrow and since you’re all about punctuality…” a small smirk tugs at his lips, “…I figured I’d make it easier for both of us.”
You roll your eyes, shaking your head slightly. “Can’t argue with that logic,” you mutter, even though you absolutely could.
Yes, you’re annoyed that he’s treating your house like a hotel but on the positive side, you get to be home sooner. And you just can’t wait to finally be able to relax, mind and body. And sleep, oh… just the thought of it tantalizes you.
By the time you pull up in front of your house, the exhaustion settles deep into your bones. You barely get the engine off before Hyunjin is already leaning into you, arm slinging around your shoulders as if this is the most natural thing in the world.
“Hyunjin,” you sigh, trying to nudge him off as you step out of the car, “you’re not even that drunk.”
He ignores you completely. He clings to you as you fumble with your keys, his weight warm and inconvenient as you unlock the door. The second it opens, he’s the first one inside to stumble in like he owns the place before collapsing dramatically onto your sofa. Limbs everywhere. Legs spread. Head tilted back.
You watch him for a second, at how at home he looks, even more than you do. Then shake your head, closing and locking the door behind you. “Unbelievable.”
Hyunjin opens his arms, grinning. “Come here.”
“No,” you answer with an exhausted tone.
“I’m offended.”
“I’m tired.”
He makes a small, exaggerated noise of complaint before digging into the inner pocket of his blazer and pulling out his flask. “There’s still some left,” he says, giving it a small shake. “Help me finish it.”
You raise a brow. “I’m surprised there’s anything left at all.”
“Come on,” he whines and pouts, kicking his long legs in the air like a fussy child. “I know you barely drank tonight. You deserve it.”
You stare at him. Then at the flask. Then back at him. And honestly? He’s right, you deserve it. And also, you don’t have any energy left to argue with him.
“Fine,” you sigh, walking over and dropping onto the sofa beside him. Your body sinks into the cushions, exhaustion catching up instantly.
Hyunjin’s grin returns like he just won something. He uncaps the flask, takes a sip, then hands it to you.
You take the flash and stare at it. You already know how this will end—headache, regret, maybe a little dizziness in the morning. But then again, everything about tonight calls for alcohol. You lift it and take a sip.
“God—” you cough lightly, wincing as the burn hits your throat and settles uncomfortably in your chest. “That’s awful.”
Hyunjin laughs, taking it back. “It’s not that bad.”
“It is.”
He takes another sip like he’s proving a point, then hands it back.
You lean your head against the back of the sofa, eyes half-lidded as the warmth starts to spread. After a moment, you glance at him and in awe at how his dishevelled look only makes him more attractive.
“What happen with the girl earlier? Did you blow your chance?” You casually ask.
He licks his lips after a sip, shrugging. “You’ve got it wrong. She couldn’t handle me.”
You snort softly, taking the flask again. “Right.”
Another sip. Another wince. But no cough this time. “I can’t believe I’m witnessing the day the office heartthrob failed to take a girl home,” you tease, feigning sympathy.
Hyunjin turns toward you, smirk sharp and immediate. “But I did take someone home tonight.”
You groan, elbowing his side lightly. “I drove you here.”
He almost spills the flask, laughing as you snatch it from him.
“I’m the one who took you home,” you correct, taking another sip.
He watches you, amused, then leans in just slightly. “Can’t believe I’m seeing the day you took the office heartthrob home.”
You choke and cough, glaring at him as he takes the flask back, clearly pleased with himself.
He studies you for a second then, gaze lingering just a bit longer than usual. “Hey, you look kind of hot tonight.”
You close your eyes for a second and then scoff. “Wow. I’ve been waiting all night for you to finally notice me,” you sneer.
He chuckles, handing the flask back. “You would look hotter in that dress I suggested,” he says.
You shake your head, but there’s no zest left in it anymore. You just… feel tired. Done. So instead of arguing, you lift the flask and finish what’s left in one go. It burns worse this time.
You shove the flask back into his hand. “There. Finished it for you.”
And before he can say anything else, you push yourself off the sofa. “I’m going to bed.”
“Come on. Stay a bit longer,” he calls after you.
You wave him off, already heading toward the stairs. “It’s past my bedtime.”
He groans and this time, he’s not just kicking his feet in the air, he’s also flailing his arms.
You ignore him, climbing the stairs anyway. “Goodnight,” you call over your shoulder.
“You’re not going to do anything with the office heartthrob you took home?” he shouts after you.
You don’t even look back and continue climbing the stairs. “No, thanks.”
His laughter follows you up the stairs, echoing faintly as you reach your bedroom door.
And for the first time tonight, you finally get to be alone.
-
Sleep doesn’t come.
It lingers somewhere just out of reach—close enough that your body aches for it, heavy and worn from the day, but your mind… your mind refuses to follow. You lie there, eyes closed, one arm draped over your stomach, the other tucked under your pillow.
Downstairs, the house isn’t quiet. You can hear Hyunjin and the slow, unhurried sound of his footsteps moving across the floor. A door opening. Closing. The faint clink of something—glass, maybe. And then, softer… a low hum, off-key, barely there, like he’s singing to himself without even realizing it.
It’s strangely comforting, knowing someone else is there and that you’re not alone in the silence. For a moment, you focus on it. On him. Letting the sound ground you, pull you away from everything else.
It almost works until your mind drifts back to the balcony. To Seungmin. It comes back too easily. Too clearly. Like your memory has been waiting all night for you to finally slow down enough to replay it. The way his hand felt against your jaw. The way he tilted your face like it was nothing. Like he still had the right to. The way he looked at you— Like he used to. Like you were still something he could reach for.
“I want you by my side.”
You inhale sharply, eyes tightening shut. You turn your head against the pillow, like you can physically shake the memory out of you. But it doesn’t go away.
It’s in this quiet, you realize that the true problem lies on you. It’s the way that just for a second, you almost leaned into it. Almost let yourself fall back into that warmth. That version of him. That version of you that believed in it.
God, you hate it. You hate that part of you. That small, stubborn part that still remembers too well. That still aches in places you thought had healed. That still—despite everything—wants.
It’s embarrassing. Frustrating. Pathetic, almost. You drag a hand over your face, exhaling slowly into the darkness. You turn onto your side, curling slightly into yourself, fingers gripping lightly at the fabric of your sheets. You should be over this. You are over this. Aren’t you?
The question lingers longer than you want it to and the worst part, you don’t have an answer. So you lie there, awake in the dark, with the faint echo of someone else moving in your house… and the far louder echo of someone who once felt like home.
-
You wake up late the next day. Your body feels like it’s been wrung out and left to dry wrong. Limbs heavy, head faintly spinning, that dull, sluggish dizziness sitting right behind your eyes. For a moment, you just lie there, trying to remember how you even made it up here last night. It all comes back in fragments—music, champagne, Gabe’s scolding, the balcony, Seungmin—
You sit up too fast and realize too late that it’s a bad idea. The room tilts just enough to make you pause, eyes squeezing shut as you press your fingers to your temple. “Great,” you mutter under your breath, voice rough from sleep and dehydration and maybe a little regret.
You drag yourself out of bed anyway and downstairs, the house is already awake. The first thing you see is Hyunjin is sprawled across your sofa like he pays rent here. Long legs hanging off the edge, one arm tucked behind his head, the other lazily scrolling on his phone. Headphones on, completely at ease.
He looks up the moment you step into view and then—of course—he grins. He pulls one side of his headphones down, eyes bright despite last night. “Good morning—” he pauses, glancing dramatically at his phone, “—not sure if it’s still considered morning though.”
You don’t even dignify that with a response. You just walk past him and head straight to the kitchen.
Hyunjin follows, trailing behind you like a puppy. You hear the soft thud of his bare feet against the floor until he hoists himself up onto the kitchen counter like it’s his designated seat. He settles there comfortably, watching you like this is his favorite show.
“I already made coffee,” he announces, a little too proud of himself.
You don’t answer. You just open the fridge and immediately regret it because it’s empty. Not completely, but close enough. A couple of lonely items sitting there like they’ve been abandoned. Your eyes land on the only viable option, bananas and grab one.
Behind you, Hyunjin hums. “You really don’t have much in there, huh?”
No kidding. You mutter inside your head.You peel the banana slowly, taking your time like you’re not already running on fumes, and reach for a mug just as Hyunjin does the same. He grabs one from the cabinet above him and hands it to you without a word this time.
You take it and pour yourself coffee. First sip hits your system like a small act of mercy. You lean against the counter, taking another bite of the banana, letting the caffeine settle in, grounding you just a little.
Hyunjin watches you for a while. “We should go grocery shopping,” he says casually.
You ignore him and how he addressed the two of you like you’re a pair, like he has the rights to claim space in your fridge. Another bite. Another sip. Then—
“I need to buy cereal too,” he adds.
Your chewing stops for a fraction before you force yourself to keep calm, act normal.
“…because somehow,” he continues, narrowing his eyes at you now, “my cereal box is mysteriously emptying.”
You keep your face completely neutral. You chew and swallow. Take a sip of coffee. Like you have nothing to hide.
Hyunjin tilts his head, studying you. “You couldn’t possibly eat my cereal, right?”
Inside, your heart gives a small, traitorous thump—but outwardly? You’re steady. Composed. Unimpressed, even.
He watches as you shove the last of your banana and you hold his gaze. Refuse to give anything away. It lingers there for a second too long that it starts to feel like a standoff.
Then, his lips twitch and a slow, knowing grin spreads across his face. He pushes himself off the counter and steps closer, and closer until he’s right in front of you. So close that you can see the faint smudge of sleep still clinging to his eyes, the way his hair falls messily over his forehead, the hint of amusement curling at the edges of his mouth.
He looks straight into your eyes and you force yourself to not look away. The silence stretches again before he exhales a quiet laugh.
“Still bad at lying,” he says as he gives your nose a playful boop.
And before you can react, he’s already turning away, like he didn’t just do that.
“Come on, loser,” he says over his shoulder, stretching his arms lazily. “We’re going grocery shopping.”
You stare at his back, still chewing and processing. A mug of coffee in one hand. “We are not—”
“We are,” he cuts in easily, already heading toward the living room. “You have no food. I have no cereal. This is a crisis.”
You scoff, pushing yourself off the counter. “That’s not a crisis.”
He glances back at you, grin back in full force. “It is to me.”
You sigh, dragging a hand through your hair, already feeling the faint headache forming behind your eyes again, but somehow, despite it all…
There’s something annoyingly grounding about this. About him. About the normalcy of it. And you hate how easy it is to fall into step with it.
-
To make up for the improper breakfast earlier, you bought half dozen of donuts and iced coffee. You’re eating it while pushing the cart through the supermarket aisles. You might experience the sugar rush soon but God, it feels so good.
Hyunjin, on the other hand, disappears the second you pass the entrance, like a kid who’s just been released into a playground with no supervision. One second, he’s beside you, the next, he’s gone.
You don’t even try to follow. You just roll your eyes and keep going, steering the cart toward the first aisle, taking a slow bite of your donut, letting the sugar settle in your system and then have a sip of the iced coffee.
A few minutes later, Hyunjin comes jogging back into view with arms full of things. A box of cereal, instant noodles, a bag of plain bagels, something that looks suspiciously like imported snack.
“Hyunjin,” you start, already tired.
He ignores you completely and dumps everything into the cart with zero hesitation.
You stare at the growing pile. “You’re paying for your own things,” you warn.
He’s already backing away and you guess is to get more things. “Yeah, yeah, add it to my tab,” he waves you off, not even listening,
“What tab—” you haven’t even finished your sentence but Hyunjin has gone again. You sigh before pushing the cart forward like you’ve accepted your fate.
Eventually, you make your way to the fresh produce section, the bright colors of fruits and vegetables a sharp contrast to the chaos Hyunjin has created in your cart. You reach for a plastic bag, starting to pick out apples, something normal, something reasonable. Something that makes you feel like at least one of you is functioning like an adult.
You’re mid-selection when he reappears, still with arms full and this time with bags of chips and candies that he casually tosses into the cart like he’s contributing something meaningful.
You glance at the pile, then at him. “You should just get your own cart.”
He doesn’t even acknowledge that. Instead, he turns toward you. His eyes widen slightly like he’s noticed something. Then, his hand lifts.
You barely register it before his thumb brush against your lips. Light and quick, gone just as fast. “What are you…”
“Cream. From your donut,” he casually answers like he didn’t just lick his thumb after. Like he didn’t just do all that.
Your brain lags a second behind and then you quickly grab a napkin, wiping your mouth with it.
“Dinner’s on me tonight,” he suddenly announces, picking up an apple and tosses it in the air. “What do you want?”
“On what occasion?” you carefully ask, not even trying to tease, just curious.
Hyunjin only shrugs and then puts the apple he’s been juggling in the air into the plastic bag.
You don’t want to tease and change his mind about dinner. Because duh! Free food is free food.
You just answer, the first thing that comes to mind. “I want steak.”
He nods immediately. “Okay. Got you.”
And just like that, he’s gone again.
You stare after him, iced coffee halfway to your lips, utterly baffled. You keep shopping, bagging more fruits and vegetables, ignoring the way your cart now looks like a chaotic mix of your life and his.
It takes a while before he finds you again and this time, he walks up with a plastic bag swinging from his fingers, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “Got the steak.”
You glance at it and then at him. You take a second to process what you think he promised and what he actually promised. “I thought you meant… you’re going to treat me to a steak… at a restaurant,” you say, slightly stammering.
He looks at you like you’ve said something ridiculous. “The point is… steak.”
“Yea, but that’s raw.”
“Yeah.”
You stare at him and he stares back in utter seriousness. He’s not right but not wrong either. It’s something that is lost in translation. You decide that it’s best not to argue. Not today. Not with him.
You take the bag from him, dropping it into the trolley with everything else, already bracing yourself for what kind of chaos he’ll bring with his cooking. But on the brighter side, you can cross out cooking dinner from your to-do list.
-
The initial plan is to sit back and let him do his thing, but that lasts maybe… about thirty seconds. Because Hyunjin moves around the kitchen recklessly, his movements are fast, completely unbothered and just everything about is has your eye twitching.
“Hyunjin—” you start, already getting up from you dining chair and approach him.
He hums, not even looking at you as he unwraps the steak.
“You’re not even marinating it properly.”
“It’s marinating,” he says, tone lazy.
“That’s not marinating, that’s touching it with seasoning.”
He snorts, taking your words like a joke instead of an instruction.
You’re already beside him now, reaching for the bowl, adjusting things without asking, adding a bit more, rubbing it in properly. “Give it time,” you mutter.
He watches you for a second, amused, then leans back against the counter. “Thought you said dinner’s on me.”
“It is,” you shoot back, not looking at him. “I’m just preventing a disaster.”
He grins and you can feel it without even looking. Still, you let him take over again when he moves to the stove. You step back, telling yourself that you’re not going to interfere. But seeing him setting the flame too high have you biting your lower lip in worry.
“Isn’t that too hot?”
“It’s fine.”
“You’re going to overcook it.”
“I won’t.”
“You’re—Hyunjin—”
“I know what I’m doing,” he cuts in, glancing at you with a look that’s half challenge, half amusement.
At this point, you worry that there’ll be anything left to eat for dinner. Despite it, you let him continue. Under your strict supervision. You hover, restless and unable to just sit still while he moves around your kitchen while knocking things off the counter — a spatula, a fork, a pack of herbs. Eventually, you give up pretending and turn toward the fridge, pulling it open.
“Are you making anything else?” you ask.
“No.”
You pause, one hand on the fridge door. “No?”
“You said steak. So I make steak,” he simply says with a proud grin.
“I kind of expected that,” you mumble, already reaching for ingredients. Lettuce, tomatoes, whatever you can throw together quickly. “If we’re eating steak, we’re having something on the side.”
Behind you, Hyunjin takes a step back from the stove and glances at what you’re gathering on the counter. Then he groans. “Why can’t we just eat it without vegetables?”
“Because, we need a balanced meal,” you reply flatly, already chopping,
He steps forward, standing right behind you, head hovering close to yours as he watches you work. “Cool people die a fast, gruesome death, you know,” he mutters, almost matter-of-factly.
You turn your head just enough to meet his eyes and grimace. “Well, I don’t want to be cool,” you say as you get back to chopping. “I want to die a natural, healthy way.”
He rolls his eyes so hard you can practically hear it. “Whatever.”
Time passes easier after that. Somewhere between your quiet chopping and his focused cooking, the chaos settles into something manageable. Comfortable, even.
A long moment later, dinner is ready. You stand there for a second, genuinely surprised at what the two of you could make out of a great teamwork. The steak… looks amazing. Perfectly seared, glossy, resting just right before he slices into it. The inside is cooked beautifully—tender, juicy, exactly how it should be. He plates it anyway, slicing it into thin pieces before setting it down on the table. You bring over the salad, placing it beside it like a quiet compromise.
You both sit and start distributing cutlery, filling the glasses with red wine. Once you’re settled, you look at him and smile. “Thank you for the food,” you genuinely say.
“Thank you for the food,” Hyunjin says back with a smile.
You reach for a slice first, bringing it to your mouth, not expecting much and your brows lift. Surprised by the taste that is out of your expectation. It’s good. No—it’s really good.
“It’s good,” you say it out loud on the third time.
Hyunjin is already watching you. His grin spreads instantly, cheeks already full as he chews. “I know.”
You roll your eyes but there’s a hint of a smile tugging at your lips. And because you can’t help yourself, you decide to tease. “The meat is already good. You didn’t do much, but add salt and pepper.”
One corner of his mouth quirks up in a sneer, small eyes narrowed. “You just can’t let me have it, can you?” he grumbles, stabbing at his food.
You laugh and can’t help but tease him more. You reach for the bowl of salad, placing a portion of it onto his plate. “Eat this,” you say sweetly.
Hyunjin pouts as he stares at it and then looks at you. Then, he stabs through it with his fork. Reluctantly, he shoves it into his mouth and chews.
You hide your smile behind your glass as you take a sip. “Ooo… you eat so well,” you coo with a smirk.
Dinner slows without either of you noticing when it happens. The plates sit half-forgotten, pushed slightly aside as the wine takes over, as the conversation stretches and bends into something lighter, easier. Hyunjin leans back in his chair, one arm slung over it, glass dangling lazily from his fingers as he shares funny episodes he had in the office.
“…and then he still said the font looked ‘too emotional,’” Hyunjin finishes, shaking his head in disbelief.
You let out a laugh, soft but genuine, bringing your glass to your lips. “What does that even mean?”
“I don’t know,” he scoffs, leaning forward now, animated. “Since when do fonts have emotions?”
“They kind of do,” you counter, playing along. “Some of them look… desperate.”
He huffs out a laugh, shaking his head, and launches into another story and you find yourself leaning in this time, listening, throwing in small comments, disbelief slipping into your tone without effort.
It’s easy being with Hyunjin. You don’t have to think about the feelings you had and wondering if you still have that feelings. There’s no reading between the lines. There’s no need for you to constantly tell yourself to stay focus, be professional. It’s just easy and comfortable.
Before you know it, the night is getting late and the two of you are clearly losing the main reason why the two of you are here for. You have another sip of wine before setting the glass aside. “Let’s talk about the test!”
Hyunjin looks up from his glass of wine and sets it down. “Yep, right,” he says, then a grin spreads across his face. “I was wondering when you’d bring it up.”
You straighten slightly in your seat, shifting gears, pulling yourself back into something more structured, more controlled. Also, because you have something to say and compromise. “I know that we’ve decided that we’ll test the hands-free couple vibrator tonight,” you begin.
“Yes,” Hyunjin responds is immediate, grin widening, like he can’t barely contain his excitement anymore.
“And properly test it,” you carefully continue, not wanting to let anything lost in translation. “I think we need a few more… preliminary practices.”
His grin falters just slightly. “Preliminary?” he echoes, brows lifting.
You nod, like this is purely logical. “I read the instruction manual on it and I learn that we need a full penetration to use the product to its main function.”
This time, Hyunjin’s grin drops into a taut smile. Like he’s finally aware of where this conversation is going and too afraid to make a comment. He lifts his wine glass instead, to have something to do.
“And you know, we’ve been struggling with it,” you continue.
He lifts his wine glass closer to his mouth, taking a sip.
You choose your words carefully for what you’re going to say next. “I think it’s better if we focus on deepening our penetration first.”
He chokes as the wine seems to go down the wrong pipe, and he coughs, turning slightly as he tries to recover, one hand braced on the table.
Noticing that a drop of wine dribbling down his chin, you hurriedly hand him your napkin. “Are you okay?” you ask, voice tinted in concern.
He holds up a hand, still coughing lightly. He wipes his mouth with the napkin and a while later, he finally manages, “You can continue.”
You almost laugh at how this fazes him more than usual. “It’s just a suggestion,” you say, softer now, giving him an out.
“No—I think, it’s—” he clears his throat, straightening slightly, trying to regain his usual composure. “It’s a good suggestion.”
You tilt your head slightly and watch him, trying to get a clue whether he’s serious or just get along with it.
He avoids your eyes for a second, glancing down at his glass instead. “So what’s your idea?”
You take your time answering. “I think we should test another product first.”
His gaze lifts back to yours, more focused now, curious. “And what product you have in mind?”
You don’t hesitate to answer this time. “The vibrating cock ring.”
This time, Hyunjin chokes on nothing. He manages to catch it as he coughs into his hand, shoulders shaking slightly.
There’s something strangely amusing about this. About how easily he loses his footing when you’re the one leading. You lean back and just watch him before adding, “I think it’ll help to deepen the penetration.”
He presses his lips together, clearly trying not to react, but you catch the way his ears redden just slightly, the way his grip tightens around his glass. “Right,” he mutters.
You lean forward just a bit and rest your elbow on the table. “What do you think?”
For once, he goes quiet. His eyes flicker to yours, then away, then back again, like he’s recalibrating, trying to figure out where he stands in this conversation now. “I think it’s a good idea,” he finally says.
You tilt your head, studying him. Then lean just a little closer. “Can we test the cock ring tonight?”
“Yes,” he says a little too fast. Then, more composed. “Yes. We can.”
You nod, like this is all perfectly normal. Like you didn’t just completely throw him off balance. You lift your glass, taking another slow sip and put it down. Then look at him again.
“Can we start now?”
Hyunjin coughs, splutters, nearly knocks his glass over before catching it just in time. “Now?” he echoes, voice rough.
You daringly hold his gaze. “Is there a better time?”
He stares at you for a second longer. A short, breathless laugh slipping out despite himself as he wipes his mouth again and says, “Yeah, we absolutely can… do it now.”
-
You step into the guest bedroom first, Hyunjin right behind you, and for a moment, neither of you say anything. The door clicks shut softly, and suddenly it’s just the two of you and the bed sitting there in the middle of the room like it’s part of the conversation. You both look at it and then at each other.
Hyunjin clears his throat lightly. “So… how do we start?” he asks, voice a little less certain than usual.
“We undress,” you answer without a beat.
He nods immediately, like that makes sense, like he’s been waiting for instruction. “Right,” he says, immediately turning around.
For a second, you just stare at his back. Then you step closer, lifting your hand, placing it gently on his shoulder. You wait until he slowly turns back to face you. “I was thinking…” you say, softer now, your hand still resting there, “maybe we can try your idea tonight.”
“What idea?” He carefully asks.
“To help each other undress.”
Surprise flickers across his face like he didn’t expect you to meet him there this time. “Okay,” he says, a little slower.
You turn facing each other and his eyes are instantly on you. You suddenly hesitate and you pull your hand back, reconsidering. “Actually… maybe we start simple.”
His brows lift slightly. “Okay?”
“We can undress while facing each other,” you clarify.
He nods. “That works too.”
Even so, neither of you moves at first. You take the initiative to be the first, your fingers find the first button of your blouse, slipping it free, then move to your skirt next. The quiet sound of fabric shifting fills the space between you.
Hyunjin follows as he hooks his fingers at the hem of his sweater and pulls it up, the motion slow and smooth. The fabric lifts, exposing the sleeveless white top he’s wearing underneath, revealing glimpses of skin, the subtle tension of muscle on his chest.
You don’t look away and don’t even try to. And neither does he. Piece by piece, layer by layer, the space between you changes. Less distance. Less barrier. Just skin, warmth, breath.
Your hands move slower now, aware that he’s watching and you watching him. There’s something almost careful about it, the way he moves. Not rushed. Not careless. Like he’s giving you time to see him.
You do see him. Your gaze drifts, unintentional but undeniable, tracing over him—his shoulders, the line of his chest, the way his body holds itself under your attention.
When you look back up, he’s already looking at you. The same way. His eyes linger, softer now, like he’s taking you in just as slowly, just as thoroughly.
For a moment, neither of you speaks. His lips part slightly like he’s about to say something.
But you step forward and close the distance. Your hand lifts again, sliding to the back of his neck, fingers curling lightly there as you guide him toward you and then you kiss him.
His reaction is immediate. Like something in him clicks into place. His hands find you quickly, instinctively, pulling you closer as the kiss deepens, as the space between your bodies disappears completely. Skin meets skin, warm and real and impossible to ignore.
Your chest presses to his and his breath catches just slightly against your lips. The heat builds. The closeness. The way your bodies start to move without thinking, fitting, adjusting, moulding against each other.
His hands slide to your waist, grip tightening just enough to ground you and you gasp into his mouth when your feet lifted off the floor. He guides you back, steps forward until the back of your legs meet the edge of the bed. Then, slowly, he lays you down onto the bed and he follows right after.
Barely a second passes with his body hovering over you, he’s pressing closer, his mouth finds yours again and this time deeper. Less careful. More certain. And for a moment, that’s all there is. His lips locked with yours, skin rubbing against skin and the growing heat that fills the space between you.
Your lips barely leave his before finding their way back again and again and again like you haven’t quite learned how to stop. Each kiss lands a little deeper, a little hungrier, his breath slipping into yours, your fingers curling into his shoulder just to steady yourself against the pull of him.
Somewhere in between, your hand drifts down the length of his body, fingers grazing the skin of his chest and lower, lower still until you find his hardening length, hot and firm against your palm, the tip brushing your thigh. Your fingers circle around the head before wrapping them around the girth. Your hand begins to slowly stroking him, letting the rhythm build naturally.
He exhales sharply into your mouth at the contact, his own hand slipping between your legs, mirroring you, fingers dipping into your wetness. His movements get gentler around your bundle of nerves, using just the tip of his fingers to rub on it. The heat building, spreading until it hums under your skin.
Another second, another breath, and you pull away just enough to speak, your lips still ghosting his. “I read that it has to be… fully erected,” you murmur so low it’s almost a whisper, almost thoughtful. “For the ring.”
Hyunjin is clearly a step behind, trying to piece together where your mind has gone while his is still somewhere lost in the feeling. “Right,” he says after a beat, nodding like he’s catching up, even if his expression still holds that slight confusion.
“Maybe I can help you with that,” you say.
Without giving him time to catch up, you shift beside him. You reach for the testing box, rummaging through various things before finding the one you’re looking for. When you return, he’s watching you with focused, curious eyes flicking between your face and what you’re holding. The edible lubricant.
“I’m going to put it on you,” you tell him.
He only nods and at this point, it seems like he’s submitting himself to you.
The cap flips open with a soft click. You pour a small amount, the clear liquid coated your fingers, the sweet scent of cherry is faint yet noticeable, and the coolness of it making you pause for half a second before you bring your hand back to him.
You glance up at him one last time as if to check if he’s still on board with this. But Hyunjin is too focused on your hand as it hovers close to his flushed cock. Cautiously, you land a gentle touch on it, spreading the lubricant along his thick, veiny shaft. You don’t rush, you let yourself feel it, learn it. The contrast of the heat, hardness of his cock with the cool, slick lubricant draws your focus in.
You glance up and find him watching your hand stroking his cock like he forgot how to breathe. “Is this okay?” you ask with a low, soft voice.
His Adam’s apple bobs in his throat as he swallows, nodding quickly. “Yeah… it’s—yeah.”
So you continue. Your fingers move with a little more confidence now, tracing, circling, learning the way he reacts—the slight shifts in his breath, the way his shoulders tense and relax beneath your touch. It’s… interesting. Fascinating, even. Not just what you’re doing, but how it affects him.
Curiosity creeps in before you can stop it. You look up again, catching his gaze. “I don’t think I’m… good at giving oral but… I want to try,” you thoughtfully say.
That throws him off completely. He just stares at you, lips parted, like he’s not sure if he heard you right.
“Would you let me try?” you ask again, a little more hopeful than you intended.
It takes him a good minute to finally nod, giving you the permission.
With that, you shift closer, tucking your legs beneath you, one hand brushing your hair aside so it doesn’t fall forward and pin it there on your shoulder. For a second, you just look at it, Hyunjin’s length. For a second, you’re in disbelief that you’ve taken him. Not fully, but still… it surprises you that this big, swollen thing had been inside you.
You’ve never been confident in giving oral but this time, you’re willing to learn. You wet your lips first and then lean in. The first contact is his tip pressing against your slightly parted mouth, tongue slightly darting out to place a kitten lick. You can taste him then. From the precum leaking through the little slit. There’s a strange metallic taste to it and a hint of saltiness, mixed with the cherry flavored lubricant.
You tilt your head to the side. You put your tongue out a little more and you land a long stripe of lick, from the base to the tip of his cock. You lick him repeatedly, enough times for you to memorize the trail of vein coiling his length. You drop your head to the other side to do the same. More licks, collecting more of Hyunjin’s taste and the cherry lubricant. In between, you look up to see the way he reacts, to the subtle shifts in his breathing, to the way his body tightens and loosens under you.
You pull back just slightly, drawing in a breath to try something new. You hand wrapped firmly around the base, aligning it with your mouth and then slowly, taking him in. Just an inch or more. It slides easily into your wet mouth and you decide to begin stimulating him, gently sucking on the sensitive flesh that feels hot in your mouth.
After a moment, you dare to him a little bit more. Another inch goes into you. And another. Then you continue with the stimulations. He’s only halfway into your mouth when you feel it hitting the back of your throat and you quickly stop yourself, pulling away with a small, almost sheepish exhale.
“I can only take as much,” you shyly say with mouth wet with a mix of your saliva and lubricant.
He looks like he’s still catching up to reality, eyes fluttering, breathing a little unevenly. “That’s—” he clears his throat softly, “that’s okay.”
You sit back up, wiping your mouth as best as you can and realize that he’s more than ready for next. You look at him, breathing a little unsteady and then ask, “Can I put the condom on for you?”
You don’t wait for him to answer right away—you’re already reaching for the small foil packet sitting among the items inside the testing box. It crinkles softly between your fingers, loud in the quiet room, louder than your own heartbeat that’s picked up somewhere along the way.
You can feel his eyes on you without even looking up, in the way your skin prickles under his attention. You slowly tear the packet open, remembering his note about being careful with the thin material. When you glance up, he’s still staring, lips slightly parted, chest rising a little heavier than before.
“Relax,” you murmur, softer than you expect yourself to be.
It’s almost funny how the roles blur so easily. How he, who usually carries that careless confidence like a second skin, now looks like he’s the one trying to catch up.
You shift closer on your knees, the mattress dipping under your weight. You wrapped your fingers around him again, guiding, aligning—your touch more certain now that you know what you’re doing, or at least pretending well enough.
“Just… stay still,” you add, a hint of a smile tugging at your lips.
He lets out a quiet breath that almost sounds like a laugh of disbelief, but he obeys.
Carefully, you roll the rubber down his length, your fingers smoothing it down inch by inch, making sure it sits right. You remember the instructions, the little details, and you follow them even though your pulse says otherwise. Surprisingly, your hands don’t shake despite the way he’s watching you with unwavering, attentive eyes.
When you’re done, your fingers linger for just a second longer than necessary, adjusting, pressing lightly as if to confirm it’s secure—though the real reason feels like something else entirely. You look up again and his expression has changed. Still soft, still a little dazed, but there’s something darker threading through it now. Something urgent. Hungrier.
Suddenly, you’re aware of where you are. Of what you’re doing. Of how close he is. You shift back slightly, giving yourself just enough space to breathe, though your eyes don’t leave his.
“That’s… done,” you mutter.
Hyunjin lets out a slow exhale, dragging a hand through his hair, pushing it back as if trying to ground himself. It doesn’t quite work. “Well done,” he playfully says with a smile tugging at his lips.
Before you forgot about it, you reach for the bottle of lubricant again and pour a little more onto your fingers. The cool sensation of it barely registers this time as you return your attention to him, smoothing it over his length, making sure everything is… prepared.
Once you’re done, you reach for the cock ring. You squeeze some lubricant around the inner ring before guiding it into place. You never had any experience with the product before so you rely on instruction you’ve read, sliding it down his length and then adjusting it to his girth, making sure it sits right.
When it finally settles at the base, you tilt your head to the side and then the other, studying it like you’re checking your work. “Is it too tight? Or too loose?” you ask, glancing up at him.
There’s no answer but his lips curve into a sly smile. “You’re really serious about this, huh?”
Your brows knit slightly, missing the tease at first. “I read that it’s important that it fits perfectly. Otherwise, it won’t—”
A soft chuckle cuts you off. Hyunjin shaking his head a little as he says. “I’m messing with you. It fits. Just right.”
You nod, taking that in, but you don’t move on just yet. “How does it feel?”
He shifts slightly, like he’s actually considering it now. “It’s… good. Not too tight. Doesn’t feel restrictive.” Then, after a second, “The part underneath though… the motor—it’s a bit bulky.”
“Oh—wait.” You gasp, remembering something. You reach for your phone, unlocking it quickly. “It’s connected to app I downloaded earlier.”
His head whips to your direction. “You connected it to your phone?”
You glance at him briefly, almost defensive. “I was just checking how it works. I didn’t mean to, I just… ended up downloading it.”
Another quiet laugh leaves him, softer this time. “That’s kind of hot.”
You’re slowly looking up. “What is?”
He tilts his head slightly, eyes still on you. “You. Taking control like this.”
You ignore that on purpose and focus back on your phone. “I’m going to test the connection. And start with level one.”
You tap the screen, moving the toggle on vibration to level one as mentioned. Your finger slips and accidentally moves the toggle straight to level 8.
Hyunjin jolts, his whole body tensing as he inhales through his teeth.
“Oh—shoot—wait—” You scramble to adjust it, dragging the level back down quickly. “Sorry—sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
The vibration settles and silence follows for a second.
Then he exhales, long and slow, dragging a hand through his hair. “Oh… That’s something,” he breathes out.
“At least, now we know it works,” you sheepishly say, turning it off completely after that, just to be safe.
He lets out a quiet huff of amusement, shaking his head before looking back at you. “So… how are we actually testing this?”
You hesitate for half a second and answer like you’ve already thought it through. “We go through each level. And… test it during penetration too.”
You pretend not to notice the way his lips twitch at your choice of words and add, “And, I reckon it might be easier if I… get on top this time.”
Outside, Hyunjin seems unfazed by it. But you notice — you notice the way he straightens slightly, the way his gaze lingers on you a second longer than before.
“So you know… I can control the depth,” you carefully add.
There’s a brief pause. Then he clears his throat, looking away for a split second before nodding. “…Yeah. That—sounds like a good plan.”
When his eyes come back to you, there’s something different in them now. Anticipation.
Somehow, that encourages you to keep going. You slowly shift over him until you’re straddling him, your knees sinking into the mattress on either side of his hips.
He leans back slightly, one hand braced behind him, the other hovering like he’s not sure where to touch without breaking whatever this is between you. His eyes stay on you as he asks, “Ready?”
You nod, even if your heartbeat says otherwise. “I think it’ll be easier with the lubricant,” you murmur, more to steady yourself than anything.
He studies you for a second and then nods, trusting you on this.
You take a breath and then slowly, you ease yourself down. The stretch makes you pause almost immediately, your fingers tightening around his shoulders as you lower yourself inch by inch. It’s not the first time you do this, but in a way, it feels like it. It still demands your patience.
You let your body adjust, let yourself settle until you’ve taken as much as you comfortably can, and then you stop. You glance down to see that you’ve taken half of his size now but it feels like you’re taking more than that.
Hyunjin lets out a shaky exhale. His grip finds your waist like he needs something to hold onto. “Give it a second,” he murmurs, almost more to himself than to you.
You nod, eyes fluttering shut for a moment as you steady your breathing, adjusting to the fullness, to the closeness, to him. It’s a lot. For both of you.
When you open your eyes again, you reach for your phone, fingers a little slower now. “We’ll start with level one,” you say.
He nods and a second later, the faintest hum starts, barely audible, but you feel it. Not just at the base of his cock where the ring settled, but deep inside you, a soft buzz that makes you sharply inhale air.
Now that the product is functioning, you have to do your part as well. You begin moving your hips, pulsating it just lightly, just enough to send him slipping in and out of you. Your hands stay on his shoulders, using him for balance as you control your movement, careful not to push too far too fast. You can feel the weight of his gaze, the way his hand tightens just a fraction at your waist.
When you look down, you find him looking up at you, eyes staring straight into yours. “Slowly…” he lowly murmurs.
You take it as a reminder not to haste on it, no matter how good he feels inside you, how his size gives you that delicious fullness feeling. You let yourself revel on it for a moment, until you remember why you’re holding the phone.
“I think we can take it up to the next level,” your voice sounds small against the heat, the tension in the room.
He nods. His voice rough when he adds, “Let’s do level three.”
You slide the control up to level three like he asked. The change is immediate—still not overwhelming, but stronger, deeper. The buzzing sensation spreads, builds, settles into something that makes your movements falter for a second before you find your rhythm again.
This time, you let yourself take a little more. Not all at once. Just enough to make you grip his shoulders tighter, nails digging into the flesh. Your body leans forward instinctively, closing the distance between you, your hands sliding from his shoulders to brace against him.
When you look at him, his eyes are already on you. Focused yet darker now. “I think… we can do level five now.”
Your fingers fumble slightly as you reach for your phone again, your vision just a little unfocused now. You manage to slide it up to level five as suggested.
The vibration intensifies. The buzzing sensation grows deeper. Like it’s coming from within you instead of the ring. A soft gasp escapes you as the pleasure pulls through you, making your movements less controlled, more instinctive. Your head dips forward, finding the curve of his neck without thinking.
Hyunjin uses the chance to plant his mouth there, placing hot, open-mouthed kisses on your neck, on the column of your throat, your jaw and eventually, your lips. There’s nothing careful about the kiss, it’s raw and consuming.
“You okay?” he roughly murmurs after breaking the kiss.
It sneaks up on you. The pleasure that slowly builds inside you is now on the verge of bursting out of you. You can barely get the word out, but you try anyway. “I think I—” A breathless moan caught in your throat. “I think I’m about to come.”
He doesn’t let you finish. Instead, he closes the distance, cutting off your words with a deep, hard kiss that steals the air out of your lungs. When he pulls back, it’s only just enough for you to breathe. “Then don’t stop. Just… let it happen,” he breathlessly mutters.
With that, your movements lose their careful edge, turning into something more natural, more urgent—guided by feeling rather than thought. The pleasure builds too quickly, in such urgency until your body stutters, tension snapping through you all at once, leaving you breathless, weightless, unraveling right there in his arms. Your grip loosens and your body follows next, folding into him. It feels less like a fall, more like letting go.
You barely register the moment the vibration stops but feel the way Hyunjin’s arms come around you, tight and steady. Like he’s holding you together while you come undone. Then he moves you gently, guiding you down onto the mattress until you’re lying back. He stays hovering above you, patiently waiting as you’re relishing your orgasm and then letting you gather your senses.
Time stretches for you don’t know how long. You feel his warm breath brushes your lips as he playfully, lightly nudges your nose with his. “You good now?” he murmurs.
There’s no way you’re saying it out loud so you nod.
His lips curve at that like he’s already expected that answer. He slightly tilts his head to the side, angling it just right before lowering his mouth on you.
You feel good knowing that you can properly return his kisses now. Your hand drifts up without thinking, resting against his chest before letting it roam around, feel the taut muscles on his chest and lower to his abdomen. As he deepens the kiss, your hand drifts lower and that’s when you feel that he’s still rock hard.
It slips out of you before you can stop it. “You’re still… hard.”
He lets out a soft laugh against your lips. “Isn’t that the point of a cock ring?”
Right. Of course it is. Your face heats from the late realization. You look away, suddenly very interested in literally anything else, but a thought lingers, rather stubbornly. “Since we’re aiming to… deepen the penetration,” you say, a little too carefully.
“Mm,” he hums, amusement laced in his smile.
“I think we should continue the test.”
“Uh-huh.”
You still don’t look at him. Then add, almost as an afterthought, “Only if you want to, of course.”
Hyunjin doesn’t answer but his arm moves, reaching for something on the bed. Then he leans in, lips hovering as he seductively murmurs, “As long as you’re the one controlling it.”
He pressed your phone back into your hand and just like that, you’re reminded that this is still part of the test. Even if it doesn’t feel like it anymore. You nod, fingers curling around the device as you close your eyes for a brief moment, resetting the motive in your head.
He leans in, presses a brief kiss to your lips and then pulls back to settle himself between your legs. He doesn’t rush but patiently goes through the process again. The blunt tip of him rubbing between your slick folds, smearing your essence all over, using it as a lubricant to enter you once more.
When the crease returning between his brows, your brace yourself. You open your legs wider as he aligns his length to your entrance. Thanks to the previous session, he can penetrate you easier now. Yet, he chooses to do it slowly, carefully. Soon, you feel the gradual closeness, the way he eases forward, stopping when he thinks it’s enough, like he’s waiting for your body to say yes before going any further.
For a second, his eyes are locked to where your bodies connected. He looks rather mesmerizes by how much of him disappeared into you, how tightly you wrapped around him and of course, the feeling enveloping every inch of his cock.
A groan about to falls out of his mouth but he quickly presses his lips together. When he opens his eyes, he looks at you and mutters, “I think we can start at five.”
You understand the request right away. You lift your phone, fingers slightly unsteady as you slide the control. The mechanical hum cuts through the silence in the room. The vibration catching you off guard all over again.
A low, unrestrained sound slips from his parted mouth and it does nothing to help you stay composed. If anything, it arouses you more. His hands find your hips, grounding, steadying him to finally start moving.
His thrusts are slow, measured. Not willing to lose it too fast despite the pleasure that overwhelms him at once. It doesn’t take long for him to lean down once more, closing the space between you. The kisses he places on your open mouth are messier, sloppier like he’s losing patience with the distance.
When he pulls away, it’s only to murmur, “Let’s take it up a notch.”
You don’t need him to explain. Your thumb moves on its own, setting the vibration level higher to eight. The shift makes him falter for half a second, a strained groan escaping his gritted teeth before he finds his rhythm again. Harder, almost relentless.
You feel it building again, faster this time, your body responding before your mind can catch up. Your legs lift instinctively, wrapping around him, drawing him closer, deeper.
The groan escapes his mouth is rough, his grip tightening as he adjusts, following the new angle. And suddenly, it’s not just the vibration, the buzzing sensation—it’s the closeness. Heat. Pressure. Everything layered on top of each other until it feels like too much.
Your hand fumbles for your phone and through the haze it all, you manage to press the off button on the app. The moment the vibration cuts out, everything stills.
He stops immediately. Like it’s an alarm for him to check on you. “Okay?” he asks and it seems to be the only word he can compute at the moment.
You shake your head quickly, tightening your arms around him, holding him close until he’s flushed against you. “No. Don’t stop,” you breathlessly mutter in urgency.
Hyunjin doesn’t ask further but obeys you. He continues thrusting, slower but not less intense. The absence of vibration somehow makes it more intimate, like you can feel each other better. Tangible, almost. Overwhelmed, he drops his head until his forehead resting against yours.
When you open your eyes, they immediately locked in a gaze with him and you can see everything in the brown of his eyes. The restraint, the pleasure, the push and pull in between them. Also, in the way he looks into your eyes, like you’re something fragile but at the same time, the need to ruin you. The more you move, the longer you maintain the eye contact with it, the more you feel like this is not just a test. These are two bodies learning, adapting with each other, moving in unison. Bonding. Becoming one.
“I can feel you… deeper,” you say with a quivering voice. But you don’t tell him that it’s not just physically.
The change in his expression is subtle, but you see it. Then he leans down again to kiss you and this time, something feels different. Like something unspoken is threading itself between you.
Your fingers tighten around your phone again and with your half-lidded eyes, you move the toggle all the way up, to the highest setting. Ten.
The maximum vibration hits both of you at once—strong, overwhelming, impossible to ignore—and whatever control either of you had left dissolves almost instantly. His movements lose their careful edge and yours follow not long after.
And suddenly, you’re not testing anything. You’re just… chasing that high. Together. Until it crests again. Faster, stronger, harder to hold. And when it finally breaks, it pulls you both under completely.
-
You lie there for a moment, completely still, your body heavy against the mattress, breath coming in uneven pulls as everything slowly settles. The moment you gather the slightest of senses, your hand fumbles for your phone, fingers clumsily tap the screen and shut the app off completely.
The silence follows but it’s content. With everything that has been done and left unsaid. You turn your head slightly, finding Hyunjin lying beside you, stretched out on his back, chest rising and falling in deep, steady breaths. There’s a faint sheen on his skin, his hair a mess, lips parted and there’s this satisfied curve to his mouth that makes something in your chest tighten.
Neither of you says anything for a while.
Then he exhales and pushes himself up with a soft groan. He moves with that same ease as he takes the cock ring first. You lift your head just enough to watch him as he works on removing the condom next. You swallow air at the sight of his seed filling, weighing the end of the condom. And honestly, you’re in slight shock of how much he’s unloaded.
You drop your head back on your pillow, still in daze and also in awe while Hyunjin moves, slipping off toward the bathroom without a word. You pull the duvet up over yourself, curling slightly into it, letting the warmth settle around you as you close your eyes.
Unlike before, you allow yourself time to breathe, to gather yourself because that was… You exhale slowly, pressing your lips together.
Beyond. Beyond anything you’ve ever experienced with someone.
Of course, your mind doesn’t let you drift elsewhere and tries to file it under something logical—testing, evaluation, data—but it doesn’t quite stick.
The bathroom door opens again and Hyunjin rejoins you, settling back beside you with a quiet sigh, one arm flung over his eyes like he’s blocking out the world for a second.
Silence stretches again and then—
“A thousand out of ten.”
It comes out of nowhere.
You snort, turning your head toward him despite yourself. “Are you giving your review right now?”
He nods without moving his arm. “Mm.”
You shift slightly, propping yourself up just enough to look at him. “That for comfort or stimulation rating?”
“Stimulation.”
You huff out a small laugh. “And for comfort rating?”
“Ten.”
You nod, like you’re actually logging it somewhere official, even if your voice gives you away. “Alright… noted.”
He lowers his arm then, glancing at you, curiosity and amusement flickering in his eyes.
You filled the evaluation form enough to memorize the questions and decide play along with it, chuckling as you move to the next one. “Describe your experience with the product.”
He runs a hand through his already messy hair, thinking thoughtfully, which makes it somehow funnier. “I like that it’s adjustable. But I like it more that it has enough level of vibration.”
You nod along, agreeing with him while also taking mental notes. “Right. The intensity range is good.”
He glances at you again, a faint, satisfied smile tugging at his lips. “Using the lubricant was a smart move.”
“I know,” you respond with an approving smile.
“And I like that it really does help maintaining hardness and with the duration of the uh…” Hyunjin’s words trail off, slightly flustered to continue talking.
You hum in agreement, saving him form finishing the sentence. Then, turning your head toward him again, you ask, “Any additional feedback?”
He doesn’t hesitate this time. “I mentioned it before. The motor’s a bit bulky.”
“Fair.”
Then he adds, almost lazily, “Still worth it though.”
You smile faintly at that and before you can even ask the next question, he beats you to it—
“Yes, I’d buy it. And recommend it.”
You laugh under your breath, shaking your head slightly. “Didn’t even ask yet.”
“Saving you time,” he mutters followed with a smug smile.
You roll your eyes, but there’s no bite to it. Then, after a second, you glance at him again. “Final comment?”
He turns his head this time, properly meeting your eyes. That same smirk from earlier creeps back. And then, without a hint of hesitation, he says, “Fucking amazing.”
Maybe it’s just you and how everything has just unfolded between the two of you, but the way he looks at you and with the way he says it makes it sound like it’s not just about the product anymore.
-
Product Evaluation Submission Participant Product Testing Program Product Name: Dynatos – Vibrating C Ring. Product Code: D-V-CR-419 Participant 1 ID: P-260319 Participant 2 ID: P-260320 Date of Evaluation: Saturday, April 4. 1. Rate Comfort (1–10) Participant 1: 10 Participant 2: 10 2. Rate Stimulation Intensity (1–10) Participant 1: 10 Participant 2: 10 3. Describe Your Experience Using the Product The product fits securely without causing discomfort or excessive constriction. The adjustable nature allows it to accommodate different sizes while maintaining stability throughout use. The wide range of vibration levels provides flexibility and the intensity scales appropriately. Higher levels deliver strong, noticeable stimulation for both partners. The accompanying app integration functions effectively, with responsive controls that allow real-time adjustments. 4. Additional Feedback Motor casing slightly bulky — could be refined for better ergonomics Adding lubricant significantly enhances overall performance Highly effective for enhancing shared stimulation 5. Are you satisfied with the product? (Rate 1-10) Participant 1: 10 Participant 2: 10 6. Would You Buy This Product? (Rate 1-10) Participant 1: 9 Participant 2: 10 7. Would You Recommend This Product To Others? (Rate 1-10) Participant 1: 10 Participant 2: 10 Final Comment The overall experience with the vibrating cock ring was highly satisfactory, exceeding expectations in both performance and user experience. From initial application to extended use, the product demonstrated strong reliability, adaptability, and effectiveness in enhancing shared stimulation between partners. Submission Status: ✔ Successfully Submitted
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✨ COCKY: CHAPTER FOUR is available on Patreon✨
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