(cw: pregnant!reader, nausea and mentions of throwing up)
Pregnancy had not been kind to you. You were tired all the time, and no amount of sleep you got was ever enough. You cramped horrendously, the sharp pains even you rousing you from your sleep or leaving a dreaded phantom throbbing feeling in the pit of your stomach. And gee, when you weren't sleeping or hunched over in pain, you were constantly peeing. Even when your water intake was low, you were constantly scurrying to the bathroom to empty your bladder.
Thankfully, you had no morning sickness. At least that's what you thought for the first five weeks you'd known about your pregnancy. Now, freshly into week 9 of 40 weeks of pregnancy, some sort or nausea had hit. You had an aversion to things, scents specifically, you'd never thought twice about before.
You'd had to throw out your body wash for being too minty, change your laundry detergent for being too sweet, and open up all the windows when you cooked eggs. Through lots of calculated breathing through your mouth and countless ginger candies, you managed. There was no other option.
Jeno had been great through it all. He went through the changes in recipes and soaps without complaint. He gave you massages when you cramped and kept your ginger candies stocked up. These were all changes that were fixed easily and you really hoped that the last few weeks of your first trimester would be smoother sailing.
You were laid out on the couch, snacking on grapes while you watched TV. Just the thought of standing up to do anything made you feel sick. In the midst of an emergency in the medical drama you were watching, the front door opened and in waltzed in the love of your life fresh from the gym.
"Hello, my love," he greeted, bending over the back of the couch to press a kiss to your temple.
You accepted it gratefully, humming lovingly before freezing. Usually, you love it when Jeno comes home from the gym. His muscles are bigger, his adrenaline was pumping, gee, if you wanted to know how you ended up in the first place...
Today, was out of the usual. Instead of enjoying his manly musk, your stomach lurched. You jumped away from him as you sat up, "oh my god. You have to get away from me."
"Huh?" He mumbles out, stepping around the couch to get a better look at you, "are you feeling alright? You didn't make eggs again, did you?"
Instead of answering, you cup one hand over your mouth with another clutches at your stomach while you race down the familiar path to the bathroom.
Your hands grip the sides of the ceramic toilet bowl until your bones hurt, but you can hardly focus on the pain as you empty out the contents of your stomach.
"Is this like afternoon sickness? Does it still count as morning?" Jeno asks, no doubt trying to keep your mind off being sick with his stupid question as he holds your hair back.
You breath heavily in the short reprieve of emptying your stomach, "don't be cute, right now!"
He rubs a hand on your back, grimacing as your retching echoes through the small bathroom, "I'm sorry, my love. I wonder what we need to change this time."
You pant, shakily reaching up to flush the toilet while resting your forehead against the cool side of the toilet bowl. "It's you," you say while slowly turning your head to glare at your husband, "you smell like a lawnmower and a wet dog from a junkyard had a baby."
Jeno's mouth opens and closes with confusion before his brows furrow as he replies, "I thought you liked how I smelled after the gym."
You catch another whiff and curl forward again with a loud gag and tears in your eyes, "your spawn doesn't!"
Jeno knows better than to let you hear him laugh, so he covers his mouth with the palm of his hand before the sound can escape. You heave into the bowl, spitting out a mouthful of saliva before fixing him with another, much colder glare, "don't talk to me again until you smell like you know basic hygiene practices."
He nods his head silently, backing out of the room quickly. The sound of your voice yelling, "wash twice and use deodorant!" just make him smile even brighter. He's so in love with you.
summary: A sizzling summer of sexy singles and the search for love awaits you in Fiji! You’re nervous, excited, and— confused? Why is your ex-boyfriend’s best friend, Jaehyun, here? And why are you starting to second guess your rekindled friendship?
word count: 3.2k
a/n: this is just the beginning of this little storylne! In case you wonder what villa layout I'm using, I'm going based on the USA villa (#brinity4ever) Enjoy and if you want to get a read on the rest of 127's time in the villa, check it out here!
dividers from diviniyae and robinavitchslut
"Hello, Islanders! I heard there was a party going on!" You shout, lifting a bottle of champagne with a loud whoop.
This is it, the moment you never thought would come. Countless months of interviewing and emails with producers, weeks of being locked up in a hotel room, and a history of bad boyfriends have led you to this moment. An opportunity that not many can say they've had, but now you can.
The table surrounded by your now fellow islanders goes from frozen looks of shock to loud cheers, making you smile as you begin your stride toward the table. The nerves you felt just a few minutes ago have thankfully turned into excitement and confidence. And why not? You feel more beautiful than you ever have before, dressed to the nines and done up like a model as you strut toward the approaching group.
There's too many people that greet you in quick succession for you to get a good look at everyone's faces or to fully catch any names. Somewhere in the hurried introduction, a name and a flash of a familiar face catches a memory in the back of your mind. You don't get a chance to focus on it as the next person approaches you with a hug and a smile. Luckily, you're soon sitting around the fire pit with a cold flute of champagne in your hand and a clear view of everyone's face from your seat on the far edge of the sofa.
You're mindful of your body language, exuding confidence with perfect posture, a bright smile, and casual tosses of your hair over your shoulder while everyone goes down the line to introduce themselves.
You lift you glass to your lips just as the last guy sits forward and immediately you choke, curling forward as you croak out, "Jaehyun?!"
"Do you two know each other?" One of the girls, Bella, you learned her name was, asks, her head swiveling between the two of you.
You nod, clearing your throat, "he's best friends with my ex."
"Was," Jaehyun quickly corrects, cheeks rosy, "we're not friends anymore."
One of the guys, Sam, speaks up, "whoa, what happened there?"
"Jaehyun was the one that told me I got cheated on," you reply, hoping it comes off as nonchalant and not hurt. Lord knows your ex has done enough damage to your self-esteem, you don't need his mess to affect you in the villa too.
Murmurs erupt around the group, a mix of surprise and consolation. You shrug it off, answering questions that the islanders toss your way. You go through the usual spiel of your age, job, where you're from, last relationship, and length of said relationship.
"Wait, what's your type?" One of the guys, Leo, asks.
You hum thoughtfully, "I don't really have a type physically. I think I prefer a guy who is silly and makes me laugh, kind, good values, loyal, a gentleman, and respectful. In any sort of connection I just prefer to build a friendship before focusing on the romantic aspect."
Another guy, Ben, smacks Jaehyun on the back with a smirk, "you have an in, dude!"
You're quick to dispute any romantic interest in Jaehyun before the girls pull you for a chat. The girls break down the current couples of the house but reassure you that no one is closed off quite yet. Everyone is still feeling each other out and obviously the partnerships were based on initial physical attraction, though some girls seem more eager to close things off than others.
You all chat for a while, giving each other your worst date stories before you hear a throat clear behind you. "I was sent to call you over for your boys chat," Jaehyun states awkwardly as he tucks his hands into his pockets.
You laugh softly, taking his extended hand as you step down from the platform and bid the girls goodbye. "Funny seeing you here," you tease with a gentle nudge of your elbow.
"Of all the places on earth," Jaehyun chuckles in agreement.
The conversation with the guys goes almost identically to you conversation with the girls, but it's so obvious that some of the guys are laying the flirtation on thick. One day in the villa and they're already thirsting for the next piece of meat on legs. You wonder if they're actually here to find love or have fun. Despite that, you accept all their compliments, absorb all the information they're giving you, and even let Tony give you a tour of the villa.
Tony is nice, handsome and definitely confident. He walks you through the villa, showing you through each area. "And here we have the bedroom," he tells you with a dramatic wave of his hand, "this is mine and Mei's bed, but it can be you and I's if you play your cards right."
Somewhere on the tour of the second floor, one of the couples, Sam and Luna, join you before you all end up on the last stop, the kitchen. You're not sure how much time has passed, but you're both exhausted and happy to snack on chips while you make conversation with everyone around you.
When bedtime is finally called, you're grateful to be in a fresh room, clean faced, and in a soft bed. You settle beneath the covers and sigh happily. The first day is done, you survived and everyone seems nice. The apprehension you felt just a few hours ago is long gone, and you're relieved to have been welcomed warmly.
Over the course of the next couple days, you make your way around the villa, getting a feel of every guy, well, almost every guy. You're polite with Jaehyun but also hyper aware of how odd the situation is. You never felt romantic feelings for him when you hung out before coming on the show, so why would those feelings be there now? He was handsome, sure, that was undeniable, but why put forth effort for something you already know isn't there?
You've spent most of your few days in the villa getting to know the rest of the guys, feeling out potential vibes and connections. No one has fully blown you away, but you know you're looking to build a solid foundation of friendship before diving headfirst into romance.
Tony almost immediately took himself out of the running with his joke on night one and the fact that he is hardly subtle about keeping his gaze on your face and not your chest when he pulls you for conversations. The other girls have shared their same experiences, so it's pretty clear Tony is just there for a summer of exploring rather than actual love. He also seems incapable of talking about anything but his gym routine, his meal prepping, and his muscles. Conversations with him never seem short enough.
Thankfully, the other conversations go semi-better. Sam manages to sneak Luna into every conversation you two have which makes you melt. In the course of the week, you find yourself even giving him advice on how to woo Luna, you already love them together so you won't be stepping on any toes there. Ben is also nice, he's funny, but tells you after just a couple conversations that he's not feeling any romantic chemistry with you. You can't fault him for his feelings and you appreciate his honesty. All signs lead you back to Leo.
Leo has been nice. You both have a decent amount in common and he's very keen to get to know you, constantly pulling you for chats that always end with you clutching your stomach with laughter. As fun as the conversation are though, nothing clicks right away. There have been no sparks, but you force that self-sabotaging voice to shut up. Your journey will have to take some time, especially since you want to build a friendship first. You just have to take it all day by day.
At the end of the first week, in the middle of your conversation with Leo, your phone dings loudly. "I got a text!" You shout, jumping to stand up on the couch, "Islanders, tonight there will a recoupling, boy's choice. As bombshell, I will get the opportunity to have first pick of the boys."
The boys cheer excitedly and the girls eye each other nervously. You dance excitedly on the bench, stopping only when you hear a snort of laughter from the kitchen. You stop, a playful glare focused on Jaehyun, "I get first choice, Jae. If I were you, I'd be flirting my ass off instead of laughing at someone else's happiness."
"I'm not laughing at your happiness," he rolls his eyes playfully, "I'm laughing at those horrible dance moves."
Your jaw drops in mock offense as he shuffles away to a lounger to chat with his partner, Maya. You bid Leo goodbye as you seek out his current partner Jade to let her know where your head is at. You don't want it to be a shock to her and you certainly don't want to let your decision ruin the friendships you're already forming.
"You have nothing to worry about," Jade reassures you with a tight embrace, "I know you're not in the best spot, coming in as a bombshell and having to steal a guy. I really appreciate you letting me know though."
You let out a long exhale, slumping back against the swing seat while wiping fake sweat from your brow, "you're the best. Seriously."
Just a few hours later, when the sun has set and the cool sea breeze has begun to blow, Ariana, the host, struts toward the fire pit where you're all waiting anxiously. She smiles at you all making small talk about your experiences so far before she instructs the rest of the girls to stand in front of the fire pit and calls your name, "as the bombshell, the first choice of the first recoupling is yours. Who would you like to couple up with?"
You exhale softly, wringing your hands together as you stare ahead nervously over the flames of the fire, "I want to couple up with this person, because he's been super nice and we have good conversations. It's early days, but I think we're on the right track to building what could be a great relationship."
"So the guy I would like to couple up with is…" you pause, "Leo."
Leo beams as the islanders around you clap and cheer. He keeps an arm around you as the rest of the villa goes through the recoupling. You're hardly able to focus as your heart returns to it's normal heart rate after the anxiety of making a speech and choosing your first partner.
"Jade, as the only girl not in a couple, you are now single and vulnerable," Ariana recites, making your stomach lurch with guilt, "but you're journey isn't over yet. Get your flirt on, make some connections, and I'll see you all soon."
The tension lifts at Ariana's words immediately. You give a casual pat to Leo's thigh before crossing the deck to hug Jade and apologize once more for leaving her single. She waves you off, jokingly telling you that now she has the upper hand to get first dibs on the next bombshell to enter.
The next day, you find yourself refilling your water bottle when someone clears their throat harshly behind you. You jump at the startling sound and turn to find Jaehyun standing there with an amused smirk, "can I pull you?"
You nod, taking a sip of water before following him up the stairs to a sunken daybed that's been named with neon lights, 'Soul Ties', "don't make a habit of scaring me as your greeting."
He holds out a hand to help you down the steps before you settle into the pillows with a hum, ignoring the unexpected spark of warmth at his touch. Jaehyun extends his arms on the edge of the bed, stretching his legs out before he turns his gaze to you, "so I noticed you've been avoiding me."
You cough, cheeks hot at his bluntness, "I would hardly call it avoiding. I'm being polite, getting to know everyone, taking advantage of getting to know new people and all that."
"You've had a conversation with every guy but me since you got here. Hell, you're even talking to Tony more than me and I know he doesn't make eye contact. Yeah, you have been polite, but you've been super…" he trails off.
"Charming, beautiful, and amazing?" You offer with a smile.
"Awkward." He corrects with a straight face, "Look, I know the last time we saw each other wasn't the best time, but we were friends. We can still be friendly here. I don't want you to feel awkward around me or feel like you have to avoid me because I was the cause of your last relationship ending."
"No way!" You quickly interrupt, reaching out to place a comforting hand over his own, "my last relationship ended because of his shitty actions. You were the messenger of the unfortunate news but I don't fault you for anything. You were incredibly brave and kind to tell me that. I'm really sorry I've been weird around you. I don't want to ruin your experience here or make you feel like you can't talk to me either. You're right, we can be friends again. It's actually really nice to have someone from home here."
"It is nice," he agrees with a soft smile before letting out an exhale of relief, "How's your mom?"
Your brows furrow in confusion as you reel back, "you remember my mom? When did you guys even meet?"
"One time I had to drop you off at home when you got too drunk. You told me your parents' place was closer so I took you there. Nice lady," he explains simply. From there, it's easy to get lost in conversation. You both reminisce on your time before the villa before any drama even went down for hours, hardly even noticing the sun slowly sinking on the horizon.
In the midst of your laughter, a pair of slapping sandals draws your attention toward Maya, Jaehyun's partner who stands with her arms crossed and a smile that looks sweet at first, but the longer you look up at her, the more irritation you see. "You guys have been up here all day! I almost forgot you recoupled with Leo last night," she laughs brittly.
Jaehyun clears his throat as he stands, holding his hand out to help you up, but Maya's gaze burns, so you instead get up by yourself. "We were just catching up, we're old friends, remember?" he attempts to ease the tension.
"Right, friends. Glad to see two friends getting close. Let's go, Jae," Maya instructs, wrapping a hand around his wrist to drag him off before you can even get another word in.
The tension Maya brought with her makes your hair raise and want to get away as soon as possible. Still, you can vaguely make out Jaehyun's voice telling her, "I'd actually prefer if you called me Jaehyun."
You amble down the stairs with your brows pinched, walking across the lawn toward Jade who sits on a lounger beside Leo on pool deck. Leo perks up, patting the spot at the end of his chair for you to take a seat, "hey there!"
"What's with that look?" Jade snorts.
Your gaze is drawn back up to the second floor, where Jaehyun and Maya sit outside the beauty room in a conversation of their own. "I just had the strangest interaction with Maya, like she was mad I was talking to Jaehyun, who I've already said is just a friend, or something," you mumble as you set your water bottle down.
"Oh shit!" Leo laughs as he sits up, "I thought you were avoiding him because the girls had already given you the full rundown. Maya is… she's intense."
"Intense how?" You ask slowly.
"She waltzed in on night one and refused to actually take part in the ice breaker challenge until she had conversations 'of substance' with each of us guys because she's not looking for a summer fling—" Leo explains before Jade cuts him off.
"She's here looking for a husband," Jade chuckles as she twists her hair up and clips it back, "she deemed Jaehyun the most husband-like of all the guys and has her claws sunk in him. It's only a week in so obviously he's still taking it slow. I think her before bed conversation is how many kids she wants."
"Sheesh," you wince, "she does sound intense."
Leo runs his hands through his hair with an amused smile, "beside that, you had a good conversation though?"
"Yeah, no more weird vibes," you confirm before playfully narrowing your gaze between your two fellow islanders and a lazy point between them, "reigniting sparks here?"
"We were actually planning a threesome between the three of us," Jade quickly responds.
You tense, blinking blanky at her. Leo reaches over to smack her arm as he begins to cackle, Jade joins and you slump down in relief, joining in on the laughter. You wipe tears away from the corners of your eyes, "I think the two of you are going to be a problem for me."
Jade shrugs with a bright smile, "you'll learn to love it."
That night, after avoiding Maya and her harsh glare, you jump onto your bed and pull the covers over your legs. Leo is on the far side of the room practicing some kind of handshake with Ben. Jaehyun flops onto his back on the bed beside your own, his microphone discarded on the bedside table between your beds. Being in the bed beside Jaehyun and Maya never felt weird before, but now it does. You're overtly conscious of your actions as you keep your gaze low and pull off your microphone, winding the cord neatly.
"Hey," you hear Jaehyun say.
You peek over at him from the corner of your eye, feeling your cheeks heat at the sight of him. His hair is messy and damp from his shower and chest bare and tanned from a week in the sun. He looks unbelievably comfortable in his pajama pants but also unbelievably handsome with his glasses on. You don't trust your voice and instead arch your brow at him in response.
"Do you still like vanilla lattes?" He asks as he turns on his side to face you.
"Yes…"
"Awesome, I'll whip one up for you in the morning."
You don't even get the chance to dissuade him when the rest of the girls come pouring into the room. You instead lay down, turning to face Jade now in her own bed on the opposite side to make conversation before Leo comes to bed.
You're nearly asleep, Leo is knocked out beside you as you turn away from your partner to find a more comfortable position, when you hear a soft whisper of your name. You open your eyes, gaze unfocused for a second before you see the soft wave of Jaehyun's hand, "good night."
You pull the covers higher to conceal your smile before whispering, "good night, Jae."
a/n: There's plenty more to come including growing closer, the challenge with the kiss, and more ~tension~!!!! feedback is encouraged and appreciated <3
I imagine it would be so easy to end things if I was suicidal and allergic to peanuts like I’ll just shove a handful of ferrero rocher down my throat and end it all
seen your post saying requests are open and thought i'd pop in! do you think you could maybe do some more floral dividers? i don't know if they have a specific name, but ntn the full dividers that go right across, but the ones that kind of settle in the middle, if that makes sense? <3
hi! thanks so much for stopping in! 🌷💖 and for sure! I hope you like these colors but if you’d like an edit just let me know!
ellievsbear
areudirty
dailybridgerton
theartofmadeline
gracieabrams
