genre: brother's best friend!wooyoung ft. brother!hongjoong, strangers-to-slight enemies-to-lovers au, angst, fem!reader
warning: mentions of physical abuse, profanities, hongjoong is overprotective
word count: 6.8k
โคท It started from fighting with each other to fighting your brother for each other.
a/n: very late update as usual.
๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐๐
"I got here first."
"Well, I need it more."
"Does that matter? I need it too."
"Just give itโ"
"Excuse me, miss? Sirโoh, Wooyoung..." The store worker sighed at the realization, "You two are causing a scene here at the store. If you could just settle this through, that would be greatly appreciated."
You see, you arrived at the mini grocery store to buy a bottle of champagne for yourself after a long, busy week. It turns out that only one bottle of that certain brand you wanted was left, and it was only 11 in the morning on a Thursday. What the hell? So you quickly grabbed the bottle until a voice stopped you from behind, telling you to stop and give him the bottle. The nerve this guy in a hoodie and baggy pants has, he should wash up.
"But I came here first and got this bottle before he arrived, and he's forcing me to give it to him. The disrespect I'm getting from this young man."
"Young man?" The guy in the hoodie furrowed his eyebrows, feeling very offended, "She called me a young man, can you believe that?"
The store worker shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose to keep his patience. "Wooyoung, just give it up. She clearly got the bottle first, stop bothering her. This is like the third time this month and I'm tired, so please cooperate with me."
Wooyoung tutted, "Yeah, whatever." He eyed you in annoyance before leaving the aisle to look for other drinks he could buy instead.
"And as for you, miss, please do take that bottle for yourself. We are sorry for the inconvenience, have a great day!" The worker reassured you with a smile, putting on his best customer service tone.
You smiled back at the worker. "Thank you..." You glanced down at their nametag, "...Jongho?"
"Yes, that would be me." Jongho nodded to confirm.
"Have a great day too!"
As soon as you were out of sight, Jongho immediately slapped Wooyoung's arm to scold him about earlier. "What did I tell you about fighting with other customers? This is your last warning, Jung. I don't care if we're friends, I won't hesitate to ban you from coming here if that happens again." He threatened the man but Wooyoung couldn't care less; he just wanted to get the day over with.
-
Wooyoung came home with bottles of soju and some chips to pair them with, settling them down on the coffee table without bothering to get them out of the plastic. He slumped down on the couch tiredly, as if he had joined a marathon, instead of fighting a lady at the store for a bottle of champagne. He's definitely going to put the blame on Hongjoong for asking to play a game with the loser having to buy the drinks...and you know exactly who the loser was.
"Where's the champagne?" Hongjoong's loud voice resounded across the room, catching everyone's attention. "I've been waiting, what took you so long?"
Wooyoung groaned at the mention of the drink, "No champagne, stop asking." The look he gave him was one that could kill if he didn't shut up.
"But, we need itโ"
"No, we don't. Now get drinking."
Wooyoung's dismissive tone scared Hongjoong in the slightest, so he rushed to get the glasses, ice, and some cooked food from the kitchen to serve everyone in the room: Wooyoung, San, Seonghwa, and himself. It was another boys night like usual.
"Hey, man." San placed a hand on Wooyoung's shoulder before downing his drink in one go. "What happened back there? Why the gloomy face?"
"Some chicโ" San suddenly let out a loud burp beside Wooyoung, making the latter close his eyes in disgust, "...stole the last bottle."
Seonghwa rolled his eyes from his side of the couch, "We all know you caused a scene again, Wooyoung." He spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Well, it wasn't the first time it happened anywayโdon't even ask how many times.
"I don't care, I hate her."
"You hate everyone at this point."
"As it should be."
Despite Wooyoung's refusal, Hongjoong had brought the man with him to his house, so he could get changed in a new outfit before going to the nearby club. Wooyoung didn't understand why he had to go with him instead of the others when all he wanted to do was stay in bed until San picked him up at his own place. But no, Hongjoong insisted that Wooyoung should be there for moral support. Ridiculous, the latter thought.
"Just to let you know..." Hongjoong stopped Wooyoung by the front door, "My sister's home and that's a warning."
Wooyoung quirked an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden warning. "Should I be scared of her?"
"Man, she's crazy. The worst! You'd hate her."
"Nice, I love hating people." Although it sounded sarcastic, there was a hint of truthfulness in it.
The noise from inside the house caught their attention, so Hongjoong opened the front door and met with the sight of...
"You?!" Both Hongjoong's best friend and sister exclaimed, displeased with each other's presence.
"You guys know each other?" Hongjoong stood in between the two, but was completely ignored.
You were busy preparing yourself a glass of champagne, the same drink that was almost stolen from the man standing just a few feet away from you. Wooyoung's gaze dropped towards the familiar bottle in your hand, and the memories from the store the other day came rushing back.
"Hongjoong, why didn't you tell me?" Wooyoung turned to his best friend incredulously, pissed at the current situation.
Hongjoong, on the other hand, was taken aback, having absolutely no idea what the hell was going on. "What do you mean?"
"Why didn't you tell me that she was your younger sister? This girlโ"
"Don't you fucking point your dirty finger at me, kid." You harshly slapped Wooyoung's hand away from you. Hongjoong almost choked on his saliva at what you had called his friend before bursting into a fit of laughter on the side.
"Shut up, Hongjoong." Wooyoung glared at him, "Go get changed, so we can leave. I don't want to stay here too long and see her face, that would ruin my night even more than it already is."
"On it." Hongjoong quickly ran upstairs to his room and got changed which was his intention in the first place. Meanwhile, the situation downstairs didn't stop there.
"You talk like you own the place, your ego must be bigger than that head of yours." You remarked from the dining area as you swirled the glass of champagne with your fingers.
The more Wooyoung saw you drinking, the more annoyed he became. Just the way you wanted it to be: him losing his patience. You can sense his footsteps coming towards your way until you feel his presence behind you, a hand resting on the table beside your figure.
"Hmm, are you sure? There's something bigger than that." You knew that he had a smirk on his face, and you wanted nothing but to slap it off of him.
Unfortunately for you, you only roll your eyes at his bad attempt at dirty talking. "Just leave."
"Why? I wanna do bad things to you, though."
"Oh, really?" You gave the fakest look of interest ever, "Like what?" Batting your eyelashes to rile him up even more.
To your surprise, he moved his face closer to yours. His breath was fanning the side of your ear, causing shivers down your arms as he whispered softly. "Break your neck."
"Hey! No fighting...or flirting, whatever the hell you two are doing." Finally, Hongjoong's voice broke the growing tension between you and Wooyoung like a lifesaver. "Leave her alone, Wooyoung."
"I will, don't worry. Just gave your sister some words of respect, is all." The man moved away from your face and patted your shoulder, which was a little too harsh for a friendly gesture. "She needs to know some manners, don't you think?"
What an asshole.
-
"Gosh, how much did you drink?" Your friend asked you for the third time tonight after seeing you stumble your steps towards your seat beside her.
You simply shrugged, "Lost count."
Your friend sighed and looked at your state worriedly, but you assured her that you were fine. You obviously weren't. The loud music, the blinding lights, the people dancing aroundโyou really didn't care about anything at the moment. You were invited by your friend to the club at the last minute because her boyfriend wanted to go and she wanted you to have fun too, so you did only because they paid for you. Wouldn't wanna pass on free party and drinks.
Wanting to get another drink, you stood up with all the energy left in your body and steadied yourself with the table before walking up to the bar. That was until you heard a voice from behind you, a voice you found annoyingly familiar.
"Why are you here?"
You turned around with a bored look, "Why are you here? You own the place?" You scanned his appearance tonight: a black leather jacket with a black shirt underneath and some baggy jeans paired with his usual Jordans. Nothing new except for the gelled-up hair, which showed his forehead.
Wooyoung rolled his eyes at your reply as if it wasn't already expected of you, leaning on to the bar in front of him to order some drinks. "Give me the usual, one for me and one for the lady here."
"Hopefully you aren't talking about me."
You hear him let out a laugh, "Unfortunately, princess..." He turned to you with a playful smirk, "I'm talking about you."
That nickname almost made you stumble on your seat, so you pretended to ignore it to not boost his already big of an ego. "I'm leaving." You stood up from your seat at the bar to go back to where you previously sat with your friend, not caring that you didn't get to order another drink for yourself because a certain someone decided to show up.
"Hey, you didn't even drink this yetโ"
You didn't let him finish his words as you drank the drink he ordered for you in one go, so he wouldn't bother you any longer. "There, now leave me alone." You couldn't take another second of seeing his face.
-
A few more shots, and you were absolutely out of it. You excused yourself from your friends and made your way to the bathroom, but the world really was a cruel place, or so you thought. Of all the people here at the bar, did you really have to bump into Jung Wooyoung? Upon seeing you coming towards the hallway where he stood, he immediately blocked the way with his body to tease you, but you weren't having any of his games.
"I'm not here to play with you, Jung. Move."
"And why would I do that, hmm?"
You used all your strength to push him away, but it was no use. He was way stronger than you thought he was. "Seriously? How immature can you get? Move out the way."
Of course, he wouldn't do that. He loved riling you up and seeing the scowl on your face. He loves teasing you, he would do anything to tease you until you lost your mind over it. He usually doesn't do this to anyone else, but knowing that you were his best friend's younger sister brought a new feeling of excitement. That was his goal, and to provoke you even more, he pushed you against the nearest wall.
"You like this?" Wooyoung taunted you with a question to get a reaction that would satisfy him, only to receive a scoff and a look of disgust.
"I'm not interested."
As if he hadn't bothered you enough, he went closer to whisper beside your ear. The same thing he did earlier in Hongjoong's dining, the same breathy sound he made, which he knew had an effect on your body. "You sure about that, darling?"
Again with the petnames. You decided to play along for once after realizing that he was nowhere near done with you...
"What are you gonna do? Kiss me?"
...and immediately regretting it.
An amused grin was now evident on Wooyoung's face. He was enjoying the moment and feeling satisfied with your reaction because, to your utter surprise, he did exactly what you saidโhe kissed you on the lipsโmaking you freeze in place.
"Don't think about it too much, princess." He gave you one last peck on the cheek before leaving you there in the hallway, stuck in place as you brought your fingers to touch your lips where he had touched with his own.
No, you didn't think about it too much; you were still too shocked to process what occurred a few seconds ago. Instead, Wooyoung did against his own will. He had no idea how good and soft your lips actually felt until he did what he thought he wouldn't ever do: kiss you. He had no idea why he did it, but he knew he wouldn't be the same after that.
Unbeknownst to the both of you, Hongjoong had watched the scene play right in front of his eyes, and to say he wasn't happy about it would be an understatement. He loved Wooyoung as a friend, but he wouldn't let any of his friends date you for multiple reasons. The two of you literally just met, and it already led to this. He found that absurd. The moment Wooyoung disappeared from his sight, he quickly walked up to you before you disappeared yourself. He held your shoulder to get your attention, his expression showing his disappointment in you.
"Stay away from Wooyoung."
"Hongjoong, whatโ"
"I said what I said, do you get it?" He spoke with all seriousness, so you decided not to fight back.
"Don't worry, I hate the guy." You tried to reassure him with a smile, yet somehow it felt uncomfortable saying those words, and you had no idea why.
"Good."
"Mind telling me why you are trying so hard to play matchmaker with me and your friend, Sam...what was his name again?"
"It's San." Hongjoong pinched the bridge of his nose to control his patience with you, "Like I said, he's a great guy. I've already known him for years, and besides, I think it's about time you find someone to do all that romantic stuff with."
You eyed him suspiciously, "Hmm, that's weird, especially coming from you. You usually don't care about my relationships, then all of a sudden, you're doing this to me." Hearing no response from him, you nodded. "Don't worry, Hongjoong. I absolutely want nothing to do with any of your friends." You waved him off, moving your way up the stairs, when his next words made you halt in your steps.
"I'm setting you up on a date with San, no buts."
You turned to study his expression, and, oh, was he serious, "Why are you even so persistent about this? I don't get it, what do you gain out of it?"
Hongjoong walked past you, not bothering to look you in the eye. He thought that if he caught the look on your face, he might say things he wouldn't want to say. "Stop complaining and be grateful that I'm looking out for you."
You didn't fight back anymore, you didn't even know what to say after that. Hongjoong may not show his affection much, but whenever he does, he means it. He always does, and despite acting the way he does with his friends, he never fails to be the best older brother for you. Right now, he's being overprotective, and you wanted to know what made him act this way. You're his younger sister, after all.
-
Wooyoung let out a huff in disbelief at what Hongjoong was trying to tell him right now, "You're joking?" He placed both his arms on the headrest of the couch, looking across the room to where Hongjoong stood by the kitchen as he busied himself with some groceries.
"If I was joking, I wouldn't even bother doing this." Hongjoong entered the living room and found himself a seat beside Wooyoung, grabbing a can of beer from the coffee table before leaning back on the couch. "I'm setting you up with a friend of mine."
Wooyoung had no idea why Hongjoong suddenly proposed such a thing: setting him up with someone who he doesn't know, who might be a complete stranger to him, and someone who isn't you. He wasn't the type to reject being set up on dates; he enjoys that, but it's different this time. It now felt odd to him, it made him feel uneasy just thinking about seeing people who didn't match his energy and only liked him for his looks.
He didn't want to pretend to be someone he wasn't, he wanted someone to understand him for him. His thoughts led back to you, how you always challenge him with confidence, how you always have your guards up, and to the incident the night before, how soft your lips felt, and how he wishes to feel more.
"Thanks for the offer, dude, but I think I'll pass."
Because you like my sister?, Hongjoong thought, and he hated thinking about it even for a second. Both you and Wooyoung tried to reject the same offer, and knowing that something had happened the other night, he wouldn't let that go easily. "Come on, just go for it. You usually get hyped up for this type of thing, what changed?"
y/n happened, that's what changed. Wooyoung wanted to say, but it would sound like a sin coming from his own mouth. The thing was, he hated you. That's what he should be doing, hating you instead of imagining how it would feel to have you. All it took was one kiss and an attitude to leave a lasting effect on him, something he didn't know he could feel.
Then again, it wasn't so 'Wooyoung' of him to be like that. If he had accepted Hongjoong's offer, perhaps he could slowly forget about everything that had happened before. Maybe he could pretend that he didn't feel anything towards you. There's nothing to lose, right? You two weren't together anyway.
"Who even is this so-called friend of yours?"
"Oh it's just you, Emily." Wooyoung stared boredly at the woman in front of him, "Why did you even agree to this knowing it was me you're being set up with?"
The woman let out a sarcastic laugh, her hands busy stirring her now almost empty drink, "I didn't agree per se, especially when I knew it was you. In fact, Hongjoong forced me to in exchange for free lunch for a week and maybe a month if we keep this up."
Wooyoung found it very weird how his best friend was doing all this, and for what? Sure, Hongjoong would introduce him to women, but only if they were interested or if they wanted something. But this? Emily didn't even see Wooyoung as anything other than a mutual friend. Seriously, she had other things to care about.
"Hey, Wooyoung." Emily's voice brought him back to reality, and she noticed how distracted he had become since she spoke a few minutes ago, "If you don't want to do this, you can just tell me. It's not like I really care about the free lunch anyway."
He looked up at her, surprised at how she sounded concerned for him. Maybe she does care after all. "Oh, haha. It's not that, I was just distracted."
"Clearly."
Wooyoung laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. Emily continued to observe the man who continuously fidgeted in his seat. she wanted to ask what bothered him so much, but she didn't want to pry into his business. Suddenly, her phone buzzed from the table, and she saw San's name pop up on the screen, so she excused herself to answer the call.
"Hey, Em...please save me." San sounded like he was in the bathroom from the echo of his voice.
"What's wrong? What happened?"
"Remember the date Hongjoong set me up with?"
"Yeah?"
"He set me up with his sister! His sister, Em! I can't believe this, I can't do this anymore." She can hear whines echoing on the other line, and San was clearly stressed about the situation.
Oh..."That's weird, why would he set his sister up with his own friend? I thought he hated that."
"Exactly!" San's voice got louder, and Emily had to move the phone away from her ear, "He even forced me to do this in exchange for food."
Emily's eyes widened at the realization, "Hold on." She looked back towards where Wooyoung sat at the table with a drink in hand, "I'm actually also on a date right now, but my date looks like he wants out. Wanna bring her here with us?"
And that's how you found yourself sitting beside Wooyoung with San and Emily across from you, staring at each other in awkward silence. San looked more confused than you and Wooyoung, while Emily shook her head and crossed her arms to her chest.
"Am I the only one who's aware here?" The lack of response confirmed her question. "Right, of course."
You and Wooyoung exchanged looks of confusion, and shrugged your shoulders. Emily sighed deeply before looking straight towards the both of you, catching you off guard. "Be honest, you two. Something happened between the two of you, no?"
She didn't miss the way your eyes widened at her question, and she smirked when she caught you right in her trap. "Knew it." It felt as if you were a deer caught in the headlights, and you could only hope that she wouldn't say a word to Hongjoong or you'd be dead. Emily stood up from her seat, slinging her bag and brushing her hair away from her shoulders. "I think my job here is done, the same goes with my cousin. Poor thing, he looks like he could cry any second now." San whined, causing Emily to laugh at him.
You, however, didn't know what to do, what to say, or how to act around the man beside you. Now that the two of them had left, you were again stuck in silence with the person you wanted to avoid so badly. No one spoke a word, all that was heard was soft breathing and the sound of other customers talking.
"Do you wanna go somewhere else?" Wooyoung turned to you with an empty look, "Since our dates ditched us, might as well spend the day together."
He wasn't wrong, and it wouldn't be wrong to spend the day with him after getting dressed up for a 'date' that was so painfully forced as if it would ever work out. It wouldn't. With that, you and Wooyoung spent the rest of the day at the arcade and the park, eating street foods and talking about each other's childhood memories. This went on for three more times with Wooyoung secretly bringing you home at the end of the day instead of San. You and him made an agreement with San and Emily to pretend that the dates went well to hide from Hongjoong the fact that you hang out Wooyoung behind his back.
As for Wooyoung, he wasn't as bad company as you thought he was going to be. He was actually pretty observant of your preferences, little habits, and how you react to certain things. He found them very intriguing and, as much as he hated to admit it, cute. You also noticed his little habits and how he always made sure that you were walking on the inner side of the sidewalk, pushing the door for you, and insisting on paying for the food despite your constant complaints about it. Nevertheless, he was fun to be with.
"It didn't work out with San? Why? Did he do or say anything to you, or is it the other way around?" Hongjoong bombarded you with questions after you mentioned to him how you stopped seeing San after the third 'date', "Tell me, y/n."
You couldn't tell him the reason why. If you did, you wouldn't see the end of his anger, and you understood why. You couldn't blame him, but he also couldn't blame you for enjoying Wooyoung's company either. What exactly could you say?
"Our personalities probably didn't match, and we barely have any common interests, so it wasn't going to work out even if we tried."
"Bummer." You heard Hongjoong humming beside you while you were busy washing the dishes at the sink, "There's probably someone else I can set you up with, maybe Yeosang? Mingi could work too."
You appreciate your brother's efforts in finding the right man for you, but the thing is, you didn't want anyone else. Your mind would always come back to the thoughts of his best friend, the man he warned you about. You only wanted him: Jung Wooyoung.
How could I want anyone else when Wooyoung treats me so well? He treats me as if I am worthy of being loved, being spoiled, and being alive. We may have started on bad terms, but that was in the past.
Wooyoung brought you lots of food to your place when you told him through the phone that you hadn't had dinner yet because you got too caught up in paperwork, and he would leave a note on top of it with the words "Finish this or I won't show up ever again. Goodluck :)" written on it. You made sure nothing was left on the containers, not even a grain of rice or a single crumb.
Wooyoung also went out of his way to borrow San's car in the middle of the night to drive himself to your friend's house, where you were. You had many drinks that night that you couldn't think straight anymore, so your friend told you to go home. Your first thought was to call Hongjoong, but because you were too drunk to think, you decided to click on the name at the top of the screen, the most recent person you sent a message to. The person picked up the call, but you were already asleep, so your friend answered the call instead. That's why Wooyoung was there in no time.
"Sorry for the inconvenience, we couldn't stop her from drinking." Your friend apologized to Wooyoung, while he gently carried you to the back of the car, so you could lie down.
"Don't worry about it, I'm just glad she called me."
Until one day, he changed your life. The day you realized you needed him by your side until your last breath, almost quite literally. Wooyoung was your angel, your lifesaver, and you would never let Hongjoong take him away from you this time.
You were on your way home late at night from a friend's house, and you didn't bother calling Wooyoung because it was only a few minutes walk to your place, except he knew better than to leave you in the streets at that time, so he forced you to tell him your whereabouts. If it weren't for his persistence, he might not be able to forgive himself.
He was already nearby where you were when he noticed a man in black strolling a distance behind you, his steps fastening in pace, ready to jump on you, and Wooyoung was alerted for your safety. As fast as he could, he ran in your direction before the man could lay his dirty fingers on you. He grabbed your wrist without warning and quickly pulled you faster to where your place was, making you shriek in fear until you slowly calmed down when you realized it was him. Wooyoung pulled you into a tight hug the moment you two entered your house, locking the door behind him. He was so relieved you were safe.
"Wooyoung...what's wrong?"
He didn't reply, he only hugged you tighter if it was even possible. "Hey, what happened? Why were you in a rushโ"
"Don't." He let out a deep breath beside your neck, causing shivers down your spine, "Just...let me stay here with you tonight." He finally pulled back to look at you straight in the eyes, and you saw a mix of worry, anger, and relief behind his gaze, "Please."
Since then, he hasn't brought that incident up because it made him mad and he didn't want to remember the day that your life was at risk. He was just glad he was there to save you, and you were still standing beside him with a smile on your face.
"I don't ever want to lose you, y/n."
Unfortunately, Hongjoong had other plans. "How many times do I have to tell you to stay away from Wooyoung?" He was fuming, and it scared you, but you weren't going to give up just like that. "You cannot date him, you cannot love him."
His last words made your heart hurt. It might sound like the craziest thing if the old you said it, but you did love Wooyoung. He was more than just the man you fought with at a store or the man who kissed you at a club, he was the man who made you laugh so hard until your stomach would hurt and he was the man who made you believe in love again. Hongjoong just didn't see that, he didn't understand any of this. "Is that why you set me up with San, or are you trying to ruin everything for your friends?"
He walked up closer to you, but you didn't move an inch from where you stood, "Is looking out for you ruining it for my friends, y/n?"
"You didn't have to do this, Hongjoong. You could've just been honest with me, and it wouldn't have to reach this point."
"Oh, and if I were honest with you, would you really stay away from him? You think I'd believe that?"
Now, you were mad. You were hurt by his lack of trust in you, your own brother doubted your honesty. And I thought he cared for me, what about my feelings? I can't hide this any longer. "So, what if I like him? Is Wooyoung really that bad? Because, as far as I know, he did nothing but treat me with respect. I know we weren't in good terms at the start, but it's different now. If you think so badly of him, why bother being friends with him then?"
"Wooyoung as a friend and Wooyoung as a lover are two different things!" He now raised his voice with every word he spoke, but you didn't budge.
"And we are different people, Hongjoong. How sure are you that he would hurt me? You don't know him enough." He didn't know the whole story.
Hongjoong let out a huff of disbelief at your words, he couldn't believe what he was hearing from your mouth right now. "And you do? You know him better than I do?"
"That's notโ"
"This is exactly why I don't want you near him!" You flinched at the sudden raise of his voice, and you wondered if the neighbors had heard him at how loud he was, "I don't want history to repeat itself, y/n. Can't you understand?"
You do. You knew exactly what he's talking about, and you didn't have the courage to fight back anymore. Hongjoong would do anything not to let you experience the past all over again, and you get that.
So the next day, you found yourself in another argument with Wooyoung this time. You told him you'd visit him at his place, but he had no idea what your visit was for. Your back was facing him as you tried to hide the pained expression on your face, you couldn't face him properly like this.
"We can't be together, Wooyoung."
"Why? Because of Hongjoong?" He stepped closer behind your back, "His opinion doesn't matter."
You closed your eyes to keep the frustration in, "It does, that's just how it is."
Then, silence. No one spoke a word for a few minutes, just the sound of breathing and his heart beating so loud that you hoped he couldn't hear yours. It was so painfully quiet that you wanted to turn and see his face, which admittedly calmed you down all the time, but you couldn't until he questioned you with a hushed voice.
"Why are you so mean to me? Why are you pushing me away after everything we've done together as if what we had didn't mean anything to you at all, as if I didn't matter to you."
"Please, don't say that."
"No, y/n. I want to know why you're doing this, why you're letting me go so easilyโ"
"Because the best way not to get your heart broken is to pretend you don't have one!" You finally turned to him, losing your composure as you let out all your frustration into your words, "Yet, here I am." You caught the way his eyes stared into yours with shock, curiosity, and worry, and you were afraid he would see right through it, so you quickly averted your gaze away from his.
To your surprise, he brought your chin up with his thumb and index finger to meet your eyes again. He didn't want to step boundaries, no. But the way you said those words with hidden anger and pain made him feel protective of you. He wanted to change your perception of love the way you did with his, he wanted to be the man who would treat you the way you deserve to be treated with utmost care, love, and respect. He never knew what genuine love felt like until he knew the real you.
In the most careful way possible, he asked, "Did someone hurt you before?"
His question brought back memories of your pastโthe past when your abusive ex-lover was still in your life. It triggered memories of your ex treating you so badly in any way he could: ignoring you when you drove hours just to see him, talking badly about you to his friends even when you were in the same room, blaming you when minor inconveniences happened that were caused by other people, and the worst one, slapping you on the cheek when you accidentally broke one of his figurine collections. Even though you were willing to replace it with the exact same figurine from the same store, he didn't have plans on forgiving you that easily.
His temper became shorter, he got more aggressive, and it actually got so bad that Hongjoong had to intervene by beating the hell out of your worthless ex and telling him off. Your brother made sure that man wouldn't step a single inch near your place and lay a single finger on you ever again. That's exactly why Hongjoong did all this: to keep you safe. He couldn't trust anyone to be near you anymore, not even his own best friend.
"What a douchebag. If I were Hongjoong, I would've made sure your ex wouldn't ever lay a finger on you because he'll end up without any."
As much as you wanted to smile at the thought of him being very protective, like Hongjoong was with you, you couldn't help but ask him a question that always bothered you whenever you and Hongjoong would argue about this. "Aren't you also like that...?"
Your question left him speechless, and he felt his heart shatter at your lack of trust with him the same way you felt with Hongjoong. He wanted to ask if you ever doubted his love for you, his actions, and his words. "And who the hell told you that? Who told you such a lie, y/n?"
"Ah...well, it's not exactly like that."
"No." Wooyoung's voice raised in anger, "I need you to tell me right now who told you that bullshit because I am nowhere near your asshole of an ex, I will never be that toxic and abusive." He brought a finger to his chest harshly, "I may look like this and act like this, but I would never ever hurt any woman like that...especially not the woman I love. I know I tease you here and there, but I have never intended to touch you or hurt you in any way, you understand?"
"Wooyoung..."
Wooyoung let out a loud huff at the realization, "If that's the reason why Hongjoong did all that, then we have a problem here. The problem isn't us having feelings for each other, the problem is him not trusting me as a friend, and he even made assumptions about me. How does that make me feel?" He took a deep breath to calm himself down before he lost his mind, "When I love someone, I would never betray them. Yes, I had my share of questionable experiences, but he probably doesn't know me enough to say that about me."
That's what you told Hongjoong too.
Wooyoung then turned to you, gently taking a hold of your hands and bringing them to his chest. "If you were to give me a chance, y/n, I can promise you that you will never experience pain, not even a scratch. What do you say?"
"Where is the idiot, anyway?" Entering Hongjoong's house, you stood in his living room with full determination.
"I'm right here." You turned to find Wooyoung standing awkwardly behind you with his hands behind his back.
You gave him a reassuring smile, "Suprisingly enough, I'm not talking about you this time."
Footsteps were heard from the stairs, and there, Hongjoong stood in confusion at the sight of you and Wooyoung beside each other too close for his liking. He looked at the two of you suspiciously as he asked, "Where were you and why are you with him?"
Wooyoung was about to speak up to explain on behalf of you, but you didn't give him the chance. "If I say that Wooyoung is my boyfriend, are you going to tell us to break up?"
Wooyoung almost choked on his saliva while Hongjoong's eyes widened in shock, and the two stared at you with silent questions, but you only nudged at Wooyoung to play along, which he immediately understood. However, Hongjoong was not amused. No, not at all. It was serious for him.
"Have you not learned anything?" Hongjoong moved slowly closer to you.
"We talked it out last night." And a few confessions too...and maybe a few kisses.
Hongjoong tutted, his gaze landing on Wooyoung, then towards your direction. "Oh, so that's where you were last night?"
"We didn't do anything bad, Hongjoong, if that's what you're worried about. We just talked, and even if we argue sometimes, I trust Wooyoung, you have to understand that."
It took Hongjoong a few seconds to process your words, and you gave him the time he needed. Hongjoong's eyes shifted between you and Wooyoung, sighing to himself afterwards. "Do you...really love each other?"
"Yes." You and Wooyoung quickly turned to each other after saying the same thing at the same time, but he broke the moment to continue his words.
"I would never hurt your sister in any way, Hongjoong. Why don't you trust me?"
Hongjoong quirked an eyebrow in his direction, "You really want me to answer that question?"
Wooyoung pursed his lips from that, but he continued to defend his side, he had to defend you and everything between you two. "No, but y/n is different. She makes me feel so comfortable, and hurting her would be the last thing I'd do. She's your sister, I don't want to lose you too."
That last sentence struck a part of Hongjoong's heart, and memories of their friendship together ran through his head. From the first day they met at a dance school to the fights they saved each other from, every ups and downs they experienced together, yet here they still were.
Wooyoung wouldn't want their 10 years of friendship to end because his best friend didn't trust him enough to date his sister, and Hongjoong wouldn't want their friendship to end either just because he wanted to protect you. Well, it was his fault. Hongjoong knew that, but maybe he was still so furious about what you went through in the past that he wanted to beat up every man that tried to get with you, even if it was his best friend.
"Okay, fine." Hongjoong finally replied after he thought about everything and realized that the two people in front of him, confronting him to defend their love for each other, knew what they were doing and the consequences that came with it. At the end of the day, you still make the decisions for yourself, and he was only your brother who would be there to protect you, not decide for you. "I won't intervene anymore, but if you hurt her even with a scratch, I swear, Wooyoung, I will make sure you experience worse. Got it?"
"Got it!" Wooyoung answered too quickly and enthusiastically to everyone's surprise, but you understood why, "But, where's my apology?"
"No apologies! Now, leave me alone." Hongjoong waved the two of you away as he turned to leave the room, heading back upstairs to his bedroom, where he came from earlier before you broke into his house.
You can hear Wooyoung's breath of relief from beside you, so you slowly held his hand and intertwined your fingers with his in reassurance to let him know that you were equally as relieved as he was. The warm smile on your face brought a much bigger smile to his. He hasn't felt this happy and proud of himself until today, and he was grateful he felt it with you and because of you. It would've sounded too cheesy and annoying to Wooyoung's liking, but when he was the one experiencing this kind of emotion, all that cheesiness wouldn't even matter at all because it felt too good. Love felt so exciting to him.
"From now on, I hope the only thing we would fight over would be for a bottle of champagne."
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
genre: ex!yeosang ft. best friend!wooyoung, exes-to-lovers au, angst, fem!reader
warning: implications of toxic relationship
word count: 4.5k
โคท His overprotectiveness drove you away from him, and now he has to go back to square one, just like back in high school.
a/n: this felt rushed but hey, it's here.
๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐๐
You didn't know where or when it went wrong. Years of being in a happy and fulfilling relationship with Yeosang all went down the drain, and neither of you could save it. Not even a kiss could fix everything.
It's been weeks since you started noticing him acting a little too protective for your liking, and it felt like he was controlling you in many ways. Every night, the bed felt empty despite having him sleep beside you. You stopped giving him goodnight kisses as you pretended to sleep before he arrived home from work, and he didn't bother giving you one. The very apartment you were staying in was one of the goals you and Yeosang worked so hard to achieve, but it didn't feel like home anymore. So, what changed?ย
"Seriously, Yeosang?" You huffed, staring intently at him. "You can go out and do whatever the hell you want with other people, but I can't?"
"y/n, you know why I'm doing thisโ"
"So, you make the rules now? Is that it?" You rested both of your hands on your hips, "You're treating me like a stubborn child."
"No, I'm just being protective of you." Yeosang sighed in defeat, letting his arms fall on his side.
You rolled your eyes, "Oh, shut up. You always tell me what to do, and it's starting to piss me off. I do what I want in this relationship, so stop acting like hanging out with an old friend is a sin." You let out a breath of disbelief, "I can't believe this is happening. I liked you a lot, Yeosang. I loved you, but you know, if it wasn't for your persistence, I wouldn't be in this mess here with you right now."
His eyes widened, shocked and deeply hurt at your words. He couldn't believe how easily you dropped those words without hesitation. It felt as if everything you went through together didn't mean as much to you as it did to him. "Did you really call our relationship a mess?"ย
"Of course, you don't think it is. You think you're right all the time, and it's so unfair on my part. I got myself into this relationship because it made me feel alive, but now I just feel so suffocated." You tried your hardest to hold back the tears that were waiting to escape from your eyes, not wanting to show him how painful it was for you. "I want to breathe again, Yeosang. Let's end this..."
Yeosang stared at you with pain in his eyes, and in those few moments, he tried to understand how hurt you were that led you to the decision to end things with him. "Is that it?"
"Yes, I'm not going to waste any more of my time being under your control. This is not right; this isn't the love I needed."ย
This isn't the love I needed. That line struck a part of his heart that made him realize how his actions were hurting you instead of making you stay in the relationship. He was so blinded by his ideas that he failed to understand your side of the story, and now he would never forgive himself for what he had done. He cannot turn back time; he cannot bring you back to his arms, nor can he go back to your heart.
The thing was, Yeosang had the biggest crush on you since high school because of your bright personality, how you excel in your academics yet remain humble about your achievements, and most especially, how kind-hearted you were to everyone. Because of that, many liked you too, and he felt conscious of his competitors, not knowing that the feeling had always been mutual. That's why, when he finally got to have you, he became overprotective because anyone could steal you from him (but you only wanted him).
[ flashback ]
You lived a typical high school life with friends by your side and a good academic record minus the high school romance as that was not really part of the picture at the time.
You were in the cafeteria, sitting at your usual table with your friend group: Yunho, Wooyoung, and Mingi. You had no idea how you managed to keep up with their pranks and loud voices until now. The four of you met during one class back in freshman year and stayed together as friends until senior year. Mingi had dated his current girlfriend for a year, while Yunho and Wooyoung? Not too sure. You, however, were stuck in a one-sided attraction to your long-time crush, Kang Yeosang.
Despite your friends' constant push for you to confess your feelings to him, you never made any move. Yeosang was one of the most skilled basketball players at the university; almost everyone on campus knew his name. Of course, many girls lined up to date him, and you were just one of the crowd. How would he even notice you?
Another reason why you never made a move on him was because of a rumor that circulated around the campus about how Yeosang had been talking to this one girl in his literature class for quite some time. There was no way you would intrude just to let him know of your feelings, despite clearly knowing he was attracted to someone else, and it wasn't you.
One random Tuesday, Yunho suddenly announced to the group that he had a girlfriend and had been seeing her for a month already. All of you were happy for him and his new lover, especially knowing that Yunho was the sweetest, most gentle, and joyful man you've met.ย
"Awh shucks, I was too late." You joked, and everyone laughed at it.
Wooyoung smacked you playfully by the arm and pulled you closer to him, "What was that, y/n? I thought you liked Yeosang?"
"I do."
"So, what's stopping you?"
You sighed deeply, "Do you really think I have the slightest chance with him? That man has girls lined up for him; he even has something going on with one of his classmates, and I'm just a friend."
Mingi joined in the conversation as he munched on some bread in his mouth, "Girl, shut the hell up. You have a big chance with him, just make your move."
Your friends never tried to understand your reasons; they just kept on pushing and pushing and pushing until you were invited to a house party thrown by Wooyoung, having no idea who he had invited other than your friend group.
You met your other friend and someone from one of your classes, Choi San, who was also part of the basketball team. He was someone you were comfortable telling your secrets to (wooyoung-approved) and he frequently met up with you after classes. So here you were at Wooyoung's front porch, spilling to San about your feelings for his teammate and how you did everything to give him hints as suggested by your friends, but sadly, he didn't notice your efforts.
The thing was, he did. Yeosang noticed all the little things you'd do for him, abs how could he not when you had Wooyoung as a friend? He only waited for the right time to confront you about it, and maybe that time was tonight.ย
"I don't know, San. I should just stop liking Yeosang, it's really going nowhere."
"Why would you stop liking me?" A new voice joined in from behind you and San, making you freeze in place when you realized who it belonged to.
San blew an awkward whistle before excusing himself from the two of you, and you cursed him so much in your mind for leaving you behind in this awkward situation. "I think I should go get a drink."
With that, you felt a figure replace San's seat beside you on the porch. His presence makes your heart race so much that you wouldn't be surprised if he could hear it, even with the loud music from the party going on inside the house.
"So...mind explaining to me what you told San earlier about not liking me anymore?"
Maybe it was the drinks, the music, or the way Yeosang stared into your eyes with excitement, but it made you so nervous that you let out all your thoughts and feelings to the person you shouldn't be telling them to. "Well, you never notice me even when we have mutual friends, and...you seem to have another girl's attention, so I don't want to get in the way if I ever did confess my feelings to you. You wouldn't date someone like me, anyway." Maybe he wouldn't even remember all this after tonight.
Yeosang let out a chuckle at your assumption, he found it cute that you knew nothing of the truth. "And who told you that?"
"Oh, uhm...I just heard it..."
Seeing that you were too nervous to answer his question, Yeosang decided to just go for it. He held your chin with his fingers and pulled you in for a gentle kiss, which caught you completely off guard, "Should I prove you wrong then?"
That's when everything started.
[ end. ]
It's been 3 months since you've last seen and spoken to Yeosang, and 3 months since you made the painful decision of breaking up with him. He tried to contact you and spammed you with text messages, but you wouldn't answer any of them. You managed yourself in those 3 months, and your friends and their significant others were there to comfort and cheer you up. Their company made the breakup less painful, and you couldn't be more grateful for them.
Mingi had invited everyone to his engagement party with his girlfriend, now fiancรฉe, from high school, which everyone excitedly looked forward to. You were going to enjoy the party with nothing but support for your friend, even if it meant avoiding a certain someone. After all, your ex was still Mingi's friend, so he was going to be attending the same event.
You were so preoccupied with a conversation with your two closest friends, Wooyoung and Yunho, that you failed to notice the curious glances coming from across the room. Yunho's wife went to Mingi's fiancรฉe to talk about marriage life, and when asked by Wooyoung why you weren't joining them, you replied with a simple "I haven't even been engaged yet; there's nothing for me to say."
The two nodded in understanding and immediately changed the topic. You learned that Yunho and his wife were planning on getting a house near his hometown while Wooyoung and San were in a happy and healthy relationship, and then there's...your breakup. Wooyoung's eyes landed on a certain someone from behind you, making his eyebrows furrow in annoyance. You and Yunho turned to where Wooyoung was looking, and of course, it was Yeosang standing there in a fitted dress shirt talking to Mingi with a proud smile.
A smile you once loved so much...and still do.ย
"Sorry to break the tension, guys, but my wife and I have to go. We got busy days ahead of us, catch you both next time!" Yunho embraced you and Wooyoung in his long arms, laughing when Wooyoung tried to kiss him on the cheek.
As Yunho left the venue with his wife, Wooyoung then turned his attention back to you. "You want to stay over at my place? San doesn't mind you being there, and I think you need company tonight."
He wasn't completely wrong. Seeing Yeosang's face might've brought back memories you wanted to forget about, and although you convinced yourself you were over him, there was still a place in your heart that longed for his love. Moving on from a long-time crush and a high school sweetheart was not an easy thing to do. So, you accepted Wooyoung's offer as he led you out of the venue.ย
The two of you greeted Mingi and his fiancรฉe goodbye, hugging them in the process. Wooyoung told you to go ahead and wait for him inside his car while he calls for San, not knowing that he was going to confront the man he felt pissed off by. Wooyoung confronted a surprised Yeosang at the bar, where San was busy talking to a friend of his.ย
"Hey, Wooyoungโ"
"Listen, Yeosang. Just because we're friends doesn't mean I'll let whatever you did to y/n slide, so you better watch out." The way Wooyoung acted towards him made Yeosang remember the reason why he treated you the way he did, which led to your unfortunate breakup.
Back in high school, a lot of guys were attracted to you, and he even forget that he had girls lining up for him as well since he was quite popular on campus. Seeing you and Wooyoung were like attached to the hip, he even had thoughts that you and him were dating before the confession happened. All those insecurities came back in a flash, and he's back as the insecure and cowardly Yeosang.
-
You were currently sitting on the couch in Wooyoung and San's shared apartment, distracting yourself with a box of popcorn Wooyoung bought for you on the way home. The other two sat on either side of you as they listened to you open up about your thoughts and feelings. They made you so comfortable every time you shared personal problems that you weren't afraid of being vulnerable.
"It was a waste of time loving him." Those were the words you kept telling yourself out of frustration, but Wooyoung didn't want you to think like that.
"If it made you happy, then it was not a waste of time. It was a memory and a lesson too, you know."
"But he hurt me, Woo." You turned your body to face your friend with full attention, "It felt so unfair how I couldn't even love him properly anymore. He wouldn't introduce me to his friends or his family because he was scared. Like, what was he even so afraid of? Was he scared of showing me off because he's ashamed of me or that I wasn't satisfying him enough? That's not what I deserve after everything we've spent together."
San pulled you in his arms, "As much as I hate him for treating you like that, I'm sure he has his reasons. Maybe he just hasn't realized the impact of it yet."
Yeosang, on the other hand, had been drowning in regret since you ended things with him. He drank so much to forget the pain and tried to go to parties, but it didn't feel as exciting as it was before, and keeping himself busy with basketball was not helping either. It felt as if he had made the biggest mistake of his life, and it haunted him wherever he went.
The emptiness of his bed, the extra toothbrush you left behind, and the painting you gifted to him made him realize how he lost a part of himself when you left. It felt like he had to find ways to fix the broken relationship you two shared together and find the pieces of himself he lost.
Since Mingi's engagement party and the encounter with Wooyoung, he found himself spending sleepless nights trying to come up with ways on how to win your heart again. He knew confronting you upfront would never work because you hated serious confrontations, so he had to start somewhere else.
He went back to his parents' house, and his first step in his plan was to ask his mother how to love a woman properlyโhow to love you the way you should be loved. He took notes on what he could've done better, what he shouldn't do, and what to expect in a committed relationship.
He also tried to get the trust of your friends back, which took all the courage left in his body because he knew how they hated him after what happened, especially Wooyoung. The first time he initiated a meetup, Wooyoung immediately declined. The second time, he grew even more annoyed. In the third, Yeosang explained to your friends about his intentions, and although they appreciated Yeosang's efforts in trying to get you back, Wooyoung still wasn't completely convinced. In the fourth, San talked it out with Wooyoung about accepting the invitation, and it was a success. All your friends welcomed him back with the condition that he would never hurt you again in any way, which Yeosang promised them with all seriousness.
Now, it was time for the bigger challenge. Wooyoung had revealed to Yeosang where you've been staying after you left your shared apartment with him, and boy, did it give him flashbacks from the past. It felt as if he was back in high school trying to get the approval of your parents, which went on for years.ย
Yeosang was nervously standing in front of your parents' house with a gift in hand, dusting off his shirt before he rang the doorbell. Your mother, who was busy with some chores, answered the door while your father was busy cooking in the kitchen. He knew you were at work around this time, so it was the perfect time to talk to your parents. The look she gave him was one of pure disappointment, which he already expected knowing how protective they were of you, their only daughter. Your mother didn't even let him explain the first time; she just closed the door on him, but he still left the gift on the porch.ย
Just like with your friends, his visits to your parents' house went on for a few weeks until his consistency made your mother feel pity for the man. Yeosang never failed to put on a smile whenever she opened the door for him without letting him step an inch inside the house, but he didn't complain. Her accepting his gift and having the time to talk was enough for him; it was still progress.
That's why, when your mother suddenly invited him inside for some snacks that your father had made, he was utterly surprised. At first, he declined because he felt that he didn't deserve it, but your mother insisted that he stay for a bit, and who was he to decline such a rare offer?
"You know, when my daughter came home crying hard, it pained me so much. I told myself that I would never forgive you for what you did to her." Your mother spoke with a hint of disappointment in her voice, and it didn't go unnoticed by Yeosang.
"I understand and I'm really sorry for hurting her, Mrs. l/n. I deeply regretted it the moment she left, and I was a complete mess. I didn't get to tell her what my true intentions were, but then again, I never asked her how she felt about it. I couldn't blame her at all." Yeosang had his head down in guilt when he felt a hand on his shoulder, so he turned to see a reassuring smile from your father this time.
"We understand how you feel, Yeosang. I saw how much you loved each other; you even spent years trying to get our approval, right?" Your father let out a quiet sigh, "I saw how happy she looked talking about you, and it made me happy knowing that there was someone who would protect her, but I'm not in the place to forgive you. This is between you and y/n, so only she gets to decide what happens next."
His words finally brought a smile of relief to Yeosang's face, "I really want to fix everything with her, but I'm not too sure if she'll let me explain or if she even wants to see me like this."
"Did you talk to Wooyoung and Yunho about this?"
"Yes, I did actually." Yeosang couldn't help but laugh at how many attempts he made to earn your friends' trust back, "It took me four tries, but I'm grateful it went better than expected. Even if they don't trust me, it's y/n who I'm most worried about."
Your mother hummed in response, "Why don't you stay here until she comes back home from work? That way you two can talk."
Yeosang shook his head to refuse her suggestion, "Oh, I'll just visit some other time. I know she gets tired from work, and I don't want to disturb her. Thank you for the kind offer, Mrs. l/n."
"I understand, don't worry, and Yeosang?"
"Yes, Mrs. l/n."
"You can call me 'mom'."
-
You had called your mother earlier to inform her that you'd be home late because of a company dinner hosted by your boss. Hearing this, Yeosang decided to stay back to accompany your parents when your mother offered to teach him how to cook and spend dinner with them. However, Yeosang couldn't stop checking the time as the night became darker.
"It's already 10 p.m.; are you sure she hasn't called or anything?" Your father asked your mother in concern, but she only shook her head.ย
"No, she hasn't sent any text either."
Just then, Yeosang's phone rang from his pocket. The screen showed Mingi's name, and he immediately answered the call.
"Hey, Yeosang. Sorry to bother you at this time. I don't know who else to call, but can you pick y/n up here at the office? She may have enjoyed the dinner a little too much, and everyone left already. I know you two aren't exactly on good terms right now, but I believe you're the safest to call."
So with no hesitation, Yeosang got his car keys and drove all the way from your parents' house to the building where you worked and back. Despite the traffic and the cold air, he made sure you were sleeping comfortably beside him as he lowered the seat a bit and covered your body with his jacket. Looking at your current state, he noticed that you were still the same y/n who needed to be taken care of, and he was willing to do just that.
-
You woke up in your room to a bad hangover, groaning in pain. Looking around, you saw a glass of water with a medicine beside it which you quickly took. You went downstairs to the kitchen and found a freshly made soup waiting for you on the dining table, so you consumed it in one go.ย
"Thanks for the soup and the medicine, mom." You said when you saw your mother enter the kitchen.
"Oh, I didn't make that. A suitor of yours made those for you earlier."
That made the headache worse as you tried to process what she had just told you, "A suitor?"
"Yeah, a suitor. He's here actually, do try to check in the backyard."ย
That made you stand up from your seat and walk up to the door that led to the backyard, where you saw a man running around with your dog. The scene flashed of a young Yeosang playing with your dog in the exact same place. He really was part of my childhood. You slowly stepped out, observing them from afar, until your dog ran up to you in excitement.
"y/n, you're awake. How was the food?"
"Yeosang, why are you here?"
"Ah, about that..." He scratched his nape, not sure how to explain everything to you without making you feel overwhelmed, "Mingi called me last night, saying you got too drunk at the company dinner, so I went to pick you up."
You looked down at your dog with a frown, "You didn't have to."
"Well, I had to. I wanted to."
"But, why do all these just now?"
-
"So, you did all that because you were scared?" You quirked an eyebrow at Yeosang, sitting beside him on the couch with your dog sleeping on your lap. "Why were you even scared, Yeosang? We've been dating for a very long time, but you always kept me a secret, you kept controlling me, and you left me hanging."
"I'm really sorry, y/n. You were always this girl who everyone liked, so when you said you liked me, it made me feel so ecstatic, but the thought that other guys could easily steal you scared me so much. That's why I was protective of you, but I didn't realize it became so much that I took your love for granted."
This time, you looked into his eyes, which were filled with regret, and you felt it. "Why didn't you just tell me about this? We could've easily worked it out."
Yeosang sighed, "I didn't know what I was thinking at that time. I messed up and I hurt you; it killed me thinking you'd never forgive me."
But it hurt you more seeing him so broken with the thoughts of losing you, so when you gently wrapped your arms around his neck to pull him closer for a hug, it felt like Yeosang's world became whole again. The way he returned the hug with more force showed how much he craved, missed, and needed that feeling. He missed you so much, it actually hurt.
From then on, Yeosang did everything to prove to you how he changed for the better. He would drive to work and back home, and despite being busy, he still made time to make sure you were safe. He would visit your parents during his free time to help with errands or ask your mother to teach his recipes you loved, and this became a routine until you finally decided to move back with him after thinking about it for a month.ย
One day, you got home from work feeling so drained that you couldn't feel your back anymore from working overtime. Yeosang grabbed your bag from you and removed your shoes when you entered the apartment. You immediately laid down on the bed, not bothering to change your work clothes, and he joined in afterwards. To his surprise, you pulled him closer to your body to make yourself comfortable, as your eyes were about to drift to dreamland.ย
"Am I forgiven now?" Yeosang asked in a hushed tone, not wanting to disturb you.
You groaned tiredly, "Give me a month to think." You could imagine the pout that appeared on his face, and you couldn't help but smile at that.
"That's too long~" A soft whine escaped his lips.
"Are you impatient now?"
"No, sorry." He snuggled closer to your chest, his hair tickling the skin near your neck. "Even if it takes a lifetime, I'll still wait for you."
"What if I say that you're forgiven?"
"I'll still wait for you- wait...really?!"ย
The curl of your lips answered his question, and so he bombarded your face with kisses, causing you to laugh and push him away.
"I'm really going to wife you up right now."
"Hey! Slow down."
Yeosang positioned himself back to where he was earlier, resting his head on your chest while your hands brushed his hair softly. "I'm going to take my time with you, treat you better, and be the best man for you because that's how my mom raised me." He suddenly kissed your shoulder, "Who knows, you'll become a great mom too someday."
"Yeosang!" You felt your cheeks heat up, flustered by the idea, but he only laughed at your reaction, faking a pained expression at your reaction.ย
"I was being genuine."
"You're so silly."
"I love you too."
"Really? Then go give me a nice massage."
"Yes, ma'am." Yeosang quickly sat up on the bed and positioned himself behind you, ready to deliver what you'd asked for. "Anything you want."ย
You quirked an eyebrow at him playfully, "Oh, so now you do what I tell you to do?"ย
"As long as it means I won't lose you again, I would do anything to satisfy you, love."
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
genre: manager!seonghwa x manager!reader, office romance au, co-workers, angst with a mix of humor + fluff, fem!reader
word count: 7.6k
โคท synopsis: Who would've thought that meeting him at a co-worker's wedding would lead to opening your heart again?
a/n: another rewritten story because why not!
๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐๐
Weddings really weren't your thing; nonetheless, you definitely wouldn't miss your friend's special day. Today, Hongjoong was going to be newly wedded, and you were there to celebrate it as a good friend and co-worker of his for four years.
"Congratulations on your wedding, Mr. &ย Mrs.ย Kim." You turned to your friend's wife beside him and whispered, "You look beautiful, sweetheart."
She giggled at your compliment. "Thank you, y/n. You look stunning yourself, it wouldn't be a surprise if any of our guests found you attractive."
As if on cue, one of Hongjoong's friends came up to him and gave him a hug to congratulate him on his wedding. You glanced over at the man, andย damn, he was young, fine, tall, and absolutely stunning. You returned your attention back to the bride until Hongjoong called your name.
"y/n, have you met Seonghwa?" Hongjoong gestured towards his friend, who lent his hand for you to shake. "He's one of the marketing managers of our company alongside Yunho and Jongho."
You had just remembered how big the company you're working for actually was because despite working in the same building as him, you have yet to meet with the man personally like this until now. You've definitely heard of his name before and seen him around the building, but never this close. You do admit that he's one undeniably good-looking man with a great physique and all. It wouldn't be of any surprise if the ladies in the room had their attention on him; you too would be staring.
"I've heard of the name." You took his hand and gave him a formal handshake, but before you could pull away, he brought your hand up towards his lips and placed a gentle kiss on the back like a gentleman.
"y/n's also one of the HR managers alongside San and Yeosang," Hongjoong added in between the conversation.
Seonghwa knew you. In fact, he had been keeping an eye on you ever since you both crossed paths last week when Yunho had a talk with you about important matters. There was something about your professionalism and aura that drew him in to you.
"Pleasure to meet you, y/n."
"Likewise, Seonghwa."
After a few more seconds, he finally let go of your hand. The newlyweds excused themselves from the two of you to go talk to their other guests, leaving you alone with the handsome rich man beside you.
[ 1 hour ago...ย ]
Earlier that night at the reception, you were busy engaging in a conversation with your best friend, Yeosang, and his friend, Wooyoung, from the sales department.
"Wooyoung's got the brain, but I sure do have the looks." Yeosang shrugged with confidence.
You tittered, and Yeosang turned to you, offended. "Yeah, right." Swirling your wine glass around lightly, you stared at the distance.
There was a moment of silence before the wine glass was removed from your hand by Wooyoung, and you looked up at him in confusion. "Whatโ"
Yeosang didn't even let you finish your sentence when he suddenly pushed you towards the middle of the room where other young women gathered. Soon enough, you realized that it was now time for the awaited bouquet toss by the bride, which you honestly didn't want to participate in.
You turned to the two men standing in the same place and gave them a look askance, only to receive teasing grins in return. They have to treat you to a meal someday as a reward for this because there's no way you're doing this without anything in return, and they knew you didn't like these things.
The audience started to cheer louder, and the room was filled with excitement, which brought you back to your current situation. The bride got ready to toss the bouquet backwards, and the other women got ready as well, except for you. Instead of attempting to catch the bouquet, you just stood behind, watching as one of them happily caught it. You clapped for the person and immediately returned to your previous place with your friends. Without speaking a word, you took back your wine glass from Wooyoung and drank the remainder of it.
"You didn't even try," Yeosang commented.
"Nothing worth trying for."
Little did you know that somewhere amongst the crowd was a pair of intriguing eyes following you since they first saw you during the ceremony.
[ end. ]
"So, how's work in the HR department?" Seonghwa asked as he grabbed a glass of champagne from the table nearby. "I heard from Hongjoong that work has been quite packed there lately."
You crossed your arms and leaned on the wall behind you. "Work is fine, like usual, just managing the employees' tasks and sorting a handful of files, though he's not wrong. We've been getting a lot of applications, so we're trying to get it done as soon as possible," you answered. "How's work in the marketing department? San told me that the sales increased like crazy because of the managers."
He chuckled in amusement before replying to your question, "Well, it's quite fun actually. More laughter than pressure, especially when you have Yunho in your team." He took a sip of his wine. "Regarding the increase in sales, it was both an unexpected and also expected result. It wasn't our plan to show our faces in the product advertisement, but the CEO thought that Yunho, Jongho, and I would make a good image of the company if we did. So, there's that." He ended his explanation with a shrug.
"I understand why the sales would increase," you muttered to yourself, which didn't go unheard by Seonghwa, and he smiled at your remark.
"I guess I'll see you around the company then?"
"Sure, that'll be great."
Seonghwa finally bid you goodbye and went to join his friends at one of the tables across the room. It was nice talking to him tonight, but you were afraid of the possibilities of the 'what ifs' with him. You were afraid of history repeating itself, and as much as you felt intimidated by his presence alone, the pride you had managed to build for yourself wouldn't allow you to look weak in front of him. Lowering your pride wasn't something you'd do for a man.
You just have to watch out for those intriguing eyes.
-
"I think I got all the necessary information from you, which ends our interview. We'll give you a call for any update, so just stay hopeful for now." You clicked your pen closed. "Thank you for making it here today, Ms. Choi. You may leave the room now." You stood up from your seat as the applicant thanked you and left the meeting room.
Finally, you finished interviewing the last applicant for the day. It was your task to interview applicants, whereas San was in charge of evaluating the employees' work performance in the company, as well as their compliance with the policies. He was one intimidating evaluator, making most of the employees nervous whenever he checked up on them. On the other hand, Yeosang was in charge of conducting trainings for employees and handling the onboarding process of the new hires.
It was already time to clock out for the day. With Yeosang's arm resting around your shoulders, the two of you made your way towards the lobby. This was your daily routine with him, as he was your ride home and, at the same time, your roommate. If it weren't for his humor, intelligence, and willingness to share a room with you, he would've been kicked out of the apartment a long time ago. With that being said, you're stuck with him for who knows how long.
To both your and Yeosang's surprise, San appeared from behind, wrapping his arms around the two of you. "Hello, my favorite people."
Yeosang flinched, bringing a hand up on his chest to calm himself down while San laughed merely at him. You turned around to face San properly only to catch two familiar faces approaching him: Mingi from the finance department and Seonghwa.
San pulled you and Yeosang closer, but the latter removed himself from the former's arms in annoyance. "Lies, we all know your favorite is Mingi," Yeosang huffed, fixing the rolled sleeves of his buttoned-up shirt.
"He is Seonghwa's favorite, for your information. Besides, I give you free food most of the time, so be thankful for me before I bite you," San threatened, and Yeosang immediately clung onto him.
You shook your head at their playful banter. "What's the occasion anyway?"
"The three of us are going out for dinner, and since I'm such a good friend, I'm inviting you two to join us. The more, the merrier. You guys down?" San pointed towards Seonghwa's direction. "His treat, by the way."
"Lost another bet?" Yeosang asked expectantly, and when San nodded, followed by Mingi's chuckle, he laughed at the confirmation. "Count us in."
You quickly turned to Yeosang, "I haven't even decided yet."
"y/n," Yeosang wrapped an arm around your shoulder, "Do you really think you have a choice?"
"Yesโ"
"No, exactly. You're either coming with us or you're going home alone. You wouldn't turn down free food, would you?"
"I guess not?" You answered unsure.
Not wasting any more time, he led you towards his car while the other three walked to Seonghwa's car since the restaurant was a few minutes away from the company building. Yeosang drove behind Seonghwa, and upon arriving at the place, San was the first one to find a table for the five of you. You waited for Yeosang to exit the car so that you could enter the restaurant together with him. This was why many of the employees would think that the two of you were dating when, in reality, he's more like a brother to you, and the same goes for him.
Mingi sat in between Seonghwa and San on one side of the table, while you and Yeosang sat on the other with Seonghwa sitting across from you, which made it a bit awkward for some reason. So, you tried to save yourself from the embarrassment of staring into his distractingly handsome face. It was just a few minutes of dinner and chitchat, then you could go home and jump straight into the softness of your bed. You were sure Yeosang wouldn't stay long, so you had nothing much to worry about.
Soon enough, you found yourself in a casual conversation with everyone, laughing at their jokes and cringing at the story of Yeosang's encounter with Junghoon, an employee of the research department alongside Hyunwoo, and how Junghoon caught Yeosang spilling his drink on Hyunwoo's table when he came to visit their office. He was lucky that Junghoon was on a lunch break that time and wasn't in the mood to talk about it, so Yeosang had time to clean up the mess as quickly as he could. You could only think of Hyunwoo's reaction if he found out about it. Yeosang would be traumatized.
You were so lost in the conversation that you weren't aware of your surroundings. Yeosang, being his observant self, noticed the way Seonghwa had been glancing at you from time to time, which he wasn't so slick with. You felt a slight nudge from beside you, and Yeosang gestured his head towards the man across from where you were seated. Following his direction, your eyes met Seonghwa's, and he gave you a smile in acknowledgement, although deep down, he was flustered for getting caught by your best friend. Your heart raced a bit at that, but you still managed to return the small action.
You turned back to Yeosang, who had a teasing smirk on his face, and you mouthed, "No." You brought your attention to your unfinished drink and pretended that it was nothing, missing the look Yeosang gave Seonghwa. Pretend all you want, it still doesn't change the fact that the look he gave you wasn't nothing; there was meaning to it.
-
After showing the newly hired girl, Jane, around the building and introducing her to some of the workers you've walked by, you two stopped outside the marketing team's office. "This is the office where you're going to work starting today."
"Thank you for showing me around, miss y/n."
"You're welcome. Let me call on your manager so he can explain to you further about your tasks."
You carefully knocked on the door and waited until someone finally opened it. "Oh, hi." Yunho greeted as soon as he opened the door and saw you standing there with Jane. "You must be the new girl, Jane?"
She nodded. "Yes, sir. That's me, Choi Jane."
He extended his hand to her, which she accepted, and they exchanged a formal handshake. "Great, I'm looking forward to working with you. I'll introduce you to the rest of the team."
As Yunho had opened the door to their office, Seonghwa's voice was suddenly heard from a distance. "Jane?!"
Jane mirrored his reaction, "It's theย Janeย you know."
"Glad you made it to the team." Seonghwa embraced her in a friendly hug.
Pulling away from each other's arms, Jane nudged him playfully, making him laugh. "Learned from the best."ย Even his laugh sounds attractive.
They conversed for a while before moving forward to introduce Jane to the rest of the marketing team, as you and Yunho awkwardly stood near the office door like an audience.
When Jane moved away from Seonghwa, that's when he finally took notice of your presence. "Thanks for showing her around, y/n."
Your hands unknowingly clenched onto the clipboard you'd been holding when he spoke to you for the first time today, "It's my job."
Yunho led Jane inside the office, and Seonghwa followed behind, stopping for a moment to glance back at you still standing there in your previous place. You thought that he was waiting for you to leave, but you realized that you'd been standing there longer than you should have been. Giving him a slight nod to excuse yourself, you began walking away from the office to start your next task of the day.
"y/n." His voice made you stop in your tracks and turn back to face him, who already had his eyes on you.
"Yes?"
"See you at the dinner party tomorrow."
-
You and Yeosang luckily made it to the venue right on time for the dinner party. You would've arrived here earlier if he hadn't fallen asleep in the afternoon, because even after spending hours putting on your dress, which he had picked for you to wear, and getting your makeup and hair done by his own sister, who volunteered to help you look presentable tonight, you still finished preparing before him.
Back at the party, both of you found your table with San and Mingi. The HR and finance managers were grouped at a table, while the sales and marketing managers shared one.
"I'm surprised you two made it on time," Mingi commented upon your arrival.
You brushed off your dress and sat down on your seat between Yeosang and Mingi. "If it wasn't for Yeosang's sister, we'd still be at home."
The event proper happened for the next hour. There was a simple toast for the company's ongoing success, and at the end of the CEO's speech, everyone in the room clicked their glasses together and applauded for him. Seeing the CEO up on stage with all the workers congratulating each other for their hard work and realizing how far you've all come made you grateful for the people you've worked with and the memories that came along with it.ย Here's to more years with the team.
Dinner passed by in the blink of an eye. You were probably just hungry enough that you finished your food quickly. The table you were sitting at was now empty, as the men who were previously eating dinner with you had transferred to the others' tables to chat and drink with them, while you stayed back to rest for a bit and digest the food inside your stomach before moving around. You got lost in your thoughts, thinking about work, monthly bills, and...Seonghwa? No, erase that. Why would you even think of him at a time like this? You should worry about the unopened files in your email.
"Why are you sitting here alone? You should enjoy the party." Yunho came up to you with a concerned look.
You shook your head in refusal. "It's fine, Yunho. I'm not really in the mood to party right now."
He sighed disappointingly, sitting down on the seat beside you and bringing you closer by the shoulder. "Come on, this is a party that doesn't happen often. Why don't you join us over at our table? You'll enjoy it there. Yeosang's about to get tipsy, by the way, so you better stop him or you won't get a ride home."
This is why he's in the marketing department; he's good at attracting and persuading people. You moved back a little and raised an eyebrow at him. "You could've stopped him yourself?"
"I don't take 'no' for an answer, y/n."
Without answering your question, Yunho pulled you up by your wrist towards their table, where Jongho, Yeosang, and Wooyoung were drinking and laughing too loudly at some joke Wooyoung made up. Yunho made you sit beside Yeosang, who unknowingly rested his head on your shoulder as he continued to laugh his head off. Fortunately, he wasn't tipsy yet, and you also wouldn't allow him to drink more.
Looking around the table, you noticed an empty seat beside Yunho's, which you soon figured was Seonghwa's. It was a normal instinct for someone to look for a missing person, and that's exactly what you did. You scanned the room for any sign of his presence, and there he was, standing across the room in all his glory, in a suit that perfectly wrapped around his figure and slicked-back hair that made his handsome face stand out in the crowd more.
It looked like he was talking to someone, and when you peered over where he stood, Jane came into view, and you watched as they conversed comfortably. Similar to how you and Yeosang act around each other, they were continuously laughing at who knows what, and maybe it was the drink kicking in your head, but you somehow felt the weird feeling again along the lines ofย jealousy.
They could be close friends, probably past lovers, or someone who you'll never be. However, even if you deny that feeling, you can't brush off the fact that your mood instantly fell after seeing the scene from afar. You brought your attention back to the table and tried to catch up with Wooyoung's story about...what was it again? Right, his friends back in his hometown. Yunho was laughing so hard that his laughter made you laugh as well, distracting you from your thoughts at least.
"Are you sure it's okay with them?"
"Why wouldn't they be? They're my friends, Jane. They'll understand."
After their fun and friendly conversation, Seonghwa had asked Jane to sit with him and his friends at their table to have more company. But before he could even reach the table, he slowed down his steps to take in the sight of you in your pretty dress that complimented your body and how your hair fell down your shoulders smoothly. You just got back from the restroom and sat back down beside Yeosang, joining in the fun, which you found yourself enjoying. You looked simply stunning in his eyes, gazing over you to admire your beauty amongst the crowd.
Jane had already reached the table and turned back to catch Seonghwa's distracted self. It's not the chase he loved, but you as a person and the thrill that you bring to his heart whenever and wherever he sees you. Seonghwa may look intimidating, but he's a warm-hearted friend and lover behind his looks. Only if you weren't so in denial with your feelings, would this somewhat mutual connection have progressed into something more than just stolen glances.
-
San managed to successfully ask you to fetch him coffee from the break room because you had a longer break time today while he had to do his usual duties. You only ever go to the break room either during lunch or snack break, but not much in the early morning. Not that you were expecting anyone to be in the room at this time, but you didn't think you'd coincidentally find Seonghwa in the same room as you after last night at the dinner party.
He stood by the coffee machine, currently in the middle of making himself coffee. He turned to you when you entered the room and was about to greet you, only to be greeted by silence and your body passing by on its own. Although you really didn't mean to ignore him like this, your pride was hurt, and you were aware that you had no valid reason to act this way towards him. Clearly, there was nothing going on between the two of you, and you even kept denying your feelings, so what is this?
You sat down on the sofa waiting for him to finish his turn on the machine so you could use it to make San's coffee afterwards. Seonghwa moved to the side with his finished coffee, so you proceeded to make your way to the machine this time until his question made you halt.
"Why are you ignoring me?" he asked with little optimism, and you could only hum in response.
From your peripheral view, you noticed that he was looking right at you and waiting for a concrete explanation. You didn't answer; you couldn't. This wasn't the right time to disclose your unclear emotions to him. It will only lead him on and hurt him with the idea that the special connection between you two ended before it even started.
"I asked you a question."
"I'm not ignoring you."ย Typical.
"You were."
"Sorry then."
"y/n." he called your name in a more serious tone.
Not wanting to deal with this at this early time, you continued making the coffee. Having to wait for it to actually finish, you realized that you were stuck with him alone in this room with nowhere to run or hide, just the consequences of having to face him. You stood in silence in front of the counter and avoided his gaze as much as possible, only for your body to be spun in a quick motion by his strong hold on your shoulders. There he stood in front of you, observing you with a serious look.
"What did I do wrong?" He questioned you.
"Nothing," you replied, turning your head to the side as if to check on the coffee's progress.
You can hear a sarcastic scoff from him, and even though you knew how he was slowly becoming impatient, you still couldn't get the courage to confront him about the whole thing. "Then why are you acting like this? I don't remember you being like this with me, y/n."
You let out a sigh, "I'm just not in the mood, okay?" The more he questioned you, the more you lost your own patience, but you had to keep it together, at least for a few more minutes.
"Is it because of me?"ย Yes, it's all because of you.
"No." you denied once again.
The room became silent. No further questions were asked, just your breath combined with his, and you wondered what his next move was. Well, this wasn't what you had expected to happen at all. Seonghwa moved his body closer, causing you to back away and hit your lower back against the counter behind you. You rested your hands on top of the counter to try and move back further away from him, if that was even possible, yet he still trapped you between his body and the counter with his long arms.
"What are you doing, Seonghwa?"
This time, he didn't respond to your question to see how you would react if he did the same thing. He brought his face closer to yours to tease you, his breath fanning over your face, making you instinctively close your eyes shut.
A chuckle left his lips after seeing your cute reaction. "I was just messing with you, y/n."
Unbelievable.ย He thought it was funny, whereas you thought otherwise as you glared at him. Angry wasn't the right term, and neither was annoyed, but you were disappointed when he said that. "If that's the case, then let me go."
He didn't. Seonghwa kept your body in place between his arms, studying every detail of your appearance closely. His eyes landed on your rosy lips, and he imagined how they would feel on his own. To put it simply, he wanted to kiss you on the spot. As for you, you blamed him when your eyes went to his lips momentarily before looking back up at his busy eyes. He returned the eye contact, and this little interaction brought weird butterflies in your stomach. Moreover, your breath hitched when he finally responded, "You know, you looked extra beautiful last night."
Tension arose, his enticing lips distracting you from the meaning behind his simple words. 'Thank you' is usually the appropriate response to compliments like that, yet you did something no one had expected you to do at all, not even yourself. Either it was the building tension or the lack of space, you had no idea where you got the confidence to cup his face with both hands and bring him closer to you until your lips crashed. His eyes widened at the sudden action but immediately melted into the kiss like sugar melting into coffee as he closed his eyes to savor the moment better.
Two pairs of lips dance together in an empty room with forgotten coffee. Your arms found their way around his neck to bring him even closer than before, while his hands rested on your waist. This exchange made you lose track of time. Your mind was just full of him, his lips, his touch, and the emotions he released from it. Neither of you wanted to let go. If possible, you two could stay that way for as long as you want, living in the moment and forgetting all the problems in the world. Sadly, there is an end to everything that starts.
The coffee machine made a noise, which meant that the coffee you made had finished. Despite Younghoon's attempts to keep you steady by putting pressure on your waist to make you stay, you still pulled back from the kiss and pushed his body away from your chest just enough for you to make your way towards the said machine. His gaze followed you and watched as you finished preparing the coffee, which was your intention here in the first place. There were only a few seconds left until you completely finished, and he could only stand there with mixed feelings. He didn't have the courage to ask you to stay; he couldn't, and he had no right to.
"You're leaving now?" Seonghwa spoke up before you could exit the break room.
Even after what had happened a few seconds ago, you answered without sparing him a glance. "I have to take this to San and go back to work." And just like that, you left him standing there in the room with his longing heart that wanted to chase you and get back to your unfinished business.
You blamed San for putting you in this situation because this would've never happened if you hadn't crossed paths with Seonghwa at the break room. The coffee didn't even feel hot anymore for you as the warmth went straight to your heart.
He only hoped that you wouldn't turn cold towards him just like his now cold coffee.
-
Yeosang, your best friend and roommate of almost 4 years, noticed something different. Not only him, but even Mingi felt the unusual tension radiating from you. They thought of every possible reason for it, but Yeosang only came up with one, and that was being aย man,ย one from the other department specifically.
He remembered San asking you to make his coffee the other day and you returning to the office a few minutes later in a bothered mood as if something had happened in the break room while you were there. Moreover, he knew too well that Seonghwa always went there to feed his daily caffeine consumption. Put two pieces together; there's only one way to confirm the assumption.
"You've been feeling down since you brought San's coffee the other day, y/n. Does this perhaps have something to do with Seonghwa?"
"What? No." You grimaced at his question.
"You sure?" Mingi added.
"Yes, I'm sure."
"Like, really sure?" Yeosang moved closer towards you until there was almost no space left.
"I just lack sleep, that's all." You kept denying their assumptions obstinately, not in the mood to talk or think about the said incident.
Yeosang tutted in disappointment; he didn't believe your words because he was your roommate, obviously. He knew that you sleep earlier than him, and he didn't think you lacked sleep either. "Don't come at us one day and say, 'Surprise, I'm dating Park Seonghwa,' because I'm not taking it."
"Listen, Yeo." you started in a convincing tone, "I don't date; I work."
You, Yeosang, and Mingi were at the break room taking a snack break and having this uncalled conversation. The two men, who you're unfortunately stuck with, continued to pester you with questions about the situation Yeosangย assumedย in hopes of getting you to spill the truth.
"So you're saying that those stolen glances mean nothing to you?"
You shrugged defensively. "I don't think it means anything to either of us; it could just be a coincidence."
Not when they keep happening; they aren't.
"You're smart." Yeosang stood up from his seat with a cola can in hand. "But, somehow, oblivious."
You weren't oblivious. In fact, you kissed Seonghwa in this very room you are in right now.
"Lower your pride, y/n. That pride of yours will only hurt you when it gets too much." Mingi stood up as well and cleaned up the trash on the table.
You acted as if you were listening to them boredly, but their words made you ponder the situation at hand. There was some pride inside your heart that pulled you back from taking the opportunity of trying things with Seonghwa, and it wasn't something you could easily control.
Walking through the hallways of the building, you passed by the marketing team's office until someone caught your attention. Seonghwa stood outside the door with Yunho beside him, patting his back to calm him down. There you noticed the angry look on Seonghwa's face, but you had no idea what could've been the reason behind it.
Seonghwa rubbed his forehead out of frustration, and as soon as he looked up, the first person he set his eyes on was you. You stiffened at his intimidating gaze, and, as much as you wanted to leave, it was still your duty as an HR manager to resolve any conflicts among the employees. You had to be professional on company grounds, so you calmly walked up to the two marketing managers.
"What seems to be the problem here?"
Yunho opened his mouth to respond but was immediately cut off by Seonghwa's deep glare towards him. "I think Seonghwa should explain this to you himself." Yunho managed to speak out before going back into their office.
"What's the issue?" you asked once again.
Seonghwa huffed and averted his eyes. "It's between my team and me. Just go back to work."
"And it's my job to fix whatever this conflict is, so please explain," you retorted, moving to his view.
Seconds of silence passed, and seeing that neither of you were going to give in, he sighed in defeat and gestured his head to the other end of the hallway you two were standing in.
"Let's talk in the break room."
He led the way towards the oh-so familiar room, where things that weren't meant to happen happened, and you followed behind him. Upon entering the said room, you sat down on the couch across from where he stood, and soon, he sat down on the couch across from you.
"Talk when you are ready," you told him as you sat firmly on your seat, arms crossed over your chest.
Seonghwa leaned back on his seat and turned to you with a serious look. "That Bea girl from the marketing team, do you know her personally?"
"She's an old high school classmate of mine. Why'd you ask?"
He laughed incredulously. "Who does she think she is to make such comments about you?" He muttered to himself, yet you still heard him in that quiet room.
You were taken aback by his sudden question. You didn't expect him to say anything like that, especially something that involved you. "What does this have to do with me?"
"I know this isn't my place to react like this because we haven't even had a proper conversation for a week now." He paused momentarily, contemplating whether he should just spill what's bothering him or not. "She called you inappropriate names, and I wasn't having it."
Admittedly, you appreciated him for standing up for you behind your back, but you had to be professional with the matter. "I appreciate the concern, Seonghwa, but she's still a good member of your team, and her words won't affect me at all, whatever they may be, so you should move on from this." Noticing his lack of response, you added, "If there's nothing else you'll add on, then let's call this a day." You checked the time on your watch. "We're clocking out in about an hour."
As you stood up from your seat, ready to leave, Seonghwa finally asked the question that had been running through his head since the kiss you shared with him in this same room. "Did you mean it?"
"Mean what?"
He looked up at you directly in the eyes. "The kiss, did it mean anything to you?" He enunciated his words so that you could remember what he was trying to say.
Yes, it did mean something to you as much as it did to him. However, you couldn't tell him that. Not at this time, at least. "We're at work; we shouldn't talk about this." You were clearly avoiding talking about what had happened that day.
Seonghwa sneered at your response, "No difference with kissing me at the break room."
"Let's not mix work with personal affairs," you dismissed, proceeding to leave the room to escape from the tension that was rising.
-
"What took you so long?" Yeosang asked as soon as you entered the office an hour after the break, catching the bothered expression on your face again.
"Had to talk to some workers about a misunderstanding."
"Alright..." He trailed off, staring at you suspiciously. "I have to go meet up with someone, but don't worry, I can ask Seonghwa to drive you back home."
"It's fine, Yeo. I can take the bus." You instantly refused the idea, not wanting to be near Seonghwa any more today.
You weren't sure if Yeosang had asked Seonghwa specifically because he suspected something was going on between you two, or if Seonghwa was simply the only person he knew who drives their car to work. What you were sure of is that you were taking a bus or a taxi back home to the apartment.
You clocked out after a few minutes, exiting the building with your bag and heading your way to the nearby bus stop when an unknown car stopped in front of you, alarming you of a possible danger. The window rolled down to reveal none other than Seonghwa, the owner of the said car. He had one arm resting on the window on his side with his fingers playing with his fringe, while the other rested on the steering wheel.
With a serious tone, he commanded, "Get in."
You tutted at his boldness, "Thanks for the offer, but I'd rather take the bus."
"Yeosang's order, get in. I'm bringing you home."
You stood your ground to see if he'd give up on you, but seeing that he had no plans to leave and remembering that Yeosang would definitely scold you if you didn't listen to him, you were left with no choice but to comply and get inside the passenger seat of the man's expensive car. Seonghwa waited until you fully wore your seatbelt, then started the drive back to your apartment.
The ride home was silent all throughout, and you were spacing out so much that you didn't notice you had arrived outside the apartment. You unbuckled your seatbelt and waited for him to unlock the car doors, which he did not do. Not wanting to start an argument again, you just sat there in silence with your hands on top of your bag, waiting until he decided to let you out of there.
Seonghwa, on the other hand, only turned to look outside the window with no words being spoken. He was contemplating whether to bring up the topic earlier at the break room or not talk about it any further, but he did anyway because there might not be any other time for this conversation to happen.
"What does this mean to you, y/n?"
"I don't know..."
You heed the way his fists clench around the steering wheel, making the atmosphere gloomy and tense.
"The kiss, the glancesโdo they not mean anything to you at all?" He continued to try until he got the answer or confirmation he needed from you.
"They do." You admitted it, and there was the answer he needed.
Turning to face you, he observed your expression. "Then, why does it seem like they don't? Like it was just the spur of the moment. Do you even have feelings for me, or were all those signs just lies?"
"It's just..." You redirected your gaze to the front, still avoiding his desperate eyes.
"Just what?"
You wouldn't deny that your feelings and the signs you gave him were vague because you were timid with regard to romance.
[ 6 years ago ]
Taking a deep breath, you mustered the courage to confront the man with whom you had a mutual connection. It's been half a year since the two of you agreed to be in an unofficial relationship, so you wanted to ask him today about being official.
Hongjoong was a busy man, very busy, and barely had time for you or his studies, but you loved him. You admired his skills, interests, and personality; almost everything about him was admirable. He was merely a classmate of yours during your 3rd year of college until one day, he courted you out of the blue, and it progressed from there. It started out great; you loved each day you spent with him, but those days slowly became gray.
"Hey, Hongjoong." You called for him when he bade his friends goodbye.
"Oh, y/n, need anything?"
"Can I ask you something?" You felt your hands trembling inside your pockets.
"Sure, ask away," he assured you with a smile.
"Um...so, you know how we have had this thing going on for six months already?" You see him quirk an eyebrow in anticipation. "When do we make it official, or do you even plan on making us official?"
He sighed, which made your heart break a little. "y/n, I'm sorry. Can we not talk about this here? Maybe next time when I'm not busy anymore."
"No, Hongjoong. I need an answer from you; one word is enough."
Seeing your serious look at him, he chose to make things clear with you and end this problem of yours once and for all. "Sorry," Hongjoong calmly said. "Sorry, y/n. I loved you, okay? It's just that my feelings for you felt forced at some point, and my schedule isn't helping. We barely even get along; you're always in my space, and it's really annoying now."
"Then, why didn't you let me go?" He could hear the sadness in your voice. "You could've stopped this stupid thing we have, so I wouldn't have to waste my tears for someone who didn't love me anymore."
"I loved you; I'm justโ"
"Thank you for your time, Hongjoong. I have to go home. See you around, I guess."
Since then, you have tried your best not to engage with agreements that involved feelings. You focused on your studies, graduated, applied for a job, and prioritized your work to be financially stable and give yourself the life you deserve.
[ End. ]
"y/n, I swearโ"
"I'm just scared, okay?" You cut him off. "I'm scared of what you'll think of me when you get to know my true side. You'll eventually lose feelings for me because we don't get along, and since you're a busy man, I'll only be a nuisance to you. I don't want to risk being hurt again; you probably even like Jane more."
You were rambling, but he scoffed in return, "And then there is me, always waiting for you. Jane is just my college friend; plus, Yunho and she literally like each other, and they're using me to set them up."
Gently, you placed your hand on top of his, which was now resting on his lap, and enclosed it. "I'm sorry for making it seem like I played you. I was only confused with my feelings, especially since we've only started getting to know each other not too long ago. I don't think I can be good enough for you. I don'tโ" Your words were cut off when he removed his hand from your hold, gently cupped your cheek with it, and pulled you in for a kiss.
Like sugar, you melted into the warm kiss, and your arms found their way to rest around his broad shoulders. This felt surreal. No, this was something you never thought would happen to you with a co-worker. If someone told you that you would kiss Seonghwa at some point in your life, you'd only laugh at them ridiculously. Well, are you laughing now?
Seconds turned into minutes, and after he pulled away from you, the two of you stared into each other's eyes, searching for any sign of sincerity or mutual feelings. It was there; you felt it. All your worries faded into thin air. He was able to make the doubt of your past disappear from your heart.
"You don't have to be afraid anymore." Seonghwa loved you even when there was darkness in your heart and there were stars in your eyes from the reflection of the city lights outside, making you shine. "I won't let it happen to you. I know it hasn't been long since we've casually met other than at company dinners, but I'm glad I met you. I hope you remember that."
"But what if I can't give you what you want?"
"Don't think like that, because what matters to me is that I get to have you, love you, and hope that you are my future." He caressed your cheek one more time, bringing your foreheads to each other, then planted a quick kiss on your lips. "It's getting late; I'll drop you off at your room."
-
"Oh, Seonghwa. What are you doing here?" San asked when the man in question entered the office, which you share with San and Yeosang.
You were currently busy with paperwork, which you wanted to get over with before lunch break, so you furrowed your eyebrows at Seonghwa, who was casually making his way to you.
"Just came by to check on my girlfriend." Seonghwa placed both his hands on top of your desk, his words shocking everyone in the room, including yourself.
His choice of word caught you off guard, as you hadn't expected him to call or label you as such. From behind the tall figure standing in front of you, San quirked an eyebrow in need of an explanation, whereas Sunwoo gave you his usual teasing smirk.
You rolled your eyes at the latter, "We're not together."
"Not yet," Seonghwa enunciated to correct your statement.
Both your friends widened their eyes in shock, momentarily exchanging looks before Yeosang curled his lips when you didn't reply to the previous claim, "Seonghwa must beย thatย guy. Huh, y/n?"
Seonghwa glanced at your reaction, then turned to him confused, "What do you mean?"
"She told us she doesn't date, but here she is," San explained.
"Hey, I already said that he and I are not dating."
"Yet," Yeosang shook his head disappointingly, "As I said before, I'm not going to take it if you two end up together because you kept denying your feelings for him. After all these years, all it took was for Seonghwa to come into the picture to make you open your heart again, and my best friend will move in with him and leave me all alone with the apartment bills andโ"
San placed a finger before his lips to shush him. "Don't worry, Yeosang. You can move in with me; I have a better place anyway."
Yeosang hugged San excitedly, "This is why you're my favorite."
"I thought I was your favorite." You frowned, a bit hurt that your roommate and best friend replaced you with your other friend.
Yeosang looked you up and down in disgust. "Guess what, not anymore. We'll leave you two alone, you disgusting people."
You scoffed jokingly, "You're just jealous."
"Okay, stop exposing me." Everyone finally broke into laughter at the scenario. "San and I are going now, for real this time." The two left the room with San still trying to calm himself down from laughing so much.
As soon as the door closed, Seonghwa turned his attention back to your busy state and waited patiently until you finished your work. You were too focused on typing away on our screen when he noticed a piece of hair fall on your face, which he tucked behind your ear on your behalf. You just realized how much you loved the feeling of having someone care and do little things for you, and it was definitely a great start to something.
Although you and he weren't officially together yet because you wanted to really build a strong connection with him before committing, you were grateful to have him by your side, and so was he. He's got nothing but love and support for you, even from a distance, falling more for you each day that passes.
You may not have caught the bouquet during Hongjoong's wedding reception, but he couldn't wait for the day that you'd be the one throwing it while he stands at the side and stares at you with a look of love.ย If two people can't stay away from each other, maybe they aren't meant to be apart.
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
genre: senior!hongjoong, college au, fake dating, humor, fluff, fem!reader
word count: 5.8k
โคท What started as a one-time thing ended up being something more than you'd expected from an unexpected neighbor.
a/n: I have decided to rewrite some of my older posts and revised it a bit, nothing too personal
๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐๐
It hasn't even been a month since you moved into your new apartment near the university where you're currently studying. Wanting to pursue liberal arts at a prestigious university in the city meant that you had to move away from your family for a few years and visit them during vacations, but it wasn't that bad. At first, it wasn't.
As each day passed by, you missed your dog more and more, until even your friends noticed it. Whenever you visited Wooyoung's house for school projects, you'd always play with his dog. Even so, it wasn't the same without Mochi, your family's dog.
She was like a younger sister to you, and the pictures weren't enough to make you feel better, as they couldn't compare to being with her, but there was nothing you could do about it. Feeling down at the start of the semester was obviously not a good thing, especially with the added challenge of adjusting to your new apartment.ย
-
One weekend, you decided to go for a walk and buy some snacks on the way back. As soon as you closed the door of your apartment behind you, you heard fast footsteps running along the hallway.
Could you believe it? It's a dog! A small white fluffy dog. The dog stopped beside your leg and, all of a sudden, wagged its tail at you. It seems like the dog wanted to be carried, as it started to jump on you, so you did exactly that, failing to resist his cuteness.
"Hello~ You're so cute; where's your owner?" You softly asked as you carried the dog in your arms.
Just in time, a man came running into the hallway where you were. "Rami!" The dog wagged his tail excitedly after hearing the name, which you assumed was his, since she reacted that way.
The man saw you and stopped in his tracks, noticing how Rami seemed to be comfortable in your arms despite not knowing who you were. At the same time, Hongjoong questioned why Rami allowed you to carry him, knowing how picky his dog was with people.
"Oh, is he your dog?" you asked, and when he responded with a nod, you immediately returned Rami to his owner. "Sorry about that. He suddenly ran towards me and asked to be carried, so I did."
"It's fine; I do apologize if he ever bothered you. He ran away from me when I wasn't looking, but I'm glad he ended up with you because it would've been a problem if it was someone else." He scratched his nape awkwardly. "I guess I'll see you around." The man gave you a slight nod before proceeding to enter the apartment room beside yours. He didn't bother to ask for your name nor introduce himself, and you didn't even know he was your neighbor. Honestly, he didn't have to, and neither do you.
You knew who he was. Of course you do. That man wasย theย Kim Hongjoong who everyone swoons over, and you too fell victim to his charms once. He was that one senior who was good at sports, and him being one year older than you made it even more interesting. Not until an awkward incident happened two years ago when he accidentally bumped into you in the school's corridor and put the blame on you, even though you were the one struggling to pick up your fallen books from the ground. You started to see him differently after you witnessed how poorly he treated some of his juniors, but that was years ago.
Everyone moved on; what could go wrong this time?
Now that the hallway was empty, you remembered why you were out in the first place. But then, your mind drifted back to Rami and how much he reminded you of Mochi. Staring at the door where your neighbor had entered, you contemplated whether to knock or move along with your initial plans for today. You know what, perhaps your walk can wait a little longer.
You took a deep breath before knocking gently on the door in front of you, and you immediately heard barking from inside. In not more than 30 seconds, the door was opened by Hongjoong with Rami in his arms to prevent him from escaping again.
"Can I help you?"
"Can I pet your dog?" you asked too quickly.
"Excuse me?" He quirked an eyebrow at your sudden question, no warning whatsoever.
You realized the straightforwardness of your question by how he looked taken aback by it, so you tried to explain to him your intentions. "Ah, sorry. I just miss my dog back in my hometown, and I'm kind of dog-deprived right now."
Dog-deprived?ย He thought it sounded ridiculous. First of all, the two of you weren't closeโdefinitely far from closeโso why should he let you? Sure, you can pet his dog, but not when both of you are standing by the doorway, and no way would he allow you to take Rami to your apartment. With the way you stared at his dog with desperation in your eyes, he had no choice but to decide. It would be unfair of him to turn a blind eye to your feelings; thus, for this one-time thing, he sighed disappointedly at himself.
"You're lucky my friends aren't coming over today," Hongjoong stated, only to receive no response from you. "Come in; you have about an hour to pet him while I do some chores and keep an eye on you."
A rude tone came from him, like the Hongjoong you met a few years ago. Still, an hour was better than nothing, and within that hour, you and Rami got along pretty easily. What he thought was a one-time thing of you coming over to his apartment to play with his dog became a thrice-a-week visit for a whole month. The question was, why did he allow things to become this way? Hongjoong wasn't a heartbreaker who'd play with someone's feelings. He got along with most of the people he met around the university, except he liked you less.
It's no lie that Hongjoong had grown used to your constant visits to his apartment, especially when Rami seemed to enjoy your presence a lot. Hopefully, not more than his; that would hurt his ego. "Don't you think you're coming here too often?" He asked as he entered the living room, where you and Rami played around together.
You hummed in response, adjusting your position on the couch to make yourself comfortable with his dog resting on your lap. "Dog-deprived."
Hongjoong tutted at your short answer, giving you a look of displeasure. "Unbelievable." How can you act so comfortable around him like this as if you two haven't only started seeing each other here at his apartment for a month? You hadn't even exchanged a casual conversation with him.
And for some odd reason, he saw you more often at the university now, or maybe he was only starting to notice your existence instead of considering you as a random passerby. Technically, you were, but you stood out more to him just recently. He still hated you, however, because Rami already seemed to like you more than him, which he verified when Rami followed you to the restroom but didn't move when he did. If he knew that his own dog would eventually replace him with a random woman he had only met for a few weeks, he wouldn't have let you into his apartment in the first place.
Hongjoong hoped you'd stop visiting him after this.
-
Classes ended early today. Your friends decided to watch the basketball team practice at the school's basketball court, and, of course, that included Hongjoong. He's one of the best players on the team alongside Yunho, your classmate from Literature, and Seonghwa, Hongjoong's classmate and the official team captain.
Throughout their practice, you barely paid attention to the actual game. Your phone seemed more interesting than some guys running around tossing a ball in their sweat. Your lovely friends, Jihan and Somin, thought otherwise. You hear them squealing excitedly whenever anyone from Seonghwa's team scores a point, mostly just Seonghwa and Yunho, not that you were paying attention anyway. The practice ended well in favor of Seonghwa's team, which wasn't a surprise for anyone at this point.
As you exited the court, you were suddenly reminded of something when Yunho followed behind and waved at your group minutes ago. You explained to your friends how you had asked him to be your fake date for the school's annual party next week for the sole reason of proving to your annoying rival, Song Mingi, that you did have dating skills and you were not just someย socially awkward person who's stuck to either their phone or a book like the liberal arts nerd you areโhis words, not yours. Yunho refused to be involved because both of you act like siblings, and playing as your date would make things very weird, which your friends agreed on.
Unbeknownst to you, a nosy Hongjoong had overheard your conversation on his way out. He didn't have any plans on interacting with you on university grounds, even though you'd been coming over to his place for a while now, especially not with your friends around, but where's the fun in that when he now has knowledge about this rival of yours?
"I'm personally offended that you didn't get me to be your fake date."
Hongjoong's voice from behind startled you, and it made you feel extremely embarrassed that he, a senior, was aware of your childish 'fake dating' scheme just to show another college student, who seemed to be your rival of some sort, that you could date real people rather than just material things. Hongjoong also thought that Mingi could mind his own business, but that's just his opinion.
Somin was reminded of the famous incident you shared with Hongjoong, making her instantly glare towards the man in question. Jihan, on the other hand, gave him a questioning look. "I thought you hated y/n, Hongjoong."
He only shrugged. "I mean, your friend here has been coming over to my apartment for what? Over three months? I might as well joke along with her."
Your friends turned their heads quickly to you, both with a look of confusion and in need of an explanation. Let's just say that you may or may not have told them about your visits to your neighbor's apartment, as you thought it wasn't much of a big deal. It was now, all thanks to Hongjoong.
"The offer's still up if you really do need a fake date." He sent a teasing wink your way before leaving your friend group alone.
Both Jihan and Somin quirked an eyebrow at you. "You got some explaining to do, miss l/n."
-
"Are you sure you came here just to visit Rami, or are you here to talk about the offer?" Hongjoong leaned against the doorframe with an expectant look.
You glanced down at your feet momentarily in flusteredness because, once again, you came up to him to help solve your own problem. Raising your head to face him, he gestured for you to speak up. "This is embarrassing, but fine. Yes, I came here to visit Ramiย andย talk about the offer."
He only mentioned the offer to tease you, so for you to take it up for real was unexpected. Sitting across from each other on his couch with Rami on your lap, you explained clearly to him your relationship with Mingi. It started during the first year, when Mingi shared a course with you, and from then, you felt mutual rivalry with himโa prideful competition.
Around the second year, you had stopped interacting with the man and minded your own business, whereas he continued to provoke you in any way possible. You had pride, yes, but you didn't have the courage to tell him off and put him in his place. Now that you've thought about it, Hongjoong's offer could give you the chance to do that.
If someone told him that a junior of his, let alone of the opposite sex, would be sitting in his living room and sharing their personal problems with him, he'd laugh so hard as if it were the funniest thing he'd heard. However, his thoughts were dissolved by the serious look on your face, eyebrows furrowed at the mention of the person you wanted to prove wrong as your hands gently stroked Rami's body.
The Hongjoong from the past would definitely laugh and wave you off, but he's changed. He wasn't the same man who blamed you and didn't think of helping you get up despite being the one who bumped into you first; that wasn't him anymore. So, with the small portion of kindness in his heart for you, he decided to help you out, half out of fun and half out of genuine concern.
Just how much did Mingi bother you that you had to go all the way to this situation?
"Okay, so what's the plan?" Hongjoong asked, leaning back on the couch more comfortably. He may have started this 'offer' as a harmful joke, yet he didn't have the heart to confess that to you.
-
Meeting up at the school gates was supposedly the first part of the plan. Hongjoong assumed that you must've forgotten about it as he watched you pass by him with your friends towards the university building. He had arrived earlier for that sole reason because if it wasn't for you, he wouldn't have arrived for another 10 minutes or more.
His gaze followed your figure until you were out of sight, and as soon as he turned around, he was met by his friend's face right in front of him. "Gosh, Seonghwa. You almost scared the hell out of me." Hongjoong put a hand on his chest, caught off guard, while Seonghwa's curled up in amusement.
"You and y/n, huh? Since when?" Hands inside his pocket, Seonghwa questioned with interest.
"Since never," Hongjoong answered like it was a known fact. "Why bring her up anyway? I was looking for your dumb ass."
Seonghwa found it fascinating to see this new side of his friend; it's been a while since he was interested in someone, let alone someone younger than him. With a chuckle, he decided to let it go. He wrapped an arm around Hongjoong, pulling him forward. "Sure, I definitely wasn't watching you from the side and catching you in the act." Hongjoong rolled his eyes at Seonghwa's sarcasm. "You're early today too; that's a first for you, Kim Hongjoong. I wonder what's in this annual party that made you rush."
"Shut up, will you?" Hongjoong pushed him away.
Friends aren't friends for today, it seemed.
-
Together with Jihan and Somin, you sat at your usual table at the cafeteria with nothing but your lunch and a ready heart for whatever comes your way today. That 'whatever' being the man himself, Mingi. Four tables away from yours were Hongjoong and Seonghwa's. Same table, different thoughts. Seonghwa was talking about one thing, while Hongjoong's eyes were searching for another.
"It was so embarrassing, Juyeon even left the room, and...seriously, Hongjoong, what is going on with you? A little context would help, yeah?"
Hongjoong didn't spare him a glance, eyes glued to someone across the room. "I was just looking around; it's nothing to be curious about."
That made Seonghwa even more eager to know what was up with him. "No, you've been eyeing y/n's table long enough for it to be nothing. Come on, man. I'm your friend, you can literally tell me anything. Just don't leave me hanging like this, I hate being curious."
Just then, Hongjoong spotted a man dressed in baggy jeans and a black jacket approaching your table, whom he assumed was Mingi, based on your stories, after seeing your displeased expression.
Seonghwa followed his trail of view. "Context?"
"I'll explain later." Hongjoong stopped him with a hand, having no time for chitchats at the moment.
-
You were peacefully eating your food when Somin let out a huff and rolled her eyes at a certain uninvited guest. With that, you felt someone taking a seat beside you, and you instantly knew who it was by the familiar strong scent of perfume.
"Mingi," Somin called in a serious tone, "Don't do anything stupid, I'm warning you."
Although Mingi was your rival, Somin disliked his guts because of one unfortunate event that happened between them. Jihan was the only one in the friend group who hadn't interacted much with him, and you wouldn't want anything to happen either, so she should take it as a warning not to.
"Don't worry, I won't. I'm just here to see y/n." Mingi's words were friendly yet sarcastic, making you want to wipe off the smirk on his sharp face.
You tutted, "Why are you so obsessed with me?"
Mingi responded with a laugh as he looked around for a sign of a certain someone but failed. "You're so funny, y/n. But unfortunately, I can't do that because you have a date today, right? You said that last time, so where is he? I don't see your prince charming around unless you just made it all up."
So bothersome, you thought. He didn't understand why he was doing it, but the moment Mingi's hand landed on your shoulder, Hongjoong's feet led him towards where you sat with your friends, leaving behind a now nervous Seonghwa, knowing how formidable his friend can get when he is serious.
"Just admit it, y/n. You're only aโ"
"Finish that sentence." A new voice joined in from right behind you, challenging Mingi verbally.
The latter's hand on your shoulder was quickly removed away from you and replaced by two arms trapping you between their chest and the table. Their sudden presence caught you by surprise, even though you and he had just agreed on this whole fake dating plan last week. You just weren't expecting this situation to happen.
Mingi looked up at the person behind you unfazed, but the truth was that he was very amused by the unexpected appearance. He definitely did not expect you to have an actual date for this party, let alone someone well-known in the university.
"Kim Hongjoong? Her date, no?"
"And if I am, would that matter?" Hongjoong quirked an eyebrow at him. "You still haven't done what I told you to do, don't try to change the topic."
With a smirk, Mingi was impressed, to say the least. Hongjoong was known to be this scary senior when serious, but it really wasn't anything to Mingi. He could be as intimidating as the man in front of him just from his appearance alone. At this point, Mingi could choose to end the conversation and move along now that you had shown that you weren't lying about having a 'date.' However, like how Hongjoong's mind would work, where's the fun in that?
"Sorry, man. I was just messing with her, although I have to admit that I never expected you to date y/n."
"Why's that?"
Mingi shrugged, "She seems way out of your league, I don't know."
"Watch it, Song Mingi." You stiffened when Hongjoong's body pressed even more against your back as he brought his face closer to the other man. "Your opinion about me is not my concern, but whether she's dating someone or not, that doesn't give you any place to talk to her that way. Got it?"
"Clear as day, and I think that's my cue to leave." Mingi stood up from beside you. "See you around, ladies...and you too, Kim."
"Finally," Somin let out a sigh of relief, whereas Jihan remained frozen in her seat from the incident.
While everyone was still processing whatever the hell had happened just seconds ago, you were brought back to reality when Hongjoong finally removed himself from his position behind you. You couldn't even face him, too surprised and speechless at the new but fluttering treatment from the person you least expected it from. It felt too good to be true.
Hongjoong noticed your lack of reaction, not that he was expecting a response anyway, so with nothing left to do, he decided to head back to his friend waiting by their table. "Call me if he bothers you again." He tapped on your shoulder to give you notice of his presence before leaving.
This will definitely be talked about for a month.
-
"Rami?" Hongjoong opened his door with one hand while rubbing his puffy face with the other.
"No, you."
It's been two days since he saved you from your rival, and yes, 'saved,'ย because Mingi hasn't pestered you after Hongjoong's confrontation and would only come to you for school-related reasons. With that, you visited your neighbor again, not with the intention of playing with his dog, although you still do it, but to thank him for standing up for you despite it being a childish plan and him risking being the talk of the town for a month, especially since he's popular around the campus.
"That's a first; I guess I finally won against Rami this time." He cracked a joke to lighten the mood, only for you to look solemn. He cleared his throat to get back to serious mode. "Okay, what's up?" He caught the way you played with your fingers nervously, curious as to what could be the reason behind it. It wasn't like this was your first encounter. "You look nervous."
"Well..." You took a deep breath. "Is there any way I can repay you?" A confused look was received, and panic started to rise. "Oh, I mean for the whole Mingi thing." You cleared out with a nervous smile.
Silence. His silence was making you regret ever knocking on his door at 11 in the morning, feet ready to turn around and go back inside your apartment. You averted your eyes towards the floor to distract yourself as you waited for any response from him.
"It's almost 12, we can go eat somewhere if that's okay with you."
Not even 5 seconds later, you quickly agreed to his suggestion to get it over with and because you were starving. You shouldn't have skipped breakfast because now, Hongjoong's going to see you eat a lot. That's embarrassing. You had no idea that you would eat more than he does, as he was bigger than you, but he explained that he had a small appetite.
"Great! There's this restaurant I always go to..."
-
Okay, what's in the air today? Eating together with Hongjoong and being quite oblivious of his eyes that were filled with interest was one thing, but bringing you to his favorite stores, insisting on buying you ice cream during your walk, and even waiting for you to enter your apartment first before he does were definitely another. You simply wanted to repay him, but a spontaneous friendly 'date' happened instead.
Something felt off, however. Hongjoong was acting oddly sweet throughout your 'date'; it wasn't very 'Hongjoong' of him. You could be wrong, and maybe it was just your hunger, but you couldn't ignore the small changes you felt when you were with him.
Well...you were right; there's certainly something going on. You found yourself hanging out with Hongjoong, alone, as in just the two of you, more frequently than usual. Once was understandable, twice was not any different, but every weekend? That's not normal between people who aren't close with each otherโyou believed that you and Hongjoong weren't that close, to be exact.
Not only that, but he even visits you at your apartment with Rami. Quite a new move from your supposed 'cold' senior. His visits became so frequent that you sometimes had to cancel plans or calls with your friends, or else a whiny Hongjoong would knock on your door until you gave him attention. No one wants that, especially when it's already late at night.
"Hongjoong again?" Somin asked on the other end.
"You know it." You sighed, "I'll join you guys next time; I have to entertain this annoying neighbor of mine."
Jihan hummed teasingly, "Sure, y/n. Soon enough you'll admit to liking his company."
"Shut up!"
After they exchanged their goodbyes with you, you finally let Hongjoong inside your apartment, who had been waiting outside with Rami for about 5 minutes. He thought you would greet him with an excited smile like usualโfor Rami, to be exactโuntil he noticed the unimpressed look on your face.
"Oh, sorry. Did I interrupt something?"
"Just a phone call, nothing much."
Hongjoong pursed his lips in guilt, but not guilty enough to miss the chance of teasing you like he always does. "What were you guys talking about? Did you talk about me?"
"What's there to talk about you even?"
"About how I'm such a sweetheart, taking you out, keeping you companyโ"
"Yeah, against my own will." You rolled your eyes, whereas he chuckled at the thought.
"Did you tell them about how I've been treating you differently the past few weeks and how attractive I was protecting you from Mingi? Perhaps even confessing to them your feelings for me the same way I feel for you?"
Your eyes widened at his question, feeling your heart race. "What do you mean? Do you like me?"
You refuse to admit it, but you wanted to know his answer. No, youย neededย to know his answer to give you clarity on where you stood in his life. You already felt awful from his constant teasing, snarky remarks, and interruptions. Hongjoong may be attractive and definitely your type, but you wouldn't want to be played and led on this easily, especially not by him, who refused to help you up when you needed it. He was so charming that you hated him, and the thought of liking him again the same way you did years ago makes things worse.
"I guess it wasn't that obvious."
You weren't quite sure if he was messing with you right now or not. Nevertheless, you were in some way disappointed at what he was doing to you.
"Don't play with me, Hongjoong. It's not funny, I'm not laughing."
With a chuckle, he stared deeply into your eyes. "Teasing you is what I'm good at, sorry babe."
Oh...why am I not surprised?ย Of course, it was a joke; even the pet name was just for laughs. This was Kim Hongjoong you were talking to, for Pete's sake, the senior whom you had admired, who blamed you for an accident he caused, who hurt you, and who is hurting your heart again. You weren't the same y/n as before, but he was still the same man as you remembered him. Perhaps you should do the same and dislike him the way you used to, but you knew you couldn't.
"Sorry," Hongjoong spoke up when you didn't respond, catching the frown that started to form on your face, which made him guilty enough to take the blame like a changed man. He had apologized to you plenty of times before; he means it this time. Rami slightly adjusted himself in his arms, giving Hongjoong an idea. "Can Rami make up for it?"
You turned to him disappointedly, "You really have to stop using him to get away with things."
That's the problem between the two of you: Hongjoong has to stop joking around and dragging the conversation away. He also needs to get himself together and be serious for once to gain your trust. You, as well, need to stop running away from the truth because it will always come back to you.
-
Time seemed to go by faster but more enjoyably when you were with Hongjoong. It was times like this that you realized the value ofย timeย and how you wished to stop it or have more of it in this world.
The two of you had coincidentally met at the lobby of your apartment building with the same intention of buying late-night snacks at the nearby convenience store, so going out together was not a bad idea at all. In fact, it was safer for you, as he insisted.
That was how he ended up beside you in his car late at night. Without Rami for the first time, Hongjoong couldn't control his eyes from admiring your face and the way it glowed under the streetlights. His hand carefully slid towards yours, and as much as it surprised you, it made you feel at ease.
The more you two continue to see each other, the clearer your feelings become. On the other hand, his feelings for you became dangerous, dangerous in the sense that he's losing his pride and he couldn't resist the urge to explain to Seonghwa how he's starting to fall for you...hard. His friend would laugh at him, but Hongjoong couldn't complainโnot when you take his breath away with just a single look. It was affecting him big time, and he couldn't comprehend how you had such power over him.
People change, and Hongjoong was one of them. He may have seen you as a mere junior of his, but now, he saw you as someone more than just that and more than just his neighbor. He saw you in his future: holding his hand tightly when you're scared, hugging him from behind when he's cooking for the two of you, and kissing him goodnight before you sleep.
At the end of the day, the feeling was mutual.
-
Christmas was right around the corner, which meant that you had to start decorating your apartment with Christmas decorations like a tradition you do with your family. Your mom had just sent you a picture of your dog, Mochi, dressed in a Santa outfit, with a hat to complete the look. It was the cutest picture you've seen in a while, and you couldn't stop your grin from growing. Oh, how much you missed her.
Wanting to share this simple happiness, you quickly sent the same picture to Hongjoong's number. The interesting part was that Somin and Jihan were your closest friends, yet your first instinct was to send it to the person who's on top of your recent messages.
you:ย *sent an attachment*
you:ย look what my mom sent me today
joong:ย ??
you:ย It's going to be Christmas soon, hongjoong
joong:ย so what, y/n
You gasped in disbelief; he had no business being rude at this hour of the night.ย Way to go ruining my day, Kim Hongjoong.ย His old self was showing again, and you doubted if he really changed or if it was just an act to play with you. Nevertheless, you were not having it, not anymore.
Christmas season was meant to be spent happily, not like this. He was really starting to get on your nerves. Aggressively typing away a reply, you huffed.
you:ย first of all, you just ignored my dog dressed up as santa, so fck you. secondly...
[ y/nแตแดแต is typing... ]
While the three tiny dots continued to dance on his screen, Hongjoong didn't waste any more seconds as he made his way to your apartment.
The doorbell rang before you could even press send on your phone, and you opened the door without thinking about who it could possibly be because your mind was somewhere else. He stood there whilst suppressing a smile when he saw your worked-up expression and how your eyebrows furrowed. As soon as you pressed 'send,' a ding was heard from his phone, and that signaled you to finally look up at the person standing in front of you at the doorway.
y/nแตแดแต:ย you're confusing me because one day, you're so sweet and the next, you're so mean. what is it really??
Cute, he thought. Hongjoong tried his hardest to maintain a straight face, and it had never been more difficult for him until today. He was aware that you were pissed at him right now, but the playful side of him wanted to tease you a little more. His silence was too much for you already, and you were more than ready to close the door on his face.
"Kim Hongjoong!"
"Are you mad at me, y/n?"
Seriously, can you believe him?ย "Not that you care, but I'm not going to visit you anymore."
"No no, please keep doing it," he pleaded as he moved closer to you. "Rami will bite me and ignore me if you're not around."
You only glared at him, unimpressed at his attempt to appeal for you to continue seeing him at his place. Normally, you'd play the 'Rami' card whenever he irritates you, but you weren't even sure if his words were really the truth.
Speaking of Rami, you looked down towards him, who was quietly snuggled in Hongjoong's arms. Okay, maybe the 'Rami' card would work on you today as well. How can it not be when he's dressed in matching hoodies with her annoyingly handsome owner? They were just too cute to ignore.
Hongjoong passed Rami to you, and you immediately grabbed him from his owner, and Rami felt so comfortable in your arms.ย "Are you happy now?"
"I don't know if you heard me the last time, but if you're using him again as an excuse for me not to be mad at you, then consider yourself lucky because he looks so cute in my arms right now."
"You'd look cuter holding my hand, but whatever," he muttered to himself, but you heard it, and your cheeks heated up despite the coldness of the room.
"Hongjoong??"
"What? It's not like we haven't done it before."
"Butโ"
"Anyways, give me back my son so we can go to sleep. If I knew sooner that you only loved me for him, then I wouldn't have bought matching hoodies for three because apparently, two is enough."
You stood there with pursed lips as you took in his words.ย Three matching hoodies for himself, Rami, and...me?ย The thought of matching clothing together gave you butterflies in your stomach, and there was no way you could turn down such an idea when the one who planned it was pouting at you.
You may have doubted his feelings for you a week ago thinking that it was all a joke, but Hongjoong was slowly making things clear with you. Maybe he did change because how did he end up in this situation when he didn't even dare help you back then? He really just couldn't get enough of you, and he'd regret what he did to you in the past. He was an idiot, but since that 'fake dating' plan you started, he had been genuine with everything about you.
Moving closer towards Hongjoong, you pulled him down by the collar catching him off guard. "For your information, I had liked you even before I met Rami. In fact, I liked you even if you didn't bat an eye at me."
"Butโ"
"Yes, Hongjoong. I want to match hoodies with the two of you and sleep in your stupid shirts and hold your stupid hand. Areย youย happy now?"
To say Hongjoong was surprised was an understatement; the man was absolutely stunned at this new side of yours. "I'm always happy with you."
"Good because I feel the same."
And that's how Rami met his mother. Well, that was one way to end the night: you on Hongjoong's bed with him and Rami, all three in matching red hoodies.
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
genre: pirate!mingi x princess!reader ft. pirate!ateez, pirate au, exes-to-lovers, rebirth, revenge, slow burn(?), heavy heavy angst, humor in some parts, fluff at the end
warning: profanities, mentions of blood, use of weapons, near death experience, toxic family members, deaths, long flashbacks, timelapses, misunderstandings, may not be historically accurate, emotionally heavy (a big warning)
word count: 31.2k (sorry not sorry)
โคท You almost lost your life not once but twice, yet the heavens had other plans for you. Blessed with another chance to live, you built yourself from the ground up and changed yourself for the better. Things were going great for you until an intruder showed up in your placeโyour first love, who had betrayed you.
a/n: First of all, I apologize for the very late update. A lot has happened the past year, so I had to put this on hold for a while. This is another plot inspired by my dreams, and this might be my favorite work that I have written so far. I just love everything about this story, and the length says it all.
playlist: I don't wanna live forever - zayn, taylor swift | vigilante shit - taylor swift | catch fire - 5 seconds of summer | imgonnagetyouback - taylor swift | die with a smile - lady gaga, bruno mars
๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐๐
"Jongho's team to the village; Wooyoung and Yeosang to the shore. Seonghwa's team, come with me to the headquarters. Position yourselves to your assigned areas; remember what we trained for." You announced to the intercom that resounded around the building.
You were working on a new machine with the technical team when the alarm suddenly rang and red lights flashed around the whole building, signaling the presence of intruders, so Jongho immediately pressed the big red button on his office table, calling for an emergency lockdown.
You and Seonghwa's team dispersed around the building exits to prevent the intruders from escaping the premises. You, Seonghwa, and his team moved to your designated areas and hid yourselves: some hiding around the corners while the others were behind crates, and you hid behind an unsuspecting wall after setting up a trap.
Just then, you heard slow footsteps nearby, and as soon as the person stepped on the rope, triggering the trap you had set up, which caused them to trip, you signaled towards Seonghwa across from you to start attacking the intruder.
"Drop your weapon!" Seonghwa commanded sternly as he pointed his gun towards the intruder, who immediately, in acquiescence, dropped their cutlass on the ground, resisting to fight back.
"I'm sorry, please don't kill me. Don't killย us; we're not here to fight or steal anything." The man begged as he knelt on the ground with his head down, body shaking in fear and coldness.
Wait, that voice...why does it sound so familiar?
You finally exited from your hiding spot to take a closer look at the man who had just spoken, striding towards them, and as they came into view, you let out an audible gasp in sheer disbelief when you recognized who it was.
"Yunho?!"
Yunho's eyes widened when he heard you call his name, and his body blanched at your presence; he couldn't believe his eyes in that moment. It felt like he was stuck in a hyperrealistic dream, or was he just seeing things? "y-y/n...? How a-are you alive?" How exactly were you standing in front of him? Of course, he would ask that kind of question.
You stopped him with a hand, shaking your head feeling aggravated. "Let's save that talk for later. Tell me how many of you are here?"
"There's f-four of us, but y/nโ"
"Seonghwa, bring him to the interrogation room. I'll go find the others," you ordered. Half of Seonghwa's team followed behind you, while the other half assisted him with bringing Yunho to the said room.
You eagerly checked around the area for the other intruders, and to your luck, a tall man wearing a wide-brimmed hat on his head that covered his face almost entirely, walked into the room you were in unsuspectingly. You tried to run up to him; however, the clicking of your boots alerted the man to quickly escape, so you followed after him with all your might. The man was impressively fast, but you still caught up to him within seconds. Kicking his knees from behind and tackling him down to the ground, the man grunted at the impact. "Don't move."
You swiftly pulled off the bandanna that covered his face, only for you to instantly regret your actions because the man lying defenselessly below you was the last person in the world you wanted to see. "Mingi...what the hell are you doing here?" Your eyes scanned him from head to toe; he wore a frock coat with a loose shirt on the inside, slightly damped black trousers, leather boots, a sash around his waist, and his hair disheveled. "How did you find this place?" You were exasperated, wounded, anything but glad. "Answer me before I kill you." You fumed with gritted teeth, ready to pull out your pistol.
Mingi stared at your almost unfamiliar appearance as if he had seen a ghost, as if you were someone he had never met in his life before. "y/n...it's y-you." He slowly lifted his hand up to touch your face, to feel your skin, to confirm that you weren't just a figment of his imagination, but you slapped his hand away with force. "I'm glad you're alive."
You huffed at the sound of his voice, rolling your eyes in the process, and the sight of his lips curling up made you almost slap them away from his face too. "After abandoning me in the middle of nowhere, you have the nerve to show up in front of my face?"
"I-I can explainโ"
"You left me behind, Mingi. You betrayed me, tried to kill me, and I almost died because of you. I had to start from nothing and now that I've built my place and met my people, you're going to ruin everything for me again?" You moved your face closer to his, glowering at him. "Unfortunately for you, I'm not going to let you hurt me anymore."
Mingi could sense all the anger, sorrow, and pain you have bottled up inside as your eyes gazed into him with fire and your hands firmly wrapped around his neck to cut off his breathing, which he accepted without a fight. After all, he deserved to be killed by you right here and right now.
-
[ 14 years ago. ]
You were the only daughter of the king and queen of Fever Kingdom, and they said you had a gifted intelligence for a young child. You excelled in a lot of things that no other princess could compare to you in: you learned how to speak various languages, as well as use weapons with ease. You studied about the history of the kingdom, the list of pirates that must be avoided at all costs, including those who tried to step foot into the kingdom, and even about construction and technology, not knowing the fate that was awaiting you.ย
That was until the day came when a group of pirates trespassed and attacked the kingdom. Although the royal guards outnumbered the pirates, the ferocious sea dogs still managed to eliminate them, including your beloved parents, leaving you alone with your personal tutor inside the castle's library. It was a fearsome and traumatic experience for everyone, the vicious pirates who mercilessly took the lives of all your loved ones.
"Keep these books, Your Highness. Don't let anyone take these away from you; you're going to need them someday." Madame Lee spoke to you in a hushed voice, afraid that someone would hear her from where you hid, handing you your pink backpack filled with various books. She didn't want to scare you with what was happening, so she bombarded you with compliments to distract you, planting a deep kiss on your forehead one last time before exiting the room.
As soon as you heard her scream in fear, that was when you realized the reality you were currently in. You were now all alone in this cruel world with no one else to rely on. You were trained to fight, to stand up for yourself, but you weren't taught how to survive alone at this age. Tears started running down your cheeks as you sat on the floor in fear and hopelessness. Why was this happening? You were only a child trying to make sense of the world.
"Hey, kid. Come with us; no one else is here." A tall man, who had an eye patch covering his right eye, arms decorated in scars, and what seemed like a dagger in his hand, called for you by the doorway. His hand was covered in the blood of who you assumed was Madame Lee. You were reluctant to move, hugging your bag tightly for comfort, but the man hauled you towards him, and soon, you found yourself in a large ship that had a red and black jolly roger hanging above it.
"Who's this little thing?" A woman in her 40s wearing a tricorn on her head asked as she chewed on some candy in her mouth, "Gimme that." She harshly grabbed the bag from your hands, pulling out a book from inside. She tried to read a few words written on it, her head tilting from side to side with a grimace. "What is this? A bunch of lines and weird stuff." With that, she threw the bag back at you, and you swore, that was the most nerve-wracking moment you've ever felt.
You found out some time later that the pirates on the ship were functionally illiterate, although when it came to fighting and stealing goods, they were very exceptional at it. No wonder they were able to eliminate everyone in the castle despite being outnumbered; they weren't called the 'black pirates of the sea' for nothing. Thankfully, they gave you a place to stay. It was small but enough for you to survive, and they also provided you food and water in exchange for you serving them as a cabin girl.ย ย If that was the only way you got to live, then you wouldn't question it.
It's been weeks since you started working wearily at the ship, mates pushing you around, telling you to do this and that, cleaning up spilled drinks, washing up dirty clothes, all just to be made fun of. You endured all of that for the sake of sparing your life until one sunny Tuesday morning, life started feeling a bit lighter. You met a pirate friend for the first time when you accidentally entered the captain's cabin and saw him sitting on the bed with an angry look on his face, whispering incoherent words fo himself.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't know someone was in here." You quickly apologized to him, but before you could leave, he stopped you.
"Wait, don't go." The boy jumped off the bed and ran up to where you stood. "You look nice; come play with me." Seeing him up close, you noticed his sharp facial features, a tiny mole on his cheek, thick soft lips, and height taller than you.
You stared at him warily, fidgeting with the broom you were holding. "Play with you?"
"Yeah, like I hide somewhere and you go look for me." He rubbed his nape in embarrassment. "Sorry, it gets really boring out here. I have no one to play with because people are always busy fighting, but maybe you're not like them. I've actually never seen you here before."
"Mingi!" You heard the captain's voice from outside the room, which made both of you flinch.
Mingi groaned, irritated, "Coming, mother." He shouted back before apologizing to you for the interruption, "I'll see you later...what's your name?"
"Uhm...y/n, I'm y/n."
"Great! See you later, y/n."
-
You met up with Mingi at the same place later that day to play the game he talked about earlier, and since then, the two of you began to bond and create an unexpected friendship that made you ease the pain you went through before all this. He would tell you jokes he thought were funny, although you couldn't understand then, but you would laugh anyway. He would also share about his life growing up, which he insisted was boring, and he even introduced you to his other friends: Hongjoong, Yunho, and San, whom he had first met during a training session. They were surprisingly too nice to be pirates as they had treated you with kindness. In exchange for their amiability towards you, you taught them how to read and write with a promise that they keep it to themselves. Who would've thought that a princess would ever befriend pirates?
Together with Mingi, Hongjoong, Yunho, and San, you began to see life differently, or rather, you started to get used to the setup of living a completely different life with the pirates: from royalty to a nobody, but you were somebody to them. The captain of HalaHala would treat you to good food like you were someone valuable, or maybe it was all a facade; you weren't sure. What you knew instead was that as long as you were with your newfound friends, you felt that there was still hope left for you. They became your source of happiness amidst the struggles you were facing. You found comfort from them, and you thought things were changing for the better.
"We're going to be best friends forever!"
For eight long years, you shared nothing but smiles and laughter with them. You revealed to them about you growing up in royalty and how the pirates, who killed all your loved ones, eventually adopted you. Mingi felt remorseful for what they did to your kingdom, especially that his mother was the captain of HalaHala. Truthfully speaking, he never really liked the idea of killing people in the first place; it was unfortunate that he was a son of a renowned pirate. Hongjoong then shared about his older brother being killed trying to protect him during a fight between pirates and how he was brought into the ship unknowingly, similar to what they did to you. Yunho was an orphan who got adopted by the ship's quartermaster, and San was the son of a crewmate. The five of you were just a group of young, innocent kids trying to make sense of the world you were forced to live in.
You and Mingi grew extremely close the more time you spent with each other. The two of you became inseparable, talking nonstop, and even sneaking out at night to watch the stars, almost like you couldn't live without each other. And one day, he finally professed his true feelings for you with a bunch of flowers he personally picked when the ship stopped by an island earlier.
In a hidden area of the ship, he cleared his throat, fidgeting with his shirt nervously. "I like you, y/n. I can feel my heart beat fast whenever I'm with you, and seeing you smile makes me feel better. Please, accept my heart." He even knelt on the ground with his head down to show you how sincere he was with it, and you couldn't help but titter.
"Get up, Mingi. Your pants are going to get dirty." You pulled him up to make him stand on his feet. "I like you too, silly boy. Thank you for liking me."
Mingi became your everything: the arms you run to for comfort, the hands that hold you when you feel scared or exhausted, the lips you kiss goodnight every time the sky gets dark, and the eyes that bring you to another world where all you could feel was happiness. That was who he was, and he meant so much to you. He was the person you loved so much, so...how did it end up like this?
"Mingi? No...NO!"
"I'm so sorry, y/n." Those were the last words you heard from him as you watched his figure disappear into the distance with the ship you were once a part of. No warnings, no excuses, just pure betrayal.
Eight years together down the drain.
The previous night, he was kissing you goodnight with so much passion but with a hint of fear. He kissed you with tears in his eyes all while whispering sweet nothings in your ears, and you had absolutely no idea that the man who gave you love when it was taken away from you was the same man who would, one day, take your life.
Mingi was a pirate after all; hell, he was the son of the captain of the notorious HalaHala. They were bound to kill you sooner or later, but why did it have to be him of all people? Why did he have to make you feel like you had everything and then take it all away like it meant nothing?
That was heartbreak and death in one.
You didn't even realize you lost consciousness until you were woken up by someone nudging you awake. You groaned as your eyes adjusted to the light that shone down on your face, seeing silhouettes of people surrounding you. However, you fainted again due to hunger, and panicked screams were heard. The second time you woke up, you were in a comfortable bed in a small house with a person sitting next to you on a chair. As soon as your eyes opened and you seemed to be breathing normally, a sigh was heard from beside you.
"Finally, you're awake. You're alive, princess."
Princess?
You turned to the side and saw a few familiar faces dressed in linen and wool clothing with the brightest smiles plastered on their faces, others stifling their sobs.ย "Where am I? What happened?" How did you even end up here?
"We found you unconscious by the shore, princess. Thank god, the heavens brought you to us. You were gone for eight years; we thought we had lost you too." The man cried, expressing how grateful he was that you were alive.
Studying his face closely, your mind suddenly brought you back to the kingdom. You recognized the men and women in front of you were some of the castle guards and maids. They had hidden from the pirates during the attack and successfully escaped after by using the ship that was being built during that time to find a new place to stay. After countless days of being stuck in the middle of the vast ocean, they finally stumbled upon a secluded island where they had asked for help. The people who resided on the island were secretly hiding away from the pirates too, so they became alerted when they heard cries for help until they saw the suits and dresses of the guards and maids. It was their first time seeing actual people from a royal kingdom, which they had always believed were only myths.
"Who did this to you, Your Highness?" One of the maids asked, deeply concerned, observing your almost lifeless state.
With all the energy you had left, you managed to speak out a few words in response. "P-pirates..." Your voice was hoarse, still the men and women at once knew who you were referring to.ย
"Those damn pirates, we're going to get our revenge on them. You are our hope, Your Highness."
You were blessed that the tides brought you to this island: the island of hope, the island of new beginnings, and the island where you will have your last breath. This was another life given to you.
After you recovered, you took in the sight of how peaceful, bright, and different the place was. The houses were made of stones with flowers surrounding them, the food was fresh and deliciousโa taste that hits too close to homeโand their clothes were simple yet clean, radically different than your situation back at the ship. What caught your eyes was how happy the people were: children running around chasing each other, mothers sharing meals with the workers, and husbands taking care of their wives. It felt like paradise, a rainbow after the storm. You loved seeing their smiles as it brought you a new sense of hope, another chance to live a better life, hoping that this was the last life you had to live, but your thoughts shifted to the brutal fights you'd witnessed before, and that scared you too much. What if the pirates happen to find this island? How would the people protect themselves?
"Your Highness, aren't these your books from the kingdom?" One of the maids showed you your pink damp bag that you had kept to yourself for the past eight years; you were even surprised it was still with you after Mingi basically threw you out in the middle of the ocean. "These are all about construction and technology; do you read about them?"
"Yeah, I do..." Your mind instantly envisioned the island with improved housing and more buildings, where the people are guaranteed to live more securely in better living conditions with weapons and other technology that could help with their survival. That was it; that was the answer. That was exactly what you needed those books for; that's what Madame Lee meant when she said you were going to need them one day.ย
This was the day.
"We might need more hands and lots and lots of resources. Do you think we can do this?"
With the help and cooperation of the people and the connections the royal guards and maids had with other kingdoms, you were able to guide the people in constructing buildings and infrastructure, leading to the creation of a better and more advanced community. The question on how the guards were able to contact other kingdoms was too long of a story to tell, but they made it work. Because of your impressive knowledge on the outside world and fighting skills, the people had made you their new leader of the island and captain of the crew.
As months continued to pass and more advanced technology and weapons were developed, the number of people on the island also began to increase. Pirates and intruders were killed by you and your guards after endless trainings, whereas outcasts like Yeosang, who was abandoned by his crew because of his innocence and incompetence, while one of their best gunners, Wooyoung, followed him voluntarily; Jongho, who was kicked out because of his reoccurring injuries; and Seonghwa, who left his crew because his ideas weren't being acknowledged and possibly because of his red parrot friend too. They were taken in for interrogation before accepting them on the island and being trained to become officially part of your crew, the 'Blue Bird.'
A year of training led to Wooyoung becoming your first mate, definitely not because he whined about it, and the leader for trainings, although he's a scalawag sometimes; Jongho became the boatswain and head of the technical team; Seonghwa became the quartermaster and head of securities and was supposedly your first mate, while Yeosang became the deckhand, who leads in navigation. Some of the guards were part of the crew as well to help during battles.
That was how the island, which you now call as 'New World,' was established.
[ end. ]
"Captain?" Yeosang hurriedly entered the room upon hearing your voice. "We have captured the rest of the intruders and cleared the area." His eyes landed on Mingi, who remained defenseless on the ground. "And it seems you got the last guy.ย Should we finish this one off?ย " He whispered the last part to you, even though Mingi could still hear him.
You didn't want to believe it, but as you glanced back down at Mingi, you saw how his eyes were full of defeat and regret. Those weren't there the last time you saw him; why have them now?
"Seeing how much she hates meโno,ย despisesย meโfor what I had done to her, it's best if you kill me right now. But please, spare my friends; they didn't mean anything wrong." Your hands, which you forgot were around his neck, loosened.
Yeosang's eyes traveled back and forth from Mingi to you in bewilderment. "Wait, you know each other?"
Before Mingi could say anything back to Yeosang, you scoffed bitterly and diverted your gaze away from him as you removed yourself from Mingi's body, getting back on your feet, and brushing off dirt from your trousers. "Bring him to the interrogation room with the rest. If he tries to escape, call me immediately. I'll end him myself."
"Aye-aye, captain." Yeosang suddenly stood at attention and made a salute sign your way, earning him a serious look from you. "Sorry."
"Why do I even put up with you?"
-
The interrogation room fell silent except for the sound of your leather-heeled boots clicking on the floor as you paced back and forth in front of the intruders with your hands resting on both sides of your hips, jaw clenching at the sight of the four familiar men: Mingi, San, Yunho, and Hongjoong, who once meant so much to you, now tied up in chairs while being guarded by two of your loyal guards. The room was bright, yet the atmosphere was heavy and dim. Being in the same room as them felt sickening, vivid memories from a decade ago replaying in your mind.
"I really want to know how the four of you traitors found your way onto this island and what your real intentions are becauseโgodโI'm going to lose my fucking mind." You slammed your fist hard onto the table in the middle of the room, making every person in the room flinch. "Did your captain bring you here to assault us? Rob us?" Bending down to Mingi's eye-level, you pulled out a dagger from your pocket carry and bringing it close to his jaw, so close that one wrong move from him will scratch his pale skin. "Or did she maroon you too, like you did to me?" Mingi wanted to speak up and explain everything to you yet he couldn't move a single inch of his body. "Maybe San or Yunho can answer that for me, since I don't like to waste my time listening toย liars." You stared deeply into Mingi's pained eyes.
Both San and Yunho looked up at you desperately, lips quivering and bodies slumped. It was the first time you'd seen Yunho cry this much, and it made you wonder what they went through before they had stepped into this place. You almost saw yourself in them, although that will never compare to the nightmare you had to experience twice.
"y/n, please." Yunho sobbed as his vision began to blur from the uncontrollable hot tears. "Please, don't kill us. We swear we didn't mean to trespass. We escaped from HalaHala, but we got lost in the sea. We don't even know how many days had passed until we saw this island, and we thought this was our only hope." He took a deep breath. "Earlier, we were only searching for food. We deeply apologize. We'll do anything you say, we promise. Just please, spare our lives this once."
His voice was shaky, his breathing unsteady, and because of the past you shared with them, you knew he was a bad liar, but now, you weren't quite sure if he was telling the truth, and you definitely weren't ready to relive some of those shared memories. They could be sabotaging you and ruin all the things you've built up in the past six years. These were the people who made your past worth living when you had no one, yet even the closest people to you were the ones who betrayed you first.
You closed your eyes shut, not wanting to show them any weakness of yours. You hated it; you loathed to hear those words coming from their mouths. How can they beg to you like this? Their crew had attacked your kingdom, pirates tormented you for years, and your closest friends had betrayed you, but not once have you begged on your knees to them, asking to spare your life. It's ridiculous, but you were not a monster. You weren't meant to hurt a soul.
"Fine, I'll spare you this once as long as you all promise not to do anything wrong to my people and my island. We have eyes everywhere, and one wrong move, you're gone. Got that?" They all nodded in understanding. "I value trust here in this island, but once it is broken, I don't give any more chances. I expect none of you to fail me...again." You then left through the door where Seonghwa was waiting. "Bring them new clothes, serve them hot food and get rooms for them to stay, that's an order."
Seonghwa nodded his head in compliance. "Will do right away, captain. I will report back to you once they have settled."
You pursed your lips, "Thank you, Hwa. I'll look forward to it. Good night."
"Good night, y/n. Get some rest."
-
[ 9 years ago ]
"I will become the best captain of the seas and have the best crew like no other." Hongjoong placed one leg on top of a crate, looking over the horizon as the wind blew his hair back.
You hear Mingi yawn from beside you, "Is he talking about being a captain again?"
You hummed in response, still amused by Hongjoong's dramatic monologue. You wondered what those other two were doing. You turned to check behind you, and see San and Yunho having an intense dance battle in the middle of the main deck with a mini music player resting on top of a crate near them, though you weren't quite familiar with the kind of dance they were doing.
"What kind of dance is that? It's so fast, I've never seen anything like that before."
"It's called 'feeling the music,' darling." San sent a playful wink your way, causing you to get flustered by the sudden action.
Yunho, on the other hand, proceeded to make his way towards you, and you felt Mingi's arm around you tighten slightly. "Why don't you come teach us what you know about dancing? San and I will teach you what we know, too. How's that sound?"
That's how you found yourself teaching the two men how to ballroom dance, not to mention the number of times San had accidentally stepped on your foot. Yunho tried doing it with Mingi while you partnered with San, even though Mingi clearly wanted to be paired up with you.
But it didn't matter because at the end of the day, it was him who you watched all the sunsets with. Your head rested on his shoulder while you took in the sight of the sun setting over the horizon. You loved the peace at that moment; it was the only time you could get your mind off of things. It was nice, especially when the others would suddenly appear from behind you and join.
[ end. ]
Where did it all go wrong?
-
Two weeks had passed since Mingi, Yunho, San, and Hongjoong found their way onto the island. You stepped outside to the village to conduct your weekly checkup on the villagers and their resources, if changes and training were to be made or not, but everything seemed to be completely fine. Probably too 'fine' for your liking because how did San and Yunho both end up laughing at Seonghwa because his parrot hit him in the face, and why is Wooyoung trying to push Hongjoong towards the said quartermaster? Why the hell is Hongjoong blushing?! You were probably just seeing things after a tiring week, you tried to convince yourself.
The day after, you went to monitor Yunho, San, Mingi, and Hongjoong's training session led by Wooyoung, assisted by Jongho and Yeosang, while Seonghwa stood by as an aide. You, alongside the four men, observed and scrutinized the other four to see if they were to be trusted and qualified to be trained for battles. In turn, they were unexpectedly obedient and cooperative in everything they were asked to do. Thus, trainings were arranged for them. You expected to see a group of men fighting using their weapons, dampened in sweat, and with determination in their eyes. Instead, the scene in front of you was nothing like you've imagined at all.
Seonghwa was busy wrapping a bandage around Hongjoong's wound on his arm caused by an accident earlier that day, eyes focused on securing it. His body moved closer and closer to Hongjoong in order to see clearly and steadily handle his wound, but the latter seemed to be flustered by the close proximity. Hongjoong's eyes scanned over the sight of Seonghwa in his elegant clothing, the way his corset hugged his waist perfectly, the way his hair was tied neatly into a short ponytail, his eyes sharp yet soft, his hands ever so gentle on him, and how pink and plump his lips were; Hongjoong had to look away before he would lose his mind.
"You're all good." Seonghwa backed away once he finished aiding the wounded man, grabbing his kit to return to his station when Hongjoong stopped him.
"Hey, uhm..." Hongjoong's eyes were everywhere but on Seonghwa. "Thank you for making me feel betterโI mean, for this." He motioned to his arm, where the bandage was in an instant. "Yeah...haha, for this, of course." He mentally cursed at himself for stammering like an idiot in front of the esteemed quartermaster, but he only let out a soft chuckle at his flustered expression.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that." Seonghwa gave him a reassuring smile before he made his way back to his station by the entrance of the room, where you had been standing for a while, enough to witness the whole scenario. The moment Seonghwa noticed your presence, he quickly greeted you. "Good morning, captain. How was your sleep?"
"It was alright."
"That's greatโ"
"Although, something has been bothering me these days." You sighed.
Seonghwa's full attention was now on you. "What is bothering you, captain?"
You gave him one brief glance before turning over to look at someone who was busy writing in his little notepad, "Seonghwa, is there something going on between you and Hongjoong?"
Your question made his eyes widen, flabbergasted; he wasn't sure how to react to it. The truth was, he never really thought of Hongjoong in that way. Although he did find him quite cute and admirable at times like when he looked clumsy, he believed he shouldn't see him in any way other than as a normal civilian, especially not when he was one of the people who had betrayed you in the past. Seonghwa would never betray your trust for temporary romantic desires; he promised to serve you with his life. "Me and Hongjoong?" Seonghwa turned to see where Hongjoong was at, and when the two coincidentally made eye contact, Seonghwa avoided his gaze in embarrassment. "Oh no, definitely not, captain. He and I strictly share a professional relationship."
You nodded, though not completely convinced. Afterwards, your eyes landed on another pair of men on the other side of the room. "How about those two over there? Do you think they have a professional relationship?"
Seonghwa followed the direction where your eyes focused and found both Wooyoung and San in a serious conversation. Wooyoung appeared to be scolding San, pointing towards different parts of his body, his mouth rambling continuously as San stood there in silence with his hands behind his back, taking in every word his trainer was telling him. Looks completely normal. Nothing to worry about, right?
San nodded once more at Wooyoung when the latter patted his shoulder stiffly, only for Wooyoung's fingers to ever-so-slightly caress San's cheek as their eyes remained glued on each other. San then brought his hand up to take hold of Wooyoung's, guiding it to rest it on his cheek, and the two exchanged looks of contentment, not to mention how San's ears instantly turned red afterwards. Wooyoung usually had the tendency to be affectionate towards people he was close to and those he wanted to befriend, but you didn't expect him to reach this level of affection with San, a supposed enemy whom he just met two weeks prior.
Both you and Seonghwa were completely stunned by the interesting scene. Not believing what you had just witnessed a few seconds ago, you both slowly turned to face one another with the same expression.ย "I guess not, captain. I guess not."
It wasn't that you were opposed to the idea of them having that kind of relationship, since you were close enough with the two to know that they only befriend people who are genuine and share the same principles as them. Wooyoung was best at assessing and deducing people and even exceptional at manipulating them for good reasons, of course, whereas San was highly observant of those around him. You could only hope that all this wouldn't change anything among the crew; you wouldn't let the same mistake of trusting these former HalaHala crewmates happen to your own crew as well. You were sure to keep a better eye on them.
-
Together with the Blue Bird crew, you had just successfully finished trading goods with the local merchants of Answer Island. Once every two weeks, you sail with the crew to other islands to trade various goodsโenough for the villagers of New World. While this was Yunho, San, Hongjoong, and Mingi's first trade as official members of the crew, you were being vigilant over their words and actions throughout the whole operation. They were considered new faces in your team; one wrong move can ruin the whole crew's reputation straight away. You weren't going to risk anything.
"Where did you get this?" You snatched the pouch bag from Hongjoong's hand, eyeing the shiny red jewels inside suspiciously. "I don't remember telling you to trade our goods for this." A displeased glower was shown on your face, clearly disgruntled at the situation.ย You had informed the crew beforehand about the list of items they must trade with the locals, including silver and gold coins, clothing, materials for building, and other things you needed for the island. You always made it certain that every trading would be done with integrity, verifying the crew's compliance; consequently, you weren't going to tolerate any ill-gotten trades from anyone. "Explain before I return this back to them."
Hongjoong was caught off guard at the sudden raise of your voice, immeditarly explaining himself to you before matters would escalate further. "Apologies, captain. One of the merchants is someone I'm acquainted with, a close friend of Bumjoong, my older brother, before he was killed. The man remembered who I was, and I tried to politely reject his offer of giving me those jewels, but he was persistent, and I couldn't say 'no.' I'm sorry for causing you any inconvenience."
A part of you was convinced by his explanation, while some parts were still skeptical about it. You still found it difficult to trust them, and your distrust was completely valid and undebatable. Hongjoong did grow up with pirates; thus, raiding for loot was a normal practice in his world. You, on the other hand, didn't. You weren't a pirate; that was as clear as day. Hence, you would never rob a single thing that wasn't yours. There were no exceptions in Blue Bird.
"I don't know if I should believe you; I really do not want to if you ask me." Hongjoong remained silent, making you pinch the bridge of your nose, left with no other option but to let him off the hook. To be fair, you haven't heard any complaints or reports from the merchants and the other crewmates, so maybe it was truly a misunderstanding on your end. "Fine, keep it as long as I do not hear a single complaint about the crew." You tossed the pouch bag back to Hongjoong, which he caught sloppily. "We're not merely here for fortune. We are here to trade and give back to the people. If you wish to satisfy your selfish desires, make sure to leave me and New World out of it, but remember, greed will get you killed."
Hongjoong nodded in understanding, taking mental notes from the conversation you had with him a moment ago. He found you formidable whenever you asserted authority and control over the crew, and he acknowledged it with no objection.
You walked past him heading towards Yeosang and Jongho, who stood by the main deck, preparing to sail back to the New World after a long day of trading in Answer Island.ย "Jongho, go over all the items inside the chests, and secure them down in the hold. Wooyoung, be on the lookout for tonight. We have to be extra cautious and alert this time; we shouldn't be too complacent." You motioned for Seonghwa and Yeosang, who is Blue Bird's notable navigator, to follow you to the Great Cabin, where the three of you will plan on your next journey in a few days.
You'll never know who will betray your trust.
-
"Woah, you're pretty strong." Yunho panted as he tried to escape from your arms that were currently wrapped around his neck with force. "I'm impressed."
You exerted a bit more force around his neck, almost choking the air out of him. "Not the time for compliments, Yunho. Stay focused."
Today, you were in charge of personally training the four new crewmates, which they totally didn't expect to happen. The training center, surrounded by equipment, weapons, and safety gear, was quickly filled with intense pressure as the four men witnessed you easily knock Yeosang, one of the strongest in Blue Bird, down in just seconds. If they think Yeosang and Jongho were unbeatable, they will be proven wrong by the end of this training session. It wasn't entirely in the muscles or strength you had, being strategic, calculative, and clever were a must.
Yunho continued to struggle against your tight hold until he was finally able to escape from you. He tried to throw you down on the safety mat, but you were faster in kicking his knees from behind, causing him to fall flat on his face with a grunt. You shook your head in dissatisfaction at his performance catching your breath as today's session with him has ended.
"And here I thought you had fast reflexes; I didn't see much of it today." You stayed in place looking down on Yunho, leaving him on the ground. "Get up. Go sit by the bench; I'll get back to you later." Yunho didn't waste any second to get back on his feet and sat down on the bench, where the others were waiting.ย
It was then San's turn to train with you. You already had certain moves planned beforehand to execute based on each of their specialties and strong points to see which techniques were best to use and where they may improve. As soon as he settled in front of you on the safety mat, you started tackling him, holding his arms down to limit his movements. However, San was also quick to respond to your sudden actions by squirming a bit before extending his arms to have leverage against your grip.
"Not bad, but not the best move either. Squirming can take a bit of your energy away, which allows the opponent to take advantage of those few seconds. Every second matters, take note of that."
You pulled away from his body to prepare yourself for another move, but before you could do so, San asked you a question. "Sorry to ask this in the middle of training, y/n, but this has been on my mind lately. I'm not, in any way, invalidating your feelings, but with how things had been going the past week, I really wanted to ask if you...trust us? I mean, we are now a part of your crew, but like, do you trust us in a deeper sense?" San had been meaning to ask you that question since he'd started noticing your stern treatment towards them.
Trust? How can he say that word so casually after what happened to you in the past? Does he think trusting people who had immensely hurt you before is easy? Trusting is a sacrifice, and sacrificing meant risking your life. You may have given them a second chance to live and rise back up, but that didn't mean things would go back to how they used to be.
"Show me excellent results, and I might reconsider."
With that, San and the other men were hellbent on gaining your trust back by showing how much they improved and how superbly they fought against the pirates, who had tried to invade the island. Those pirates were from the Outlaw crew, and they were known to be well-equipped and strategic when it came to battles, yet your crew, especially with San, Hongjoong, Yunho, and Mingi added to team, easily defeated them without a challenge. You hate to admit it, but their performance was undeniably impressive. It was clear that they were motivated to achieve their goal, and that called for a feast to celebrate another successful and well-fought battle.
"Cheers to another Blue Bird victory!"
The feast was held outdoors in the village square, where everyone gathered together. The village square had a fountain in the center with benches on the side and even a gazebo nearby. Wooyoung led the celebration with a beer in hand and a foot on the table. Everyone joined in raising their own glasses up in the air and cheered enthusiastically, followed by the crew exchanging words of gratitude. This had been a tradition among the people since the crew's first victory a few years ago, even before Seonghwa and the others had arrived here.
The night went on with a crowd filled with laughter and tears of joy, especially San, who sobbed quietly on Yunho's shoulder. You silently watched on the side, admiring the scene in front of you, not really wanting to engage in any long conversations after a tiring day. You weren't one to stay long on nights like this, but you wanted to stay longer tonight for a change. San, Yunho, and Hongjoong had flooded you with words of gratitude for all the help and training you gave to them and how it was all worth it in the end. You didn't hesitate to return the gesture because now, you trusted them a bit more than before. They have proven their skills to you, and it resulted in another victory.
Seeing this, Mingi was eager to talk to you as well. He contemplated if tonight was the right time to explain himself to you personally and to make things right once and for all, so the moment he followed you back to your tower after the celebration, he was more than ready to confess to you the whole story from beginning to end, whether you'd believe him or not, and he was prepared for the consequences he'll get.
"y/n...please." Mingi tried to catch up to you from behind as you continued to make your way inside your tower, where you stayed. The tower was big enough for you with simple modern designs, and it wasn't too visible from the outside to keep your location hidden from intruders or outsiders, since your tower had important documents and fortune you needed to keep as safe as possible. You didn't even let him in, nor was he welcomed inside. Nonetheless, he found himself inside the place with one goal: to explain everything to you.
You tried your best to ignore his pleas, passing them from one ear to the other, and pretending that he wasn't there at all. Even so, he wouldn't give up that easily. He couldn't bear the idea of you hating him without knowing the truth behind his actions. He followed you upstairs to your living room, forgetting that he was basically trespassing in your tower; he only had his eyes set on you, after all.
You moved to the kitchen to get yourself a cup of tea, as you always do every night, without bothering to look at him. "What do you not understand about leaving me alone?" you asked. You could almost feel the desperation in his eyes as they watched you.
"Let's talk."
Unthinkingly, you slammed your hand on the counter out of vexation.ย He just doesn't get it, does he?ย "No, Mingi. Let's not talk, okay? First, you leave me behind to my death, then you trespass in my home, and now that I gave you a place to stay, you are being as stubborn as ever. Just because I did that doesn't mean we're good to fix things. Staying away from me is the least you can do, or would you rather have me throw you out instead?"
"No, it's not that. Please, let me explain everything to you. You deserve to know the truth."
You heaved a drained sigh, looking out the big window that overlooked the village, watching the villagers going by to end their night. "I don't even know if I should keep you on the team."
Mingi knew that; he'd expect you to tell him off even from the very start. "I know, y/n. I don't deserve any of this, but there is something I didn't tell you about my mother."
The mention of his mother bemused you. She took you in when she could've ended your life together with your parents, and if it wasn't for her, you wouldn't have survived this long and be where you are right now. You had no idea what secret he was keeping from you, but what he revealed next made your heart drop.
"She was trying to kill you, okay?"
What? It cannot be.ย You turned to look at him with widened eyes, staring in utter disbelief. "What do you mean she was trying to kill me? She wouldn'tโ"
"She was planning to kill you, so she made up rumors about you only wanting my fortune to drive me to kill you first, but you know I wouldn't. I didn't want to, and the only choice I had for you to stay alive was to leave you behind. That's why I did what I did back then. I'm really sorry for not telling you, y/n."
Mingi finally spilled the truth you needed to hear from him. He stood in there in pure guilt, seeing the way your lips quivered in denial and the way your eyes were fighting back the tears that were threatening to escape. He acknowledged that it may all be too much to believe and too overwhelming for you to take in, but he really needed to let you know as soon as possible. You just weren't prepared for it.
"Why..."
[ flashback ]
"What?!" Mingi exclaimed as his mother continued to wipe her weapons clean without a care. "y/n doesn't want my fortune; why would you say that?""
His mother apathetically shrugged. "I don't know about you, Mingi. Maybe you're too blinded by her beauty or whatever, but she's clearly only sticking close to you because she knows you're my son and you have a fortune under your name."
Mingi doesn't apprehend where all these rumors about you being a fortune hunter were coming from; nevertheless, he hated hearing about it. He had just shared a sweet intimate kiss with you an hour ago, and he was so sure that you didn't like him solely for his fortune. You had never mentioned that to him; what you usually shared with him was simply about your love for sunsets and reading. A girl with big dreams; that was the 'y/n' he knew so well.
"You must have forgotten, Mingi. That girl came from royalty, wealth, and big castles. It's in her nature to want fortune because that's how they live; they breathe money. I only kept her because I thought we'd get access to other kingdoms using her connections, but she's just a useless little girl with nothing but a pretty face."
"Do not speak about her in that way," Mingi argued, jaw clenching, clearly infuriated. "I'm not going to kill her, mother."
Amused by Mingi's courage, his mother sneered at him. "Really?" She walked up towards him in slow, intimidating steps and with a sinister look, grabbing his chin. "You know exactly what would happen when you don't do it. Would you rather want that?"
Mingi loathed everything about the situation. He abhorred having to choose between the people he loved, but he knew that lives were at stake; thus, he needed to make a decision he would regret. Either way, regret will still eat him up, and he'll never forgive himself for it. If it were a choice to just kill his own mother instead, he would, but he wasn't a selfish monster like her.ย
"Do it before the sun rises."
Those were his mother's last words to him before he finally executed his nightmare of a plan, which he believed was the best choice at the moment. He felt his heart sink and his head grew dizzy at the sight in front of him: the love of his life, an innocent young lady with tears running down her face and broken eyes staring into him with so much pain and betrayal. He brought you out to the back of the ship late at dawn just before the sunrise came, and you knew where it was going. You didn't have words to say anything or ask him what was going on; still, you had already expected this day to come. A princess like you knew that loving a pirate was a sin, yet you decided to trust and love Mingi when you shouldn't. This was a consequence of your actions.
He tossed to you your almost worn-out bag where your books were kept before carrying you back to the main deck and casting you down as gently as he could into the water, making sure you were not to drown easily because he knew you weren't a swimmer at best, unlike him and his friends.
"Mingi? No...NO!" Your screams of terror sounded like someone had stabbed his heart multiple times, sounds that would haunt him forever.
"I'm so sorry, y/n." Those were the last words he told you before he regretfully walked away from the scene, afraid to see what he had just done. He didn't turn back. He wanted to see you one last time, but it hurt him too much to do it. "This is all just a dream; I'll live." But it wasn't. It was reality no matter how much he denies the truth.
[ end. ]
"That day, I wanted to kill myself, to kill my mother, to end it all. It took me and my brothers years to escape from my mother, so when she passed away, my stepsister immediately took over the ship, and we left before she could catch us. We genuinely didn't expect to end up in this place; we didn't even know this island existed." Mingi tried to step closer towards you, only for you to turn your body away from him, giving him a sign that he should keep his distance. "I'm really sorry if I had to hide this from you; I knew you cared about my mother. I made a stupid mistake, one that I know I absolutely will not make again."
The truth was unconscionably cruel after that painful revelation about his mother, who had taken you in and provided you with a second home. Even though she, your supposed 'killer,' was no longer in your life, the sorrow and anguish remained very much there in your heart. For years, you blamed Mingi for everything, when his mother was the one responsible for your near-death experience. It hurt all over again.
"I see."
A joyful feast with the crew ended in a painful revelation, which you cannot let go of easily.
-
Since that heated exchange with Mingi three nights ago, you couldn't sleep much at all. It's been days since you started avoiding him unless it's for necessary means, fearful that past memories would make their way back into your mind. You detested him for what he did, and you despised him even more for keeping it a secret from you. The crew had noticed your indifference towards Mingi, but you couldn't care less if they noticed. All you cared about was treating him like he was nonexistent.
In order to block out the thoughts and emotions, you took refuge in your tower. Meanwhile, Mingi was taking a leisurely stroll along the shore to get his mind off of things. He kicked small rocks away as he dragged his boots on the sand, appreciating the sensation of the wind against his face. He walked along the shore for a few minutes before finding a log to sit on and rest his legs. He felt that he was gradually getting better at the time, but it was short-lived when he caught sight of a familiar silhouette in the distance. The closer it came into view, the clearer it became to Mingi. Alarmed, Mingi hurried back to the headquarters, entering straight into Jongho's office, where he was found playing with his guitar.
"Woah, man. Relaxโ"
"HalaHala is here, call 'emergency lockdown' now!"
The moment Jongho heard the name everyone feared the most, he automatically pressed the red button on his desk in less than a second. Sirens rang around the area and the residential zones, signaling a need for lockdown. Traps were activated, and all crewmates promptly moved to prepare for battle.
"Pirates are coming. The day we all feared has come...HalaHalaย has found us," Jongho announced to the intercom, voice stern with a hint of fear in it. "Ready yourselves as we've practiced; let's end this once and for all even if it costs our lives...this is all for you, captain." With that being said, Jongho ran out to prepare himself for the most awaited war of his life.
Your heart dropped to the bottom of your stomach when you heard Jongho's call over the intercom. Because of their own horrific experiences with HalaHala, everyone dreaded this day, but to you, it was like going through hell again. Like the day when your kingdom was totally destroyed, this day was life or death for you.
"Fuck! Why now of all times?" you cursed to yourself as you got dressed, grabbing all your needed weapons. You stride towards a hidden room in your tower, where your most valuable possessions, secrets, and important documents were kept safe. In it was a family picture that was found on one of the books you had brought from the kingdom: your mother and father sitting on the luxurious couch with a tiny you in the middle. "This fight is for you, mom and dad. If I die, I must die a hero, as I have worked hard to become," before exiting the tower through an emergency shortcut.
Everything you had went through, building this island and training your people to become who they are nowโall these happened because of those heartless pirates. You weren't going to fail New World, Blue Bird, or yourself, especially not your parents and the kingdom. This battle was for each one of them, all to avenge the people you loved with your life.
Arriving at the headquarters, you headed to your usual spot with Seonghwa and his team. Your heart raced immensely from the thought of seeing HalaHala again more than a decade after being thrown out from their ship, past memories flashing back to haunt you.ย
"Don't be afraid, captain. We know this battle means everything to you, so we will fight with our lives to make sure we win this." Seonghwa pulled you in to reassure you. "You got this, y/n. You always do."
You weren't in your right mind the past week from Mingi's sudden revelation, and now, this. It was too much for you to process, but winning this battle meant bringing justice to your kingdom and peace to your soul.ย You must win this.
-
Mingi and the rest of Blue Bird hid quietly as the HalaHala pirates jumped off the ship to the shore, carrying weapons with them. One of the enemies had stepped on a dried leaf, triggering a trap. The rest of HalaHala pulled out their cutlasses and pistols, ready to shoot, but stopped when the captain of HalaHala got down from the ship, and signaled for the crew not to make a move yet.
Mina, the captain of HalaHala and Mingi's stepsister, scanned the surroundings intently for anything suspicious. There hadn't been any movement found, but with her keen sight, she narrowed her eyes towards a certain bush, where she noticed a gun pointing in her direction. Instead of feeling terrified, she only smirked amusingly. "This might be fun." She cracked her knuckles before grabbing her pistol from her pocket carry. "Start shooting!" With her signal, HalaHala started shooting towards the bushes where Mingi and the others were hiding behind.
They quickly ducked to dodge the bullets, and once it died down a bit, they started shooting them back with no hesitation. Wooyoung led his team out first, as he was Blue Bird's best gunner, and his flexible body was an advantage for him to avoid bullets coming his way. Mingi, who was the second-best gunner, followed suit with Yunho, San, and Hongjoong. You and Seonghwa's team followed behind to attack before the HalaHala crew reached further into the island where the villagers hid.
You pulled out your pistol and started shooting at them with everything you got like it was the last battle you were going to have because even when you had a tough and capable crew on your side, HalaHala was still one of the strongest crews in the pirate world. You had great momentum; you thought you were doing so well, but your mind was not one hundred percent in the battle since, as much as you hated thinking about it, you were killing people who you recognized well from your past.ย
Like a bolt from the blue, you felt a strong object hit you in the back of your head, making you almost lose your balance. You were rubbing your head to soothe the pain when a man tried to stab you with a cutlass from the side, so you quickly moved back to avoid the hit, but the sharp object still made contact with your skin. The pain from your head made you move a second too late, and now you were on the ground trying to cover the fresh cut on the side of your body to prevent more blood from coming out.
You couldn't move, you felt weak, and you thought you were going to die. This might be it; this might be your last battle. You watched as the man approached you with a cutlass just seconds away from ending your life, so you shut your eyes tight, ready to accept your fate, only for the man to fall to the ground beside you lifeless. To your surprise, you were met with a fuming Mingi who had his sword stabbed through the man's body.
Mingi had kept his eye on you from the side a few minutes ago, but the moment he found you in pain on the ground, he saw red, and in an instant, he ran up to you. He wasn't going to let you die, not like this, not during your most important battle. After killing the man, he stared into your dazed eyes. The look you gave him made him think that it was those same eyes from when you saw your parents getting killed by his motherโfrightened. He hated seeing that look in your eyes, and he'd do everything to take away that feeling off your chest.
Conveniently, Mingi recognized one of Seonghwa's teammates nearby. "Hunter, bring y/n to the clinic and aid her. She's hurt," he ordered without leaving his sight on you. Mingi's gaze followed you as Hunter carried you away from the area, all while you watched as Mingi's figure slowly faded into the distance.ย
Mingi made heavy steps towards the HalaHala ship, sneaking inside through the entrance, and advanced to the forecastle deck, where he found his stepsister observing the battle that unfolded on the shore from a distance, her back facing him.
"Funny seeing you here, Mingi." Mina started, adjusting her sash that was wrapped around her waist. "Never expected you to still be alive after disappearing with your friends, and neither did I expect that princess to be here too. Thought you killed her already; I guess you decided to be a 'hero' of some sort."
Mingi took this chance to grab the gear and steer the ship away from the island. He intended to fight her alone without anyone to intervene, especially not you: a battle between two siblings who see each other as nothing but sworn enemies. In no time, HalaHala had finally been defeated by Blue Bird after putting all their blood, sweat, and tears into the fight. Few of the crewmates had sacrificed their lives for victory; some were injured, while the rest remained in good condition. Once the island was cleared of the enemies, Seonghwa ordered his team to aid the injured men and to prepare a proper burial for those who didn't make it. Everyone cleared the area as they made their way back to the headquarters except for Wooyoung, who stayed back to watch HalaHala's ship sail away from the island. He knew the battle wasn't over yet. "I trust you, Mingi. Come back alive."
-
Mina laughed at the situation in ironic amusement, finally turning to face Mingi. It was just the two of them on the ship, yet it felt like Mingi was surrounded by a hundred men at once.
"If you want to kill her, you have to kill me first." Mingi glared at her intensely, but Mina remained unfazed, not intimidated one bit.
Instead, she leaned back offhandedly on the edge of the ship, which irked Mingi even further. "Oh, what's this? Am I in some kind of romance novel?" She shook her head, emitting a sardonic laugh at the ridiculous thought. "Don't make me laugh, Mingi. Love does not exist in this world; it's all made up in the head. People feel attracted, have kids, then kill each other with no regrets; that's the cycle of life." Mina grinned at his lack of reaction. "Face it, that's the reality. We are not in some sort of fairytale bullshit you think you are in; we live to kill and kill to live, which means..." She took out her sword, sunlight reflecting on the blade landing on Mingi. "Only one of us gets to live, and that's going to be me."
'Love does not exist in this world,'ย that's what Mina believed, but your island was different. It was full of love, and Mingi realized that 'love' does in fact exist in many forms and is expressed in many ways. In your world, it was present and alive. New World was established because you had so much love for the people that you took the initiative to build it. If you didn't have love, the New World now wouldn't even exist at all. Mingi was seethed in rage, whereas his stepsister stayed unbothered, smirking at him without a care in the world.ย
"Come on, fight me." She challenged him, and consequently, he took out his sword.ย
"It may not exist in your world, but it does in mine." With that, Mingi charged towards her, attacking with his sword, which she easily blocked. "You won't see tomorrow, Mina."
As the ship sailed farther and farther out into the ocean, Mingi and Mina indulged in a heated sword fight on the main deck. As powerful as Mingi was, Mina was just as mighty despite having a smaller frame than him. He had been on the verge of being struck by her sword several times, and she was no exception. They both went back and forth striking each other, growing frustrated as minutes went by.
Mingi dodged her swift attack. He pushed her knees forward from behind, causing her to stumble on the ground, so he took this chance to plunge the sword into her neck. However, she was quicker to dodge it and get back on her feet. This time, it was him who got cornered by Mina, giving her the upper hand. She brought her sword near his neck, and when he tried to dodge it again, his cheek was scratched a bit by the sharp blade, making him hiss at the pain.ย
Mingi sprinted towards the other end of the ship and briskly pulled out his gun from his pocket carry. He didn't want to use his gun, saving it as it only had one bullet left. Nevertheless, he pointed the weapon at her with an unsteady grip. "All this time, I thought mother was evil enough. I thought I could still rely on you as family, but you killed her with poison. You killed your own blood with no remorse. You're a monster, Mina. You don't deserve to live, and I too will have no remorse when I kill you. See you in hell!" He knew he wasn't going to make the shot with how his hands trembled as Mina approached him, and he had no choice but to try his best. It was his last chance; it was now or never.ย
Mingi was seconds away from pulling the trigger when a sudden wave hit the ship, causing her to stumble back and hit her head on a crate. While she struggled to get back up, he took the chance to shoot her with the last bullet he had. He glowered down at her as she gaped at him, her hand covering her chest where he had perfectly shot. With one last look, her body collapsed on the ground.
Mingi slumped down on the floor across from her, all worn out and in pain. He grunted when he felt his cheek sting from the hit earlier, his hands stained with a bit of blood. If it wasn't for that miraculous wave, he wouldn't have successfully shot her, and if it wasn't for him, you would've died. All he could do atwas stare at his stepsister's lifeless body and think about how you were doing back at the island.
"We did it, y/n. It's all over now."
Mingi was about to pass out when he heard a faint sound nearby. He stood up sluggishly and saw the Blue Bird ship come into view with Hongjoong, who sailed the ship, together with Wooyoung and Yunho. Hongjoong brought the ship closer to HalaHala's ship, where Mingi was currently on, and Wooyoung called for the latter to come to them.
"Get in here, big guy. We're taking you home."
Home. Mingi never really thought of New World as his home. He believed he didn't have the right to call it that because it was yours, and he didn't deserve to live in it. You only made him stay out of pity, perhaps; he wasn't quite sure. But maybe one day, he'll finally consider it to be one.
-
Wooyoung and Yunho rushed Mingi to the clinic to aid the wound on his cheek. Inside the building, he saw you lying down on a bed with a bandage around your head, body, and hands where you had been hit earlier during the fight. You were trying to ease the pain in your head and body alongside one of the nurses assisting you and telling you not to move around too much. Mingi stared at you concerned from his bed situated across the room.
He was about to make his way to you, but Seonghwa pulled him back and forced him to sit on the bed so he could help dress the wound on his face. While Seonghwa busied himself on Mingi's cheek, the latter's gaze never left you. He was hurt himself, yet he was more worried about your current state. As a pirate, he never really cared about people getting hurt, but he hated seeing you in pain.
"I'm going home," you informed the nurse, standing up from the bed and gathering your weapons from the nearby table ready to leave.
"Stay still, we're almostโH-hey! Where are you going?" Seonghwa called for Mingi, who got out of the bed to follow you. "Mingi!" The man disregarded Seonghwa's calls, intent on speaking with you. You could hear his footsteps following behind, but you didn't dare look back.
"y/n." You heard him call the first time.
"y/n." the second time.
"y/n." And the third, his voice gradually raising with each call of your name.
Upon arriving at the entrance of your tower, Mingi had reached for your arm to stop your movements. You retracted your arm from his grasp, proceeding to walk inside your tower. Footsteps continued to follow yours, but still you were adamant, and so was he.ย
"y/n, stop. You're hurt right now, seriously. You're going to make it worse if you keep movingโ"
"Stop!" You had enough. "Stop jumping in whenever you think I need saving because I don't. I don't need anyone defending me, I don't need any of your help, andย I don't need you." You enunciated every word to make it clear to him how you felt.
"You could've died!"
"I almost died once because of you!" You spun around to meet his eyes. Your voice pierced into his ears, but the silence that followed it was louder. Subsequently, the room fell uncomfortably silent. You could tell Mingi was drowning in guilt, and he could tell that you were still deeply wounded by what he did. Seeing no reaction from him, you decided to step back to get to your room and rest. However, a few steps in, you staggered from the sudden pain you felt on your head. You held the wall for support, slowly sliding your body down, and kneeling on the floor to ease the pain.
Mingi instinctively reached forward to help you, but you stopped him. "Move an inch closer and I willโ" Your words were cut when your head started hurting again, groaning at the throbbing ache. "This is all your fault." You started with a hushed voice, "I shouldn't have befriended you, I shouldn't have trusted a dirty lying pirate, and I should have listened to everyone's warnings. All this wouldn't have happened if I had never met you."
War was finally over. HalaHala no longer existed, which was your ultimate goal since the very beginning of New World and Blue Bird. That was what you wanted, and it was made possible through Mingi's courage, service, and trust. Albeit, you weren't completely satisfied, as it wasn't you who killed their captain. Your emotions got the best of you because you weren't the hero in this battle; Mingi was, but you didn't want to believe it.
Mingi resisted the urge to come closer to you and hold onto you so badly; his arms were yearning to feel you. Still, he respected you and your space. Even when it felt unfair for him that you thought of it that way, knowing that it was him who killed the captain of HalaHala, his stepsister at that, and the pirates who killed your loved ones, the crew he once was a part of, and the enemies who were once his family. He never tried to invalidate the trauma he had caused you before, but did you ever think about how he also felt about it?
You got back up as best as you could. "You made me feel heaven only to drag me to hell." With a resentful huff, you continued, "How I wish to give twice as much of hell back to you. But, I'm not a monster...and neither am I a pirate. I am a princess, and I should never hurt a soul." You looked into his eyes one last time. "Do pirates like you even have souls?"
"y/n..."
In just the perfect timing, a few Blue Bird members busted into the main door, all with worried expressions on their faces. Their movements came to a halt when they took in the sight of Mingi standing stiffly near you, and sensed the heavy and tense atmosphere between you and him.
You turned back to look out the window. "Everyone, go home. Tomorrow's another day."
The crewmates, who stood by the door, nodded in acknowledgment, exiting the tower right away. Wooyoung pulled Mingi by the shoulders, whose gaze lingered on your back, and dragged him out of the door, not wanting him to cause any more scenes. The room fell silent, this time in a consolation, after the door closed shut, and you let out a deep breath you didn't know you were holding.
Just when you thought you were finally alone, you hear a deep but soft voice speak to you from behind. "My apologies for staying, captain, but Madame Rose requested for me to pass this medicine for you; I'll leave it by the kitchen table, so you wouldn't forget to take it." Seonghwa entered the kitchen to place the medicine down on the counter. "Proper burial for our lost brothers and sisters has been arranged for tomorrow, and the people have also offered prayers for your fast recovery."
You hummed in response, "I'm glad."
Seonghwa saw you still standing by the window, understanding the pain in your voice when you responded. He sensed that you were hurting not only physically but also emotionally, and that you were bothered about something serious even when you didn't need to be. He knew you too well to notice it in an instant. With careful steps, he came up to you from behind. "They're all gone now, y/n. Those monsters will no longer be a threat in your life, and I'm sure everyone you've lost up there is so proud of their little girl for her bravery." He spoke with a voice so soft like a feather, the voice of someone who had treated you so well, like his own sister.
"No...why would they? I fell weak, I wasn't strong enough, and I wasn't the one who killed them, so why would they be proud of me?"
Seonghwa pulled you in a comforting embrace, cautious not to hurt you. "You survived hell twice; I'm sure even hell itself fears you." His long, elegant fingers rubbed gentle strokes along your back. "You don't always have to be the strongest, you know. You trained us not only to protect the people from danger, but you also trained us so that we can catch you when you fall, but falling isn't a weakness. That's what makes you human; we all are."
He felt you tightening your arms around him, burying your face on his chest, and he let you do so. "I know you hate to show any sign of weakness to us, and you want to be as perfect and strong as possible. I understand that, but y/n..." He lifted your head up with his thumb and index finger, revealing to him your now tear-stained cheeks, which he softly wiped away with his fingers. "You don't have to be too hard on yourself this time; you don't need to be afraid of being imperfect. You have us now; we can protect you, and you can go back to being the little princess that you once were before. I'm sure that little girl misses you a lot." He felt his shirt dampen from your tears, but that was the least of his concerns right now. "Please don't hesitate to call me when you need someone to rely on; I will wholeheartedly serve you with my life just as you have served us with yours. You gave us a second chance in life too, y/n, so allow us to give life back to you. We owe you this much."
This may not be the utopia you tried to build from the ground up, the paradise you yearned for, nor the life you wanted to live, but all thisโthe island, the people, the crew, the new beginningsโwas definitely your treasure.
"Thank you, Hwa. I needed to hear that."
-
A week had passed since the battle with HalaHala. Adjusting your sash and pocket carry, you prepared yourself to go about your day. Damages from the previous event were fixed, and everything seemed to be back to normal. You roamed around the village to check on the villagers and their current supplies of goods after not being able to check on them for a week due to your injuries. The villagers greeted you as you passed by them, and you informed them that you had already fully recovered, to which they rejoiced, "The princess is back!"
Out of the blue, you felt a pair of arms trap your body in a tight hug. "Captain! I missed you so much; I was so worried about you." It's been a week since Wooyoung last saw you, but to him, it felt like years. He was accustomed to seeing your face and being around you each day of the week. He grew anxious as he waited for you to be back, knowing that it was the first time you had been severely injured during a fight. He thanked the heavens that you were now here, all strong and healthy in front of him.
"Stop crying like a baby, Woo. I'm not going to die." You patted his back reassuringly.
"I was just scared, okay? I don't want to lose you; that should never happen."
His words made you smile for the first time that day, "Thank you for worrying; I really appreciate it."
The day ended like how it usually ends: monitoring the island, then having dinner with the crew before dispersing to your respective homes. You thought you'd go by your night peacefully without having to cross paths with Mingi even for a split second of your day. To your relief, you haven't seen him at all today, but he had seen you through the window of his sleeping quarters.
Walking up to your tower, you heard those same familiar footsteps behind you. You heard it multiple times that you could easily identify whose footsteps it belonged to without needing to check who the owner was. "Stop doing this, Mingi. Don't make this difficult for any of us because I don't have the energy to talk to you right now." You went straight to the kitchen to grab yourself a cup of tea.
You didn't expect Mingi to do anything tonight except to simply talk, but even that, you don't want to have with him. You heard no response from him whatsoever, and it wasn't that you were expecting him to say a word, but he was oddly silent right now. No words, just the sound of gentle breathing.
"Say somethingโ"
You were cut off by the sudden feeling of arms wrapped around your waist from behind and a head resting on your shoulder, breath fanning your neck. "I'm so sorry, y/n." Finally, you let out a deep breath you didn't know you were holding after hearing his voice. You weren't sure if it was out of defeat or a breath of relief. "I know I've been stubborn with you all this time, but I just...I missed you so much, I miss this, I miss us, and the feeling of all of you. I feel like I'll die if I don't get to show you and tell you how I truly feel." You remained silent in his hold. "I think we're always going to end up finding our way back to each other."
"Don't say that." You tried to stop him, but he didn't listen. He was adamant about telling you the words he's been dying to let you know after all these years of suffering, even if it meant this was the last time.
"When the boys and I escaped from the ship, I then realized how terrible it felt to be lost in the sea and how difficult it must have been for you. You fought death alone; I didn't, and that's what kills me. It's so unfair, yet the tides brought me here of all places when it could've just taken me alive; it led me back to you instead. It must've meant something."
Under your breath, you answered lightly, scared that your voice might break. "That's what I'm so afraid of; I'm afraid it would mean something because I really don't want to relive the past. I'm trying to live a completely new life away from you."
"But I'm also terrified of losing you again." Mingi's hold tightened around your body, haunted by the thought that you'd slip away once more if he let you go. "As selfish as it sounds, I miss you so fucking much, y/n. You have no idea how much I wanted to jump off that ship and swim up to you and tell you how your existence made me feel so alive. Hell, I'd drown for you if I had to."
"But, you didn't."
"I didn't because fear was eating me up. I was so afraid that I'd lose not only you but also my brothers if I tried to save you. I had to make the toughest and most painful decision in my life; I just couldn't afford to lose them whom I've spent the entirety of my life with. I had to live for them, but I wanted to kill myself even more when I found out that my mother was the one who killed your parents back in your kingdom."
The mention of your parents made your stomach twist, "You lost everything and all the people you loved, you didn't deserve to experience any of that nightmare as a child. I could only pray every night for the gods to just take my life instead, and bring you to safety; that was all I ever wanted since then." You felt him shift behind you to press a kiss on your shoulder, and to his surprise, you allowed him making him smile appreciatively. "Whenever I look at you, I always tell the gods how much I don't deserve to even walk the ground that you walk and breathe the air that you breathe. I was ready to die for you and lose my life twice, thrice, multiple times as much as you had because I owe you that. I wanted you to kill me, watch me die in your arms, and take my whole life away like how I took a part of yours...but you didn't, and I always wondered why."
"Mingi..."
"Why did you let me go? Why did you give me a second chance in life, give me everything I needed when I didn't deserve any of it from you at all? Why are you so...forgiving? It worries me too much."
You tried to control the tears that were eager to escape from your eyes. "I'm not." You didn't mean to cry; you hated losing your composure, breaking down, and feeling weak, especially not in front of Mingi of all people.ย
He could only give a wistful smile at you. "You're not pushing me away; you're here listening to the man whom you said was a liar, a traitor, and the person who almost killed you. If I were to make my last wish, I would wish for you to grab your sword and pierce it through my body as you let all your anger, frustration, and pain out on me. I'd happily die in your arms and be grateful for it, and I'll say it over and over again until you do."
"Stop! Enough." You had enough of listening to his heart-wrenching and painfully honest words; your heart couldn't take it anymore. Rather than blaming you for your treatment towards him, he was throwing his hurtful words towards himself.ย
"I don't think I can ever move on from you, y/n. You're the only person for me, the only woman my heart beats for, and the one who made my life worthwhile, but...my sick world was never yours to live in, and your world was never meant to have me."
Tears ultimately ran down your cheeks as his touch slowly disappeared from your body, footsteps fading into the distance, and without another word, the door closed, leaving you crying your heart out in excruciating pain. You didn't know what to feel after everything he had confessed to you tonight; you just wanted to forget all this ever happened.ย
His existence in your life hurt so much.
-
Since that heart-rending night, you and Mingi have never spoken a word to each other, not even during meetings and battlesโnothing. He had kept his distance as much as possible to respect your wishes of not wanting to speak with him again. Now that he had already told you everything he needed to say that night, there was nothing he'd be expecting back from you. He was only there to serve you from then on as part of the Blue Bird crewโnothing more, nothing less. Whatever feelings he had, it was only his to know and keep a secret.
Everything was going smoothly. Things felt completely normal until the crew started noticing the change in atmosphere between the two of you once again and how Mingi tries to avoid you every chance he can get, which was very unusual from the Mingi they knew of. He wasn't looking your way as often anymore, and he's too focused on work to bother socializing with his crewmates. Well, he needed time to heal from the pain too. That's when the crew realized that this was more serious than the last time. If keeping his distance would make you feel better, then he will do so without a fight.
You read the fifth chapter of the book you were currently indulged in as you ate your meal in silence, separate from the others, during one of the crew's feast celebrations. Later on, you got up to go for a stroll around the island at this hour simply because you didn't feel like joining in on the fun tonight.
Mingi, although he didn't mean to, stood up from his seat to follow you out of habit, but Jongho pulled him down before he could take a step further. "Stay here, I got this." With that, Jongho hurriedly ran to catch up with your figure disappearing into the island. "Do you need any company, captain? It's getting a bit late," Jongho asked as soon as he matched your pace.
Not leaving your eyes on the book, you shook your head in response. "No need, Jongho. I just need some time alone; I hope you understand."
"Of course, captain. I fully understand." Jongho nodded, to which you returned with a gratified smile.
"Thank you," you replied before Jongho made his way back to where the others gathered.
Minutes after your short stroll around the island, you found yourself back at your tower. No Mingi following you from behind, just you and the silence of the room. Nothing really changed since that night; everything seemed to be in place. The villagers were happy, the island was peaceful, and Mingi hadn't bothered you anymore, yet somehow the bright pink carnations in your flower vase sitting on top of your kitchen counter, which had never lost their colors since Seonghwa had gifted them to you months ago, slowly began fading, or maybe you just lack sleep.
-
The next few weeks were different from what the crew had observed. Some days, Mingi worked extra hard with the villagers, spending more of his time with them, assisting the men in fixing broken furniture, and helping the women carry heavy loads of clothing. He wanted to experience life in a village, as he lived most of his life on a pirate ship. The other days, he would teach young children some of the gun and sword tricks he learned when he was at their age with the reason that children should be prepared for battle as early as now. In the end, he befriended everyone on the island all by himself.
Today was no different. You were roaming around the island monitoring the villagers and the crew on their work, as well as the houses for any damages, and surveying for areas that needed improvements, repairs, and maintenance. So far, no major damages have been found except for some minor repairs needed for some houses in the village.
You had just finished monitoring the community kitchen of the village, so you sat down on a bench nearby to rest after a long day of work under the heat of the sun. A villager had offered you a cold drink, which you gladly accepted, and as you indulged yourself with the refreshing drink, your wandering eyes landed on the man working in the distance.
He was shirtless, putting his toned back, broad shoulders, huge biceps, and snatched waist out on display under the sunlight. Turning to the side, you watched as his sharp nose, neck, and forehead dripped in sweat, which he wiped away with his arm. His hair was slicked back with a few strands falling on his face, and his plump lips curled up once in a while in concentration, showcasing his pretty white teeth. You hate to admit it, but his build got better since the last time you saw him shirtlessโthat was years agoโbut you kept it all to yourself.
Without warning, a body jumped from behind you, taking you completely by surprise and causing you to spit your drink out of your mouth. "Careful there, captain. Your eyes are going to fall out from how deep you're staring at him. We wouldn't want him to know that, would we?"
"I'm justโ" You coughed out the drink that got stuck in your throat. "I'm just observing him."
A mischievous smirk grew on Wooyoung's face, his arms leaning on the backrest of the bench to support his body, and like the tease he is, he wasn't convinced by your words one bit. He could tell from the way your body stiffened and your eyes avoided Mingi that you got caught in the act. "You sure you aren't feeling any romantic feelings down there? Because that's not what your eyes are telling me." He caught your hands fiddling with the hem of your sash, and that confirmed his suspicions, but he wanted to hear it directly from you.
"No, Wooyoung. Don't mistake romantic feelings for being cautious; your eyes are seeing things." You thought you convinced him enough through your stern tone, but not until Mingi turned towards where you and Wooyoung were, smiling momentarily when he met your gaze before bringing his attention back to the man he was working with.
That made you freeze in your seat, dumbstruck, but the cherry-on-top was the pink hue that appeared on your cheeks, causing Wooyoung to emit an amused laugh, "Whatever you say, captain."
"Get back to work, or I'll replace you with Seonghwa as my first mate."
-
"Slow down, captain. You drank too much already."
"Leave me alone," you complained, pulling your arm away from Wooyoung's hold.
Wooyoung grew frustrated at your stubbornness. Ever since dinner had started an hour ago, he had been keeping an eye on you the moment you ordered a bucket of rum. You weren't much of a drinker, from what he knew, but you'd drink on special occasions. Tonight wasn't even a special occasion of some sort, so he truly wondered what was on your mind for you to be drinking on a normal night like this.
To be honest, it wasn't totally your intention to drink past your alcohol consumption limit tonight. However, with the heavy tension you've been feeling in the past few weeks, you couldn't help yourself. You lost track of how much you had drunk, and despite Wooyoung's efforts to stop you, you were already too far gone; one more bottle and you would black out.
"Seriously, y/n. This isn't funny; you're going to die if you drink more." Wooyoung tried one more time to stop you by pulling your shoulders back.
No matter how hard Wooyoung tried, you wouldn't give in that easily. "N-no, just...one more...please..." you slurred as you reached for the last bottle of rum on the table in front of you. The tips of your fingers were already touching the surface of the bottle, only for it to be pushed away by a hand with fingers wrapped in multiple rings.
"That's enough." A voice so deep, rough, and serious spoke from behind, his shadow towering over your body.
You removed yourself from Wooyoung to turn towards the person behind you. "Don't tell me what to doโ" You let out a yelp as a pair of strong arms suddenly carried you up bridal style. "Hey! Put me down this instant; it's a command." Adjusting your eyes to the light that shone from the moon above, you were stunned to be met with Mingi's sharp eyes.
"I'm bringing her back to her tower, you guys continue with your drinks." Just like that, Mingi walked away from the dinner table until it was out of sight, leaving you no chance to protest with how firm his hold was on you while ensuring you were comfortable in his arms.
You were trying to keep your eyes open, but with how comfortable you felt resting on his chest, sleep had won you over. Mingi only took notice of this when your head leaned into him further, and in no time, you were already in your bedroom. As gently as he could, Mingi settled you down on your bed and covered you in your blanket so you wouldn't feel cold.
"I'm trying so hard to avoid you, but you worry me too much, y/n." He took in the sight of your sleeping form. You looked exhausted, like you had overworked yourself. What he didn't understand, though, was why you had put yourself in this situation. "I wonder what's on your mind?" Mingi softly caressed your hair, brushing a few strands of loose hair that fell on your face behind your ear. "I'm sorry if I caused this; I'll try harder not to be a burden to your life." He planted a kiss on your forehead and smiled at how peaceful you looked without the serious persona you usually put on in front of everyone.
With one last look, he got up to leave you in your peace when he felt your hand weakly reaching out to hold onto his wrist. Mingi turned to you once again, ready to help you with anything. Unexpectedly, you pulled him down, causing him to stumble towards your body, his free hand supporting himself up so he wouldn't crush you. "y/n..." Mingi gulped nervously at how close you were, faces inches away from each other. "What are you doing?"
Your eyes slowly fluttered open, though not quite fully, and your hands cupped his already pinkish cheeks. You weren't completely sober, but it was hard to deny how cute he looked all flustered and confused. "Why are you so cute?" you asked in a hushed whisper.
Mingi put his other hand on top of yours to pry his face away from you. "y/n, you're drunk." He was caught off guard when you pulled him closer again, his heart racing like it would burst out of his chest at any moment. "Please, y/n. Close your eyes and go back to sleep; I'll leaveโ"
Smooch. One second, you pecked his cheek. The next, you fell back to dreamland. To say that Mingi was surprised was an understatement; he could basically feel his soul leave his body. He stayed frozen in place, still registering what had happened just now, his eyes glued on you.
The woman who claimed to hate his existence, who would rather deal with Wooyoung's constant nagging than share a room with him, and whom his heart only loved just kissed him on the cheek. It felt too good to be true, too impossible to happen despite sharing an intimate kiss years ago. This was different. This was a kiss from the tough, clever, and highly respected captain, not the vulnerable, fragile, and fearful cabin girl back in HalaHala.
"You're driving me crazy."
-
You woke up to the delicious smell of food from outside the room. Sitting up on your bed, you groaned as the throbbing pain in your head worsened, "I hate this." You shouldn't have drunk too much last night, but you lost control of yourself to stop. For your convenience, a cup of ginger tea sat on your bedside table. You grabbed it only to feel it warm in your touch. "It's still new."
After a few minutes of drinking the tea and wandering off with your thoughts, you finally got up and headed to the dining area where the smell came from. A table filled with perfectly arranged dishes greeted you. No one was in the room, yet the food was hot and new. "Wait, that's..." You took a closer look at a certain dish that seemed a bit familiar to you. "This is my favorite dish."
It was fish with sweet and sour sauce added with some carrots on the side. This had always been your favorite way back in the kingdom, and you would request it almost every other day that the chefs decided to store plenty of fish only for you. You could hardly remember its taste with how long it had been since you last had it. With that being said, you took a bite to taste the dish, which you missed so much.
This tastes amazing! The dish didn't exactly have the same taste as what you always had when you were young, but you swore you'd tasted this certain recipe before. You were so curious about who prepared all those for you, seeing no sign of another person's presence there.ย Maybe Wooyoung came over to make this?ย He was one of the best chefs on the island besides the head chef, but he couldn't have known of your favorite dish since you never brought it up to him. You were thinking too much about it until you noticed the odd placement of the utensils on the table, and that's when it hit you.
"Mingi...he remembered."
Of course, it was him. Who else could it possibly be? That man used to cook for you back in HalaHala, especiallyย thatย dish, which he strictly only cooks for you. Mingi was good at cooking various fish dishes, as he grew up near the sea, thus learning how to fish at an early age. He used to hate cooking because his mother thought it wasn't 'manly' of him, so he would sneak inside the kitchen when everyone was gone and make that dish for you. He remembered being so awestruck by the shine in your eyes whenever you tasted his dish and said how delicious it was. That was enough to make his day complete.
-
Mingi had just arrived at the village on his way to his quarters when Wooyoung spotted him from the community kitchen. "Hey, Mingi! Where have you beenโare you okay?" Wooyoung asked in concern, noticing the way Mingi kept massaging shoulders and back with a groan. Mingi only spared him a glance before continuing to make his way to his quarters to wash up and get ready for the day. He hoped Wooyoung wouldn't bother him for now, but that hope wasn't strong enough to stop him.
"What happened, man? You were gone the whole night and you look like you're in pain, did you get into fight?" Mingi remained quiet while Wooyoung looked around for any injuries and bruises, "You got no bruises, so probably not."
"Don't you have work to do, Wooyoung?" Mingi finally answered him, earning a shrug from the man.
"Yeah, I do, and...hold on." Wooyoung stood in front of Mingi to block his way. "Didn't you bring our captain back to her tower last night?"
"That, I did." Mingi raised an eyebrow when Wooyoung studied him from head to toe.
"Hmm, you're wearing the same clothes from last night, and you just got back here, plus you look like you have some back pain." Wooyoung's eyes then met Mingi's confused ones, his index finger tapping his chin. "Did you and her...you know...?"
"Know what?" Mingi was growing impatient with each second that passed.
"Oh, you know, be intimate and stuff." Wooyoung's question sounded so casual, but the look on his face showed how serious he was with it. "Did you?"
Mingi deadpanned, but the red hue that slowly colored his ears betrayed him.ย That kiss she gave me last night.ย He hoped his thoughts weren't obvious. Unfortunately, it was too late. Wooyoung had caught on to his red ears, his eyes widening in realization.
"No way...Mingi, you...you madman!" Wooyoung punched Mingi playfully on his chest.
"It wasn't like that!" Mingi retorted. "Nothing happened between us, okay? I stayed the night and slept on the couch to watch over her; that's why my body hurts." Mingi massaged his shoulders again. "And besides, she and I are not in that kind of relationship. She literally hates me, so don't think of such thoughts about herโor us, I mean."
Wooyoung squinted his eyes at him, slightly unconvinced, but decided to shrug it off anyway. "Whatever, I'll let you go only because you brought her home safely last night." Wooyoung stepped out from Mingi's way. "Go get ready; we need more hands in the kitchen."
-
Arriving at the village, you were ready to start the day with high spirits after devouring that delicious meal Mingi prepared for you. You definitely weren't thinking about him as you took a nice cold shower and how much he changed in a span of months; of course not. Today, you planned to just spend the day resting from work and getting a few books at the library to readโnothing much.
As you greeted the villagers on your way, an excited Wooyoung ran up to you. "Good morning, captain. Come try this tasty thing everyone's obsessing over." You couldn't even say a word and ask what he meant as Wooyoung pulled you towards the table outside the community kitchen where villagers had gathered.
"Good morning, princess! Come try this; it's so good." A series of greetings erupted around the table at your presence. What are they even eating?
"Here, captain. Try this, it's really sweet." Wooyoung passed you a piece of cookie to taste, waiting expectantly for you to take a bite and enjoy it just like everyone else.
After taking a bite out of the sweets, you swallowed it. However, the sweetness made you cough. "Oh, it's too sweet." You grimaced, giving the cookie back to him. You didn't really understand why he enjoyed it.
"Really? It tastes alright for me." Wooyoung finished your bitten cookie, dusting off the crumbs from his hands. "Don't worry, captain. I'll request a less sweet one for you."
"No need." Mingi appeared in front of you with a plate of cookies in hand, offering one to you. "Try this one."
It would be rude not to accept his offer, so you grabbed the cookie from him and took a bite and another and another until you were empty-handed. "Wow," you whispered under your breath. The cookie he gave you wasn't too sweet; it was perfect. It tasted like a romantic picnic near a riverbank with fresh air; that was how you imagined it.
You almost forgot that Mingi was still there waiting for your reaction until he asked, "How was it?"
"It tastes amazing," you replied.
"Really? What's the difference?" Wooyoung grabbed one from the plate to try, and he grimaced at the unfamiliar taste. "It's not even that sweet."
"She doesn't like food that is too sweet," Mingi answered calmly as if it was a common fact. The truth was, you haven't shared that fact with anyone else but him.
Wooyoung nodded in understanding. "Oh, that's why you made a separate batch earlier." He brushed off a few crumbs that were stuck to his fingers before heading back to the kitchen. "Well, I better get more before they run out."
It was just you and Mingi outside the kitchen, standing awkwardly in silence, and you didn't know what to do at the moment. He didn't move from his place, and you didn't leave either, so he thought that maybe you had something else to tell him.
"So...uhm, did you make these?" you asked after contemplating for a minute, and he nodded to confirm. "I see, thanks. It was good." You cleared your throat before looking him in the eyes. "Thanks for the meal earlier by the way; I enjoyed it." You proceeded to walk away and made your way to the library, not bothering to wait for his reply.
As much as you hated to admit it, he was a great cook in many ways. He was good with his hands, and what's worse is that he knew how to win your heart with food. He knew your favorites, your preferred sweetness level, and even your allergies. You were surprised that he even remembered all those little details about you.
Mingi watched as you walked away, holding the plate of cookies in his hands. He entered back inside the kitchen, where he found Wooyoung being dragged by Yunho away from the already annoyed chef, who was scolding him for taking more cookies than he should. Mingi settled back in his space, where the rest of the 'not-so-sweet' cookies were placed. He grabbed a small box from the cabinet, carefully placed all the cookies inside, and tied a twine into a ribbon to enclose the box.ย I hope this isn't too much.
-
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.ย You cannot possibly feel soft around Mingi now, right? You didn't know what shifted in the air today nor what happened last night, but you still certainly noticed a change in how Mingi approaches you compared to when he wouldn't even bat an eye at you.ย No, I must be crazy to think that.ย Maybe Mingi was only doing it because you were the captain or the princess? Yeah, that was it. It was a gesture out of respect; it didn't mean more.
Shaking those thoughts away, you sped up towards the 'literature' section of the library. You were looking for a black hardbound book decorated with gold accents and texts, which was about the literature of Wonderland Kingdom, where your next destination with Blue Bird would be. You scanned around the shelf only to find that book placed neatly high up on the shelf. This was certainly not your day.
You were debating if you should go ask help from the librarian at the front desk, but she seemed to be preoccupied at the moment. That meant you were left alone at your own expense. How unfortunate. With all the strength and height you had, you tiptoed with your boots and reached up to the top shelf. You tried your best to reach the book you wanted, yet only the tip of your fingers could touch the edge of it.
"Goodness, why is it even up there?" One more time, you reached up for the book, but luck really wasn't on your side. You lost balance on your feet, and you closed your eyes, ready to brace the impact of your fall, but the fall never happened. A hand had caught you by your waist, steadying you back on your feet. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry." You looked up at your savior and was met with the same man you had just thought about minutes ago.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Mingi asked worriedly.
You wanted to hide in embarrassment, but you knew you'd be more embarrassed if you did actually fall without his help. "No, no. I'm fine, really." You brushed your hair away from your face and forged a cough to clear the awkwardness. How did he even know I was here?
"You needed this?" In front of you was the black and gold book you were trying so hard to reach for in his hands, lending it to you.
You accepted the book from him and nodded slightly in gratitude, "Yeah, thanks again. You didn't have to do that, though."
He smiled at you softly, "Well, I wouldn't want the princess of New World to get hurt."
It was an uncommon sight to see the two of you in the library right now, with you shyly looking up at Mingi while holding the book to your chest and him smiling down at you. One of those "events that feels too impossible to believe but really happened" kinds of things. Wooyoung would likely believe he was hallucinating or still dreaming if he were present to witness it, except that this was real.
"I brought you these by the way, in case you get hungry. It's not much, but I hope it's good enough to satisfy your taste." Mingi handed you the box he packed earlier in the kitchen.
Your fingers slightly brushed against his as you accepted the box, making your heart race. "Thank you; I'll be sure to enjoy them."
Mingi bowed in respect, "I'll be on my way now, stay safe." Without another word, he exited the library with reddened cheeks, which you failed to notice.
-
Hours had passed since you stayed at the library, and your progress was, well...not much. You only had minimal progress in those hours; that's not good. You couldn't focus at all; you kept rereading the same line over and over again, yet nothing went into your head. Words blurred into scribbles, and letters started spelling into his name. You really must have gone insane. You decided to go back to your tower to get away from whatever that was.
"You look troubled; something on your mind?" Entering the living room, Seonghwa's voice greeted you as he sat comfortably on your couch with a book in hand. He stood up from his seat, approaching you to get the book from you, and leading you to sit on the couch with him.
"Why are you even here? I don't remember inviting you." You removed your coat off your shoulders, hanging it on the coat rack by the door.
Seonghwa stared at your face in silence, a smile growing from his lips as his eyes landed on the box you placed down on the coffee table. He was familiar with that box; only one man on this island packs food like that. To see you carry one of those boxes, he figured that you might have encountered Mingi earlier today. "I came here with a question actually." Seonghwa rested an elbow down on the armrest beside him. "But I don't know how you'll take it."
You raised an eyebrow at his words, wondering what his question would be. "What is it?"
He hummed as if he was thinking it through, his eyes not leaving yours. "I heard from Wooyoung that Mingi brought you here last night, correct?" You, having no clear memories of last night, nodded absentmindedly. "Do you even remember what you did last night?"
Why was he asking about last night? All you did was drink and pass out, and the next thing you knew, a meal was readily set for you. "Did something happen last night? Did I do something embarrassing? Tell me." His question brought out your curiosity. Based on your expression, you didn't seem to recall what you did to Mingi last night. The memory of the kiss you gave him on his cheek was out the door; you had forgotten about it.ย
Seonghwa thought it was best to go straight to the point. "After hearing a few stories from Wooyoung, which at first, I couldn't believe my ears, and seeing what happened in the kitchen this morning, it made me think." In a split second, his usually soft eyes turned serious, wanting an honest answer from you. "Do you have feelings for Mingi?"
There goes that name again. But, wait. Feelings? What?ย You turned to him incredulously like he was crazy. "What the hell, Seonghwa? What made you even think that?"
Seonghwa had already expected you to react that way to his question. Even so, he wasn't going to stop until he was satisfied with your answer. "As I said, Wooyoungโ"
"I don't care what he says; he must have lost his mind." You rolled your eyes in vexation. You would NEVER admit your feelings to anyone, not even to Seonghwa, whom you are closest to, not that there were any feelings involved to begin with. You got up, ready to head to your room to avoid the conversation, but Seonghwa held your wrist to stop you from escaping.
"I asked a question." His voice was solemn as ever, and whenever he uses that tone, it means he isn't playing around. It was that tone he used when he nags at you whenever you overwork yourself or when you carelessly make decisions out of anger. "And I need an answer."
No words seem to come out from your mouth; hell, you didn't even know what to say and definitely didn't know how you truly felt. What exactly do you feel for Mingi? What did he make you feel other than pain, regret, and anger? There weren't any romantic feelings there; no, that would be absurd.
Clearly, you were in denial. You were stuck in the idea that despite missing the sweet memories you shared with him, pushing him away would heal your wounds. But that's far from the truth. You had overlooked the love Mingi slipped into the simplest of actions he'd done for you, watching over you whenever you say you didn't need help, treating the villagers with respect just as he respects you, and more.
"You cannot lie to me, y/n. I've seen the way you look at him these past few weeks, and I would know when you don't speak of the truth."
Damn it.ย You cannot put into words what your heart was feeling and what your mind wanted you to believe. Mingi's existence used to make sense to you, but you couldn't even figure out and explain what he meant to you now.
"Do you love him?"
Do I love him?ย "No..."
"No?" He knew you were lying, so he pushed you further. "Think about it, y/n. You could've killed him right off the bat when he and his friends had trespassed on the island months ago, yet you let him live despite the nightmare he put you through, and you tell me you don't feel anything for him?"
You looked away with a scoff; you did not want to agree to his words. You wanted to divert your thoughts somewhere else and avoid the conversation. Unfortunately, memories you shared with him were starting to get in your head, and Seonghwa's words made it worse. "I don't..."
"That man sacrificed his life for you, took the life of his own blood for you; if that isn't love, I don't know what is."
"That's enough, Seonghwa." You were growing frustrated. You were trying your best to hold back your emotions and not hurt your best friend with words that may hurt his feelings, but the latter was equally as frustrated as you were. "Even if he did that, it doesn't change the fact that he almost cost me my life once."
"I understand that, y/n. But, I want you to be honest with me."
"No! I don't love him; I don't have feelings for him."
"If you're not going to be honest with me, then at least be honest with yourself."ย
Your shoulders slumped in defeat. Why couldn't you be honest with him? Why weren't you honest with yourself? Your mind might be telling you that you do not feel anything for him, not a shred of affection for the man you once loved, but what your heart felt whenever he did something for you was something you couldn't deny. Regardless of what your mind tells you is real or not, those emotions were true.
"I don't, Hwa...I don't...know." You weren't sure whether to follow your heart, which had been completely honest about your feelings with the world and had molded you into a princess and a captain who served those in need, or your mind, which had led you to become the guarded woman you are today. "I want to know, too."
The room fell silent with only your quiet sobs being heard. Seonghwa pulled you towards his chest, wrapping you in comfort. "I'm sorry if I overwhelmed you, y/n. I just don't want to see you look troubled whenever he's around, especially since he's a Blue Bird crewmate now. I want to see the enthusiastic smile back on your face, and less of the scowl." He rubbed your back in gentle strokes. "You've always been honest with your feelings up until now, you know. I don't want you to lie to yourself just because you think it's the safest way; it's not. Sometimes, the truth is safer than you think."
Maybe Seonghwa was right; maybe lying to yourself wasn't the right answer. Lying about your feelings wasn't going to bring you anything but distress; you just have to learn to accept and acknowledge whatever your heart felt for him. Acceptance was all you needed.
You didn't say anything, but the way you relaxed in Seonghwa's embrace, he took that as a response that you had understood him. It's moments like this when you're truly grateful for his presence in your life; he knows the right words to say, the right time to speak, the right actions to do, and the right way to approach your fragile heart. You were glad you had him to run to when you felt vulnerable. Seonghwa was always ready to catch you when you fall.
Just then, a knock was heard from the door, and it opened to reveal the man you and Seonghwa had been talking about. Mingi stood by the door with an unreadable expression, seeing you and Seonghwa embracing each other so warmly, missing the tears that stained your puffed cheeks.
"Hi, uhm...really sorry for interrupting the moment. Wooyoung requested for me to inform the captain that we'll be training the kids early in the morning tomorrow until the afternoon, in case she'll ask for him." Mingi left the room just as quickly as he had entered, leaving no chance for either you or Seonghwa to react.
On the way back to his quarters, Mingi questioned everythingโthe kiss, the gentle look in your eyes when you looked up at him at the library, and the stolen glances you gave when you thought he wasn't looking. He questioned if it even meant anything at all. Maybe you weren't so harsh on him anymore, not because you had slowly forgiven him, but because you had already given your heart to Seonghwa. There was no battle left for him to fight for your heart, and he was to accept defeat even when it would kill him.
-
A week of preparation had passed, and after sailing through the ocean for three full hours, your crew had finally docked at your neighboring kingdom, 'Wonderland.' You came here to deliver some goods to the castle, as the king had invited you for dinner, and perhaps visit an old friend too. You wore a more casual outfit for the trip instead of your usual captain look, while the rest wore something similar, but they kept their weapons with them for safety. You didn't exactly need any of it because to you, Wonderland was a safe place; it was home.
The kingdom of Wonderland was one of the most powerful yet hospitable kingdoms you knew of. Your connection with them goes way back to your parents time, when they made an alliance to fight against the notorious pirates. Your parents would often bring you with them during their trips to Wonderland. There you met the only daughter of the king and queen of the said kingdom, who eventually became your friend too since you two were nearly of the same age, with you being two years older.
Now, here you were back at the familiar place. An hour ago, you and the crew had arrived at the island earlier than expected, so you allowed the others to explore the public market near the dock where your ship was at for the meantime. The sun was beginning to set, and vendors were lighting up their stalls; that signaled for you to start heading up to the king's castle. You assigned Seonghwa to gather the rest of Blue Bird with the help of his beloved parrot, and in no time, everyone was gathered.
The journey to the castle was only a 10-minute walk from the market; thus, traveling by transportation to reach the place was unnecessary. Seeing the castle again was like coming home from an errand, whereas it had been years since the rest of Blue Bird last saw a castle up close. You walked up the stairs like you belonged there, unaware of the crew's hesitant steps. Even then, they trusted your lead, so they weren't completely worried.
At the top of the stairs, two of the royal guards stood by the door in attention together with the person who had the brightest smile on her face. She ran up to you and embraced you in a tight hug. "y/n! My sweet, sweet sister. I missed you so much, you have no idea." She pulled back to study your face, which she hasn't seen in centuries, as she always tells herself. Her soft, flawless hands cupped both your cheeks. "You're alive..." she whispered under her breath like she was reassuring herself of your presence. "I'm so happy you're alive."
You managed to let out a response even with your cheeks mushed. "I missed you too, Aera." Upon finally hearing your voice, she looked at you warm-heartedly. She couldn't believe you were real.
Han Aera, princess of Wonderland kingdom, was your childhood friend. You first met her at 7 years old when you visited Wonderland for the first time. You were quite shy around new people, but your parents encouraged you to make friends with her. Thankfully, Aera came up to you first, and since then, you and her have become close like sisters. Her parents, the king and queen, were also like your second parents, who took care of you and showed you around their kingdom. So when they heard the news that the whole kingdom of Fever, including the king and queen, was attacked, they were devastated, and their hearts were shattered into pieces.
They lost not only their allies but also their brothers and sisters; they lost their family. Aera thought she had lost you too, so she locked herself inside her room and broke down until her parents told her that you survived the attack, but you were taken away by pirates. She was relieved, truly relieved, that you were still alive out there. Still, she was overanxious about your safety. How would you survive with the pirates? What will they do to you? She didn't want to think of the worst possible scenarios, only hoping that you'd come back in one piece, and here you were, in one complete piece indeed.
Tears began to fall from her eyes, "You changed, y/n." Aera took in the new look you hadโa white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up halfway covered in a brown vest, glen check patterned slacks paired with black ankle boots with a small brown satchel, and your hair tied into a single braidโa vintage look that is different from your usual princess dresses. "You look different, but you are still the same princess and sister to me."
You held her hand that was resting on your cheek and smiled, "Life changed me, but my love for you never stopped."
It was true that your love for her never changed in those years without her presence. Some of your memories may have been forgotten already, but Aera was someone dear to you. You spent your childhood and a part of your teenage years with her; sharing secrets and running around the castle garden were your favorite things to do. Forgetting her would be forgetting your family. Meeting her again someday was one of your biggest motivators for building your crew and island.
-
"That's my girl! She did all that by herself." Aera cheered proudly from her seat.
After your emotional reunion with Aera, she invited you and the crew inside the castle to have dinner with the king and queen, which was the main purpose of your visit there. Soon, you found yourselves sitting around the long wooden table decorated with a warm red and gold table lining. The king sat at the front of the table, the queen on one side, and Aera on the other. You sat beside the queen, followed by Seonghwa, Wooyoung, Yeosang, and Jongho, while Mingi sat beside Aera, followed by Yunho, Hongjoong, and San, respectively.
The moment you entered the dining room, both the king and queen immediately ran up to you and embraced you warmly, grateful for your return. They bombarded you with questions about where you've been, how you've been living, and who you were with. They were relieved to hear that you've been living well with your people and crew and have settled into a better life in New World.
The food was eventually served and was spent with you sharing about the story of your life's journey and how the events turned out, which elicited flabbergasted reactions from the audience. Even Seonghwa, Wooyoung, Yeosang, and Jongho were still amazed by your story no matter how many times they heard it. You did intentionally leave out the part where Mingi betrayed you by throwing you out of the ship, not wanting to cause any fracas tonight. The storytelling session died down after a few minutes, so you brought your focus back on the food.
Dinner passed in a blink of an eye, and now you were in a conversation with the queen, with the king listening attentively beside her. The conversation was going smoothly, and it felt like you were speaking to your own parents, but somehow your eyes kept getting distracted by something else. The sound of a deep voice near you was really noticeable, and you knew clearly who it belonged to. You tried to focus back on your own conversation with the queen, but his voice was really getting to you until you heard a feminine giggle from across.
It was great timing that the queen diverted her attention to her husband because you got to check what was currently happening at the table. Across from you were Mingi and Aera, lost in their own conversation, exchanging friendly looks and smiles. You weren't sure what it was you were feeling, and you couldn't explain it either (more like you wouldn't admit it), but the scene unfolding in front of you bothered you in some way. Maybe it was the loving stare Aera gave towards Mingi, or maybe it was the wide grin Mingi had as he replied to her comfortably, but you definitely didn't like the look of it.
Unbeknownst to you, the other men at the table had stopped their own conversation when San first noticed the change in your demeanor and then gestured for the others to check as well. Surely, you looked upset. It was like there was a dark cloud looming above your head, and with the way you fixed a penetrating look towards the two people across from you, there was definitely some tension going on. You tried to shake the thoughts away, hoping to focus on the event at hand, so you diverted your attention back at the king and queen. However, the moment you hear Mingi's laughter and see Aera playfully slapping his arm, you just have had enough.
"Sorry to interrupt, your Majesty, but it's getting a bit late. I want to ask for your permission for us to return back home if that's alright." You spoke to the king and queen.
"Won't you and your crew want to stay the night? We've got enough rooms for all of you," the queen offered, but you were set with your decision. It wasn't that you weren't grateful for the offer, but you didn't think you were in the right headspace to stay for the night. You might go insane.
"It's okay, your Majesty. Thank you for the offer, but I still have to check over my people back in New World. Don't worry, I'll be sure to visit here again and bring my people once everything is finished."
As much as they'd want you to stay the night and rest, the king and queen understood the weight of your duties and the situation you were in. You were governing an island and leading a crew by yourself after all, which absolutely wasn't easy work. "We understand you, my dear. I'm sure there will always be a next time for us to meet again," the queen replied softly, assuring you that it was okay for you and your crew to return back to your island.
You bowed to them politely. "Thank you, your Majesty. I am grateful for the warm welcome and the delicious food served. Until our next visit." With that, you stood up and cleared your throat to get everyone's attention, more particularly at two people. "I'm sorry to interrupt the fun, but it is time for us to return home to New World."
"But, y/nโ" Aera tried to speak.
"Sorry, I have important matters to attend to."
You let the crew bid their goodbyes to the king, queen, and Aera. Afterwards, you instructed them to exit the castle first and wait for you outside while you bid your own goodbyes to the king and queen, giving both of them one more hug before heading towards the front door with Aera, who offered to walk you out.
"You know, that Mingi of yours is a funny man." Aera's words made you halt just a few steps away from the front door. "I had quite the laugh tonight." You turned to her with a questioning look, not knowing where she was going with this. "I wonder if he dated someone in royalty; his jokes were incredible and definitely not coming from a man's head."
Yes. Yes, he did date someone in royalty. Yes, he did get his jokes from a princess, and that princess was me.ย You wanted to tell her those words, but you didn't deem it necessary. However, the idea of her having any interest in Mingi didn't sit right with you. "He is a pirate, Aera. You are a princess, and royalty should not be involved in any romantic relationship with them. That's a disgrace to one's kingdom and bloodline, you know that."
"But he's one of your crewmates. It shouldn't be a problem, since you trust him."
She's really adamant about this.ย "I won't repeat myself, and I mean it." Your voice was now serious and dismissive, leaving no room for objections or complaints.
Aera, on the other hand, was amused by your reaction. She wasn't interested in Mingi like that, of course not; she was merely enjoying his jokes that only royalty understands. She even wondered how he knew of those, especially since he grew up as a pirate. That was all it was supposed to be until she noticed the intense look you gave her, though more towards the man.
She wasn't stupid; she knew you more than you think. You grew up with so much love and respect, so jealousy was never in your vocabulary. Tonight, however, was the first time she had seen that emotion in your eyes. She then got the idea that you and Mingi had possibly shared a romantic past together, and she can tell from your reaction that it most likely happened.
"I know, love. He just reminded me of Keeho," Yoon Keeho, Aera's first love.
"Pirates are dangerous; Keeho is dangerous." You knew he wasn't. He had looks that could kill, but that man was nothing but joy.
Keeho was born a pirate, who got disowned by his parents at a young age all because he enjoyed singing. They saw him as a liability rather than an asset; hence, he was abandoned on the island with nothing to his name, but the heavens brought him one royal staff from Wonderland kingdom who adopted him and treated him like her own son. She was a singer herself, so both of them were really blessed to have each other. Keeho grew up loved since then, and his talent in singing was appreciated as he was assigned to sing during big events at the castle. His beautiful voice was what caught Aera's attention and the reason why she fell in love at first sight. Long story short, they became lovers after a while, but you had no knowledge of that part.
"Aren't you working with pirates yourself?" Aera retorted, and her words gave you no chance to complain anymore. You looked away, feeling guilty at your hypocrisy. Aera gave your shoulder a pat when you didn't respond. "You worry too much. I'm not going to steal Mingi from you."
"What?" Your eyes widened.
Aera smiled to herself as she thought of him. "He seems to have so much respect for you; I wouldn't want to take that and get in the way." She looked you straight in the eyes, searching for any truth in your feelings for him. "You like him, too, don't you?"
That same question Seonghwa had asked you before came back to you once again. "I-I don't..." And that same answer came from you as well, not fully ready to accept the truth just yet.
Aera could only laugh at your reply, as she can see right through your lies. "No one's going to steal your man, love." You turned to her to check if she was messing with you, but all you saw was a genuine smile on her face, a pair of eyes that stared at you with pride, and a hand reaching for yours to hold. That was the look she always gave you whenever she felt proud of you for accomplishing something that made you happy.
"You deserve that kind of love and respect, y/n. You always told me that when you finally find the love of your life, you would fight for them until the end of time. I'm rooting for the both of you, and when you get married soon, the whole kingdom will gladly celebrate with you." Aera pulled you in for a hug, showing you how proud she was of how far you've reached in life. "Stay safe out there, princess. The kingdom is always on your side; we are sisters after all, and no one can change that."
"Thank you, Aera. I also wish for you to find the best love you deserve to have, but I'm sure Keeho is already treating you right." That made Aera laugh amidst the sobs she's fighting to hold back. "We will be on our way now; see you next time."
Aera walked you out of the castle, where your crew had been patiently waiting, and you gave her a curtsy, which she returned. You waved each other goodbye before finally walking down the stairs of the castle with you leading the way at the front and the rest following behind. The walk was quiet like it usually was, but tonight was a bit different, as it had some tension surrounding you, making the crewmates exchange confused glances.
As soon as everyone arrived and got on the ship, you immediately went back to work mode like you didn't just have an emotional farewell moment with your childhood friend minutes ago. "Hongjoong, prepare to sail. Yeosang and Jongho, raise the anchor, andโ" You couldn't think properly; your mind was elsewhere, thus you weren't assigning the right tasks to each member. "Just do what you usually do." You shook your head, making your way towards the quarterdeck where Hongjoong was supposed to be.
The Blue Bird crew all sensed that you, their captain, were not in the best mood. They didn't understand the fast switch of your emotions, but the majority knew why it was that way. As your first mate, Wooyoung brought himself closer to you with hesitant steps, not wanting to fuel the fire. However, the moment he opened his mouth, you put up a hand to stop him. You weren't looking as your back faced him, so he left without a question. He knew better than to mess with you right now; not even the mighty Jongho could approach you, except for one brave soul.
Mingi recalled the way you glared at him earlier during dinner at the castle, giving him the idea that your mood had something to do with him, so he walked up to you bravely. The others tried to stop him, warning him of your potential wrath, but still that didn't stop him from approaching you. His words were faster than Yunho's hands trying to grab his wrist. "Hey, y/n. I'm sorry if I did something wrongโ"
"Let's make this clear, Mingi." The crew froze when an unimpressed smirk appeared on your face, which quickly dropped into a serious look. "No one should ever engage in any romantic relationship with anyone outside of New World until all pirates have disappeared from this world, understood?"
Mingi understood the point you were making, and he completely agrees with it. What he didn't understand was why your words were somehow directed at him. Not even to Wooyoung, who was known as the biggest flirt on the island. "I do understand that, but what does it have to do with me?" He didn't mean it, but his tone sounded almost frustrated.
The crew's jaws dropped at Mingi's response, with Yeosang gasping at the side in disbelief. No one has dared talk back or fight against you; everyone always complied with your commands and requests, respected your decisions, and never questioned your visions, yet Mingi wasn't afraid of standing up for himself even if it meant having a heated conversation with you. To be fair, you and Mingi had been in some sort of serious tension the past few weeks, so that pent-up frustration might have intensified what he had been keeping to himself.
You really didn't have the energy to argue with him at this late hour. Therefore, with a serious look, you replied one last time. "You tell me." Without another word, you walked past him and the others to go inside your cabin to rest for the night, entrusting Hongjoong with the ship.
Mingi's gaze followed your direction, while his body remained unmoving. Wooyoung hissed at the scene that played in front of them, and the others grimaced beside him. Mingi didn't know what he did so wrong to piss you off, but the rest of Blue Bird definitely knew that it had everything to do with him. They felt bad for him, really. Especially Wooyoung and Seonghwa, who've been keeping an eye on the man. They hoped you'd clear the tension as soon as possible to prevent further issues arising among the crew just like this one.
Mingi felt defeated. No matter what he tried to doโlook out for you, avoid you, or pretend that he didn't have feelings for you anymoreโthey never mattered because you will always hate him. That would never change, and you had made it clear as day. It was like his existence in your life was a burden in itself; that was how he felt by your actions and words towards him. He doesn't want to burden you any further, so this time, he'll keep his presence at a limit.
-
Since that night, Mingi became almost invisible. Not that he wasn't participating in gatherings with Blue Bird anymore, but he didn't want to show himself to you, and even when you were everywhere on the island, he was nowhere nearby. You do see him during expeditions, meetings, or dinner, though only for a short while. As soon as he does his part in the crew, he is gone, and you wouldn't notice a thing.
The first few days, you had overlooked the change in his routine, too busy to point it out. On the contrary, of course, the ever-so-observant Wooyoung caught on since it started, and then news spread to the rest of the crew. Initially, none of them wanted to make baseless opinions about him, but after witnessing a number of events, they couldn't deny the fact.
It first happened when you had gathered everyone for a short meeting regarding a change of taskings for your training sessions, and when the meeting was adjourned, Mingi was out of the room before Seonghwa could even gather his things. Mingi had never rushed out of a meeting before, as he was always one of the last people to leave. The crew never really questioned it much, thinking that he wasn't feeling good that day, plus he also complied with all your requests without any questions, performing well and reaching your expectations. But as soon as he accomplished those given tasks, he was nowhere to be seen the next minute.
It was during New World's Foundation Day dinner party when you finally took notice of Mingi's change in behavior. When the whole island celebrated, alcohol and loud singing were never not present. He usually partook in those things alongside Yunho, never missing a shot being offered to him, and staying back to help clean up the tables.
Tonight, that wasn't the case. You were seated beside Seonghwa at the end of the table, finishing up your own drink in hand, when you saw Wooyoung offering another glass towards Mingi, an arm draped around the man's shoulder.
"Have some more, Gi. You haven't drunk enough yet."
On a normal celebration, Mingi would've grabbed the glass from Wooyoung and downed the drink in one go. But to Wooyoung's surprise, Mingi stood up from the table, packing his things with a shake of his head in refusal. "Sorry, Wooyoung. I don't feel like drinking tonight, so I'll pass this one for now. I'll make it up to you next time." Just like that, Wooyoung watched Mingi's figure disappear again in the dark, and he didn't push him to stay any longer. He understood what his friend meant, and he was going to give him space. Wooyoung went up to Yunho instead to offer him the drink, and the party resumed.
"Mingi must not be feeling well tonight." Seonghwa, who had been quietly eating his noodles beside you, spoke up. His eyes were glued on the food, but his words were directed at you. "I'm sure you noticed that too, captain."
You did notice that, and you couldn't help but worry about him. Yes, you weren't on the best terms with him right now, but he was still a crew member at the end of the day.
"You must be worried for him."
You looked down on the table where your half-eaten sandwich rested, slowly getting cold, just like Mingi towards you. You were worried for him, of course. You always had worry in your heart, but was it only worry that filled it? Were you only worried for his health, or were you also curious about why he had grown cold around you? You knew it was because of something you've done or said to him, but it wasn't the same as when he had tried keeping his distance from you before. Now, he was keeping his distance from everyone, even the Blue Bird crew.
In the comfort of his sleeping quarters, Mingi lied on his bed, mindlessly staring up at the empty ceiling. He was aware of the other crewmates' concerns for him, especially Wooyoung and his closest friend, Yunho, yet there wasn't much he could do about his situation. He kept his frustration and unwanted thoughts to himself, not wanting to cause any more problems than he was already making.
Mingi's avoidance stemmed from your constant frustration towards him. He always caused you stress due to his desire to reconcile with you after years of separation, and your anger was a consequence he had to bravely face. Your anger was one thing he could accept, but the kiss you gave him once when you were drunk was another. He was dense enough to believe that you were slowly warming up to him. He had become a fool. When he mentioned to you that he wasn't going to be a burden anymore, he was going to stand by his words with whatever it takes.
But, if he were to be completely honest with himself, he'd admit that a part of that reason was because of the closeness you shared with Seonghwa. The two of you already knew each other way before Mingi found his way to the island. Thus, you were bound to have a special bond with him. Only this time, you and Seonghwa grew even closer than before. That day when he walked in on you and Seonghwa at your tower hugging each other, almost intimate from the eyes of a passerby, a romantic relationship between the two of you wouldn't be surprising news. And even tonight, instead of you staying away from the crowd alone, you were glued to Seonghwa.
A chance with you was now too far to reach, so it was best for things to stay this way. He would just have to bear with the pain in silence and cry himself to sleep with the thought of letting you go for good and for you to find the love you deserve without him in the picture. He loved you enough to let you go.
-
The following days were the same. Mingi either busied himself with trainings or strolled alone around the island to clear off his mind. As a gunner, he had been trying out new tactics with different guns, and once he'd mastered them, he would go teach the same to the younger trainees, who looked up to him because of his impressive skills. Consistent days of progressive trainings were spent together with Wooyoung, San, and Yeosang, whereas you worked with Jongho on developing a more advanced technology, including the production of new weapons to use during battles that may arise. But that battle may have arisen earlier than expected.
The sun had set, and you were heading back to the village square with Jongho after a long day at the headquarters. He rambled to you about what you had discussed earlier with him during the meeting, and you tried to register his words as best as you could, yet you couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling you were getting right now. You weren't sure if you were just hearing things, but you swore you and Jongho weren't alone.
"Integrating personal colors into our weapons would be goodโ"
Rustle.ย You hushed Jongho with a finger pressed to his lips, making him freeze in place. He caught on to your tensed shoulders as your eyes scanned around for intruders that could possibly be hiding behind the large trees and bushes surrounding the area. Jongho grew nervous and became equally alerted by your sudden actions, slowly pulling out his pistol from his pocket carry to ready himself for a sudden attack.
Rustle.ย There was that sound again. You had no idea what was making that sound as the wind was still, but you knew it was best to let the others know of the situation. Grabbing Jongho's hand, you began running towards the village square. "We have intruders..." You huffed out a nervous breath, "Very familiar intruders." Upon arriving at the village square, where the villagers and the crew gathered for dinner, your hurried steps had signaled the crew of your arrival, missing the panicked look on your face.
"Captain, you're hereโ"
"Tell everyone to go home and lock their doors, ready all your weapons, and scatter around the island." You walked up towards a nearby table to fix your clothes, tightening the laces of your boots and taking off your coat to remove a little weight from your body. "Jongho, alert the island of intruders, and go check why the sirens didn't detect them."
"Got it, captain." Jongho immediately ran back to the headquarters through a hidden shortcut to avoid being seen by the enemies.
The crew all watched with bewilderment and worry as you moved fast while maintaining a serious demeanor despite your hands shaking a lot.
"Captain, you're shaking."
"y/n, calm down."
"Take a deep breath."
You heard the crew speak, but this was not the moment for consoling remarks.
You turned to the crew with a look they had never seen from you before, a look that told them that this was not an easy battle, almost like you had fire in your eyes with how dark they turned. "They're here," you announced to them, voice shaking in between.
"Twilight."
Everyone gasped at the mention of that name so beautiful yet one of the strongest and most ruthless pirates ever known. The Twilight crew consisted of strong men and women specialized in fist fighting, archery, and swords. They were known to be cold, notorious, and evil amongst the existing pirate crews, who never lost a battle. They were once almost defeated by HalaHala, but the latter sailed away to escape. There were many things about Twilight that gave enough reasons for them to be feared. If they had attacked Fever kingdom instead of HalaHala in the past, there would be no doubt you'd be killed alongside your parents. You were scared of them; that's a fact. Even Blue Bird felt the same, but your fear wasn't for yourself.
"Yunho and Yeosang," you called out two of your strongest crewmates, "I entrust you to stay by Jongho's side on this one, please. I want him safe and alive by all means; I want each one of you alive."
It pained you to think about Jongho at this time, and everyone knew how much the youngest member meant to you. Jongho used to be a Twilight crewmate, hence the naturally strong build and knowledge in various weapons and fighting styles. He had been abandoned by them at a young age, so you took him in and cared for him like family. He was a pirate, yes, but he had so much potential that it was a loss to waste. You had saved his life, and that drove him to prove to you his willingness to serve. You deemed him the best fighter on the island; thus, you always entrusted him with the heavy work. Jongho was seen to be this reserved yet reliable man by the villagers, but he had always been the caring younger brother in your eyes.
You automatically sensed earlier that Twilight was around because of the weird scent coming from the rustling bushes. It was a distinct scent unique to their crew, which you had smelled once from Jongho the first time you met. You trusted Jongho like no other, since he was capable of accomplishing things on his own. But with the thought of him seeing them again after what happened many years ago, you were afraid that his intense hatred would get into his head and he would lose his composure. That's why you got Yunho and Yeosang to watch over his back.
Just then, you felt a swift blow of the wind on your face after an arrow passed dangerously close in front of you, landing on the wooden pole nearby. Your eyes widened in fright, heart racing so fast like the speed of the arrow. Your body grew cold; if you had moved even an inch or two, the arrow would have scratched your face badly. The crew began to pull out their weapons and started dispersing themselves around the island, attacking the pirates that had appeared.
"Shit," you cursed under your breath.
San ran up to you, checking for any injuries. "Are you alright, captain?"
You nodded slowly, still processing what had just occurred. "I'm fine; let's just start moving."
San, who had no time to waste, gently lifted you up and offered you a hug, replacing your dread with consolation and assurance that you had people you could rely on. "Take a deep breath for me, captain. We'll all protect you and Jongho; we'll win this." San took your hand and ran with you in the direction of your tower.
-
After alerting the island through the intercom about the presence of intruders, Jongho checked the surveillance cameras for any sign of intruders inside the building, which signaled a big green 'CLEAR' sign. The building was already locked before he got in, and he entered through a secret passage, so no one could follow him inside. He picked up his pistols from the table and quickly exited the building from the same passage.
The outside was oddly quiet, making him feel uneasy as he quickly made his way back to where the crew was, but the moment he saw an arrow fly past you from a distance, someone covered his mouth to suppress his call for help and dragged him back to where he had come from. Jongho was pushed to the ground with a loud thud, causing him to lose his balance. He was ready to shoot whoever laid their hands on him, only for his eyes to widen in horror at the sight of two familiar faces standing in front of him, faces he never thought he'd see again.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't our cute little Jongho. I'm surprised you're still alive. We thought we got rid of you ages ago, but you're still stubborn, aren't you?" Laughter erupted among the men, the two clearly not intimidated by Jongho's presence. "I wonder what captain Yang would do with you." The other person smirked at him menacingly.
Jongho got up to his feet, pulling out his pistol from his pocket carry to try and threaten them, but the two pulled out their own pistols, pointing them back towards him. In front of him stood Choi Daeyeol and Lim Jaehee, two of his senior pirates in Twilight, who taught him a few things about guns. They trained him how to aim at an enemy and shoot them where it hurts most, not knowing that he'd end up aiming his gun at his trainers, who were now his enemies.
"Put the pistols down, boys. You'll scare the poor guy to death; that wouldn't be fun." A hand was harshly pressed down on Jongho's shoulder as a deep, raspy voice was heard from behind his back. "What's more fun is to kill him with a sword sliding across his neck; that way he won't ever get to sing again. Maybe we can slide it deeper so he won't get to breathe at all. Or we can start from his legs; I'm sure he's familiar with that feeling."
"Nice one, captain," Daeyeol commented on the captain's sinister plans to torture Jongho.
Jongho heard captain Yang take his sword out, and the sword appeared in front of him, all shiny and brand new without a speck of dust. "You see this, Choi? No dirt in sight, but once I slide this across your throat, your blood will be the first thing that will stain this pretty thing."
Jongho was strong; he was aware of that. You would always remind him of his incredible strength and intelligence, and he believed it. The captain of Blue Bird, the princess of Fever kingdom, and his savior would never tell a lie. That's why he worked extra hard to live up to that title and not disappoint the people who cared for him when no one did. He was strong, yet he felt weak in the hands of his former captain. He felt his energy drain by the sword that was inches away from his neck, the dirty hand that held his shoulder, and the mocking laughter from the other two men.
At that moment, all he could think about was you: how grateful he was for your existence, the happiness he gets whenever you tell him jokes that make him laugh so hard until he couldn't breathe anymore, and how safe he feels whenever you're around. Seeing you every day would motivate him to work and treasure every second of his life, but if this was how his life would end, he couldn't even get to tell you his goodbyes nor see your face one last time.
This is it, he thought. Jongho had accepted defeat; there was no more fight left in him. Even if he tried to kill captain Yang now, he was still going to get attacked by Daeyeol and Jaehee. There was no escape. Well, there were two people who wouldn't accept that. As Jongho shut his eyes closed, a loud gunshot was heard, and captain Yang's grip on him loosened until his body dropped on the ground with a thud. Jongho opened his eyes to see both Daeyeol and Jaehee on the ground covered in blood.
Yeosang had shot the captain in the head, while Yunho stabbed the other two in their backs with his daggers. They almost looked invisible in the dark as they had their masks on, and they made absolutely no noise too, so the enemies didn't notice their presence. Yunho and Yeosang finally approached Jongho, who stared at them in surprise, and asked if he was hurt or not.
"Sorry we took a while; Yeosang here almost lost his pistol." Yunho hit Yeosang in the head jokingly, and the latter played along by pretending to be in pain.
However, Jongho didn't laugh with them. Instead, his mouth dropped into a frown, and Yunho panicked at his reaction only to calm down when Jongho suddenly broke down in sobs. "Thank you." That was all he could utter, but those two words were more than enough for Yunho and Yeosang. Task or not, Jongho had to stay alive, and they made sure of it.
-
When everyone had dispersed to different areas on the islandโYunho and Yeosang to the headquarters, Hongjoong and Wooyoung to the shore, and Seonghwa and his men near the villagers' homesโMingi had followed behind you and San. He wasn't supposed to be there; he was supposed to stay with Seonghwa, but it's as if his feet had a mind of their own. He just had to look out for you in this battle. You seemed unsteady, nervous, and not in complete focus; he wasn't sure if you could handle fighting against those strong pirates in that condition.
Arriving at your tower, you and San panted, catching your breaths. You thought you had a few minutes to regain your composure and prepare your weapons. You really weren't in the best state tonight, but you were going to try your best nevertheless. In the quiet of the night, you could only hear your and San's breathing, so you didn't hear someone approaching you from behind until San slashed them with his sword. You didn't even have time to react when more pirates appeared and surrounded the three of you.
Twilight was known to sneak up on their enemies in complete silence, and fighting against them in the dark just increased their difficulty. The three of you worked together to take the pirates down, with Mingi shooting the archers from a distance, San slashing the more muscular pirates with his swords, and you shooting the sneaky ones with your pistol, the same one Jongho had. The fight was going well; your momentum was steady and with accurate aim. Despite being outnumbered by the enemies, the three of you remained strong and undefeated.
You were currently reloading your pistol, as you had unfortunately run out of bullets, and using your dagger wasn't the best option right now. Because your attention was elsewhere, you didn't hear the footsteps approaching you from behind, thinking that you were safe from where you hid, not until you got pushed hard to the side.
"MINGI!"
No, no, no. This cannot be; this isn't real.ย Mingi's body flopped to the ground, blood dripping down his face. You were angry, maddened, frustratedโno, your heart had nothing but rage and no remorse. You took out your dagger that was hidden inside your pocket carry and pushed it deep into the pirate's chest long enough until the man was deemed unconscious. There were little to no enemies left around the area with San finishing them up with a final hit, so you took the chance to approach Mingi, who didn't seem to move.
"Mingi! Song Mingi, get up. Get up, you fool. Hey, why aren't you responding to me? This isn't funny; you have to get up."
You held his head and carefully placed him down on your lap to examine his face. His eyes were closed shut, his breathing was shaky and slow, and blood was dripping down his cheek from the open wound under his right eye. His strong body now fell weak, and you felt him lose energy when his arms dropped down. Because of your carelessness, he had saved your life once again, only this time, it cost him his life.
"Captain, are you okay?" San rushed towards you, who he saw was kneeling on the ground, cupping Mingi's cheek with one hand with teardrops landing on his skin. "What happened?"
San's questions were left unheard as tears blurred your vision, and your hand was stained with Mingi's blood. Your hands shook in devastation, not wanting to accept reality. Mingi had always been this strong, intimidating pirate everyone deemed him to be, but now, he looked so fragile, helpless...broken. He must've been in so much pain because not only was he hit in the face, but he also had a deep cut near his chest, which explained the amount of blood that flowed out from his body.
"You always told me how much you wanted to die in my arms and I did want you gone after what you've put me through..." You couldn't control your sobs any longer, "But, that was all in the past. You have proved to me that you really regretted what you did, and that you had a reason for it. I've seen it all, Mingi. I see and hear you. You've saved my life countless times, sacrificing your life for me yet I never once told you how grateful I am until it's already too late. Please...wake up." You dropped your head to rest on top of his, "This is not how I wanted things to end between us, this isn't what I want. I have forgiven you and I-I'm ready to accept you again, so please...please...please...wake up for me,ย Mangi." That was the nickname you made for him when you two were still lovers, and you thought it was cute on him. "I've lost the people I loved before; I cannot bear to lose you too," you cried in hopes that he could hear you even when it didn't seem possible.
San silently watched you on the side in pity as to not interfere with the mournful and personal moment. He kept his distance from you, allowing you to think in peace and let out any suppressed emotions you had in your heart. You were the most vulnerable right now, and he respected that. Your feelings were valid and understood. Soon enough, the rest of Blue Bird arrived at the scene one by one. They came closer towards where San stood, only for San to halt them with a raise of his hand. The crew instantly understood the signal and proceeded to watch closely beside him.
"Captain..."
You slowly looked up to the owner of the voice, seeing Jongho standing over you in concern. A weak sigh of relief escaped your lips at the sight of him, thanking Yunho, Yeosang, and the heavens that he was still here. You wouldn't be able to bear the pain if the worst had happened to him; it would be like losing a family member again. As long as he was here, your heart would be at ease.
Jongho knelt down to your level, eyes glued on you. "We'll bring him to the clinic and get him treated immediately."
Seonghwa ordered his men to pull Mingi away from you, working together to support him up, and carefully carry his unconscious body to the aiding station with Seonghwa following behind. Jongho held your hands in his, supporting your back as he pulled you up to stand. You stumbled as your knees felt numb, but he was quick enough to catch you.
"You need to eat and rest, captain. I'll accompany you if that's alright with you."
You honestly didn't have the appetite to eat anything at the moment, only wanting to go see Mingi at the clinic and see if he was going to live, but you couldn't refuse Jongho's offer. If you do not eat something or drink anything at all, you'd probably pass out.
-
A sword was aimed towards Mingi, and he tried to avoid it. However, he accidentally tripped on a pistol that belonged to an already deceased pirate on the ground, causing the sword to slash his chest. He groaned in pain as blood began to run down his torso, but he couldn't lose focus; he couldn't waste a single second, not now. He shot the enemy in the head before they could swing their sword again.
It wasn't just a scratch; the cut was deep, so the pain became unbearable in a short time. Mingi was searching for an area to rest, but instead, he found an enemy approaching you from behind with a dagger as you were busy reloading your pistol, with San too preoccupied with attacking other enemies nearby. He'd seen this scene before when you got hurt and almost killed during your battle with HalaHala, and this time, he wasn't going to let anyone lay a finger on you no matter what it takes.
"No..." Mingi cried in a shaky voice, "y/n!"
With all the strength and energy he had left, and despite his head getting dizzier from the loss of blood, he ran up towards you like his life depended on it. Mingi had to push your body to the side and step in so you wouldn't get hit and he'd receive the hit instead. The last thing he felt was the sharp weapon scratching the skin dangerously close to his right eye before he stumbled down on the ground. He hissed in pain, trying hard to stay conscious, but before he knew it, his vision turned black.
-
"Where is he?" You stepped inside the clinic.
The head nurse led you to a room located at the end of the hallway, where you found the Blue Bird crewmates standing outside the said room. Yunho's head was down, failing to hide the tears he was trying so hard to hold back with Hongjoong and Sam comforting him; he wasn't ready to accept the truth of his best friend and brother's possible death.
After receiving the nurse's confirmation, you quietly entered the room in light steps. On the bed lay Mingi's still unconscious body, chest covered in thick bandages with a blanket over his lower body. You approached the bed, grabbing a stool from nearby so you could take a closer look at him. You took one of his calloused hand, enclosing it with your own as you stared at him heartbroken, keeping him company while he recovered.
You weren't sure how it happened or when it started, but things were different now. Mingi's existence in your life was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions. From becoming friends for the first time as teenagers despite belonging to completely different worlds to becoming lovers defying what the history books always say, eventually leading to a tragic heartbreak and betrayal. By that time, your world had already collided with his, all while building yourself from the ground up, so you couldn't fully go back to where you started. You worked sleepless nights in blood, sweat, and tears to start all over again, and that led to New World.
You had it, but fate had other plans for you. Fate brought Mingi back to you, telling you that your story wasn't over yet. It could've ended if you had killed him that night, which you didn't, and since then, his existence in your life has kept punching you in the face. No matter what you did to deny him, his actions towards you would always remind you that he was the man you once loved before.
Now that man was lying on the clinic bed unconscious and bruised from saving your life, reminding you again that he would do anything to protect you from danger. Your mind tried to convince you that you had nothing but hatred for him, no space for forgiveness and reconciliation, yet deep inside your heart, there was still that love, trust, and gratitude you always had for him. Your heart never lies; it's the same heart that broke into a million pieces when Mingi almost died saving you. Everything he had done was to save you: from getting mistreated and disrespected by HalaHala, from getting killed by his mother and his stepsister, and now, from getting killed by a Twilight pirate.
Mingi had always been your savior, but who was there to save him? You never believed you were ever a savior yourself to him, but little did you know that you, the only woman he ever loved and looked up to, had already saved him more times than you realize. You becoming his friend had saved him from living a life he didn't want to, and becoming his lover was the moment he felt like the world was finally on his side, even for a short while. And when he and his brothers got lost on the island, you saved him too by sparing his life even when you shouldn't. You were the reason he worked extra hard with the crew and the villagers; you made him find his purpose in life again after all of the challenges he faced.
If dying in your arms from saving you was the final form of love he could give to you, then he had lived a fulfilled life with no regrets. After all, the strongest evidence of love is sacrifice.
-
The sunlight crept through the window, indicating that morning had come. Mingi's eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the light after a long night of being unconscious. Well actually, he wasn't fully unconscious that whole time. Unbeknownst to you, he heard every single thing you told him, your cries, your heavy breathing, and your silent whispers. It pained him deeply hearing you cry so much, but there was nothing he could do. Mingi heard you loud and clear, yet his eyes remained shut; he couldn't open them due to the scar near his eye. Last night, he wanted to answer you back and tell you how he truly felt. He'll definitely tell you this time.
Mingi scanned the room he was in, and his eyes landed on your sleeping form curled up on the small couch beside the bed. He didn't expect to find you there; he thought you'd gone back home to your tower. Oh, how wrong he was. His lips curled into a soft smile as he admired how cute you looked in your sleep with your pinkish cheeks and arms hugging yourself. He continued to do that for the next couple of minutes until you woke up, groaning as you stretched your arms up to loosen your muscles from the uncomfortable position you slept in. Just then, it sank in on your mind that you were actually at the clinic and not in your tower, remembering why you were there in the first place.
"Mingi?" You quickly turned to him, only to find him already staring at you with a soft look. "Oh, you're finally awake. Do you feel okay now? Are you thirsty? Hungry? Do you needโ"
"Thank you," Mingi cut you off.
"For what?" You were confused; you didn't think you did anything for him to be thankful for you.
"For everything, I heard what you said to me last night."
Huh? Sorry, did I hear it right?ย "You what?"
Mingi chuckled at your reaction. "I heard you, and my response to that is thank you. Thank you for giving me another chance to prove myself to you. Thank you for accepting me, forgiving me after what I've put you through, and for taking care of me when you really didn't have to. I wouldn't want you to sleep uncomfortably on the couch."
His words struck you, and you realized that your relationship with Mingi was turning to the better side. No more arguments, no more pretending, just an exchange of sincere emotions. There was no need to hide your feelings anymore and pretend that everything he does for you does not affect you in any way because what you had with Mingi now was something you wouldn't change for the world. Swiftly, you wrapped your arms around his body while trying not to hurt him. "I really don't care if my back hurts when you're the one in pain."
For the first time in what felt like forever, Mingi got a genuine hug from you at last after all those times when you wouldn't dare lay a finger on him. He returned the hug with the same warmth, wishing he could capture this feeling forever; he never wanted to let you go again.
"Thank you for waking up." Your voice was muffled as your head rested on his shoulder.
Mingi pushed you back slightly, and to your surprise, he pulled you back in for a kiss. God, how he missed this feeling; your lips were still as soft as ever on his. You were caught off guard by the sudden action but eventually kissed him back with the same intensity. The kiss was slow, sweet, and full of desire with a hint of desperation. Pulling back, Mingi brushed your hair that fell on your face and kept it behind your ear. "You're still the most beautiful woman I have ever set my eyes on, and that will never change. I hope this time, I can make you happy because I love seeing the smile I fell in love with." His hand cupped your cheek, and you instantly leaned onto it.
You were overjoyed right now; you were blessed to have Mingi back in your life, not as an enemy but as a partner for life. "I'm happy, Mingi. I'm really happy you're still here with me in this lifetime despite everything we've been through."
Love is patient, love can hurt, but true love forgives, and you were more than ready to start over again with him in this place where love was abundant, and there was nothing that could come in between you and him again.
-
You stayed by Mingi's side until he fully recovered from his wounds, even feeding him his food despite him insisting that he was capable of doing it himself, only for you to scold him, and he knew better than to disobey you, so he'd let you do whatever you wanted for him. In return, he'd insist on feeding you too. You would refuse at first, but he would guilt-trip you by saying that he wouldn't recover if you refused, so that's how you two ended up that way. As days passed, you and Mingi spent more time with each other. The others understood the situation, giving the both of you all the time you needed to reconcile.
You would walk along the shore hand in hand with Mingi, sharing stories about your life, reconnecting, and enjoying each other's company, not minding anything around you. The sun was beginning to set, so you and he sat down on the sand, staring off into the horizon as the wind blew on your faces. This brought you back to when you both used to watch the sunsets together back in HalaHala with Yunho, San, and Hongjoong teasing from behind. You used to rest your head on his shoulder, finding peace in his arms, and now, it was him resting on you, hands intertwined with yours.
Mingi told you about what happened the night before he, Yunho, San, and Hongjoong escaped from HalaHala. The four of them hugged each other in tears, thinking that it would be their last day together, unsure of what the future held. You felt saddened at the thought of them together, now understanding how hard it was to make that decision. You planted a kiss on his forehead to reassure him that he was okay now.
You also shared with him the life you had after you landed here on the island, how you met people from your old kingdom, built the island up to what it is now, and how you met Seonghwa, Wooyoung, Yeosang, and Jongho. Hearing your story, Mingi felt apologetic for what you went through, but more than that, he was extremely proud of how far you've come. You really had to work endlessly with no one to run to when you felt weak and tired until the four boys came into your life. Now, you could lean on them when things get hard, and the same goes for him.
"I'm so glad things turned out this way, and that we found each other again." Mingi's thumb caressed your hand in soft rubs. "I love you so much, y/n. My heart is all yours until my last breath; that's a promise I will keep forever."
-
During those times when you couldn't attend a meeting with the crew, you had entrusted Hongjoong to lead them for the meantime, as he was knowledgeable about many things, he was reliable and loyal, he was stern yet understanding, and he had a passion for work. He can do everything without needing your assistance, and those were enough reasons for you to trust him to do well with the task. You did see the difference in Hongjoong's leadership compared to yours, especially that he grew up around pirates while you grew up in a peaceful kingdom, and you wanted to keep this change. That led you to decide on making new changes on the island and with the crew.
You allowed them to have their own house near the headquarters for easier access, and they also have their own individual rooms, so they could live more comfortably. The house was big enough to fit all of them with a spacious living room and a room for working out. There were 8 rooms in total, but only 7 were to be occupied because Mingi was moving in to your tower. You wouldn't feel lonely after work anymore; you now have someone to come home to and rest in the comfort of their arms. Other than that, you planned to rebrand the crew and step down as the captain of Blue Bird. You thought of going back to your royal roots and serving the people as their princess. Although you'll focus more on the island, you would still participate in making plans with the crew, especially with trading and visits, as you will be joining them with it.
You had also decided to pass down the title of being captain to Hongjoong with Seonghwa as his first mate, Yunho as the sailing master, Yeosang as the navigator, San and Mingi as master gunners, Wooyoung as the cook, and Jongho still as the boatswain of the ship. Lastly, you contemplated a new name that would represent them better, one that gave them a unique identity, and after thinking deeply about it, you ultimately found the perfect one.
ATEEZ.
"I officially declare Kim Hongjoong as the new captain of ATEEZ, the new and improved crew of New World." The crowd erupted in cheers and applause at your announcement. You went up to Hongjoong, who stood in shock, not believing what he just heard from you. You gave him an assuring smile. "Why are you so surprised? This was your dream, wasn't it?"
Hongjoong's eyes widened in realization. "Y-you remembered?"
"Of course, I did. I remember everything. I even made you your very own armband. That way, people will rknow who the captain is." You showed to him the armband you personally designed and made with the help of one of the female villagers, wrapping it around his arm. Once it was secured, Hongjoong bowed to you in gratitude and ran off to revel his new role in the crew. He ran around the village square, dragging his poor first mate, Seonghwa, to join him, eliciting a series of teasing remarks from the others.
Yunho, Wooyoung, Yeosang, and Jongho had started noticing the shift in the two's relationship during trainings. Hongjoong and Seonghwa didn't expect each other to grow this close due to the huge contrast in their personalities. Seonghwa took interest in Hongjoong during their first training when he aided Hongjoong, admiring him for his abilities yet finding him cute for his slight clumsiness, not to mention how he denied it when you asked, and not knowing that Hongjoong was also attracted to him at first sight. When the two were left alone, Seonghwa would grab the chance to hang out with him, but Hongjoong enjoyed playing hard-to-get, so he would turn down his invite only to end up hanging out with him anyway. They're just a match made in heaven.
Another perfect match was Wooyoung and San, no surprise. Wooyoung was charming but can be a bit of a handful, and San was poised but soft-hearted despite growing up in a cruel place. It wasn't clear how it really started, but Wooyoung always struck up a conversation with San enough to bring the energy out of him, who mostly remained quiet around people he wasn't close with. The two grew affectionate with each other, and since then, they were always stuck in their own world, even planning to have matching tattoos.
Jongho still kept bothering Yeosang and competing with him in a playful battle to see who was stronger between the two of them, often trying to wrestle the man as an excuse to have his arms around him. You really didn't get it, but you respect it nonetheless. Moreover, Yunho found himself staying by the kitchen, indulging in a lot of delicious food, so much so that he ended up becoming the main chef's personal taste tester, and that man was ecstatic.
As for Mingi, he would help you work in your office at the headquarters, bringing you food when you're too busy to eat, checking up on you once in a while, and reporting to you what they had talked about during the meeting. He would stay back with you until you finished work, giving you a kiss and telling you how proud he was of you, heading home together afterwards. There, Mingi would cook dinner for the both of you, and you'd wrap your arms around his waist from behind. That was the usual routine, and each day would both start and end with him sleeping beside you on your shared bed.
Back to the celebration, you took in the sight of everyone enjoying their time together with drinks and shared laughter. You felt like a proud mom watching over her kids, who grew up to be successful in life and reach their dreams. All of a sudden, you felt a pair of arms wrap around you from behind, planting a peck on your cheek before resting his chin on your shoulder.
"What about me, princess? What do you remember about me?"
"You?" You turned to Mingi with a playful smirk, wanting to tease him for a bit. "I remember you throwing me off the shipโ"
"Hey!" he whined. "Not that; do not remind me about that ever again."
You let out a giggle, finding his reaction cute and amusing. He continued to whine on your shoulder, so you ruffled his hair to make him stop. "Alright, I'll be serious now, you baby." Mingi turned to you with an offended look, which made you burst into laughter this time. "You wanted to have a stable and loving family, didn't you?" You looked up at him and stared into his soft sparkly eyes. "You have us, Mingi. We're your family, and we love you."
Mingi averted his gaze into the distance, where everyone gathered, and looking back to the memories he shared with them, he realized that he was finally in a good place now: no more abuse, no more suffering, an island filled with loving people, and most importantly, you were in it.
He couldn't believe this was his life now; it felt like he was on top of the world. He made you turn to him before pulling you in again in a tight hug, feeling something wet damping your shoulder. "I really don't deserve you, y/n. This is all too much for me to accept, but I'm really grateful for all of this." Mingi slowly caressed your hair. "Why was the world so cruel to you when you have a heart made of gold? My world was cruel to you, yet you still did all of this for me and my brothers."
You wiped the tears that stained his cheeks with your fingers. "The world was cruel to me, but things happen for a reason. I did all these out of love, Mingi. I never regret the things I do for love and out of love, and you're one of them." He smiled at your words, and you gave him a kiss on the lips. "You did what you did back then out of love too, right?"
"Yes, I did." Mingi nodded. "And I will never let you go again, princess. I waited years to be back in your life, and I will have my last breath with you. I am wholeheartedly yours, and I will devote my life to giving you the world you deserve and bringing heaven into your hands."
"You will always be a part of me, love. I was made to love you through heaven and hell."
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
genre: ceo!jongho x secretary!reader ft. assistant!sf9 chani, office romance au, angst, fem!reader
warning: lots and lots of arguing, harassment (short only), flashbacks
word count: 12.4k
โคท He was the CEO, and you were his secretary, but you always argue with him and insist that he stole the position from you, which he completely denies despite knowing that your father was the former CEO of the company he works at.
a/n: this story was messier than I expected, and I probably won't be writing any office romance for a while.
๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐๐
You sighed in defeat as you continued to work on the files on your desk. The CEO had tasked you with scheduling a meeting three days from now, but you have yet to complete the needed documents to submit. You didn't understand why you were doing this in the first place. You were supposed to be the one in that position, not the other way around.
Father, I am not a little girl anymore. I was really heartbroken when you passed away without seeing me turn into the woman I am today. You told meโpromised meโthat when I became an adult and married someone, you would give me the company that you built from the ground. I waited years for that day because I knew it meant a lot to you, but...why did you give it to someone else?
"Is Mr. Choi giving you a hard time again?" Chani, the CEO's assistant, came up to your table with an iPad on hand. "You look exhausted, y/n."
"You know how he is with me, Chani." You replied, your eyes not leaving the papers. "I'm sure you're here to deliver another task for me."
He rubbed his nape and looked down towards his feet apologetically, "Well...uhm, something like that." Hearing a low hum from you, he studied the way your forehead contorted into an annoyed look, and he understood how you felt at the moment. "Actually, Mr. Choi asked me to remind you about the meeting this coming Friday because a special guest will be present and he wants to make sure everything is ready by then."
"Is that it? He made you come in here to remind me about the meeting that was scheduled for him instead of calling me directly by the phone?" Whenever Chani comes into your office, he always has a task to give to you from the CEO and sometimes has a few casual conversations with you when you have the time, but bringing his assistant here only to remind you of something you are very aware of just felt odd.
"Yes, that's all." Chani shrugged as he proceeded to leave you in your office to let you continue your work.
-
Another day of work, and all you wanted was to get back to bed and bury yourself under the sheets. You stayed up late last night to finish the documents, and now all you had to do was prepare for the meeting. With your heels clacking in the hallway, you made your way to the CEO's office to submit a few files he needed from you.
As you entered the room after receiving the go signal from his assistant, the first thing that caught your eye was the nameplate on his desk that read, 'Jongho Choi, Chief Executive Officer'. It pissed you off every time you saw it because he's not supposed to be the CEO; you were, but you are stuck in this secretarial position working for him. Who was he to your father anyway?
"Leave the papers on my desk and leave." Jongho didn't bother looking your way as he busied himself on the computer screen in front of him.
What's up with him? You wanted to question him about his rude behavior, but you really didn't have the energy to deal with him today, and just like that, you left the room like he told you to. Your way back to your office was silent, and as soon as you settled on your chair, you dropped your head down on the table. Unconsciously, your mind drifted to how Jongho treated you earlier. He seemed more bothered than usual, but you couldn't see through him. You sighed before closing your eyes to get a bit of rest while you had the time.
Just then, a knock was heard from outside, and the door opened to reveal Chani's head peeking slowly. "Are you busy?" He asked in a soft voice, seeing your current position on your desk.
"Not right now, but I'll be busy with preparations later. You need anything?" You raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"That's good, y/n. You deserve a break." Chani fully entered the room and walked towards the chair in front of you, where he settled down. "Sorry about Mr. Choi earlier; he was stressing out on some sponsors, but it's settled now."
"I see." You turned to the side where a wall window oversees the view of the city.
Chani noticed the dark circles under your eyes; he grew worried for you. With that, he pursed his lips while bringing a hand to gently pat your shoulder. "I know we're not close or anything, but I understand how you're feeling right now. I hope my company could make you feel better in some way, y/n."
You had no idea what to expect from Chani's words; you thought he would only come to check up on you amidst your packed schedules, but to your surprise, he found the time to visit you in your office to have casual conversations with you. You two would move from one topic to another: favorite movies, travels, school life, and even celebrity dramas if there were any. He made you forget about Jongho for a while, making sure that you smiled more than you frowned. You spent lots of time with each other, and since then, your friendship has grown closer, which motivated you to come to work. He made working at the company seem worthwhile, and you couldn't thank him enough for that.
Months had passed since you and Chani became close friends inside and outside of work, and you started to enjoy your time at the office. You were doing well in your performance too, and your mind was filled with motivation and determination like never before. You hoped that this setup would last for as long as it could; this way, you wouldn't have to drown yourself in thoughts of the CEO.
"You and Chani seem close; is there something going on between you two?" Chaeyeon, the marketing manager, approached you by the printer area, her arm resting on the counter.
Your eyes widened at her question, and you immediately shook your head in denial. "We're just friends, Chae. Nothing more, nothing less."
Chaeyeon frowned disappointedly, "What a shame; you and him would honestly make a great couple." You quirked your eyebrow towards her, but she only shrugged her shoulders. "I'm just saying, y/n."
You brought your eyes back to the papers in your hands, arranging them into separate folders. "I mean, he and I are pretty close, but dating him isn't something I plan on doing. Chani's cute and funny, though; he definitely passes my standards."
"No dating in the office." You suddenly hear Jongho's voice from beside you with a black clipboard in hand. He had overheard a portion of your conversation with Chaeyeon when he got out of the office of the finance department.
His words, although they don't affect you much, irritated you because they came from his filthy mouth. He had no reason to butt into your conversation either, so what was his problem? "You're only saying that because you're just jealous." You heard him mumble something under his breath, but you couldn't comprehend what the words were. "What did you say?" You wanted to know what it was, only to receive a look of askance in return.
"Go back to work, y/n." Jongho commanded, leaving you and Chaeyeon behind with bewildered looks from what had happened seconds ago.
"What's up with him?" Chaeyeon grimaced towards Jongho's back before making her way back to her own office. "Anyways, good luck with Chani."
-
Later that day, Chani decided to spend the rest of his lunch break in your office. There were about 10 minutes before work hours resumed, and right now, you and Chani shared fits of laughter over a funny picture you shared with him on your phone.
"Chani, look. This meme has been stuck on my head since last week, and it still gets me every time." You showed another funny picture and brought your phone towards him, but he was quicker to stand closer behind your sitting position with one hand resting on the table and the other on the headrest of your chair, almost trapping you in place. You didn't question it, though, as he started laughing with you after getting a clearer view of the picture.
The two of you were so busy and distracted at the moment that you didn't hear the door open until you heard someone clear their throat loudly, which caught both of your attention. Both you and Chani's laughter died down and were replaced with quiet, confused stares towards the person in front of you.
"Sir?" Chani spoke up after removing himself from his position to stand straight with his hands behind his back, which was his usual stance around the CEO.
From the look on Jongho's face, staring between his secretary and assistant, he was definitely not pleased with the sight. "What is this? I was looking for you, Chani, and you're here playing around with y/n in her office." He then met gazes with you, "Don't you think your friendship with Chani is affecting his work, y/n?"
You could see Chani's eyes shaking in nervousness, wanting to explain the situation to his boss, but you beat him to it. You wouldn't let him explain anything to Jongho, afraid that Jongho might do something to him. You turned to Chani and placed a hand on his arm in reassurance, "Our friendship is not affecting any of our work-"
"Why are you looking at him? Look at me." Jongho's sudden raise of voice resounded throughout the room, making you and Chani flinch in surprise.
"Sir, I'm sorry. I can explain-"
Jongho's gaze moved towards Chani, and normally, he never let out his anger or stress at his assistant, but he was so blinded by his emotions that he spoke faster than he could think. "Do you want to get fired, Chani?"
This brought an utter shock to Chani's expression, and his body froze in place. He was scared to lose his job, and he was hurt that, despite working with him almost 24/7, Jongho would think about firing him without hearing him out first. Hell, he didn't even do anything that was against the company's policies. On top of that, after hearing those words from Jongho, you couldn't hold your anger in any longer. This is unacceptable.
"You can't fire him, Jongho. He didn't do anything wrong; no, we didn't do anything wrong. What the hell is even your problem?" You snapped at the man in front of you, not caring that he was the CEO and you were doing this in front of his assistant. Jongho had overstepped your boundaries, and you were going to make sure he knew how you felt about it.
Jongho scoffed at your words while hiding his hands inside his pockets, "You must be forgetting your place, y/n, or do you want me to remind you?" He moved closer towards you, but you didn't budge. Instead, Chani moved back to the side, away from the intense mood between you and Jongho. "I am the CEO of this company, and you are only the secretary, so you don't get to decide for me."
You were so angry at him, and the fire in your eyes looked like you could kill Jongho at any moment now. Chani tried to calm you down, but it felt as if there were flames around you because he couldn't get closer to you.
"I think you're the one who's forgetting their place, Jongho. This company, which you so proudly say you are the CEO of, is not yours. Come on, this is l/n Enterprise. I'm y/n l/n, I'm the daughter of the owner of this company. You are just a nobody who stole it from me." Jongho didn't say a word as you said all those words with venom because no matter how hard he fights back, you were speaking nothing but the truth. "You can't deny that fact, so if I say that Chani should stay, then he stays. Got that?"
[ Few years ago ]
"When will I become like you, dad? I want to work, sign papers, meet with workers, and wear a suit just like you."
"You're still too young for that, y/n." Your father softly laughed, "I promise you, my dear; once you find the right person and marry them in the future, you can become the new CEO of l/n Enterprise. Surely by then, you'll be ready to be part of that kind of world."
The 15-year-old you listened attentively when your father showed you around his work office on a random Wednesday. You still didn't understand much about your father's job other than doing paperwork and attending meetings, but you admired his dedication anyway. He was your strong and hardworking father, after all.
"Really?" Your eyes lit up at your father's promise to you; you looked up to him a lot, so you dreamed of living a life as fulfilling as his. "Okay, I will make sure to marry the best man, then I can become the new CEO of your company, and people will see how good I am. I want to make you proud, dad."
I want to make you smile forever; that was my big dream. But...some dreams just couldn't come true.
[End.]
-
You arrived home later than usual, and you felt exhausted all over your body. After work, you treated Chani out to a friendly dinner to compensate for Jongho's rude behavior. You ended up opening up to him about your father's promise to you and what your relationship with Jongho was. As always, his company made you feel a lot better than before.
Upon entering the house, the housekeeper came up and greeted you by the door. "Good evening, Ms. y/n. Sir Jongho is waiting for you at the dining room. He mentioned wanting to have a talk with you."
Even hearing his name irked you, "I'm going to my room, so tell him to leave." Without another word, you walked away from her and headed towards your bedroom upstairs. You weren't in the mood for another argument about the same thing, and you definitely weren't in the mood to see his face tonight.
You managed to take a nice relaxing bath, get changed into comfortable clothes, and even do your nightly routine, and you thought by now that Jongho had already left the house after being told by the housekeeper. With that in mind, you decided to head to the kitchen to grab some water to drink, like you usually do at night. The house was peacefully quiet, so you let out a sigh of relief.
"Took you long enough." You hear the irritating, familiar voice from behind, making you almost drop the glass of water on the ground. "I was waiting for you."
You didn't bother turning back to look at him as you drank the water in your hand, "You didn't have to." After placing the empty glass on the sink and washing it clean, you walked past his figure to go back to your room, but his strong grip on your arm stopped your movement.
"Don't be stubborn, y/n." He admonished with a serious tone.
You tried to remove yourself from his grip, but to no avail, so you continued to struggle. "Let go, Jongho. I don't care how I act around you, and I have nothing to say to you either."
Jongho, however, was obstinate about letting you go. Instead, he pulled you closer to his body, causing you to bump into his chest with your other hand landing on his arm. "Oh, now you're being a brat. I only planned to have a civil talk with you, but you're making it so difficult for us to do that."
"What do you even want to talk about that you have to come here at this hour?" You retaliated impatiently, "'Make it quick because you're wasting my time."
Jongho scowled as he stared right into your eyes, "I'll be direct with you; I don't want you getting too close with Chani, especially not until late at night. You are distracting him from his duties, so stop it before I take this matter into my own hands."
Your mouth fell agape at what Jongho said to you, and you found it both ridiculous and unbelievable. Has he no shame at all? "Who are you to tell me what to do with my life? Chani is my friend; I know he never misses a task, so if you don't like seeing me with him, then that's your problem to fix. You don't get to decide for us, Jongho. You're stepping into our personal lives."
"I'm doing it for the sake of the company."
"God, Jongho, you selfish prick." You retorted, letting out a frustrated sigh while rubbing your temples with your free hand. "Don't you realize what you're doing to me?" You grabbed the collar of his shirt with force to pull him closer to your face. "First, you stole my father's position and the company from me, but you still weren't satisfied with that, and now, you're stealing Chani away from me when he's all I could rely on. I'm not going to let you step down on me again, Choi. I've had enough."
After the encounter at your house two weeks ago, the atmosphere in the office grew thicker and more awkward. The other workers had noticed the glares you sent to Jongho whenever the two of you crossed paths, but they decided not to question it and mind their own business.
You, on the other hand, continued to see Chani during breaks, but the time you spent together became shorter and shorter; sometimes you couldn't even hang out at all. He always excused himself for work, which you completely understood, but he made sure to update you about it afterwards, and yes, it was all platonic.
Currently, you find yourself inside Jongho's office after he called you over through your work phone. You hoped it wasn't going to transition into another fight because, when you said it was enough, you meant it to heart. If he does start another one, you would just walk out of the scene right away.
"You asked for me?" You spoke once you stood in front of his desk.
Jongho's eyes were glued to his computer screen while his fingers were busy typing away on the keyboard, "Book two plane tickets to Tokyo this Saturday morning, preferably before 9 in the morning."
As soon as you heard his request, you immediately wrote it down on your work tablet under your task list. "Sure, I will send you and Chani the link in a few minutes to fill out some personal details. Then, I'll update you for confirmation."
"Chani's not going." Jongho's voice cut you off, his eyes still not leaving the screen in front of him.
"Sorry?"
"He asked for a leave this weekend, and HR has already approved it, so you have no choice but to come with me."
Oh, you have got to be kidding me.
When you thought you wouldn't have to deal with Jongho's annoying ass, life just had to get you stuck with him during the whole plane ride and the ride to the hotel where you two were staying. It was truly one of the most suffocating hours of your life. Did you mention that you had to share a room with him too? Yeah, the universe wasn't on your side for this reason, but thankfully, you had separate beds. You just had to deal with it rather than share a bed with him in a much smaller room.
You unpacked a few clothes from your luggage, placing them inside the provided wardrobe, and organized your work materials on the table, while Jongho plopped directly into his bed and dozed off from exhaustion. Well, at least you had some time for yourself before the main event tomorrow. You took this chance to leave the hotel and walk around the city with nothing but Tokyo in mind. You got to try various foods, see pretty scenery, and enjoy the peace while it lasted; there was no Jongho to ruin your day.
-
Jongho secured his tie around his neck, watching you from the reflection of the mirror. When he woke up from his nap yesterday, you were nowhere to be found until you came back to the hotel with a paper bag and a smile on your face. "You seem happy."
You were busy applying some lipstick to your lips after tying your hair in a simple yet neat ponytail, "Nothing too important." With that, you straightened your blue formal dress and decided that you were ready as you are.
Unbeknownst to you, a pair of curious eyes took in the sights of you from behind, and as much as he didn't want to admit it to himself, you looked beautiful tonight. It seemed as if you were here to dress and to impress because it was clear in his eyes that you felt confident in your fit, and he was impressed alright. But Jongho shook his head to divert his mind somewhere else; he reminded himself that he was here for business. Yes, that's it.
Speaking of business, you and Chani drove off to the venue of the event just in time for the other guests to arrive. There were some familiar faces whom Jongho has worked with before, while the rest were new faces for you. You were surrounded by high-class people in their expensive suits and dresses and in the elegant way they presented themselves to others. You wondered how it would feel to be one of themโto have your name known to this powerful group of leaders.
Dinner was served immediately after the opening speech by the host of the event, followed by a few more speeches by other infamous businessmen in the corporate world. The program went by in a blink of an eye; it was short and formal, like it usually is. You've attended a few events like this together with Jongho and Chani, but attending it alone with Jongho was a first. You just had to survive a night without Chani's presence.
"If it isn't Mr. Choi Jongho of l/n Enterprise, it's nice seeing you here." A young woman in a shiny purple dress around her late-20s approached Jongho with a flashy smile.
Jongho gave her a polite hug and carefully placed a hand on her back, "Good evening, Ms. Lee. It's also an honor to be seeing you here tonight."
The woman, whom you found out was Lee Hyera, was one of Jongho's acquaintances and a well-known CEO in South Korea. Judging from how close they stood and how comfortably they spoke, the two of them were glad to bump into each other. You felt a bit left out of their conversation, but since it wasn't any of your business, you just diverted your attention somewhere else around the room.
"And I assume this pretty lady with you is your plus one?" Hyera gestured towards you, who was awkwardly standing behind Jongho's back.
You were looking over the fountain from the other side of the room when Jongho's hand held your arm to pull you closer to him. You gave him a confused look at the sudden action, "Oh, no. She's my secretary; she's accompanying me tonight."
"I see." Hyera looked you up and down, which made you very nervous, before bringing her attention back to Jongho. "I just remembered that Kim Hongjoong and Song Mingi invited some of us for drinks. We should go catch up with them, hmm?" She gave him a look of anticipation with a hand resting on her waist, showing the curves of her body. She was undeniably beautiful, and you wouldn't blame Jongho if he were attracted to her.
"Sure, I'll just have a word with my secretary first, then I'll head my way there afterwards."
"Alright, but don't take too long, Mr. Choi. You wouldn't want to miss the fun." Hyera threw a wink his way before turning around on her heels and walking away towards a table full of other guests.
You wanted to be just like her in the future.
"Listen, y/n." Jongho held your arm to bring your full attention to him, "I'll be staying with the others in the meantime to have a few drinks. You can get a drink for yourself as well, but don't go somewhere where I cannot see you. Do you understand?"
You nodded, "Yes, I got it."
"Good, I'll see you later." Jongho made his way to where Hyera was sitting, having a glass of champagne and speaking with another young man, whom you assumed was another well-known businessman.
It was currently around 8 in the evening, which meant that you had a few hours to spare until Jongho decided to go back to the hotel. Having no other choice, you found yourself at an empty table, where you sat and busied yourself with your mobile phone. I wonder how Chani's doing right now.
-
You didn't realize how much time had passed as you were occupied with a phone call with Chani. Some people were already leaving the venue, but Jongho has yet to look for you, so you remained in your seat.
Earlier, there were a few men and women introducing themselves to you for formalities, and you would introduce yourself as Jongho's secretary. After all, that was what you were, and conversing with them felt so nerve-wracking. Their choice of words, their stance, and even the confidence they exert intimidated you, which you observed Jongho show too. That's when you realized that maybe you weren't as ready as he was for their world. Maybe Jongho does deserve the position more than you do.
"Excuse me, darling." A deep voice startled you from your seat. You looked up to see an incredibly attractive man with silver hair and a sharp nose supporting a tired-looking Jongho with his arm. "I believe you are y/n, Jongho's secretary."
You stood up to greet the man, "Yes, sir. That is me."
The man gave you a warm smile before glancing over at Jongho, "Apologies, Miss y/n. I didn't realize he'd drank too much until he started calling for your name, and it might be best to bring him back to your hotel."
Before you could fully register his words, you quickly apologized and held on to Jongho's arms to support his weight with all your might. "Oh my goodness, how embarrassing. I should be the one apologizing for his actions. I hope no one felt uncomfortable with it, and I'll be sure to talk to Mr. Choi about this matter." You felt so embarrassed because not only did he get drunk at a formal event, but he also called for your name in front of his colleagues. "I didn't expect him to get drunk."
"Hey, I'm not drunk. What nonsense are you saying?" To your surprise, Jongho pinched your cheek, causing you to react to the pain. "What are you telling her, Mingi?"
You heard the man, who Jongho mentioned was named Mingi, laugh at him while patting his back playfully. "It's nothing; don't worry about it." Jongho groaned at his reply. Mingi looked over to you once again, "I'll accompany the two of you outside while you wait for a ride home; I wouldn't want to leave him alone with Ms. Lee." He whispered the last part closer to your ear so Jongho wouldn't hear him.
What does he even mean by that, and what did Ms. Lee do? The three of you stood outside the venue waiting for a cab, Jongho slightly leaning on you as he rubbed his temples to relieve his headache. You wanted to scold him for being careless about his alcohol intake, especially during formal events, but you also wanted to get back to the hotel as soon as possible to let him get some sleep. Mingi stood on the other side of Jongho, supporting his weight, so you wouldn't struggle alone.
"Jongho?" You turned around to see the owner of the voice calling for the CEO. "Goodness, are you okay? You and Mingi suddenly disappeared from our table; I wondered where you went."
Jongho didn't bother turning back to look at her or even replying a single word to her question, which made you stare in confusion. What's going on? Hyera moved closer to Jongho and was about to grab his arm from your side when Mingi stopped her by pushing her away gently by her shoulders.
"Why don't we go back inside, Hyera? Jongho said he needed to leave because he has work tomorrow." It looked like Mingi was trying to convince her to come with him inside, but she only gave him a look of askance.
"I wasn't talking to you, Mingi. Jongho and I were in the middle of something before you stepped in and-"
"Enough, Hyera."
You, Mingi, and Hyera stood there in shock at Jongho's serious tone; you pursed your lips as you stayed silent over the whole situation. Hyera stared incredulously at Jongho's sudden change of mood as compared to how he acted towards her back inside the venue.
"Jongho, what...?
"See you around." You didn't have the time to comprehend what was happening when Jongho pulled you by the hand to let you inside the cab that you also didn't notice had arrived as your mind was distracted.
You couldn't even say 'thank you' to Mingi for his help because Jongho had asked the driver to drive away to the hotel address. The whole ride was silent, with only the sound of his breathing being heard. He was mad; you knew that for sure based on his facial expression and how tense his muscles were.
You wanted to know what exactly happened between him and Hyera that made him react that way, but you weren't in a position to know about his personal life. All you could do was hope that whatever drama was caused, it wouldn't affect l/n Enterprise. That's the last thing you'd want for your father's company. You had to talk to Jongho about this once he sobered up.
Well, Jongho seemed sober enough. He managed to pay the cab driver when you arrived at the hotel and found your hotel room without any issue, but he remained silent with a serious look on his face, and you followed his steps behind him until you reached your shared room together. The door clicked behind you as you removed your heels and placed your bag on the table, whereas Jongho stumbled straight to his bed, still in his suit.
"Hey, Jongho. Be honest with me, will you?" You went closer towards his bed to confront him about his issue with Hyera, earning a tired groan from him. "What happened back there?"
"Nothing happened; stop asking." He tried to cover his eyes with his arm to avoid your gaze, but you removed it from his face just as quickly.
You were determined to find out what it was he was hiding in hopes that it wasn't going to affect the company, and it was just a mere misunderstanding. You were going to make sure that you'd elicit an answer from him tonight. "Look at me, Jongho." You lifted his chin up with your fingers to make him look at you directly in the eyes, causing him to follow you aimlessly until you unknowingly applied more pressure to his skin that he finally settled his eyes on you. "Tell me what happened."
All Jongho could hear was his heavy breathing and heart pounding at how close your proximity was to each other and the way your fingers touched his skin like that. He wasn't totally sobered up, but he was aware of his surroundings, yet the sight of you still in your dress that fits you so well, the necklace that sits so nicely on your neck, the single strand of hair hanging against your forehead, and the red tint on your lips made him feel dizzy.
Jongho was never one to show his feelings to anyone. When it came to attraction or romantic feelings, he was a silent man. No one knew how he felt towards people; it was always professional with him, and no one would dare overstep his boundaries, especially not you. He was so busy managing your father's company as the new CEO that he barely had a life outside of work; his current friends include businessmen like Mingi and Hongjoong, sometimes Chani, but he always had you to express his frustrations to. You were the only one who didn't pity him, and he'd rather have it that way to show his vulnerability.
He grabbed your wrist and removed himself from your hold, his eyes never leaving yours. "Don't test me, y/n. I'm trying so hard not to fall in love with you."
You froze in place when those words left his lips, your breath hitching in the process. Jongho hadn't realized what he had said; his mind was only filled with the image of you and not the consequences of his actions. The unprompted choice of words went through his head, not realizing how he had spilled the thought that had haunted him for weeks now.
He didn't know when it started or where it stemmed from, and he couldn't tell if it was infatuation or merely attraction; his feelings for you were vague. He fought back the demons that told him to do something about it, so he never did. He couldn't, yet he feels uncomfortable seeing you act too friendly with Chani or anyone else, and he wasn't going to admit anything. It was all in his head.
He felt like he was dreaming at the moment and was fighting the urge to do something he'd very much regret, but then you stepped back and sat on your own bed beside his. You continued to stare at him, speechless, but your lack of response bothered him.
"Now you're quiet." Jongho found it unusual how you weren't bickering with him right now like you usually do with him, but he just shrugged it off, thinking that you weren't real and that you were just a fraction of his imagination. "I must be dreaming."
While he quickly drifted off to sleep, you remained quiet beside him. Your ears couldn't believe what he said about you; it was too much to process after everything that happened tonight. You didn't want to believe it at all, so you convinced yourself that it was the alcohol speaking and not the real Jongho.
You were disappointed with all his actions tonight; it felt like you'd seen a worse side of his that wasn't directed at you. The tone he gives you whenever the two of you argue was nothing like the serious tone in his voice when he spoke to Hyera before you two left the venue. It was the first time that his tone scared you with all the arguments you've had with him; he wasn't playing around this time.
You wanted to hit his head to bring him back to reality; you knew his words were going to haunt you for a long time because he would never feel that way towards you. Of all the women in the industry he had interacted with, why on earth would he choose you when all you give him is a headache?
"Jongho, you idiot. Why am I even thinking about this? I'll just pretend you never said any of that." With that, you gathered the energy you had left to remove his suit without waking him up (you were reluctant at first) and get him changed into something comfortable before doing the same to yourself.
Seeing him asleep without his mouth running around to argue with you made him look peaceful and...disgustingly cute. The way his cheeks looked so soft and how his hair almost covered his eyes made him look less intimidating. He looked soft and gentle, almost like a bear, especially with a voice like his. Your fingers carefully brushed his bangs away from his face, and when he slightly stirred in his sleep, you quickly pulled away from his body. Even when you were in the shower, his words kept replaying in your head like a mantra until you finally settled on your bed.
"This is all just a dream." You prayed.
-
That night was definitely not a dream. The morning after, Jongho continued to act like his usual stoic self around you, as if nothing had happened the previous night. He didn't even question how he woke up with a new set of clothes instead of the formal suit he had worn previously.
You, however, remembered the events from that night vividly, and it bothered you a lot that you decided to keep some distance away from him until those memories blurred out of your mind. You weren't going to admit how cute he looked when he was in a peaceful state; he was still the annoying CEO in your eyes. If he's trying not to fall in love with you, you will give him a reason not to fall for you at all, and avoiding him might be the way for him to lose those feelings.
You had set your mind to it. From your flight back to the country to your return to the company building, you kept a fine distance from Jongho while trying not to make it obvious. Not only that, you decided to keep everything professional between the two of you as much as possible: no snarky remarks, no arguments, and no casual conversation, not even the slightest. You tried so hard to maintain that new routine, and it seemed to be working so far.
"We have a lot of things to prepare for next month, so you better not slack off in your office." There he goes again, provoking you to start another argument.
He expected you to give a sarcastic response or whatever you typically say, only to hear a short and simple, "Yes, sir." Since when did you start calling him 'sir'? You never addressed him that way before.
So as soon as you were out of his office, he pondered over your sudden change of behavior. "Hey, Chani. Don't you think y/n has been avoiding me these days? It feels...strange." His eyes were still locked on the doorway where you exited.
"I cannot exactly tell, sir. She's probably just occupied with workloads right now."
But she's not even looking at me.
A week of you keeping your responses short and direct and avoiding his eyes as much as possible turned into a month of completely no arguments, no eye contact for more than 3 seconds, and little to no interaction outside of your office. You barely even leave that room, nor do you speak to him during meetings unless it is to answer his question, and he rarely sees you around Chani as well, which was something he didn't expect knowing how stubborn you were. He started noticing the little details of your actions towards him, and it made him worried, to say the least. Did he do something wrong? Did someone hurt you? He wanted to ask these questions to you, but he couldn't.
"I must've said something wrong."
Everything was going great for youโno Jongho to argue with or feelings to deal with. He hasn't been on your nerves since that night back in Tokyo, and he didn't seem to question your behavior towards him, so you thought that was finally the start of a better life for you, but it wasn't.
What you thought was another peaceful workday almost became a nightmare when HR called in to inform you of an urgent problem. "Ms. y/n, this is from the HR department. Mr. Choi didn't come in to work today, and he hasn't sent us any heads up or excuse letter. We've tried contacting him, but we didn't receive any response, and we're starting to get worried. I know this sounds too much to ask, but I firmly believe you and Mr. Choi know each other personally, so maybe you would have an idea of his whereabouts."
"W-wait, I'm sorry. You want me to look for him?"
"Yes, Ms. y/n. We've already asked his assistant about this, and he, too, was not informed of his absence beforehand, and neither has he received any response."
God, what is he up to this time? This was the first time HR has called for Jongho's absence at work without any explanation whatsoever, and you just happened to be the person to search for him because of whatever relationship or connection you have with the man. You rubbed your face, having no choice but to accept the task. "Alright, fine. I'll go look for him right now. Tell Chani I'll clock out early today in case he needs me."
After organizing the things on your desk, grabbing your bag, and exiting the building, you got your phone out to call the person you've been trying so hard to avoid for weeks. You kept ringing his phone, but he never picked up, and neither did he open your spam messages.
"Idiot, where could you have gone?" You grit your teeth in frustration, though deep down, you were starting to grow worried.
No matter how much you disliked him, you wouldn't wish something bad to happen to him. You weren't a monster; you were going to search for him no matter what. You weren't going back home until you were sure he was standing in front of you in the flesh, breathing, and free of bruises, so you walked around the busy city in hopes of finding any sign of him anywhere.
Streetlights were now lighting the streets, and store signs were blinding your eyes, causing you to almost stumble on a pavement, but you immediately regained your balance. The air also started to get colder, and your thin blazer was not giving you any warmth at all. Still, you weren't giving up just yet.
That's when you came across a well-known local bar around the area, where you go for a few drinks during your day off or the holidays. After how many minutes had passed trying to look for Jongho, you were tempted to stop by for a drink. A drink wouldn't hurt, would it? You were only a few steps away from the entrance when someone came out of the door in a black tee, a pair of slacks, and some sneakers.
The person was about to bump you when you noticed his oddly familiar built, "Jongho?" With the mention of his name, his eyes widened as he quickly turned to you, surprised by your presence. Now that you saw the person's face clearly, you were determined to have a talk with him. "Let's talk."
You couldn't believe you'd find your CEO at the local bar, and Jongho couldn't believe you'd find him here despite not responding to any calls or messages the entire day, but here you were confronting him. Jongho tried to walk past you, but you stopped him from running away and pulled him into an empty parking lot.
"Why are you here, sir?"
Jongho couldn't help but laugh at how you addressed him; it sounded so awkward and funny to him. "If it isn't my favorite secretary, did you miss me?"
You quirked an eyebrow at him in disgust while still trying to stay professional. "This isn't a joking matter, sir. HR was looking for you, and everyone grew worried."
"Were you also worried about me?"
You paused, "Of course, I was. You are the CEO; what if something happened to you? Everyone will be affected."
"So, am I not allowed to drink?" Jongho asked as he crossed his arms. "I can handle myself."
You closed your eyes to keep yourself calm from his responses, "That's not the problem here, sir. You should have informed us beforehand rather than disappearing out of nowhere."
He groaned at the mention of that word again, "Stop calling me 'sir' when we're not in the office; it sounds funny coming from your mouth." He wasn't used to you addressing him in a formal way, and he'd rather hear you call by his real name.
"Well, okay, Choi Jongho. Why don't you stop being such a reckless idiot?"
Is she out of her mind? Since when did I become a reckless idiot? He rolled his eyes at you, "You're even worse, y/n. You're the most selfish person I have met in my life."
"Oh, now I'm selfish?" You pointed to yourself in disbelief, "I have worked for you since my father's passing, and I have been your secretary for how many years. Yes, I dislike you, but I never wished for your downfall, and I even went all the way here just to find you when I shouldn't be here."
There was a moment of silence before Jongho spoke up, "Then, why did you? You've been avoiding the past few weeks like you're trying not to fall in love with me-"
"Don't even finish that sentence." You enunciated every word with gritted teeth.
"Don't test me, y/n. I'm trying so hard not to fall in love with you." "Now you're quiet."
You suddenly recalled the words he spilled that night back in Tokyoโthe words that changed the way you saw him and how you acted around him. The night when you realized how attractive he was when he wasn't testing your limitโno! Not that.
"I'm only doing my job, Jongho. I'm not avoiding you, and why would I ever love someone who's rude, selfish, arrogant, and, even worse, meddles in my personal relationships?"
Every word you called him pierced through his heart because he never expected you to call him those negative words. He wondered what you really felt deep down toward him and what emotions you were hiding from yourself. "Why do you hate me so much?" He wanted to know why you had so much hatred in your heart for him.
You took a step closer to him, staring straight into his eyes, which had a hint of hurt in them. "Because the company was all I had left to fulfill my promise to my father, it was my dream for him to be proud of me and see me succeed, but you ruined it. He told me that I had to marry someone first before I became the CEO, but it was only an excuse for you to take that from me. How do you sleep knowing you've stolen my biggest dream from me?"
Here we go again with this conversation. It's about time I explained to her the truth about this whole promise thing because she's mistaking me for being the villain. "I did not steal your dream from you, okay? Your father personally requested me to become the next CEO of l/n Enterprise after him, and I had no choice but to accept it because of his health condition, so I made a promise to make sure I didn't mess this up." Jongho retorted in all seriousness, "I know how much this means to you and to him, but I'm only doing what I was told to do. Can't you see I'm trying my best?"
What? Your eyes widened at his revelation; your father personally requested it for him because of his health condition? That couldn't be. You were so blinded by hatred and pain that you let out all those emotions to him carelessly, and you never asked him how he got the position in the first place, but he never bothered explaining it to you either.
It had always been imprinted in your mind that when your father passed away, Jongho took the opportunity in his hands to run your father's company. That was how the young y/n saw the situation, and that never changed until this very moment. But then, he did say he was trying his best not to mess things up as a promise to your father, so why would he do reckless things whenever you were around him?
"Then, why do you hurt people? You say all that as if you care about how I feel, but you never show it. You meddle in my life and decide who I should and should not be with; you even tried pushing Chani away from me."
There you go again, talking about Chani. When will you realize who's really worth it for you? He doesn't deserve you, and neither do I. "Because you deserve someone better, a man who treats you genuinely and would not love you out of pity."
"Oh, what do you know about love, Jongho?" You scoffed at how absurd his words were; who was he to tell you what to feel and who to love? Coming from a man who knows nothing but to get on your nerves, you weren't going to believe a single word that came out of his mouth. "Now you're quiet." You quoted his words back at him this time.
Jongho was definitely quiet.
That damn word again: love. You throw that word at him like he didn't have that word in his vocabulary, like he was the last person who knew what 'love' is, and it pained him too much that it came from you, the daughter of the man who taught him all about loving life.
Jongho grew up in a household that prioritized work over spending time with the family, so he didn't really know the feeling of being cared for. He spent his childhood exploring things on his own until he met your father, who was a speaker during an event at his school when he was still in middle school. The aura that your father had radiated caught his interest, so he approached him after the event and began asking him various questions.
He learned all about business, management, and the corporate world, but most importantly, he learned how nice it felt to have someone who was genuinely happy and supportive of him. Your father knew about Jongho's pitiful situation, so he would often contact him and bring him to his happy places during his days off. He spent a lot of time shaping the life Jongho always wanted, yet he never failed to be the best husband to his wife and the best father to you. That's why Jongho looked up to him a lot; he was the father figure he never had.
That was until an unfortunate thing happened. Your father got sick, but he kept everything a secret from you and Jongho, so you wouldn't worry about him. As the weeks went by, his health worsened, so he needed someone deserving and trustworthy to take over the company as his replacement. You were still too young for the job while Jongho was already in his last year of college, so as soon as he graduated at the top of his class, your father had a serious talk with him about the matter.
"Are you willing to do it for me?"
Jongho could still recall the smile your father gave him that had a hint of worry in it; the two sat side by side with each other at the park that overlooked the sea, where the wind blows ever so slightly on their faces. Jongho was contemplating the offer as he was worried about the weight that he had to carry if he did accept it, and he feared messing up all your father's hard work, even the slightest. What would happen if I refused? Am I even ready for this? Why choose me of all people when I'm only a fresh graduate? He had so many questions he wanted to ask, but only kept them to himself. He couldn't imagine his life on this new path.
"I know you're worried, Jongho. We're always filled with worry in our hearts, but I believe in you." Your father patted Jongho's back to reassure him, "You're a special boy; you've always held this determination and passion in your heart, and you never give up until you get what you want. No matter how hard life has treated you, you still stood your ground. I believe l/n Enterprise will do better in your hands; I just know it."
A tear rolled down Jongho's cheek as he listened to every word your father said. The way he spoke about him with pride and love was what he needed to hear the most since the beginning. He never felt a love so genuine before, and your father treated him like his own son. Wanting to repay all of it, he accepted your father's request for him to become the next CEO of l/n Enterprise. If that's what he wants for me, then I'll do exactly that.
"I promise, I will do my best not to fail you."
That's how he became the current CEO of l/n Enterprise, months before your father passed. Everyone mourned, everyone was hurting, and you started blaming Jongho for your father's unfortunate situation, but Jongho had no choice but to stay strong amidst all the challenges he was going to face from then on. He was going to keep his promise to your father for as long as he could, or until you, the only child and daughter of your father, got married.
Jongho remembered every detail of the past and the challenges he went through, so when you asked him what he knew about 'love', it broke a part of him because no matter how much you doubted him, it would never change the fact that he had done all of these things out of love. You just haven't heard his side of the story yet, but there was no point trying to explain everything to you when you wouldn't believe him anyway.
It's been three months, and things have been more awkward between the two of you; Jongho didn't speak to you at all costs and only communicated through Chani or your email. You didn't complain about this, though, because wasn't this what you wantedโhim leaving you alone? That's exactly what he's doing now.
Jonghoโalthough he hasn't spoken to you for a while nowโwas, however, in distress. "What do you know about love, Jongho?" That question has haunted him every hour of the day for three whole months. It shouldn't have been that deep, but that made Jongho start doubting himselfโhis capabilities and his worth. Was he not doing enough? Is he not doing a great job as the CEO? These thoughts lingered in his mind, causing him to overthink everything he's doing at work, and that was bringing him to his downfall.
Jongho started losing his composure whenever he had to deal with clients, business partners, and his employees. He would sometimes even mess up some data and misplace documents, for which Chani had to correct him every time. His assistant definitely noticed the unusual behavior his boss was showing, but he thought it was only due to stress at first until he remembered that Jongho never messed up, even when he's in bad condition.
He was not in the right headspace.
When Chani mentioned to you his observations on Jongho's unusual behavior and the number of times he had messed up something, you only shrugged it off as stress or overwork. You even suggested that he go get some rest to work in a better state, and you were even more convinced that he did need some rest when you noticed how Jongho looked distracted throughout the whole meeting in the conference room. The marketing manager was speaking in front of everyone, yet the CEO's eyes were glued to his cup of iced Americano on the table. Chani had to nudge him to get his attention a few times, and even when the meeting had concluded, he still managed to bump his hip on the long table.
"You're right, he is acting weird." You whispered to Chani on the way out of the conference room.
"I'm actually starting to get worried; I hope it doesn't get worse." Chani whispered back sadly.
-
Well, Chani may or may not have jinxed it.
"Seriously, Choi?! Why are you doing this?"
Your hand was about to open the door to the CEO's office when you heard a loud voice from the inside, causing you to stop in place. You stared at the door in curiosity as the loud noises continued to come, and you didn't mean to eavesdrop, but it sounded so intense that it made you worry. Although the voices were a bit muffled, you could still decipher some context out of them.
"Are you playing with me right now?"
"You can't just suddenly back out of our agreement after I flew all the way from Jeju for you."
"This is unbelievable!"
"You really won't change your mind?"
"Fine, I hope you won't regret this because from now on, you cannot be involved with any of my companies. Goodbye, Choi."
Before you could react to what you had heard, the door opened to reveal a clearly angry Hyera, whom you'd first met in Tokyo. She stopped in her tracks when she saw you standing near the door with your head down, eyeing you down with a glare full of judgment.
"You! This is all your fault." Hyera pointed to you with her index finger.
"Leave her alone, Hyera." Jongho's deep voice caught you off guard as he stepped in front of you to block you from Hyera's wrath.
Hyera then diverted her glare towards him, "Whatever, Choi." She spun in her heels and stormed off towards the elevator to leave.
You turned to Jongho in both shock and confusion, wanting to ask him so many questions about what had happened and if he was okay after all that. This was the second time you have witnessed the two of them have this heavy atmosphere between them, but now it seems to have escalated to something worse. Hyera looked extremely angry, and Jongho too. You needed to have at least some context on the situation so that you could help solve the problem in some way, rather than watching it happen and doing nothing about it.
"Jongho, what happened..." You trailed off, watching him walk away from you towards the elevator where Hyera had gone. You wanted to go after him and talk about the issue in case it would negatively affect the company's reputation and future partnerships, but deep down, you were more worried about his current state. He hadn't been performing as exceptionally as he always had nowadays, and now this happened.
You felt bad for him; you weren't going to lie. You always started an argument with him whenever you could, holding on to the idea of your 'dream' of making your father proud of you even though almost a decade had already passed since you made that promise. You continued hating on him and blaming him for the simplest things to cope with your 'loss', but he had never shown his weaknesses to you.
In times when he wasn't this selfish and arrogant young CEO in your eyes, he was the most passionate, hardworking, responsible, and strongest man you have ever met. He had always been annoyingly perfect to everyone until his weaknesses were suddenly starting to show, and so your guilt was making you realize everything you had done wrong to him. You felt extremely sorry, so you were going to help him this time.
The worst has happened to Jongho sooner than he'd imagine; he had just lost a potential partnership with Hyera, who had a well-known success in the industry. She requested a meeting with Jongho about work-related matters, but he firmly refused to partner with her after what she did to him in Tokyo. He hated remembering that night: how she kept passing him glasses of alcohol to drink, pressing herself uncomfortably close to his body, and asking personal questions about his relationship with you.
[ flashback ]
"Why are you always calling for your secretary? Can't you see she's busy enjoying herself with another man on the phone? It must be her boyfriend, and she's keeping it a secret from you because she knows you won't like that."
"Stop it, Hyera." Mingi warned as he watched her speak to Jongho in a soft and tempting voice, but she didn't bat an eye at him.
"She doesn't have to worry about you; it's not like a mere secretary like her stands a chance with a CEO like you. You should be with someone on your level." Ms. Lee slowly moved closer to Jongho's neck and pressed her lips to his skin, keeping him in place with a hand on his cheek. "I can surely satisfy you."
That was what drew the line for Jongho as he immediately pushed her away from him and wiped the area where she placed her lips on, "I'm sorry, Hyera. I'll head to the restroom for a bit." He made his way to the restroom to wipe the lipstick mark off his neck while Mingi scoffed at her unethical actions.
"That was too much, Hyera." He said before quickly following his friend to the restroom.
[ End. ]
Whenever that incident replays inside Jongho's head, he is reminded of the two reasons why he wanted nothing to do with Hyera from then on: first, she basically harassed him with no consent, which was enough reason to know she was bad news, and second, she talked lowly of you, and for him, that was unacceptable. He may have said some hurtful words to you in the past, but he would never allow anyone else to disrespect you in any way.
You were the best secretary he could ever have and the daughter of the owner of l/n Enterprise; you were not just a mere secretary. That's why when Hyera came to his office for a meeting, he instantly refused her offer, and she started bringing up personal matters in the conversation, especially your name. Although not having any involvement with Hyera could lose some good opportunities for l/n Enterprise, Jongho believed it was best not to work with someone like herโfor the company and for you.
-
Soon, Jongho found himself sitting on a bench by the park, where it overlooked the sea from a distance. This was his favorite spotโthe spot where he and your father would hang out, eat street food, and have deep, comforting conversations. This place always helped calm down his emotions whenever he felt stressed and overworked; it reminded him of your father's presence, and the cold air was like a comforting hug from him. It's been a while since he last came here because of work, but today just felt too much and overwhelming for him to handle. He wanted to reflect on everything and blame himself for all the mess he had done.
Jongho was staring into the distance when a figure sat near him on the other end of the bench. Based on the clothes and silhouette he saw from his peripheral view, he knew exactly who it was.
"Why are you here?" He asked, not looking at the person.
You glanced at his face momentarily before bringing your gaze to the ground, "You disappeared again, and I thought I might find you here. This was where my father would bring me whenever I felt down."
"I already informed HR; go home."
Jongho wasn't in the mood nor in the right mind to talk with you, which could possibly lead to another argument he didn't want to have anymore, but you were insistent. You wouldn't let any of you walk away from the situation again unless you got the 411 you needed to know from him. He was vulnerable right now, and you weren't going to leave him alone here.
"No, I won't."
You hear him sigh under his breath while closing his eyes tiredly, "Don't be stubborn, y/n. Go home."
"I'm not going to leave you in this state, Jongho. Who knows what might happen to you? I'm worried about you, okay?" You furrowed your eyebrows in seriousness, and you heard him let out a quiet chuckle.
"Why are you worried about me?"
You turned to face him fully and studied the expression on his face, "I'm worried because you've been acting different lately; you're now easily distracted and you tend to forget things at work; that's not like you at all. Not only that, Ms. Lee was clearly angry at you earlier. I don't know what happened between the two of you, but it must've brought you down. I want to know what the problem is, so I can help you solve it."
"You noticed that too, huh?" Jongho finally looked your way and made eye contact with you, "You don't need to help me; it's too late. I already messed up, I'm not performing well, and I lost a big opportunity for the company because I refused her offer for a partnership."
"But maybe it was meant to happen; maybe you, refusing her offer, saved the company from bigger problems. You never made a wrong decision as the CEO."
"If I had given up the position, then this mess wouldn't have happened." He looked to the horizon again to avoid your gaze.
If he had given you the position that you so badly wanted, the company wouldn't be as successful as it is now. Seeing how competent and experienced Jongho was at leading the company, your father made the best decision by trusting him to be the next CEO. You had your share of knowledge, too, but you were nowhere near his level yet. You weren't as ready as you thought you were to become a big face in the industry, but Jongho deserved that.
"You were chosen for a reason, Jongho."
Jongho's ears perked up at what you had said, looking back at you with hope in his eyes, yet his response expressed something else. "I messed up; it's going to ruin the company's name; your father will be disappointed in me, and you will be affected."
"You won't mess up; you love your job, and my father will be proud of you."
"What do I know about love, y/n?"
Your eyes widened when you heard him ask that, remembering the time when you asked him that exact same question. He didn't forget about it, and he returned to you. You told him how much he loved his job, even though you implied, when you asked him the question back then, that he didn't know what love was. You just realized now that Jongho knew more about it than you thought, and his love was more than what meets the eye. His love may not show in his words, but his intentions, actions, and strong commitment were his way of expressing it.
"Because you deserve someone better, a man who treats you genuinely and would not love you out of pity." You suddenly remembered what he told you about choosing the person you should be with, and it now just hit you. You shouldn't be loved by someone out of pity, yet here you were, having this deep conversation with him because you felt guilty for treating him badly, and now you were worried for him. Were you doing this out of pity or guilt? You asked yourself, but one thing was for sure: you were genuine about your worries and wanted to work things out with him. You were genuine about him this time, but it might not be his definition of 'love'. He deserved so much better than you; he deserved someone who would treat him genuinely and love him, not out of pity. That just might not be you.
You pursed your lips in guilt, but you had so much to say to him, to remind him of his worth, and if you didn't say it tonight, you didn't know when else you would. "I know I've said mean things to you, and I really want to apologize for it. I was just holding on to what's left of my promise to my father to cope with the pain, but I shouldn't have ever blamed it on you."
Jongho stared at you with eyes that held so many emotions at once. It was the first time you apologized to him, and he was surprised by it because he was so used to you only arguing with him ever. "You are a great CEO, Jongho. You may not have realized it, but you've led the team to where we are now, and that's all that matters. There was a reason my father asked for me to find the right man to marry before I get to become the next CEO, and it's a good reason because he gave it to you and you deserve it more than me. I may not show it, but I'm grateful for the sacrifices you made."
There, you said everything you wanted to say to him and everything you bottled up in your heart. You've let everything out, and you felt satisfied with it like a weight off your shoulders. The place became quiet when he didn't let out a single word from his mouth while his eyes remained glued to yours. He was processing everything you had said to him; he felt how sorry you were and how you shared about your pain, yet you spoke so highly of him. He never would've thought this day would come when you were vulnerable to him like this and acknowledged him and his hard work. He didn't know what to say; his heart was racing and his mind was full of thoughts he wanted to express, yet he was speechless; no words would come out.
All he could do was pull you into his arms and embrace you in the hopes that you would feel what he was feeling and understand what he wanted to express to you. You happily reciprocated the hug, and you instantly melted in his embrace. He felt so comforting, like a rainbow after a storm. Jongho never knew he needed this feeling of comfort for so long until he had you in his arms. It healed all the pain, pressure, and burdens he went through on his journey. But it didn't last long when you pulled back to look at him in the eyes, your hands slowly coming up to rest on his cheeks. He didn't notice how his eyes became watery when your thumb gently wiped a tear that rolled down his cheek. You gave him a warm smile, and before he knew it, you brought his face closer to yours until your lips met his soft ones.
Jongho's mind short-circuited when you suddenly kissed him on the lips with no warning, but he knew it brought comfort to him a lot more than he'd realized. He remembered all those times his heart beat fast whenever he saw you around the office in your attire that perfectly fit you and your bright smile you give to your coworkers except him, and when his heart sank when you started avoiding him like a plague. His feelings for you before were vague. He tried to keep it all to himself and deny all of it because why on earth would he like you when you've done nothing but argue with him? So, he completely focused on his work to forget about it, but whenever he saw you getting too close with Chani, he felt so bothered and uncomfortable at the idea. With your kiss, his feelings became clearer. You were the only one he could be open and vulnerable to without being judged, and as the daughter of the man so close to his heart, you meant so much to him.
"Here's to another successful partnership led by our one and only CEO, Mr. Choi Jongho!"
Everyone cheered and raised their glasses for another one of Jongho's successes. He had recently partnered with "No1LikeMe," which is a luxury fashion brand owned by his friend, Kim Hongjoong, who is currently one of the rising fashion designers of the year. Hongjoong initially didn't have plans to partner with any company until his brand became known to many people all over the world and his fame skyrocketed. Hearing about the recent incident with Hyera, Hongjoong took the initiative to ask Jongho for l/n Enterprise to partner with his brand instead.
"Congratulations on the new partnership, sir. We partnered with one of the best luxury brands in the world; it feels so surreal." Chaeyeon jumped in excitement as she shared her congratulatory words to the CEO, "Kim Hongjoong is literally my favorite designer of all time."
"Mr. Choi is the best." Chani added.
Jongho waved them off, shaking his head. "Don't flatter me; I'm only doing my job."
All of a sudden, a hand found its way to his back. "You did a great job, Mr. CEO. You never fail to impress me." Jongho watched as you gave him a proud look before walking off to talk to your colleagues.
This was the moment when he realized things were starting to fall into place, as well as a new start for you and him. The company was growing, more offers were coming in, and your relationship with him was turning into something better. Your father had given him everything he needed in life: love and support from a father, a stable job, and now you were in the picture. He was going to give you the life your father gave himโa life of genuine love.
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
genre: council chairman!yunho x star student!reader ft. bestfriend!jongho, college au, fem!reader, fluff, slight humor
warning: the term 'sunbae' is used a few times, lots of yunho appreciation!!
word count: 7.9k
โคท As a star student with no experience in the council, you didn't hesitate to join when Yunho, the council chairman, needed you to complete the team, but the more you spent time in each other's company, you might have just completed him too.
a/n: I wrote this thinking about my old council chairman because he's cute, tall, soft-spoken, and he always reminded me so much of yunho
๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐๐
Joining school organizations was not new to you; you had your share of experiences, such as being part of a committee, a member of the university's paper, and being a representative for school competitions. You could say that you were one productive and excellent student who the school treasures, but joining the school council for your department was something else. Isn't that surprising? One of the star students of KQ University does not have any experience whatsoever in being part of the school council, despite Jongho, your closest friend, continuously persuading you to because his cousin, San, was running for officer as well.
Three years of persuasion, yet you turn his offer down every time. Yes, you joined different organizations and volunteered at school programs, but you thought the council life was too stressful for you to manage, especially as a business student. Your schedule in and of itself was already packed, and your thesis was killing you. Plus, you are a third-year college student; there was no way in hell you were joining the student council-
"Yes!" You beamed at the man in front of you, "I mean, yes." You let out an embarrassed laugh as you rubbed your nape nervously, "It would be an honor working with you in the council, Yunho-sunbae." An overly-excited look was plastered on your face, and Jongho side-eyed so intensely at your unusual behavior.
"That's great to hear, y/n. Thank you for accepting the offer, really. You are exactly who I need to complete the team, speaking as the chairman for this term." Yunho lent a hand towards you, which you gladly shook in acknowledgement. "Hoping to see you during the officers' meeting this Friday, I will add you to our group chat and share with you the details regarding this matter."
"I will definitely show up, sunbae." You reassured him; you wouldn't dare miss this opportunity to be near him, even if it's only for school purposes.
Yunho glanced over his shiny, expensive watch before passing an appreciative smile your way. "I'll see you around, y/n, and to your friend, too." He turned to Jongho, who was standing with a drink in hand beside you, and gave him a gentle smile as well.
You waved your very attractive senior goodbye, your eyes following his tall figure moving further away from where you stood, and as soon as he was out of sight, you quickly turned to Jongho with the brightest smile known to man, catching him off guard. You jumped and shook his arm in excitement over what had happened seconds ago. Before Jongho could even utter a complaint, you held both his shoulders in place, then shook him some more, making him almost lose balance. He had no energy to fight back at this time, not to mention that he just got out of a boring session of math class, so he could only sigh in defeat.
"Did you see that, Jongbear? The Jeong Yunho, team captain of the volleyball team, the main dancer of KQ Fellaz, and the campus crush, talked to me. Not only that, he said that he needed me to complete his teamโimagine being needed by him, and god, he is so handsome and so tall and so soft-spoken and-"
"Alright, alright, I get it." Jongho interrupted your rambling by grabbing your hands into his own, and with the help of his strong grip, he pulled you off of him in a split second. "He talked to you blah blah blah, but are you forgetting the fact that you are literally a star student of this university? Of course, he knows you." He rolled his eyes, "And what was that? You joining the student council after rejecting me for two years all because your crush asked you to? Do you secretly hate me or something? Be honest with me, y/n."
"Cheer up, will you?" You pinched his right cheek teasingly, so he swatted your hand away from his face. "First of all, you are literally my favorite person in the world, and I wouldn't leave you for anyone. Second of all, I only rejected you because I didn't think I had it in me to do this kind of thing, but since Yunho believes that I can do it, it kind of pushed me to go for it." You shrugged as if it was merely a simple decision you made, but Jongho obviously wasn't buying it.
He quirked an eyebrow up at your words while crossing his arms at the same time, "Are you saying that I don't believe in you?" Jongho's tone was serious, but you knew he was only playing with you like he always does. He then shook his head disappointingly and said, "You've changed, y/n, all for a man." He closed his eyes and looked away for a dramatic moment; you always thought he was secretly a theater kid, but he wouldn't admit it.
"I know you believe in me, Jongbear. You always do, but this is Yunho! He's the chairman, so him trusting me means that I can do well in the council." You wrapped your arms tightly around his left arm and gave an exaggerated pout for him to see that you were really sorryโyou didn't want him to think that you didn't appreciate his effortsโonly for him to give you the dirty look he always gives you when you go crazy over Yunho. "Don't be mad, please."
Jongho glanced at you once more before turning away from your face with a scoff, "You hurt me, y/n."
This time, you hugged him closer. "Let me make it up to you, okay? I'll treat you to lunch; how's that sound?" Jongho would never say no to free food; you knew him too well. That's why he loves teasing you for this exact reason, and you wouldn't mind treating him to food anyway.
"Well...lead the way, madam." Jongho finally broke into a smile for the first time since his last class, and seeing his gummy smile was all you needed to get through the day.
Your friendship with Jongho was really one of a kind, as many people would say, because the two of you had been through different friend groups; some were toxic, and some went to different universities, yet you were inseparable. Both your personalities matched perfectly, and you wouldn't have it any other way than what you have with him now. Some would also think that you were dating each other to the point that you had to clear up the rumors at one point, but it really was just a healthy platonic relationship that feels like family. Jongho might tease you nonstop over the tiniest things to annoy you for fun, but he would still love you even if you became a bug.ย Jongho hates bugs.
After attending a few meetings with Yunho and the rest of the council officers for the needed finalization and preparations, it was finally time for the grand rally, where all the students of the department got to hear the platforms of each officer and see how knowledgeable and professional they were in answering the questions given to them.
You have stood on stages in front of a crowd a hundred times by now, but you still couldn't get used to it. You sat on your seat with sweaty palms and shaky legs, scared of messing up in front of everyone, especially since you were running for council, so a good image was definitely a must. You were so busy memorizing your lines over and over again in your head that when you felt a hand on your shoulder, it almost gave you a heart attack. "San-sunbae, I am so sorry." When you looked up at the person who sat beside you, it indeed was not San-sunbae.
Yunho scanned your expression worriedly, noticing the way your breathing was unsteady. "Hey, y/n. You alright? You look very nervous."
"Ah...I'm okay, sunbae. It's just the air conditioner; it's quite cold here." You smiled at him in hopes that he'd buy your excuse and leave you be, but instead, he did something that took you by surprise.
Yunho brought his jacket out of his bag and carefully wrapped it around your shoulders, which was clearly too large for you. "Keep yourself warm, y/n. We're the only team running for council, so there is nothing to worry about. Even if you feel nervous right now, I know you will do great onstage later. You are l/n y/n; being on stage is a piece of cake."
Oh...oh my goodness. This can't be real; I couldn't possibly be wearing his jacket, and I'm definitely not feeling butterflies right now solely from his words. No...but, his words were so gentle and comforting. It felt as if his words were magic because your nervousness was gone in an instant and replaced by butterflies in your stomach; the power Jeong Yunho holds over you was crazy.
"Don't hesitate to tell me if you need anything, and please, just call me 'Yunho'. We're a team now, and I want you to feel comfortable with me and the other officers." His voice sounded so soft to your ears that it could put you to sleep.
With one last comforting smile, he made himself comfortable in supposedly San's seat, making you as confused as ever. However, confusion immediately turned to surprise when, all of a sudden, he placed his hand over yours and gently rubbed them using his thumb. Is this guy crazy?! What is he doing? You were absolutely going insane over this guy, and the session hasn't even started yet. You didn't know where your focus should be in your current situation.
"I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable; you can tell me to stop, but I hope that this could somehow help you calm down."
Oh, god. I'm not your strongest soldier.
-
"Gosh, y/n. You were literally stressing so much over your lines last night that I managed to memorize them, but it sounded so natural when you were on stage. And when you answered the questions from the emcee, you killed it like, wow, I'm proud to have a friend like you."
Jongho's sweet voice, his rare praises, and his arm around your shoulder all went through your head as your eyes were set on Yunho, who was busy talking to the head of the department about whatever it was, and although you were usually full of talk as compared to your best friend, you could only reply with, "Yeah...thanks."
As much as you wanted to hear more of Jongho's praises, all you could think about at the moment was how Yunho stood tall and prompt on stage while speaking with so much confidence and knowledge, how he kept whispering words of encouragement to you before your turn, and how, when you finally stood on stage, your gaze would land on his whenever you felt nervous. He made you feel at ease, and the way his cute smile never left his face until you had left the stage and you were back in your seat.
The sweet gestures didn't stop there. In fact, it was only the beginning of a much more exciting journey with the chairman. During one of the events, which Yunho spent sleepless nights preparing and getting approved by the department head, he assigned you to be part of the technical team. He assigned you the role only the night before because one of the officers couldn't attend the said event, so he needed more manpower, and although you had no idea what you were supposed to do exactly or who you were working with, you didn't have the heart to turn him down. So, here you were, standing near the stage, clueless as ever.
It must've been painfully obvious because you found Yunho standing beside you by the stage, a clipboard in hand with a copy of the program and some certificates for the speakers. He was a busy man, balancing his studies with council duties and extracurriculars. How does he even manage to do everything at once? You pondered over that question, almost forgetting that you were also a busy college student like him. You observed the way his glasses rested perfectly on his sharp nose, his hair neatly combed back, and his uniform ironed. It seemed like he had his life together, but you wanted to know more about himโto know more about what keeps him going despite his busy life. He never looked tired; he always had a smile on his face, but was he really happy?
His presence made you feel at ease knowing that you weren't alone on this, and whenever you needed help, he never hesitated to lend a helping hand, even when it took some time off his vacant hours. Interacting with Yunho felt like a daydream; sharing your concerns over school wasn't uncomfortable at all; he made you feel so at home...he felt like home. Seriously, he was like an angel brought to watch over you and make sure you weren't struggling. His patience was incomparable, especially with you being busy with extra-curricular activities, so you had your share of tardiness and absences during meetings, but he always reassured you that he understood your situation because he also went through the same when he had volleyball trainings and dance practices.
"Drop the formalities, y/n. From now on, treat me as your friend."
Yunho truly was one of a kind.
As a business student, conducting interview simulations was one of the requirements for your major course. The simulation was quite time-consuming; hell, it ended around 7 p.m., and you still had to catch the last bus if you were lucky. Sitting inside the conference room in corporate attire with evaluators from the department drained so much of your energy. Oh, did I mention that Yunho was one of them? It was so nerve-wracking that his presence went over your head, which was good because you didn't get distracted at all.
Your professor was scary though, especially when she nagged at your classmate for his lack of knowledge during the interview, but as always, Yunho was there to the rescue. When the professor left, he would reassure your classmate that he could still do better through practice as people learn at different paces, and that was really something you admired from him. The way he stays optimistic and positive in everything and how he doesn't let obstacles stop him from achieving his goals. You were a star student, but you wanted to be just like him.
You cursed your professor for letting you off later than the others because apparently she needed your help with some documents and you couldn't decline, causing you to stay back for a few more minutes, and you cursed yourself for forgetting your umbrella at home as the rain poured hard, which means you couldn't walk your way to the bus stop for a ride home. Booking a cab was your last option, but you had to ask permission from Jongho because you knew how protective he gets, and an angry Jongho was not something you'd want to see. When he gave you the green light, you went back inside the campus to book a cab and stood near where the guard was staying. You were grateful that the guard was still around because if he wasn't, you would have to wait out on the streets, which is dangerous.
"y/n?" You heard someone call your name from behind, "Why are you still here?"
The question was, why was Yunho still here too?
"I forgot my umbrella at home, so I can't walk to the bus stop. But, I'm planning to book a cab, so it's fine." You opened your phone to book a cab from an app and to hide your face away from his sight. He's now your friend, but why were you still shy around him?
Suddenly, you felt his hand resting on your shoulder, catching your attention. "No need for that, y/n. Let me drive you home; will that be okay with you?" Yunho offered with an expecting look, hoping that you would accept his considerate offer.
As much as you'd want to reject the offer that was given to you as you think it would be an inconvenience for him, not to mention how far your home was from his, you really had no choice at the momentโyou didn't have enough cash to pay for a cabโand besides, it could save you time and money, and most especially, you get to spend more time alone with the Jeong Yunho. That's when you found yourself standing outside his luxurious car. You didn't even want to step inside his car, afraid to break something you couldn't afford. This car was probably worth more than all your college expenses combined. The window in front of you rolled down, and seeing how captivating he looked as a driver, you didn't know how you were going to survive a whole car ride with a face that was sculpted like a Greek god. High-quality car from a high-quality man.
"You can get inside, y/n." You heard the doors of the car unlock for you to get in, so you went to the back of the car, where you decided to sit. Sitting beside him in the front would be so awkward, and you couldn't handle that. You opened the door of the back seat, but before you could even step a foot inside, his voice stopped your action.
"Stay here in front." He offered, gesturing towards the seat beside him.
"It's okay, Yunho. I'll just stay at the back." You refused...or you tried to.
"Just be here in front; that way I can watch over you while you rest. I'm sure it's been a tiring day for you too." He insisted, and who were you to decline when he was the one who was driving you home? You didn't want to inconvenience him anymore, so you gave in.
Without any more protests, you got inside the passenger's seat beside Yunho while placing all your things on your lap. Maybe it was because you had a long day today or because you still haven't had dinner or how good he smelled, but your mind wasn't in its usual state. It suddenly went blank, and you only realized that when a large body appeared in front of you to reach for the seatbelt on your right.
"Don't forget to put on your seatbelt."
If only the ground would just swallow you whole. You didn't need a lecture right now, especially not from him. The way his breath fanned your face and how close the proximity was between your bodies made your heart race, and you hoped he wouldn't hear it. "Right, I'm sorry." You looked down at your feet to divert your eyes away from him, "My mind's just not thinking straight right now."
"It's okay, I figured you were tired from school, so make yourself comfortable." With that, he pulled out of the school's parking lot and drove off to your address, which you input on his phone for directions.
It had been a few minutes since you'd left the campus with him, but you still weren't halfway there. You felt guilty knowing how late it was and how much gasoline was going to be consumed let alone think about how expensive it was. He probably had a long day at school too, and you wouldn't want to take more of his vacant time. So, after mustering up the courage you had, you broke the silence and the soft music playing on the speakers to talk to him.
"Yunho?" You heard a hum from beside you, "You can drop me off at the bus stop; I can ride a bus going home."
Yunho's eyebrows furrowed in confusion at your words, because why in the hell would you want to ride a bus going home? It literally defeats the whole purpose of him having to drive you home in his car, which he would rather do than leave you out in the streets this late. Jongho wouldn't want that...Yunho wouldn't want that either.
"I'm not going to do that, y/n. You're already here inside my car, and I'm going to do exactly as I have intended."
"But Yunho, my house is still so far." You tried to reason it out, but he wasn't going to let you win, not at all.
"That's okay, as long as you're safe." A smile grew on his face while glancing at you for a second before focusing back on the road in front of him, "It's already so dark outside; it's too dangerous, especially that you're a woman. Jongho's going to kill me if something happens to you; I'm not going to risk anything."
Now you had nothing to say against that; you understood that he was only making sure of your safety and for you to have a ride home, so there was nothing you could do but let the driver do what he has to do. You were in no place to make his life any more difficult, all because you felt bad; you just had to sit still and shut your mouth.
"Thank you, Yunho."
The car stopped when the stoplight turned red, and this gave Yunho the chance to see how you were feeling so far. "It's really no problem, y/n. Just keep in mind that if you ever get out of class around the same time as today, don't hesitate to message me. You tell me, so that I can pick you up and drive you home like this."
What?
You rubbed your nape, not knowing what to say. "I feel bad, though. The gasoline is so expensive nowadays, I don't know how I'm going to repay you."
You forgot that Yunho had his eyes on you when you heard him let out a soft laugh, causing you to look up at him and make eye contact, which made you extremely nervous to the bones. That's when you noticed how built he actually was up close, the way he had his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showcasing the way his arms flexed under the lights from outside, andโoh heavensโyou've never seen such pretty hands like his your whole life. You wondered how it would feel intertwined with your own.
"Stop worrying too much about the gasoline, please. That's not a problem for me, I'm willing to do this for you to make sure you always get home safely."
-
Those were the last words you remembered hearing from him before your eyes finally shut shut and your body lost its energy. Yunho didn't realize it either until he noticed your lack of movement, so he turned back to you and realized that you'd fallen asleep soundly. It might sound strange to him as someone who was inexperienced with romance, but he couldn't help but find you cute. The way your head slightly tilted as it rested on the headrest, a few strands of hair covering your face, and the way you had your arms around your bag like you were hugging a stuffed toy.
Yunho wanted to let you sleep for a few more minutes, but he had already arrived in front of your house. He didn't want your back and neck to hurt from the uncomfortable position you were in, so as gently as he could, he woke you up in the softest voice. "y/n, we're here." He figured you were too tired to hear him because it took a couple more tries until you finally woke up, only to flinch when you suddenly sat up on the seat.
You scanned your surroundings to see where the car had stopped, and when you saw your house outside, it brought you back to reality. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. I fell asleep without realizing." You fixed your hair and face as fast as you could, grabbing your bag that had almost fallen from your lap. "Thank you so much for driving me home, Yunho. I can't thank you enough for this."
Yunho let out a soft laugh at your reaction, finding your shy expression adorable. "It's really no problem; do message me when you need a ride home again. I'll be sure to be there unless I have prior commitments on that day." Just then, he remembered something he did earlier when you were asleep. He carefully reached from the backseat and revealed to you the bag of fast food takeout: "I also bought you dinner; sorry if it isn't much. The other restaurants were already closed, and I figured you still haven't had any dinner, so I stopped by for this."
You stared at him frozen; you didn't know whether to refuse his blessing again because you felt awfully bad now, to leave the car and hide inside your room from embarrassment, or to pull him in a deep kiss at his sweet gesture. You were in awe, surprise, relief, and joy at once, all because of the man staring right back at you, waiting for a response.
"How are you so kind, Yunho? You drove me home all the way here and you bought me food with your money; I promise I'll pay you back." You unbuckled your seatbelt before taking the bag from his hands, which slightly brushed against yours, and it made your heart race again.
"There is no need to repay me." He shook his head, "You can go now so you can eat dinner and rest afterwards; I'll wait here until you get inside your house." He gave you one last smile and a pat on the head, watching your every movement as you exited his car while carrying your bag and the bag of food.
You stood outside his car for a moment, looking back at everything he had done for you tonight. "Thank you again, Yunho. Drive safe and good night." Despite your hands being occupied, you managed to wave him goodbye.
He wanted to scream at the way your small hands cutely waved at him, but he kept it inside his head to not scare you off. "Good night, y/n. See you next week."
Since the night Yunho drove you home and bought you dinner, you started being conscious of your actions and behavior around him. Not that you were avoiding him or anything; you just didn't want to mess up, even if it was the tiniest mistake. You would take note of every word that came out of his mouth and observe his body language. You felt like a creep, but you only wanted to make sure he didn't feel awkward around you. You have yet to repay him, and even though he made it clear to you that he didn't need anything in return, you wanted to do something good for him too. Guilt would kill you if you didn't get to return his kindness. When you told Jongho every detail of that night, you received nonstop teasing from him, and he wouldn't let it go that easily.
You know what else would kill you? The dance competition you were, out of nowhere, a part of. Jongho was supposed to be the participant, but due to his already planned singing performance, he chose you to replace him instead. Did you have a choice to refuse him? Yes. Did he tell the organizers that you were a dancer and make them write your name on the list of participants? Sadly. Thesis had just recently finished, which turned out successfully, and now another thing was going to stress you out. Jongho knew you had joined dance competitions before, hence why he chose you, but you danced as a group. This was a solo dance you were joining; you were set up to embarrass yourself in front of everyone in the department.
"This is all your fault." You were currently at the cafeteria for lunch, but not once have you taken a bite of your food. You continued to poke at it as your mind was overthinking the whole competition thing: "What if I mess up? I haven't even tried making a choreography, and you know what's worse?"
Jongho looked up from his plate, "What?"
Your gaze almost felt like it was digging holes into his own, and it slightly scared him. "What if KQ Fellaz will be there? What if Yunho is there and he'll see me make a fool of myself? That's the last thing I'd want, Jongho." Since it was a dance competition, KQ Fellaz, the university's infamous dance group, would most likely attend, or worse, be the judges, and since Yunho was the team leader, he'd obviously catch every detail of your dance.
"Come on, y/n. Why are you suddenly getting so conscious of yourself now that you and Yunho became close? Don't you want to live up to your 'star student' title? One dance competition won't hurt you."
That's what Jongho likes to think, but to his dismay, you were struggling more than expected. Multiple errors here and there, mistakes that were painfully obvious as per Jongho's observations, and you were so close to withdrawing from this whole thing and just focusing on other important stuff other than this. Nights after nights of practice, and you still haven't finalized your performance. Jongho tried his best to be of help, but he too had vocal trainings and practices, so he sometimes couldn't be there to watch you. You'd stay up practicing alone at the school's gym when no one was around or in the comfort of your home. Either way, you really put your mind and heart into your practices, especially since there were less than two weeks left before the big day.
One late afternoon, you were once again practicing alone at the school's empty gym. You had set up your things on the bleachers before proceeding to warm up your body. The place was peacefully quiet, and you were determined to finish your choreography once and for all. While you were in the middle of doing your memorized steps, someone quietly stepped foot inside the gym with their bag hanging on their shoulder, catching your presence while you were practicing by the bleachers. The person observed as you occupied yourself with the music and the dance you had been stressing over for days. When the music finally ended, you let out a deep breath and wiped away the sweat that covered your forehead.
You suddenly heard soft claps from behind you, making you flinch back. "Wow, y/n. I didn't know you were such a good dancer. Are you joining the dance competition?"
Oh my god, why do you always end up in this situation? Wait, no. Why does he always show up to you at the most random times? "Y-yunho...what are you doing here?" You awkwardly asked, trying to hide your face with your hands because, goodness, you were sweaty and definitely not in the best appearance. He was the last person you'd want to see in this state, yet your nightmare had come before you even realized it. Where did he even come from anyway?
"Oh, I was planning to do some self-practice for volleyball since my schedule is vacant today. But then I saw you practicing alone here, so I might have to change plans."
Great, now you made him change plans because he probably felt uncomfortable with you around, and maybe you would be a distraction to his practice session. You'd just have to find another place to practice.
"You wouldn't mind me watching you practice, would you?" Yunho raised an eyebrow in expectance, his lips curling into an amused smile at the way your eyes widened at his question. "Maybe I could even be of help with your dance, and don't worry, I'm not one of the judges for the event."
Well, he does have a point. You weren't satisfied with your choreography, and you struggled with some movements; having him, a KQ Fellaz dancer, could be an advantage for you. You could ask him for opinions and advice on what you could improve on; maybe he was the solution to your problems. "It's fine with me, Yunho." Deep inside, you really weren't fine.
-
In the past hour, you have surprisingly done a lot, and you almost perfected your choreography with the help of Yunho's advice whenever you struggled with a move, and he would also suggest some steps that he thought were better and more comfortable for you. Even during your break time, he would drown you in praise as if he were your personal instructor. Then you were back on your feet to finalize a few more steps before going through another round of practiceโthat is, until you struggled again with a move he had previously suggested for you to do.
"Wait, sorry. Let me do it again." You spoke while repeating that same step once more, but continuously failing.
"Don't worry, I'll help you." Yunho stood up from his seat on the bleachers, positioning himself behind you. "You look tense; relax your body first."
How could you possibly relax in this moment when he was super close to you from behind? You stood there as your heart raced fast, but your body had gone frozen when you suddenly felt his hand resting on your waist to guide your movements together with this. You just had to get yourself together, not go insane, and survive the day with this extremely good-looking man behind you. Finally relaxing yourself into his hold, you allowed him to guide you through the steps, and just like that, you instantly got the hang of it.
You were about to do the move again when your foot got caught with his, causing you to lose balance and hold onto his arm, but he was quicker at holding you steady against his body. Your chest bumped into his, his hands on your arms, while your hands held onto his shoulders to regain your balance. You wanted to apologize, say thank you, or explain yourself, but no words would escape your mouth; you didn't even realize how close both your faces were that you could almost feel his breath fanning over your lips and he could almost feel your heartbeat racing. But his eyesโthey were so beautiful, so mesmerizing; you couldn't stop staring into them. And Yunho? He was resisting the urge to pinch your cheeks and call you clumsy in a teasing way, but your eyes were pulling him into another world. It held so many emotions, and he could sense them from your gaze.
The almost intimate moment with each other ended when you pulled yourself away from his hold, diverting your eyes away from him towards the side. "Thanks...uhm, it was my mistake."
Yunho, still entranced by you, unknowingly smiled in your direction. "It's okay; it also happens to me sometimes." He stepped closer to you to pat your head gently, "Be careful next time." Then he walked past you to return to his seat on the bleachers, leaving you standing awkwardly in front of him in embarrassment.
What the actual hell was that?
-
Finally, finally, finally! After gathering the remaining courage and sanity left inside your body, you finally concluded the practice session with a flawless performance. You panted intensely, but Yunho's loud applause and praises made you smile in satisfaction. He made you feel that you did a great job, and that's all that matters. This was your goal, and Yunho's help made it possible. You couldn't thank him enough for saving your life once again. Now, you owe him even more than before.
"You're definitely going to win the competition, and not to be biased, but..." Yunho trailed off as he brought his index finger to his chin to make it seem like he was thinking hard, "I think I just became your biggest fan; hopefully Jongho doesn't come after me." He whispered the last sentence as if Jongho could hear him in the empty gym of the university.
His words elicited a laugh from you, and your reaction satisfied him. Yes, he truly was a fan, and like any other diehard fan, he came to every one of your practices despite his schedule; he never missed a practice of yours. Believe it or not, he had always been your fan since two years ago, when he saw you on stage receiving an award for winning first place at the creative arts contest. Since that day, he has grown interested in you and has been wanting to get close to you but not knowing how to because he thinks so highly of you. He then found out that his best friend, San, was cousins with your best friend, Jongho. How convenient for him.
That was when the whole 'Jongho persuading you to join the council' started, as it was the only possible way he could interact more with you in a proper way. Only this year, when San confronted Yunho to just ask you himself in person, did it work, and he was forever grateful to San for pushing him to do it. Now that he was given permission to watch and monitor your practice sessions, he wouldn't pass the opportunity. He was going to make it worth his wait.
Yunho found himself sitting inside his car with you beside him, peacefully eating your dinner after another long day of practice. He stayed back until you ended your session and insisted on driving you home and maybe having dinner together with you too, but he'd keep that to himself. Tomorrow was your big day, so he wanted to make sure you weren't going to sleep with doubts in mind. He wanted to remind you how amazing you were and how you were going to nail it tomorrow. He didn't mention it to you, but he was going to be there. He was going to watch you perform and cheer for you, just like the big fan he was.
"Hey, y/n." Yunho called your name, breaking the silence inside the car, and you hummed in response while turning to him in the process. His fingers nervously tapped on his clothed thigh, "Before I drop you off at your place, there's something I've been meaning to tell you."
Your ears perked in anticipation and interest, but you also felt nervous as hell about what he had in mind. Was it bad? Was it good? You don't know. "Hmm, what is it?"
You caught the way Yunho's eyes looked everywhere except into yours, and you wondered what it was that made him look nervous. He contemplated whether to say what he wanted to say or to save it for another time. Tonight might be the right time; it might also not be the right time; who knows? His mind started making scenarios of what could happen if he said it tonight and if he didn't, but then again, it was you he was alone with right now. The bond between the two of you grew stronger than you'd realized, but Yunho was scared that all the years he had waited for you would go down the drain and might affect your performance tomorrow.
"Yunho? Is something wrong?" Your hand found its way on top of his; it could barely cover up his whole hand. "You can tell me anything; I promise I won't react negatively to whatever is on your mind."
But, how would you feel about it? Yunho pondered. Your hand on top of his and the comfort it brought was the sign he needed to go for it, "It's just..." He took a deep breath before finishing his sentence, "Spending time with you like this makes me happy, and I want to thank you for giving me strength, especially during event preparations; you've always been my inspiration when I work. It might not be obvious, but I really appreciate you being there for me." He wanted to say more, but the words weren't leaving his mouth.
Instead, Yunho intertwined your fingers together, and it should've made you feel ecstatic, but all you could focus on was his faceโhis eyes and smileโand how genuine they looked. The man you've been pining on for years now was sitting in front of you in his car and telling you all these positive things about you, how you drove him to accomplish his tasks when he felt physically and mentally exhausted, and how your company made him happy. Those were enough to give you extreme butterflies in your stomach, but those were not enough as compared to what you wanted to tell him too.
"I'm glad you thought of me that way, Yunho." That brought a smile to your faceโa grateful smile, to be exact. "I also want to thank you for everything you've done for me; from the first night you drove me home, when you guided me with my duties as an officer especially when I knew nothing about it to the first time you helped me with my dance." You let out a quiet sigh, "I initially joined the council because it was you who personally asked me despite Jongho asking me to join for two years already. Maybe I did it because I have feelings for you but the more we spent time together, I realized that you mean so much more to me than just a mere crush. It felt special and guilt always ate me up because you've done so much for me and I have yet to repay your kindness, but you always insisted that you didn't need anything in return. As much as I appreciate you saying that, there are times when I hoped you'd need something from me, so I could do something kind for you too." You were too immersed in your emotions that you failed to notice the sudden confession you just did, but Yunho, on the other hand, took note of every word that left your lips.
"y/n."
"Oh, sorry if I said too much. I didn't mean to-"
"Do you have feelings for me?"
"What?" You were confused by his sudden question after you had rambled all those out, "Why do you ask that?"
Yunho paused momentarily to observe your expression, feeling your intertwined fingers tightening around his. "You said you have feelings for me; that's why you joined the council. I want to confirm if I heard you right because I don't want to assume things between us."
Oh, I must've slipped up. You cursed yourself for revealing your romantic feelings to the person for whom you literally have feelings. "I mean...yes, I do have feelings for you." It already happened, so there was nothing you could do, and there was no point in hiding it from him.
"Good." To your surprise, he brought your connected hands to his lips, leaving a soft peck on top of your skin. "Because I also have feelings for you, y/n." You studied his face for any sign of teasing, only to feel sincerity in his eyes. "I can't explain enough how you manage to bring out the best in me, how I feel fulfilled whenever I do things for you, and how I feel comfortable being myself around you. You say you wanted me to need something from you when in fact, you already gave it to me. Remember what I said when I asked you to join the council? I was right, you are exactly who I need to complete the team and who would've thought you'd complete me too.
You won two things today: a small trophy as champion of the dance competition, which a proud Jongho cheered for so loudly that everyone could hear him and you had to tell him to calm down, and other than that, Jeong Yunho's heart. As cheesy as it sounds, you wouldn't have it any other way.
"Damn, girl. When did you learn all those dance steps? One day, you were struggling like a drowning fish, and then you showed up like an evolved Magikarp."
"What the hell are you even saying?" You quirked an eyebrow towards Jongho, having no idea what he was talking about because he wasn't making any sense at all. "What do you mean by a drowning fish??? And what do you mean by an evolved Magikarp???"
"Oh, you know what I mean." He rolled his eyes at your reaction.
"I really don't-" He pulled you in a tight embrace, which was a once-in-a-blue-moon occurance, so you took the chance to return the action with the same energy. "What is this unusual behavior, Jongbear?"
Jongho's words were muffled by your hair, but you still understood every word he said. "Just shut up and let me be happy for my best friend, okay? You did so well up there, I feel like a proud mom."
You could only laugh at his cuteness while ruffling his hair softly, "You did amazing up there too, my favorite singer." It was times like this with Jongho that reminded you of how close you are with each other like blood-related siblings, and you treasured every moment to heart. "I'm really proud of us."
Jongho suddenly remembered something important, making him finally pull back from your arms. He hated how you didn't update him about your personal life and how he had to find out about it from another source other than you, but he'll let you off this once because you were busy preparing for today's competition. "You know how we never keep secrets from each other, right?" You nodded to acknowledge his words, "You got some real detailed explaining to do when we're alone, but for now, go see your loverboy. He hasn't spoken since you stepped foot on stage; I think he's broken; I don't know."
Loverboy? Before you could speak a word, the said 'loverboy' appeared right before your eyes in a loose lavender button-up shirt paired with black slacks, heeled boots, and his nerdy glassesโgoodness, he was literally heaven on earth. While his presence and appearance alone caught your attention, your eyes landed on the pretty bouquet of blue and pink flowers in his hands. An extremely pretty man holding a pretty bouquetโwhat a truly beautiful sight to see.
"You never fail to win my heart, y/n. You amaze me every time and you did it again, congratulations." Yunho was about to hand the personalized bouquet to you when you went straight to giving him a hug, which he immediately reciprocated. "I'm proud of you, my star; I always am."
Observing from the side, San glanced over at Jongho, who was busy giving a disgusted look towards you and Yunho in a joking manner, which made him chuckle a bit too loudly. "Hey, don't be a hater. If you wanted me to set you up with someone, all you had to do was ask."
"Stop trying to take Yeosang away from me!"
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
genre: husband!san ft. friend!hongjoong, arranged marriage au, childhood friends, angst, fluff at the end, fem!reader
warnings: implications of toxic relationship, mentions of cheating, hints of jealousy, fighting (verbal), hiding pregnancy, profanities, alcohol consumption
word count: 12.1k
โคท You and San were inseparable since birth, but everything changed when both your parents arranged for the two of you to marry. He started treating you differently; you had no idea where you stood in his life, and he was too late to realize the consequences of his actions.
a/n: very self-indulgent; this was a dream I had of san back in 2021 and all I can say is, this fed my delusions so much
๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐๐
They say that you have been very lucky to have San as your best friend since first gradeโthe one who chases you around the playground, who buys you snacks from outside the school when you get hungry, and the person who opens his arms for you when you feel down. No one else does them other than him, and he wouldn't allow others to do things for you either. It got to the point where your family basically adopted him and treated him like their own son, while his did the same with you. You two were attached at the hip, and no one would dare go in between your friendship. No one would even try to confess or court you because they're scared of your black belt master of a best friend. It was something you shared only with Sanโthe special bond between childhood friends.ย
But everything changed when you both turned 20.
You and San were in utter disbelief when both your parents first announced during a shared family dinner that they had arranged for the two of you to marry for the typical business stuff, especially since both your families owned some of the most successful businesses in the country. They thought it would be a great idea, seeing how close you were to each other and how inseparable you were, expecting little to no problems to happen between the two of you. San was going to work for his father, and you were going to work for yours, but that's where the problem began. No one could've guessed the fate the universe gave you and him or what the future holds.
You had just graduated college, yet wedding preparations filled your schedules, meetings with friends became less frequent, and your friendship with San was shifting in a different light. The usual 'Hey, Sannie. Let's go try that new place.' became 'Hey, when are you free to talk about the wedding?'. It felt too scripted, too transactional, and too formal to go back to the old 'San and y/n' duo from your childhood. It was all 'business', 'money', 'opportunities', and 'power' talk now; there was barely any room to talk about personal things. That's why, after the grand wedding where you shared a kiss with Sanโboth your first kissโat the altar in front of almost a hundred guests and family members, the two of you couldn't look at each other the same way again.
Both of you shared a house together as ordered by your parents, which you couldn't complain about because the place was huge and you had all the space to yourselves, but San insisted on having his own room and office where he could work in peace with the excuse of not wanting to disturb your privacy despite being a newly married couple. You didn't bother to argue because, yes, you found San very attractive in many ways, but you couldn't imagine seeing him in a way other than as a best friend, which, sadly, wasn't the case anymore, and you didn't want any of it to escalate further. What about the honeymoon? It was never going to happen; don't even think about it.ย
San became so focused on his job under his father's company that he barely had time for you or any of your friends, nor does he come home to eat dinner with you, so you always end up ordering takeout or eating out alone and sleeping before he could even enter the front door. However, you've been relying so much on your assistant when it comes to your duties at your father's company. You slacked off, you procrastinated, and, hell, you don't even show up sometimes. San, as your best friend, would've been very disappointed at the way you're acting now because it was never your thing to ignore any responsibilities given to you, especially not with work. He would've scolded you nonstop for it, and you would've cried in his arms until you felt better.
That wasn't you anymore. You never wanted to work for your father; it was never in your plans, and neither was this marriage in the first place. You wanted to tell your father about it, but you somehow thought of working for him to repay everything he had done for you. The problem was that, no matter how hard you tried to make it work, it just wasn't your thing. Your biggest dream since high school was to become a fashion designer, having your own brand and sharing your ideas with the world. That was your passion, and San knew that. Ever since the whole marriage thing happened, he never brought it up again, and neither did he ask you about your future plans. He just left you hanging and chasing your dreamsโalone.
It's been months since you've made it a habit to sneak out of the office without anyone calling you out, leave your tasks to your assistant in exchange for extra pay, and meet up with a close friend to work on your dreams together. Hongjoong was a friend you met back in college when you both joined the same broadcasting club, and ever since you found out you two had the same ambition and interest in fashion, you found comfort in his company where you could be completely yourself without worrying about judgement. You had introduced him to San, and the latter was cool with him, but San didn't know that you were still seeing Hongjoong up until now, not that he bothered asking anyway.
You got dressed up in your usual corporate attire and slung your bag over your shoulders, ready to leave the house, hoping that San wouldn't catch you leaving right now, as you hated confrontations that could happen at any time, yet there he was, sitting on the couch with his arms crossed as he waited for you to appear in front of him. He never bothered waiting for you in the mornings, as he usually just left to work by himself, so seeing him now, there must be something that he wanted from you. You walked past him to the door to try to avoid the situation when you felt his eyes follow your movements.
"I wonder where you're going this time." San's morning voice was a bit hoarse, and it had a hint of sarcasm to it.
You didn't reply to his words, proceeding to grab your car keys from inside your bag. Your lack of response made San stare up at you with an intimidating look, resting his elbows on his knees in the process to support his body.
"You do know your father wants me to bring you to his office because, apparently, you haven't been showing up."
And he found out just now? You resisted the urge to let out a laugh, realizing it wasn't worth the energy. Instead, you continued to avoid eye contact as you replied, "I know."
San scoffed at your stubbornness as he stood up from his seat on the couch to walk up to you from behind. He knew that whatever he tried to do, he couldn't change your mind once you'd set your mind to it, and this was one example of that. "Where are you going?" He tried to ask anyway in hopes you'd give him the benefit of the doubt, but failed like expected.
You turned to him with a teasing smirk before it instantly dropped into a serious one. "Why don't you come and find out, hmm?" You pretended to brush something off his shoulder, giving him a fake smile before making your way to the front door to exit the house.
San could never get through to you.
-
"Rough morning?" Hongjoong asked as he placed both your coffees on the table before settling down on the seat across from you.
You shook your head slightly, "It's just San." You stirred your coffee around before taking a sip.
"What did he do this time?"
You and Hongjoong planned to meet up today to discuss each other's designs and things that needed to be worked on, such as expenses, resources, and all that, so he brought you to the cafรฉ his friend, Yunho, owned. Yunho was very friendly, and he even offered you his special strawberry cheesecake, which he insisted was on the house. Who were you to turn down such a blessing? You found yourself in a conversation with Yunho about how he met Hongjoong and their other friends at their previous workplace, but was sadly cut off when he had to go back to work. It was still nice meeting him, an optimistic man quite opposite to the cold San you were used to seeing.
From talking work at the cafe to strolling around the park after to eating street foods at night, which you haven't done in such a long time, you spent the day well with Hongjoong. It brought so many memories from the past, especially since the last time you'd done this was with San back in college. Now that San wouldn't do any of these with you anymore, Hongjoong was there to be your new partner. He had always cared about you, even behind your back, but became more attentive when you told him about your situation with San. He made sure that he was going to be the person you would run to when you needed someone; he was going to fill in the spots San was supposed to fill himself. Platonically, of course.
You looked up at him with a genuine smile on your face, "Thank you again for today, Joong, especially for introducing me to Yunho. He's really nice; it's not easy to find friends like him. Hopefully, I get to meet your other friends soon."
Hongjoong returned an even bigger grin, patting your head gently. "Well, look forward to more adventures with me then. I'll see you tomorrow, y/n." The hug he gave as he dropped you off at your place was one that comforted youโa hug from a friend. "Have a good night!"
The happiness you felt at that moment instantly faded as soon as you entered your shared home with San, and seeing him standing near the window with his arms crossed to his chest surprised you. You didn't bother questioning what he was doing there or why he was home early today, and you tried to ignore the look he was giving you. All you wanted to do was lock yourself in your room, like you always do, so he wouldn't have to ruin a good day.
"You're still seeing that Hongjoong guy?"
You only hummed in response, walking towards the stairs to head to your bedroom without looking at him. There you were again with your dry responses, and it was slowly ruining his patience. Once you reached your room, you opened the door, placed your bag on the table, and grabbed some clothes to change into. You didn't notice him following behind until you heard his voice once again.
"Do you have any idea what the people might think if they see you going out with another man?" His eyebrow raised in question as his voice began to sound annoyed and impatient. Ever since he knew about your daily meetups with Hongjoong, it made him uneasy, but he couldn't figure out why just yet.
You continued to busy yourself with your night routine in front of the mirror, "I never knew meeting up with a friend was a sin."
A groan was heard from the doorway, and footsteps stomped their way towards where you sat. "People are going to think that you're having an affair, y/n."
"So, let them. This marriage is only on paper; we don't love each other like that, so I can meet with whoever I want."
Oh...okay. San tried to process if he heard your words right. This marriage is only on paper; we don't love each other like that. But San had always loved you, so when you said those words, he realized you thought of him differently. Maybe you never saw him the same way he did with you; maybe you didn't agree to the marriage; and maybe this 'marriage' wasn't ever going to work out.ย
"I hope you meet someone good then." Just not someone better.
Your father hosted a party at a club he rented for the night to celebrate his company's anniversary with all his workers. San was, of course, invited as he was your husband, but you invited Hongjoong to the party anyway. You already explained to your father than he was just a friend and that San knew who he was, which wasn't a lie. So, you and Hongjoong enjoyed the party drinking and dancing, not caring about the people around the place.
Hongjoong dragged you to the dance floor as he showed you his dancing skillsโit was great, but he looked a little funnyโwhich made you burst into laughter, before he held your hand to dance with you. You didn't even feel his hand resting on your lower waist when you almost slipped, which he immediately retracted.
"Sorry, y/n. I gotta ditch you for a while, I saw a pretty girl near the bar. Wish me luck!" Hongjoong straightened his shirt and styled his hair, causing you to laugh at how ridiculous he looked.
"Whatever, you playboy."
"Hey, I'm not!" He whined as you laughed even harder at him, and waved him off to go flirt with that girl he mentioned about.
You spent the rest of the night drinking more and more, dancing alone to the music to your heart's content, and enjoying the moment like you've never felt before. No stress, no San, just you and the music. You were too lost in the moment that you didn't notice a random man came up to you from behind, grabbing your waist to join you for a dance. You didn't react to it for a while thinking that it was just Hongjoong, not until he pulled you closer towards his body, which made you very uncomfortable.
"Hey, let go." You tried to pull away from the man, but he was way stronger than you. "Get off of me."
You finally felt his grip loosen around your body when a hand harshly pulled the man back. You wanted to thank the person who came to save you, but their familiar built caught your attention.
"That's my wife you are talking to." San's voice had venom in it as he glared intensely at the man. If looks could kill, that man would be gone by now. You caught the look of fear in the man's eyes when he realized who was standing in front of him.
"Mr. Choi-" He tried to apologize, but San didn't let him finish his words.
"Enjoy the rest of the night because tomorrow, I'll make sure you're fired for harassment." The man, who turned out to be a newbie, scurried away in a second in fear and embarrassment from the situation.
You looked up to see a fuming San who was breathing deeply and still glaring at the man from a distance, "What was that for, San?" You couldn't even thank him properly, you were too curious about this new side of him tonight.
You were caught off guard when San suddenly grabbed your wrist, "Let's go home."
Three words and you were out of the club in an instant, not giving you the chance to fight back or ask the reason why he's doing this. He made you enter his car, fastened your seatbelt, started the engine, and drove away to your shared house. No one said a word throughout the whole ride, only silence was exchanged, especially seeing the evident anger placed on San's features, the way his eyebrows furrowed so deeply with his gaze focused on the road and his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. You absolutely had no idea what you did wrong for him to act like this, but it made you slightly scared for what's to come because in all years you've known him, this is the first time you've seen him this angry. As soon you reached home and entered the front door, San started to loosen his necktie and unbutton a few buttons of his shirt as he paced around the living room. His rushed actions and groans made you worry, so you walked up to stop him.
"San, stop. Tell me what's wrong, why are you acting like this?"
The way he turned to you with a serious look made you flinch, but you immediately gained composure. "What's wrong? You're out there bringing that Hongjoong guy to your father's party and showing him off like he's the one you go home to then he left you alone which got you harassed, and you're asking me 'what's wrong'? If I wasn't there to save you, do you think your parents would forgive me if something bad happened to you?"
The harsh tone in his voice when he spoke to you annoyed you and you weren't having it, "First of all, Hongjoong is just a friend. We've talked about this plenty of times but you never listen and second of all, you've never treated me like your wife either, so you can't be mad at me for having fun with him because during this whole marriage setup, he's the only person who makes me happy-"
Your words were cut off by San holding the back of your neck to pull you in for a rough kiss, your hands finding its way to his chest. What the hell?! Your eyes widened in utter surprise at his sudden action, not knowing how to react, but the first thing you did was push him away. You stared up at him in question, "What are you doing, San?"
San's hand found its way back to your nape while the other softly caresses your cheek, his face coming closer to yours. You tried to pull your head away, but the hand behind your neck stopped you from moving an inch. "He makes you happy? Hmm, is he a better friend than me? You want him to be in my place?" He questioned, his breath fanning over your lips.
He didn't even let you speak out a single word as he connected your lips back with his in a more intense and eager kiss. You felt the anger and possessiveness from the way he pressed his body to you leaving no space in between. For some odd reason, you couldn't stop him this time. The softness of his lips dancing with yours made you weak in every part of your body, it felt so addicting. The kiss turned into a heated make out session and because of the alcohol in your system, one thing led to another. You didn't expect for things to play out this way, you never thought you'd find yourself bare under your 'best friend' on his bed, doing intimate activities. Having your first time with your first love wasn't in your bingo card, but here you were.
-
You sat up groaning as you massaged the headache away and looking around the room to remember what happened last night. This isn't my room- oh, right...I slept with San. Sht, I can't believe we did it. You let out a deep breath at the realization and when you turned to look at him, you saw him sleeping soundly on his front with his eyebrows furrowing slightly. You notice the muscles on his back, his biceps, how broad his shoulders actually were, and his abs...you didn't even want to talk about it. Now that you saw him whole, you couldn't deny how extremely attractive he had become. Well, San has always been attractive in your eyes, but this was on another level of masterpiece. Sadly, he doesn't see me in that way. It was only in the spur of the moment, of course. There was no meaning behind it, right? It was all a drunken mistake...I guess.
You got up from the bed, picked up your clothes and went to your own to quickly take a bath. After you had changed into new clothes, you went straight to the front door before San could wake up and catch you. You weren't ready to confront the situation just yet, you needed time to process everything. You texted Hongjoong to meet up at the mall to clear your mind off of last night. Maybe a massage and a few chitchats with him can fix that.
San, on the other hand, woke up alone on his bed an hour after you left the house. Fck, what did I do last night? He sat up and stared at the side of the bed where you slept earlier as the memory from last night came to his mind, and all he felt was guilt: guilt for getting angry at you and forcing you to do the deed with him because of his uncontrolled emotions, he didn't get to ask if you were okay with it. All he wanted was to bury himself six feet under for crossing lines without your proper consent, and he would never forgive himself for that. He wanted to find you and ask for forgiveness even if he had to kneel to you and your parents for it, but mind was telling him to just forget about it.
Today was a rest day for San, which meant he had the day to himself, a day alone with his messed up thoughts. He took a bath and got changed into a white dress shirt and black jeans to pair with it. He decided to meet up with friends after a while to catch up and maybe to try to divert his thoughts away from you. He could only hope that it would work at least.
-
You got home from the mall to another empty house as you dropped your purse on the coffee table and sat on the couch to rest until the door opened to a sight you never thought you would see. You see his friend, Wooyoung, supporting a tipsy San inside the house and leading him to the couch beside you. He quickly apologized for barging in which you understand and left before the tension became awkward. Well, seeing San's state made the room feel heavy because why in the world was his face so red and you know what else was red? The lip stick stains on the collar of his unbuttoned dress shirt. You told him that he could meet whoever he wanted but you couldn't explain why the thought of him being intimate with someone else hurt you so bad.
It hurt you so much that it made you angry, "What the fuck, San??" Your voice startled him, which brought his attention to you with a confused look.
"Oh, you're home."
You were in disbelief at how calm he was at the situation, as if he hadn't done anything wrong. "I can't believe you..." You took a deep breath, "I never thought you would actually do this to me."
San turned his body around to face you fully, "Do what? I just went out with my friends at the club."
"And that included sleeping with another woman?"
His eyebrows furrowed at your words, growing even more confused at your reaction. "I thought you said that I could meet whoever I want? Why is this now a big deal? I don't understand you."
"I did!" You unknowingly raised your voice out of frustration and regret, "But after what happened between us last night, did it really mean nothing to you that you decided to cheat on me? Am I really that easy for you to cheat on?"
San wasn't in his right mind when he let out a scoff before answering back, "As if you hadn't been cheating on me behind my back-"
Slap. San held onto his left cheek as his eyes widened at the hard slap you had given him, turning to catch the tears slowly falling down your cheek.
"Fuck you, Choi San. Ever since we got married, you never trusted me anymore. I don't know what I did wrong for you to push me away and I've always made it clear to you that Hongjoong is only a friend to me, but you never listen. You always cause a scene then pretend like I'm nothing to you the next day. I hate you so much for thinking I cheated on you with him because even if you treat me like shit, I still respect you as a friend and my husband and he was there for me when you failed to treat me the same."
You let out a laugh at how ridiculous this whole thing was when you felt more tears falling down, "I would never cheat on you, but you're out there enjoying yourself with a woman you probably never met before like what happened between us didn't mean anything to you. Fuck you for disrespecting me like this, it makes me think I'm worth being cheated on." You tried your hardest to not break down in front of him and show him your vulnerable side even though he'd already seen it years ago, but it's different this time. "If it wasn't for our parents, I wouldn't even hesitate to leave this mess of a marriage. Don't ever show your face to me again, you fucking cheater!"
Through all that, San remained silent and speechless from your outburst. He never knew how much pain you were keeping to yourself because of him, he never knew he was slowly breaking your heart pieces by pieces. How guilty he was that despite what he put you through, you still saw him as a friend and a husband, and he wanted to say that he saw you the same. San wanted to tell you so bad that he didn't kiss another woman on his own will, the woman forced herself on him but he was too drunk to push away. If only his pride didn't get the best of him and he could've just apologized instead of fueling the fire.
"y/n-"
"We're done!"
And you meant it, you and him were done, it was over, and you were more than ready to end everything with him. You had told San back in college that you hated cheating the most when it came to relationships, and he had done just that. He was stupid enough to do the thing you hated most to you of all people. He never exactly cheated on you, but he didn't bother telling you the truth and that says a lot. He had definitely fucked up big time.
Ever since the big fight you had with San, you had completely avoided him even when you saw him at home. It was the same routine for you and you grew used to not talking to him for days, unlike his constant urge to talk to you and explain, but you never gave him the chance. With that, he continued with his work at his father's company while you spent most of your days with Hongjoong.
Today, you were spending the day at his place to hangout after a week of business. Hongjoong had prepared takeouts, drinks and your favorite, cookies. Of course, both of you shared the payment because you wouldn't let him pay everything for you. There you sat on his couch with him while the romcom movie plays on his large television, eating and talking to each other about the characters on the screen. But for some reason, you stopped eating the cookie when you suddenly felt weird. You felt dizzy and...nauseous.
Hongjoong caught the way you dropped your cookie on the table as you ran towards his restroom as quickly as you could, which alerted him. He carefully followed behind you, finding you sitting on the floor near the toilet with a hand on your hair and the other on your stomach. His thoughts were wondering what made you vomit on a sunny Wednesday at 2pm. She didn't drink any alcohol earlier though, neither did she drink last night, and she ate a proper meal today...
He heard you curse under your breath, which brought him back to reality. "Are you okay, y/n?"
You shook your head, not knowing what exactly was wrong with you. "I don't know, Joong. I just suddenly felt nauseous-" Your words were caught off when you let out another round of vomiting.
That gave Hongjoong an idea, but he didn't want to assume too quickly on it. "Did this only happen today or...?"
"Well, I've been feeling nauseous since two days ago and my head keeps hurting." You groaned at the feeling, "It feels weird."
That's it, he was going to confirm his suspicions and hope that it wouldn't be as bad as you would think it would be. Once you told him that you were okay, he guided you back to the couch to rest as he assured you that he'll be back in a few minutes before leaving his house in a hurry. He couldn't waste any second, he wanted to make sure you wouldn't panic.
Unfortunately for him, you panicked especially when he came back panting while carrying a plastic bag with different pregnancy tests inside. No, it can't be. You didn't want to try them, you were afraid of the results and you were afraid of the truth. You wanted to ask Hongjoong if he was serious, but the look on his face was as serious as he could get, so you thanked him as you grabbed the plastic and tested them in the restroom.
While you were inside, Hongjoong was pacing around the living room while he waited for whatever was to come. It wasn't his child, you weren't his wife, but he was extremely worried for you as a best friend. He knew about your worries with San and your plans for family, which you were not exactly ready for or at least not yet. He just hoped you wouldn't do anything wrong with yourself after this.
His head quickly looked up when the door opened to reveal your frozen body, eyes shaky with tears and mouth agape in utter shock. Is it really true? He slowly walked up to where you stood as your shaky hands showed him the different tests and there it was in front of him, positive. Hongjoong turned to you with wide eyes, holding your arms for support before pulling you in a comforting hug. As he stroked your hair, he heard quiet sobs from you and his heart hurt at that because he didn't know whether it was from a happy or sad reaction.
"Hongjoong..." You whispered softly and he hummed in response, "I-I'm scared..." He felt your grasp tighten around him.
"Hey, it's okay. You can cry it all out, I'll be here with you. I won't leave your side, okay?"
You could only bury your head on his chest to process the situation further, which you still couldn't believe despite the tests results being all positive. You didn't want to believe it, you weren't ready to accept it just yet, you needed confirmation so you told Hongjoong to bring you to the nearest hospital. If it turns out the same, you had no choice but to accept your fate.
-
It was confirmed, it was positive and you were 2 weeks pregnant now. You thanked the doctor with a smile before exiting the building with Hongjoong guiding you to his car to bring you back to his place. Arriving at his house, he led you inside and sat beside you with a very worried look which caused you to worry more than you already did.
Hongjoong waited for you to speak up first, but all you could do was breathe deeply as you fought the urge to tear up. "I'm sorry to ask this, but do you know who the father is?"
That question triggered the tears to fall down your cheek, failing to keep them inside. That was exactly what you were afraid of, the father of your child, because you knew so well who it was and you didn't like thinking about it. You only slept with one man your whole life, the man who was your everything, who made you the happiest, your first love, and the man who hurt you the most.
"I know." Hongjoong gave your back soft rubs while he patiently waited for you to open up yourself, "I know who the father is because he's the only guy I slept with...and I'm scared, Joong. I'm so scared because I don't know what he would do to me, to us. I'm scared that he'll push us away like he did with me, I don't want that to happen."
-
You stayed over at Hongjoong's place until you calmed down and talked to him about your plans for the future. You decided to leave your shared house with San and instead, stay at your cousin's house at your hometown for the meantine while you go through your pregnancy. You wouldn't have to worry about what to do because your cousin was already a mother of two, and she treats you like her own sister. You had called her beforehand and announced the news to her, which she reacted with the loudest excited scream ever. She didn't think twice about allowing you to stay at her place to take care of you with her family, she cares about you so much.
Now that it was settled, it was time for you to reveal the news to your parents in case they would wonder and worry about your whereabouts. You visited their home after calling them through the phone for a visit, which they happily welcomed you in. You sat nervously on the couch across from them with Hongjoong sitting beside you for moral support.
"What is it, dear?" Your mother asked in curiosity.
You took a deep breath before finally announcing the big news to them, and Hongjoong gently rubbed your arm for encouragement. "Mom, dad, I..." You sighed and looked down, "I'm pregnant."
After you said those two words, the room became silent which made you look up in worry, but all you saw was the surprised faces of your parents. Your father had his hand covering his mouth, while your mother clapped in pure excitement. Their reactions somehow removed a weight off your shoulder.
"Oh my gosh!" Your mother squealed while hugging your father tightly, "I'm going to be a grandmother."
Your father, on the other hand, looked more concerned than excitement, "Isn't it too soon? They just got married a year ago, what about her work? The office life isn't easy-"
"About that, dad..." You started, but wasn't sure where to start. Hongjoong rubbed your arm once again which urged you to continue, "I'm actually starting my own business and brand with Hongjoong, and we've been working on it for quite a while now."
This caused both your parents to grow curious at your plans, knowing how you haven't been showing up at the office for months already. Your father quirked an eyebrow in question, "What's this business of yours?"
"Oh, it's a fashion brand. You know, designing clothes, organizing fashion events and all that." Saying all those made you so nervous with the look your father was giving you.
"And why didn't you tell me? I could've asked my friend to help you with that."
His response made you release a sigh of relief and your father laughed at your reaction. Of course, he wasn't mad. It was your choice, your passion, and your life. He only assigned you to work for his company because you didn't tell them what your plans were after your marriage with San, so he wanted to make sure you still had a job. It just took you long enough to tell him about it, but it's already done and that's all that matters. But, there was one more problem to face.
"Does San know about this?" The mention of his name made you drop your smile in an instant and your parents quickly caught on to it, "What's wrong?"
It took you some time before you explained everything to them: from how toxic your relationship was with San, how you frequently have fights with him ever since the marriage, how he cheated on you, and how he was the father to the child you were carrying. Your parents felt guilty and pity at your situation because it wouldn't have happened if they didn't arrange the two of you for marriage, but then again, you and San didn't complain back then.
They were happy to hear that San was the father of your child, but was highly disappointed and angry at him for cheating on you, their only child and daughter at that. They trusted him with all their heart because of your past with him, but they never thought he would ever cheat on you of all people, the same with how you felt about it. They treated him like their own son, but hurting you like this crossed the line.
"I know you guys are disappointed-"
"I'm furious, y/n. I'm going to teach him a lesson." Your father cut you off in a serious tone, which was something that always scared you, but you set that aside to share your thoughts to them.
"I know, dad. But I'd appreciate it if you don't tell him anything about this, I don't want him to know. I'm going to stay at Chae's for a few months, and see where this goes."
Despite the anger they feel for your husband and the urge to confront him about the serious matter, your parents respected your decision because it was you who was bringing the child. They could only worry and look out for you while you spend the rest of your pregnancy without a father, but at least Chae and her family was there to support you along the way, and maybe Hongjoong too.
Your parents asked you and Hongjoong to stay over for the time being to catch up and eat lunch together. Hongjoong was beside you by the kitchen island when the doorbell rang, indicating a visitor had arrived and when you turned back to check, you were met with San's parents standing at the front door. This caused you to almost lose your balance but thankfully, Hongjoong caught you just in time.
You walked up to greet them while Hongjoong introduced himself to them as your close friend to prevent misunderstanding from them. Apparently, your mother had called them over for a talk because she believed it was right to also tell San's parents about the situation. It was still their grandchild after all. With that, you explained the whole story again and they gave the same reactions as your parents. His parents really loved you like their daughter, that's why they trusted you to marry their only son. They thought it would be east to marry him off with you because you and him were the best of friends, but maybe San was too work-oriented for commitment. They also couldn't believe their son would hurt you in such a way after what he did to you, and they'll make sure to put some sense on him.
Two days after your visit to your parents' house and packing a few of your things in luggages, San's parents accompanied you to your shared home with San. Your parents had an important meeting to attend to, while San was nowhere to be found. They asked their driver to help you carry all your things to the car, while you bid his parents goodbye for now. You hugged both of them tightly, but they were careful not to hurt your belly.
"Have a safe trip, okay? We'll tell Minho to drive carefully until you arrive at your destination, and call us when you get there. We will visit you when we can, sweetheart." San's mom placed a kiss on your forehead, before hugging you once more. "Stay safe!"
After waving both of them goodbye, the driver opened the door for you to enter the back of the car, closed the door and went to the driver's seat. You had told the driver, Minho, the exact location of your cousin's place before he started driving away. It was a peaceful ride, all your worries disappeared for a while as you drifted into a nice nap with soft music.
-
You had already settled at Chae's house at their guest room where you placed all your things down with her help. Her kids came to talk and play with you, and her husband came by to say hi before leaving for work. The first few days went by normally: you waking up to a family eating together for breakfast, you styling Chae's children for school, then spending the rest of the day with your cousin to talk about almost everything really until her husband and kids come back home. No stress, just genuine peace after a long time. San's parents had called you once to ask if your husband had called you, but you could only reply with "Not at all."
The thing was, San was confused, worried and scared why you weren't home, why you hadn't been home for consistent days. He wanted to text you about your whereabouts or call you to ask how you were feeling, but the guilt from the previous fight was still eating him up so badly that every action he does, he's afraid it would affect you in some way, even though you weren't physically there anymore. He couldn't even talk to you or go near you. He just couldn't, he's a coward and he knows it. All he could do was avoid and forget about it for a while by drinking with his friends or coworkers to the point that it became a bad coping mechanism of his.
One day, his parents visited him at the house to check up on him but he wasn't there when they arrived. He was out again on his day off as usual until a car stopped in front of the house. Wooyoung had to support a tipsy San inside the house like he always does whenever they drink together, especially that San was an absolute lightweight. When they entered the house, Wooyoung was surprised to see San's parents' confused faces staring at their direction, so he quickly put San down on the couch.
"Hello sir, hello madam, so sorry for the trouble. Your son may have had a little too much to drink tonight, yeah. I'll take my leave first, goodbye." Wooyoung exited the house with his heart racing because of the tension his parents were giving.
San's parents stared at him in disappointment; his disheveled hair, his slightly crumpled shirt, and his face red. He looked like a mess, a lonely pitiful mess. San only wanted to forget about the pain he'd been feeling since that big fight with you, but it only made things worse. Whatever decision he makes that has something to do with you always made the situation worse, so what was new? He was a mess without you, and he was more of a coward than you. His parents didn't know what to do with him because not only did he treat you so badly and got you pregnant, he kissed another woman who forced herself to him which he couldn't fight back because of how tipsy he was so his friends had to intervene at that.
"Choi San, what do you think you are doing?" The harsh and strict tone of San's father woke San up almost immediately.
San had now adjusted his sight to his surroundings and saw his parents in front if him in his house, "Mom? Dad? W-what-" His head suddenly ached, so he groaned in pain cutting off his words. "What are you doing here? I don't know where y/n is."
"What is wrong with you, San?" This time, his mother stepped in to question him. "Did you seriously cheat on your wife?"
There it was again, the same topic that started this whole thing. He guessed that you had told his parents about it and he honestly couldn't blame you, "Cheat? I didn't cheat on her, it was all a big misunderstanding."
"And does she know about this?" His mother stared at him intently, yet he couldn't form any response to her question. "Exactly why she left because of you, and this is what you're doing?"
San heart raced when he heard those words left her mouth as he quickly rose from his seat hesitantly, "Wait, what do you mean she left?"
"I meant she packed her things and left because you don't treat her like your wife, not even a friend. I don't know what happened between the two of you, but this is just ridiculous."
This made San angry; he's not angry at you for leaving, but he's angry and disappointed at himself for what he had done for you to do just that especially when he meant everything from that night. The kiss, the three words, the promises; he meant all of it yet he his fear made him do stupid decisions which he couldn't take back. "y/n didn't tell me any of this."
His mother moved closer to her son as her patience became to thin out, "Did she have to tell you that? Isn't that supposed to be your job as her friend and husband? If this is how you act around her, god forbids, I'm scared to know how you'll act around your child." She rubbed her forehead at the thought of it.
San grew even more confused at where the conversation was leading, it's as if he was being struck by reality to drown in guilt. Why would his mother mention about his child? Technically, he was married to you but you and him didn't have plans of having a family together, even when he had thoughts of it during your wedding. He just thought you wouldn't like the idea, so he didn't bother bringing it up until right now. "What child? I don't have a child."
His parents exchanged a look to each other at the realization, bringing their gaze back to their son. "See, she doesn't have trust in you anymore."
San observed their expressions, waiting for them to explain further but there were only looks of seriousness towards him. He thought deeply about their words how his child had something to do with you and tried to connect the dots together, but when it led it to a thought, he didn't want to believe it just yet. It could be someone else's child, but he knew you would never sleep with anyone other than your lover. You valued loyalty. There was no way you were carrying his child right now, you would've shown signs if it was true but then again, you wouldn't show yourself up to him.
"Are you saying...she's pregnant?"
"Something happened between the two of you, right?"
Yes, something did happen between the two of you and it was him who started it all.
"Is she hiding this from me?" Now, San was sobered up from the revelation of the big news and it caused him to feel all sorts of emotions at once. "I have to talk to her about this, do you know where she is?"
At this point, he was rambling with questions about you: where you were staying, when did she told his parents about it, and all that, but his parents couldn't disclose any information in respect to your decision of hiding your child from him. You would rather raise your child alone with your cousin than deal with their father who had no respect for you.
This drove San to search for you, know everything about you to ask for forgiveness, earn your trust, and take care of you. He needed to do all those before he would stray further away from you because now that he was hit by reality, he realized that you leaving and hiding your pregnancy from him were the consequences of his own stupid actions. This was something he had to pay, and he was going to do everything to win you back. Even if it would take him years, he was willing to wait just as he patiently waited for you to trust him when you were still kids.
San went up to the family driver, Minhoโwho had been standing near the front doorโto question him about your whereabouts, only to receive a silent look of pity from him. You had told Minho to never speak of a word of your location to San, and he was going to keep that promise for as long as you needed him to. It was the least he could do for you as someone who is already part of the family yet treated unfairly by your husband, which he hated too because he, himself, was a father of two and a husband of a loving wife. Minho understood that maybe San just wasn't ready for the marriage life and the responsibilities that came with it like he was expected to do for someone as young as he was, and definitely not prepared for the parenthood stage.
"Minho, please. Tell me where y/n is right now, I don't want this to head into serious matters."
His threat didn't scare Minho one bit as he had worked for his family since San was still a baby, and his parents had considered him like a family as well. Minho was going to keep the promise you entrusted him even if it would cost him getting hurt or losing his job.
"That's enough, San. We're leaving now."
-
That wasn't enough for San, he came to visit Minho almost everyday begging him to say where you were because he was the one who drove you to your hometown to which Minho dismissed every time. At San's 5th attempt over two weeks of trying to get information from him, Minho saw the desperation in his eyes and as a father, it made him feel bad for the man. It would cost him his life to break his promise with you, but maybe...just maybe, you needed to see how San was yearning for you even when he doesn't realize it himself. It was quite interesting to see him that way.
Minho took all the courage to send you a quick apology before telling San that he was going to bring him to your hometown, where you were currently staying at with the condition that he should not disturb you and cause any inconvenience to your peace. The first time San saw Chae's house, his eyes immediately searched for any sign of your presence and there he saw youโthe way your sun dress flowed with the wind, your hair tied in a braid styled by your cousin, the genuine smile you had on your face which hadn't seen it such long time, and the slight bump on your stomach where your hand was restingโoh, how beautiful you looked in his eyes. He could only thank Minho for showing him the way, as he promised he wouldn't show himself to you, but San was as stubborn as ever.
The next day, San used his car to drive himself to Chae's house in hopes of getting the chance to talk to you. He knew he had little to no chance of success, but he was going to try nevertheless. He exited his car and walked up to the front gate to ring the bell, which resounded around the house. Your niece went to check the window to see a man standing outside the front gate, so she ran to you at the living room where you two played.
"There's someone waiting outside." She pointed with her little finger.
You got up from the couch to check outside from the window yourself only for you to let out a loud gasp at the sight of the said man, your niece growing curious about your reaction. No, there's no way. I'm probably just hallucinating. You stepped back a little, "Chae..."
Chae hummed a response from the kitchen, "Yeah? You need something?"
"San...he's outside."
As soon as she heared his name, Chae immediately dropped whatever was in her hands and went up to where you stood frozen. She peeked outside the window to confirm if he was really there and alas, he indeed was. This triggered Chae's protectiveness towards you as she turned to you with a serious look, "y/n, you two stay in your room while I talk to him. I'll get back to you when we're done, okay?"
You nodded, then proceeding to tell your niece that you will continue your play party in your room. Chae, however, was determined to confront San. She made her way to the front gate where San was nervously waiting, but she didn't have a smile on her face. No, not at all. San knew he wasn't welcomed, but he tried anyway.
"Hi, Chae. It's been quite a long time since we last saw each other." San let out an awkward laugh when Chae didn't react to his words, pursing his lips after.
She rested a hand on her hip, "What do you want?"
"Oh, uhm...y/n had probably already mentioned about what happened between us-" Chae let out a sarcastic scoff at the thought, "Yeah...I just wanted to know if she's here. I understand if she doesn't want to talk, but I just want to make sure she's safe."
Chae didn't know if she should laugh or express her anger towards him, but what she knows is that she wasn't going to give him what he wanted that easily. "She's not here, so I suggest you leave."
"Oh..." San's face dropped, but he tried not to make it obvious. Chae was about to go back inside her house, when he called her name which made her stop in her tracks. "Is she really pregnant?" San was very hesitant to ask your cousin that question, but he needed to know the truth, to confirm it, and reassure himself that he was going to be a father soon.
It then became silent, Chae slowly turned to look at him disappointedly. "Leave."
"No, wait. Please, I just have to know."
She stared at him for a few moments trying to understand why he was doing this, and she caught the desperation in his eyes especially from the way he fiddled with the wedding ring on his finger, which was identical to yours. Yes, Chae was still mad at him for what he did to you but as the father of your child, he still deserved to know the truth.
"She is, now go."
Once again, she was about to retrace her steps to the house, when San was her name for the second time.
"What-" Her words got cut off when she saw what was in front of her.
It was a bouquet of flowers, which he had been hiding behind his back since earlier. He gently handed them towards her with a small smile, "Sorry to cause you more inconvenience, but please give this to y/n. I don't know if this is still her favorite, but hopefully she'd still like it. You don't have to tell her it's from me, she probably would throw it away. Thank you for your time, Chae." He waved her goodbye and walked up to his car, leaving a speechless Chae at the gate.
Chae felt her anger fading as she continued to hold the bouquet in her hands. As your cousin, she would've rejected it with no hesitation but the tone in his voice was genuine and the fact that he didn't even want you to know that it was from him was very understanding of him. Well, you and San had long history together and she wouldn't want to ruin that because of her own emotions.
When she finally entered back in to the house and to your room where you were currently sitting alone because your niece went to play with her dog, she gave you a comforting smile before revealing the bouquet to you. This surprised you because not only was the bouquet arranged prettily, it was of your favorite flowers too.
"He told me not to tell you it was from him when he's literally the only guy who knows what your favorite flower is."
You were quite reserved and secretive about your preferences because it might be used against you, and San was the only person who knew every detail about you. He knew you loved flowers, so he often gave you those at random occassions especially with what he called as 'just because flowers'. You sat there staring at the bouquet and fighting the tears that was ready to spill. San thought that it wasn't your favorite anymore, but these tulips were still your favoriteโthe flowers he said he found comfort with.
-
San slumped on the couch as soon as he arrived home at the now quiet house. He groaned tiredly from driving about 2 hours from your cousin's house, but he didn't care. It was his choice and he was going to that every day if it meant he could see your face again. He was blankly staring in front of him until his eyes caught a certain framed picture on the television rackโa picture of you and him during your wedding dayโand he noticed the forced smiles on your faces. Beside it was another framed picture of the two of you as children, his arms hugging you from the side and cheeks pressed together. A smile curled up on his lips but when he was brought back to the current situation he had with you, he felt guilt all over his body. It just isn't the same anymore.
At this point, San was playing chances as he constantly tried to visit Chae's place again and again for weeks that turned into months, and every time he does, he always brings gifts or food you might want to eat (he had to ask his mother which food were good for you and the baby). The first few weeks, Chae always turns him down but slowly gives more time to chat with him. The following weeks, you decided to confront him yourself, which he was so relieved about, but you don't stay too long nor let him explain, and he respected that.
That was until a month later, Chae confronted about it and how you should give San a chance to explain himself after all his determination and efforts to drive 2 or more hours every other day even after a tiring day at work just to see you. It was the little things and yes, you appreciated every single one of it but yet again, fear had pulled you back. You grew used to the lack of affection and your child having no father figure during your pregnancy, so you didn't know how to go back to your old relationship with him; this time, in a romantic way.
You were heartbroken when you found out he 'kissed another woman' after being intimate with him for the first time as a married couple, but he was so consistent with his visits that it drowned the pain little by little until Chae gave you one more push. The day after, San had come all the way from work to Chae's place despite it raining at night. It was quite dangerous to be driving in that condition, but that didn't stop him from achieving his goal. So when you finally heard the doorbell ring, you were unaware of how quickly to got out an umbrella to see him outside. The sight of him drenched in the rain with only his suit jacket to protect him hurt your heart, you had the sudden feeling of wanting to take care of him and scold him for getting himself sick, especially that he just came from work.
"Gosh, San. Come here, you're drenched from the rain." You hurriedly pulled him under your umbrella and led him inside the house, "Stay there, take off your shoes, leave your things, and wait at the side while I get you a towel and some clothes to change into. Don't go anywhere." It wasn't a request, it was a command and he did exactly as you've said.
You grabbed a spare towel from the bathroom and borrowed some clothes from your cousin's husband for San to wear for now, then getting back to him who was patiently standing by the front door slightly shivering. You wasted no time in drying his hair up, leading him to the closest bathroom, and telling him to remove his shirt, until his hands held yours to stop your movements.
"How stupid can you be? You were driving hours in the rain after work, then you didn't bring an umbrella with you, so now you got drenched in the rain. You're going to get sick. What would happen if you got sick? How will you work? How will-"
"Shh." San brought your hands down to look at you clearly, "y/n, relax. You're worrying too much about me, I'll be fine."
This made you even more annoyed, "Are you crazy, Choi San? Do you want to get sick and make me sick too?" Your expression was filled with a mix of anger and worry, which he found amusingly cute.
He couldn't help but smile sadly at how worried you were for him because despite everything he had done to you in the past and you having to hide your pregnancy from him, he still saw how much you cared about him, just like at this moment, and he could never forgive himself for that. All he could do was to repay all the damages he had made, and create a better life for you and your child. San's gaze dropped from your face to your evident belly, which brought him to the realization that he had a new responsibility now. Two responsibilities at that.
You always had a special place in his heart, that is no doubt, because if he was going to be completely honest, he actually had feelings for you before but he treasured your friendship more, so he never took the risk to make a move. When your parents had announced about the wedding, he was undeniably happy about it because he gets to spend the rest of his life with you, but then reality hit him like a truck. Work, investments, time: he didn't know where to start. San only treated you the way he did because he felt so pressured at work, especially with a work-oriented father, and he was afraid he couldn't give you the time you needed, so he made you accustomed to the routine of him not always being there for you so it would hurt less, but it only made things worse. It was one of the hardest yet stupidest decision he had ever made in his life.
San was too blinded by responsibilities that he forgot that you were also already his responsibility, so had no idea how lonely you felt during those times and that you weren't as strong as you always claimed you were. You still needed love, affection and company, you wanted to be a good wife for him, but his emotions didn't give you the chance to prove yourself, to prove himself wrong.
Today could be that day.
He carefully pulled you in a gentle hug making sure not to press too hard on your belly, and when you didn't pull away, he took it as a signal to talk. "I am genuinely sorry, y/n. I swear I've always had the biggest crush on you when we were kids but when I knew I'd get married to you, I was beyond ecstatic but at the same time, scared. I was scared that if focus too much on my work, I may not have enough time for you. The change in our relationship overwhelmed me so much, so I decided to distance myself to let you get used of my absence, but I realized how stupid it really was."
His gaze dropped down to the floor and you noticed his fingers fiddling the hem of his shirt, which was a sign of his anxiety, so you rubbed his arm to reassure him that you were willing to listen and understand him now. "Whenever I see you with Hongjoong, my blood just boils, but I tried not to show it because you may not feel the same way. I understand why you were mad at me, I made stupid decisions that led to this. I wasn't able to explain myself about how I never intended to cheat you, how that woman forced herself on me even when I pushed her away until Wooyoung came to stop her, and I don't blame you, I deserved that slap." There was a smile of guilt on his face, which didn't go unnoticed by you.
"I thought it wasn't enough, so I took it for granted until my parents told me that you left because of me. You left before you told me you were carrying our child, I would've taken care of you from the start. You wouldn't have to leave and raise them alone." San carefully held your hands, expecting you to pull away from his grasp but to his surprise, you didn't protest. You gave him the time to speak his heart out and to understand his side of the story. "You are still my best friend, y/n. You'll always be the best person for me, my other half, my wife and now, the mother of our child. I want to be there for the two of you in every step of the way, I promise I'll treat you better this time. I won't be the same stupid, immature San that hurt you. I'll go back to the old San that treated you like you were his world...you still are. Please, y/n. Come back to me and let's work this out."
Maybe it was the hormones or how you felt for him, but you let tears run down your cheeks and sobbed in front of him. He let go of your hands and pulled you in a comforting hug, letting you cry as much as you could on his chest. He didn't need to hear anything from you because he believed it was all him and only you deserved an explanation. You missed this feeling, being in his arms in silence. With everything he had told you tonight, you finally understood how he felt about the whole situation and the reason why he did what he did to you. You were hurt by it, but you also felt bad for him knowing how his father had set high expectations to him as the only son. You only wished he told you sooner, so you could help him lessen the pressure like you always did. Things didn't go too well and it could've been better, but you were thankful for what you had nowโhim and a mini him or you.
Once you calmed down and your sobs had lessened, he asked if you were feeling better now to which you nodded. A voice from outside interrupted your conversation causing you and San to look at the doorway. It was your niece saying that dinner was ready, so you told him to stay for the night since it was getting late and it seemed that the rain was not going to stop anytime soon. He didn't want to make you worry even more, so he didn't think twice to accept the invitation. He was just happy to have you back, the woman he would die for. Throughout the whole dinner with San explaining everything to Chae and how you and him were going to work things out for the better, all you felt was genuine love from him. It felt like highschool all over again when he tried to convince his guy friends that he didn't like anyone because he was satisfied with what he had with you.
He definitely loves what he has with you now.
It has been a week since you came back to your shared home with San after he convinced you and offered to bring all your things back. He also convinced you to share a bedroom with him and when you gave him the green light, he let you choose the bed of your choice, which he immediately bought. He moved all your things to the room, made a room for your studio, and renovated your old bedroom to a nursery. You saw how busy he had become just to ensure you lived a comfortable life, and you also made sure to reward him for his efforts.
San worked day and night at the office yet he never failed to give you his time when he could, check up on you and your work, talk to the baby on your belly, and kiss you goodnight with his arms resting around you protectively. San tried to do everything for you: cooking breakfast (he asked help from Wooyoung), washing the dishes and clothes, buying the groceries and even befriending Hongjoong to the point that it worried you. You had told him that he didn't have to do everything, but he insisted that it was to repay the damages he made before.
At the end of the day, he'll reassure you that he wanted to do it and not because he was guilty. You and him would have late night talks, laughing about past memories or crying about the sad ones, but it definitely made your official relationship stronger. You would also show him your designs and he would share his opinions, but he would usually drown you in compliments. Well, he had always been your number 1 fan. San loved you with all his heart that when you were in pain as you gave birth, he cried so much more than you did because he hated seeing you hurt. He had to lock himself in his car to let out all the tears, then came back inside once he had calmed down a bit (he bursted into tears again when he saw your newborn daughter in your arms).
One thing is for sure, he was the best girl dad.
San would spoil her too much to your liking, styled her hair, buy her cute dresses, and join her little tea parties while you watch over them from the kitchen. Every year, he would throw birthday parties for your daughter and he invited his and your family and friends over to make it memorable for her. He spoiled you a lot when you were still friends and now, he had a mini version of you to spoil.
You and him were having a conversation in your shared bed until a small figure entered the room and climebed on the bed between the two of you.
"What are you guys talking about?" Your daughter asked in a whisper as if it was a secret, which made you let out a quiet laugh at her cuteness.
San pinched her nose softly, "It was nothing, sweetheart. Mommy just won't let me sleep, what should I do?" He made a pout to make it more believable.
"Hey!" Your daughter turned to you, "That's bad, mommy." She then turned to San afterwards, "Maybe mommy doesn't love you."
Her words made your eyes widen as you and San bursted into laughter as he pulled her closee to place a kiss on her cheek, her head and sitting up to also give you a kiss on the lips. "My two girls really love teasing me, huh?"
This was all you wantedโall you needed. You love the little family you have with your best friend.
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
genre: brother's best friend!jongho, brother!seonghwa, forced proximity au, fluff, fem!reader
word count: 3.1k
โคท Saying how you wanted a man like the main character of the movie you were watching, you didn't realize that he had similar characteristics to your brother's best friend. Stop arguing with him, just say he's your type and get it over with.
a/n: my mind was everywhere when I wrote this, so just take whatever this mess is.
๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐๐
"Watch over her while I'm away and don't touch my things without my permission, got it?"
"Yes, got it." Jongho responded halfheartedly.
"And you," Seonghwa turned to you, "Don't pick up a fight with Jongho, I'll be back."
Your older brother, Seonghwa, had somewhere to go today and the fact that your parents weren't around either means he can't leave you alone in the house. He couldn't trust you yet on your own and he's very protective of you as his younger sister, so he was left with no other choice.
It just so happened that his best friend, Jongho, was the only one available from their friend group. Besides, he's very reliable, so there should be nothing to worry about. Put this and that together, Seonghwa asked Jongho to watch over you while he's gone. Luckily for him, his best friend accepted the request only because he promised to buy him iced americano in return for the favor.
As soon as your brother left, you brought yourself back into your room to catch some more sleep. It was already afternoon, but your body needed a short nap. Jongho, on the other hand, grabbed some extra clothes from his bag and entered the guest bathroom to cool down from the hot weather.
You know what, you couldn't sleep at all. Perhaps something is bothering you at the moment or maybe someone, you don't exactly know. It's likely just the boredom, you hoped it was. Going back downstairs, you settled down on the couch in the living room.
"What movie should I watch?" You spoke to yourself, heaving a sigh.
There you found it, one of the best movies that were beautifully made. Shrek 2; you just can't get enough of it. You made yourself comfortable on the couch as the movie started and you were excited to rewatch it for it has been so long since you've last seen it.
In the middle of the movie, Jongho exited the guest bathroom while wiping his hair dry with a towel. Unbeknownst to you, he walked into the living room noticing your figure watching intently at the movie playing on the television. You heard footsteps and when you turned your head towards the noise, he stood there all freshened up. You caught sight of how his black shirt stuck to his toned chest and biceps, and how his sweats wrapped around his thighs like that, he was undeniably attractive.
Your gaze scanned over his body a few more times before finally landing on his eyes staring back at yours to which you quickly diverted away from him and back to the screen in front of you. The blush on your cheeks didn't go unnoticed by him, but he didn't say anything about it. Instead, he sneered at you in amusement.
Jongho proceeded to sit beside you on the couch but you wanted to hog all the space to yourself because you felt like it, so you glared at him while trying to push him away using all the strength you have. A+ for effort though, you're no match for his unbeatable strength and built physique.
"Don't sit here, sit somewhere else." You commanded. At least you tried to, that is.
"Why? Do you own this couch?" Jongho quirked an eyebrow in a challenging manner and that somewhat irked you.
"You don't own it either, fight me then."
He shook his head before looking back up at you, "Unfortunately, I have a rule against fighting children."
"I hate you." You scoffed, watching him casually sit beside you in victory.
You remembered how Seonghwa had told you not to start a fight with Jongho, but you still did it anyway. You think he's a nuisance, it's true. He's the type of friend that would tease you every chance he gets and you just so happened to be the victim here.
The climax of the movie cameโShrek in his human form and his friends fighting against the guards to emter the castle, while Fiona dances away with Prince Charming as Fairy godmother sang her heart outโand you stifled your emotions. Usually, you were talkative when you enjoy a movie and you'd blabber to Seonghwa until there's nothing else to elicit from the movie. Right now wasn't any different from that, so you couldn't help but act similarly with Jongho. It doesn't matter if the man would listen to you or not, he's currently scrolling through his phone and he's probably indifferent about you.
It really didn't matter, you did what you needed to do. "No matter how many times I watch this movie, I still can't move on from how strong their love is for each other."
Hearing you talk out of the blue perplexed Jongho, he could not apprehend why you spoke unprompted to him or whoever you were talking to. Since you weren't facing him, he assumed it wasn't his business to engage with your monologue.
"This type of love...Shrek had to go through all that just to be with Fiona and she didn't hesitate to reject Prince Charming's pretty face for her husband, get me a man like Shrek." This is what Seonghwa hears after every good movie you watch, so it was pretty normal for you to say things like these.
It was an innocent thought, a harmless fantasy, just a hopeless romantic wishing for love in this uncertain world. A love everyone deserves but is difficult to find. There should be someone out there for you, who'll cherish you like you are their treasure. Not that you needed someone now, but you hoped that soon you'll find someone who'll dote you the same way Shrek felt for his beautiful wife.
A man like Shrek? Strong, intimidating, fierce on the outside, soft on the inside, is that your type? As much as he'd want to deny it, Jongho was somehow intrigued by your confession. The similarities between the two, Shrek and Choi Jongho, was it all a coincidence, or did you perhaps know about it beforehand? It was partially true because you couldn't deny your attraction towards him and it just so happens that this is the situation you're stuck in.
Maybe, you meant it for him.
The said man, although he didn't mean to, had compared himself to the one and only Shrek. As funny as it sounds, it's scarily accurate how much he sees himself from the character.
1.) Shrek is strong and big, not in an offensive way but you get what I mean, the physique. Isn't this how people describe Jongho as well? Not to mention how his friends are scared of his strength, the famous apple breaker.
2.) Shrek's heart is as big as he is, his love for family and friends is incomparable. He may be a beast in the public's eyes, but he's a loving husband at the end of the day. Fierce on the outside, soft on the inside. This is how Jongho is; intimidating to strangers, but a softie to his loved ones. He's more than just muscles and strength, he also has a heart. He'll confront anyone or anything that'll cause his lover pain and makes sure he's a reliable partner.
Now that he thinks about it, it felt like you were indirectly giving signs to him. No, it shouldn't be. He thinks you're not serious about it, whereas you think you're out of his league. You were merely his best friend's younger sibling, that is enough reason to not pursue anything serious with the other.
Despite being lost in thought, Jongho still managed to provoke you. "Sounds like a you-and-I thing there, you sure you aren't talking about me?" He was bold for that, he believed it wouldn't cause awkwardness between you two because you were only 'joking' around like the young lady you are.
On the contrary to his belief, you hoped he wasn't joking around. You hoped he meant it even the slightest, that it really was a 'you-and-I' thing. Hoping won't hurt, but failed expectations do.
"You look surprised, was I correct?"
"I- uhm..." I don't know how to tell you the truth.
He chuckled, "Get used to it, y/n. If you want a man like Shrek, then you have to get used to the cheesy stuff."
"But Shrek wasn't cheesy..." You muttered, still comprehending his words.
"You sure you watched the movie, especially the first one?" This time, Jongho moved closer to you on the couch. His thighs barely touching your skin and his aura dominating you. "Shrek was madly in love with his wife, he found love and settled. I understand him, you know?"
"Did you also find love?" You asked in a soft voice. Why would you ask that? This will either hurt you or relieve you, clearly you weren't thinking of the consequences before you asked him that question.
"I have a feeling I did." Jongho answered nonchalantly and there was a bittersweet feeling in your heart after hearing that.
"Will you settle?" To say you wouldn't be disappointed if he said 'yes' would be a lie, but it wasn't your business. Having a crush on your brother's best friend was kind of childish, to say the least, but you were still hopeful of this little fantasy. Whoever this person was, they're very lucky to have won the heart of such a man like him.
"I would if princess here would allow me to." He enunciated his words, eyes set on you the whole time.
You gaped at him, catching his gaze. Is he talking to me? I mean, he's looking at me... You didn't know how to react without exposing how much the nickname affected you, you couldn't risk him knowing about your crush on him. His reaction will mortify you, so you decided to maintain the unaffected facade. "Don't call me princess."
"Whatever you say, princess." Jongho sent you a wink and you swore, you felt butterflies.
You can't let him win, that'll hurt your pride. It's either you accept defeat and confess or win this argument. Is this even an argument? Just tell him he's your type and get over it, y/n. "I'm telling Seonghwa on you."
Was that the best you could say? He thought to himself, amused at your attempt to threaten him if he didn't stop this. "Go, tell him. You think I'm scared? Your brother is more scared of me than I am of him." You're innocent, he thinks.
"You're so annoying."
"Am I now?" If only you could wipe off the smirk on his face, you wouldn't hesitate to do it.
You glowered, though you don't intend to put it that way. He was just really testing your patience,ย "Leave me alone."
"You sure you want that?"
"As of now, yes." You retorted.
"You're funny, y/n." Jongho's tone was sarcastic, "You won't be able to get a man like Shrek with that attitude of yours, but you're lucky I put up with you."
It was true, this attitude won't bring you any good nor will it attract anyone as good as the Choi Jongho. He probably only puts up with me because of Seonghwa, why else would you he do that for? You do vex him on most occasions, yet he never directly complains about it. He'd just dismiss it like it didn't happen, all to prevent Seonghwa from scolding you for causing trouble to his friends.
All for you.
"Shut up, you're just as worse."
This conversation wasn't going anywhere.
Jongho was about to speak up when his phone buzzed from the coffee table, checking on the new message he received. You were too busy staring off at the now blank screen in front of you to notice him heading towards the door.
"Now, princess. I believe your brother will be back in..." He checked the time on his apple watch, "10 minutes and I have to go, so I trust that you can take care of yourself while waiting for your brother to arrive."
Jongho opened the door and exited the house just like that. The man, who was supposed to watch over you, left you alone in the house, opposite of what your older brother had asked him to do. Great, you wondered if Seonghwa would do something about this.
Now that Jongho wasn't around anymore, you should be glad that you can clear your mind off of things for another ten minutes without anyone bothering you. But that's the problem, the room felt empty now that he wasn't there to keep you company because despite all the banters, his presence always made the atmosphere lively.
Did you perhaps offend him in any way? Is that why he left? You had no reason to think that way, but you couldn't help but blame yourself a little. You initially wanted to be alone in your room, but you found yourself missing his voice and his smile.
Guilt was what you felt, guilty of missing him.
Choi Jongho feeling something for someone like you; it wasn't impossible, but you're just in denial because you're not even near his level, to begin with. Finding love like a fairytale wasn't that easy and to think you'd share it with him, it's too good to be true. You're still young, so it's normal to be in denial when someone as attractive as Jongho hints that they are possibly attracted to you.
You scanned the room as you looked back on the previous events when he was still around, there you spotted his bag on the floor beside the coffee table. He must've forgotten about his bag or he was in a hurry. Should I return it to him or wait for Seonghwa to come home and ask him to do it instead? You sighed, not knowing what to do at the moment. Too absentminded to care, you didn't hear the footsteps outside the front door.
The door opened to Seonghwa, who just got back from wherever he went toโhe wouldn't tell you where he went even if you asked him. In normal cases, you'd greet your brother with enthusiastic energy. However, you didn't greet him like usual and he was worried that something might've happened while he was gone. Knowing you, he assumed it had something to do with Jongho.
"You look...down?" Seonghwa sat down on the couch beside you, arms on the headrest.
"Hmm."
He glanced at you for a few seconds and when his eyes traveled from where your eyes were at, he knew it. It was obvious how you look at Jongho when you think he wasn't watching and as your older brother, he guessed it was only a friendly crush. He was right, "If this would be the case, I should invite him over more often."
"Don't, he probably hates me." He doesn't, y/n. Not even a bit, Jongho sees you like a real princess. He meant it when he called you that nickname, you were Seonghwa's spoiled sister anyway, your older brother's little princess. Hating you would mean breaking Seonghwa's trust in him and that's the last thing he'll do for their friendship.
"I'll make him hate you more then." You turned to your brother incredulously. Did your angel of a brother just say that? Instead of comforting you like he usually does, he's making it worse. He must've spent so much time with his other best friend, Wooyoung, to act like this. Jongho can ignore you as much as he wants, but please, him hating you is more painful to accept.
What you didn't know was that Jongho didn't leave his bag behind accidentally, he just had to buy drinks from the nearby cafe as Seonghwa had instructed him and of course, to fulfill his daily iced americano cravings. After what felt like a long 8 minutes, Jongho came back to the house with drinks in his hand, and seeing him again made you slightly panic.
Jongho saw the uneasiness in your eyes and he doesn't like that, he needs to see you smile at him. "You thought I wouldn't come back?" He joked as he placed the drinks down on the coffee table, distributing them to each one of you.
He even bought you your favorite drink, you can't hate him forever even if you wanted to. You have so many questions to ask, yet so little to answer. How can you face him and not feel anything? You believe you aren't making any sense anymore.
"Hey, Jongho. You like coming over, right?" Seonghwa sent a hinting wink towards his best friend and he caught it, although he was confused for a second.
Jongho nodded agreeably, "Yeah, I do and I would come as often as I can if that's okay with y/n." Now, all eyes were in your direction.
He doesn't even need to ask because for you, it was more than okay. Saying no would mean wasting such an opportunity, you weren't going to let your problems stop him because you didn't own the house, neither is he your best friend. At the end of the day, you still weren't anything to him other than a sibling of a friend.
"Don't worry, Jongho. I'm the one in charge here, so come over as much as you want. I suppose my sister won't mind seeing you."
You really don't mind and Jongho knew that, which makes it more difficult to ignore your growing feelings for him. The complicated feelings, there's no way you can escape from it when the source was and will be in the same room as you for who knows how long. The more you'll see his face, the more you'll be vulnerable to his sweet words. He'll be the death of you...but he'll make sure to save you before you lose your mind over him.
"And princess, don't you think you're staring too much?" And there it was again, the smirk you wanted to wipe off of Jongho's face.
You really can't get used to this and Seonghwa's promise of buying Jongho his iced americano as a reward was long forgotten, you are the reward.
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
genre: best friend!wooyoung x violinist!reader, friends-to-lovers au, fluff, gn!reader
word count: 1.6k
โคท After five years, you finally saw your best friend and first love again. Did those five years change anything between the two of you or did it only bring your hearts closer?
a/n: this was inspired by my dream pt.2.
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Today was the school's annual festival and so, the place was crowded with students and their friends or families. You were one of the performers for the program's intermission number together with your friend, f/n. You played the violin, while she sang live just like how you usually performed with her. The program had ended an hour ago and so, you two decided to walk around the campus to pass time.
You and f/n are childhood friends since elementary days together with Yeosang, Yunho, San, Mingi, and Wooyoung. Unfortunately, some of you had to separate ways and enroll in different schools during high school. You and f/n decided to stay for the scholarship, while Yeosang, San, and Wooyoung enrolled together in a different school, and Yunho enrolled in a school on the opposite side of the city with Mingi. Despite the long distances and uncoordinated class schedules, you all still tried to find a way to meet up.
It's been five years since the last time you had seen the group due to hectic schedules, so f/n took this opportunity to invite them to your school today since it was a Saturday. The problem was, you didn't know that she actually invited everyone over. You believed that she only invited Yeosang because surprisingly, they are dating for 3 years now. You didn't mind, you were happy that your friend was dating someone trustworthy enough for your liking and yes, they meet up often.ย
"My boyfriend just texted me saying that he wants to meet up." f/n reported to you as she stared down at her phone.
You swallowed the waffle you were eating and replied, "I'm sure Yeosang is tired of seeing my face."
"Oh and he's bringing a friend with him."
"Okay, that's cool." You took another bite from your waffle, completely missing the subtle smirk your friend was giving you.
Your friend didn't specify which friend she meant, so you assumed that it was just Yeosang's new friend he met at his school. Meeting new people won't hurt, right? The thing is, it wasn't just anyone.
"Yeosang!" f/n called, waving her arms up to catch the said male's attention.
"Hey, pretty." You heard Yeosang reply to f/n and you faked gagged because no matter how much you support the two, you still couldn't get used to it.
"Then there's y/n." He now looked over at you.
You scoffed and crossed your arms, "Don't talk to me, I'm not in the mood."
The couple could only laugh and f/n shook her head, "I knew this would happen."
The two got so engaged with their conversation, as you stood there trying to finish your food. Almost forgetting that another person was going to join the unit, you didn't bother being conscious about your appearance. You just want to savor the taste a little more, knowing you wouldn't be able to eat it again for another year because it's not easy to find a store that sells these special waffles. All it took was one last bite for you to feel fulfilled and satisfied.
"Sorry to keep you guys waiting, it got kinda crowded back there and I had to negotiate with random strangers to save time."
There stood your other best friend, who you missed so much, Jung Wooyoung. No, you didn't expect to see him standing there, catching his breath from running towards here. You studied his appearance, how he changed over the past five years. He was undeniably attractive, built physique, confidence radiating from his posture, but still playfully loud. Your eyes fell on his hands and you noticed him holding 2 waffles on each hand, the same brand of waffles you were previously eating.
Wooyoung caught the way you stared at his hands and of course, he knew why. He remembered the little things you liked. You hadn't realized that you were staring until his giggle made you snap back from your reverie.
"f/n was right, you're still the same y/n I remembered." The same y/n I loved and still love. Wooyoung came closer to your face, wiping off the chocolate filling from the corners of your lips with his thumb and bringing his finger to his lips to clean the mess.
You felt your cheeks heat up from the sudden gesture and he only laughed at your reaction, "Here, get one. I know it's your favorite, so stop frowning." He offered you one waffle and you looked up at him questionably.
"Go on, y/n. I bought it especially for you, don't waste my money." Yup, still the Wooyoung you knew and the same Wooyoung you fell for. For the first time since you two finally met after five years, you smiled at him. "Thanks, wooyo."
Oh, how he loves you calling him that.
f/n and Yeosang watched the whole scene before their eyes, silently clutching into each other out of kilig. Both of them knew about what happened between you and Wooyoung in the past, hence they planned this whole thing, to begin with.
In the last year of elementary, you and Wooyoung became inseparable. Always partners for projects, PE class, ditching your friends to eat ice cream at the school's rooftop, and even visiting each other's houses. At this point, his family has already adopted you and yours did so with him. It was only those five years of no communication due to overlapping schedules that separated your special bond. The bond and the closure you two built together resulted in romantic feelings, mutual romantic feelings to be exact. Just 2 kids finding happiness in their innocent world and 2 best friends falling for each other.
During graduation day before you two had to separate ways, you gathered the courage to confess to Wooyoung because you knew that it wouldn't matter anyway after. Surprisingly enough, he confessed to you too and the last hug you shared with him was the most special hug of that day. You two, however, decided to stay friends and it didn't ruin your friendship at all, rather it made it stronger. f/n and Yeosang knew that deep down, the feelings were still there just waiting for the right moment.
Back to the present, Wooyoung smiled as he watched you get indulged with your food. The way his eyes lingered on you confirmed the couple's theory and an idea popped up in Yeosang's head. "By the way, f/n and I will go somewhere and we aren't sure when we'll come back. I guess you two could just enjoy yourselves, bye!"
f/n didn't have time to question as Yeosang wrapped his arm around hers, pulling her away from you and Wooyoung. The latter stood there confused together with you, but you didn't question it any further. Though, it's quite difficult to ignore the nervousness you were feeling being alone here with the guy. He's your best friend and at the same time, your first love. Things could've changed within those five years.
"You know, I'm quite surprised you continued with your violin lessons," Wooyoung spoke amidst the silence.
"Well yeah, it keeps my life going." You shrugged, not really knowing what to answer.
"You must be professional by now, how about you play at my older brother's wedding?"
"I mean I could, but how about I play at your wedding?" You joked out of instinct.
It was a harmful joke between two best friends yet it broke his heart a little how you assumed he was going to get married to someone else other than you, it should be you. What made you think he moved on? Distance won't change his mind, not when his first love is also his best friend.
Wooyoung could only scrunch his nose in disgust, "Gross, I don't want you playing at my wedding."
You stepped back and rested a hand on your chest in disbelief, "Excuse me?" Did he really just- does he think I'll embarrass him with my skills? Am I not good enough yet?
Seeing the way you gaped at him, he grinned and intertwined his fingers with yours, pulling you somewhere more private where no one goes to. You stood there obliviously while waiting for him to do something or explain why he brought you here.
He didn't waste any time as he suddenly pulled you in for a hug, all those years he's missed you. Finally, you were here with him, in his arms. He doesn't want to let you go this time, he hates the thought of you with someone else, and neither do you.
The last time you two confessed to each other, you knew it wasn't the right time to start something serious, since you were still young and adjusting to reality. But, this is reality. You had enough adjusting and you were ready to continue where you two had left off. Destiny brought your hearts back together, here in each other's embrace.
Wooyoung held your chin and turned your head to face his, slowly connecting your lips together. You were shocked and your heart raced crazily as it was your first kiss. His first love also took his first kiss and his heart raced just as fast as yours. He waited for this moment, you waited for this moment, and here it was. You deepened the kiss with such admiration, love, and sincerity.
Gosh, you love the man.
"I don't want you playing at my wedding, y/n. It's our wedding, how about you stand beside me instead?
Five years; only time and distance separated two hearts loving each other. They said, "If it's meant for you, it'll come back to you." Your hearts found each other again. This is where you belong, with him.
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
genre: boyfriend!mingi, college au, angst, fem!reader
warnings: mentions of insecurity, calling someone 'dumb'
word count: 1.5k
โคท All he wanted was to eat lunch together with his girlfriend, but a little misunderstanding was making it hard for him. He had no idea why you kept ignoring him and he was going to find it out before the day ends.
a/n: this was inspired by my dream and happy birthday to our captain, Hongjoongโก๏ธ.
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Lunch wasn't supposed to be this way, you were supposed to enjoy it after an hour of Maths. Additionally, insecurity was never your thing, not when you have such a supportive and understanding boyfriend. But, you couldn't help but feel it after hearing such a shameful report from one of his classmates. They told you that Mingi had 'bad-mouthed' you to his group of friends, calling you dumb, at least that's what they heard.
The truth was, Mingi only called you 'dumb' for being shy around him at school when there was no reason for you to be. That's what he told his friends, calling you that playfully but the person must've mistaken it as an insult. That's why he came to your classroom and invited you to eat lunch with him and his friends, but you pretended not to see him and walked away with your friends to the lunchroom.
You weren't one to walk past him without greeting him, he knew that. What he didn't know was that this whole misunderstanding was what caused your sudden change in attitude towards him, your boyfriend. You felt hurt by his words, you didn't want to make him feel that you weren't doing your best in being a good girlfriend and you hated the thought of his friends knowing about that.
Mingi, on the other hand, thinks you're the best girlfriend. Just a little shy, but he still loves you. All he wanted was to have lunch together with you today, but how can he do that when you kept ignoring his voice calling out for you and not even sparing him a glance? He was more hurt than you are right now.
Your friends were present when the person shared the false information with you and as friends, they cared for your feelings too. Mingi was known to be cold or whatever the people thought he was, so your friends encouraged you to stay with them for the time being. Now that you had sat down with them at the lunchroom, your eyes scanned the area for any sign of his presence. Your back was facing him, but you found him two tables down to the right.
"Are you sure? I feel bad, though." You asked for the third time in two minutes.
"Yes, we're sure. Just enjoy your lunch for now, talk to him about this later."
I guess this could wait. You took a bite from your lunch, not without subtly glancing back at Mingi after every bite and him returning the eye contact. You quickly turned back to your friends, but you couldn't help but notice the sadness in his eyes as he watched you from afar. As much as you wanted to walk up to their table and talk it out to end this tension, you couldn't bring yourself to do so.
"y/n." A voice startled you from your train of thoughts and the person casually sat down beside you, wrapping an arm around your shoulders.
"Leave her alone, Dejun. She's not in the mood to deal with your annoying ass." One of your friends glared at him, knowing too well about his not-so-good reputation.
"She's not complaining, so it's fine."
You didn't even have to look up at him to know that he was smirking at your friend, who scoffed at his words. "Disgusting."
"Dejun." A deep sigh escaped your lips, you really weren't feeling it at the moment. "Please, leave me alone. I rejected you two years ago and it will stay that way, move on."
It was true that you rejected his confession two years ago and he accepted that, though he found your response quite funny. "Ah, y/n. How funny of you, I'm not actually here for that."
"Then what are you here for, loser?" Your friend clearly was not enjoying this one bit.
"I came here to tell your friend that her prince charming over there is waiting, but I guess you guys already knew that. That's all, so see you guys around and y/n, go talk to the poor man. He's not very discreet with his stares, it's kinda creepy if he was a stranger."
The friend beside you almost choked on their food and your other friend quickly gave them water, while the other continued to glare at Dejun as he walked away and here you were again lost in your thoughts, Is he still looking this way? If he was, then he must've seen the whole scene with Dejun. Oh, that's not good.
Yes, Mingi saw everything. Every second of it, every move Dejun made towards you and he felt his hands clench hard, trying to control his anger. He knew him because you told him about it, so why was he wrapping his arm around you so casually? That's it, he's approaching you. He doesn't care anymore, he wants to make sure you're not uncomfortable from the previous event and he wants his lover safe.
"Excuse me, but I believe I asked your friend here, my girlfriend rather, to eat lunch with me." The oh-so-familiar deep voice made your heart race in nervousness and before anyone could say anything, Mingi grabbed your hand and your lunch in his other hand as he lead you towards their table.
He sat you down on the seat across from him and beside his friend, Yunho. He trusted his friends enough to not make you uncomfortable, so he resumed eating his lunch. Seeing your lack of movement, he looked up from his food to see you not eating your food but instead, staring at him with anxious eyes.
"Eat your lunch, y/n. Don't piss me off even more." His tone was a bit harsh, but it was all just in the spur of the moment.
As best as you could, you finished your lunch while avoiding his gaze on you. Mingi continued to wonder what exactly made you upset with him and he made sure to find it out before the day ends.
After closing your bedroom door behind him, Mingi moved closer and sat down beside you on the bed as you hugged your legs to your chest. He wanted to get this misunderstanding over with and to make sure that the frown on your face disappears.
"Baby, why are you ignoring me? Did I do something wrong? Did I say anything offensive? Please, tell me. I want to know what's bothering you like this." Mingi gently caressed your hair just like how he knew you liked it.
"You're one of them, aren't you?"
Your question made his eyebrows furrow in confusion, "I'm one of what?"
You sighed, "You wouldn't care, right? You wouldn't care if my insecurities would get to me, you'd just leave just like everyone else."
Mingi swore to his life that this was the most ridiculous thing you've ever said in your two years together, this wasn't the y/n he knew. He normally could read you like a book, but he couldn't even understand you at all right now. "I don't care who or what you are, I still care for you and you know that. Is this some kind of joke?"
"Am I not enough for you? If not, then sorry for being a dumb girlfriend."
Stupid. That's what you were to him right now, his stupid girlfriend who he loved so much. "Okay, this is making me crazy. Tell me, what exactly is going on?"
Still with your head down, you finally voiced out the one thing that started all this. "Your classmate told me that you called me 'dumb'."
"Is that all they said to you?" You nodded and you heard a groan coming out from him, "I can't believe that asshole said that to you, it's not true. They didn't tell you the complete story, I called you 'dumb' in a playful way, the way we usually joke around. I called you that because there's no reason for you to be shy around me, that's why I invited you to eat lunch with me, so you could get used to me more at school. I hope that cleared off all your worries."
Although he cleared off the misunderstanding that was never meant to happen in the first place, you still wanted one last confirmation from him. "Do you mean it, Mingi?"
"Baby," He held your chin with his index finger to make you face him, "No matter what anyone else says, you are so important to me. You are my everything, my forever, keep that mind."
"They say nothing lasts forever, Mingi."
"That's not-"
"Can I be your nothing?"
There was the y/n he loved, the one who never fails to put a smile on his face. The one who completes him, that was you and he'd never want to let you go. No misunderstanding can test his love for you, he'll choose you again and again at any time of the day.
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
โคท Now that your best friend, Wooyoung, found the love of his life, you felt lonely without your sunshine. Visiting his dorm one day led to you staying the night and waking up to your new so-called 'sunshine', or should I say, 'sanshine'.
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It wasn't your fault that your best friend of seven years, Jung Wooyoung, has left you alone in your lonely and colorless life. He was your sunshine, the one who puts a smile on your face even during the worst times, you missed the overflowing bursts of energy he gives you. It's not your fault he found the love of his life and it's not his fault either for sharing his bright personality with someone else.
You weren't bitter about it, no, you were just lonely. Yeah, you could say that. You miss the laughter, his loud voice early in the morning, and his jokes that cracks you up every time. Nevertheless, you were happy for him for finally settling in a happy relationship. He found his happiness, his life.
Just like any other day, you visited his dorm, which he shares with his other friends, in hopes of finding him there and spending some time with your best friend. Unfortunately, he wasn't. You waited though, but it's been hours and it's getting late. It's not like you could go home at this time, after realizing that Wooyoung was probably staying over at his girlfriend's place tonight.
His friends were amicable enough to offer dinner, despite not having the guidance of the master chef Wooyoung, Seonghwa was kind enough to volunteer cooking for everyone. At least he tried, so ordering it was. The delivery came surprisingly quick and the boxes of seasoned and fried chicken legs looked so delicious, you could forget all your problems at once.
Being here with Wooyoung's friends isn't so bad, since you already knew each other anyway. You offered to wash the dishes, but Yunho beat you to it, telling you that you are their guest and that you should make yourself at home, while Seonghwa insisted that you should stay over for tonight as it was very late.
There was nothing else to do now, your phone was empty and boring, nothing interesting on the television, so you lied down on the couch staring at the ceiling while thinking about your life. You didn't realize that you had fallen asleep on the couch in the cold living room.
An hour had passed and you felt cold from the air conditioner, so you pulled the blanket closer towards your body and got comfortable again. You had no idea where that blanket came from, but you were too sleepy to find answers right now. Your peaceful slumber was disturbed by uneasy movements from behind you, causing you to shift in your position.
You heard a low groan from behind and your eyes widened, feeling alarmed. Who was that? It was dark in the room and you felt your body stiffen in fear. You didn't attempt to turn to whoever was behind you, hiding under the blanket.
"y/n," The deep groggy voice spoke, "That's my blanket, come on. Give it back, it's cold."
Who's blanket? Gathering the courage, you slowly turned around to face the man and backed away a little to keep a fair distance between the two of you. Observing his familiar features, you finally recognized the man sleeping beside you on this very couch of the living room.
"S-san?" You asked as quietly as possible.
You heard another groan in response, "It's me, now go back to sleep."
"I'm sorry I fell asleep here, but why are you sleeping beside me?"
Eyes still closed, he pulled you closer towards him by the waist and you let out a whimper from the sudden action. "Let talk about this tomorrow, get some sleep."
Too tired to fight back, you complied to his words.
"Shh, you guys are so noisy. Can't you see the person sleeping?" San whispered loudly at his annoying friends passing by the room.
"Whatever you say, loverboy." Mingi rolled his eyes, walking past him to the kitchen.
Of course, boys will be boys. As soon as they woke up and saw both you and San cuddled up on the couch, teasing the male was their first reaction. But for San, that wasn't important. You were asleep and he has to make sure you don't wake up from the noise. San was still lying down beside you on the couch, carefully watching as you cuddled around him. Suddenly, he felt your body shift and your eyes slowly fluttered open.
"Good morning." San smiled at you as you stared blankly at him.
So, it wasn't a dream. You stretched your arms and groaned at the feeling, moving back to your previous position afterward. "Good morning." You said back, not caring anymore that he was beside you.
San held you closer, very close, close enough to smell your hair through his nose. You should be confused, but your mind was still in dreamland. He whispered into your ear, "I don't like your new shampoo."
Okay, that caused you to laugh. It was so random, yet so amusing. "How'd you know I changed my shampoo? You creep." You pushed him away playfully, but he caught your wrists faster.
"How can I ignore the strong scent of your shampoo whenever we hug? Change it back."
You chuckled at him, "Alright, that's noted."
The vibration from your phone startled both you and San, but he made fun of your reaction even when he reacted the same. You scoffed as you grabbed your phone and checked the notification you received. A smile instantly formed on your face when you read the message from your best friend, who you waited for the whole night. San caught the way you smiled at your phone from Wooyoung's message, peeking to see what made you happy early in the morning.
woo เฒ _เฒ : gm y/n! sorry, I couldn't be there last night, but I hope you enjoyed your time with the guys. don't worry my sunflower, my gf and I will treat you out for lunch. watchu say? double date? ;))
My sunflower, double date? Why did those bother San? Was he perhaps jealous? No way, Wooyoung's your best friend and he has a girlfriend. You're San's friend too, but what did the 'double date' mean? Did you secretly have a lover? Why didn't you tell him? There were so many questions running through his head right now, but the reply you sent Wooyoung back lifted a weight off his shoulders.
you: gm to you too, idiot. thanks for the offer, I guess meeting your girlfriend wouldn't be so bad and I'm going alone, what do you even mean by 'double date'? You know I'm as single as a pringle.
woo เฒ _เฒ : oh nothing hehe, anyways I'm picking you up at 11 so you better look presentable or I'm leaving you.
you: yes sir
Facing back to San after turning off your phone, you saw the pout on his lips while he looked straight at you. Curious, you asked. "You okay, San?"
"Yes and No."
"Why's that?"
Will he be honest? Will he be confident? Will he take the chance now that he knows you are available? Will he take the risk? "Yes, I'm okay because you're single and no, I'm not okay because you look happy chatting with Wooyoung."
You didn't expect him to say that, not at all. "What's wrong with me chatting Wooyoung? He's my best friend, though."
"I want to be the reason you look at your phone and smile." He looked down, his pout becoming very evident now.
"San, I just missed my sunshine. That's all and you don't even message me that much, are you flirting with me?"
"Yes, I'm trying to flirt with you. I promise I'll start messaging and calling you from now on. I can be your sunshine now, your Sanshine."
You searched for playfulness in his eyes, but his eyes only showed sincerity and desperation. He wanted you to believe him, he needed you to believe him and to accept him into your life as a partner. Instead of Wooyoung, let it be him. That's what he wanted.
"I don't know, San. I'm used to being alone and I'm not sure if I could-"
Your words got cut off when he embraced you in his arms securely, not wanting to let you go, and neither does he want you to reject him. "You're not alone, you're stuck with me forever. Sorry, y/n."
Well, how could you turn him down and not love him when he's making your heart race with every word he's speaking to you sincerely? Rejecting him would be the stupidest thing in the world. The way you tightened your embrace around him confirmed your response to his proposition.
You two stayed like that for a few more minutes before he pulled away slightly to look at your face, "Hey, y/n. Guess what?"
"What?"
"I like you."
Screams were heard from the kitchen, both of you forgetting the presence of the other men. It would've been a sweet moment between you two, if only his friends weren't witnessing it with their own eyes.
Before you could reply, San decided to whisper to you so his friends couldn't hear. "Before you say you like me back, let's go on that double date."
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
genre: family friend's son!yeosang, blind date au, strangers-to-lovers, fluff, fem!reader
word count: 2.8k
โคท He was perfect to everyone, but his lack of emotional vulnerability was a flaw to him. A blind date wasn't what he wanted, but maybe it's what he needed.
Happy 3rd Anniversary, ATEEZ!
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Kang Yeosang was a smart kid, very shy, but hard-working at the same time. He's got the looks, the skills, the humor, and the intelligence. Many say he's the embodiment of perfection, but he likes to think otherwise. He knows his flaws, what he lacks, and that's emotional vulnerability.
His family and friends are always worried about his innocence and how naive he can be when it comes to emotions. When did he ever disagree with his parents' words or rejecting something he didn't like? He thinks that the safest way out is to accept everything and not putting on a fight.
That's wrong, he's mistaken.
His parents were the most worried about his lack of social interaction, especially with the opposite sex, and his expressiveness to others, they didn't want him to live with reserved emotions and to limit his capabilities just because he's shy. Sometimes, he needs confidence to survive in this world.
Even with friends, Yeosang remains the quiet one. How could he ever come out of his comfort zone? Well, his parents had an idea. It wasn't the best, but trying won't hurt anyone. Unbeknownst to the man, his parents arranged him a blind date as a good start for a new friendly relationship, not romantically. Their reason was merely to test the waters and if there ever will be progress, that's on him.
Your mom was a co-worker of Yeosang's mom, hence your family was close with his. However, you never really got to know anything about the said guy. Your mom never mentioned him to you nor did his mentioned you to him, so none of you knew of each other's existence.
His parents think you are smart just like their son, responsible, kind, all the other good traits and they believe your personality could help him express himself sometimes. They had asked your parents' permission to arrange you on a blind date with their son and of course, your parents accepted the offer with your consent. You thought it wasn't a bad idea, except for the fact that your parents insisted you find love in your lonely and bitter life.
So, today was the day. Surprisingly.
It was decided that the date would be at a cafe nearby, so it would be peaceful and your love for coffee was a bonus. Yeosang, as the man, arrived first and ordered both your orders ahead, not to mention him wanting to end this date as soon as possible. Who can blame him? This wasn't his thing, he felt uncomfortable. And how did he know your order? His parents told him to ask your parents for it, since he wouldn't do it in his own will.
Finally, you arrived at the place 4 minutes later. Perfect timing, your iced coffee was still cold and new. You searched the cafe for a man in a sky blue button-down shirt and cream-colored sweater vest. There he was, sitting alone while fumbling with his fingers with two drinks on the table.
He was obviously nervous and so were you. You walked up to the table, but Yeosang hasn't noticed your presence yet, too busy overthinking the whole situation even when it was just about to start.
"Hi, is this Yeosang?" You asked and your voice immediately brought his head up to you.
Yeosang immediately stood up from his seat and greeted you, "Hi, uhm...yes, it's Yeosang. I'm Yeosang, Kang Yeosang. You're y/n, right?"
You smiled at him, "Yes, I am."
"Oh, haha. Great, please take a seat." He gestured to the seat in front of you, while he sat down on his. "I ordered iced coffee for you in advance, so you don't have to wait anymore."
The date just started, but this got your heart fluttering. "Thank you, I appreciate it." You grabbed the iced coffee and took a sip from it. Thankfully, it was as good as you expected it to be.
The man across from you, as ridiculous as it may sound to him, couldn't keep his eyes away from you. The way you showed up in your cute matching light blue dress with your hair down and a clip behind your left ear. Cute, if he would describe you, but with the way your smiling right now at your iced coffee, he felt curious about you and confused at himself.
It became silent, no one spoke up for the next few minutes. Eyes avoiding each other, uneasy hands playing with the straw of the drink, and legs moving up and down repeatedly. The awkwardness was starting to creep up to you, so with the courage you never knew you had, you finally started the conversation.
"So...this is awkward, but I think I have to introduce myself. I'm l/n y/n, nice to meet you." You didn't know why you did it, but you offered your hand for Yeosang to shake.
He was surprised at the action at first, but he then shook your hand in return. "You already know my name and nice to meet you too."
The conversation unexpectedly went by smoothly, from revealing each other's hobbies to sharing fun stories from high school. Yeosang wasn't aware of how easily he opened up to you and how comfortable it was talking to you, who reacts well to his jokes. You also try to insert jokes from time to time and surprisingly, he found them funny at least, especially when you made him shy and he'd just laugh it off.
The date lasted for a good one and a half hour before you two decided it was time to return home and Yeosang insisted to drive you home in his car. He wanted to make sure you arrive home safe and to spend more time with you and you weren't one to turn down such a considerate offer.
Arriving home, he walked you to your front door and both of you were greeted by your mom. He greeted your mom back and your mom invited him over, but Yeosang thought it was too early for the 'visiting parents' stage, if that's what he thought it was, so he assured your mom that we would visit the next time.
Little did he know that the second date had already been prearranged for next week and secretly, it was something he had hoped for. A week to rethink his decisions, to think about the date, if he would want to try it again or not, a week to prepare himself for the unexpected, that's enough time for him.
Hey, you looked pretty on your second date. He told you himself and he didn't look too bad either. These weekly dates had been going on for at least two months and since Yeosang grew to enjoy your presence, or just you in general, those dates became twice a week. It was Yeosang's idea, not yours.
He wasn't only drawn to your attractiveness, your personality balances his own and he loved that.
Today, Yeosang had informed you that he would visit your home and you told him that your parents were excited to see him. You opened the front door and his presence was so blinding, you thought you saw an angel. Cheesy, but it was true.
He stood there in his cozy white sweater with a small bouquet of fresh roses in his hands, but he didn't hand them to you. No, he looked past you. When your mother greeted him by the door, he nodded in respect and handed her the bouquet with a smile.
"Oh, Yeosang. How sweet of you, but you should have given this to y/n."
He let out a soft laugh, not sparing you a glance which made you confused. "It's okay, Ms. l/n. Take it as a gift for welcoming me here."
"Okay, whatever you say. Please come in and wait here with y/n, I'll be back in a few."
Your mom went upstairs and you turned to him, giving him a suspicious eye. "Hmm, that was pretty suspicious. Any hidden intentions why you did that?" You were joking, he knows that.
He returned a playful smirk at you, "Why? Are you jealous I didn't bring you anything?" He thought about his gift for you, but he's saving it for next time if there will ever be one.
"No, why would I be jealous of my mom? Kinda weird, Yeosang."
Both of you laughed until your mom came back downstairs with shirts on her arm. She knew he would come over, so she went shopping yesterday for this very day. "Hey kids, I bought you two something. Here, look how cute they are." She held up two oversized red matching shirts, one for you and one for Yeosang.
"I already washed it, you two should try it on." She passed the shirts to both of you and you two shared a look, stifling a laughter at the idea.
Honestly, the shirt was comfortable and you'd wear it any time of the day. When Yeosang exited the bathroom and saw each other with the shirts on, you both couldn't help but laugh. He felt his heart race at the sight of you, you looked tiny and cute in your oversized shirt. He had the urge to pull you in and hide you in his chest, but the Yeosang from two months ago wouldn't even think about it. It may be embarrassing to admit it to you and your mom, but he lowkey liked this.
Liked the idea of matching shirts with you.
The rest of the day was spent in your room, showing him your paintings and sketches, he even showed you his 'hehetmon' drawings. His cute drawings went straight to your heart, probably could win it every time. "Cute, just like you."
Oh, he blushed like crazy.
You noticed that, but you didn't want to ruin the moment. Both of you continued to share your childhood stories and even personal problems, that's great progress for Yeosang. The deep talk was comfortable, relaxing, and relieving. He enjoyed every second of this experience and now he understood why opening up wasn't a scary thing, why falling in love was an exciting feeling. He just had to find the right person to share it with and that was you. It was you all along.
"Kids, dinner's ready!" Your mom called from outside the room, startling you and Yeosang at the same time.
"We'll come down in a bit, mom!" You turned to him in an apologetic smile, "Sorry about that, but we could still talk more next time. Food's waiting and I think you should stay for dinner, my mom would appreciate it."
Next time. There's a 'next time'. He thought.
Talking to your parents at the dining table was pressuring and nerve-wracking for Yeosang, something he never would have thought he'd go through. He doesn't want to disappoint your parents in any way possible, that'll stress him out for a long time. But he's cute, so your parents gave him an instant pass. He's perfect in their eyes, he's perfect for you.
"So, Yeosang. How's the progress between you and my daughter? Anything going on?"
"Dad, we're just friends." You defended.
"I wasn't asking you, I was asking the guy." Your dad scoffed at you and immediately smiled at Yeosang who was sitting beside you and across from him.
Yeosang was taken aback by the question, "Y-yes sir, we're just friends." He stuttered and he was very embarrassed by it, in front of your parents too. If he could just run away, not when your hand slowly held his to ease the nervousness he was feeling.
If only you could hold his hand a bit longer.
The following week came and he found himself in your living room again on his own will this time. Once again, your mom bought matching sweaters for the cold season. Yeosang quickly accepted and put on the sweater with ease, surprising you by his speed as he urged you to do the same.
"Wear yours, don't disappoint your mom."
Don't disappoint my mom or you? You finally got changed in the bathroom and as soon as you came out from there, Yeosang excitedly pulled you towards him. He was excited, you could tell, but you had no idea as to why he was feeling that way. There was nothing special today, but it was special for him.
This was the day he was finally going to confess to you. For the past days he's been so drawn to you and the questions he asks himself whenever he feels his heart beat faster at the thought of you, he now had an answer to them and he was going to let you know of it.
As soon as you closed your bedroom door shut, Yeosang took a deep breath to calm himself down before he takes the 50/50 risk. It was his first time feeling this way for someone, hence he didn't exactly know how to execute his plan successfully but he'll try. It's the effort that counts, isn't it?
"So, remember the last time I came over? I didn't bring you anything."
You scoffed at the ridiculous memory, "Of course, I remember that event clearly."
"Well," He took out a small black box from his pocket, "I bought you something, I had this since last time but I thought I should give you this today."
He opened the box for you and you gasped at the content inside, it was a gold bracelet that matched the one he had on his wrist. He pulled you closer to him and he clipped the bracelet on your wrist himself, your heart running miles from the sweet gesture. Once it was on you, you admired the jewelry and it was really your style. You love it, you love how it matched his own, but you love him the most.
"I love it, Yeo. Thank you so much, but what is this for? Friendship bracelets perhaps?"
There was so much going on in his head, he had to process the nickname you addressed him with, the way you said it so smoothly from your lips. He's so into you and he couldn't wait to let you know, to express his admiration for you. "Yes, it could be."
"It could be?"
"I mean if you allow me, it could be a promise bracelet too."
You were unsure of what he's trying to mean, your face contorted by his answer. "So, you're saying it's a friendship bracelet, but it could also be a promise bracelet if I allow you? Yeo, aren't they the same thing?"
Yeosang was panicking right now, he thought you didn't like the idea of a promise bracelet because there was no smile on your face ever since he mentioned it a few seconds ago. Having promise bracelets with you was special to him, he wanted this to be a reminder that for as long as one of you wore it, the bond you two created will still be there.
He didn't know what to do with the current situation, there's nothing he could say nor could he explain to you the real intent behind it in words. Instead, he planted a kiss on your lips so quick that it caught you off guard. He immediately pulled back from your face and apologized for the sudden move, "I'm so sorry, y/n. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do it. I just panicked and I-"
"You didn't m-mean it?" You asked softly as you looked at him with sad but hoping eyes, hoping that he actually meant the kiss. Despite catching you off guard, you liked the feeling of his lips on yours like it just made sense.
"Well, I did but-"
"Can you do it again?"
His eyes widened by your request, he didn't expect his plan to turn out this way. He assumed that you felt uncomfortable by him, but the tint on your cheeks corrected his assumption. The confident Yeosang from earlier became shy once again, "Do what?"
"The kiss."
Yeosang felt like he was on cloud 9, he didn't officially confess his romantic feelings to you yet but he did it. He won you, he won your heart and he thanks both his and your parents for bringing you to him. He giggled in joy before holding your nape gently and pulling you closer to connect his lips back to yours. He was feeling the emotions he never knew he could feel and he knew that he wanted it to stay that way. He wants to open his heart fully to you and he needs to keep you forever in his life.
"Let me stay in your life, y/n."
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
genre: best friend!yunho, best friends-to-lovers au, fluff, a bit of crack, gn!reader
word count: 1.6k
โคท When your little harmless 'assumption' about your best friend causes the room to feel unusual, you were about to find out the reason in an interesting way.
๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐๐
The day couldn't get any less boring, so here you were in your best friends' room. Yunho and San are roommates and 2/9 of your friend group. Why were you in their room? Well you see, Mingi is asleep. On the other hand, Seonghwa is busy cleaning up his and Hongjoong's room, while the latter was obviously at his studio. Do I even have to mention how messy the trio, JongWooSang, 's room is? No offense, but never mind that.
You were lying down beside San on his bed, leaning against his body with your head resting on his chest, both of you drained from the boredom. It doesn't make sense, but it currently made sense. San yawned as he watched Yunho play his computer game in full concentration.
You lifelessly scrolled through Instagram, seeing pictures of your friends and other people you don't acquaint with. It was BORING boring, nothing was interesting to talk about, not until your eyes caught attention to the recent post of this woman named 'Hyejin'.
As far as your mind can remember, she used to be Yunho's classmate back in the last year of high school. They recently had a reunion with his other classmates, just three days ago actually, and Yunho swore he was bored out of his life. He didn't attend just one class reunion, but three reunions in a year and he gave up from there. He said and quote, "It's so boring there, everyone just eats, takes a few pics with people then leaves afterward." You were honestly glad he stopped. In your defense, you wanted to spend time with him.
Back to the topic, Hyejin's recent post was a picture of her and Yunho standing beside each other from the recent reunion they had. Yunho wanted to go home at that time and she went up to Yunho herself, but you didn't need to know that. The post was also accompanied by an overused caption of 'with Yunho <3'. Innocent, but kind of suspicious. "She even added a heart, how interesting." You thought.
You couldn't help but release a scoff at how ridiculous she must've looked when she thought of posting that picture. It's not that you hated the woman or something, you just found it funny how she's showing her interest in Yunho to everyone.
It wasn't the first time Hyejin posted a picture of her and Yunho together, this was the third time she did that, and let me just say that she never posts pictures of her with other guys. Just. Yunho. You, and all of his friends, knew that she for sure took multiple photos with other people during the reunion, but she decided to only post the one with Yunho in it. You're not so slick, bestie. You found it a little bit amusing, but this wasn't your business to begin with anyway. Why should you care? Yeah, why should I?
"Hey, Yunho. Not to assume or anything, but I think this Hyejin girl likes you." You announced in a nonchalant tone, not even sparing the said man a glance.
You weren't even sure if he was listening to you at the moment, his attention still on his game with his headphones on. San, on the other hand, heard you loud and clear with both ears. Not really expecting a reaction from him, you continued your actions and as soon as he opened his mouth, that's when the bickering of the day started.
" 'Not to assume' then proceeds to assume." San scoffed at you playfully, "How would you know? Are you some kind of fortune teller?"
The sarcasm was as clear as the night sky right now.
You shrugged your shoulders, "No, but I can feel it."
San glanced at Yunho momentarily to check his reaction to your proposition, but he didn't show any reaction at all nor did he even move from his place. "And what made you say that? I mean, you don't even know her that much to make such assumption."
"She's been posting pictures of her and Yunho, just them, with cute captions. I don't know, I just kind of felt suspicious of her intentions. In my defense, I know when a person likes someone and I'm just saying what I think is happening."
At that moment, San thought you were the stupidest person he's ever met. How could you say you know when a person likes someone? He doesn't know how your mind works sometimes. Both men thought about your words and still seeing the lack of reaction from Yunho, San decided not to go deeper with the conversation.
"Anyways, it doesn't mean anything. So, mind your own business next time."
You were slightly offended by his tone, that's for sure. "Hey, I was just saying. Why are you suddenly talking to me like that? Geez, Choi San."
"There was no reason for you to say that to Yunho, he's not even listening to you."
Don't get it wrong, you and San were best friends, and bickering at each other was a sign of your playful friendship. Today though wasn't like that, his remarks weren't as playful as it usually was.
"So what if he's not listening? You didn't have to give me that tone, it's offensive. It's not like he likes her and I'm intruding on their relationship or whatever they have going on." You rolled your eyes in the process.
San caught the way Yunho's fist tightened around the mouse control and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't scared. "Still, y/n. Don't talk about her next time, got it?"
"Yeah yeah, whatever you say. You didn't have to be sensitive about it." You mumbled the last part under your breath, but it didn't go unheard by the two men in the room.
"You know, y/n." San started, pulling you closer towards his body. "For a person who knows when someone has feelings for another, you're quite the oblivious one."
You looked up at San confusingly, "What do you mean? Is there something I don't know about or am I just stupid?"
San gave you a side-eye, then patted your head gently. "You're not stupid, just oblivious."
Even in the middle of bickering, he wouldn't want to call you degrading names. That was one thing you liked about him. Upon hearing that, Yunho unintentionally slammed his mouse control on the table and it startled both you and San because he wasn't one to act like that. No, not at all.
San, though, was more aware of the reason behind Yunho's actions. He removed himself from your body, stood up from his bed, and excused himself. "Wooyoung is calling me, so I'll leave you two here." It was a lie, everyone knows that, but he left so quickly that no one got to say anything back.
Once he was completely out of the room, you huffed and lay back down on the bed. "What's wrong with him? And Yunho, what's wrong with you too?" Yunho could only let out a deep sigh, but still no response.
You found the situation very odd and uncomfortable to your liking, this wasn't what you expected when you decided to visit your best friends' dorm. "You two are acting weird today and I have no idea what's going on, I think I'll just leave too."
Now it was your turn to stand up from the bed but before you could walk towards the door, the man finally spoke up for the first time since you had arrived. "y/n, wait."
Turning to face him, he did the same, but he had his head down avoiding your eyes. "What do you think of me...and Hyejin?"
Okay, now you were more confused than earlier. I thought he wasn't listening to my conversation with San, I guess he did. "I mean, I'm not exactly thinking of anything since it's not that big of a deal." You casually shrugged at him.
Yunho nodded slowly, "I see...that's good."
"By the way, did something happen during your game earlier? You looked, I don't know, annoyed?" You asked him, unsure.
"Oh that, uh...haha, it's nothing." He waved his hand in denial, but you wanted to know the truth.
Though you hate to force him to open up to you, you felt so left behind from them these days. May it be secrets or invites, your group doesn't hide anything from each other and that's why you needed to know.
"Why do I feel like you guys are hiding something from me?" You narrowed your eyes towards his direction, "You haven't been opening up to me these days, San literally had to call me oblivious."
Silence, there was a moment of silence as Yunho debated whether he should finally take the risk or not. Well, why not take the opportunity while it's there?
"I know now is not the perfect time to say this, but I don't want you to leave with the thought of Hyejin and I together." He took a deep breath before holding your arms in place, "l/n y/n, I like you. I like you romantically, so don't ever talk about other girls to me."
Oh? OH.
"I-I wasn't expecting that, Yunho..."
"You don't have to say anything, I just want to make sure you don't misunderstand the whole 'Hyejin' situation."
"But, I wasn't-"
"Anyways," He cut you off, stepping back from you. "Hongjoong-hyung is calling me, so I'll leave you here for a while." He actually wanted to hide himself from the embarrassment.
You watched as he hurried out of the room, "Hongjoong isn't even back home yet." You muttered, not missing the butterflies in your stomach. As speechless as you were, you found his confession cute enough so you'll give him a pass.
"Jeong Yunho, get back here!"
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
I donโt think you understand how happy I am to find a sfw ateez blog oml
Can I request a San e2l? where reader has a grudge against him because heโs an overachiever like the reader, yet he doesnโt actually have anything against them. Reader thinks his life is so perfect and their own is just empty that they donโt realise theyโve started to become envious of San, and it goes on from there.
(This is very much self indulgent because I canโt live without knowing Iโm the best in all the people I know and itโs killing me)
If you could do it that would be great, dw if you canโt tho<3
genre: classmate!san, college au, rivals-to-lovers, fluff with a bit of angst, gn!reader
word count: 2.3k
โคท Pride, reputation, and a one-sided rivalry; all these are because of your fear of losing the top spot in the class. Even when you finally got what you wanted, why did you still feel unsatisfied?
a/n: I kind of relate to this and I tried to express my thoughts based from personal experiences. I also learned to accept the fact that we can have our lowest times, so let's stay humble and I hope you enjoy it!
๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐๐
You didn't hate him, you didn't like him either. He's more like a rival than a friend. You had your pride and reputation as the class's top student, that's all you ever cared for. You were contented with yourself, not until someone challenged your position and managed to drop your rank to top 2.
Choi San, you hated that name.
Both of you get high grades all the time, one gets higher than the other and vice versa, a push and pull type of game. It wasn't just your grades that were put to the test, your reputation as well. San's confidence during oral recitations and discussions was undeniably admirable, and that's the problem. It pissed you off because your social anxiety was hindering you from defending your reputation, but you couldn't deny that he was more or less smarter than you, just a tiny bit.
You didn't like San, but San liked you.
He admired your intelligence, your leadership skills, your hard work, and he acknowledged your efforts every time. How could he not when you two were in the same group for the whole semester? Being known as the two smartest students in the group was alright with San, but it pressured you a lot.
Your classmates usually depended on you two but when they ask him for help instead of you, it hurts your pride. This fueled your motivation to try your best in contributing most of the work during group projects to prove your classmates wrong. Even during quizzes and exams, you'd secretly compare your scores with San's as if it was normal. Of course, you had your share of low times.
It was very selfish of you to think that way, you were aware of that. You knew he was trying his best as well and he even helps you with some lessons you're struggling with. You had no idea when or how this rivalry started, but you were obstinate.
Why do you not like him? For being smart? For challenging your position as the top student? Who were you to hate him for that? These were the questions that run through your head whenever you see him in class, but that wasn't the case for San, he was just there to learn and graduate.
At this point, you're just envious of him for the most unnecessary things. Seeing him hanging out with his friends, having a good relationship with his parents, his life was almost perfect and that made you bitter.
In contrast to his, your life felt empty. Talking to your parents casually was a once-a-day thing because you always lock yourself inside your room and you don't even have that many friends compared to San's, much more talk to them every day.
You were envious, there's no better word to describe how you felt about the guy. Your pride, your ego; you wanted to be the 'best' and you wanted to be in the limelight of the class in regards to academics. But no, someone had to be on your level to humble you down. You, a selfish overachiever, holding a grudge against the boy with an angelic smile, attractive dimples, and cute eye smile.
You thought surviving this semester by avoiding him, while silently boring deep glares towards his direction were going to be a piece-of-cake. That was until you realized that the heavens weren't on your side, it was like a punishment for you.
Out of all people, all the possibilities that could happen, you just had to be paired up with the one and only, Choi San, for your General Maths subject. Honestly speaking, you didn't need a partner and neither does he. You could do it on your own, but your teacher insisted on working in pairs to develop social relationships and to help each other.
If it wasn't for those reasons, you wouldn't be sitting here in the library after your last class ended. โHomeโ was the only thing on your mind, going home and avoiding his presence that makes your blood boil. If only he didn't insist on finishing the assignment the right way, together, you would've been taking a nap on your bed right now.
You were answering the assignment silently, yet you couldn't focus well with him beside you. You weren't in your right mind and San caught on to that, as he looked over your paper and easily found small mistakes on your solutions.
"It's not supposed to be distributed, just remove the parentheses."
His voice made you groan in annoyance, knowing that he was right and he corrected your mistakes. Okay, Mr. Know-it-all. You rolled your eyes away from him and redid your solutions correctly.
San was aware of your grudge towards him, it's not his fault you were quite obvious with it. He found you cute, though. When your mad or when you glare at him, that doesn't get to him, he's too distracted by your kissable and welcoming cheeks when you pout.
"Are you done? Let's compare answers." San spoke over the silence of the room.
There it was again, the usual glare you give to him. "Give me time, this isn't a race."
"I didn't say...but, take your time."
See, despite your harsh treatment towards him, he couldn't bring himself to fight you back. He had no reason to, so why try to engage in something he's not going to enjoy anyway? After about 3 minutes, you passed him your paper and he did the same to his own. The way San scanned over your paper made you nervous as if he was the teacher checking your mistakes and right answers. His paper, on the other hand, was clean and readable. Confidence in getting every question right the first time written on it.
"Hmm, you lack a negative sign here...and here...and here as well." He pointed each mistake with the tip of his pen and you swore, you wanted to curse at him.
"Okay, Choi San. You're the smart one, you know best. Sorry for being dumb." You retorted with bitterness in your voice.
"What are you talking about? I was just trying to help."
"Well, I don't need your help."
"Well, good luck with your grades then. You got all the answers correct with only a few mistakes, but okay."
Not wanting to fight anymore, you corrected your mistakes as fast as you could. He smirked at you as you closed the cap of your pen and sighed deeply, "There we go, y/n. It wasn't so difficult now, was it?"
"Get a life." If I could just remove that smirk off your face, I would.
How could San even get a life when the missing piece of his life hates his guts? His day wouldn't be complete without you glaring at him at least once, though he still hoped that one day, you would change your false opinions about him. He wouldn't purposely fail his academics for your benefit, but he's going to find a way to win your heart and stop your childish jealousy towards him once and for all.
You didn't talk to him for a whole week, you spent most of your time preparing for the upcoming finals exams that would start tomorrow until Friday. You had no time to waste, this was your last chance to prove everyone wrong. The desperation to keep the top spot of the class for yourself motivated you a lot. So when finals finally started, you made sure to put your all in every exam and hoping for the best.
Congratulations! You did it, you actually did it!
You kept the top 1 spot, it was yours and you were beyond happy with the positive news. It boosted your pride, but that's besides the point. Once you pulled away from your friend's embrace, you accidentally caught sight of San standing alone from afar. He had a sad yet satisfied smile on his face, while he looked over the bulletin board again where the ranks were displayed.
You felt bad, that was true because yes, you worked extra hard for this and as much as you hate to admit it, he assisted you when you didn't understand some concepts of a certain topic and those concepts were essential parts of the exam. You never, not even once, thanked him for his help and that's enough reason for you to feel guilty. Now that you got what you wanted, why do you still feel unsatisfied?
San caught you gazing in his direction, so you immediately looked away in embarrassment. He only chuckled at your reaction, knowing too well what's going on inside your head at the moment. Your eyes traveled back to his figure once again and you couldn't hold it in anymore, his smile was too bright for your satisfaction. You needed to apologize to him as soon as possible before the semestral break starts, at least.
When the last bell rang indicating the end of classes, you decided to look for him. Ditching your friends with the excuse of stopping by the convenience store before going back home, you searched everywhere for him. Thankfully, he wasn't anywhere far from the school premises. There he stood outside the school gate with his AirPods on, most probably waiting for his friends to hang out later. Carefully, you tapped on his shoulder and he turned to you with a confused look as he removed an AirPod from his ear. He didn't expect you to talk to him personally, especially not you approaching him first.
"What's up?" San's voice was cheerful and no sign of bitterness at all.
"You're n-not busy right now, are you?" You stuttered out of nervousness.
San looked around for any sight of your friends and his but there's no one around he knew of. "I don't think I am, why'd you ask? Oh, congrats by the way for taking the top spot. You deserve it, y/n." The smile on his face was genuine, he was very happy for your success. He wasn't disappointed because he believed you deserve that spot, you worked extra hard to beat him earn it.
On the other hand, you were nervous as hell, fiddling with the hem of your uniform. "Thank you, San."
"It's no problem." How was it so easy for him to say that? You don't know.
You tried to form the right words to say to him, not wanting to waste this opportunity and bringing the guilt with you. "I just wanted to apologize for treating you, you know, in a not-so-good way. I'm sorry for always pushing you away, taking your help for granted, and for holding a grudge against you just because I was afraid of losing the position of being the top student in the class. It's very childish of me, I know."
You scoffed ridiculously at yourself, "Now that I got what I wanted, I'm happy but I feel guilty whenever I see you. You helped me so much, but I didn't even thank you once. No matter how embarrassing I probably sound right now, I'm taking this opportunity to apologize for everything I've done wrong and to thank you for all your help. I don't deserve your forgiveness and-"
"Yo, San. Let's- oh, sorry. I didn't see your friend there." Yeosang, one of his friends, interrupted your rambling.
You were more than embarrassed at this point, you wanted to scream, to run away and hide from everyone, but San noticed the panic in your eyes. The idea of confessing and not being able to finish your words was suffocating you, so you tried to make a turn. Unfortunate events really couldn't wait as a random rock made you trip your foot, but a strong arm held your waist so quick, you didn't even have time to process what had just happened.
San clicked his tongue teasingly, "y/n, still clumsy as ever."
Can the world just take you whole? His friends were watching the current situation, this is very bad.
"I think I'll pass today, guys. I have some important business to talk to with them, so just leave without me and don't forget to buy me that thing I talked about, I'll pay later." San called to his friends, who nodded at his request.
"San-"
"Don't worry, y/n. I know you hate me, but I think you got some explaining to do." A smirk was plastered again on that attractive face of his.
"But I already did."
"You didn't get to finish your words because of my friend and I want to hear more of it. Maybe if you treat me out for dinner, I might just forgive you."
"My money's not enough for the both of us." You haven't realized that you just indirectly considered his suggestion, he's got you in his trap.
"Perfect, a kiss it is then."
"What-"
He didn't let you finish as he interrupted you with his soft lips on yours and when he pulled away, he laughed at your flustered reaction.
"Cutie, let's go to that BBQ place nearby to celebrate your success." My success?
"What about you? Are you not mad at me for being the first in rank?" This was the question that had you worried about this whole time. What does he think of you now after everything?
"What's wrong with being 2nd? As long as we succeed together, that's enough for me. Now that you're here with me and I finally got a kiss from you, what more could I ask for?โ
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.
genre: artist!hongjoong x florist!reader, soulmate au, strangers-to-lovers, fluff, fem!reader
word count: 3.8k
โคท What started as a compliment became constant visits to your workplace and a close bond resulted in friendly dates. Noticing the oddly familiar drawing on your wrist one day, he felt the need to keep in touch with you until things would start to make sense.
a/n: listen to 'draw & draw' by hongjoong while reading this.
๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐น๐ถ๐๐
Working as a florist was very serene to the mind and you couldn't be more satisfied with your job at your aunt's flower shop. Each passing day, the flowers around the shop became more beautiful to your eyes. You loved the aroma, the pretty colors, and most especially, the representations of each flower.
A plain red rose eventually became special to you, much more than just something you give whenever you want. It was a flower of love, a flower that needs to be taken care of for as long as it can live.
Thanks to that, you started to love the idea of art.
06:04 pm. Waving your aunt 'goodbye', you slung your floral bag on your shoulders and made your way towards the bus stop. Perfect. The bus was already there, so you got in to find a seat. Well, not that perfect. There were only three seats available; one beside a male high school student who looks like he had a bad day, the other seat beside a couple, and the last one beside a man casually scrolling through his phone.
I guess the latter was the best choice for now.
You quickly sat down beside the stranger, who greeted you politely when he noticed your figure beside him. I think I made a good choice sitting here. As the bus traveled to its destination, your eyes wandered to the man sitting on your right and you studied his appearance.
You couldn't see his face clearly since he was looking outside the window, but you could tell he was an artistic person from the way he dressed. The bucket hat and jacket he was wearing had such an unusual design on them, the artistic kind of unusual. You thought that their fashion was unique but as soon as you saw the flower drawings on his bag, your mind became a little excited.
"Excuse me, sir." You gently tapped on the man's shoulder to get his attention and he turned to face you with a smile, "Sorry to disturb you, but I wanted to compliment your fashion. I think it's really unique, I love the fit."
"Thank you, I actually reformed these clothes myself." He claimed and your eyes immediately lit up at the fact.
"That's so cool, it must be nice having that kind of talent." Your mouth agape, you scanned his clothes once again and you remembered about the flower drawings. "Oh and I wanna ask, do you like flowers?"
He was taken a bit aback at the question and he lowered his head shyly for a second, looking back up with a wider grin on his face. "Yeah, I do." As soon as he admitted that, he suddenly caught sight of your floral bag. "Do you like flowers too?"
"I work as a florist, so I definitely love them."
As if on cue, the bus came to a halt and it was your stop. Sadly. You somehow enjoyed the stranger's presence and you felt safe exchanging words with him, but you had to go home. You stood up from your seat to leave, but a hand halted your move.
"I didn't catch your name, miss. I'm Hongjoong, by the way."
"y/n." You returned.
Then an idea came to your mind and oh, how you wanted to thank the heavens above for that. You reached for a business card out from your bag and handed it to Hongjoong. "Have this and I hope to see you around, Hongjoong."
Rereading the card in his hand for the nth time now, Hongjoong made sure he was in the right place and for him to stand in front of the flower shop that had the same name as the one written on the card, he was more than sure he was right. This is the place.
Hearing the bell ring on the front door, you were ready to greet and accommodate the customer that had just arrived at the shop. Fixing your apron, you plastered a welcoming smile on your face.
"Oh, Hongjoong. You're here and ooh~ I love the look today."
The moment he stepped into the flower shop, his appearance caught your attention instantly; his ear piercings, his leather jacket that covered his black shirt, his ripped jeans, one of his reformed shoes, and his glasses that finished the fit. Of course, you had to compliment him for that.
"How may I help you?"
Hongjoong scratched his nape unsurely, struggling to form the right words to answer your question. Should I say I just wanted to see her? No, that sounds creepy. Should I ask if I could stay for a while? No, I'll probably burden her.
It wasn't only you who enjoyed the short interaction last night on the bus, he too felt the same that night. That led him to ponder on whether he should visit you at your workplace to talk more about literally anything or to just wait until he crosses paths with you again which had an unclear possibility of it happening. But here he was, standing in front of you.
"Hongjoong?" Your voice interrupted his inner thoughts, reminding him of your presence.
"Oh, right." I wanna run away. "I came here to ask you some things about flowers, I heard that each of them has meanings and I was wondering if you could enlighten me more with it. If that's alright with you, of course." Way to go, Kim Hongjoong.
Hongjoong thought that it was stupid of him to ask that from you, but you thought otherwise and you were honestly thrilled to talk about what you love. Initially, you weren't expecting him to ask you that at all. But the thought that he's inquisitive in learning more about flowers and he had to ask you, of all people, made your heart flutter for some reason.
"I'll gladly, but I hope you can remember all of them." You joked away, but he reassured you that he would be absolutely fine with it.
"So if I find someone attractive, I should give them buttercup flowers?" Hongjoong questioned innocently, clearly indulged in the current conversation.
"Exactly, they'll definitely love it." You answered as you continued to water some of the flowers in the shop.
The energy that was radiating between you and him was like a 'yellow orchid', which symbolizes friendship and new beginnings. That's exactly what you were feeling towards him right now, this was the beginning of a new friendship.
Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months. His constant visits to the shop during his free time produced a closer bond between you two and you were more than happy to be in this friendship with him. Because of that bond, it was safe to say that he could take you out on some friendly dates. It started from a simple walk in the park to ice cream dates, even bringing you to an art museum, and more.
Today was one of those days.
It was your day off and Hongjoong took the opportunity to take you out for a little cafe date, a chance to get to know you much more than he already did. Though only you ordered coffee because he didn't feel like drinking coffee at that time and you needed the coffee anyways. Yeah, that's basically the reason for the chosen date place; to give mostly you a sense of peace and relaxation.
Earlier that day, he decided to draw a small pink rose on his left wrist to remind himself of what he currently felt for you. You didn't know about it and neither will Hongjoong admit it to you, but he started doing more research on the different meanings of flowers the day after he visited you at the shop for the first time. It was merely just an interest in learning about the beauty of flowers, but the more he met you, the more he wanted it to be about you and the things you loved so much.
You were too busy rambling about your life story that you didn't catch on to the way Hongjoong stared at you with such passion in his eyes, which not even he was aware of. Yet whoever passes by or sees the two of you, they could tell how he admired you so much. Of course, you would be too oblivious.
"So that's why tulips are my favorite, the red ones are especially beautiful."
The grin you had when you said those words to him was enough to drive him crazy and if it wasn't for his wandering eyes, he would pull you in for a kiss in front of everyone. His eyes scanned your arms and his gaze landed on something that was drawn on your wrist. Luckily for him, you laid your arm down on the table and he got a clear view of the drawing.
Wait, is that...is that what I think it is? Hongjoong's eyes traveled back and forth from his wrist to yours and to his surprise, the drawing was exactly the same as his and on top of that. it was in the same hand as well. H-how is that possible? How could y/n have the same pink rose I drew on my wrist earlier?
"Uhm, y/n?"
"Yes?"
"Did you perhaps draw that? The one on your left wrist, the pink rose." Hongjoong pointed to the drawing and you let out a tired sigh.
"No, it just appeared today. It happened quite a few times now, drawings would suddenly appear on my wrist. I did hear from a friend that if someone draws on their skin, it would appear on their soulmate's skin too. Maybe my soulmate drew this pink rose, quite cute."
You carefully observed the drawing and indeed, it was a beautiful one. You were so sure it was done by an artist, an artist like Kim Hongjoong. Deep down, somewhere in your heart, you hoped that it was him; hoped that the man sitting in front of you was the owner of the drawing, hoped that he was your soulmate, hoped that this friendship was the one you've been wishing for under the stars.
Pink roses symbolize gratitude, appreciation, and admiration for someone; these were the feelings Hongjoong wanted to show you, to remind himself that you were special to him, and to see the exact same drawing on your skin, these feelings would grow into something deeper.
His thoughts brought him back to those days wherein he would find little doodles of flowers on his fingers and some flower names on the palm of his hand. Flowers, flower names, flower shop; they all resonated with y/n. He was holding on to this guess, he hoped that he had finally found the one for him. All he needed was a confirmation from you and that's exactly what he's going to do right now.
"I wanna ask you something, y/n. Did you perhaps draw little flowers on your fingers and wrote names of flowers on your palm before?" As careful as he could, he tried to sound nonchalant to hide his suspicions.
Huh? You wondered how he had knowledge of that. Then you recalled receiving an order of a floral arrangement and you had to hurriedly jot down the customer's personal flower preferences on your palm, failing to find a paper to write on. It was evident that you were a bit stressed out that day but thank the heavens above, they brought you an angel. Hongjoong came to the flower shop with an iced coffee bought especially for you and your hard work, as what he insisted to mean. At the end of the day, you drew a tiny campanula on your finger to express how you felt for his heartwarming treat.
Campanula symbolizes gratitude, humility, attractiveness, and everlasting love. You were full of gratitude towards him that day and more for each day that passed, not to mention how attractive he was with his gentle and fun personality. He was an angel and you wished to keep him forever in your life, no matter what the outcome will be.
"How'd you know?" Did he perhaps receive my drawings on his skin? Is he my soulmate?
"I remember seeing you write something on your palm the day I brought you coffee and you do have a flower drawing on your index finger right now."
Oh. The disappointment washed over you, though you managed to hide it from him. You were waiting for the words such as "You're my soulmate." or "It appeared on mine, I think we found each other.", but expectations evaporate to thin air. Maybe I'm thinking wrong, maybe Hongjoong isn't the one. As much as you were disappointed, you still had a slight hope in your heart and you're holding on to that.
Hongjoong, on the other hand, glanced down to his index finger and that same campanula flower was visibly marked there, which you drew again earlier. He wanted to tell you about it, but he wasn't even sure if you were ready for that revelation. Although he knew about the risks of prolonging that fact, he decided to wait for the right time to confess; the right time, the right day, the right plans, the right atmosphere, the right words, and the right feelings.
Wait for me a little longer, soulmate.
"Hey, why do you keep taking pictures of me?" You complained, only to receive another complaint in return.
"Stop moving, y/n. It's for memories and your clothes look good with the background."
Kim Hongjoong's presence and his camera, the two things you couldn't escape whenever you go out with him. It's not like I want to escape them either. The owner of the camera, though, loved taking pictures of you for 'research purposes' as what he calls it, but it actually was used in a more special way.
Your pictures, which were taken by the man himself, were used as his reference for creating artworks. Here's the thing, he was pretty satisfied with doing reforms and painting. And yet he found you; his inspiration, his muse. Your pictures, he would draw them on a sketch pad and for some additional touch to it, he drew and colored some specific flowers on the background beautifully. Those flowers indicating his feelings for you during that time, the same as what he marks on his wrist. It's that special to him.
03:23 pm. Hongjoong was working on his most special artwork yet, the one which he put the most effort and spilled his heart out on. He was on the momentum, only for it to be broken by his friend's voice calling out for his name. Luckily, his hand didn't waver and ruin anything on the paper. Slightly annoyed, he turned to his friend, who was standing by the doorway with a playful smirk.
"Is it y/n again?"
Hongjoong clicked his tongue ridiculously at the question, "What do you want, Hwa?"
"Hmm, nothing much." Seonghwa shrugged, "Just wanted to say that I met her a while ago at the flowershop she works at and now I understand why you like her, she's pretty."
"Uhuh." Hongjoong was alerted when his friend called you pretty, but complimenting you caused zero harm. So, he brought his attention back to his currently unfinished drawing.
"I think I might like her." It was purposely meant as a teasing joke and it was clear on Seonghwa's voice; however, he didn't expect his friend to react the way he reacted to his words.
"Don't, you can't do that."
Seonghwa knew better than to stop when he heard Hongjoong's serious tone, but he wanted to push his buttons just a little bit more to see what he would do about it. "Why not? You're not her boyfriend, so that means I can like her."
That's it, Hongjoong lost it. Not completely, more like his possessiveness, which he had no right to have at this point, was triggered and he felt the need to see you to make himself feel better. The thought of Seonghwa or anyone else liking you in any way and possibly stealing you from him was nightmare, that was the last thing he would want for you. It has been proven that you were his soulmate, his, no one else's and he needed to show everyone one day that he was yours too. He stood up from his seat, grabbed his coat, and was ready to go to his destination.
"I was just joking, Hongjoong." Seonghwa defended before Hongjoong could exit the room.
"Not funny, Park Seonghwa. Not funny at all." She's my soulmate, it's not a joking matter.
"Welcome~" You greeted whoever just entered the shop while flipping through a list of orders, only to flinch when a hand slaps a bill on the counter.
"How do I passive-aggressively curse in flower?"
If it wasn't for his pissed off look, you would be laughing at him right now. No, you were actually laughing at him right now and you didn't hide that. You had no idea what he meant nor who he was planning to give it to, but you couldn't take his approach in a serious manner. The confused expression on his face wasn't helping the situation at all, not to you that is.
"Why are you laughing?"
"That's funny, Joong, but my aunt and I highly discourage bringing in negative energy inside the shop...it makes the flowers sad." You explained, whispering the last part like it was a secret that wasn't supposed to be shared to others.
"Sorry, y/n. Sorry to the flowers, too."
As if a switch had been flipped on Hongjoong, he immediately turned into a soft version of himself and this side of him always brought the butterflies back to where it came from whenever you saw him. You believed that the flowers were dancing in joy again, especially the blue irises that seem to shine beighter in your eyes than the rest of the crowd.
Blue irises symbolize faith and hope; the hope you were holding on inside your heart, it was growing, blooming just like the flowers themselves.
This is it, this was the day. Hongjoong gathered all the courage for this day, he was more than ready to show you the efforts and heart he put on his gift for you. Finally, the perfect day has come at last. Today was not only your birthday, today was the day he was going to reveal the truth to his very soulmate.
"Happy Birthday, beautiful." Hongjoong greeted you with a warm hug as soon as you opened the front door of your apartment.
"Flirting already, Joong? Thank you, though." You pulled away from the hug to welcome him into your home, "Come in and wait inside. You came too early, I haven't even finished doing my hair yet."
You led him to your living room where he sat and watched as he viewed around the room for a moment, taking in the sights of your home. "Do you want coffee, tea, water? Are you hungry?"
"No, no need." Hongjoong declined, "Come sit here with me, I have a gift for you."
Settling down beside him on the sofa, he pulled out the bouquet from behind his back and it was a surprise that you haven't even noticed him bring that when he hugged you earlier. Blame his warm hug, his strong arms that were wrapped around you, his toned chest that was traceable through his black button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. How could you notice the things he was holding when the his appearance alone was distractingly attractive.
"Here's a bouquet of tulips for the birthday princess and a gift made by your favorite artist, Kim Hongjoong." Even at this hour of the day, 08:09 am., Hongjoong was already in a high-spirit and was more excited than you even.
"Tulips! Thank you so much, they're so beautiful...wait, did you buy this from the flowershop?" You saw the logo sticker of your aunt's flowershop on the ribbon and you swore, you fought the urge to pull him in a kiss for being so thoughtful and adorable.
"Yeah, your aunt was very kind to me and she wishes you a happy birthday too."
You took in the aroma of the tulips one last time, before going over to the paper bag Hongjoong packed. You untied the blue ribbon carefully and opening the bag, you found a framed painting inside. Your heart raced when you got it out from the paper bag and your heart skipped a beat when you studied the painting in your hands.
In the center of the paper, there was a drawing of you smiling with your hair styled prettily. The most important component of the painting was the background, the background filled with tulips. More specifically, red tulips. Is it possible to fall in love with a painting? A painting produced by the hands of your favorite artist indeed, Kim Hongjoong.
"Tulips are your favorite and the red color resonated with me so much when I thought of you." He was confident with his words, he remembered your favorites like it was just yesterday when he heard of it. You loved all the varieties of tulips, but he had a reason why he chose the color red.
Red tulips express that you are deeply in love, the color red evoking passion and romance. Deeply in love...does he...does he love me?
Putting pieces together, you jerked your head up to lock eyes with him, searching for any sign of love and sincerity in his eyes. "Hongjoong...are you confessing your love for me?"
Hongjoong grinned proudly, "Yes, my soulmate. I am confessing my love for you."
"Soulmate?" He called me soulmate, he did. Wait did he really? Yes, he really did.
"You drew an amaryllis last night for your birthday and I agree, this flower represents you in every way." Hongjoong showed his left wrist where an amaryllis was marked and bingo, that was the exact drawing you drew last night. My soulmate, I found you. "You are so beautiful, no flower nor words can express your beauty. My muse, thank you for coming into my life."
Amaryllis symbolizes determination, beauty, and love. Hongjoong believed that these characteristics were present in your being; you were determined and passionate on the things you loved doing, you were beautiful inside and out, and your love was strong and too precious for the world to deserve.
"Now, my wildflower, why don't you go and finish fixing your hair? We have a long day to spend today."
ยฉ dxnsangki | all rights reserved, do not translate or plagiarize.