IT’S JUST A SHAME, THAT’S ALL — THROUGH THE LENS OF MARTIN
➪ pairing : ot5 cortis x 6th member reader
➪ summary : the prequel to part one. martin's seen you time and time again get smart with staff, it's no wonder that something was bound to happen, at least in his opinion.
➪ other notes : credits to @/vrtxveil on tiktok for the cortis analog horror imagery. i tried my best to tag everyone, i'm so sorry if i missed your name. there will be at least two more parts, maybe even three if people want me to continue this ! j apologize if this feels rushed, but pay attention :)
“no one can know, do you understand ?” martin looks up at the group’s manager, eyes wide. he nods regardless, adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows whatever saliva he has in his throat. martin’s always been an obedient rebel. he’ll express himself in many ways, fighting for what he believes, but he’s a fierce listener, loyal to no end. that was his first mistake.
you’re not like martin. yes you’re passionate about your interests and expressive about your feelings, but you’re hot headed. not perfect by any standards, a little rough around the edges but that’s what makes you, well you. you don’t hesitate to call out anyone who’s disrespectful or shady, confidence booming in your voice. that’s exactly why hybe and bighit liked you. liked.
martin wishes he could be a little like you. aggressive and self assured. he’s almost positive you’d make a great leader if it weren’t for your constant attitude. not to the boys, never to them, but to the company itself. when your makeup artist tells you your complexion looks sickly ? you say it’s the lack of food the staff provides.
when your fashion designer pinches at extra skin, you swat their hand away immediately. martin’s even heard you say “fuck bang pd,” in a fit of rage. i mean how could something so pretty have a mouth like that ? but he still thinks that you would have made a better leader than him. someone who actually stands up for the group rather than just submit to whatever the company says.
he’s never even seen you afraid ! so locked in on your own beliefs that no one will even tilt you another way. there was a particular time where a male staff member tried to put their hands on you, in which you immediately fought back, not caring for any repercussions. it ended in james and your manager pulling you off the man, martin couldn’t move from how caught off guard he was.
despite that, it wasn’t all that surprising coming from you. except for the following set of your words : “if anyone ever tries to hit me again, i’ll tell everyone the lies and shit you’ve covered up.” everyone tensed up immediately, going silent. you weren’t referring to a specific person, you’re saying it in general, knowing there’s cameras in the practice room. what did you know that the other five of them didn’t ?
maybe that’s why this had to happen. if you only kept your mouth shut, this wouldn’t have happened. why’d you go out of your way to ruin something that’s fine ??? are all thoughts martin has of you. but he loves you, even with all of your flaws. platonic or romantic, does it really matter ? so he lets you in on one piece of information, in hopes that you’ll get away fast enough.
it was the day of THE concert. you were in a better mood than usual, excited for the stage outfit your designer picked out for you. hell, even your makeup artist complimented your skin today. it seems like people are finally listening to you ! everything seems fine until you notice martin fidgeting more than usual.
it confuses you, martin’s typically not like this. he’s the one hyping everyone up, and it’s not like this is the group’s first concert, you’ve done this dozens of times before ! so when the time is perfect, you pull him aside, thankfully the hallway is quiet and empty. “are you okay ?” you ask the taller boy, furrowing your eyebrows. “me ? yeah i’m good,” he smiles, a little too wide.
“you said we’d be each other’s person if one of us is upset,” you cross your arms as martin shifts uncomfortably. suddenly, he looks to the right of him, then the left, before pulling you harshly into the women’s bathroom. you automatically fight back, shocked as to what’s happening. “martin what are you-“ he covers his mouth before shushing you, tears in his eyes.
“don’t say a single word, just listen to me,” he whispers, your eyes going wide with anger. “something’s gonna happen after the concert, i can’t say for sure what but i know that it’s tonight, you can’t be alone with anyone,” martin explains in a haste. and for the first time in all of the years he’s known you, fear fills your eyes. he releases his grip on you before stepping back. you’re still frozen in place as worry washes over you.
“why ?” you ask in a small voice. martin scoffs and shakes his head, “why else ? you blow up at everyone, you mouth off staff and even almost beat our senior choreographer up !” you look at him confused, “what are you talking about ? mars this isn’t my fault, you know why i-“ the rest of your words drown out as martin rubs his face.
“it doesn’t matter what you think anymore, it’s about what they think of you y/n,” he groans, obviously agitated by the situation. “then help me,” you step closer to him. he shakes his head, “i can’t, the company, they’ll-“ “mars i’m your best friend, and i have been for years,” you cut him off. martin looks at you, seeing tears starting to form in your eyes. he couldn’t remember the last time you looked this small.
martin thinks before sighing, “okay.” a breath of relief leaves your mouth. “but don’t tell the others, you’ll only worry them,” he clarifies, making you nod. “i know, just please don’t let anything happen to me,” you plead. he looks into your tearful eyes, nodding. there’s only so much he can do without attracting suspicion.
throughout the night, martin’s eyes keep flickering towards you. he doesn’t even care if fans speculate his watchful gaze. you on the other hand try your best to keep your composure during the concert. you’re typically a firecracker on stage, full of emotion and energy. but this time, your performance is lackluster to say the least.
martin wouldn’t even be surprised if netizens got on your ass about it. but even though the same fearful thoughts consume your mind, martin sees you let out a wobbly laugh at james’ silly jokes. he sees you clumsily throw a water bottle to juhoon. he sees you tightly hug seonghyeon, not pulling away first. and he sees you fix keonho’s microphone. even in a crisis like this, you still take care of others.
after the concert, martin’s stuck to your hip, adrenaline still pumping through everyone’s veins. the other four for a different reason than you and martin’s. eventually you’re all led into a different room to rest before you all go back to your hotel. you take your shoes off, feeling your big toe pulse in pain. you look at the inside of the shoe, a size smaller than your regular size.
you hadn’t even noticed before, you just took the pair from your stylist without a second thought. your gaze shifts to your socks, several holes made. did you make those ? you grind your teeth before taking them off, now barefoot. seonghyeon immediately covers his nose, earning a playful slap from you. you can’t help but to think, is everyone in on this ?
“y/n,” you snap your head at the manager, his face cold. “can you come with me for a second ?” you try to hide your expression as best as you can. “for what ?” you ask, slowly standing up. the other five boys stare at the manager, waiting his response. “techs need your in-ears,” he states, how do you even get out of this situation ? “i can take it for her, i need to turn mine in too,” martin interrupts.
“would have been better if she just came but sure,” the manager walks away. you sigh, giving martin a thankful look. “we need to go,” martin whispers, taking your in-ears. you look at your members, “now y/n.” you nod, martin tries to usher you out of the room but is stopped by james. “where are you two going ?” you look at your older friend, making a random excuse.
“just gonna get some stuff from the corner store before we go,” you lie. “i want to go !” keonho excitedly says, getting up. “no stay, it’d be too obvious if you came along,” martin shakes his head, keonho’s signature pout forming. “alright, but can you bring that one brand of chips i like ?” he asks, sitting back down. “yeah of course, we’ll be back, i swear,” you smile before leaving.
almost immediately, martin is dragging you behind him. “wait wait wait !” you trip over your feet in an attempt to slow him down. “what ?! there’s no time to wait !” martin whisper yells. “you need to promise me something,” “huh what ? why ? promise you what ?” he rambles nervously. “if anything…if anything happens to me, promise me that you won’t let them say i was the one who ran away, that i was the one who quit.”
martin looks into your dilated eyes. oh, you’re being serious. “nothing’s going to happen-“ “promise me,” you demand of him. “…okay, i promise that i’ll defend your honor no matter what,” he reassures you. he wraps his arms around you, bringing you for a hug. you shut your eyes, heart beating fast, you can even hear it thump in your ears. it doesn’t help that your hands and feet feel so cold from anxiety.
“i don’t even have my shoes or socks on, how did those dummies believe me ? you mumble, which martin laughs at. “it’s okay, i’ll let you use mine, just tie them extra tight,” martin offers. “but first, we need to get to the parking garage, don’t ask questions, let’s just go before anyone gets suspicious,” he continues, this time you actually listen and start to make your way downstairs.
you basically run down a flight of stairs, in a hurry to wherever martin’s taking you. once you’re halfway in the parking garage, martin stops before gripping your shoulders. “you need to leave this way, security is always here for these types of events, this is the only place i know that doesn’t have anyone.” “where am i supposed to go ?” you lift his hands from your shoulders. “anywhere y/n, it doesn’t matter, just not-“ martin pauses.
“shit !” he pulls you behind a car, crouching cautiously. a door is swung open, bouncing off the wall. you cover your mouth with your own hand, looking at martin with fear. he brings up a finger to his lips, staying completely quiet. a loud sigh can be heard before a familiar voice. “martin, i know you’re here with her, don’t make this difficult, just stop,” the manager states, his shoes can be heard clicking.
“think of the group martin, do what’s right.” martin freezes, fuck they already know. now it’s his turn to think. he needs to protect you, but he’s never disobeyed anyone before. you’re his colleague, but you’ve done wrong. you’re his friend and someone he sees every day. what can he do to help both sides ? what’s the right choice ? what should he do ? martin turns to you, tears are streaming down your face, he’s never seen you like this.
“mars i’m begging you, don’t do this to me, i’m your best friend, please,” you cry, grabbing his hands. a moment of silence goes by before martin squeezes your hands. a single thought of realization shoots through his head. james. juhoon. seonghyeon. keonho. himself. years of training, the five of them…or just you. “yeah…she’s here,” martin abruptly calls out, standing up, pulling you with him.
you shriek a “no,” before using all of the force you can muster to shove him away before standing up and running from behind the car. you sprint down the parking garage, bare feet against the hard concrete. the more you look back, the closer the people chasing you get. you finally arrive to the gate, mashing every button to get it to lift up. you drop to the floor, crawling underneath the gate.
your hopes however are cut almost instantly. someone pulls your ankles back harshly, you cry out, your knees scraping against the ground. “no, please, i haven’t done anything !” you shout as a man lifts you into the air, leaving your blood soaking into the concrete. you screamed for your life, pleading that someone, anyone, would help you. “martin please !” you continue to fight.
martin stays still in his place, paralyzed as he watches you struggle against a man twice your size. eventually, you’re hauled into a van, one you hadn’t even realized was there before, and even then your cries for help continue. martin just stares, hearing the engine start before it pulls off. it’s quiet again, a quiet that lingers in his soul. why did you trust him ? he told you not to trust anyone. he warned you, he tells himself.
he tried to warn you…he tried to tell you to be careful, didn’t he ? martin lets out a shaky sigh as a single tear drops from his face. “you won’t have to worry about her anymore, the problem is gone,” the manager places a hand on martin’s shoulder, causing him to flinch a little. martin stares at his shoes, before the manager says his final set of words for this situation.
seonghyeon doesn’t think; he just goes. to him, it didn’t matter that it was three in the morning. he grabbed something from james’ room and slipped into the closest shoes he could find—they fit a little wrong, so they were probably martin’s. he didn’t really care.
skipping the wait time for a taxi, he decided to just run to your house. dorm. whatever it was called didn’t matter.
by the time he made it there, you were already pacing in your room with the window open.
“yn!” he called.
you looked at him from above, and almost laughed.
he had a boombox in one hand, while the other clutched his chest.
“you made me run here,” he panted.
“good. you were taking too long,” you replied with a grin.
he motioned to wait as he set up the boombox and lifted it over his head to let you hear the music better: fallingforyou by the 1975 played loudly. you smiled.
you knew the neighbours would have your head tomorrow for all the noise, but you couldn’t care less at that moment.
the music crackled slightly through the old speakers, the sound a little too loud, a little too raw, spilling into the quiet street. he stood there beneath your window holding it up like it was the only way he knew how to say anything properly, like words alone had already failed him once and he wasn’t about to let it happen again.
you leaned forward against the window frame, resting your elbows on the sill. cold air brushed past you as you looked down at him—really looked this time—and the sight was almost ridiculous in a way that made your chest ache: messy hair from running, shoes that didn’t even belong to him, and that stupidly determined expression like nothing else in the world mattered except the fact that you had told him to come.
“you’re insane,” you called down, though there was no bite to it, only something softer threading through your voice.
“only for you,” he shot back immediately, adjusting his grip on the boombox as the song continued, “but you already knew that, didn’t you?”
the corners of your mouth turned upwards despite yourself, and for a second, neither of you said anything; just let the music fill the space between you, louder than it needed to be, louder than it should be at three in the morning, but somehow still not loud enough to drown out the way your heart raced.
“you were saying something,” he added after a moment, voice not as steady this time, like the run had taken more out of him than he was willing to admit… or maybe it wasn’t the run at all.
you exhaled slowly, like you were trying to gather something that had already slipped out of your control the second you told him to come over, and shook your head slightly.
“i said, i wasn’t saying it over text.”
“good,” he said softer now, lowering the boombox just a little but not enough to turn it off, like he needed the noise as much as you did. “because i wasn’t going to pretend i didn’t understand what you meant.”
his words made you pause, your fingers tightening slightly against the edge of the window frame as you looked at him again, searching for something in his expression that would make this easier, but of course there was nothing easy about him, not when it came to things like this, where everything was obvious and unsaid at the same time, where he showed up without thinking.
“you’re really going to make me say it from up here?” you asked, tilting your head, the hint of a challenge slipping back into your tone like it always did when things got too real.
he didn’t hesitate. “if that’s what it takes.” of course he didn’t.
you let out a quiet laugh under your breath, shaking your head like you should’ve expected that answer, like there had never been a version of him that would back down now that he was already here, standing under your window with borrowed shoes and a boombox like something out of a romcom movie neither of you were supposed to be living in.
“god, you’re annoying,” you said, but there was no weight behind it, nothing sharp enough to push him away.
“yeah,” he smiled, almost like he was matching your tone without realizing it. “you still told me to come.”
you stared at him for a second longer than necessary, like you were committing this moment to memory.
you straightened slightly, pulling back just enough from the window before speaking again.
“wait there.”
“i’ve been waiting,” he frowned.
“just—” you cut yourself off, rolling your eyes at the way he said it. “stay there. i’m coming down.”
without giving him time to argue, you disappeared from the window, the sound of the music still echoing faintly behind you as you moved quickly through your room, heart beating a little too fast for how simple this should’ve been.
by the time you reached the door, your hand hovering over the handle for half a second longer than necessary, you could still hear the song drifting from outside, quieter now but still there, still anchoring the moment in something real.
you opened the door.
the hallway was empty, the building quiet in that late-night or early-morning way that made every small sound feel louder, and you stepped out without overthinking it, moving quickly down the stairs before you could talk yourself out of anything.
he was still there. of course he was.
standing a little closer to the entrance now, boombox lowered but still playing, like he didn’t know whether to follow you or stay put and wait.
he looked up the second the door opened.
you met his gaze for a brief second, and then, because you were you, because you refused to make this bigger than it already was, “are you just going to stand there,” you said, stepping aside and pulling the door open wider, “or are you coming in?”
he blinked once, like he hadn’t expected it to be that simple. the music cut off finally as the song ended.
then, just as quickly, something shifted and he stepped forward without another word, ducking slightly as he walked past you into the building.
you closed the door and had already turned to head back up the stairs before him, not checking if he followed because you didn’t need to. you could hear him behind you anyway.
his footsteps, just a little uneven from the run, fell into pace with yours as you moved up the stairs like this was something you’d done before, like this wasn’t the first time everything had lined up just enough to make sense. halfway up, you slowed just slightly, enough for him to catch up properly.
for a second, neither of you spoke.
“you made me run across the city,” he said quietly. not complaining, just stating it like it meant something. you glanced at him, one corner of your mouth lifting.
“and you still came.”
he didn’t even try to deny it.
“yeah,” he said.
you held his gaze for a second longer than necessary, like you were checking for hesitation, for second thoughts, for anything that might make you pull back, but there was nothing there except him.
so you turned again, continuing up the stairs, aware of him just a step behind you. close enough that you could hear his breathing start to even out. close enough that the quiet between you didn’t feel empty anymore.
by the time you reached your floor, the building felt even quieter than before, like the world had narrowed down to just this hallway, just this moment, just the two of you standing outside your door with something unfinished sitting between you.
you pushed it open, stepping inside first and leaving it open for him.
he followed a second later, hesitating just slightly at the entrance as he slipped off the shoes—definitely not his—and lined them up messily by the door like he wasn’t entirely sure what to do with his hands or with himself, now that he wasn’t running anymore.
“you really wore those out?” you asked, glancing down at the shoes.
“they were the closest ones,” he replied, a little defensive, a little amused, running a hand through his already messy hair. “i didn’t think it mattered.”
you hummed softly, turning away from him and moving further into the room, grabbing the edge of your sleeve absentmindedly like you needed something to do with your hands now too.
“it didn’t,” you said. “you still got here.”
he stepped further in, closing the door behind him this time, the soft click echoing louder than it should have in the stillness. for a second, neither of you moved, like crossing that threshold had shifted something you couldn’t undo.
“you were saying something,” he reminded you, softer now, not pushing, just… waiting.
you let out a slow breath, turning back to face him properly, and suddenly the room felt smaller, like the space between you had shrunk without either of you noticing.
“i know,” you said. and then you didn’t say anything else. not right away.
because for all your straightforwardness, for all the times you’d told him to just say things properly… this was different.
“you told me not to say it over text,” he said quietly, taking a small step closer, like he was testing whether you’d move away. “so, say it now.”
you rolled your eyes slightly, more out of habit than anything, but of course there was no real bite to it.
“you first,” you shot back.
he let out a soft, almost disbelieving laugh, like he should’ve expected that, like this was exactly how it was always going to go with you.
“you’re unbelievable.”
“and you still came,” you replied immediately.
for a second, he just looked at you, like the uncertainty had finally burned out on the run over here and he was left with only what mattered.
“i like you,” he said. no hesitation or build-up. just the truth, standing between you like it had been waiting there the whole time.
your breath caught for half a second, not because you didn’t know, but because hearing it out loud felt different, heavier, and definitely more real than anything.
“yeah,” you said after a beat, quieter now, but just as certain. “i know.”
he narrowed his eyes slightly. “that’s it?”
you tilted your head, watching him, as a smile began to tug on your lips.
“what, you want a speech?”
“i ran here,” he pointed out for the millionth time that night. you stared at him in amusement.
“i like you too,” you said finally. it landed softer than his, but it didn’t need anything more.
for a second, neither of you moved. then, he let out a breath—something like relief slipping through as he shook his head slightly, a small smile breaking through despite everything.
“this whole thing was so unnecessarily complicated.”
“you’re the one who brought a boombox,” you reminded him, shrugging.
“you told me to come over, not how to do it.”
you huffed out a quiet laugh, and the tension finally cracked properly.
before you could think too much about it, you stepped closer. close enough now that the distance between you actually meant something. close enough that you could see the way his expression softened when you did.
“next time,” you said lightly, though your voice didn’t quite match how steady you were trying to sound, “just knock.”
“next time?” he echoed.
instead of answering him, you reached up, brushing your fingers against his sleeve, like you were grounding yourself, like you needed to confirm this was actually happening.
he didn’t move away or joke or deflect anymore. he just stayed there, watching you like you were the only thing he needed to focus on now. and that was what did it.
you closed the remaining distance without overthinking it, pressing your lips to his in a way that wasn’t rushed or hesitant. for half a second, he froze.
then, he leaned in properly, one hand coming up instinctively to steady you, like he’d been waiting for this exact moment without realizing it.
it wasn’t dramatic or perfect, but it was real.
when you pulled back slightly, you could feel him smiling before you even saw it.
“that,” he said softly, a little breathless now for a completely different reason, “was way better than a text.”
you rolled your eyes, but you were smiling too.
“don’t get used to it.”
“too late,” he replied immediately.
you let out a quiet breath, something between a laugh and disbelief, and stepped back just enough to look at him properly.
for a second, neither of you said anything. not because there was nothing to say, but because there was too much.
he rubbed the back of his neck absentmindedly, glancing away for the first time since he got here, like he suddenly didn’t know where to put all that certainty he’d had just moments ago, like the adrenaline that got him through running across the city had finally worn off now that he was standing in front of you with nothing left to hide behind.
“you’re not going to laugh, right?” he said quietly, almost cautious in a way you’d never heard from him before.
you frowned slightly, tilting your head.
“why would i—”
he cut you off before you could finish.
“that was my first kiss.”
the words landed somewhere between awkward and honest, like he hadn’t planned to say it out loud but couldn’t not say it either.
you blinked once. twice. and for the first time that entire night, you didn’t have an immediate response ready.
“…oh,” you said, which was probably the least impressive thing you could’ve come up with, but it was all you had in that moment.
he let out a small, nervous laugh at your reaction, like he regretted saying it now but wasn’t going to take it back.
“yeah,” he added, looking back at you briefly before glancing away again. “so if that was, like, bad or something, then just—don’t—”
“hey.” you cut him off this time, stepping forward again before he could spiral into whatever direction he was clearly heading in. “it wasn’t bad.”
he hesitated, searching your face like he was trying to figure out if you meant that or if you were just saying it to make him feel better.
“…yeah?”
“yeah,” you said, a little more firmly this time. “…it was mine too.”
that got his attention immediately.
his head snapped back toward you, eyes widening just slightly, like that was the last thing he expected you to say.
“wait. seriously? i’m your first kiss too?”
you rolled your eyes, but there was something softer underneath it now, something a little more vulnerable than you were used to letting show.
“no, i just said that for fun,” you joked dryly.
he let out a small laugh at that, relief slipping through so clearly it almost made you smile again.
“that’s—” he started, then stopped, shaking his head slightly like he didn’t quite know how to finish that sentence. “i didn’t think—”
“yeah, well,” you cut in, crossing your arms loosely, not defensive, just… grounding yourself again. “you don’t think a lot of things.”
“fair,” he admitted.
another pause settled between you, but this one felt different—lighter. less like something waiting to happen, and more like something you were both slowly getting used to.
he looked at you again, properly this time, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“so… we just did that.”
you glanced at him, unimpressed.
“don’t make it weird.”
“i’m not making it weird!” he defended, even though he absolutely was. “i’m just saying—it was—”
“normal,” you cut in quickly.
he blinked.
“…yeah,” he said after a second. “normal.”
neither of you believed that—not really. but neither of you pushed it either.
instead, you stepped closer again and nudged his arm lightly.
“come on,” you said, turning slightly toward your room. “you didn’t run all the way here just to stand by the door and overthink it now.”
he followed without arguing, like he always did when it came to you, like that part had never been in question. and as he moved past you, just slightly ahead this time, you caught the small smile he was trying—and failing—to hide.
“hey,” he said suddenly, glancing back at you.
“hm?”
“…we did okay, right?”
you looked at him for a second, then reached out and grabbed his sleeve again, pulling him back just enough to close the distance.
“yeah,” you said, quieter now.
and before he could say anything else, you kissed him again. shorter this time—simpler. still just as certain, though.
when you pulled back, you didn’t give him time to react, already turning away like it hadn’t just happened again.
“stop asking stupid questions,” you added.
behind you, you could hear him laugh softly, a little breathless, and completely unguarded.
“yeah,” he said. “okay.”
after a second, he added—
“we’re not pretending anymore, right?”
you looked at him properly then, the question sitting between you in a way that felt quieter than everything else tonight, but somehow more important.
“no,” you said with certainty.
he nodded once, like that was enough, like he didn’t need anything more than that to understand where this was going.
“good,” he murmured.
you watched him for a second longer, then exhaled lightly, something in your shoulders finally loosening like you hadn’t even realized you’d been holding it there this whole time.
“next time,” you added, a little softer now, “don’t run across the city at three in the morning.”
he smiled, that same quiet, certain kind of smile that had been there all night.
“then don’t call me like that.”
you shook your head, grinning.
“can’t promise that.”
“i know,” he said.
and that was the thing—you didn’t have to promise anything. not tonight. not after this. because somewhere between the noise of the boombox, the quiet of the stairwell, and the way neither of you had walked away—you both realised you were perfect for each other.
☆
later, when the music had faded and the night had settled back into something still and ordinary, it wouldn’t be the confession either of you remembered most.
it would be the way he came without thinking, the way you let him in without pretending, the way nothing about it was planned, and still… it all fit.
like something that had always been waiting; not loud, not dramatic— just certain.
☆ final an. guys i’m gen so emotional it’s not even funny 🥹🥹 hyeonyn my babies 😭 idk why but i’m extremely attached to this series especially, maybe bc of the title and bc i love the 1975 or maybe bc their dynamic reminds me of my bf and me or maybe bc they finally kiss and somehow get together on may 24th according to the fic’s timeline which is the day of my bf’s and my (?) 19 months anniversary 🥹💞
and fawkkkk every one of yall who commented and read this fic—those who were there from the day i posted the intro + those of you who joined as the fic progressed—you’re all such fire mooties 🥹💞 your comments and reblogs added YEARS to my life span 😭 ily guys sm 🫶 thank you for being a part of all of this guys 🥹🥹
˙✧˖°📷 text messages trying to bag seonghyeon (PT 1)
SUMMARY: begging your best friend keonho for his best friends number, eventually getting it, you realize you have to work extra hard to get through him
wasn’t gonna make a part 2 but tumblr discriminates mobile users so😂🤦♀️🤦♀️ stay tuned for part 2 hahaha
SYPNOSIS your eight year relationship with juhoon abruptly comes to an end
WARNINGS/DISCLAIMERS aged up!juhoon (26 y/o), angst with no comfort, cheating, infidelity, toxic relationship, best friend betrayal, broken engagement, emotional manipulation, emotional breakdown, panic attack, self-neglect, tragic ending, hurt no comfort (more warnings, which i unfortunately cannot mention due to spoilers. read at your own risk!)
NOTE i wanna thank @hyuneskkami for helping me with this masterpiece😋love you mama🥺 and uh…sorry in advance? lol..
you spent the better part of the afternoon humming to yourself as you moved around the apartment, your excitement spilling into every little thing you did. the dining table was dressed more carefully than it had been in months, plates lined up perfectly, glasses polished until they caught the warm glow of the lights, and his favorite dishes spread across the table while the comforting smell of home cooked food filled every corner of the apartment. it had been so long since juhoon had come home before it was dark, so long since the two of you had actually sat down together without him rushing out the door or apologizing through a rushed text message. tonight felt different, and for the first time in months, you let yourself believe that maybe things were finally going back to the way they used to be.
unable to keep your excitement to yourself, you called jiwoo the moment you finished setting everything up. the second she answered, your words came tumbling out faster than you could organize them, your smile so wide that your cheeks already hurt. you told her how juhoon had promised he’d be home for dinner, how you had spent all day cooking, and how it almost felt like you were getting your fiancé back after months of feeling like you were living with a stranger. jiwoo laughed softly at how excited you sounded, teasing you for acting like it was your first date all over again, but beneath her jokes was genuine happiness for you. before hanging up, she told you she hoped the two of you had a wonderful night together, and you promised her you’d tell her all about it tomorrow.
once the call ended, you glanced at the clock, your heart fluttering as you realized he was supposed to be home in five minutes. you smoothed out imaginary wrinkles on the tablecloth, adjusted the silverware one last time, and found yourself walking toward the window every few moments to peek outside, convinced you’d see his familiar car pulling into the driveway. every sound from outside made your heart leap before settling again, and despite how silly it felt, you couldn’t stop smiling.
five minutes turned into fifteen, and fifteen quietly stretched into thirty.
you checked your phone, expecting to see a message saying he’d been caught up at work, but the screen remained empty. after sending him a quick text asking if everything was okay, you convinced yourself there was nothing to worry about. work had always been demanding lately, and maybe he’d simply lost track of time. you tried calling him once, only to hear it ring without an answer before going to voicemail. swallowing your disappointment, you told yourself he’d probably call back any minute.
another thirty minutes crawled by with painful slowness, each tick of the clock growing louder inside the quiet apartment until it was almost unbearable. the food had gone cold, the candles had nearly burned themselves out, and your phone still sat silently beside your plate. you called again, then again, each attempt ending the same way. eventually, the hope you’d been desperately holding onto began slipping through your fingers, replaced by a familiar ache that settled heavily in your chest.
your eyes blurred with tears as you slowly stood from the table, staring at the untouched dinner you had spent hours preparing. your hands trembled while you carried each dish back into the kitchen, scraping the food into the trash one plate at a time. every soft clatter of porcelain against the sink felt louder than it should have, echoing through an apartment that suddenly felt far too empty. by the time you finished washing everything, your cheeks were soaked, and your chest hurt from trying so hard not to cry too loudly.
when there was nothing left to clean, you quietly made your way to the bedroom, changing into your pajamas before climbing beneath the blankets. the space beside you remained cold and untouched, making the bed somehow feel much bigger than it actually was. you curled onto your side, clutching the blanket close as you stared into the darkness, willing yourself to fall asleep so you wouldn’t have to think anymore. no matter how tightly you closed your eyes, sleep refused to come, leaving you alone with every unanswered text, every missed call, and every broken promise circling endlessly through your mind.
another hour passed before the silence was finally broken by the sound of the front door unlocking.
“hey, i’m back. sorry, work ran late.” his voice drifted through the apartment as casually as if nothing had happened, and instinctively, you squeezed your eyes shut. you didn’t have the energy to confront him, nor did you trust yourself not to burst into tears the second you looked at him. instead, you forced your breathing into a slow, even rhythm, praying he’d believe you were already asleep.
“y/n?” his footsteps echoed down the hallway before stopping outside the bedroom door. you remained perfectly still, barely daring to breathe as the door creaked open.
“oh, she’s asleep. thank god.”
the quiet scoff that followed struck harder than anything else could have.
your heart seemed to stop altogether before sinking painfully into your stomach. there wasn’t relief in his voice because he was glad you were resting. there was relief because he didn’t have to face you. because he didn’t have to explain himself, apologize, or even pretend to care about how long you’d spent waiting for him. the realization hurt more than being stood up ever could.
a few moments later, he disappeared into the bathroom, and the sound of the shower soon filled the apartment. you lay frozen beneath the blankets, staring into the darkness with tears silently slipping down your face. they soaked into your pillow one after another as the water continued running behind the bathroom door, drowning out the quiet sound of your heart breaking.
at some point, exhaustion became stronger than the ache inside your chest, and despite the tears still staining your face, sleep finally pulled you under.
the next morning, you woke up to an empty bed and a silent apartment. the space beside you was already cold, the sheets neatly pulled back as if juhoon had left hours ago without making a sound. you slowly pushed yourself upright, your body feeling strangely heavy despite having slept through the night. your eyes settled on the blank wall across from the bed, and you simply sat there for several long minutes, unable to find the motivation to move. the events from the night before replayed in your mind over and over again, and the pit in your stomach only seemed to grow deeper with every passing second.
eventually, you reached over to your nightstand and grabbed your phone with tired hands. without thinking twice, you scrolled to jiwoo’s contact and pressed call. she answered almost immediately, her cheerful greeting fading the second she heard the silence on your end.
“hey, can i come over?” you asked quietly, your voice sounding much weaker than you intended.
“of course. is it juhoon again?”
you instinctively nodded before realizing she couldn’t see you through the phone. you let out a quiet breath, rubbing your forehead as exhaustion settled over you.
“yeah. i’ll be there in a few.” you ended the call before she could ask anything else, knowing that if she did, you’d probably start crying all over again.
after washing your face and changing into clean clothes, you quietly left the apartment. the morning air was cool against your skin, and although jiwoo only lived ten minutes away, the walk somehow felt much longer than usual. your feet carried you there on autopilot while your mind remained occupied with unanswered questions, each one heavier than the last. by the time you reached her front door and knocked, it swung open almost immediately, revealing jiwoo already waiting for you with concern written across her face.
she didn’t ask any questions as she stepped aside to let you in, simply wrapping an arm around your shoulders before leading you into the living room. the familiar comfort of her home usually helped calm your nerves, but today, even that felt distant.
as you settled onto the couch, you caught a scent lingering in the room that didn’t belong there. it was unmistakably men’s cologne, fresh enough that whoever had been wearing it couldn’t have left very long ago. you glanced toward jiwoo with a small, tired smile.
“was your boyfriend here?”
a bright blush immediately spread across her cheeks as she sheepishly nodded. “i kicked him out before you came here.”
despite everything weighing on your chest, you couldn’t help letting out a soft laugh.
“i wonder when you’ll finally let me meet him.”
her grin widened, her excitement momentarily overpowering her embarrassment. “soon. i already have something planned.”
you smiled back, genuinely happy for her, even if only for a brief moment.
before long, however, the conversation inevitably drifted back to juhoon.
you told her everything, from the dinner you had spent hours preparing to the endless calls he ignored, the cold food sitting untouched on the table, and the tears you shed while throwing everything away. then you described the moment he finally came home two hours late, the casual apology he offered, and the words that hadn’t stopped echoing in your mind since last night.
“oh, she’s asleep. thank god.”
your voice cracked as you repeated them aloud. “he sounded… relieved. like he didn’t want me awake.”
jiwoo remained silent for several moments, carefully choosing her words before finally speaking. “y/n… has the thought about another woman ever crossed your mind?”
the question caught you completely off guard. you stared at her in confusion, almost certain you had misheard.
“another woman?” you repeated quietly. “jiwoo, what are you talking about? why would he…” your voice began trembling as you shook your head. “no. stop. that’s impossible.”
jiwoo sighed softly, her expression filled with guilt. “just think about it. why would he immediately shower after coming back? why is work always running late? why has he been so distant?”
every word felt like another crack forming beneath your feet. you shook your head more firmly, refusing to let yourself even entertain the possibility. “jiwoo, no. stop it. why would he propose to me if there was another woman?”
for a long moment, she simply looked at you, then her gaze slowly dropped to the diamond ring resting on your finger. “maybe… he didn’t want you to find out.”
the room suddenly felt too quiet.
you stared at her, unable to process what she had just said. it wasn’t anger you felt first, but disbelief. complete, overwhelming disbelief. the idea itself sounded absurd. impossible. after everything the two of you had been through together, after growing up side by side since high school, after nearly a decade of loving each other, after getting engaged only months ago, how could she even suggest something like that?
before you realized what you were doing, you were already standing. “i have to go.”
jiwoo immediately stood as well. “y/n…”
“i need to clean the house.” you grabbed your coat before she could stop you.
“y/n, i’m sorry. it was just a thought. come on, you can’t—”
you didn’t let her finish. you walked straight out the front door, pulling it shut behind you with enough force that it slammed through the quiet neighborhood.
the walk home felt colder than before.
your vision blurred as tears burned behind your eyes, and no matter how many times you blinked them away, they kept returning. you couldn’t believe jiwoo would even suggest something like that. juhoon cheating on you had never crossed your mind, not even once. the idea felt so ridiculous that your brain refused to accept it.
you had been together since high school.
the two of you were twenty six years old now.
you had built your entire adult lives together.
there was simply no way.
the moment you stepped back into the apartment, you threw yourself into cleaning before your thoughts had a chance to catch up. it had always been your way of coping whenever life became too overwhelming. if your mind felt messy, you cleaned until everything around you looked perfect. you dusted every shelf, wiped every countertop until it shined, vacuumed every room twice, and scrubbed surfaces that didn’t even need cleaning. hours passed without you noticing, your body moving automatically while your thoughts remained painfully loud.
eventually, all that remained was the laundry.
you carried the basket into the bathroom before separating everything into piles. your pink sweater landed first, followed by your jeans, a handful of shirts, towels, and finally one of juhoon’s blue work blouses.
you reached toward the washing machine, intending to throw it in with the rest.
something made you stop. your eyes narrowed slightly as you noticed a faint streak of red near the collar. confused, you lifted the blouse closer.
your breathing hitched.
the small red mark wasn’t random.
it wasn’t sauce. it wasn’t ink.
it was lipstick.
your heart lurched violently against your ribs as a wave of nausea rolled through your stomach. your fingers tightened around the fabric while your legs suddenly felt too weak to support your weight. your entire body went cold as your hands began trembling uncontrollably, the room around you seeming to blur for just a second.
unable to stop yourself, you slowly brought the collar closer to your face.
you inhaled.
it wasn’t your perfume and it definitely wasn’t your lipstick.
it was someone else’s.
a sweet floral scent lingered on the fabric, unmistakably feminine. your vision flooded with tears before you even realized you were crying.
with shaking hands, you shoved the blouse into the washing machine so forcefully that it hit the metal drum with a dull thud. you dumped in the detergent without measuring it, slammed the door shut, and pressed the start button so hard your finger hurt.
the machine whirred to life.
you couldn’t.
you couldn’t look at it anymore.
stumbling backward, you rushed out of the bathroom as sobs finally tore free from your chest, hot tears pouring endlessly down your face.
this couldn’t be happening.
not to you.
not to the two of you.
not after everything.
the rest of the day passed in complete silence, and for the first time in years, you never once reached for your phone to text juhoon. no good morning message, no asking if he’d eaten, no wondering what time he’d be home, and no reminding him to drive safely. your conversations had already grown scarce over the past few months, but today, you couldn’t bring yourself to send even a single word. after everything that had happened, after the lipstick stain and the unfamiliar perfume lingering on his shirt, you didn’t know what you were supposed to say anymore.
once you finished cleaning every inch of the apartment, exhaustion finally settled over you. you curled up on the couch with your phone in your hands, absentmindedly scrolling through social media while your mind remained somewhere else entirely. nothing you looked at managed to hold your attention for more than a few seconds before your thoughts wandered back to the same place. every now and then, another tear escaped your eyes, quietly sliding down your cheeks as you stared blankly at your screen, too emotionally drained to even wipe them away right away.
without warning, the sound of the front door unlocking echoed through the apartment.
your head immediately snapped toward the entrance, and you hurriedly brushed the tears from your face with the sleeve of your sweater before sitting up straighter. a second later, juhoon stepped inside, loosening his tie as if today had been no different from any other day. your eyebrows knitted together in confusion the moment you saw him.
it almost felt cruel.
every single time you had something planned with him, every dinner, every movie night, every little date you had looked forward to, he somehow ended up working late or canceling altogether. yet on the days when you expected nothing from him, when there were no plans waiting for him at home, he somehow managed to walk through the front door while the sun was still out.
“hey.” his voice pulled you from your thoughts as he looked over at you with a small smile. “our anniversary is this sunday. i booked us a reservation at your favorite restaurant.”
you simply stared up at him from the couch, your face completely unreadable. instead of smiling back like you normally would have, one quiet question left your lips. “how come you didn’t have to work late again?”
the smile disappeared almost instantly. his shoulders tensed, and the annoyance that crossed his face wasn’t subtle enough for him to hide. “don’t start, y/n. you know i have no control over my work schedule.”
you held his gaze for several long seconds before letting out a quiet, humorless laugh.
“fine then.” your voice remained calm, almost too calm. “we’ll go to the restaurant on sunday.”
you slowly stood from the couch, slipping your phone into your pocket as you walked past him. “let’s see if you actually show up.”
you didn’t bother looking back as you headed toward the bedroom, but you heard his footsteps following closely behind you.
“why are you mad about this again?” he asked, frustration becoming more obvious with every word. “i’ve told you countless times that my work schedule can change at any time.”
his explanation sounded exactly like every other excuse he’d given over the past several months.
only this time, you didn’t believe it.
not after that blouse.
you slowly turned around until you were facing him again, your expression empty despite the storm raging inside your chest. “aren’t you gonna shower?”
the question seemed to catch him completely off guard.
you tilted your head ever so slightly, refusing to look away. “you always shower after coming home late from work, right?”
the color drained from his face so quickly that it almost startled you.
his eyes widened for only a fraction of a second before he tried forcing his expression back into something neutral, but it was already too late.
you had seen it.
the panic.
the hesitation.
the guilt.
neither of you spoke.
the bedroom fell into a suffocating silence as you simply stared at one another, neither willing to break eye contact. your heart pounded so violently that you could hear it in your ears, and although you desperately wanted him to deny it, to laugh and ask what you were talking about, he never did.
instead, after what felt like an eternity, he quietly looked away.
“sure,” he finally muttered. “i’ll go shower.”
without another word, he began unbuttoning his blue blouse as he walked past you toward the bathroom.
the sound of the bathroom door clicking shut echoed through the apartment.
you stood there for only a moment before turning away yourself, your legs suddenly feeling too weak to keep you standing. somehow, you managed to make it back into the living room before the first tear escaped.
then another.
and another.
soon, they were falling faster than you could wipe them away. you sank back onto the couch, covering your mouth with your hand to muffle the quiet sob that escaped your throat.
you hated it.
you hated that the tiny seed jiwoo had planted in your mind was beginning to grow.
because after seeing the look on juhoon’s face, you were starting to believe she had been right all along.
sunday arrived far quicker than you wanted it to, carrying with it the anniversary you had spent days trying not to think about. the afternoon before, you had gone shopping with jiwoo, wandering through boutiques while she laughed beside you as if everything between the two of you was perfectly normal. together, you picked out a delicate necklace, matching earrings, a pair of heels that made you feel elegant, and a soft pink dress that immediately reminded you of all the times juhoon had smiled and told you that pink was your color. you smiled along with her, forcing yourself to ignore the strange feeling sitting in the pit of your stomach.
you weren’t even sure why you had spent so much money or why you had put so much effort into preparing for tonight. maybe somewhere deep inside, beneath all the doubt and fear, you were desperately clinging to the hope that you had misunderstood everything. maybe the lipstick had some innocent explanation. maybe the perfume belonged to a coworker who had hugged him goodbye. maybe he really had been working late all those nights. maybe this distance between the two of you was just a rough patch that would disappear as suddenly as it had appeared.
after all, he wouldn’t ask you to marry him just to make sure cheating would never cross your mind.
right?
you refused to let yourself think any further.
for nearly three hours, you stood in front of the mirror, carefully getting ready. you slipped into the pink dress because you remembered how his face used to light up whenever you wore that color. you applied your makeup exactly the way he always said made your eyes look beautiful, curled your hair the way he loved running his fingers through it, and chose every piece of jewelry with careful attention. by the time you finished, you hardly recognized yourself anymore. every little detail had been chosen with one hope in mind.
that maybe he would finally look at you again.
he had promised to pick you up after work.
so you waited.
the first thirty minutes passed quietly as you sat by the window with your phone resting in your lap. after sending him a quick message asking if he was on his way, you smiled to yourself, convincing yourself that he was probably caught in traffic. he hated texting while driving, and you had always respected that, so you patiently waited for another notification to appear.
none ever did.
one hour passed.
then another.
then a third.
the sunlight slowly disappeared beyond the windows, leaving the apartment darker with every passing minute until you were sitting alone in complete silence, still wearing the dress you had spent hours preparing yourself in.
your phone remained silent.
just like every other time.
the tears came before you even realized you were crying.
your vision blurred as you unlocked your phone and opened your messages with trembling hands.
can you come over?
he ghosted me again.
jiwoo replied almost immediately.
come over. now.
you stared at her message for several seconds before quietly standing up.
there was no point wearing the dress anymore.
you carefully unzipped it, folded it back into its garment bag, slipped your heels off, and changed into comfortable clothes instead. after tying your hair into a simple ponytail, you grabbed your keys and left the apartment without another thought.
the walk to jiwoo’s house felt strangely quiet.
your mind was numb.
your heart was exhausted.
when you finally reached her front door, you knocked twice before waiting.
no answer.
assuming she hadn’t heard you, you entered the familiar code she had shared with you years ago and let yourself inside like you had done countless times before.
the moment you stepped into the living room, your entire world shattered.
time seemed to stop.
your breathing caught painfully in your throat as your eyes landed on the couch.
jiwoo and juhoon.
his hand was resting against her waist. her fingers were tangled in his hair. their lips were pressed together.
they were making out.
for a second, your brain refused to understand what your eyes were seeing.
everything around you blurred.
your ears rang.
your knees nearly gave out beneath you. “…what the fuck.”
your voice came out barely louder than a whisper. they immediately jerked apart.
juhoon’s eyes shot toward you, every ounce of color draining from his face before panic completely overtook his expression. he shoved jiwoo away from him so abruptly that she stumbled backward against the couch cushions.
tears flooded your eyes almost instantly.
you couldn’t breathe.
you couldn’t think.
all you could do was stare at your fiancé and your best friend.
the woman who had been more like a sister to you than anyone else.
“y/n…” juhoon’s voice cracked as he hurried to his feet. “what are you… why are you here?!”
he quickly started walking toward you.
your gaze drifted past him.
jiwoo was still sitting comfortably on the couch. she wasn’t crying or shocked. she wasn’t apologizing, either.
intead, she was smiling.
no.
she was smirking.
the expression on her face made something inside you click into place.
your eyes slowly widened as every late night, every canceled dinner, every ignored phone call, every conversation you had ever had with her came crashing together all at once.
your lips trembled. “you…” your voice barely existed anymore. “you did this on purpose.”
jiwoo’s smile didn’t disappear.
“every time we had something planned…” another tear rolled down your cheek. “every single time i told you about it…”
the realization hit you so violently that it almost made you sick. “you kept him from coming.”
silence filled the room.
juhoon’s breathing became uneven.
before you could even process what was happening, his hand suddenly wrapped around your wrist.
“y/n.” he pulled you toward the front door. “come outside.”
your feet stumbled after him in complete shock as he hurried you out of the apartment and into the hallway before finally letting go.
the door slammed shut behind the two of you. for several seconds, you simply stood there, your mind struggling to catch up with reality.
then you looked down at his hand which was still wrapped around your wrist.
anger exploded through your body. you ripped your arm away with all the strength you had before forcefully shoving him backward.
he stumbled several steps before catching himself.
“you have some nerve, kim juhoon.” your voice shook violently through your sobs as tears streamed uncontrollably down your face. “why did you propose to me?”
he stared at you in complete panic, his own eyes beggining to fill with tears.
“y/n, i swear to you…” his voice cracked. “you’re the one i love.”
he desperately shook his head. “i don’t love jiwoo. please, believe me.” he took another cautious step toward you. “you’re the one i want.”
the words reached your ears, but after everything you had just seen, they had never sounded more meaningless.
the walk back to the apartment felt endless, even though neither of you said much. juhoon stayed only a few steps behind you the entire time, his voice constantly breaking the silence as he begged you to slow down, to look at him, to let him explain. every few seconds, he called your name again, his words growing more desperate when you refused to even acknowledge that he was there. you kept your eyes fixed straight ahead, your vision blurred by tears that refused to stop falling, while your chest ached so badly that every breath felt painful. somewhere behind you, you could hear him crying too, but the sound only made something inside you twist even tighter.
by the time you reached your apartment building, your hands were shaking so violently that you struggled to unlock the front door. the second you stepped inside, you didn’t bother taking off your shoes. juhoon hurried in after you, closing the door behind him as he continued pleading with you.
“y/n, please. just listen to me.”
you acted as though he hadn’t spoken at all.
instead, you marched straight into the bedroom and yanked open the closet doors with enough force that they slammed against the wall. before juhoon could understand what you were doing, you had already begun grabbing armfuls of his clothes and throwing them onto the floor. shirts, jeans, hoodies, jackets, everything you could reach landed in a growing pile at your feet, each piece hitting the ground harder than the last as months of heartbreak poured into every movement.
“what… what are you doing?! y/n!” he rushed forward and grabbed both of your shoulders, forcing you to turn toward him.
the moment your eyes met his, another sob tore from your throat. without hesitation, you shoved him away as hard as you could.
“pack your shit.” your voice cracked so badly it barely sounded like your own. “go move in with jiwoo since you love her so much.”
you grabbed one of his hoodies from the closet and threw it directly at his chest. it fell uselessly onto the floor between the two of you.
juhoon stared at you as though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “are you insane?” he asked, his voice trembling with panic. “what are you talking about? you’re not thinking straight, y/n.”
the words shattered what little control you still had.
“isn’t that funny?” you cried, tears pouring endlessly down your face. “because i thought i was going insane for months trying to figure out why my fiancé suddenly stopped loving me.”
your breathing became uneven as another sob escaped. “it’s our fucking eight year anniversary, juhoon.” your voice echoed through the apartment. “eight years.”
you grabbed another armful of clothes and threw them at him one after another. “eight years i’ve spent loving you, only for you to make every single one of them a waste.”
another hoodie struck his shoulder before falling to the floor. “go live with fucking jiwoo, you piece of shit.”
your voice broke completely. “go.”
juhoon ran both hands through his hair, tears spilling freely down his own face as frustration finally overtook him.
“can’t you just listen to me for one second?” he shouted. “just—fuck!— listen to me!”
you didn’t answer, instead, you grabbed his wrist and began dragging him toward the front door with every ounce of strength you had left.
“get out.”
he resisted. “y/n…”
“get out!”
suddenly, he pushed you away harder than he meant to.
your body stumbled backward before your back slammed violently against the wall. the impact knocked the air straight out of your lungs.
a sharp pain spread across your back as you instinctively gasped for breath, your knees threatening to give out beneath you.
everything became quiet.
neither of you moved.
juhoon’s expression changed almost instantly. the anger disappeared from his face, replaced by horror. his eyes darted over your trembling figure as though he couldn’t believe what he’d just done.
after several painfully long seconds, he slowly stepped toward you. “hey…” his voice had become almost a whisper. “are you okay?”
another hesitant step. “i’m sorry. i…”
before he could finish speaking, your hand flew across his face.
the slap echoed through the apartment.
his head snapped to the side from the force of it.
for several seconds, neither of you moved.
juhoon slowly lifted a hand to his cheek, his eyes wide with complete disbelief as he looked back at you.
your face remained empty.
there was no anger left.
no screaming.
no energy.
just heartbreak.
he stared at you for what felt like forever before his shoulders slowly slumped.
without saying another word, he bent down and silently gathered a few of the clothes scattered across the floor. he didn’t try to explain himself again. he didn’t beg you to stay. he simply walked toward the front door with tears still falling down his face.
the door opened, then quietly closed behind him. the sound of it clicking shut echoed through the apartment.
your legs finally gave out.
you collapsed onto the floor where you stood, your entire body shaking as loud, uncontrollable sobs tore through your chest. the apartment that had once been filled with laughter, late night conversations, and dreams of a future together now felt unbearably empty.
the next four days blurred together until you could barely tell where one ended and another began. every hour felt exactly the same, every morning looked identical to every night, and time no longer seemed to matter. the apartment had become painfully quiet without juhoon’s presence, yet somehow it still felt like he was everywhere. his mug still sat in the kitchen cabinet, his shampoo remained untouched in the bathroom, and a few of his hoodies were still hanging where you had forgotten to throw them out. every room carried memories that now felt impossible to escape.
you hadn’t showered once.
you hadn’t brushed your teeth.
you hadn’t eaten anything besides taking a few absentminded sips of water whenever your throat became too dry to cry anymore.
most days, you didn’t even leave your bed.
you simply lay beneath the blankets with the curtains drawn shut, staring blankly at the ceiling until your eyes filled with tears all over again. sleep rarely came, and when it did, it only lasted an hour or two before you woke up expecting to find everything had just been a nightmare. every single time, reality came crashing back before you had even fully opened your eyes.
your phone never stopped buzzing.
every thirty minutes, almost like clockwork, another notification lit up your screen.
they were always from juhoon.
at first, he begged you to answer.
then he apologized.
then he apologized again.
he told you he missed you more than words could explain. he said he wished he could go back and undo everything. he admitted he was staying alone in a hotel because he couldn’t bring himself to return to the apartment after what happened. he promised you he hadn’t spoken to jiwoo once in the four days since you caught them together.
every message ended the same way.
please talk to me.
please.
you never replied.
you couldn’t.
every time you saw his name appear across your screen, your chest tightened until breathing became difficult all over again.
the silence from jiwoo hurt just as much.
there wasn’t a single apology.
not one explanation.
not even an excuse.
after everything the two of you had shared throughout your lives, she had simply disappeared as though none of it had ever mattered.
that somehow made everything feel even more cruel.
it was nearly one in the morning when another wave of sobs overtook you.
your face was buried deep in your pillow as tears soaked through the fabric for what felt like the hundredth time that week. your eyes burned from crying so much, your head pounded relentlessly, and your entire body ached from lying in the same position for hours.
then your phone vibrated again.
you almost ignored it.
almost.
with trembling fingers, you reached across the mattress and unlocked your screen.
your heart immediately sank.
come to the rooftop.
you stared at the message without moving.
the words seemed so simple, yet they carried a weight that made your stomach twist painfully. you considered locking your phone again and pretending you had never seen it but before you could decide, another notification appeared.
please.
we have to talk sooner or later.
your thumb hovered over the screen as you read the message again and again and again.
nearly a full minute passed before you finally let out a shaky breath.
maybe he was right. whether it happened tonight or weeks from now, this conversation couldn’t be avoided forever.
slowly, you pushed the blankets away from your body and sat upright.
the movement alone made your head spin. your muscles protested after spending so many days curled up in bed, and a dull ache immediately settled behind your eyes. you remained sitting on the edge of the mattress until the dizziness faded enough for you to stand.
your reflection in the bathroom mirror barely resembled the person you remembered.
your eyes were swollen from days of crying, dark circles rested heavily beneath them, and your hair had become tangled and greasy after nearly a week without washing it.
for a long moment, you simply stared at yourself.
then you quietly reached for your toothbrush. the familiar mint taste almost felt foreign after four days. once you finished, you gathered your hair into a messy ponytail with trembling hands before taking one last look at your reflection.
after slipping your phone into your pocket, you quietly stepped into the hallway.
every footstep echoed softly as you climbed the stairs toward the rooftop, your heartbeat growing louder with every floor you passed. by the time you reached the final door, your hand rested against the handle, but you couldn’t bring yourself to push it open.
fear settled heavily in your chest.
you didn’t know what he was going to say. you weren’t sure you even wanted to hear it.
closing your eyes for only a second, you took one slow, shaky breath before you turned the handle.
the rooftop was almost exactly the way you remembered it.
the cool night breeze drifted across the concrete, carrying the faint sounds of traffic from far below while the moon hung high above the city, glowing softly against the dark sky. juhoon stood with his back facing you, his hands resting inside the pockets of his jacket as he quietly looked up at it.
for a moment, everything around you disappeared.
your mind dragged you backward through years of memories you had spent trying to forget over the last few days. nights spent sitting together against the rooftop wall with steaming cups of convenience store ramen balanced on your knees, laughing until your stomach hurt over absolutely nothing, listening to him ramble while you watched the moon instead of him because he always knew that was where your attention wandered. he never got jealous of it. if anything, he always smiled whenever he caught you staring at the sky, gently nudging your shoulder before pointing out a brighter star or a passing plane just to make you smile.
he knew how much the moon meant to you.
he knew it had always been your favorite place.
slowly, he turned around. the second his eyes landed on you, relief washed over his exhausted features. his lips curved into a small, fragile smile. “you came.”
before he could say anything else, you crossed the distance between the two of you in quick, angry steps.
your hand collided sharply against his cheek. the crack echoed across the empty rooftop.
the slap wasn’t nearly as hard as the first one, but it still forced his head to turn slightly.
he didn’t lift a hand to defend himself.
he didn’t tell you to stop.
he simply looked back at you in silence.
the red mark blooming across his cheek was the only sign he’d even felt it.
“you’re a piece of shit, juhoon.” your voice trembled violently. “i don’t even know why you kept me around.”
tears blurred your vision again. “if you fell out of love with me, then you should’ve broken up with me.”
he lowered his head. a tear slipped from beneath his lashes before disappearing onto the concrete below.
he nodded slowly, accepting every word without interruption.
that only made you angrier. “you stayed with me for eight years.” your breathing became increasingly uneven.
“eight years.” another sob escaped before you forced yourself to continue.
“you proposed to me…” your hand instinctively clenched around the engagement ring still resting on your finger.
“for what?” you laughed bitterly through your tears. “just so you could cheat on me with my best friend?” your voice cracked. “that’s why?”
juhoon remained silent. his shoulders shook almost imperceptibly. “jiwoo probably doesn’t even fucking like you.”
another step, then another. “she used you.” you were close enough now to see fresh tears streaming down his face. “she did it because she wanted to ruin me.”
he slowly took another step backward without thinking. his heel landed dangerously close to the edge.
his eyes flickered behind him, and the realization crossed his face immediately.
he straightened slightly. “y/n…” his voice was barely above a whisper. “back up a little.”
you didn’t even hear him. all you could hear was your own heartbeat pounding violently inside your ears.
all you could see was every broken promise.
every ignored phone call.
every empty chair across the dinner table.
every tear you had cried alone.
“i loved you.” your voice broke completely.
you took another step.
“i loved you so much it hurt.”
you stood directly in front of him now. your finger pressed sharply against the center of his chest.
“i always put you before myself.” your shove wasn’t hard. it barely moved him.
“i always cared more about your feelings than my own.”
his breathing quickened. “y/n…” his voice became urgent. “i’m gonna…”
you didn’t stop.
“i truly…” your finger jabbed against his chest a second time. “…hope it was worth it.”
the movement was small. so small that, later, your mind would replay it a thousand times trying to convince yourself it hadn’t happened.
his foot searched for solid ground but there wasn’t any.
his weight shifted backward, his eyes widening.
his arms instinctively reached outward, desperately searching for something to hold onto.
there was nothing.
“y/n.” your name escaped his lips in a frightened whisper.
his body tilted farther backward while you watched it happen in horrifying slow motion.
his balance disappeared completely, his shoes slipping over the edge.
for one impossible second, he seemed suspended in the air, his face frozen somewhere between shock and regret as the wind caught his jacket.
then gravity took him.
“juhoon!” the scream tore itself from your throat before you even realized you had moved.
you lunged forward, throwing yourself toward the edge with both hands outstretched.
your fingertips brushed against his and for the briefest fraction of a second, they touched.
then they slipped apart.
his hand remained reaching toward you as he fell, fingers desperately extended as though he still believed you could somehow pull him back.
tears streamed freely from his eyes, carried upward by the rushing wind.
he never looked away from you.
not once.
your name formed silently on his lips again, then he disappeared beneath the edge.
“no!” you collapsed onto your knees as you looked over the rooftop.
far below, his body plummeted toward the pavement impossibly fast, becoming smaller and smaller until a sickening thud echoed through the night.
the sound ripped through you.
it didn’t even seem real.
for one long, unbearable second everything became silent.
then came the screaming.
distant voices rose from the street below, filled with confusion and horror as people rushed toward where he had fallen. someone cried out for an ambulance. another voice shouted for someone to call the police.
your entire body went numb.
you stumbled backward away from the edge so quickly that you nearly fell yourself.
your hands flew to your mouth.
your chest tightened so violently that no matter how desperately you tried to inhale, your lungs refused to cooperate.
air wouldn’t come.
your heartbeat became deafening.
your vision blurred until you could barely see through the tears pouring uncontrollably down your face.
instinct took over.
before anyone below could think to look upward, you retreated farther into the darkness of the rooftop, pressing yourself against the wall with trembling legs that refused to hold your weight.
your entire body shook uncontrollably.
you clutched at your chest, desperately trying to force yourself to breathe, but every breath caught painfully in your throat before dissolving into another broken sob.
this wasn’t supposed to happen.
you hadn’t wanted this.
you had only wanted answers.
instead, the man you had loved for eight years had disappeared over the edge right in front of you, and the image of his outstretched hand reaching helplessly toward yours burned itself into your mind so deeply that you knew you would never escape it.
WARNINGS/DISCLAIMERS established relationship, fluff, snowball fight, playful teasing.
NOTE this is dedicated to my bby @hyuneskkami because she was feeling down and i hate seeing my mom feel sad ok? ok😁 no i wont say the L word tho..btw im gonna be asleep when this posts so i better wake up to hundreds of messages from you😋thanks!
you were huddled beneath the thick covers, curled into yourself as quiet little snores escaped your lips, completely unaware of the world beyond your bedroom. sleep had wrapped itself around you so deeply that nothing seemed capable of pulling you out of it, not the faint sounds coming from downstairs, not the footsteps echoing through the hallway, and certainly not the occasional cupboard closing a little louder than necessary. the warmth surrounding you felt too comfortable to leave, and every passing minute only seemed to sink you further into your dreams.
meanwhile, james had already been awake for hours, wandering around the house with growing impatience as he waited for you to wake up on your own. he had made breakfast, cleaned the kitchen, and even intentionally made more noise than usual, hoping the clatter of dishes or the hum of the coffee machine would finally stir you awake, but nothing worked. after standing outside your bedroom for a moment with an amused sigh, he finally decided he had run out of patience.
without a word, he marched over to the bed and yanked the covers completely off you.
the cold hit you instantly.
your entire body tensed as goosebumps spread across your skin, and with a sleepy groan you instinctively curled yourself into a tight ball, trying to preserve what little warmth you had left. your eyes remained stubbornly shut as you hugged your knees closer to your chest.
“james…” you mumbled, your voice rough with sleep. “what are you doing? it’s cold.”
instead of apologizing, he simply grabbed one of the pillows and dropped it onto your face with a dramatic huff. “open your eyes and look out the window.”
before you could complain again, he had already walked out of the room.
you let out a long, exhausted sigh as you pushed the pillow off your face and slowly sat up, rubbing your eyes with both hands while another yawn escaped you. your hair was sticking out in every direction, your brain still struggling to catch up with reality as you blinked away the last traces of sleep. with slow, reluctant movements, you turned your head toward the large window beside your bed.
the moment your eyes landed outside, every ounce of tiredness disappeared.
your mouth slowly fell open because the entire world had transformed overnight.
thick blankets of untouched snow covered the garden, every rooftop wore a layer of sparkling white, and tiny snowflakes continued drifting lazily from the gray morning sky. the trees looked as though they had been dusted with powdered sugar, their branches glistening beneath the soft winter light. everything looked impossibly quiet, peaceful, and magical.
your heart nearly burst.
without thinking, you jumped off the bed and sprinted out of the room, your socks sliding slightly across the wooden floor as you raced downstairs.
“james!” you shouted before you had even reached the kitchen. “it snowed!”
he was standing by the stove plating your breakfast when he looked over at you with the smile he had been waiting to wear all morning. “i tried to wake you up earlier, but you—“ he never got to finish.
a loud, excited squeal escaped your lips as you threw yourself into his arms without warning, wrapping your arms tightly around his neck. he stumbled back only slightly before laughing, his own arms automatically finding your waist to steady you as you bounced with excitement.
“it snowed!” you practically yelled into his ear. “i haven’t seen snow in years!”
your excitement was so contagious that james couldn’t stop laughing, shaking his head as you continued talking over yourself, barely able to get the words out between happy squeals.
“okay, y/n,” he chuckled, gently easing you back onto your feet while keeping his hands on your sides. “you have to eat first. then get dressed and we’ll go outside and play.”
your eyes lit up even brighter, if that was somehow possible.
you quickly leaned forward and pressed a noisy kiss against his cheek before spinning toward the kitchen counter, grabbing the plate he had prepared and hurrying to the dining table. you barely sat down before you started shoveling food into your mouth, determined to finish as quickly as humanly possible so you could run outside.
james watched from across the room with the fondest smile, resting against the counter as he admired how unbelievably excited you looked over something as simple as snow. there was something about seeing you so openly happy that made every second of trying to wake you this morning completely worth it.
“look up.”
you glanced toward him with your cheeks puffed full of food, still chewing as confusion spread across your face.
before you could ask why, the familiar click of his polaroid camera filled the room.
he grinned immediately, waving the developing photograph in the air before watching the image slowly appear.
“ah, so cute,” he laughed softly, before he walked over and held it out for you to see.
there you were, sitting at the worn brown wooden table with messy morning hair, still wrapped in oversized pajamas as you stared toward the camera with a mouth full of breakfast and wide, sparkling eyes. behind you, the large window perfectly framed the snowy landscape outside, making the entire picture feel warm despite the freezing weather waiting beyond the glass.
you couldn’t stop smiling as you looked at it. “you’re never getting rid of that, are you?” you asked.
james slipped the photograph between his fingers like it was the most valuable thing he owned and smiled. “never.”
the second you finished the last bite of your breakfast, you were already pushing your chair back, completely ignoring the dirty plate you had left behind as you hurried away from the table. james called after you, reminding you to at least bring it to the sink, but his words barely registered because your mind was already somewhere outside, buried beneath fresh snow. you rushed into the bathroom, quickly brushing your teeth while practically bouncing in place, then splashed cold water over your face before throwing on the thickest clothes you owned, layering sweaters beneath your coat and pulling on warm socks, boots, gloves, and a knitted scarf that nearly swallowed the lower half of your face.
by the time you came downstairs, james was still sitting on the small bench by the front door, calmly tying the laces of his winter boots as though he had all the time in the world. meanwhile, you were already dressed from head to toe, your hands shoved into your pockets as you bounced impatiently from one foot to the other.
“come on, james, come on!” you whined, practically hopping in place as you stared at him with wide, eager eyes.
he only laughed to himself, deliberately taking even longer as he tightened the final knot before finally standing up. the moment he did, you grabbed onto his sleeve without hesitation and practically dragged him toward the front door before he even had the chance to grab his keys properly.
the cold winter air greeted you the instant you stepped outside, the front door clicking shut behind you with a quiet sound that disappeared beneath the peaceful silence blanketing the neighborhood. everything looked untouched, the fresh layer of snow covering gardens, fences, rooftops, and sidewalks in a soft blanket of white that sparkled beneath the pale morning sun.
you took one slow breath, closing your eyes as the crisp winter air filled your lungs, carrying that familiar scent of snow, pine, and frozen earth that you had missed for years. a peaceful smile spread across your face as you stood there for just a moment, soaking in the quiet beauty surrounding you.
then something cold exploded against the side of your head.
you let out a startled scream as the snowball burst against your temple, sending powdery snow flying into your hair and down the side of your coat. you instinctively ducked and threw your hands over your face, already too late to avoid the attack as bits of snow slid down your neck.
behind you, james doubled over laughing. he laughed so hard he could barely breathe, clutching at his stomach while pointing at the horrified expression on your face, completely unable to stop himself. his laughter echoed through the otherwise silent street until his cheeks turned bright red, tears gathering in the corners of his eyes.
meanwhile, you simply stood there, covering your face.
james blinked, still chuckling as he slowly straightened himself. “what happened?” he asked between laughs. “did it hurt you? y/n, babe, come on. it’s just snow.”
still laughing, he walked closer, reaching out as though he wanted to brush the snow out of your hair.
that was exactly what you had been waiting for.
the second he stepped within reach, your hands shot forward and grabbed both of his shoulders before giving him one hard shove.
his eyes widened instantly. a high pitched shriek escaped him as his boots lost all grip against the icy pavement, sending him crashing backward into the thick snow with a muffled thump that scattered white powder everywhere.
for one brief second, complete silence settled between you, and then you burst into uncontrollable laughter.
you laughed so hard your knees nearly gave out beneath you, pointing at james as he lay sprawled in the snow with the most offended expression imaginable. he stared up at the cloudy sky in disbelief before slowly turning his head toward you, narrowing his eyes with a grin that immediately made your laughter die in your throat.
“don’t you dare.”
he pushed himself upright without saying another word.
you took one cautious step backward.
he took one forward.
you both held eye contact for exactly one second before you turned around and bolted.
your laughter echoed through the neighborhood as you sprinted down the snowy sidewalk, boots slipping every few steps while james chased after you, shouting empty threats between his own laughter. every sharp turn nearly sent you crashing into the snowbanks lining the road, and more than once you had to flail your arms wildly just to stay upright.
“james, no!” you screamed through your laughter as you nearly slipped again. “leave me alone!”
“no!” his footsteps grew louder behind you with every passing second until you risked one quick glance over your shoulder, only to realize he had almost caught up.
you shrieked and tried to run even faster but it lasted all of three more seconds.
strong arms suddenly wrapped around your waist from behind just as your boots slid across a patch of ice, completely stealing your balance. james barely had enough time to laugh before his own feet slipped out from beneath him, and together the two of you toppled sideways into the deep snow.
you landed in a tangled heap, completely unharmed thanks to the thick blanket beneath you.
for few moments, both you remained unmoving before your eyes met and the laughter returned instantly.
it was loud, breathless, and completely uncontrollable as you both lay there half buried in snow, struggling to catch your breath while your stomachs began to ache from laughing so much. every time one of you started calming down, the other would look over and start laughing all over again, until tears streamed down both of your faces and the quiet winter morning became filled with nothing but the sound of your happiness.
after spending far longer outside than either of you had originally planned, your fingers had gone numb despite your gloves, your cheeks were flushed pink from the cold, and both of your jackets were dusted with layers of melting snow. somewhere along the way, the two of you had decided to build a snowman, although calling it a snowman felt generous considering its uneven body, crooked stick arms, and the face that somehow looked permanently confused. the carrot nose had fallen off three separate times, one eye sat much higher than the other, and james insisted the oddly shaped lump on top counted as hair. every time you looked at it, you dissolved into another fit of laughter until the ridiculous little creation somehow became your favorite snowman you had ever made.
eventually, the cold became impossible to ignore, and you both hurried back inside, stomping the snow off your boots before peeling away your soaked scarves, gloves, and coats. warmth immediately wrapped around you as the heater hummed softly through the house, making your frozen fingers sting while they slowly warmed back up. james disappeared into the bathroom first for a hot shower while you waited patiently, curling yourself beneath a blanket on the couch and smiling every time you glanced out the window at the snowy yard.
once he finished, you slipped into the bathroom yourself, grateful for the steaming water that immediately chased away every lingering trace of winter from your skin. meanwhile, james wandered into the kitchen with damp hair and comfortable clothes, deciding to make chicken alfredo pasta while you finished getting ready.
when you finally turned the shower off, warm steam still clung to your skin as you wrapped a towel around yourself and carefully cracked open the bathroom door. you poked your head into the hallway first, quietly checking both directions to make sure james wasn’t nearby before making a run for it.
with one hand desperately holding your towel in place, you sprinted across the hardwood floor toward your shared bedroom, your slightly damp feet nearly slipping beneath you more than once before you finally made it safely inside.
after digging through james’s side of the closet like you always did, you pulled on one of his oversized t shirts that nearly reached your thighs along with a pair of loose gray sweatpants that were much too long for you. you rolled the waistband once before leaving the bottoms bunched around your ankles anyway, your wet hair dripping little drops of water onto your shoulders as you wandered back downstairs.
the rich smell of garlic, butter, and parmesan greeted you long before you reached the kitchen.
“smells amazing,” you said as you leaned against the doorway.
james looked over from the stove and smiled to himself before stirring the sauce one last time. “pick out a movie.”
“okay!” you called back happily. you practically threw yourself onto the couch, grabbing the remote before scrolling through movie after movie until your face lit up.
without another second of hesitation, you selected frozen ii. “do i press play?” you shouted toward the kitchen.
“yeah!” james called back. “you know i find the start of movies boring.”
a quiet laugh escaped you as you rolled your eyes to yourself before pressing play.
the familiar music filled the living room as the opening scenes began, and you immediately settled deeper into the couch, already smiling despite knowing practically every scene by heart.
about fifteen minutes later, james finally walked into the living room carrying two steaming plates balanced carefully in his hands. he lowered them onto the coffee table before his eyes wandered toward the television screen.
he stared for a long second, then he sighed dramatically. “seriously? again?”
you looked over at him with complete innocence, shrugging one shoulder. “what? you told me to pick out a movie.”
“it’s not even the first one,” he complained as he sat down. “it’s the second movie.”
“exactly,” you replied with a satisfied nod, as though that somehow explained everything.
he only shook his head, muttering something under his breath while you reached forward to grab your plate.
“just go bring me my coke, boy,” you scoffed dramatically before settling comfortably back against the couch cushions.
james stared at you in disbelief. “unbelievable.” he let out the most exaggerated groan imaginable as he pushed himself back to his feet. “it’s like i’m a maid around here,” he sighed loudly enough to make sure you heard every word.
“you’ll survive.”
he shot you one last offended look before disappearing into the kitchen, though you could already hear him laughing quietly to himself before he even reached the refrigerator.
a few moments later, he returned carrying two cold cans of coke, handing one to you before dropping onto the couch beside you with another theatrical sigh. despite all his complaining, he automatically shifted closer until your shoulders rested comfortably against one another, and without even thinking, you leaned into him as the movie continued playing, both of you digging into your plates while the warm smell of homemade pasta mixed with the cozy sounds of winter quietly lingering outside.
✿ ───── in which , eom seonghyeon was bet a hundred that he can’t bag a date. unfortunately for you, you became that very date of his, unaware that you were only asked out because of the stupid bet.
first post #hopeidontflop && ik this is really long, but i didn’t want to make too many parts. so hopefully just a part 2 and then that’s that !! oh n ik this seems long but when you read, the actual plot lwk rushed 😅😅 mb for that
𝒮YN ╱ Eom Seonghyeon is known as many things: Eom Seonghyeon (of course), the school band's lead singer, and the school’s player. He really only dates students who confess to him for the fun of it, breaking it off when he gets bored. When he lands eyes on another during their showcase, he's feeling things he's never felt before. With the way his friends provoke him to get to know you through a bet, of course he'll make it his goal to, though, who was going to tell him that you terribly despise his guts?
OR IN WHICH . . . Eom Seonghyeon falls head over heels for the girl in the front row. He knows he doesn’t have the best reputation, but with the way his friends indulge in his competitiveness with a bet, he can’t stop himself from trying to win you over. Spoiler alert: the girl in the front row also has her own feelings for him.
•ㄑ𝒞ONT ★ smau school au oneside enemies to lovers romcom angst he fell first, he fell harder profanity random timestamps somewhat player!seonghyeon a bet is involved more coming soon
─── STATUS coming soon ! ( updates will be stated )
𓂅 if u guys strike me down for this............ please get @ninguitar too SHE WAS IN ON THIS SHE HELPED ME SHIT OUT IDEAS SHE IS MY PARTNER IN CRIME. i am not going down alone But i do love this smau idea... pls eat it up eat it up And don't bma 🫰 ENJOY THE RIUMORI CB THIS SUMMER!
⋆˚꩜｡ pizza delivery guy!martin x fem!reader .✦ ݁˖ in which the pizza is not the reason martin keeps showing up ⋆˚࿔ fluff! kissing! ᭝ ᨳଓ ՟ enjoy!💗
every friday, the pizza place called ‘panic! at the pizzeria’ would call martin in when things got too busy.
he was delivering pizzas every friday.
including yours. especially yours.
he didn't actually work there. everybody knew that. the manager. the workers. even martin. what nobody ever knew, was that every friday, martin stayed a little longer than he was supposed to, while you just got a free pizza. nobody knew that even now, you were kissing him on your bed.
your parents loved that pizza place. they’d order a pizza every now and then just because. now that your parents were out for dinner, as usual, martin showed up with a pizza box tucked under one arm and that stupid pizzeria hat on his head.
"you look ridiculous” you told him.
"nice to see you too."
not even five minutes later, the pizza was forgotten downstairs.
you were upstairs in your bedroom, sitting so close to him on your bed while he looked far too pleased with himself. the kiss was soft.
one of his hands settled at your waist immediately, steadying you against him. the other slid up your back, warm through your shirt. he was so confident.
your fingers disappeared into his hair delicately.
which, unfortunately for him, completely ruined whatever effort he'd put into fixing it.
martin groaned against your lips.
"there goes my hair."
"you literally work at a pizza place."
"how do you think i get tips from divorced moms?”
you kissed him again before he could complain.
his hand tightened at your back, pulling you a little closer until there was barely any space left between you. your heart did an embarrassing little flip every time he looked at you like that. like he couldn't decide whether he wanted to tease you or kiss you.
usually both.
the room felt warm and quiet.
the kind of cozy that made it easy to lose track of time. which was why neither of you noticed the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. at least, not at first.
you pulled away suddenly.
martin groaned. “ugh, why did you-“
“shh!” you pressed a finger to his lips
“girl, c’mon, it was getting good-“ he said softly as he was pulling on your arm.
“shh, martin!” you whisper shouted.
“what- what are you doing?” he asked, confused.
“i think my parents are here.” you whispered, your heart racing fast.
martin chuckled and cradled your cheek with his thumb, soothing you. “baby, relax. there’s no one here-“
and that’s when the bedroom door swung open. you froze. martin froze. your mother stared. your father stared. then your mother blinked and pointed at him.
"honey...why is the pizza delivery guy inside your bedroom?"
martin still had one hand on your waist.
“uhh… customer service?” he said.
— ᨳଓ . a/n: heyyy guyss! i thought i should post this while working on chapter 4 of “still into you”🫶🏻
can yall tell that this was inspired by that one hamzah video where he was delivering pizzas in a music video😛 i am not the same after that
( #SNEAK DISSERS? THATS THAT SHI I DONT LIKE ) PART THREE. FINAL. ──── when your ex's girlfriend is getting too comfortable sneak dissing you on public platforms, you and your bsf decide to take matters into your own hands
# MARTIN EDWARDS × FEM!READER ( fluff & humor ) &&. EX!JUHOON JUHOON'S UNNAMED GF BSF!WONHEE ACADEMIC!AU (implied college solely because wonhee lives in a dorm) james × wonhee moments martin #fineshyt james #fineshyt wait #boafff
( 𝓀aikai. ) AND IM BACKKKKK WHOOOO TF MISSED MEEEEEEE omfg guys I'm so embarrassed I don't think this is that good and I'm so sorry if it disappoints 😭😭😭😭😭 I just needed to end the series and I thought this did the job 😿 I missed this series but it was js a silly one so I hope this is fine 😭😭😭 but I'm back so 🤑🤑🤑 new shi soon 🤑🤑🤑
the apartment stays quiet after the argument. he’s in the kitchen longer than he needs to be, opening the fridge, closing it again, pretending he’s looking for something. eventually, he leans against the doorway. “you gonna ignore me all night?” he asks. you shrug. he sighs, “yeah… i probably deserve that. i’m sorry.”
he rubs the back of his neck, looking everywhere but at you. “i wasn’t trying to start a fight,” a pause. “i just get defensive. then i say something stupid.” he lets the silence sit for a second before adding, quieter, “i don’t like us being like this.”
when you scoot over without saying anything, he takes the hint and sits besides you. your shoulders brush. “we’re okay?” he asks. you nod and the tension finally leaves his face. “good,” he mutters, “that was getting on my nerves.”
JAMES
he lasts exactly twenty minutes before wandering into the living room like nothing happened. “so…” he says, dropping onto the couch. “this silent treatment thing is kinda boring.” you don’t even look up from your phone. “right. tough crowd.” he lets out a quiet laugh before nudging your foot with his. “you know i was being an idiot, right?”
you finally glance at him, and he points at you. “there it is. eye contact. progress.” he smiles but it softens almost immediately. “seriously, though… i didn’t mean half the stuff i said. i was annoyed, and you just happened to be standing there.” he winces. “that sounded worse out loud.”
you can’t help but laugh, and he grins like he’s just won something. “there you go.” he slips his hand into yours, giving it a quick squeeze. “let’s not do that again, hm? i like you way more when you’re making fun of me that ignoring me.”
JUHOON
he knocks softly on your bedroom door, even though he knows it’s unlocked. “can i come in?” he asks. when you don’t tell him no, he steps inside and sits on the floor beside your bed instead of next to you. “i don’t really like ending the day like that,” he says quietly. “it feels… weird.”
he looks down at his hands for a moment before smiling to himself. “i knew we were both frustrated. i’m not saying it was all my fault.” he glances up at you. “but i still wish i’d handled it better.” after a beat, he asks, “are we okay?”
you reach over and slightly bump his shoulder with yours. he smiles instantly, the kind that reaches his eyes. “okay,” he murmurs, “i was starting to miss you already.”
SEONGHYEON
he’s standing in the hallway when you come out, like he’s been trying to decide whether to knock or just wait it out. “hey,” he says, quieter than earlier. no attitude this time, just a bit tired. he shifts his weight from one foot to the other. “can we not leave it like that?”
you don’t respond right away, and he nods like he’s expected it. “yeah, okay. fair.” he runs a hand through his hair, exhaling. “i shouldn’t have said it like that. i was bothered, and i made it bigger than it needed to be.”
there’s a pause where neither of you move much. he looks at you properly then, not challenging, but steady. “i’m not trying to keep this going,” he says. “i just don’t want it weird between us.” another beat. “i’m sorry. we’re good right?”
KEONHO
he doesn’t really settle after the argument. you can hear him moving around the apartment like he’s trying to look normal and failing at it. when he finally does come into the room, he doesn’t try to pretend he’s fine. “i don’t like this.” he says, like he’s been holding it in for a while. to be frank, he has.
he sits down near you, not quiet close enough at first, then he slowly shifts until he is. his hands clasped together loosely, fidgeting. “i keep thinking about what i said,” he admits. “it wasn’t fair. i just got overwhelmed, and i took it out on you.” he looks down, then back up. “i’m sorry. really.”
there’s a quiet stretch where he doesn’t rush you to respond. when you finally move closer, his shoulders drop like he’s been holding his breath. “okay.” he says softly, almost relieved. “i just — i really don’t want us to feel far away from each other.”
pensieri haven’t written something like this so ntm on me …. this is just a filler post since i have a keonho smau coming up ! pls like and reblog ( ˊ ᗜ ˋ )
💌 ❤︎ notes ─── ৻ꪆ i love fluffy domestic!cortis so much you guys have NO idea omfg 🥹 · also this fic is inspired by a samsung (hyunjin and han)(the name cracks me up EVERY time lmfao) gifset that i cant find rn 💞 · and uhh this fic is also an apology to everybody who read glimpse of us & our summer before this 😭
❤︎ wc ─── ৻ꪆ 2.3k
𝄞 𓏸 my cortispilledmasterlist »﹙合﹚
❝ tracklist ❞ ─── strawberries & cigarettes—troye sivan ❦ lovelee—akmu ❦ sunday morning—maroon5 ❦ dimple—bts ❦ every summertime—niki ❦ dar+ling—svt ❦ come thru—jeremy zucker ❦ best part—daniel caesar ❦ through the night—iu ❦ glue song—beabadoobee ❦ instagram—dean ❦ warm on a cold night—honne ❦ sweet night—v ❦ until i found you—stephen sanchez
the kitchen was quiet, bathed in that warm, sleepy glow of a late sunday afternoon where the hours just sort of bled into each other. you were sitting sideways in one of the dining chairs, your legs hooked over the armrest, completely lost in whatever you were scrolling through on your phone—some fanfiction about keonho and tan lines by one of your favourite tumblr author @cosmiho.
the only sound was the rhythmic, gentle scrape of a knife against a cutting board across the room. after a few moments, the sound stopped. then came the familiar, soft scuff of socks against the hardwood floor.
before you could even look up, a heavy, comforting weight settled right against your side. keonho didn’t take his own chair; instead, he leaned over the back of yours, his broad chest pressing into your shoulder. he brought the faint, clean scent of his laundry detergent and something sweet with him, instantly making the space feel warmer. he didn’t say anything at first, just rested his chin heavily on your shoulder, watching your phone screen with lazy interest.
you tilted your head, your cheek brushing against his messy dark hair. “what are you doing, keon?”
“waiting for you to look at me, baby,” he murmured against your neck, his voice a low, rumbling vibration that sent a tiny shiver down your spine. he shifted slightly, pulling back just enough so you were forced to turn your head and face him.
in his hand, he held a small, perfectly cut piece of strawberry, glistening with a bit of sugar. he was looking at you with that soft, intensely focused expression he only ever saved for you, a tiny, fond smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
“open your mouth, come on,” he said softly, nudging the strawberry a little closer to your face. “i picked the sweetest one for you.”
you let out a soft huff, a helpless smile breaking across your face. “i can feed myself, you know.”
“where’s the romance in that?” he teased, his dark eyes crinkling beautifully at the corners. he moved the fruit a millimeter closer, his thumb lightly brushing against your lower lip to coax you. “come on. say aah.”
amused by how stubborn he was being, you gave in. you let your phone drop onto your lap, leaning forward slightly, and parted your lips to take the bite.
but the exact millisecond your eyes fluttered shut, keonho’s hand abruptly dropped.
the strawberry was completely forgotten, abandoned on the plate below. in a split second, his hand moved to cup your jaw, his warm thumb catching the corner of your mouth. he tilted your face up, leaning over the chair completely, and swooped in to steal your breath away.
his lips caught yours with a soft, confident pressure. it wasn’t a rushed kiss; it was slow, deep, and thoroughly affectionate, full of the easy, established comfort of a relationship where you already knew each other’s rhythms by heart. you could feel him smiling against your mouth, a quiet laugh vibrating through him as your hands instinctively flew up to grab the front of his shirt, pulling him closer out of pure surprise. he tasted faintly of fruit, and his lips were incredibly soft as he lingered, deepening the kiss just enough to make your head spin before gently pulling back.
when he finally detached his lips from yours, he didn’t go far at all. he rested his forehead against yours, his breath warm against your skin. his thumb was still gently stroking your cheek, and the look in his eyes was so incredibly soft it made your chest ache.
“sweeter than strawberries, right?” he whispered, his voice entirely devoid of its usual teasing edge, replaced by pure, unadulterated fondness.
you blinked up at him, your cheeks burning a bright, dusty pink, your heart hammering a frantic rhythm against your ribs. you swatted weakly at his chest. “you are literally the worst, keon. that’s cheating.”
he just chuckled, a bright, boyish sound that echoed in the quiet kitchen. he ducked down again, pressing a sweet, lingering kiss to your burning cheek, then another one to the tip of your nose, completely unbothered by your complaints.
“it’s not cheating if it works,” he hummed, finally picking up the forgotten strawberry and popping it into his own mouth.
he managed to squeeze himself into the small chair right next to you, his arm slung over your shoulders, pulling you firmly against his side like it was the only place you were supposed to be. he took your hand in his, playing with your fingers, tracing the lines of your palm with his thumb, completely content.
“you’re still staring,” you murmured, looking up from his hands to find his eyes fixed entirely on your face.
keonho didn’t even blink. a soft, breathless smile tugged at his lips. “can’t help it. you look really pretty right now. especially with your hair all messy like that.”
“it’s messy because a certain someone kept pulling me closer,” you huffed, though you couldn’t stop the warmth blooming in your chest.
“yeah? well, that someone has excellent taste,” he teased, his voice dropping to a low, affectionate hum. he leaned down, resting his cheek against the top of your head for a second before shifting so his face was level with yours again. his thumb softly brushes over your cheekbone. “seriously, though. i was thinking about it while i was cutting the fruit earlier.”
“thinking about what?”
“just... how lucky i am,” he said simply. the teasing edge completely faded from his voice, replaced by that quiet, intense sincerity that always caught you off guard. he looked at you like you were the only person in the entire world. “i was just looking at you sitting there, and i realized i don’t ever want to be anywhere else. just here. with you, baby. doing absolutely nothing.”
your heart did a familiar, violent flip in your chest. “keon… i was literally reading x reader fanfictions about you…”
“you’re giving me more reasons to love you,” he whispered, slightly laughing, leaning in a little closer until your noses brushed. his eyes dipped to your lips for a fraction of a second before locking back onto yours. “seriously though… you have this way of making everything feel okay—even a boring sunday. i think i’m just completely ruined for anyone else.”
you let out a soft, helpless laugh, burying your face in his chest for a second to hide your massive smile. you could hear the steady, rapid thumping of his heartbeat beneath his shirt—proving that he wasn’t nearly as cool and collected as he pretends to be.
“you’re smooth,” you mumbled against his shirt.
his chest rumbled with a quiet laugh, his arms tightening around your waist to pull you even closer, burying his face in your neck. “not smooth. just incredibly, ridiculously in love with you. get used to it.” he shifted slightly, shaking with that low, warm laugh as he listened to you mumble against his shirt. before you could even raise your head to tease him back, he was moving again. “let me show you smooth,” he murmured, his tone dropping into that playful, completely smitten cadence.
he started with your jawline, pressing a row of tiny, feather-light kisses right along the edge of it. the sudden warmth of his lips against your skin made you giggle, a tiny, involuntary bubble of laughter escaping your throat.
“stop, it tickles,” you complained, though your hands were already moving up to bunch into the soft fabric of his hoodie, holding him close instead of pushing him away.
he didn’t listen at all. if anything, your reaction only encouraged him. he moved up to your cheek, leaving three quick, loud kisses there that made you wrinkle your nose and giggle properly, the sound bright and clear in the quiet kitchen.
“can’t stop… you’re just so kissable,” he hummed against your skin, his lips moving against your cheek as he spoke. “i have too much love to give. it’s a serious problem,” he nodded while talking. he peppered you with kisses—your temples, your eyebrow, and then moved down to the corner of your eye, his eyelashes brushing against your skin like butterfly wings. you were laughing openly now, your shoulders shaking, your entire body warm and relaxed against his. you tried to duck your head away, burying your face toward his shoulder to hide, but he just followed you down, his hand sliding up to the back of your head to gently guide you back up.
“look at me,” he whispered, a massive, dimpled grin stretching across his face when you finally peeked up at him through your lashes.
he pressed one last, lingering kiss to the center of your forehead, then another right on the tip of your nose, and you couldn’t help it anymore. the sheer, dizzying affection pooling in your chest just overflowed.
you leaned up slightly, catching him by surprise as you pressed a soft, sweet kiss right to his cheek. then another one to the corner of his mouth.
his breath hitched, his eyes widening just a fraction before melting entirely. the triumphant, teasing smirk he usually wore completely vanished, replaced by a look of pure, helpless adoration.
“two can play at that game, baby,” you whispered against his lips, smiling when you felt his arms tighten around your waist like a vice, pulling you so close there was absolutely no space left between you.
“yeah?” he murmured, his voice dropping an octave, completely breathless as he leaned his forehead against yours. “prove it.”
and you did, leaning in to kiss him properly this time, your lips slotting together perfectly while the forgotten plate of fruit sat on the counter, completely abandoned for the rest of the afternoon.
the kiss stretched out, long and entirely unhurried, until you were both breathless and smiling so hard against each other’s lips that it became impossible to keep going. keonho let out a soft, contented sigh, burying his face in the crook of your neck, his arms still wrapped securely around your waist like a human blanket. you could feel the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest, stabilising after the flurry of kisses.
“we are never leaving this chair,” he mumbled against your skin, his warm breath sending a pleasant shiver down your arms. “the rest of the world is cancelled today.”
“keon, my legs are going to fall asleep,” you laughed, though you didn’t make a single move to untangle yourself from him. instead, your fingers found their way into the soft strands of hair at the back of his neck, gently playing with the stray locks.
“then they fall asleep. a worthy sacrifice, if i say so myself,” he retorted, his voice muffled by your shoulder. he shifted slightly, managing to wiggle even deeper into the small space of the dining chair until you were practically sitting in his lap. he reached down and pulled your legs over his own, rubbing his hands up and down your calves to keep them warm. “there. solved. they’ll wake up soon.”
you shook your head at his ridiculousness, resting your cheek against the top of his head. the kitchen was growing slightly darker as the sun began its slow descent, throwing long, amber shadows across the hardwood floor. the absolute stillness of the house made the moment feel incredibly private, like you were tucked away in a little pocket universe where nothing bad could ever touch you.
after a few minutes of quiet, he tilted his head up, his dark eyes sparkling with a new, playful idea. “hey.”
“hm?”
“look at me.”
when you looked down at him, he suddenly puffed out his cheeks, widening his eyes in a goofy, exaggerated pout that looked completely ridiculous on his handsome face. you tried to keep a straight face, you really did, but a loud snort escaped you, followed by a wave of genuine giggles.
“what are you doing?” you laughed, poking one of his puffed-out cheeks until the air deflated with a soft popping sound.
“i was testing a theory,” he said confidently, his face instantly melting into a bright, dimpled grin that reached his eyes. “and my theory was correct. you look even prettier when you laugh.”
“you are such a sap today,” you murmured, your heart doing that familiar, melt-into-a-puddle thing. you reached out, using your thumbs to gently trace the shape of his eyebrows, then the bridge of his nose, and finally the soft curve of his lips. he stayed completely still for you, closing his eyes and leaning into your touch with absolute docility, letting you map out his face as if you hadn’t seen it a thousand times before.
when he opened his eyes again, the playfulness was gone, replaced by that deep, heavy warmth that always made you feel completely safe. he caught your hand, kissing the center of your palm, then each of your knuckles one by one.
“i can be a sap for the rest of our lives,” he whispered, his thumb rubbing the back of your hand. “i think i’d be really good at it.”
you smiled, leaning down to press a gentle, unhurried kiss to his forehead. “yeah, you’re already a professional at the ripe age of seventeen.”
he chuckled, a low, rumbling sound against your chest. he pulled you back down against him, resting his chin on your head as the two of you resumed your quiet watch over the empty kitchen. your fingers stayed intertwined, moving lazily together in the fading sunday light, completely content to let the rest of the evening slip away unnoticed.
summary. james cannot contain his jealousy when he sees you dancing too close with someone else
content. friends to lovers, angst, jealousy, fluff, kissing, ft. enha niki and nwjnz dani
the bass thuds so loud it shakes the mirrors, vibrating right up through your sneakers as you gasp for air, sweat sticking strands of hair to your forehead. this is it. the final run-through before you film the special collaboration stage tomorrow. you’re here with james, plus two other idols: niki from enhypen and danielle from newjeans. you’ve spent weeks getting every step right, but the bridge sequence has always been different. the choreographer wanted it bold, intense, so that part is your duet with niki. and yeah it’s suggestive. loads of lingering touches, close calls, moves that make your breath catch even when you’ve done them a hundred times. but it’s just dance, right? just work. it doesn’t mean anything.
“reset positions!” the choreographer calls, clapping loud. “from the second chorus, james! you head up to the side platform for this bit. niki, take the lead with y/n, make it feel real!”
you glance over at james like you always do, waiting for that goofy lopsided grin, or him to pretend to mess up just to make you laugh. but his face is totally blank. his jaw is clenched so tight you can see the muscle jumping, and he’s staring hard at the floor like it’s the most interesting thing ever. weird, you think, but you brush it off and move to your mark.
the music starts slow, thrumming, way too intimate. niki steps up close, one hand firm but gentle on your waist, the other lacing loosely through your fingers. you lean back against him, arching just enough, turning your head until your forehead almost brushes his. you move perfectly in sync: his hand sliding slow down your side, yours looping around his neck, your hips rolling together like you’re one person. when he spins you around, you press your back to his chest, and he leans down like he’s whispering a secret only you can hear, his face inches from your neck. it feels heavy, exactly what they asked for.
you hold the final pose, head tilted up, his hand splayed over your ribs, faces so close your noses almost touch, until the music cuts out.
“perfect!” the choreographer cheers. “that’s exactly the vibe! take fifteen minutes. water, stretch, rest up!”
you spin around immediately, grinning, ready to run over and tell james you finally nailed that tricky spin without tripping. but he’s already walking away, heading straight for the far corner, not even glancing your way.
frowning, you follow, holding out his water bottle like you always do. “hey, catch! you look like you’re about to pass out.”
he looks up for barely a second, snatches the bottle, and nods once. “thanks.”
that’s it? no teasing, no “you killed it”, no slinging his arm over your shoulders like he always does? his voice is so cold it makes you shiver, even though the room is sweltering.
“james?” you say softly. “are you okay? did something happen?”
“nothing’s wrong,” he mumbles, staring at his reflection instead of you. “just tired.”
then he turns away and starts stretching like you’re not even there. you stand there for a second, hurt and confused, before niki calls you over to help him fix his footwork.
the rest of practice is awful. every time you look at james, he’s looking somewhere else; at the clock, at danielle, at the wall, anywhere but you. when you pass each other between runs, he doesn’t say a word, doesn’t even brush your hand like usual. he’s just… distant. like you’re a total stranger. by the time the choreographer lets you go, your chest feels tight and stinging.
“great work everyone! be here at 8am sharp tomorrow!” she grabs her bag and heads out. niki and danielle wave and follow, their voices fading down the hall until the door slams shut. now it’s just you and james, alone in the quiet room.
you drop your bag with a loud thud and spin around. “okay, cut the shit right now! what is your problem? you’ve been acting like i don’t exist for three whole hours! if i did something wrong just tell me instead of giving me the silent treatment like a kid!”
james stops dead, bottle halfway to his mouth. he stares at you, eyes dark and blazing. “you really have no clue?”
“clue about what?!” you throw your hands up. “i haven’t done anything! we practiced, i messed up a few steps. what did i do to make you hate me this much?”
“that!” he shouts, pointing right at the spot you danced with niki. “that whole thing! all that touching, all those little looks, letting him hold you like that, like you’re his! like you actually wanted him that close!”
you stare at him, totally stunned. “are you serious? it’s choreography! it’s just acting! none of it is real!”
“isn’t it?” he laughs sharp and bitter, stepping closer. “‘cause from where i was standing? it looked pretty damn real! it looked like you loved every second! like you wished it was him you were doing this for—”
“OH MY GOD, ARE YOU ACTUALLY SERIOUS?!” you yell, voice cracking. “it’s literally my job! i’m supposed to make it look good! you think i like dancing like that with other people? you think i don’t wish it was you instead? but i can’t just say that, can i?!”
you’re still yelling, breathless and furious, when he steps forward fast, cups your face in both hands, and kisses you hard.
it knocks every single word right out of your throat. it’s messy and tastes like frustration and something so sweet it makes your head spin. for a second you freeze completely, then your hands fly up to grip his shoulders, and you kiss him back just as hard. all the anger and confusion just melts away, replaced by this buzzing, warm feeling all over. he pulls you tight against him, like he’s scared you’ll vanish if he lets go, and you tangle your fingers in his hair.
when he finally pulls back, you’re both gasping for air, foreheads pressed together. his hands are still on your face, thumbs brushing over your cheeks like he can’t believe you’re actually here.
“i’m sorry,” he mumbles, voice all wobbly. “i didn’t mean to snap. i just… i couldn’t watch it. i’ve liked you for so long, since we were trainees, remember? when you tripped over your laces and landed right in my lap? and i never said anything ‘cause i didn’t wanna ruin what we have. but seeing you with him… it felt like someone was stabbing me. i couldn’t keep pretending i don’t care.”
you stare at him, eyes burning, and let out a shaky laugh. “you’re so stupid. you’re the most oblivious person alive.”
he blinks, confused. “what?”
“i like you too, dummy! i have for ages! i thought you only saw me as a friend! i thought if i said anything you’d stop talking to me!”
james grins. that bright, goofy grin you love so much, and pulls you into a hug so tight it squeezes the breath out of you. “yeah?”
“yeah,” you say, smiling into his chest. “and for the record? i’d way rather dance like that with you. no one else.”
“good,” he says, kissing the top of your head. “‘cause next time? i’m swapping parts. no arguments.”
💌 aya’s note. lowkey hate this ngl… its 3am and its not proofread 😔 if anyone wants to be on my perm tg lmk !
SYNOPSIS When Seonghyeon comes home, he expects tears, hugs and maybe even a few new memories with his family.
not you eating açai on the kitchen counter.
INFORMATION reader is a bit cheeky, Seonghyeon is js trying his best.
(note) i’ll be posting my fics from @/mwiou as i have deleted the account. this is my only account now and if you’ve already reblogged this drabble or have read it before you can ignore this!😅
When Seonghyeon comes home, he expects his mum and dad at the door, welcoming him in.
Not his sister’s friend.
He holds the key in his hand, his eyes scanning you.
He recognised you–you were his sister's friend from school. Before he became a trainee, he thought you were pretty (but he would never admit that to his sister) and was always too shy to talk to you.
You sit in one of his old sleeping shirts, sitting on the kitchen counter with your phone. Beside you is an açai bowl, sprinkled with banana slices and strawberries.
His favourite combo.
You give him a smile before going back to scrolling.
Before he can ask questions, his sister walks over, drying her hair with an old towel before looking up, her eyes widening at the sight of him.
“Oh, you’re home.”
He nods, closing the door behind him and taking off his shoes. He knows that he and his sister aren’t the closest, but seeing as how rarely he got to her, he realised in the months and days apart how much he actually missed her.
Although he would never say that.
She gives him a quick side hug, making him smell the faint traces of the body wash they always used clinging to her arms. She walks over to you, grabbing a spoon and taking a bite of the açai.
“Mum and Dad are out right now, I’ll text them you got home early.”
His sister walks over to her room, leaving you and him in the same space together.
He stands there, his heavy bag hanging low behind him. He turns to you, watching as you hop off the counter.
“It’s been a while.” He says, seeing how much prettier you had gotten.
“Yeah, nice to see you again though.” You slightly bowed, a small piece of hair falling from behind your ear. You take the bowl and walk over to the dinner table.
“You too.” He rubs the back of his neck, walking behind you.
You sit down in the chair he always used to sit in, the one he always used to fight over with his sister.
He turns, walking into his old room.
The rain outside hasn’t eased up, still the same harsh drops now slapping against his window.
He places his bag down, plopping down onto his old bed. He realises his mother must have been cleaning, the room completely devoid of any dust. He had visited just months ago, but it still felt weird every time he came back.
He plops down on his old bed, looking at his desk. His old PC setup is untouched, the cords now hanging loosely off the table.
He falls back against his sheets, closing his eyes out of exhaustion.
He didn’t expect his first time coming home in weeks to be so anticlimactic, although he supposed this was better than when he was a trainee.
“How’s it like being an idol now?”
He sits up immediately, seeing you stand in his doorway. He should’ve closed the door, he thinks.
“Pretty good.”
He realises that he can’t really catch a break anymore, especially with you still in his house.
His sister has probably texted their parents already, so why are you still talking to him?
You casually take a bite out of the acai bowl, something that Seonghyeon had kind of been eyeing the minute he saw you with it. “How is it? Being an idol I mean. I know you worked really hard too, so it has to feel amazing now.”
He nods at that. “Uh, it’s nice. I get to meet a lot of people that I didn’t think I’d get to.”
You hummed at that. “But it has to be hard at times, right?” You walk into the room, getting closer to him.
“I guess.” He shrugged, his cheeks feeling a little bit warm as his childhood crush walked closer to him.
“What’s the hardest part about it?” You eyed a few things in his room–the drawings and clothes at the end of his bed.
He thinks for a moment before coming up with a quick answer that wouldn’t get him in trouble.
“Probably the training.”
“Really? Not the fans who constantly pry and claw their way into your personal life?”
Your response almost shocks him for a moment, making him awkwardly rub the back of his neck.
“Not all of them are like that..” He tries to defend, but he knows there are clips of him online revealing way more than he would like to admit.
You nod at that. “So how do you date?”
That question makes him snap his head up immediately, making him look at you standing around so casually.
“W-what?”
“How do you date?” You echo. “Surely it has to be hard.”
You take a few more steps forward, but apparently you hadn’t paid enough attention as something makes you trip over, resulting in you suddenly falling forward.
If anyone asked, Seonghyeon would swear that he caught you.
Although that would be a lie, seeing how his attempt to make you fall safely leads you to lie right on top of him.
Pain shoots up his back for a quick second, making him groan.
He was about to ask if you were okay but the words die on his tongue the moment he looks at you. Your face was just inches from his, and smelling his old shampoo on you made him feel a little dizzy.
You had probably tripped over his bag strap, making him curse himself five minutes ago for recklessly dropping it to the ground.
You were chest to chest, and his arms had somehow found their place on the small of your backside.
You didn’t look embarrassed or shocked to be right on top of him, you just looked a little surprised, like the way people did when someone they didn’t know said hi to them.
Not when they had just fallen into a celebrity.
He feels a heat crawl fast, right up his neck and probably already on his cheeks. He couldn’t get a single word out, his breaths quickening and uneven as you looked around you, your eyes cast around the ground.
“Oh, good.”
What- he looks at what you were looking at, only to find that the half eaten açai bowl landed upright, right under his desk.
Instead of getting off of him like a normal person would, you instead sit up, still on him and grab the acai bowl.
Seonghyeon almost dies inside as his shirt on you starts falling to the side, a quick reveal of your shoulder making him almost explode in embarrassment. His hands are now on your waist from your movements, and for some reason you don’t seem to mind one bit.
Get a grip! You’re an idol for fucks sake.
He should be more professional than this but the 17 year olds body clearly doesn’t listen to him as heat keeps rushing up his neck.
“Are you okay?”
You ask almost a little too worried, now leaning in much closer than you were just seconds ago.
He opens his mouth to respond, only to shut it once you press the back of your fingers to his head.
Seonghyeon is suddenly faced with the realisation that a very pretty girl is sitting in his lap with his hands around her waist, and now checking if he has a fever.
“You’re kind of burning up… are you sure rain didn’t get on you or something?” Your hand drifts lower, your warm fingers touching his even warmer neck. “I didn’t think people could get sick this quick..”
That’s because I’m not sick!
He clears his throat before speaking. “I’m not sick.”
Just as he was about to stand up and finally get you off of him, a gasp came from his doorway.
“Seonghyeon! What are you doing with my friend?” His sister scolds, now rushing in and pulling you off of him.
He stands up quickly and tries to defend himself. “I wasn’t doing anything! She just fell–“
“Right on top of you like some K-drama scene? That’s so gross!” His sister fake gags before walking off with you.
Although before you left his line of vision, you leaned back into his room, now giving him a cheeky smile.
“I’ll wait for your answer, Eom Seonghyeon.” You say, giving a quick wave of goodbye before walking off.
He sighs, running his hands through his hair.
He thinks that you must’ve tripped over his bag strap, only for him to realise that his bag was nowhere near where you had fallen.
Did she..trip on purpose?
Back in his sister's room, you sit on her bed, wondering if he had figured it out yet. His sister played some random game in front of you as you thought of the situation that transpired just moments ago.
You didn’t expect to fully trip right on top of him, but you didn’t mind it.
Seeing how nervous he looked reminded you of the days before he became an idol, making you remember all the tricks and pranks you used to play on him.
“He’s still so cute..”
“Did you say something?” His sister asks, still not looking up from her phone.
SYNOPSIS After getting a disappointing mark on your English exam, you go over to your friend’s place only to find the worst piece of information ever.
INFORMATION No interactions with the main leads for this chapter! Reader is a ‘study first’ girl.
SERIES MASTERLIST.
You are seven years old when you get your soulmate.
It happens to everyone–a small mark coloured in a random colour on a random part of your body.
Obviously your soulmate would have the same mark, but in a random colour on a random part of their body.
Your mark is a pink star.
Yes, it’s a bit of a basic shape, but you’re okay with it.
It sits on your shoulder, it’s hue making it almost impossible to see from far away.
Your parents had the moon as their mark, their crescents in silver and gold. They tell you that they were lucky, being born in the same hometown.
They told you that some people could spend ages looking across countries just to find their soulmates, the unlucky ones usually never being able to find theirs.
You were never really interested in romance.
Even when your mark first appeared, you pretty much ignored it.
You assumed your soulmate was just an average guy, maybe someone who you’d meet when you were in your 20’s or 30’s.
The only thing you really cared for was your studies.
Now, your hometown was big, but it wasn’t the best.
You recall more than enough days where your school made everyone volunteer for the homeless shelter, full with people desperate to find warmth.
You were mainly in the kitchens, cooking up food for them just so that none of them would go hungry.
You resented the government for failing them, seeing so many faces just freezing out in the open.
Your parents were hard workers, your dad working at an oil factory while your mother worked at a pharmacy.
Your parents wanted you to succeed, so they pushed you to dedicate yourself to your studies
They never forced you, but money was always tight and inflation was getting worse, so it felt like you were.
So you studied all throughout middle school and got into one of the best Highschool’s in the country–Chadwick International.
Even though you weren’t the best at everything, your scores were just sufficient that the school considered you good enough to accept.
Your parents celebrated your success, telling you that you would do great things.
But it all came crashing down when you had to move.
Your hometown was too far from the school, so commuting back and forth would take hours.
Your parents put you in a small apartment close to the school, which would make it way easier.
Even though it was slightly breaking the law, the landlord was an old lady who said that she would cover for you if the police ever called.
Although she only did all that when you cried to her about it.
So there you were, going to one of the best schools in the country with a less than ideal living situation, but it was okay. You were going to be okay.
Although you wished that was the end of it.
“76 percent. Just barely passed.” Miss Kang mumbles, handing you your paper back.
Although it was just a mock exam, the shame and embarrassment that came from those words made you feel uneasy.
Your seat mate, Yeo-rim sits next to you with a 65 percent, cringing at her failing score.
“At least you passed.” She said, checking through the sheet to see her mistakes and feedback the teacher wrote.
The red numbers stare at you, the circle outlining it making you feel worse as you check on what Miss Kang had wrote.
‘Wrong characters’
‘This sentence doesn’t make sense’
‘Translation wrong’
You sighed. The feedback was always vague, filled with one worded questions or phrases that made you annoyed at their lack of effort.
Although you felt bad, knowing that they marked the work all in their own time, the same could literally be said for you.
You had spent four days on that essay, and a measly 76 percent for all that work made you feel horrible.
You walked back to the apartment, gloomy and exhausted.
The city wasn’t exactly awake at this time, but for some reason, every time you looked up you saw couples all around you with their hands interlocked.
Ah that’s right. It was Valentine’s Day.
You manoeuvre through the pairs, just barely dodging a couple that was making out in the middle of the pathway.
You see their mark on the boys neck and the girls wrist–a feather.
Seeing that immediately makes you aware of your mark, the spot on your shoulder suddenly tingling.
You rub your shoulder out of habit, feeling annoyed all of a sudden.
When you were young, you just didn’t get why people wanted to find their soulmates so fast.
Now, you just weren’t sure why you hated the reminder of it.
Maybe it’s because you hated the idea that there was a possibility of having to love someone so much, and letting them into your heart without knowing whether they loved you just as much.
Sure, soulmates were romantic, but what if it all went wrong?
You’d seen the stories on TV, and you knew that soulmates didn’t always work out.
Sometimes there was even a rare case where people would leave their soulmates because they couldn’t find love with them.
What if you couldn’t find someone to love?
You shake your head and unlock the door to the apartment, your jangling keys echoing throughout the empty hallway.
Well, it doesn’t matter anyway.
Either you focused on your soulmate mark, or you focused on studying so you didn’t get kicked out of Chadwick.
You push into the small room, the faint smell of a cheap air freshener all around the place.
You dump your exam papers on your desk, ordering it from subject to subject.
Your best subject was History, with a 91.
Your worst was absolutely English with that 76.
You sighed.
Now I’ll have to pull another all nighter.
It took about six hours to study for all the subjects.
You had crammed so much English and History into your head you were sure you could recite every single passage from the notebooks. Maths gave you some trouble, but after a few tutorials on YouTube you remembered most things.
You come to school with a zombie-like appearance, Yeo-rim almost yelping as you turn to look at her.
“Oh! Uhm, is that a new…makeup look?” She gestured to your eyebags, making you cringe.
“No, I just stayed up studying.” You croaked.
“Right…”
The school day ends in a breeze, although maybe that’s just because you napped the entire time.
Yeo-rim invited you over to her home, saying that she wanted to study.
Although you were completely sick of studying, that 76 percent and all those 20 minute naps served as a reminder as to why you had to still do it.
Her house smelled of a sweet rose perfume and fried chicken.
An odd combination but nonetheless smelled good.
Her parents were both cooking something up, you having smelled it when you greeted them.
Yeo-rim told you that their soulmate marks were a circle, outlined in purple and orange. You eyed it as you walked away, both of theirs on the backs of their legs.
You weren’t sure why you were so conscious about soulmate marks now.
You slapped your face lightly to get those thoughts away, not wanting to think about them any longer.
She had dragged you to her room, setting all of her stuff on the coffee table before going downstairs and getting ‘study snacks’.
Her room was nice–light pink walls, framed photos from when she was seven, and medals she won from middle school.
It all served as memories for her, but a reminder for you that you left all of that behind the minute you got into the school.
You sighed, looking back down at the papers on the desk.
Both you and her needed immense help in English, so you hoped that nothing would distract her.
Although you jinxed it immediately.
To say she was unfocused would be like saying the sky was blue.
The minute she turned the TV on in her room, you knew you were absolutely done for. She was playing some obnoxiously loud k-pop performance, the lights from the shows flashing around the room constantly.
You tried to tune it out, although it was kind of hard to do when Yeo-rim would scream ‘That’s my man!’ every two seconds.
She even had lightsticks for each different group that came up, doing a fanchant and sometimes bringing out her albums to show them off to you.
You were never someone who was into k-pop.
The music was good, but you never really listened to music in general, even when you were studying.
But you tried to be supportive, even listening in when she would tell you about a group she particularly liked.
“Oh! This is that rookie group!”
She points to the screen, making you look up from your work.
The process was a bit slower than you liked, but at least you were getting a bit of rest from constantly staring at words.
“They debuted in August under the same company as BigHit.” She said, forking into a pear slice. “Y’know the youngest are the same age as us?”
“Seriously? Why does the industry debut so many children?”
She shrugged, staring at the screen as the first few beats of the group's song started playing.
For some reason, you found yourself painfully interested in their performance.
They were just rookies, but they were really good.
Unlike a few performances, they didn’t rely on having a million backup dancers, and just used their stage presence to fill up anything that seemed missing.
They were good, and didn’t seem like some rookie group at all.
You looked at the little popup on the top left–‘CORTIS’.
Cool name.
The members looked interesting too, all with unique features that made them easy to recognise.
“Uh, hold on I memorised their names–that one’s James!” She points to a guy with sharp features, doing exaggerated expressions that somehow looked good on him, and dance moves that looked sharp even to the untrained eye. “He’s the oldest, and he’s like everybody’s bias.”
She then points to another pair. “These two are Juhoon and Martin. They’re both born in ‘08. Martin’s the leader, I think.”
Then, she drags her pointer finger to two boys all the way on the other side, the camera angles suddenly changing as it showed the two.
“They’re the ones that are our age. That one’s Keonho,” she points to the one on the right. “And that one’s Seonghyeon.”
The minute your eyes landed on him, your breath hitched.
He was singing beautifully, his voice echoing through the venue. You noticed him a bit earlier, when they were all dancing together but for some reason your gaze kept moving to him at the back.
Now that the camera was fully focused on him, in your opinion, Seonghyeon was a really good looking guy. You can’t recall all the times your eyes traced the edges of his face and how your gaze always drifted towards him even when it wasn’t his part.
(Although you would never admit that to Yeo-rim.)
He looked like he was made to be on stage–the way he ran his fingers through his hair, the way he moved around the place like he completely owned it. You knew from the fans screaming his name that he was probably popular too.
He looked confident.
He looked exhilarated to be on that stage, and you were sure that if you were a fan of his group, you’d be screaming his name the loudest.
Their performance went on for about 14 minutes, the sweat on each of the members that accumulated during that time complete proof as to their hard work,
Then, just about as their last song was about to end, Seonghyeon’s
sleeve suddenly ripped as he was dancing.
The sleeve had ripped open to reveal his whole left bicep.
Yeo-rim had let out a small gasp-mixed-with-a-laugh as it happened, shoving another apple slice into her mouth.
His eyes had widened a fraction of an inch before he refocused, rapping his lines as he moved formation.
You weren’t paying much attention to it, but when you looked over, something immediately caught your eye.
Maybe it was just your imagination, maybe it was just a pixel problem, but just as the camera zoomed in on them one last time, you swear you spotted something grey right in his inner bicep.
Its shape was too familiar for it not to catch your eye.
A grey star.
It was the exact same size and shape, the colours so obviously different yet so obviously matched in everything else.
Your heart dropped to your stomach immediately.
It…can’t be true.
It was probably just something up with her TV.
“Is the video edited?” You immediately gulped after asking, still staring straight at the mark.
“No, it’s live.”
Fuck.
You can’t be soulmates with a fucking k-pop idol.
It just wouldn’t work. It couldn’t.
A k-pop idol?
You wanted to curse whatever higher being was out there, laughing at your demise. A k-pop idol was one of the top-ten worst people you could’ve gotten as a soulmate.
It wasn’t that they were horrible people, but they were more on watch than a criminal.
The media was constantly on them, and stalkers were constantly everywhere.
That was one of the main reasons why idols hid their marks, and seeing Seonghyeon’s mark in broad daylight made you feel an immense amount of dread you knew you could never get rid of.
Suddenly, your shoulder felt like it was on fire.
You rubbed the spot harshly, suddenly wishing it would just disappear. You never harboured any negative feelings for it, but at this very moment, you harboured so much hate for it that you would honestly volunteer to just burn it off.
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