Sidelines
Characters: Servant!Jaemin X Lady!Reader
Setting: could be Historical AU! or Contemporary AU! (It's up to you lol)
Summary: You are the daughter of a wealthy family and Jaemin is your servant and childhood friend who has always been in love with you. You, on the other hand, have been infatuated with Jeno, a young nobleman, and have been oblivious to Jaemin's feelings for you. Now that Jeno is engaged to another woman, you are heartbroken and Jaemin no longer wants to hide his feelings.
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You paced back and forth in your opulent room, your anger boiling over. Your usually composed demeanor was shattered as you threw objects across the room, sending papers and books flying in all directions. Your curls bounced with each step, your eyes blazing with fury.
Your childhood friend and servant, Jaemin, watched you from the corner of the room with a heavy heart, feeling helpless and saddened by your distress. He had been in love with you for as long as he could remember, but he had never dared to voice his feelings. Jaemin knew that you were in love with another young nobleman, Jeno, who came from a similarly affluent family.
You had always been kind to Jaemin, treating him with respect and as a friend. But you had never shown any romantic interest in him, and he had kept his feelings hidden, knowing that they were unlikely to be reciprocated. He had silently watched you from the sidelines, keeping his love for you a secret, while serving you and your family with unwavering loyalty.
But now, as he saw the woman he held dear feeling so upset and miserable, he felt a pang of helplessness. You had just learned that Jeno was engaged to another woman. The news had come as a shock to you, and you were venting your frustration by throwing things around and shoving items from your desk to the floor.
Jaemin couldn't bear to see you in so much pain. He knew that Jeno didn't deserve you. In his opinion, you were a treasure, a gem of a person who deserved someone who would cherish and appreciate you. He had always thought that he could be that person, but he had never had the courage to tell you.
As he watched you in distress, Jaemin felt a surge of emotions. He was sad that you were hurting, angry at Jeno for causing your pain, and frustrated with himself for not being able to do anything about it.
Taking a deep breath, Jaemin approached you slowly, trying to calm you down. "Y/N, please calm down," he said softly, stepping forward cautiously, "This won't solve anything." He reached out to touch your arm. You turned towards him, tears streaming down your face. "How can I calm down, Jaemin?" you snapped, your voice quivering. "The man I love is getting engaged to another woman!"
Jaemin's heart ached as he looked at you. He wanted to tell you that you deserved better, that he could make you happy, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he simply held your hand and said, "I know it's painful, Y/N. But sometimes, life doesn't go the way we want it to. You're strong, and you'll get through this."
You looked at him, your tear-filled eyes searching his face. "I can't believe he would choose someone else over me," you whispered, your voice barely above a whisper.
"He doesn't deserve you, Y/N," finally, Jaemin said, his voice filled with emotion. "You deserve someone who will cherish and love you, not someone who would throw away your love for another woman.”
You looked at Jaemin, your anger momentarily subsiding as you saw the sincerity in his eyes. "Why does love have to be so complicated?" You sighed, sinking onto your bed, your anger giving way to sadness. "I can't believe he would betray me like this." Jaemin sat down next to you, his heart breaking for you. "Love can be complicated, but it's also precious. You deserve someone who will love you unconditionally, Y/N, someone who will always be there for you."
You looked at him, your tears drying up as you realized the depth of Jaemin's feelings for you. You had always taken his presence for granted, but now, in your moment of heartbreak, you realized how much he truly cared for you. You had always appreciated his unwavering support and friendship, but you had never seen him as more than a friend. Your heart had always belonged to Jeno, or so you thought.
"I know you've always been there for me, Jaemin," you said softly, reaching out to touch his hand. "And I appreciate it more than I can say."
Jaemin looked at you with a mixture of hope and sadness. After a moment, Jaemin took a deep breath, gathering his courage. "Y/N, I know this might not be the best timing but… but I cannot hold it back anymore, there is something I need to tell you," he said, his voice trembling. "I've loved you for as long as I can remember. I know you don't see me that way, and I've never wanted to jeopardize our friendship, but I can't keep my feelings hidden any longer.”
As Jaemin poured his heart out to you, confessing his long-held love for you, you stood there in shock, your eyes wide with surprise and your heart racing. You had never expected Jaemin to confess his feelings, and you were taken aback by the intensity of his words.
"I'm sorry, Jaemin," you said softly, tears welling up in your eyes. "I don't know what to say."
Jaemin looked down, his heart sinking. He had poured his heart out to you, only to be met with uncertainty. He knew that you were still in love with Jeno, but he couldn't help but hope that you would see him in a new light.
"I understand," Jaemin said quietly, his voice choked with emotion. "I just wanted you to know how I feel."
Every word that he spoke was filled with sincerity and emotion, your heart began to soften. You remembered all the times Jaemin had been there for you, standing by your side no matter what happened, supporting you silently and without judgment. You recalled his gentle words and warm smiles that had always comforted you, even in your darkest moments. You realized how much he had cared for you all these years, and your heart began to stir.
You looked at Jaemin, really looked at him for the first time. You saw the kindness in his eyes, the love that had been there all along, hidden behind his servitude. You realized that he had been an unwavering presence in your life, always ready to help and support you, without ever asking for anything in return. Your heart swelled with a mix of joy and thankfulness as you finally understood the depth of Jaemin's feelings for you.
Tears welled up in your eyes as you took a step towards Jaemin. You reached out and placed a hand on his, feeling the warmth and strength of his grip. You were overcome with a rush of emotions, realizing that you didn't want to lose him, that he had become an irreplaceable part of your life.
"Nana," you called, using the nickname that was exclusively reserved for you, your voice trembled with emotion. "I... I didn't know. I never realized..."
"You've always been an inspiration to me with your kindness, optimism, and lovely smiles. I've tried to protect you from afar, but I can't hide my feelings any longer. I want to stand by your side, to be seen by you, not just as a servant but as someone who loves you deeply." Jaemin's eyes were filled with affection and hope as he looked at you and confessed again, his heart pounding nervously in his chest.
You took a deep breath, feeling a rush of courage. You realized that you didn't want to push Jaemin away anymore. You wanted to see where this could lead, to explore the possibility of a future with him.
"Jaemin," you whispered, your voice barely above a breath. "I never knew... I was so blind. But I see you now, and I'm grateful for all that you've done for me, for always being there for me. I want to try, to accept your love slowly, but I need time to get used to it."
A smile broke out on Jaemin's face, and he couldn't contain his joy. He reached out and gently cupped your cheek, his touch sending a shiver down your spine. "Thank you, Y/N. I'll wait as long as it takes, and I promise to cherish and protect you with all my heart."
You blushed, feeling a rush of shyness. You had never imagined yourself in this situation, but you couldn't deny the feelings that were stirring in your heart. You looked up into Jaemin's eyes, and for the first time, you truly saw him as a man, not just your childhood friend and servant, but someone who loved your unconditionally.
Over time, you and Jaemin's relationship grew deeper and stronger. The two of you spent time together, getting to know each other in a whole new light. You realized that Jaemin had a depth of character and a gentle strength that you had never seen before. you found yourself drawn to his company, finding comfort and happiness in his presence.
-🐌
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A/N: Hiya~ It’s me, Naly🐌~
After all these years of inactivity, I am finally making a “grand” comeback, hahaha. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised to see this account still alive, I know it’s all thanks to our precious Lari🐱, hehe.
I hope you guys enjoyed this little drabble! I am a sucker for unrequited love and forbidden love lololol. Well then, off I go again, see you in who-knows-how-long, hopefully! XD
