Only if you was a poorly built piece of furniture - Choi Jongho x Reader
People underestimated Choi Jongho.
Mostly because he looked like he could bench-press a car but acted like he’d apologize to the car afterward.
He was the kind of guy who bowed to automatic doors, said “excuse me” to chairs, and carried extra snacks because “what if someone else wants one?” Strong, yes. Intimidating? Only if you were a poorly built piece of furniture.
You learned this on a Tuesday.
Specifically, the Tuesday where Jongho showed up at practice with a tote bag so full it looked medically concerning.
“What’s in there?” you asked, eyeing it suspiciously.
“Snacks,” he said, completely serious. “For emergencies.”
“What kind of emergencies?”
He set the bag down, crouched, and immediately apologized to the floor when the tote slipped out of his hand.
“To the floor?” you asked.
You laughed, and he smiled small and shy, like he was happy you found him funny instead of strange.
That smile was how you ended up sitting next to him later, shoulder to shoulder, sharing a packet of gummy bears he insisted you have because “they’re better when shared.” He sat very straight, like posture alone could prevent accidental closeness.
You leaned back to stretch.
“Oh, did I- I can move—” he said quickly, already shifting like he’d volunteer to sit on the ceiling if it made you more comfortable.
“You’re fine,” you said, still laughing. “Relax.”
He nodded seriously. “Okay. Relaxing now.”
A few minutes later, someone bumped into you. Jongho reacted like a human airbag, stepping in front of you instantly, no aggression, just concern.
“Are you okay?” he asked you, completely ignoring the offender.
“I’m fine,” you said. “Thank you, big guy.”
“Oh. Um. You’re welcome.”
Later, when you stood up too quickly, Jongho reached out without thinking to steady you.
Both of you stared at each other.
“I didn’t mean to do that,” he said in a rush. “I swear I wasn’t trying to, I just, physics...”
You laughed, hands resting on his shoulders. “Jongho. You’re holding me.”
“I know,” he said weakly. “I’m aware. I’m panicking quietly.”
He set you down like you were made of porcelain and immediately covered his face.
“I promise I’m normal,” he said through his hands.
You gently pulled them away. “You’re really not.”
He blinked. “…Is that bad?”
“No,” you said, smiling. “It’s kind of my favorite thing about you.”
He hesitated, then leaned in, slow and careful, like he was afraid of crossing an invisible line. The kiss he pressed to your lips was soft and warm and very Jongho: tentative, sincere, a little unsure.
When he pulled back, he smiled like he’d just accomplished something monumental.
“…I didn’t apologize for that,” he said.
“Oh,” he said, clearly delighted. “Good.”
He reached for your hand, squeezing it gently, like even that deserved care.
“Just so you know,” he added earnestly, “I would apologize to a car if I bench-pressed it.”
You laughed, leaning into him.
Somehow, you never underestimated Choi Jongho again.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
You learned very quickly that liking Choi Jongho came with… side effects.
Those side effects were named Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, and Wooyoung.
You were sitting next to Jongho in the practice room again, close, but not too close. Jongho was very aware of the exact distance between your shoulders. He kept sneaking glances at you like you might disappear if he didn’t check.
Hongjoong noticed immediately.
“Oh?” Hongjoong said, leaning back in his chair. “Jongho. You’re smiling.”
“Yes,” Seonghwa added, squinting at him. “And you only smile like that when you’re holding a kitten or lifting heavy objects.”
“I am not smiling,” Jongho said calmly, which would have been more convincing if his dimples weren’t fully out.
Wooyoung gasped dramatically. “WAIT. Are you two sitting… closer than yesterday?”
“We’re sitting normally,” Jongho replied.
San leaned forward, eyes glittering. “What did you do?”
Jongho’s ears turned red.
“I— that was an accident,” he said carefully.
“I didn’t mean to!” Jongho protested. “I was trying to help!”
Yunho grinned. “Help them? How?”
Yeosang tilted his head. “Did you apologize after?”
Jongho nodded immediately. “Of course.”
Seonghwa put a hand to his chest. “That’s my baby.”
You were laughing too hard to intervene.
Later that day, Jongho handed you a drink without making eye contact.
“I remembered you like this one,” he said quietly.
Wooyoung appeared out of nowhere. “REMEMBERED?”
“I remember things,” Jongho said defensively.
Hongjoong crossed his arms. “Jongho. Did you kiss them?”
“WHY WOULD YOU ASK THAT,” he wheezed.
San smiled sweetly. “Because you look like you just did a crime.”
You, unfortunately, chose that moment to smile at him.
Seven heads snapped toward you.
Jongho covered his face. “Please don’t make this weird.”
Wooyoung immediately made it worse. “So when’s the wedding?”
“There is no wedding,” Jongho said firmly. “There was one kiss.”
“ONE KISS,” Wooyoung echoed. “SO FAR.”
Seonghwa crouched in front of Jongho, gentle but deadly. “Did you ask for consent?”
“Yes,” Jongho said instantly.
“Did you apologize after?”
Seonghwa smiled proudly. “Perfect.”
San leaned over to you. “He practiced that in his head for weeks, you know.”
Jongho’s head snapped up. “SAN.”
You laughed, reaching for Jongho’s hand. He squeezed back immediately, grounding himself like this was the bravest thing he’d ever done.
Wooyoung squinted at your joined hands. “Oh my god. He’s holding hands.”
Hongjoong sighed. “That’s it. Our maknae is in love.”
Jongho, very calmly, said, “Please stop talking.”
Then, softer, to you, “Are you okay?”
You smiled. “I am. Are you?”
He nodded, smiling shyly. “Yeah. I think so.”
Mingi wiped an imaginary tear. “He’s growing up.”
Jongho groaned. “I hate all of you.”
But he didn’t let go of your hand.
You knew about the group chat of course you did, but nothing prepared you for the chaos.
Yunho:
Oh this is starting scary.
Wooyoung:
WHY did Jongho leave the room blushing.
Mingi:
WHY did he say “excuse me” to the DOOR on the way out.
Yeosang:
That’s normal behavior for him.
San:
Not when he smiled at his phone immediately after.
Seonghwa:
Jongho. Did you eat today?
Hongjoong:
Important question: did you hold hands.
(Jongho is typing…)
(Jongho stopped typing.)
(Jongho is typing…)
Mingi:
HE’S TYPING A PARAGRAPH.
Jongho:
We briefly interlocked fingers.
San:
That’s basically a proposal.
Yeosang:
What was the duration.
Jongho:
Why do you need to know that.
Seonghwa:
Jongho, did you ask first?
Wooyoung:
I can’t believe our maknae is ROMANTIC.
Mingi:
I give it 3 days before he writes a letter.
Jongho:
I am NOT writing a letter.
San:
You already drafted it, didn’t you.
Wooyoung:
WE BULLIED HIM OUT.
Hongjoong:
Achievement unlocked.
Seonghwa:
He’ll be back. He just needs water.
Yeosang:
And reassurance.
(Jongho rejoined the chat.)
Jongho:
Please don’t tease them.
Wooyoung:
OH HE’S PROTECTIVE.
Mingi:
BABY BEAR ACTIVATED.
Yunho:
Blink twice if you’re in love.
Jongho:
I am muting this chat.
(You reacted ❤️ to Jongho’s last message.)
Wooyoung:
WHY ARE THEY HERE.
Mingi:
HELLO. WE LOVE YOU.
Wooyoung:
PLEASE TAKE CARE OF HIM. HE APOLOGIZES TO MICROWAVES.
Seonghwa:
If he breaks furniture, it’s because he cares.
You:
For the record, he’s very sweet.
Hongjoong:
That’s it. I’m taking screenshots.
Wooyoung:
Congratulations, you’re officially part of the chaos now.
Jongho:
I’m sorry about them.
You:
Don’t be. I like them.
Jongho:
…Oh.
That’s good.
(Jongho changed the chat name to “Please Be Normal”.)
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Dating Choi Jongho was… subtle.
At least, Jongho thought it was.
It started with him walking you home “just to make sure,” which somehow turned into him carrying your bag because “it looks heavy,” and then offering his jacket even though it wasn’t cold, and then asking, very seriously, if you’d eaten.
“You don’t have to check on me every five minutes,” you teased.
“I know,” he said, nodding. “This is just… my personality now.”
He held your hand like it was a responsibility. Careful grip, thumb rubbing small circles unconsciously, eyes darting around to make sure you were okay. Every time your fingers squeezed back, his shoulders relaxed a little more.
The first time he called you his partner out loud was an accident.
Seonghwa had asked, casually, “Where’s Jongho going?”
Jongho answered without thinking. “I’m meeting my partner.”
“…My what?” Wooyoung said slowly.
Jongho’s ears turned red. “I- I mean- that’s- I didn’t-”
You smiled at him. “Partner sounds nice.”
He blinked. Looked at you. Then nodded, decisive.
“Yes,” he said firmly. “Partner.”
Later, when you were sitting together, Jongho leaned his head against yours without realizing it. He only noticed when you laughed softly.
“Sorry,” he said immediately, pulling back. “I didn’t ask-”
“Oh,” he whispered. “That’s… okay then.”
Jongho was soft in all the quiet ways. Remembering how you liked your drinks. Walking on the outside of the sidewalk. Texting you when he got home safely, then apologizing for texting “too much.”
One night, he fell asleep on the couch with you tucked against his chest, arms wrapped around you like instinct had taken over completely. When he woke up and realized, he panicked.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to trap you, are you uncomfortable?”
You looked up at him. “Jongho. I slept great.”
He relaxed instantly, forehead resting against yours.
The group chat, of course, noticed everything.
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Wooyoung:
Why is Jongho’s phone background a photo of HANDS.
San:
Those are THEIR hands.
Mingi:
ZOOM IN. THAT’S INTERLOCKED FINGERS.
Yeosang:
Classic bonding behavior.
Jongho:
Please don’t look at my phone.
Seonghwa:
Did you ask before making it your wallpaper?
Hongjoong:
Jongho, you smiled at your phone during choreography.
Wooyoung:
THEY’RE HERE AGAIN.
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Later that night, Jongho texted you privately.
Jongho:
Did I embarrass you today?
Jongho:
I like being yours too.
I’m just bad at saying it without panicking.
You smiled at your phone.
Somewhere down the hall, Wooyoung screamed, “WHY IS JONGHO SMILING AT HIS PHONE AGAIN.”
Jongho:
Did you get home safe?
Text me when you’re in bed.
Sorry. That sounded intense.
He sent three hearts by accident.
Then immediately apologized.
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