Will be posting more of this on my wattpad @/Vampires4voni !!
Here's chapter one :P
Ch.1 - sticks 'n stones! (and trash lids)
This is it. This is the day. June 15th. Ice-cream's dripping, sunhats tipping, and children kicking. Nothing within a 5 mile radius from Crossland High School could survive the perpetual heat that protrudes from the continuous clash of sneakers and repetitive cries of supply teachers. It's 11:55 am - 5 minutes left until the last bell rings throughout the dimmed-light halls, and 5 minutes left until shouted oaths of freedom emerge in victory over defeated teachers. Over in Room 2A, English class, Rodrick Heffley can be seen lounged over a rigid desk. Nothing about him screams 'focused' - nothing except from his eyes, which are fixated onto the clock with sheer determination. The teacher's words are ambience noise to him, they become harmonious with the pen clickings and foot tapping that's heard in other corners of the room. Four minutes left. A student, two seats behind Rodrick, raises their hand with anticipation drenched in their brow. The teacher calls on them.
"Can I go to the bathroom? I'm not feeling well." The sweat-browed student requests whilst wiping their forehead with their oversized sleeves. The teacher opens their mouth, pauses to squint at the clock, and responds to the student - who is now in a pool of sweat. "no, Archie." Groans and 'tsks' arise within the classroom and are soon rivalled with Mr. Den's rebuttal. "Class ends in 3 minutes. I don't want any further interruption nor distraction! I know your tactics, everyone!" Of course, Rodrick takes no notice of this attempt of escape. How could he care to? He's too fixated on the salvation the clock will bring to him in 2 minutes time.
2 minutes.
Rodrick's hypnotisation snaps at the sudden request from the front of the class. A devious grin is plastered against Mr Den's face, paired with eyes that scream 'I'm going to ruin your life'. Rodrick recognises this look and is soon haunted with the realisation that he just might not escape today's torture of Crossland High. There's one minute left. One measly minute.
"Of course, I'm sure your devoted attention to my class will pay off nicely when you answer this last question?"
"Sh*t." spurs in pairs in Rodrick's head. He in fact had not devoted his attention to Mr Den's classroom that hour. Nor the previous day, or the whole year for that matter. "...Ok?"
With three light taps to the green-tinted chalk-board, a famous quote from classical literature is circled heavily in white chalk. "Fair is foul and foul is fair." Mr Den's eyes do not leave Rodrick's - this ensures his doom.
"This is very simple, Rodrick. I'm being nice." Mr Den says. Rodrick responds with "...Uh huh." His eyes pan quickly to the clock - 30 seconds left.
"What play is this quote from?" Mr Den asks, this time there's no hint of mischief in his voice. Rodrick scratches his head. "The hell, how am I supposed to know that?" he questions himself. Followed by a response of snickering from other classmates - Mr Den takes a deep breath with resolve to encourage him. "We looked at the book today. Actually, we looked at it for the past 2 weeks. You know this." Rodrick scans the board, letter for letter, hoping to decipher secret prophecies between the lines that may reveal the answer to Mr Den's ridiculous riddle. Mr Den resorts to anger. "You will not be leaving anytime soon if you cannot answer this question!" 10 seconds left. Everyone's looking at Rodrick, and Rodrick's now wishing he was the clock himself. 5 seconds left. "Rodrick!" Mr Den shouts, "Stay behi-"
"Cinderella!" Rodrick shouts back, shoving books in his bag and running out the door with the other students. It's 12pm. School's out. All that's left is a classroom of papers and Mr Den, astonished at the levels of stupidity that could be attained in humanity.
. . .
Back at home, Rodrick swings his backpack on the front door, with a complete disregard for the hat stand and an elaborate coat rack Mrs Heffley setup for this exact reason. He walks past the kitchen, up to his bedroom without failing to kick Greg Heffley in the shins (purposely) whilst doing so. He slumps to his bed in satisfaction. "Finally." he mumbles to himself whilst closing his eyes in submission to the 8 weeks of relaxation Summer break is obliged to bring him. 8 weeks. "Eight...." Rodrick rolls out of the bed and onto the floor in his newfound boredom. He hadn't really processed the longevity of eight whole weeks with no plans. He checks his cellphone for any news, anything he can make plans out of. Dry. He drags himself to his computer, hoping that meaningless entertainment can carry him through the summer.
30 minutes later of aimless scrolling, Rodrick was about to lose his mind until he received a notification from Drew. Drew is the person he'd stick with since middle school; both band-geeks, both edgy. With his overly-combed ginger hair, oversized band t-shirt and big-rimmed glasses makes him look like a feeble suburban kid; very different from Rodrick's untamed hair, huge eyebags and unrefined, mischievous grin. The text read:
"Yo. Check School website page. Biggggg opportunity ;)"
Rodrick squints back at the text with confusion. Usually, he'd ignore any text from Drew regarding school, and so he did. Not. Obviously, he immediately went to investigate the website. Anything at this point was a necessity in battling this boredom.
*"Dear ALL students of Crossland High School!
Summer break's out! Congratulations all for smashing the year with your hard work!
You all are very swag!"*
Rodrick cringes slightly at the poor school's bad attempt of sounding like a teenager.
*"To start off the very epic break with a BANG, the school would like to give you the OPPORTUNITY to showcase your creativity! That's right - the theme for the summer is CREATIVITY!"*
Rodrick's interests have peaked.
*"In four weeks today, your goal is to submit a picture or video representing how you centre your creativity! The creative admissions board will be AWARDING the best three applicants with a $75 Amazon gift voucher and a two-week long dedicated promotion on the Crossland school website page."*
Rodrick thought his interest peaked before, but this is a new level.
Instantly, he called Drew up. No time to waste.
"Hey, no time to mess about. This isn't just an opportunity, this is a game changer."
"Uh, duh! That's why I sent the link. We have like four weeks tho, We'll be fine."
Rodrick thought about this for a second. There's eight weeks of summer break, yet submissions are in four weeks. They want people to waste away in the desperation of wanting to know who won! How cruel is that?
"Nah, everyone ELSE has four weeks. We have no time to waste - we NEED to win this."
"Bro, who else would win? Me, you and Ward. We're the best band out there!"
Ward's the Bass guitarist. He doesn't even go to Crossland High School, he joined the band when the three met at Middle school. Ward moved before freshman year, but not so far that they couldn't meet up once every couple of weeks. His dyed, buzz cut hair and deep-set eyes blocked by his vantablack shades make him out to be 'hardcore' - or so others would describe him as before getting to know him. In actuality, he's quite sweet.
Drew mentions that he'll call up Ward to confirm a date that he can visit, leaving Rodrick up to the brainstorming. Should they use one of their previous songs or step up their game and produce a new one just for this competition? As Rodrick resorts to heavy-thinking, he swiftly picks up his skateboard and heads out the door - of course, not without kicking his younger brother, Greg Heffley, in the shins.
Mid Skating, Rodrick's attentiveness towards brainstorming gets interrupted by a sudden notification, which doesn't fail to distract him - leading to him tripping over a bin lid! Ignoring his now-bleeding knee, he swiftly checks for the text, being from y/n.
"Hey. U seen the skl website? ;)"
Rodrick stares at the text for a few seconds. And then a for few more. His heeding brow transplants to a mischievous grin as he conjures a snarky reply.
"What talent wld U even show? 💀"
"Woww! You know how to spell talent?"
Sniggering at the reply, the dimly lit phone changes to a faint blue, as y/n requests to facetime him, startling Rodrick. He panicked, accidentally answering the call, only to be met with his bleeding cheek from the fall. He quickly redirects the camera to the blue sky - not a cloud in sight.
"...Why am I only seeing the sky...?"
"Uh, what?"
"The sky. Move your camera, I can't see you."
"What? I think we're breaking up? I... can't hear you!"
"Maybe seeing me will help? Look up, doofus."
Rodrick's avid dismissal and falsified obliviousness is met with an abrupt end to their phone call. Rodrick looks up slowly, to now also be met with a now-approaching y/n.
"Ohh..." y/n realises, as she assesses Rodrick's state.
"Don't say a word." Rodrick, embarrassed, diverts his eyes, accepting defeat to y/n, who is now laughing away. He didn't want to be seen like that. Not in front of her. She analyses his current state, teary eyed from her prolonged laughs, and grows slightly concerned for his bleeding knee and cheek. Offering a band aid, she kneels down.
"You know, from a few steps away, I couldn't tell if all that red stuff was you blushing or bleeding." y/n jokes lightly. Growing more flustered, Rodrick snatches the bandaid and slaps it on, but not before throwing a coughing fit upon hearing the word 'blushing' - he'd done that, too. Joining Rodrick, y/n sits on the pavement ground, looking ahead at the road. They're silent for some time.
You sat on your bed, eyes sadly roaming over the photobook perched on your nightstand. Your name was called out in the hallway again, your band's leader ushering me to hurry. "Coming!" you responded, turning the album upside down and hiding it on the bookshelf before you left your room, heading out to meet your band members in your dorm hallway, and putting your shoes on. As you entered the bustling hallway, your bandmates greeted you with familiar grins, oblivious to the memories hiding in your room. The chatter and laughter filled the air as you gathered together, momentarily distracting you from the ache in your heart. The weight of nostalgia clung to you like a well-worn cloak. You stayed quiet, putting your coat on before following your bandmates outside, too tired and drained to be bothered to try and engage in whatever conversation they were having.
Sensing your mood, your bandmates exchanged concerned glances as they walked by your side. However, respect for your privacy kept them from questioning your silence. The cold winter air bit at your cheeks, matching the chilled emptiness you felt inside. "'m fine." you brushed off, noticing the look Minji gave you as you got into the car next to her. Minji, her astute observant eyes narrowing with concern, studied you intently. The silent understanding between the two of you filled the space. Though she sensed your inner turmoil, respect for your boundaries prevented her from delving further. As you sat beside her, a shared, knowing glance passed between you, signifying her wordless reassurance that she was there for you without intruding.
The journey continued in the dimly lit car, the hushed whispers of your bandmates' conversation faded into background noise. Minji's gentle touch on your arm provided a small comfort, a silent gesture of her unwavering support. The passing cityscape mirrored the emotions swirling within you, the world continuing its indifferent rhythm while you wrestled with your unspoken pain.
----
It was worse when you'd reached the company's building, the familiar scent almost feeling suffocating in the hallway, indicating you'd just missed him by seconds, maybe a minute. You hadn't even realised you'd been lost in thought until Minji was tapping your shoulder, the other girls already in the dance studio. Minji's touch on your shoulder snapped you out of your reverie, bringing you back to the present. You realized you had been lost in the haze of nostalgic thoughts, the scent lingering in the hallway reminding you of his presence. The realization stung, a harsh reminder that he was just out of reach, leaving you with a hollow ache in the pit of your stomach. "Sorry, I uh.." you murmured, clearing your throat as you avoided her stare.
Minji, perceptive as ever, understood the hint of discomfort in your voice. Concern filled her eyes as she watched you carefully avoiding her gaze. A momentary silence settled between you, the air thick with unspoken words and emotions. "It's okay," she said gently, her voice hushed and reassuring. "But…are you sure you're okay?" You hummed at her words. "Yeah, yeah, of course I'm fine." you brushed off, shaking your head. "Showcase is more important." you chuckled, gritting your teeth. Minji raised an eyebrow at your quick dismissal, unconvinced by your nonchalant response. The look in her eyes told you that she could see through the facade you were trying to maintain, but she respected your choice to downplay your feelings. In the end, she sighed softly, her concern for you apparent in the downturn of her lips. "I know you're focused on the showcase, but…just remember, you can talk to me anytime, alright?"
"I know." you murmured, heading into the practice room with your cheeks slightly warm, changing topic immediately and talking to one of the other girls. This was going to be a long day. Minji didn't push the subject further, even though the concern etched on her face remained. She knew when to give you space, and right now, you clearly needed it. The others in the room also noticed the slight flush on your cheeks but refrained from commenting, respecting your unspoken boundaries. Even so, their watchful eyes betrayed their concern, silently observing you as you conversed with one of your bandmates.
----
As soon as you heard 'break!' come from your instructor, you'd practically ran outside, choosing to take your fifteen-minute break out on the metal stairs, quietly watching the streets of Seoul. Your bandmates exchanged puzzled looks as you scurried out of the practice room, your quick retreat not going unnoticed. They glanced at each other, silently communicating their concern, but decided to give you some space for the time being. You found solace on the metallic stairs, the noise of the city providing a faint hum in the background. The cool air brushed against your skin as you stared into the hustle and bustle below, your thoughts racing a million miles an hour.
The footsteps echoed in the metal stairway as someone approached and settled beside you. You remained fixated on the distant cityscape, not needing to look to know who it was. In your peripheral vision, you noticed the familiar form, though your gaze remained fixed ahead. The silence between the two of you was filled with a myriad of unsaid words, each moment hanging suspended. "it must be bad if they've asked you to come talk to me." you spoke, a bitter chuckle leaving your mouth at the poor attempt of a joke. The figure beside you chuckled faintly, a weary sigh escaping their lips before they spoke. There was a tinge of understanding and a trace of sadness in their voice. "You know they're all worried sick about you. But they know you'll say you're fine, so they asked me to talk to you. You can't fool me though. What's going on in that head of yours?"
"I appreciate you coming to check up but I'm fine Taeyong-" you started, immediately being cut off. Taeyong cut you off mid-sentence, the firmness in his voice making it clear that he wasn't buying your façade. "Stop with the 'I'm fine' act. I know you better than that." It was clear it would be harder to persuade him that everything was fine - a lot harder. "it's nothing." you murmured, looking down at the group making noise, seeing Mark, Haechan and Johnny all coming back with bags of food, laughing about something as they walked along the street, to the entrance. Taeyong followed your gaze as it darted towards the street below, his eyes landing on the trio of giggling boys walking back with bags of food. He was silent for a moment, studying your expression before speaking softly."I know you too well. You might think you have everyone fooled, but I can see through it. It's not nothing, so just spill it."
The silence that hovered between you confirmed Taeyong's suspicions, and he let out a weary sigh as he took in your subdued demeanour. It was clear that your heartache was intricately connected to Mark, and the pain you were trying so desperately to mask was evident to someone who knew you as well as Taeyong did. He gently placed a comforting hand on your shoulder, his voice quieter now, a mixture of empathy and knowing. "You're not over him, are you?" You let out a sigh, rubbing your face as you debated answering. "No." Taeyong's grip on your shoulder gently squeezed in a gesture of understanding, his eyes reflecting the weight of the revelation. It was the truth laid bare between you, a painful reality that even time hadn't managed to erase. He paused for a moment before speaking, his voice gentle and understanding. "How long has it been since the two of you…split up?"
You shook your head, playing with your sleeve. "I thought I didn't miss him, then I saw his photo." you confessed, the favourite Polaroid you had of you and him on the front of the photobook he'd gotten you as a present, fresh in your memory. "We haven't spoken since. Guessing either he's avoiding me or I'm super unlucky and just keep missing him everywhere." Taeyong listened intently to your confession, the memory of the Polaroid photo you described vividly in his mind. It was clear how much that photo meant to you, and it made sense that it would spark the resurgence of your feelings. He mulled over your words about not speaking to him. A part of him wondered whether Mark truly was avoiding you or if it was merely a matter of coincidence that you hadn't crossed paths. Still, he kept his thoughts to himself for the moment. "You miss him, don't you? More than you want to admit."
"it doesn't matter if I do, I can't do anything about it." you grumbled, trying to brush it off and fighting the tears welling up. Taeyong frowned at your bitter tone, his heart aching for the pain he knew you were going through. Your efforts to mask your feelings were obvious, and he could see the tears threatening to fall from your eyes. He shifted closer to you, his voice gentle but firm as he spoke. "Hey, it does matter. You can't just brush your feelings aside and act like they don't exist. And who says you can't do anything about it?" You groaned, trying to battle your tears. "I can't! The whole reason we broke up was-" you snapped, biting your tongue as you silently cursed, realising you'd said too much already.
Taeyong's eyes widened slightly at your sudden outburst, taken aback by the ferocity in your voice. His curiosity was piqued by your words. Realizing you'd let slip more than you intended, you cut yourself off mid-sentence, leaving an unfinished thought hanging in the air. Taeyong's expression shifted to one of deeper concern, and he was silent for a moment before gently prompting you to finish." "… because of what?" you shook your head, tears slowly starting to roll as you hid your face. "I've said enough, I-" Taeyong's heart sank as he watched the tears roll down your cheeks, the weight of your pain evident. He gently put a comforting hand on your back, silently urging you to speak more. He spoke softly, his voice filled with empathy and understanding. "It's okay, you don't have to hold it in. You've barely said anything. Whatever it is, you can tell me."
"They made me." you whispered, giving in as he hugged you. Taeyong listened intently as your words hung in the air, a mixture of surprise and anger rising in his chest. He instinctively wrapped his arms around you as you gave in to his embrace, pulling you closer to offer comfort. "What…what do you mean they made you?" he asked, his voice quiet but firm, a hint of protectiveness in each word. After a while, Taeyong broke the silence, his voice filled with a mix of anger and disbelief. "Who made you… and why? Was it the company?" You hummed quietly, a little fearful. "management." you whispered, legs pressed to your chest as you sniffed. "they told me if they didn't then they'd delay albums even longer or something worse." Taeyong's jaw clenched as he listened to your quiet confession, the anger and disbelief in his eyes hardening his expression. The revelation of management's involvement in your relationship sent a wave of hot fury coursing through his veins.
The audacity of the company to meddle in your personal life like that, threatening you with such drastic measures, ignited a protective rage within Taeyong. He tightened his hold around you, his voice barely a whisper when he spoke. "And Mark… he just agreed to it?" you shook your head "he…he didn't know." you mumbled, defending him. "said it was a bad image for him and his fans wouldn't like it." Taeyong's heart skipped a beat at your words, the realization sinking in. His anger momentarily flared as he thought of the company's actions, but then he saw the way you defended Mark, even in your pain. A bitter mix of relief and frustration coursed through him. While Mark's innocence was a small comfort, the manipulation of the company angered him deeply. He took a deep breath before speaking, his voice a little softer now. "So he had no idea about any of it…?"
You hummed in confirmation. "said if I told him there would be consequences." you informed, pain in your chest at the memory, squeezing your fist tighter. Taeyong cursed under his breath, the sound of your pain echoing in his thoughts. Anger and frustration burned within him at the manipulative tactics used against you and Mark, but he focused on staying calm for your sake. He gently released his hold on you, pulling away slightly to look into your eyes, his expression hard and determined. "Why didn't you tell any of us about this? We could've helped." A silence swept over as you thought about your words. "I couldn't. No one could know." you murmured.
Taeyong grit his teeth, the anger in his eyes growing fiercer. The thought of you being pressured to suffer in silence, to shoulder the burden alone, fueled the anger coursing through him. He let out a deep, frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his hair, attempting to calm himself before speaking. His voice was strained but firm. "They had no right to tell you to keep all this a secret. This is…this is ridiculous. You shouldn't have had to go through this alone."
He paused for a moment, trying to keep his anger in check as he looked into your tear-streaked face, the pain evident in your eyes. He felt a strong mixture of helplessness and fury at the situation, and an intense need to support you, and protect you from any further harm. "We should… we should talk to the others. They need to know. They need to help you." He gently took your hands in his, gently yet firmly turning you to face him, his voice laced with concern and determination. "s'fine. I doubt he wants anything to do with me." you shrugged, trying to act like the idea of that didn't pain you. Taeyong's heart ached at the casual dismissal of your pain, the nonchalance in your voice only serving to deepen his worry. It was clear that the thought of Mark not wanting anything to do with you hurt far deeper than you were willing to show. He let out a deep sigh, his grip on your hands tightening slightly. His voice softened as he spoke. "You really think that? I don't believe that for a second. You know him better than that."
You didn't argue, a piece of you deep down knew he was truthful, that you were almost creating a false image of Mark in order to protect yourself from the pain and risk. He noticed the change in your demeanour as you stayed uncharacteristically quiet, and he knew he hit a nerve. Your reaction showed him how much you still loved and cared for Mark, even if you tried to hide it. "You still love him, don't you? It's written all over your face." He gently squeezed your hands, his voice gentle but firm as he continued on. "How could I not?" you confessed, voice small. The raw emotion in your voice struck a chord within Taeyong, the heartbreak and longing for Mark seeping into your words.
He squeezed your hands a little tighter, silently letting you know he understood the depth of your feelings. A tinge of sympathy flickered in his eyes as he spoke, his voice soft. "Then why not go and talk to him? You've been carrying this pain alone for so long…don't you think it's time to clear the air?" You shrugged, yet still found a reason not to. "Maybe at some point. I need to focus on the showcase for tomorrow." you excused, glancing at your phone as you saw your break was almost over, standing up in order to get ready to go back to dance rehearsals. Taeyong watched you stand up, a pang of concern and disappointment tugged at his heart. He saw the way you shifted the focus back to the showcase, using it as a shield to avoid dealing with your emotions.
He rose to stand with you, a mixture of understanding and worry etched on his features. His voice was measured as he softly commented on your deflection. "You're avoiding the issue, and you know it." You stood up, starting to head back in when you heard him softly call your name. Taeyong's voice halted you in your tracks, and you turned back to look at him. He stood quietly for a moment, his expression a mix of concern and understanding. He crossed the distance between you, a few steps bringing him just a few centimetres away from you. His eyes held a silent plea as he spoke, his voice softer than before "…He'll be at the showcase.." he started, holding up a hand, cutting you off mid-sentence when you tried to argue, his expression firm yet filled with care. He could see the way your body tensed at the mention of the showcase, and he knew your mind was racing with thoughts and conflicted emotions. "Just…listen for a second."
He took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving yours as he continued, his voice gentle but insistent. "You can't keep avoiding him forever. You need to face this… and the showcase is the perfect chance. It's just one night… one night where you two will have no choice but to be in the same room." He studied your face, watching the various emotions play across your features as you processed his words. The idea of being so close to Mark after all this time was clearly making you uneasy, but he knew it was a necessary step. He stepped even closer, his voice a little softer now. "You can't keep living like this, pretending like everything is fine when it's not. You deserve closure…and he deserves an explanation." you could see the hopeful look in his eye and sighed, nodding.
"Alright, I'll think about it."
----
You scanned the backstage area, looking for a glimpse of the boys. A few members of your group excitedly discussed the performance while others were catching their breath, the adrenaline from the performance still coursing through their veins. As you searched the crowd, your eyes finally landed on the group of 127 boys standing in a corner, chatting and laughing amongst themselves. You excused yourself, waving and approaching the boys with a smile.
The members noticed you approaching, and a chorus of cheerful greetings and compliments rang out. Johnny let out a whistle of admiration as you approached, grinning widely. "Hey there, superstar! You killed it out there!" Doyoung smiled warmly, gesturing for you to join them, and Yuta gave you a friendly wave. They all seemed genuinely impressed by your performance, the atmosphere light and celebratory. You laughed, shaking your head as you humbly accepted their praise. "Learnt from the best." Johnny chuckled and rolled his eyes slightly, playing along with the praise. "Flattery, flattery. But we love it." Yuta smiled and jokingly flexed his muscles, feigning a serious tone. "Well, if you're learning from us, you've definitely been paying attention to the right people." The others laughed playfully, indulging in the banter and lightheartedness of the moment.
You chuckled, listening to them all bantering and joking around with each other while you looked for a certain someone, noticing they were missing a member. As the banter and laughter continued, you couldn't help but notice the absence of a familiar face. One member was noticeably missing from their group, his absence casting a subtle shadow over the scene. Johnny, ever observant, noticed your gaze lingering, and his smile faded slightly as he followed your gaze. He leaned over and gently elbowed you. "Looking for someone?" You cleared your throat, nodding. "yeah, is..is he here?" you asked, cheeks a gentle pink. Johnny's expression softened as he saw the hint of a blush on your cheeks and the concern in your eyes. He knew exactly who you were referring to, and he glanced over at the other members, who had suddenly become quiet, their bantering now reduced to hushed whispers. Johnny turned back to you, the corner of his mouth curving up into a reassuring smile. "Yeah, he's here. He had to step away for a moment but he'll be back shortly."
Johnny watched you as you nodded, understanding the mixture of anticipation and anxiety you were feeling. He gently patted you on the shoulder. "Everything's going to be okay. Just hang tight, he'll be back any minute now." The other members nodded in agreement, offering silent support, each of them secretly rooting for the upcoming reunion. They continued chatting and joking, creating a facade of normalcy, but you could sense the underlying anticipation in the air. Several minutes passed, each second feeling like an eternity as you fidgeted and glanced nervously toward the door, waiting for his return. Every rustle of the curtains or shuffle of footsteps had you hopeful, scanning the surroundings for a glimpse of him. Finally, as the minutes ticked by, the door to the backstage area gently creaked open, and a familiar figure appeared in the doorway. Mark's gaze instantly landed on you, his eyes widening slightly as he took in your presence. The chatter around you seemed to fade into the background as you and Mark locked eyes, a mix of surprise and anticipation etched across his features.
The other members suddenly grew quiet, their conversations falling silent as they observed the moment unfolding. They glanced back and forth between you and Mark, their faces a mixture of tension and hope. Johnny watched discreetly, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips, while the others tried to maintain a casual stance, pretending not to notice the charged atmosphere. Mark walked over to the group with Taeyong, who instantly greeted you with a grin and pulled you into a hug, praising your performance. As he approached, Taeyong immediately chimed in, giving you a tight hug and praising your performance. "You were amazing out there! We were all rooting for you." Mark smiled, his heart racing as he took in your appearance in front of him again. The sight of you, radiant and vibrant, made his chest tighten. He struggled to find words, his mind still racing with a maelstrom of thoughts and emotions.
Taeyong smiled back, his eyes flickering between you and Mark. He knew the weight of the moment, the tension in the air, and the unspoken emotions swirling around the group. He subtly moved away, allowing you and Mark some space, while the rest of the members quietly observed, trying to give you the illusion of privacy in the crowded backstage area. Mark stood before you, the rest of the world seemingly fading away as he focused solely on you. His heart thudded in his chest, the weight of unspoken words and emotions pressing upon him. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Instead, he took a deep breath, his voice soft and laced with a hint of uncertainty. "Can we…can we talk? Alone?" You took a deep breath, playing with the hem of your shirt. "Of course. My dressing room might be free?" you offered, admiring his face but making note of how tired he also looked.
Mark nodded, silently signalling his agreement to your suggestion. At your mention of the dressing room, a wave of relief washed over him. Being in a quiet, secluded place would make it much easier to discuss what was on their minds. He managed a small smile, appreciating the gesture and how well you knew him. "Yeah, that would be perfect. Lead the way." you shot Taeyong a nervous look before walking, leading the way. The walk down the hallways was silent until you both reached the room, making sure no one else was in there before going in and shutting the door behind you. The silence between you and Mark felt thick and heavy, an undercurrent of tension and anticipation that seemed to grow with each step closer to the dressing room. As the door closed behind you, locking out the rest of the world and all its distractions, a sense of quiet isolation settled in the air. The only sound was the gentle hum of the air conditioner and your own breathing. Mark stood a few feet away from you, shoving his hands into the pockets of his hoodie, suddenly feeling uncertain about what to say.
He took a moment to collect his thoughts, his gaze shifting from the floor to your face and back again. After a beat of silence, he finally spoke, his voice soft and somewhat tentative. "You were incredible out there…I couldn't take my eyes off you." He cleared his throat, pushing his glasses up. "So was yours! I mean yours always are but-" you rambled, cheeks red as you avoided his eyes, realising what you were doing. "Your solo was amazing." Mark's lips curved into a soft smile at your quick response, amused by your slight awkwardness. He couldn't help but find endearment in your rambling. He chuckled lightly, shaking his head slightly, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes as he spoke. "You're not much of a calm and collected person, are you?"
"s'not my fault I get nervous around you." you defended, staring at the ground, heart racing. Mark's smile widened, his heart skipping a beat at your words. He took a step forward, closing the distance between you ever so slightly. His voice carried a hint of playfulness, but there was an underlying sincerity in his words. "You still get nervous around me, huh? After all this time?" he teased gently, a smug smirk on his face. "shut up." you murmured, a small smile on your face as you still avoided eye contact. Mark chuckled softly, a low, warm sound that filled the small space between you. He studied your face, noticing the slight upturn of your lips and the hint of a blush on your cheeks. He took another step forward, stopping just a few centimetres in front of you. He gently reached out and placed a finger under your chin, gently guiding your gaze up to meet his. "Look at me." you hesitated but followed, looking up at him.
As your gaze finally met his, Mark's breath hitched in his throat. The sight of you, looking up at him through fluttering eyelashes, sent a wave of emotions coursing through him. He studied your face, noticing the way your eyes darted around, the way your cheeks flushed with colour. He smiled a warm, genuine smile, his fingers still gently cupping your chin. Softly, he spoke, his voice a mere whisper. "I've missed you…" That seemed to be the tipping point. You latched on, arms wrapping around his neck before burying your face in his chest, fighting the tears. Mark's eyes widened slightly in surprise as you suddenly launched yourself into his arms, wrapping your arms around his neck and burying your face against his chest. He instinctively wrapped his own arms around your body, pulling you closer, holding you tightly against him. He could feel the slight tremors in your body, the telltale signs of tears brimming in your eyes. Without a moment's hesitation, he tightened his embrace, his chin resting on the top of your head. "Shhh…" he murmured softly, his voice gentle and soothing. "It's okay, I'm here."
"I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry." you whispered, clinging to him as if he'd disappear. Mark's heart ached at the sound of your choked apologies, the muffled sound of your voice against his chest. He ran his hand slowly up and down your back, a soothing gesture meant to provide comfort and reassurance. He pulled away slightly to look down at you, his eyes filled with a mixture of tenderness and understanding. "Hey, shh…it's okay." he whispered, gently guiding your head up to look at him. He gently wiped away the tears that had escaped your eyes, his touch gentle and tender. "There's nothing to apologize for." he reassured. "did Taeyong-" you asked, tears still streaming as you struggled to speak. Mark nodded, understanding the question you were trying to ask. He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts and searching for the right words to say. He sighed and let out a small laugh, more out of disbelief rather than amusement. He gently stroked your hair, trying to soothe you as best as he could. "Yes, he told me…everything."
He saw the flicker of shame and guilt in your eyes, the emotions that were all too familiar. He cupped your face gently, his thumbs gently tracing your cheeks, wiping away the remaining tears. "I'm not mad…" he whispered, his voice soft but firm. "I never was. I was just…hurt." He paused, letting his words sink in, his eyes searching yours for any sign of understanding or acknowledgement. "I promise I didn't want to do it, Mark, i lost myself the day I lost you." you whispered, rambling on with anxiety rising. "I still keep your sweater in my dresser in case I'm craving your scent and I still keep your toothbrush in my bathroom in case you come back again, and-" you rambled on. Mark's heart ached as you spoke, your words tumbling out in a desperate plea to make him understand. He listened intently, soaking in every word, every syllable that spilt from your lips. He could see the pain and regret etched across your face, the guilt that weighed heavily on your shoulders. He gently placed a finger on your lips, silencing your rambling for a moment. He stared down at you, his eyes filled with a mixture of emotions - pain, understanding, and a hint of hope. "Stop…just stop…"
When you didn't, he took a chance and went for it, your eyes widening when you felt him cut you off with his lips on yours. Without another word, Mark closed the remaining space between you, his lips capturing yours in a desperate, yearning kiss. It was a combination of tender and hungry, a mixture of all the emotions he had been holding back for so long. He held your face gently in his hands, his fingers lightly tracing the curve of your jaw. After what felt like an eternity, he finally pulled away, his forehead resting against yours, breath mingling. He let out a shaky exhale, his heart racing and thrumming in his chest. "I-" he began, his voice soft and filled with a mixture of emotions. He took a moment to collect himself, his eyes staring into yours.* "I don't care about the reasons…or the circumstances…or any of those stupid excuses of why we broke up. I don't blame you…I never did. The only thing I care about right now is that you're here, right in front of me…and that I still love you." he confessed, eyes both a mix of love, fear and hope for your response.
----
"I'll go grab the drinks." you volunteered, getting up out of your chair already. "someone will need to help-" you started, a soft chuckle leaving your lips as the boys dibs not it. Mark watched as you stood up, a smirk playing on his lips. He leaned back in his chair, his arms folding across his chest, a hint of mischief in his eyes. He chuckled as the boys loudly protested, each of them declaring their unwillingness to help, almost as if they'd planned it out in advance. In the midst of the chaos, Mark spoke up, a cocky smile on his face. "Oh come on, I'll help." you grinned, following him back inside the boys' dorms and to the kitchen. As the two of you made your way to the kitchen, Mark kept a watchful eye on you, a small smile playing on his lips. He helped you gather the drinks, grabbing bottles and cans, his movements smooth and effortless. Once everything was ready, he closed the fridge door with a thump before turning to you, leaning back against the counter and crossing his arms over his chest. "what?" you murmured, eyebrow raised and a smirk on your face as you approached him.
Mark chuckled, his eyes flickering over your face, taking in every detail. Even the casual smirk on your lips was enough to make his heart flutter. He leaned back against the counter, a smug look on his face. "What?" he echoed your words defiantly, a playful glimmer in his eyes. "I can’t admire my girlfriend?" you hummed, smirking as you wrapped your arms around his neck. "Never said that." Mark's smirk widened into a full-blown smile as you wrapped your arms around his neck. He wrapped his own around your waist, pulling you closer, his body pressed against yours. He leaned in, his breath warm against your cheek as he spoke in a low voice, filled with playful mischief. "Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do about it then, huh?"
i hate when something happens and people start with the "dont trust ur idols" and "all idols are terrible people and u shouldnt think otherwise" posts ...... i think it’s normal to think ur favourite idols are good people and we shouldn’t be blaming fans who are shocked and upset by the news. ofc they can get fucked if they’re defending him but tweets like "all idols are secretly awful" are not helping anyone. i think it’s good to believe people u meet / know / look up to are good people unless ur proven otherwise
🚨 UNDERAGE PORNOGRAPHY USING DEEPFAKE AND TELEGRAM IN KOREA🚨
Please take a second to read and reblog.
In Korea, middle, high school and college students are taking screenshots, even sneaking pictures of classmates, family members (sisters, cousins, even their own mothers) to make pornography videos and pictures in Telegram, using AI and Deepfake. Most of the victims right now are underage, and some are even using the generated pictures to threaten the victims.
It’s really a serious issue, and there are more than 220,000 memebers in said chat (it’s an estimated number, and it’s certain that there are more offenders not included in this) There are separated group chats for each middle school, high school, etc, the high school I’m attending right now included.
But as the Korean government did with the Nth room, their actions have been very timid, as well as the media. There isn’t any news coverage even though it’s basically a child pornography crime, especially since most of the offenders are underage. The schools are also taking limited actions.
People, especially the victims themselves are doing their own research, based on Twitter, sharing information about the schools of the victims to raise awareness, and also to share information about the perpetrators. Girls are taking down their profile pictures, instagram stories, making their profiles private, as they all have been used for the crime.
tw: nth room talk— sa, cp, generally dark + heavy themes
I'm not going to go into detail about what the nth room is, but if you don't know and would like to this post is a good place to start. This is more a reminder about how much misinformation is really going around with this topic.
First things first, this is absolutely terrifying. These people are sons, brothers, fathers and husbands, the very people who you'd think would protect the women in their lives are the ones ruining them. It's sickening and it's hurtful. My heart goes out to the victims. Truly I wish nothing but the worst on these men.
With the whole 'list of celebrities' that's allegedly coming out tomorrow— I get that this is a difficult situation, especially to find out that someone you have admired for so long is nothing like the person you imagined them to be, but this is not about us.
If you're a fan you have the right to be sad, but it's the same whether this is about taeil, other idols, actors, celebrities, etc— there are victims at the centre of it all. The victims deserve justice and support. Not continuing to support the perpetrators will always be part of that.
So while you might think your fave would never, remember that you don't know these people.
When and if a confirmed list does come out, which it hasn't yet, please support the right people.
If, and I truly hope this isn't the case, but if you see the name of someone you support on that list, and you think "he would never" then the harsh truth is that you seriously need to revaluate your parasocial relationships. Because we do not know these people.
There's lists of suspected idols circulating tiktok/twitter already, which is disgusting. To accuse someone of something with no basis, of something so heinous and sickening is real fucking low just because you don't like them. Just because someone is morally flawed in one area/certain areas does not immediately mean that they're sick enough to commit these crimes. And by no means am I defending these idols because yes they've done some real fucked up things, but that does not equate to them being involved in sexual crimes.
You can have a hunch, intuition, or whatever it is you'd like to call it, but falsely accusing people of sa will never be okay. Keep these thoughts to yourself. Don't spread them by making videos, posts, or comments.
Thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families.
i hope the victim gets the justice they deserve and are surrounded by people who can support them. i’m genuinely horrified and i hope they’re resting okay. if anyone is at all concerned by the themes of the incident, my dms are always open! pls stand with the victim before you complain ab taeil leaving the group, yes ofc it’s upsetting, but this is something far serious and beyond just a “kpop scandal”. this is a crime and he’s being held under law.
i don’t really have nor do i know the words to say, besides that im completely and utterly disgusted by the entire situation. my heart goes out to the victim and im hoping that they get the justice they deserve. im truly just disgusted.
A daunting feeling approached me, the grizzly bear of my dreams had been escaping hibernation; the encroaching growls were loud - very loud, but not quite like my tears hitting the dirt of my shoes. Sliding and cleansing, cleansing away the clarity of my thoughts. Nothing makes sense anymore.
“I..don’t like you like that, i guess.” The furrowing of my brows exposed my great confusion, unfortunately exposing a greater sense of reality. He caught this, I know, because his instant resolve to his ‘I’m sorry’s’ and ‘I didn’t mean to’s’ were his typical aim to feed away my sorrows, mend away the joke he made of me. The joke I am to be. His words were so filling, so overbearing; like a sack of rocks, he's dragging me down. I’m never famished, though. I’m always hungry. Always wanting more. I’m disgusted.
I part my lips to speak, maybe to spur something out that’ll make him pity me more. Gratify my underlying appetite. I’m always hungry.
“How much…”
“...Pardon?”
Forcing him glances, I notice the lack of palpability between us - our lost connection. There was no chef and guest, there was no bear and prey. There was no him and I. There was gluttony, however, filling the void between us. Desire, greed, an audacious tendency.
“…” I’m full of tears to the point that they're pouring out. Feeding on his attention, my appetite is fulfilled.
Prompts ; 20. “I’m asking because I’ve seen the way you look at me.” + 62. “I’ve spent all this time wondering and worrying about you. You didn’t think of me once?” + 88. “Do you ever think about me?”
You and Yuta had known each other since you were kids, with Yuta being your brother's best friend. you had been arguing since you were kids, up until even now, with you in the second year of college. The others were used to it now, only ever stepping in if the argument went too far. Despite the consistent rivalry, there was an unspoken tension between you two, and no one decided to speak about it. You'd all gone on vacation for the summer, your friend group and your brother's friend group, with you unfortunately being stuck in the same car as Johnny, Yuta and your best friend, Haeun. “Keep your legs on your side and we won’t have a problem, understood?” He said as he leaned back and spread his legs out. "You do the same then!" you groaned, rolling your eyes at him. He smirked and spread his legs out further, taking up more of the space. “What? Is this bothering you?” He asked in a mocking tone, looking over at you. A devilish glint in his eyes as he purposely pushed his knee closer to yours.
Johnny just chuckled at your pleas, looking into the rear mirror to see Yuta watching the interaction intently. Johnny wasn’t stupid, he knew how much you two annoyed each other and he also knew how much Yuta secretly liked you. He wasn’t about to let you get out of this car though. “No, you’re staying put.” He chuckled, declining the offer. "Oh come on!" You groaned, throwing your head back in frustration as you pressed your legs to your chest. Yuta chuckled at your reaction and smirked, enjoying every bit of your frustration. He was amused by how easily he could rile you up. He leaned over towards you slightly, getting in your personal space as he spoke in a mocking tone. “What’s wrong? Don’t you wanna share such a small space with me for seven hours?” he smirked, enjoying riling you up with the situation. you huffed, ignoring him and moving your legs up, resting them up on his lap.
Yuta raised an eyebrow at you when you put your legs on his lap. He didn’t expect you to actually retaliate, let alone to put your legs on him. The smirk on his face was now gone, replaced with a more surprised expression. He could feel his body warm up the moment you touched him, and butterflies in his stomach. He kept his eyes on you, his hand slowly going down and resting it on your thigh. you didn't say anything, keeping in mind the way he was looking at you before listening to your music and closing your eyes to take a nap. Yuta's hand remained on your thigh, not moving at all. He looked at your face intently as you closed your eyes and started to listen to your music. He slowly started to rub your thigh, feeling how soft and smooth your skin was under his touch. He couldn’t help staring at you, thinking about how cute and innocent you looked when you weren’t annoyed or yelling at him.
----
you let out a groan as you saw the room you were meant to share, shaking your head. "please tell me Johnny's joking." you asked Yuta as you walked in first. Yuta followed you into the room and instantly froze when he saw the bed. He had to stop himself from widening his eyes in surprise when he realised they’d be sharing the bed together, having to spend seven days in the same room as you. He also couldn’t deny how good you looked, but he quickly pushed that thought away. “This can’t be happening” He muttered under his breath as he walked towards one side of the bed. "I'm gonna go complain at him. it's one thing swapping so he can stay with his girlfriend but it's another thing having to share one bed with you." you grumbled, shaking your head at him as you shoved your suitcase to the side. He quickly reached out and grabbed your arm, gently tugging you back towards him to stop you from going to find Johnny. He didn’t want you to complain, he didn’t want to ruin this opportunity. “Wait. Just.. just wait” He didn’t even know why he stopped you, but something about the thought of changing rooms annoyed him. “Can you just.. can you at least stay and think about this?”
"Yuta-" you started before he cut you off again, shaking his head in response. “Let me finish!” He snapped suddenly, his grip getting slightly tighter on your arm as he pulled you closer. “Can you just.. hear me out?” He asked with a calmer voice. He didn’t know why he got so frustrated with you but part of him desperately wanted you to listen to him and not go to Johnny. "Why do you keep looking at me like that?" you murmured, looking at him. Yuta froze for a moment, realising that you could see through him. Nobody else has ever been able to tell how he really felt and he couldn’t help but feel exposed under your gaze. He quickly composed himself, acting like he didn’t know what you were talking about. “Like what?” He responded blankly. "Like that. Do you like me or something?" you asked, chuckling gently, not serious at all. Yuta froze up and his heart started racing at your words. He didn’t know how to respond, so he tried to act like his normal sarcastic self. “L-like you? Pfft, of course not. Why would I ever like you?” He tried to keep up the act, but it was already slipping.
“I’m asking because I’ve seen the way you look at me. You don't look at someone you hate like that." you huffed, looking at him, inching slightly closer. He was starting to panic a bit, he felt like he was backed into a corner with nowhere to run. He wasn’t expecting you to figure out how he was actually feeling. He let out an annoyed scoff and looked away, trying to keep up the act but he knew it was futile. “Bullshit. I don’t look at you any type of way” He tried to sound nonchalant but his words came out rushed and panicked. "no?" you mumbled, now standing in front of him, only a little space in between. He swallowed hard and looked back at you, the way you were standing in front of him making his body feel like it was on fire. He hated this. He hated how flustered he was feeling and the way his heart was beating hard against his chest, especially having you so close to him. He quickly realised there was no point trying to deny how he felt. “I.. I…” He stuttered, at a loss for words as he looked down at you. "then there's no issue in me changing rooms I suppose then." you murmured, teasing him as you slowly pulled away.
He panicked as you started pulling away from him, feeling desperate to keep you close to him. He quickly reached out and grabbed your waist, holding you in place. “Wait.. wait wait” He suddenly blurted out, keeping his grip on your waist as his eyes roamed all over your body like they usually do, taking you in. Your cheeks heated up, arms wrapping around his neck to keep yourself balanced. His breath hitched in his throat and his heart pounded painfully in his chest when you wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling your body closer to him. His grip on your waist involuntarily tightened more, so close to just pulling you against him and holding you there. “Fuck..” He whispered under his breath, unable to look away from you. you couldn't help your eyes from trailing between his eyes and lips, the tension at a peak. He noticed you looking at his lips, his eyes following yours as he realised you’re now focused on his lips. His heart was on the verge of exploding out of his chest and his brain screamed at him to just lean down and kiss you. He couldn’t resist anymore. With a sudden movement, he pushed you back against the wall, trapping you against his body with a hand on either side of your head to brace himself.
"don't tease.." you murmured, whining slightly, looking up at him innocently. He smirked at your whiny tone, loving how helpless you looked against him. His own body felt like it was going to explode from how much he wanted you, he wanted to just push you onto the bed and have you there for himself. He just couldn’t resist messing with you first. “And you think you’d be able to handle me not teasing you?” He spoke in a smug tone, his smirk widening as his eyes raked all over your body. The little pleading whine that came out of your mouth was absolutely intoxicating to him, and he leaned in more so that his body was pressed up against yours completely. He was barely resisting the urge to just kiss you right there and then, but he was also having fun riling you up at the same time. “Please what, hmm?” He asked in a low voice, a smirk plastered on his face knowing exactly what you wanted him to do. "Kiss me. please." you whimpered, desperateness clear in your voice. He inhaled sharply as your words and whimpering finally pushed him over the edge. He couldn’t control himself any longer or hold back from what he’s been wanting for so long. He groaned again and instantly closed the gap, smashing his lips against your own as his hand immediately moved from the wall to the back of your neck, pulling you even closer. He kissed and nipped at your lips desperately, like he couldn’t get enough of you. He didn’t want to ever let you go.
you kissed him back, hands tangling in his red locks as you pulled him closer. He let out an involuntary moan as your fingers threaded through his hair, sending chills down his spine. He loved the way you pulled his head down, needing him closer and closer. He moved his body even more against you, pinning you against the wall and practically trapping your body with his. His hand moved from your neck to your thigh, slowly stroking along the skin underneath your shorts as his kiss got more and more heated. you kissed him back with just as much passion, muttering a curse under your breath as you heard your name being called from downstairs. "Fuck sake.." you mumbled. He let out a frustrated groan as he heard someone call your name, desperately not wanting to stop. He didn’t want anyone else to get in the way and he didn’t want to have to let you go. “Ignore it” He breathed between kisses, his hand moving further up your thigh, fingers teasing the hem of your shorts. "Yuta, I can't…it's..johnny.." you murmured in between kisses, caressing his cheek.
He let out a huff of annoyance and slowly pulled away from your lips, resting his forehead against yours again. He was getting frustrated at the constant interruptions and he couldn’t help but roll his eyes at the sound of Johnny’s voice. “I’m gonna kill him” He muttered under his breath, the hand on your thigh still rubbing along your bare skin. "I'll see you in a bit, pretty boy." you murmured gently, kissing his cheek before pulling away, looking at him one last time before disappearing out and down the stairs. He just watched as you retreated out of the room, still breathing deeply and trying to calm himself down. His heart was still racing and his body was on fire, his thoughts still filled with your taste and the way you felt when he held you. He let out a frustrated groan and ran his hand through his hair, pushing it out of his face as he flopped back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling and waiting for you to return.
Maybe you weren't enemies anymore.
----
You spoke way too soon. Ever since that incident, he had been avoiding you. Going to sleep once you were in bed, always moving away once you approached him, sitting far away from you when he used to move closer. Even the others had picked up on it, no arguing filling the vacation home like it usually did, instead you walked and moped around, confused and hurt by the incident. Everyone had noticed the sudden change in the two of you. You went from arguing and fighting like cats and dogs to barely speaking, and Yuta was acting like you didn’t even exist. Johnny and the others had picked up on the tension and weird atmosphere whenever you and Yuta were in the same room. Yuta knew he was being cold and distant towards you but he couldn’t help it, he didn’t want you to notice how flustered and flustered he still was around you. He just needed to stay away from you. you'd decided to sit on the balcony in your room, letting him get ready for bed in the room while you leaned on the balcony, taking in the view.
Yuta got changed for bed and got into the shared bed, sighing to himself as he laid there. He couldn’t sleep, he hadn’t been able to sleep the past few nights when you were in the room with him. He sat up, looking over at the balcony windows to see you standing out there by yourself. He watched you for a minute, debating with himself on whether or not he should go out there. He eventually gave in to the thoughts in his brain, getting up off the bed and walking towards the balcony door. He slowly opened the door and stepped out, walking up beside you without saying anything. "Do you ever think about me?" you spoke quietly, breaking the silence after a few minutes, looking at him, ignoring your shivering from the chilly wind. Yuta froze when you spoke and turned to look at you, almost shocked that you were talking to him after he’d been cold and distant. He could still see the hurt in your eyes because of him. He stayed quiet for a moment and swallowed hard, his heart immediately racing as he tried to think of what to say. “Of course I do” He finally answered, his voice soft and low. “I’ve spent all this time wondering and worrying about you. You didn’t think of me once?” you spoke, voice wavering slightly as you hummed, looking away from him immediately.
He looked at you with an emotionless expression, his heart feeling painfully tight as he watched your body shiver from the cold. He desperately tried to hide the way his heart was racing and aching from having you so close to him again. “Nope, not once. You’re nothing to me” He lied through his teeth, knowing he shouldn’t be saying any of this. "Whatever." you grumbled, wiping your tears as they rolled, brushing passed him to go back into the room. He couldn’t stop you that time, he felt frozen and completely paralysed watching you turn away from him and walk back into the room. He stood where he was for a few more seconds, contemplating what he should do or say. He hated seeing you like that, he hated the way you tried to hide your tears from him, he hated that he couldn’t touch you and tell you he didn’t mean it. He eventually snapped out of his frozen state and quickly walked back into the room after you and grabbed your arm. "let me go." you whispered, tears streaming as you gently sobbed. His heart broke even more watching you cry, seeing how hurt you are and not being able to do anything about it. He just wanted to reach out and hold you, to comfort you and tell you the truth, but he was afraid of being vulnerable and letting his guard down. "No..” He mumbled under his breath, grabbing both of your wrists now and turning you around to face him. "Stop lying to me yuta." you sobbed, not fighting as he pulled you into his chest.
He slowly wrapped his arms around you, letting out a shaky exhale as he held you against his chest. Despite what he said aloud, he was secretly relieved to finally be holding you after days of trying to avoid you like the plague. He rested his chin on top of your head, trying to soothe you and calm you down as he stroked along your back gently. “I’m not lying sunshine.” He whispered into your hair, hating himself for keeping up this act for so long. "I don't believe you." you sniffed, shaking your head. He hated the fact that you didn’t believe him, he couldn’t blame you for it when he’s been acting so cold. “Baby.. Look at me” He whispered, putting his hands on both sides of your face and gently pulling you away from him so he could look at you. He wiped away the tears falling on your cheeks with his thumbs, his heart breaking at the sight of how upset you looked. your heart rate sped up at the nickname, finding yourself forgiving himself anyway, looking at him. "..what?" you whispered, leaning into his hand. His eyes roamed all over your features as he wiped away your tears. Even when you were crying, he still thought you were the most beautiful person he’d ever seen. He didn’t know how long he could keep denying what he truly felt for you. “Please.. don’t cry anymore”. He murmured in a soft tone, his voice almost pleading for you to stop crying. He slowly pulled you back into his chest, wrapping his arms around you gently and holding you against him.
He let his words settle in between the two of you before he continued speaking. “I think about how annoying you are, how sarcastic and bratty you can be” He let out a small huff, trying to hold back a smirk at the thought. “And I think about how much you drive me crazy.. how pretty you look when you glare at me, how I want to kiss you when you pout your lips at me” he confessed, his voice sounding desperate and shaky. He could tell he had your attention now, he could see the change in your eyes hearing him say that he thinks about you. His heart was racing at a mile a minute, his brain screaming at him to stop lying but he couldn’t resist any longer. “There’s not a second that goes by when you’re not on my mind, I think about you every second of the day and it’s driving me crazy.” He admitted in a quiet voice, watching your expression intently. He swallowed hard as he kept looking into your eyes, his heart thumping in his chest as his own words hit him. He was realising how stupid he’s been for trying to stay away from you, how stupid he was for pushing you away like that even if it was what he thought was right. “I think about how good it felt when I had you pinned against the wall” He suddenly blurted out, the memory from before coming to mind. you giggled, sniffing as he wiped his tears, kissing his cheek. "so do I." you croaked out.
It might not seem like it, but his heart swelled. He loved having you back in his arms again and he loved feeling your lips against his skin, seeing you smile and hearing you giggle. “Yeah? You enjoyed that, huh?” He teased but his voice was quiet and shaky. His hands moved from your face to your waist, holding you against him. "but what about Johnny?" you murmured, playing with his hair as his hands ran along your back. He froze again when you mentioned Johnny, sighing deeply. He hated having to talk about his friend at a moment like this, he hated how Johnny’s presence was hanging over the both of them. He gently buried his face in your shoulder, nuzzling against your neck and breathing in your scent. “I don’t care about Johnny” he mumbled against your skin, his hands on your waist slowly rubbing gentle circles on your hip bones. "but what if my brother doesn't agree?" you frowned, caressing his cheek, slightly anxious. He pulled his head away from your shoulder, looking you in the eyes again. “I don’t care what your brother thinks” He said simply with an edge in his voice, his fingers still rubbing gentle circles against your skin. “I just want to be with you.. to hold you like this all the time.. to kiss you whenever I want” he added softly, letting his true feelings come through.
You excused yourself from the group in the living room, making your way through the sea of bodies to the kitchen to grab another drink, refilling the red plastic cup of God knows what. He was sat on the counter, quick to dismiss the people in front of him as he saw you, sliding himself off before approaching you. His red-tinted sunglasses sat on top of his freshly dyed hair, the leather jacket pulled over his iconic jersey. "Hey sunshine." he murmured, his hand finding your waist. "I was wondering when you were going to come and annoy me." you chuckled, eyebrows raised as you sipped your drink. Jaehyun snickered at your retort. He was hoping you'd speak to him tonight, watching you all evening. “Just taking a break. I’ll go find someone else to annoy.” He smiled, his dimple showing against his smooth skin. “Unless you want me around?”
"Never do." you joked back, a small grin playing on your lips as you wrapped your arms around his neck. He smiled down at you, grip on your waist tightening as he pulled you closer to his body, arms tight on your waist. "Never say never. I'll win you over eventually." Jaehyun gave you a cocky grin, gently nuzzling into your neck and placing kisses against it. "Keep dreaming, pretty boy." you whispered, biting your lip gently as your hand ran through his hair. Jaehyun smiled against your skin as your hand was in his hair. He kissed down your neck to your collarbone. His hands slowly made their way to your hips. Jaehyun kissed his way to your lips and finally claimed them. One hand gripping your hip, the other gently holding your chin. Your hand gently tugged on his hair as you made out, cheeks flushed. He smirked against your lips as he nipped at your bottom lip. His hand on your hip pulled you even closer. Jaehyun's tongue slipped through your lips to explore your mouth. His hand that held your chin slowly moved down your body to your thighs.
You grinned, pulling away as you heard your name being called in the other room. "That's my cue to leave." you murmured against his lips, pecking them one more time. Jaehyun was left disappointed. He wanted to keep kissing you. He leaned his forehead on yours with a smile. “Will I ever get you alone?” He whispered against your lips. Jaehyun pulled your face in for another quick kiss, his lips lingering. “I should let you go now. But please promise you’ll find time for me tonight.” He moved his hands to your hips so you could leave easily. His gaze not leaving you. "No promises, pretty boy." you giggled, kissing his cheek, your lipstick leaving a mark before you disappeared back into the crowd. Jaehyun watched you leave, still standing in the middle of the kitchen. He smirked, placing a hand over his cheek that still had your lipstick mark. He fixed his leather jacket and red-tinted sunglasses before going off to find someone else to pester.
He loved the chase, that's for sure.
----
Jaehyun slowly entered the studio, he watched your body move in the mirror. His eyes followed you gracefully throughout the room. Jaehyun loved watching you dance. He watched with such admiration. He was leaning on the door frame, just watching not wanting to interrupt your practice. You hadn't noticed him until you finished, seeing him smile as you looked up in the mirror. Jaehyun began clapping and whistling as you walked over to the stereo to turn the music off. He couldn’t help but watch you as you walked over to him. “That was quite the show sweetheart.” He smirked, his gaze roaming all over you. "Stalking me now?" you teased, shooting him a smirk as you wiped the sweat on your forehead, grabbing your towel. He followed behind you. His eyes were glued to your body as it was covered in sweat. Jaehyun bit his lip, shaking his head softly. He leaned down to your ear and grinned. “Just admiring the view.”
"Shouldn't you be in basketball practice?" you asked, head tilted as you drank some water. Jaehyun shrugged, leaning against the back wall. He crossed his arms over his chest. “I got out of practice a little bit ago. Figured you’d still be here so I came to bother you.” he smirked. “Besides… I got a better view here.” he murmured, eyes still wondering. "You always this insufferable? or just to me?" you asked, purposely bending down to place your water bottle back down. Jaehyun chuckled lightly. “Just you sunshine. You bring out the best in me.” His attention was pulled to your body when you leaned down. He licked his lips before going over to you. “You look… hot when you’re sweaty.” he murmured, arms wrapped around your waist again. "Is that so?" you murmured, hands resting on his chest.
Jaehyun's hands slowly found their place on your hips. He smiled down at you, his thumbs gently rubbing circles. “You have no idea the things I’ve dreamt about…” he murmured, leaning a kiss to your neck. He planted a few loving kisses on your heated skin, nipping here and there. "Please do share." you murmured, smirking at him as you teased him with your wondering hands. His hands gripped your hips, pulling you closer to his body. He nipped and kissed all over your neck and lower jaw. “We could start out here. We could go over there.” Jaehyun gestured to the wall next to the stereo. His lips nipped at your earlobe. “Or… I can just take you right here...” Jaehyun's tone changed to a husky whisper as he kissed your skin. "What if someone walks in?" you murmured, lips brushing against his neck. Jaehyun pressed his body against yours. “Mmm… I don’t care if someone walks in. Do you? I’d love for them to see how pretty you are.”
"Jae..." you murmured, his name slipping out of your lips as he pressed kisses to your neck. Jaehyun paused. He pulled away slightly, looking into your eyes. He was surprised you had called him his actual name. “Say it again…” his tone was softer now. He caressed your cheek, his thumb brushing your cheekbone. "Jaehyun…" you murmured, looking up at him. “Much better. That pretty little mouth shouldn’t say my other name. It shouldn’t say any other guy's name.” Jaehyun had pulled your whole body against his. His lips captured yours. He poured his frustrations out through his kisses. They slowly grew more desperate. "Jae, please..." you let out whimpers, messily making out with him. “Mmm? Now you ask for things...?” he whispered into your ear. He nipped at your skin to tease you. “What do you want sunshine? Tell me.” Jaehyun's voice in your ear low and dark. The want building up inside of him. He began leaving more bruising kisses on your neck and collarbone. "You..." you murmured, in a daze.
“You have me sunshine.” Jaehyun murmured against your skin. He nibbled at the skin between your neck and collarbone, leaving soft and bruising kisses in his path. “All mine...” he nipped at your skin with a grin. Jaehyun took your hands in his and backed you into the wall. “Just like that. All mine.” There was a hint of possessiveness and jealousy laced in his tone. Just as things started getting more heated, his phone went off, interrupting the moment. Jaehyun was breathing heavily. His lips trailed to your collarbone and neck one more time. He stopped before pulling away altogether, reaching into his back pocket for his phone. “Goddamn it…. It’s probably coach.” He checked his phone and sighed. His breath was quick and his cheeks flushed. "S'alright, take it." you murmured, clearing your throat as you pulled away. Jaehyun paused and looked at you with an apologetic smile. He was obviously frustrated, and so close to losing it with you. He took a moment and pulled out his phone. “Give me a minute. I’ll be right back.” He sighed, stepping away from you. He went outside to take the call.
you let out a huff, running a hand through your hair. While this was nothing new between the two of you, it had never escalated this far. You sat down, reminding yourself that it probably meant nothing to the frat boy, doing this all the time with other people. Jaehyun took the call outside, his phone against his ear. He was pacing back and forth. The fact you let him kiss you like that was eating at him. You had turned him on more than anyone in a long time. he sighed as he hung up after a few minutes, and slowly made his way back into the studio, looking for you. Jaehyun's eyes were glued to your body as you started going through the routine again. Your body was so beautiful and graceful. He was mesmerized by you. He couldn’t help himself, his eyes took in every inch of you. Jaehyun finally stopped leaning against the doorway to walk over to you, he came up behind you. His hands slowly went around your waist, and he stood directly behind you. "Was it your coach?" you murmured, avoiding his eyes.
Jaehyun shrugged, his hands gently rubbing your sides. You could hear him take in your scent. “He can wait.” Jaehyun murmured. It drove him crazy. He moved your hair out of the way so he could plant a soft kiss on the back of your neck. "You should probably go to practice." you whispered, voice wavering slightly. "I was about to finish up and go home anyway." you lied, looking away. Jaehyun sighed, grabbing your hips tightly. He turned you around to face him. It was hard for him to be so close to you and not want to have you right there. “I just want one more moment with you before I go. Come here.” his grip tightened, not letting you out of his reach at all. "Jae-" you started before he cut you off. Jaehyun silenced you as he put his fingers against your lips, he pulled your hips against his body again, his body pressing against yours. “One minute. One more minute with you. That’s all I want and need.” He murmured, his lips meeting yours. His kiss was passionate and hungry. His hands gripped your hips, and he held you closer.
"You should go to practice now." you murmured once the pair of you had parted, not looking at him as you grabbed your stuff. Jaehyun stared at you. His lips curled in a slight frown. He hated the way you’d dismiss him. He'd had never felt such jealousy over someone before. He felt you belonged to him. Jaehyun knew he’d never be the guy to just let you go so easy. “You’re really leaving?” he muttered in a low and deep voice. "I'll see you tomorrow, Jaehyun." you murmured, sparing him a glance before walking out of the studio, leaving him standing in there alone. He watched you leave, His body was screaming at him to go after you. Every fibre in his being was pushing him to find you. But Jaehyun's ego, his pride wouldn’t let him chase after you. He clenched his fist and stomped out of the door. His mind screaming to go after you. Jaehyun leaned against his car in anger as his phone buzzed with another text and call from his coach.
You were so confusing.
----
Over the next few weeks, you avoided him, not responding to any calls or texts he'd left you and making sure not to bump into him in college. You were currently getting ready for your performance in the showcase for dance, doing a duet with Chan. He was part of the other frat group, and the rivalry between skz and ncit was strong, but you got along with both perfectly, his charming nature making it easy to bond. Your nerves were slowly kicking it, pacing around backstage. Jaehyun had given up on texting and calling you. He was frustrated and didn’t know what he did wrong. He knew he didn’t have any reason to be jealous or possessive of you, but that was exactly how he was feeling. knowing you would be performing tonight, he decided to come and watch your performances. Jaehyun entered the back room, standing close to the wall in the corner where he could see you without anyone noticing. He kept his eyes glued to you when you entered. He felt a spark of jealousy seeing Chan talk to you.
"Is it that obvious I'm nervous?" you murmured gently, looking up at Chan who was already gazing at you. Chan smirked, leaning against the wall. He had one arm crossed over his chest and his legs were crossed. He was trying hard to be cool and casual, it was hard with you so close to him “Yeah. It is pretty evident.” Chan mumbled. He leaned in close to you, placing his hands on your sides and whispering. “I’m sure you’ll do fine. You always do." He comforted, hands tightening. "What if I mess our dance up?" you frowned, unsure. Chan smirked. He leaned down close to you, his eyes looking into yours. He smirked and shook his head slowly. “Impossible. There’s no way you can mess up. Because if anyone screws up. It’ll be me, just so you know.” Chan leaned in to whisper against your ear. He smirked as his hands gripped your sides a little tighter. “But if you mess up. I’m making you come home with me tonight.” You wiggled slightly in his grip, laughing nervously, thinking he was joking.
Chan was definitely not joking. He had every intent on taking you home with him tonight. His plan was to charm you so much that you wouldn’t be able to say no. Chan had a cocky smirk on his face, his arms tightening around your waist. Before you could say anything, your names were announced, your cue to come on stage. You made your way on, your breath hitching as you saw Jaehyun in the audience, not expecting him to come. Jaehyun's eyes were glued on you, the way the spotlight hit your skin just made you shine like a bright star. He hated that Chan was by your side. He could see the two of you dancing together, and it drove him crazy, attention was on you and not the performance. Jaehyun leaned back against the wall in the back to get a better view. Chan was taking a few steps with you, his hands gripping your waist tightly. Chan whispered sweet nothings in your ear as you guys danced. Jaehyun was fuming.
You focused on the dance, not paying attention to either of the boys throughout the performance, locking eyes with Jaehyun as you finished the routine. Jaehyun smiled as you locked eyes with him. His eyes were filled with pride as you finished the dance routine with Chan. He had seen your whole performance, his body was filled with jealousy and possessiveness during every movement Chan made with you. He clapped his hands as soon as you finished the performance, a jealous smirk on his lips as he saw Chan grab your wrist. you watched as you saw him disappear before you walked off stage, slightly tense with Chan's arm still around your waist, knowing that Jaehyun would be meeting you backstage.
Jaehyun was waiting for you outside of the backstage room. His mood was different now. Instead of being frustrated and annoyed, he was possessive and jealous. You could see a dark aura around him. He grabbed your arm firmly, pulling you away from Chan’s grasp. “Come on, sunshine. I’m taking you home.” Jaehyun growled out as he pulled you deeper into the dark hallways. "Jae-" you started, eyes wide as he gently intertwined your hands. he shut you up by covering your mouth with his hand. One hand was still holding onto yours, the other one placed over your mouth. Jaehyun dragged you deeper into the back hallways, away from anyone else. “I don’t wanna hear a word of your bullshit right now sunshine.” he murmured. He dragged you into one of the empty rooms. "Jaehyun-" you murmured, trying to get him to listen. Jaehyun slammed the door shut, locking it. Jaehyun turned you around, so your back was against the door. He pressed himself against you. With his hands gripping your arms, he pinned you against the door. “Shut up for a minute and listen to me.” Jaehyun growled. His stare was intense and his grip on your body was tight.
“I don’t know what the hell you’re playing at, staying away from me. Ignoring my texts, and my calls and dodging me every chance you get.” Jaehyun muttered, his tone was angry and harsh. He looked as if he wasn’t himself. “I don’t know what to make of your little game. But I’m not going to sit back and let you just play with my feelings and mess me around. Got it?” His frustration was palpable, tension filling the room and his anger turning you on. "Just let me explain-" you started before he shook his head, finger on your lip again. “No. Don’t say a word. You've been ignoring my calls. you've been avoiding me. And the first time I see you in TWO weeks, you’re hanging onto a damn skz frat boy.” he bit back. Jaehyun gripped your waist tightly. He was a lot angrier than you had ever seen him. He felt his temper start to overtake him when he saw Chan take your arm and lead you away. He was so jealous that he felt as if he would blow a fuse right there. “I don’t want your damn explanations. I want you. I’m done with all the games. Whatever you’re playing at, stop it right now. Stop dodging me and coming up with excuses. And that little skz brat has no business having his hands all over you.”
"And you do?" you retorted, giving him a bratty attitude to rile him up. Jaehyun glared at you. Your bratty attitude had gotten to him. The anger from earlier was rising back up within him all over again. Jaehyun was losing his cool. His fists were clenched so tightly, his nails digging into his palms. “Yes. Yes, I do. I have every damn right to have my hands on you. I want you…all to myself. But you make it damn near impossible when you keep running from me.” he groaned. "I'm not running, I-" you grumbled, pausing as you struggled to come up with a reason. “Oh really? You’re not running away? Then how come every time I call you, you’re not answering, every time I text you, you text me back two hours later and you dodge me whenever I attempt to come see you?” Jaehyun muttered. His fingers dug into your hips and held you flush against the door. His body was pressed up against you so closely, his breath hitting you right against the neck and ear. He leaned his head in to whisper, his lips pressing in so close to your skin. “Quit the bullshit right now.” he ordered, looking at you. you let out a sigh, avoiding his eyes, not bothering to argue.
Jaehyun stared at you. It infuriated him that you wouldn’t even be making eye contact with him. The anger was building up inside of him. Jaehyun gripped you tightly, one hand twisting into your hair. His breath was quick and heavy. he lowered his head close to your lip. “Look at me.” Jaehyun murmured. His voice was low and almost dangerous. He waited with bated breath for you to follow his order.” ...I'm sorry." you murmured, looking back up at him. Jaehyun released a soft sigh when you looked up into his eyes. His eyes blazed with anger and desire. He was so possessive of you at that very moment. Jaehyuns mood shifted at once he saw your eyes look up at him. His hands dropped to your hips again, his fingers digging in tightly. “I don’t want to hear your sorry. That’s not good enough. I’ve been dying to be in your life more. To be with you more. You are so damn beautiful and yet you keep running from me. Why?” he mumbled. "I…I got scared." you whispered, breath hitching. “Scared? Of what?” Jaehyun mumbled. The anger left him as soon as you said you got scared. Jaehyun's eyes instantly softened as he noticed how scared you were. His voice went softer, his hands dropping to your waist again. “Scared of what, baby?”
Your heart jumped at the nickname, liking how it sounded from him.” ...You know Jiung, right?" you asked hesitantly. Jaehyun nodded. He knew him pretty well. He knew the type of boy he was. His eyes dimmed at the mention of him. Jaehyun's jealousy got the best of him just thinking about him and what he'd possibly done to you. “Yeah…I know him. I know what kind of guy he is too. What did he do?” he asked, his face softening and voice full of concern and genuine. "I uh…me and him dated, last year. we...we were like this at the start, all over each other. Until I found out to him, we were never really serious, and he'd just led me on, seeing other people all the time. He laughed when I'd confronted him and told me I was stupid for ever believing a frat boy could change." you opened up, nervous about his reaction. Jaehyun's eyes darkened as your words sank in. His hands tightened on your waist, his grip starting to tighten once more. He couldn’t imagine a guy doing something so horrible as to break someone's heart. No wonder you kept him at arm’s length. Jaehyun could hear your heart pounding a mile a minute, not even notice how tight his grip on you was getting. “And you thought I’d do the same? You thought I’d play you the same way he did?” he asked, his voice low.
“...I guess. I was scared you would, so I thought pushing you away would be better and it wasn't because, fuck, I miss you, more than I thought possible." you explained, voice cracking. Jaehyun paused. He couldn’t believe what you were saying. You kept pushing him away because you were scared that he would break your heart. He finally loosened his grip on your hips and turned you around to face him. He brushed his fingers across your cheek. “I would never, ever do that to you. It’s not in me to break your heart. I’d tear the world to shreds rather than see you hurt or sad.” Jaehyun murmured. His fingers trailed down your cheek to your nose, his touch gentle. "I know you would. And I'm sorry for avoiding you." you murmured, forehead against his. Jaehyun gently gripped your hips again. His arms wrapped around you tightly, pulling you against his chest. Jaehyun's eyes were fixated on your lips. Everything about you right now was making him crazy. “I haven’t been able to sleep just knowing there is a chance that someone out there might hurt you. Someone like that, that frat boy…he had no idea how lucky he was to have gotten a chance with you. If only I knew I would have beaten his ass to hell and back…”
you laughed gently, shaking your head. "You two were good friends, I doubt you would've-" you started before he interrupted, kissing your forehead. He chuckled. Even with his frustration over thinking about how a guy could do that to you, your laugh and dimple were still so cute to him. Jaehyun leaned down and placed his lips against your forehead, kissing it gently. He pulled back. “I’m guessing you broke up during the summer?” he murmured, brushing the hair from your face. "Yeah, just before we started the second year. just before you started annoying me." you joked, poking his chest. He smirked to himself. He took in your adorable giggle and playful side. Everything about you was so irresistible, so beautiful. Jaehyun's eyes were glued to your lips once more, his hands slowly sliding to your hips. He pulled you back against him, your bodies pressed together, His breath hit you once more as he leaned in close to your ear. “I plan on making up for all that wasted time. I’ ’m going to be the best damn boyfriend you’ve ever had.”
"Who said you were going to be my boyfriend?" you teased, eyebrows raised in amusement. Jaehyun laughed at your comment. He smirked as a low chuckle escaped his mouth. Your brattiness was something that he absolutely loved about you. He grabbed your hips, pulling you flush against him once more. His body felt so close to yours, almost like he never wanted to leave you. “Who said I wasn’t already?” He murmured. Jaehyun was so serious right now, he wanted and needed you to be his. He couldn’t stand the thought of you with anyone else, especially Chan. you giggled, leaning forward and connecting your lips in a sweet kiss. Jaehyun groaned as your lips pressed against his. Every time you made a noise, it was like a jolt of electricity going through him. Your kisses were everything he wanted. And just how much you had missed him, made him want you even more. Jaehyun was kissing you eagerly, one of his hands sliding back up to your chin. He gently tilted your head back, his eyes glazed with desire. He couldn’t get enough of you, he never could. "Kiss me harder." you murmured in between kisses, arms around his neck. Just the sound of your whisper was enough to get his blood boiling. Jaehyun couldn't believe the amount of heat you were capable of generating in him. When you whispered those words, Jaehyun felt every nerve tingling inside of him. He wanted to kiss you harder, to kiss you deeper and keep you in his arms. Every inch of his body was screaming at him to do so. So, he did just that. Jaehyun grabbed your hips firmly, lifting you up in his arms. He pressed his lips on yours once more, the force of his kisses intensifying.
This was going to be a long night.
----
cheers filled the sports hall. you stood up, cheering loudly, his jersey on as you watched him celebrate the win with his teammates briefly before he locked eyes with you. Jaehyun looked up from the huddle and saw you standing there. His heart skipped a beat when he saw you in the crowd with his jersey on. The cheers and voices around him faded as he locked eyes with you. Your cheering put a huge smile on his face. Jaehyun quickly broke away from the team and ran over to you. “Babe! What did I say earlier? You’re my good luck charm!” Jaehyun exclaimed once he got to you. He swung you up in his arms, lifting you as high as he could. You squealed, tightening your grip on him and laughing gently. "Well done, love." you murmured, caressing his cheek. Jaehyun grinned, the crowd cheering. The noise around them faded as he locked eyes only on you. “Thanks. But it’s all because of you. You came here and it brought me good luck.” He brought you down to his height and kissed your head gently. “Let’s get out of here. I wanna spend the night alone with you.” Jaehyun muttered passionately. He was ready to leave the game and spend an entire night with you. As he brought you close to his chest, his hand gently gripped your hip. "Got a reward for you at your place." you smirked, winking cheekily at him as your lips brushed against his neck.
Jaehyun sighed at how playful and sassy you were with him. It got to him. The way you brushed your lips right against his neck made him want to pull you into the nearest room and shut the door. But not yet. He smiled when you mentioned the reward you had for him. But you could always have something new with Jaehyun, you were his reward. “Oh. I can’t wait to find out exactly what that reward is.” Jaehyun muttered sarcastically. But all of that sarcasm suddenly disappeared when your fingers grazed his waist. "I'm leading tonight though, baby." you murmured, your voice low as you kissed his neck. he moaned at the feeling of your lips pressing against his neck. When your fingers were lightly gripping his waist, that alone drove him crazy. Jaehyun could feel your hand on his side. His hips buckling, every cell in his body wanted to pull you to the nearest room. Your smirk only drove him crazy. The cocky grin on your face was hot as hell. Jaehyun groaned softly, leaning his head in close to hear better. “You think you’re leading tonight?” he whispered playfully, his voice hoarse. "Uh huh. gonna reward my baby..." you murmured, gently biting his earlobe and hands travelling down his chest.
A soft smile settled on his face as he listened to you ramble, making sure to intertwine your hands as you exited the cinema, not wanting to lose you in the massive crowd. He made sure to take a deep breath every now and then, reminding himself to play it cool and not be too over the top on the date. "Sorry, I'm rambling a lot-" you apologised, shooting him a nervous smile and a small giggle escaping your lips. He gently squeezed your hand. "no, don’t stop. I like the sound of your voice." You could see that he had a little smile on his face as if he was enjoying listening to everything you were saying. As you left the cinema, his hand gently squeezed yours, almost as if he wanted to hold it tighter than usual. He looked at you with a soft smile, as if he was admiring you. "You're not rambling at all. I love listening to you talk. Grinning widely at him, you kept your hands intertwined as continued walking to his car. "Promise?"
"I promise. I could listen to you talk for hours. you have a beautiful voice." His fingers laced with yours as you continued to walk in the direction of his car. The sun shone down, sending a ray of light directly on the two of you. Taeyong couldn't help but look at you again, taking a deep breath and admiring the moment as his gaze locked with yours. It was almost as if time had stopped and everything was suspended. His heart rate quickened as your hands were laced together. A small smile settled on his lips. Taeyong kept his gaze on you for a moment, slightly smiling as you thanked him for opening the door for you. He helped you get into the car and made sure that the seatbelt was on before he got into the car himself. As he pulled out of the car park, a small smile settled on his lips. He looked at you while he was driving, trying to keep his eyes on the road while at the same time taking a glimpse of you.
As the music played on the car radio, you softly sang along with the song. At times, he joined in on the songs you knew by humming to the lyrics. He gently squeezed your hand every now and then as he continued driving, feeling slightly content as he was able to hear and listen to your beautiful voice. He glanced at you occasionally while he was driving, almost as if his eyes were drawn to you, finding it difficult to take his eyes off you. A warm smile settled on Taeyong's lips every time you sang a song together. The two of you arrived at your house. As he parked and turned the engine off, the music stopped. Taeyong sat quietly for a moment, not knowing whether he should ask you to come over or not and potentially ruin the moment. Instead, he decided to take the risk. "May I come in?" He asked softly.
"Please." you murmured, sharing a gentle smile with him before getting out and unlocking the front door. "My roommates are out so it's just us." Taeyong softly smiled as he watched you unlock the front door. Once you unlocked it, he followed you inside and smiled gently as you told him that it was just the two of you. He took a deep breath, feeling slightly more calm and relaxed now that he knew there wasn't anyone else there. He followed you into the living room, still slightly admiring the moment and the house you lived in.
He was head over heels.
----
It was late at night now and you both had been cuddling and talking while sharing a bottle of wine. It was just the two of you in the living room, feeling very relaxed and content. The silence was only interrupted by your occasional ramblings about random stuff, which he found very amusing. Taeyong took another sip of his wine, slowly getting somewhat tipsy. He looked at you, his gaze locking with yours as if he was admiring your beauty and wanted to admire it for as long as he could. "..Do you want to stay the night?" you murmured softly, brushing hair out of his face. Taeyong's heart rate quickened as he heard you murmur softly, wondering about the idea of spending the night together. He took another sip of his wine, finding it slightly difficult to breathe and process his thoughts. His gaze locked with yours, noticing the movement as you brushed the hair out of his face. His eyes were glued onto you as the idea of him staying the night sank in. He took a deep breath to collect his thoughts. "yes. I would love to… if I may."
"you can stay as long as you like." you whispered, a slight smirk on your face as your forehead rested against his. He softly smiled back as your forehead rested against his, feeling comforted by the sensation. The idea of spending the night together brought butterflies to his stomach, the thought of it both soothing and exciting. He brought his hand up to your cheek, his fingers gently sweeping across your face. "I would like to spend the night… next to you." he murmured back with a slight smirk on his face, his tone filled with a hint of flirtation. "Can I say something that might sound crazy?" you whispered, slightly slurring your words and giggling. Taeyong gently chuckled as you slurred your words, finding your giggles very cute. your question caught his attention as his gaze remained locked on yours, now with a hint of curiosity. "sure, go ahead. you can say whatever you want." he murmured, leaning in towards you slightly as he listened intently to what you were about to say.
"I think I'm falling in love with you." you confessed, cheeks warm from both your words and the alcohol. Taeyong's eyes widened a bit as you confessed to falling in love with him. His blush deepened even more as he gently tilted his head to the side as he listened intently to your words. He felt warm from both the alcohol and your words. He felt his chest flutter from the confession, his heart rate quickening again as he wanted to say the words back to you as well.
"I think I might be falling in love with you too,"
Prompts ; 57. “I’m just tired of this. I’m tired of it all.” + 65. “You know I wouldn’t call unless I was in pain.”
Pairing : ex! Mark x reader
Pronouns : you/yours
Type : angst, fluff, suggestive
Word count : 3.3k
Warnings : confused feelings, exes to ???, frat! au, fluff, slightly ooc, mentions/use of weed + alcohol !!
Have a great day !!
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"You know I wouldn't call unless I was in pain." Mark huffed, a gentle and genuine tone to his voice. He knew exactly how to pull on your strings every time. "Alright, alright." you gave in, running a hand through your hair as you sighed down the phone. "I'll be there in five." you murmured, humming as you heard him thanking you before hanging up. You pulled your trainers on and the slightly worn hoodie he'd given you last year on, trying to ignore the weird feeling in your gut. It wasn't anything new with Mark getting into fights. Except this time, it had been with another member of his basketball team, refusing to tell you who or why the fight had happened.
You'd reached his dorm in just under five minutes, and he answered the door almost immediately. "I didn't disturb you, did I?" he asked sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck as he stepped aside to let you in. "'s fine." you lied, biting your tongue as you tried to ignore how attractive he was looking like always after practice. "Where does it hurt?" you murmured, sitting on his sofa once you'd taken your shoes off, ignoring the flashbacks of what happened on the sofa last time you were over. He removed his jersey, showing the slight cut on his arm and the bruises. The light in the living room made his face more clear, a ring around his eye that would soon turn black now more visible. "Mark.." you sighed, your thumb running across his cheek subconsciously, swallowing the lump in your throat when you felt him nuzzle into your hand.
Sure, he could deal with these himself, but there was something in him, a part of him, that craved your gentle touch. It desired you to take care of him, to baby him like you always used to. You didn't miss the mix of lust and longing in his eyes as he watched you carefully tend to him, cleaning his cuts and applying ointment to his bruises. You felt yourself giving in, the butterflies swarming your stomach and the fuzzy feeling consuming you every time your eyes met each others.
And you didn't pull away as he leaned in, connecting your lips once again.
----
"..Hey." the voice spoke as you filled your cup back up in the kitchen, away from the group in the living room. You nodded at him, acknowledging his presence. "You really need to stop following me." you spoke, a small smirk on your face as you looked at him. "And why would that be? I can't follow my love wherever they go?" He smirked back, leaning against a kitchen counter next to you and crossing his arms as he stood close to you. "Since when was I yours again?" you shot back teasingly, downing what was in your cup for confidence before facing your ex again. "It's obvious, isn't it? You can deny it all you want, but you are mine, mine, mine." He joked, leaning even closer to you now as he put a hand on your hip, his voice just a low whisper at this point as his grin widened to match yours. "Especially after what happened the other night." he murmured, forehead against yours.
"We agreed not to talk about that." you murmured, wrapping your arms around his neck and toying with the ends of his mullet. "I know, but the memory just seems to keep replaying in my head over and over again." He teased, hand still on your hip as he held you tighter against him and his voice was just as low as before. "I swear, hearing you moan like that will be forever ingrained in my brain." He murmured, tilting your head back just slightly and whispering some more right into your ear. "Mark.." you murmured, a warning in your tone which only encouraged him. "Do you know how tempting it is, to have my love stand right in front of me like this right now?" He murmured, hands moving up your body now and squeezing your hips as his breath hit your neck. "Do you know how much I want to just pin you to this counter and-" he cut off what he was about to say, smirking at you.
"Stop it. We can't." you shook your head, biting your lip to hold your moan in, refusing to give in easily. The pair of you knew exactly what would happen and you refused to let the cycle repeat yet again. "Can't? Or don't want to?" he murmured, his breath still against your neck as his hands squeezed your hips tighter. "I think it's pretty obvious we both want it, baby. So why don't we just go ahead and give in already and have some fun?" He murmured, whispering some more now against your ear and nipping at it with his teeth too. "We…we shouldn't-" you started, a soft whimper escaping your lips and a hand instantly getting tangled into his hair. "Oh, but baby, we should" he murmured, tugging on your hair as his hand moved to caress your side and squeeze your hip even further to get a reaction from you. "It's not like either of us will regret it later on. All we'd probably regret is not doing it sooner." he mumbled, mouth moving to kiss your neck once before returning to whisper another sentence to you. "So why don't I just lift you up and-"
he was going to be the death of you.
----
It had happened again. And again and again and again. You were both at another party being held within his frat house, messily making out in the darkened hallway. The pair of you were doing your usual routine, making out every so often when it was just the two of you. Things would always feel awkward afterwards, but both you and Mark knew that there was no point in trying to deny each other's desires. You both wanted it, didn't you? So now here you were, once again, making out deeply in a darkened hallway. Your hands ran through his messy mullet once more, your bodies pressed tightly against one another. You had missed the feeling, honestly. "you wanna ditch this party?" you murmured in between kisses, soft giggles escaping you every now and then. "we could go for a drive or something."
"That's a great idea." He sighed softly, reluctantly pulling away from you now as he looked at you. "I could use a break from all the noise. Let's do it." He smiled at you, slipping his hand around your waist. "We can go somewhere quiet. No one will bother us there." he whispered, caressing your cheek. "lead the way, pretty boy." you breathed out, a flushed look on your face from the messy makeout, gently wiping at the corner of his mouth. "Follow me, baby." he murmured, intertwining your hands and leading you out, not caring if anyone saw as he helped you into his car. Mark sighed contently once he'd begun to drive off, the pair of you finally away from the party. This felt like the closest thing to a normal relationship you'd had for a while, deciding to ignore the doubting thoughts in your head. He kept his promise, driving off somewhere you wouldn't be bothered. Mark smiled again, this time looking at you with love in his eyes as he drove, enjoying the moment and the company of you.
You got out at the familiar spot, walking a bit up the hill from where he'd parked before he set the blanket down and gently tugged you down beside him, able to admire the city's lights and the clear skies with evident stars. "God, I love how quiet and peaceful it is out here." He sighed softly, lying down next to you on the blanket and watching the city lights and the faint stars in the night sky. He smiled at you for a moment before rolling on his back and laying there, his head still turned to look at you. "I could stay here with you for hours…" he murmured, turning his head some more to catch your eyes again. You smiled at him, nuzzling into him a bit more. The tensions were high, the burning chemistry resurrecting and too much for you both to ignore any longer.
He could tell that you felt it too, the way your body pressed against him and nuzzled you even closer into him. It was clear that neither of you could resist the urge any longer. He turned and brought you into a passionate kiss, his hands tangling in your hair and lips moving against yours. His breath was hot and ragged as he kissed you, making it clear what he wanted right now. "Give me another chance." he whispered, cupping your face delicately. "Mark, we-" you started, being cut off by his finger pressing against your lips to shush you. "Just shut up and listen to me, okay?" he murmured, his voice more dominant than usual. "I know we tried this whole just being friends thing, but that was stupid. We both know it. So why don't we just admit our feelings towards each other and move on from there? Give me another chance. You know you want to. I think we could last forever."
"I'm afraid that everything will disappear. I’m just tired of this. I’m tired of it all." you whispered, leaning into his hand and gazing at the ground. "I just want us to work." you admitted, cheeks pink as you vulnerably spoke. "So do I." he sighed softly, a soft look on his face as it looked like he was trying to not let his own worries show on his expression. "I know we've had ups and downs, but do you remember how good things felt earlier on when it was just you and me and no one else?" he murmured, shifting so he was sitting right beside you. "Let's go back to that, only this time, let's fix and deal with whatever comes our way together and never let anyone else come between us. Just trust me." You met his eyes, once again falling for the loving gaze. Maybe he was right this time. "..okay." you hummed, going with your heart. "Really?" He murmured, surprise on his face as his eyes lit up in hope. "You mean it?" he asked, cupping your cheeks and leaning forward to kiss your forehead. "Just promise me you'll always be by my side then. I don't want to lose you again, and I don't ever want to go through that breakup again. Please. Let's just make this work."
You took in his words, swallowing the lump of doubt in your throat and kissing his cheek. "I promise." you whispered, nodding. "Thank you." He smiled softly, gently wiping at your cheeks with his thumbs as he kissed your forehead one more time. "I won't let things end again." He smiled again, moving so he was lying down on the blanket again right beside you and wrapping an arm around you as he pulled you closer to him. "So let's just enjoy our night together and forget about everything else, okay? Just…just for a while, let's forget about all the drama and enjoy each other's company. Sounds good?" you nodded, sitting in his lap and cuddling up to him. You didn't say a word, simply enjoying the moment. He smiled at you for a few moments more, enjoying the closeness of having you in his arms as he held you close and breathed slowly, not saying any words either. The two of you just enjoyed the quietness of the night, the quietness of nature and the silence of being alone together, away from all the noise and drama of life and the outside world. It was just the two of you. And he was content.
Please be right this time.
----
You had sat intertwined on your sofa, lazily passing a blunt around the living room with the others in your friend group you'd invited over. You were cuddled up to Mark, your arms wrapped around his side and his hoodie strings dangling in your hand as you toyed with the strings nonchalantly. Mark had one of his arms around you and was casually chatting with the others as well, the two of you just enjoying the rest of your evening and the weed together. you placed gentle kisses against his neck, nuzzling into his shoulder with a soft sigh. The others were still chatting away, laughing and cracking jokes at one another, unaware that the two of you had fallen into a cute little intimacy. You had been nuzzling into Mark's neck and planting gentle kisses against him, also letting out soft little sighs as you relaxed into the moment. Mark was grinning slightly at the touch of your lips on his neck, letting out a low moan and holding you tighter against him.
"my room?" you muttered, hand resting on his thigh as you looked innocently up at him. He smirked and took another pull of the joint, exhaling slowly before looking at you and nodding. "Let's go." He murmured, gently pushing himself away from the other members and starting to get up from the couch. He took your hand into his and pulled you with him, leading you upstairs. "Keep quiet, alright? We don't want to let them know." He murmured as he opened the door to your room and pulled you inside with him, closing the door softly behind you. His hands were all over you as soon as you entered the room, pinning you against the door and pulling you into a messy makeout. His lips were on yours, hands moving up and down the sides of your hips as he moved his hands over your body slowly. You could feel his breath against your neck, his grip tight but gentle at the same time. It felt so intense yet so passionate, and you couldn't help but get lost in the moment.
"Mark.." you moaned quietly, enjoying the feeling of his hands travelling along your body. the sight of you in one of his shirts which came to your knees had driven him insane all afternoon, especially becoming more desperate with the weed in his system. "Hnnghh…baby. Don't talk just yet." He murmured, still holding you against the door, his hands roaming over your hips as he squeezed your thighs and pulled his own body closer to you. The feel of your body pressed up against him like this was driving him insane, and the feeling got more and more desperate once you had started to moan too. "Don't say anything, it's driving me crazy just thinking about it.." He murmured, his mouth hovering slightly above yours, his breath hot on your skin. "need you Markie.." you whimpered as your hands tangled into his hair, earning a groan from him for the nickname that you knew drove him crazy.
"God damn it…" he murmured softly, a hand moving up to wrap around your back and holding you even closer as his lips pressed against yours, his fingers moving through your hair and massaging your scalp as his other hand squeezed your thighs again. "You know exactly what you're doing to me…" he groaned, his voice hoarse and his breath hot as he let a hand move up to the back of your head and start stroking your hair, slowly moving lower and lower. "what do you mean, Markie?" you continued, batting your eyelashes at him innocently, winding him up more. "Don't play innocent with me." He murmured, taking a deep breath in before letting out a groan as he felt you bat your eyelashes and grin back at him innocently. If you kept up like this, he'd lose all reason soon and give in fully to you. "You know exactly the grip you have on me, baby. Please stop playing innocent because I'm close to losing my patience here." He murmured softly, eyes still on you as a mischievous grin made its way onto his face.
"but Markie.." you whispered, leaving a hickey on his neck as your hands travelled along his chest, knowing you'd push him over the edge. "Mm..mmnghh…" He groaned softly, feeling the hickey on his neck and letting out a low moan as his eyes rolled back slightly. "Fuck…god, stop…" He murmured, his voice sounding both frustrated and desperate at the same time. His hands moved down to you now as well, running along your thighs then to your own hips, his fingers slowly caressing before moving back up, towards the back of your neck. "You gonna be good for me, baby?" he murmured, taking control as he wasted no time in removing your shirt. "I'll be so good for you, Markie. so, so good." you whimpered, moaning softly before he gently covered your mouth with his hand. "You gotta be quiet baby. Mmhh…" He groaned, feeling the hickey on his neck before feeling your hands travel along his chest too now. After feeling you moan before, his hand covered your mouth again to keep you quiet. "That's it…such a good little doll." He murmured softly, moving his hand away from your mouth and letting out another low moan as he felt your hands on him too now.
This was going to be a long night.
----
You opened your eyes slowly, groaning once more as the light from the outside blinded you and made you wince. You felt stiff and aching all over, thanks to all the activities you had last night. You stayed in bed for a moment longer, taking a deep breath and stretching your limbs, letting out a soft grunt of pain as you did so. The house was quiet, strangely quiet. You could hear your own breathing, but nothing else besides that. No voices, no footsteps or other movement. It was almost too quiet for it to be natural. You rubbed your eyes for a bit longer and moved to sit up, letting out a soft groan of pain as you stood up. You tried to brush your sleepiness off as well, stretching more to test out your muscles as you did. You looked over to the side of the bed, expecting to see Mark lying there and still asleep. But to your surprise, the bed was empty, the space beside where you two had slept last night now void. You rubbed your tired eyes again and looked around the room slowly. It was still quiet, a weirdly quiet morning as you wondered where he might have gone.
You froze as you realized Mark was nowhere to be found, and suddenly it was like a sinking feeling washed over you. A lump formed in your throat and your heart raced, anxiety filling you as you realized something was wrong. You started to think about why he might not be here and started to get paranoid about it, the quietness of it all not helping. You got up slowly, pulling on the shirt of his you had worn yesterday, feeling the pain in your thighs as you did so. The bathroom was empty, the kitchen empty, the living room empty. The entire home was empty, a quiet hush all around. As you came down the stairs, the eerie silence hit you once more, a chill running through you from how quiet it all was. His stuff was gone, gone as if he had never been here in the first place. The house was empty now, just like it had been before he had arrived. The empty house and its eerie silence reminded you of how he always played this same cycle with you. He would call you when he was bored, and you'd come running, falling right back into his lies and deceits whenever he was bored. Then, he'd disappear without a trace until the next time he felt lonely and bored again, starting the whole cycle all over again.
summary : baking cookies with your boyfriend, who doesn’t actually know how to bake, leads to him getting playful
genre : fluff, jisung x afab!reader
tws : kissing, language (i said hell once oh no)
author notes : what can i say~~
word count : 0.7k
“jisung! oh my god, you’re gonna hurt yourself.”
the man looked down at you, eyebrows furrowed, “it’s just a spoon…”
“yes — well, let me do it. can’t have my little baby getting hurt.” you pushed him away from the countertop, taking the wood spoon from his hand without protest. jisung was slightly shocked at your seriousness, however he let you carry out whatever was justified inside your head, giggling quietly.
he replied matter-of-factly, “you’re younger than me, y/n, and much shorter.” but you didn’t care about his truthful words. you liked to tease jisung, as he was easy to make blush.
“yeah, yeah, you’re welcome, i love you too. now, can you read the next instruction please?”
you looked to your big bowl of blended sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla, then to the smaller one of flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
“it says to start mixing in the flour gradually.” he summarized while looking awfully focused, lips pouted. "then we can cut out shapes."
“okay!” you turned to him, “can you pour a little in while i mix it together? i’ll tell you when to add more.”
he took the bowl within his large hands, watching as you began to mix the two contents little by little. you thought it was adorable how concentrated he was for you, knowing that he wasn’t the best cook or baker out there — he tried his best to do as the recipe said so they’d turn out decent and make you happy... and honestly, he just wanted to prompt a decorating competition once they had cooled.
"add the rest, ji."
your boyfriend did as you said, turning the bowl over so that the rest of the contents spilled out. you huffed a quiet laugh when some of it scattered on the counter, jisung trying to right the wrong by scooping it up with his hand.
he looked at you apologetically, "don't worry about it, baby." you began, pushing your finger into the contents and then swiping it across his nose. he was shocked at first, but then he smiled, just as you intended. "we need some flour on the counter anyways to roll them out."
he mimicked your actions, swiping his finger through the excess, grabbing you by your cheeks and then pressing it against your nose gently. he smiled so sweetly at you, you found it hard to not do the same.
you gave him a look as he stated, "now we're even." letting you go back to stirring the mixture.
"you're not even competitive, ji." you mumbled the last bit, "besides, i'd let you win." but he heard you loud and clear. and it sparked that non-competitiveness; that was really just playfulness disguised.
the next couple of seconds went by too quick for you to even comprehend, but as if your eyes were closed jisung had gotten a pinch of flour out of jar and tossed it in your direction. it scattered across your face, falling to your chest. maybe he couldn’t believe it either as his eyes grew, your features straight and scrunched up.
his hand remained in the air when your eyes did finally open; caught red handed like he wasn’t the only other person in your kitchen — and the bowl sure as hell didn’t do that to you.
you let the spoon fall against the edge of the glass, fully turning to face the man at your side. “jisung…”
he became flustered, apologizing while using his flour-filled fingers to wipe your cheeks. your boyfriend paused when your feigned anger broke, a giggle escaping your lips.
you grabbed some flour, a smile on your face as you backed the man against the counter, trapping him. he looked curiously, seemingly accepting his fate.
you brushed your hands together, pushing them against his black shirt and leaving handprints over his chest that caused you both to laugh. then, you grabbed his cheeks, pulling him down to your level; but just before you met, you stopped, lips centimeters apart.
you admired his closed eyes, features tinted pink like he had blush on, and slightly parted lips. you both knew that you could pull him apart by his seams, and that he’d gladly accept it.
jisung moved first, closing the gap easily. he gripped your waist, pressing your lower back to get you as close as he could. you knew there’d probably be a couple flour-fingerprints against your leggings, but you honestly found it funny, cracking a smile against his lips.
he broke away, slightly winded, and still holding you close. “can we finish? i want to cut out a meummwonbom shape.”
reblogs, likes and comments are greatly appreciated! thank u!
hiii, can you do something with jaemin? like a college friends to lovers?
breakfast
genre. fluff, crack 🍞
pairings. jaemin x gn!reader
falling asleep at your friend!jaemin’s place wasn’t your intention.. yet, there you were, knocked out on the couch. you eventually woke up, disoriented and sore, while the smell of burnt toast polluted the air. on the other side of the open room, jaemin stood behind the kitchen counter, preoccupied with scraping char off the bread slices. he perked his head up once he heard you rustling around. “oh. you’re up.”
“what time is it?” you yawned, reaching for your phone, only to find it cold and dead.
“it’s like 10 or something—” his tone was casual, and it threw you off.
“jaemin!” you jumped to your feet. “i had a class at 9!” you continued, “i told you to wake me up if i ever fell asleep here again!” you ran to the bathroom, looking for the toothbrush jaemin got you last time.
his expression became one of shame, like a child being scolded by his mother. “i know, but you just looked so peaceful…”
this isn’t the first time this has happened. more often than not, jaemin invites you to hang out after class.. so you usually find yourself leaving with him to walk to his apartment… you just can’t get enough of him.
once you get there, you hope for a productive afternoon, maybe crank out some assignments. but instead, you end up talking to him all night. you’ll eventually glance at the ungodly hour on the clock, and think, "just 5 more minutes. i'll get going in 5 minutes." 5 minutes turns into 5 hours... and next thing you know, the sun is up, you've slept through all your alarms, and you're grabbing your things to rush out.
“i need to go home-” you pat your hands around the couch, looking for your purse, tossing around the blankets and pillows jaemin put on you while you were asleep.
“wait.” he interjected. “when’s your next class?”
“at 1… but i still have to go home and get dressed...” you sighed, slumping onto the stool at the kitchen island.
“you still have plenty of time to eat breakfast...” jaemin said, nudging over a plate of toast that was grilled to the point of no return.
“jaemin…” you laughed. “im not eating that.” you eyed the dish, and a chill went down your spine. “i’ll just have some cereal.” you helped yourself to his cabinets in a search for a more edible alternative.
sitting across from jaemin at the table, you crunched on your cereal while he picked at his burnt toast… his pride wouldn’t let him throw it out. “so do you wanna come over again later?” he waited for you to chew your food before you replied.
“jaemin, be for real.” you set down your spoon. “i can’t keep coming over on weekdays. i lose track of time and fall asleep.. i can’t keep doing that.”
“why not?” he said, mouth full. “why can’t you fall asleep here?”
“i don’t have my stuff here! no skincare, no clothes…” you counted a finger for each point you listed. “and by the time i wake up, im late, and i still have to go home and get ready...”
“well then.. why not just bring stuff to stay the night.” he cleared his throat. “pack your clothes and skincare and whatever… plus, you already have a toothbrush here.”
“do you want me to stay or something?” you took a sip of juice, eyes peeking over the cup.
“i just like having you around...” he picked at the toast some more, but had yet to actually taste it.
you thought for a moment. “yeah sure.” you shrugged, ignoring the way he just made your heart flutter.
“wait really?” he looked up from his plate.
“i mean… i guess it’s not a problem as long as i bring stuff to stay.” you said, getting up from your seat to go wash your bowl in the sink. jaemin followed right behind you and draped his arms over your shoulders, pulling your back into his chest. “then can you bring stuff to stay longer than 1 night?”
jaemin has always been a pretty affectionate friend, so you didn’t think much of the hug… “maybe i could stay until the weekend..”
“just until the weekend?” he squeezed you a little tighter.
but was he always this clingy?
“na jaemin, when did you get so clingy?”
“well these days, i…” he stopped himself.
“these days, you...?” you hummed, tugging on his arms that were still embracing you, urging for him to finish his sentence. you began swaying side to side ever so slightly. “let’s just stay like this for a minute.” he cooed, catching on to your rhythm, rocking in the silence. he really gave the best hugs. after a moment, he disrupted the stillness of the room. “move in with me.”
hearing him say that so bluntly made your heart drop. flustered, you turned around to face him, his arms now resting on your back. “all of a sudden?” you laughed.
“mm.” he nodded his head to agree, looking at you so endearingly. he gradually inched his face closer to yours, and you didn’t mind.
“jaemin.”
“yeah?” he answered, just inches away.
“are you trying to kiss me right now?” you teased, as your gaze wandered from his eyes to his lips.
“are you gonna let me?” he teased back. you couldn’t hold back your smile, and he basically took that as confirmation.
he didn’t have to lean in much more before his lips were touching yours. your eyes fluttered as his hands gently met your cheeks, even tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.
“what are we doing?” you whispered in between breaths.
“just enjoy it.” he reassured you.
and for some reason, his words really put you at ease. in that moment, you couldn’t help but enjoy it. you reconnected your lips, and let yourself fall more in love with your best friend than you already were.
his smile forced him out of the kiss. “so does this mean we can have breakfast together every morning?”
you scoffed at his remark. “maybe if you learn how to cook first…”
@lovesuhng thanks so much for the request!!!! such a cute idea. hope you like it!!!
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