โ SYNOPSIS โ Some say thereโs a very thin line between hatred and desire, & maybe it is true after all. You and Riki are the worst of enemies; you hate him with your whole chestโ he hates you right back. The question is, how long does it take for a line like that to dissolve and for bodies to finally speak their truths? playlist + leniency edit by @chrissindica
warnings: heavy degradation, sabotaging, enemies (i donโt say this lightly), idolxidol, toxic and awful behaviours, slutshaming, name calling. not an enemies to lovers ! forced proximity, physical violence, bruising, hitting, throwing up, NSFW tags : hate-fuck, wet dreams, heel kink/ leg kink, lots of sexual tension, unwanted arousal, size kink, degradation, choking, dry humping, hair pulling, scratching, violent sex, unprotected sex, humiliation, brat taming, scratching just filth.
Hatred is a strange thing, really; it remembers what love forgets. Given enough time, love begins to sand away the roughness until all that's left is nostalgiaโ hatred, however, does exactly the opposite.
Eventually, there comes a point where you stop asking who's right and who's wrong because the years blur the details until only the feeling remains. You no longer remember the first offenseโonly the certainty that if a room catches fire, you'll check whether Nishimura Riki is still inside before you leave.
After all, neither of you ever fought fairโ honestly, why would you?
See, mercy is naturally reserved for people you love and indifference is for strangers. Hatred, on the other handโ real hatredโis far more intimate. It learns your habits, memorizes your weaknesses, and waits until you're already bleeding before deciding exactly where to press.
That's the part people never seem to understand.
They like to believe hatred has humble beginnings because it reassures them that it can also be undone; they tell themselves that, given enough patience, enough time, someone will eventually show forgiveness.
But leniency is reserved for those who believe the other deserves it.
You never did.
Nishimura Riki never deservedโ nor earnedโthat leniency.
There's this thing called irony. You've had enough of it, yet it just keeps coming back anywayโ unwanted, unpromptedโas if it simply can't help itself. As if its sole purpose in life is to ruin yours every single time it decides to show up.
Funnily enough, today is no exception.
The automatic doors of Incheon airport slide open, spitting you and the rest of R3SET into the humid Seoul air. Cameras flash somewhere in the distanceโ paparazzi already swarming your arrival; Hye-ri walks on your left, Mina on your right, and Sera trails a step behind with her hood pulled low.
You're finallyโ finallyโdone with the world tour.
By now, every city has bled into the next; hotels all smelled the same, airport lounges became second home, and every day disssolbed into the same cycle of soundchecks, stages, and performances so loud you had to get your hearing checked on a regular basis. Somewhere along the way, you'd forgotten what it felt like to wake up in the same bed twice.
But today, for the first time in months, you're home.
Which, as irony would have it, is exactly where everything is about to go wrong.
Youโre clutching a water bottle in your hand, trying to make sure your face is shielded from the flashes with the other yet your pathetic little instinct says itโs a good idea to reach for your phone when it buzzes in your pocket.
As you glance down to the screenโ expecting a welcome-back email from your manager or something absolutely useless like thatโ you see instead the HYBE logo staring right back at you.
Subject: Year-End Special Collaboration Project โ Confirmed Pairing
Your thumb hovers but you already know. Deep in your gut, you fucking know.
But you open it anyway.
...R3SET's Y/n will be paired with ENHYPEN's NI-KI for the 4-minute original dance performance piece. Joint choreography development begins immediately. Mandatory attendance at all scheduled practices, filming days, and rehearsals. Non-compliance will result in...
The rest blurs, it doesn't even matter.
"Fuck." The word slips out under your breath, low and venomous.
Your fingers tighten around the phone until your knuckles crack hardโ nails digging crescents into your palm. You keep squeezing until the skin breaks and warm little lines of pain bloom.
Hye-ri notices, her eyes flick to your white-knuckled grip, then away, and Mina's shoulders stiffen. None of your members speak, hah, they know better. Everyone knows talking about the devil is a no-go.
See, some people pray before they sleep, some people do skincare, or meditation. You? You rehearse arguments with Nishimura Riki, you plot his downfall, and you clench your teeth so hard they might break in your mouth.
It's become routine, really, and now you can already hear his stupid voice in your headโ sharp, accented, dripping with disgust. "Ugly bitch. Always ruining shit for everyone else."
The same things he's muttered under his breath every time your paths crossed at award shows. The same venom you've always returned by feeding your private hate account the most unflattering behind-the-scenes clips you could find of him.
Usually, if he dared looking smug on stage, you made sure someone clipped the moments he stumbled or looked exhausted.
Petty? Maybe. Satisfying? Abso-fucking-lutely.
A staff member in a Hybe windbreaker rushes past, nearly colliding with you and your shoulder slams into his. Pain flares, but you barely register it, you're too busy being angry.
"Shitโ sorry," you mutter automatically, voice flat. The staff blinks at you, startled, but you're already moving again, eyes burning holes into the floor.
Mina finally breaks the silence, voice low enough that only the group can hear. "You good?"
"No." Your laugh is bitter, barely a sound. "They paired me with that fraud, of course I'm not good."
Sera's hand brushes your arm in silent support, but she doesn't say anything. What is there to say? Erm...Good luck? Don't kill each other? The company doesn't care if you hate Riki, they want the drama and the numbersโ the "tension" that fans already whisper about in forums.
You force your fingers to unclench, blood dots your palm in tiny red half-moons but you wipe it discreetly on your sweatpants.
The roar of fans and cameras grows louder as you approach the arrival gateโ bright lights, screaming voices chanting your name and phones held high are waiting for you. You pull your black facemask up over your nose and mouth in one smooth motion and roll your shoulders back, lift your chin, to let the practiced smile bleed into your eyes even if it never reaches your mouth.
Hye-ri links arms with you on cue, Mina waves with both hands, bright and bubbly and you all fall into formation like muscle memory.
"Y/n unnie! Welcome back!"
"R3SET fighting!"
You bow slightly toward the crowd, eyes crinkling above the mask in the perfect illusion of gratitude. Let's just say, inside, your mind is a storm of curses in three languages.
Nishimura fucking Riki.
You can already picture the first practice: his tall frame taking up way too much space in the studio, that stupid frown, the way he'll deliberately step on your timing just to watch you fail. The way his hands will have to touch you during lifts and turns because the choreographer will demand chemistry you'll never have.
You want to break something. Preferably his ugly nose.
But the cameras are rolling, the fans are watching and on top of everything, the company email has made it very clearโ this project is non-negotiable. So you keep smiling behind the mask, waving with one hand while the other stays clenched around your bottle.
'Let's see how long we last before one of us actually tries to kill the other', you think as you move toward the waiting vans.
You already know the answer.
Not long.
You might wonder what brings a woman and a man to such lengths of hatred. And the difficult part is that there's no real explanation; it's just an accumulation reallyโ tiny cuts over years that fester into something grotesque.
One day you're both wide-eyed trainees sweating through sixteen-hour days, and the next you're fantasizing about drop-kicking Nishimura Riki off a stage mid-performance while smiling for the fans.
That's the thing, it's not dramatic movie-villain origin shit. It's the slow poison of shared survival in an industry that chews up kids and spits out Barbie dolls.
A stolen practice slot here, a whispered rumor there, a public meltdown that paints you as the problem while he plays the misunderstood genius, and a TV scandal that ruined everything. Add in sleep deprivation, pressure, and the fact that you both watched each other's dreams nearly die, and boomโ they created the perfect nemesis.
By now, you've replayed every second so many times it feels like a greatest-hits album in your brain. Rikiโs smug little smirk when he nailed a combo you'd been killing yourself over. The way he'd mutter "amateur" just loud enough for you to hear during evaluations. Your secret satisfaction when his group's early promotions hit minor bumps.
It's all so stupid and so fucking deep at the same time. Because that's the problem with hatredโ it doesn't have to make sense to become permanent. Some people have childhood trauma... you just have Nishimura Riki.
The flashbacks hit you sometimes like a bad smell you can't escape. It always starts the same way; elimination day on I-LAND; the lights were way too bright, the cameras too close, and the air felt thick enough to choke on. You remember the way the eliminated trainees stood in that sterile line, faces blank or streaked with tears. Riki's japanese hyung Hajime โhis only real anchor in that cutthroat dormโdidn't make the final cut. The announcement echoed through the hall like a death sentence and even now, years later you can still hear it.
The kid had talent, sure, but the system didn't care. It pushed and pushed and pushed until even the strongest cracked under the weight of evaluations, rankings, and endless comparisons.
You were just trying to survive too, right? Everyone was. Thats why you did what you did that day, and why you kept doing it out of pure pettiness.
The company fed you lines about "growth" and "teamwork," when talking about the trainee program, but really it was a meat grinder dressed up in sparkly dresses. Childrenโ literal teenagersโbreaking down in practice rooms at 3 am., vomiting from exhaustion, smiling for the livestreams like nothing was wrong. Friendships formed and shattered in the span of a single ranking drop.
Loyalties? Laughable.
You did what you had to do: submitted the feedback that protected your own team. Cold? Maybe. Necessary? In that hellscape, yes.
Riki, though, didn't see it that way. He exploded in the hallway afterward, voice cracking with rage, calling you out in front of everyone. That moment branded him "difficult" and nearly cost him everything. You watched his dream wobble on the edge while yours steadied and the industry kept spinning, indifferent to the bodies it left behind.
Some debuted. Some didn't.
But weโll get to that story another time.
Back in the present, a couple days passed since you came back to Seoulโ you're now sitting in a Hybe conference room turned temporary press hall, legs crossed tightly under the table so no one sees your knee bouncing like it's trying to escape your body.
It's the kickoff press conference for the year-end special collaboration, cameras are everywhere and so are reporters with microphones poised like weapons. Your members are seated a few chairs down, shooting you sympathetic glances when they think the cameras aren't looking.
Across from you, flanked by his members, sits the devil himself: Nishimura Riki.
He looks disgustingly repulsive in his all-black fitโ sharp jawline, dyed blond hair styled just right, that stupid tall frame slouched like he owns the room. You want to throw your mic at his head and watch it split open.
The MC, some overly enthusiastic guy in a suit two sizes too tight, beams at the crowd. "Welcome everyone! Today we're excited to announce this groundbreaking collaboration between R3SET and Enhypen! Let's hear from the groups themselves!"
Forced applause ripples through the room and you plaster on your idol smileโ eyes bright, lips curvedโ the works. Inside your head it's a completely different scene:
'Smile wider, you fraudulent prick. I hope your next flip lands on your neck.'
Riki mirrors your expression perfectly. To the cameras, you two look like respectful colleagues but up close? His eyes scream 'I hope you trip on stage and eat shit in front of twenty thousand people.'
The MC shoves a mic toward you first. "Y/n! How do you feel about partnering with Riki for this high-stakes piece?"
You lean forward slightly, voice honey-sweet and professional. "I'm really honored to be working with someone as talented as Riki. We're both dedicated to this, so I know we'll deliver something amazing for the fans."
Translation: 'I would rather gargle battery acid than spend one minute in a practice room with that entitled dance prodigy asshole.'
Riki's turn comes. He chuckles lightly, the sound obviously practiced, but you catch the micro-twitch in his jaw. "Yeah, same. Y/n has great stage presence. Looking forward to creating something cool together."
'Cool?' you think. 'I'll create a crime scene, maybe.'
The MC eats it up. "Ah, such great chemistry already! Let's do a quick joint Q&A. Reporters, go ahead."
A reporter stands. "There have been past rumors of some tension between you two from trainee days. How will you overcome that for this project?"
The room goes a little quieterโ your smile doesn't falter, but your nails dig into your thigh under the table.
Riki answers first, voice calm. "Trainee days were tough for everyone. We've both grown a lot since then. Right, Y/n?"
You nod, locking eyes with him. "Absolutely. Water under the bridge, we're focused on the performance now."
Water under the bridge? More like gasoline on a bonfire.
Another reporter asks, "Riki, what's your first impression of working with Y/n?"
He tilts his head, pretending to think. "She's very... determined. Always gives 110%. I respect that."
Determined. Just a way of saying 'ruthless backstabber,' for him.
You jump in before he can enjoy his little jab. "And Riki's technique is insane. It'll be fun pushing each other, right?" Your tone is light, playful even and the audience laughs appreciatively.
The press conference drags on like a hostage situationโ they make you do a short segment where you both stand up and demonstrate a basic partner hold for the cameras. His hand lands on your waistโ firm and professional, but you can tell heโs dying to take it off. Your skin crawls but you place your hand on his shoulder like the choreographer instructed earlier in rehearsal. Up close, he smells like expensive cologne and it makes nausea rise so violently in your throat that you want to throw up on the spot.
"Relax your grip," he mutters under his breath, smile still plastered on for the flashing cameras. "Or are you trying to claw me in front of everyone?"
"Shut the fuck up and smile, giraffe," you whisper back, voice sugary.
His fingers press harder into your waistโ just enough to bruise, not enough for anyone else to notice. You dig your nails into his shoulder in return and the cameras click wildly.
You both separate after the pose, returning to your seatsโ of course, your members are trying not to laugh nervously while Jake leans over to whisper something to Riki that makes his jaw clench. Good, you hope it breaks.
The MC claps. "Wonderful! Now, let's hear some fan questions!"
A staff member reads one aloud: "What's one thing you're excited to learn from each other?"
You go first this time. "I'm excited to learn Riki's precision in footwork. He's known for it."
And you're also excited to learn how far you can push him before he snaps on camera.
Riki's eyes narrow almost imperceptibly. "Y/n's charisma in performance is next level. I'll definitely pick up some tips on audience connection."
The back-and-forth continuesโ every compliment laced with venom only the two of you can taste. The audience eats up the "tension" as chemistry.
Oh God, if only they knew you'd spent the van ride here mentally drafting apology tweets for the hypothetical day you actually murder him.
At one point, they project concept art for the performance on a big screen behind youโ dark, intense, sensual choreography planned; close partner work, lifts and prolonged eye contact. The MC gushes about it and you nearly choke on your own spit.
Great. Just what you needโhis hands all over you while yours fantasize about elbowing him in the ribs until he throws up his organs.
Riki's expression stays neutral, but you swear you see his eye twitchโ he probably imagines the same thing in reverse.
Halfway through, they bring out small giftsโ matching bracelets symbolizing the collaboration. You have to clasp one on his wrist while cameras zoom in; his skin is warm, you hate itโ but heโs obligated to return the favor, fingers brushing yours with shameless disgust.
Then the press conference wraps with more applause and photo ops; you stand side-by-side for group shots, shoulders barely touching but close enough that you can feel his body. His hand brushes your lower back as you poseโ publicly supportive, privately a threat.
"After this, I'm blocking your number again," you mutter as the cameras flash.
"Already did that months ago, ugly bitch," he whispers back cheerfully.
As the event ends and staff start herding everyone out, you catch his eye one last time across the roomโ needless to say, it's pure murder, zero remorse.
You smirk behind your polite nod.
Game on, Riki. Someone's going to break. You just hope it's him. (though if it's you, at least you'll take him down with you.)
The van ride back to the dorm is quiet, your members chat lightly about the schedule while you stare out the window, palm still stinging from earlier, replaying every micro-interaction. His grip. His whisper. That fucking ugly smirk.
Oh godโ hatred has turned you into a creature of rage and despair, itโs starting to become pathetic.
You pull out your phone and open the secret hate account; it's time to upload that one blurry shot you sneaked during the photo op where he looks slightly constipated under the bright lights.
Petty? Yes. Therapeutic? Immensely.
For your sakeโ somewhere across the city, Riki's probably doing the same thing, so itโs only fair. You log into your @nishimurafraud aka โthat bitch gotta goโ and do your thing, quickly posting the ridiculous picture with the caption, โthank you to the fan who snapped this horrible shot of dickimuraโ.
You laugh to yourselfโ itโs true that itโs childish and ridiculous but no one will ever know it was you anyway.
Nishimura Riki needs to die.
Not in a cute "hahaha i hate you" way. You mean it in the bone-deep, stomach-churning, 'if I had a knife I'd turn him into human barbecue meat' kind of way.
Every time you picture his stupid face your blood pressure spikes so hard you can hear your heartbeat in your ears. He's not even attractive to you anymoreโ years of hatred have warped him into this tall, lanky, smug-faced asshole who moves like he's God's gift to dance but looks like a little bitch when he's off-guard.
Ugly on the inside, ugly on the outside. Perfect match.
And now โa few days afterโ the locked studio on the fifth floor of the Hybe building feels like a prison cell designed specifically to torture you. Soundproof walls, mirrors on every surface, no windows, and a door that clicks shut with a sound that makes your skin crawl.
Just you, him, the choreographer who already left a couple times for a "quick break" (though heโs probably hiding from the murder vibes), and four hours of mandatory choreography creation time.
You stretch in the corner, trying to ignore how his presence sucks all the oxygen out of the roomโ Rikiโs scrolling on his phone like he has all the time in the world, legs spread obnoxiously wide on the floor, heโs wearing a pair of ugly oversized sweats and a chrome hearts tank.
He probably thought he looked oh so good that morning when he got dressedโ fun fact, he doesnโt.
"You gonna stand up or just sit there?" you snap, not even bothering to look at him.
"Don't talk to me, just do your job and shut up." he clicks his tongue, knee bouncing, annoyed.
You let out a breathy chuckle, "I don't care about what you want, just stand up and let's get to work. Try not to be a lazy slop for once."
"Oh give me a break," he hisses the second the choreographer is gone, not even looking up. โStart alone if youโre so eager to work.โ
What youโre gonna do is start throwing punches.
You laugh humourlessly. "Keep throwing your little fits and maybe they'll finally send you back to Japan, dickface."
His head snaps up, those dark eyes narrowing into slits. "At least I have talent worth exporting. What do you have? Average face, average moves, and a shit personality."
"Fuck you," you spit, stepping into the center of the room. "Let's just get this over with."
The choreographer left a rough structure: heavy partner work, intense eye contact, sharp isolations into fluid lifts. Of course. Because the company wants chemistry. What they're going to get though, is a motherfucking homicide report.
You start with the basicsโ mirroring footwork. Riki's annoyingly precise, but you refuse to give him the satisfaction of looking impressed, instead, you mutter under your breath, "Stiff as a fucking board. Do you even bend or is your spine made of rebar?"
Riki stops mid-count, turning to you with a glare that makes you want to punch his teeth in. "Stop looking at me and then maybe youโll realise how off-beat you areโฆ no wonder they paired you with meโ someone actually good."
"Good?" You step closer, hands on your hips. "You're sloppy as shit. The only reason it works is because you're young and pretty and the delusional fans like that overgrown baby face. One day that shit's gonna catch up and you'll just be another weirdo doing Tiktoks in your mom's basement."
He barks a laugh that sounds like it hurts. "Coming from you? That's rich. You're mid at best on a good day, repulsive on every other."
The insults fly faster as you run the first section again, every correction turning into verbal evisceration.
"You're rushing the transition, can't keep up, ugly ass?" he sneers during a spin combo.
"Shut up," you fire back. "Fix your damn posture before I break it for you."
By the time you reach the partner lifts, the air is drenched with venom; he has to grip your waist and lift you into a hold, his fingers dig in hardโbruising, punishing. You retaliate by digging your elbow into his shoulder as you balance.
"Watch it," he growls, voice low.
"Make me, bitch."
The lift goes upโ for three seconds it's almost beautifulโtechnically. But then you shove off him harder than necessary on the dismount, and he pushes you back just enough that you stumble.
"You fuckingโ" You whirl on him, fists clenched.
"What do you want now?" His chest is heaving, face inches from yours. Up close he's even uglierโ that stupid mole, the way his lip curls like he smells something rotten. You. "You know what y/n? I hope this stage is where your career dies, that'll finally shut you up. I think youโve gotten way too comfortable.โ
You shove him hard in the chest and he shoves right back. For a split second you're both seconds away from throwing actual punchesโ knuckles white, breathing ragged, eyes screaming murder. Your heart is pounding with rage and something sickeningly close to adrenaline.
The studio door clicks open before you can use your fistsโ a staff member walks in, freezing at the sight of you two practically snarling at each other.
"Everything... okay?" the staff asks hesitantly.
You step back first, forcing that professional mask on. "Perfect. Just working through some difficult transitions."
Riki wipes sweat from his brow, smiling like an angel for the staff. "Yeah. Great progress."
The staff nods awkwardly and leaves after reminding you of the scheduleโ the door locks again and you both exhale like you've been holding your breath for an hour.
"Stay the fuck away from me until we have to touch again," you mutter, grabbing your water bottle.
"Gladly."
The session drags like that for hoursโ insults layered between actual choreography notes, every touch turning into a power struggle. By the end you're both exhausted, bruised, vibrating with hatred and you leave without a word, slamming the door behind you.
Later that night, in the Enhypen dorm, Riki's sprawled on the couch scrolling through his phone with a scowl that could curdle milk. Jake walks in from the kitchen, humming, clearly in a good mood. He clears his throat, trying to sound casual at first. "So... choreo with Y/n today? I caught some of the teaser clips from the press conference earlier. She looks really good..."
Riki doesn't look up immediately, but his eyebrow twitches. "You're kidding, right?"
Jake continues, slower. "I mean... no, and you're probably gonna laugh but I've been thinking about her a lot lately. I don't know, man, I might... have a bit of a crush. Like, actually considering shooting my shot after this project wraps. She seems cool."
Jungwon, from the hallway, goes, "Oh shit, here we go..."
Riki slowly lowers his phone, staring at Jake like he just confessed to arsonโ the silence stretches for a beat before he explodes with disbelief "There's 7 billion people on this planet and you chose her? Good job man... nah, good job."
Jake chuckles awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "Come on, she's notโ"
Jay, overhearing from the other couch, jumps in. "She's not all that bad come on... you're lying to yourself it's dramatic."
"I'm not. She's ugly, bitchy, and dumb. What the fuck could he even see in her." Riki sits up straighter, fully committed and disgusted. "You're seriously just going to forget everything she did? All that... for a mid, ridiculous bitch?"
Sunoo intervenes, rolling his eyes, "You don't need to say all that Riki, don't call her a bitch. Honestly it's not that deep, we were young and..."
"Aaaand i don't care." Riki cuts off. "Good luck Jake, you're gonna regret this. You're gonna get herpes all over your dickโ gonna start shooting your intestines straight out of your ass."
Jake is half-chuckling, half-horrified. "Dude... what the hell are you even saying."
"What im saying is, if you pursue that, I'm disowning you as a member. Find someone else. Anyone."
Jay wheezes from the couch. "Let him do whatever he wants to do. Y/n isn't even bad, she's sweet and pretty"
"You're dead wrong," Riki says, dead serious. "While you're at it Jake, do me a favor and take my place in rehearsal so I won't have to lift her disgusting ass again."
The words feel good, cathartic even, he pictures your face during that final shove in the studio and smiles spitefully at the ceiling. The satisfaction slandering your name brings him is unmatched.
Okay, you really didnโt make much of an effort these past few weeksโ youโll admit it. But, to your credit, pretending to tolerate Nishimura Riki was already taking more restraint than you possessed. The company wanted chemistry but come onโ letโs be honest, subtlety had never been your strong suit when it came to him.
Back in the R3SET dorm, youโre sprawled across the couch in oversized sweats, phone glowing in your hand like a bomb that just went off. The email from Hybe sits open on the screen, the words burning into your retinas. Hye-ri pads in from the kitchen with two iced americanos, sliding one onto the coffee table before dropping down beside you.
โOh shit, man, Iโm in deep trouble,โ you mutter, shoving the phone toward her.
You snort despite yourself. โCompany just sent me an emailโฆ apparently people all over social media are saying me and Nishimura look like we despise each other. Likeโฆ hello? Duh? Tell me something I donโt know.โ
Hye-ri winces, sipping her drink. โThey really need to media train you, oh my god. You need to retake the whole class.โ
You chuckle coldly, โThis hatred cannot be media trained out of me, Hye-ri,โ you say, half-laughing, half-serious, โIโll drag that motherfucker down, whatever it takes. No one can convince me to stop.โ
โOkay but at least be slick about it, Y/n.โ
โHell no. If I start behaving normally these crazy ass fans might startโโ you gag dramatically, โโshipping me with him.โ
Hye-ri hesitates, then pulls out her own phone with a sympathetic grimace. โUmmโฆ I hate to break it to you, Y/n. Donโt be mad okay? But likeโฆ they already do.โ
She types quickly, and turns the screen toward you. A random tweet stares back: โOh i know that angry enemy sex must be sooo good. #yn #nikiโ
Oh fuck these people, come on.
โEw what the heck???โ You recoil, shoving the phone away like itโs contagious. โUgh Iโm gonna throw up, hold my hair.โ
Hye-ri laughs, rubbing your back as you dramatically fake-heave into a pillow. โItโs just delusional fans, unnie. They ship anything that breathes in the same zip code. But yeahโฆ the companyโs not wrong about the optics.โฆโ
You sit up, running a hand through your hair. Every interaction with Riki these past weeks had been a masterclass in restraintโ smiling for the cameras while imagining shoving him off a balconyโ and now Hybe was sniffing around like youโd personally ruined their precious brand synergy.
โThey want me to play nice,โ you say bitterly, staring at the email again. โBut every time Iโm in the same room as him it feels like my skinโs on fire. Like my body remembers every shitty thing heโs ever said or done and justโฆ revolts. Literally what do they want me to do for a whole month ?โ
Hye-ri lets out an awkward laugh, she knows that topic is highly sensitive and she doesnโt really know how to talk about it. โWell, just donโt talk to him, try to be neutral and donโt bother arguing with him.โ
Itโs so hard not to argue when Nishimura Riki is another level of messy. The kind that makes your stomach turn and your skin want to peel itself off just from sharing the same airโ heโs the toxic spill that contaminates everything it touches.
And since the company doesnโt give a damn about your mutual revulsionโ here you are, dragged into another locked studio at 9 PM for a forced 12-hour overnight practice because the higher-ups decided โchemistry needs timeโ and deadlines donโt care about your desire to see him drop dead.
Itโs been a week since the talk in the dorms with Hye-ri, and you triedโ god you really tried to follow her advice, but itโs impossible.
The mirrors probably make it worseโ every angle reflects his repulsive presence. You canโt escape him. Your skin prickles the second the door locks and itโs just the two of you under the cold lights.
Rikiโs already there, scrolling on his phone with that bored expression that says heโd rather be anywhere but near you. Itโs a good thing you feel the same way.
The choreographer dips out around midnight with a vague โreview the footage yourselves.โ Leaving you two in hell. You start the first run-through in silence; during a simple mirroring sequence, his arm brushes yours accidentally and you jerk away like heโs diseased, skin crawling violently.
โTry not to fucking touch me,โ you snap. โAre you spatially impaired or something?โ
โThatโs not even a thing, you idiot. And you think I wanna be touching a backstabbing bitch?โ Rikiโs lip tighten. โDonโt think i forgot everything you did back then.โ
You roll your eyes, โOh for fuckโs sake, just shut up for once.โ
The tall man snaps, he turns to you and looks down with hatred, โNo, everyoneโs forgetting your little bitch act but I wonโt. You sold out Hajime just to save your own ass cause youโre an egoistic idiotโฆ Should I continue or do you actually feel guilty for once?โ
The words hit like acid, your blood boils and you whip around, hatred flaring. โAnd your little public tantrum right after? Exploding in the hallway, screaming at me in front of everyone, nearly tanked my entire evaluation. Donโt act like you were some saint, Riki. We both know youโre the bitch here.โ
He stares at you with pure loathing, โWhatever you say, one day youโre gonna have to face it y/n, letโs just finish this shit so I donโt have to look at your face anymore.โ
Some time after; the micro-sabotage starts small but vicious. In the next lift sequence, he โmissteps,โ his foot catching your ankle just enough to make you stumble hard.
Pain shoots up your leg but you recover by raking your nails subtly down his arm as you catch yourselfโ leaving red lines under his sleeve. Riki hisses but keeps moving, eyes burning.
Your skin crawls every time his hands land on your waist for the holds. It feels violating, wrong. You dig your fingers into his shoulder harder than needed, hoping it bruises deep.
โDisgusting,โ you mutter under your breath during one close turn.
You force some semblance of work conversation because the company is monitoring progress, but even that doesnโt work.
โYour count is off on the transition,โ you say through gritted teeth, skin prickling as you reset positions.
โYeah, because youโre rushing it like an amateur,โ he replies.
It keeps going until you both have no saliva and inspiration left and around 5 am, during the most intense partner sequenceโ close holds, prolonged eye contact, bodies pressed together for balanceโyou both mistime the transition.
Your foot catches his, and his arm wraps around you instinctively as momentum pulls you down. You crash to the practice floor in a tangle of limbs, his body half-covering yours, chests heaving.
For a second, neither of you moves.
His face is inches from yours, sweat-damp hair falling into his eyes. You can feel the heat of him everywhereโthighs, chest, the press of his hand still on your waist.
โGet off me,โ you whisper, but your voice comes out rougher than intended.
He doesnโt immediately, his eyes flick down to your mouth with disgust, then back up. โYouโre the one still holding my shirt.โ
You are, your fingers are fisted in the fabric. You release it like it burned you, bile rising in your throat.
You scramble up, heart pounding with rageโ you both avoid eye contact, but the image of his body over yours lingers like a scar until youโre seconds away from throwing up.
Around 6 am, another company email hits and obviously yours is brutal: Y/nโs sections lack conviction. Visible panic affecting flow. Fix immediately or risk replacement.
You read it in the corner, alone, hands starting to shake as the pressure, exhaustion, and years of fighting catch up. Panic claws at your throat so you turn away, trying to breathe through it, hating that youโre cracking even a little.
Riki notices from across the room, of course, he doesnโt comfortโ he stays in his corner of the room, a mocking smirk creeping onto his face despite the exhaustion. This, is his favorite sight, he thrives whenever he sees you break even a little.
So all he can do is laugh coldly, he despises you, hates how you get under his skin, hates that he canโt stop seeing images of your younger self betraying him over and over.
But what he loves thoughโ is that you could be begging on your knees and heโd still want you dead.
You push open the studio door a couple hours later, legs like lead and eyes burning from the all-nighter; every muscle screams, your ankle still throbs from that โaccidentalโ trip, and your brain is a delightful cocktail of rage and exhaustion.
Youโre thinking about the long nap youโre gonna take as soon as youโre home, when you spot Sim Jake leaning against the wall a few meters down, looking unfairly fresh for this ungodly hour. Heโs holding a small paper bag, shifting his weight like a nervous puppy.
โHey y/n,โ he says, offering a shy smile as you approach. โIโฆ uh, grabbed some pastries earlier. Got extra ones I wonโt finish. Want some?โ
He holds the bag out and you blink at him, brain too fried to compute kindness immediately. Extra my ass, those look suspiciously hand-picked.
Before you can answer, the studio door swings open againโ Riki steps out right behind you, tall frame radiating pure irritationโ his eyes land on Jake, the pastries, and you standing there and his jaw tightens so hard youโre surprised it doesnโt crack. He huffs loudly- dramatic as everโshoves his hands in his pockets, and stalks off down the hall without a word.
Jake watches him go, then glances back at your narrowing eyes as they stare at Rikiโs retreating back.
He chuckles softly, rubbing the back of his neck. โSoโฆ about those pastries. And, umโฆ would you maybe wanna grab lunch sometime? When weโre not both half-dead from schedules.โ He glances around quickly, making sure no staff is lurking.
So it wasnโt about the pastries at all.
You raise an eyebrow, suspicion kicking in instantly. Is this a trap? Is Riki putting him up to this so he can watch you crash and burn? Some elaborate plot to humiliate you?
โIs there a catch?โ you cross your arms.
He shakes his head, sincere. โNo catch. Just me.โ
You let out a tired but genuine little chuckle. โMhh okay then. Okay. Lunch sounds good.โ
His face lights up like you just handed him a winning lottery ticket and you take a pastry from the bagโ still warmโbefore waving him off to head toward the van waiting downstairs.
Cute. Annoyingly wholesome. The anti-Riki.
Back at the dorm you collapse onto your bed for approximately three seconds before your stomach growls loud enough to wake the dead. Right. Food.
You drag yourself to your laptop, intending to quickly google whether that leftover kimchi jjigae in the fridge is still safe or if itโs entered its โbiohazardโ era and fingers moving on autopilot, you hit the search bar.
And remember what we said about irony? Well it seems that bitch is the main character in your lifeโ it lives and thrives on your embarrassment.
Your search history pops up first on your phone, snapping you back to reality. Oh well.
You stare, then you stare harder. Oh you have got to be fucking kidding me.
Youโve forgot to mention this part of the hatredโ the one where, no matter how many times you make yourself throw up, you still canโt stop yourself from analyzing the enemyโ studying his technique so you can dismantle it during practice.
Riki precision really isโฆ. insaneโ it hurt to admit but itโs the truth. The way he isolates his movements, the control in those lifts, the ridiculous height giving him lines you had to match or exceedโฆ Youโve been rewatching his clips more than you care to admit, picking apart what makes him good so you could be better.
So you could beat him.
โFucking hell,โ you groan, slamming the laptop shut and face-planting into your pillow.
Stockholm syndrome probably. Yeah.
Needless to sayโ a few days later you find yourself sitting next to Sim Jake while he talks about different foods he misses from Australia. Interestingโ but also existentially confusing, because hereโs this cutie pie of a man rambling sweetly about meat pies and Vegemite like itโs the pinnacle of human cuisineโ and your brain keeps short-circuiting back to someoneโs dancing skills.
โโand honestly the Tim Tams are killer, but nothing beats a proper Aussie burger with beetroot,โ Jake says, his knee brushing yours under the table as he leans in a little closer. โYou ever tried any of that stuff? Iโd love to make you my infamous version sometime.โ
You blink, a small smirk tugging at your lips. โIs that an invitation?โ
His eyes crinkle, clearly pleased. โItโs definitely an invitation. I make a mean one.โ He steals a fry from your plate, holding eye contact the whole time like itโs a dare.
And itโs niceโ really nice. Jake feels nice, and safe and everything in between. A good friend.
You laugh, reaching over to snag one of his own fries in retaliation, letting your fingers linger just a second longer than necessary. โBold move. I see how it isโ you lure me in with pastries and now youโre offering private cooking lessons.โ
He chuckles, low and easy, shifting so his arm rests along the back of your chair. โWhat can I say? I like spoiling good company. And youโฆโ His gaze flicks over your face, appreciative. โYou make it easy to want to spoil.โ
Oh. Oookay. Sim Jakeโs got game.
Your stomach does a stupid little flip despite yourselfโ itโs been so long since anyone looked at you without layers of politeness or pure venom, that the attention feels almost foreign.
โYeah? Keep talking like that and I might start thinking this lunch is less โcasual hangโ and more โdate,โโ you tease, tilting your head as you take a sip of your drink, watching him over the rim. You donโt even mean it at first, it just slips out, friendly and teasing.
Much to your surprise Jake doesnโt miss a beat. โWould that be so bad?โ he asks, voice playful but with a genuine edge underneath. โBecause Iโve been wanting to do this for a while, schedules be damned.โ
You feel heat creep up your neck but play it cool, nudging his shoulder with yours. โAhโฆ dangerous territory, Mr. Australia. I might actually say yes to that burger night you know?โ
โDeal then,โ he says immediately, his smile widening into something brighter and flirtier.
And who knows? This could be good, right? Thereโs not shame in wanting to hang out with sweet Jake and get a taste of normal life, burgers and all.
Mid-project evaluation hits like a goddamn truckโ and honestly everyone expected it (everyone = you and your own brain).
The conference room feels narrower than usual, air thick with disappointmentโ suits from the creative team sit across the table like judges at an execution, projecting footage of your latest run-through on the big screen.
The choreography looks technically good in momentsโ your footwork clean, his lines ridiculous as alwaysโbut the notes flashing across the slide are brutal: Lacks cohesion. Emotional disconnect visible. Partner chemistry reads as forced tension rather than intentional fire. Fix by weekend or we reevaluate the performance slot.
You clench your jaw so hard it aches, nails digging into your thighs under the table. Of course itโs not cohesive, how the fuck do they expect magic when every touch makes your skin crawl like youโre hugging a venomous snake?
Riki sits a few seats away, face blank like heโs above it all, but you catch the micro-twitch in his jawโ he hates this as much as you do. Good.
The exec in the middle drones on, voice flat and disappointed. โWeโre seeing potential, but the audience needs to feel something. Right now it looks like you two are tolerating each other at best.โ
Tolerating? You almost laugh out loud. Try actively plotting each otherโs demise between counts.
Your manager shoots you a warning glance, so you force a polite nod, but inside youโre screaming. Even in your twenties, this makes you feel like a kid getting grounded all over againโstuck in detention with the one classmate who ruined every group project. No phone, no freedom, just endless practice until you โget it right.โ The infantilizing tone of it all makes your blood boil. Youโre professionalsโฆ sort ofโ but sure, they should lock you in a room like misbehaving toddlers.
The meeting is short and soul-crushing. โWeโre locking the studio for the full weekend,โ one exec says flatly. โNo outside schedules. Fix it.โ
You donโt even look at Riki as you leave. You donโt need toโ the tension follows you both like a shadow.
48 hours to manufacture chemistry out of pure hatred is a flawed way of proceeding. Give it a lifetimeโ and then maybe just maybe itโll be enough.
The studio door clicks shut 7 pm that next Friday, the lock engaging like a prison cell. No choreographer. No staff. Just the two of you, mirrors on every wall as you stretch in the corner, trying to ignore how his presence sucks the oxygen out of the room. Rikiโs already there, him and that obnoxious slouch.
Thereโs something you have yet to admitโ itโs that you learned Nishimura Riki the way soldiers learn battlefieldsโ every weakness mapped, every tell memorized, every micro-expression a potential opening for attack. You could recognize his silhouette before your own reflection: the tall frame, the slight tilt of his head when heโs about to strike, the way his shoulders tense right before a difficult transition. But no matter how much you study him, you could never pin point why you loathe him so much.
Itโs like your ambition had slowly borrowed his faceโ every late-night practice, every ranking you clawed for, every mirror checkโ his standard was burned into your brain. This comes from the principle that, there are people you love because they understand youโ and then there are people who understand you because theyโve spent years trying to defeat you.
Hatred kept you facing one another long after affection wouldโve looked away.
Itโs better this way.
Two ugly souls like yours could never be more than rivals.
The first run-through starts in heavy silenceโ you move into position and Riki does the same. No words are uttered, just eyes tracking every shift of weight, every breath, every subtle adjustment.
Youโve been hanging out a lot with Jake this past weekโ as often as the schedule allowed, and youโve started to wonder if giving him a chance was a good think. Technically speakingโ Jake was a total sweetheart, he carried his heart on his sleeve, offered amazing advice and had good cooking skills.
Butโ and here it comesโ you really werenโt ready for anything serious. Common excuse really, but that wasnโt an excuse, you just really didnโt have time to waste on trying to flirt with a man. Busy life, it seemed.
Now currently in a very busy session, you watch the precise snap of Rikiโs isolations, the way his long limbs cut through the air with infuriating control. Bastard. How does he make it look so effortless?
Your body mirrors him instinctively nowโ years of obsession making your muscles anticipate his timing even as your mind screams to disrupt it.
Riki circles you during the mirroring sequence, gaze sharp on your footworkโ and damn it if you donโt feel it like a physical touchโ analyzing, cataloging, judging. When your ankle wobbles slightly from exhaustion, his lip twitches.
The partner section begins a while after, his hands land on your waist for the lift, the contact burning. Your skin crawls with disgust, but your body betrays youโ muscles relaxing into the hold for a split second before you catch yourself.
โStop looking at me like that,โ you whisper viciously, bodies pressed together.
โLike what? Like I wanna throw you out the window?โ he mutters back, fingers flexing on your waist. โBecause thatโs exactly what Iโm thinking.โ
โLiar, your hands are shaking.โ
โTheyโre not shaking, theyโre restraining themselves from choking you.โ
This is vile. You dig your fingers into his shoulder harder than necessary as he lifts, feeling the muscle tense under your grip and Riki adjusts his stance minutely, correcting for your weight without missing a beat. Itโs almost like he knows exactly how you balance, how you breathe through the strain.
You dismount with a shove and and he pushes back just enough on the next turn to throw your timing. Still absolutely no words are uttered, thereโs just a silent war in the mirrorsโ your reflection showing the way your eyes narrow when his hand lingers a fraction too long on your back during a spin.
His reflection shows the tight set of his jaw when your thigh brushes his during a close hold.
You break the moment by โaccidentallyโ stepping on his foot hard enough to make him curseโ and from there, insults get more creative and more personal.
โYouโre nothing without the company propping you up,โ he spits out.
โSays the overrated dance prodigy who throws tantrums when he doesnโt get his way,โ you fire back. โHajime would be embarrassed.โ
His eyes flash dangerously. โLeave him out of your fucking mouth.โ
The air crackles, youโre both breathing hard, circling each other like fighters in a ring by then. You wouldnโt be honest if you didnโt mention that every lift brings unwanted awareness: the heat of his chest against yours, the strength in his arms that you catalog despite yourself, the way your bodies slot together technically perfect even as your minds revolt.
Your stomach twists with nausea and something worseโ betrayal by your own nerves firing at his proximity. You hate this, you hate how the body remembers his grip like muscle memory. You want him to be a shadow, something you never notice, someone who never crosses your mind, but lifeโs unfair it seems.
The next sequence brings you chest to chest. His hand slides up your back for the holdโ punishing. Your body reacts again, traitorous warmth spreading despite the nausea. You hate it. You hate him, you hate him you hate him. You hate yourself more for the split-second where your fingers curl into his shirt like they belong there.
โGet your hands off me properly,โ you hiss.
โMake me.โ
So you shove him and he shoves right backโ petty as always. For a moment it looks like you might actually come to blowsโ fists clenched, eyes locked in pure murderous intent. You notice the vein in his neck when heโs holding back from shoving you harderโ and itโs fascinating how loathing changes a personโs body.
A particularly difficult lift leaves you pressed right against him for balance. His breath fans hot across your collarbone and your heart hammers.
For three terrifying seconds your bodies move in perfect sync, like they understand each other better than you do. Disgust floods you immediately after and you shove away harder. Riki releases you like youโre poison, but not before you feel the slight tremor in his hands.
Betrayed by your own fucking bodies.
Around 2 am., you both call for a break, collapsing on opposite sides of the studio. Your muscles burn like thousand fires. When your phone buzzes, you pick it up, expecting a check-in from Hye-ri.
Itโs Jake instead.
Jake: Heyโฆ someone sent me a tweet from your account. Look, I know weโve only hung out a couple times but I thought things were good. This doesnโt seem like you but the screenshot looks real. Iโm pretty disappointed. Maybe we should justโฆ not do lunch anytime soon. Sorry.
You click fast on the screenshot, heart hammering, and when you open it, your mouth drops. Itโs a tweet, a singular tweetโฆ of yours???
โiโm gonna break Sim Jakeโs heart and he doesnโt even know it ๐๐โ
You stare at the screen, dumbfounded.
What. the. fuck?
The tweet is so obviously fakeโ ridiculous wording, wrong tone, obviously poorly edited. You almost start giggling maniacally, because it definitely lacks effort, but Jake, sweet gullible Jake, bought it.
โFucking hell,โ you whisper, stuck between laughing and crying. Is he really that stupid to think youโd ever be that obvious?? You might need to step up your game.
You: canโt you see itโs edited??? how stupid can you be Jake please ๐ญ๐ญ
Jake: no i took editing classes and thatโs not edited.
You stare at the message, blinking hard.
You: tell me youโre joking please.
Jake: no, im not. Take care y/n.
The chat goes quiet and you lower your phone slowly, the pieces clicking into place with icy clarity. That wording, that timing. The way it conveniently blew up your one decent thing right in the middle of this hell.
Nishimura fucking Riki.
Would anyone be surprised? Heโs the only one whoโs childish enough to attempt to ruin your relationships like that. Absolute lack of skills.
Rage explodes in your chest like a grenade, because who else would be this stupid? Who else would try to ruin every attempt at happiness you made?
You stand up so fast the room spins for a second, storming across the studio toward him. Heโs still sitting against the wall, looking annoyingly unbothered.
โWhat the fuck is wrong with you?โ you snap, shoving your phone in his face.
Riki glances at the screen, then back up at you with zero remorse, and no intention of hiding. โDidnโt even make anything up. Everyone knows you have a loud mouthโฆ you wouldโve said it eventually.โ
Your blood boils. โWhat the actual fuck is wrong with you? I actually liked him.โ
โWell i donโt really care about what you like,โ he says flatly, pushing himself up to his full height. โSo get over yourself.โ
He towers over you, but you donโt back down an inch, tilting your chin up defiantly. โYouโre so self-centered itโs insane. This had nothing to do with you, Nishimura.โ
โKeep talking, Y/n. I donโt give a fuck.โ Riki clenches his jaw. โIf you wanna be a homie hopper go do that somewhere else, far away from my friends.โ
Oh. Now he crossed a hard line. The motherfucker is gonna have to pay.
The slap happens before you can think, your palm connects hard with his cheek, the sound cracking through the empty studio like a whip. Rikiโs head snaps to the side and for a second he stills, contemplating his options, his hair falling on his face.
His tongue pokes the inside of his cheek and he nods, trying to hold himself back.
Then he grabs your wrist in a vice grip, yanking you closer. It looks like you might actually stab each otherโ both of you burning with rage, chests heaving, bodies practically vibrating with it. His fingers are tight around your wrist, heat pouring off him and you glare up at him, breath ragged, pulse hammering in your ears.
โDonโt put your hands on me.โ Riki says, fingers leaving a white mark on your skin.
โWell next time you call me that, iโll make sure iโm putting my hands on your lifeless body instead.โ you try to escape his grip, but he doesnโt let go.
โWatch it,โ he warns, voice low and dangerous, โbefore I actually lose it.โ
โWouldnโt you love to?โ you tilt your head.
โOh I would.โ
The air shiftsโ you feel it deep down pressing on your ribs as your words hang between you like a challenge
โThen hit me, come on.โ Your voice drops, eyes locked on his. โHit me.โ
The second you say that, something ignites in Rikiโs gazeโ itโs impossible to miss. And god if you donโt love the way you destabilise him.
The grip on your wrist tightens, then loosens by fractions. Youโre breathing the same air, faces inches apart, and itโs so filthyโ so disgusting. His eyes drop for a split second before snapping back up.
But then Riki lets go of your wrist like it burns him, shoving you back a step as disgust twists across his face, but it doesnโt quite hide the way his breath catches.
โGet out of my face,โ he spits, turning away sharply.
Without hesitation, you turn on your heel and storm out of the main studio toward the attached bathroom, slamming the door behind you. The lock clicks and you twist the faucet on full blast before you start scrubbing your wrist like you can erase the ghost of his grip.
The waterโs ice-cold but you donโt care. His touch is still there. Burning. Disgusting. You scrub harder, nails digging into your own skin, until your hands are raw and red.
Even then, your stomach twists. Part of you wants to throw up right into the sinkโ purge the memory of his body against yours, the way your wrist fit perfectly in his hand, the split second where rage had twisted into something darker and heavier.
But beneath the nausea sits an ache low in your gut, something warm and unwelcome that you refuse to name.
No. Absolutely not. Iโd rather die.
Eventually you step back into the break room because the companyโs made it clear: no leaving the premises. Two couches, a mini-fridge, and dim lights are the only things between you and the devil.
Rikiโs already sprawled on the far couch, one arm thrown over his eyes like he can pretend you donโt existโ so you take the opposite one, kicking your shoes off and lying down with your back to him.
Neither of you naps. How could you?
The air is thick with the knowledge that the other person is right there, close enough to stab, close enough toโ
You stare at the wall, eyes wide open, hyper-aware of every shift on the other couch. Heโs probably plotting how to smother you with a pillowโ that would be the most logical thing. Despite the fatigue clawing at you, heavy and bone-deep after the all-night practice, your body stays wired.
Adrenaline and hatred make for terrible bedfellows.
After a long silence, Rikiโs voice cuts through the dark. โYou know, I thought youโd finally grow up someday and accept that what you did was wrong.โ
You donโt turn around. โI donโt really care what you think. Iโm trying to rest, so shut up.โ
โYouโre not.โ A pause. โYouโre not gonna be able to sleep with me here.โ
You huff, โAnd whose fault is that?โ
โMines.โ His tone is almost smug. โYouโre scared, right? Scared Iโll hurt you in your sleep. Well just know I wouldnโt hesitate, not even for a second.โ
You roll over to face him, propping yourself up on one elbow. โOh and what would you do? Ruin my relationships like a childish bastard? Or what?โ
Riki sits up slowly, manspreading on the opposite couch with deliberate arrogance, he looks almost manlyโ a shame heโs such an asshole. His eyes lock onto yours across the dim room.
โOh come on, get over it. You really thought I was gonna let you go out with my friend? Youโre funny, Y/n. Really fucking funny.โ
โNo, I didnโt think so either,โ you snap back, sitting up fully now. โBut now youโre just gonna have to pay. Im not gonna let a weak boy like you step on me like that.โ
โFunny.โ He leans back further, maintaining eye contact like itโs a challenge. โWhat are you gonna do then?โ
In one smooth motion you pull out your phone, digging through your photos with angry swipes and you turn the screen toward him, a petty little smile tugging at your lips. Itโs a screenshot of a pretty compromising video of him to say the leastโฆ
โI got this from a telegram group chat a while back. Didnโt think Iโd ever use it but oh wellโฆ You wouldnโt want this to get out, right? I meanโฆ everyone knows youโre a disrespectful cunt but this? Oh this is awful.โ
You play the first few seconds just to taunt himโ it shows young Riki, stressed and exhausted, swearing at staff member during a meltdownโ the audio is grainy but clear enough. Deep down you know he was just a kid under crushing pressure, but right now youโre too greedy for revenge to care for ethics.
โYouโre doing all that for some dick?โ He laughs, but itโs sharp and bitter. โDamn, I knew you were desperate but wowโฆโ
โDonโt play with me. Iโm seconds away from handing that video to a hate account.โ
โGoddamnit Y/n, if youโre so eager to get dicked down you couldโve asked anyone else that isnโt my friend. And you sit here and act so surprised like you didnโt have it coming.โ
You scoff, youโre not bruisedโ far from it, but heโs touched a sensitive spot. Itโs not like you were ever planning to sleep with Jake, come on, but he doesnโt have to know that.
โWell good job, Nishimura.โ Your thumb hovers over the screen. โYou and your loud mouth have just earned yourselves another controversy.โ
Riki jolts from the couch almost immediately, lunging toward you. You scramble back but heโs fasterโ in seconds youโre tangled aggressively on the couch as he tries to snatch the phone from your hand. You push, hit him in the chest, elbow him wherever you can reach but he desperately grabs for the device, long limbs pinning you down in the struggle.
โIโll kill you, Y/n. I swear to god if you posted that shitโโ
โI thought you didnโt care about it?โ you taunt breathlessly, still fighting him. โYou were so confident two seconds ago?โ
He grabs your wrist hard then, you push back with everything you have until somehow youโve got him pinned beneath you on the couch, breathing ragged.
โDo not. Touch me.โ
Riki freezesโ perhaps heโs an asshole, but even he knows a hard no when he hears one. His hand drops away instantly. โDelete that video,โ he warns, voice low and dangerous, โbefore I ruin your whole life.โ
โYou already ruined my life by existing, you self-centered prick.โ
โWatch me ruin it more. If you post that video, Y/nโฆโ
โOh god, youโre so dramatic.โ You roll your eyes, feigning indifference. You turn off your phone with a deliberate click. โRelax, will you? Donโt get your panties in a bunch.โ
Riki stares at you for a long moment, chest still rising and falling sharply, before he pushes himself up and returns to his own couch. โYou better delete that shitโI swear if youโโ
โOh shut that thing up.โ
The moment fades after that, leaving only heavy silence, you both try to rest againโ you lie back down, pulling a thin blanket over yourself, but your eyes refuse to close. Youโre too aware of his presence, too on edge.
Heโs going to kidnap you in your sleep or something. Poison your water. Smother you. Anything.
But despite every instinct screaming to stay vigilant, exhaustion tugs at the edges of your mind. You breathe slowly, deliberately, trying to force your body to relax. And yet, against all reason, you become hyper-aware of his breathing across the room.
Itโs steady at first, then hitches slightly every few minutesโ like heโs replaying the fight, or the slap, or the way your bodies had tangled just minutes ago. You analyze it without meaning to, noting the rhythm, the occasional sharp inhale, the way it deepens when he shifts on the couch.
Somehow, despite everything, the sound of Nishimura Riki breathing becomes the only thing you hear in the dark.
You hate it. You listen anyway.
โOh girl, Nishimura Riki wants to fuck you. Hard.โ Hye-ri says from her chair, legs crossed as a makeup artist dusts highlighter across her cheekbones.
Itโs been a few days since the whole weekend โฆthingโ itโs gone excessively slow but time pays off, or whatever people say when theyโre trying to sound wise. The locked studio torture finally ended, the performance notes improved just enough to satisfy the company, and now here you areโ back in the comfort of your groupโs dressing room at the company building, getting dolled up for tonightโs award show.
Your members are scattered around the mirrors in various states of glam, chatting and laughing like the weekend from hell never happened.
At least on the surface.
You nearly choke on your coffee. โHye-ri, what the actual fuck?โ
She grins at you through the mirror, completely unbothered, while the makeup artist dabs at the corner of her eye. โI mean, you gotta admit he looks like he wants to eat you up.โ
โYouโre so gross, I donโt even know why weโre friendsโฆโ you mutter, tilting your head so your own artist can blend the eyeshadow.
Even then, the memory of that charged weekendโhis grip on your wrist, the way your bodies tangled on the couch, the unwanted ache that still lingersโmakes heat crawl up your neck.
Disgusting.
Hye-ri laughs, โCause weโre both freaked out, duhโฆ but the problem with you is that you draw the line at enemies. Like come on, be young and freeโ whatโs so wrong about a little bit of hate sex?โ
Oh, so now sheโs resorted to saying these freaky things in front of the staff? Oh my.
โHye-ri what the fuck??โ You whip your head toward her, much to your makeup artistโs annoyance. She gently guides your face back forward with a soft sigh.
โJust face it, Y/n,โ Hye-ri continues, waving a hand dramatically. โThat man wants you. Bad. But heโs just tooโฆ angry all the time. A shame.โ
โNo he doesnโt. Stop making stuff up.โ You glare at her reflection. โAnd stop talking about him. Iโm trying to focus.โ
โYeah yeah youโre avoiding the topic as always, but youโre rightโ focus on not breaking your legs with those high heels. I swear to god, this company is evil.โ She turns toward the makeup artists with a sweet smile. โNo offense, youโre a sweetheart.โ
โNone taken,โ the artist replies with a chuckle, carefully applying gloss to your lips. โI know they push you guys a lot. God, I wouldnโt even know how to walk in these heels, Y/n.โ
โI donโt even know how I do it eitherโฆโ you sigh, staring at the deadly stilettos waiting by your chair. โIโm gonna break my legs one day.โ
A while after, once the final touches are done, you slip into the high heels. In one smooth motion you stand, testing your balanceโ strangely enough, the confidence hits almost immediately; the heels make your legs look endless, powerful, like you could conquer the entire red carpet and still have energy left to step on someoneโs neck.
Specifically a certain tall assholeโs.
You pull out your phone, snap a quick mirror picโlegs for days, sleek black dress hugging every curve, hair and makeup sharp enough to cut glassโ and post it on Twitter with a caption that makes you smirk: โI step on mean boys for a living.โ
A bit risky, sure. But you like the thrill of posting something just controversial enough to make people talk.
You put your phone down and turn toward the girls. โSelfie time. We look too good not to.โ
Hye-ri and the other girls crowd in happily, striking poses in the mirror; you snap a few group shotsโ arms around each other, and save it for the staff to post on the group account later.
Eventually, you all gather your things and head out; you strut toward the waiting cars in formation, heels clicking against the floor. Inside the vehicleโ youโre chatting with Sera about tonightโs award showโ the KGMAsโleaning forward despite the seatbelt as the city lights streak past the tinted windows.
โIโm telling you, if we dont take anything home tonight Iโm actually gonna cry. Not on camera, obviously, but later? Full breakdown. Weโve been killing it this year.โ
Sera nods, adjusting the strap of her dress. โSame. You especially. That solo stage last month? Insane. They better recognize it.โ
With that, your phone buzzes in your lapโ you glance down and nearly laugh out loud.
@nriki.mura liked your tweet.
The notification glows mockingly for half a second before vanishing.
Oh my god. Caught him lacking.
You can practically picture itโ his thumb slipping, the immediate panic, the frantic un-like. The mental image of Nishimura Riki, Mr. Untouchable himself, accidentally simping over a picture of you is almost too good.
Amused, you open your messages without hesitation.
You: You know i saw you like my tweet right?
Mina, ever the nosy one, leans over your shoulder almost automatically. โYouโre talking to Nishimura?โ
โYeah,โ you say, chuckling. โHe accidentally liked my tweet.โ
Hye-ri, from the seat across, perks up immediately. โSee??? I was right. He does wanna fuck you.โ
โOh drop it, Hye-ri,โ you laugh, shaking your head even as heat creeps up your neck.
Riki texts back almost immediately.
Riki: wtf are you talking about.
You: you just liked my tweet then deleted it, pathetic ๐ญ
Riki: shut your mouth. I thought it was someone else for a second.
You: so youโd like the pic if it wasnโt me?
Riki: Everything you do is ugly because you make it ugly. Youโre repulsive, so yeah iโd like if it wasnโt you.
You: Yeah i bet. Even my dancingโs ugly right? Must be why youโre always analyzing it.
Riki: what are you even talking about. Get a grip.
You: I think deep down youโre very jealous of me.
See, thatโs a personal conviction youโve had for yearsโ Riki hides behind all that hatred but thereโs a deep respect there. Something heโs never been able to accept but youโll shove it in his face ever so often.
Riki: Youre funny.
You: yeah yeah, it was envy all along wasnโt it?
Riki: Shutup y/n
You: Shhh, answer me. You want to be me, right?
You: actually donโt answer, i already know the answer.
You drop your phone in your lap with a satisfied smirk as the van slows to a stop at the venue. Got him. Hye-ri glances at you, eyebrow raised. โThat whole exchange looked tense as hell. You good?โ
โPeachy,โ you reply, stepping out carefully.
The heels are already murdering your feet, but you make it look effortless because thatโs the job. Paparazzi flashes explode around you as you wave, smile, bow politely toward the chanting fans, all while your mind replays the text thread.
Pathetic, indeed.
Inside, the atmosphere buzzesโ you spot Enhypen across the hallway and Jake nods awkwardly in your direction, the unresolved drama still hanging between you like an awkward third wheel.
You have to admit you didnโt really try to fix things or clarify thingsโ if a man jumps to conclusions like this? Heโs not worth the hassle.
Riki, standing beside him, glares with professional precisionโ polite smile for the cameras, murder in his eyes when they flick toward you. You return the energy with a sweet wave.
Eat shit, giraffe.
A little while later youโre called on stage with the girls for a quick pre-award segment. You sit gracefully on the tall stool, bare legs crossed in front of you, the dress riding up just enough to show the deadly heels. You tap your foot distractingly as you chat with the MC, answering questions about your groupโs comeback with charm.
โThereโs so many things happening for you guys this year! A string of collaborations, new album coming soon, are you excited?โ The MC asks you.
โWeโre super excited, and weโre sure the fans are gonna love it, weโve been working hard on it. We canโt wait !โ you answer with a gentle smile, looking out at the audience.
All the while, from his seat in the venue, Rikiโs forced by the idol image to look at the stage. Heโd rather do anything else, but itโd make him look really bad if he didnโt pay attentionโ unnecessary drama. So he looks, half-listens and nods, almost like he gives one too many fucks. His eyes trace the backdrop, the stage floor, anything reallyโ to not have to look at you.
But after a while, heโs run out of things to observe, so he lets his eyes drop to your hands, the ones clasping the mic like itโs a hammer. You look graceful, a complete opposite of the girl he knows privatelyโ you smile and nod gently, speaking with a calm and polite tone.
No curse words, no filthy mouth.
Then Rikiโs attention shifts down, to where your heels are tapping on the floor, rather distractingly. Your legs are classily crossed in front of you, slightly extended, creating a vision of horror in his mind, theyโre smooth, reflecting the lights of the venueโ and the heelsโ theyโre evil. High, black with a red sole, they look absolutely illegal; not to him though, he doesnโt really care.
But his eyes trail down your ankles, to the way your foot bends, taps and goes back up again. Itโs hypnotic, better than having to stare at your face at least. Then your legs uncross, stretch, and Rikiโs breath catches for a split secondโ he straightens in his seat, pinching his thigh through his slacks, and forces his gaze upwards.
Mistake, big one. Because the second he does, heโs looking at your thighs, right where the hem of your dress hikes up. And soon enoughโ he finds himself unable to tear his eyes away, captivated by the way they lead like a path all the way down to your footwear. Ironic, right?
He keeps telling himself itโs anatomy, bone. Muscle. Fabric. Leather. Anything.
But the first mistake was looking, the second was realizing he wanted to look again.
He slips out during the commercial break almost automatically, heading straight for the bathroom, the door clicks shut behind him and he braces against the sink, stomach churning.
Riki throws up, harsh and sudden, the taste of bile burning his throat. Disgusting. Heโs disgusted by the way his body reactsโ knows itโs excessive, knows itโs pathetic, but he canโt help it. He needs to throw up in hopes of getting your out of his body, his system.
He couldnโt stop looking at your stupid legs tonight. Ever since that picture you posted.
Heels are something that links to youโ youโve always worn a lot of heelsโand he canโt deny that your legs do look aesthetically pleasing in them.
But he despises that he feels this way.
The bathroom mirror reflects someone he doesnโt recognizeโ a man repulsed not by what heโs seen, but by what heโs felt. Itโs to wonder if revulsion and desire are closer relatives than anyone likes to admit.
Riki splashes water on his face, gripping the edges of the sink until his knuckles turn white. Against his better judgment, his mind replays the image: the endless line of your legs, the sharp heel, the way you tapped your foot almost absentmindedly while talking. Clinical, he tells himself. Just observation. Professional obsession. Nothing. more.
And yet, even now, the image lingers.
Heeseung finds him a few minutes later when he returns to the seats. โYou okay, man?โ
โYeah,โ Riki mutters, forcing a neutral expression. โIโm fine.โ
He sits back down, but the thoughts donโt stop. He keeps wondering what it means to feel like this about a part of your body. The hatred is still there, burning strongโ but somehow, despite everything, so is something else he refuses to name.
Irony has caught you in its nettles once again. A few days after the award show, you trip on the stairs at the company building, miss a step like a clumsy idiot, and sprain your ankle badly enough that the world tilts sideways. The pain shoots up your leg like fire, sharp and unforgiving. Of course. Because the universe clearly isnโt done laughing at you yet.
Physical therapy becomes your new hell. You canโt come to rehearsals anymore, which means blessed silence from Nishimura Riki for a little whileโ instead of dealing with his bullshit, you spend the days propped up on your dorm couch, ankle elevated, ice packs rotating, and your nose buried in self-help books.
Atomic Habits. The Body Keeps the Score.
Anything to understand why your brain keeps betraying you with unwanted thoughts about that assholeโ his grip, his breathing in the dark break room, the charged way he looked at you after the slap.
Maybe youโre the one who needs fixing, you think bitterly, flipping another page. The books talk about trauma bonding and nervous system regulation, but none of them have a chapter titled โWhat to do when your mortal enemy makes your stomach ache in ways you refuse to name.โ
Eventually the company, with its infinite lack of mercy, decides youโre โhabilitated enough.โ They shove you into another industry eventโ heels and all.
Fans lose their minds, flooding social media with concerned threads: โY/nโs ankle is clearly injured, why is she in stilettos again???โ
โProtect her at all costs!!โ
โHybe is evil, make it make sense.โ
You see the posts but say nothing. Complaining would get you labeled irresponsible or difficultโ so you smile through the pain, walk like everythingโs fine, and silently curse the entire system. One day Iโll burn it all down. Preferably while wearing flats.
A couple of hours after that specific event, back in the dorm with your ankle throbbing, your phone lights up.
Riki: is the injury gonna impact our rehearsals
You roll your eyes so hard it hurts.
You: donโt worry youโll get your 5 minutes of fame eventually just let me fucking heal my leg first
Riki: iโm just asking goddamn
You: yes it is, i canโt dance for a while
Riki: ok well iโll talk to the choreographer to change the pairs
You: ok
Thereโs a pause before he sends another message.
Riki: did you leave your charger in the dance studio ?
You: no i didnt ?
Riki: oh okay
You: why the fuck are you even talking to me istg itโs all you do these days
Riki: iโm not iโm just asking stuff about work
You: well you know i never bring my charger
Riki: no i donโt
You: yes you do asshole
Riki: ok and whatโs your point?
You: my point is stop talking to me
Riki: no
You: are you trying to make me mad?
Riki: no, is your leg okay?
You: and why do you care
Riki: i donโt. iโm asking if itโs gonna take long to heal because im trying to finish the dance. and why were you even in heels today, are you stupid?
You: cause company told me to.
Riki: and why didnโt you defend yourself
You: cause i canโt hello??
Riki: yes you can, youโre such a pussy sometimes, your legsโ fucked up and they got you walking in heels, and somehow thatโs fine with you. Itโs stupid.
You: youโre stupid
Riki: you need to stop wearing heels
In response, you snap a quick photo of the heels youโre still wearingโ bare legs in the frame, nothing crazy, just skin and straps and the faint bruise blooming around your ankle. You caption it simply: โhow about no?โ
Riki: why are you sending me this??? wtf y/n delete that shit
You: theyโre just legs chill. I know you think iโm disgusting and all but these are just motherfucking legs.
Riki: itโs not that, just delete it. itโs weird
You: nah, deal with it, throw up for all i care
Jokes on you, he did the other day. And because you love pissing him off more than is probably healthy, you send another photo. This one riskier not necessarily explicit thoughโ leg extended, heel dangling from your feet, the angle deliberately provocative.
You: there u go, one more so you can really really throw up
He takes a bit to answer.
Riki: stop sending me that shit
You: aw, is nishimura scared of throwing up or something?
Riki: i donโt even want to. iโm gonna block you
You: donโt even want to what?
Riki: throw up
At the same moment in Rikiโs dorm roomโ itโs quiet except for the hum of the airco. He was sprawled on his bed, phone in hand when the first picture came through. With that, something in his stomach flipped hardโ he told himself it was disgust. Pure, simple disgust.
But his body betrayed him completely.
Right now? The second photo hits harder. Your bare legs, the sharp line of the heel, the way it dangles teasingly from your foot makes Rikiโs mouth open, he throws the phone on the bed like its burned him, and he smacks his palms on his face, tugging at the roots of his own hair. He loathes itโ loathes how quickly he is to replay it in his head, to try and remember every detail because he canโt be caught dead looking back at it.
Itโs just goddamn legs. Goddamn heels.
So why is blood rushing south almost immediately? Maybe because irony is the biggest factor in this storyโ heโs hard within seconds. Riki doesnโt even know why. Heโs not a teenager anymore, he canโt just get boners from stupid photos like thatโ especially not from someone he despises.
Horror slams into him like a truck. What the fuck is wrong with him? He detests it. Detests you. Detests the way his cock twitches at the sight of your stupid legs in those stupid heels.
Riki locks his bedroom door without thinking, breathing ragged. He blames it on the stress, perks of being mister worldwide famous, and grabs his phone to delete the pictureโ screw that, the whole chat.
He tries to look away. He really does. But against his better judgment, his eyes keep drifting backโ and images burn into his retinas.
See, heels have always been your thing โ long before this, you wore them constantly, strutting around like you owned every room.
Now? Theyโre weaponized against him.
Riki opens the chat again, scrolling through the two photos guiltily. Over and over. His hand moves almost absentmindedly to palm himself through his sweatpants, breath hitching.
This isnโt about you. Itโs the heels. Just the heels.
He then pulls up pictures of other models in heels, random Instagram posts, anything to convince himself itโs not you. Riki stares at these womenโs legs, analyzing their footwear like an expert.
But it doesnโt work.
His mind betrays him completely. The images shiftโ his brain being the most traitorous creature in the whole world, shows him your heels digging into his back, your legs wrapped around him, plays the sharp click of stilettos against the practice room floor while he fucks you senseless-
โFuckโฆ you,โ he mutters through gritted teeth.
In seconds heโs up and running to the bathroom to throw up for the nth time this month.
Riki relieves himself, hating you more than ever. Hating himself even worse.
The company building feels eerily quiet on your break day as you hobble through the familiar halls with your sprained ankle still wrapped and aching, clutching a thin folder of paperwork you came to retrieve. The quick meeting with the exec goes smoothly enoughโ some signatures on scheduling adjustments, a few polite nods about โtaking it easy,โ and the usual nonsense about image management. Nothing you havenโt heard a hundred times before.
Youโre almost out the side entrance, already dreaming of crashing on your dorm couch with takeout and zero responsibilities, when you bump straight into Jake.
Literally.
Your good foot catches on the edge of the hallway carpet and you stumbleโ Jakeโs hands shoot out instinctively, steadying you by the elbows before you face-plant. For a second, both of you freeze.
โShitโ sorry,โ you mutter, stepping back carefully. Your ankle throbs in protest.
Jakeโs eyes drop almost automatically to your injured leg, the careful way you favor it. โHeyโฆ you okay?โ His voice stays soft, concerned, but the awkwardness between you thickens the air like smoke.
You havenโt spoken properly since the fake tweet disaster, not a single text, not a single clarification. You canโt say it wasnโt convenient, youโd hate to admit you find no interest in explaining yourself to Jake.
โYeah. Justโฆ clumsy,โ you say, forcing a half-smile. โWhat are youโฆ erm, doing here on a break day?โ
โPicking up some lyric sheets for next week.โ He rubs the back of his neck, glancing around the empty hallway. After a pause, he adds quietly, โWeโveโฆ um, never really talked about what happened. With the tweet and all.โ
You cross your arms, leaning against the wall to take pressure off your ankle. Here we go. โYeah. About that, you didnโt even let me explain, it was Riki.โ
Jake blinks, tilting his head like you spoke another language. โWhat?โ
โIt was Riki,โ you repeat, irritation already bubbling. โThe whole thing was fake, he made it up to fuck with me.โ
Jake stays silent for a long moment, processing. Then, almost gently โlike he explains something to a childโhe says, โWellโฆ I think we gotta talk about this at some point, Y/n.โ
โAbout what?โ
โAbout your obsession with him.โ
You stare at him, disbelief shooting through you โExcuse me?โ
He canโt be serious right now.
โY/n, seriously.โ Jakeโs voice stays calm, patient, which only pisses you off more. โWhy would you even come to the conclusion that heโs the one who invented some kind of grand schemeโฆโ
โBecause he told me, for fuckโs sake.โ
โI donโt knowโฆ why would he even do that?โ Jake sighs, rubbing his temple. โAnd if you hate him that much, whyโs he all you ever talk about then?โ
And there you thought Jake was sweet, turns out heโs just clueless.
โAre you seriously doing this right now?โ you scoff.
Right because when has it ever been his business?
โYeah.โ He meets your eyes steadily. โItโs honestlyโฆ obvious how Rikiโs occupying all your emotional life. You were too caught up in your hatred that you didnโt even notice me, Iโm pretty sure.โ
โUm? Yes I did. I went out with you, didnโt I?โ You laugh, sharp and humorless. โI thought youโd understand that with everything Rikiโs done to me, itโs obvious Iโm gonna hate him.โ
It feels like youโre being scolded for some reason, and you donโt like that. Not one bit.
โYouโre obviously hurt and you feel things deeply,โ Jake continues, still in that gentle, patronizing tone. โBut you gotta wake up and realize how fucked up it all is.โ
You feel irritated as fuck, heโs talking to you like youโre a two year old, spelling out basic emotional logic as if you havenโt lived it for years.
The day was going smoothly and now some totally out of line weirdo is making it hard for you to be patient.
โLike, if I ask about your day, you answer in three words,โ Jake continues, almost absentmindedly gesturing with his hands. โBut if someone mentions him, you suddenly have a whole thesis. Heโs said awful things to you and so have you. I just donโt get why you still bother.โ
โWell Iโm sorry that bothers you, Jakey,โ you reply, voice dripping with sarcasm. You tap his shoulder lightly, ironic and vain. โHave a great day, yeah?โ
You turn to leave, but Jakeโs words keep echoing as you limp down the hallway. He speaks facts, deep down, you know itโ come on youโre not that dumb; but what you are though, is too proud to admit out loud.
Even after all this, part of you feels attracted to the violence. Used to it. Addicted, maybe. The constant flight mode becomes your normalโ at least it feels more alive than any soft conversation with Jake ever could.
Hatred feels familiar, secure in its own twisted way. It demands nothing soft from you, no vulnerability. Thatโs just the way things are.
Some people like their food sweet, others donโt like it at allโ and prefer eating nails.
Rikiโs a master at pretending nothingโs bothering himโ he wears indifference like second skinโ untouchable, the golden dancer who smiles for cameras and carries the weight of millions without flinching.
He knows somethingโs essentially missing inside of him, knows heโs looking for something thatโs not here, and that will never be. But he constantly tones that part of him down.
Thatโs why, tonight, in this high-end hotel suite with its dim lights and silk sheets, he tries to slip into that role again.
The girl beneath him is pretty, sweet, all soft curves and gentle laughs, she kisses him back eagerly, fingers threading through his hair as he presses her into the mattress. Her skin is soft, her dimples press against his cheeks when she kissesโ and for a while it works.
His hands roam her body, lips trailing down her neck until she sighs his name like a prayer; and he tells himself this is what he wants. He deepens the kiss, hips rolling against hers, heat building in a way that should feel right.
But something shifts.
With that, sudden unease crawls up his spine like ice water, his stomach twists and the air feels wrong. Riki tries to push past it, kissing her harder, hands gripping her waist almost automatically. Focus. Sheโs pretty. Sheโs lovely even. Sheโs notโ
It just doesnโt work.
He pulls away after a long silence, considers telling her the usual excuse of โitโs not you, itโs meโ, but when he opens his eyes it is not her face he sees.
Itโs your sharp eyes glaring up at him. Your mouth twisted in that familiar sneer, your hands gripping his forearms.
Riki jumps back like heโs been burned, heart slamming against his ribs. What the fuck.
Heโs definitely going crazy, he concludes, the room spinning slightly as panic claws at his throat.
โIโ sorry,โ he mutters, voice hoarse. He stands up in one smooth motion, running a hand through his messy hair. โI need a minute.โ
The girl sits up, confusion flickering across her pretty features, she looks hurt. โRikiโฆ are you okay?โ
He forces a soft smile, the one he saves for people who deserve his leniency, sweet. โYeah. Iโm sorry. Got a lot on my mind tonight. Work stuff. I didnโt mean to make you feel like Iโm not into this.โ
She watches him carefully as he walks to the mini-fridge and grabs a bottle of whiskey. He twists the cap off and takes a long swig, the burn grounding him for half a second.
โItโs fine,โ she says quietly, already reaching for her clothes. โI can go if you want.โ
Riki feels a pang of guilt. Sheโs sweet, too sweet for a walking shit-show like him. โNo, you donโt have toโฆ Iโm really sorry. Youโre great. This is on me.โ
She dresses slowly, offering him a small, understanding smile. โItโs okay. Really. Take care of yourself, yeah?โ
He nods, watching her leave with gentle eyes, the door clicks shut behind her and the silence rushes in like a wave. Riki collapses back onto the bed, bottle in hand, he stares at it for a second like heโs gonna start confessing his sins to it, then he drinks.
He drinks. And drinks. And drinks some more until the edges of the room blur and his thoughts turn hazy.
Tipsy now, he turns on the Tv for noise, he hates the silence, he needs something to focus on. A commercial flashes across the screenโ some luxury brand, a modelโs legs strutting in high heels. The camera zooms in and Riki instantly buries his face in the covers with a groan.
Eventually, when heโs proper drunk and the world is tilting pleasantly, he decides itโs enough, his stomach hurts.
His phone feels heavy in his hand as he tries to text Heeseungโ something incoherent about needing to talk or needing someone to pick him up.
Riki recoils, embarrassed even through the alcohol haze.
He doesnโt need any fucking help.
Or does he? Maybe he does need therapyโ
But his thumb slips as he tries to figure that out, and by some force of natureโ he ends up calling the very ghost that haunts him instead.
You pick up after a few rings, voice dry and annoyed. โWhy the fuck are you calling me?โ
Riki tries to click the โhangup buttonโ but his fingers are shaking with adrenaline.
Screw that, on second thought, he doesnโt really try to hang up all that hardโฆ
He laughs instead , low and miserable, rolling onto his back until the ceiling spins. โAre you so mad at me, Y/n?โ
You scoff on the other end, โWhen am I not? Anyway let me repeat myselfโ why did you call me?โ
โYeah but youโre different mad, I shouldโve knownโฆโ His words slur together incoherently as he closes his eyes, the room still turning.
โHuh?โ your thoughts are a mess of โwhatthefuckishesayingโ
โYou donโt even fight with me anymore.โ Rikiโs voice comes out as a whisper, almost like he knows heโs stepping in a dangerous zone.
He hears you scoff on the other line, all superior and bitchyโ and he has to fight not to laugh in your face, because honestly with that level of alcohol in his blood, it would sound much more like a happy giggle than anything else. He doesnโt want that now, does he?
โAre youโฆ drunk?โ you suddenly seem to come to your senses.
โYeahโฆโ He nods stupidly at the ceiling. โBut you didnโt insult me today.โ
It sort of reminds Riki of when he was a kidโ staying underwater in his parentsโ swimming pool until there was not an ounce of air left in his lungs. He would push himself deeper, lungs burning, vision spotting, just to see how long he could last before breaking the surface gasping.
That same reckless thrill sits in his chest now, however unrelatedโ talking to you while drunk feels like holding his breath too long. Dangerous. Addictive.
He knows he should come up for air, but he stays under, waiting for the moment you push him harder.
โAre you a masochist or something? You want me out of your life but here you are basically begging me to insult you.โ you huff on the other end.
โIโm not. I kept waiting.โ he shakes his head like you can see him.
โWaiting for what, you weirdo?โ
Rikiโs waiting for the moment youโre finally going to be done with his bullshit and hang upโ because he couldnโt possibly bring himself to be the one to do itโ blame it on the whiskey.
โFor you to start a fight.โ he answers solemnly.
โOh god, youโre so weird. Youโre drunk, youโre not even making any senseโฆ just hang up and go fuck yourself.โ
โDonโt ignore me. Donโt ignore what I said.โ Rikiโs voice goes lower, a little firmer maybe.
โI didnโt even see you today, what the fuck are you even talking about?โ he can hear you anxiously slap your thigh in annoyance.
โI donโt like it when you ignore me. You piss me off, I piss you off andโโ
โStop conjugating verbs, Nishimura. I donโt have time for your bullshit.โ you cut him off, proper angry.
โYou know, normal people donโt live like this.โ He rolls over clumsily, nearly dropping the phone; heโs not even making any sense, just casually assembling random thoughts that have been in his head and mashing them together in hopes youโll understand his point.
โGood job genius, thanks for pointing that out. Now call Heeseung or Jay, Iโm gonna block you. Or donโt call anyone, I donโt give a fuck if you choke in your sleep or something.โ
Thatโs it, thatโs the moment youโre finally done with his bullshit and youโre about to hang up and heโsโฆ confused?
โDonโt block me Y/n waitโโ Riki groans, not even realising how pitiful he sounds.
โLiterally what the fuck is wrong with you.โ you snap. โWhy are you being like this, you sound so pathetic.โ
After a beat, his mind drifts to different topics heโd like to address, but the only thing he can think of is that little stunt you pulled. โThe post you made. Was it about me?โ he asks, naively.
You almost laugh, incredulous and also very much embarrassed for him, โWhat are you even talking about?โ
โThe one with the heels.โ
โNo it wasnโt.โ you say immediately, hating that he thought it was about him (although it clearly was).
โIt waaaas,โ he sing-songs, burying his face in his pillow. Heโs half trying to hide how affected he was, and half trying to tease you.
โYouโre so self-centered itโs insane, it wasnโt even about you.โ you chuckle mockingly, โGod Nishimura youโre being my little bitch right now, you know that?โ
โStop calling me that. Iโmโฆ mean to you. So you step on mean boys. So it was about me,โ Riki goes on, persuaded.
โWell do you want me to step on you or something? Cause it sounds like youโre begging for it.โ
Thatโs it. A couple wordsโ he doesnโt even count how manyโ and heโs sent back to the state he was in a couple days back.
Itโs all so pathetic, and heโs drunk out of his mind, but at the same time itโs you. Itโs your fault, youโre doing this to him, youโre making his blood spike like a pervert, youโre dissecting him unknowingly, revealing things he didnโt even know about himself.
Notwithstanding, itโs impossible that it could be you, it has to be something else.
Itโs like teenagers when they suddenly discover they have a penis and they wanna jump everything and anything; thatโs probably whatโs happening. Heโs discovered he may or may not have a tendency toโฆ enjoy women wearing heels, and heโs totally projecting.
โFuck.โ Riki throws his head back, palming his forehead. โDonโt say that.โ
But his tone of voice only pumps you meaner, โGet off my phone then if youโre not happy. Whatโs your problem anyway? Canโt handle a little bit of alcohol? Youโre a pussy.โ
โSee? I like you better when youโre like this. Mean.โ he breathes out.
โWell get help.โ
โI know I should.โ
โYeah you should. Now bye, Iโm blocking you.โ You hang up without a second thought and itโs over just as fast as it started.
Riki stares at the ceiling, phone still pressed to his ear even after the line goes dead. What the fuck are you doing with his head?
Eventually he grabs his phone again, thumbs clumsy as he opens his notes appโ his writing is messy, drunk letters stumbling across the screen.
She blocks peple (people) when it starts to get a little bit intse (intense).
He stares at the words for a long time, the screen blurring. Even drunk, even miserable, he cannot stop cataloging you. Cannot stop thinking about you. And cannot stop adding to the list of things heโs noticed about you.
The hatred burns hotter though. Always has.
Kwn is an amazing artist you know? Especially in that one video clip where she kisses Kehlani near the car and allโ thatโs just a fact. You love her tracks, her voice, everything. But right now? You beyond hate her.
The past weekโs been a blur of physical therapy, awkward silences, and the lingering ghost of Rikiโs drunk phone call. He never mentioned it afterward and neither did you; it just sits between you like an unexploded grenadeโ ignored, but always there. A moment of vulnerability that echoes with a lot of โwhat ifsโ.
What if he was under the influence all the time? Would he be softer, funnier with his words? More honest?
Your ankleโs better now, enough for light practice, but the company wastes no time dragging you back into the studio. No mercy. No rest. Just endless work.
Thatโs why now, you stand in the practice room, mirrors reflecting your slightly stiff posture, the choreographer flipping through self-tapes on his tablet with a deep frown. Riki leans against the wall a few feet away, fiddling with the strings of his sweatpants between his spread legs, looking as unbothered as ever.
The choreographer sighs heavily. โIt looks stiff. The companyโs not gonna like this at all.โ He rubs his temples. โCome on Y/n, youโre usually excellent. Iโve worked with you for years and Iโve never seen you so out of it.โ He turns to Riki. โAnd you, Rikiโ whatโs going on?โ
Whatโs going on, is that a leech is sucking out every ounce of talent out of you and leaving a distracted woman hollowed out by rage.
Thatโd be the appropriate answer but instead you say force a neutral expression. โItโs just stress.โ and you make the mistake of adding, โItโs the song. Itโs probably too fast.โ
The choreographer looks at his tablet for a beat, thumb hovering over it, then nods slowly. โWell, how about we try something else, yeah? This choreoโs pretty simple. Get a good view, learn it, and I want you guys to prepare it for the end of the evening. Iโll come back when youโre done. Just work through it. This oneโs slower and itโll get you in the right headspace.โ
He hands you the tablet but Riki snatches it from your hands almost immediatelyโ ever the childish one. Heโs a little bit too confident for someone who called you begging you for insultsโฆ
You doubt he even remembers it, but you want to rub it in his face. Insteadโ because workspace doesnโt allow itโ you stay professional, snatching it right back and pressing play.
The opening notes fill the room. โTouch Myselfโ by Kwn. You let it play for a bit, the rnb beat mellow and nice but when she starts singing itโs a whole different story.
See, the thing is, the lyrics are extremely explicit, pornographic arguablyโ or maybe youโre just being dramatic but thatโs what being too close to Nishimura Riki does to one.
You glance up at the choreographer, wondering if he even speaks enough English to understand โI touch myself just thinking about you.โ
Probably not.
Rikiโs English is trash, but he knows that much and you see it in the way his jaw tighten.
The other man leaves with a casual wave, dismissing your obvious discomfort and the door clicks shut behind him.
You hate Kwn and her stupid song.
You stand up immediately, crossing your arms, โIโm not doing that.โ
โErm, yes you are,โ Riki says flatly, like heโs talking to a toddler.
โFuck no.โ
At that, he rubs his temple, letting out a long exhale.
โThey should terminate your contract. Canโt even get over yourself for the sake of your job...โ he lets out a small huff, looking down at you like youโre the most ridiculous thing heโs ever seen.
โHave you seen the choreo? Are you really agreeing to this?โ you tilt your chin towards the tablet. โThat shit is vile. Iโm not doing that.โ
โWell itโs not like we have a choice. Trust me Iโd rather be eating nails right now, Y/n. So get over yourself and just learn the goddamn thing.โ he snaps.
You sit back down with a huff and get a good look at the choreo on the tablet. Itโs heavily sensualโnothing insane certainly, but paired with the nature of the lyricsโฆ damn. Slow body rolls, close proximity, lingering touches, prolonged eye contact. The kind of performance that sells sex and tensionโ definitely not something youโd like to be doing with that smug prick. But either way you need to get over yourself, itโs not like you have a choiceโฆ
So after a while of sitting there, hearing his annoying breathing, you finally get the hang of it, itโs not really complicated, just an easy routine; the complicated part is the tension you need to bring to it, something you donโt have. Or rather, not in the adequate form.
You stand up and move to the center with him, the mirrors reflecting you both as you start running it. You rehearse a few steps, tablet in hand, trying to figure out the footwork while he watches through the reflection.
โYour other foot, dumbass.โ he goes, pointing at your left foot.
You listen, because unfortunately, he is rightโ it was the left foot; and you move along, following the movements of his body in the glass.
The tension simmers immediatelyโ albeit it not being the required one, itโs still tension right? Every brush of his hand on your waist feels deliberate, every step brings you closer and the lyrics pulse through the speakers like a taunt.
Every now and then, you deliberately sabotage the whole thing, pushing a little on the left until he fumbles it, stepping on his foot while maintaining a neutral stance.
The thing is, and youโve admitted itโ you donโt just hate Riki. You need him to hate you back. Itโs that or youโd rather die.
So you push and push, until his pupils drown in anger and heโs seconds away from pinning you to the nearest wallโ devoid of any good intentions.
During the chorus is the part when you have to look at each other the most, itโs prolonged eye contact.
You unconsciously lipsync the words โI touch myself just thinking about youโ as you focus on the dance and miss a count, distracted by the little something in his eyes.
Youโre stupid.
Riki looks right back, eyes dropping your lips as you mouth those filthy wordsโ and he messes up his part a little bit.
โStop fucking looking at me. Just dance,โ he says defensively, voice low.
โAm I supposed to just look at the goddamn ceiling?โ you spit back, rolling your eyes.
Riki stops dancing all of a sudden, gets closer, towering over you. โWell I donโt care. Just donโt look at me.โ
You follow, the song still playing but youโre both unmoving, โWhy does that bother you so much?โ
โIt doesnโt. Youโre just annoying.โ His dyed blond hair falls on his forehead, sweaty and so awfully disgustingly delicious you want to die.
Wait what?
โIt clearly does if youโre bringing it up.โ you distract yourself with counter attacks, itโs easier this way.
โJust stop arguing and listen to me before Iโโ
โBefore you what? Huh?โ You get closer, menacing even though hes taller.
He snickers, looking down at you like youโre a crumb under his shoe. โWho do you even think you are, acting like that? You know itโd take me two seconds to make you trip and faceplant right?โ
Heโs so infuriatingly mocking it sends a chill down your spine, itโs not even the words, itโs the tone itselfโ like he could push you right now and feel nothing but contempt.
Thatโs the way things have always been, so why does it feel so confusing?
โStop talking to me like that.โ you glare at him, titling your chin like you can somehow surpass him in height.
โYeah? What are you gonna do?โ heโs so smug it drips with it.
โI swear, Nishimura, Iโll punch you right now.โ
Riki looks down at you, a small cruel smirk tugging at at the corner of his mouth, โGo ahead, brat. All yours. Hit me.โ
The words shouldnโt sound like this, they shouldnโt sound so dirty. But itโs like lately, all he says has a subtle undertone to itโ and why is his voice so goddamn low and velvety?
โWell thanks for the consent, motherfucker.โ You push him back hard so he canโt crowd you. โNow get back.โ
He grabs your wrist in turn, pushing you close to him menacingly. โI said hit me, not push me. Are you scared of me or something?โ
You chuckle, defiant. โScared? Oh give me a break.โ
Riki grabs your fist; youโre surprised he isnโt even flinching at the contact. He tightens your fingers deliberately until youโre ready for a punch, and then holds it over his own cheek.
โCome on. Do it.โ
His fingers burn around yours. Heโs dying for it, he needs the fight, needs the violence. He craves the collisionโ the crack of bone, the bloom of pain, the certainty that comes with a hit landed cleanly. Anger is familiar territoryโ violence is the only conversation heโs ever known how to finish.
โDonโt touch me.โ you say, in vain, because it comes out as a breathy plaint.
โWeโre way past that.โ
โYouโre so disgusting. You get off on doing disgusting things like that, donโt you? Fucking pervert.โ your eyes are bored in his now, more honest that your bodies have ever been.
Then Riki does something so out of characterโ yet so him, and your lungs suddenly become a mere accessory rather than organs.
He grabs your throat suddenly, long fingers wrapping around it, squeezing not too tight but firm enough to make your pulse jump under his fingers. The pressure is controlled, thumb pressing lightly against the side of your neck where your heartbeat flutters wildly. His gripโs warm, steady, dangerous and you can feel the restrained power in his hand, the way his fingers flex as if debating how much tighter he could go.
It sends a rush of heat through you despite everything.
โDonโt call me that,โ he says, triggered.
His shoulders broaden as he squares himself, every tendon in his forearms standing out beneath taut skin.
Rikiโs so close now, nose brushing yours, eyes burning with pure fury, and youโd be lying if you said you werenโt dying from how exhilarating it feels.
โIโll call you whatever the fuck I want.โ You push his buttons on purpose, loving the way his anger tastesโ like something filthy and sour on your tongue.
โFuck you, Y/n.โ
Thereโs a thin line between hatred and desireโand only then, youโre starting to feel it dissolve until you can no longer tell whether the pounding in your chest is fury or fascination, whether you want to shove him away or pull him closer just to understand why he gets beneath your skin like that.
โMm, fuck me?โ You tilt your head, defiant, lips inches from his.
Riki loses it. Air sticks in his lungs and his eyes flutter shut for a split secondโ heโs forgotten how to breathe now, the words ricochet through him, splintering whatever fragile restraint heโd been clinging to.
His jaw tightens so hard it aches, a muscle feathering beneath his skin as he swallows back something he canโt afford to say.
โDonโt say shit like that.โ he goes instead, but it comes out breathy.
โWhy? Scared?โ You get closer, pushing every button you can reach.
Because close just isnโt close enoughโ and flustered isnโt nearly flustered enough. Because you want him reeling, struggling to even function, you want him to be putty in your handsโ just out of pure spite.
Rikiโs stuck between two different worldsโ he wants to push you off, watch you fall and trip but at the same time he wants to fuck the attitude right out of youโ teach you a lesson.
He doesnโt acknowledge it, but he feels it somewhere low, warmth spreading. Heโs too far gone.
Your mouths hover dangerously close, so much so that you can feel his breath, hot and ragged against your lips. His hand tightens slightly on your throat, not hurting, just holding. Claiming almost, in all its irony.
But the choreographerโs voice echoes faintly from the hallway, and youโre both forced to pull away instantly, breathless, chests heaving.
The momentโs over and the bodies are done speaking.
Riki turns sharply and stalks toward the bathroom, fists tight at his sides while you scratch your arm anxiously, nails digging into skin as if you can claw the tension out of your body.
Three days after the practice room incident, Hybe decides to play niceโ characteristicallyโฆ They organize a mandatory โteam bondingโ dinner for everyone involved in the collaboration projectโR3SET, Enhypen, choreographers, and a few other staffs.
The official reason is to โbuild chemistryโ and โcelebrate the upcoming performance.โ
The real reason, you suspect, is damage control after too many rumors about visible tension between you and Riki.
The company hates bad optics.
โTouch myselfโ hasnโt really resulted in anything good, apart from fuelling your self hatred.
The choreographer wasnโt exceptionally happy, and so were youโ for fucks sake, because of him, youโd been forced to confront that you were an entirely too deprived woman.
Itโs true, thatโs the only viable answer, you havenโt done anything with anyone in years, and so itโs only natural that any physical touch sends you into a whole different headspaceโ even if itโs not one youโd desire. Desperate times.
So, the dinner is held at a private restaurant downtown, dim lighting, long wooden tables, expensive hanwoo beef, and enough soju to drown in. You show up with your members, ankle mostly healed but still a little stiff, wearing simple black pants and a sophisticated top. You tell yourself itโll be just fine, Rikiโs most likely forgotten about it already.
But the second you walk in, your eyes find him across the room. You end up near the middle of the long table, directly across from him.
He looks annoying in all black, sleeves rolled up, hair slightly messy, his eyes flick to you every few minutesโ totally unreadable. You donโt look away, god you never do.
Jake sits a few seats down, trying to make polite conversation with Seraโ you wouldnโt fail to mention youโre still slightly annoyed at him, but that feels like background noise compared to the live wire stretching across the table.
Rage is merely just rage when itโs not directed at Nishimura Riki.
Hye-ri leans toward you at one point, whispering, โHe keeps staring. You good?โ
โIโm fabulous,โ you mutter, stabbing a piece of beef harder than necessary.
Rikiโs voice cuts through the chatter a moment later, directed at no one in particular but clearly meant for you. โSome people should probably stay off their feet more. Wouldnโt want another dramatic injury right before the performance.โ
You smile sweetly, tilting your head. โSome people should probably mind their own fucking business.โ
The table quiets a little. Jake shifts uncomfortably and Sunoo coughs into his drink amused.
Riki leans back in his chair, lips curving into that infuriating half-smirk. โJust looking out for the team. Wouldnโt want you to trip on stage because youโre too stubborn to rest properly.โ
โTouching,โ you reply, voice dripping with sarcasm. โDidnโt know you cared so much about my well-being, Nishimura.โ
โI donโt.โ His eyes lock onto yours. โI care about the performance not sucking because of you.โ
The air crackles and Hye-ri kicks you under the table. Of course you kick her back.
The rest of dinner is a masterclass in passive-aggressive warfare; every time someone mentions the collaboration, Riki finds a way to slip in a subtle jab. Every time, you fire back sharper until by dessert, the tension feels thick enough to choke on.
You excuse yourself to the bathroom just to breathe, splashing some water on your neckโ soothing the physical reaction heโs inflicted upon you. When you come out, Riki is leaning against the wall in the hallway, waiting.
โRunning away already?โ he asks, voice low.
โFuck off.โ
He steps closer, crowding you against the wall without actually touching you. โYouโve been quiet lately. No insults. No nothing. Almost like youโre avoiding me.โ
You lift your chin, refusing to back down. โWhat? Youโre gonna beg me for insults again?โ
Rikiโs jaw tightens and for a second, something dangerous flickers in his eyes, youโre not sure he knows exactly what youโre referring to though. โYou wish.โ
Then he walks away, leaving you standing there with your heart pounding and your hands clenched into fists.
That night, you dreamโ you dream like you havenโt dreamt in months. See, you had the habit of dreaming about totally incoherent things, your older brother getting kidnapped by aliens, your step mom catching a cold and growing wingsโฆ and that dream doesnโt differ, itโs totally incongruous.
In it, the studioโs empty, mirrors stretching endlessly in every direction, the lights are low and warm. Youโre dancing, but itโs no longer really choreography.
Rikiโs hands are on your waist, pulling you flush against himโ thereโs no hatred in the movement this timeโ only hunger. You shove him, but he spins you around and presses you against the mirror, cold glass against your front, his body hot and solid behind you.
โYou talk so much shit,โ he whispers against your ear, one hand sliding up your thigh, pushing your skirt higher. โBut look at you now.โ
You gasp as his fingers find bare skin. โFuck you.โ
โYeah?โ Rikiโs voice is rough, dangerous. โYou want that?โ
In the dream you hate him and want him in equal measure. You push back against him, grinding, feeling how hard he is, his hand wraps around your throat from behindโ not tight enough to hurt, but enough to make you arch. His other hand slips between your legs, teasing, stroking, making you moan despite yourself.
โYouโre so fucking wet for someone who hates me,โ he murmurs, biting your shoulder. โSay it. Say you want me to fuck you.โ
โI hate you,โ you breathe, but your hips roll back against his hand anyway.
He laughs, low and dark, pressing you harder into the mirror. โLiar.โ
The dream shifts and suddenly he has you on the floor, legs wrapped around his waist as he thrusts into youโ deep, angry, perfect. Every snap of his hips feels like punishment and reward at once. You scratch down his back, drawing blood and he bites your neck hard enough to leave marks. The mirrors reflect a hundred versions of you two like fucking animalsโ sweat-slick, desperate, beautiful in the worst way.
โI hate you,โ you moan as he fucks you harder.
Rikiโs eyes are wild. โThen prove it.โ
You wake up gasping, sheets tangled around your legs, heart hammering, and a slick heat between your thighs that makes you want to scream. You sit up in the dark, pressing your palms to your burning face.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
The body has always been a terrible liar.
The mind can sharpen hatred into something cleanโ something so easy to hold. It can rehearse every reason to leave, every wound, every insult, every unforgivable thing. It can swear that this person disgusts youโ that youโd sooner bite your own tongue than admit theyโre the only thing you want to loose yourself into.
And then your pulse betrays you. Your breath catches when they get too close to the real thing, your pupils widen before your pride has the chance to object. Every nerve ending reaches for what your conscience insists it should reject. The body doesnโt understand morality; it understands chemistry and biology; doesnโt distinguish between danger and desire nearly as well as youโd like to believe.
Maybe thatโs why hatred and longing have always lived so close together. Both consume. Both obsess. The difference is thinner than anyone admitsโ a line so delicate that all it takes is one glance, one accidental touch, one moment of vulnerability, and suddenly you no longer know whether your racing heart is preparing you to fight them or kiss them.
Thatโs why, after that dream, you avoid him like the plague. The following weeks are a careful dance of deliberate distance; you show up to group meetings late and leave early. You switch practice times when possible, you bury yourself in solo schedules, self-help books (that donโt help with anything actually) and long conversations with Hye-ri that always circle back to the same frustrating question: why does suffering attract you more than living a gentle life?
You delete the drunk call from your call log like it never happened, you tell yourself the dream meant nothing. Just stress. Just exhaustion. Just your body playing cruel tricks.
But the avoidance only makes it worse, every time you catch a glimpse of him in the hallway, your stomach flips. Every time his name comes up in conversation, your jaw tightens.
But today heโs inevitable. Duty calls. And so here you are, stuck in the dance studio again with him.
The choreographer wanted you both to review the latest self-tapes aloneโ auto-evaluation before the final run throughs. No dancing today, just critique; so you came straight from another schedule, still wearing the black heels from the event and the black skirt theyโd told you to wearโbecause you just couldnโt be bothered to change.
Now they click sharply against the floor as you pace, hands on your hips, eyes glued to the small television screen playing the footage.
Riki stands a few feet away, arms crossed, watching with that same unreadable expression. Heโs wearing a goddamn chrome hearts tank top, one that highlights the muscles in his back, makes him look unfairly lean and does a poor job at keeping you focused.
The footage playsโ and technically, itโs flawless. The lines are clean, the timingโs sharp. But the chemistry is nonexistent. You both look like youโd rather murder each other than touch, naturally.
You point at the screen. โYour shoulder drops there. Sloppy.โ
Riki scoffs. โMy shoulder is fine. Youโre the one rushing the transition.โ
You whirl on him. โAt least I commit. You move like youโre scared to touch me. Afraid Iโll stab you in the back or something?โ
He steps closer, eyes narrowing. โMaybe I am. We both know what youโre capable of when you want something.โ
The jab lands harder than you expect, you feel heat rise in your cheeks. โFuck you. At least I donโt throw tantrums like a spoiled kid every time things donโt go my way.โ
That one hits and Rikiโs expression darkens. In response, he pushes you with his armโ not hard, but enough to make you stumble back. Your injured leg buckles slightly, still weak from the sprain. Pain shoots up your ankle and you lose balance, arms flailing.
Riki moves instinctivelyโ ironic isnโt it?โ his hands catch youโone on your waist, the other gripping your armโ steadying you before you fall. Itโs almost laughableโฆ the force that sent you stumbling is the same one that keeps you upright.
For a moment, everything stops, his touchโs firm but careful. Not the bruising grip from before. Not the angry shove. Justโฆ support. His fingers press lightly against your waist, warm through the thin fabric of your top. It feels almost like pity. Like heโs handling something he doesnโt want to break yet.
The silence stretches until your eyes meet his. His breath is close and for once, thereis no venom in his gazeโ just surprise.
You shake him off almost immediately, stepping back like his touch burned you. โDonโt touch me.โ
Rikiโs hands drop and the mask of indifference slides back into place. โWhatever. Donโt fall and blame me later.โ
โYoure the one who just pushed me.โ you mutter under your breath, boiling.
The footage loops again and again, but neither of you is really watching anymore. The real performance is happening right hereโ two people circling each other with words like weapons.
Eventually the tape ends and you exhale sharply. โWeโre done. Iโm leaving.โ
You grab your badge, and purse, turn toward the door in one smooth motion, heels clicking. But when you push the handle, it doesnโt budge. You try again. Nothing.
โWhat the fuck?โ You rattle the door harder. โDid you lock it?โ
Riki raises an eyebrow. โWhy would I lock it?โ
You try again, panic starting to creep in. โOpen the damn door, Riki.โ
He sighs, walks over, tries the handle and it doesnโt move. โItโs stuck.โ
You reach for your phone, heart hammering and you text Hye-ri a hundred times in rapid succession.
Door wonโt open. Studio 4. Come get me. Help. HELP. Help. HELPPP. SOS.
But no reply comes, so you call her, it goes straight to voicemail. You text Heeseung nextโ because what wouldnโt you do for an escape? Still nothing.
"Aren't you gonna do anything??" you turn to Riki.
"My phone's dead" he shrugs.
โIโm gonna call the police, I swear to god,โ you mutter, pacing.
Riki rolls his eyes, tapping his foot on the floor repeatedlyโ the sound grating on your nerves.
โCan you stop tapping on the floor before I eviscerate you?โ you snap.
โGet over yourselfโ
You try the doorknob again, naively. Of course itโs not gonna budge, why would it ? The universe wants you in a secluded room with Nishimura Rikiโ probably natural selection or somethingโฆ
You rattle the handle a little harder anyway, as if stubbornness alone might intimidate the lock into cooperating. It doesnโt. It only rewards your efforts with another dull metallic clunk that echoes through the room like itโs laughing at you.
โWhy arenโt you charging your goddamn phone anyway? To call people. At least be fucking useful.โ you turn to him.
He leans against the wall, watching you with that infuriating calmโ and sweat beads on your skin as you fight the punch that you want to give him.
โOh god, I hate you,โ you finally hiss, stepping closer.
Something in him shifts, not visiblyโ but you catch it because youโre looking; his shoulders loosen by a fraction, the corner of his mouth threatens to betray him. Your words donโt land like an insult; they settle somewhere far more dangerous.
Hatredโs always been your most honest language with himx Every glare, every cutting remark, every venom-laced sentence means youโve looked at him long enough to feel something. It means heโs gotten under your skin again. That heโs occupied another corner of your mind he had no business claiming.
To anyone else, your words would sound like rejection.
To Riki, they sound like proof.
Proof that he still affects you.
Proof that indifferenceโs never been an option.
He lets the silence stretch, savoring the confession hidden beneath the hostility before his gaze locks onto yours, dark with unmistakable satisfaction
โSay that again.โ
You step even closer, heels making you taller but still smaller than him. โI. Hate. You.โ
His gaze flickers over your expression for a second longer than it should, like heโs memorizing the contradiction in front of him: someone who claims to despise him yet keeps moving closer, someone who throws daggers with their words but refuses to walk away.
Riki looks down and you catch him staring at your legs almost instantly. โStop looking at my fucking legs, you perv.โ
โWell then stop wearing heels in a practice room maybe?โ
โIโve got somewhere to be after this, dipshit.โ you roll your eyes, suddenly feeling small under his scrutiny.
โThen put them back on after this, like a normal person.โ
โWe just came in here to review the footage. Stop acting like Iโm dancing in heels or something. Or maybeโwho knowsโ maybe I just like pissing you off.โ
โIt doesnโt piss me off. Itโs just annoying as hell. You make a lot of noise. Walking around like you wanna get my attention or something.โ
โGet your attention? Please. Youโre ridiculous. You know why I put them on? Because deep down my biggest wish is to step on you with them till you choke and die or something.โ
Rikiโs breath catches, you watch his adamโs apple bob as he swallows and he takes a careful step back. The topic of heels is a no-go.
โStop saying nonsense and just go work on getting someone to open the door.โ He sounds slightly breathless.
โIโm trying, fucker.โ
โWell try harder, bitch.โ
โKeep calling me that name and Iโll really step on you. And I wonโt be gentle.โ you raise your chin, defiant.
โOh, cause you think I want you gentle?โ
Heat floods your face and chest. Then something dark and dangerous twists in your stomachโ equal parts fury and unwanted thrill.
You step closer instead of recoiling, eyes narrowing, lips parting on a sharp, incredulous exhale. The implication hangs between you like smokeโthick, filthy, impossible to ignore. Your mind flashes with vivid, unwanted images: his hands rough, your nails digging in, bodies colliding with nothing soft or kind between you.
The thought disgusts you but it also makes your thighs press together instinctively. How much of a contradiction could you be?
โYouโre so perverted itโs disgusting.โ you resort to insults, because thatโs all you know.
โPerverted? Youโre the one who came in here wearing these.โ
โTheyโre just heels. Youโre a weirdo. You think I put them on for you or something? Donโt you remember when you called me drunk the other night? You seemed to like them just then.โ
Riki freezes. โWhat are you talking about?โ
โOh, you donโt remember?โ You lean into it, savoring the upper hand and sprinkling a little bit of lies. โNishimura, you called me. Said a bunch of shit. Got really vulnerable. Told me exactly how the heels made you feel, pathetic, really.โ
โI didnโt say all that, Y/n. Stop.โ
Airโs gone rancid, thick with the stink of want, choking you both, but you only step closer, voice low and taunting. โYou did though. You probably wish you could touch them, stop being such a pussy and admit it.โ
Rikiโs eyes flash and that shakes off the last thread of self control and inhibition, โYeah? And what if I did?โ His voice drops dangerously. โWhat if I grabbed your thighs and spread them right there? Would you still act like you hate me then?โ
What. the. fuck.
Thereโs the moment, where the truth comes out. Where the line shatters. Where hatred and desire melt together and become one.
Thereโs no fury like trying to contain such levels of want. Like trying to contain something that was never meant to be contained.
Because the hardest battle was never between you and him, no it was between what you felt and what you were willing to admit.
The space between you vanishes, your back hits the wall. His hand braces beside your head and you tilt your head back until the tip of your nose touches his, heart thundering. โFuckโฆ I hate you.โ
Youโre like prey and predatorโ except youโre the embodiment of both. And in the end, how do you run from something that exists inside you? How do you fight an instinct that is just as much a part of you as the fear trying to resist it?
Youโre the one who bares your teeth, the one who strikes first, the one who convinces yourself that staying sharp means staying safe. But youโre also the one who freezes when he gets too close, the one who feels every shift in the air between you, the one whose body reacts before your pride has the chance to intervene.
A contradiction wearing the shape of a person.
You want to win, but you also want to be understood. You want to push him away, but some reckless part of you keeps stepping closer. You hate the power he has over you, yet you keep giving him opportunities to use it.
โI hate you more.โ Riki says, comforting the both of you into thinking this is still strictly hatred. โHate you so bad it hurts.โ
Thats when it happens. Between a hitch of breath and a gasp, you loose it.
The kiss is sudden, angry, desperate. Mouths crashing together like a collisionโ teeth and tongue and pure adrenaline. Itโs hate and wantโ months of a cutthroat chase. Two bodies finally allowing theirselves to feel something other than destruction.
His hand slides into your hair, gripping hard, you bite his bottom lip. He groans into your mouth and presses you harder against the wall.
Your fingers fist in his shirt as Rikiโs thigh presses between yours. The kiss is messy, violent, itโs a murder of prideโ until thereโs nowhere left to hide because heโs all over your body, gripping, binding.
He bites on your lower lip and you bite back just as hard, sinking your teeth into his lip until you taste the sharp metallic tang of blood. He groans into your mouth, the sound vibrating through your chest, and in response he shoves you back against the mirror with enough force to make the glass rattle.
Your back hits the cool surface first. Then the rest of youโ shoulders, hips, thighs. The mirror is cold while heโs burning hot. The contrast makes you gasp into his mouth and he takes advantage immediately, tongue sliding deep, claiming, devouring.
One of his hands fists in your hair, yanking your head back so he can kiss you harder, deeper, filthier. You tug right back, fingers twisting in his strands, pulling until he hisses in pain and pleasure.
Youโre both predators now. No prey. No bunnies. Just two starving animals finally allowed to tear into each other.
Rikiโs thigh presses between your legs, grinding up hard against your coreโ you roll your hips down to meet him, desperate and violent, chasing friction through your clothes. Every roll of your hips makes the mirror shake behind you and his cockโs already so hard, straining against his pants, pressing insistently against your thigh. You can feel how much he hates how badly he wants this.
โFuck you,โ he snarls against your lips, biting down on your bottom lip in retaliation. โYouโre such a brat.โ
You moan into his mouth, the sound muffled and broken. He wraps one large hand around your throat and squeezesโ not enough to hurt, but enough to make your head spin. The pressureโs perfect, making you clench around nothing, drunk on the pain. Your pulse flutters wildly under his palm and he squeezes a little tighter until you moan louder, the sound vibrating against his fingers.
โThere it isโฆโ Riki pants, lips brushing yours, voice dark โSee? Your body doesnโt lie. It fucking loves me.โ
His cock presses against your clit through the fabric, a delicious friction that makes your head foggy, hands clawing at him for more, more, more and everything. His free hand goes to your ass, digging in and pushing you closer to him, hardness rubbing right where you need him the most. And in secondโ his mouthโs on your neck, canines poking at your tender skin until youโre moaning, hips moving like they have a mind of their own.
โLook at youโ moaning like a desperate little slut just from this.โ you feel Rikiโs smirk even if you canโt see it.
You try to snap back, but he bites down again and your words dissolve into another broken moan. He laughs, low and mean, grinding harder between your legs.
โPathetic,โ he murmurs, lips trailing down your jaw. โAll that hate and your pussyโs still soaking for me.โ
The fucker doesnโt even bother taking your clothes off properly. In one rough motion he yanks your skirt up around your waist, the fabric bunching messily and his fingers hook into the waistband of your panties. Then, he rips them clean off with a sharp tear that echoes in the studio, and throws them somewhere. The cool air hits your soaked cunt and you shiver.
He looks down, cock twitching in his pants as he witnesses the sheer amount of wetness coating thighs and pussy. โFuckโ he breathes out, fingers hooking to collect your arousal and toy with it. โLook at thatโฆโ
Riki brings his soaked fingers to your mouth and pushes them pas your lips without a second thought. When he feels you suck your juices off of them, his hips jerk, bulge pressing right against your dripping cunt, the front of his pants covered in your arousal.
โMessy girl.โ he forces your mouth closed by pressing your cheeks together, โSwallowโ
You doโ because thereโs nothing more exhilarating and humbling that getting a direct taste of what you used to call โhatred.โ
โFuck youโ just fuck me already, get this over with.โ you say, chin held high like he didnโt just humiliate you.
He smiles tauntingly, frees himself from his pants with impatient hands, cock hard, flushed and leaking. And dammitโ youโd never admit it to his face, but heโs big, thick and dripping at the tip. You stare at it for a split second, wondering if itโll hurt. But you donโt couldnโt care less about the hurt, as long as it makes you feel something.
โYou want it?โ Riki rasps, lining himself up with your entrance, the head of his cock teasing your soaked folds. You nod, because itโs obvious you do, and he retaliates, โThen beg for it properly, you brat. Or iโll leave you here dripping and desperate like the pathetic liar you are.โ
The words burn through youโ your pride screams at you to shove him away, to spit in his face, to keep hating him like you always have. But your body is a merciless traitorโ clenching around nothing, dripping down your thighs, aching so badly it hurts. Youโre trembling with rage and need, nails digging into his shoulders hard enough to leave marks.
โFuck you,โ you hiss, voice shaking. โJust fuck me already. Please.โ
โThere it is. See? Youโre not that useless.โ He nips at your neck, all condescending.
In one brutal thrust he buries himself inside you to the hilt, stretching you open so suddenly and so deep that your head falls back against the mirror with a broken cry. The burn is delicious. Heโs thick, hot, and so fucking hard it feels like heโs splitting you apart in the best worst way.
You both groan at the same time. Heโs so deep it hurts, you can feel him everywhere, invading your body like a sickness. Your walls clench around him like a vice, wet and greedy and Rikiโs head drops to your shoulder with a guttural curse.
โFuckโฆ so tight,โ he groans, voice wrecked. โYour pussyโs choking me. Greedy little cuntโ hates me but still sucks me in like it was made for me.โ
He starts fucking you hard right away. No warmup. No leniency.
Each thrust slams you back against the mirror, the glass rattling dangerously with every brutal snap of his hips. The sound of skin slapping skin fills the studio, wet and obscene and your heels scrape against the back of his thighs as he drives into you deeper, harder, faster.
But Rikiโs eyes keep dropping.
To your legs.
To those fucking heels.
His hand slides down your thigh, gripping the back of your knee and hiking it higher around his waist. His fingers trace the sharp edge of it, thumb pressing into the arch of your foot through the strap.
โThese goddamn heels,โ he utters against your neck, voice rough and filthy as he pounds into you. โYou know what they do to me. You fucking know.โ
You hook your leg to his waist, heel digging into the back of his thigh.
โShit โlook at you,โ he pants, eyes dark as he fucks you stupid. He can finally admit just how much he loves your legs, anything thatโs yours really.
You claw at his back, nails digging through his shirt and hhe yanks your hair, forcing your head back so he can bite down on your exposed throat.
โSay it,โ he demands, pounding into you relentlessly. โSay you fucking need this.โ
You moan loudly, eyes fluttering. โFuckโฆ youโโ
Riki laughs darkly and slams in harder, hitting that spot inside you that makes stars burst behind your eyelids. โThatโs what I thought. Bratty little whore. Canโt even lie properly when Iโm balls deep inside you.โ
He edges you mercilessly, every time you get close, thighs shaking, walls fluttering around him, he slows down or pulls almost all the way out, leaving you clenching desperately around nothing. You whine, hips chasing him, pride crumbling under the overwhelming need.
โBeg for it,โ he taunts, voice rough as gravel. โI know you can do that, canโt you?โ
You shake your head, teeth gritted, stubborn to the end even as tears of frustration prick your eyes. โFuckโฆ youโฆโ
Riki pulls out completely this time, leaving you empty and throbbing. You moan in frustration and snap, before he can say another word, you grab his cockโ hot, slick with your arousalโand shove it back inside you yourself, forcing him deep in one rough motion.
Riki groans loudly, forehead dropping to yours and you kiss him viciously, biting his lip again as you roll your hips, taking control for one glorious second.
The pace turns frantic after thatโ he fucks you like he wants to break you. You meet every thrust with equal violence, legs wrapped tight around his waist.
He wraps his hand around your throat again, squeezing just right as he drives into you harder.
โYou gonna cum for me?โ he says against your mouth. You let out a pathetic moan at that, โYeah I knowโฆ youโre taking it so well for such a bad girl.โ
This time Riki doesnโt stop. The orgasm crashes into you like a freight train, your whole body seizes, walls clamping down around him like a vice as pleasure rips through you in violent waves. You cry out, nails raking down his back, thighs shaking uncontrollably. It feels endlessโ white-hot, devastating.
The best thing youโve ever tastedโ no matter how hard it is to admit.
Riki follows right after you, burying himself deep with a broken groan. His hips stutter, cock pulsing as he spills inside you, cum painting your walls messilyโ he keeps thrusting through it, riding out every last twitch, forehead pressed to yours, breath mingling in harsh pants.
For a long moment, the only sounds in the studio are your ragged breathing and the faint creak of the mirror behind you. His cum drips from where youโre connected, painting your thighs in the proof of his need.
Then silence.
Heavy, stunned, devastating silence.
After that day, everything changesโand somehow stays exactly the same. Finding out Heeseung was the one who locked you both in the rehearsal room to mend for yourselves is nothing short of a surprise. But you couldnโt care lessโ youre way past that, way past pretending you werenโt thriving when the attention Riki gave you was โalbeit still embedded within the rageโ pleasurable.
You grow addicted to it, almost like an addict coming back to a terrible drug. Youโd go to rehab eventually, when thereโs finally enough of you left to want saving.
But not today. Today, you let yourself sink deeperโ you relish in the ruins of your past, the violence that consumes you.
You know exactly what it does to youโ you know how it hollows you out, how it leaves your hands shaking long after the high has worn off, yet you return anyway, chasing the familiar ache because itโs easier than learning how to live without it.
Healing can wait. Right now, thereโs still comfort in the catastrophe.
You and Riki continue to ruin each other.
You spread rumors, run your mouth to whomever wants to hear itโ rant about how awful he is. He leaks old trainee footage that makes you look difficult; you sabotage a schedule overlap. He makes sure a stylist โaccidentallyโ gives you the wrong outfit for a performance. The company watches, the fans speculate. The hatred becomes public performance and private war.
But the sex never stops.
He strokes himself many times in the following weeks; in the shower, in his bed at night. Even through the thick, choking layer of disgust that never fully leaves him, he cannot stop wanting you. He comes hard every time, hating himself more with every stroke, but he keeps doing it anyway.
Touching happens anytime you can get away with it. In the locked studio again, late at night. He fucks you bent over the piano,
โFight me while I fuck you,โ he groans against your ear, one hand fisted in your hair. โI love it when youโre angry.โ You scratch his arms bloody and he only rails you harder.
In the back of a company van after a late schedule, windows fogged up, his hand clamped over your mouth while he rails you from behind; you bite his fingers until they bleed and he calls you his little pain slut.
You donโt even take it personallyโ youโve learned to live with the idea that the insults are a mere reflections of your self hatreds. When Riki calls you names, heโs only damning himself for falling into temptation, for needing you the way he does. You let him. Because you hate yourself just as much.
In an empty waiting room during an award show, your dress hiked up, his pants barely undone; he makes you ride him while still wearing your stage heels, the sharp points digging into his thighs as you bounce on his cock. โLook at you,โ he pantsโ although heโll never tell you just how devastatingly beautiful he finds you, he makes allusions to it, letting you unveil it bit by bit. โFaster, you can do it canโt you?โ
Encounters multiply, Riki chokes you until you see starsโ itโs a language you master by now. You slap him across the face and he laughs, blood on his lip, before flipping you over and spanking you raw; and every single time you come out bruised, wrecked and markd. He edges you for hours until youโre crying and begging and you end up riding his face until he canโt breathe, grinding down on his tongue like you want to smother him.
Itโs violent, ugly; thereโs nothing worth wanting about it. Nothing tender. Nothing enviable. Just two people mistaking collision for connection, trying to quiet feelings theyโve never learned to hold without destroying each other.
Your bodies are perfectly aligned. They crave each other with a violence that borders on worship. But your minds? Your souls? They cannot stand each other.
The incompatibility reveals itself slowly, then all at once. The fights grow uglier. The sex grows rougher. The silences between grow heavier.
You start avoiding each otherโs eyes even when youโre buried inside one another; the hatred no longer fuels the fireโit poisons it. You hurt each other too deeply, too often, too deliberatelyโ until thereโs no coming back from some wounds.
No amount of orgasms can erase the years of betrayal.
One night, after another brutal fuck in a hotel room, you lie beside him in silence. The sheets are tangled around your legs, damp with sweat and his cum is still leaking slowly down your thighs, warm and sticky, a filthy reminder of how deep heโd been inside you just minutes ago. The room smells like sexโ musky, salty, desperate. The only light comes from the city glowing through the half-open curtains, casting long shadows across the bed.
Youโre both on your backs, shoulders barely touching, staring at the ceiling like it holds answersโ your chest rises and falls in shallow, uneven breaths. Your body still hums with the aftershocksโ thighs sore, throat raw from his hands, lips swollen from biting and being bitten.
The ache between your legs is deep and satisfying in the worst way.
Rikiโs breathing is just as raggedโ his hand twitches once like he wants to reach for you, then stills. He doesnโt.
The silence stretches, until finally, you speak, voice hoarse and bitter.
โโฆThis is so fucking stupid.โ
Riki lets out a low, humorless laugh that sounds more like a exhale of pain. โYeah. It is.โ
You turn your head slightly, just enough to see his profile in the dim light. His jawโs tight. A fresh bite mark blooms red on his collarboneโ your doing. You feel a twisted sense of satisfaction, then immediate disgust at yourself. Heโs not yours, you shouldnโt make him look like he is.
โI donโt know why we keep doing thisโ you whisper, more to yourself than to him. โTheres no point.โ
Riki doesnโt answer right away. He runs a hand over his face, then lets it drop heavily onto the mattress between you.
โThings donโt always have to have a pointโ he says eventually, voice rough. โwe can do things that arenโtโฆ good. Who cares.โ
You swallow hard. โI do,โ you admit quietly. โI let you fuck me like you want to break me.โ
Riki turns his head toward you, his eyes are dark, unreadable. โYou do the same thing to me. You know that right? You can say whatever you want but weโve always been equals.โ
A long silence falls again.
You feel the familiar ache in your chestโ the one that has nothing to do with the rough sex and everything to do with the fact that this, whatever this is, can never be anything more.
โWeโre going to destroy each other,โ you say softly, almost sadly.
Rikiโs jaw clenches. โYeah. We are.โ
He doesnโt reach for you and you donโt reach for him. You both lie there, bodies still tangled, hearts completely separate, knowing full well that youโll do it all over again the next time the opportunity arises.
Because thatโs just what you do. Because the heart isnโt a courtroom; it doesnโt grant leniency, it only delivers its verdict. And the verdict, in the end, is simple: some people are destined to destroy. You and Riki were never going to be the exceptionโ you were always going to be the cautionary tale.
Not completely out of itโjust comfortably faded. The kind of faded where everything about him slowed down. His words came out lazier, his movements heavier, his gaze softer around the edges. The smell of smoke still lingered in his room, mixing with his cologne and something that was justโฆ him.
You sat beside him on his bed, trying very hard to act normal. Trying very hard to ignore the way your heart was beating too fast.
Jake was sprawled lazily across the mattress, broad shoulders sunk into the pillows. One arm rested behind his head while the other lay over your thigh like it belonged there.
Like touching you had become second nature, his fingers moved absentmindedly.
Slowly, carelessly. Tracing little patterns over your skin. Every so often, his fingertips brushed over the tiny bow tied at the waistband of your shorts, tugging at it slightly before letting it go. It was such a small thing.
Barely anything.
But every tiny touch felt magnified, your body reacted to everything. The lazy brush of his fingers. The warmth of his palm against your thigh. The weight of his attention, even when his eyes were half-closed.
You shifted slightly.
Then again, trying to ease the growing ache pooling low in your stomach. It only made it worse, your thighs pressed together instinctively. You hated how aware of yourself you suddenly felt.
Heat spread through your body, crawling up your neck, warming your cheeks. You tried to ignore it. Tried to act like nothing was happening.
But JakeโJake noticed everything, always. His fingers slowed, then stopped. For a second, you thought maybe he hadnโt noticed. Then he lazily turned his head toward you. His eyes were heavy-lidded, slightly red from smoking, but still sharp enough to read you like an open book. His gaze dragged over your face.
Then lower.
Then back to your eyes, a slow grin spread across his face.
Dangerous, lazy, knowing.
You swallowed, Jakeโs thumb brushed lightly against your thigh.
โBun.โ
Just hearing that nickname in his low voice made your stomach twist, you looked at him. His lips twitched. โYโkeep squirming.โ Your breath caught.
โIโm not.โ Your voice came out too quick. Too quiet.
Jake let out a soft laugh. โYeah?โ
He shifted slightly, rolling more onto his side so he could face you better. Now all his attention was on you completely. His hand moved higher on your thigh. Not enough to cross any line.
Just enough to make your breath hitch.
โMhm.โ His voice dragged, lazy and slow. โCan feel you rubbinโ your thighs together.โ
Your face burned instantly.
Jake watched the reaction happen in real time, his grin widened. โThere it is.โ
You looked away immediately, humiliation and nervousness swirled in your chest. But Jake was still staring. Still watching every little thing, his voice dropped softer.
Almost amused. โWhyโre you shy now, bun?โ His thumb stroked slowly over your skin. โYou know I notice everythinโ.โ
You couldnโt speak, couldnโt look at him. Your fingers twisted together in your lap. Jake stared at you for another second before speaking again. Slower this time.
Like every word took effort. โYโknowโฆโ He paused, his tongue briefly dragged across his lower lip. โI can make that ache go away.โ Your heart nearly stopped.
You slowly looked at him, Jake was already watching you. Half-lidded eyes locked onto yours, completely calm. Completely certain. Like he already knew exactly what your answer would be. His hand squeezed your thigh gently. โI can make yโfeel better.โ
Your breath came shallow, heat rushed through your entire body. Jake tilted his head slightly.
That lazy smile never leaving his face. โCan take care of you.โ His voice softened into something warm. Something dangerously reassuring. โIf yโlet me.โ
Silence.
The air between you felt thick, heavy. Your heart pounded so hard it almost hurt, Jake studied your expression.
Patient, not pushing, just waiting.
His thumb moved again, slow circles against your skin โWanโ me to help you, bun?โ Your breath caught in your throat. Everything about him felt overwhelming. The lazy drawl of his voice. The smoke lingering in the air. The way his heavy eyes stayed fixed on yours. The way his bottom lip disappeared briefly between his teeth.
It was too much.
Too much and not enough all at once, you could barely think.
But you knew one thing.
You wanted him.
Badly.
Your lips parted, no words came out.
So insteadโYou nodded, small, shy.
But enough, Jakeโs expression shifted instantly. Something darker settled into his gaze. Not cruel, not rough. Just focused. Intent. Completely on you.
His grin turned slower, hungrier. โThere she is.โ His voice dropped into something rough and warm. โThatโs my girl.โ
The words sent a shiver through you. Jake pushed himself up slowly, movements lazy but deliberate.
Then he moved closer. Until he was right there
Between your legs, your breath hitched. His large hands settled on your thighs, warm and grounding. Like he was giving you time to adjust. Giving you space to back away if you wanted.
But you didnโt, you couldnโt.
Not when he was looking at you like that. Like you were the only thing in the room worth paying attention to.
Jakeโs gaze moved over your face. Taking in every nervous breath. Every tiny reaction. His voice came softer now.
Almost unfairly gentle. โLook at me, bun.โ
You did.
Barely, through lowered lashes. Jakeโs expression softened, his thumb brushed over your thigh. โYou nervous?โ
You nodded faintly.
Jake gave the smallest smile. โThatโs okay.โ His voice was low. โDonโt gotta be scared.โ
He leaned in slightly, close enough now that you could feel his breath. โI got you.โ
And somehowโYou believed him.
"Look at you, bun," he murmurs, voice low and rough. His fingers trace slow circles on your skin, dipping just under the edge of your waistband before retreating. "Squirmin already. Cute."
"Relax," he says, giving your thigh a gentle squeeze. "I got you. First time, right?" His thumb strokes higher, brushing closer to where you ache.
You nod, barely, and his grin widens just a fraction.
"That's my girl," he breathes, leaning in until his face is inches from yours. His breath is warm, his eyes half-lidded but focused. "Don't be scared. I'm right here. Gonna take it nice and slow for you."
His fingers hook into your waistband, tugging just enough to expose skin. He watches your face the whole time, reading every flinch, every shaky breath. One hand stays on your thigh, grounding you, while the other slips lower, brushing over the damp fabric between your legs.
"Fuck, you're already wet," he mutters, cocky but soft. "Knew you'd like this."
He rubs slow circles through the cloth, pressing just enough to make your hips twitch. You gasp, and he leans down, lips brushing your ear.
"Shh, I got you. Tell me if it's too much." His fingers slide under the fabric now, finding your clit with surprising gentleness. He circles it lazily, watching your reactions like he's got all night. "Feels good, doesn't it?"
You nod again, biting your lip, and he rewards you with a little more pressure, his free hand stroking your side.
"Good girl. Just like that. Let me make you feel better."
Hey!!! I just found your account through the fyp and I wanted to say your work is so good I love it! I also wanted to ask if you plan on making a pt3 for the devils kiss no pressure tho ๐ซถ๐ป๐ซถ๐ป
Thank youuuu๐ซถ๐ซถ๐ซถ and iโm also thinking of making a part 3 to be honest!
Sheโs the quiet girlโsoft-spoken, invisible, always hiding behind books and broken smiles. Then thereโs Niki. Cruel, dangerous, and impossible to resist. He ruins her peace with teasing words, sharp smirks, and touches that leave her shaking. Somewhere between fear and desire, she starts falling for the boy who could either heal herโฆ or destroy her completely.
after everything with Niki, youโre left shaken, trying to pick up the pieces of yourself. the past has left you questioning trust, friendships, and even your own feelings. now, youโre learning what it means to open up againโto new connections, unexpected friendships, and someone who might actually care. but some shadows donโt fade so easily, and Nikiโs presence still lingersโฆ
โข this blog contains 18+ content, so minors / ageless blogs are strictly not allowed. please do not interact if you are underage.
โข all works posted here are fictional and are not meant to reflect enhypen members in real life.
โข this blog is dedicated to enhypen only.
โข most of my works are written for fem!readers, unless stated otherwise.
โข feedback and respectful criticism are always welcome. hateful, rude, or discriminatory comments (racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, etc.) will be blocked.
โข please do not repost, translate, copy, rewrite, or upload my works on tumblr or any other platform.
โข do not involve me or my blog in fanwars, discourse, or any enhablr drama.
WHAT I DO NOT WRITE :
โข noncon / rape
โข pedophilia
โข incest
โข extreme kinks
โข scat / fecal matter
โข omegaverse / hybrid au
โข heavy gore
REQUEST GUIDELINES :
โข requests are open for enhypen only.
โข please be patient when sending requests as writing may take time.
โข i reserve the right to decline requests that iโm uncomfortable with or simply not interested in writing.
You really wondered how the hell you ended up here.
A few hours ago, you had been sitting comfortably at your desk, textbooks spread out, notes scattered everywhere as you studied for your upcoming exam. You had poured everything into preparing for itโlate nights, endless revision, highlighted pages and coffee-stained notes. You needed a good grade.
You wanted a good grade.
And now?
Now you were here, at a frat party.
Loud music shook the walls so hard you could practically feel the bass in your chest. The air felt heavyโthick with the smell of alcohol, cigarettes, sweat, and something sickeningly sweet that made your nose wrinkle.
You hated parties, always had, always would.
You hated the noise. The flashing lights. The drunk laughter. The way people shouted over each other like they werenโt two inches apart. The smell alone made you want to leave.
And donโt even get started on the couples practically eating each other alive in every corner.
No thanks.
You had much better things to do.
So reallyโฆ how did you end up like this?
Simple.
Jennifer.
Your so-called best friend had practically dragged you here after begging for nearly an hour. โJust come for a little while, please i donโt wanna go alone.โ
And somehow, against your better judgment, you gave in.
Worst decision ever.
Jennifer had disappeared almost the second you arrived, muttering something about finding someone. She promised sheโd be right back.
That had been twenty minutes ago.
Now you sat stiffly on the couch, thighs pressed together nervously, fingers fidgeting with each other in your lap as you bit at your lip.
And sitting across from youโwas him.
Jake.
That was all you knew.
Jake.
You didnโt really know who he was. Youโd heard his name before in passingโmostly from Jennifer or from random girls whispering about him around campus.
But looking at him nowโฆyou understood.
He wasโฆ attractive. Like, unfairly attractive.
He lounged back like he owned the place, one arm slung lazily over the couch. A cigarette sat between his fingers while his other hand held a red cup filled with alcohol.
His hair was slightly messy, his expression relaxed.
Cocky, too cocky. That stupid expression on his face was somewhere between a smirk and a smile. Like he already knew something you didnโt.
His eyes looked slightly dazedโprobably from drinkingโbut somehow still sharp enough to study you.
And he was definitely studying you.
His gaze stayed on you for a few more seconds before he finally spoke.
โWell, uhโฆโ
He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing. โdonโt think Iโve seen you before.โ
You blinked, your throat felt dry.
Jake looked at you for another second before his lips curled upward. โYou jusโ gonna sit there the entire night or what, kid?โ
Kid.
The word hit strangely, your stomach twisted.
Did he think of you as a kid?
You lowered your head slightly, heat rushing to your cheeks, embarrassment crawled under your skin.
You didnโt know what to say.
Did he expect you to say something?
Jake took a slow drag from his cigarette, eyes never leaving you, smoke curled past his lips as he exhaled.
Then he spoke again. โSoโฆโ his voice came lazy and rough โWhatโre you even doinโ here?โ
You swallowed before quietly answering โIโmโฆ waiting for my friend.โ your voice came out softer than you intended.
Jake stared at you.
Then he chuckled, low and amused. He lifted his cup, taking a sip before leaning back again. โIf you think your little friendโs cominโ back anytime soonโฆโ
He gave a small laugh. โYouโre probably wrong.โ
Your heart sank.
Your fingers tightened around your jacket.
You bit your lip, trying to ignore the wave of disappointment creeping in.
Of course Jennifer disappeared.
Of course.
Jake watched you silently for a moment, then he took another drag.
Still staring, still watching.
It made you nervous.
Then he spoke again, voice lower this time. โYouโre real quiet, yโknow that?โ
You looked up at him.
His brows lifted slightly. โKinda freaks me out, if Iโm beinโ honest.โ a lazy chuckle slipped past his lips.
Your stomach twisted.
Was that bad? You couldnโt tell.
You never could. That was exactly why you hated things like this, you never knew what to say, never knew how to act.
Everything always felt awkward.
Jake studied your face for a moment longer.
Then his lips twitched. โButโฆโ He took another sip from his cup. โI think itโs kinda cute.โ
Your breath caught.
His gaze dropped briefly before returning to your face. โGot this little quiet bunny vibe goinโ on.โ
He smirked. โLike some tiny scared animal or some shit.โ
You just stared at him, blinking.
Unsure what to say.
Again.
Jake seemed amused by that.
He drank again, then took another drag from his cigarette, smoke rising slowly between you both before disappearing into the air.
His eyes stayed on you.
Thenโ โYou ever smoked?โ
Your eyes widened slightly, slowly, you shook your head.
Jake nodded once. โGood.โ
He said it simply, like he approved.
He took one more drag before speaking again. โDonโt let this kinda shit ruin your pretty little head.โ
Your heart skipped.
His gaze softened just enough to throw you off. โKeep yourself all pure nโ innocent up here.โ
He leaned forward.
Before you could process it, two fingers lightly tapped against your temple.
The touch made your breath catch.
You stared at him, yhen slowly nodded.
Your lashes lowered as you glanced at him shyly.
Jake grinned, his tongue pressed briefly against the inside of his cheek as he tilted his head, watching you carefully.
Watching every little reaction.
Then that grin widened. โYeahโฆโ
His voice dropped, lazy and certain. โI think youโre gonna be my favorite, bun.โ