๐ฎ/๐ป - IM SO SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO UPDATE THIS ๐ญ๐ญ literally I have no excuse Iโm just lazy. I hope you enjoy this chapter tho!! Lots more y/n and soobin !! And Iโve made it extra long ๐๐ IM SO SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You couldnโt contain your excitement when Saturday rolls around. Youโve been giddy all week, desperately waiting to go to the football game with Yeonjun. You jump out of bed and head straight to your closet, eager to pick out the perfect outfit for the occasion. You start with a pair of light-wash high-waisted jeans, which hug your curves perfectly. You pair them with a cute cropped tank top in a pastel shade of pink, which has a delicate lace trim around the neckline. To complete the look, you slip on a pair of chunky white sneakers and accessorise with a delicate gold necklace and some oversized hoop earrings. You take a quick glance in the mirror and grin - you look cute and stylish, exactly the kind of look you were going for.
As you skip down the stairs, humming a happy tune, your mother looks up from her newspaper and raises an eyebrow. "What's got you in such a good mood this morning?" she asks, a slight smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
You grin widely, practically bouncing with excitement. "It's game day, Mum!" you exclaim, practically bursting with anticipation. "I'm going to see Yeonjun play in the football match today!"
Your mother chuckles softly at your enthusiasm, shaking her head in amusement. "Well, I hope he plays well for you," she says, returning to her paper with a smile. โBut be careful okay? I donโt want to see your heart again.โ
You stop humming and look at your mother, surprised at her sudden caution. "What do you mean?" you ask, slightly confused.
"Well, I just don't want to see you get hurt again," she says, her tone gentle. "I know how much you liked Dongsik, and when that ended, it was hard on you. I just want you to be careful when it comes to boys."
You nod, understanding where she's coming from. "Don't worry, Mum," you reassure her. โYeonjun and I are just friends for now.โ You can't help but wonder why everyone seems to be bringing up Dongsik lately. First, it was Mrs Kim teasing you and Soobin at the cafรฉ, then Soobin asking if you'll get back together with him, and now your mom reminding you to be careful around Yeonjun because of what happened with Dongsik. You let out a sigh and shake your head, trying to push those thoughts aside. You know that what happened with Dongsik was just a part of the story and that it was all pre-determined by the writer. But still, you can't help but feel a little annoyed that everyone keeps bringing it up.
Your thoughts are interrupted by the sudden pinging of your phone. Itโs Beomgyu.
โWeโre outside, come quick.โ He groans, โAnd get some snacks okay?โ Before you could say another word, Beomgyu hangs up. You chuckle to yourself, it was quite typical for Beomgyu to act like this on a Saturday morning.
โMum, Iโm leaving,โ You announce, grabbing your bag and heading out the door.
โOkay! Have fun honey.โ She shouts back as you exit.
You walk out of your house and see a bright red convertible parked in front of your driveway. It's Cat's car, and you recognize it immediately. Beomgyu is sitting on the passenger seat, scrolling through his phone. You walk over to the car, and Beomgyu looks up and greets you with a lazy smile, โDid you get snacks?โ You throw a candy bar at him through the window.
As you step into the car, you're greeted with the sound of Cat's upbeat playlist and the smell of their fruity perfume. Beomgyu grins at you through the rearview mirror. "So, are you ready to see your football prince today?"
You roll your eyes, but you can feel your cheeks starting to flush. "Shut up, Beomgyu. It's not like that."
"Oh, come on, Y/N. We all know you have a crush on him. It's so obvious."
You groan and slump down in your seat. "Can we just go to the game, please?"
Cat chuckles, pulling out of your driveway, "Don't worry, we'll get you to your man in no time." You can feel your face getting even hotter as you look out the window, but a small smile tugs at the corners of your lips. You canโt lie, you are quite excited to see Yeonjun play and the fact he invited you himself just adds to it.
As the car pulls up to the football field, you can hear the sounds of the crowd and the excitement in the air. The sun is setting, casting a warm glow over the field. You can see Yeonjun and the rest of the team warming up on the field, their jerseys glistening under the stadium lights. You can hear the excitement in the air as everyone cheers and screams in support of their team. The smell of freshly cut grass and concession stand food fills your nose as you make your way to your seats.
As you make your way towards the pitch, you notice Taehyun waving at you from the field. You smile and wave back, making your way over to him.
"Hey Y/N," Taehyun greets you with a smile.
โHi Taehyun,โ you reply, returning the smile. โAre you ready for the game?โ
"I have a feeling we're going to win today." He laughs, taking a sip from his water.
"Really? Against this super tough team?" you say sceptically.
"Don't worry about it," Taehyun reassures you with a grin. "Yeonjun's got this. He's the main character, remember?"
You roll your eyes playfully. "Yeah, yeah, I know. But even main characters can't win all the time."
Taehyun shrugged, "Hey, I'm just saying. In the manhwa, Yeonjun always comes out on top."
You laughed, "Well, I hope you're right. I don't want to be on the losing team."
"Don't worry, we've got this," Taehyun reassured you with a grin. "Plus, we have some secret weapons up our sleeves."
"Secret weapons?" you questioned, intrigued.
Taehyun smirked, "Yeah, but I can't give away all our secrets. You'll just have to wait and see."
you suddenly feel a pair of arms wrap around you tightly from behind. "Y/N! You made it!" Yuqi, one of the cheerleaders, exclaims happily. You turn around and smile, returning her hug. "Of course, I wouldn't miss it for anything," you reply.
Yuqi seems surprised to see you with Taehyun, "Oh, I didn't know you two knew each other," she says, looking between you and Taehyun. You nod, "Yeah, we're friends."
Yuqi's eyes light up, "That's great! Maybe you could come cheer with us sometime," she suggests, excitedly.
You chuckle, "I don't think I have the coordination for that, but I'll definitely come watch and cheer from the sidelines."
Yuqi grins, "That works too! Let's hope our team wins today, it's going to be a tough match," she says, her cheerleader spirit shining through.
The piercing sound of the whistle echoes through the field, indicating the match is about the begin. You quickly say your goodbyes and good lucks to Yuqi and Taehyun, making your way off the pitch.
You turn to leave for your seat, but suddenly feel a hand on your wrist. You turn around to see Yeonjun holding onto you with a playful grin on his face.
"Hey, Y/N, are you really going to leave without saying hi to me?" he says, still holding onto your wrist.
You felt a slight blush creep up on your cheeks, โShouldnโt you be on the pitch Yeonjun?โ You retort.
He leans in closer to you, his breath hot on your cheek, still holding onto your wrist, โHow am I supposed to play if you donโt wish me luck?โ
You turn to see his deep brown eyes, your face dangerously close to his, โGood luck Yeonjun.โ
He smiles satisfactorily, letting go of your wrist before running down to the pitch. You feel your heartbeat even faster, in disbelief that something like this even happened. Youโve been dreaming of this for ages.
As you make your way to your seat, you can already feel the knowing gaze of your friends.
"Ooh, Y/N, Yeonjun was totally flirting with you!" Kai giggles, nudging your arm.
Yunjin chimes in, "Just friends my ass."
You roll your eyes at their teasing, but can't help the small smile that creeps onto your face. "Shut up, guys," you playfully retort. "I was just wishing him good luck for the game." Yunjin and Kai stick their tongue out, refusing to believe you.
It doesnโt take long for the game to begin, with a final whistle indicating the game is about to begin. You can feel the excitement in the air, the cheers of the students deafening. The teams are lining up on the field, and you feel a sense of anticipation as you watch the coin toss. Your school wins the toss and chooses to kick off the game. You glance over at Taehyun, who catches your eye and gives you a reassuring smile. It seems like he's not worried at all.
The crowd is roaring, each school's supporters cheering for their team. You can see the sweat on the foreheads of the players on the pitch, their breaths heavy and laboured. It's a tense game, a nail-biter from the very start. The other school seems to be in control, their passes quick and calculated, their movement fluid. But your team is not one to be underestimated. Taehyun is playing defence, using his long legs to keep the opposing team at bay. Haechan and Mark are playing midfield, running up and down the field, creating openings for the forwards to score. You watch in awe as Yeonjun, the star of the team, dribbles the ball past two defenders, his feet moving with expert grace. He passes to Haechan, who makes a swift turn and sends the ball flying towards the goal. But the other team's goalkeeper is quick, diving to save the shot. The game continues, the ball flying back and forth across the field. The opposing team comes close to scoring several times, but your team's defence is impenetrable. Taehyun blocks shots left and right, his body moving like a well-oiled machine.
click
The familiar paralysing feeling of being on stage envelopes you, and in this moment you know that your school is going to win. It's a tense moment as Yeonjun steps up to take it. You can feel your heart pounding in your chest as he lines up his shot, his eyes locked on the goal. He takes a deep breath and kicks the ball with expert precision, sending it soaring through the air. It hits the back of the net with a satisfying thud. The crowd erupts in cheers, your team's supporters jumping up and down, hugging each other in excitement. The players on the pitch are screaming, hugging each other in joy.
Youโve won. Your school has finally won. Yeonjun made history today by winning against a school that has never been defeated before. Despite the game sort of being rigged (the writer obviously wanting Yeonjun to win) you canโt help but feel proud of the team.
click
โWOAH! Yeonjun was amazing!โ Kai exclaims, clapping his hands loudly. Your friends nod in agreement, their faces adorned with wide smiles.
โYeonjun is such a beast! Did you see that ball control? And the way he angled that shot? He's just too good,โ Beomgyu exclaims, grinning ear to ear.
Yunjin and Kai nod in agreement, praising his technique and his ability to take on defenders. They were impressed with how Yeonjun always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, making the right moves and scoring the goals when it mattered the most.
โI mean, just look at the way he moves on the field. It's like he's a step ahead of everyone else,โ Kai says.
You smile, happy that your school was able to finally beat the tough opponent. "Yeah, Yeonjun really came through for us."
Beomgyu looks at you teasingly, "And did you notice how he kept looking over at you during the game? You must have really brought him good luck."
โGuys please, youโre reading too much into it.โ
Yunjin raises an eyebrow, "Are you sure about that? He seemed pretty smitten with you when he asked you to wish him luck before the game."
Beomgyu playfully nudges you, "Yeah, you never know. You could be the next football superstar's girlfriend." Your friends let out a loud โooooohโ, gaining the attention of some other students. Thankfully, Kai was there to rescue you.
Noticing the embarrassment on your face, he links your arm with his, โLetโs go congratulate Taehyun!โ You nod quickly, making your way down to the pitch to find Taehyun. You spot him in a crowd surrounded by his teammates, all cheering and congratulating each other on the big win. As you approach him, he notices you and Hyuka and waves.
"Congratulations Taehyun, that was an amazing win!" you exclaim, giving him a big hug.
"Thanks, Y/N," Taehyun smiles. "It was a tough game, but we pulled through in the end."
Kai chimes in, "You were amazing out there! That last save you made was unreal!"
Taehyun looks a little bashful at the praise but still smiles. "Thanks, guys, I couldn't have done it without the team. And Yeonjun's winning goal was just incredible."
Taehyun chuckles modestly, "Thanks guys, but it wasn't just me. Yeonjun scored the winning goal, and Haechan and Mark played amazing defence. It was a team effort."
You nod in agreement, "Definitely. You guys really deserved this win.โ From the corner of your eye, you spot Johnny Suh, the captain of the football team making his way towards you with open arms. You can't help but smile as he engulfs you in a warm, tight hug.
"Y/N!" he exclaims as he reaches you, pulling you into a big hug, wrapping his arms around you and lifting you off the ground, spinning you around. You can't help but laugh at his enthusiasm, feeling the air getting squeezed out of your lungs.
"Johnny, hey!" you say, patting him on the back. "Great game today, you guys really killed it out there."
Kai chuckles at the sight of Johnny smothering you in a hug. "Hey Johnny, congrats on the win man. Y'all played great out there," he says, giving Johnny a fist bump.
Johnny grins widely and ruffles Kai's hair. "Thanks, dude! It was a tough game, but we pulled through in the end," he says, still holding onto you. "Thank you for introducing me to Yeonjun," he says, his voice filled with gratitude. "He's been a game-changer for our team."
You laugh and shake your head. "I didn't do anything special, Johnny. Yeonjun is just a great player."
Johnny looks at you seriously. "No, Y/N, you don't understand. Before Yeonjun, our team was struggling. We didn't have anyone who could score like he can. He's really made a difference."
Taehyun nods along with Johnny's gratitude and adds his own thoughts. "Yeah, Yeonjun's really helped us a lot. He's a great player and his presence on the field really boosts the team's morale."
As you and Taehyun continue chatting with Johnny, you notice him looking over your shoulder. You turn to see Yeonjun walking towards you, hand in hand with Misun. Johnny grins widely and waves them over. His eyes meet Johnny's as he sees him holding you, and you can feel him looking at the two of you. There's a hint of jealousy in his gaze, but he tries to hide it with a smile.
"Yeonjun, come say hi!" Johnny calls out. Yeonjun flashes a smile at you as he approaches.
"Hey guys, congratulations on the win!" Yeonjun says as he gives Taehyun and Johnny a fist bump.
"Great job out there, man," Johnny says, clapping Yeonjun on the shoulder. "You really brought it home for us."
Yeonjun laughs, running a hand through his hair. "Thanks, Captain. I couldn't have done it without the rest of the team." Misun hides behind his tall frame, silently nodding to the conversation.
โHi, Misun.โ You giving her a soft smile, she looks up from her feet looking at you before muttering a small greeting. You canโt help but look in confusion at Yeonjun and Misun being hand in hand. The last you heard was that he didnโt even invite Misun and here they are together. You try not to get jealous but seeing her fingers interlaced with his brings up an ugly emotion in you. "You guys were all amazing out there," you say, turning your attention to the group. "I'm so proud of all of you."
โHey guys, celebratory victory party at my house!โ Haechan pokes his head into the group, shooting everyone his signature smile. Johnny lets out a loud cheer in agreement, eliciting the rest of the group to join in too.
Johnny turns to you and asks, "Do you need a ride to the party, Y/N?"
You consider his offer for a moment but then decline. "Thanks, Johnny, but I think I'll go with Beomgyu and Cat. They're waiting for me outside."
Johnny gives you a pouty expression, but then shrugs it off with a grin. "Alright, I'll see you there then. Have fun!"
You and Kai jog up to the parking lot where Beomgyu and Cat are already waiting for you. "Hey, sorry for the wait," Kai says as you approach them.
"No worries," Beomgyu says with a smile, โHome or the party?โ
โParty definitely!โ You exclaim, sliding into the backseat with Hyuka. The air is thick with excitement, and everyone is chatting animatedly about the game and the victory. As you cruise through the darkening streets, the car is filled with the soft glow of streetlights and the occasional burst of laughter. Beomgyu is sitting in the back, telling a funny story about his older brother, while Kai is scrolling through his phone, occasionally showing you all funny memes or videos.
Cat, who is driving, has the radio on low, and the soft hum of music adds to the easy atmosphere. You catch a glimpse of them in the rearview mirror, humming along to the music, tapping their fingers on the steering wheel.
As you pull up to Haechan's house, the sound of thumping music and raucous laughter hits you like a wave. The front lawn is littered with empty beer cans and red Solo cups, and you see a couple of people stumbling around drunkenly. The porch is crowded with partygoers chugging from plastic cups, and you spot Haechan's unmistakable grin as he greets people at the door. You step out of the car, the smell of alcohol and cigarette smoke hits you, making you feel a little lightheaded. Beomgyu and Cat are already whooping and hollering, ready to join in on the fun, while Kai seems a little hesitant.
As you make your way through the throngs of people, Haechan spots you and waves you over, holding out a red plastic cup filled with some unknown drink. You smile and accept it, knowing that Haechan always makes the best drinks at his parties.
"Y/N, my favourite party guest!" Haechan exclaims, giving you a tight hug.
You laugh and hug him back, feeling grateful for his friendship. "You know I wouldn't miss one of your parties for the world," you reply.
Haechan grins and leads you to the makeshift bar set up in the corner of the room. "I've got something special for you tonight," he says, reaching for a bottle of vodka.
You fall into the sofa watching as he expertly mixes you a drink, adding just the right amount of cranberry juice and lime. You take a sip and savour the taste, feeling the familiar burn of alcohol as it makes its way down your throat.
"Thanks, Haechan," you say, giving him a grateful smile.
"No problem," he replies, his eyes scanning the room for his next victim. Bingo, his eyes meet Yeonjunโs. Haechan grins mischievously as he calls over Yeonjun, who's just arrived at the party. "Yeonjunnie, my man! Come over here, I've got a special drink just for you."
Yeonjun looks slightly hesitant but makes his way over to Haechan and you, cautiously taking a sat next to you. Haechan reaches behind the counter and pulls out a bottle of clear liquid, which he expertly mixes with a few other ingredients.
"This is my secret recipe," Haechan says with a grin as he hands the drink to Yeonjun. "It's guaranteed to get you feeling good in no time."
Yeonjun takes the drink and sniffs it cautiously. "What's in it?" he asks.
Haechan just grins and shakes his head. "It's a secret," he says. "But trust me, it's good."
Yeonjun takes a sip and his eyes widen in surprise. "Wow," he says. "This is really good."
Haechan gives Yeonjun a pat on the back before turning to you. "So, how's the party so far?โ
"It's a lot," you say with a laugh, taking a sip of your drink. "I wasn't expecting so many people to be here already."
"Yeah, I kind of went a little overboard with the invites," Haechan admits, shrugging his shoulders. "But it's all good, right?"
You nod, smiling at him. "Of course, it's great. You always throw the best parties."
Haechan grins at the compliment, looking around at all the people dancing and laughing. "I try my best. Speaking of which, have you seen Mark around here anywhere? I need to ask him something."
You shake your head, scanning the crowd. "No, I haven't seen him yet. But I'll let you know if I do."
"Thanks, Y/N," Haechan says, before disappearing back into the party.
You turn back to Yeonjun, taking another sip of your drink. "So, what do you think of the party so far?"
"It'sโฆloud," Yeonjun said with a chuckle, his eyes scanning the crowd as well. "But it looks like everyone's having a good time."
You nodded, following his gaze. "Yeah, Haechan knows how to throw a party. Are you having a good time?"
Yeonjun looked back at you, a small smile on his lips. "I am, now that I'm talking to you." You felt your cheeks heat up a little, unsure if it was him or if it was the crazy drink Haechan made you. โSo, what does he put in these drinks anyway?โ
โYour guess would be as good as mine.โ You laugh, โThe most important rule for Haechanโs party is to just accept whatever he gives you.โ
โOh yeah? What are the other rules?โ He asks, leaning in closer to you.
You pretend to think for a second, comically tapping your finger against your chin, โGet wasted is definitely.โ Yeonjun looks at you intently, listening to every word. โAnd definitely doing stupid shit like streaking through the neighbourhood. Johnnyโs parties, however, now those are on a different level.โ
โAw, whereโs my invite?โ
โHe hasnโt had one in a while, but when he does Iโm sure youโll get an invite.โ You answer, taking a small sip from your drink. โJohnnyโs parties are INSANE! Heโs got his own place so we donโt have to worry about his parents or anything.โ
Yeonjun raises a brow, โJohnnyโs got his own place?โ
You nod, eager to continue, โHis apartment is so cool like he has a proper sound system that Jackson gave him so it just takes it to the next level.โ
His eyes curiously look into yours as he asks, โWhoโs Jackson?โ
โJust a guy who used to go here, he graduated a couple of years ago. If you get a chance you should totally go to one of his parties.โ You explain, finding yourself remembering all the crazy things that used to happen at Jacksonโs parties.
โHey Y/N, can I ask you something?โ Yeonjun says after a moment of silence.
โWhat is it?โ You ask curiously, all your attention focused on him.
โAre you and Johnny a thing?โ
You almost spit your drink back, lightly choking on it. โWhat? No!โ You exclaim between coughs. โWhat made you think that?โ
โJust wondering.โ He says taking a deep breath, a hint of relief evident in his expression. โYou two seem really close."
You can't help but laugh at that. "Yeah, we are. Johnny is one of my closest friends," you say. "But that's all it is, really."
Yeonjun nods, seeming satisfied with your answer. "Got it," he says with a smile. "Well, I'm glad we cleared that up."
You suddenly feel a strange sensation wash over you. It's hard to describe, but you feel like something is off. You try to shake it off and continue your conversation, but the feeling only grows stronger. You excuse yourself from the conversation, telling Yeonjun you need some air. As you step out, you take a deep breath and look up at the night sky. The cool air helps to clear your head a little, but the feeling in your stomach doesn't go away. You fumble with your phone, feeling an overwhelming sense of disorientation and unease. You find yourself looking through your contacts, stopping when you see Soobinโs name. You hesitate for a second, before pressing the call button.
With each passing ring, you find yourself regretting calling him more and more. Just as you were about to hang up, you hear a soft voice from the other side, โY/N?โ
โSoobin.โ You breathe out, you find yourself already easing a bit.
โHeyโฆโ Soobin breathes, โIs everything okay?โ The concern apparent in his voice. You rarely ever call Soobin, hell this is the first time youโve ever called Soobin. While you still occasionally see him at school and text him regularly, thereโs something different about calling him up. You feel embarrassment course through your body. You just called some boy randomly while being at a party, a boy youโve never even called before.
โY/N? You there?โ
โI-Yeah, Iโm here.โ You say, feeling incredibly flustered by the second. Why are you getting embarrassed? This is Soobin, an adorable nerd that sits alone in a corner. You are Y/N L/N, the most popular girl at school, why are you getting embarrassed?
โAre you okay?โ He asks again, his tone sharper this time.
โIโm okay, I feel kinda sick.โ You find yourself telling him about the weird feeling of dread youโre feeling. He patiently listens, letting you finish before saying anything.
โIs it the drink?โ He asks. You shake your head, despite the fact he canโt see you.
โNo no, it isnโt the drink. Iโm not feeling lightheaded or dazed or anything.. I just feel out of place.โ You explain to him. Youโve had Haechanโs strong drink a million times before and youโve never had this feeling before.
Soobin hesitates for a second before letting out a shallow breath, โDo you want me to come get you?โ
โYes.โ You say immediately, surprised by your forwardness.
You can imagine Soobin smiling over the phone, his voice always gets clearer when heโs grinning. โOkay, give me 10 minutes.โ You send him Haechanโs address and as you hang up you canโt help but feel a little giddy, your uneasiness disappearing almost entirely.
You should probably tell one of your friends youโre leaving so you donโt worry them. You scan the crowded room, looking for Kai. You spot him in the corner, chatting with a group of people. You make your way through the crowd, sidestepping people who are dancing wildly and bumping into each other.
"Hey, Kai!" You call out, trying to get his attention.
He turns towards you, a mischievous grin on his face. "What's up, Y/N? Bored of Yeonjun already?โ
You roll your eyes, smiling in spite of yourself. "I was just letting you know that I'll be leaving soon."
"Leaving already?" Kai's eyebrows raise in surprise. "Who are you leaving with, Yeonjun?"
You shake your head. "No, actually. Soobin is coming to pick me up."
Kai looks confused. "Soobin? Who's that?"
"He's a friend," you say louder, over the music of the party. "We're not super close, but I just needed someone to come get me."
Kai pats your back. "Well, you better get going then. Don't want to keep Soobin waiting."
You nod, feeling grateful for his understanding. "Thanks, Kai. I'll see you later."
Before you turn to leave, Kai calls out your name, looking at you with a playful smile on his lips, โYouโre telling me all about this Soobin guy tomorrow.โ You nod, smiling sadly knowing that he isnโt going to remember this after the scene changes. You can't help but wonder why you feel so out of place tonight. Maybe it's the fact that Yeonjun seems to be paying more attention to you than usual, or maybe it's just the overwhelming noise and chaos of the party.
As you step outside of Haechan's house, you shiver a little from the cold night air. You glance around, searching for Soobin. A few people stumble past you, laughing and shouting drunkenly. You feel a bit out of place, suddenly wishing you were back inside with your friends.
Just as you start to wonder where Soobin is, you see him walking towards you from down the street. He's wearing a hoodie and sweatpants, his hands shoved in his hoodie pockets. You smile in relief as he approaches you.
"Hey," he says, coming to a stop in front of you. "Are you okay?"
You nod, feeling a little embarrassed. "Yeah, sorry for calling you out of nowhere. I just needed to get out of there."
Soobin nods understandingly. "Do you want me to drive you home?"
You shake your head again. "No, can we just walk around for a bit? I need some fresh air."
Soobin agrees, and you start walking down the empty street together. You don't know Soobin very well, but you feel oddly comfortable around him. Maybe it's because he's such a good listener, or maybe it's just because he's not part of the usual drama that surrounds your friend group.
"I'm sorry for waking you up," you finally say, breaking the silence.
"It's no big deal," Soobin replies, smiling at you. "I'm just glad I could be here for you."
You smile at his kindness, feeling a weird pang in your chest. "Thanks, Soobin. You're a good friend."
He chuckles. "I try to be. And hey, it's nice to have someone to walk around with at night. It's peaceful, isn't it?"
You nod, taking in the quiet atmosphere around you. "Yeah, it is. I've never really walked around here at night before."
โLet me give you a new experience then,โ Soobin says with a smile, his dimples popping out. As you walk alongside Soobin, you can't help but notice how the moonlight reflects off his features. It's like he's lit up by the night sky, like your own personal star.
As the two of you stroll through the night, you approach a convenience store, its run-down exterior dimly lit by a flickering neon sign above. The sign reads "24/7" in bold white letters, the "7" flickering on and off as if the store is on its last legs. As you approach the convenience store, you can't help but feel a sense of excitement.
You turn to Soobin with a grin, "Let's buy some soju and soda! We can mix them together." Soobin looks a little hesitant, but he nods in agreement. The smell of stale cigarettes and cheap beer hits your nose as you walk in. You and Soobin make your way down the narrow aisles, past rows of chips and candy bars, until you reach the refrigerators in the back.
You grab a few bottles of soju, and Soobin grabs a couple of Ramune sodas. As you make your way to the counter, you notice the cashier giving you both a curious look. You wonder if it's because you're buying alcohol or if it's just because you're walking around with Soobin.
"Excuse me," the cashier says in a gruff voice. "Can I see your IDs?"
You both pull out your IDs and hand them over. The cashier studies them for a moment before nodding and ringing up your purchases. You pay with cash and the two of you step outside, the plastic bags rustling in your hands. You notice a small park across the road. It's quiet, and only a few people are sitting on benches, enjoying the cool night breeze. You tug on Soobin's arm, gesturing to the park, and he nods in agreement.
You cross the road and make your way to the park. The streetlights are dim here, casting an eerie glow across the area. The rustling of the leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl is the only sound you hear. You find a bench near a tree and sit down, patting the empty spot next to you for Soobin to sit.
The bench is old and a bit creaky, but it holds your weight just fine. You lean back, resting your head against the trunk of the tree. The moon is high up in the sky, casting a soft, pale glow over the park. It's peaceful here, and you feel a sense of calm wash over you. You reach into the plastic bag and pull out the soju and soda bottles, setting them down on the bench next to you. You open the soda and take a sip, feeling the sweet, bubbly liquid dance on your tongue. Soobin watches you, still unsure of what to do with his drink.
"Here, try it," you say, holding the soda out to him.
Soobin takes the bottle, unsure of how to open it. You show him how to push down the marble in the bottle, releasing the carbonation. He takes a sip and you watch his face light up with delight.
"This is really good!" he exclaims. You laugh and nod, happy that he likes it. The sound of the soda fizzing fills the air as you twist off the cap, the bubbles dancing in the moonlight. You grab two plastic cups from the bag and pour the soda into them, followed by a generous splash of soju. Soobin watches with fascination as the clear liquid mixes with the soda, creating a light pink hue.
Soobin watches you mix the drinks with curiosity, his eyes glinting in the dim light. You hand him a cup and he takes it, his hand shaking slightly.
"Are you nervous?" you ask, taking a sip of your own drink. The sweet and sour taste of the soda mixes with the sharpness of the soju, creating a perfect balance.
"A little bit," Soobin admits, taking a small sip from his cup. He grimaces slightly at the taste but takes another sip nonetheless.
You giggle, finding his reaction adorable. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it," you say, taking another sip of your drink.
He takes a deep breath and admits, "I've never really drank before."
You feel a bit guilty for suggesting that he drink, but you try to reassure him. "It's okay, we don't have to drink if you don't want to. We can just enjoy the park and the night sky."
Soobin seems a bit relieved at your response, but he still takes another sip of the drink. You can tell that he's trying to get used to the taste. "So, what made you call me tonight?" Soobin asks, breaking the comfortable silence between you.
You hesitate for a moment before answering, staring at your drink. "I don't know, I just felt reallyโฆ off. And I didn't know who else to call."
Soobin nods, understanding. "Well, I'm glad you called me. I'm always here to talk, even if we're not super close."
You turn to Soobin and give him a warm smile. "Thanks for coming out with me tonight, Soobin. I know it's probably not what you were expecting when you woke up to my phone call earlier." You canโt help but feel touched by Soobinโs words. You know you initially started to talk to him so he could help you win over Yeonjun but you canโt help but think you gained something even better.
Soobin chuckles and shakes his head. "It's fine, really. I'm glad I could help you out."
You take a sip of your drink and look out at the park. The moon is shining bright overhead, casting a soft glow over everything around you. It's quiet except for the occasional sound of crickets chirping and leaves rustling in the wind. The alcohol burns down your throat, but it feels good to have something to distract you from the thoughts swirling around in your head. You know you called Soobin to pick you up from the party, but you still can't put into words what you're feeling.
"So, do you want to talk about what happened earlier?" Soobin asks, breaking the silence.
You take a deep breath, trying to steady your nerves. "I don't even know where to start, Soobin. It's justโฆ everything feels so out of control."
"What do you mean?" he asks, turning to look at you.
The thoughts from the last couple of months begin to flood your head. Everything, from finding out you live in a manhwa to being the second lead. Nothing seemed real anymore, all your dreams, your friends, your status. It all felt fake, it made you feel like you havenโt accomplished anything in your life. Everything has just been given to you by the writer, but in the end that's all you are. A two-dimensional character thatโs meant to stand in the way between the two main characters.
โI don't know how to explain it," you say, feeling that familiar feeling of dread envelope you. "It's likeโฆ I feel like I'm not in charge of my own life like everything is predetermined for me. And it's not just likeโฆ normal teenage stuff, you know? It's likeโฆ bigger than that."
Soobin nods, taking another swig from the bottle. "I get it. Sometimes it feels like everything is just happening to you, and you have no say in it."
"Yes, exactly!" you exclaim, feeling relieved that someone understands.
"So what do you want to do about it?" Soobin asks, looking at you with concern in his eyes.
You let out a bitter laugh. "I don't know if there's anything I can do. It's likeโฆ I'm living in a story, and the writer already knows how everything is going to end. I'm just playing my part, you know?"
Soobin looks at you, a frown creasing his forehead. "What do you mean, living in a story?"
You freeze, realising you said too much. "Uh, nothing. Forget I said that." Remembering what Taehyun told you. He specifically told you itโs dangerous to give people consciousness.
Soobin narrows his eyes, sensing that there's something you're not telling him. "Y/N, what's going on? Is there something you're not telling me?"
You look down at your feet, feeling ashamed. "It's justโฆ I can't explain it. It's complicated."
"You don't have to explain everything to me, Y/N. But if something is bothering you, I want to help." Soobin reaches over and takes your hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Do you feel like you're not in control of your own actions?"
"Exactly. Like I'm just following a script. It's like I'm trapped in the stage, and I can't escape." You sigh to yourself. If only he knew. A part of you just wants to tell him, spill the secret, give him consciousness. But you know itโs selfish, you canโt ruin Soobinโs life like that. You canโt take everything from him.
He looks at you with understanding, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
You wish. "No, I don't think so. I just needed to get it off my chest. Thank you for listening, Soobin."
He nods understandingly, staring down at his feet. Suddenly he looks up, his face unreadable. โY/N, what do you usually do during lunch?โ
โAt school?โ He nods. โHmmmโฆ I usually hang out in the cafeteria or underneath that big blossom tree.โ
โIf you arenโt busy one dayโฆ maybe we can resume your piano lessons.โ You instantly burst into a grin at Soobinโs words.
โYES YES!โ You say a bit too loudly, gaining the attention of late-night strollers. Soobin gently laughs at your enthusiasm. As the night sky darkens and the moon shines bright above you, you take a moment to truly look at Soobin. You can't help but notice just how beautiful he is. His sparkly brown eyes glint in the moonlight, and his dyed blond hair falls slightly in his face as he leans back against the park bench. A weird feeling envelops your body.
"Soobin," you say softly, turning to face him. "You know, you're really beautiful."
Soobin's face turns a light shade of pink at your words, and he looks down at his hands in his lap. "Stop it, Y/N," he says, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
You laugh, taking another swig from the bottle in your hand. "No, seriously," you say, setting the bottle down on the bench. "I mean it. I've never really noticed before, but you're really attractive."
Soobin looks up at you then, a small smile still on his lips. "Thanks, Y/N," he says, his eyes shining in the moonlight.
The night wears on and the alcohol flows more freely, you begin to feel a warmth spreading through your body. The world seems to slow down and your thoughts become more hazy, the weight of the day's events fading away into a distant memory. The stars above seem to twinkle more brightly, and the sound of the city fades into a gentle background hum.
You begin to feel a warm buzz spread throughout your body. Your head feels light and your limbs feel loose, as if they are no longer under your control. You find yourself giggling at everything Soobin says, even if it's not that funny. Everything seems so much funnier when you're a little tipsy.
You take another sip of your drink, you can't help but feel a sense of ease wash over you. All of the stress and anxiety you've been feeling lately seem to fade away, at least for the moment. You feel carefree and lighthearted as if you don't have a care in the world.
Looking over at Soobin, you feel a sense of contentment. He's still talking, and you find yourself getting lost in the sound of his voice. His features are illuminated by the light of the moon, and you can't help but think just how beautiful he looks. You can't help but admire his features once more. The way his eyes crinkle when he laughs, the way his hair falls over his forehead, the way his lips curve upwards in a smile. It's almost as if he's glowing in the soft light of the moon.
In this moment, everything is perfect.
Soobin sways a little as he stands up from the bench, rubbing his eyes sleepily. "It's getting late," he slurs slightly, "we should probably head home."
You nod in agreement, feeling the effects of the alcohol in your system. But as you stand up, the world seems to tilt on its axis and you stumble a bit, grasping onto Soobin's arm for balance.
Soobin chuckles at your stumble. "Do you want to come to my place for the night?" Soobin blushes at his own words, clearing his throat to clarify. โI-I mean itโs late and weโre in no condition to make it to your housโโ
โSh.โ You hush Soobin by placing a finger on his lip, โI know what you mean Soobin, donโt worry.โ You say, pulling back, his face turning a deep red.
You and Soobin stumble out of the park and into the quiet streets. The night is chilly, but the alcohol in your system keeps you warm. You cling onto Soobin's arm for support as you make your way to his house. The streetlights cast a warm, golden glow on the pavement, and the stars twinkle in the sky above you.
You start to feel the effects of the alcohol even more strongly. Your feet are aching from the high heels you wore to the party, and you just want to lie down and sleep.
Suddenly, Soobin stops and turns to you. "Do you want me to give you a piggyback ride?" he asks, swaying slightly on his feet.
You look at him sceptically. "Are you sure you can even stand straight, Soobin?"
He grins at you. "I can do it, trust me. Just hop on."
You hesitate for a moment, but the thought of getting off your feet and not having to walk anymore is too tempting. You nod and climb onto Soobin's back, wrapping your arms tightly around his neck.
You giggle, feeling giddy and lightheaded. "Don't drop me now, Soobin."
"I won't," he says, chuckling. "I've got you."
The walk to Soobin's house seems to go by in a blur as you rest your head on his shoulder, feeling safe and comfortable on his back. The world around you seems to spin as you both stumble your way to his front door, but Soobin manages to get the key in the lock and open it. โSorry, itโs taking me a bit,โ he slurs.
โItโs okay,โ you say, leaning against the wall for support.
You and Soobin stumble your way through the dark hallways of his house, giggling uncontrollably as you try to keep quiet. His parents are asleep, and you don't want to wake them up. Soobin's arm is draped around your shoulder as he guides you to his room.
As you make your way up the stairs, Soobin whispers to you, "Be quiet, we don't want to wake up my parents." You nod in agreement and try your best to stifle your giggles.
When you finally reach his bedroom, Soobin gently opens the door and motions for you to enter. You tiptoe inside, taking in the small but cosy room. Soobin closes the door behind him and turns to face you.
"We made it," he whispers, a hint of triumph in his voice.
You nod and smile, still feeling giddy from the alcohol. "Yeah, we did."
Once inside his room, Soobin turns on a lamp on his bedside table. You plop down on his bed, feeling the exhaustion and alcohol-induced dizziness weighing you down.
โThank you for the ride Soobin.โ You express, looking at the tall male.
โDonโt worry about it.โ He smiles. Suddenly, he turns around, fumbling through his drawers and pulls out a pair of shorts. He hands them over to you with a goofy smile.
"Here, wear these. You'll be more comfortable than sleeping in those jeans."
You take the shorts from him, feeling grateful for his thoughtfulness. As you start to change, you can feel Soobin's eyes on you. You turn around to find him staring at you, his cheeks slightly flushed from the alcohol.
"Sorry," he mumbles, looking away. "I'll turn around."
You giggle softly, feeling a little giddy from the alcohol. "It's fine, Soobin. I don't mind."
He turns around anyway, and you quickly change into the shorts. They're a little big on you, but they're soft and comfortable. As you climb into bed, Soobin gets into his side, turning off the lamp on his bedside table. You feel the warmth of the blankets and the softness of the pillows. You turn to your side and face Soobin who is already lying down beside you.
"Can we cuddle?" you ask, your voice soft and slurred from the alcohol.
Soobin hesitates for a moment before nodding shyly. "Sure," he says, his cheeks turning slightly pink.
You move closer to him and nuzzle into his chest, enjoying the feeling of his warmth against your skin. Soobin wraps his arms around you, holding you close as you both drift off into a drunken slumber.
After a few moments, you look up at him and notice that he's blushing. "What?" you ask, grinning mischievously.
"Nothing," he mumbles, looking away.
"Come on, Soobin, you can tell me," you tease, poking him in the side.
"It's justโฆI'm not used to having someone in bed with me like this," he admits, his cheeks growing redder.
You lift your head slightly to look at him and see a hint of nervousness in his expression. Despite being drunk, you can tell that he's being serious. "Really?" you ask, surprised.
Soobin nods slowly. "Yeah, I've never really had anyone over to my house like this before," he says, his voice trailing off. "I hope it's not too weird for you."
You give him a reassuring smile. "No, it's not weird," you say.
"I'm glad you're here," he whispers, his voice barely audible.
You smile sleepily. "Me too."
The only sound that fills the room is your breathing and the rustling of the sheets as you shift slightly. You can feel Soobin's fingers gently tracing small circles on your back, and it sends shivers down your spine. As you nuzzle back into his chest, you feel yourself drift off into a peaceful slumber, the steady beat of Soobin's heart lulling you into a deep sleep.
You slowly start to regain consciousness and realize that youโre in Soobin's bed. The first thing you notice is that youโre lying on your side with your head resting on his chest and his arm wrapped around you. The second thing you notice is the dull throbbing in your head. You groan softly and move your head, trying to ease the pain.
As you do, Soobin stirs beside you, and his arm tightens around you slightly. He mumbles something unintelligible. You try to sit up, but your headache intensifies, so you groan and lie back down.
โCome on Y/N! Youโve been hungover before. Just make it out of bed.โ You think to yourself, pumping yourself up.
You carefully extricate yourself from his grasp and sit on the edge of the bed, rubbing your temples. The headache is almost unbearable and you feel like you've been hit by a truck. You look around the room, trying to figure out what time it is. The sun is shining brightly through the window, telling you that it's well into the morning.
You stand up slowly, trying to steady yourself as the room spins around you. You spot your clothes from last night strewn around the room and hastily put them on. You don't want to overstay your welcome and you're not sure how you feel about what happened between you and Soobin last night.
As you struggle to put on your jeans, you hear Soobin stir beside you. He groans and rubs his head, clearly hungover. He looks at you with a confused expression and starts apologising profusely.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry. Did I do something last night? I don't remember anything. Did I make you uncomfortable?" he asks, his voice laced with panic.
You pause and look at him, trying to process what he's saying. You realise he's probably worried that something happened between you both while you were drunk.
"No, no, nothing happened," you reassure him. "We just fell asleep cuddling, that's all."
Soobin lets out a sigh of relief and slumps back onto the bed. "Okay, good. I was really worried for a second there," he says.
"It's okay, Soobin. Everyone has their first time drinking too much," you say, smiling reassuringly at him.
He nods, still looking a bit ashamed. "I just hope I didn't make a fool of myself in front of you." Soobin sighs running his hand through his messy hair.
You chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. "Don't worry, Soobin. You were just a bit loud and giggly, that's all. It was actually kind of cute."
Soobin smiles back, his face flushing with colour. "Really?"
You finish getting dressed and make your way over to the window, trying to leave without waking up his parents. But Soobin stops you before you can even open it.
"Wait, where are you going?" he asks, sounding a bit hurt.
You turn back to him, surprised by his reaction. "I was just going to head back to my place. I don't want to wake up your parents," you explain, turning back to the window.ย
As you try to slip through, you feel Soobin's hand on your shoulder, stopping you. "Y/N, please don't leave like this. Let me walk you home," he says, his eyes pleading with you.
โSoobin your parents are gonna freak if they find me with you.โ You try to explain, still sitting on the window pane. โI mean I called you late at night, made you sneak out of your house to get wasted with me at the park- and by the way youโve never even drank so basically I corrupted their son and then we sneaked back into your house completely senseless and we slept in the same bed.โย
โYes, but nothing happened.โ As Soobin pleads with you to stay, you couldn't help but think about your ex-boyfriend Dongsik. The memories of sneaking out of his house early in the morning flood your mind. He always made you leave through the window, claiming that his parents wouldn't approve of you sleeping over.ย
โWe know that but they wonโt. I mean I wouldnโt believe me.โ You ramble, sort of terrified at the idea of getting caught by his parents.ย
โMy parents trust me, I promise they wonโt think itโs weird.โ He reassures, holding onto your cold hands with his warm ones. You stare into his puppy dog eyes, and that alone is almost enough to make your stay. โPlease.โย
"Okay, I'll stay," you say, hoping that he won't notice the hesitation in your voice. "But we should probably try to be quiet and not wake your parents up."
Soobin grins in relief and nods vigorously. "Of course! We'll be as quiet as mice. Don't worry, my parents won't mind. They know I'm responsible enough to handle my own hangover."
As you and Soobin walked down the stairs, you couldn't help but feel a little nervous. Soobin's parents didn't know you were here, and you've never met them before. You could hear the sound of utensils clinking against plates coming from the kitchen as you approached.
Soobin's parents were already sitting at the table, enjoying their breakfast. His mother looked up from her plate and her eyes widened in surprise when she saw you. "Oh, Soobin, you didn't tell us you had a guest," she said.
Soobin rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Sorry, um, this is Y/N. She's a friend from school," he explained.
His father looked up from his newspaper and gave you a small smile. "It's nice to finally meet you, Y/N," he said. "Soobin talks about you a lot."
You felt a small wave of relief wash over you. Soobin had mentioned you to his parents before, so at least they knew who you were. "It's nice to meet you too," you said, returning the smile.
Soobin's mother gestured to the empty chair at the table. "Please, sit down and join us for breakfast," she said warmly.
You hesitated for a moment, feeling a little awkward about intruding on their family breakfast. But Soobin's pleading eyes convinced you otherwise. "Thank you, I would love to," you said, taking a seat at the table.
Soobin's mother served you a plate of delicious homemade breakfast. The aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, making your stomach growl with anticipation. As you took your first bite, Soobin's mother turned to you with a curious smile. "So, Y/N, what did you and Soobin do yesterday?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with interest.
You couldn't help but blush slightly, feeling a bit flustered. You exchanged a quick glance with Soobin, both of you unsure how to answer. After all, the events of last night were a blur due to the effects of the alcohol.
"Um, well, we went out for a walk in the park and had a few drinks," you replied, trying to keep your explanation vague.
Soobin chimed in, eager to divert the attention away from any potentially embarrassing details. "Yeah, we just hung out and talked for a while," he added, his voice slightly shaky.
Soobin's mother nodded understandingly. "That sounds lovely. It's nice to see my son spending time with friends," she said warmly.
"Soobin, you have no idea the things we did back in our younger days," His father chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Your mother and I had our fair share of wild nights."
Soobinโs mother playfully elbowed her husband and added, "Yes, but we always made sure to be responsible and take care of ourselves. As long as you two were safe and didn't put yourselves in danger, we trust your judgment."
You can't help but laugh at their stories and the relaxed atmosphere in the room. Soobin's parents seem to be really chill about the situation, and you feel grateful for that.
After finishing your breakfast, you push your plate away and sit back in your chair, feeling content and full. Soobin turns to you, a happy smile plastered on his face, "Do you need a ride back home? I can drop you off."
You appreciate the kind offer but politely decline, assuring him, "Thank you so much, but it's okay. I'll just call an Uber. It's more convenient for me."
Soobin's mother nods understandingly, her eyes filled with motherly concern. "Alright, dear. Just make sure to take care of yourself. You know you can always ask us for a ride if you need one, right?"
You smile gratefully, touched by her thoughtfulness. "Thank you, Mrs Choi. I'll keep that in mind. You've been so kind."
Soobin's mother waves off your gratitude with a gentle smile. "It's no problem at all, dear. We're always here for Soobin's friends. Just take care and have a safe trip home."
You quickly pull out your phone, typing a quick message to Taehyun, asking him to pick you up. Sure, you could call an Uber but you canโt stand the thought of being alone with your thoughts right now. Especially since youโre still a bit hungover and your head is killing you. Taehyun, almost in an instant texts back with a simple โ๐โย
"Thank you so much for having me over," you say sincerely. "I really appreciate your kindness and welcoming me into your home."
Soobin's parents exchange a knowing glance and his mother responds with a gentle smile, "It was our pleasure, dear. We're always happy to see Soobin spending time with good friends." Soobin's father nods in agreement, adding, "You're welcome here anytime. Don't hesitate to visit again."
You feel a wave of warmth and gratitude wash over you as their words sink in. It's comforting to know that you're not just an unexpected guest but someone who is genuinely welcome.ย
You feel the vibration of your phone, Taehyunโs message lighting up your phone.ย โIโm hereโย
โThank you so much for everything.โ You say once again, standing up. โMy rideโs here.โย
โIโll walk you out,โ Soobin says, quickly getting up too. Soobinโs parents smile at you, giving you a small wave and asking you to visit soon.ย
โYour parents are so nice.โ You tell him as you make your way out of the door.ย
โI told you theyโd be chill about it.โ You both laugh in agreement.ย
โThank you Soobin.โ You say, turning to face him. โFor everything.โย
He gives you a dimpled smile, his Adamโs apple bobbing like he wants to say something but doesnโt. As Taehyun's car pulls up into Soobin's driveway, you say your final goodbyes to Soobin and thank him for the night. Wanting to maintain a sense of normalcy and not make it obvious that you called Taehyun to pick you up, you open the back door and slide into the spacious backseat of the car. Taehyun turns to you, a playful grin forming on his face.
โWhy are you sitting in the back?โ Taehyun asks, puzzled as you close the door.ย
โOh my god. Drive!โ You say, slightly embarrassed, wondering if Soobin recognised Taehyunโs car.ย
โAlright, alright.โ He puts his hands up in defence, starting the car and pulling off Soobinโs driveway. โSoโฆSoobin huh?โ He says with a teasing smile.ย
You groan into your hands. Youโve got a lot of explaining to do.ย
taglist - @bangtan4everr @hearts4csb @softcabur @captivq @fairyofshampgyu @human-misery @goldennika @multistansimp4life (lmk if you want to be added to the tallest !!)
It took him weeks and I meanย weeksย to ask you out. He sits behind you in class and Beomgyu swears Soobin spends more time looking at you than he does at the teacher. From all that creepy staring (as Beomgyu likes to call it) Soobin noticed your wallpaper. Is that jujutsu kaisen..? No way! If it was somehow possible Soobin likes you twice as more. After some (bad) hyping up from Beomgyu and an entire night of pondering he finally decides to ask you out.
Low-key he zoned out while he was talking to you because he couldnโt believe he was actually interacting with you. But somehow he didnโt mess up and asked you if you wanted to check out a manga shop with him. And you said yes?!?! Soobin was still zoned out so didnโt actually process it till later but Beomgyu (who was rudely eavesdropping was SHOCKED)ย
On the day of the date, however; Soobin was NOT calm. Man was internally freaking out, he must have changed his outfit at least 3 times. When he did make it there he couldnโt help but overthink the entire thing. Are you actually coming? Do you know this is a date? Is he wearing his shirt backwards?
All his fears melted away when he saw you though. The conversations flowed easily and he sort of forgot it was even a date, everything seemed so easy with you. The both of you spent hours at the shop, browsing and recommending each other series. Most of the time both of you were just freaking out that they had every single jjk manga, even the super rare first edition ones. And by the end of the date the both of you had two heavy bags full of books. You two agreed youโll never have a date again at the manga store as youโre both most definitely broke now.
โNext time we should go to watch the new jjk movie!โ
โnext time?โ MAN WAS OVERJOYED!!!!!ย
Choi Yeonjun | ์ต์ฐ์ค
chill evening at roof top bar
you and Yeonjun both work the same shift and for months now thereโs been so much playful tension between the both of you. Enough to make your coworkers think thereโs something going on. Now Yeonjun canโt lie, he does like you a little bit (a lot) and he admits youโre gorgeous (the most breathtaking person heโs ever seen) but he also knows that youโre his coworkers and things could become awkward (heโs too much of a pussy)
This game of cat and dog had been going on for a while now and frankly, youโve had enough of waiting for Yeonjun to make the first move. If he isnโt going to do it, youโll do it yourself. So you super confident go up to him and donโt waste any time on pleasantries.
โYeonjun thereโs a new rooftop bar that opened down the street, do you want to goโโ
โYes.โ
Literally the two of you bolt the second your shift was done. This is your first time seeing Yeonjun outside of work, and there was something different about it. The two of you seemed even more unhinged, even more flirty. You didnโt even need alcohol turns out you just needed to leave that grey office. When you were at the bar the two of you ordered almost every drink on the menu and refused to leave before closing getting absolutely wasted. It was fun sitting on a skyscraper looking at the tiny people below you.
As far as first dates go, it must have been the most brilliant one youโve been on. You and Yeonjun didnโt leave a single topic uncovered discussing popcorn flavours to white sand beaches. And you have to admit, it was kinda cute how Yeonjun got wasted, he looked like a lovesick boy. And then there was when drunk Yeonjun went on a tangent about everything he likes about you. (you made sure to never let him hear the end of that)
Choi Beomgyu | ์ต๋ฒ๊ท
vinyl shopping
So Beomgyu ended up getting a vinyl player from Hyuka for his birthday, the only problem is, he doesnโt have any vinyl albums. So now he has two options:
Sell the vinyl player and make some cash.
Ask his pretty roommate to go vinyl shopping with him and blow his entire paycheck.
Logically, Beomgyu chose the latter. He isnโt exactly sure when he started developing a crush on you, he just knows that one day he woke up and no one seemed to matter except you. But thereโs a little bit of a problem, how is he going to make the outing seem like a date? As roommates you practically do everything together, this needs to be special. He knows that you like music and him buying your favourite vinyls could be called romantic but with no previous warning, itโs just platonic.
Heโs determined to make this seem special, but how? Naturally, he watched a romcom, sure he could have consulted his friends but theyโre bitchless anyway: how could they have even helped. He landed on getting you flowers, thatโs the most romantic thing a guy can give you right? So the next day as you get ready he quickly runs to the grocery store and back and gets you a bouquet of tulips, awkwardly handing them to you.
โuh whatโs this?โ
โflowers.โ
โbut why?โ
โcause this is a date.โ
โokay cool.โ
OKAY COOL? WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN? Does that mean you like him too? Does that mean youโre uncomfortable? You can see the gears turning in Beomgyuโs head and figure you should probably help the poor boy out. You grab his hand, dragging him out of the apartment. Beomgyuโs face was pinker than the tulips he got you.
You two spent the entirety of the afternoon picking out cool records you found at the shop (and emptying Beomgyuโs pockets) buying the most obscure music you could find. Despite the long day, it was rewarding cause the two of you just chilled the rest of the day, playing the music you bought and eating takeout.
Kang Taehyun | ๊ฐํํ
escape room
You and Taehyun have been project partners for a while now and instead of completing your project, Taehyun has spent more time falling for you. Heโd vowed to himself that 2023 was going to be the year he was going to focus on school but here you come knocking his walls down.
Now Taehyun knew for sure he was going to ask you out, it was clear to the both of you that you liked each other, you were just patiently waiting for Taehyun to make the first move. The dilemma is, Taehyun doesnโt know where to take you. Sure he could be a basic bitch and take you out to the movies or a restaurant but you were more important than that. He wanted you to enjoy and remember the first date. He thought of many things like bowling or going to a school game together but theyโre so crowded and loud, how will he be able to focus on you?
It was like a eureka moment when it struck him while having a shower. He could take you to an escape room! Itโs private and fun, plus teamwork. The two of you were good at that (despite not finishing your project that was set 2 months ago) When he proposes it to you, you were overjoyed. Not only have you been waiting for Taehyun to make a move, but he also made the perfect move.
You work together to decipher the clues and solve the puzzles, using your teamwork and problem-solving skills to make your way through the room. Taehyun's quick wit and intelligence are a valuable asset, and you can feel yourself growing more and more impressed by him with each passing moment (his plan is working !!) now not only did you and Taehyun enjoy working together and talking about your interests, but it was also the most memorable date youโve been on.
Huening Kai | ์ ์นด์ด
create your own plushie workshop
Youโve been trying to go on a date with Kai for weeks but something or another always comes up. First, you two had a planned a picnic and it turns out it was going to rain, then he gets called to pull an emergency shift, and then your car breaks down. Youโve been wondering if itโs a sign from the universe, the universe is definitely against picnics and you know what itโs fine, who wants to sit on the grass surrounded by weird bugs anyway?
So you decide to come up with something new, something fresh and better. So scour the internet for new events happening in your hometown. Wait, whatโs that? A plushie-making workshop? If that isnโt the universe giving you a sign you donโt know what is. Kai loves plushies and wait for it, itโs happening this Saturday when the both of you donโt have work. Itโs perfect.
So you call up Kai, telling him to write it down in permanent marker cause thereโs no way in hell that this date is going to get cancelled. Luckily the two of you make it there early and basically have the workshop all to yourself. With the help of the instructor, you work on making a plushie together.
Of course, it had all the essentials, plus a little note the two of you wrote, hiding it in the stuffing on the plushie. Your plushie was perfect in every way and the icing on top was that you got to make it with the guy youโve been crushing on for ages.
๐ฎ/๐ป - y/n redemption arc thank god ๐ญ๐ญ sorry for updating in a while ๐ I hope the extra long chapter makes up for it. (plus all the extra y/n and soobin content)
๐๐ฐ - 11.6k
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด - swearing, bullying, y/n taking part in bullying, (disclaimer - this is not the actions of the idols and is purely fiction. Iโm not condoning bullying.)
You wake up every morning with a knot in your stomach. You go to school and try to ignore Misun's presence, but you can't help but feel jealous every time you see her talking to Yeonjun. You keep telling yourself that it's silly because you're the popular girl who has it all, but jealousy consumes you.
Every time Yeonjun talks to Misun, you feel a pang of anger and frustration. You try to ignore it, but it just keeps getting worse. You can't focus in class because you're too busy thinking about Misun and Yeonjun.
You start to question yourself. Why are you so jealous of someone like Misun? She's just a scholarship student, and you have everything she could ever want. You feel stupid for feeling this way, but you can't help it. Itโs just been too much to handle.
You used to hate the feeling of jumping through time, having days with memory gaps but now you wish for nothing more. You want the days to pass without seeing Misun but you canโt. Ever since the story started youโve noticed the jumps getting less frequent, and when they do occur itโs just the next scene on the same day.
You tried staying home, telling your parents you donโt feel well but when the scene changes all of a sudden youโre dressed and at school. No matter what you do you canโt seem to escape fate.
You walked over to Taehyun's desk during study hall, feeling a weight on your chest that you just couldn't shake. Taehyun looked up from his book as you sat down heavily in the chair beside him.
"I just can't stop thinking about it, Taehyun. It's like this jealousy is consuming me," you say, placing your head on the table.
โHello to you too I guess.โย
โItโs only been a week since the story started and Misun and Yeonjun are so close already! I donโt get time to speak to him with her hovering right there.โ You whine into the table.ย
"I know, I know," Taehyun replies, sounding a bit exasperated. "But you really need to stop focusing so much on them. You're a great person with so many wonderful things going on in your life."
"But it's so hard. Every time I see them together, it just makes me feel so small and insignificant," you mumble into the table.
"Look, I understand that it's hard to see someone you like with someone else, but you can't let it control you like this. You're better than that," Taehyun says, trying to be encouraging.
"I just wish I could make him see that I'm the better choice," you say, letting out a sigh.
Taehyun raises his eyebrows. "And how do you plan on doing that?"
You shrug. "Iโm working on reading different books and Haechan said he could teach me some football. Iโd get into more of Yeonjunโs interests but I just havenโt had time to get to know him yet!"
Taehyun sighs. "I don't think that's a good idea. Yeonjun seems happy with Misun, and besides, it's not fair to try and break them apart just because you're jealous."
You lift your head in annoyance, "Iโm the better choice for Yeonjun, heโll be happy with me. Itโs an embarrassment that heโs hanging out withย her!"
Taehyun tries his best to stay quiet but your jealousy has been taking a toll on him too. Lately, all you seem to talk about is Misun; forget Yeonjun, he thinks you spend more time thinking about her. Itโs getting exhausting.ย
โWhatever Taehyun.โ You stretch, getting up from your chair, โPlease get some more info on Yeonjun.โ Taehyun nods, biting his tongue. Well, at least you said please.ย
You walk over a couple tables down to your friends, sitting in between Yunjin and Haechan, discussing your plans for the upcoming weekend when you overhear them whispering about Misun. You canโt help but listen in.ย
"I can't believe she thinks she can just talk to Yeonjun like that," Yunjin said, her voice dripping with venom. "She's nothing but a loser, and she needs to learn her place."
Haechan nodded in agreement. "We should teach her a lesson. Maybe pour a bucket of water on her or something. That would be hilarious."
โY/N, you in?โ Yunjin shoots you a mischievous smile. Pouring water on her? Thatโs going to ruin her uniformโฆcompletely embarrassing her! Yeonjun would be so embarrassed to be with her then, wouldnโt he?
Just as youโre about the nod you pause. If you do that then youโre taking part in bullying. Yes, youโre popular but you never took part in bullying, not even in primary school. You always thought it was best not to get involved, it always kept you out of trouble. Youโd be lying if you said you were innocent though. Though you never took part, some of your friends did while you just sat and watched. It wouldnโt be the first time someone youโre friendly with has bullied Misun.ย
Who cares anyway? This isnโt even a real world. You live in manhwa, nothing you do is real unless itโs illustrated and you arenโt doing this on stage. Taehyun warned you to not do unusual things in the shadow, and itโs definitely not unusual for Misun to get bullied. It used to be a daily occurrence. It isnโt like itโll hurt your reputation, once the scene changes everyone will forget it ever happened. Plus, at least now you get to relieve some of the tension youโve been feeling the past week.ย
โCount me in.โ You smile, shaking Yunjinโs hand. Haechan pats your back, happy that youโre taking part in his plan.ย
As you walk down the hallway with Yunjin and Haechan, you see Misun walking towards you, carrying a stack of books. Yunjin and Haechan started to snicker, whispering to each other, "Let's do it."ย
Before even rationalising it, you grab a bucket of water from a nearby janitor's closet and tossed it on Misun. The water splashed all over her clothes and books, leaving her completely drenched.
Misun looked shocked and started to cry, and you were at a loss for words. The hallway erupts into laughter, some students even giving you and your friends a high-five. But somewhere deep in your heart, you knew it was wrong. You stood there silently, unable to feel the same high your friends were. It doesnโt seem very rewarding.ย
But before you could even process what had happened, Yeonjun came up to you, looking furious. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he demanded. "How could you bully someone like that?"ย
You stammer, not expecting Yeonjun to be somewhere in the crowd. โI-I... It was Haechan!โ You exclaim, pointing straight at your friend who was holding the bucket.ย
โYo, what the fuck, you were part of it too!โ He exclaims, surprised that you would turn on him like this.ย
"Why did you do that?" Yeonjun asks, his voice shaking with anger. "What did Misun ever do to you?" You felt your heart break into a hundred pieces, the way he looked at you made you want to cry. Yeonjunโs eyes showed nothing but disgust.ย
Yunjin and Haechan exchanged another glance before Haechan spoke up. "We...we didn't mean to," he said, his voice wavering. "It was just a prank."
"That's not a prank, that's bullying," Yeonjun said firmly. Three of you looked more sheepish than ever as you shuffled your feet, unable to meet Yeonjunโs intense gaze.
"You three should be ashamed of yourselves," Yeonjun said, his voice cold. He turns to Misun, whoโs shaking as she cries silently.ย
He walked over to Misun and helped her up, handing her a towel. "Are you okay?" he asked gentlyย
Misun nodded, still sniffling. "Thank you," she whispered. He wraps his blazer around her shoulders, taking her hand and walking away.ย
Haechan scowls at you, "I can't believe you betrayed me like that. You lied to Yeonjun and made me look bad."
โWell, it was you who came up with the idea.โ You shrug, standing defiantly. This did not go according to plan. What is Yeonjun doing here? Wasnโt he supposed to be at practice with Taehyun? And now on top of all that he thinks youโre an awful person for what you did to Misun.ย
โNot cool Y/N,โ Yunjin says, taking a couple steps back from you, crossing her arms.ย
โWhat, it wasnโt me who did anything, I just watched.โ You tried to defend yourself even though you knew you were in the wrong.ย
Yunjin and Haechan donโt say another word to you, turning away. Before you could chase them down the hall, you feel a tight grasp on your shoulder. โOw ow ow!โ You exclaim,ย
You feel a hand on your arm, pulling you into an empty classroom. It's Taehyun, and he looks serious. "What did you do to Misun?" he asks, his tone firm.
You look at him, feeling a lump form in your throat. You know what he's talking about. You tried to bully Misun, just like your other friends did. You feel ashamed and guilty, but you can't bring yourself to admit it to Taehyun.
"Nothing," you reply, trying to sound casual.
"Don't lie to me," Taehyun says, his eyes narrowing. "I heard about what happened. You need to tell Yeonjun the truth."
You feel a knot form in your stomach. You don't want to lose Yeonjun, but you know that you need to take responsibility for your actions. "I know," you say quietly. "I messed up." You can feel tears welling up in your eyes as he continues to scold you. You know he's right, but it hurts to hear it out loud. You feel like a terrible person for not standing up for Misun.
As Taehyun scolds you for your behaviour towards Misun, you begin to feel overwhelmed. His words start to blur together and you feel as though you're underwater. You can see his lips moving, but you can't make out what he's saying. All you can think about is how much you messed up and how much you wish you could take it all back. You feel as though you're floating away from your own body, observing the situation from a distance. It's like you're stuck in your own head, unable to process what's happening around you. Eventually, Taehyun stops talking and you snap back to reality. You can see the disappointment in his eyes, and it stings. You know you messed up, but you feel like you're unable to make it right.ย
"Are you even listening to me?" Taehyun asks, his voice tinged with frustration.
You snapped back to reality, "I'm listening."ย
"You need to stop obsessing over Misun and Yeonjun," he said sternly. "It's not healthy, and it's not fair to me or our other friends."
You couldn't bring yourself to respond, and Taehyun's voice grew louder.
โYou only ever talk to me when you want to vent about Misun and Yeonjun and itโsย fuckingย exhausting Y/N.โ His words hit you hard, and you could feel the weight of his disappointment. You knew he was right, but you didn't know how to break free from the jealousy and obsession that consumed you. "You need to stop acting like a victim all the time," he says, his tone serious. "You have everything, and Misun has nothing. She gets bullied every day, and you're complaining because she has Yeonjun? That's not fair to her."
โTaehyun-โย
"The point is, you're acting entitled. You act like the world owes you something, and it doesn't. You need to start being a better friend to me, like when was the last time you asked me how I was? Iโm tired of you making everything about yourself." His face only getting redder, "I know it's hard to be the second lead," Taehyun continued. "But that doesn't mean you get to act like a diva and throw a tantrum every time things don't go your way. You need to check your ego.โย
You feel a lump forming in your throat and your eyes start to water. You try to hold back your tears, but they start to trickle down your cheeks.
"I can't believe you would treat someone like that," Taehyun says, his voice firm but gentle. "Misun doesn't deserve to be treated that way."
You try to speak, but your voice is caught in your throat. You take a deep breath and manage to choke out a response, "I know, Taehyun. I just feel so jealous and angry all the time."
"I can't take it anymore," you say, your voice trembling. "Yeonjun is supposed to like Misun on stage, but it's like he doesn't even notice me in the shadow."
Taehyun's expression softens as he places a comforting hand on your shoulder. "I understand that it can be tough, Y/N. But you have to remember that the writer has a plan for each character, and sometimes it doesn't always go the way we want it to."
You sniffle, wiping away your tears. "I know, I know. It's just hard to see Yeonjun paying attention to Misun all the time when I'm right here and I have everything. It doesn't make sense to me."
Taehyun sighs, shaking his head. "You're being insecure again, Y/N. It's not about what you have or what Misun doesn't have. Yeonjun likes her for who she is, not what she has or doesn't have. You need to stop comparing yourself to her and start focusing on being a better friend and person."
"But I'm the second lead," you say, wiping your tears. โBut he doesnโt pay any attention to me.โ
Taehyun looks at you sympathetically. "Y/N, you can't let your insecurities and jealousy control you. Yeonjun likes Misun, and that's just the way it is. You have to accept that and move on. You're more than just a character in this manhwa, you're a person with your own feelings and desires. Don't let the writer's control over the stage overshadow your own desires."
You take a deep breath, wiping away your tears as you look up at him. "I'm sorry, Taehyun. You're right, I've been so caught up in my own feelings that I haven't been a good friend to you," you say, your voice shaking with emotion.
Taehyun pulls you into a hug, rubbing your back soothingly. "It's okay, Y/N. I know you're going through a tough time," he says softly. "But you need to realise that Misun is a person too, and you can't keep treating her like she's less than you just because she's not popular or rich."
You nod, tears still streaming down your face. "I've been so awful to her," you say, your voice barely above a whisper. "And I'm sorry I've been such a burden on you too. You don't deserve to deal with all of my drama."
Taehyun pulls away from the hug and looks you in the eyes. "Y/N, you're not a burden. I care about you and I want to help you through this. But you need to start taking responsibility for your actions and treating others with kindness and respect," he says firmly.
โI should probably apologise to Misun and Yeonjun now.โ You say, wiping your face with the back of your hands.ย
โIt doesnโt really matter anymore.โ Taehyun straightens his posture, โThe scene is about to change, theyโre going to forget that this ever happenโโ
click
You walk down the hallway with a heavy heart, feeling guilty for what you did to Misun. You wish you could go back in time and change things, but you know it's impossible. Suddenly, you hear someone calling your name. You turn around and see that it's Yeonjun. You feel your heart beating faster as he approaches you; both because of nervousness and fear. You know Taehyun just said the scene has changed but you canโt help but still feel a bit afraid. What if Yeonjun remembers?
"Hey, Y/N, how are you?" He asks, flashing you a charming smile. You almost felt like you were going to throw up. His eyes were different than before, there was no indifference. Yeonjun doesnโt remember the Misun incident. Thank god. But that doesnโt help you from feeling guilty.ย
You feel your heart race as you reply, โSame old, stressed about Mr Choโs homework. Have you finished it?โย
โOh shit, I completely forgot about that,โ he replies, running a hand through his hair. โBut listen, I wanted to ask you something."
โIf itโs about the homework I wonโt be able to help.โ You laugh. Youโre thankful youโre on stage because if you werenโt you wouldnโt be able to keep your voice steady.ย
"Well, my football team has a game coming up this weekend, and I was wondering if you'd like to come watch. I know it's not really your thing, but it would mean a lot to me if you came." He says, somewhat nervously.ย
You feel your heart flutter at his invitation and quickly agree, "Of course, I'd love to come watch. What time is it?"
"It's at 2 pm on Saturday," he answers, flashing you another charming smile. "Thanks for agreeing to come, Y/N. I really appreciate it."
"No problem, Yeonjun," you reply, feeling a bit flustered.
As he turns to leave, he pauses for a moment and leans in a little closer to you. "Oh, and by the way, thanks again for speaking to Johnny about getting me on the team. I owe you one."
You feel your cheeks heat up a little bit, but you quickly compose yourself and reply, "No worries, Yeonjun. I'm always happy to help."
He nods, flashing you one last smile before walking away. You can't help but feel a little giddy, feeling grateful that he asked you to come to his match. Is this your luck really turning around? Is Yeonjun finally noticing you? You try to calm yourself down and remember the conversation you had with Taehyun, you canโt obsess over this. Of course, you wonโt give up on Yeonjun but you arenโt going to stand between him and Misun. You know you need to make things right with Misun, but for now, you can't help but enjoy the attention of the guy you've been crushing on.
click
You donโt watch Yeonjun leave, instead, you decide to make things right with Misun. You walk up to Misun's locker, taking a deep breath before you open your mouth. "Hey, Misun," you say, trying to sound casual.
Misun jumps at the sound of your voice and turns to face you, eyes widening in surprise. "H-hi," she stammers, clearly taken aback by your sudden appearance.
You clear your throat and try to sound as sincere as possible. "I just wanted to say that I'm really sorry for how I treated you before. I know I was really mean and I regret it. I hope we can start over and be friends."ย
Misun looks at you confused, clearly not expecting such an apology from someone like you. โBut youโve always been so nice to me Y/N,โ she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, I don't remember what you're talking about,"ย
You feel a pang of guilt in your chest. Of course, she wouldn't remember. The scene had changed, the writer had made it so. But you still feel the need to apologise.
"It's okay if you don't remember. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for anything I may have done to hurt you in the past. I didn't treat you with the respect you deserve, and that's not okay," you say, trying to keep your voice calm.
Misun looks at you with surprise in her eyes. "Why are you apologising to me?" she asks, her voice quivering.
"Because it's the right thing to do," you say, feeling a sense of relief wash over you. "I shouldn't have treated you the way I did, and I want to make it right."
Misun looks down at her hands and nods her head slowly. "Thank you," she says softly. "I appreciate it."
As you turn to leave, Misun looks up at you, a small smile on her face. "Hey, Y/N?" You turn around to face her.
"I don't have any friends, and I was wondering if... if maybe we could hang out sometime?" You feel a surge of warmth in your chest as you realise that maybe, just maybe, you can make a difference in someone's life.ย
"Of course, Misun. I would love that." Suddenly you feel a weight on your back, you stumbled forward slightly before steadying yourself. You could recognise the person before they even spoke. Beomgyu.
You feel Beomgyu's weight as he clings to your back, his arms wrapped around your neck. "Ooh, look who's got an invitation to Yeonjun's football match!" he teases, his voice dripping with playful mockery, making kissing noises.ย
You roll your eyes, but can't help the grin that spreads across your face. "Shut up, Beomgyu," you playfully retort, giving him a light nudge.
Misun looked on with a mixture of surprise and discomfort, feeling out of place in the interaction. Beomgyu didn't seem to notice her presence,, as he excitedly spoke to you. You couldn't help but smile at Beomgyu's enthusiasm, but you also felt a pang of guilt for Misun, who was standing there awkwardly, clearly feeling left out. "Uh, Beomgyu, this is Misun," you said, gesturing to the timid girl beside you. "Misun, this is Beomgyu."ย
Beomgyu hops off your back and falls into step beside you. "Hey, Y/N, I know it's not my business, but are you and Yeonjun...you know," Beomgyu trails off, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.
You roll your eyes, feeling your cheeks heat up. "No, Beomgyu, we're not 'you know'," you reply, trying to keep your voice level.
Misun looks uncomfortable as Beomgyu continues to tease you. She clearly likes Yeonjun too and the thought of you and Yeonjun together seems to bother her. "Hey, Misun. Sorry about that. We didn't mean to ignore you."
Misun shrugs, trying to hide her disappointment. "It's okay. I was just...listening."
You nod sympathetically, not wanting to make her feel worse. "Well, if you want to come to the football match with me, you're more than welcome. It'll be fun!" Itโs hard to be nice to her, itโs hard to even admit that itโs hard to be nice to her. But Taehyun was right, you canโt be a bitch, you need to be a better person, even if it means inviting Misun to the football game.ย
Misun's eyes light up at the invitation. "Really? You want me to come with you?"
You nod, silencing your inner demon, โThe more the merrier right?โ Before Misun could answer, Beomgyu grabs your wrist.ย
โOkay, see you later Misun!โ He pastes a smile on his face, dragging you away from her. You feel your body tighten as Beomgyu drags you away from Misun, who looks confused and a little hurt. You genuinely wanted to invite her to the football game. You try to protest, but he doesn't seem to be listening. Finally, he stops in front of his partner Cat, who looks up from their book with a raised eyebrow.ย
"What's going on, Beomgyu?" They ask, closing their book.
"This one," he says, gesturing to you. "Invited Misun to Yeonjun's game." Your friends' eyes widen, as they lean forward to hear more.ย
Cat exclaims in surprise. "Misun? That girl who Yeonjun likes?โ
You feel your cheeks flush with embarrassment. "I didn't know that," you say quietly. "I just wanted to be nice to her."ย
Beomgyu rolls his eyes. "Yeah, well, you're not doing Yeonjun any favours. You're just making things worse by taking her to the game."
"But I promised Taehyun I'd be a better person," you protest. "And Misun is really nice once you get to know her."
Cat looks at you with a sympathetic expression. "I understand what you're trying to do," They say. "But you have to be careful. Yeonjun likes Misun, whether she realises it or not. Taking her to the game will only push them closer together."
You feel a sinking feeling in your stomach at her words. You donโt really like Misun all that much but you still want to try to like her. You just hope that by being a better person, you'll be able to find happiness, even if it's not with him. You try to smile, but it feels fake. The thought of Yeonjun liking Misun is too painful to bear.
Beomgyu nods in agreement, still looking unhappy about the situation. "We just don't want you to get hurt," he says, placing a comforting hand on your shoulder.
Kai, being the peacemaker that he is, tries to defend your point of view. "Guys, come on. Misun didn't do anything wrong. Y/N just wants to make things right with her. We should give her a chance."
But the others don't seem to see it that way. They see Misun as some evil person trying to take away Yeonjun from you. "She's always trying to get close to him. It's so obvious," Cat chimes in.
"But Misun is always causing drama," Yoon interjected. "She's just trying to steal Yeonjun away from you." You want to roll your eyes and tell your friends itโs actually the opposite. Misun is supposed to be with Yeonjun, youโre just trying to worm your way in.ย
"You're being too soft, Kai," Haechan said. โLook the damage is done, you invited her. But what if we stop her from going?โย
โWhat are you suggesting?โ Cat raises their brow.ย
โLetโs just say she accidentally gets locked in the supply closet.โ Haechan laughs, eliciting one from Beomgyu too.ย
"Look, I appreciate your concern," you said, trying to sound as diplomatic as possible. "But I made a promise to myself to be a better person. And part of that means being nice to everyone." You canโt let Haechan bully Misun and you definitely cannot join into it.ย
โWhatever, you can be friends with her but Iโm not.โ Beomgyu rolls his eyes. You sigh, at least it was a start right? You were getting tired of trying to explain yourself, so when Kai suddenly announced that he was going to talk to Taehyun, you quickly tagged along.
Kai looked surprised to see you following him. "I didn't know you were friends with Taehyun," he said, a note of curiosity in his voice. โI thought you said he was a creep.โ Kai tased.ย
You laugh in embarrassment at the memory, โYouโre right, heโs a good guy.โ
Kai chuckles, and the two of you continued down the hallway in silence for a while. Finally, Kai spoke up again. "I don't know why they're all so against Misun. I mean, sure, she's not the most popular person in school, but that doesn't mean she's a bad person."
You sigh, nodding your head, โThey're just so convinced that she's trying to steal Yeonjun away from me."
Kai shook his head. "It's ridiculous. Yeonjun is his own person. He can make his own decisions. Besides, if he does end up liking Misun, then it's not like you can control that."
You nodded in agreement. "I just wish they could see things from my perspective."
Hyuka put a hand on your shoulder. "Hey, it's not your job to make them understand. Just do what feels right for you and if that means inviting Misun to Yeonjun's game, then go for it. It's your life, not theirs."
You and Kai walked down to the football pitch, the sun beating down on you as you approached the field. The sound of cleats hitting the pavement filled your ears, and you could see Taehyun warming up with some of the other players.
"Hey, Taehyun!" Kai called out as the two of you made your way closer to the field. โWhen does your practice end?โ
Taehyun grinned back at you, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead. โJust trying to get warmed up for the game, havenโt even started yet. You guys coming to watch?" he asked, gesturing to the bleachers on the sideline.
"Yeah, we're planning on it," you replied. "How do you think youโre going to do?"
Taehyun chuckled. "You know, Iโm pretty nervous about this one. Weโve lost every time a play against YG.โ
"So, have you heard anything about YG's team?" you ask Taehyun.
Taehyun nods. "Yeah, they're really good. But we're not going to let that get to us. We're going to play our game and give it everything we've got."
Kai smiles, throwing his arms around a sweaty Taehyun. โI believe in you guys! Youโll definitely win!โย
Taehyun warms in the hug, lightly patting Hyuka. โI know we will.โ He says meeting your eyes. You know exactly what he meant. This is the first big game the team is having this year, and itโs extra special because itโs Yeonjunโs debut. With Yeonjun in the team, you arenโt going to lose. Heโs the main character, everything is going to go his way.ย
"Hey, I'm going to go grab a drink. You want anything?" he asked you and Taehyun, pulling away.
Taehyun shook his head. "Nah, I'm good. Thanks, though."
As Kai walked away, you turned back to Taehyun. "Hey, so, about earlier..." you trailed off, unsure of how to bring up the topic of Misun and Yeonjun.
Taehyun raised an eyebrow in question. "What about it?"
You take a deep breath, slightly nervous, โAre we.. are we okay?โย
โWeโre good, I promise Y/N.โ He smiles. Suddenly, Taehyunโs eyes sparkle mischievously, โAnyways, I heard Yeonjunย personallyย invited you.โ He nudges your shoulder playfully, โLooks like heโs started noticing you huh?โย
You feel your cheeks flush even deeper, โIt isnโt that big of a deal, I mean I did help him land the gig. He probably just felt obligated to invite me.โย
As you turned to head back to the bleachers with Taehyun, Kai came back with a bottle of water in his hand. "What'd I miss?" he asked, looking between the two of you.
"Just some girl talk," Taehyun joked, giving you a playful nudge. You settle on the bleachers with Hyuka and Taehyun. You find yourself tuning out of Kai and Taehyunโs conversation, finally getting a moment of peace. You havenโt felt this carefree in well..forever! At first, it was the jumping and then it was Misun but now it just seems calm. You seem to be figuring out what to do with the entire situation. It's a relaxing and carefree moment, a nice break from the stress of school and life. Who knew sitting on the bleachers watching someone play football can be so therapeutic? You take a deep breath and enjoy the peaceful moment. The sun is warm on your skin, and the breeze is gentle. You close your eyes for a moment and just soak in the calmness of the moment.
As you open your eyes, you notice someone walking towards you. It's Yeonjun. Your heart beats faster as he approaches and sits next to you. "Hey," he says with a smile. "Enjoying the game?"
"Yeah, it's been fun to watch," you reply, trying to keep your cool.
Yeonjun smiles and looks at you with his piercing eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the cafe the other day. Can we go today instead?"
Your heart skips a beat as he apologises, for some reason your throat starts to close up. You start to feel flustered and awkward, not knowing how to respond. "I, uh, I'm not sure if I can go today," you manage to stammer.ย
"That's okay," Yeonjun says with a reassuring smile. "Let me know if you change your mind. I'll be around."
โUm, uh. Cool!โ You say suddenly standing up, โI have to go now.โ You take long strides, walking away from the pitch.ย
As you're walking away from the bleachers, you suddenly feel someone grabbing your arm and spinning you around. It's Taehyun, looking at you with an amused expression. "What was that all about, huh? Running away from Yeonjun like that?"
You feel your face heat up with embarrassment. "I don't know, I just got nervous, I guess," you mutter, trying to avoid Taehyun's gaze.
Taehyun raises an eyebrow. "Nervous? Why would you be nervous? It's just Yeonjun."
You can't help but feel annoyed by Taehyun's dismissive tone. "Well, excuse me for having feelings, Taehyun," you snap back. "I know it sounds stupid, but I just can't help it. And besides, I didn't want to go out with him today. I have other things to do."
Taehyun looks at you sceptically. "Really? Because it seems like you're just making excuses. Are you sure you're not just afraid of getting rejected?"
You feel a pang of anger at Taehyun's accusation. "No, I'm not afraid of getting rejected. I just don't want to go out with him today."
Taehyun gives you a knowing look. "You're not actually interested in him, are you?"
"What? No, I am!" you protest, feeling defensive.
Taehyun tilts his head, looking at you sceptically. "Really? I've seen you talk to guys before, and you're always super confident. Are you sure you actually like him?"
You furrow your brow, feeling a little defensive. "Yes, I'm sure. Why wouldn't I?"
Taehyun shrugs. "I don't know, I just get the feeling that maybe you're not really into him."
โI do Taehyun, I promise.โ You respond, staring deep into his large brown eyes.ย
โOkay.โ He nods, accepting your answer, โIโll catch up with you later, I need to get back to practice.โ You nod, waving as he walks away.ย
Suddenly the thought of seeing Soobin crosses your mind. You're not sure why, but you feel a sudden urge to talk to him. You excuse yourself from the conversation and begin your walk towards the library, where you know he spends a lot of his free time.
The sun is still shining brightly, warming your skin as you make your way through the busy hallways of the school. You pass by students chatting and laughing, some heading towards their next class, while others are making their way outside to enjoy the beautiful weather.
Thatโs right! Whatโs gotten into you? You should accept Yeonjunโs date and wow him with all the books youโve been reading! You mentally facepalm, why did you have to act like such an idiot in front of him? Now that you think about it, you also have Soobin to apologise to. Although you got his number, youโve barely used it, using it just once or twice to get some book recommendations while you wallowed in your self-pity. In fact, you havenโt even spoken to him since he walked you home from the cafe.
โMan I really was a bitch huh?โ You think to yourself, โThank god Taehyun spoke some sense into me.โ As you step into the library, the smell of old books and the sound of quiet whispers fill the air. The shelves tower over you, filled with books on every subject imaginable. You take a deep breath and begin your search for Soobin. You walk past the rows of bookshelves, scanning the tables and chairs for any sign of him. You spot a familiar head of brown hair in the corner, and you make your way over. As you get closer, you see that Soobin is surrounded by books and papers, his eyes darting back and forth as he scribbles something down. You clear your throat to get his attention.
"Soobin?" you say softly.
He jumps at the sound of your voice, knocking over a stack of books in the process. He quickly scrambles to pick them up and straighten his papers. "Oh, hi," he says, his voice quiet and shy.
"I just wanted to say hi," you say, trying to keep the conversation light, taking a seat next to him. "It's been a while since we've talked."
Soobin nods but doesn't say anything. You can tell he's uncomfortable, and it makes you feel guilty for not reaching out to him sooner.
"I know we're not close or anything, but I didn't want things to be weird between us," you continue, hoping to put him at ease.
Soobin shifts in his seat, and you can see his fingers fidgeting with the pages of his book. "Yeah, I know what you mean," he says quietly. "I didn't want things to be weird either."
You both sit in silence for a moment, and you feel a pang of regret for not making more of an effort to be friendly with Soobin. He's always seemed so shy and awkward, and you can't help but wonder if he has any friends at all, youโve never really seen him talk to anyone. โUh... I read the book you recommended. The Taebaek Mountains?โ
Soobin looks surprised but pleased. "Oh, I'm glad you liked it. It's one of my favourites."
You smile, hoping to put him at ease. "Yeah, it was really well-written. I especially liked how the author was able to capture the struggles of the people in rural areas. It was eye-opening for me." You pause for a moment, gathering your thoughts
Soobin's eyes light up. "Yes! That's exactly what I love about it. It's such an important book, and I think more people should read it."ย
You canโt help but admire the twinkle in Soobinโs eyes. His eyes light up and a smile spreads across his face as he describes the intricacies of each book he's read. It's like he's transported to another world, completely absorbed in the story. Itโs kinda cute.ย
โWhat are you reading now?โ You ask, leaning in a bit closer to take a look at the book and notice Soobin's face flush a bit. But you don't pay it much attention as you nod and say, "Oh, I've heard of that one. Is it good?"
Soobin seems to relax a bit as he starts to talk about the book, "Yeah, it's really interesting. The way Murakami writes just... it's like he reaches into your soul and pulls out all these emotions you didn't even know you had." Soobin's eyes light up as he starts to explain the plot to you. As he talks, he becomes more animated and less shy, gesturing with his hands and even laughing a little at some of the more humorous parts.
Finally, he finishes his explanation and looks up at you expectantly. "So, what do you think? Sounds interesting, right?"
You nod, "Yeah, it does. You really know your books, Soobin."
He looks down, bashful. "Oh, it's nothing really.โ He says, handing you the book. You feel a small jolt of excitement as Soobin hands you the book "I think you'll really like it," he says with a smile, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
"Thank you, Soobin," you reply, feeling grateful and a bit surprised by his gesture. "But aren't you still reading it?"
Soobin shakes his head, "It's okay, I can always get another copy. I want you to have it so we can talk about it later."
You can't help but feel a warm sensation in your chest at Soobin's thoughtfulness. He's always been so kind and generous with his recommendations, but this feels different somehow. It's as if he's extending an invitation to connect with him on a deeper level. Your eyes soften as you look at the book. Soobin is such a sweetheart and youโve been so awful to him.ย
"I'm sorry I haven't talked to you in a while, Soobin. I've been going through some stuff and I guess I kind of shut everyone out," you say, trying to make amends.
Soobin looks up at you with a small smile. "It's okay. I understand,"ย
You shake your head, feeling guilty. "No, it's not okay. You're always so nice to me and I appreciate it, I should be a better friend to you."
Soobin's smile fades slightly and he looks down at his book. "We're not really friends, though, are we? I mean, we've only talked a few times about books."
You reach out and gently touch his arm. "But that doesn't mean I can't try to be a better friend. I want to get to know you better and hang out outside of the library."
Soobin looks up at you, surprise evident in his eyes. "Really? You want to hang out with me?"
You nod quickly, โOf course I do!โ You plop your elbows on the table, leaning your head on it as you look at Soobin. โSo, Soobin, what do you like to do other than reading?โ
"Um, well," he starts, "I guess I like to write a little bit."
"Really?" you ask, intrigued. "What kind of things do you write?"
"Just some short stories," Soobin replies, a hint of shyness in his voice. "I don't really show them to anyone though. It's just something I do for fun."
โOh my god! Really?โ you say with a smile. "I bet they're really good. Will you let me read one?โ
Soobin's cheeks turn pink at your compliment. "Uh, yeah, maybe," he says softly.
โSo, howโd you know Taehyun?โ You ask, deciding to bring up your mutual friend.
"I'm actually in the music club with him. We play instruments together."
"Wait, you're in the music club with Taehyun?" You ask, curious.
Soobin nods a small smile on his face. "Yeah, we're both in it. I play the piano and Taehyun plays the guitar."
You were impressed. "Wow, that's really cool. I didn't know you played an instrument, Soobin."
Soobin hesitates for a moment, but then he looks up at you and shyly admits, "I play the piano." He chuckles awkwardly, โI don't really talk about it much. I guess it's just not something that comes up in conversation very often."
You had no idea that he had such a talent. โNo way! You can play the piano? Youโre like some creative genius.โ you gushed, feeling genuinely interested in learning more about him.
Soobin's face started to turn a shade of pink, and you couldn't help but tease him a little. "Aww, you're turning red, Soobin. Don't be embarrassed, you should be proud of your talent!" you said with a grin.
Soobin looked down, still blushing, but you could tell he appreciated your compliments. "Thanks," he said softly, still looking a bit bashful.
"I've always wanted to learn an instrument, but I never had the patience for it." You say.
"It definitely takes a lot of practice," Soobin says, smiling.
You gasp suddenly, causing Soobin to get slightly alarmed. You look at Soobin with a playful glint in your eye. โCan you teach me how to play the piano right now?"
Soobin looks surprised by your sudden request, but he can't hide the small smile that tugs at his lips. "Um, I don't know if I can teach you right now. I mean, we're in the library and-" You grin excitedly and take hold of his hand, tugging him along as you begin to make your way through the busy school halls. Soobin stumbles a bit at first, caught off guard by your sudden enthusiasm, but quickly regains his balance and starts walking with you. You both weave in and out of the crowd of students, dodging backpacks and classmates, until you finally reach the door of the music room.
Soobin's heart beats faster as you hold his hand, he's always admired you from afar, impressed by your confidence and outgoing personality. I mean who wouldnโt? He never thought he'd have the chance to be alone with you, let alone hold your hand. He tries to push aside his thoughts of you being out of his league and instead focuses on the task at hand.
You quickly push the door open and pull Soobin inside, feeling a surge of excitement as you take in the room filled with instruments. Soobin looks around nervously, his eyes flickering over the pianos and drum sets before he turns to you and says hesitantly, "Are you sure about this? I mean, I'm not really a teacher or anythingโฆ"
You give him an encouraging smile and pat his shoulder reassuringly. โItโs okay! Iโm sure youโre a great teacher.โ He takes a deep breath and tries to calm his racing heart, hoping he won't mess up in front of you
Soobin sits down at the piano and motions for you to sit beside him. You take a seat, feeling a little nervous but mostly excited to learn from him. "So, where should we start?" you ask, looking at Soobin expectantly.
"Let's start with some basic chords," he suggests, placing his fingers on the keys and guiding your hands to do the same. "First, we'll start with C major."
You follow Soobin's lead, your fingers awkwardly hitting the keys, but with his guidance, you start to get the hang of it. At first, your fingers fumble over the keys and the notes come out all wrong, but Soobin patiently corrects you and shows you how to position your hands properly. You feel a bit embarrassed at your lack of skill, but Soobin encourages you to keep trying. You play a few more chords, and with each one, Soobin's eyes light up with excitement. He's such a good teacher, and you can tell he's passionate about music.
After a while, you start to get the hang of it and play a simple melody with a big smile on your face. Soobin claps for you, and you feel proud of yourself.
"Wow, you're a natural!" Soobin says, grinning. "You picked that up so quickly."
"Thanks to you," you reply, feeling grateful for his guidance.
As you sit at the piano, your fingers tracing the keys under Soobin's watchful eye, the sound of the school bell suddenly fills the room. The loud, jarring ring echoes off the walls, interrupting your concentration and causing both you and Soobin to jump in surprise. For a moment, the two of you simply sit there, frozen, listening as the bell continues to ring. Soobin looks over at you, his expression hesitant as he asks, "Do you have to go to class?"
But you were feeling too euphoric to let the bell interrupt your time with him. "Yeah, but I'm skipping it," you said, grinning at him.
Soobin's eyes widened in surprise, and you could see the corner of his lips twitching upwards as he processed your words. "Really?" he asked, sounding both hesitant and pleased. He felt his heart flutter in his chest. He had never expected someone like you, who was so popular and outgoing, to choose to spend time with him, someone who had always been in the background.
You nodded confidently, feeling a surge of boldness coursing through you. "Yeah, really. I'd much rather be with you," you said, beaming at him.
A soft smile graces Soobin's face, and he turns back to the piano. "Okay, then let's keep practising."
Soobin carefully places his fingers on the piano keys, guiding you through each note as you watch his every movement. The atmosphere in the music room is hushed and serene as you both try not to make any noise, afraid of getting caught for skipping class. The only sounds that can be heard are the soft tinkling of the piano keys and the occasional sound of rustling pages as Soobin flips through his music book to find the next piece for you to practice.
His patient guidance and the calming sound of the piano help ease your worries and clear your mind. His gentle guidance as he helps you navigate the keys feels like a warm embrace, and you find yourself smiling without even realizing it. The sunlight filtering through the music room window casts a soft glow on your surroundings, and everything feels serene and calm. For once, you're not thinking about being popular or impressing anyone.
Despite the occasional mistake, you were improving with each passing minute, and Soobin seemed genuinely pleased with your progress. He'd lean in close to give you pointers, and you could feel his warm breath on your neck, sending shivers down your spine. You canโt remember the last time you felt this happy and carefree, and you know that it was all thanks to Soobin.
Suddenly you hear the sound of footsteps outside the music room. Soobin immediately freezes and looks towards the door in a panic. You both frantically look around the room for a place to hide, but there's nowhere to go. The music room is large and open, with just a few instruments scattered around and a couple of chairs pushed up against the wall. You're about to panic when Soobin grabs your hand and pulls you towards a small corner of the room, hidden from view. You follow his lead and huddle in the cramped space, your bodies pressed against each other. You try to slow your breathing as the door creaked open and a teacher's voice calls out.
"Is anyone in here? This is a reminder that all students are required to attend their scheduled classes."
Soobin's hand grips yours tightly as the footsteps grow closer. You feel hear your heart beating in your chest and you know that if the teacher found you, youโd be in big trouble. The footsteps stopped just outside the corner where you and Soobin are hiding. You hold your breath as the teacher's shadow looms over you. But to your surprise, the teacher's attention is drawn to a pile of sheet music on a nearby table. He picks it up and starts rifling through the pages, muttering to himself about how unbelievably messy the music room was. You and Soobin exchange a relieved glance and tried to remain as quiet as possible, waiting for the teacher to leave. Soobin's grip on your hand tightens, and you can feel his rapid breaths against your cheek. You look up at him, and your eyes meet his. Even in the dim light, you can see the sparkle in his eyes. You reach out and squeeze his hand reassuringly, hoping to calm him down.
The seconds tick by agonisingly slowly as the teacher seems to hesitate before finally leaving the room, their footsteps fading away as they walk down the hallway. As the door to the music room finally clicked shut, you and Soobin let out a simultaneous sigh of relief. You can feel Soobin's heart racing against your chest, and you wonder if he can feel yours do the same. Your bodies were still pressed against each other, and you could feel the heat emanating from his cheeks as he realised just how close you were. He opens his mouth to apologise, but nothing comes out.
You can't help but smile at how cute he looks when he's flustered. "It's okay, Soobin," you say, still grinning. "I don't mind being pressed up against you like this."
Soobin's eyes widen, and he looks even more embarrassed. "I-I'm sorry," he stammers. "I didn't mean to be so close to you. It's just that we had to hide, and there wasn't enough space."
You laugh, shaking your head. "It's fine, Soobin. I was just teasing you. You don't have to be so nervous."
Soobin nods, still blushing. "Okay," he says softly.
You feel a surge of affection for Soobin, and you can't resist the urge to give him a playful nudge. "You're so cute when you're flustered," you say, grinning.
Soobin's eyes widen even more, and he looks like he's about to pass out. "W-what? I-I'm not cute," he stammers.
You chuckle. "Oh, you are," you say. "Especially when you're all red like that."
Soobin shakes his head, still looking embarrassed. โI-I don't know why you think that," he says.
You canโt help but continue teasing Soobin, his flustered reaction just too cute to resist. "You know, Soobin, you still havenโt moved,โ you quipped, grinning mischievously at him. Soobin's cheeks flush even deeper, his eyes darting away from you.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" His eyes widened, and he opened his mouth to say something, but then your stomach let out a loud rumble, interrupting him. Both of you burst out laughing, and Soobin's tension seemed to ease a bit.
"Looks like you skipped lunch too, huh?" Soobin said, still laughing.
You nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed about your stomach making such a loud noise. โWhat's your favourite food again?"
โUm..bingsu.โ He chuckles, still unable to look you in the eye. You pull away from him, straightening your uniform.
You turn to face Soobin, a mischievous glint in your eyes. "Soobin, come with me. I want to show you something," you say, grabbing his hand once again.
Soobin looks hesitant, his brow furrowing in confusion. "What are you talking about? We can't just leave," he protests softly. โSchool isnโt finished yet.โ
You give him an excited smile. "Trust me, it'll be worth it."
With a small nod, Soobin allows you to lead him out of the music room and into the empty school halls. You take a moment to make sure there are no teachers or students around before continuing on your mission.
"Where are we going?" Soobin asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
"To the secret cafeteria," you reply, your eyes lighting up with excitement. โThey make the best bingsu."
Soobin looks at you sceptically. "And we're going now? During school hours?"
You nod enthusiastically. "Yeah, why not? It's more fun to do things when you're not supposed to." Itโs like Taehyun said, nothing really matters anyway- you live in a manhwa and doing this isnโt causing trouble. If anything youโre not interfering with the story at all.
As the two of you sneak around the halls, you can feel your heart beating faster with excitement. You've always been a bit of a troublemaker, and the thrill of getting caught is only adding to the rush. Soobin, on the other hand, seems to be getting more and more nervous with each passing minute. You can tell he's not used to breaking the rules like this, and the fear of getting caught is starting to weigh on him.
"Are you sure we're not going to get in trouble?" he asks, his voice shaky.
"Relax, Soobin," you reply, trying to sound reassuring. "We'll be back in no time. And even if we do get caught, it'll be worth it for the bingsu."
You lead him through the winding hallways of the school, ducking into alcoves and behind pillars whenever you hear someone coming. As you approach the back of the school, you can feel your heart racing with excitement. Soobin is trailing behind you, looking a little apprehensive. You turn to him with a grin on your face.
"Come on, it'll be fun," you say, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the fence.
Soobin looks up at the fence, which is just low enough to jump over. He looks hesitant, but you can see the excitement in his eyes. With a deep breath, he nods his head and takes a step closer to the fence.
"Okay, let's do it," he says, taking your hand and squeezing it.
You both step back a few feet, preparing to run towards the fence. With a deep breath, you take off towards the fence, Soobin hot on your heels. As you reach the fence, you both leap up and grab onto the top, pulling yourselves over with a bit of effort.
As you land on the other side, you can feel your heart racing with adrenaline. You turn to Soobin, who looks a little shocked but also exhilarated. "That was amazing!" he exclaims, grinning from ear to ear. You both take a moment to catch your breath and let the adrenaline settle.
You stroll down the sunlit street with Soobin by your side, enjoying the warmth of the spring afternoon. The flowers are in full bloom and the air is filled with the sweet scent of cherry blossoms. Soobin looks up at you with a curious expression, trying to catch a glimpse of where you're leading him.
โY/N, where are we going?" he asks, but you simply smile and keep walking.
You smile at him, keeping your lips sealed. "It's a surprise, just trust me," you say, your voice light and playful.
Soobin nods, a small smile on his lips. "Okay, I trust you," he says, his hand brushing against yours.
You lead him down a path that winds through a park, the vibrant colours of blooming flowers and green grass surrounding you. You can feel Soobin's curiosity growing with each step, but you keep your focus on the path ahead. The sun casts a golden glow on everything around you. The air is filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and fresh grass, as the trees rustle gently in the light breeze. The sky is a deep shade of blue, scattered with a few fluffy white clouds. As you walk, you can hear the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.
As you walk through the alleyways, the air is filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers, and the gentle breeze brushes through your hair. The alleyways are lined with small shops, selling all sorts of knick-knacks, from antique books to handmade jewellery. The colours of the shops and the decorations outside make it feel like you're in a different world. The sounds of the bustling city seem to fade away, replaced by the soft chatter of locals and the occasional song from a street musician.
Soobin is looking around in wonder, his eyes taking in every little detail. He keeps asking where you're taking him, but you just smile and say "You'll see." He walks alongside you, his hand brushing against yours occasionally, sending shivers down your spine. You notice how the sun hits his face, making his eyes shine even brighter than usual.
You lead Soobin through the winding alleyways until you reach a small, hidden cafe. The entrance is unassuming, a small sign above the door simply reading "Coffee Shop", but inside is a cosy and inviting atmosphere. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked goods wafts out the door, enticing you both inside.
As you step inside, you're greeted by the sound of soft music and the hum of conversation. The decor is quaint, with exposed brick walls and mismatched furniture, giving the cafe a charming and rustic feel. Soobin looks around in awe, taking in the cosy atmosphere and the eclectic artwork hanging on the walls.
"This place is amazing," he says, his eyes widening in appreciation.
You smile at his reaction, feeling proud to have shared your little secret with him. "I come here sometimes when I need to escape from the chaos of school," you admit.
Mrs Kim, the owner, looks up from the counter and her face lights up with a smile when she sees you. "Well, well, well, look who we have here," she teases, making you feel like a schoolgirl again.
You roll your eyes, grinning. "Mrs Kim, please," you say, trying to hide your embarrassment.
"Who's the lucky guy?" she asks, her eyes flickering towards Soobin. "I've never seen you bring anyone with you before."
Soobin looks at you curiously, and you can feel his gaze on you. You chuckle nervously, feeling a bit embarrassed by Mrs Kim's comment.
"Mrs Kim, this is Soobin," you introduce him, hoping to move past the awkward moment.
Mrs Kim turns her attention to Soobin and smiles warmly. "Nice to meet you, Soobin. You must be a special one if she's brought you here," she says, winking at you.
Soobin looks a bit taken aback by the comment, but he smiles politely. "It's nice to meet you too, Mrs Kim. This place seems really cosy," he says, looking around the quaint cafe.
Mrs Kim nods happily. "Yes, we like to keep it that way. We're a small operation, but we put a lot of love into our coffee," she says, gesturing to the counter where a barista is brewing a fresh pot.
You can't help but smile at the familiarity of it all. The smell of freshly roasted coffee beans fills the air, and the walls are adorned with pictures of local artists and musicians. It's always been a haven for you, and now you get to share it with Soobin.
โWhat can I get you both?โ The older woman smiles, guiding you to your usual spot by the window. Soobin peers at the menu, taking in the assortment of food they serve at the cafe.
โ2 coffees and a strawberry bingsu please.โ Soobin orders, smiling.
"Ah, going for the bingsu, I see," she says with a smirk. "You two must really like each other."
You feel your face turn red as you stammer out a response, but Soobin just chuckles and shakes his head. "Mrs Kim, you're too much," he says with a smile.
Mrs Kim laughs and heads to the back to make your order, leaving you and Soobin alone at the table. You take a deep breath, feeling your nerves settle as you relax in the chill atmosphere of the cafe. Soobin catches your eye and gives you a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, I know she's just teasing us," he says, his tone light and playful. "This place is really nice though, I can see why you like it."
You nod your head, feeling the warmth spread through you at Soobin's words. You can't help but feel grateful for his company, especially in a place that holds so much sentimental value to you.
As you wait for your bingsu to arrive, you and Soobin chat about school, music, and everything in between. You feel at ease in his presence, enjoying the simple pleasure of good company and delicious food.
Eventually, Mrs Kim returns with your bingsu and coffee, setting the frosty bowl down in front of you with a smile. You and Soobin dig into the sweet dessert, savouring the cool, refreshing taste. You catch Soobin's eye and smile, feeling a sense of contentment wash over you.
You take a spoonful of bingsu and close your eyes, savouring the sweetness of the icy dessert. Soobin follows suit and lets out a small sigh of contentment.
"This is so good," he says.
You nod, "Yeah, Mrs Kim makes the best bingsu in town."
He couldn't believe his luck; here he was, sitting with the most popular girl in school, skipping classes and enjoying a delicious bingsu in a secret little cafรฉ tucked away in the alleyways. You were so beautiful, he thought, with your hair slowly swaying by the air of the fan and your eyes sparkling in the warm spring sunlight. He felt his heart race and his cheeks flush, wondering if you could hear the thumping of his heart. "How did you find this place?โ, he turns to you and asks.
You smile at the memory. "It was a rainy day," you begin. "I was walking through the alleyways trying to find a shortcut home, and I saw a small sign for the cafe."
Soobin looks intrigued. "And you decided to come in?"
You nod. "I was curious. It was pouring rain, and the cafe looked so comforting and inviting. Plus, I had never seen it before, and I love discovering new places."
Mrs Kim, who is standing behind the counter, overhears your conversation and chimes in, "And now look at you, a regular customer! Bringing new friends and all!"
You laugh, feeling a little embarrassed. "Well, it's just such a hidden gem. I couldn't keep it to myself forever." Soobin couldn't help but feel grateful for your generosity. He was a quiet, reserved boy, and he didn't have many friends. But here you were, sharing your little secret with him, he couldnโt help but feel a bit special.
Mrs Kim brings over refills for the bingsu, she gives you and Soobin a mischievous grin. "So, are you two lovebirds dating now?" she asks, making Soobin choke on his bingsu.
You laugh, feeling a little flustered but mostly amused by Mrs Kim's teasing. "No, Mrs Kim," you reply. "We're just friends hanging out."
Mrs Kim raises an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Uh huh, just friends," she says with a knowing smile. She clucks her tongue in disapproval. "You should be dating, dear. It's been too long since that Dongsik broke your heart. It's high time you found yourself a new boyfriend."
You sigh, "Mrs Kim, we're just here to enjoy some bingsu, not to talk about my love life."
She waves a dismissive hand. "Oh, I know, I know. I'm just teasing you. But honestly, Soobin here would make a great boyfriend. He's such a nice young man."
Soobin looks like he's about to die of embarrassment. "Mrs Kim, please," he mumbles, looking down at his bingsu.
Mrs Kim shrugs and gives you a knowing smile. "Well, you never know. Sometimes the best relationships start as friendships." You roll your eyes playfully, but can't help but feel a little flustered. Mrs Kim always seemed to know more than she let on.
As Mrs Kim leaves to attend to another customer, you turn to Soobin and give him a reassuring smile, โIโm so sorry about her.โ
Soobin nods, but you can tell he's still a little flustered, โItโs alright.โ
Soobin pauses for a moment as if debating to say something. โAre you okay?" Soobin asks softly, โAbout the entire Dongsik thing?โ
You let out a small sigh. It's been a few months since the break-up and the drama seems to have died down, but the memory still stings a little. You shrug and offer a small smile. "I'm fine, really. It was just a high school relationship, you know? It's not like it was going to last forever."
Soobin nods, but he still looks concerned. You can't help but appreciate his kind heart. Even though he's not Yeonjun, he still cares enough to ask about your well-being.
You find your mind wandering back to your past relationship with Dongsik. You remember how everyone in school was excited when the two of you started dating, how you were suddenly the IT couple that everyone looked up to. But deep down, you never felt the same way about Dongsik as he did about you. At the time, you thought it was just because you were still young and didn't know what love was supposed to feel like. But now, looking back, you realise that it was all just a part of the story. The writer had planned for you to be with Dongsik, to create drama and tension in the plot. And you had unknowingly played your part. Dongsik was a piece of shit, and you canโt believe the author made you date him for over a year.
Soobin looks nervous as he fiddles with his spoon, staring down at the half-eaten bingsu. He takes a deep breath before finally asking the question that's been weighing on his mind.
"Y/N, do you think you'll get back together with Dongsik?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.
You can't help but chuckle at his question, knowing that the answer is a resounding no. You shake your head and reply, "No, Soobin. I don't think I'll ever get back together with him."
Soobin seems relieved at your answer, his shoulders relaxing a bit as he takes a sip of his drink. You smile at him, feeling a sense of happiness that he cares for your well-being.
"Don't worry about me, Soobin. I'm doing just fine. And besides, there are plenty of other guys out there. I'll find someone who's right for me eventually."
Soobin nods, a small smile gracing his lips. "Yeah, you will. And he'll be lucky to have you."
You feel your cheeks heat up at his compliment, and you quickly turn away, hoping he doesn't notice.
Suddenly, Soobin clears his throat and looks up at you with a small smile on his face. "Um, Y/Nโฆ I just wanted to say thank you for bringing me here. I've never been to a place like this before, and I'm really enjoying myself."
You can't help but feel a warm sensation in your chest as you watch Soobin speak. His voice is soft and gentle, and it's clear that he's trying his best to express his gratitude to you.
"It's no problem, Soobin," you reply with a grin. "I'm happy to have you here with me." Soobin's face turns bright red at your words, and he looks down at his lap, still fidgeting with his hands. It's clear that he's not used to receiving compliments or attention from someone like you. But you can't help but feel drawn to Soobin's shyness and vulnerability. It's refreshing to spend time with someone who isn't trying to put on a front or impress you all the time.
As you both continue to enjoy your bingsu, you take a moment to appreciate the simple pleasure of just sitting and chatting with Soobin. There's no pressure to impress each other or keep up appearances, just two people enjoying each other's company in a quiet corner of the city. The thought of Yeonjun briefly crosses your mind, but you quickly dismiss it. You're allowed to have fun and make memories with other people, regardless of your crush on the main character of this manhwa. For once, you're living in the shadow and free to do as you please.
๐๐ฎ๐ด๐น๐ถ๐๐ - @fairyofshampgyu @human-misery @goldennika @multistansimp4life @blondsoobinenthusiast @captivq ~ lmk if you want to be part of the taglist ๐๐โผ๏ธโผ๏ธ
๐ฎ/๐ป - LMAO I DONT KNOW WHAT POSSESSED ME. I couldn't have written this without @jsungology (thank you sm ๐ซ) but anyways- this is my first ever smut so PLEASE go easy on me.
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด - LOTS OF KISSING, oral (m receiving), possessiveness, voyeurism, slut shaming
You stumbled into your apartment, arm in arm with your boyfriend Yeonjun after a long night of partying. The alcohol had definitely gotten to you, making you feel a bit unsteady on your feet. You stumbled forward a bit, causing Yeonjun to tighten his grip on you, steadying you.
As you fumbled with your keys to unlock the door, you could feel Yeonjun's gaze burning into you. Finally, the door swung open, and you both stumbled in, letting out a sigh of relief at being home.
But before you could even take your shoes off, Yeonjun's voice cut through the air like a knife. "What the hell were you doing with Soobin?" You froze, your heart sinking in your chest. You remembered having a few laughs with Yeonjun's friend at the party, but you didn't think anything of it. You certainly weren't flirting with him.
"What are you talking about?" you asked, trying to keep your voice steady.
"Don't play dumb with me, Y/N," Yeonjun growled, his eyes flashing with anger. "I saw you laughing and hanging all over him all night."
"I wasn't flirting with him, Yeonjun. We were just talking and having a good time," you said, trying to reason with him.
But Yeonjun wasn't having any of it. In one swift motion, he grabbed your face, pressing his lips to yours in a frenzy. The tension between you is palpable. You can feel the heat emanating from his body, and it draws you closer to him. Without saying a word, he takes your face in his hands, and his lips meet yours in a fierce, passionate kiss. You can feel his desire for you in the way he holds you, his fingers digging into your skin, pulling you closer to him. The intensity of the moment takes your breath away, and you surrender yourself completely to him. Your tongues dance together, exploring each other with a hunger that only deepens the passion between you.
Pinning you against the bed, pressing his body flush against yours, Yeonjun captures your lips in a desperate kiss. His hot breath fills your mouth as he grabs your hips in an almost bruising grip. You snake your hands into his black hair, twisting the strands between your fingers.
You gasp as he bites down on your bottom lip, your lips parting slightly. He shoves his tongue in your mouth, deepening the kiss. His hands move up your body, feeling up your curves making you shiver.
You break apart, your lips stinging, panting hard. Yeonjunโs hair is dishevelled, and his lips are swollen red. He has never looked more irresistible.
His mouth moves to your neck, kissing and biting, leaving his mark. A whimper leaves your lips as his teeth graze your collarbone. โYeonjun.. slow down,โ You say between kisses, breaking the kiss to breathe โIโm s-sorry.โ
Yeonjun growls, gripping your jaw with his big hands. He doesnโt say a single word, taking your face in his hands and pulling you into a deep, passionate kiss. The way his tongue slides against yours sends a shiver down your spine, and you find yourself lost in the sensation. Despite the urgency of what you were trying to say, you can't help but surrender to the moment, to the heat that's building between you.
You feel the heat between your legs grow by the second, Yeonjun knows just how to get you worked up, pinning you deeper into the mattress. His hands slip under your tank top, leaving a trail of goosebumps up and down your back, trailing from your chest to your waist. He groans against your mouth as he moves his hands underneath your shirt.
โNo bra?โ Yeonjunโs dark eyes bore into yours, making you squirm.
You can only whine in response as he slides a thumb over your nipple, sending electricity rippling through your body, straight between your legs. You gasp as he pinches your nipple, feeling it harden between his fingertips.
He shoves your top up, feeling the dips and curves of your body. His breath is hot against your chest, as he kisses and licks slowly downwards. His tongue swirls the tip of your nipple, and you whimper as he pinches and pulls the other.
Yeonjun pulls you into his lap, your skirt hitching up slightly. His throbbing erection is pressed against your ass and you can feel how much he wants you. Yeonjun groans as you grind your hips against him, to try and create friction to please the throbbing between your legs.
He holds your waist, keeping you still. โNot so fast, baby.โ He shoves you off him, standing up. He slowly undoes his zipper, and his trousers fall to the floor. He kicked them out of the way, joining the other pile of discarded clothes.
Your eyes fixate on his barely contained erection, restricted in his underwear. You reach up and slowly pull them down, eyes wide. His cock springs free, and you almost drool. Yeonjun is big. And wide. And how is that gonna fit?
He grabs you by the chin. โSuck it.โ
You grab his cock in one hand. Damn, he makes your hand look tiny. You slowly move your hand up and down, your thumb grazing over the head and slit. A small bead of precum is forming at the top. You twist your wrist, as your hand moves faster, Yeonjun groans when you lightly lick the head.
He grips you harshly by the hair. โI said suck it.โ
You whimper at the pain. You lick a quick stripe up the bottom of his cock, before leaning forward to wrap your lips around the tip. Your tongue swirling around the head and licking up the precum that leaks from his slit.
You slowly take him inch by inch, your hand twisting around the base. You think youโre doing pretty well, considering his size and all.
Until Yeonjun gets impatient.
He grabs you by the hair and shoves your head all the way down to the base. You gag, tears pricking your eyes, your throat burning. You swallow around him, trying to get comfortable.
โThatโs better.โ
He drags you back up, only to slam you mercilessly back down into his crotch again. He thrusts his hips to meet your mouth, his groans and gasps filling the air.
โFuck, baby.โ He moaned, his fingers digging into your scalp. โThat pretty little mouth of yours is good for something after all.โ
You grip his thighs to keep yourself steady, his onslaught relentless. Your eyes roll back into your head and your throat is sore, the head of his fat cock constantly ramming into it. You swallow thickly, drool and saliva leaking out around your mouth, onto his cock.
His pace quickens as he gets closer to his high, his fist in your hair tightening painfully.
โG-good girlโฆโ He gasps out.
You feel warm liquid splash in your mouth as he pulls out, and you quickly swallow, leaving behind a salty taste. You stick your tongue out, silently begging for more, Yeonjun pumps his cock, milking the last few drops for all he's worth.
You close your mouth and swallow again, leaning back against the bed. You close your eyes, smiling in satisfaction. Yeonjun leans down, cupping your cheek, wiping off the cum that had missed your mouth. He kisses you, and this time you're the one pulling him closer, wrapping your arms around his neck, your tongue pushing into his mouth.
You feel a finger trail down the lace of your soaked panties, your head lolling against his shoulder at the contact.
He laughs, moving his finger along your wet patch, slipping a finger into your wet hole. You gasp, surprised, but thatโs when he pulls his finger out. โYouโre soaking.โ He murmurs. His lips curl into a small smile, taking in the pleasure on your face, his eyes flashing as his fingers move to your clit, setting you squirming with want.
He leans forward, kissing you hungrily, his hand pulling your head back towards his while he holds you in place, finger still inside of you.
Your body is on fire, aroused to a degree youโve never even felt before. Your body is begging him to penetrate you further. His finger moved inside of you rhythmically, while his other finger abused your clit. His thumb presses against your clit, making you shiver. He roughly shoves your thighs apart, as he reaches the apex of his stroke.ย
"More, Yeonjun.. more." You beg out to him. You are so sensitive in this moment, and you need his fingers in you now more than anything. His left-hand moves from your breast and goes down between your legs and cupped around your throbbing clit. He increases the rhythm of his fingers inside your pussy while licking your clit. You can feel the sensation building inside of you as he slides his fingers in and out.
"Come on, princess" He croons in your ear, almost in a mocking way. His fingers increase the pace as he slides in and out of your sopping pussy. You can feel yourself building up fast. You bite your lips, your mind hazy with pleasure.
Youโre about to reach your limit, but yet you desperately want more. You donโt want it to end. You beg him to be with you in any way possible, in fact, you just let out spiralling nonsense about being his fucktoy.
โGod, baby youโre such a slut.โ He groans out, the sight of you making him hard again, โDo you know that?โ
You barely register his words, your eyes rolling back in pleasure. You just feel the heat of his tongue against your clitoris, first licking and teasing it, then pushing inside of you, fast, hard, slicked with the traces of your own juices.
You're about to reach your high, your body shaking in anticipation of your orgasm. You find yourself holding your breath. Your hips grind against Yeonjun's hand, thigh clenching around hand. This is it. You canโt take it anymore. Your hips roll in pleasure, moaning his name in a way youโve never moaned before. You pushed his head further between your legs as you whined and cried out his name, back arching as your orgasm wracked your body. Your thighs shake as he licks you through your high.
You feel him smile against your skin, โYou taste delicious Y/Nโ The vibrations of his voice reverberating deliciously against your tingly skin.
His chin is covered and he wipes his face with the back of his hand, before shoving the two fingers that had been inside back into your mouth.
You lick the slick that coated them, sucking them clean.
โDid you like that? Did I make you feel good?โ
You shakily nod your head as you collapse back into the sheets, your body tired.
โOh Y/N,โ he smirks. โWeโre not done yet.โ
He roughly grabs your hips, pinching the skin between his fingers, dragging your spent body back towards him. He grabs his cock and you feel him rub his tip up and down your entrance, collecting the fluid that remains there. He wipes the slick up and down his cock, before slowly pushing in the tip.
You gasp, as you feel yourself stretch around him, as he pushes into you inch by inch. Yeonjun jerks his hips, and you let out a cry as he is suddenly all the way inside. He grabs you harshly by the hips, before pulling out and burying himself all the way back in again.
buzz buzz buzz
Your phone vibrates.
Yeonjun pauses.
Your eyes snap open, watching as he silently glances at the screen. He is still for a moment before his face is twisting into a grin. He taps a few buttons, then rests it on the bed next to you.
Your eyes widen as you realise what he's done. Yeonjun picks up his pace again, pressing a single finger to his lips.
โY/N?โ A soft voice sounds from the phone, and you almost cry when you realise who it is.
โSoobin..โ You reply back, trying your best to keep your voice even. You bite down on your lips, as Yeonjun just watches you, a smirk playing on his lips.
โIs everything okay? I didnโt see you leave.โ The older manโs voice bounces from the phone.
โY-yeah..โ You gasped, trailing off. Your heart feels as if it's in your mouth, beating rapidly faster, your breathing coming out in muffled gasps. Your eyes lock with your boyfriend, his lips twisted in a smug smile, his black hair bouncing.
Soobin sounded concerned. โAre you sure? You sound out of breath.โ You hope and pray Soobin didnโt pick up on your low moans, or the sound of Yeonjunโs skin slapping yours.
โOh my god..โ You cover your mouth to try and stifle your moans. Your thoughts started to cloud, mind going hazy. You were near your limit again and right now the only thing that mattered to you was that sweet release.
โY/N, are youโโ Soobin asked, despite already having an idea of what was going on.
Yeonjun presses you impossibly further into the mattress, your legs are jelly, your breaths coming in rapid gasps. Yeonjun laughs, snatching the phone off the bed.
Yeonjun laughs into the phone, watching you get undone beneath him. He moves the phone closer to you, letting Soobin hear your sweet moans. On the other side of the line, Soobin stands against the wall in a crowded room, the tent in his trousers only getting more obvious. Unable to keep your moans in, you whined on the bed as Yeonjun hit that spot inside you.
โHear that, Soobin?โ Yeonjun shoves two fingers into your mouth, pumping them slowly, making you gag, and sob in pleasure. โHear how good I make her feel?โ And with that Yeonjun hangs up.
Yeonjun groans against your neck, his movements becoming unsteady as he gets closer and closer. Your left mumbling and moaning incoherently, your legs feel like jelly, and you can barely think as pleasure takes over your brain, rolling over you in waves as you orgasm. He keeps moving, making you cry out and shake, begging him to stop, your body still overly sensitive. Yeonjun is soon to follow, burying himself deep inside you as he cums.
Yeonjun looked at you with a soft expression as he gently traced his fingers over the marks he had left on your skin. You were still panting, your body feeling weak and spent, but the sex had so been worth it.
"I'm sorry for getting jealous earlier," he murmured, his voice laced with concern.
"It's okay," you reassured him, "I understand why you got upset."
Yeonjun moved to sit up, his arms wrapping around you and pulling you into a tight embrace. He held you close, gently rubbing your back as you both caught your breath.
You looked up at him, cupping his face in your hands and forcing him to meet your gaze. "You won't lose me," you promised. "I'm here, I'm not going anywhere."
Yeonjun leaned down to kiss you, his lips gentle and loving. He didn't need to say anything more; his actions spoke louder than words ever could. He cared about you deeply, and he was willing to do whatever it took to keep you in his life.
You reached out and took his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "I love you, Yeonjun. You don't have anything to worry about."
Yeonjun smiled at you, his eyes filled with love. "I love you too, more than anything in this world."
Your head was clouded with everything Taehyun told you yesterday. To a point where youโre questioning the purpose of life. If you really are just a character in a manhwa, what's the point of even trying to achieve anything? Does anything you do actually matter in the grand scheme of things?
In all honesty, you havenโt been handling it well. Everything just makes sense now- just how convenient your life really was.ย
โY/N!โ A voice calls out your name, before you can turn around, the speaker catches up to you. โCan we walk to school together?โย
You pierce a nail into the plush of your hand, making sure youโre still in the shadow. Okay cool. Youโre in the shadow. โYeonjun! Hi!โ You say, โYeah sure!โ You nod a little too eagerly.ย
โWhere did you disappear to yesterday?โ He asks, his eyes shining with curiosity. You freeze momentarily. Didnโt Taehyun say that people donโt notice when you do your own thing? Why did Yeonjun notice?ย
โJust needed to talk to a friendโ You laugh awkwardly. โWait how do you know my name?โย
He laughs, pointing to your name badge, โPlus youโre quite hard to miss around school.โย
You feel your face redden with embarrassment, you let out a small โohโ in response. โH-How are you finding school so far?โย
As you walk, you can't help but notice how different he looks in the daylight. His features seem sharper, his eyes brighter. You realise that he's even more beautiful than you thought.
โItโs massive! I got so lost yesterday.โ He says in a mock sad tone.ย
โAww, Iโm sorry!โ You sympathise, remembering how lost you were when you first started school. โMaybe I can show you around.โย
โYou donโt mind?โย
โYeah! We have a lot of the same classes donโt we?โย
โYouโre a lifesaver Y/N.โ As Yeonjun smiles at you, his eyes sparkling with joy, you can feel your heart fluttering in your chest. You try to maintain your composure, but his smile is so charming and infectious that it's hard not to get flustered. You feel your cheeks turning red as you look away, trying to hide your embarrassment.
As it turns out, heโs very easy to have a conversation with, mostly dominating the conversation. Youโre glad he is because all of a sudden youโve become completely incapable of speaking as if the tall man beside you has injected you with some sort of poison.ย
โGood morning Y/N!โ Some of your classmates call out, waving to you. You wave back, greeting them in return.ย
Yeonjun smirks as he watches you interact with your friends. "Looks like you're the queen bee around here," he says teasingly.
You roll your eyes. "No, I just know a lot of people."
He raises an eyebrow. "Sure, sure. You don't have to be modest. It's cute."
You blush and look away, feeling your heart race at his words. "Stop it," you mumble.
Yeonjun laughs. "What? I'm just stating the truth. You're popular and beautiful. It's hard not to notice."
You feel even more flustered and try to change the subject. โSo, are you interested in any extracurriculars?โย
Yeonjun nods, "Yeah, I'm actually planning on trying out for the football team."
"Really?" You reply, acting as if you didnโt already know. "I had no idea you played." It was an obvious choice really. Taehyun is also on the football team and heโs supposed to be Yeonjunโs friend. The story is already falling into place.ย
"Yeah, I've played for years," he says. "It's always been a passion of mine."
โI can introduce you to the captain of the football team, Johnny Suh.โ You mention, turning to Yeonjun.ย
Yeonjun lets out a small laugh, playfully nudging you with his elbow, โYou really are popular arenโt you?โย
You smile and roll your eyes. "I'm not that popular," you say. "Johnny and I just have a class together, that's all."
Yeonjun chuckles. "Sure, sure," he says teasingly. "You just happen to know everyone in school."
You laugh and playfully shove him. "Shut up," you say, still grinning.
"Okay, okay," he says, holding up his hands in surrender. "But seriously, can you introduce me to Johnny? I want to make a good impression at tryouts."
"Of course," you say, nodding. "I'll talk to him in class today and let him know you're interested in joining the team. I'm sure he'll be happy to meet you."
Yeonjun nods, looking grateful. "You really are a lifesaver Y/N. I donโt know what Iโd do without you.โย
"No problem," you say with a smile. Youโd be lying if you said your heart didnโt flutter a bit. Itโs a bit stupid you know, you donโt even know Yeonjun. But you canโt deny how charismatic and flirty he is, anyone would be flustered by him.ย
Clickย
You feel that paralysing sensation again and that can only mean one thing. Youโre on stage. You continue walking with Yeonjun to your homeroom, your movements feeling heavy. It's as if you're watching yourself from a distance, unable to break free from some invisible force that's guiding you. You try to shake off the feeling, but it only gets stronger as you get closer to your classroom. You feel like you're in a dream, where everything is hazy and distorted.
"Hey, do you know Misun?" Yeonjun asks, breaking the silence. You can feel the twinge of jealousy flow through you. Misunโฆsheโs the main lead. Yeonjunโs love interest. You can see his gaze soften when he spots Misun sitting alone near the window.ย
ย "Misun? Kinda. Why do you ask?" The words flow out of your mouth. You have to play your role, you have no choice but to.ย
ย "I don't know. She just seems really interesting to me. She's always so quiet and keeps to herself. I wonder what she's thinking about.โ Yeonjun answers, smiling lightly at the sight of her. You want to roll your eyes,ย โcan he make it any more obvious that he likes her?โย At least you think freely while youโre on stage.
โWhat is she like?โ
You hesitate for a moment, not sure how to answer. You've never really talked to Misun, so you don't know much about her personality. But you don't want to seem unhelpful, so you try to come up with something positive. "I'm not really sure. I don't know her that well, to be honest. She doesnโt really have many friends.โย
โOh.โ He pouts. โDo you think I should talk to her?โ
โGod heโs so cute when he poutsโย You think to yourselfโ HOLD UP! You push your thoughts away, you canโt find him cute while heโs openly checking out someone else.
"Yeah, definitely,โ you affirm, hoping it sounds convincing.
Yeonjun nods thoughtfully, and you can tell he's still interested in Misun. You feel a pang of jealousy, wondering why he's so curious about her when he could be spending time with you. Youโre so much more interesting than she is and you damn well you can treat him right. Youโve read quite a few romance manhwas in your lifetime and you know well enough that their relationship is going to be so toxic.ย
As you arrive at your homeroom, you say goodbye to Yeonjun, taking your seat next to Yunjin, trying to shake off your jealous feelings. You remind yourself that he's just a character in a manhwa and that Misun is the main lead. You're just a second lead, a popular girl who doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things.ย
Click
The second you entered the shadow you whip your head back to look at Yeonjun, whoโs sitting a couple of desks behind you. You can see him eyeing Misun, a small smile playing on his lips. You watch as he studies her, his expression thoughtful and curious. Misun seems to be completely unaware of his gaze, lost in her own thoughts as she stares out of the window.
You can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy as you watch Yeonjun's interest in Misun. You had hoped that maybe he would be interested in you, but it seems that his attention has been drawn to someone else. You try to shake off the feeling, reminding yourself that it's not your place to be jealous or possessive. Yeonjun is free to like whomever he wants, and it's not up to you to decide who he should be interested in. Besides itโd be stupid for you to like Yeonjun, you already know you canโt have him. You shouldnโt let yourself get swayed by him.ย
As you're lost in your thoughts, staring at Yeonjun and Misun, you suddenly feel a nudge on your shoulder. You turn to see your friend Yunjin grinning at you mischievously.
"Hey, what's going on over here? You've been staring at Yeonjun for the past five minutes."ย
You feel a blush rise to your cheeks as you realise you've been caught. You try to play it cool, shrugging nonchalantly.
โOh, it's nothing. I was just lost in thought."
Yunjin doesn't seem convinced, however, and she continues to tease you. "Come on, spill it. Do you like him?"
You feel a sudden surge of panic at her question. You donโt want like Yeonjun but you canโt lie and say you arenโt interested- he's certainly attractive and kind. And yet, the thought of him being interested in someone else makes your heart ache a little. Just a little. "No, of course not. I barely even know him.โ
Yunjin seems to accept your answer, but you can tell she's still suspicious.ย
Suddenly, you feel a shift in the air, and you realize that Yeonjun has turned to look at you. Your eyes meet his, and for a moment, time seems to stand still. You feel a flutter in your chest as you look into his deep brown eyes, wondering what he's thinking. You awkwardly smile, giving him a small wave.ย
He smiles back, reciprocating the wave before turning back to look at Misun.ย
You're so fucked, you definitely like Yeonjun
You walk into the music room, feeling frustrated and a little bit lost. You can hear the soft strains of Taehyunโs guitar playing drifting through the air, and you pause for a moment, taking it all in. It's not until you move closer that Taehyun looks up, startled by your sudden appearance. "Oh, hey. You scared me. What's up?"
He scotches over, giving you space to sit next to him.
"I need to win over Yeonjun," you say, frowning. "I can't keep being the second lead." Maybe you are egotistical but you canโt sit back and take being the second lead. You know your worth and you know you deserve better. You canโt bare the thought of not having control in your life.
Taehyun raises an eyebrow, "You do realise we're living in a manhwa, right? You can't change the storyline."
"I know that," you say, a hint of desperation in your voice. "But maybe we can try to change things a little bit. You're Yeonjun's friend in the manhwa, right? Maybe you can help me out."
Taehyun shakes his head, "I don't think it's a good idea. You can't just go against the writer's intentions. Besides, who's to say that you and Yeonjun are meant to be together?"
โI canโt stand being the second lead Taehyun, itโs torture!โ, you say, feeling frustrated. "I can't just sit back and watch as he falls for Misun.โ
Taehyun puts his hand on your shoulder, โI understand how you feel but I donโt think we should try to change the storyline. I donโt know the effects of changing the storyline.. but I canโt imagine it being positive.โ
"I know we can't change the storyline, but we can try to get closer to him in the shadow. Maybe we can create a new storyline for ourselves," you say, determined.
Taehyun sighs, "Fine. But you have to promise me that you won't get your hopes up. We can't control what happens on the stage."
"I promise," you say, feeling grateful that Taehyun has agreed to help. "What should we do first?"
"Well, for starters, I think you need to develop some hobbies and interests," Taehyun says, looking over at you. "Even though you're an all-rounder, you don't really have definitive interests that can appeal to Yeonjun."
You furrow your brow, "What do you mean? I play sports, I'm a good student, and I'm popular in school. Isn't that enough?"
Taehyun shrugs, "Those are all great things, but they don't make you unique. You need to find something that sets you apart from everyone else."
You think about it for a moment, "I guess you're right. But what should I do?" Taehyun is right, you should get into something that makes you unique. The writer made Misun an artist, maybe thatโs why she stands out to Yeonjun.
Taehyun thinks for a moment before saying, "I donโt know, probably something you can do in your free time without the writer interfering." He turns to look at you, โWhat sounds interesting to you?โ
You rack your brain for things you find interesting, not a single thing comes to mind. Sure, you play video games with Sakura and Beomgyu and you go binge-watch dramas with Yunjin but those arenโt really unique.
What is it that the main characters in manhwas like doing? READING! They like reading! You've always been a good student and enjoyed learning, but you've never really read for pleasure before. How hard can reading be? Not like youโre going to be tested on it, you just need to seem interesting.
โReading!โ You exclaim, slightly alarming the boy next to you, โAll main characters love reading.โ
โAlright, do you know where to start?โ
You grin sheepishly, โNo..but you can help me right! You hang out in the library!โ
โOnly really for the manhwa, not for actually reading stuff.โ Your face falls at his confession. You donโt know a single thing about books, youโve only ever read webtoons and books you get in literature class.
โDonโt worry though, I have an idea.โ Taehyun grins, leaning back. โThereโs this guy in your literature class, Choi Soobin. He's always in the library, reading books. Maybe you could talk to him and see what he's reading."
Choi Soobin? Youโve always been vaguely aware of his existence despite never actually speaking to him. Heโs a pretty hard person to miss, especially since heโs an absolute giant. You know that heโs really good at literature, almost always getting top grades. Other than that you donโt really know anything about him.
You nod slowly, "That's a good idea. I've seen him around before, but I've never talked to him. Do you think he'd be okay with me just approaching him like that?"
Taehyun shrugs, โIs me saying no really going to affect whether youโll do it or not?โ You shake your head. He grins, โI thought so.โ
You leap to your feet, motivation coursing through your veins. โThank you Taehyun! Iโm going to go find Soobin now.โ
Thereโs no way Yeonjun wonโt like you know. Youโll make sure he does.
You walk through the bustling halls of the school, keeping an eye out for Soobin. You scan the faces of the passing students, but you don't see him anywhere. Your heart starts to race as you worry that you won't be able to find him. What if he isnโt at school today?ย
You make your way to the library, your eyes darting around as you look for any sign of the quiet boy. As you step into the hushed room, the sound of shuffling pages fills your ears. You see a blonde-haired boy sitting alone at a desk, engrossed in a book.ย
There he is! Soobin! As you get closer, you notice how tall he is, towering over most of the other students in the library. You approach his table and clear your throat softly to get his attention. You take a deep breath and sit down in the chair opposite Soobin's. He looks up from his book, surprised to see you there. You can see the nervousness in his eyes, and you try to smile to put him at ease.
"Hey, Soobin, right? I'm Y/N. Weโre in the same Lit class!"
Soobin looks at you, his eyes widening in surprise. "Oh, hi Y/N," he says quietly, still looking a bit nervous. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"Yeah, I just wanted to come say hi and see what you were reading," you say, nodding toward the book in front of him. "Is it good?"
Soobin nods slowly, still looking a little hesitant. "Uh, yeah."
You give him a reassuring smile. "I've seen you around the library a lot, and I was wondering if you could recommend any good books."
Soobin's eyes widen in surprise. "Really? I mean, I like reading a lot, but I never really thought anyone else did. Um, let me think..." He starts rifling through the stack of books on his desk, looking for something to recommend.ย
You watch as Soobin scrambles through the books on the table, his fingers flicking through the pages as he searches for something to recommend. His eyes scan the covers and his brows furrow in concentration, as if he's trying to find the perfect book for you.
Finally, he pulls out a thin, well-worn paperback and hands it to you. "This one is my favourite," he says quietly, almost shyly.
You take the book from him and look at the cover. It's a classic novel, one that you've heard of but never read. You can't help but be impressed that Soobin's taste in literature is so sophisticated.
"Thank you, Soobin," you say sincerely, standing up "I can't wait to read it."
Soobin nods, still looking a bit nervous. "You're welcome. Let me know what you think."
You give a small smile before walking away. You hold the book that Soobin had recommended, you couldn't help but be intrigued by its cover. The dark and eerie artwork on the front immediately caught your eye. The cover was adorned with a black beetle, its exoskeleton glistening in the light, and its long, spindly legs looked like they were poised to scuttle away. You traced your fingers over the raised edges of the beetle and wondered what significance it held in the book. The title "Metamorphosis" was written in bold, capitalised letters that seemed to jump off the page. You canโt lie, it did look very captivating.ย
As you were leaving the library with the book Soobin recommended, you suddenly heard a familiar voice calling out your name. You turned around and saw your friend Kai walking towards you with a smirk on his face.
"Hey there, Y/N. What's with the book?" he asked, teasingly.
You tried to hide the book behind your back and gave Kai a sheepish smile. "Just felt like reading something, you know?" you replied, hoping he wouldn't press any further.
Hyuka raised an eyebrow at you, clearly not convinced. "Oh really? Since when do you read for fun? You're always so busy with your extracurriculars and hanging out with us."
You felt a little embarrassed, knowing that Kai was right. You didn't usually have much free time to read, but you didn't want to admit to him that you were trying to impress Yeonjun by developing a new interest.
"Yeah, well, I just wanted to try something new, that's all," you said, hoping he would drop the subject. Kai took your arm and began to drag you towards the courtyard, where some of your friends were already gathered. "Come on, Y/N, we're all gonna hang out together," he said, dropping the subject.ย
You couldn't help but smile at Kai's enthusiasm, and you allowed him to lead you outside. As you walked, you clutched the book Soobin had given you tightly to your chest, feeling a newfound sense of purpose.
When you arrived at the courtyard, you were greeted with smiles and waves from your friends. Yunjin looks up from her phone and exclaimed, "Y/N, you're here! What are you reading?"
You hesitate for a moment, not wanting to reveal the truth about Soobin. "Oh, just a book I picked up at the library," you say nonchalantly.
Kai, who was still standing next to you, rolls his eyes playfully. โNever thought Iโd see a day where Y/N would pick up a book.โ he teases, causing everyone to laugh.
You couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed, but you try to play it off, holding up the book for everyone to see.
Yunjin leans over to get a better look at the cover. "Metamorphosis, huh? That looks interesting," she comments.
Beomgyu, who had been sitting on the ground, got up and walked over to you. "I've read that one before," he says. "It's kind of weird, but in a good way."
"Have you guys heard about the new guy?" Mark asks suddenly, looking around at the group. "He wants to join the football team."
"Really?" Beomgyu says, perking up. "I wonder if he's any good."
"He's got some skills," Haechan chimes in. "Y/N here even recommended him to Johnny."
Everyone turns to look at you and you feel your face flush. "I just thought he seemed like he had potential," you mumble.
Yunjin, always the playful one, grins mischievously. "Or maybe you just have a crush on him," she teases.
You feel your face turning red and quickly deny it, "What are you talking about? I don't have a crush on him." You feel a knot form in your stomach. You can't let them know that you do have a crush on Yeonjun, especially since Taehyun had warned you about not trying to change the storyline. โHe's just an attractive guy, that's all.โ
The group erupts in laughter again, teasing you about your crush on Yeonjun. You can feel your cheeks getting hot with embarrassment, but you try to push the thoughts out of your head.ย
You do kind of like Yeonjun, itโs a bit too early to tell but you do know that you canโt be stuck as the second lead. Your eyes flicker down to the book you got from the library early.ย
Right, you should probably start reading that now if you want to impress Yeonjun. You open the book gently, your eyes taking in the words.ย
As your friends continue their chatter about Yeonjun and the many rumours that surround him, you feel yourself slowly drifting away from the conversation. You begin to lose yourself in the pages of the book, finding yourself getting lost in the intricate details of the narrative. You couldnโt stop yourself from turning the pages, your eyes feasting on the words on the aged paper. The world around you fades away as you delve deeper into the pages of the book.
Your thoughts are interrupted as Yunjin nudges you, informing you that itโs time for class. You pick up your backpack and start walking towards your next class, weaving your way through the busy school corridors. You try to dodge past groups of chatty teenagers and avoid tripping over any stray backpacks or feet that are sticking out into the walkway. Your mind keeps floating back to metamorphosis. Soobin was right to have it as one of his favourite books. It was so addictive you finished the whole thing in one sitting. You know you shouldnโt be patting your back just yet, itโs only one book; but still, you feel accomplished to be working towards your goal.
You walk into the classroom, the sound of chatter and shuffling of chairs greets your ears. You scan the room, your eyes landing on the back row where you usually sit. That's when you see him - Soobin. He's sitting in his usual seat, his tall frame hunched over a notebook, his face obscured by a curtain of blonde hair.
You smile skipping over to his desk, "Soobin," you greeted him cheerfully, "I finished the book you recommended to me. It was really good!"
Soobin looked up at you in surprise, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Already?" he asked, clearly taken aback by your quick reading pace.
You nodded enthusiastically, taking a seat next to him. "Yeah, I couldn't put it down. Your recommendation was spot on."
Soobin smiled softly at your words, a hint of pink creeping onto his cheeks. "I'm glad you enjoyed it," he replied quietly, still seemingly surprised by your eagerness.
"I'm really grateful that you recommended the book to me," you said sincerely, flashing him another smile. "I never would have thought to read it if you hadn't suggested it."
Soobin nodded in response, his eyes meeting yours briefly before he quickly looked away. You could tell he was still a little shy and nervous around you.
โDo you have any more recommendations?โ You ask, moving closer to him.
Soobin seems taken aback by your request as if he wasn't expecting you to ask him for another recommendation so soon. "Uh, sure," he says, setting his book down on the desk. "What kind of book are you in the mood for?"
You think for a moment, considering your options. "I'm open to anything, really," you reply. "What's your favourite book?"
Soobin hesitates for a moment before answering as if he's not used to talking about his personal favourites. "Well, I really like The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger," he says finally. "It's a classic coming-of-age story, but itโs longer than Metamorphosis.โ
You nod, displaying a proud smile. "I've heard of that one before!โ Soobin lets out a gentle laugh before reaching into his bag and pulling out the book.
"Here," he says, handing it to you. "I have a copy you can borrow."
You smile as Soobin hands you his copy of the book, thanking him for the recommendation. As you take the book, you pause for a moment, looking at the cover before asking, "Are you sure it's okay that I take your copy?"
Soobin nods, "Yeah, it's fine. I've read it a few times already, and I think you'll like it."
You nod, tucking the book under your arm, "Thank you, Soobin. I'll make sure to take good care of it."
Soobin smiles shyly, "You're welcome. Let me know what you think of it."
Before you could say anything Haechan yells out your name from across the room. You glance over at your friends and see them waving you over. You look back at Soobin and give him an apologetic smile.
"Sorry, I gotta go over there. Thanks for the book recommendation though, I'm excited to read it," you say as you start to gather your things.
Soobin nods and smiles back at you. "No problem, I hope you enjoy it," he replies.
As you walk over to your friends, you can't help but feel a little guilty for leaving Soobin so soon. You shake off the feeling and join your friends at their table. You make your way over to the table where your friends are seated and take a seat next to Sakura. The group is abuzz with excitement, and you can feel the energy radiating off of them. "What's up?" you ask.
"We were just talking about Yeonjun," Yoon says, winking at you.
You roll your eyes, "Here we go again."
Haechan jumps in, "I heard he's actually a spy for a secret organisation."
Sumin chimes in, "No, he's a prince from a far-off land, incognito at our school."
You all burst out laughing, amused by the absurd rumours about the new kid. "Have any of you actually talked to him?" you ask, genuinely curious.
"I saw him in the cafeteria today,โ Kai says, "He was sitting with Taehyun and the rest of the football team.โ
โOh shit, so he already got into the team?โ Yoon gasps, placing her hand over her mouth in surprise.
โApparently heโs really good! Taehyun said Johnny was so impressed that he accepted him right away.โ Kai responds, sitting on top of the desk.
As you listen to your friends talk about Yeonjun's sudden rise to popularity, you can't help but think about the real reason behind it all. While of course heโs attractive and talented and a good student and millions of other things, you know the real reason why heโs gotten so popular is because heโs the main character.
click
Oh great, youโre on stage, again. The door to the classroom opens revealing Yeonjun with a small figure walking behind him. It takes less than a second for you to realise itโs Misun. The loud class suddenly erupts into whispers, indeed about Yeonjun and Misun, surprised that someone like him is talking to her.ย
Yeonjun notices you, offering you a small smile as he walks towards you. Behind him Misun tags along, looking down at her feet as she walks. You couldnโt help but feel annoyed, does Misun have to follow Yeonjun around like a lost puppy?ย
"Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for talking to Johnny for me," Yeonjun said, a small smile on his face.
"No problem," you replied, returning his smile. "I'm just glad I could help. I hope it works out for you."
"I'm sure it will. And speaking of things working out, I talked to Misun,โ he says, gesturing towards the girl standing behind him. If the stage didnโt restrict you. You would stick your tongue out in a childish manner, what does it matter anyway? Theyโll all forget it when the scene changes.ย
Misun looks up at you shyly, and you feel a pang of annoyance towards Misun. "That's great," you say, trying to hide your scepticism.
He smiles, walking a couple of desks in front of you, taking a seat with Misun. Why is he sitting next to her when he should be sitting next to you? After all, you did him a huge favour by introducing him to Johnny. You canโt help but think itโs such poor writing, the second lead is always a better match for the main character.ย
You sit at your desk in class, listening to the teacher drone on about the lesson. The only thing that plagued your mind was Yeonjun and Misun.ย
Suddenly, you hear Haechan and Sumin's voices from behind you, talking about Misun.
"Ugh, I don't know why Yeonjun would like her," Yuqi says, her voice dripping with disdain. "She's such a nobody."
Haechan chimes in, "Yeah, and she always looks like a mess. She literally stinks."
Ah! The classic manhwa bullying! Usually, when you read comics you feel bad for the female lead, you always thought it was unfair she got picked on just because a popular guy liked her but now that youโre living in one? Your opinion has DEFINITELY changed. If Misun getting bullied pushes her away from Yeonjun then let it be, itโs the perfect opportunity for you to slither in.ย
They are making fun of her clothes and the way she talks, laughing at how she always looks nervous and timid. Call it evil but you didnโt care.ย
Yuqi taps your shoulder, "What do you think, Y/N? Do you think Misun is even worth talking to? She's so boring and unlikeable."
โI think you guys are reading too much into it.โ The words flow out of your mouth. You want to stop talking but you canโt, โJust because Yeonjun is nice to her doesnโt mean he likes her.โย
Haechan tries to defend himself, "I'm not reading into it, I'm just being honest. Misun is just trying to get attention from Yeonjun because she's so desperate."
Click
โGuys!โ Yunjin whisper yells at the three of you, โShut up I canโt listen to what the teacher is saying.โย
โI think Misun is an attention whore.โ You say, finally free from the restraints of the stage.ย
Haechan lets out a small chuckle, โThatโs the spirit! You canโt let her steal Yeonjun from you.โย
โOh my god, please shut up!โ Yunjin repeats, still in a hushed tone.ย
You smile knowingly at Haechan. Of course, you wonโt let her take him from you.ย
As soon as the bell rings, you make a beeline for Yeonjun, not even sparing a glance at Misun who is standing next to him. You tap him on the shoulder and flash him a bright smile. "Hey, Yeonjun. Do you want to come get some coffee with me? I can help you with schoolwork since you joined in the middle of the year."
Yeonjun turns to face you, a small smile on his lips. "Sorry, Y/N. I've already made plans with Misun."
Your heart drops at his words, but you try to hide your disappointment with a smile. "Oh, that's fine. Maybe some other time then."
Yeonjun nods and gives you a small wave before turning back to Misun. You can't help but feel a pang of jealousy as you watch the two of them talking and laughing together. Why are they moving so fast already? They just met? What is the writer doing? Itโs like theyโre purposely setting up for you to lose.ย
As you walk out of class, you can feel your irritation growing. Why did Yeonjun have to turn you down so coldly? You were just trying to help him out. As you walk through the hallways, you spot Taehyun up ahead.ย
"Hey, Taehyun," you call out as you catch up to him. "Do you have a minute?"
โYou look annoyed. You have that angry vein on your forehead.โ He points out, his finger hovering over your forehead.ย
โI am.โย
"Uh oh, what happened?" he asks, leaning against the wall to let people walk past the busy hallway.ย
"Yeonjun turned me down for coffee because he's already made plans with Misun," you say, rolling your eyes.
Taehyun raises an eyebrow. "Really? Theyโre hanging out already?"
You nod with annoyance, โWhy is everything moving so fast?โย
Taehyun furrows his brows, deeply confused, โThe last time I checked the manhwa Yeonjun and Misun just met. That was literally an hour ago.โ He pulls out the manhwa from his bag, flicking through the pages.ย
You canโt help but notice the new panels that have been added, the ones that took place in class. You roll your eyes for the hundredth time, you canโt believe you had to defend Misun.ย
โThere are no new scenes between them.โ Taehyun says, scanning the pages, โThey must be fated then huh?โย
You lightly push his shoulder, โShut up.โย
โLook Iโd love to sit and chat but Iโve gotta get to practice,โ Taehyun says, putting the book back into his bag. You mumble a goodbye and walk away, somehow in a worse mood.ย
You know Taehyun has practice but you sort of hoped he'd just ditch and listen to you vent. You don't have anyone else to talk to, none of your friends know about Yeonjun or being conscious and Taehyun told you not to tell them.
Nothing is going your way today. The peak of your day was literally walking to school with Yeonjun and that was literally the first thing that happened today.
You try lightening up, pushing those thoughts from your head. As you turn the corner, you see the familiar sign for the cafรฉ in the distance. The colourful sign with the name of the cafรฉ written in cursive letters makes you smile. The cafรฉ is small and cosy, tucked away in a quiet alley. You push open the door, and the sweet aroma of coffee hits your nose.
The interior is dimly lit, with soft music playing in the background. You notice the owner, Mrs Kim, who is sitting behind the counter. She greets you warmly, and you take a seat at one of the tables by the window.
As you wait for your order, you watch people walking by the window, enjoying the calmness of the cafรฉ. The cafรฉ has a few regular customers, but mostly itโs just you who comes in here. The owner Mrs Kim is always happy to see you, and sometimes she even gives you a discount on your order.
You take a sip of your coffee, savouring the rich and warm flavour. The coffee is always perfect here, it always has been.
You can't help but be mesmerized by the beauty of early spring. The sky is a clear blue, and the sun is shining brightly, casting a warm glow over everything. The sounds of the cafe fade into the background as you lose yourself in the beauty of the world outside. You look out the window and see the trees beginning to bud, their branches dotted with pink and white flowers. The cherry blossom trees are in full bloom, and the delicate pink petals flutter in the breeze like confetti. You watch as people walk by, stopping to admire the beauty of the trees, taking pictures to capture the moment.
As you continue to gaze out of the window, lost in thought, the sound of a car honking jolts you back to reality. You take another sip of your coffee and let out a small sigh. You wish Yeonjun was here with you to enjoy this moment. As you gaze outside, you see a couple walking hand in hand and smiling at each other. You wonder if Yeonjun and Misun are doing the same thing right now. You can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy, wishing that you were the one holding Yeonjun's hand.
Trying to distract yourself from the thoughts of Yeonjun, you pull out the book that Soobin had given you earlier. You were hoping for Yeonjun to be here so you could impress him with all the new things youโve learnt today but oh well. You can read another book in the meantime, it means youโll have more to talk about. As you read, the words seem to blur together as your mind keeps wandering back to Yeonjun. You let out a sigh and close the book, placing it on the table.
โI have to pull it together.โ You whisper to yourself, taking a deep breath.
You remind yourself that you are here to relax and enjoy the book, not to stress about Yeonjun. You open the book again and try to lose yourself in it, letting the story take you away to a different world. You read for a while longer, lost in thought and the captivating words of the novel. You close the book and take a deep breath, feeling a bit more composed than before. You drink the last sip of your once-hot coffee, checking your watch. You should really get going now. You stand up, leave some money on the table for the coffee and head towards the door.
โBye Mrs Kim!โ You smile at the older woman.
โBye, dear!โ She shouts over the sound of the coffee machine.
As you step outside, the chilly night air hits you. You wrap your coat tightly around yourself and start walking back home. You can't help but feel impressed by Soobin's taste in literature. Every book he's recommended to you so far has been a masterpiece. It's almost as if he has an innate ability to pick out the perfect book for you. Your thoughts only dive in deeper, you and Soobin are practically strangers, but his ability to give you a book thatโs your taste makes it seem like youโve known each other forever.
Suddenly, you feel a jolt as you bump into someone. You look up and see Soobin standing in front of you, looking surprised. You blush, feeling embarrassed that you weren't paying attention to where you were going. "Oh, sorry!" you exclaimed, feeling embarrassed, you wonder if you summoned him or something.
"It's okay," Soobin replies softly, looking a bit shy and awkward.
You try to be more bubbly and friendly to make up for your clumsiness. โIt's nice to see you outside of school. What are you up to?"
"I'm just on my way to the bookstore to pick up a few books," he replies, playing with the straps of his backpack.
"Speaking of books! I have to tell you how impressed I am by how you always recommend the most perfect books for me," you smile brightly. Soobin's cheeks flush a little at the compliment. "I have to ask, how do you know my taste in books so well?" you continue, genuinely curious.
He looks up at you, his eyes wide with surprise, and you can't help but feel a little amused by his reaction. "I- I just read a lot," he stammers.
"No, seriously, it's impressive," you insisted, feeling a bit more bubbly now. "You should work at a bookstore or something."
Soobin chuckled nervously. "Thanks, but I don't think I'm that good."
"I disagree," you said firmly. "You recommended two amazing books to me in just one day. That's pretty impressive."
If itโs possible, Soobin turns even pinker, his eyes avoiding contact. โDid you enjoy catcher in the rye?โ He says, changing the topic.
"Yeah, I loved it," you replied, smiling. โIโm nearly done.โ
โYouโre a fast reader!โ Soobin laughs slightly, staring at his shoes. It's clear that he's not used to talking to people he doesn't know well, and for some reason, you canโt help but find it endearing.
โYour recommendations are just so good I canโt put the book down.โ You tease playfully. Soobin's smile grows a little wider at your compliment, and you can tell that he's starting to feel more comfortable around you. You find yourself wanting to put him at ease, to make him feel like he can be himself around you.
As you both start to say your goodbyes, you hesitate for a moment before finally mustering up the courage to ask for his number.
โHey, can I get your number?โ You blurt out, handing him your phone.
Soobin's cheeks immediately flush pink, and he stammers for a moment before finally nodding his head. "Y-yeah, sure," he says, awkwardly typing in his number. "I-I'd like that."
You can't help but smile at his shyness, finding it even more endearing than before. "Great, thank you!" you say, before saying goodbye and walking away with a sense of excitement. You couldnโt wait to get home and finish reading the book, just so you could have something to text Soobin about.
๐ฆ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ - You wake up one morning with a sense of confusion, unsure of what you did the night before. As the day goes on, you begin to realize that there are strange gaps in your memory that you can't explain. The feeling of unease only grows when you discover that you are a character in a manhwa, the second lead to be exact. Your whole life is a carefully scripted story, and you're not even the main character. As you struggle to come to terms with your newfound reality, you start to question everything you thought you knew about yourself and the world around you. What if a certain quiet classmate of yours can change your life?
๐ช๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด - swearing, AWKWARDNESS, classic cringe tropes, y/n has to be wattpadโข๏ธ uwu sometimes (IM SO SORRY), drinking
๐ฎ/๐ป - loosely inspired by extraordinary you (a brilliant kdrama to watch if you havenโt already)
๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด - Choi Soobin x Reader, Choi Yeonjun x Reader (kinda)
๐ฎ/๐ป - yay!! First chapter out now guys!! Iโm already half way done with the second chapter, my mind is running wild rn. this chapter is sort of long cause I wanted to get the basic concept out so we can move on with the story. itโs a bit confusing so if you guys have any questions lmk!! also sorry for the lack of soobin this chapter ๐๐
Something is wrong with you. Ever since winter term has started your memory has been a bit fuzzy. You could be in maths class and then suddenly youโre eating dinner at home. Like some weird time jump. At first, it started small, like jumping to the end of a lesson but as the days progress theyโve been getting further apart. One time you even jumped forward 2 days. To say that this is worrying will be an understatement. No matter how far you look for answers, you canโt seem to find anything; even google let you down.ย
โFuck, could it be that Iโm dying?โ You whisper to no one in particular. Nowadays all you think about during your conscious moments are the weird jumps in your memory. No. You shake your head. You couldnโt possibly be dying, your health otherwise has been perfectly fine.ย
Could it be head trauma? No. You havenโt done anything dangerous..or maybe you have and you just canโt remember..?ย You groan into your hands, why is this happening to you?ย
โY/N?โ You hear your teacher call out, immediately your head shoots up from your hands, almost forgetting that you were indeed in a lesson. The class muffles laughter as the teacher shakes his head.ย
โY/N, have you been paying attention?โย
โUh..yeah I have.โย
Your economics teacher Mr Cho sighs, giving you another chance to fess up, โHave you really been paying attention?โย
You nod โyesโ even though itโs blatantly a lie and everyone knows it. Itโs just too embarrassing to go back on what you said. Mr Cho shakes his head, โAlright, what are the main objectives of government macroeconomic policy?โย
Shit. You awkwardly stand up as your classmates make another poor attempt at stifling their child-like giggles. You shoot them a disgusted look, god what is this? primary school?ย
โThe..um.. the main objectivesโ you start, dragging your words as if it would do you any good, โThe main objectives of the macroeconomic polโ"
RING RING RINGย
YES!ย
Saved by the bell. Before Mr Cho could even open his mouth, the students start packing away, some leaving the second the bell rang. You follow the lead, aimlessly throwing your pencils and notebook into your bag. Youโll sort it out later, you just need to get out of his classroom.ย
But Lady Luck isnโt always on your side, โY/N, can you stay back?โ You hear Mr Cho say sternly. Youโre screwed. You mentally facepalm, before slowly turning into dread.ย
โDo I still need to answer your question?โ You say sheepishly, playing with the straps of your backpack.ย
โThatโs not necessary.โ He leans against his desk, crossing his arms before his chest, โY/N, your final exams are approaching and youโve been zoning out in your lessons.โย
โMr Cho, this was just a one-time occurrence.โย
โIโve spoken to your other teachers, youโve been zoning out in your other lessons too.โ He replies quickly, โIs there anything bothering you?โย
Yes.ย
โNo, nothing... I guess Iโm just stressed about senior year.โ He nods sympathetically. You briefly debate on whether you should tell Mr Cho about your memory gaps. But itโs fruitless, heโll probably think youโre crazy.ย
โI understand, but pleaseโโย
Clickย
โHuh?โ It happened again. Youโve jumped, secretly thankful that you didnโt have to hear Mr Choโs speech about responsibility and school/life balance.ย
Youโre greeted with the soft early spring breeze. Sitting outside amid a blooming spring day surrounded by cherry blossoms is an enchanting experience, youโve always thought so. You feel the gentle breeze blow past you, carrying the petals through the air. The breeze carries the sweet fragrance of the flowers and rustles their delicate petals, and the soft pink and white hues of the cherry blossom trees create a serene and peaceful ambience. The rustling of the leaves and the chirping of the birds add to the tranquillity of the moment.ย Maybe you could enjoy yourself in a different world. Right now all you can think about is your sanity. Are you truly losing it? From a distance, you spot your friend and classmate Beomgyu with his partner Cat.
โGYU!โ You shout across the garden, catching their attention, you give them a small wave as you walk across.ย
โHey Y/N!โ He greets you simply, offering you some of the crisps he was munching on.ย
โGyu what day is it?โย
โUh.โ He pauses, checking his smartwatch for the date, โ3rd March, 12:47 PMโย
โOkay good, so itโs still the same day...I just jumped a couple of hours.' you pull out your diary. Youโve been keeping note of how often you jump and how long the jump is.ย
โAre you coming to the cafeteria with us?โ Cat asks, you nod your head โyesโ following them inside with idle chatter.ย
The cafeteria as usual was filled to the brim, youโd be lucky to find a seat here, especially during the cold spring afternoons.ย You pick up a random sandwich and some cookies, following your two friends. I guess a perk of going to an elite school is that the food lives up to the price.ย
โGuys!โ You hear a familiar voice call out. Huh Yunjin, your best friend since forever. You canโt even remember a time without her existing. One thing about Yunjin is that she has no shame, and you love that about her. Sheโs pretty easy to spot in the crowd, after all, she held an entire open table for you guys, yelling at whoever tried to sit on it.ย Happily, you walk towards the table, taking the seat in front of her, your other friends following suit. It doesnโt take long for the table to erupt with conversations.ย
You couldnโt help but notice the empty seat next to you, โYunjin.โ You call out, โWhereโs Kai?โย
โKaiโs over there with Kang Taehyun.โ She says in between chewing, pointing to a table at the back of the cafeteria.ย
You turn to find your best friend and Taehyun engaging in some pretty deep conversation, deep enough that Kai to still sits there instead of coming to eat lunch with you guys.ย
โTheyโve got some music project,โ Beomgyu mentions, making you break your gaze from their table.ย
You didnโt know much about Kang Taehyun. Sure, youโve been in the same school since nursery but youโve never really talked to him. Heโs quiet in class and sort of just fades away from social situations. You try to think of the last time you talked to Taehyun. Was it during your primary school graduation? Was it last week when you asked to borrow a pencil?ย
โWhat kind of music project?โ Haechan asks, sipping on his orange juice. Beomgyu shrugs, โIโm not sure really.โย
โANYWAYS-โ Sakura breaks the small silence that enveloped the table, โSo then I was basically 1v1 him and I used the-"
Your eyes keep flickering to Kai and Taehyun, and you arenโt sure why. Seeing them talk is arising some kind of emotion in you, you canโt really place what it is.ย
Just as you were internally debating to get up to go talk to them the bell rings, eliciting a groan from the table.ย
โSee you guys after lesson.โ Your friends say to each other, picking their lunch trays to dispose of. You hastily grab your bag, walking towards Kai, whoโs still talking to Taehyun like nothing happened.ย
โHey, Hyuka!โ You greet your friend, breaking the conversation. Your eyes flicker to Taehyun, โHey Taehyun.โ He offers you a tight-lipped smile.ย
โYou ready to go to lesson?โ You ask Kai, who stares at you bewildered, โIs lunch already over?โ You nod.ย
โAw man, I didnโt get to even eat anything.โ He groans, patting his stomach. Before you could say anything, Taehyun pulls out an energy bar from his bag, handing it to Kai. Excitedly the brunette thanked Taehyun, devouring the energy bar.ย
โTaehyun, youโre in our biology class arenโt you?โ You arenโt really sure why you asked, you know heโs in your class. Maybe because itโs too awkward to just hover over them in silence. He nods.ย
โYou should come sit with us Taehyun!โ Kai bubbled, grabbing the penguin bag that you got him for his 18th birthday. Your eyes widen involuntarily, surprised at your friendโs suggestion.ย
โNo thanks, I wouldnโt want to be a bother,โ Taehyun says, looking right at you. Shit. That was rude of you. You awkwardly look down at your feet, feeling incredibly called out. Thankfully, Kai being oblivious doesnโt notice anything different.ย
โPlease!โ He begs, โYou wouldnโt bother anyone! Right Y/N?โ He beams at you. You nod quickly, trying to rectify the situation.ย
โYeah, you should sit with us.โ You say too quickly, nodding profusely.ย
โOkay.โ He responds plainly, getting up from the table. Kai being the social creature he is fills you into the conversation he was having with Taehyun earlier.ย
You learn that Taehyunโs on the football team and that heโs passionate about music. Of course, you learn this from Kai rather than Taehyun, who walks in silence, giving a subtle reaction now and then.ย
Even as you sit down in the lab, Kai doesnโt stop talking about how cool Taehyun is and how he single handily wrote the lyrics for their music project. You take your seat in between Taehyun and Kai.ย
โThatโs so cool.โ You respond, genuinely interested in their project, โWill I get to hear it after youโre done?โ Hyuka nods excitedly, telling you his vision for the project.ย
As the teacher walks in, the class falls into silence with occasional whisper every now and then. During the lesson, you canโt help but think you misread Taehyun. It was quite ignorant of you to think he was boring just because you never really interacted with him.ย
โOkay class, Iโll be checking everyoneโs homework now.โ The teacher announces.
Wait what?ย
Homework? You had homework? Your biology teacher was infamous for punishing people who donโt turn in their homework.ย Your head snaps to Kai, who calmly removes his homework from his file, โKAI WE HAD HOMEWORK?!โ You whisper yell.ย
โYeahโ he replies, โHave you not done it?โ He smiles coyly.ย
โNo!โ You exclaim, โI didnโt even know we had homework, when did she give us homework?โย
โLast week! You were sat right next to me.โ He replies, laughing a little to himself. You narrow your eyes, Kai is always like this. He loves it when you forget about the homework, he says itโs funny to watch you get scolded.ย
Hurryingly removing your memory jump diary from your bag, your fingers flip through the page looking for the right entry.ย โWhat day was it?โย
โ27th February- whatโs that journal?โ He tries to glance over your shoulder.ย
You mumble the date to yourself as you flicker through the pages. 27th February. You skipped the day entirely. No wonder you didnโt know about it.ย
Taehyun doesnโt pay much attention to what you and Kai are talking about. As if in his own world, he removes his homework and calmly waits for the teacher to get to your shared table.ย
โGod, nowadays my memory has such weird jumps.โ Taehyun involuntarily turns to you, as if some foreign subject controlled his body.ย
โJumps?โ He finds himself asking you, you turn to him surprised. You didnโt think he was listening to your conversation. His eyes fall upon your diary.ย
<27-28th Februaryย I missed two whole days. The last thing I remember was walking home with Yunjin and suddenly I was in pe class on the 29th. This is the longest jump yet. I donโt exhibit any other symptoms. I still hear thisย clickyย sound when I jump.>
โWhat do you mean by jumps?โ Kai asks, intrigued by your unusual statement. You shut your diary, unaware that Taehyun has already read your entry.ย
โI donโt know how to explain itโโ you try to say but are immediately cut off by Kai hugging you. โWhat are you doing?โ You say whilst pushing him off.ย
โIs that why youโve been so spacey?โ He exclaims, โYou should take better care of your health! You shouldnโt stay up playing games with Sakura and Beomgyu!โย
You sigh to yourself. Just as you suspected, it would be illogical to tell your friends. As much as you love your friends and trust them with your life, they just wouldnโt believe you. You wouldnโt believe you either, this is something right out of a comic.ย
Taehyun looks between you and Kai, the wheels in his brain turning. Could it be that-? Taehyun stopped his thought.ย
โY/N.โ You looked at your teacher with dread. From your face alone she just knew you havenโt done your homework. โDetention after-school, do the homework 3 times.โ You hang your head in defeat, accepting your punishment.ย
Besides you, Kai laughs to himself, amused by you getting told off. You were too down to shut him up.ย
โDonโt worry Y/N!โ Kai pats your back sympathetically, โYou can copy my homework. Youโll be done in an hour.โย
โThanks.โ You say sadly, there go your after-school plans.ย _____________________________As you expected, the library was empty after-school, and even the librarian wasnโt there. Kaiโs homework was of no use to you, he got nearly every question wrong. Ultimately you were back at square one. Thankfully with the help of our supreme leader Google, the questions didnโt take you long. The only tedious task was writing it down multiple times.ย
Before you knew it, the sun had already set. As you walk through the empty hallways of your school, you can't help but feel a sense of eerie solitude. The sun has started to set outside, casting long shadows through the windows and painting the rooms in a warm, golden light.ย
You can hear the faint creaking of the floorboards as you make your way down the corridor, and the sound of your footsteps echoes through the stillness.
You find yourself looking into your classroom. The rows of desks and chairs are deserted, and the chalkboard at the front of the room is blank. Thereโs something weird about seeing an environment usually bustling with energy vacant. You gaze out the window, watching as the sun continues to dip lower in the sky, painting the clouds a brilliant shade of pink and orange.
As the minutes pass, the light in the room begins to fade, and the shadows grow longer. You can hear the occasional gust of wind outside, but otherwise, everything is still and silent. You can't help but feel a sense of unease as if you're being watched, but when you look around, there's no one there.ย
You're walking down the hall, lost in thought when suddenly, you get a distinct feeling that someone is watching you. You turn your head, looking over your shoulder and scanning the area, but there's no one there. You shake your head, trying to dispel the feeling, but it persists. You can't shake the sensation that someone is following you, their gaze fixed on you.
You quicken your pace, turning a corner and almost running into a figure standing just beyond it. With all that sudden movement, your half-open bags decorates the floor with your books. You take a step back, your heart racing as you realize that it's Taehyun, standing there with a curious expression on his face.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he says with a smile, picking up your books and handing them over to you.ย
You realise that he must be who has been watching you, and you feel a mix of relief and embarrassment. "It's okay," you reply, trying to calm your nerves. โWhat are you still doing at school?โย
โI was just working on the project in the music room,โ Taehyun explains, the late afternoon rays beaming on his face. Your eyes light up, is Kai here too? Maybe you can complain about him giving you the wrong homework.ย
โIs Hyuka here too?โย
โNo, he left ages ago.โ He replies cooly, adjusting his backpack. The awkwardness between the both of you was setting in.ย
โI have to go home sooo...โ you trail off, trying to find an opening to leave. He nods earnestly, โMe too.โย
โSo...Iโm going to go now.โ You say awkwardly, rocking back and forth on your heels.ย
โY/N?โ Taehyun calls out before you can leave, you sigh to yourself before turning back. โWe should probably walk together.โ He proposes, โItโs getting dark after all.โย
Defeated, you nod your head โyesโ.ย
The walk with Taehyun was awkward, to say the least. You try to make small talk but the words don't come out quite right, leaving you feeling even more uncomfortable. Taehyun was less than quiet today during lesson, it seemed like it was a chore for him to hang out with you and Kai. Whyโs he being friendly now?ย
โUh, Taehyun?โ You start awkwardly, thereโs no easy way to ask the question youโre about to ask, โwere you..uh.. following name after school?โย
Taehyun blinks at the accusation, unsure how to answer your question, โNo, of course not.โ He tried to play cool. You pierce your gaze through him, uncertain as to whether he was lying or not.ย
The silence between you two was deafening, with every step feeling heavier than the last. The air is thick with unspoken thoughts and feelings that neither of you knows how to address. You find yourself shuffling your feet, fidgeting with your hands, and sneaking sidelong glances at each other, hoping for a sign that the other is feeling just as awkward as you are.ย
โThis is my house.โ You say as you walk into the driveway. Taehyun nods softly before walking a few steps backwards. โSee you tomorrow.โ He waves, stuffing his hands in his pockets and walking the other way.
You shut the front door quickly behind you. What the fuck. You take out your phone from your blazer pocket.ย
โI need to text Kaiโ you think to yourself as you open up the chat between you.ย
โIโm such an idiot.โ You say to yourself, burying your face into your hands.
_____________________
โWhat if heโs vegan?โ Beomgyu eyes the cookie jar. โWill I get to keep it then?โ
โShut up Beomgyu.โ The sentence flows out of you so easily, itโs like second nature to ask Beomgyu to shut up. โWhere does Taehyun usually hang out?โ You ask, โSchools going to start soon, I donโt have long.โ
โProbably the music room,โ Cat responds to your question, dragging their boyfriend away from the cookies
You thank your friends and make your way to the music room. The halls are bustling with students rushing to their classes, laughing and chatting with their friends, and you have to navigate your way through the crowds to get where you need to go.
You weave in and out of groups of students, trying not to bump into anyone or get in their way. You can hear the sound of lockers slamming shut, backpacks rustling, and the occasional burst of laughter. The air is thick with the scent of perfume, cologne, and sweat, and the hum of voices fills your ears.
You keep your eyes focused ahead, trying to spot the music room amidst the chaos. You glance down at your watch, realizing that you're running out of time. You pick up your pace, dodging past groups of students and squeezing through narrow gaps.
As you get closer to the music room, the noise level starts to decrease, and you can hear the sound of someone practising on the piano. You quicken your step, and soon you're standing outside the door.
You take a deep breath and push open the door, stepping into the music room. The room is warm and cosy, with soft lighting and a comfortable atmosphere.
You feel a sense of uneasiness and nervousness. How are you going to apologise to him? Will he accept it?
As you enter, you notice that he is hunched over, his eyes fixed on something on his lap.
"Hey, sorry for yesterday, I didn't mean-" You stop mid-sentence as you realize what he's holding - your diary.
As you approach him, your eyes widen in disbelief as you realize that he has your diary in his hands, and is flipping through the pages. "Wait, is that my diary?"
Taehyun looks up, startled by your presence, and you can see the shame etched on his face. The feeling of betrayal and violation is overwhelming as you catch Taehyun reading your diary. It's a mix of shock and anger, and your mind is racing with questions. How did he find it? Why did he think it was okay to read it?
"What the hell are you doing?" You find yourself raising your voice at him, trying to grab the diary from his hands. He raises his arm higher, refusing to hand you the diary.
โJust let me read some more.โ Taehyun reasons, โItโs not a big deal.โ He clutches it tightly in his hands, you can see the defiance in his eyes.
Your head goes delirious in anger, NOT A BIG DEAL? This is your jumping diary, a book that has an account of every jump youโve made these past couple of months. Taehyun probably thinks youโre crazy.
"Not a big deal? Thatโs MY diary.โ You bark, You feel your blood boiling at his lack of respect for your privacy. You can't believe he thinks it's okay to keep something so personal without your permission. โYou have no right to keep it."
You're not sure what to do - he's taller and stronger than you, and it's clear that he's not going to give up the diary without a fight.
You try to think of a way to outmanoeuvre him, to get the diary back without resorting to violence. You see an opening and lunge forward, but he's too quick, dodging out of the way and pushing you backwards.
You stumble and fall to the ground, but you're not about to give up. You scramble to your feet and lunge forward again, this time managing to get your hands on the diary. You pull it towards you, but he's still holding on, refusing to let go.
The two of you tug back and forth, the diary caught in the middle. You take a deep breath and focus all your energy on pulling the diary towards you. You can feel your muscles straining as you give it all you've got. Finally, the diary comes free, and you fall backwards, clutching it to your chest.
You let out a relieved laugh, โI knew there was something weird about youโโ
Click
Not right now!! This is the worst timing ever. You canโt afford to now, you have to confront. Wait..why canโt you move? Your eyes dart across the room in a panic, everyone else seems normal. You sit frozen in your seat, unable to move your hands or body as if you are trapped in a prison of immobility. The weight of this invisible force presses down on you, making it impossible to reach for a pen or even shift in your chair. You desperately try to break free, but every muscle feels like it's been bound by ropes, leaving you completely powerless. From the corner of your eyes, you see Taehyun, who sits calmly as if the incident in the music room never happened.
The door to the classroom swings open, a sudden hush falls over the students. All eyes turn towards the entrance, eager to catch a glimpse of the new arrival. A moment later, a figure steps into the room, looking around at the sea of faces.
All eyes are fixed on him, drinking in the sight of his chiselled features and tall, broad-shouldered frame. The girls whisper excitedly to each other, giggling and batting their eyelashes, while the boys shoot envious glances at him. It's as if a celebrity has entered the room - everyone seems to be in awe of him. Even the teacher seems momentarily distracted, pausing mid-sentence to take in the newcomer. The atmosphere in the classroom has shifted, charged with a palpable energy of admiration and curiosity.
โClass, we have a new student.โ Mr Choโs voice breaks you back into reality. As you glance over at the new boy in your class, your eyes are immediately drawn to his height and the striking shade of blue in his hair. He towers over the other students, his frame commanding attention even as he tries to blend in. The boldness of his hair colour seems to match his confident demeanour, and you can't help but feel a sense of curiosity about him. You wonder what brought him to this school and what kind of person he is beyond his appearance. Despite his striking features, there's a sense of mystery around him that leaves you eager to learn more.
โHello, Iโm Choi Yeonjun.โ The blue hair boy introduces himself, offering a small bow to the class. You can sense magnetic energy emanating from him, and you can't help but feel a little envious of his effortless charm. โTake a seat wherever you like Yeonjun.โ Mr Cho smiles at the new boy.
Your heart skips a beat as the new boy approaches your desk, and then you're surprised as he chooses the seat right next to you. You feel a flush of nervous excitement as you catch his eye, noticing the way his electric blue hair seems to sparkle in the light. As he settles into his seat, you can't help but feel conscious of the way your own hair is a mess, and you quickly run your fingers through it in an attempt to tame it.
โHi.โ He smiles at you, extending out his hand. You subconsciously feel the gaze of all your classmates looking at you. Involuntarily, your hand reaches out to shake his.
Click
You let out a heavy breath. Good, you can move again. Your eye flickers back to Taehyunโs desk. Heโs gone. Shit, where did he go?
You suddenly become aware that you've been holding Yeonjun's hand for too long.
What started as a casual touch has turned into an extended grasp, and you can feel the heat rising to your cheeks as you realize your mistake. You quickly release his hand, hoping he hasn't noticed the length of the contact. As you glance over at him, you see a faint smirk on his face, and you wonder if he's caught on to your embarrassment. You try to act as if nothing has happened, but your heart is still racing from the unexpected intimacy. You can't help but wonder what it would be like to hold his hand again, but you push the thought aside and focus on the task at hand.
"Oh, sorry," you say, quickly releasing his hand.
"It's okay," He replies, but you can tell heโs a little taken aback.
You feel a flush of embarrassment creep up your neck, and you can't meet his gaze.
Wait. This is not the time to get flustered by the new kid. You need to find Taehyun, where did he go?
As the lesson drags on, you can feel your frustration mounting. All you can think about is confronting Taehyun. You glance around the room, trying to come up with a plan. You know you can't just blurt out your feelings in the middle of class, but you can't wait until the end of the period either.
Finally, you decide to make a move. You quietly gather your things and begin to make your way to the door, hoping to catch your classmate in the hallway. As you inch closer to the exit, you feel a pang of guilt for leaving in the middle of the lesson, but your desire to confront him is too strong.
Just as you're about to slip out the door, Mr Cho calls out your name. You freeze, feeling a rush of panic. You turn to face him, trying to act casual, but you know you've been caught.
"Is everything okay?" Your teacher asks, his brow furrowed in concern.
You mumble a quick excuse about needing to use the restroom, hoping to buy yourself some time. But as you turn to leave, you can feel the eyes of your classmates on you, and you wonder if they suspect what's really going on.
The halls were deserted, and the only sounds were the echoes of your footsteps and the sound of your racing heartbeat. You knew that you were risking getting caught by one of the teachers or security guards, but you didn't care. All you could think about was finding Taehyun and getting your diary back.
As you made your way down the empty hallways, you kept your eyes peeled for any signs of life. You tried to move as quietly as possible, taking small, measured steps, and avoiding any loose floorboards or creaky spots. You could feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins, and your senses were on high alert.
As you rounded a corner, you heard footsteps coming from the opposite end of the hallway. You quickly ducked behind a row of lockers and held your breath, hoping that whoever it was wouldn't notice you. The footsteps came closer and closer, and you could see the shadow of a teacher approaching. You held your breath, trying not to make a sound, as the teacher passed by without noticing you.
You were not entirely sure where Taehyun was, but you knew he wasnโt stupid enough to go back to the music room. Where else would a teenager go if they were bunking lesson? The library?
After the teacher had passed, you quickly made your way down the hall towards the library. When you finally reached the library, you peeked through the window to see if anyone was inside. The room was dark and quiet, and you couldn't see anyone. Taking a deep breath, you slowly opened the door and slipped inside.
The library was dimly lit, and the only sound was the rustling of pages as students flipped through books. You scanned the room, looking for any sign of Taehyun. You couldn't see him at first, but then you caught a glimpse of a figure hiding behind a bookshelf. You made your way over to the bookshelf, and as you got closer, you could see that it was Taehyun.
โTaehyun.โ You call out his name in a whisper yell, making sure not to raise your voice in a library. You donโt want to draw any attention to yourself.
โY/N, look I can explain.โ Taehyun tries to reason, stepping a few steps back. You could tell that he was sincere, and your anger began to dissipate. You took a deep breath, trying to calm down.
โTry to explain what? That you have no respect for myโโ
โWhen you were in class did you feel like you couldnโt move?โ He says suddenly, grabbing hold of your shoulders.
โWhat?โ
โAnd then suddenly you shook Yeonjunโs hand even though you didnโt mean to?โ Your head tilts back in confusion, how does he know? โLet me show you something.โ He says, grabbing your arm and dragging you to the opposite bookshelf. He pulls out a book with a flowery cover from the top shelf, blowing the dust away.
โWhatโs this?โ You puzzled, gently taking the book from him. You stare at the cover. Law of attraction, it read. The cover was simple, the typical cover of a romance manhwa.
โJust open itโ He insists, so you do. Eagerly opened the book but as you flipped through the pages, you were confused to find that every page was completely blank.
You blinked, rubbed your eyes, and checked the cover to make sure you had the right book. โItโs empty.โ You say. You were surprised, wondering what it could mean. But as you continued to flip through the pages, you see a couple of drawn panels. You blink in confusion. It canโt be, can it?
It was Yeonjun, standing in front of the classroom. No no. It isnโt Yeonjunโฆ itโs just someone that looks just like him. Your eyes move on to the next panel where he sits down next to illustration of a girl with h/c hair, offering his hand to her. Wait..that happened to youโฆ
You immediately flick back to the character page. It was clearer than day; An illustration of a tall boy with blue locks, Choi Yeonjun, main character. Your mouth hangs open..what is this? Next to him is a beautiful girl with long black hair, Yun Misun, main lead. Misun? Whoโs she? Youโve never seen her around school before. On his left, thereโs a illustration of a figure that had an alarming resemblance to you, L/N Y/N, second lead. SECOND LEAD? Youโre the second lead?
Your head was starting to hurt. You imagined yourself pining for the main lead, trying to win his affection, but always falling short. You envisioned yourself in dramatic scenes, heartbroken and alone, as the main characters enjoyed their happily ever after. What is this? Second lead? How can you, L/N Y/N the most popular girl in school be the second lead?
โWhat is this?โ You say, your voice barely audible. You feel like youโre going to be sick. โYouโre trying to tell me we live in a manhwa?โ
Taehyun nods his head slowly, โLook I know itโs a lot to take in, but at least you know you arenโt losing your mind.โ He says, motioning you to sit down on the floor before you pass out. โThose weird memory gaps youโre having? Itโs because of the time skips to start the actual story.โ
โWhy are there time skips only now?โ You ask, sitting down beside him. โI havenโt had any of them before.โ
โYou have, we all have.โ He answers, your furrow your brows in confusion, โOnly now that youโre conscious, you can actually experience them.โ
โThis is making my head hurt.โ You bury your head into your head in confusion, hoping this is all a bad dream.
You sit there in silence for a while, Taehyun remaining patient with you.
โSo Iโm the second lead?โ You break the silence after youโve calmed down a bit, looking at the strawberry-haired boy next to you. He nods. โHow can I be the second lead?โ
Taehyun lets out a small laugh, โWell it isnโt surprising you arenโt the main lead.โ You glare at him, only causing him to laugh louder, eliciting glances from other students. โThink about it Y/N, you come from a rich happy background, youโre popular, you have like a hundred admires at school. Your character doesnโt have more depth than that.โ
โWhat.โ You sit straighter, โThatโs so much depth, it shows that Iโm multitalented. Whoโs Misun anyway?โ
โIโm not surprised you havenโt noticed her.โ He laughs, โSheโs the quiet girl in our art class, the one who creates those hyperrealistic paintings.โ
You stare blankly at Taehyun, the girl still not ringing a bell. He sighs, โWhat Iโm getting at is that Misun is a scholarship student, sheโs an orphan, she works 3 jobs alongside going to school, sheโs paying off her dead father's debt and lives with her abusive aunt.โ
โShe just sounds like too much emotional baggage.โ You retort.
โSheโs the typical female lead, this is a romance manhwa. Itโs nothing if not cliches.โ Taehyun explains.
โFair enoughโ you thought. Your mind is racing at the possibility of actually being in a comic book. How can that even be possible?
As you sat inside the library, you felt a knot in your stomach as you spiralled into the rabbit hole of being in a manhwa, you realised you had so much more to ask Taehyun. You looked over at him, hoping to catch his attention, but the bell suddenly rang, signalling the start of the next lesson.
You hesitated for a moment, considering whether to tell him now or wait until lunch. With a sigh, you decided to wait, knowing that there would be more time to talk during your break.
You quickly said goodbye to Taehyun, asking him to meet you here during lunch and made your way to your next class, your mind still racing with thoughts about your recent discovery.
As you sat in class, your mind was elsewhere. You were still in disbelief after finding out that you were the second lead in a manhwa. It was a weird surreal feeling as if the lines between reality and fiction had been blurred. You had always been a fan of manhwas, but you never expected to find yourself as a character in one.
As the teacher droned on about history, you couldn't help but daydream about the manhwa. You imagined yourself in the pages, your character interacting with the main lead. But the more you thought about it, the more you realized the implications of being the second lead. It meant that you were destined to have your heart broken, to watch as the main lead found love with someone else.
The thought was crushing, and you felt a pang of sadness in your chest. It was one thing to read about heartbreak in a manhwa, but it was another to know that it was your own fate.
You shook your head, trying to clear your thoughts. This was just a silly coincidence, you told yourself. But deep down, you couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed. The world seemed a little less real now.
Meanwhile, Taehyun sits still in the library, trying to go over everything he needs to tell you now that you know. He couldnโt imagine what it would be like for you to wake up one day and find out you live in a manhwa, though heโs glad you took it well.
Taehyun canโt remember a time when he wasnโt conscious; aware of the reality of his fate. It started when he was 5 when he noticed that he kept being displaced; heโd be playing in the morning then all of sudden heโs being tucked into bed. And as all curious kids do, he asked his parents about it. They laughed, thinking it was just kids being kids but little did they know. At some point, Taehyun just accepted that this was his reality, a regular occurrence for him to be skipping through time.
He also remembers the first day he found manhwa, while he was in the library playing hide and seek with his friends. Some shiny shimmering object caught the corner of his eye, his curiosity persisted and he left his hiding spot to go find out what it was. It didnโt take long for little Taehyun to put two and two together, his suspicions were confirmed once he saw a sketch of himself on the character page Kang Taehyun, Yeonjunโs ally. An extra.
โTaehyun?โ He snaps out of his daze, looking up to see your standing figure, with two cupcakes in your hands.
โOh hey.โ He smiles, motioning you to sit down. You hand him a cupcake.
โDid you not go back to class?โ You ask, the pink-haired man shakes his head no, โWonโt people notice youโre gone?โ
โNo, Iโm just an extra.โ He says, biting into the cupcake. โThis is really good.โ He hums, going in for a larger second bite.
โHow long have you known?โ You ask abruptly, looking into his doe-like eyes.
โSince I was 5.โ You gasp. How could he have not gone completely crazy? It had only been a couple of weeks for you and you were going crazy because you couldnโt tell your friends.
โAnd..and you havenโt told anyone?โ You ask tentatively. He nods, not seeming bothered at all.
โWell except you of course.โ He responds, โWho could I tell? People would think Iโm crazy.โ You find yourself agreeing with him, understanding where heโs coming from.
He notices your drop in mood and nudged you with his shoulder. Taehyun tries to lighten the mood and says, "It's not your fault. I'm pretty good at hiding my emotions."
You shake your head, feeling a sense of responsibility. "Iโm sorry you had to go through that alone."
โDonโt worry about it.โ He shoots you a small smile. โNow, I have a lot to tell you.โ He changes the subject smoothly.
โThat feeling where youโre being controlled and do stuff out of your free will is called the stage, like this morning with the new kid.โ Taehyun explains, โRight now weโre in the shadow, we are free to do whatever we want to.โ
โWe can do anything we want?โ You ask with shining eyes, your mind going wild with ideas. This means you could stay in bed longer, that you wouldnโt need to do your homework or hell- you donโt even need to come to school.
โYeah basically. Nothing you do really has an effect. What you do in the shadow doesnโt translate to the stage.โ He continues, brushing the stray hairs from his face again. โIf you spilt coffee on yourself now, the stain would be gone when youโre on stage or when you jump.โ
โSo if I start dancing in class it wonโt have an impact?โ You propose, wanting to make sure your actions wonโt have consequences. โPeople wonโt remember after the scene changes?โ
โWell..the rules are a bit fuzzy on that..โ He trails off, โThey tend to remember some things and sometimes they donโt. But that doesnโt mean you go around acting abnormal. Theyโll start noticing if you keep acting up.โ
โOoooo, what did you do Taehyun?โ You tease, playfully nudging him with your shoulder.
โWell I just found out I was in a manhwa, I had to test the waters.โ
โWhat about conversations? If I talk to my friends about something, will they not remember in the next scene?โ You ask, slightly worried. Did this mean you canโt make any new relationships with people?
โAgain.. it depends. If you try to give them consciousness it wonโt work right away. Youโll probably have to keep trying over and over again.โ Taehyun answers, looking into your eyes. โItโs probably because itโs a foreign subject to them. Think of us as little computer programs. If youโre talking to them about something familiar like another classmate or a game youโre playing, theyโll remember because theyโre coded for that. But if you try to give them consciousness it wonโt compute.โ
โWell, thatโs okay! Iโm persistent, Iโll make sure theyโre conscious.โ You laugh, trying to act nonchalant. But actually the thought of your friends being empty sort of terrified you. It means your relationship and years with them meant nothing.
โNO! You canโt do that!โ He exclaims, causing a few heads to turn towards you.
You shoot the students an apologetic look before turning to Taehyun, โWhat, why not?โ
โItโs dangerous. Have you not watched the Matrix?โ
โYeah I haveโโ
โSo then you should understand. People have different personalities, they might not take it as well as we have, especially if they arenโt satisfied with their role.โ He cuts you off, running his hands through his hair. โHow would you feel if you woke up and found out you arenโt even an extra, youโre just some background character who has no impact? We are characters in a comic, our only function is to go along with the story.โ He rants on. You sit quietly, taking in what heโs saying.
โMy job is to support Yeonjun and yours is to be his love interest. Some people have no impact on the story. Like..your friends Sakura and Haechan! Can you imagine how theyโll feel if you tell them they have no meaning to their life? Theyโll be heartbroken.โ He finishes, his eyes glued to you.
โSo youโre telling me itโs better they just live in ignorance?โ You reply quickly. You understand where Taehyun is coming from but just the thought of you doing that to your friends makes you feel sick. It isnโt fair that you get to be aware and they donโt.
โAt least that way they have a purpose. Promise me you wonโt give anyone consciousness, itโs dangerous.โ The look in Taehyunโs eyes tells you itโs not time to joke around. He means what he said and itโs best if you just agreed with him.
โFineโฆ I wonโt.โ You reluctantly agree. Maybe later when he calms down you can bring it up again? Then maybe heโll see your point of view.
๐ฎ/๐ป - FIRST POST ON THIS BLOG YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love yoon I can't even put it into words. literally crying while writing this, I wish yoon was my girlfriend.
The gentle light filtering through the window illuminates the room, casting a warm glow on everything around you. You can hear the sound of the world outside, but it all seems distant and unimportant as if you're in your own little world.
As you slowly awaken from your slumber, you find yourself wrapped in your girlfriend Yoon's loving embrace. The warmth of her body and the softness of her skin against yours makes you feel safe and secure. You feel her rhythmic breathing against your neck as she holds you tightly, and you can't help but smile.
As you lay there in Yoon's arms, you feel a sense of contentment wash over you. You have nowhere to be, nothing to do, and no one to answer to but each other. You take a deep breath and bask in the moment, knowing that there is no place you'd rather be than in her arms.
You can't help but smile as you gaze down at her sleeping face, her eyelashes fluttering ever so slightly. You reach out to gently poke her cheek, hoping to wake her up.
"Pssst, Yoon, wake up," you say softly, poking her cheek again.
She stirs a little, but instead of opening her eyes, she nuzzles further into your chest, murmuring something unintelligible. You chuckle softly, and stroke her hair, enjoying the peaceful moment together.
"Come on, sleepyhead, it's time to wake up," you whisper, giving her cheek another poke.
Yoon grumbles in her sleep but doesn't wake up. You continue to poke her cheek, trying to coax her out of her slumber, telling her that you have to get up and start your day, but Yoon isn't having any of it. She pulls you closer, pressing her face into your chest, and nuzzles you lovingly.
"Just five more minutes, please?" she pleads, giving you the most adorable puppy dog eyes you've ever seen.
You can't resist her and decide to indulge her request. You snuggle up to her, wrapping your arms around her, feeling the warmth of her body against yours. You take a deep breath, inhaling her sweet scent, she somehow always smells of citrus. ย
After a couple of minutes of silence you slowly open your eyes and start to move, hoping to get up and start your day, but Yoon stirs and murmurs in her sleep.
"Where do you think you're going?" she asks, half asleep, as she wraps her arms around you and pulls you back into bed with her. "Good morning, y/nie," she says, her voice soft, laced with sleep.ย
You smile down at her, feeling your heart swell with love. You lean in to give her a gentle kiss, savouring the sweetness of her lips. "Good morning, Yoon. How did you sleep?" you ask, as she snuggles back into your chest.
"Amazing, with you by my side," she replies. She shifts to sit up, stretching her arms.ย
โAre you ready to get up?โ You ask, your arm wrapped around her waist. She nods, kissing your forehead gently.ย
โIโll go make breakfast.โ She says, pulling you up. โAny requests?โย
You pretend to think even though both Yoon and you know what your answer is going to be, โMmm, pancakes!โ you exclaim, as if you had epiphany. Lazy days like this, Yoon always makes you pancakes.ย
After a quick shower you walk into the kitchen to your girlfriend dancing, with some 90s song blasting in the background. "I'm feeling so pancakey today!" she exclaimed, twirling around with the bag of flour in her hand.ย
You couldn't help but laugh at her antics, and you decided to join in, humming a tune and shaking your hips to the beat.
As you start to mix the ingredients together, you realized that you had forgotten to buy the most important one - the eggs.
"Oh no, Yoon! we don't have any eggs!" you exclaimed, looking at her in dismay.
Yoon looks at you, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Don't worry, Chef Yoon has a secret ingredient that will make our pancakes even better," she says, as she pulled out a jar of peanut butter.
"Peanut butter?" you ask, feeling a little hesitant. How could peanut butter substitute eggs?ย
"Trust me, it'll be delicious!" Yoon replied, as she began to mix the peanut butter into the batter.
You trust Yoon's instincts, and you continue to mix the batter together, adding a dash of cinnamon and vanilla extract for good measure.
As you started to pour the batter onto the griddle, things began to get even more chaotic. Yoon accidentally knocks over the jar of syrup, causing it to spill all over the counter and onto the floor.ย
"Oh no!" she cried out, as she tried to clean up the mess. โBaby help me!!โย
You immediately grab a towel, and started to wipe up the syrup, but then you hear a sizzle and a hiss coming from the griddle. You look over, and see the pancakes have started to burn.
"Yoon, the pancakes are burning!" you shout, as you tried to flip them over with your hands.
Yoon quickly grabs a spatula, and helps you flip the pancakes over, but they didn't look quite right. They were lumpy, and uneven, and some of them were even stuck to the griddle.
Despite the chaos, you and Yoon couldn't stop laughing. You decide to just roll with it, and see how the pancakes turn out.
As you finally sit down to eat, you both took a bite of the peanut butter pancakes, and were surprised to find that they were actually pretty good.
"These are amazing!" Yoon exclaimed, as she took another bite.
You couldn't help but grin, even though the morning had been chaotic and a little messy, it had been filled with laughter and love.ย Every moment spent with Yoon was precious, and you cherished every laugh, every conversation, and every memory the two of you made together. There was no one else in the world that you would rather spend your time with.
"Do you want to go to river today?" Yoon's voice brings you back to reality. Your smile widens at the mention of the river, memories of your first date flooding back to you.
"The river?" You repeat, the smile lingering on your lips, "What inspired that idea?"
She shrugs, eating her pancakes, "We haven't been in a long time, and it's the perfect weather."
You reach out across the kitchen island, squeezing her hand, "Let's go."
"Let's go!" She echos, jumping from her seat with excitement, not bothering to finish her breakfast. She grabs your hand, dragging you out of the kitchen to the front door.
You go along with whatever your girlfriend Yoon does, following her out into the warm spring morning. You can't help but wonder how she does it. Even on the laziest of days, she's bursting with excitement and enthusiasm, ready to take on whatever the day has in store for her.
You aren't even half way to the river when she stops, playful glint in her eye "Come on, jump on my back!" she says, grinning from ear to ear.
You look at her skeptically, unsure if you really want to be lifted up by her. "Are you sure you can handle my weight?" you ask, teasingly.
Yoon rolls her eyes playfully. "Of course I can, you're not that heavy!" she insists, before adding in a mock whisper, "If you do fall off, it might be on purpose."
You let out a laugh, knowing that she's just teasing you. "Okay, fine. But be careful!" you say, as you climb onto her back.
As she starts to walk around, you can't help but feel a little nervous. Yoon is a strong person, but the idea of being lifted up like this still makes you feel a bit uneasy.
Yoon noticing your apprehension, pretends as if she's losing her balance, making you yelp in surprise. "Oh no, I'm gonna drop you!" she exclaims, before laughing and steadying herself.
You can't help but laugh at her silly antics, feeling a sense of joy and playfulness fill you up. As Yoon continues to walk ahead, she keeps pretending to lose her balance, making you jump and squeal in delight.
"I swear, if you drop me, I'm gonna tickle you!" you threaten, playfully.
Yoon just grins mischievously, enjoying the game. "You wouldn't dare," she says, before pretending to stumble again.
You both continue to walk ahead, with Yoon carrying you on her back and teasing you, and you can't help but feel grateful for her infectious energy and sense of humour. Even though it's just a silly piggyback ride, it's moments like these that make you feel alive and happy. You nuzzle your face into her neck, breathing her sweet perfume.
As you near the river, Yoon picks up her speed, almost running to your destination. You laugh at her energy, holding on to her neck for dear life.
"Are you even breaking a sweat?" you ask, teasingly.
Yoon laughs, her legs pumping as she charges towards the water's edge with you still on her back. You shriek in surprise and hold on tight, feeling the wind rushing past you as you go.
When she finally comes to a stop at the edge of the river, you slide off her back and take a few deep breaths, trying to catch your breath. Yoon grabs your hand collapsing on the glass, pulling you down with her.
"Woah, that was something else," you say, grinning at Yoon.
She beams back at you, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Told you I had energy to spare," she says. You wrapped your arms around her, pulling her in for a tight hug. Being back at the river with Yoon reminded you of just how much you loved her, and how grateful you were to have her in your life.
You lie in silence for a while, basking in the warm sun. The peaceful sound of the flowing water filled the air, and a light breeze made the leaves rustle. You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath of fresh air, feeling content and relaxed.
Out of nowhere, Yoon suddenly speaks up, breaking the silence. "Do you remember the first time we met?" she asks, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
You smile at the memory, "Of course I do. It was in our philosophy class. You came in late and sat next to me." You remember the first time you saw Yoon like it was yesterday. It was your first day of university, and you were nervously sitting by yourself. You were sitting in your university lecture, trying your best to pay attention to the professor's words. Suddenly, the door burst open and in walked a tall girl with long black hair. She quickly scanned the room before making her way to the empty seat next to you. As she sat down, you couldn't help but notice her infectious smile and lively energy.
Yoon chuckled. "Yeah, I don't think anyone could forget my loud and obnoxious entrance." You laugh, pulling her closer to you, "And I kept talking to you throughout the entire lesson, even though you were clearly trying to focus on the lecture."
"Yeah, I was trying to take notes, but you were too distracting." You mumble into her chest, hugging her tightly.
Yoon playfully hits your arm, "Hey, I was just being friendly."
You look up to look at her, "I know, and I loved it. I instantly knew I liked you." Even though it was a couple of years ago, you can still remember the scene clearly. You remember the cute outfit she wore; her baggy jeans with cropped white tee. You remember her asking you for a pencil; she never gave you your pencil back but you didn't really care. You just couldn't believe someone like her was talking to you.
Yoon grins, "Yeah, me too. You were cute, trying to act all serious and focused. But I could see through that and knew you were just as outgoing and fun as me."
You both laugh, enjoying the memory of your first meeting. Yoon leans her head back onto the grass and looks up at the sky. You feel her fingers interlace with yours, and she pulls your hand closer to her, resting it on her chest. You both stare up at the sky, watching the fluffy clouds drift by.
"Look, that one looks like a puppy," Yoon says, pointing at a cloud.
You squint your eyes and try to see it, but all you can make out is a vague shape. "I don't see it," you say, laughing.
Yoon turns to face you, propping herself up on her elbow. "Here, let me show you," she says, sitting up and pulling you up with her. She points up at the sky, her finger tracing the outline of the cloud. "See, the head is here, and the ears are here." She looks back at you, grinning. "Can you see it now?"
"Oh my god, you're right! It does." You nod, impressed. "Look, that one looks like a house." pointing to an oddly squared shaped cloud.
"I see it!" She responds excitedly, tracing the outline with her finger to confirm.
"Hey, let's skip some stones!" You turn to Yoon and say,
Yoon grins at you and stands up, eagerly walking towards the water with you. You both bend down and pick up some flat rocks, each trying to find the perfect one to skip.
You carefully select a stone and holding it in your hand. "Watch this," you say, before throwing the rock. It skims across the surface of the water several times before finally sinking below.
Yoon tries her luck and toss a rock, but it only bounces once before sinking. "Not bad," You say, patting her on the back. "But let me show you how it's done."
You picks up another rock, taking a deep breath, and tosses it with all your might. The rock skips so many times it's almost hard to count. You both laugh and cheer as the rock disappears into the distance.
"That was amazing!" Yoon exclaim, "You're soooooo good at this." She slurs her words, her arms snaking around your waste. You feel your cheeks heat up at her words, but you can't help but feel a sense of happiness at the same time. Yoon always makes you feel so comfortable and loved.
As you continue skipping stones on the water, you can feel Yoon's presence behind you. She has her arms wrapped around your waist, and her head resting on your shoulder. You pause for a moment, taking in the beautiful scenery and the feeling of Yoon's embrace.
Without thinking, you turn around and face her. "Yoon," you say, taking her hands in yours. "I just want you to know that I love you. I love you so much."
Yoon's eyes light up with happiness, and a smile spreads across her face. "I love you too," she says, pulling you into a tight hug. "I've loved you since the moment I met you, and I will always love you."