heavily inspired by this riwoo headcanon by @lionhanie
The pastry shop was filled with the sweet smell of fresh-baked cakes, breads, biscuits, cookies, pies…
donuts…
The door's small bell made a ringing sound, indicating that a new customer had come. You lifted your head, since you were taking some new bread and putting it into the small transparent counter.
The customer that came right through the door was no more than your beloved boyfriend, Riwoo.
Coming to the counter, you welcomed him with an “Welcome, my favourite customer!” that made his cheeks faintly blush. He asked for a donut, which you had already taken out of display the moment you saw him entering, knowing his preference.
For the check-out time, you simply got his receipt and wrote something for him there, and as you gave the small donut packaging and the receipt, you also gave to him a small kiss on his cheek, which made him faintly blush.
As he left with the donut in his hand, he quickly read the small note on the receipt with the other hand, ultimately bumping into a chair after reading its content, his eyes lost in a deep daze in the receipt.
As he left the establishment, you could finally see his face: it had a very vivid bright red color…
How can someone get so flustered by “you look really pretty today, my cutie♡”?
as a former bakery worker i’m cheesing.... i feel like riwoo would be so geeked to find out his lovely amazing s/o just happens to work at a pastry shop omg i KNOOOWWWWW he'd be using that to justify his cravings bc wdym you get a sweet treat AAAANDDDDDD see ur partner awww LURV
menda i miss you please write something like how’s your days going😔
- 🍨
hiii my sweet 🍨 nonnie <3 i missed u too....
i've been good!!!! hope you've been well :D sadly i'm back at uni so i'll have even less time to write, but i'm rlly gonna try and hold myself to it especially since i have SO MUCH i Want to write but just. never find the time to do HAHAHAH hopefully no more unspoken disappearances from me in the near future :,,,)
working during the holidays isn’t too bad with sanghyeok by your side
co-worker!riwoo x gn!reader (non-idol au)
this work is my contribution to @onedoornet’s christmas event, a very onedoor christmas! check it out here!
word count: 4.1k ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ genre: fluff
warnings: a pinch of angst i'd say (alluding to burnout/seasonal depression), reader is a people pleaser, i curse maybe twice lol, riwoo is referred to as sanghyeok!
a/n: SORRY I KNOW CHRISTMAS IS OVER…. had fun writing it regardless :,) hope u enjoy ^^
reblogs ↺ + feedback always appreciated!
Being one of the younger workers in the office was frustrating to say the least. Pausing your work to complete trivial tasks in the middle of the workday – making copies of a meeting agenda, fetching your seniors’ morning coffees, reorganizing the ridiculously large stack of your current client’s files – the list seemed to never end. For some reason, everyone around you was conveniently occupied with something so urgent that they couldn’t attend to the matters themselves, leaving the responsibility up to you. Sometimes you felt like you spent more time faced with useless errands than doing the work you were hired to do in the first place.
You were expecting a bit more respect from your peers when you were appointed as the team leader for your company’s newest project, but you were quick to realize your naivety in the earlier group meetings, finding that no one seemed to take you seriously. You would’ve thought that because the other members on the project had years of experience on their side, surely they’d be able to hold their weight to a certain extent... Right?
Painfully enough, it was the complete opposite. You can’t count the number of times one of the more “experienced” workers asked you to repeat a detail you’d discussed just minutes prior, or proposed a suggestion that completely contradicted the end goal of your client– it was clear to you that no one saw your leadership as more than a joke, no matter how hard you tried.
And to top it all off, your company was structured in such a way that made it nearly impossible for you to speak up against your elders. Your word as a senior associate meant close to nothing if you were going against one of the partners of the firm. It didn’t matter that you put in ten times more effort than your team members, it was almost as if they were praised according to how long they’ve been in the office.
Safe to say you were relieved when Sanghyeok was added as a member of the team you were leading on a random Tuesday afternoon. Not that you two were close by any means – the extent of your interactions consisted of small smiles exchanged in passing in the printer room or short discussions of weekend plans over coffee in the break room. Rather, you were hopeful that his addition to the project would mean someone would finally start contributing even a fraction of the work you were putting in.
Even though you dread your bi-weekly team meetings, it was so much more rewarding to at least one other person cared about the success of the project. Sanghyeok was always in his unassigned-assigned seat right by the projector, intently nodding along to your agenda and taking notes when he deemed necessary. Hell, he’d even chime in whenever someone would ask a question that was obviously answered earlier in the presentation, giving you the chance to save your breath for something that actually mattered, and shooting you a cheeky grin afterwards, clearly satisfied helping you whenever he could.
ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ Four days before the deadline. . .
Everyone begins to pack up their belongings the second it hits 5:00PM, slowly but surely filing out of the office before it gets too dark. It was no surprise to see your colleagues zipping up their briefcases far earlier than you planned on clocking out; the project deadline crept up on you faster than you’d like to admit, and your mostly incompetent team forced you to work overtime a majority of the recent weeks. In any other case, you probably wouldn’t be breaking your back hunched over your keyboard hours after the sun had set, but because the project was in your name, it pained you to present a finished product you weren’t proud of.
“You aren’t leaving yet, Y/N?” You look up from your monitor, finding Sanghyeok looking at you from across your cubicle, wrapping a plush scarf around his neck. His eyes are full of concern– he’s noticed the way you never seem to budge once your peers start going home for the night. Even on days when he logs off later than he’d initially planned to, you’re still there, typing away at your desk.
“Agh, our Y/N is always so hardworking! They never seem to leave with the rest of us,” Alvin, a senior on your project notorious for sending in half-assed work far past the deadline you set for him, comments from his seat beside you. “I could never put in as much work as you do, not when I’ve got a family waiting for me at home!” Yeah, no shit. It’s hard to believe he’s stayed at the company so long performing the same quality of work you were doing in your first year in the office.
His words stung a bit, feeling oddly bitter at the idea of someone like him having people who loved him waiting for him to return from work– Coming back home to an empty apartment late at night never used to bother you, but something about the long winter nights and freezing temperatures made it undoubtedly sad in nature. It wasn’t just the weather making your loneliness feel colder than usual.
The smile you return is painfully fake, something Sanghyeok clocks almost immediately. He gnaws on his lip, wanting to say something to the senior, ultimately deciding to hold back on it given how new he was to the project. Maybe it wasn’t his place. He didn’t want to make things worse for you by saying something out of line. Alvin shrugs his coat onto his back, quickly leaving the premises without another word.
“If I didn’t see you in a new outfit everyday, I’d think you slept at your desk,” Sanghyeok jokes, trying to lighten the mood. From his first meeting with the new team, he quickly learned to admire the way you seemed to take charge when you needed to. It was impressive the way you’d joined the company later than he had, and were already put in charge of such a big task. He knew exactly how it felt to deal with all the stupid tasks from the other seniors in the office, finding himself doing the same thing for weeks before you came in.
You chuckle pitifully, mainly towards yourself. “At this point, I should stop paying rent and start living at my desk.” You groan as you take a break for a well-needed stretch, your back cracking from your poor posture. “Some days I feel like I’m in the office more than my apartment.” Your words are lighthearted, but Sanghyeok notices the underlying melancholy in your statement.
And Sanghyeok takes his leave, only after wishing you good luck and a “get home safe” as he always does, but he can’t stop thinking about how much time you’ve been putting into your work. He’s constantly shut down whenever he asks you if there’s anything else he can help with, just wanting to take a fraction of the load off your plate.
He knows you’re doing it just to be nice. You’re the type of person to take on a burden all on your own, even if it means committing to the ungodly hours you’ve become so used to. Even on the bus ride home, Sanghyeok can’t shake your tired eyes out of his mind. For some reason, it hurts to imagine you slowly killing yourself over a silly project all because no one had the decency to bother trying when they knew you’d fix it for them anyways. He wanted to do more… No, he needed to do more.
ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ Three days before the deadline. . .
Sanghyeok wonders how you’re always earlier than him when he walks into the office, finding you so put-together and diligently editing the project presentation when he’s still groggy after his commute to work.
The workload around the holidays is never too demanding, thankfully the company’s clients normally don’t ask for much as the year comes to an end. In your case, however, all your time is spent on trying to perfect the project proposal for your overwhelmingly-nitpicky boss. You’re convinced it’s some sort of test to see how good you’d be leading a team before you get the promotion you’ve been waiting on for the past couple months. Even if you make it out of your boss’ critiques alive, you’re certain you’ve lost countless years off your life with all the stress weighing down on you.
You lock eyes with Sanghyeok every once in a while, finding him peeking over the divider separating your desks more than normal. That’s odd. You figure it’s probably because he has a question about the numerous items that still need fixing on the project. It doesn’t occur to you that he wants to talk to you until he rises from his chair, tapping his pen on the top of your monitor to catch your attention.
“I don’t know if you saw, but I just fixed a lot of the trouble areas you mentioned in the meeting the other day,” He’s excessively clicking the pen in his free hand, feeling oddly nervous to show you his work even when he knows he did everything properly– He knows how high your expectations are when it comes to your job. “I’m pretty sure I made sure to do everything you asked for, but you might want to double-check if I missed anything.”
The gasp of relief you let out is uncharacteristically loud, so much so that it earns you a side-eye from Alvin, who was currently playing solitaire at his desk next to you. He’d just saved you hours of overtime with his work, finding everything done to a tee. “No, no, this is perfect. I was dying to fix those until I realized I forgot Christian told me to come with him for his fieldwork later and–”
“It doesn’t matter who goes with him, right? I’ll go with him instead.”
“Huh? Are you sure? I don’t mind, plus he specifically asked me so maybe–”
“Y/N, it’s fine, really! I used to go on client visits all the time before he started dragging you along with him. I’ll be okay, promise!” He’s confident in his words, reassuring you of all the concerns he knew were starting to bubble up in your head. “I know you’ve been worried about getting everything done before the deadline, you shouldn’t have to waste your precious time following him around and pretending like you care about his wife.”
The comment makes you giggle, everyone knew the senior for the way he could go on and on about his family life knowing damn well no one was actually listening to his neverending rants. “Thank you, Sanghyeok. It means a lot, really.”
“Maybe we’ll be able to leave at the same time today, yeah?”
ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ Two days before the deadline. . .
The following day, after everyone else in the office logged out for the night, Sanghyeok sneaks back into the office. He made it his mission to discreetly plant a care package for you while you’re busy in the printer room– It’s nothing big, no, rather just a hot cup of tea and a sandwich he’d purchased from the cafe across the street from the building.
You’d offhandedly mentioned the way you get so immersed in your work without anyone peering over your shoulder that you forget to cater to your growing hunger, often resorting to eating instant ramen in the break room before returning to your desk. Sanghyeok knew how much the project meant to you, but that didn’t mean he was going to let you neglect your health just for a positive response from your old boss.
You’re confused when you come back to your cubicle, finding all of your previously haphazardly scattered project papers perfectly organized in a folder by the edge of the desk. The lid was taken off the cup of tea, presumably to let it cool down a bit before drinking. Huh? The note atop the sandwich container answered the questions lingering in your mind.
hope you don’t mind me moving some stuff around on your desk :p
eat up before you get back to work! good luck y/n!
sanghyeok ( ≧ᗜ≦)
ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ One day before the deadline. . .
“You think Alvin will mind if I borrow his spot today?” Sanghyeok questions, swiveling around in an office chair that didn’t belong to him.
“You could probably erase all the files off his computer and he wouldn’t bat an eye,” You joke as you sort through the stacks of papers residing on your desk, looking for a particular document. “I’m convinced he gets paid to just sit there and play card games for eight hours.”
“Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him touch his keyboard.” Sanghyeok chuckles before logging into the computer beside you.
“Why’re you using his computer though? You’re not going home yet?”
“I think it’s only fair for me to help you finish the proposal when we’re supposed to be submitting it tomorrow,” Sanghyeok answers matter-of-factly. You watch as he opens up the same powerpoint you’ve been staring at on his own monitor. It’s quiet for a few minutes, the only sounds coming from the occasional clicks of your mouse. “...Doesn’t it get lonely working all by yourself?”
You pause to think for a moment. It’s not the worst thing in the world, you’re sure you wouldn’t be capable of doing it everyday if it was that unbearable. “No, not really. If anything, it’s nice to not have anyone pulling me away from my desk for some stupid shit– Sorry, stupid stuff.” You correct yourself.
“I know we’re still at work and all, but you don’t need to censor yourself when it’s just us. I’m not gonna snitch on you for cursing on the clock, Y/N.” He teases, not surprised to see that you’re still in work-mode even when the office is practically empty.
“Oops, just force of habit. I'd rather die than accidently curse in front of one of the oldies we work with,” You smile sheepishly, feeling at ease with him at your side. You’re not sure when you grew so fond of the man – maybe it’s because of how similar you are in age or the way he’s always so quick to defend you in the meeting room – but he’s always felt like more of a friend than a co-worker in times like these. “...It’s nice to have some company for a change, though. Felt like I was going insane looking at the same documents all by myself.”
“It’s okay to admit you get lonely sometimes, Y/N.” Sanghyeok pauses his typing to look at you, his eyes soft when they meet yours. “I was thinking about it on my way home the other day, you know, the way you willingly stay in the office after everyone leaves every night. It’s hard to imagine it isn’t difficult being by yourself all the time.”
You’re silent, knowing that he’ll see through you no matter what you say. Sure, you had your fair share of moments sitting crying at your desk, in fear that your efforts wouldn’t pay off despite how much you’ve been trying, but that doesn’t mean you need his help. You made it this far all on your own, after all.
And when you fall asleep at your desk, exhaustion finally catching up to you, Sanghyeok doesn’t hesitate to rest a sweater on your back. He knows how upset you’ll be once you wake up, bummed that you dozed off at such a crucial time, but he’s more than happy to let you sleep for a bit before gently shaking you awake after a well-deserved power nap.
“Shit, how long was I knocked out for?” Embarrassed, you rub the sleep from your eyes, turning away to yawn.
“It wasn’t even thirty minutes, you’ll be fine Y/N. I finished editing a section of the report while you were sleeping too.” You tap on your mouse, waking up the black screen, happy to see that a good chunk of the comments you’d made on the document were long resolved. “Can you promise me something?”
You’re offset by the sudden serious mood lingering between you two, but you slowly nod regardless. “Even when this project is over, will you promise to come to me if you need help?”
“I know I only joined your team recently, but I want you to know you can depend on me. It’s not fair for you to do all this on your own,” Sanghyeok can sense the way you’re processing his request in your mind, watching as you hesitate to answer. “I know it’s probably weird coming from someone who’s only been here a couple months longer than you, but I promise I’ll try my best if you ever need me.”
“Okay.”
“...So that means you won’t try to turn me down whenever I offer to do something for you, right?”
“Yes, Sanghyeok, I won’t turn you down when you try to help me.” You roll your eyes at him before turning back to your computer, missing the way his face lights up at your response, proudly smiling to himself.
ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ The day of the deadline. . .
You’re sure you could cry tears of joy when you send the final version of your project proposal to your boss. There were a few sections you wish you had more time to perfect, but it was impossible without an extension to your deadline– There’s nothing else to do but wait until you get feedback, which is entirely out of your hands at this point. 7:15PM. It’s still two hours past the usual 5:00PM ending time, but far earlier than you’ve clocked out in the past two weeks.
“You’re actually leaving at the same time as me? I’m not dreaming, right?” Sanghyeok pinches at his cheek, earning a giggle from you in response.
“Well, I just forwarded all the documents to our boss. Felt like I deserved at least one early night during the holidays,” You close your eyes as you fall back in your chair, letting out a content sigh knowing there wasn’t anything else you had to do for a while. “God, I don’t know what I’d do without you, Sanghyeok.”
He holds the door for you after you’ve both collected all of your belongings, bundled up for the harsh temperatures waiting for you outside the building. The elevator ride down is silent until the man next to you clears his throat, prompting you to look at him. “So, do you have plans tonight?”
“Ah, not really. I was planning on picking up some dinner at the convenience store before heading back to my place.” He nods, fiddling with his tie in a feeble attempt to calm down his nerves from what he was about to do.
“Can I take you out to dinner, Y/N?” Your eyes widen slightly, unsure what to make of the question. Was he… asking you on a date right now? It wasn’t out of the ordinary for coworkers to share a meal off the clock, but the fact that it was just the two of you had your brain malfunctioning. “...You know, as a thank you for working so hard on the project! It’s the least I can do.” Sanghyeok laughed nervously, hand flying up to the back of his neck as he waited for your response.
It doesn’t take long for you to decide your answer, nodding in confirmation, feeling slightly bashful at the sudden act of appreciation you weren’t used to receiving, especially not at work. There’s a pep in his step as he brings to you one of his favorite ramen spots, a hole-in-the-wall joint tucked away from the main streets. It’s cute, honestly. You’ve learned a lot about your coworker in recent days, but this side of him was entirely new to you.
You’re glad you trusted his recommendations when you take your first bite, the hot broth immediately melting the chills you garnered from the short walk there. Despite this being your first interaction with Sanghyeok outside of work, there’s no awkwardness in your time spent together– Instead, a fuzzy feeling rests in your chest as you look at the man sitting across the table from you. Perhaps it’s due to the newfound absence of pressure on your back from sending in the project proposal, or maybe because it’s the first time you’ve allowed yourself a proper meal in days, but it’s a feeling you don’t wish to lose any time soon.
Usually you’re one to rush back home immediately after dinner, not wanting to lose any second of rest you have before you’re forced to go back to the hell you call work, but you’re more than happy to accept Sanghyeok’s invitation to go to a nearby bar for some drinks following the meal you shared. It’s there you realize he’s a lot wittier than he comes off as when you’re on the clock, your cheeks aching from smiling so hard at his endless supply of jokes.
You don’t stay there long, only garnering a couple drinks before finding yourself walking around one of the parks in the area you didn’t even know existed, gawking at the string lights adorning the trees. Work was taking up all of your attention that you didn’t even have the time to decorate your apartment for the holidays like you normally would’ve. This was the closest thing you could get, but you were far from complaining.
“I never expected you to be like this, Sanghyeok.” You confess after coming down from the fit of laughter he’d induced with one of his stupid puns.
“What do you mean?” He asks, worried that he’d done something wrong.
“Oh, I wasn’t trying to say anything bad! You’re just… A breath of fresh air, I guess.” Your words emit a cloud of vapor in the frigid air. “I’m sorry I didn’t notice it sooner, I’ve been a real shut-in especially with the deadline and–”
“You don’t need to apologize for that, Y/N.” He cuts you off; he’s well aware of your tendency to apologize for things that you didn’t need to be sorry for in the first place. It was one of the only things he wished he could change about you, wanting you to give yourself more credit for the love you poured into everything you did. “I just wanted to make your life easier, I guess. Thanks for giving me the chance to do that tonight.”
“I should really be the one thanking you. You’ve been nothing short of helpful ever since you joined our team,” Thinking back on the past couple days, Sanghyeok never once shied away from doing things to ease your burdens, even going out of his way so you could focus all your attention onto what mattered most to you. “It’s like you were some sort of holiday miracle sent to me.”
Unwrapping the scarf from his neck, Sanghyeok carefully loops it around the back of your head, securing it snugly at the front of your jacket. “It’s freezing… You should really be layering up more.” He’s glad the lighting on the trees is too dim for you to see the blush creeping up his neck after seeing you in his clothes. He’d probably blame it on the frosty air if you called him out on it. “Ah, it’s snowing!”
The gaze you were previously sharing is broken as you look up, crystal white snowflakes slowly sinking from the sky. It was surreal to be standing in the middle of the park, ambient light illuminating the way the snow ended their descent atop your heads, your shared laughter harmonizing at the sight.
And despite the cold weather, you felt warm standing next to him.
genre: fluff
summary: sick on Christmas, you’re ready to sulk until your best friend Woonhak arrives with cheer and hot chocolate. He turns your miserable day into a cozy celebration, but as you recover, he catches your cold. Now it’s your turn to care for him, proving the holidays are always better together.
warnings: heavy mentions of sickness/illness, mentions eating (that’s all I think)
pairing: bestfriend!woonhak x fem!reader
wc: 1.5k
a/n: day 3!!! slowly getting the rest of the event posted : )
nets: @blossomnet @onedoornet @chrimatanet @k-labels @k-films
You knew it was coming, didn’t you? Of course you did. This wasn’t your first rodeo. The scratchy throat a week ago, the slight headache that felt like someone tapping a pencil against the back of your skull. You ignored it, as anyone does when Christmas is around the corner. Who has time to be sick when there’s decorating to do, presents to wrap, and sugar cookies to devour?
But now? Now it’s Christmas morning, and you’re cocooned in a fortress of tissues and blankets. The air smells faintly of menthol rub, and the soft hum of holiday music from your neighbor’s house makes your head throb.
“Why am I like this?” you mumble, voice raspier than you’d like.
You barely have time to pity yourself before your phone buzzes on the nightstand. You glance at it. The bright screen momentarily blinds you, but the name glowing there is enough to make your headache take a backseat.
Woonhak.
Your best friend. The guy who’s been there through thick and thin, who’s probably spent more time at your house than his own. The guy who’s annoyingly, infuriatingly perfect.
You swipe to open the message.
“Merry Christmas! 🎄 Are you alive over there?”
You groan. He knows you’re sick—he knew yesterday when you had to cancel your annual Christmas Eve movie marathon. He’d dropped off a care package with a smug grin, promising to “check in.”
You type back:
“Barely. Thanks for the plague.”
His response is immediate.
“Rude. I’m coming over.”
You barely have time to protest before your doorbell rings. How does he do that? You shuffle to the door, dragging your blanket around your shoulders like some kind of discount holiday ghost.
When you open the door, there he is—Woonhak. Tall, annoyingly cheerful, holding two cups of something steaming in his hands. He’s wearing a ridiculous Santa hat that only makes him look more infuriatingly festive.
“Merry Christmas,” he says, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.
“You’re going to catch this,” you warn, closing the door behind him.
He grins. “I have the immune system of a tank. Here.”
He thrusts one of the cups into your hands. It’s hot chocolate—you can smell it, rich and sweet.
“Bribery?” you ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Christmas cheer,” he corrects. He plops down on your couch, kicking off his shoes and settling in like he owns the place.
You sigh, sitting next to him. “You really didn’t have to come.”
“Yeah, but you were wallowing,” he says, stealing a sip from your cup. “Can’t let that happen. Christmas is sacred.”
You roll your eyes, but you can’t help the tiny smile that creeps onto your face. That’s the thing about Woonhak—he’s impossible to stay mad at.
It starts slow, like it always does with him. He pulls out his phone and forces you to watch a compilation of the worst Christmas fails he can find. He laughs until he’s clutching his stomach, and you’d roll your eyes again if his laugh weren’t so contagious.
Then it’s the Christmas playlist—Woonhak sings every song loudly and off-key, even adding a dramatic falsetto when Mariah Carey comes on. You groan and throw a pillow at him, but it only makes him louder.
By the time afternoon rolls around, you’re feeling less like a walking plague and more like...well, yourself. Your fever’s still lingering, and your voice is shot, but you’re laughing. And when Woonhak pulls out the board games he “just happened to bring,” you don’t even argue.
“I’m not letting you win just because you’re sick,” he says as he sets up the game.
“Good,” you croak. “I’d hate for you to get delusional.”
Somewhere between the fifth round of Uno and the second plate of cookies he insisted on baking (“Pre-made dough doesn’t count,” he said, all holier-than-thou as if he wasn’t the guy who once burnt toast), it hits you.
This is the best Christmas you’ve had in years.
Woonhak’s sprawled on the floor, arguing with himself over whether he should play a Draw Four card to win or “keep the spirit of Christmas alive” by going easy on you. You’re clutching your stomach, laughing harder than you have in weeks.
“You’re ridiculous,” you tell him, wiping tears from your eyes.
“And you love it,” he shoots back, grinning.
You do. You really do.
By the time evening rolls around, you’re both bundled up on the couch. The lights on your tiny, slightly lopsided tree cast a warm glow around the room. “Home Alone” is playing on the TV, but neither of you is really watching.
“Hey,” Woonhak says, nudging you with his elbow. “Feeling better?”
You nod, leaning your head against his shoulder. “Yeah. Thanks.”
“For what?”
“For...this. For always showing up. Even when I’m gross and sick and—”
“Stop,” he interrupts, nudging you again. “You’d do the same for me.”
You would. Without hesitation.
You’re quiet for a moment, the only sound the soft chatter of the movie and the faint buzz of holiday cheer in the air. Then he speaks again, quieter this time.
“Christmas wouldn’t be the same without you, you know.”
Your chest tightens, and you glance up at him. His eyes are focused on the TV, but there’s something in his expression—something soft, something real.
“Yeah,” you whisper. “Same here.”
And in that moment, wrapped in a blanket, your best friend beside you, you realize something. Maybe being sick on Christmas isn’t so bad after all.
By the time New Year’s Eve rolls around, you’re finally feeling like yourself again. The sore throat is gone, your energy’s back, and your voice no longer sounds like a creaky door. It’s a miracle, really. You even manage to convince Woonhak to come over for a celebratory dinner.
“See?” you say smugly as you clear the table. “I told you I’d bounce back in time for the new year. Invincible.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Woonhak mutters, slouched on the couch with his arms crossed. But there’s something off about him. He’s not his usual, annoyingly chipper self.
“Something wrong?” you ask, pausing mid-step.
He shakes his head. “No, I’m fine.”
But he’s not fine. You can tell by the way he’s rubbing his temples, the way his nose is slightly red, the way his voice has an edge of hoarseness to it.
“Woonhak…” you say slowly, setting the plates down and walking over to him. “Are you sick?”
“Nope,” he says too quickly, sinking deeper into the couch. “Definitely not.”
“Liar,” you accuse, crossing your arms.
He groans, tilting his head back. “Okay, maybe. Just a little. But it’s no big deal.”
You stare at him, realization dawning. “Oh my God. You caught it, didn’t you?”
“Caught what?”
“The plague I had! I told you this would happen!”
“Stop calling it the plague,” he grumbles, though his stuffy nose makes it sound more like plaaag.
You can’t help it—you laugh. You laugh so hard that tears prick at your eyes. Because of course this would happen. This is how things always go with you and Woonhak: you get sick, he shows up to save the day, and now here he is, on the verge of a cold.
“Oh, you think this is funny?” he says, shooting you a half-hearted glare.
“A little,” you admit, biting your lip to stifle more laughter.
“Great. I take care of you, and this is the thanks I get?”
“Hey, I didn’t ask you to come over!”
He huffs but doesn’t argue. Instead, he flops down dramatically, pulling the blanket over his head like some kind of defeated soldier.
“Guess I’m dying now,” he says, voice muffled.
“Don’t be so dramatic,” you tease, yanking the blanket off his face.
“Dramatic?” He looks at you, eyes narrowing. “You were literally moaning about the ‘injustice of life’ two days ago.”
“Fine, you’ve got a point,” you concede, sitting next to him. “But don’t worry. I’ve had practice now. I’ll take care of you.”
He raises an eyebrow. “You? Taking care of me? Should I be scared?”
You swat his arm. “Hey, I make great soup.”
He smirks. “Debatable.”
But despite his teasing, you notice the corners of his mouth tug upward in a small smile.
By the next morning, it’s official: Woonhak is down for the count. Fever, runny nose, the whole package. And true to your word, you step up. You make him soup (yes, real soup, not the instant stuff), keep his water glass full, and even let him hog the TV remote.
“You’re surprisingly good at this,” he admits one evening, bundled up on the couch with a box of tissues at his side.
“See? Told you,” you say smugly. “And if you’re nice, I might even make cookies.”
“Homemade?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Don’t push your luck.”
He laughs, and it’s a little wheezy, but it’s the kind of laugh that makes your chest feel warm.
As the days pass, you settle into a rhythm. You and Woonhak bicker over what to watch, argue about the proper way to steep tea, and inevitably end up laughing until your stomachs hurt.
And somewhere in the middle of it all, you realize something: you wouldn’t trade this for anything. Not the sickness, not the chaos, not even the burnt cookies. Because as long as Woonhak’s there, it feels like home.
By the time he starts feeling better, you’re already planning your revenge.
“Next year,” you say as you hand him his coat at the door, “you’re banned from playing nurse.”
He grins, leaning against the doorframe. “Sure you won’t need me?”
“Oh, I’ll need you,” you admit. “But not if it means getting sick all over again.”
“We’ll see,” he says, shooting you a wink as he steps outside.
And as he walks down the snowy path, you can’t help but smile. Because deep down, you know the truth: next Christmas, he’ll be back. And so will you.
Literally any thoughts on bf Leehan that you wanna share, go!!
well nonnie... ur in luck bc i have PLENTY of boyfriend leehan thoughts!
recently, i've been listening to beaches by beabadoobee on loop, and it reminds me a loooottttt of leehan (dare i say i miss the thought of surfer!leehan...)
it might be kinda predictable to say but i'm such a strong believer that bf!leehan would just adore bringing you to the beach. his love for you + his love for the water = perfect date! (according to his standards) whether it be walking in the sand, fingers interlocked as you watch the sun set, or messing around in the water trying to catch a crab (??), it's always one of his favorite pasttimes with you!
idk what it is, but i've always been super fond of the idea of bf!leehan being super forward when it comes to loving you. he's not one to shy away from blurting out all the compliments & praises floating around his pretty lil head whenever he sees u ;_; obviously you're in his thoughts 24/7, but he 1000% has pictures of you two together as his homescreen AND lockscreen, and probably also has a polaroid (or two) of you kept safe in his wallet
as your boyfriend, leehan is determined to be your #1 support system through everything, obviously he's Never going to shut up about how much he absolutely adores you. the second you guys made it official, the rest of the members knew they'd never hear the end of his admiration -- it was almost like you took over his entire life (in a Really Healthy and Normal way, obviously). bf!leehan is definitely the type to find a way to mention you in a conversation, even if he has to pull out the most obscure things just to find a way to bring up your name :,)
warnings: ANGST 😅, mentions/use of weed + alcohol, cursing, enhypen heeseung mentioned (he's a fuckboy too shocker, be warned when he shows up tho he's kind of an asshole!)
a/n: SHE'S BAAAAAACKKKKKKK!!!!
reblogs ↺ + feedback always appreciated!
Immediately after turning around, you could feel the hot tears welling up in your eyes against your will, threatening to fall. It was hard to stop yourself from crying on your way back to the apartment. At this point in the night, there weren’t many people still wandering around campus. Rather, you were left with only yourself and the warm glow emanating from the streetlamps, illuminating your path back home. If you didn’t have a roommate waiting up for you, you were sure you could’ve sat crying on the curb until the sun rose.
It was unclear what exactly triggered you to lash out on him like that, but you didn’t regret it, despite how shitty you currently felt. You were unaware of the pent up frustration bubbling within you, yet you wouldn’t dare take back any of the words said back there. Fuck you, Han Taesan.
They weren’t tears of sadness, no, they felt more like anger; Anger that stemmed from the realization that Taesan lives under the impression that his actions do not affect the people around him. The realization that Taesan is a hypocrite who cannot accept the fact that he could ever be in the wrong. The realization that Taesan is nothing but a ridiculously clueless boy who didn’t care to acknowledge his flaws.
You felt like an idiot, really. Han Taesan made you feel stupid; he always managed to do so when it came to things that actually mattered. It was stupid to let him use you for his own entertainment when you knew the truth; the signs were everywhere– yet you would turn a blind eye. Because you wanted to believe that you could trust your heart. The same heart that told you Taesan was capable of seeing you as more than any other girl on his roster. It was stupid for you to think that for you, he would be different. Don’t lie to yourself like that.
If all of your suspicions were right – if he actually saw you as more than a friend – you knew it would never work. Because Han Taesan is a man who knows the power he holds over others, and he thrives on it. You can tell he loves feeling like he can get everything he wants with just a handsome smile and a few sweet words, devoid of any real meaning, of course. Tonight, you learned something new: The one thing Taesan couldn’t control was his emotions. So what does he do about it?
He runs, avoiding them like the plague.
You were far from confident in how much you actually knew about him, if any of it was true to begin with, but it was terribly easy to see right through him when it came to this understanding. It was silly to hope that an emotionally closed-off man would treat you the way you deserved to be treated. It was irritating to be so sure that Taesan truly saw you as something more, and yet he was painfully oblivious to his own feelings.
And despite it all, the feeling rumbled deep inside of you, no matter how many times you tried to tell yourself you were wrong, his actions spoke louder than his words, what everyone said about him is real and you know it… You still wanted to believe Han Taesan was more than a fuckboy.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
It was difficult for you to tell anyone about what happened two weeks ago with Taesan, because quite frankly, you were embarrassed. Even though you finally got out what you’ve been itching to say to his face, it’s hard to feel like you weren’t overreacting. After all, you two weren’t dating. You were never anything like that, right? Just two friends with some tension, that’s all. There’s no reason to be so hung up on a delusion perpetuated by the questions you answered on your own accord; purely baseless assumptions about the person you thought Han Taesan could be.
Life went on, though. Not that it was deemed over the second you got your feelings hurt, but it definitely caused a rift in your daily routine. You’d be lying to yourself if you said you didn’t think about your last conversation with Taesan at least once a day. No word from him at all either– not that you were expecting any. If there’s one thing you knew for certain about Taesan, it was that he’ll disappear when you want to see him most.
You’re not exactly sure how Minnie convinced you to come to a party when you were firm on not going; it probably didn't help that you had Riwoo and Sungho practically begging you to show up to one of their parties just one more time before finals. All the moping you’ve been doing recently certainly wasn’t helping you get over what happened any time soon. You weren’t about to be a party pooper just because you didn’t want to risk seeing Taesan later tonight – it was far easier to suck it up and go along with Minnie rather than go through all the trouble of explaining everything that’s happened until now to your unknowing roommate.
Riwoo and Sungho knew exactly how to have fun, so you anticipated something a lot bigger coming from the pair hosting. The party was not as bad as you thought it would be– Not that you feared you weren’t going to enjoy yourself tonight, but it was definitely more lowkey than some of the other outings you’ve been to. Probably because Sungho didn’t want to go all out knowing he’d have to do a bulk of the post-function cleaning right before exam season. You wouldn’t be able to handle anything more than what was going on around you in your current mental state, that’s for sure.
Even so, there were still unfamiliar faces scattered around the apartment as you practically hugged the walls, hard seltzer barely touched in your hands. Minnie was off socializing somewhere; you’d normally be right by her side, more than willing to engage in any of the side quests she found for you to tackle together, but you weren’t feeling up to the adventure tonight.
You were listening into a conversation Riwoo was currently having with some of his other friends around their coffee table, laughing along and periodically chiming in whenever you pleased. The buzz from the few drinks you had earlier was definitely helping the nerves you first entered with; you hated to admit it, but socializing was far easier with the help of a substance. It’s easy to blend into the background here, finding yourself satisfied as you sink into their plush couch. That is, until the free space next to you was filled by a stranger, smiling at the people across the table before claiming the empty seat as his own.
“Sorry, is it cool if I sit here?” It’s funny how he only asks after he’d sat down, as if he knew you wouldn’t turn him away once you saw his face. He’s ridiculously good-looking, handsome features prominent even in the dimly lit room. Maybe it’s the effect of the drinks you had earlier, but his cologne is making you dizzy in all the right ways. You nod, scooting over slightly to make more room for him on the couch.
He turns to face you, gaze burning into the side of your head, effectively pulling your attention away from the other discussion at hand. “I feel like I’ve seen you before,” he comments. The eye contact is oddly intense, and he doesn’t shy away from it whatsoever. “I’m Heeseung.” He extends a hand for a handshake, oddly formal considering you’re currently at a party, but you take his hand in yours regardless..
“Y/N,” You lower your head slightly, giving him a small smile that he’s happy to return. His touch lingers on yours for longer than it probably should’ve, a smirk plastered on his face the entire time. He knows what he’s doing. It wouldn’t hurt to have a little fun flirting with a handsome guy, especially if you’re trying to get over Han Taesan. Just for tonight.
“So, who do you know here?” Heeseung’s eyes scan the circle of people around you, raising an eyebrow at you alongside his question. You motion your head towards Riwoo, who’s animatedly re-telling a story you’ve heard a billion times to everyone.
“My roommate’s floating around here somewhere, too.” It’s hard to ignore his staring as he watches you take a sip from the can you’re holding. “You?”
“No one, really. I came along with some friends, I think they’re friends with Riwoo too,” He hums, running his hands through his hair before he redirects his arm around your shoulder. A cliché move, but even the oldest tricks in the book would work with a guy as good-looking as him. “I’d like to know you, though.” Your cheeks heat up unwillingly, the room suddenly feeling far too warm for your liking.
The two of you stay like that, alternating between Riwoo’s storytime and your own side conversations, finding yourself leaning into his touch as the night goes on. It wasn’t anything particularly butterfly-inducing, more like the regular ice-breakers you go through whenever you’re faced with someone new, but talking to Heeseung was oddly refreshing. He was an incredibly attractive guy, and charismatic at that, anyone would be happy beneath his arm at a party.
“Ah, I remember where I’ve seen you before,” You tilt your head up at him; you were sure you'd never seen him prior to tonight. “You came to one of our smoke sessions, yeah?” Our? The only other smoke sesh you've been at recently was at Leehan and Taesan's house... Thinking back to it, you vaguely recall hearing his name amongst the names Taesan listed out on that fateful night. Ah, that must be who Heeseung tagged along with.
And suddenly you no longer wanted to continue this conversation; the newfound connection linking you two together made you fidget in your seat. Of course Heeseung’s friends with them– You should’ve figured from the way he was able to sweet talk you so fast. (For some reason they all happen to be good at doing so.) You didn’t want to be involved with anyone in that circle any time soon, and certainly not now.
“I liked that lil’ stunt you pulled with Leehan, doll.” Heeseung’s hand is cold as he reaches to cup your face briefly, bringing his index finger under your chin as he forces you to hold his stare. “Wonder what else you can do, hm?” His eyes flicker down to your lips, leaning in ever so slightly before dropping his hold on you.
You’re glad he seems to enjoy the elements of a chase– Heeseung doesn’t object when you get up to “get another drink,” instead opting to watch you like a predator would its prey as you make your way over to the kitchen. He must think you’re about to fall straight into his hands, melting to putty as he continues his never-ending barrage of flirty comments in an effort to take you home with him later tonight.
You’re quick to take refuge in there, grabbing yourself a bottle of water from the fridge and chugging down a third of it in a feeble attempt to cool down. Now would be a good time to know where your roommate is– it’d be a lot easier getting away from Heeseung’s advances if you had someone else with you. You feel around your back pocket for your phone, only to find… Nothing. Fuck, it probably fell out while you were sitting on the couch.
In your attempts to leave, you’re met with a pair of broad shoulders blocking the door frame: Heeseung. “Thought you were trying to get away from me, pretty. Had to come and make sure you were really getting a drink for yourself.” The chuckle he lets out is almost scary, especially now that you can see the way he towers over you.
You try to squeeze past him, to at least go somewhere with more people, but he’s quick to grab your arm, bringing you deeper into the kitchen with him. “Let’s stay here for a while, it’s too stuffy out there.” Heeseung moves to grab a beer off the counter, opening it with ease as he takes a big swig. “So, you fuck Leehan yet?”
You choke on your spit at the blunt question, in complete disbelief that he’d ask something like that so casually. “The hell? Why would I even tell you that?”
“Well, you’re getting worked up over it, so I’m more inclined to believe that there’s something between you two now.” He’s chuckling as he looks at you from where he was standing, leaving only a couple feet between you two. He’s teasing you just to get under your skin.
“...If you’re talking about that bullshit from that night, that was nothing.” You’d completely forgotten the way you shotgunned with Leehan in an effort to make Taesan jealous; thinking back to it is humiliating, especially knowing it wasn’t just Heeseung who witnessed the intimate moment. Damnit, maybe you shouldn’t have gone that far.
“It was hot, you know. Until Taesan went and ruined all the fun by taking you all for himself,” He pauses to take another sip from his bottle. “Looks like you’ve got both of them under your belt, huh? It’s impressive. Most girls would die to be in your place.” Your skin crawled with the way he was openly referring to you like some sort of sexual object being passed around his friends.
“I didn’t hook up with either of them, Heeseung. Don’t go around talking about shit that isn’t true.” The raise of your voice catches him off-guard, but he doesn’t back down from a challenge, especially not if it’s you. Your interactions with him felt like you were the subject of some sick mind-game, one where the only goal was to piss off whoever was in their line of vision, and it was working.
“Seeing you get so angry is turning me on, angel. You must have something good if it means they both want a piece of you,” He puts his beer down somewhere before striding over to you, forcing you to step back until your back is flush against the cool countertops. He’s looking down on you once more, arm resting firmly on the cabinet above you, making you feel more caged in than ever. “What do you say, my turn next?”
Someone wolf whistles from behind him, making him drop his act as he turns to see who it came from. It’s no one you know, but you’re more than grateful for the stranger for giving you an out of the situation you were currently in. You ignore the calls of your name as you push past the group of people trying to come in, trying to distance yourself from Heeseung as quickly as possible.
You weren’t sure where you’d lose him, ultimately deciding that going outside might be your best bet. Damnit, you didn’t think to grab your phone on your way out– Heeseung was probably still looking for you inside, so maybe now wasn’t a good time to go back in there. You could live without it for the time being if it meant avoiding that god-awful conversation. The cool air did little to combat the warmth you were currently feeling, a tightness in your chest you could only describe as unease. Your hands trembled at your side, palms sweater than you realized. Fuck, why were you so overwhelmed right now?
It was foolish for you to think you wouldn’t run into one of Taesan’s friends – especially knowing that this was Riwoo and Sungho’s party – but you didn’t expect an interaction of that calibre. You felt humiliated, offended even, for something you never did. The way those words rolled off of Heeseung’s tongue as if he was certain they were true; You hated the way Han Taesan had such a presence in your life after the way you two left off.
There’s small groups of people scattered around outside, luckily too engrossed in their own circles to notice you practically running out the front door. Trying to calm down your pounding heart, you look around in hopes of finding someone you knew to try and distract yourself, to use them as a get-out-of-jail free card if Heeseung came back around. It’s all a blur, really, scanning the backs of heads of people you don’t know, and feeling insane in the process.
God, why do they know so many people? You curse yourself for not thinking to grab your phone amidst your route through the apartment; maybe you could’ve called up Minnie to come save you or something. Your eyes glaze over the strangers' faces once more, anxiety creeping into your stomach until you meet a familiar gaze, one that softens immediately upon seeing you.
Han Taesan.
Should’ve figured he was somewhere outside if you didn’t see him inside the whole night. Damn it, why did he have to be the only person you could name in the immediate vicinity? He’s stood in a circle of people passing around a joint, eyes fixed onto you despite the fact that someone was currently talking to him. Taesan mouths something to the girl besides him before hastily making his way over to you, parting the group in half to get past them.
Seeing him again for the first time since your argument brought back all the emotions you bottled up after your argument, feeling yourself get choked up immediately. You turn your back to him, not wanting to hold eye contact any longer than you need to, and start walking with no end destination in mind. There weren’t many other places you could go, not to mention the fact that your phone and roommate were both still inside the apartment, but that didn’t matter right now.
“Where are you going?”
You halt your movements, hearing Taesan’s voice from behind you, picking up his pace in an effort to reach you. You didn’t know where you were going in the first place. Turning around, you watch as he closes the distance between you two, nothing but the sound of his footsteps echoing through the air. He stopped only a couple feet away, but the smell of weed lingering on his clothes was strong even from where he was standing.
“Why’d you follow me?”
“Uh, I don’t actually know. I guess I just wanted to see if we could talk,” He scratches the back of his head, struggling to tell you the truth: he missed you. “You looked upset back there… Just wanted to see if you were okay, yeah?”
“I’m fine, just kind of… Annoyed.” Just thinking about the way your conversation with Heeseung escalated frustrated you deeply. Taesan tilts his head in confusion at your admission, scooting backwards in the process, not wanting to invade your personal space. “Not at you, idiot. Well, not directly.”
“What happened inside? Did someone do something to you? Just tell me who and I’ll–” Just like that, Taesan was ready to storm back towards the apartment to find who made you upset, only stopping when you grabbed his wrist, physically preventing him from going any further.
“You’re doing that thing again.” You drop your hold on him. The loss of your touch plants a pit in his stomach.
“What are you talking about?”
“That thing where you act like you care about me,” The boy frowns at you, clearly upset that you don’t believe his genuinity. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“Baby, c’mon. It was never an act,” Taesan reaches to put his hand on your shoulder, only for you to dodge his movements. He pauses for a moment afterwards, debating on what to say next. “I couldn’t fake the way I acted with you, even if I tried.” His confession is hushed, loud enough only for him to hear.
“You guys brought Heeseung with you, didn’t you? He was spewing all this bullshit about how you and Leehan are just dying to get into my pants.” Irritation was written clearly into your outburst. “...Unless, he’s telling the truth. Is that what I am to you guys? A stupid bet or something?”
“Fuck, if I knew you were here I would’ve tried finding you earlier and none of this would’ve-”
“What difference does it make? Aren’t you the same way? What makes you think he wouldn’t have said the same shit if you were there with me?” The tension in the air is thick, uncomfortable. “Say something, Dongmin.”
It stung when he didn't bother to utter a single word.
“Maybe it was stupid for me to think like this, but I never wanted to believe any of those ridiculous things people would say about you,” You can’t be bothered to wait for a response from the boy standing across from you, not anymore. “If I was nothing but a game to you, why do you try so hard to act like I’m not? If you knew those rumors were right all along, why’d you even bother dragging this out the whole time?”
“Dragging what out?” God, is he dense?
“Us, Dongmin! Why the hell would you keep up this act for so long if you never gave a shit about me to begin with?”
“...None of that is true, Y/N.”
“Then why don’t you just fucking explain it to me then?” Why can’t he tell you Heeseung was wrong? Why was it so hard for him to tell you what you needed to hear?
“Maybe it’d help if you didn’t see me as some fucking bad guy all the time everything would make a lot more sense,” That’s the thing: You could never see him as the villain, even after all this. Even when he has you questioning the confines of your relationship after each and every interaction, you’ve never had it in you to cut it off for good. “I don’t know why you would assume the worst of me. You of all people, Y/N.”
It’s you who wants to believe everyone is wrong about him. How could he have it so wrong?
“You must be joking, right? I know you’ve heard it all, Dongmin.” A laugh comes out of your mouth, but you’re both well aware it isn’t because you’re joking– The circumstances have become so twisted that it was almost humorous. “About how you love jumping from girl to girl, refusing to give them the time of day after you’re done with them. I was bound to end up as one of them, right?”
“Stop, Y/N.” Taesan pleaded shakily.
“I don’t even know what to call you anymore. Does it even matter, Dongmin?” Taesan, Dongmin. Maybe you hated when Han Dongmin became Han Taesan. It was naive to think that you’d be able to focus on all the good parts of Dongmin when all the bad qualities of Taesan remained fixed in place.
You couldn’t stop yourself from continuing, not now. Han Taesan would never fix his issues if he ran away from them, consistently refusing to fix them properly – If you have to be the one to tell him the truth to his face, then so be it. “Have you ever wondered why we always come back to each other like this? Especially when we both know we never get anywhere afterwards?”
Taesan can’t meet your gaze.
“There’s something wrong with the way we work, you know that, right? You’d be fucking lying to yourself if you really believed what you said back then,” The buzz from the alcohol was running dry, emotions heightened the more you sobered up. “I don’t know what kind of misconstrued definition you have for friends, but we were never just friends, Dongmin. You have to understand that much.”
You take a moment to catch your breath, running a hand through your hair in frustration. “I can’t assume the worst in you,” It almost pains you to admit that to him; to let him know that at the end of the day, you’re still weak for him, and you’re well aware of the fact. “No matter how many times you leave me hanging, the way you always do, I always come back to you and I hate myself for it.”
“Shit, I don’t know why something in me wants to believe that you’re more than what everyone makes you out to be– and I try, time and time again, to prove myself correct but I can’t do anything about you going silent on me all the time, Taesan.”
“Fuck, Y/N, I just… I can’t let you end up like everyone else.” It’s the first time he’s even attempted speaking up in the past couple minutes. “Why can’t you just trust me on this?”
“Is that all you have to say? What do you want me to make out of that?” How did Taesan expect you to trust him when he gave you nothing to begin with? If he bothered to explain what was going on in his head, maybe, just maybe, you two would be able to fix things. “Why’s it so hard for you to just tell me?”
“I-I don’t know what it is,” His voice is the smallest you’ve ever heard it, it’s hard to believe it’s actually coming from him. “I’d tell you in a heartbeat if I understood, Y/N. I really would.”
It occurred to you that Taesan was just as lost as you were when it involved his own emotions: This coversation was going nowhere. Until he came to terms with what’s been holding himself back, you’re certain of one thing. “I don’t want to see you anymore, Taesan.”
And he watches as you shove past him, beginning the trek back to the party all on your own. Even when he averts his gaze, he couldn’t help but turn back around, in hopes you’d be looking back too. It was only when your silhouette became lost among the crowd of people that Han Taesan dropped to his knees, gravel harsh against the bare skin exposed by the rips in his jeans, and choked out a sob.
How did things get so complicated?
< SUPER SPECIAL TAG 3: @minwrlds my bodacious beloved beautiful b2u beta reader U mean the world to me BTW.
──── 0t6!boynextdoor x f ! r ╱ ⌕ est. relationship, fluff ∿ w. none, they are just cuties wc. 0.7K+ ( 757 ) ｡ ｡ first post of 2025 😚 !! ( many more bnd works to come! ) happy new years everyone !! i am so thankful for everyone && i hope that 2025 treats you well and also becomes your year 🤍 !!
❛❛ 💬 ❞ 𝗦𝗢𝗣𝗛 > 𓂃 𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗖𝗞 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗙 ⋮ 🪽
MYUNG JAEHYUN freely allowing you to bother him
no matter what kind of tricks you could pull, he never seems to get even a little bit annoyed. in fact, it's almost as if he adores you even more because of your antics. sometimes, it leaves you wondering if anything could tick him off at all. in reality, he might just play hard to get purposefully just to watch you persistently ask for something he would do for you without a second thought—no matter what it was. he just finds it rather cute when you're so determined to make him do something that you want. you wouldn’t even notice it’s an act until you see his wide grin as he finally “gives” in. so really, there's no need to beg for anything—you’re his weak spot, and he doesn't even try to hide it.
PARK SUNGHO dragging him into doing silly trends
regardless how silly he may think the tiktok you just showed him is, there’s such a low chance for him to say no. almost all of the time, you’d catch him saying yes. to his defense, how could he say no to someone like you? he loves seeing that spark of excitement in your eyes and can’t help but smile as you eagerly set up for the video you’re about to record. sungho, without a doubt, would just look at you with so much love as you tie that pink ribbon around him, adoring and cheesing over you internally.
LEE SANGHYEOK random physical touch
he doesn’t dislike physical touch, however, he will get all tensed up if someone were to randomly give it to him without warning. but with you? that’s a complete different story—poke at him, wrap your arms around him, or even smother him with affection, and he'd let it happen without a single complaint. if you wanted it, he’d simply give it to you. regardless, it’s a win-win situation for him—you’d get all the physical touch you want and he gets pampered with your sweet kisses and hugs. let’s say, there was always a motive all along—one that leaves him content with getting to keep you as close as possible.
HAN DONGMIN taking his belongings without asking
the first time he saw you wearing one of his hoodies, he could’ve sworn he fell even harder for you. sure, he’s the type who usually prefers when people ask before borrowing his things, but seeing you in it? that was a whole different story. it brought an instant smile to his face, one he couldn’t hide even if he tried. from that moment on, he’s never refused you—or asked for anything back. need to borrow his phone for a bit? go ahead. want to wear that accessory he cherishes so much? it’s yours. he’s just that down bad for you. honestly, it doesn’t matter how long it’s out of his sight because as long as it’s with you, he’s at ease. he trusts you completely—and maybe, just maybe, he secretly loves the reminder that he’s yours.
KIM DONGHYUN you have all of his attention
safe to say, you have the leehan completely swooned. you could be distracting him from his game or youtube video, but the moment you call his name, it's like everything fades into the background. it’s almost as if, within a split of a second, he’d be right there for you. even when you don’t call for him, he’ll pause whatever he’s doing just to check up on you. whether it’s a quick text or simply staying close within your reach, it’s more than enough to keep him content. his eyes soften the moment they land on you, almost as if he can’t help but admire the person who means the most to him. and honestly? he wouldn’t want it any other way.
KIM WOONHAK decorating his belongings
at first, he might refuse and say a few half-hearted complaints as you pulled out your sticker sheets. but the moment you stuck those tiny heart stickers on his phone case, it was game over. his heart started racing faster than he’d like to admit, and suddenly, those so-called “childish” designs didn’t seem so bad. ever since then, he’s been extra cautious with anything you’ve decorated, treating them with such care as if his life depended on it. he’s practically paranoid about getting even the tiniest scratch on them. in fact, he takes every chance he gets to proudly show them off—whether it’s his phone, notebook, or water bottle—and purposely leaves his things out in the open, secretly hoping you’ll add more. it doesn’t matter if the stickers are cute, silly, or completely random. what matters is that you’re the one who decorated them, and to him, that makes them absolutely perfect.
‘💬’ ─── new year new layout ( ? ) do we like this way of writing for hcs ??
warnings: TW SCHOOL 👎, written in lowercase, there’s a curse word here and there…, No Beta We Die Like Men (not proofread very well lmao)
a/n: wrote this while i was procrastinating studying for my final exams :,) soooo these r self indulgent hoohohoh ... enjoy :3
reblogs ↺ + feedback always appreciated!
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･sungho
tbh i feel like he’s the type to not study and just. be perfect idk
sungho pays attention in class so he doesn’t feel the need to review extensively before the exam … COULD NOT BE ME!!!!
with that being said tho, he’s the perfect tutor ^_^
sungho will definitely be right by your side as you’re doing the exam review packet, waiting to see if you get stumped on a particular question
when you do, he walks you through the steps you got stuck on, making sure you /actually/ understand the content rather than just doing whatever he tells you to do
and if he isn’t able to be physically there with you, he will literally be on standby bc he’s so used to you calling him for help the night before the exam :,)
he is SO patient too. especially because he sees how hard you’re working and he just wants to see all of your hard work pay off
sometimes you’ll feel bad because you feel like you’re taking up too much of his time just because you don’t understand the material
but he’s so quick to reassure you about it all bc he genuinely doesn’t mind, and he will MAKE SURE you know that
✐ᝰ
you place your head into your hands for the nth time that night, groaning at the way you can’t seem to memorize the right definitions. sungho chuckles from the other side of the phone, knowing exactly how you look despite not being able to see you right now. “everything okay over there?”
“i’ve been studying for so long and it still doesn’t make any sense,” taking a look at the time, you realize it’s later than you expected. “you know, you really don’t need to help me study right?”
“how many times do i have to tell you that–”
“yeah, i know you don’t mind, but i always feel bad keeping you awake any later than you need to be.” of course you’d take all the help you could get, but you don’t have it in you to hold him hostage again for the sake of your grade. “...goodnight, sungho!” you end the call before he has any chance to reassure you any further.
…you’re not surprised when you get a knock on your door 20 minutes later, opening it to see sungho with a bunch of snacks in one hand and his backpack slung over his shoulder. “are you still going to turn me down after i went through all the trouble of coming over?”
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ jaehyun
he’s so annoying to study with (endearingly) but i feel like a study sesh with him would guarantee you are getting a good grade on your exams
since he’s so hardworking i feel like he’d immediately call you out if you were getting sidetracked when you weren’t supposed to be
or if he doesn’t…. him being Ultra Locked In only makes You feel like you Also need to be Ultra Locked In
it’s honestly kind of scary how On Top Of Business jae can be when he needs to study…. bc he’s normally pretty hyper Every Other Time, you didn’t know he was capable of being so quiet for an extended period of time
it’s suuuuper impressive how seriously he takes his studies though… sometimes you’ll stop him when you have a question about something and he’ll explain it with EASE before immediately getting back into the zone
bad news for yappers because jaehyun is NOT entertaining the conversation unless he is Also taking a break. if anything he might even be the type to side-eye the people being too loud in the library because he doesn’t want them to distract you
honestly though it’ll probably help you get a lot more done
even though he studies like his life depends on it, i think he’s really good when it comes to balancing the work so your brain isn’t fried too quickly
i fully believe he will like. have some weird ass Study “Hacks” that lowkey make no sense but you entertain them bc he’s a cutiepatootie :3
✐ᝰ
the rustling from the other side of the table takes your attention away from your laptop, taking off one earbud before asking the boy across from you what he was doing. jaehyun doesn’t turn to answer, instead continuing to dig through the various compartments of his backpack for who knows what. “you know about superfoods and stuff?”
“...yeah? what does that have to do with what we’re studying though?” you let out a soft laugh, unsure about where he’s going with this conversation.
“well, i heard that if you eat five almonds everyday it makes you smarter. there was a study on it and everything, i swear.” you raise your eyebrow at his words, finding it hard not to roll your eyes at the ridiculous “fact” he just proposed. moments later, he’s plopping a ziploc bag full of almonds in the middle of the table, looking incredibly satisfied with himself.
you watch as he counts five almonds for the both of you, motioning for your hand to pass your portion over. “why don’t we just eat a ton of almonds so we become geniuses?” you move to reach for the bag to grab more, before he snatches it away from you.
“no, we can’t do that. the limit is five almonds, or else it starts reversing the effects,” jaehyun tosses an almond into the air and catches it with his mouth. “or something like that, i didn’t actually read the study.” he grins at you from his side of the table, making you laugh in disbelief before resuming your work, almonds by your side.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ taesan
personally i think taesan is the type to just. periodically check in from time to time while you’re studying
he seems like the type to focus best when he’s completely in his own space, so he wants to give you that same space (especially if he’s working on music, he doesn’t want to bother you with the noise)
….but that doesn’t mean he’s completely ignoring you while you’re out in the living room hunched over all your papers
he’d probably ask if you wanted to do the pomodoro method with him LMFAOOO like. you do work for 50 minutes and then u get a 10 min break
it honestly helps make the work go by faster bc you’re just looking forward to your next break w/ him :,)
when the fifty minutes is up and it’s time for both of your breaks, he’s so excited to come out of his room and just Recharge with you. simply seeing you quite literally gives him enough energy to go back to whatever he’s currently working on
if he found you too burnt out from studying for so long, he’d make an exception to his rules & he’d let you take a longer break bc he knows how much effort you’ve been putting into prepping for your tests
✐ᝰ
you were only halfway into your fifty-minute work interval, but taesan could sense something was wrong when he left his room to get some water. instead of taking notes like you were earlier, your pen was left abandoned on the side of your textbook as you frowned down onto the blur of words you were trying to take in.
taesan knows how hard it is to keep working when you hit a mental roadblock– he knows how badly you need to study right now, but it’ll be no use trying to force yourself when you clearly need to step away. he peeks around the corner, clearing his throat to catch your attention.
“hm?” you tilt your head as you look up from your notebook, frustration clearly written all over your face. it almost pains him to see you so stressed over exams. “is it time for break already? i could’ve sworn i just started–”
“maybe you just got so into it that you didn’t realize how much time passed,” he bluffs, walking up to the table. “do you want to see what i’ve been working on? i feel like i need a second opinion on it, something isn’t quite right with the melodies.”
taesan finds it cute how your face lights up immediately; you were clearly looking for any excuse to walk away from your work, but you knew you’d feel guilty if you had no good reason to do so. since taesan really needs your help, it’s fine… right?
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ leehan
idk something makes me feel like leehan just dgaf LOLOLOL but he’s definitely not going to bother you much unless you’re taking a break or something
i don’t think he puts too much effort into studying but he’s definitely just going to be in your general vicinity so you don’t get too lonely looking at your computer screen for so long… he’s just there in spirit
if u were in the same class & u asked him what Something Meant… he genuinely could not tell you unless it was about a topic he was actually interested in. bro just has his laptop open to feel included yk
i think he’d be the type to see you frustrated over whatever concept you can’t seem to get right & literally Make You take a break so you can clear your mind
you didn’t realize it while you were too focused on doing work, but he’s constantly been catering to your every need so you don’t get distracted
like he made sure your water bottle was refilled every time you finished it
turned up the heat in the apartment when he noticed you shivering
opening curtains so the sun lights up your workspace n makes it less stuffy :,)
i totally see him as the type to stay up as long as you are, even if he isn’t studying with you
again. just the idea of him wanting to keep you company so you don’t feel lonely ARRGHHHHH
like maybe he’s just sitting at the table w/ you as he watches u do work (like a freako) ((I need him so bad))
even if he falls asleep in the process… at least he’s nearby in case you need him…. (he wakes up every now and then to make sure you’re doing OK)
✐ᝰ
you can’t help but turn around when you hear all the commotion your friend (he’s in love w/ you btw) is currently making in the kitchen behind you. sensing your gaze, he looks back slowly, giving you a sheepish smile. “i know i’m being loud, but i’m doing this for you, okay?”
before you get the chance to question what he meant, he’s balancing a tray in his hands as he makes his way over to your desk. it’s adorned with anything you could possibly want during your study session– a steaming cup of tea, a plate of fresh fruit cut into cute shapes, a bag of your favorite chips, some of the gummies you two were sharing earlier, and even a bottle of painkillers for the eventual headache you’ll get from looking at the screen for too long.
you could honestly cry; it wasn’t a grand gesture, but you’ve been so overwhelmed trying to meet all the deadlines you’d made for yourself recently that you’ve been neglecting your own needs in the process. leehan’s clearly proud of himself as he takes a seat next to you, resting his head on his palm as he watches you. “you’re not gonna study with me?” you question, popping a piece of fruit into your mouth as you look at him. after all, you did ask to study together.
“i was kind of hoping being next to you while you reviewed would transfer all the knowledge to me.” his eyes turn to crescents as he grins at you. you guess that works too.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ riwoo
riwoo would prefer to do work specifically at home bc he likes to be comfy if he’s gonna spend a majority of the day studying
with this being said tho… he’s restless. he moves every hour bc it claims it helps him focus if he changes up his surroundings every once in a while
def going to put on some music and maybe light some candles so you aren’t too miserable trying to learn so much content the day before the exam … he’s all for setting the vibes PERFECT for the study sesh
i like to think riwoo has like. a system he uses to keep the both of you motivated while studying (i do this. im projecting)
like…. if you both get the next 10 practice problems right… you can share the slice of cake waiting in fridge LOL or maybe if you finish writing one more paragraph of your essay, then you can go lay in bed for seven minutes idk i think he’d be really random with it
riwoo always says that you guys are gonna take a “short” break but it usually ends up 3x longer than you intended
he’d say “maybe we should take the dogs for a walk to get a breather before getting back to work”
and then you come back 40 minutes later bc you two got distracted letting daebak and jangyi play with all the other dogs in the park T_T
he’s 100% the type to try and discreetly watch tiktok or something when you’re both supposed to be doing work and it plays on full volume (woonhak would too but he would not try to hide it)
honestly i feel like he’d get tired of his own studies at some point, but i know he’d stay with you to help you review or just to encourage you to keep going <3
✐ᝰ
you’re welcomed with warm lighting and the sweet aroma of a seasonal candle as riwoo opens his front door, daebak in his arms and jjangyi wandering around the room behind him. it’s a familiar environment; you’ve gotten used to doing work with riwoo in the comfort of his own home, finding it much easier to focus there than any of the popular study spots on campus.
you’re sitting at the dining table, one paragraph of your essay on the verge of completion. riwoo is sprawled across the couch, his laptop laying haphazardly on his chest as he swipes across the trackpad. “do you remember that takeout place we passed by last week? i was thinking we should order some later once we get hungry!”
“...are you looking at the menu right now?”
“well, no…” you glance at him from your seat, clearly doubtful. “...okay, maybe i am. i can’t focus when all i can think about is how good it smelled walking by the place!” he groans, shutting his laptop and placing it on the coffee table beside him before moving to a more comfortable position on his couch.
he’s so quiet that you almost forget he’s there when you’re locked into your essay, snapped out of your zone when he sighs dramatically, not having moved an inch since you last looked at him. you’re not sure why he’s the one in distress when he hasn’t touched his laptop in nearly forty minutes.
“y/nnnnn…. i don’t wanna study for my classes,” you don’t have it in you to scold him, especially when he’s the one letting you work at his place to begin with, but you can’t just let him do nothing the whole time. “can you take a break so i don’t die of boredom over here?”
“okay, how about you come over here and help me proofread my paper, then we can get food once i finish?” he makes his way over to you, using his socks to slide across the wooden floors in the process, more than happy to occupy himself with something if it meant he got to hang out with you afterwards!
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ woonhak
finals season with woonhak honestly seems like it would be hell LMFAOOOOOO
genuinely i think he’s the last person i’d ask to study just because i feel like procrastinator x procrastinator is a DEAD END!!!
no shade but the chances of both of you locking in at the same time are little to NONE.
trying to be accountability buddies for each other genuinely doesn’t work because. he just doesn’t want to study ☠️
bro is definitely trying to convince you that you don’t need to study (you desperately do)
and even IF…. you guys both start working…. it genuinely doesn’t last long LOLOLOL
woonhak literally cannot shut the hell up when he’s doing work for some reason. everything needs to have some sort of commentary, even if you guys aren’t even studying for the same class
if you didn’t also Need To Study, it’d be pretty funny to hear him complaining about getting every other question wrong…. and his periodic comments are NOT helping 😭
but bc of that i think he’s the most willing to stay up late with you to study just because you wasted so much time doing Who Knows What that you both feel like you need to pull an all nighter if you want to pass that test YIKES
u eventually both feel SO GUILTY bc you wasted so much time doing NOTHING productive and it’s already 11pm…. guess you have to make up for it by ACTUALLY being productive until 4am . . . .
the urgency finally kicks in and you actually ARE clocked tf in until you’re literally forced to get out of the library
✐ᝰ
the security guard working the front desk at the library gives the two of you a quizzical look as you walk through the doors at 11:37pm, whereas most of the other students tend to wrap up their studies around this time. this wasn’t out of the ordinary for you and woonhak– you knew what you were getting yourself into when you first texted him asking him if he was free to study earlier in the day.
just a couple hours ago, the two of you were seated on the floor of his dorm, pages of notes sprawled across the carpet in a pathetic attempt to try and make a game plan for a semesters-worth of material you had to learn before the final tomorrow. it was almost laughable the way neither of you could make sense of the content in front of you.
“how is it that we’ve gone to every lecture and we still don’t know what’s going on?” it’s a useless question, given that neither of you are capable of providing any sort of explanation.
“have you seen that video where they rub their notes on their heads to try and send the information to your brain–”
“woonhak, you know that doesn’t actually work, right?”
“right. i just wanted to know if you saw it too. haha.” there’s an air of silence between you two as you both realize how screwed you actually are for the test, but nobody dares to speak it into existence. “should we go to the arcade before we start studying?”
…and that’s how you found yourself set up in one of the booths in the far corner of the library (obviously after wasting three hours and twenty bucks at the claw machines), the tabletop adorned with a jumbled mix of your shared review problems, scrap paper balled up in a growing pile, and two freshly-opened energy drinks. you’re both lucky that the library doesn’t close for another couple hours, you needed all the time you could get to try and burn the information into your brains.
when you walk out of the exam room, seeing woonhak laying on a bench outside & using his backpack as a makeshift pillow as he waits for you to finish, you can’t help at chuckle at the look of defeat on his face. it’s funny the way your eye bags match his own; you’ve definitely seen each other at your lowest at this point.
“so…how do you think you did?”
“can we talk about this after i take a nap at your dorm for, i don’t know, three days?”
੭ˊᵕˋ੭ synopsis: you broke up with your long-term boyfriend, donghyun, after 5 years. it was amicable and there were no hard feelings; you were just growing in two separate directions in life. despite the nice break-up, you found yourself sad and in need of a pick-me-up. so, you decided to pick up your old love, volleyball. you tag along with your younger brother, woonhak, and check it out. the scene is packed with many good volleyball players like han dongmin.
੭ˊᵕˋ੭ pairing(s): volleyball player!taesan x woonhak's sister!reader, ex!leehan x woonhak's sister!reader
੭ˊᵕˋ੭ genre(s): smau, college life, romance
੭ˊᵕˋ੭ status: ongoing; updating sporadically!
੭ˊᵕˋ੭ a/n: welcome! i'm officially starting this on 250101! laugh, cry, scream, enjoy! pls lmk if you want to be removed from the taglist!
੭ˊᵕˋ੭ taglist: closed! ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა (50/50)
〘 0. prologue; 1. cutie patootie; 2. baby come back; 3. twisty kind; 4. shakespearean; 5. pp is small; 6. still standing here; 7. recovery; 8. bad idea; 9. off the street; 10. stupid, not blind; more chapters tba 〙
disclaimer: this, in no way, reflects the idols. this is purely fiction.
✧ comments and reblogs are appreciated! ✧
give my other works a read too!
warnings: ANGST 😅, mentions/use of weed + alcohol, cursing, enhypen heeseung mentioned (he's a fuckboy too shocker, be warned when he shows up tho he's kind of an asshole!)
a/n: SHE'S BAAAAAACKKKKKKK!!!!
reblogs ↺ + feedback always appreciated!
Immediately after turning around, you could feel the hot tears welling up in your eyes against your will, threatening to fall. It was hard to stop yourself from crying on your way back to the apartment. At this point in the night, there weren’t many people still wandering around campus. Rather, you were left with only yourself and the warm glow emanating from the streetlamps, illuminating your path back home. If you didn’t have a roommate waiting up for you, you were sure you could’ve sat crying on the curb until the sun rose.
It was unclear what exactly triggered you to lash out on him like that, but you didn’t regret it, despite how shitty you currently felt. You were unaware of the pent up frustration bubbling within you, yet you wouldn’t dare take back any of the words said back there. Fuck you, Han Taesan.
They weren’t tears of sadness, no, they felt more like anger; Anger that stemmed from the realization that Taesan lives under the impression that his actions do not affect the people around him. The realization that Taesan is a hypocrite who cannot accept the fact that he could ever be in the wrong. The realization that Taesan is nothing but a ridiculously clueless boy who didn’t care to acknowledge his flaws.
You felt like an idiot, really. Han Taesan made you feel stupid; he always managed to do so when it came to things that actually mattered. It was stupid to let him use you for his own entertainment when you knew the truth; the signs were everywhere– yet you would turn a blind eye. Because you wanted to believe that you could trust your heart. The same heart that told you Taesan was capable of seeing you as more than any other girl on his roster. It was stupid for you to think that for you, he would be different. Don’t lie to yourself like that.
If all of your suspicions were right – if he actually saw you as more than a friend – you knew it would never work. Because Han Taesan is a man who knows the power he holds over others, and he thrives on it. You can tell he loves feeling like he can get everything he wants with just a handsome smile and a few sweet words, devoid of any real meaning, of course. Tonight, you learned something new: The one thing Taesan couldn’t control was his emotions. So what does he do about it?
He runs, avoiding them like the plague.
You were far from confident in how much you actually knew about him, if any of it was true to begin with, but it was terribly easy to see right through him when it came to this understanding. It was silly to hope that an emotionally closed-off man would treat you the way you deserved to be treated. It was irritating to be so sure that Taesan truly saw you as something more, and yet he was painfully oblivious to his own feelings.
And despite it all, the feeling rumbled deep inside of you, no matter how many times you tried to tell yourself you were wrong, his actions spoke louder than his words, what everyone said about him is real and you know it… You still wanted to believe Han Taesan was more than a fuckboy.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
It was difficult for you to tell anyone about what happened two weeks ago with Taesan, because quite frankly, you were embarrassed. Even though you finally got out what you’ve been itching to say to his face, it’s hard to feel like you weren’t overreacting. After all, you two weren’t dating. You were never anything like that, right? Just two friends with some tension, that’s all. There’s no reason to be so hung up on a delusion perpetuated by the questions you answered on your own accord; purely baseless assumptions about the person you thought Han Taesan could be.
Life went on, though. Not that it was deemed over the second you got your feelings hurt, but it definitely caused a rift in your daily routine. You’d be lying to yourself if you said you didn’t think about your last conversation with Taesan at least once a day. No word from him at all either– not that you were expecting any. If there’s one thing you knew for certain about Taesan, it was that he’ll disappear when you want to see him most.
You’re not exactly sure how Minnie convinced you to come to a party when you were firm on not going; it probably didn't help that you had Riwoo and Sungho practically begging you to show up to one of their parties just one more time before finals. All the moping you’ve been doing recently certainly wasn’t helping you get over what happened any time soon. You weren’t about to be a party pooper just because you didn’t want to risk seeing Taesan later tonight – it was far easier to suck it up and go along with Minnie rather than go through all the trouble of explaining everything that’s happened until now to your unknowing roommate.
Riwoo and Sungho knew exactly how to have fun, so you anticipated something a lot bigger coming from the pair hosting. The party was not as bad as you thought it would be– Not that you feared you weren’t going to enjoy yourself tonight, but it was definitely more lowkey than some of the other outings you’ve been to. Probably because Sungho didn’t want to go all out knowing he’d have to do a bulk of the post-function cleaning right before exam season. You wouldn’t be able to handle anything more than what was going on around you in your current mental state, that’s for sure.
Even so, there were still unfamiliar faces scattered around the apartment as you practically hugged the walls, hard seltzer barely touched in your hands. Minnie was off socializing somewhere; you’d normally be right by her side, more than willing to engage in any of the side quests she found for you to tackle together, but you weren’t feeling up to the adventure tonight.
You were listening into a conversation Riwoo was currently having with some of his other friends around their coffee table, laughing along and periodically chiming in whenever you pleased. The buzz from the few drinks you had earlier was definitely helping the nerves you first entered with; you hated to admit it, but socializing was far easier with the help of a substance. It’s easy to blend into the background here, finding yourself satisfied as you sink into their plush couch. That is, until the free space next to you was filled by a stranger, smiling at the people across the table before claiming the empty seat as his own.
“Sorry, is it cool if I sit here?” It’s funny how he only asks after he’d sat down, as if he knew you wouldn’t turn him away once you saw his face. He’s ridiculously good-looking, handsome features prominent even in the dimly lit room. Maybe it’s the effect of the drinks you had earlier, but his cologne is making you dizzy in all the right ways. You nod, scooting over slightly to make more room for him on the couch.
He turns to face you, gaze burning into the side of your head, effectively pulling your attention away from the other discussion at hand. “I feel like I’ve seen you before,” he comments. The eye contact is oddly intense, and he doesn’t shy away from it whatsoever. “I’m Heeseung.” He extends a hand for a handshake, oddly formal considering you’re currently at a party, but you take his hand in yours regardless..
“Y/N,” You lower your head slightly, giving him a small smile that he’s happy to return. His touch lingers on yours for longer than it probably should’ve, a smirk plastered on his face the entire time. He knows what he’s doing. It wouldn’t hurt to have a little fun flirting with a handsome guy, especially if you’re trying to get over Han Taesan. Just for tonight.
“So, who do you know here?” Heeseung’s eyes scan the circle of people around you, raising an eyebrow at you alongside his question. You motion your head towards Riwoo, who’s animatedly re-telling a story you’ve heard a billion times to everyone.
“My roommate’s floating around here somewhere, too.” It’s hard to ignore his staring as he watches you take a sip from the can you’re holding. “You?”
“No one, really. I came along with some friends, I think they’re friends with Riwoo too,” He hums, running his hands through his hair before he redirects his arm around your shoulder. A cliché move, but even the oldest tricks in the book would work with a guy as good-looking as him. “I’d like to know you, though.” Your cheeks heat up unwillingly, the room suddenly feeling far too warm for your liking.
The two of you stay like that, alternating between Riwoo’s storytime and your own side conversations, finding yourself leaning into his touch as the night goes on. It wasn’t anything particularly butterfly-inducing, more like the regular ice-breakers you go through whenever you’re faced with someone new, but talking to Heeseung was oddly refreshing. He was an incredibly attractive guy, and charismatic at that, anyone would be happy beneath his arm at a party.
“Ah, I remember where I’ve seen you before,” You tilt your head up at him; you were sure you'd never seen him prior to tonight. “You came to one of our smoke sessions, yeah?” Our? The only other smoke sesh you've been at recently was at Leehan and Taesan's house... Thinking back to it, you vaguely recall hearing his name amongst the names Taesan listed out on that fateful night. Ah, that must be who Heeseung tagged along with.
And suddenly you no longer wanted to continue this conversation; the newfound connection linking you two together made you fidget in your seat. Of course Heeseung’s friends with them– You should’ve figured from the way he was able to sweet talk you so fast. (For some reason they all happen to be good at doing so.) You didn’t want to be involved with anyone in that circle any time soon, and certainly not now.
“I liked that lil’ stunt you pulled with Leehan, doll.” Heeseung’s hand is cold as he reaches to cup your face briefly, bringing his index finger under your chin as he forces you to hold his stare. “Wonder what else you can do, hm?” His eyes flicker down to your lips, leaning in ever so slightly before dropping his hold on you.
You’re glad he seems to enjoy the elements of a chase– Heeseung doesn’t object when you get up to “get another drink,” instead opting to watch you like a predator would its prey as you make your way over to the kitchen. He must think you’re about to fall straight into his hands, melting to putty as he continues his never-ending barrage of flirty comments in an effort to take you home with him later tonight.
You’re quick to take refuge in there, grabbing yourself a bottle of water from the fridge and chugging down a third of it in a feeble attempt to cool down. Now would be a good time to know where your roommate is– it’d be a lot easier getting away from Heeseung’s advances if you had someone else with you. You feel around your back pocket for your phone, only to find… Nothing. Fuck, it probably fell out while you were sitting on the couch.
In your attempts to leave, you’re met with a pair of broad shoulders blocking the door frame: Heeseung. “Thought you were trying to get away from me, pretty. Had to come and make sure you were really getting a drink for yourself.” The chuckle he lets out is almost scary, especially now that you can see the way he towers over you.
You try to squeeze past him, to at least go somewhere with more people, but he’s quick to grab your arm, bringing you deeper into the kitchen with him. “Let’s stay here for a while, it’s too stuffy out there.” Heeseung moves to grab a beer off the counter, opening it with ease as he takes a big swig. “So, you fuck Leehan yet?”
You choke on your spit at the blunt question, in complete disbelief that he’d ask something like that so casually. “The hell? Why would I even tell you that?”
“Well, you’re getting worked up over it, so I’m more inclined to believe that there’s something between you two now.” He’s chuckling as he looks at you from where he was standing, leaving only a couple feet between you two. He’s teasing you just to get under your skin.
“...If you’re talking about that bullshit from that night, that was nothing.” You’d completely forgotten the way you shotgunned with Leehan in an effort to make Taesan jealous; thinking back to it is humiliating, especially knowing it wasn’t just Heeseung who witnessed the intimate moment. Damnit, maybe you shouldn’t have gone that far.
“It was hot, you know. Until Taesan went and ruined all the fun by taking you all for himself,” He pauses to take another sip from his bottle. “Looks like you’ve got both of them under your belt, huh? It’s impressive. Most girls would die to be in your place.” Your skin crawled with the way he was openly referring to you like some sort of sexual object being passed around his friends.
“I didn’t hook up with either of them, Heeseung. Don’t go around talking about shit that isn’t true.” The raise of your voice catches him off-guard, but he doesn’t back down from a challenge, especially not if it’s you. Your interactions with him felt like you were the subject of some sick mind-game, one where the only goal was to piss off whoever was in their line of vision, and it was working.
“Seeing you get so angry is turning me on, angel. You must have something good if it means they both want a piece of you,” He puts his beer down somewhere before striding over to you, forcing you to step back until your back is flush against the cool countertops. He’s looking down on you once more, arm resting firmly on the cabinet above you, making you feel more caged in than ever. “What do you say, my turn next?”
Someone wolf whistles from behind him, making him drop his act as he turns to see who it came from. It’s no one you know, but you’re more than grateful for the stranger for giving you an out of the situation you were currently in. You ignore the calls of your name as you push past the group of people trying to come in, trying to distance yourself from Heeseung as quickly as possible.
You weren’t sure where you’d lose him, ultimately deciding that going outside might be your best bet. Damnit, you didn’t think to grab your phone on your way out– Heeseung was probably still looking for you inside, so maybe now wasn’t a good time to go back in there. You could live without it for the time being if it meant avoiding that god-awful conversation. The cool air did little to combat the warmth you were currently feeling, a tightness in your chest you could only describe as unease. Your hands trembled at your side, palms sweater than you realized. Fuck, why were you so overwhelmed right now?
It was foolish for you to think you wouldn’t run into one of Taesan’s friends – especially knowing that this was Riwoo and Sungho’s party – but you didn’t expect an interaction of that calibre. You felt humiliated, offended even, for something you never did. The way those words rolled off of Heeseung’s tongue as if he was certain they were true; You hated the way Han Taesan had such a presence in your life after the way you two left off.
There’s small groups of people scattered around outside, luckily too engrossed in their own circles to notice you practically running out the front door. Trying to calm down your pounding heart, you look around in hopes of finding someone you knew to try and distract yourself, to use them as a get-out-of-jail free card if Heeseung came back around. It’s all a blur, really, scanning the backs of heads of people you don’t know, and feeling insane in the process.
God, why do they know so many people? You curse yourself for not thinking to grab your phone amidst your route through the apartment; maybe you could’ve called up Minnie to come save you or something. Your eyes glaze over the strangers' faces once more, anxiety creeping into your stomach until you meet a familiar gaze, one that softens immediately upon seeing you.
Han Taesan.
Should’ve figured he was somewhere outside if you didn’t see him inside the whole night. Damn it, why did he have to be the only person you could name in the immediate vicinity? He’s stood in a circle of people passing around a joint, eyes fixed onto you despite the fact that someone was currently talking to him. Taesan mouths something to the girl besides him before hastily making his way over to you, parting the group in half to get past them.
Seeing him again for the first time since your argument brought back all the emotions you bottled up after your argument, feeling yourself get choked up immediately. You turn your back to him, not wanting to hold eye contact any longer than you need to, and start walking with no end destination in mind. There weren’t many other places you could go, not to mention the fact that your phone and roommate were both still inside the apartment, but that didn’t matter right now.
“Where are you going?”
You halt your movements, hearing Taesan’s voice from behind you, picking up his pace in an effort to reach you. You didn’t know where you were going in the first place. Turning around, you watch as he closes the distance between you two, nothing but the sound of his footsteps echoing through the air. He stopped only a couple feet away, but the smell of weed lingering on his clothes was strong even from where he was standing.
“Why’d you follow me?”
“Uh, I don’t actually know. I guess I just wanted to see if we could talk,” He scratches the back of his head, struggling to tell you the truth: he missed you. “You looked upset back there… Just wanted to see if you were okay, yeah?”
“I’m fine, just kind of… Annoyed.” Just thinking about the way your conversation with Heeseung escalated frustrated you deeply. Taesan tilts his head in confusion at your admission, scooting backwards in the process, not wanting to invade your personal space. “Not at you, idiot. Well, not directly.”
“What happened inside? Did someone do something to you? Just tell me who and I’ll–” Just like that, Taesan was ready to storm back towards the apartment to find who made you upset, only stopping when you grabbed his wrist, physically preventing him from going any further.
“You’re doing that thing again.” You drop your hold on him. The loss of your touch plants a pit in his stomach.
“What are you talking about?”
“That thing where you act like you care about me,” The boy frowns at you, clearly upset that you don’t believe his genuinity. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“Baby, c’mon. It was never an act,” Taesan reaches to put his hand on your shoulder, only for you to dodge his movements. He pauses for a moment afterwards, debating on what to say next. “I couldn’t fake the way I acted with you, even if I tried.” His confession is hushed, loud enough only for him to hear.
“You guys brought Heeseung with you, didn’t you? He was spewing all this bullshit about how you and Leehan are just dying to get into my pants.” Irritation was written clearly into your outburst. “...Unless, he’s telling the truth. Is that what I am to you guys? A stupid bet or something?”
“Fuck, if I knew you were here I would’ve tried finding you earlier and none of this would’ve-”
“What difference does it make? Aren’t you the same way? What makes you think he wouldn’t have said the same shit if you were there with me?” The tension in the air is thick, uncomfortable. “Say something, Dongmin.”
It stung when he didn't bother to utter a single word.
“Maybe it was stupid for me to think like this, but I never wanted to believe any of those ridiculous things people would say about you,” You can’t be bothered to wait for a response from the boy standing across from you, not anymore. “If I was nothing but a game to you, why do you try so hard to act like I’m not? If you knew those rumors were right all along, why’d you even bother dragging this out the whole time?”
“Dragging what out?” God, is he dense?
“Us, Dongmin! Why the hell would you keep up this act for so long if you never gave a shit about me to begin with?”
“...None of that is true, Y/N.”
“Then why don’t you just fucking explain it to me then?” Why can’t he tell you Heeseung was wrong? Why was it so hard for him to tell you what you needed to hear?
“Maybe it’d help if you didn’t see me as some fucking bad guy all the time everything would make a lot more sense,” That’s the thing: You could never see him as the villain, even after all this. Even when he has you questioning the confines of your relationship after each and every interaction, you’ve never had it in you to cut it off for good. “I don’t know why you would assume the worst of me. You of all people, Y/N.”
It’s you who wants to believe everyone is wrong about him. How could he have it so wrong?
“You must be joking, right? I know you’ve heard it all, Dongmin.” A laugh comes out of your mouth, but you’re both well aware it isn’t because you’re joking– The circumstances have become so twisted that it was almost humorous. “About how you love jumping from girl to girl, refusing to give them the time of day after you’re done with them. I was bound to end up as one of them, right?”
“Stop, Y/N.” Taesan pleaded shakily.
“I don’t even know what to call you anymore. Does it even matter, Dongmin?” Taesan, Dongmin. Maybe you hated when Han Dongmin became Han Taesan. It was naive to think that you’d be able to focus on all the good parts of Dongmin when all the bad qualities of Taesan remained fixed in place.
You couldn’t stop yourself from continuing, not now. Han Taesan would never fix his issues if he ran away from them, consistently refusing to fix them properly – If you have to be the one to tell him the truth to his face, then so be it. “Have you ever wondered why we always come back to each other like this? Especially when we both know we never get anywhere afterwards?”
Taesan can’t meet your gaze.
“There’s something wrong with the way we work, you know that, right? You’d be fucking lying to yourself if you really believed what you said back then,” The buzz from the alcohol was running dry, emotions heightened the more you sobered up. “I don’t know what kind of misconstrued definition you have for friends, but we were never just friends, Dongmin. You have to understand that much.”
You take a moment to catch your breath, running a hand through your hair in frustration. “I can’t assume the worst in you,” It almost pains you to admit that to him; to let him know that at the end of the day, you’re still weak for him, and you’re well aware of the fact. “No matter how many times you leave me hanging, the way you always do, I always come back to you and I hate myself for it.”
“Shit, I don’t know why something in me wants to believe that you’re more than what everyone makes you out to be– and I try, time and time again, to prove myself correct but I can’t do anything about you going silent on me all the time, Taesan.”
“Fuck, Y/N, I just… I can’t let you end up like everyone else.” It’s the first time he’s even attempted speaking up in the past couple minutes. “Why can’t you just trust me on this?”
“Is that all you have to say? What do you want me to make out of that?” How did Taesan expect you to trust him when he gave you nothing to begin with? If he bothered to explain what was going on in his head, maybe, just maybe, you two would be able to fix things. “Why’s it so hard for you to just tell me?”
“I-I don’t know what it is,” His voice is the smallest you’ve ever heard it, it’s hard to believe it’s actually coming from him. “I’d tell you in a heartbeat if I understood, Y/N. I really would.”
It occurred to you that Taesan was just as lost as you were when it involved his own emotions: This coversation was going nowhere. Until he came to terms with what’s been holding himself back, you’re certain of one thing. “I don’t want to see you anymore, Taesan.”
And he watches as you shove past him, beginning the trek back to the party all on your own. Even when he averts his gaze, he couldn’t help but turn back around, in hopes you’d be looking back too. It was only when your silhouette became lost among the crowd of people that Han Taesan dropped to his knees, gravel harsh against the bare skin exposed by the rips in his jeans, and choked out a sob.
How did things get so complicated?
< SUPER SPECIAL TAG 3: @minwrlds my bodacious beloved beautiful b2u beta reader U mean the world to me BTW.
i would actually do crazy things to have gongfourz in my blunt rotation like ... AAAAAAHHHH OMFFFFFF like head is FUZZY thinking about it.
like wow imagine gongfourz who share a HUGE crush on u showing up to the smoke session ohhh hmy god it's actually over ... the lingering touches as you pass the joint over..... the prolonged eye contact as they smile dopily at u Do they want u or are they just insanely high...? Both?????
AND WOW THEY'D BE SOOOOO GIGGLY. leehan... okay sure he's Resident Giggle Baby in my mind but TAESAN? omfg seeing him so Uncomposed n laughing at every little thing ooooooohhhh i’m so sick i’m so sick #NEEDTHATBAD
even worse if they're COMPETING for ur attention the whole time. mm i imagine taesan would be a lot more discreet about it, like watching you exhale a cloud of smoke from his place on the couch, opening a bottle of water for u & holding it to your mouth for you to drink from when you have cottonmouth
...but leehan is the complete opposite, he's got some sort of physical contact w/ you at ALL times. maybe he leans his head on your shoulder, pretending he's just there to "rest his eyes" but he's using the high as an excuse to be closer to you. or he's pushing the hair out of your face as you roll, the close proximity would've made you nervous if you weren't so out of it to begin with
