synopsis myung jaehyun always puts his best foot forward. he never half-asses anything. 100% effort is the only thing he knows. this mindset is how he manages to be koz prep's beloved school president, one of the most popular students, and captain of the dance team. but sometimes, you need a little more than just hard work, a fact he has to come to terms with when he fails math first semester and is all but forcibly assigned a student tutor – how embarrassing. things change when he finds out his tutor is you: the top student at koz prep, unapproachable and disinterested in anyone who isn't in your small group of friends, and totally jaehyun's type. he falls hard and fast, and once myung jaehyun's set his mind to something... he's all in.
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a/n: first chapter yay!! pls ignore the timestamps 😔
593 words • fluff & crack. feedback + reblogs are highly appreciated.
Sungho (박성호)
You love filming your GRWM videos for TikTok, and today you decide to spice it up with the viral prank. You’re in the middle of clipping your bangs when Sungho walks in. Without missing a beat, you look at the camera and say, «Getting ready for my date with my current boyfriend—» before his hand gently catches your wrist mid-clip. «Current boyfriend?» he asks, brows raised. You bite back a laugh. «Oh… did I say that?» you say, feigning innocence. «Yes. So redo the video,» he says, plucking the clip from your hair. You’re laughing now, and before he can get genuinely offended you tell him it’s just a prank. He wrinkles his nose. «Good. I was about to cancel our dinner reservation.»
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Riwoo (이상혁)
You’d planned to introduce Riwoo to your best friend today—and also planned the prank with her. He’s a little nervous, fussing over his hair and shirt, quietly thinking, what if she doesn’t like me? But his thoughts screech to a halt when you suddenly say, «So, this is Riwoo—my current boyfriend.» His eyes widen. «Uh… that’s me. Riwoo. Yeah. The current boyfriend.» He’s so awkward you can’t help but hug him right there. «Baby, it was a prank! I just wanted to lighten the mood.» He exhales like he’s been holding his breath for hours, a shaky laugh slipping out. «Oh… wow. Okay. That… worked, I guess.»
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Jaehyun (명재현)
You’ve seen this prank all over your FYP but weren’t sure how Jaehyun would react. Still, you try it. You pull him close, smiling into the camera. «Hi besties! So this is Jaehyun, my current boyfriend, and—» you catch the way his smile fades in the screen’s reflection. You keep going, «—he’s happy to meet you, right? Say something?» He just stares. «Babe? Say something!» you urge, suppressing laughter. «Ah… now I’m ‘babe’? Weren’t I ‘current boyfriend’ two seconds ago?». Even after you confess it’s a prank, he mopes like a kicked puppy for the rest of the night—maybe even the next day—until his pride finally recovers.
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Taesan (한태산)
«Another TikTok?» Taesan asks, watching you open the app. He knows your videos get plenty of views now. «Yeah. Want to be in it?» you grin, already plotting. You hold up your phone. «Hi everyone, I’m here with my current boyfriend—» You hear a sharp «tsk» and suddenly your phone is out of your hands. «Current? When does my contract expire?» he says flatly. You smirk. «Well… you are my current boyfriend.» He steps closer, eyes locked on yours. «I’m not.» Your breath hitches. «Then what are you?» you whisper. His lips twitch. «Your last.»
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Leehan (김이한)
«Leehanie, can I post our photo on my story?» you ask after snapping a cute selfie together. He nods happily, watching as you scroll through filters. You type the caption: with my current boyfriend. A quiet «oh…» reaches your ear. You turn to see him pouting, eyes downcast. «Oh, love, it’s just a prank—please don’t get sad,» you say quickly, cupping his face and peppering it with kisses. He mumbles into your hands, «Don’t ever do it again.»
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Woonhak (김운학)
You’ve been waiting days to try this on Woonhak. Finally, with him beside you, you start filming. He leans in curiously. «Oh, what’s this?» — «Oh, nothing, just sending this to my friend. Hi besties, this is Woonhak—my current boyfriend!» His eyes widen instantly. «Hiii! Oh—what? Current boyfriend??» His pupils dart, he licks his lips, repeating, «Current? Current boyfriend?» while you’re already doubled over laughing. «Why are you laughing? What’s so funny? I’m current?? Who’s next—let me meet him.» You gasp for breath. «Hakie, it was a prank!» He crosses his arms, muttering, «Well, no one laughed. Redo it.»
ᅠ ✿ ᅠ NOT THAT I CARE OR ANYTHING ──── ᅠ ( han taesan )
𝓹recis ⠀ : ⠀your ex, seemingly sweet anton, spreads malicious rumours about you that could potentially ruin your entire academic weapon career, so you have to take desperate measures𑁋and that includes a fake-dating contract and the bane of your existence, han taesan.
ᅠ 한태산 ⠀⠀◜◡◝ ⠀⠀𝒇 reader ⠀wc 13k ⠀ genre college au fluff angst if you squint one sided rivals to lovers academic weapon x campus crush ⠀ contains mentions of food vulgar words skinship pet names several ocs ⠀ note i’m sorry if this fic is.. all over the place a bit coz,, yea!! but this fic is highly.. self-indulgent.. heheh! and i originally wanted to make this more angsty but i’m already sad and single so, No! anyways, enjoy reading ^_^ ⠀ tagging @a-dream-bookmark ,@/k-labels , @k-nets , @k-films , @sgz-net
ᅠ ＞︿ please leave feedbacks & reblog
“ALRIGHT. Let’s do it.”
As you gaze into Taesan’s determined eyes, the entire series of events flashes through your mind.
It was back in your first year of university—early winter, the day of the first snowfall. You were walking towards the three-floor library, the cold wind stinging your eyes. You rushed inside, grateful for the gush of artificial warm air that greeted you as soon as the doors closed behind you. The library was quite packed for some reason, and you could barely spot any empty seats.
You walked towards the edge of the library, a corner with the largest window of the level. There it was—one of the only empty seats in the entire library—but that seat was next to a boy, heavily occupied with his studies. Your pace slowed down as you hesitated. The boy had a focused blank look on his face, his headphones on, and several papers and notebooks were scattered on the table around him.
You felt like you wanted to just leave and go back to your room, but remembering how cold it was outside, you decided against it.
After taking a deep breath, you approached him. With a shaky smile, you tapped the boy’s shoulder, muttering a silent prayer.
“Excuse me,” you said as he lowered his headphones to his neck. “May I sit here? I-I mean, if it’s cool with you..”
He simply nodded. “Sure.”
You had sat down next to the mysterious boy for the entire day, not knowing that, in the present, he would be the bane of your existence.
In this moment, you’re brought back to the present, startled at how you’re standing in front of him. The mysterious boy that you had sat next to turned out to be Han “Taesan” Dongmin—KOZ School of Law’s campus crush. There’s almost nothing “bad” that you’re heard of him, yet, when you find yourself walking towards him with a fiery determination in your eyes—you immediately know that you’re about to get hit with something you’d never expect.
“A-are you sure?” you say, surprised to even find yourself stuttering. You’ve held yourself to such a high reputation—being your school’s academic weapon—you’ve worked hard to keep yourself true to that name.
Well, to be fair, you didn’t expect Taesan to even say yes to your ridiculous plan—given that all that’s he’s ever done for you is say everything that will get on your nerves.
Taesan gives you a smirk. “Of course,” he says, clearing his throat. “Being the boyfriend of KOZ Academy’s academic weapon isn’t something you get to do everyday.”
The way he presses the emphasis on the word ‘boyfriend’ makes you flinch. It reminds you of your stupid plan; who in their right mind would offer Han Taesan—your rival—a fake dating deal just to make rumours about themselves go away?
“Right,” you roll your eyes. “Anyway, I think we need to enforce some guidelines and boundaries regarding this… set-up.”
Taesan shoves his hands into his pockets, shifting his weight to let himself stand more comfortably. The smirk still on his face, he replies, “alright. Hit me with all of ‘em.”
You whip your phone out, quickly showing him a document that you spent an entire night typing out—complete with every single thing he needed to do for you.
“Here,” you say, frustrated at how Taesan’s smug smirk just never falters.
Taesan runs a hand through his hair before leaning down to read through the document displayed on your phone. He finishes reading it quickly, taking a step closer to you after. He doesn’t say anything for a while, only to startle you by abruptly saying, “I agree.”
“What–?” you blurt out, surprised once again. You thought that Taesan would be more picky than–
“Your terms are easy for me to do. However,” you narrow your eyes at the boy who’s towering in front of you. Of course he’s picky—he’s Taesan. “I’d like you to agree to my conditions as well. If I have to do some things for you, you’d have to do some things for me too.”
You sigh before nodding. How hard could it be? Besides, this whole ‘relationship’ you’re having with Taesan is merely a fake dating set-up.
“Okay.”
Taesan whips out a full-blown smug smirk, making you roll your eyes. He pushes his glasses up his nose bridge, holding out two fingers.
“First, you have to also put in the effort to make things real. Like, wearing my jersey when I have basketball games, and wearing my initials ‘round your neck,” he pushes his middle finger down, the smug grin still plastered on his face, “and secondly, you’ll have to let me kiss you anytime.”
The moment the word ‘kiss’ escapes his mouth, you choke on thin air.
Why is my plan backfiring on me?
“What? No–”
Taesan shrugs. “Basically, physical contact is allowed to be done anytime.”
You feel your face flush, immediately recalling the third condition that you showed Taesan. No physical affection unless needed.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that—it’s clashing with my third term.”
“But your first term: ‘the other party must always do his utmost best to make the relationship seem real’ exists, am I right?” Taesan objects relaxedly. “Then, my second term doesn’t clash with that. And I also do believe that that first term of yours comes before the rest. Am I right?”
You grit your teeth, sucking in a sharp breath. How could you forget? Taesan will always work to have the last word—be that in court or in conversations.
Plus, he’s not entirely wrong.
Though, you’ve never been someone who lets Taesan win willingly.
“Whatever,” you roll your eyes, your heart twisting in detest at the way Taesan’s face lights up with a smirk again.
“Then, we have a deal?” Taesan asks.
You stare into his dark brown eyes once again, registering what you’re about to commit yourself to. All just to get rid of your ex and the rumour he’s pulled you into.
You hold out your hand, Taesan gladly reciprocating.
IT didn’t hit you that you’re officially Han Taesan’s girlfriend that night. However, the next morning, right after the two of you signed the document at the coffee shop you always study at—it hit you like a million bricks from the sky.
You’re in a “relationship” with the person you loathed the most for the past year. The exact same man who everyone adores, who’s called the it-boy, the campus crush—is now your most “beloved”. Freshman you would rather jump off a cliff than to offer her nemesis a fake-dating pact.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. I guess.
“Here,” Taesan hands you a velvet box—one that obviously contains jewellery of some sort.
Of course. Han Taesan’s always prepared.
You let out a deep sigh, knowing what’s inside. Despite that, you ask, “what’s this?”
Taesan gives you a grin, one that you always see him don during the countable times that he beats you in quizzes. “Open it—I’m sure you’ll like it.”
You run your fingers around the edges of the velvety box, sceptical at Taesan’s sudden soft tone. “Don’t talk to me like that,” you mutter, loud enough for him to hear.
Taesan, instead of immediately throwing a scoff in your face, simply leans back into his seat with a chuckle.
Not waiting for whatever reply he’s preparing to throw to you, you open the box. Your eyes lay upon a beautiful, dainty necklace with a “H.D” pendant, nested elegantly in the box. You bite back a gasp, though you’re unable to hide your surprise. The silver necklace is one of the most beautiful pieces of jewellery you’ve yet to lay your eyes upon—it’s dainty and simple, yet it screams elegance in the best way possible.
You look up at Taesan, obviously bug-eyed. “What- I’m- thank you?”
Taesan throws his head back, laughing. He perches an eyebrow up, clearly amused. “What am I supposed to answer? ‘You’re welcome’?”
Oh. It’s part of his terms.
You glare at him.
Not missing a beat, Taesan says with a big grin on his face, “what is your lazy ass waiting for? Put it on—or do you need me to help with that?”
You massage your temples, tempted to stick your tongue out at him, hissing the obvious at him—that you do not want to wear his initials around your neck.
“I don’t need your help,” you say between gritted teeth, harshly yanking the necklace from the box. You swiftly clasp the necklace around your neck, secretly surprised that you’re able to do so.
Maintaining a glare, you retort, “I’m only wearing this stupid necklace because it’s part of your terms.”
You throw your gaze elsewhere, Taesan laughing his stomach out in the background. Why is he finding your irritated state so funny?
The pendant feels cold against your skin, sending tingles. You gulp, feeling odd. You hadn’t announced your ‘relationship’ to your friends yet—but seeing you with Taesan’s initials could certainly start rumours.
A part of you is jumping with triumph—your plan is starting to set its course, while another part of you is afraid of it all. What if you’re finally not good at something, no matter how much you try—pretending you’re in love with your rival, the bane of your existence?
“We’ll start slow,” you hear Taesan say, pulling you back into reality. You quickly morph into your stoic expression—one that you find yourself often putting up around people. “Like everyone else does. Soft launch.”
“Ah,” you manage, nodding. “Sounds good.”
“Even though that necklace certainly is a big jump for a soft launch,” Taesan voices, chuckling. His words cause you to narrow your eyes at him, hyper aware of the cold metal against your skin—a mark that Taesan managed to place on you.
It’s all fake, you chant to yourself. Once Anton gets the message, it’ll all be over.
THE past few weeks had been a blur. Nothing was out of the ordinary—you attended classes, performed mootings and sent in assignments like usual. Though, only one thing that was out of the routine.
Taesan no longer felt like a thorn to your side.
You still hate him—you despise the way he carries himself, so proud and confident. You wish you could punch his face for the way he’s so smooth with his words, the way that his charm works on everyone so well. You absolutely hate the way a handsome idiot like him had the potential to beat you in every single subject if you slacked for even a minute.
Yet, to the public, he’s your boyfriend.
A cliche: rivals to lovers, they say.
Despite being the one proposing the whole fake dating plan, you had been the one following Taesan’s itinerary so far. The two of you had finally exchanged phone numbers, and at night, Taesan would always send a list of ideas on how to make the soft launch more obvious day by day.
The first week, you found yourself wearing tops that highlighted the H.D pendant, styling your hair to make it more noticeable—you even went as far as attending Taesan’s birthday celebration to top the chances of people noticing the pendant. And Taesan didn’t inform you of this one, but you often found him telling his friends, yours, or random coursemates to pass you drinks and snacks. You had no idea how Taesan had gotten the list of all your favourite things to munch on, but you secretly did enjoy the free flow of snacks. Anton had passed you a snack from Taesan too—five packs of your favourite Choco Pie. You couldn’t forget the bewildered face Anton had as he passed them to you, eyes filled with question and a hint of jealousy.
“What’s up with Han?” he asked.
You shoved the Choco Pies into your shoulder bag, biting back a smile. Who wouldn’t be jolly after getting five of their favourite tidbits?
“How would I know?” you replied bitterly. You quickly turn away from Anton, the uncomfortable feeling of being around him overpowering the bubbly feeling you had from getting snacks.
“Well, those Choco Pies are from him,” Anton repeated for the second time. “And I don’t recall him being anything but hostile to you.”
You suppress a scoff. “Maybe he’s had a change of heart? His brain is probably tired of coming up with things to try and outsmart me,” you muttered. As if.
“Well, if anything—if that asshole tries to do anything to you, I’ll… be here for you, Y/N,” Anton said, taking a step closer. Your eyes widened and your jaw clenched. You quickly finished packing your bag up, swinging it over your shoulders.
You said that last time, too.
“Don’t talk to me, Anton,” you responded as monotony as possible before running out of the lecture hall, not giving Anton even a glance.
The following weeks, Taesan was hanging out with you even more than the previous week. He wasn’t being too obvious, but to you, him walking slightly behind you and not throwing a loud sarcastic remark was already an apparent sign that would show everyone that your dynamics had changed.
Anton had found yet another chance to corner you after a Public International Law lecture. You stayed back in the hall to reread your theoretical essay before sending it in. Behind you, Taesan was packing up his things, busy scrolling through something in his phone.
“Hi, Y/N,” you froze when Anton’s voice reached your ear drums.
You look up at him with a glare. “What do you want?”
Anton flashed his usual pitiful, soft smile. “Nothing. Just a meal with you—this week has been quite stressful for you, right? I heard that last Monday’s mooting was rough.”
“You’re not even a law student, Anton,” you seethed. The KOZ School of Business student ID card hanging on Anton’s neck looked extremely out of place amongst the ocean of law students. “Please kindly get lost, go back to the Business building.”
“My course mates are boring. Besides, you’re more fun to be around,” Anton replied. “I know we… haven’t been on good terms, but give me a chance to fix it all?”
You gritted your teeth, your hands beginning to shake.
The audacity of this boy… where is my stupid fake boyfriend when I need him–?
“I think she clearly said for you to get lost, bud.”
You fought back a grin. Finally.
“Han?” Anton tilted his head. “Wait– who are you to tell me that?”
Taesan stood next to you, his backpack dangling from one shoulder. His height towered significantly above you, making you standing right below his shoulders—enough to match Anton. “Who do you think I am?”
Anton’s eyes darted towards the pendant on your décolletage, his eyes bulging. “What the…” you heard him mutter under his breath.
Taesan seemed to notice this too, and he swiftly pulled you close, wrapping his arm around your shoulders. “So, get it now? Get lost, Lee, and give your ex some space. An ex is an ex for a reason.”
Anton then left with a fuming expression, leaving you in fits of relieved laughter after. You thanked Taesan, who simply responded with a polite smile.
“By the end of this, don’t forget the wish, yeah?” he said, before walking out of the lecture hall.
You stood there, blinking profusely. You had completely forgotten the last clause of your agreement with Taesan—once you were satisfied with his service, you had to grant him one wish. Anything that he wanted.
You face palmed yourself. Why didn’t you think twice before typing that down? You mentally made a note to yourself to prepare your wallet for the outrageous request that the thorn in your side would make later on.
Sophia’s question makes you almost spit your lunch through your nose.
“What?”
“Girl, don’t you dare pretend not,” Yunjin interrupts, pointing her spoon at you. “You literally have his initials as a necklace that you never take off! H.D., which means Han Dongmin, right? Isn’t that his real name?”
“It’s not like–”
“No, no. It’s so obvious! Taesan’s around you more now, and he even gave you a birthday present!”
Sophia smiles, “he looks at you so differently now!”
Yunjin laughs, nodding. “Yeah, yeah, that too, I guess,” she then looks at you, directly in the eyes, “I guess Han Taesan and Y/N L/N have finally begun their lovers era, huh?”
You feel your cheeks warming up, and guilt fills your chest. You draw a sharp inhale before telling the girls the full story. And subconsciously, your fingers find the pendant, playing with it.
“It’s fake,” you sigh, “I mean, not the necklace—he’s just pretending. I’m pretending, too. None of this is… real.”
Sophia gasps and Yunjin frowns.
“Are you… sure? What for?” Sophia asks.
Yunjin nods in agreement. “I’ve always thought that dude had feelings for you, but I… I didn’t realise it’s actually wrong and my deductions were totally off.”
You scoff, though Yunjin’s words left you wondering. “Taesan doesn’t like me—have you girls seen how he treats me?”
“He treats you well,” Yunjin states plainly, shoving a spoonful of rice into her mouth.
“No,” you immediately shake your head, “he hates seeing me happy! He always finds a way to stick his annoying nose into my life, mocking me. He’s like always, always there to only laugh at my face.”
“Then why did he agree?” Sophia asks.
“To what?”
“To fake date you,” she continues, taking a sip of her yakult. “Well, I’m sure you have a plan—a contract and all—don’t you?”
Your eyes widen. How do these two girls know you so well?
“Yeah. I do. I’m doing all this because of Anton,” the look on your friends’ faces makes you feel a little relieved, “I need him to shut up about me.”
You recall the ridiculous rumour you’ve heard about you from Yunjin, that’s been going around like crazy—the rumour that you used to date Anton because he’s rich and that you used him as a bribe to get outstanding grades. Those close to you knew that is and would never become true—yet people are always jealous of others who have certain things better than them.
It may seem like a small matter to some, but to you, it’s a matter of reputation. Your whole image and potentially, your graduation is at risk. What if the rumour reaches some professor and they report you? You couldn’t risk the huge amount of money and time you spent, only to be scrapped off the dean’s list due to some rumour.
Yunjin herself had recorded proof of Anton trying to turn her against you, using that rumour. If she hadn’t shown you the recording, you wouldn’t have believed that sweet, kind Anton was the one who spread those malicious whispers about you.
Now, you’ve got to end it all. One way or another.
You continue finishing your lunch, Taesan somehow in mind. By the end of your lunch, you’re convinced that this is truly all an act—it’s nothing real, and in the end, you’re both just people who hate each other and use each other for selfish, personal reasons.
“DO I really have to wear your ugly varsity jacket?” Dongmin hears you grunt through the call. He stifles a laugh, tossing a ball up and down.
“Obviously, you dimwit,” he replies, “you’re my girlfriend, aren’t you?”
Dongmin lets himself smile. The word rolls off his tongue like a simple melody—it feels natural for him to say. He finds it odd, yet entertaining—your reaction is worth it all. Besides, it’s quite refreshing to take a break from hating you, sometimes.
“Besides, your ex is going to be there,” Dongmin reminds, his voice more throaty than expected. “He’s on the team as well, remember?”
“Yeah,” he catches your quiet answer.
“Anyway, how do you even have time for all this?” you question from the other end of the line.
“Hmm,” Dongmin hums, “I do have time.”
“Don’t fucking lie to me,” you hiss. “You’re in law school, Han Taesan.”
“What? Like it’s hard?”
Dongmin lets out a hearty laugh as he hears you gasp—one of the loudest and most genuine expressions he’s gotten out of you yet.
“I’m so done with you,” you huff. Dongmin hears you shuffle through your closet, most likely finding something to wear.
“You say that everytime,” Dongmin whispers to himself softly.
“Anyway,” you announce loudly, “you better have some food for me once I arrive—I’m wearing your stupid varsity jacket.”
“Alright, sweetheart, anything for you,” Dongmin jests in a sing -song voice.
He hears you yelp in disgust, chuckling. “Yuck! Fuck off, Taesan!”
IT’S a friendly match, nothing serious, Taesan had said; yet you’re here amongst other significant others, to watch him and his team play against another school’s team.
At the bleachers, you feel called out, and insanely out of place. Everyone looks so in love—girlfriends wearing jerseys with their boyfriends’ numbers and names on the back, painted their faces accordingly, and even cheering for them with their hearts; mothers and siblings gathering together to support their sons and brothers.
Everyone looks so genuinely in love, and you’re the only one who’s there just because you have to. You arrived only two minutes before the match started, too, because you obviously don’t love Taesan enough to be rescheduling your work shift to see him play.
You fidget with the edges of the varsity jacket you’re wearing, oddly feeling how it’s perfectly oversized on you.
Earlier, Taesan had spotted you sitting awkwardly on the bleachers. He ran over to you, quickly handing you a quesadilla and a cup of bubble tea, before jogging back to the basketball court to warm up. He didn’t say anything, nor did you—but the gesture made you feel weirdly fuzzy.
Taesan did actually get you some food, even though you grumpily yelled at him to do so. You thought he wouldn’t, just so that he could get on your nerves, just like he always does.
You watch him and the team warm up, pumping up positive energy with each other. You take a bite of your quesadilla, trying to ease your heart—yet you just can’t forget the real reason why you’re here.
Jersey number 35.
The whistle blows, indicating the start of the game, and you catch Anton’s glance at you. He gives you a wide smile, winking twice—a sign that he made up, thanking you for coming, just like the old days. You grimace, turning away.
The mission is to make it seem like I’m in love with Taesan.
You intently watch Taesan play in the arena, his moves sharp and powerful. He slips through the opposition’s defense flawlessly, scoring goals smoothly. Every time he throws the ball, it gets into the hoop—people erupt in cheers and he’s surrounded by his teammates.
And every time, Taesan looks up at you, flashing his signature smirk. His grin sparkles, lighting up the room—it makes you feel like you’re the only one in the huge arena.
It makes you feel odd.
Like there’s so much more under that grin he flashes to you every time he scores.
You touch the pendant on your décolletage, the cold metal stinging against your skin. Your fingers trace the letters—the initials of Taesan’s birth name—reminding you this is all a set-up. You’re supposed to pretend, and Taesan is pretending too.
He must be.
Taking a deep breath, you tug the varsity jacket closer to your body, shoving your hands into its pockets. The weight of Taesan’s name and number lay heavy on your back, yet you don a bright smile—trying your best to show your support for him.
Right now, you’re Han Taesan’s girlfriend. Player number 11’s girlfriend.
The match ends with Anton’s final goal, and KOZ Academy’s team wins 115-113. The entire gym erupts in waves of cheer and heartfelt hugs, every attending person feeling proud of their team, losing or not. You jog down the stairs, heading towards Taesan, whose height stands out in the crowd.
When you reach the end of the stairs, you notice Anton’s gaze on you. You glance at him, the weight of past memories dragging you down. At the end of these exact same stairs, you used to run straight to Anton, engulfing him in a hug after a match. You used to kiss his cheek, congratulating him for a successful game. You used to feel like your entire world revolved around him, and that you would be happy with him.
But that was in the past. Now, you can look at Anton with nothing in your heart. You feel nothing but plain resentment—damning him for the things he did to you. You had thought he was the love of your life, that you’d grow old with him—but Anton had other plans, and another girl that he prioritised more than you.
You turn your head away, directing your gaze towards Taesan. He’s talking to his friends, his hair wet from the sweat. He’s grinning proudly, talking about something that’s interesting to boys.
You sigh. Hopefully this whole set-up works—Anton leaves you alone, the rumours die down, and you can go back to bashing Taesan’s head.
And hopefully, you can move on, too. Once and for all.
From the corner of your eyes, you see Anton take a step towards you. Though, what you don’t see is that Taesan is faster. He waves at you, calling your name with a big grin, before running to give you a hug.
Your eyes widen upon the impact, and it’s like everything is in slow motion.
Taesan pulls away, ruffling your hair. His eyes crinkle with his grin. “Are you proud of me, darling?”
Darling.
You gulp.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
You give him a laugh, trying your best to not make it sound staged. Your nose crinkles at the smell of sweaty boys. Taesan notices, of course, and he chuckles.
“Sorry, I must smell bad. I’ll be sure to spray on some more deodorant next time.”
You gaze into Taesan’s eyes, his arms still around your waist. There’s some kind of softness behind his teasing look—something that you’ve never seen before.
A small smile forms on your lips, one that you’re unable to hold back. “Good job, Taesan.”
“Yeah?” Taesan laughs, his eyes forming crescent moons. “Thanks, Y/N.”
He then leans in to whisper, “that’s the first time I’ve heard that from you.”
You push him away, rolling your eyes. “Fuck off, Taesan. I’ll be waiting at the bus stop.”
Taesan laughs loudly as you stomp away. “By the way,” he yells, “you look good wearing my number, sweetheart!”
You lower your head, biting your lips to fight two things—the urge to flash the middle finger to the jolly Taesan behind you, and the weird fluttering feeling that erupts in your stomach every time he calls you ‘sweetheart’.
“Y/N,” you turn around, finding a panting Anton in front of you.
You’re standing in line outside one of the most famous pasta restaurants in the heart of the KOZ School of Medicine square, waiting to buy this one pasta dish you’ve been craving for the entire month. You didn’t tell anyone you’d be here—not even Taesan or the girls—so you’re weirded out by the fact that your ex found you here.
“...Anton,” you curtly acknowledge.
“Is it true?” he asks.
You force your eyes close for a second, wishing that it wasn’t wrong to beat someone up. “What?”
“That you’re dating Han Taesan. I saw him kissing your cheek last time.”
Your heart almost stops beating for a second. Almost two months have passed, and almost everyone in the entire campus of KOZ Academy knows that you and Taesan are finally getting tired of fighting each other—falling in love instead.
Your plan has passed the soft launch phase, and now, you’re having your nemesis call you sweet, adoring nicknames out in public.
“Yes,” you answer, managing a deadpan expression. “What about it?”
“Do you love him?”
You narrow your eyes at Anton, feeling like if he keeps on shooting questions like this, he’d go home with a black eye. “Why does it matter if I love him or not?”
“Because,” Anton starts, his voice beginning to waver with every following word, “you used to love me.”
His words hang in the air, thick with a known, cursed history. You could hear your heart stutter for a split second, but you shake your head, quickly suppressing the feeling. You take in a sharp breath, feeling the heat of old anger rise in your chest. You force yourself to look at Anton, eyes hardening.
“That was two years ago, Anton,” you say, your voice detached. “And you made sure to end it, remember?”
Anton’s face flickers with something—guilt, regret, maybe even a hint of fear—but you’re not interested in seeing it. You’re sick of it—too familiar with the way he can spin his words to make himself seem like the victim.
“You don’t get to do this,” you continued, lips tightening into a thin line. “You don’t get to just show up and act like we can pick up where we left off, after what you did with Mina."
Anton’s face darkens the moment your old best friend’s name leaves your mouth, but you hold his gaze without flinching. Anton opens his mouth, probably to throw another lame and poorly explained excuse that you’ve heard before, but you’re faster than he is.
“Save it,” you snap. “You don’t have any right to ask me if I love Taesan after what you did. You lost that right the moment you lied to me and slept with her.”
Anton looks taken aback, as if he hadn’t expected you to bring that up, but obviously, you don’t care. You’ve held your feelings in for so long—leaving them behind quietly to try and move on without a commotion. You’ve spent enough time letting him walk all over you in the past—you’re not about to let him do it again.
For a moment, Anton looks like he’s about to say something more, but you don’t give him a chance. You turn away, taking a small step back as you glance briefly at the line in front of you. “I’m done with this conversation, Anton. You should be, too.”
THE next morning, after your first class of the day, you sigh as you find yourself waiting outside of a rather packed coffee shop—allegedly Taesan’s favourite one—bundled up in Taesan’s scarf. Autumn is starting to give way to winter, and as it’s doing so, the winds and temperatures are getting crazier. You bury your face further into the softness of Taesan’s scarf, letting the mixture of champagne orange, passion fruit, and sugar vanilla attack your senses. It’s disturbing, once the fact that the scarf that’s warming you up belongs to Taesan registers in your head; however, you had no choice. Freezing your nose off was the only other option.
“Hey,” you hear Taesan’s voice, turning instantly towards him.
“Apple pie latte?” he says, handing you a warm cup of said coffee. Grabbing it from him, you perk your eyebrows up.
“How did you know?” you say, pushing the scarf down. Taesan shrugs, sipping his own drink. You glance at the sticker on his cup: cinnamon maple latte.
“Instincts.”
You snicker at his reply, rolling your eyes. “Cut me some slack.”
The two of you then walk back towards the law school complex, where both of your classes will be held next. The winds begin to blow, and you find yourself hiding half your face behind Taesan’s scarf. You squint your eyes, blinking harshly as the stray strands of hair sting them.
“I love autumn, but not this kind,” you mumble.
Taesan glances at you, and in one swift motion, he grabs your free hand and shoves it into the pocket of his coat. He interlaces his hand with yours, letting his body warmth transfer to you.
Your eyes widen, your brain slow at processing the situation. You whip your head towards the tall man walking with you, his expression relaxed as ever.
“What are you doing?” you hiss, trying to pull away.
Taesan gives you a look that yells ‘really, Y/N?’. “Keeping you warm?”
“I don’t need your help,” you retort, yanking your hand away.
Taesan grabs it back, shoving it into his pocket. This time, his grip on your hand is firmer than before. “I don’t need my girlfriend to freeze to death—it’s going to ruin my reputation.”
Realisation hits you, again, like a ton of bricks right at the face.
Oh.
“Okay,” you say quietly, letting him do his thing. You look away, deciding to admire the surrounding golden trees. You take a deep breath, reminding yourself of how this whole ‘thing’ with Taesan is temporary—and having a personal heat packet isn’t too bad.
Once the two of you reach the lecture hall together, people begin to clearly spectate. You pull your hand away from him, rushing to your usual seat. Taesan, his expression calm as he always is, walks over to his usual seat as well—directly behind you.
Then, two minutes before the lecture starts, the person you truly hated comes into view, and decides to sit at the empty seat next to you.
“Hi, Y/N,” your ex, Anton, greets you with the biggest smile on his face. You mentally sob—already dreading the three hours to come.
You turn away, scooting as far as you could. The memories rush like a flood you can’t stop—reminding you of the heart-tearing pain the boy sitting next to you caused.
“Y/N? You alright? You look pale,” Anton says, probing further.
“It’s the weather,” you reply dully, your lips downturned. You unravel Taesan’s scarf from your neck, placing it on your lap. Your eyes fixed onto the lecture, you ignore Anton’s attempts to get you conversing with him.
“Y/N, are you free after class?” Anton whispers, twenty minutes into the lecture.
“No.” You give him a side glance.
“And you don’t even take IT,” you fake a smile, “so I don’t think you should even be here. With due respect, get lost, yeah?”
“I’m honoured,” Anton whispers back. The soft smile on his face makes you gag. “You still remember things about me.”
“Oh, please,” you grimace, anger beginning to bubble up inside of you. “I’d rather make out with Taesan than remember even the tiniest bit of–”
You suck in your breath sharply, your cheeks flushing at an alarming rate. You had blurted your words out too fast to even register the fact that you’re actually wearing the said person’s initials in a necklace ‘round your neck.
“You’d rather what now, sweetheart?”
Hearing Taesan’s voice, you can almost see his smug smirk decorating that annoyingly attractive face of his.
Your eyes widen.
I did not just admit that.
You turn to Taesan for a moment, flashing him a sheepish smile. You quickly spin back to face the lecture, forcing yourself to focus.
After the lecture concluded, you find yourself stuck in a sticky situation—Anton just can’t let you go out.
“Do you want to go and grab lunch together? It’s pretty late for lunch, and I know your stomach gets upset easily if you don’t eat,” you wince upon hearing his soft tone.
You frown, hating the fact that Anton knows almost a lot of things about you. “No, Anton, I’m sure I said–”
“She said no, Lee, I’m sure even a stupid motherfucker can understand.”
Seeing Anton’s eyes almost pop out at the sight of Taesan next to you, you’re sure that you look the same. You turn sharply towards Taesan, who has his hand perfectly placed on your back. The look on his face is fierce and scary, like he’s about to completely destroy Anton exactly where he’s standing.
“Han,” Anton addresses him curtly. “I didn’t know that you’re on… good terms with Y/N.”
You fidget with the charm on your décolletage, collecting every bit of energy you have to maintain a stoic expression.
Taesan flashes a sly smirk, pride radiating from his eyes as the corners of Anton’s lips twitch. “Why? Is it important to you who I’m close to?”
“No, but given your history with Y/N—I don’t want her to get hurt,” Anton blathers, “so I’m gladly asking you to–”
“What? Fuck off?” Taesan scoffs. Your eyes bulge, somehow not expecting Taesan’s choice of words to be so vulgar. “I think that’s what you’re supposed to do, Lee.”
“Y/N,” Anton says, desperation vivid in his voice. He grabs your wrist, and you instinctively step back. “C’mon, let’s go. I know you don’t like this stupid asshole here–”
Before you could even act, Taesan steps in front of you, shoving Anton to the floor. The students who are still lingering around stop to look. You couldn’t hold in your gasp—Taesan looks extremely angry, you swear you could see fire in his eyes.
A thought clicks into your head.
Taesan is the it-boy, of course he’s good at acting.
You take a step back, weirded by the heavy feeling of disappointment that begins to cloud your heart as soon as you remember the arrangement.
It’s just acting, Y/N. Get it together.
“Don’t touch her, bastard,” you hear Taesan hiss before he turns to you. Anger still lingering around, you watch with silence as Taesan relaxes the tension in his jaw. In a mirroring silence, he gestures for you to follow him out. You nod.
As you turn on your heel, Anton calls out, visibly irritated.
“Y/N,” he says, “what’s going on?”
You give him a mocking smile. You swing Taesan’s scarf around your neck. “I don’t think I owe you an explanation, Anton.”
AS you and Taesan walk out of the lecture hall, you can’t ignore the heavy weight settling in your chest. It keeps replaying in your mind: the way Taesan stepped in, fiercely protective—it’s all an act, right? You sneak a glance at Taesan, but his face is unreadable, his jaw still slightly clenched from the encounter.
“Taesan… you didn’t have to do that,” you mumble, playing with the hem of his scarf.
Taesan exhales through his nose, his shoulders rising slightly. “I didn’t like the way he was looking at you,” he then adds under his breath, “fucking bastard.”
You blink, unintentionally slowing your steps. That’s… different from what you expected.
“Taesan,” you try again, but he shoves his hands into his pockets, picking up the pace.
You know you should just let it go, but the air between the two of you feels heavier than it was before. Was it just an act? Maybe it was—and that Taesan’s acting skills are as good as the rom-com actors—but something about the way he had looked at Anton; like he was seconds away from doing more than just shoving him to the ground.
It feels too… real.
A sudden gust of wind cuts through your coat, making you shiver. Instantly, Taesan grabs your wrist and pulls you into a nearby convenience store.
“Sit,” he orders, disappearing for a moment. You watch him move through the aisles, confusion twisting in your chest. You take a seat exactly where he ordered you to, your head fuzzy from the mixture of confusing, unnamed emotions.
When he returns, he kneels slightly, pressing a warm drink and a heat pack into your hands, his fingers lingering just a second too long.
“You’re hopeless,” he murmurs, shaking his head. “First my scarf, now this.”
You gasp dramatically, rolling your eyes as your lips twitch, your heart knocking against your ribs. “You’re the one who keeps giving me things.”
Taesan just hums in response, his gaze locking onto yours. His usual unreadable expression softens, something almost unreadable flickering in his eyes.
Your grip tightens on the cup, trying to shake off the way your body reacts to his warmth. This whole thing with Taesan was supposed to be temporary. So why did it feel like something had changed?
DONGMIN takes several deep breaths, his eyes shut. The jazz music plays in the background, and the buzz of the cafe calms him down.
No wonder Y/N likes this place.
Dongmin opens his eyes, finding himself staring at you ordering drinks and some food for the two of you. You had dragged him here as soon as you finished your drink at the convenience store, repeating that you needed to treat him to some food. Your voice rings in his head, telling him that he needed to follow you to the coffee shop, to cool off his steam.
“Do you like apple pie?” you ask, setting a plate of two slices of said dessert, accompanied by two scoops of vanilla ice cream.
“Why do you even ask if you’ve already gotten it? Seems like my preference doesn’t matter,” Dongmin replies, putting on the usual smirk.
Your eyes widen and he chuckles.
“Well,” you huff, “I like apple pie—and it’s impossible to find someone who doesn’t.”
“Alright,” Dongmin laughs, and it hits. His laughter dies down as the realisation sinks in—watching you devour your slice of apple pie like it’s the only food you’ll eat until the end of time.
Dongmin, as he puts a bite of his food into his mouth, realises how messed up he is. He realises how often a hearty laugh escapes him when he’s with you—how a flustered, frustrated mess you make him.
“Why are you being nice to me?” Dongmin asks. He pokes his fork absentmindedly into the crust of the apple pie, second guessing his question the moment it leaves him.
You and he had always, always been rivals—a pair that’s never meant to get along. He’d always find you muttering curses and throwing glares in his direction; and he’d always find himself trying his best to reciprocate your disdain for him.
Dongmin does hate you, too.
He hates how you’re so confident, so diligent, so talented. He despises how hard you work, how determined you are, how you seem to always effortlessly bring him down and defeat him in academics. He feels the most intense dislike for you—whenever you walk in the room, he feels like the world is about to explode, along with his sanity.
Dongmin hates, with a burning passion, how he can’t stop himself from falling in love with you. He absolutely loathes the way you smile, the way your eyes crinkle when you laugh, and the way you look at him—with such fiery determination that’s enough to knock him off his feet. He completely hates the way that he has to keep his tongue sharp, and his attitude insufferable, for you to give him a sliver of your attention. He perfectly hates the way it’s impossible for him to let you know that he doesn’t hate you, at all.
Dongmin watches you open your mouth to reply, yet you don’t for a few moments. You return his gaze, uncertainty playing around in her eyes.
“What do you mean?” you ask, tilting your head in confusion. “We’re just eating apple pie, Taesan,” you laugh sheepishly.
For the first time, Dongmin doesn’t have an immediate answer. He swallows the bite of apple pie in his mouth, unsure of what he should say next. His smirk fades and hesitation engulfs him.
You notice this, of course, and your frown deepens. Though, before you could do anything, Jaehyun—Dongmin’s friend, suddenly appears.
He greets Dongmin, patting his shoulder. “Yo, Taesan, long time no see! Wait–” he pauses, laying his eyes on you. “Wait, am I dreaming? You two? Sitting together? Laughing? Are pigs flying now?”
You immediately shake your head, laughing along with Jaehyun. Dongmin, on the other hand, is dazed. He stays silent, still unsure of what to say. He’s finding everything peculiar—the way he’s unable to say anything, the way that his heart is thumping loudly against his chest at the mention of you as his girlfriend.
He watches you politely say goodbye to Jaehyun, gaining certainty with every beat of his heart.
His little crush on you is resurfacing, after two years of pushing it down with faked hatred.
AFTER Jaehyun leaves, you let yourself sneak a glance at Taesan, who’s absentmindedly poking holes in his already destroyed pie crust, avoiding your gaze. You notice his oddly quiet state—the Taesan you know would never miss the chance to throw in a witty remark.
You throw him a glare, slightly hoping it’d make him knock out of his trance. You set your fork down with an audible clink. “You’re being weird. I mean, you always are insufferably weird, but this is even weirder.”
Taesan scoffs, lifting his drink to his lips. “And you’re being annoying. Paranoid.”
You cross your arms, an annoyed grimace forming on your face. “Am I?”
Taesan holds your gaze for a moment too long, something flickering in his eyes before he looks away. “Maybe not.”
Oh.
You lean back, sighing dramatically. “Fine. I don’t get what you being weird has with me being paranoid, but yeah, I’m totally being paranoid. Definitely imagining things,” you scoff sarcastically.
Taesan hums in agreement. “You do that a lot.”
You choke on air. Glaring at Taesan, you retort, “you’re infuriating.”
“And yet, here you are, sharing dessert with me,” Taesan smirks, tilting his head.
You pause, blinking profusely.
That… is a valid point. How did you even get here? You and Taesan are supposed to be rivals. Aren’t you supposed to hate each other?
Your stomach twists, and suddenly, you find it difficult to swallow your final bites of apple pie.
After moments of deafening silence, you say, your voice slightly wavering, “you’re unbelievably good at dodging questions, Taesan.”
You bring your drink to your lips, hoping that you sounded casual.
Taesan looks up from his finished plate of apple pie, smirking as he leans back. “Oh, yeah? Have you ever considered that you’re too good at asking too many questions, and it’s insufferable?”
Your eyes widen slightly, flickering to the way that his eyes glare vaguely at you. “Maybe I am,” you admit quietly, “but you’re dodging the real ones.”
Taesan’s smirk falters a little bit, just for a second, and there’s something unrecognisable in his eyes. Something you can’t put a name on.
Maybe a shift in the air. Maybe it’s just your imagination. Or maybe it’s because your heart is racing just a little too fast.
You’re so focused on trying to read Taesan’s expressions that you don’t notice the way your voice softens. “So… if this whole thing is an act, why do I keep feeling like you actually care?”
You mentally hit yourself. That isn’t what you meant to say—and it’s certainly not what you would say in front of Taesan.
Though, it’s out before you can stop yourself. The words hang in the air, heavy and uncertain.
Taesan freezes, his eyes widening with a vulnerability for a fraction of a second. Then, just as quickly as it came, his guard comes back up. “Like we’ve discussed before, it’s an act. Nothing more.”
His voice is stern and plain, and his expression is stoic, but you catch the tremble in his hand as he’s fiddling with his fork.
That, somehow, doesn’t sit right with you.
You learn forward, the pendant swinging against your décolletage, your expression more serious now. “Then why do you care so much?”
You watch him closely, catching the tightening in his jaw and the way his hand proceeds to rest on the table, fingers anxiously tapping against the wood. Taesan doesn’t answer immediately, and instead, he looks away to drift his gaze to the window.
Your chest suddenly tightens. He’s acting like this is nothing, but you certainly feel it—the crack in the walls you’ve both constructed carefully against each other. It’s a tug at the back of your mind, a repeating whisper you’ve been trying so hard to push away.
And yet, the silence between you feels louder than ever.
Minutes pass by and the silence gets louder and louder. You’re lost in your own thoughts—realising just how much you’re affected by Taesan; just how much more you’re feeling than you want to admit. In the silence, you’re wondering, are you just imagining all this? Maybe it’s just you, maybe it’s the fact that you’re finding something more from this fake relationship you have with Taesan, your nemesis.
Though, there’s something that you can’t deny: the fact that your chest tightens with fluttering butterflies every time he gets too close, every time his words shift to something softer than usual, it’s something that makes your heart trip in your chest.
“Y/N,” Taesan calls, his voice softer than anticipated, and you’re pulled out of your train of thought. You look at him slowly, uncertain and afraid of what’s to come. He pauses, as if he’s unsure of what to say next. “What if… I told you I’m not sure if I can pretend much longer?”
His gaze finally meets yours, and for a moment, there’s no mask—just the raw sincerity in his eyes.
Your breath catches in your throat, your heart skipping a beat. You open your mouth, trying to say something—but nothing comes out. The evident truth in his words hits you like an ocean wave on a sunny day, and you can’t help but feel something is shifting between you both.
THE next few weeks pass by like a ridiculously large time-skip in a movie. You’re doing things like you usually do—attend classes, do mootings, send in assignments, study for exams. Though, there’s one big thing in your life that you can’t ignore—Taesan, your fake-dating arrangement, and the lingering, unspoken tension between the two of you. The first week after the coffee shop episode, you couldn’t sleep even a wink—your mind kept on replaying the scenes over and over again, the way you caught Taesan’s guard almost falling down. You’re sure you felt it too, the cracks in the walls you’ve built against him—even for a short moment.
At school, you’re hyper aware and extra distracted by Taesan. He’s doing his part of the agreement well, acting like he agreed he would. Every glance from him feels like a load of unspoken words, and the air between you two feels heavy. Every day you ponder, unsure of what to do with the new, fragile tension that’s settled between you and Taesan.
Today is the same—everything passes in a blur of lectures, assignments, and studying. You drag your heavy footsteps out of the room, your head spinning at the thought of the many assignments waiting for you. You look up, and the moment you step into the hallway, you see Taesan leaning against the wall, phone in hand, looking as calm as ever.
You walk near him, and your eyes meet—you see a flicker of something there—a tension, a question neither of you have the answer to.
“Y/N,” Taesan greets you with a casual, unreadable smile. You pause in your steps, turning to face him.
“Hi,” you reply quite timidly. You’re trying to sound casual, but you can hear the slight hitch in your voice. There’s no pretending this isn’t different now. There’s no pretending you didn’t almost cross a line last time.
Taesan takes a final glance at his phone before shoving it into his pocket. “Still pretending this is just an act?” he asks, his voice surprisingly soft but laced with something familiar, almost teasing.
You pause, your breath stuck in your throat. Your heart, yet again, skips a beat, and you try to brush it off by laughing nervously. “Me? Pretending? I’m not pretending,” you say, and it’s directed more towards yourself than to him.
You’re not sure who’s trying to convince who anymore.
Taesan looks taken aback. He blinks profusely before putting his usual, calm expression back on. “Yeah,” he whispers, nodding, “I’ll see you around, Y/N.”
You watch him walk away, heart twisting in the weirdest way.
DONGMIN hates the way everything is now. Why can’t he just tell you everything? Why can’t he just tell you that he isn’t pretending, that he actually cares?
He wants to stop everything–going back to shoving insults at your face might be the safest option of them all. Yet, Dongmin finds himself caring for you in the little ways—wrapping his scarf around your neck, adjusting the placement of your bangs with a simple ruffle, placing a tin of coffee and bread in front of you whenever you seem exhausted with studying, sliding post-its to you with his handwriting reminding you to take breaks when needed. He still finds his heart racing upon seeing you; the way your lips pout when you’re deep in thought, the way you smile and laugh so adorably upon hearing a funny joke from your friends, the way you’re still so cute even when frustrated.
As he walks away, Dongmin fights with his own heart. Why was he acting like this? It’s so clear that you’re expecting something more, but why is he pushing you away?
Dongmin takes a deep breath. Yeah, he’s scared. He’s afraid that maybe it’s all in his head, maybe you’re the one acting so well and it’s just gotten to him.
Dongmin swears to get himself together, but it looks like he’s going to need more than just mental affirmations.
The next day, he misses his alarm, for the first time in forever, and is running late to his 9 AM lecture. He’s speed walking through students, dodging them with a bag hanging on one shoulder and his hair still partially wet. Just as he’s about to near the entrance of the Law building, he hears raised voices nearby. He puts his hood up, his first instinct is to ignore it all—he’s got no time to eavesdrop on people’s business. However, he recognises one of the two quarrelling voices—yours.
Dongmin’s steps come to a halt, and he turns to face you. His eyes slightly widen and his shoulders begin to tense as he sees you and Anton standing a few feet away, locked in an argument. He’s a bit too far away to hear the full conversation, yet he catches some bits of it.
You’re standing at your full height, stiffly in front of Anton, arms crossed and eyes blazing with fury. Anton, on the opposite side of you, no longer has that sickening, innocent smile—instead, he’s flashing you a mocking smirk.
The argument is already reaching its peak, yet Dongmin is quick to analyse the situation just by picking up a few bits.
“You think you’re really something, don’t you?” Anton taunts.
You scoff. Dongmin could tell you’re offended, yet the mask you put on really makes a difference. “At least I don’t have to put other people down to feel important.”
Anton scoffs back, “please. You act like you’re above all this, but you’re just as desperate for attention as everyone else.”
Dongmin clenches his jaw, watching the argument unfold as his fingers begin to twitch.
You give Anton a mocking laugh, stepping forward. “I don’t care what you think, Anton Lee. I don’t care if you think I don’t love Taesan, because what matters is my own feelings, not yours. And I’m done wasting my time on you.”
Before you could turn away and enter the building, Anton grabs your wrist.
It’s not aggressive, but it’s enough. Enough to make Dongmin see red.
Everything’s a blur—one second later, he’s towering in front of Anton, his eyes glaring daggers.
“Let her go,” his voice is low and threatening, as sharp as a blade.
Anton looks up, initially startled, but as soon as he sees Dongmin, he rolls his eyes. His hand still around your wrist, he says with a sneer, “look who’s here, Y/N’s knight in shining armour! Oh, so great, always the hero.”
Dongmin is too busy counting down the ways he could destroy Anton’s life to be noticing how immediate the warmth creeps up your cheeks. Dongmin, in one fluid motion, steps closer, standing between you and Anton.
“Did you hear me?” his voice drops deadly lower than before, his posture relaxed yet his eyes are dangerous. “Let. Go.”
Anton huffs, roughly letting go of your hand. He shakes his head. “You two are seriously something else,” he mutters before storming away.
You and Dongmin stand next to each other, cautiously eyeing Anton until he disappears from sight. For that moment, none of you say anything.
“What was that for?” you say suddenly, crossing your arms. “I didn’t need you to step in.”
Dongmin shoves his hood down to his neck, raising his eyebrow. Feeling slightly irritated, he scorns. “Yeah? Looked like you were having a great time.”
You roll your eyes, scoffing, but something pinches Dongmin’s heart as he notices there’s no real bite behind it. “I’m fine—I had it all handled.”
Silence.
Dongmin exhales sharply, words shooting out of his mouth without second thought. “I know. It’s just–”
He stops, his eyes landing on your wrist. Closes his mouth.
You wait for a few moments, before warily asking. “What? Just what?”
Dongmin hesitates. Suddenly, it’s all he can push out of his throat. He’s already there, halfway crossing the line he’s put between you and him for the past two years.
And then, it just… slips out.
“I just can’t stand it, okay?”
Your frown deepens, confused. “Stand… what?”
Dongmin lets out a frustrated breath, turning sharply to completely face you. “I can’t stand seeing you with people like that fucking bastard. I can’t stand watching you get into these stupid situations. And I really, really can’t stand how much I—”
His eyes widen, and his words stumble upon a stop. Dongmin stammers, realising what he was just about to say.
“Taesan,” you call, gently, hope suddenly shimmering in your eyes. “How much you what?”
Dongmin freezes. He’s silent, tongue frozen, unable to utter another word.
He can’t say it.
Instead, he runs a hand through his hair, muttering curses under his breath.
“You know what?”
“Taesan–”
“Next time,” he says quickly, in a softer voice, “don’t… waste your time on a guy like him.”
Your eye contact is still intact, you open your mouth to argue, but nothing comes out. Your eyes widen for a split second—as if you’re catching on to the feelings displayed, unknowingly, on Dongmin’s face.
His concern is real.
“W-we should go,” you stammer instead, gesturing to the Law building.
Dongmin nods. He grabs your backpack from you, signalling for you to walk in first. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
You force yourself to walk as swiftly as possible to the lecture hall, heart pounding, mind racing. Behind you, Dongmin’s entire body is tense. He’s finally realising he can’t keep his feelings for you hidden forever.
THE next day, you can’t stop thinking about Taesan—and whatever he was about to say to you. Your mind races with a million different thoughts throughout the day. What if he actually feels the same? What if you’re not the only one looking for something more in this fake arrangement?
However, given that exams are looming closer, you’re only given a short amount of time to dwell on your thoughts. After your last class of the day, you find yourself cooped up in the library, studying the rest of the day away. Several of your friends join you, too.
The study group grows, joined by both your friends and Taesan’s—though, you didn’t even realise that Taesan is sitting across you the entire day, until everyone starts leaving one by one.
By midnight, it’s only you and him. You don’t look up, but you can feel your heart thumping faster than usual. You’re hyper aware of your surroundings—how close he is, how his scent feels comforting yet intimidating, and how his presence is reminding you of something that you’re too afraid to admit.
“Y/N,” you open your eyes to someone gently shaking your shoulder, the reality of things crashing onto you all at once. You lift your head up, realising that you fell asleep in the middle of reviewing a past paper. Your eyes meet with Taesan’s concerned gaze.
His voice is low and soft, as if it’s only for you. “Let’s take a break. You’ve been snoozing off way too many times.”
Your heart is beating a little faster than usual, but you agree. Taesan’s request seems too casual, and he looks like he needs a break too.
You follow his lead, walking a little bit behind him to the convenience store that’s still open in campus grounds. He’s silent, observing you and letting you pick anything you want before paying for both your things and his.
“Go sit,” he says, holding your instant tteokbokki package in hand, along with his instant noodles. “I’ll heat these up.”
Taesan quickly moves to the microwave before you can say anything in retaliation, a sign that you take seriously. He’s not in the mood for any fights.
You take a seat, and soon after, Taesan joins you. He puts your instant meal in front of you, breaking your chopsticks for you.
“Here,” he says, his voice quiet. “Careful, the tteok is still hot.”
He then slips his coat around you before turning back to his own beverages.
You find yourself staring at him, long after he’s handed you your things. You watch him, peacefully releasing his tension—running a hand through his hair, chugging down a cup of coffee.
Everything around you looks like it has a blurred filter on, yet one thing is crystal clear: Taesan, and his evident care for you. The longer you stare at him, the more you realise.
He’s always been the one. He’s always been there.
It hits you harder than any bad grade has ever done.
Taesan has always been like this—quietly looking out for you, quietly caring for you.
All this while, all the banter, the little arguments, moments, and glances—it’s not just rivalry. It’s not just the fact that he always finds a way to make you all grumbly and irritated. It’s not just the fact that, even back when you were with Anton, he’d always find a way to show his care for you.
It’s not just the fact that you enjoy his company, even if he makes you feel like you want to bang your head against the wall.
You like him.
You like Han Taesan.
You quickly turn your head away, blood rushing to your head as soon as the realisation hits you. You stuff a few bites of instant tteokbokki into your mouth, wanting to quickly get rid of whatever this warm, refreshing feeling is.
“Can you stop looking at me like that, L/N?”
You cough, shocked at how his sudden comment breaks through the almost comforting silence. All the past moments you’ve had with him—the banter, the insults, the arguments—run through your head as soon as your last name, what Taesan had always called you, reaches your ears.
“Like what?” emboldened by the awakening of your feelings, you retort, your tone more challenging than you intended.
Taesan snaps, pushing his chair back, raking a frustrated hand through his hair.
“Like I’m your fucking boyfriend.”
“What?” you’re confused, not expecting that out of his mouth. “What are you–”
“Like you’re waiting for me to say something that I know I can’t take back.”
“Say it, then.”
You say, challenging him. It feels sentimental—like the old days, where all you did when you met Taesan was throw taunting words at him. But at the same time, the words come out of your mouth without realising—daring the two of you to finally cross the line.
“I like you, okay? I probably love you at this point, I don’t know. I don’t know when it started, but I do. And I—” He exhales sharply, his voice softer. “I don’t want to keep pretending I don’t.”
The world stops spinning and you stare at him, blank.
Your tongue feels numb, your heart racing at a million miles per hour.
You feel the same, you’re sure, but you don’t know how to respond. Do you smile and say it back? Do you tease him, calling him an idiot like you always do?
“I didn’t mean to fall for you,” you catch Taesan muttering.
You smile. “Me too,” you say softly.
Taesan lifts his head immediately, sharply turning to you with widened eyes. “... pardon?”
THE next few days feel like a refreshing spring breeze in the peak of winter, yet the air is filled with a cute awkwardness. After the confession, neither of you explicitly announce to one another that the two of you are a real couple now—yet your interactions feel new and unscripted, but no one exactly is making the first move.
Of course, your friends notice before the two of you do.
You’re sitting at the food hall together with Yunjin and Sophia, eating breakfast. You’re halfway through your pancakes, and Taesan—or Dongmin, as you call him now—suddenly takes a seat next to you.
“Mind if I join, girls?” he asks, a charming grin on his face. He’s asking the table, yet his gaze is directed to you. You bite your lip shyly, nodding.
“Sure, make yourself at home,” Yunjin says, her words laced with teasing. She watches with eagle eyes as Dongmin puts all of the sliced bananas from his serving of pancakes onto yours, knowing that you especially enjoy them with your breakfast pancakes. She snorts at the obvious look of love in Dongmin’s eyes, more evident now that he isn’t shoving insults at your face. “So, you two are really dating now?”
You choke on your bite of pancake, immediately blurting out,
“No!”
“Yes.”
You sharply turn to Dongmin, who has a smug look on his face. It’s the one look on his face that you’re used to, yet there’s a tint of pink on his cheeks. The edge of his smirk twitches, threatening to form into a cute, lovesick smile.
“...I see,” Sophia interrupts your awkward eye contact, sighing dramatically.
“We’re dating?” you ask Dongmin acutely, your brows connecting in an embarrassed frown.
“I don’t know,” Dongmin shrugs casually, the look in his eyes teasing. “Are we?”
The blush that instantly creeps up your cheeks tells you the answer. You look away, suddenly focused on the way you’re cutting your pancakes. Dongmin’s laugh echoes to your left, and your friends’ send you teasing looks.
A few months later, on the first week back after winter break, you go on a walk around campus with your boyfriend, Han Dongmin. It feels weird, calling him yours now. Just almost half a year ago, you were fighting your ego to have your nemesis fake-date you in order to intimidate your ex into leaving you and your life alone. Now, that same thorn in your side has become the light of your life, the apple of your eye. Now, the two of you are in something that’s not written on a flimsy contract.
Dongmin had also helped clear out the rumours surrounding you—in the most annoying, Han Taesan way—announcing the truth about Anton by spreading it like a rumour to everyone. You still get second-hand embarrassment remembering that day, bombarded by questions and apologies from acquaintances and people you’ve only seen around.
“You know,” you say dreamily, distracted by your train of thought, “you’re so annoying—but I love you.”
Dongmin freezes, his steps coming to an immediate halt. You, too, freeze in your steps as you realise you’re a few steps ahead of him now. You turn around, eyebrows perked up.
“What’s wrong, Dongmin?”
Dongmin.
The sound of your voice calling his birth name repeats in his mind, like a favourite song on loop. He stares, unable to say anything. His eyes fall on the pendant dangling from your neck, one that you started wearing due to the fake-dating arrangement. He remembered insisting that you take it off, so that he can buy you a new one later, but you said that it’s special so you won’t take it off.
I love you.
Dongmin feels a smile slowly bloom on his face.
She said it. She didn’t even hesitate. It’s like it’s the easiest thing in the world.
His face softens, jogging up to you. He gives you a cheeky smile.
“Say that again.”
You frown. “What again?”
“The first part.”
“What–” you pause, eyes widening as you get what he’s talking about. Heat rushes up your cheeks, warming your face despite Dongmin’s scarf wrapped around it. “I–”
“Yeah,” Dongmin says, smirking as he wraps an arm around your shoulders. “Me too.”
You bury yourself into the familiar scent of Dongmin’s scarf as he kisses your cheek.
“Fuck you, Han Dongmin,” you grumble, ignoring the obvious butterflies in your stomach.
THAT weekend, you and Dongmin are eating lunch together at your favourite coffee shop. Dongmin had said that the vibes there makes him sleepy, and tried to bring you to eat at one of the more famous restaurants near the KOZ School of Engineering, yet the plan backfires on him when the line is certainly too long.
Now, the two of you are back at your favourite coffee shop, sipping warm cinnamon lattes.
“See?” you tease, smiling cheekily. “I told you this place is the best.”
Dongmin rolls his eyes, taking a big spoonful of the chocolate cinnamon roll on your plate. “I want to eat some real food, like kimchi jjigae, not these sweet chocolate desserts,” he complains, though he can’t hide the fact that he secretly loves it.
“Yet you’re the one finishing my cinnamon roll,” you retort, letting him subconsciously finish your dessert. You’re familiar with his love for chocolate.
Dongmin flashes you an innocent smile, shrugging. “Not my fault.”
Comfortable silence engulfs the two of you, letting you bask in each other’s presence. Suddenly, Dongmin leans closer, adjusting the place of the H.D pendant on your décolletage. Frozen, you watch him lean back into his seat, smiling as he admires you.
“You look good today,” he murmurs, “actually, you look good everyday.”
An undeniable tint of pink colours your face. “I’m literally wearing a black turtleneck sweater, Dongmin.”
His gaze softens. “Like the first time you sat next to me, three years ago, during our foundation year.”
Your eyes widen, your mind replaying the memory, fresh like it happened yesterday.
“You… remember?”
“Of course,” Dongmin replies, his smile delicate.
“I even remember the day you walked up to me, confident and all. I thought you were going to brag to my face that you won first place for the quiz we had the day before, but then you told me to fake date you.”
You almost spit out the coffee from your mouth. “Han Dongmin!” you hiss. “Don’t remind me… it was so stupid.”
“Stupid?” Dongmin asks, tilting his head. The signature cocky smirk is back on his face. “Are you sure about that?”
“Yeah…” you sigh, “I mean, I could’ve resolved the matter by myself, you know–”
“But you know that I’m the best option,” Dongmin cuts you off, smug. You roll your eyes.
“I don’t think it’s stupid, though,” he continues, his expression softer. More… raw. “To be honest, I think I was ecstatic that you walked up to me that day.”
“Why?” you ask croakily.
“‘Cause I’ve always liked you, Y/N. I always have. I just don’t understand where things went wrong—maybe it’s the way I thought teasing you would gain me your attention at first. It did. But then, you became used to my teasing and thought of me as a threat—maybe ‘cause I’m smart as hell, too—but yeah. I don’t know how to say it but, all of that hatred was… pretend.”
You blink at him, too shocked to process his words. You try to reply, but mere stuttering comes out, and your face turns bright red.
Dongmin notices this, of course, and he turns on his shameless, impudent grin. “Besides, you said you’re going to grant me any wish that I have, right?”
Oh.
You inhale sharply. How could you forget? You immediately bring out your phone, checking the balance in your bank account. It’s quite a luxury, due to you working a few part time jobs during your break and whenever you can—but you certainly don’t think it’s fit for whatever grand wish Dongmin is about to demand from you.
“Fine,” you huff, “only because it’s part of our… old contract.”
“Old contract, huh?” Dongmin wheezes, already laughing hard. You frown, fighting back a smile.
“Why are you always laughing whenever I speak, dumbass?”
“Hey,” Dongmin pauses his laughter, flicking your forehead gently. It doesn’t even hurt, but you gasp dramatically, and he laughs it off. “It’s babe for you, sweet girl. And, I’m not laughing at you. I’m just admiring how cute and funny you are.”
Babe, huh?
You snort, hiding a smile. “Fine.”
“Anyway, speaking of the old contract,” Dongmin grins, “what’s the new one, then?”
“You haven’t even told me what sort of dumb, overpriced thing you want for your wish,” you say, lips set in a grim line. “And now you want another one?”
“My wish, huh?”
The unreadable look on his face makes you brace yourself and your wallet.
“Then, my darling, this is my wish.”
Dongmin leans forward, brushing his lips against yours. It’s subtle, short and sweet, but significant enough for you to realise it all—the reality of your feelings and his. He lingers for a while before sitting back in his chair.
“So,” he says coolly, ignoring the plain blush streaked across his face. “Can you grant me the wish? To kiss you anytime, and anywhere I want?”
“Basically, physical affection can be done anytime?” you say, quoting what this man in front of you said months ago, when both of you first agreed on the fake-dating situation. The whole absurd set-up that brought the two of you to where you are, today.
Dongmin laughs, clearly impressed. “Yeah,” he nods.
You give him a warm smile, glad that you’re finally able to follow your heart’s desires, and to not put up a wall of defense around him anymore.
a sigh leaves your lips as you arrive home after hanging out with liz, you're about to take off your shoes until— a loud thud was heard from upstairs, seemingly in woonhaks bedroom and silence followed afterwards. curiosity got the better of you so you throw off your shoes and walk upstairs, both woonhaks shoes and some other persons shoes were at the front, so you were curious as to which menace woonhak calls 'friend' was over.
unfortunately, luck was not on either yours or whoever this mystery person was, the moment you try to peer into woonhaks bedroom that said friend crashed straight into you which caused both of you to fall to the ground.
"ow.... that hurt.." you murmur, looking up to see woonhak wide eyed, your eyes traveled down to whoever it was that was thundercunted straight into you. when you notice just who it was you also couldn't help but share the same look as woonhak.
it was han taesan himself.
"I'm so sorry noona! are you okay?" woonhak spoke, pushing taesan off of you as he checked up on you. when taesan realized it was you who he got shoved right into he turned red, both out of embarrassment and due to his horrid crush on you.
"s-sorry.. i didn't know you were there.." he awkwardly murmured, avoiding your eyes due to how embarrassed and shy he was from that interaction. leehan was right— almost every interaction he has with you always ends awkward as hell.
"I'm fine.. I've got to study, but just remember next time to close the door next time you want to brawl.." you awkwardly joked, you felt the heat on your face due to your embarrassment aswell. woonhak wished that atleast one of you could've been bold enough to look at the other person, but unfortunately that will not be happening so neither of you will see the others blush.
you got up off the floor, heart pounding hard as you closed the door to your bedroom and sat on your bed, contemplating every action that led to this moment.
whilst you sat there in bed, unsure on how to feel you look up at the door after a knock. you had a feeling it was taesan as woonhak never knocks— when he does its just a little bang before he opens the door. "are you alright?"
taesans voice caught your attention through the door, a soft smile covered your face as you got up and opened the door for him. he was quite nervous as this would be his first time ever seeing–let alone being inside your bedroom.
"I'm fine, it hurts slightly but nothing more than that.." you spoke in a nervous but soft tone, both of you were avoiding eyecontact as you were too flustered and embarrassed to do so.
"You sure? I really hope i didn't hurt you, but based on how hard woonhak shoved me i feel like you'd be in more pain.." he spoke very awkwardly, he was quite tense as he was very worried you were hating him more and more cause of this.
that was until— well, until you took his hand into yours. it was a subconscious habit of yours to do so when comforting someone, but it meant alot to taesan seeing this action. "I'm sure, I'm fine.. please don't worry about me okay?"
you looked so pretty, god he was so whipped for you.
𓆩♡𓆪
a/n: SO SO SORRY FOR LIKE DISSAPEARING FOR A FEW DAYS GULP i also lowk forgot to post this oops 😓😓 i hope yall feel fed 🙏
1k words • fluff & crack. feedback + reblogs are highly appreciated.
Sungho (박성호)
God knows how badly you wanted the ‘No Genre’ album. You were devastated for not pre-ordering it, and now it was sold out everywhere. But hey, perks of dating a member of the group: Sungho showed up with the exact version you wanted in hand. You were squealing while unboxing it, holding the photocard to your chest with the biggest grin. He leaned in, grinning, «Did I come out cute?» but you quickly shoved the PC back into the album. Suspicious, he opened it again and blinked at the Jaehyun photocard. «Don’t get me wrong,» you said, panicked, «it's just… so cute.» He pouted, crossing his arms. «I’ll make sure you pull mine next time.»
⋆°｡⋆
Riwoo (이상혁)
You and Riwoo had a love language built on gift-giving. While you spoiled him with clothes and accessories, he spoiled you with albums for your collection—like the time he gave you all versions of «19.99» out of nowhere. You were beaming as you opened each one, and he watched you with a soft smile. But when it came time to add the PCs to your binder, he squinted and said, «Wait… is that a Sungho section?» — You laughed. «Well, not really a section… I just always pull him. Look, I even got one of you.» He smirked and pointed at his lonely photocard. «And that’s what you call lucky? I’m bringing more albums next time, and you better pray I show up.»
⋆°｡⋆
Jaehyun (명재현)
You and Jaehyun were in the middle of one of your chill dates, lounging in a park after some light shopping. You just bought an album, and he was more excited than you to open it. «Come on, come on, flip the card!» he said, bouncing beside you. You did, and immediately screamed. «Riwoo with ginger hair!!» Jaehyun blinked. Then just… stared. You glanced at him, confused. «Oh? Are you okay?» He clapped slowly, eyes narrowed. «Ohh,» you teased, «you’re jealous.» — «Me? Jealous? Nu-uh.» So you held the PC up to your lips, smirking. In a flash, he snatched it away. «Okay fine, I am. Of Riwoo. He’s mine. I’m keeping this.»
⋆°｡⋆
Taesan (한태산)
You were walking hand-in-hand with your boyfriend when he suddenly stopped and stared at your bag. «Something wrong?» you asked. He pointed at the photocard holder dangling from the strap. «What is this?» You blinked. «A PC… from the album you gave me, remember?» — «I know what it is. It’s Leehan.» His voice had a jealous edge. He looked like he was seconds away from yanking it off. «Heyyy, don’t be mad. It’s not my fault I didn’t pull you. Give me one and I’ll switch it.» He sighed dramatically, then softened when you hugged him. «Yeah, but like… maybe take it off now?» You giggled and gave him a kiss before doing as asked.
⋆°｡⋆
Leehan (김이한)
You and Leehan both bought BND albums—he wanted the full 'onedoor' fan experience with you. You sat together, ready to unbox. «1… 2… 3!» You both flipped your PCs and groaned. «What? Who’d you get?» you both asked at the same time. He held up Woonhak. You showed him… Leehan. «Are you upset you pulled me?» he asked, mock offended. You stammered. «No! No, it’s just… Woonhak’s PC is so… cute.» With a little smirk, he held his out. «Here. Take mine.» Your eyes widened. «Really?» He nodded, smiling. «But I want a kiss in return.»
⋆°｡⋆
Woonhak (김운학)
«Please! I said I’m sorry!» You were chasing a sulky Woonhak around the room. Ever since you opened the album he gave you and pulled Taesan—twice—he’d been acting like a kicked puppy. «Why Taesan hyung both times and not me?» he pouted, stomping his foot. «Woonhak… it’s just a photocard,» you tried, resting your hands on his shoulders. He huffed, arms crossed. «I… I don’t care! I should’ve been your pull!» You leaned in to give him a quick kiss, hoping to calm him down, but he stepped away. «Wait here. I’m going to buy you another one.» You couldn’t help but laugh at his dramatic little mission.
hii, if you’re not too busy, can you please write a boynextdoor x ouran highschool host club fic? with twins!gongfourz. where haruhi!reader accidentally knocks over ohshc!bnd’s expensive vase so she has to join the club through crossdressing in order to pay her debt. also can i be 🪷 anon? thanks!!!!
Cross-dressing shenanigans
Synopsis. haruhi!reader x ohshc!bnd, teasing, cross-dressing, reader is a girl
warnings. not neutral reader!
wc. 744 words
networks. @onedoornet
a/n. thank you for requesting!! I hope you like it because this is my first time writing for a request and i love ohshc as well! And of course you can be 🪷anon! And so sorry for the wait it's been a while since i wrote full length fics!
You hadn’t meant to, honestly.
What have you ever done to warrant such misfortune? All you'd wanted to do was to find a quiet spot in school away from the bustling crowds of students to study. But now you find yourself being at the mercy of the BOYNEXTDOOR Host Club.
Crash!
A crystal vase, probably worth millions, lay at your feet, its shattered pieces glistening mockingly at you. The silence that followed was deafening, the air was thick with disbelief and your own clumsiness.
Jaehyun’s eyes narrowed as he smirked. "That was worth at least eight million won,"
You paled. “I-I can pay you back… in installments. Over like… several centuries?” You bury your face in your hands in embarrassment.
Sungho snorted. "Or... you could work it off."
"...As what?"
"A host," Taesan used his hands to mimic a lever, or an errand boy."
"Errand...boy?" You tilted your head in confusion, and that was when the realisation hit: they thought you were a boy!
Before you could protest to both options, the twins—Taesan and Leehan, nearly identical grins plastered on their faces—stepped in, one on each side.
Jaehyun lifts one side of your mouth, " Can you smile a bit more? that frown doesn't suit you" he swipes your bang to the side and takes off your glasses. " it's unfortunate really, your only option might be an errand-"
Before he could finish, he turned sharply to Riwoo, "call the stylist!" he grins, "this boy has potential!"
You were then whisked off to the dressing room next door, for a quick makeover, trimmed bangs, proper uniform, and a light dust of makeup across your face.
You were a natural, charming customers left and right. Before you knew it, Jaehyun was getting jealous of your popularity. He was convinced that you had some type of trick up your sleeve, and he was determined to find out what.
It happened on a Tuesday.
The club room was filled with its usual gleam—crystal chandeliers, soft music, the scent of overpriced peonies, and BOYNEXTDOOR host club members entertaining customers. You were balancing a tray of strawberry parfaits for a particularly high-maintenance table when Riwoo tilted his head and said,"Hey, what's your real name anyway?"
You raised an eyebrow at him. “I’ve told you. It’s Y/N.”
“No, no,” Jaehyun waved a hand dismissively from the sofa. “Your full name. We need it for club activities. ”
“Oh! Yeah, of course.” You set the tray down, wiped your hands, and pulled out your student ID from your pocket. “Here.”
Silence.
“Wait a minute" Sungho squinted at the card like it was written in a foreign language.
“This says... ‘F.’ for female?”
He passed the card to Leehan, who choked.
“Wait—wait—what?”
Jaehyun leaned over his shoulder, eyes narrowing. “You’re... a girl?”
You blinked. “Uh. Yeah?”
Taesan nearly fell off his chair. “But—but you said your name was y/n!”
You frowned. “It is y/n."
“No, I mean," he waved his hands in the air with disbelief, "you wore the uniform-"
“That’s because you gave it to me.” you deadpanned.
“But you didn't protest!" Jaehyun exclaims as if he got personally betrayed by this piece of news.
You pause, "I don't mind it, being fawned by girls i mean"
The room went dead quiet.
A beat.
Then Leehan let out a loud snort. "We’re actual idiots."
"I knew something was off!" Taesan blurted. “That time you said my new keychain was 'adorable', I should have known!"
Jaehyun was still staring at your ID like it had betrayed him personally,"Why didn’t you say anything?!" he dramatically places a hand on his forehead.
You crossed your arms and furrowed your eyebrows. "You never asked. You just handed me a uniform, gave me a nickname, and threw me in front of customers with a debt over my head."
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again to protest. "Okay, that’s... fair."
"You know what," Riwoo sighed, flopping backward onto the couch. "Honestly? I respect the hustle. She’s been pulling better customer numbers than half of us."
You shrugged. “Thanks, I guess.”
Jaehyun stared at you like you were some kind of puzzle he suddenly couldn’t solve. "This whole time… we thought we were mentoring some quiet, clumsy freshman boy. But no. We were played by the smartest girl in school."
You smirked. “If I'm that great, you should just let me off the hook..."
Upon hearing that, everyone turns towards you in unison, "No chance."
Oh well, you tried.
Who knows? This could become more fulfilling than you thought it would be.
⋮ ⌗ ┆ being a chronically online gal on twitter , you tend to overshare your life on the platform . from personal life updates to boynextdoor — which is probably what you talk about the most along with your 1400 followers . you had supported boynextdoor ever since they debuted and what more of a luck when you're able to attend each and every one of their shows and fan signs ? however , what you least expected to happen ... happened .
genre : fluff, they are a little STUPID ❤️🩹 (lovingly)
pairing : mutual!taesan x f!reader
warnings : profanity
synopsis : you and @/giantmountain (aka taesan) have been twitter mutuals for as long as you can remember. one day, you both start tweeting about mysterious campus crushes—people who don’t even know you exist. or so you think. but maybe… you know each other more than you realize.
You were just scrolling through your gallery, minding your own business, when Sungho caught a glimpse of your phone screen. You didn’t even notice at first, until he stopped mid-chew, one eyebrow slowly raising as he turned to you with the flattest expression imaginable.
“Wait. Go back,” he said, pointing at your phone with a half-eaten chip.
You blinked. “What?”
“That photo. The lockscreen. Was that Taesan?”
You froze. Then shrugged. “Yeah.. I mean, just a cute fansite pic. I forgot it was even there.”
Sungho blinked once. Twice.
“Oh. Okay.”
He leaned back on the couch, crossed his arms, and stared at the ceiling like he was reevaluating his entire existence.
You nudged him. “What? You’re acting weird.”
“Nothing,” he replied. “It’s just funny. Hilarious, even. The betrayal.” He looked at you again, all wide eyes and mock hurt. “Out of all people Taesan?”
“He’s cool!”
“I’m cooler,” Sungho shot back instantly. “I actually text you back.”
You laughed. “You’re being dramatic.”
“I’m being real. I hope your little Taesan lockscreen pays attention to you when you’re sad and need a late-night ramen run.”
You grinned. “Are you jealous?”
He scoffed. “I don’t get jealous. I get revenge.”
Before you could react, he leaned over and yoinked your phone straight out of your hands. A few dramatic swipes and taps later, he turned the screen toward you.
Your new lockscreen? A close-up selfie of Sungho, smirking, peace sign up, filtered with the most obnoxious sparkle effect he could find.
“There. Fixed. You’re welcome,” he said, tossing your phone back with a smug little shrug. “No more betrayals on my watch.”
And just like that, the crisis was over, except for the fake sighs, the exaggerated side eyes, and his ongoing bit titled “The Tragedy of Being Second to Taesan,” which he performed at least twice a day until he got extra snacks.
RIWOO :
It slipped out without much thought, just a passing comment while the two of you were scrolling through YouTube.
“Oh, that’s one of my favorite fancams,” you said. “Jaehyun just looks so cool there.”
Riwoo paused the video.
“..He’s your bias?” he asked, in the softest voice imaginable.
You looked over. “What?”
He turned to face you, blinking slowly like a cat who just got his nap interrupted. “You bias Jaehyun?”
His tone was calm, but his expression was pure betrayal, like you’d just told him you preferred sparkling water over still. You blinked, caught off guard.
“I mean, yeah? He was my first bias. Before I met you, obviously.”
“Oh.”
A short pause. Then Riwoo nodded slowly, turned back to the screen, and hit play again.
That should’ve been the end of it. But no, minutes later, he started humming one of his parts under his breath. Loudly. Then replayed a video of himself doing a dance challenge. Twice.
You caught him subtly glancing at you each time, like, “Are you impressed yet? Reconsidering, maybe?”
Eventually, you nudged him with a laugh. “Are you trying to become my bias?”
He blinked innocently. “What? No. I’m just watching good content. That happens to have me in it. A lot.”
You grinned. “You’re jealous.”
He blushed instantly, ears turning pink as he looked away. “I’m not.”
“Uh-huh.”
“You can still keep Jaehyun as your bias, I guess,” he mumbled. “As long as you know I’m the one who gets to be your boyfriend.”
JAEHYUN :
You were curled up next to him, scrolling through your camera roll, when a photo caught his eye.
“Wait.. hold up.”
He leaned in, squinting. “Is that Leehan?”
You hesitated. “..Yeah?”
Jaehyun blinked. “You have a whole album named ‘My Lion King?’”
You tried to move your phone away, but he was already laughing, head tossed back, hand over his chest like you’d just told the funniest joke in the world.
“Oh wow. No, it’s fine. I’m not even upset,” he said, clearly a little upset. “Just here being your boyfriend.. while you collect majestic Leehan photos like Pokémon cards.”
You rolled your eyes, already grinning. “It’s not that serious. He was my bias before I met you.”
“Ah, the classic excuse,” Jaehyun replied with a mock gasp. “I’ve been betrayed. By my own partner. by my own group.”
He flopped dramatically onto the couch, draping himself across the cushions like a prince in exile. “I’ll be fine. I always knew you were into the mysterious type. Tall. Strong. Quiet.”
“Jaehyun—”
“Meanwhile, I’m just here,” he continued, sitting up suddenly. “Giving you forehead kisses, making you laugh, letting you steal my hoodies.. and for what? To be second place?”
You burst out laughing, and he grinned.
Then, just to make a point, he grabbed your phone, opened the camera, and held it up between you two. Snap.
“New album,” he said. “Title: ‘My Loyal Era.’ And it’s going to be better than any Leehan picture.”
TAESAN :
It came up when you were showing him your old phone background, just a harmless little scroll down memory lane. But the moment the image flashed on screen, Taesan paused.
“Wait.” He tilted his head slightly. “Was that Riwoo?”
You froze. “…Yeah. It’s just an old lockscreen. From, like, debut days.”
“Hmm.” He nodded once, as if that told him everything he needed to know.
Then silence. Painful, heavy silence.
You glanced over at him. “You okay?”
“Totally,” he replied coolly, but his tone was just a little too smooth, too even. “You just.. used to stare at Riwoo’s face every time you opened your phone. That’s cute.”
You sighed, laughing. “Don’t be like that. It’s not that deep.”
He turned his head to look at you, expression calm, but his eyes were saying a thousand things. Judging. Calculating. Filing this away for later.
“I’m just thinking,” he said lightly. “Riwoo has a soft image. Quiet. Gentle.” He gave you a look. “Interesting choice for a bias.”
“Taesan—”
“No, no, it’s cool,” he said, already reaching for his headphones. “We all have preferences. Mine just happen to include loyalty. But whatever.”
You stared at him, wide-eyed.
Then he smirked, barely, and put on a song that just so happened to start with one of his solo lines.
Later, when he sent you a message with a new photo of himself with the caption “lockscreen material,” you knew he wasn’t over it yet.
LEEHAN :
It happened when you were watching old fancams together, just casually pulling up a few performances. You clicked on a thumbnail without thinking, and Leehan tilted his head.
“Wait you bookmarked Woonhak’s solo stage?”
You paused. “Yeah.. I mean, it’s a good one.”
“Huh.” That was all he said. Huh.
He didn’t frown. Didn’t raise his voice. He just leaned back against the headboard, arms crossed lightly, face still pleasant, but his whole energy shifted by like two degrees.
You tried to explain. “I’ve followed the group since before we even met. Woonhak was my bias back then. It’s not a big deal.”
He nodded, gaze flicking toward the screen. “I didn’t realize I was living with a Woonhak enthusiast.”
You blinked. “Leehan.”
“I’m fine,” he replied, too quickly. “You have the right to appreciate other people’s talents. That’s what art is. Appreciation.”
But his tone was a little too polite. A little too neutral.
Later, while you were brushing your teeth, he walked past you holding a hoodie and casually said, “I was going to let you wear this, but maybe you’d prefer something from Woonhak’s wardrobe instead.”
Petty. Calmly, eloquently petty.
He still held your hand that night. Still kissed your forehead. But he also made you watch his fancam next, without commentary, just so you could “re-experience the stage presence you’re clearly missing.”
And when you changed your wallpaper to a blurry photo of him sleeping with your stuffed lion tucked under his arm? He didn’t say anything.
But he smiled a little harder the next morning.
WOONHAK :
You were just scrolling through TikTok together, giggling at dance covers and random edits, when a video of Sungho popped up on your For You Page.
You smiled a little too hard.
Woonhak noticed immediately.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“Huh?” you blinked, trying to scroll past.
“No, no, go back. Go back.” He reached over and practically snatched your phone. When he saw the account name, complete with a sparkly edit of Sungho mid-performance, he gasped. Loudly. Dramatically.
“YOU'RE A SUNGHO BIAS?”
You opened your mouth to explain, but it was too late. He stood up, pointing at you with the betrayal of a thousand K-dramas in his eyes.
“I let you steal my hoodie. I shared my snacks. I danced WITH YOU and you.. you chose Sungho?”
He flopped onto the couch like he’d just been shot. “I’ve been living a lie.”
You laughed so hard you couldn’t breathe. “Woonhak, seriously, it’s not like that.”
But he wasn’t listening. He was already muttering to himself.
“No, it’s okay. I’m just the funny one. The cute one. The youngest. That’s all I’ll ever be to you.”
He buried his face in a pillow, then peeked out a second later. “..Unless I get pretty and learn how to stare blankly into cameras.”
“Woonhak.”
“I can be mysterious too,” he added, then made direct eye contact and immediately burst out laughing.
Eventually, when you pulled him into a hug and promised he was your actual favorite, he softened, but not without saying: “You owe me three cuddles and at least one bag of chips. Maybe two.”
BOYNEXTDOOR SMAUS list for anyone as addicted as me!!
I have read all of these on my burner acc so you know you can trust my taste!! Thank you for all your hard work writers!!
This is a personal collection and also a thank you to everyone who writes smaus cause I just can't do so myself. I think its such a short humorous read but it takes a lot of creativity to write - > -
And let me know if i missed any, I love love love reading smaus!! this list will be updated regularly when i can
personal favs -> **
Jaehyun
Mini-smaus
Texts bnd send you of your boyfriend jaehyun (completed) @ksywoo
random daily stories you've posted of your boyfriend jaehyun (completed) @junnieverse
I DO, BUT! (completed) @tanghuyuj
Smau series
Terms and conditions apply! (ongoing) @coriihanniee **
Off-script (completed) @kaiyunsim **
I-N-L-O-V-E Like the movies (completed) @juyeoz **
We cant be friends (wait for your love) (completed) @serejae
Love off-script (coming soon) @tanghuyuj
stupid cupid! (ongoing) @unhakies
THE LOVE CLUB! (ongoing) @myungiverse
Sungho
Mini-smaus
untitled (completed) @rikivsco
Smau series
Everything I know about love (ongoing) @juyeoz
If you love me or not (ongoing) @htaesan
next mistake (ongoing) @gyurilla **
Taesan
Mini-smaus
Lucky for me! (completed) @tanghuyuj
Taesan in a private but not secret relationship (completed) @032104
texts bnd send of bf!taesan (completed) @ksywoo
untitled (completed) @rikivsco
clingy dramatic bf - han taesan (completed) @viesin
BND TAESAN - bf texts! (completed) @saursoob
Frenemies text w/ Han Taesan (completed) @juyeoz
bf texts w/ taesan! (completed) part 2! @tanghuyuj
SOMETHING HAPPENS AND IM HEAD OVER HEELS | H.TAESAN (completed) @serejae
desperate loser ex (completed) @viesin
my reality . . ᝰ.ᐟ (hiatus) @seokkiez
mutuals (completed) @pwblant
Smau series
Soulmate undercover (ongoing) @miumura
Wrong locker, wrong brother(ongoing) @seokmn
you're oomf??? ₍^. .^₎⟆ (ongoing) @heeheesang **
my youth is free (ongoing) @fgumi **
nerd alert! (ongoing) @neonextdoor
cake a chance (completed) @4doras **
O U R (ongoing) @lxvsiick
heart shake: the matchmaking service (ongoing) @lynnimini
Synopsis ot6!, fluffy, not serious, the tiktok trend where you splash them with water, reader has high standards
warnings: none
wc: 599
networks @onedoornet
a/n: I love this silly trend, i keep seeing in on my for you page and it is sooo cute!! Please request and share if you enjoyed it!
Riwoo
“Letting you eat the donuts I queued up for??” He hesitates for a second, “princess-”. You raise the hose at him.
“W-wait! I’m kidding, bare minimum” he raises his hands, making that universal ‘easy, easy’ gesture, ready to push the hose away at any moment.
You nod. “mmkay, next one”
“Kisses anytime you wanna, bare minimum!” He says proudly.
“Good jo—”
But before you can finish, he lunges forward and starts peppering your face with kisses.
“Wait! You’re still wet!” you squeal through your laughter, trying (and failing) to twist away from him.
He only pulls you closer, arms wrapping around your damp hoodie, ignoring your protests entirely.
“Kisses should be two-way,” he murmurs, brushing his lips against your temple. You can feel his smile in the way he says it—mischief, warmth, and something a little too soft to name.
Jaehyun
This was definitely his idea, he’s seen it on tiktok and just wants to show you how great of a boyfriend he is, he’s so confident that he would not get sprayed, at least he thinks so.
“knowing your cycle to get you your cravings-, princess treatment!” An immediate splash in the face with water. At this point, he’s been splashed at least 4 times.
“Wait! How would I know your cycle, it changes too much!” He exclaims shielding his face in case of another spray of water. “I give up!” He holds his hands up in surrender.
In the end, the two of you just dry off and cuddle while binging shows.
Leehan
He’s a prankster and just wants to see you mad. #ragebaiter
“Showering you with love, princess treatment” he gets hosed down, water droplets on his black glasses as he wipes them while laughing.
“HOW IS THAT PRINCESS TREATMENT” you raise the hose, wondering if he was just joking or is being serious. (He just loves seeing you tweak out)“Next one.”
“Decorating the fish tank together-, bare minimum” he grins, this being his only round where he’s being truthful. “Speaking of that, we should stop by the store, our babies need a new friend.”
Sungho
“letting you win in FIFA, princess treatment-” Before he can finish he’s doused with water.
“I’m kidding! I’ll let you win, ..sometimes” he laughs while blocking his face.
“That’s right, next”
“Gifting you random gifts just cause-” he squints slightly at the paper, “is this a wishlist..” You raise the hose slowly at him. “I-i mean nonetheless, it is still bare minimum.” He pushes the hose down and away from him.
You give him a long nod.
Then flick the nozzle back on.
“Ack! YOU SAID NEXT”
Taesan
“Writing love songs for you..check! Bare minimum because i do that already” He does an imaginary tick in the air.
“mm, continue” you nod at him.
“Letting you wear my hoodie when it's freshly washed, hmm i don’t know..” he pauses and watches as the hose tilts threateningly in his direction.
“Bare minimum or princess treatment” you repeat, finger close to triggering the nozzle.
“I’m kidding! Bare minimum because I love you” You pause slightly, lowering the hose.
“I love you too”
Woonhak
“Paying for gas, princess treatment-” the water drenches him from head to toe.
“I have to pay for my gas and your gas too!?” He stumbles back, arms flailing with water dripping from his bangs.
“Did I stutter?” You raise the hose at him once more.
He groans dramatically, “you’d be great at financially torture babe, at this point we should just share my credit card”.
You nod your head slowly, grinning “now you’re getting it”.
synopsis. where taesan and y/n sit under the table eating grapes
w.c 331
pairing. taesan x reader
networks. @onedoornet
a.n. hiyaaa u guys voted taesan for the fic so here's a cute little drabble! hope u enjoy!
“Y/N, I’m not getting under that table,” Taesan said firmly, shaking his head. His tone was resolute, but the amused glint in his eyes betrayed him. “I’m not even going to fit under there, anyway.”
“You will! Just get under here,” you insisted, tugging on his arm a little harder. Determination burned in your gaze as you tried to pull him into your plan.
He groaned, crouching reluctantly. “Why do you even need to eat these grapes under the table? Isn’t this something people do to get a boyfriend? You already have a perfect one right here.” He reached for a grape from the bowl, but you slapped his hand away before he could grab one.
“Hey—ow!” he exclaimed, cradling his hand dramatically.
“No way I’m letting you ruin my luck this year,” you declared, scooting further under the table. “This is my year, and I’m not taking any chances!”
The clock began to chime at midnight. Without hesitation, you started gobbling the grapes as fast as you could, one for each chime. You were determined to finish them all before the clock struck 12:01.
Taesan watched, a mix of amusement and concern etched on his face. “Don’t choke, babe,” he teased, gently taking the bowl from your hands as the last grape disappeared into your mouth. He leaned closer, using his sleeve to wipe away the juice and water smudging your lips.
“Are you satisfied now?” he asked, his voice softening.
Grinning, you nodded. “Thanks so much for indulging me.” You reached up to hold his face, your fingers brushing against his jaw. For a moment, you simply admired his features—the warmth in his eyes, the slight curve of his lips. “If I have any good luck this year, it’ll all be thanks to you.”
He pouted, sticking his bottom lip out exaggeratedly. “Don’t I deserve a kiss, at least?”
Smiling, you leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “Of course. My lucky charm deserves all the kisses.”
