How Seventeen would react when you ask them to carry you.
a/n: so freaking nervous writing about them hope you guys like it. Might be off because I have no clue what I'm doing. Dividers by cafekitsune. @sh0jun
Grumbles, but does it - Woozi, Seungkwan, Vernon
Vocally, they're complaining. But on the inside? They've already melted into a puddle. Woozi would first say no, but the instant you say 'please', he sighs and picks you up. Refuses to let you down once you're in his arms, saying "one more minute" for the fifth time. Seungkwan is sooo sassy. But the instant you start to give up, he instantly stops and scoops you up in his arms. As he holds you, his smile is so big that you wonder what all the complaining was for in the first place. Vernon just side eyes you for a little, like really? But after a couple of seconds he picks you up â doesn't say anything, just lifts you. Holds you like that for a minute before putting you down. Won't make a big deal about it in the moment, but will randomly do it again throughout the next couple of weeks.
Picks you up faster than you can speak - Scoups, Dino, Mingyu, Wonwoo
You're not even done with the question and you're already in their arms. For Scoups, he feels like every one of his days in the gym has accumulated into this moment. Seeing you nestled inside his arms, slightly surprised from the lack of warning is enough to power him for a week. Dino lifts you up quickly, smiling down proudly at you in his arms. Even spins you around once just for fun. Definetely not going to be the last time he does it. Mingyu picks you up so fast that he almost falls with you in his arms. He's such an excited puppy at the request that he can't help himself. He apologizes with a sheepish grin, but he doesn't regret it in the slightest. Wonwoo just picks you up silently, making sure to be gentle. But his grin? Ohhhhh it's the cutest thing. He has a small smile dancing on his lips as he holds you and you honestly wish you could take a photo because it's the prettiest thing in the world.
Teases but complies - Jeonghan, Minghao, Joshua
Teasing GALORE. They're not letting you off easy. Sure, they'll do it, but not without having their fun first. Jeonghan is by far the biggest offender. "What'd you say? Come on angel, you can say it louder than that." "Aigoo, my baby wants me to pick her up? I'm soooo tired though." Eventually does pick you up, and his face instantly goes soft. Despite all of his teasing, he's completely in love. Minghao's another side eyer, but he's going to push a little more. Smirks as he makes you ask not once, not twice, but three times before he does. Finally lifts you up and his smirk transforms into a small smile. He's another one to randomly do it again a couple times after. Joshua is a gentleman, but he's also a menace. He'll pick you up halfway, only to set you down and look at you with his sparkling eyes. "Ask me one more time, darling?" Properly picks you up the second time, and holds you like that for a good minute or two. Honestly, if you didn't insist, he would have never let you go at all.
Unbelievably giddy about it - Dokyeom, Hoshi, Jun
They're so exited it's adorable. Dokyeom's smile is so bright, it could light up the whole world. He lifts you up, giggling as he does, and sings as he walks around the room with you in his arms. He's so unbelievably happy, he never wants to let you go. Sings Happy Virus with perfectly stable vocals before letting you back down. Hoshi would tease, except he's so happy that he can't bring himself to care. "Ohhh, my baby wants me to hold her? Thisisthebestdayofmylife!" Holds you in his arms in a position that frankly is not comfortable, but you can't bring yourself to tell him that because he's so freaking happy. You do tell him after a minute though, saying that if he won't let you go at least readjust your position. Jun picks you up and is a smug little cat. Has a big grin on his face as he holds you. Another one who refuses to let go. Gives you a little kiss on your forhead, saying it's a "1+1 deal". When he finally sets you down, he picks you up again in the next minute because he just can't let go. He's lucky that he's so adorable.
Once again, hope you liked it :3 Thanks for reading!
I have an idea for p1h if you will I just love your workđ«¶okay so the boys are busy with writing lyrics or something but reader keeps distracting them sensually and they pretend to ignore it but eventually forget what they were doing and just say screw itđ
pairing: P1Harmony x reader
warnings: fluff, some slight suggestiveness, cute couple shit
disclaimer: not my pic!
Keeho
The sound of keys clacking filled the room, rhythmic and determined. Keeho sat hunched over his laptop, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. The screen glowed with color-coded boxesânext monthâs schedule, meticulously plotted down to the hour. Every member had their practice blocks, interviews, recording sessions, and, somehow, slivers of rest squeezed in between.
You padded up behind him quietly, curiosity winning over patience. Leaning just enough to peek at the screen, you tilted your head.
âHmm⊠I see time for Theo, Jiung, IntakâŠâ you murmured, your voice lilting with teasing warmth. âBut whereâs my time, Keeho?â
He chuckled, not even turning around yet. âYou?â His tone carried that familiar, amused edge. âYouâre not on the schedule because youâre a constant. I always make time for you.â
You grinned, heart fluttering a little at the easy confidence in his words. âSmooth,â you said, leaning down until your lips brushed close to his ear. âVery smooth.â
Your teeth grazed his earlobe playfully, just enough to make him flinch and laugh. He turned, eyes wide but smiling.
âYahâdonât start,â he warned lightly, nudging you away. âI really have to finish this tonight. Jiungâs free day depends on it.â
You pouted dramatically, stepping back with an exaggerated sigh. âFine,â you said, though your arms had other plans. Before he could refocus, you slid them around his shoulders from behind, resting your chin on top of his head.
His shoulders stiffened, then relaxed. You could feel the tension in himânot the bad kind, but the kind that made your smile grow. Slowly, you began tracing soft kisses along the curve of his neck.
âY/NâŠâ His voice carried a warning, but the laugh that followed weakened it. âYouâre really testing me.â
âYou said you always make time for me,â you whispered against his skin, the words soft and deliberate. âIâm just cashing it in.â
He exhaled sharply, his fingers frozen mid-air over the keyboard. You could almost hear his thoughts warring with each otherâthe responsible leader vs. the man who couldnât resist you when you were like this.
âYou need to stop distracting me,â he said, low and careful.
âThen stop being so easy to distract.â You smiled against his neck, pressing one last kiss just below his jaw.
That did it. He turned his head sharply, eyes locking with yours. Whatever resolve heâd had dissolved in that lookâwarm, tired, and utterly undone by you.
âFuck it,â he muttered under his breath.
Before you could react, his hands found your waist, and in one swift motion, he pulled you closer. The chair creaked as you stumbled slightly, laughing in surprise, and ended up in his lap. The half-written schedule blinked forgotten on the screen as he pulled you into a hungry kiss that spoke louder than any promise he could put into a calendar.
The tension that had filled the room a moment ago melted away, replaced by something far gentler, far more electric. His hand brushed against your curves, and he broke the kiss just long enough to whisper, voice roughened by laughter and affection,
âGuess I found your slot in the schedule.â
You smiled, heart pounding as you nipped at his lower lip and pressing your chest against his.
âAbout time,â you said.
And for once, Keeho didnât argue.
Theo
The quiet strumming of strings drifted through the apartment like sunlight on waterâgentle, rippling, full of thought. Theo sat cross-legged on the couch, his guitar balanced neatly across his knee, brows slightly knit as he penciled notes onto a page. He was humming under his breath, a low, soothing sound that filled the room with warmth.
You lingered by the doorway, leaning against the frame. Watching him work was a little hypnoticâthe way his fingers danced over the fretboard, the way his lips curved around the tune, the way his concentration made everything else fade.
You stepped closer, the wooden floor creaking just enough for him to glance up. Before he could say anything, you leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
âWhat are you working on?â you asked, smiling against his skin.
âNew transitions for the show,â he said, voice warm, still half-lost in his thoughts. âTrying to get the bridge to flow smoother.â
He went back to humming, tapping his foot lightly as he tested a few chords. You sat beside him, chin propped in your hand, just watching. There was something dangerously attractive about him when he was this focusedâthe tiny furrow between his brows, the quiet confidence in his rhythm.
You tilted your head. âWhen do you finish?â
He glanced at you, a small smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. âWhy? You got plans?â
You didnât answer, not with words. You leaned in and brushed your lips against his. What started as a teasing kiss deepened quickly, slow at first, then full of heat. He chuckled into it, the sound vibrating softly against your mouth, before pulling back with a breathy laugh.
âYouâre gonna make me mess up my chords,â he murmured.
You smiled. âGoodâ
He shook his head, trying to focus again, but your fingers were already sliding down his arms, tracing the veins of his hands, the gentle curve of his wrist. His pencil slipped from between his fingers, rolling to the floor unnoticed.
âTheo,â you whispered, close enough that your breath brushed his jaw, âit can wait.â
He triedâreally triedâto form a protest. But your touch stole the rhythm right out of him. His shoulders eased, his pulse thrummed in time with yours.
For a moment, he attempted one last flicker of discipline, setting the guitar aside carefully and turning back toward the notebook.
âJust one more measure,â he muttered, almost convincing himself.
You kissed him again before he could reach for the pencil. A softer one this timeâlingering, full of quiet insistence. He melted completely, a sound halfway between a moan and a laugh escaping him.
âFine,â he breathed, the word half a surrender, half a smile. He pushed the notes aside with one hand, the papers fluttering like defeated flags to the floor.
Then he reached for you, pulling you into him with a low, warm laugh that vibrated against your chest. The hum that filled the room now wasnât from the guitarâit was from the way your names seemed to find harmony in the space between you.
The melody could definitely wait.
Jiung
His suitcase lay open at the foot of the bed, half-filled with neatly folded shirts and carefully rolled pants. Jiung knelt beside it, brow slightly furrowed as he tried to fit everything in just right. You watched from your spot sprawled across the bed, chin resting on your arm, eyes following every move he made.
He glanced up, catching your sulking stare, and the corner of his mouth lifted.
âDonât look at me like that,â he said, voice warm with laughter.
You rolled onto your back dramatically, flinging an arm over your eyes. âYou canât expect me to smile while youâre packing to get away from me,â you said, your voice muffled by the pillow.
He chuckled, shaking his head. âIâm not getting away from you. Iâm going on tour. Big difference.â
âTomato...Tomato,â you hummed skeptically, peeking at him from under your arm.
He went back to folding, humming softly to himself now. A pair of dark pants went into the suitcase. You sat up, watching his every motion like a cat waiting for a chance to pounce. When he turned to grab his next item, you leaned over and tugged the pants right back out.
Jiung froze, mid-motion. âY/NâŠâ he said slowly, turning to look at you with amused disbelief.
You shrugged innocently. âWhat?â
âPut that back,â he said, pointing.
You shook your head, lips curving.
He sighed, but his eyes were already sparkling. âYouâre really doing this right now?â
Instead of answering, you reached into the suitcase again and fished out a few more itemsâhis favorite shirt, a couple of boxers. You tossed them lightly onto the floor, pretending to inspect your nails as if nothing happened.
Jiung straightened up, running a hand through his hair as he tried not to laugh. He took a step closer. âIf you keep doing that, Iâm never going to finish packing.â
âThatâs the idea,â you said softly, looking up at him through your lashes.
He bit his lip, the playful frustration in his expression starting to falter into something elseâsomething warmer. âYouâre trouble, you know that?â
You smiled. âYou knew that when you fell for me.â
Before he could respond, you caught the hem of his shirt and gave it a gentle tug. He stumbled forward, bracing a hand on the bed beside you to steady himself. His laughter brushed against your skin, close and unguarded.
âY/NâŠâ he started again, but the sound faded into a quiet hum as you pulled him down the rest of the way. His body hovered above yours for a heartbeatâlong enough for both of you to forget about the open suitcase, the tour, the clock ticking toward goodbye.
He was still smiling when his lips met yours, laughter melting into the kiss. It wasnât rushed or desperateâjust full of the kind of warmth that made it hard to let go.
When he finally pulled back, breath mingling with yours, he whispered against your mouth, âYouâre not making this easy.â
You traced your fingers over his jaw, the faint smile returning to your lips. âYou donât really want easy.â
He laughed quietly, forehead resting against yours. âYou might be right.â
The half-packed suitcase sat forgotten on the floor as he kissed you again, softer this time, tasting of warmth and quiet surrender. For now, the world could waitâjust a little longer.
Intak
The bass pulsed softly from the speakers, a steady heartbeat filling the empty practice room. Intak moved through the choreography again and again, each motion sharp and deliberate. His breath came fast, his reflection in the mirror focused and tense. When one move didnât land just right, a frustrated curse slipped through his teeth.
You appeared at the doorway, arms crossed, watching him. âAh good, you're alive,â you said, voice echoing slightly in the quiet room, âI tried to call you like three times."
He turned, chest rising and falling. Sweat traced along his temple as he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. âSorry,â he said between breaths. âI didnât hear it. Iâve been trying to get this sequence right. Itâs gotta be perfect.â
You stepped inside, your sneakers squeaking softly against the floor. âItâs already perfect,â you said, leaning against the wall. âYou just donât see it yet.â
He gave a small laughâhalf disbelief, half gratitudeâand turned back to the mirror. âNot yet,â he murmured, and started the sequence again.
You watched him move, eyes tracing the smooth lines of his shoulders and the flex of his arms. Every motion was power contained by control, rhythm layered over sweat and determination. When he stumbled again, he cursed quietly, raking his fingers through his hair in frustration.
That was your cue. You pushed away from the wall and crossed the room, your steps quiet but deliberate.
âIntak,â you said softly, wrapping your arms around his middle from behind. He froze for a second before relaxing against your touch, his breath still uneven.
âYouâre going to burn yourself out,â you murmured, resting your cheek against his back. âYou need to breathe. You need to take care of yourself too.â
He let out a small laugh, the sound tired but genuine. âI know, I know,â he said, nodding. âI justâwant to nail this before tour starts.â
âAnd i get that,â you whispered, your hands resting lightly against his stomach. âBut you canât dance if you fall apart first.â
He chuckled again, but you could feel the tension still buzzing under his skin, like a live wire. You tilted your head, watching his reflection in the mirror, and an idea flickered to life.
Your hands began to move gently, tracing the lines of his abdomen and his abs, the rise and fall of his breath. His body went stillâshoulders tensing slightly, eyes darting to yours in the mirror.
âY/NâŠâ he said carefully, voice low. âIâm not done yet.â
You smiled. âI can tell,â you said, your tone warm and teasing. You pressed a soft kiss to his shoulder, tasting the salt of his skin.
He turned around slowly, meeting your gaze with that familiar mix of amusement and surrender. You reached up, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead, your thumb lingering a second longer than necessary.
âBut right now...you're too frustrated to focus,â you said quietly. âSo maybe you should....I don't know...take care of that frustration firstâ
He looked at youâreally looked at youâand the corner of his mouth lifted. âAnd how would I do that?â he asked and his eyes got dark.
âYou're a clever man, you'll find a wayâ you replied, biting your lip.
For a moment, neither of you moved. The air hung thick between you, the music still playing faintly in the background. Then, with a sigh that sounded like defeat but felt like peace, Intak let his arms slide around you, pulling you closer.
"I guess you're right," he whispered before bending his knees slightly and grasping your thighs. Before you knew what was happening, he lifted you into the air, your legs automatically wrapping around his hips.
You gasped and smiled triumphantly at him. He moved and walked you two toward the studio couch, his grip on your thighs so tight like he never wanted you to leave again.
"I'm warning you," he said before laying you down on the couch and pulling his sweat-soaked tank top over his head. "This is might take a while."
You smiled, your fingers curling at the back of his neck. âGood. Iâll make sure of it.â
And for once, he didnât argue.
Soul
The room was lit only by the glow of the TV, flickering with old concert footage. Soul sat cross-legged on the couch, notebook balanced on his knee, pen tapping against the page as he replayed a clip for the third time. His eyes flicked back and forth between the screen and his notes, completely absorbed.
You were beside him, half sprawled across the couch cushions, boredom creeping in with every passing minute. The muted sound of cheers and music wasnât nearly as exciting without being on stage, and watching him scribble ideas wasnât helping.
âYouâve been watching the same performance for, like, an hour,â you said finally. âLetâs put on a movie or something.â
He didnât look up. âCanât. I want to do a new choreo for the bridge section.â
You groaned dramatically and flopped sideways, your head landing on a pillow. âYou and your choreos,â you mumbled, poking his side with your foot.
That finally got a reactionâhis lips twitched, a small laugh breaking through his focus as he nudged your foot away. âDonât start.â
You grinned, sensing weakness. âStart what?â
Another poke. This time he giggled, swatting at your leg but never looking up from his notebook. âIâm serious, Y/N, I need toâhey!â
You tickled him again, this time with both feet, laughing as he squirmed and tried to shield himself without losing his notes.
âY/N!â he said between laughs, eyes crinkling. âStop it.â
âNo,â you said, scooting closer until your shoulder brushed his arm, âWant attention.â
He opened his mouth to argue, but before he could, you reached over and snatched the notepad right out of his hands.
âHey!â he protested, leaning after it.
You held it out of reach and grinned. âNope. Youâve been staring at that thing for too long. Time for a break.â
He sighed, half amused, half exasperated. âYouâre impossible.â
You didnât answer. Instead, you sat up, looped your arms around his shoulders, and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. Then another. And another.
âY/Nââ he tried, but laughter interrupted his words as you smothered his face with kisses. âOkay, okay, stop, youâreââ
He didnât get the sentence out. You pushed him gently, and he fell backward onto the couch, laughing helplessly with you sprawled on top. The notepad tumbled to the floor, forgotten.
You looked down at him, hair falling around your face, and asked between giggles, âSo⊠are you gonna stop now?â
He met your gaze, eyes bright with amusement. âNo,â he said simply, though the grin tugging at his lips gave him away. âButâŠâ
You tilted your head. âBut?â
He exhaled, still smiling, his hands sliding to rest at your waist. âIâll take a short break.â
You raised an eyebrow, pretending to think. âShort breaks can turn into long ones.â
He gave a small, quiet laughâthe kind that carried through his chest rather than his throat. âYou make a convincing argument.â
Then he shifted, rolling the two of you until he hovered above you, hair falling slightly into his eyes. His smile softened, the playful spark still dancing there.
âFive minutes,â he murmured.
âTen,â you countered.
âSeven,â he bargained, leaning closer.
You smiled. âDeal.â
And for once, his choreography notebook stayed closed.
Jongseob
The room was quiet except for the low rhythm of a beat playing softly from his laptop. Jongseob sat hunched over his desk, one hand tapping in time while the other scribbled a few lines across his notepad. He mouthed words silently, testing their weight, rhythm, and rhyme, then crossed them out, muttered something under his breath, and started again.
He was so deep in thought that he didnât hear the door open.
You leaned against the frame, arms crossed, watching him with a small smile. âAre you hiding in here?â you asked lightly.
He looked up, startled, pencil still balanced between his lips. His eyes blinked wide for a second before softening with recognition.
âHiding?â he said, voice muffled around the pencil.
You walked over, grinning, and plucked it neatly from his mouth. âYep. Hiding from me.â You twirled the pencil in your fingers before tucking it behind your ear with mock seriousness.
He laughed, a low, warm sound that cracked the quiet of the room. âNot hiding,â he said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. âJust⊠working on my rap part. Trying to make the flow hit right.â
âMm.â You tilted your head, pretending to inspect his notebook. âYouâve been here a while.â
He nodded. âYeah. Guess I lost track of time.â
You slid onto his lap without warning, arms looping loosely around his shoulders. âThen read it to me,â you said, voice soft but insistent. âLet me hear it.â
He blinked, a little caught off guard but smiling anyway. âYou sure? Itâs still rough.â
âIâll be kind,â you promised.
He chuckled and began to read, his voice falling into the rhythm heâd been testing moments beforeâeach word shaped carefully, each pause deliberate. But as he spoke, you shifted slightly, resting your head against his shoulder. Your fingers trailed absently along the collar of his shirt, tracing little circles against his skin.
He cleared his throat and kept going, trying to ignore the way your touch made his words stumble. When you pressed a small kiss just below his jaw, his voice faltered completely.
âAre you even listening?â he asked, laughing.
âMhm,â you said, eyes glinting. âBut youâre very distracting, you know that?â
He smirked. âPretty sure youâre the one doing the distracting.â
You only smiled and kissed the spot where his collarbone met his neck, soft and unhurried. The pencil slipped from behind your ear, landing on the desk with a faint clatter.
He sighed, shaking his head but still smiling. âWhat do I have to do to get some peace and quiet?â he asked, the tone playful, not scolding.
You leaned back just enough to look at him properly. âToo late for that,â you said simply, your grin turning a little softer, a little more real.
For a heartbeat, he just looked at youâhis pen hovering above the notepad, the beat still looping faintly in the background. Then, slowly, he let the notebook slide from his fingers to the floor.
âYeah,â he murmured. âGuess it is.â
He cupped your face gently and closed the distance between you. The kiss came easyâwarm, deep, unhurried, full of the kind of peace he hadnât realized heâd been missing. The half-finished lyrics sat forgotten on the desk beside him, and for once, he didnât mind losing the rhythm.
how seventeen react when you told him what if you never want to get married and tell him to convince you otherwise
you texting them this:
âHi, boyfriend. What if I never want to get married but you really want to get married? How would you convince me?â
genre: fluff, maybe a little dramatic
image source: pinterest
đ S.COUPS (Seungcheol)
You: your what-if message
Seungcheol: âFirst of all: hi, girlfriend.â
Seungcheol: âSecond⊠I wouldnât force you. Iâd just love you so well that youâd wake up one day and think, âDamn. I want this forever.ââ
đ JEONGHAN
You: what if text
Jeonghan: âConvince? Easy.â
You: âOh?â
Jeonghan: âI will be so spoiling and so romantic youâll propose to ME.â
đŠ JOSHUA
You: your message
Joshua: âI wouldnât pressure you.â
You: âReally?â
Joshua: âMarriage is only meaningful if we both want it. Iâll wait until you feel safe enough to choose it.â
đ± JUN (Junhui)
You: text sent
Junhui: âIâll just move into your house and be there every morning until one day you ask, âwhy arenât we married?ââ
You: âThatâs manipulation.â
Jun: âCorrect. Effective.â
đŻ HOSHI (Soonyoung)
You: your what-if question
Soonyoung: âOMG so you donât want to marry me?? đâ
You: âItâs a hypothetical!â
Soonyoung: âFine. Iâll convince you by being cute everyday. Eventually you will give in. Nobody resists me forever.â
and he is right đ
đŠ WONWOO
You: your question
Wonwoo: âI wouldnât convince you with words.â
You: âThen how?â
Wonwoo: âConsistency. Safety. Warmth. Iâd make home feel like me.â
đ WOOZI (Jihoon)
You: âHow would you convince me?â
Jihoon: âI wouldnât.â
You: âWhat?â
Jihoon: âIâd just⊠stay. And if one day you change your mind, Iâll be right here with the ring.â
đ DK (Seokmin)
You: what-if text
Seokmin: âI will sing to you every day until you imagine me walking down the aisle crying.â
You: âWhy are you crying?â
Seokmin: âBecause Iâm emotional and youâre beautiful and you agreed to marry me.â
đ¶ MINGYU
You: your message
Mingyu: âMarriage?? Me?? Yes please.â
You: âBut I donât want it.â
Mingyu: âThen Iâll live like weâre married. Same house. Same bed. Same future. One day youâll look at me cooking and go: âah yes. husband.ââ
đž THE8 (Minghao)
You: your what-if
Minghao: âIâd ask why you donât want it.â
You: âWhat if I just donât?â
Minghao: âThen I respect that. I donât need a ceremony to treat you as my wife.â
đ SEUNGKWAN
You: your question
Seungkwan: âAre you trying to give me a heart attack??â
You: âNo, itâs hypothetical.â
Seungkwan: âI will convince you with love. And baked goods. And emotional blackmail. And puppy eyes.â
GENRE + TAGS â fluff, college au, meet cute, frat boy jeonghan, academic weapon reader, flirt jeonghan, jeonghan is whipped for reader and reader is also whipped for jeonghan, mutual pining, skinship, jeonghan calls reader cutie
LYR SPEAKS! â jeonghan fic requested by sweet @hanniescookie (augustine)! he's so gorgeous in the blue button up + blonde hair so ofc i'd have to use this jeonghan for the fic! enjoy <3
NOW PLAYING â rock your body (justin timberlake)
WORD COUNT + NETWORKS â 811 // @kstrucknet & @k-records
yoon jeonghan was whipped.
all of his frat brothers knew it the moment his eyes lit up when someone mentioned your nameâyou were the college's newest academic weapon, top of all your classes while involved in so many clubs and extracurriculars your name could be heard all over campus.
jeonghan was never one to be whipped for someone, let alone actually attracted to themâsure, he'd find a cute girl and take her out for a spin in his old money baby blue mercedes benz before romancing her late into the night, but you made him want to quit being a player.
you made yoon jeonghan want to take you out and romance you late into the night.
and so, that's what he was going to doâonce he got something more than a "good morning" and cute smile from you.
jeonghan's nonchalantly leaning against the brick of your last lecture hall for the day, trying to play it cool by glancing at his watch as the flood of students starts to leak from the door. his blonde hair shuffles in the breeze, slightly tousled from the warm summer wind flitting through the campus.
he's in a light blue button-up, one that you've complimented many times beforeâhis soft skin is sun-kissed, even softer lips already curving into a warm smile as you make your way out of the glass doors, books in arm and phone in hand before he calls out to you.
"hi, jeonghan," you're putting your phone away, smile warm as you approach his spot under the trees lining the front of the lecture hall. "what are you doing out here? you don't have this class, do you?"
jeonghan shakes his head, shrugging. "i was waiting for you."
"oh!" you exclaim, cheeks heating up as you laugh nervously. "whatâdid i do something wrong?"
"no, of course not." jeonghan pushes himself off of the wall, walking up to you as he smirks. "i just wanted to walk you to your car."
"aww, you're too sweet." you shake your head, books threatening to slip from your arms before jeonghan notices and gestures to the heavy textbooks, raising a perfect blonde eyebrow. "need some help with those?"
"i do, actually," you flush red with embarrassment, letting jeonghan take the load off of you as he carries the books with ease.
"lead the way, cutie." jeonghan winks, and you feel butterflies explode in your stomach as you sheepishly smile, fishing your keys out of your purse as you begin to walk down the shaded sidewalk.
jeonghan's glancing at you out of the corner of his eye, heart softening at the way your eyes sparkle in the sun. you're dressed in warm colors, the combinations and fabrics coming together to highlight your already sun-flushed face.
jeonghan's losing sight of his mission, already ready to get on one knee and propose to you.
"are you doing anything tomorrow evening?" jeonghan's asking you the question after putting your books in the floorboards of your front seat, and you turn to face him, shaking your head. "no, actually. why?"
jeonghan gets flustered from the way you stare at him expecting something, cheeks heating up despite his nonchalant act as he shrugs. "i just thought i'd ask you if you wanted to go see a movie with me and some of the boys tomorrow night."
you're pleasantly surprised, cheeks heating up as you bite your lip. "i'd like that, jeonghan."
although you seemed calm and collected on the outside, you were turning flips in your headâall of your friends knew of the campus crush you had on yoon jeonghan. you had made alternate routes to get from class to class in hopes of seeing him, always on cloud nine when he spoke to you or complimented your outfit.
you wanted yoon jeonghan just as bad as he wanted you.
"it's a date, then?" jeonghan takes one step closer to you, eyes glued to yours as the sharp smell of lemongrass seems to waft off of him. you're already itching to lean in to him, wanting your lips to be just inches away from his as he closes in, ready to kiss youâ
"cutie?" jeonghan raises a singular eyebrow, soft lips pointed into the most teasing smirk you think you've ever seen. you're flushed a dark red now, nodding excitedly as you clear your throat.
"yeah, umâit's a date!" you exclaim, and jeonghan grins at you, hand brushing against yours with a light blue sticky note before he backs away.
call me, he mouths, offering one more wink before pivoting on his heel and disappearing into the bustling parking lot. glued to your spot for a few more seconds, you unravel the rolled up sticky note, grinning at the 10-digit number left to you.
yoon jeonghan was going to rock your world, wasn't he?
áŻâ A series of maknae moments showing how the members treat Y/N.
Genre: slice of Life, 14th member of SVT, fluff, maknae reader, idol AU, ot13 x reader, teasing, found family.
Authorâs note: Hii! English isnât my first language, so please excuse any mistakes. This story is completely fictional. Thank you so much for reading!
ââââ àšà§ ââââ
Being the youngest came with perks and drawbacks â some you loved, others drove you insane. Being the maknae meant much more than just being the youngest: you could be the target of everyone's attention or the one they had to protect. In your case, you were a mixture of both.
You had been in front of the mirror for almost fifty minutes, trying to master that fast and complicated footwork that was already making your head spin. To get a better look at the movements, you held your gray sweatpants tightly in your hands. That day, you had dressed in loose-fitting clothes that kept you comfortable, and even though it was cold outside, inside the room your body was hot and sweaty, as if you were a human stove.
The boys had left a few hours ago to continue with their work, but since you couldn't get it right, you stayed a little longer to rehearse, hoping to find a way to do it properly.
Still staring at the lower part of your body, you felt a tug on your sweatshirt that made you look up.
âWhat are you still doing here?â Hoshi asked, looking at you strangely. His voice echoed among the mirrors, breaking the silence that accompanied only your erratic steps and the sound of the air conditioning.
You turned around suddenly, startled, your heart racing with surprise and exhaustion.
âI can't get the step right,â you said with a frustrated sigh, dropping to your knees for a second before getting up again. âI swear I've tried several times and I keep failing. How do you manage to move so fast?â
Hoshi approached slowly, his hands in his pockets and that smile that always seemed to contain a joke.
âHmm... let's see, it's not that difficult,â he murmured, watching you from the mirror with an expert air.
âYes, it is,â you protested, giving him an accusing look.
âOkay... yes, it is,â he admitted with a laugh. âMaybe it comes naturally to me because of my innate talent for dancing.â
You rolled your eyes.
âSure, natural talent, for sure.â You frowned and tapped him on the shoulder. âHoshi, help me, please.â
He pretended to think, crossing his arms theatrically.
âHmm... I don't know, I'm very tired, you know. Long day being so perfect...â he said, striking a dramatic pose.
âHoshi...â you growled threateningly.
âOkay, okay,â he surrendered with a laugh. âI'll do it because it's you, the best maknae in the world. But give me a hug and I'll help you.â
âFine,â you agreed, snorting, but raising your hands in warning, âbut I'm really sweaty, okay?â
He wrinkled his nose exaggeratedly.
âUgh, no. Gross. I don't want the hug anymore.â
âWhat!? It's just sweat! It's fine. Come here and hug me, you scared tiger.â
âNo, no, go away!â he laughed, backing away as you advanced with short steps.
Hoshi began to back away across the room, dodging your hands, tripping over water bottles, and laughing so hard he could barely speak.
âYah, stop chasing me!â he whined between laughs.
âYou promised a hug!â you shouted, throwing yourself at him mercilessly.
He ended up cornered between the mirror and your small body, and you took the opportunity to grab him in a tight hug, pressing your wet cheek against his neck.
âAgh! You're so sweaty!â he yelped, kicking a little as you laughed out loud.
âYou said you'd help me,â you whispered without letting go.
Hoshi snorted, resigned, but smiled when he felt your contagious laughter near his ear.
âOkay, okay... I'll teach you the step. But only because you're adorable.â
âAnd because I'm your favorite maknae.â
âThat too. But don't tell Dino.â
âI promise,â you said quietly, even though you both knew you'd tease him about it later.Â
-
Sometimes, as the youngest of the group meant more than just receiving cuddles or jokes. It also meant that all the experiments were done on you. So, when the agency proposed trying out a new hairstyle for promotions, all eyes turned to you at once.
This time you were sitting in front of the dressing room mirror, wrapped in a towel, your heart beating faster than normal. You couldâve asked one of the staff to do itâafter all, they knew what they were doingâbut as soon as the guys saw you with the dye in your hand, they enthusiastically offered to âhelpâ you.
A bad sign from the start.
âHao, are you sure you know how to handle my hair?â you asked, pursing your lips and looking at him in the mirror. âI don't want it to fall out...â
âIt won't fall out, don't worry,â Minghao replied with suspicious calm as he put on his gloves. âI've got everything under control.â
A laugh came from the sofa.
âIt would be so funny if your hair fell out,â Dino said, laughing, dropping a pillow on his lap.
âShut up,â you replied, giving him a serious look. âYou'll be next, let's see if you laugh so hard when they dye your hair bright green.â
Dino opened his eyes wide, feigning horror.
âDon't even think about it!âÂ
Meanwhile, Minghao worked intently, brushing your roots and strands with precise movements. The smell of dye began to fill the air, mixed with the sound of laughter and Mingyu's footsteps as he entered with a bag of snacks.
âSee, it's going to look great,â said Hao, separating a strand to check the color. âYou always said you wanted bubblegum pink hair. Now you have the chance, and I'm an artist, don't worry.â
âAn artist of disaster, you mean,â you muttered, unconvinced by his words.
âHey, trust me. If something goes wrong, you can always say it was an aesthetic decision.â
He finished applying the dye and gathered your hair with a large clip. Within five minutes, they were already taking a thousand ridiculous photos: selfies with funny faces, weird filters, and silly videos.
âStop laughing,â you protested between giggles, trying to cover your head with the towel. âIf I go bald, you'll cry more than I will.â
âThey could call you the bald maknae, a new visual era. I think it looks good, it's definitely something new,â Seungkwan said theatrically, striking poses in front of the mirror.
Time passed amid jokes and videos for the group chat, until you noticed something wasn't right.
âHow long has it been?â you asked, turning to the guys, who were too comfortable on the sofa, eating or looking at their phones.
âI don't know,â Seungkwan replied without looking away from the front camera.
âMingyu, what time is it?â
âUh...â he chewed on a potato chip. âForty minutes.â
âWhat do you mean, forty?!â You jumped out of your chair so fast that the towel fell to the floor. âI was supposed to wait only twenty!â
âOh... I didn't know,â Mingyu said, shrugging.
âOh my God!â You put your hands to your head. âIf my hair falls out, I swear I'll shave Minghao's head while he's sleeping.â
You ran to the bathroom, with everyone's laughter following you down the hallway. The sound of water filled the silence when you put your head under the tap, praying to the universe that the bubblegum pink wouldn't turn chicken yellow or that the strands would fall silent at the mere touch of the air.
Being the maknae, you thought as the dyed water ran down the sink, meant many things. But above all, it meant being the guinea pig... and that, somehow, they always managed to make even that fun.
â
Of course, being the youngest also meant being surrounded by older members. And that could have its advantages: more experience, more advice, more hands willing to help you... or, in this case, more supervision when you finally tried to learn to drive.
You had put off that moment for monthsâmaybe yearsâand now, sitting behind the wheel of a car parked in a quiet area, you wondered why you had agreed to it.
Mingyu was in the passenger seat, with a seriousness that didn't quite match his expression of contained panic. Joshua was in the back, phone in hand, ready to record the disaster or call emergency services, whichever came first.
âOkay,â Mingyu began, pointing at the dashboard with the air of an improvised instructor. âThis is the handbrake, these are the gears⊠since itâs manual, youâll have to handle them yourself. The accelerator, brake, and clutch are down here. Youâve already seen the steering wheel â and the rearview mirrors too. Those are the basics you need to keep in mind when driving.â
You looked at him attentively, nodding your head as if you understood every word.
âOh, okay. It looks easier than I thought,â you said with a nervous smile, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
Mingyu glanced at you out of the corner of his eye.
âWell... easy, easy... not really. To really drive, you'll have to take the tests, get your license... this is just for practice.â
âYeah, yeah,â you muttered distractedly. âBut I can try to turn it on, right? Just turn it on.â
âY/N, itâs still too early,â he said, shaking his head. âFirst you should learn the signals, how to react, the coordination between the pedals...â
âBut I have you, you're guiding me.â You smiled at him, leaning slightly toward him. âCome on, I'm sure I'll learn more this way. Right, Shua?â
Joshua looked up from his phone and shrugged.
âSure. A little action won't hurt us.â
Mingyu sighed resignedly.
âAll right... but only one kilometer. You're like a chick that just hatched.â
âOkay, let's do it,â you said enthusiastically, turning the car key.
The engine roared, and you jumped a little in your seat.
âSeatbelt first!â Mingyu warned, putting his hand to his head.
âOops, you're right.â You buckled up quickly.
Joshua leaned between the seats, amused.
âDo you think I should send one last message to my mother? A goodbye message saying I love her.â
âHa, ha! Very funny,â you replied, rolling your eyes. âDon't worry, I'm fine. Gyu, put on some music, I concentrate better with something in the background.â
âNo, focus on the road.â
âUgh... and I just wanted to drive so I could cruise down the highway listening to music with the wind in my face.â
The car finally moved, clumsily but steadily. You drove slowly, the engine vibrating under your hands, and Mingyu held on to the seat as if he were on a roller coaster.
âSlow down, please,â he asked in a trembling voice.
âI'm already going at a snail's pace! Relax, Gyu,â you replied with a laugh.
You accelerated a little more, gaining confidence in what you were doing. In fact, you had already exceeded the promised kilometer, but the simple fact of feeling the car move filled you with excitement.
Until you saw it.
A small furry body crossed the road in the distance.
âA kitten!â
âWhat? No, don't turn!â
But it was too late. You turned the steering wheel to the right with all your strength and the car crashed into a trash can with a loud bang. The metallic sound echoed in the air, followed by absolute silence.
The trash can slid a few feet, rolling lazily until it came to a stop. You kept your hands glued to the steering wheel, your eyes wide open.
âThere was a baby cat on the road,â you said quickly, looking at Mingyu with an expression of pure defense. âI swear.â
âOh my God...â he exhaled, bringing a hand to his forehead. âAre you okay? Did you hit anything? What day is it today? Do you know where you are?â He gently grabbed your face to examine you.
âI'm fine, relax, Gyu,â you said with a nervous laugh. âIt was just a dumpster.â
âWhat do you mean, âjust a dumpsterâ! You just crashed.â
Joshua tried not to laugh from the back seat.
âI'm going to call Scoups. He literally threatened to kill me if I didn't tell him if anything serious happened.â
âBut it wasn't serious,â you complained. âIt was because of a cat. I couldn't run it over! It would have been much worse. I wouldn't be able to get back in a car.â
Mingyu took a deep breath, shaking his head.
âIâll drive. You sit in the back with Joshua.â
âCan't I be the co-pilot?â
âNo. You go in the back, Y/N, please.â
âFine...â you huffed, unbuckling your seatbelt and changing seats with resignation.
While you were getting in the back, Joshua was already on the phone.
âYeah, Scoups, there's been a little accident,â he said casually. âY/N crashed into a dumpster.â
âWhat?!â the leader's voice shouted from the speaker. âIs she hurt? Do we need to go to the hospital? Where are you? I can send an ambulance right now!â
âRelax, man. Nobody got hit, just the dumpster. She's fine.â
âOh my God...â Seungcheol sighed on the other end. âCome back right away. I'll talk to Mingyu. I told you to keep an eye on her. After all, it was better to hire a teacher than to leave you three alone.â
Joshua smiled.
âOkay, we're on our way back.â
Mingyu let out a long sigh when he heard that.
âSeungcheol is going to kill me...â
âDon't exaggerate, Gyu,â you said from behind, poking your head out from between the back seats.
Joshua laughed. âCan we stop at the supermarket before we go back? I need popcorn so I can watch Cheol give you a good telling off.â
âNo,â Mingyu replied curtly.
âCome on, it'll only take a minute,â Joshua insisted, amused.
âI said no.â
The car drove down the road, and you couldn't help but chuckle softly as you watched the two of them argue. Yes, you had crashed into a dumpster. But all in all, being the maknae had its charms: there would always be someone to scold you... and someone else who would laugh with you right after.
â
Of course, that didnât mean they always made things easier for you. Sometimes, instead of helping you solve a problem... theyâd deliberately make it worse.
âWho ate my dessert?â you asked as you opened the refrigerator, seeing the empty plate where it should have been.
âIt wasn't me,â a voice called out from the living room, unconcerned.
You slammed the refrigerator door shut and walked over to where several members were sprawled on the couch watching TV.
âWho took my dessert?â you repeated, frowning and putting your hands on your hips.
âSeungkwan,â DK said, pointing without hesitation.
âI don't know, but as you can see here,â DK spread his hands toward the group, âno one has your food.â
You sighed. Again. And you set out on your search as if it were a personal mission.
You passed by a room where Hoshi and Woozi were talking quietly.
âDid you take my dessert?â you asked bluntly.
âNo,â replied Woozi, looking like he had been dealing with this kind of drama for three lifetimes.
âI'm sure it was Mingyu,â Hoshi said without looking up. âI have no proof, but I have no doubt either.â
âAre you sure?â
âAbsolutely sure.â
âAll right,â you said before leaving, determined.
Woozi sighed and started looking for his headphones, knowing what was coming.
When you arrived at the next room, there were Mingyu and Wonwoo, calmly watching videos. Next to the older one was an empty plate with a suspiciously familiar spoon.
âYou! You ate my dessert!â you shouted from the doorway, pointing as if you had caught him red-handed.
They both looked up, confused.
âWhat?â Mingyu said, looking innocent.
âYou ate it! Again! I've told you many times not to touch my sweets, you know how hard it is for me to make them.â
âOh... was it yours?â he asked, with that guilty smile.
âThere was a Post-it note with my name on it. In capital letters. It was pink and shiny. There's no way you could have missed it.â
âOh, really?â
âYes!â you replied, frustrated.
âI don't think I saw it,â he said, making you frown even more.
Wonwoo watched everything in silence, leaning against the bed, enjoying the show.
âOkay, okay,â Mingyu shrugged, âI'll cook you something. As a reward.â
âI want my dessert, not a reward,â you huffed, crossing your arms.
âThen I'll make you the same dessert. Give me the recipe.â
You didn't say anything. You just looked at him, your lips pressed together and your brow furrowed.
âCome on, don't make that face,â he said, getting up and coming closer to you. âOh, my maknae... you're so cute when you get angry.â
Before you could pull away, he grabbed your cheeks and squeezed them, leaving your lips pressed together like a fish.
âMingyu!â You tried to speak, but your voice came out distorted.
âShe'll get even angrier if you keep that up,â Wonwoo said.
âBut she's so cute when she gets angry...â Mingyu laughed, giving you a little pinch on the cheek before planting a quick kiss on your forehead.
You snorted loudly.
âOkay, okay, I'll leave you alone,â he said, backing away with a smile. âI promise I'll make you dessert. And look, you can stay and play something with Wonwoo, as a gesture of peace.â
âFine,â you replied, feigning dignity, âbut I want my dessert today.â
âUnderstood, boss.â
You plopped down next to Wonwoo, who just sighed before handing you the controller and smiling slightly when he saw that you were still red with anger.
-
But above all, being the maknae meant having someone who cared about you and truly loved you.
You had spent the whole day with the promotional team for the new comeback. The day had been endless: interviews, recordings, laughter between cameras, and the constant weight of the lights on your eyes. By nightfall, exhaustion had completely overwhelmed you.
You rested your forehead against the car window, cold and fogged up from the temperature difference. You still wore your stage makeup, the bright eyeliner that stood out under the lights and the bright pink shade on your lips already slightly smudged. Your hair, braided, fell over a huge sweatshirt that almost swallowed you up, and you also wore wide-leg pants that were your most comfortable refuge after so much hustle and bustle.
The car moved slowly through the city lights. No one spoke. All you could hear was the engine, the distant noise of cars, and the faint sound of someone breathing sleepily. The lights outside stretched out and blurred on the window, as if melting into shades of red and yellow.
And then, without realizing it, you fell asleep.
Joshua was the first to notice. He glanced at you and smiled when he saw your head leaning against the window, your lips slightly parted and your breathing calm. Seungkwan, on the other side, reached for a blanket and carefully placed it over you, covering your legs.
When the car stopped in front of the building, everyone began to move slowly. But you remained motionless, completely exhausted.
âShould we wake her up?â Vernon asked, half-yawning.
âNo,â Joshua replied, opening the door. âI'll take care of it.â
With a gentle movement, he lifted you in his arms, sliding one hand under your knees and the other across your back. The change in temperature made you instinctively curl up against his chest. Joshua let out a small laugh, and you felt the vibration of his rib cage.
The hallway was silent. All you could hear were his footsteps and the jingle of his keys. When he entered your room, the dim light from the hallway illuminated your sleeping face. Your breathing was slow and calm, very different from when you were awake.
âIs she still asleep?â asked Jeonghan, peeking over his shoulder.
âYes... and she drooled a little on my jacket,â Joshua said with a low laugh.
Jeonghan came over and brushed a strand of hair that had stuck to your cheek behind your ear.
âShe hasn't taken off her makeup,â he murmured, looking at your face. âIt's going to ruin her skin tomorrow. I'm going to have to take it off.â
âI'll get the products.â Joshua left for a moment and returned with makeup remover and some cotton pads.
âWhile you do that, I'll undo her braids,â he said, settling down beside you.
The room was filled with a warm silence. Jeonghan gently wiped your eyelids with the cotton pad, cleaning away the glare of the day. Each movement was slow and careful. Then he moved down to your cheeks and lips, until your skin was clean and natural, as if nothing had happened.
Joshua, meanwhile, loosened the braids with his fingers, letting pink strands fall onto the pillow like petals.
When they were done, they took off your shoes and covered you with the comforter, making sure you were comfortable.
âThere,â Joshua whispered.
Jeonghan nodded and, before leaving, left a light kiss on your cheek.
The door closed slowly.
And in the silence of the room, all that remained was your quiet breathing and the distant sound of the wind against the window.
Because being the maknae of the group meant that even when you couldn't take care of yourself, there would always be someone there to do it for you.
ââââ àšà§ ââââ
Thanks for reading! If you liked it, donât hesitate to comment, đč, or reblog. Iâll try to update soon (no promises!) à«źê° Ë¶âą àŒ âąË¶ê±á âĄ.
summary: A simple night by the ocean â until one smile makes thirteen hearts forget how to stay just friends.
After months of packed schedules, tours, and sleepless rehearsals, Seventeen finally got what theyâd been craving â a break. A full week of nothing but sunshine, laughter, and the sound of the ocean. The group rented a beach villa tucked away from the city, where they could breathe again, away from cameras and noise.
The days blurred with swims, volleyball games, and lazy naps under umbrellas. But that evening, they decided to eat out together â all fourteen of you. A rare, quiet dinner by the shore.
The restaurant was small, open to the breeze, with string lights swaying above and waves whispering against the sand nearby. Everyone was a little tanned, a little tired, but happy. And as the golden sunset melted into the sea, you all took your seats at a long wooden table, waiting for dinner to arrive.
Dinner had settled into that soft lull between laughter and the sound of waves. The sky was velvet-blue now, the lights above the table glowing golden. You brushed a strand of hair from your face as the breeze carried the scent of salt and grilled food through the open restaurant.
You were wearing a light, flowy white sundress that moved with every breath of wind, paired with a soft beige cardigan youâd borrowed from the van earlier. Your hair, tousled by the sea breeze, framed your face perfectly â simple, effortless, and somehow mesmerizing. You didnât notice how everyone watched you more than the sea.
S.Coups sat nearest the edge, half listening to the others, but mostly watching the way you leaned in to listen when someone spoke. You always gave people your full attention. It reminded him of why the team worked â because you cared in ways that steadied them all. When you laughed at one of DKâs stories, Seungcheol found himself smiling too, realizing heâd been waiting to hear that sound all day. Leadership suddenly felt easier when you were near.
Jeonghan noticed that change in the leader and shook his head, amused. You had that effect â you softened people. Even him. Heâd always teased you about being âtoo nice,â yet when you looked at him with those patient eyes, he felt his own tricks falter. He caught himself pulling a chair slightly closer to yours, only to stop, heart thumping. âSheâs trouble,â he murmured, smiling to himself, though it didnât sound like a complaint.
Joshua had been quietly plucking at the condensation on his glass, content to listen. Every time you spoke, your voice lilted with calm confidence, and it tugged at something steady in him. He liked harmony; you brought that with you without even trying. When your elbow brushed his while reaching for the sauce, he went still for half a second, the warmth spreading faster than he expected. âGet a grip,â he thought, but his smile gave him away.
Jun watched you thank the waiter with that bright politeness that came so naturally. He admired how easily you turned ordinary moments kind. When your eyes met his across the table, he pretended to raise his glass in a joke â but his fingers trembled slightly. The realization hit him quietly: he didnât just like your laugh, he liked how it made everyone else laugh too.
Hoshi was the opposite â a burst of energy muted into soft focus around you. Heâd been mid-story, hands gesturing wildly, until you rested your chin on your palm and looked at him with genuine amusement. His words stumbled. âWhat?â you asked, smiling. âNothing,â he said, grinning too hard, too fast. But when you turned away, he exhaled and pressed a palm to his chest, whispering under his breath, âThatâs dangerous.â
Wonwoo pretended to scroll through his phone but wasnât reading. Heâd caught the way your reflection shimmered in the window â how the golden light lined your face. For someone who liked quiet, he found your voice oddly comfortable. When you teased him for zoning out, he looked up, met your gaze for a heartbeat too long, then shook his head with a small laugh. That was when it clicked: you were the only noise he didnât mind.
Woozi tried to keep busy, asking if the food was okay, if you needed anything. It was subtle â his way of showing care â but he noticed his own voice soften when he spoke to you. You thanked him with a smile that reached your eyes, and he turned away quickly, hiding the faint blush under the restaurantâs dim lights. For the first time, words didnât seem like enough to describe what he felt.
DK and Seungkwan were loud again, imitating the earlier scene when that stranger had approached you. You laughed so hard you nearly dropped your fork, and that laugh froze both of them mid-gesture. DKâs chest warmed; Seungkwanâs teasing grin faltered. âWhy does that feel different?â Seungkwan wondered. They exchanged glances, realizing they were thinking the same thing â neither of them said it out loud.
The8 was quieter, eyes on the sea. He liked watching how you interacted with the others, how you gave space yet connected everyone effortlessly. It was rare to meet someone who could balance calm and brightness. When you asked him if he was tired, he answered softly, âNo. I just like the view.â You thought he meant the horizon; he meant you.
Mingyu leaned forward, chin propped on his hand, grinning like he always did â but this time his grin felt nervous. You had sauce on your wrist, and without thinking, he handed you a napkin. When your fingers brushed, he almost dropped it. His heart raced, betraying his casual posture. Heâd teased you for months, but tonight he realized it wasnât teasing anymore.
Vernon wasnât one for long speeches. He kept stealing glances, wondering why everything you did felt cinematic â the way your hair moved with the breeze, the way you hummed along to the song playing from a nearby speaker. He caught himself smiling and quickly looked away. âYouâre in trouble,â Minghao whispered beside him, and Vernon just laughed quietly, because he knew it was true.
Dino, the youngest, sat on your other side, listening to you praise the food. You told him heâd grown more confident lately, and the compliment hit harder than it should have. His face lit up, but later, as everyone stood to leave, he realized it wasnât just admiration. It was the kind of feeling that made him want to keep earning your praise forever.
When dinner ended, the group wandered toward the beach. The waves shimmered silver in the moonlight. You walked ahead a few steps, sandals in hand, the hem of your white dress brushing your legs as the sea breeze wrapped around you. Behind you, thirteen pairs of eyes followed â some curious, some shy, all caught off guard by the same truth.
None of them said it aloud, but the thought echoed between them like the tide:
they were all in trouble.
Because somewhere between the laughter and the quiet,
synopsis... this is a request from my lovely @coupsarchive "bae can you do smth like sugar baby dino being hella clingy to reader or dino being that annoying bff, smth dino đ" and for my other anon you know who you are (àž Ë Âł Ë)àž§ âŒÂłâââŒÂł
đâÂ°ïœĄâ⥠pairing... annoying bsf!chan x reader
So could you write ot13 reaction on you buying a pregnancy pillow (you know the ones that help in support to pregnant females while sleeping)
I think some of them would act non chalant while others would just sulk to death . (And I know who we all are thinking of)
OT13 reaction to a pregnancy pillow || 95z
Genres: established relationship, fluff
Summary: svt comes home one day to discover you had bought a pregnancy pillow without him knowing...
a/n: in case ya'll aren't familiar this is what a pregnancy pillow is... lowkey i want one now if i can't have svt this is the next best thing
Seungcheol:
Immediately starts sulking, but he tries to pretend otherwise. He tries to figure out why you would do buy a pillow to rest your head on, when his biceps are right there? Like hello? He didn't spend hours upon hours in the gym just for you to buy some... replacement instead of his arms.
Fully expecting this reaction from him, you calmly explain that no, it's not that his arms aren't comfortable, no, you still want cuddles when you sleep, but you only bought it for when he's away on tour or out late on a schedule, just so you can have something to cuddle in place of him.
But that only seems to make him even more sulky. "But I'm here right now, and it's taking up my spot," he softly argues, lips pouting into an adorable whine, before gently untangling it from your embrace and not so gently flinging it across the room.
He pays it no mind, a smug smirk slowly growing on his face as he slides into bed next to you, arms automatically capturing you into his tight embrace.
"I won't tell you what you can or can't do when I'm not here, but when I'm here, you're only allowed to cuddle with me, okay? My arms are your pillow. If you don't like it, use my chest, anything. Just not that thing, okay?"
You smile to yourself, nuzzling deeper into his arms. "Whatever you say, Cheollie."
Jeonghan:
Jeonghan walked into the bedroom, and to say the sight before him surprised him was an understatement, and he didn't even try to hide it. You were in the middle of the bed, but rather can cuddling your rabbit plushie he got for you, or one of the extra pillows on your bed, there was a gigantic pillow almost twice your size, and you were right there, buried in the middle of it.
A knowing smirk tugs on his lips - he's about to have a field day, that's for sure.
"Oh? Didn't know you were pregnant, baby. Congratulations. Who's the father?"
At the sound of his voice, you turn around, facing him.
"Wha- What do you mean??"
"What do you mean? You're cuddling with a pregnancy pillow, so you're pregnant, right? How many months along are you?"
You try your best to send him the scariest death glare you could muster, but that only makes his smirk even more smug.
"Oh, you're not? My bad~"
You turn your back on him as you pull the covers over your head, trying to block him out. You were really proud of your purchase, but now he was making you think about throwing it out. Just when you were getting comfortable, too!
Jeonghan tried to call your name, but after you refused to respond to him, you felt him slide in beside you, voice dropping impossibly soft.
He tried calling you one more time. "Baby, you asleep? I'm sorry..." Seeing you still wouldn't respond, he probably thought you were already asleep, as he whispers, "Oh damn, this is actually pretty comfortable. You better watch out, I might just steal it from you one day."
Joshua:
"Hi love- Oh! What's this?" Joshua's gentle voice made you look up from where you were scrolling on your phone. You had been waiting for him to come back home, but you were never able to fall asleep without him.
"It's a pregnancy pillow, Shua. I thought it would be nice to cuddle with, so I could fall asleep without you, but I don't think it's working. At least it's really soft, see!" You pat the spot next to him, inviting him to cuddle with you.
"Oh yeah! It's pretty comfortable!"
You settle into a warm silence as you begin to drift back into slumber, especially feeling his hands card through your fingers in the way that never failed to pull you into slumber. The real thing is always better than any pillow, anyway.
If you liked this story, check out my masterlist here!
Iâm imagining Jeonghan getting caught with the pillow now and the reader teasing him instead. âOh! Now youâre pregnant? Whoâs the father of your child?â and him just proudly saying one of the members
content warning:nsfw
đŒ â.Ë đ đ đĄâ.Ë đŒ
Itâs a rare Sunday morning when Seventeen finally has a full day off â no schedules, no interviews, no cameras. Youâve been dating Seventeen for a while. Not just one member, but all thirteen, in a unique and loving relationship built on trust, patience, and a deep bond that formed through countless shared moments.
READ HERE | @glimmerfics
When your best friend Jihyo is getting married, you're nothing less than thrilled. Your excitement dies a little when you find out that your ex will be attending. Luckily, your friends have already found a solution!
đ”the only exception, paramoređ”you are in love, taylor swiftđ”margaret, lana del reyđ”daylight, taylor swiftđ”
pairing: kim mingyu x fem!reader
cw: alcohol consumption, smoking, strong language, toxic past relationship, trauma regarding past relationship, cheating, manipulation
tags: (kinda) strangers to lovers, fake dating, fluff, angst, he fell first and harder
word count: 13.1k
english is not my first language! sorry for advance if there are some mistakes :)
S01E01, THE INVITEÂ
Jihyo and Joshua were madly in love. Everybody around them could see that. Sooner or later, they would get married. Youâd like to think that it was obvious from the start, so why are you so shocked to see an invite to their wedding on your kitchen counter? Jihyo really liked to surprise people, but you didnât quite think that she would surprise you â her best friend â with incredible news. Â
âJihyo! What the hell!â You screamed through the phone, still in disbelief that this was finally happening. You were quite literally on the verge of tears, being the one who had introduced the pair back in high school. âI will genuinely sob right now. Donât even try meâ Â
âIt took so much of me not to say anything about it to you. Actually, at first, we were like âhuh, wouldnât it be funny if we just didnât tell anyone about us being engaged?â but I just couldnât keep it a secret. Iâm so happy, Y/Nâ she said, her voice slightly wobbly.Â
âI donât even know what to say, Jihyo. I feel like Iâm going to combust from happiness and itâs not even my weddingâÂ
âWe both know that your wedding is not happening anytime soon, babeâÂ
âOkay, thatâs it. Iâm not goingâ you said with a straight face, as if she could see you.Â
âAh, you know Iâm just jo-â Jihyo suddenly stopped talking and you could hear her mumbling something to someone â probably Joshua. âJoshua wants to talk to you really quick, is that alright?â you muttered a soft yeah, sure before hearing the manâs voice. âHey, Y/N. So, you and Vernon got the invitations?â Joshua sounded weird. Like, really weird. As if he had something important to say to you but definitely didnât want to say it.Â
âI mean, yeah, isnât that obvious? Vernon isnât home yet thoughâ you laughed softly, curious about Joshuaâs behavior.Â
 âOkay, thatâs good. Alright, Iâm just gonna say it, but please do know that I am very, very sorry about this. I didnât want to invite him, I really didnât, but you know that Iâm kind of a people pleaser, right? So, when I was talking to my mom about not inviting it, she started to say so many things. Like, genuinely, I started freaking out-âÂ
âJoshua, what the fuck are you talking about?â You were so confused, brows furrowed and all. Â
âJaehyun will be thereâÂ
Oh.Â
You see, Jaehyun is your ex, who also happens to be Joshuaâs cousin. You broke up with him in September â which was just 4 months ago. The relationship lasted for about 2 years, which you regret so badly. At the beginning, he was perfect â paid for everything, opened every door for you, prepared romantic dates for the two of you â everything that a girl could have ever dreamed of, right? Well, no! After about 8 months, he started acting strange, hardly ever texting or calling you, being weirdly secretive and he would say just the meanest things to you during arguments. Of course, being naive and easily manipulated at the time, you tried talking to him, thinking that maybe he was just going through a hard time. The answer that you received from him? Looking back at it now, itâs the most ridiculous thing you have ever heard. Jaehyun, with a straight face, said that you living with your roommate â Vernon - was making him really insecure, and that he truly doesnât know what goes on in that apartment when heâs not there. Yeah...Â
Foolishly, you believed him, suddenly forgetting all of the time you wasted explaining how Vernon was really just a good friend. Youâve known him since both of you were 5, for Godâs sake! That led to you almost never being in your apartment anymore, spending pretty much all of your time at your boyfriendâs place, even when he wasnât there (which was a very common occurrence, oh poor you). Jaehyun spent the next year gaslighting you into thinking that his mood switches were a hundred percent your fault. Long story short, the guy was cheating on you. Pretty much since the beginning of your relationship. With multiple women. He even fucked one in your apartment, when neither you nor Vernon were home. Â
And now, you were supposed to face him at your best friendâs wedding, in what, six months? Â
You werenât mad at Joshua, though. Youâve known him for such a long time, and you know how his relationship with his mother is like. Sure, some would think that a twenty-seven-year-old man would not care what his mother says. Not Joshua, though. And youâre not even saying this in a bad way â you wish that you and your mom were even half as close as Joshua and his mom. She was also probably the smartest woman that youâve ever met, so she probably convinced Joshua to invite Jaehyun with some really appealing arguments. You were not about to fight with Mrs. Hong. Â
âY/N, are you there? Is everything okay?â Joshuaâs very concerned voice snapped you out of your thoughts.Â
âYeah, everythingâs okay. Donât worry about me, I mean, he is your family after all. Doesnât matter how shitty he treated meâÂ
âAre you sure? We havenât sent the invite yet. Just in caseâ Â
âIâm sure Joshua. Donât worry, go and be excited about the wedding. I have to go, though. Vernon just came home. Bye!â You said quickly after hearing Vernon open the door with his keys.Â
âHey! Whatâs going on?â Vernon asked, his eyebrows furrowed upon seeing you standing with your face in your hands. His eyes wandered to the kitchen counter, smiling widely after seeing two invites to the wedding of his good friends. âShouldnât you be crying from happiness right now?âÂ
âJaehyun is going to be thereâÂ
âYouâre jokingâÂ
S01E02, THE OFFERÂ
Youâre currently sitting on your couch, 3 wine glasses in. You lay your head on Seulgiâs shoulder, since sheâs the only one sitting next to you. The girl is talking to Seungkwan, whoâs sitting on the floor in front of her. You can hear Vernon, Sana and Mingyu talking in the kitchen, probably pouring themselves more wine â you really canât blame them. To be honest, you donât even know whatâs the occasion was for this gathering, or where the rest of your friends went, but youâre way too busy sipping on your fourth glass of wine. The group that was in the kitchen walks back to the living room, and you make eye contact with Mingyu almost immediately. Â
Itâs not like you and Mingyu are friends. Of course, you know him â he's Vernonâs best friend after all, youâve met him a handful of times. Neither of you interacted with each other much, except for group hangouts like this. You didnât really know that much about Mingyu. You knew that he runs his own restaurant, which you had been to with Vernon multiple times. You know that he has a cat, since Vernon took care of it when Mingyu was on vacation. To be completely honest â that might be all of your knowledge when it comes to Kim Mingyu. It does kind of make you jealous â seeing how effortlessly he strikes up a conversation with everyone in the room. Why does he never talk to you? Â
You must have had a grimace on your face, because Seungkwan looked at you, concerned. âAre you okay? Youâre sulkingâ he nudged your calf with his foot. âWhatâs got you so worried?âÂ
âOh, itâs nothing. Just thinking about Jihyoâs and Joshuaâs weddingâ you didnât completely lie â you were thinking about it, until Mingyu walked into the room.Â
âRight, Jaehyunâ Sana said in a cold voice.Â
No one noticed, but Mingyu visibly perked up at the mention of your ex â if heâd been sober, then he would have tried to be much less obvious about it. Mingyu knew about Jaehyun and his actions, since Vernon had come to him numerous times, hoping that he would give him some advice on how to free you from the monsterâs hands â Vernon's words, not his. Â
âI just donât want to see him at all. Also, Iâm sure that he will try to talk to me. Iâve had to block his number four times, because he kept messaging me from new onesâ you frowned, drinking all the wine left in your glass at once. Â
âGod, I donât even have words to describe that filthy fucking-â you stopped Seulgi from continuing by placing your hand on her mouth.Â
âWait! I think I have a good idea!â Seungkwan exclaimed. âHow about you and Vernon go to the wedding together and pretend to be a couple? Maybe heâll leave you alone, since he was so insecure because of him?â He rolled his eyes while the last sentence left his mouth. Â
âArenât we too old to do that? Besides, he would think that he was right. You know, accusing me of cheating on him with VernonâÂ
âWhy donât you take Mingyu instead? He can be scary sometimes!â Vernon exclaimed, definitely proud of his idea.Â
âI donât know about that second thingâ you snorted, making the rest of your friends laugh.Â
âHey! I can be scary if I want to! Iâm tall and probably more handsome than Jaehyun! I can do it!â Mingyu pouted, crossing his arms over his chest.Â
âSure, buddyâ Seulgi patted his shoulder. Â
âGuys donât laugh at me! Y/N, I can do it! Seriously! Iâll be the best, scary fake boyfriend on planet earth! He wonât even dare to look at you!âÂ
âWhy do you want to do it so bad anyways?â you asked the man, visibly confused.Â
âBecause I really want to prove you guys wrong, and all of you will be there. Iâm the only one that didnât get an invite, and I get that itâs because I donât even know Jihyo and Joshua that well, but I would be very sad if all of you were having fun and I was sitting at home. And obviously, I want to help you, Y/Nâ Mingyu said with a pout on his face, and after not receiving a response from anyone, he added âWell, also because I really love weddingsâÂ
You could feel everyoneâs eyes at you, curious about how youâll respond to Mingyu.Â
âOkay, letâs do itâ you sighed. As soon as the words left your mouth, you felt muscular arms wrapping you in a hug and lifting you up from the couch.Â
âYES! You wonât regret this, Y/N!â Mingyu shrieked, spinning you around.Â
The next two months will definitely be hard.Â
S01E03, THE CRASH OUTÂ
You havenât heard from Mingyu for a whole week. Obviously, you were too embarrassed to ask him for his number, and he also didnât ask for yours. That really made you think, though. What if he was just really drunk? Or maybe he was just making fun of you and didnât actually want to go to the wedding with you? All of these thoughts were storming through your head. Wanting to get them out, and preferably get some comfort, you were now talking Vernonâs head off. Â
âWhat do I do?â You sighed dramatically, head falling off the couch while your legs were up in the air. If someone were to ask, in your opinion Vernon was just pretending to listen. âThis was all your idea! Why would you even bring this up?â You groaned into one of the pillows that you took from the couch.Â
âWhat do you mean? Dude, Seungkwan said it first!âÂ
âWell, why would you suggest taking Mingyu? And him pretending to be my boyfriend? Heâs so hot! Iâm going to make a fool out of myselfâ You heard Vernon mumbling something about him just being your type, which you responded to with a yell. âDonât you have eyes? Ask a random person on the street and theyâll get on their knees for him!âÂ
âNow youâre just exaggerating. I donât even know why youâre crashing out, he texted me a few days ago asking for your numberâ Â
âYouâre just telling me this now?!â you said in utter disbelief. âWhy hasnât he texted me, then?â You sent Vernon a questioning look.Â
âHeâs just a shy dudeâ your best friend shrugged his shoulders, never once looking up from his phone.Â
âMingyu? Shy? Am I living in a different world, because what the fuck?âÂ
What you didnât notice, though, was that Vernon was texting someone.Â
VernonÂ
dude can u just text y/n sheâs like crashing out rnÂ
actually sheâs BEEN crashing out for like 3 daysÂ
put me out of my misery plsÂ
MingyuÂ
đ”âđ«đ”âđ«đ”âđ« this is the motivation that i needed lolÂ
VernonÂ
HURRY UPPPPPÂ
Mingyu did not text you. Â
Itâs been another three days.Â
You were slowly, but surely, going insane â acting like a teenager waiting for her crush to text her, and definitely not like a 26-year-old woman. Youâre a grown up, for Godâs sake! You have a whole ass job and everything! This man is making you crazy, and itâs not even like you know him well. Â
Mingyu, all the way in his apartment (which is not far from yours, by the way) is facing the same problems as you are. Heâs never been that shy to text a woman before â and that says a lot. âI can be scary if I want toâ - Mingyuâs surely regretting his words now. Vernon threatened to take his phone and text you so many times, Mingyu stopped counting after the seventeenth time. He doesnât want to even think about it â you just make him so nervous, and the thought that he will have to pretend to be your boyfriend? Thatâs the cherry on top. Â
Heâs at work when he gets a text from Vernon.Â
VernonÂ
yoooÂ
i'm at ur place rn with seungkwanÂ
MingyuÂ
wdymÂ
why are u in my houseÂ
VernonÂ
lol mbÂ
we're at the restaurantÂ
MingyuÂ
ohhhhhÂ
i'll come out in a bitÂ
VernonÂ
yessirÂ
Vernon was in fact not with Seungkwan. That damn traitor.Â
Coming out of the kitchen, Mingyu was relieved. I mean, he was just about to see his friends! And it was pretty early, so they were almost the only people in the restaurant. Oh, poor Mingyu. His smile faded so fast.Â
âOh. Hiâ he smiled sweetly at you, cheeks red before glaring at Vernon. If looks could kill, Vernon would be long gone. You muttered a quiet hi, and averted your gaze into your hands. Wow, your nails are so gorgeous â the nail tech did a really great job.Â
âIâll be back in a minute, okay? I have to go to the bathroomâ Vernon said quickly, a smirk on his face. Letâs just say, both you and Mingyu were calling him various insults in your mind. Â
As soon as Vernon left, Mingyu plopped himself on the seat in front of you, immediately speaking up. âIâm sorryâ You raised your brows, acting as if you didnât know what he was talking about. âYou know, about not texting you. Itâs been hectic and Iâve also been just...uh...âÂ
âGo onâ you teased him, having a feeling that you knew what he was about to say.Â
âHey! Iâm here apologizing and youâre being mean!â He frowned.Â
âYou know Iâm just kidding. Also, you donât have to be sorry or anything. We didnât agree that one of us would text the otherâ you shrugged your shoulders, trying to look nonchalant. Letâs put an emphasis on the word âtryingâ, because truly you were about to explode. Â
âYou donât have to act all cool, Y/Nâ Mingyu laughed. âVernon already exposed you a couple of days agoâ You froze. Is it possible for a human to vanish? Disappear? Forever? Make everyone forget that you even existed?Â
âOh. What exactly did he... uh... tell you?â You stuttered, definitely taken aback. âYou know that Vernon likes to exaggerate a lot of stuffâÂ
âWell, I donât remember it exactly. Does a crash out sound familiar?â that motherfucker was smirking. Smirking! Â
âYeah, well, letâs not talk about it. Youâre still on for the wedding?âÂ
âYes maâamâ You handed him your phone with the contacts app pulled up.Â
âIâll text you. Canât really trust you with it now, can I?â You teased him, enjoying that he was going along with it â his hands over his heart and a frown on his face, acting like your words really hurt him.Â
âYou guys done now?â Both of you jumped up slightly, not noticing when Vernon came back.Â
âYupâÂ
âYeahâÂ
MingyuÂ
HiÂ
YouÂ
hiiiiiiÂ
didn't expect u to text first lolÂ
MingyuÂ
ouchÂ
that hurtÂ
YouÂ
yeah yeahÂ
sureÂ
MingyuÂ
fr!Â
YouÂ
no no i believe youÂ
100%Â
MingyuÂ
anywaysÂ
i heard vernon talk ab group shopping?Â
do i also have to go?Â
YouÂ
you can!!Â
it's just the bridesmaids and groomsmen choosing their dresses and stuff lol but not only them jihyo and joshua said that anyone who doesnt have smth to wear can joinÂ
oh but it would be rlly good if you went because you could find a tie in the exact same color as my dressÂ
pink btw âšâšâšÂ
MingyuÂ
ill go thenÂ
do jihyo and joshua know that youre taking meÂ
You Â
yup!!Â
sent a rsvp yesterday Â
got a call from jihyo demanding explanation lolÂ
MingyuÂ
hahhahahahÂ
did you tell her?Â
YouÂ
yeahÂ
it would be weird if my best friend didnât know ab my âboyfriendâÂ
MingyuÂ
oh rightÂ
didnt think ab that lolÂ
so whens the shopping?Â
youÂ
 may 5th!!Â
so in like 3 days lmaoÂ
weâre supposed to meet everyone at the store at 1pmÂ
MingyuÂ
coolÂ
i'll pick you up?Â
YouÂ
getting into character asap i seeÂ
MingyuÂ
alwaysÂ
so?Â
You Â
sure!!Â
see you mingyu Â
MingyuÂ
see you đÂ
âWhatâs got you smiling like that?â Vernon asked, walking into the living room with a cup of tea.Â
You immediately straightened up, putting your phone next to you. âNothingâ you said with a straight face.Â
âDonât lie. Was it Mingyu?â He was met with silence. âIt so wasâ You threw a pillow at his face, a small smile appearing on your face at the mention of Mingyu.Â
S01E04, THE SHOPPING TRIPÂ
Is it acceptable to ghost a man who was supposed to drive you to your destination? Because you might do just that. You woke up later than your alarm, your hair was not looking great, you only had 15 minutes to do your makeup, and you still havenât even picked out your clothes. Oh, and you were probably going to spend an ungodly amount of money on a fucking dress. You were not happy â to say at least. Vernon could sense it, he hasnât talked to you once today, but maybe itâs for the better. He didnât know what to expect â a meltdown, or maybe yelling? Â
âY/N, Mingyuâs here!â Vernon yelled from the hallway, not even daring to walk into your room.Â
âIâm going!â You have to admit, your tone was a little bit too aggressive. But, hey! Vernonâs a tough guy. You walked out of your room, seeing him already waiting for you by the entrance door. Â
âStop sulking! It makes me even more unwanted in that car, and I had to convince Mingyu to take me too!â Vernon says with a grimace on his face, almost immediately noticing the smile that was growing on your face. âStop giggling over Mingyu! Heâs my best friendâ he rolled his eyes, acting hurt. Â
âDonât be so jealous, Nonie. Letâs go.âÂ
The two of you walked out of the building, noticing Mingyuâs car straight away. You ran to it, wanting to take the passenger seat â you really do love annoying Vernon. âHi!â You smiled at the man sitting inside the car. Mingyu looked so good. And you werenât even exaggerating. You just stared at each other, quietly admiring yourselves â that was until Vernon slammed the backseat door, crossing his arms over his chest. âSeriously? I was always the one in the passenger seat!âÂ
âWell, now my girlfriend is going to be seating here.â Vernon wished he could rip his best friendâs stupid grin off of his face. Thereâs no way that this worked on you, right? You have to be fighting your laughter right now.Â
Wrong.Â
Vernon looked at you with so much hope in his eyes â there's no way that both of his best friends are so dumb. All he saw, though, was the blush creeping up onto your cheeks and you trying to look all nonchalant. âIâm so done with you guys. Just drive, man.â He just sighed, not wanting to look at either of you. Â
The ride was, surprisingly, very peaceful. The music was quiet, but you could still hear it just fine. The car was filled with light chatter and laughs, everyone just enjoying each otherâs company. You were in the middle of chuckling at a stupid joke that Mingyu made when you arrived at the destination. Suddenly, you froze.Â
âWhatâs he doing here?â You could clearly hear the anger in Vernonâs voice upon seeing Jaehyun standing outside of the shop, seemingly waiting for someone. âSeems like Mingyu has to act well today.âÂ
âIs that...?â Mingyu asked quietly, eyes focused on your face. He could see that you werenât ready to see the guy, and he could have sworn that he saw tears forming in your eyes. âMhm.â You just hummed, not wanting to risk your voice cracking. Â
You thought that seeing him again wouldnât be so hard. He was just an asshole. But why were you almost crying over an asshole? Thatâs the thing, though â you really had a hard time accepting that someone would love you. All kinds of doubts always swam through your head, and when you finally opened your heart up to someone, cherishing the feeling of being cared about, he cheated and manipulated you for months. Seeing the guy just standing there, acting like he didnât do anything wrong, like he didnât control your every move. There is a bit of guilt within you â you spent countless nights crying yourself to sleep, cursing yourself out for being so easily manipulated. You know that it wasnât your fault, but it sure is hard to accept it. A slamming door snapped you out of your thoughts, and you saw Vernon going up to Jaehyun, an angry expression on his face. Â
âHey, we donât have to go in. Whatever makes you comfortable.â You looked at Mingyu and it just made you want to cry more. He looked like he genuinely cared, eyes soft, a small â barely noticeable â pout on his lips. âNo, itâs okay. Letâs just set boundaries. Fuck. I really didnât know that heâd be here.âÂ
âHey, easy. Remember to breathe, okay? Everythingâs fineâÂ
The two of you started to quickly talk about the start of your relationship. It was decided that you started dating in January, being together for six months before the wedding. You had met through Vernon, immediately clicking. Mingyu, of course, was the one who confessed. âWhat about physical touch?â Mingyu asked softly, continuing when he saw your confused expression. âI mean, we have to sell it somehow. Wouldnât it be weird if weâve been dating for a couple of months and thereâs no physical contact at all?â Shit. You really didnât think about that. Why did you agree to do this? Â
âLetâs just hold hands, is that okay? Maybe a kiss on the cheek will be fine.â You said clearly nervous.Â
âYeah, of course. If you feel uncomfortable let me know, alright?â Mingyu squeezed your hand for reassurance before coming out of the car and opening the car door for you. You muttered a quick âThanksâ, wiping your palms on your jeans. Why were you so nervous? Everythingâs fine â you told yourself over and over, kind of wishing that you would just believe it. Suddenly, you felt a warm hand holding yours. You looked up, seeing Mingyu smiling softly at you. Yeah, your heart is definitely not surviving this.Â
Vernon and Jaehyun were no longer standing outside, and you were starting to worry about what your best friend had said to the man. Well, Vernonâs a grown man, heâll be fine.Â
As the two of you walked into the store, your eyes wandered around it. Light pink wallpaper accents, beautiful white arches between each section of the shop, flowers adorning each one. So many mannequins dressed in some of the most gorgeous pieces of clothing you have ever seen. All of the guests were already sitting in the middle of the main room, drinking champagne and laughing. When Jihyo noticed you, her eyes lit up â already waving you and Mingyu over. You greeted everyone, introducing Mingyu as your boyfriend to those who didnât know him. It had caused quite a commotion, pretty much all of the attention redirected to the man next to you. The aunties circled him, asking about his job, age, and everything else, only turning to you to ask how you managed to find such a catch. You should have known.Â
After about 10 minutes, Jihyo showed the bridesmaids the dresses that she thought they would like â each bridesmaid getting a dress in a different style, only the color being the same. When she brought you your dress, you were stunned. A light pink color, silky fabric, the top had thin spaghetti straps and a cowl neckline. The dress was fitted at the torso and waist, cascading down in multiple asymmetrical layers. At the waist there was a draped overlay that gathered on one side, adorned with a flower made out of the fabric.Â
âI saw it and it just screamed you! If you donât like it we can always look for another oneâ Â
âJihyo, this is the most perfect dress I have ever seen.â You heard a squeal before feeling arms wrapping you in a hug. âYouâre going to look so beautiful in it! Now go and try it on. Oh! Show it to Mingyu first!â She winked at you, calling Mingyu over and walking away from both of you.Â
âDo you like it?â You couldnât help but feel awkward. Mingyu looked like he was in a trance, though â and you werenât even wearing the dress yet.Â
âOh. Uhm. Itâs gorgeous. Youâre trying it on?â You nodded, grabbing his arm and walking over to the changing rooms. Mingyu sat on the couch in front, waiting (not so) patiently for you to come out. And, oh. Nothing could have prepared him for this moment. When you walked out of the changing room, his breath stopped. It was knocked out of his lungs. Mingyu could have died right there, and he would be very happy about how he spent his last moments on earth. What really got him, though, was when an employee walked up to you, clipping the dress in the right places, so that it clung to your body perfectly. Yeah, consider him dead.Â
âYou forgot to close your mouth.â You teased him, walking up to stand in front of him.Â
âWell, youâll have to forgive me. You look really, really beautiful.â You hit his shoulder playfully, blush creeping up your cheeks. âYouâre just saying thatâ You rolled your eyes, trying to act like he was just joking, but the look on his face said the complete opposite. A small smile on his lips, eyes with visible sparkles lingering on you for just a little too long, blush adorning his ears and slowly making its way to his face. Â
âCan you go and get Jihyo? Thank you.â You smiled at him, suddenly feeling overwhelmed. You were so out of it that you didnât even notice someone coming up to you. Â
âYou look good.âÂ
You just froze.Â
âWhat do you want?â You asked through gritted teeth. You knew that all of this was going too smoothly. You shouldâve known when you didnât see him sitting and talking with other people. But of course, stupid, naive you thought that he wasnât going to bother you. Â
âHey. Chill. Iâm just trying to talk.âÂ
âI think I gave just enough signs for you to figure out that I donât want to do that.âÂ
âYou see, I donât think so.â That made your blood boil. Was constantly blocking his number(s) not enough? Changing your lock so that he wouldnât have the correct key? Ignoring him when he would knock on your door for hours? What more is there to do?Â
âWhatâs going on here?â Mingyu asked, clearly confused. He walked up to you, putting his arm over your shoulders.Â
âJust talking, man. Who are you?â If looks could kill, Jaehyun would be long gone. Â
âKim Mingyu, her boyfriend.â The man said with a straight face, hugging you closely.Â
âBoyfriend, huh? Moved on already? Thatâs so not like youâÂ
âAre you fucking serious? Why canât you just leave me alone? Thatâs all I fucking want.â You could feel tears forming in your eyes. Again. All because of Jaehyun. You were just so tired.Â
âJust-âÂ
âThatâs enough. Back off man, seriously.â Mingyu said firmly, his fingers moving to intertwine with yours, squeezing the palm of your hand.Â
âTypical. Making someone else deal with your shit. You really havenât changed, have you?âÂ
You broke. Tears finally escaping, feeling Jaehyunâs words hit you. Â
âSay one more thing to her, and I swear to God, Iâll kill you.â Mingyu sent him a glare, leading you back into the changing room. âChange back into your clothes, okay? Iâll take care of the rest.â He said softly, wiping your tear-stained cheeks. You nodded, changing out of the dress after Mingyu walked out. He took the dress, telling you to go back to the car.Â
âYou do know that what he said isnât true, right?â Mingyu said carefully while getting into the car.Â
âIt is though. I canât even stand up for myself.â You sniffled, hiding your face in your hands. Mingyuâs hand made its way into your hair, gently patting while trying to comfort you. Â
âYou can. You were standing up for yourself. That fucker was just ignoring it. I know that itâs hard, but you canât let his words get to you, okay?â You nodded, tears still falling.Â
âWhat about the dress and tie, though?â You said in a small voice, making Mingyu chuckle softly. âI paid for it to be altered. Weâll pick it up in a few days and find a matching tie. You can look at heels, tooâÂ
âYou didnât have to.â You frowned.Â
âDonât mention it.âÂ
You looked carefully at Mingyu, hesitating a bit before asking him a question. âDo you think that I ruined the day for Jihyo and Joshua? I donât want them to feel guilty because of me. That they invited him to the wedding, I meanâÂ
âYou didnât ruin anything. Iâll text Vernon and drive you home, is that okay?â You just nodded, feeling so tired. Â
 âWeâre really sorry.â Jihyo said while caressing your arm. As soon as she heard about the situation, she drove to your apartment. The woman felt so guilty â she knew how Jaehyun treated you, so why did she agree to invite him to the wedding? She was a part of the rescue group when you were living with him, practically not talking to any of your friends. âI mean that. I donât know why I agreed. Iâm really, really sorry.âÂ
You looked up at her, eyes red from crying. âJihyo, I really wish that I could be mad at you and Joshua, but I just canât. Donât worry about it. I was just shocked seeing him for the first time.â You reassured her, telling her the complete truth. Damn, you really should start being more selfish; it would probably make you feel a hundred times better. You were sick of it. Being so sensitive and fragile. You almost felt weak from all of your friends comforting you â like you canât handle it on your own. Just like Jaehyun said it.Â
Jihyo stayed, insisting to watch a movie together. The two of you havenât been able to hang out lately, because the wedding is coming up. It almost reminded you of the high school days â walking to the otherâs house immediately after class ended and spending the whole evening together. You were so glad that this friendship lasted so long. When you were teenagers, you were so scared of growing up, going to college, worried that you and Jihyo wouldnât keep in touch anymore. Instead, you always made time to talk to each other and catch up. You smiled at these thoughts, hugging the woman beside you tighter. âI love you.âÂ
âI love you too.âÂ
S01E05, THE FLIGHTÂ
Two months passed way too quickly â it was now 4 days before the wedding and the soon to be married couple was flying you out to the seaside, where the wedding would take place. Yes, they were that rich. Â
In those two months, you started getting closer to Mingyu â but only for the act to be convincing, of course! No other reasons. You would come to his restaurant without any of your other friends, simply just to see how heâs doing. Heâs your fake boyfriend; you have to check in on him! Â
About a week after The Incidentâą, Mingyu took you to the store again. You made sure that the dress was tailored the right way â the man drooling almost immediately when he saw you in the dress again. Letâs just say, youâre not the only one whoâs being delusional. Mingyu picked a tie that matched the color of your dress perfectly, and then he spent almost three hours searching for heels that you could walk in with you. That man was down bad â he didnât even make fun of you for not being able to walk in high shoes despite you being almost twenty-eight years old. He might just be perfect. Â
Mingyu also hung around at your apartment much more under the pretext of hanging out with Vernon. Said hangout almost always ended in him laughing with you, Vernon asleep either on the couch or in his bed. Well, it wasnât your fault that Vernon couldnât fight his sleep! And you couldnât possibly make Mingyu drive for these long ten minutes back to his place â it was so late already! Youâre not a monster! Of course, you made him stay the night, one time even falling asleep with him on the couch â let's just say, when you woke up you thought that you were still dreaming. But thatâs just because Mingyuâs conventionally attractive, okay? Â
Youâre at the airport with Vernon, waiting for Seulgi, Sana, Seungkwan and Mingyu. Vernon was looking at the resort where you would be staying, eyes wide at its luxury. How the fuck could Jihyo and Joshua afford that? For almost a hundred people!Â
You check the seat number on your ticket comparing it to Vernonâs. Damn it, heâs not sitting next to you. Â
When the rest of your friends arrived, you swiftly made your way to the gate, talking about how wonderful the next couple of days would be. You got on the plane, and naturally Mingyu was sitting next to you. Did Jihyo plan this? If she did, you donât know whether to thank her or crash out. Obviously, Mingyu is fun, and over these two months you started to like him â that's the problem, though. You were starting to like him a little too much, giggling like a schoolgirl whenever he joked around or catching yourself smiling a little bit too hard when messaging him. Â
You were falling for Kim Mingyu.Â
âYou okay?â Mingyu asked, a teasing smirk on his face. His voice snapped you out of your massive realization, eyes wide as you looked at him. Â
âYeah, just a little bit scared of flying.â Lies, lies, lies! You were anything but scared of being on planes. You just couldnât think of a better lie.Â
Mingyuâs eyes softened, his smirk disappeared off of his face, quickly starting to reassure you that everythingâs going to be fine and bringing up some statistics which said that planes were way safer than cars. You werenât really listening to him, though. Mingyu blamed that on your fear, quietly offering you one of his headphones so that you could watch a movie together. You took it, muttering a small âthank youâ.Â
You were out of it for the whole flight â barely paying attention to the movie. You just couldnât get rid of the thought about falling for Mingyu, suddenly not being able to talk to him at all. Again, the man brushed it off, thinking that you were probably very scared. So, what did Mingyu do? He intertwined your hands, tracing various patterns on your skin. God bless him for being so caring, but oh my you were about to go insane. Thatâs not even a joke. Â
Thankfully, you didnât have a mental breakdown; the plane landed soon after. Mingyu said something along the lines of âsee? That wasnât so badâ but you couldnât even bring yourself to answer him, only giving him a tight-lipped smile. Â
Your group called two taxis that were supposed to drive you to the hotel, and you literally sprinted away from Mingyu, not wanting to sit next to him again. The drive was peaceful, and you spent it looking at the view â you were riding along the shore, the water looking way too beautiful. There were so many cute small houses and people on the street looked genuinely happy. Â
Joshua welcomed you at the reception, handling the room situation. Each one of you got a keycard, Sana sharing a room with Seulgi and Vernon sharing it with Seungkwan. Surely, you werenât sharing a room with Mingyu. The number on your keycardâs different, right? Jihyo and Joshua wouldnât do this to you, you introduced them â you were the reason that this wedding was even happening!Â
âOh! Are we sharing a room? I have a 405 on my keycard.â Mingyu said while pointing at the number on your card â 405. You have to be fucking kidding. Â
Mingyuâs brows furrowed after seeing the look on your face, his eyes showing his sadness and confusion. âWe can switch if you want to. I can room with Vernon or whoever else is willing to change.â He reassured you, placing a hand on your shoulder. Fuck you, Kim Mingyu, for being so thoughtful and not wanting to make anyone uncomfortable. Â
âOh, no! I donât want to switch! Donât worry!â Mingyu didnât look like he believed you, his mouth already opening to say something. âYes, Iâm sure.â You beat him to it, already knowing what he would say. âLetâs goâ you said, walking towards the elevator. Â
âIâll take your bags; you can go to the room.â Mingyu said as the elevator reached the fourth floor. You smiled at him, walking to the hotel room. You swiped the keycard, not bothering to close the door since Mingyu would be inside in a minute. You walked deeper into the space, stopping when you saw something. Â
âIs something wrong?â You heard Mingyu ask, before you could feel his presence behind you. You turned to look at him, pale, eyes wide. There was only one fucking bed. Normally, this wouldnât be a problem, but after todayâs realization you might just crash out really badly. Â
âI can sleep on the floor. Or on the armchair.â He said, already taking a pillow and placing it on the floor. You see, you werenât cruel. Mingyu wasnât about to sleep on the floor for five nights. You let out a shaky breath, mentally preparing yourself for whatâs about to come out of your mouth,Â
âMingyu, stop. Youâre not going to sleep on the floor or in the armchair. Weâre adults, we can share a bed without making it weird, right?â Your voice cracked. It literally fucking cracked. There goes your nonchalant persona.Â
âOh, yeah. Totally.âÂ
âIâm gonna go shower, Iâll be right back.âÂ
After you almost crashed your head on the shower wall, you came out of the bathroom, seeing Mingyu sitting on the floor, back against the side of the bed. âYou can go now.â You let out quietly, making your way to bed, snuggling under the covers. When Mingyu came back, you were fast asleep. He couldnât help but stare at you â you just looked so beautiful. The sound of his phone snapped him out of his trance.Â
Joshua to wedding guests đÂ
We're eating breakfast tomorrow at 10!!Â
Attendance is mandatory since the family is arriving on the 6th đÂ
Mingyu liked the message, not wanting to respond right now. He slid under the covers, facing you. His hand automatically moved your hair from your face, lingering a bit too long. Â
S01E06, THE CONFUSIONÂ
âI think that Iâm just going to kill myself.â You said with a straight face, stopping your pacing around Vernon and Seungkwanâs room. You were truly going insane â you texted the group chat demanding a meeting in one of their rooms.Â
âYouâre not killing yourself. Can you explain what exactly happened? You havenât even said anything.â Seulgi said, brows raised at your behavior.Â
âBasically, we got to the hotel room yesterday evening, right? I walk in and, of fucking course, thereâs one bed. And, you know me â that's not a problem at all! Well, it fucking is right now! Why? Because on the plane I realized that I have a fucking crush on Mingyu! Seungkwan donât you dare say anything.â You pointed a finger at the man who was clearly seconds away from bursting laughing. âOkay, continuing â Mingyu comes to the room, eyes wide and he fucking offers that he could sleep on the floor! On the floor! Iâm not that cruel! Weâre spending 5 nights here, for fuckâs sake! And what do I do? I told him that it was fine! That we can share a bed without making it weird! Iâm the one whoâs making it weird! ME!â Â
âHey, Y/N. Calm down, I think youâre overreacting a bit.â Vernon walked up to you, placing a hand on your shoulder for you to relax. Â
âVernon. Thatâs not even the end.â He sighed, sitting back down on the bed. âSo, I showered and went to sleep, right? Fell asleep right away. I wake up, and Kim fucking Mingyu is cuddling me. Like, heâs fully on me! Head in the crook of my neck type of shit! I ran away as fast as I could, but he had to fucking wake up, so I lied to him that Sana stole my charger and my phone is dying.â You were met with silence and judgmental stares. Â
âGod, youâre so stupid.âÂ
âWhat? Sana, Iâm going insane!â You hid your face in one of the pillows on the bed.Â
âBro, he also has a crush on you.â Vernon said while patting your back. He heard your muffled response. âYouâre just saying that to make me feel better.â His eyes widened, brows raising at your words. He looked at the rest of your friends with utter disbelief. âOkay, youâre actually just fucking dumb.â His hand still patted your back, a sign of comfort despite his words.Â
âDonât you see how he looks at you? It makes me sick.â Seulgi asked, pretending to gag at the thought. You looked at her with confusion in your eyes.Â
âY/N, I literally had to beg him to drive me to the store when we were buying outfits for the wedding. He didnât want to agree because he was already picking you up. Weâre fucking roommates.â You turned your head towards Vernon, who had a scarily straight face. âWant me to continue? He let you try the food that he was making when we hosted dinner at our place. He never lets anyone try it. More? Okay. When he wanted to hang out with the whole group and I told him that you were sick, he literally dropped off a soup for you. Made it as soon as he heard you werenât feeling well.âÂ
Your jaw dropped. âThat was from Mingyu?âÂ
âDid you think that I made it? I canât cook shit.âÂ
Okay, maybe there were some signs that Mingyu could potentially like you back. But nothingâs confirmed, right? Youâre just going to closely observe his actions and draw your own conclusions â yeah, thatâs actually a great idea.Â
âGo get ready, weâre meeting everyone for breakfast in 10 minutes.â Seungkwan told you, pushing you towards the door. âWhat?â You asked, trying to remember agreeing to that. âDidnât you see the group chat that Joshua made?â Your face fell. You were fast asleep, and you didnât even bother checking your messages today, wanting to text your friends right away. Seungkwan just sighed, telling you to run to your room. Thankfully, it was just a couple doors away but still, there was no way that you could get ready in just ten minutes.Â
You barged into the room, seeing Mingyu sitting on the bed. He was wearing a white linen shirt, with brown pants made of the same material. He looked too fucking good. âMingyu, Iâm going to be late for breakfast, could you save me a seat?â You asked sweetly, already looking through your suitcase.Â
âYeah, of course.â You sent him a smile, rushing to the bathroom to change and do your makeup. 20 minutes later you were checking the way you looked in the mirror â you opted for a light green knee length skirt with a white sleeveless high neck top. You quickly put on your ballet flats and locked the hotel room door. Â
After a short ride to the elevator, you arrived at the dining area, quickly spotting your friends sitting on the patio. You made your way to the table, seeing that Mingyu had indeed saved you a seat. Â
âThere she is!â Jihyo teased you with a smile on her face. You rolled your eyes at her, looking at the people sitting at the table. You were met with the coupleâs friends from college, who you havenât seen in a while â Minghao, Soonyoung and Chan, Jihyoâs good friends from work â Irene and Mina, and some of Joshuaâs friends â Seungcheol, Seokmin and Jeonghan. The couple flew out the people that they were the closest to and those who could take a couple of days off work (Jun, Jihoon and Wonwoo could not, so they were arriving the day before the wedding.)Â
You greeted everyone, gushing about how you havenât seen them in a while. While talking with Soonyoung you felt a tap on your shoulder.Â
âI made you your morning tea.â Mingyu said, bringing the mug closer to you. You looked at him with wide eyes, trying to figure out how he remembered that â you only mentioned it once! A month and a half ago! Â
âThank you.â You smiled at him sweetly, taking a small sip of the drink â and God, Mingyu made it perfectly. Damn you, Kim Mingyu.Â
âIâm going to get more food, you coming with me?â He took your hand in his, already dragging you with him. Is it wrong to just pretend that heâs not just acting? Because you might just give in.Â
When the two of you left the table, Jihyo and Vernon kept sending each other knowing looks. âIs Y/N dating Mingyu?â Soonyoung asked, brows furrowed.Â
Soonyoung just pouted before sighing, âDamn, I missed my chance, then.â Jihyo smacked his arm as soon as he said it. âStop! Theyâre really happy together. Donât you dare ruin that.â The man started to rub his arm to soothe the pain, mumbling something about understanding it now. Seungkwan sent Jihyo a bright smile, happy that sheâs making their plan come to life.Â
Wait. What plan?Â
Thatâs a wonderful question â your dear friends came up with a brilliant idea, just after you ran out of Vernonâs room. They called your best friend, telling her about the whole situation. Jihyo had a suggestion â they would confirm to everyone (even your friends that you havenât seen in a while who had nothing to do with Jaehyun) that you were, indeed, dating Mingyu. Why? So that the two of you have to always act like a couple, finally confessing to each other. Damn. Your friends really want you to get laid.Â
You walked with Mingyu for a bit, looking at all the food. When you both had full plates, you came back to the table where everyone was laughing and enjoying each otherâs company. âSo, how long have you two been together?â Chan asked curiously.Â
âOh! Uh...â You were confused, to say the least. How did they know? And why did you suddenly forget all of the details that you had gone over with Mingyu?Â
âSince January.â God bless Kim Mingyu. Heâs out here saving your ass every single day. You looked at him, eyes meeting his gaze. He had a certain look in his eyes â a warm and sparkly one. You didnât even notice the smile growing on your face â too focused on the man next to you. Â
âJihyo, why didnât you tell us anything? Theyâre so cute!â Irene said with a smile. The two of you just looked at each other again, giggling at each other. Seulgi observed you from the end of the table, disgust written all over her face. The pair of you was making her believe in love, and she absolutely hated that.Â
After breakfast all of you went to hang out by the pool â playing chicken fight (you and Mingyu only lost once!), drinking beer, tanning and talking. You didnât even realize how much you missed hanging out with Jihyoâs and Joshuaâs friends. After drying up you went to a local restaurant for dinner. What made you concerned, though, was Mingyu getting back to the hotel as soon as he finished eating. You quickly ate the rest of your meal, leaving money for your friends to pay for your and Mingyuâs meal. You made your way back to the hotel room, abruptly stopping when you saw the man inside. Mingyu was sitting on the bed, head in his hands, sniffling. You furrowed your brows, making your way to sit next to him.Â
âHi. Do you want to talk about it?â You asked him softly, placing your hand on his arm.Â
âItâs stupid.â He lifted his head up, looking at you with red eyes from tears.Â
âDonât say that. If youâre upset, then itâs definitely not stupid.â You squeezed his hand before intertwining your fingers.Â
âI called Soobin, one of the other chefs in the restaurant. You know â just to check how everything is going. He said that itâs been really hectic and stressful. He also said that itâs just really hard without me. And, I guess that I feel really guilty about leaving them alone. I donât want them to be mad at me; I couldâve just flown in with the family and worked with them for those two days.â He sniffled, averting his gaze to the ground.Â
âMingyu...â You said quietly, a heavy feeling in your chest. âYou also deserve a break. You worked so much recently, I promise theyâre not going to be mad at you. Donât stress it, okay? You want a hug?â Â
âPlease.â You immediately draped your arms over his neck, feeling his head nuzzle into the crook of your neck. âYou probably think that Iâm a loser now â crying over something like this.âÂ
âMingyu, donât be silly. It just shows how much you care about other people.â You felt his arms tighten around your waist as your hand made its way into his hair â softly playing with it. âDo you want to take a nap? Rest for a bit?â You heard him agreeing and instantly sliding under the covers. His hand reached out for you, tugging you to lie next to him. His arms draped around your waist, his face coming back to its place in your neck.Â
You to wedding guests đÂ
me and mingyu are going to take a nap so donât be scared if weâre not answeringÂ
SoonyoungÂ
Taking a nap, sure đÂ
YouÂ
i'm going to block youÂ
Mingyu was starting to think that youâre not the smartest person. And he means it with all due respect â he has the biggest crush on you, for Godâs sake! That just seemed to be the problem, though. No matter what heâs doing to try and show you that he likes you, you just donât get it. Do you really think that heâs pretending to be your boyfriend when youâre alone? He makes your tea every morning, boiling hot with two teaspoons of sugar (even when itâs 30 degrees outside, how can you drink hot tea in this weather?). He always compliments you but only because he really means it - Mingyu thinks that youâre the most beautiful woman on this earth. Heâs almost always trying to touch you â an arm draped around your shoulder, hand on your leg, on the small of your back whenever youâre walking somewhere, hand tracing different shapes on your palm, and just so much more! The two of you even cuddle when sleeping, and Mingyu acts like heâs asleep when you wake up, hoping that youâll get the clue. Â
Today he woke up, and surprisingly, did not cling to you. He turned around to face you, seeing your peaceful expression, your hair all around the pillow. Mingyu smiled to himself, his eyes focusing on the barely visible freckles adoring your cheeks and nose. His hand reached out, tucking your hair behind your ear. You started stirring, clearly waking up. You opened your eyes, immediately met with a pair of brown ones dangerously close to you. None of you said anything, just looked at each other with soft smiles.Â
âYou snore.â You whispered, breaking the silence. Mingyu groaned, hiding his face in his hands. Â
âWe were having a moment, and you ruined it.â He muttered, looking over at you after hearing your giggles. âSorry.â You whispered, trying to contain your laughter. Â
âI really donât want to get up today.â Â
âWe can stay here all day!â Mingyu exclaimed, throwing his arms around your waist and nuzzling his head into the crook of your neck. Â
âWe canât. Todayâs the rehearsal dinner, remember?â Your hands made their way into his hair, brushing through it. Mingyu started to mumble protests, tickling your neck, âyouâre like a baby.â You huffed out, acting like you were annoyed with the man.Â
âIâm your baby, remember?â He lifted up his head, looking up at you with sparkling eyes and a pout.Â
âGet out!â You laughed, not believing what he had just said. Mingyu started to apologize, practically laying on top of you. âMingyu, get off. Iâm hungry, we need to go eat.â Â
After what felt like an eternity, you finally convinced Mingyu to get up. You both started getting ready together, the act feeling strangely domestic. Thatâs the thing â everything that you did with Mingyu felt like that. And yeah, you do have a crush on him, but are you ready for a relationship? After Jaehyun you were really scared to get into something serious, scared that once again you would be manipulated and mistreated. You knew that Mingyu wasnât like that, he was Vernonâs best friend, and they have known each other ever since you can remember. Still, deep inside you were just terrified. Your exâs presence definitely did not help you in overcoming the fear. Â
You decided to ignore those thoughts, smiling at Mingyu, who was waiting for you by the hotel room door.Â
You and Mingyu arrived at the venue late. Not your finest moment.Â
Of course, you sent Jihyo a message explaining the whole situation, making it a bit more complicated when in reality both of you were taking a nap. Â
You walked in, taking your seats and greeting Jihyoâs and Joshuaâs family. You havenât seen them, mostly because they only arrived today and Mingyu has been holding you hostage in your hotel room. Literally. Â
You were sitting next to Jihyoâs mom, Mingyu sitting next to Vernon on the other side of you. Mrs. Park has always treated you like a daughter, so she threw herself at you the moment that you sat down.Â
âOh, darling! I havenât seen you in so long!â She spoke, voice wobbly. You hugged her back, tearing up, âI missed you, auntieâ you whispered into her hair. Â
âYouâre doing better, right? Thatâs why you havenât called?â She said, placing her hands on your shoulders and looking into your eyes. You nodded, not wanting her to worry anymore. She smiled softly at you, her eyes drifting to the person behind you, âwhoâs that?â A teasing smile made its way onto her face, eyebrows raising.Â
âOh, right!â You chuckled awkwardly, grabbing Mingyuâs arm. âAuntie, this is my boyfriend, Mingyu! Mingyu, this is Mrs. Park, Jihyoâs mom.â You were shitting your pants. Mrs. Park would definitely notice that Mingyu isnât actually your boyfriend â she knows you too well! And of course, you forgot to warn Mingyu about meeting her. Great.Â
Mingyu stood up to shake her hand, bowing his head. âItâs so nice to meet you, Mrs. Park. Y/N told me so much about you.â He sent her his best smile, and you could immediately tell that Jihyoâs mom was a goner. God bless Kim Mingyu and his ability to woo any woman that he meets.Â
âOh, please just call me auntie! I didnât know that Y/N had a boyfriend! Is that why you havenât called?â Â
You opened your mouth to answer her, but Mingyu had already started talking, âWell, that might have been my fault. Iâve been bothering her too much, Iâm sorry that she couldnât talk to you.â He smiled sweetly, his hand making its way to your waist.Â
âIâm just happy that our Y/N has been busy! Especially after that horrible guy you were dating! You know, I knew that there was something wrong with him. Anyways, enough about him, how did you two meet? How long have you been together? Tell me everything!â She asked excitedly, her eyes glowing with happiness. Â
âIâm one of Vernonâs friends, so he introduced us. She was with her ex when we met, so we havenât really talked much, but Iâve had the biggest crush on her ever since I saw her for the first time. I finally asked her out on a date in December. It took me a month to ask her to be my girlfriend, I was that nervous. Today is exactly six months since we started dating.â Mingyu looked at you with a soft smile and a sparkle in his eyes, and you were speechless to say the least. Just the fact that he came up with it on the spot was insane to you â was he not even a little bit nervous? You canât lie, though, your heart fluttered when you heard his words. Is it wrong to gaslight yourself into thinking that heâs telling the truth?Â
You looked over at Mrs. Park, seeing a wide smile on her face, her eyes looking from Mingyu to you, âoh, Iâm so happy for you! You better treat her right, Mingyu! If not, Iâll harass Vernon into telling me where you live.â She pointed her finger at him jokingly before hugging both of you.Â
Jihyoâs mom disappeared to talk to her daughter, leaving you and Mingyu alone. The man was staring, you could feel it, but you couldnât get yourself to meet his gaze, suddenly feeling very awkward around him. You could see his hand reaching out to rest on your thigh, the action interrupted by the server bringing you your food. A quiet âthank youâ escaped your lips and you immediately started eating, praying that Mrs. Park doesnât come back for a while. Confusion and anger flooded your mind, not knowing why you were reacting like that. You were so lost in your thoughts that you didnât notice Mingyu shifting towards you, his hand tucking a piece of your hair behind your ear. His eyes finally met yours and feeling his hand brushing through your hair combined with the gentle look on his face instantly made you relax. To be honest, Mingyu probably had no idea what was happening to you â you didnât even know what was going on â but his facial expression made you feel like he understood. And that was all you needed.Â
The dinner was filled with laughs, happy tears and so many smiles. Thankfully, you werenât the only one tipsy from wine â pretty much your whole group of friends was intoxicated, making the way back to the hotel interesting. Â
âUgh, I donât want to wash my hair.â You mumbled into the pillow, freshly showered Mingyu lying beside you. Â
âIf you donât wash it right now, youâll hate yourself for it tomorrow. Itâll take you like twenty minutes.âÂ
âTwenty minutes too long.â You grumbled, knowing that Mingyu was right. Was he sobering up already? Why was he actually thinking? His stare made you groan and get up from the bed. Men will never understand the dread that comes with washing your hair.Â
After some time, you walked out of the bathroom dressed in pajamas, drying your hair with a towel. The man sitting on the bed looked at you with a glimmer in his eyes, gesturing for you to come closer to him. You sent him a confused look.Â
âCome on, Iâll dry your hair for you.â He said, insisting that you sit between his legs, your back against the bed. You slowly made your way to sit on the carpet, making yourself comfortable and handing him the towel. Mingyu took it and started gently drying your hair and playing with it.Â
âYou donât have to.â You said quietly, voice slightly cracking.Â
âYou were so annoyed that you even had to get up from the bed, just let me do this.â He chuckled, playfully tugging a piece of hair, earning a slap on his thigh from you. âOw! Anyway, why didnât you tell me that Jihyo asked you to prepare a speech for tomorrow?âÂ
âI think that she wanted to surprise everyone. She asked me to not tell anyone, which is ironic considering that she was gushing about it with everyone after four glasses of wine.â You could hear Mingyu chuckle, suddenly feeling warmer after hearing the sound. Â
âAre you nervous?â You hummed in response, not really wanting to admit it out loud. âYou get nervous a lot, donât you?â Â
You were about to kill Kim Mingyu.Â
âYeah, well, isnât that normal? Donât you get nervous?âÂ
âSometimes.â He muttered, clearly focused on the task that he gave to himself.Â
âSo, when do you get nervous?â You asked in a teasing tone, not really expecting a serious answer.Â
âWhen Iâm around you.â You immediately tense up, eyes going wide. A quiet âwhat?â left your lips without you even meaning to let it out, shock taking over your whole body. âI get really nervous when Iâm around you. I try not to show it, though. Youâre so beautiful, funny, kind and just so many other things that itâs impossible for me to not feel nervous around you. I guess I just like you that much.â Â
What. The. Fuck.Â
You turned around to face him; mouth open in shock. âMingyu, are you still drunk? How much wine did you drink?âÂ
Mingyu rolled his eyes, âNo, Iâm not drunk. Iâm not that much of a lightweight. Just decided that it would be better for us both if I told you.â His eyes roamed around your face, slowly starting to worry when you wouldnât even look at him. âY/N? I know that you feel the same, Vernon betrayed youâÂ
You wanted to throw up. For some reason, you just couldnât believe Mingyuâs words. Youâve been thinking about this for so long. So why, now that itâs actually happening, canât you just tell him that you do like him? Â
âMingyu, go to sleep. You drank too much.â Your voice shook as you got up from the floor, still not daring to look at him.Â
âGod, Y/N. Why canât you just believe that I like you?â He took your hands into his, making you look up at him with teary eyes. âPlease, Y/N. I donât need you to give me an answer right now but just believe me. I know that that fucker hurt you really badly and Iâll do anything to make you trust me.âÂ
âI donât want to talk about it, Mingyu. Not right now.â You could feel tears escape your eyes, looking down at the carpet. You just couldnât do it â you hated yourself for not being able to trust Mingyu fully. You knew that he was a great guy, so why were you so scared?Â
He squeezed your hand before letting go of it. âDo you want to be alone for a bit?â He asked, his hand reaching to wipe your tear-stained cheeks. You nodded, trying to stop the tears from falling. Mingyu hugged you, whispering in your ear, âGet some sleep, and donât worry. Weâll figure it out. Iâll go sleep with Vernon and Seungkwan.â He moved away from you, gathering some of his things and exiting the room. Once you heard the door shut, you started sobbing. You were so stupid. Why couldnât you just react normally to a confession from a guy that you have a crush on? You didnât deserve Mingyu â he shouldâve gotten mad. Of course he didnât. He was too good for you â he understood, even when you couldnât understand. The worst thing, though, was that you didnât even realize how much Jaehyun ruined you. You didnât know who to hate more â him, for being so horrible to you and destroying you mentally â or yourself, for being so weak.Â
You chose the second option. Â
S01E07, THE WEDDINGÂ
You were already overwhelmed, and it was only 10:00 a.m. Â
Before falling asleep yesterday, you were thankful for the hectic nature of a wedding day, thinking that at least you wouldnât have time to think about Mingyu. Â
You were wrong.Â
You offered Jihyo to help her with the last touches, wanting to get rid of some of her stress. You were supposed to think only about the wedding, so why were you thinking about him every chance you got? Making sure that the flower bouquets were correct, ironing the bridesmaidsâ dresses, driving to the venue to see if everything was perfect â you just couldnât get him out of your head.Â
All of the bridesmaids were getting their makeup and hair done when you returned from your errands. Laughter and chatter filled the room, making you calmer almost instantly. You sat down in one of the chairs next to Seulgi, who was getting her hair done. Â
âDonât worry, Jihyo isnât making you do more things. She said that everything is taken care of.â She sent a warm smile your way.Â
âOh. Well, I wanted to do them. To take some weight off her shoulders, thatâs all.â You said quietly, secretly disappointed. You stared at the floor, feeling Seulgiâs gaze burning through you. You looked at her, her face laced with concern.Â
âSeungkwan told me.âÂ
âTold you what?âÂ
âThat Mingyu slept in their room.â Her hand reached to grab yours, wanting to comfort you. âThatâs the only thing we know, though. He wouldnât tell them what happened.âÂ
âCan we not talk about this here? This is Jihyoâs day. I want to be happy today.âÂ
âOf course, honeyâ She replied, squeezing your hand. âBut donât ignore him later, okay? Everyone thinks that the two of you are dating. If you want to talk, let me know.âÂ
âIâll be fine.â A weak smile formed on your face, your eyes barely meeting hers. âIâm good at distracting myself, you know that.â You chuckled, playing with the rings on her fingers.Â
Not long after, it was your turn to get ready. You were talking with the girls and the makeup artist, laughing every now and then at their remarks. Your hair was perfectly curled, and the makeup highlighted your features. You decided to change into your dress before taking pictures with the bridesmaids.Â
Suddenly, you remembered that you wanted to check your speech one more time. You informed your friends, making your way to your hotel room. When you opened the door, you were met with Mingyu, who was in the middle of tying his tie. He looked at you, smiling softly, letting his eyes roam around your frame. You suddenly stopped, taking the view in. Kim Mingyu looked way too good in a generic black suit.Â
âYou look beautiful.â His eyes sparkled, almost like he didnât believe that you were real. âSeriously, I donât think there are words to describe how wonderful you look.âÂ
âThanks.â You lowered your head, not really knowing what to do. Why was he acting like yesterday was fine? Should you be acting like this? You will have to talk to him sooner or later.Â
âY/N...â He stepped closer, hand reaching out to hold yours. Â
âCan we not talk about it? At least until after the wedding. I want to be in a good mood today.â Your voice cracked slightly while the second sentence left your mouth. Â
âYeah, of course.â Mingyu replied quietly. âDo you still want to do the whole couple thing?â You nodded in response. âOkay. Letâs just have a great time, yeah?âÂ
The ceremony was breathtaking. Everything looked so beautiful. Your friendsâ vows made you cry multiple times. You were just so happy for them, you almost started sobbing. Â
You made sure to catch the newlyweds before the reception, squeezing them so hard, that someone would probably think that youâre trying to kill them. All of the guests made their way to the venue, slowly sitting down in their assigned seats. It only meant one thing â you had to give your speech soon. Your hands were shaking, the nerves taking over.Â
âHey.â Mingyu sat in his seat next to you, squeezing your hand. You looked up at him, unconsciously biting your upper lip. âEverything will be fine. Youâre gonna do great.âÂ
âYou promise?âÂ
âI promise. Your speech will probably make everyone cry and laugh at the same time, knowing you.âÂ
You smiled at his words, starting to play with his fingers. âI just want it to be perfect. For Jihyo and Joshua.â you muttered.Â
âItâll be amazing. I just know that theyâre going to be so happy.âÂ
Your gaze met his, looking deeply into his eyes. They were addicting, you almost felt like you were being lured into them. In that moment everything felt right, you suddenly forgot all about your worries, focusing on the man in front of you. The thoughts in your head started to wander in the wrong direction â blaming yourself for being too scared. You mentally sighed. You were doing such a great job distracting yourself today. Â
Mingyuâs hands on both of your shoulders woke you up from your trance, making you realize that itâs time for your speech. You looked at the guests, all seated and waiting. You let out a shaky breath, making your way to the small stage. You were handed the microphone, looking over at Jihyo and Joshua.Â
âHi. My name is Y/N, and Iâve been kindly asked to give a speech tonight. Iâm really nervous, so bear with me.â The crowd chuckled, giving you a few cheers of encouragement. âI donât really remember when I met Jihyo. Sheâs been in my life ever since I can remember, and I couldnât be grateful enough for that. I donât think that I can accurately describe our bond â everything that I say will be an understatement. I love this girl so much and have ever since we were little kids. We were grossed out by guys together, then it stopped, and suddenly we were teenagers sitting in front of the otherâs house, waiting for her to tell us all about the date sheâd just been on. Growing up with her by my side has been one of the best experiences of my life. I always wanted the best for her, not wanting her to go on dates with guys I havenât approved of. I remember exactly how I met Joshua. We were fifteen, and he and his family were moving into the house next to mine. Joshua brought me a tray of cookies that he made, probably wanting to bribe me into being his friend. I thought to myself âhm, Iâve known him for five minutes, and heâs already been nicer to me than half the boys at my schoolâ. Thatâs when I knew that I had to introduce him to Jihyo. I obviously didnât tell any of them about my plan â I invited Joshua to come over, and when he was in the bathroom, I quickly called Jihyo, telling her the same thing. I think Iâll always remember her dragging me to another room after she saw him. She shut the door and said, âwhy didnât you tell me that thereâs a hot guy in your living room?!â. Now, who has seen a photo of our dear Joshua in high school?â You chuckled at the amount of people raising their hand. âOkay, so almost all of you know that calling him hot was insane. Soon, they started to hang out without me, and honestly, I was so happy. Seeing how perfect they were for each other made me emotional almost every time we were together. They treated me like their daughter. I still remember when Jihyo sat down with me â she's been dating Joshua for three months. She said to me âY/N, I think this is it. Iâm falling in love.â The next day Joshua told me the same thing â that heâs in love. He started to ask me if I was fine with it, and I just started crying. His face was priceless! Joshua thought that I was upset, but truthfully, I was the happiest person on earth. I still am, just seeing them be so madly in love. I hope that you guys have the best life, I love you both so much. Thank you for letting me be here with you.âÂ
The speech left you with tear-stained cheeks, and after hugging Jihyo and Joshua you made your way to your seat. When you sat down, Mingyu squeezed your hand, looking at you with a certain sparkle in your eyes. He wanted to tell you that you deserve the kind of love that your friends share, and maybe that he could give it to you, but he didnât. Â
You were having so much fun. Were. Because, of course, your ex had to throw himself at you again. Â
It was getting late, and you were tipsy (drunk). You were relieved at the thought of Jaehyun not bothering you. Speak of the devil and he shall appear â the moment that you were left by yourself near the bar, he striked. Â
âI have to say, you look really good.âÂ
At that point, you decided that it would be best to ignore him. Maybe then he would go away. Â
Well, he did not.Â
âYouâre not even gonna respond, huh? Iâm complimenting you; you should at least thank me.âÂ
âI donât want compliments from you.â You grumbled in his direction, praying that he would just leave you alone.Â
âWe both know thatâs a lie, darling.â Â
âLook, Jaehyun.â You spat out. âI donât know why you feel the need to harass me, and I donât want to know. I have no idea why you keep giving me more attention now than when we were dating, but itâs your problem. And honestly, itâs fucking embarrassing â chasing after a girl that you cheated on, donât you think? Iâm sick of you saying that you just wanna talk! Even if you do, I donât! You hurt me, made me drift away from my friends because you were jealous and controlling! I never had an issue with you being God knows where half of the time! After all these things, do you really think that I want to even look at you?â Your voice grew louder, gathering the attention of people nearby.Â
âDamn, no need to be so pissed off. You had a fight with this boyfriend of yours, or what?âÂ
âNo! Me and Mingyu are fucking amazing! And heâs treating me way better than you ever did. God, I canât believe that I was ever in love with you.â You huffed, making your way to the balcony. Â
You were met with one of Jihyoâs cousins, who had clearly heard the whole situation.Â
âHere. Figured that youâd need it.â He said while handing you a cigarette and offering to light it.Â
A quiet âthanksâ left your mouth, and soon you were left alone, inhaling the smoke slowly.Â
âYou okay?â The voice made you jump slightly before recognizing the person standing behind you.Â
âNo, but itâs fine.â Â
You felt something on your shoulders â big coat warming you up.Â
âWant to talk about it?â Mingyu said quietly, moving to stand behind you, arms on the balcony railing.Â
You inhaled the smoke, slowly turning your head to look at Mingyu. You were met with genuine concern adorning his eyes.Â
âI donât know. Iâm just so tired. I hate that how he treated me still affects my life.â Mingyu could hear your voice crack, making him immediately pull you in a tight hug. You put down the cigarette, melting in the manâs embrace. âMingyu.â You looked up at him, tears threatening to fall. âIâm probably only saying this because Iâm drunk. But Iâm still really scared to tell you this.â His hands made their way to your cheeks, gently caressing them in a soothing manner. âI really like you. But Iâm so fucking scared. I know that youâre not like Jaehyun at all, but itâs like my mind automatically assumes that youâre gonna do what he did. And I donât think that I can fix it.âÂ
âHey. Youâre not alone, you know that? I will do everything to make you feel better, okay? Itâs not impossible and donât you ever think that. You deserve the best, and Iâll make sure that youâll get it.âÂ
âBut it will take so long, Mingyu.âÂ
He wiped the tears off of your cheeks gently. âIâll wait. Iâll help you. You wonât go through this alone.â He looked deep into your eyes, as if making sure that you understood his words. Â
More tears fell from your eyes as you hid your head in his chest. âThank you.â You muttered with a shaky voice, squeezing Mingyu even harder. He kissed your hair, making you smile slightly.Â
âMingyu! Was it you who punched Jaehyun in the face?â A voice came from the venue. You looked up at him with disbelief in your eyes.Â
â...No?âÂ
a/n: here it is! i honestly dont know if i like this lol. but i spent so much time thinking about everything and overthinking it. i hope that you guys enjoy this and that it isnt too bad lol!!! this is the first thing that i have ever written (so scary to say it) so constructive criticism is highly appreaciated!!! just dont be mean lmao
pairing: Jun x reader
synopsis: Jun moved back to China. You still write to him every day, though you never hit send. Until one day, he repliesâto a message you never sent.
wc: 3.5k
genre: Angst, Long Distance, Message Formats,
warning: Miscommunication, Alcohol use (not in a bad way), Long-distance separation with no physical reunion, Loneliness/Isolation
a/n: shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
You donât mark the days.
That would make it too realâif you pulled out a calendar and circled the date he left. Jun at gate 37B. Jun, head bowed like it was raining indoors. Jun with his suitcase scuffed at the edges, like it had lived longer than the goodbye you didnât let yourself say.
So no, you donât mark the days.
Instead, you make ramen the way he liked itâoverboiled noodles and a soft eggâand burn it a little on purpose. You open your weather app and scroll to Guangzhou without tapping it, without looking too long. You pass his name in the group chat and feel a hollow echo like something bounced off a rib.
Itâs quieter now. Not the kind of quiet that invites calm. The kind that feels like someone hit pause but forgot to press play again.
Your thumb hovers over his contact. Every night.
Every night you write him something. But you never hit send.
â
2024-11-02 2:41AM â [UNSENT DRAFT]
i made your stupid ramen today. burned the egg. still tasted like you. do you ever burn the egg on purpose so someone misses you?
â
You live in that space between fingers-on-keyboard and send-button-cowardice. You tell yourself itâs not a big deal. You donât need to say anything. You said everything that day at the airport. Right?
No. Thatâs a lie.
You said nothing.
He hugged you like someone afraid of breaking glass. You looked up and said, âText when you land.â He nodded. He didnât. You still waited.
You walk past the convenience store where heâd always pick the wrong ice cream. Still canât look at green grape popsicles without tasting disappointment.
You remember the note he left in your coat pocket.
âIâm sorry for going. I wish I could be in two places at once. If I could, Iâd stay.â
He folded it like it was sacred, like a soft apology and a prayer. You donât know if he meant you, or the city, or something else entirely.
That uncertainty sits on your chest most nights like a ghost with heavy knees.
â
The group chat hasnât been the same since he left.
Minghao still sends photos of weird cafes. Soonyoung sends memes. Someone (probably Seungkwan) renamed the group to: [13/14 and the Ghost of Jun Past]
You laugh when you see it. Then cry.
Then laugh again, because thatâs what itâs like now. A ping-pong grief.
â
2024-11-14 11:58PM â [UNSENT DRAFT]
you said youâd call. you didnât.
you said this wasnât the end.
you said it like a question.
you always said things like thatâlike maybe you were hoping iâd finish the sentence for you.
but i didnât. i never did.
â
You donât know what hurts more: the fact that he left, or the fact that you let him.
The memory hits you one night like a wave you didnât brace for: Jun half-asleep on your couch, mumbling something like, âYou always smell like clean books.â You hadnât laughed at the time, just rolled your eyes and tossed a throw blanket over him. But now? Now you want to sew that memory into your skin.
You look through the old photosâhim holding up a peace sign behind a latte foam mustache, his expression flatlined as you tried to teach him TikTok dances. The two of you in fuzzy pajamas, standing too close.
did i start loving you too late?
or did you stop before i noticed?
was it the airport? was it the week before?
did you take the âusâ with you when you packed your carry-on?
â
You begin labeling the drafts by emotion.
[rage_but_make_it_poetry.doc]
[text_iâd_send_if_i_had_3_drinks_in_me.txt]
[things_i_dont_want_answers_to.pdf]
You tell yourself itâs just a habit. Just a way to process. Itâs not like heâs waiting on a reply.
But some nights, you swear you feel it.
That echo. That reach.
The way he used to type and then delete, type and then deleteâlike he couldnât decide how honest to be.
You do the same now.
You type. You delete.
But you donât stop writing.
Because even though heâs across a sea you canât cross and a goodbye you never finished, he still lives in your drafts folder like a heartbeat.
Unsent.
Unseen.
Unread.
But never unloved.
â
2024-11-29 12:12AM â [UNSENT DRAFT]
today i passed someone who wore your cologne.
i nearly turned around.
i nearly said your name.
i nearly believed you came back.
(nearly hurts worse than never.)
â
The thing no one tells you about trying to move on is that it doesnât feel like anything.
Not at first.
You go to brunch with friends. You laugh when youâre supposed to. You post filtered photos with passive-aggressive captions like âhealing eraâ and âlol remember emotions??â
You say youâre fine so often it becomes background noise in your own mouth.
You even silence his notificationsâjust in case.
(He hasnât messaged you. But the silence stings more when your phone is loud.)
â
You start seeing someone new for five whole days.
Heâs nice. He doesnât remind you of Jun, and maybe thatâs the problem.
He orders sparkling water. Jun always forgot to.
Heâs always early. Jun never was.
He doesnât know your favorite songâbut he listens.
He doesnât stand a chance.
â
2025-01-01 1:00AM â [UNSENT]
happy new year.
i kissed someone at midnight.
i didnât think of you.
(iâm lying.)
(iâm sorry.)
â
There are momentsâsmall onesâwhen you forget Jun exists.
A stranger asks you for directions, and you donât flinch at the thought of telling him later. You almost delete a photo. You almost reply âyesâ when someone says, âYou single?â
Almost. Always almost.
Your memory is full of nearlys and used-to-bes.
â
Minghao spots you at a bookstore one afternoon. You exchange polite greetings, a hug too long to be casual. He asks if youâve been writing.
You say yes.
He doesnât ask who youâre writing to.
He mentions Jun in passingâoffhand, like weather. Says heâs doing fine. Says heâs been dancing again. Says heâs growing out his hair.
You nod and hope your face doesnât crack.
âHe asks about you sometimes,â Minghao adds, like heâs setting a glass down too softly to be suspicious. âBut not recently.â
You flinch.
He notices.
You change the subject.
â
That night, you donât write Jun anything. For the first time in two months, the screen stays blank. You go to bed.
But you dream of the train station. Of missing a stop. Of someone standing on the platform with luggage that looks like it knows your name.
â
2025-01-06 3:27AM â [UNSENT]
i didnât write yesterday.
i wonder if you noticed.
(i wonder if you care.)
i saw a couple hold hands today and i wanted to scream into the ground.
i donât know what iâm mourning anymore
you
or the version of me who believed love like this didnât leave.
â
You begin deleting some drafts.
Not because you donât mean them anymoreâbut because they start to feel like clutter. Like stacking old versions of yourself in the attic.
You keep the worst ones. The ones that bleed.
You rename one of them: [note2_self_dont_reread.doc]
It includes:
a list of all your almost-good memories, scratched out mid-sentence
a breakdown of how his name looks in your inbox: bolded, unread, echoing
a line that reads: âIf I pretend Iâm happy long enough, will my drafts autocorrect themselves into someone else?â
You donât reread it.
You just let it live.
â
You go out with your friends. They force you into karaoke.
Someone picks a ballad. You laugh too loudly. You drink too fast. You take blurry selfies youâll never look at again. Someone posts a video of you singing on their story.
He doesnât like it.
He doesnât reply to it either.
You tell yourself youâre relieved.
â
2025-01-09 11:14PM â [UNSENT]
howâs china?
do you remember seoul?
(do you remember me?)
probably not in that order.
i cleaned out your side of the closet today.
i found the hoodie you left behind.
it doesnât smell like you anymore.
i still wore it.
â
You write one final email.
Itâs bitter. Itâs messy. It's not poetic. You let it be ugly for once. You let yourself bleed in lowercase.
â
[UNSENT EMAIL] â subject: maybe you didnât love me after all
you didnât ask me to wait.
you didnât say we could try.
you just said you had to go.
and i let you.
so maybe itâs not your fault.
but i still wanted you to fight.
(i still wanted to be chosen.)
â
You reread it. You save it as a draft.
You almost hit send.
But your phone buzzesâand itâs not him.
Of course itâs not him.
You go outside. The air is sharp. Somewhere, someone is singing off-key. You donât know why your hands are shaking. Maybe from the cold.
Or maybe from the ache of pretending youâre not waiting anymore.
You open your messages. You look at the draft again.
You close it.
But you donât delete it.
Not yet.
â
2025-01-10 12:39AM â [UNSENT]
i want to let go.
but what if you come back and iâm not here?
what if you come back and donât recognize me?
â
You dream of oceans that night. Not drowning. Just floatingâtired, endless, directionless.
When you wake up, your mouth tastes like regret and your throat aches like you cried in your sleep. You donât check your phone. Not right away.
You stare at the ceiling instead, hand over your chest like youâre trying to press your heartbeat back into place.
Then, you do it out of habit. Swipe up. Tap messages. Expect the usual nothing.
But there it is.
A new message.
From him.
From Jun.
â
Junhui: hey.
Junhui: i donât know how to answer that.
Junhui: it wasnât your fault.
Junhui: you didnât do anything wrong.
Junhui: iâve read every one.
â
The phone nearly slips from your hand.
You blink once. Twice.
It doesnât go away.
You sit up so fast your head spins. Re-read it. Again. Again.
He couldnât have. You never sent anything.
You check. Draft folder still intact. Messages unsent. Email still saved, unopened. So howâ
You stare at the screen, pulse in your ears.
Then another message arrives.
â
Junhui: i found the ramen one by accident.
Junhui: i thought it was old.
Junhui: but then i saw the date.
Junhui: and the others.
Junhui: all of them.
Junhui: i didnât mean to look.
Junhui: but i did.
â
You scroll down and see it.
An attached screenshot.
âi made your stupid ramen today. burned the egg.â
You feel sick.
Because you remember saving that one in your cloud notes app. The shared one. The one you both forgot about after switching phones. Youâd never unsynced it.
Jun hadnât either.
You want to scream.
You want to vanish.
You want to rewind time to five minutes ago when you didnât know this.
Your fingers hover over the keyboard. Then freeze.
What do you even say to that?
â
You type three different responses.
You delete all of them.
Finally, you settle on:
You: i didnât know that note was still shared.
You: He replies in less than a minute.
Junhui: i didnât either.
Junhui: but i read them all.
Junhui: i couldnât stop.
Junhui: i shouldnât have.
Junhui: iâm sorry.
â
You canât breathe.
You want to be furious. But you arenât.
You want to be relieved. But you arenât.
Youâre something worse: exposed.
Naked in your grief, standing in a house made of all the words you never meant him to see.
You sit in the dark and type.
You: you werenât supposed to know.
You: i wasnât supposed to still be writing.
â
The typing bubbles appear, disappear, reappear.
Heâs thinking. Or hurting. Or both.
Then:
Junhui: iâve missed you.
Junhui: i just didnât know if i had the right to say it.
â
It hits harder than it should.
Because youâve imagined those words.
Youâve written them on a hundred digital pages he was never supposed to open.
Youâve whispered them into empty rooms.
But hearing themâreading themâit feels like someone cracked your ribs open and dropped hope inside.
Your reply is slow. Careful.
You: why didnât you?
Junhui: i thought leaving meant letting go.
Junhui: i thought if i reached out, it would make it worse for both of us.
Junhui: i thought you hated me for leaving.
â
You stare at the screen, heart sharp in your throat.
You want to say, âI never hated you.â
You want to say, âI hated how quiet it got without you.â
You want to say, âI still burn the egg.â
But all that comes out is:
You: i didnât hate you.
You: i waited for you.
A long pause.
Long enough that you wonder if heâll answer at all.
Then:
Junhui: do you still burn the egg?
You cry. Not loud. Just enough to blur the screen.
You reply with shaking fingers:
You: only on days i want to remember.
â
You lie in bed for another hour, message thread glowing like a wound.
You donât talk more that night.
He doesnât say if he wants to start over. You donât ask.
There are a thousand things left unsaid.
But he replied.
And for now, thatâs enough.
â
2025-03-04 4:02AM â [UNSENT]
maybe this wasnât closure.
maybe this was the door creaking open again.
maybe itâs a mistake.
maybe iâm still in love.
maybe you are too.
maybe.
(maybe is enough for tonight.)
â
The next morning, you reread the conversation six times before even brushing your teeth.
Itâs real. You didnât dream it.
He replied.
He saw you.
But heâs not here.
And thatâs still the part that doesnât change.
â
The texts slow after that night. Not cold. Just careful.
A message every few days. Sometimes a voice note, always short.
Junâs voice sounds the same: like honey spilled over a cracked record. You listen to it three times before replying.
He tells you heâs been taking dance classes again. That he started journaling. That Guangzhouâs been warm.
You tell him about the new coffee place you hate. That you cut your hair. That your apartment still smells like him when it rains.
Neither of you says what this is.
But neither of you stops talking, either.
â
You go through your old drafts one night.
Youâre ready now.
You delete the ones that were written to make him feel guilty. The ones that were really written to make yourself feel better. The ones that asked for something he canât give.
But you keep some.
You keep the ones that bled.
You keep the ones that loved him.
You open the shared note he read, the one that started all of this.
You see his cursor thereâjust briefly. Then it vanishes.
You donât know if heâs still reading.
You write anyway.
â
[SHARED NOTE â RENAMED] â title: still here
hi.
you donât have to answer this one.
but i wanted you to know:
iâm not angry anymore.
not at you. not at myself.
i think some people donât leave because they stop loving.
i think they leave because love wasnât enough to make them stay.
and thatâs okay.
i didnât need you to stay.
i just needed to know i mattered.
thank you for replying.
that was enough.
â
You sit in the silence after that.
No typing bubbles.
No reply.
But your chest doesnât feel as heavy. Your hands donât shake. Your drafts folder stays closed.
For once, thereâs nothing left to say.
You go for a walk. You pass a street musician playing the song Jun used to hum when he thought no one could hear. You donât cry this time.
You smile.
â
A few days later, your phone lights up.
One new message.
â
Junhui: iâm glad i read them.
Junhui: and iâm glad youâre still writing.
Junhui: i donât know if iâll ever come back.
Junhui: but if i doâ
Junhui: i hope you still burn the egg.
â
You donât write back.
Not because youâre hurt.
But because youâre fullâof what was, what couldâve been, and what no longer needs to happen.
i wasnât supposed to see them.
the notes. the drafts.
you left them in the shared folder, and i opened it by accident while looking for a song we wrote onceâ
that duet with too many metaphors and not enough resolve.
i saw the title first: draft23_tell_me_when_it_stopped_feeling_like_home.txtand i think my heart stopped.
i didnât mean to read more.
but you know me.
once i start a story, i have to finish it.
except this one didnât finish.
you never gave it an ending.
and maybe thatâs what broke me.
i moved back because i thought thatâs what i was supposed to do.
family. roots. tradition. the life that was waiting.
but no one tells you that sometimes home becomes a person.
and i left mine at gate 37B, wearing a scarf i bought you last winter and a face that didnât know how to cry.
you looked at me like i was already gone.
and i think i was.
i kept telling myself youâd move on faster if i stayed silent.
that if i let go clean, youâd bleed less.
but reading your messages?
they didnât bleed.
they burned.
softly.
like candles you never blew out.
you kept me alive in them.
iâm sorry i didnât reply when it mattered.
iâm sorry i didnât ask you to wait.
iâm sorry i didnât stay.
you never asked me toâbut maybe i hoped you would.
thereâs a line in one of your notes i canât forget:
âwhat if you come back and donât recognize me?â
i will.
i promise.
even if you cut your hair again.
even if you stop writing about me.
even if someone else loves you better.
i will know you.
i donât know what this means.
i donât know if weâll find our way back.
maybe we werenât meant to.
but if we ever cross paths againâ
at a train station, a bookstore, or a bad karaoke barâ
i hope we say hello.
and i hope we mean it.
jun
â
The weather changes overnight. It always does when something ends.
You sit by the window in your apartment, legs curled under you, wearing that hoodie he left behind. It still doesnât smell like him. But you wear it anyway.
You havenât written to him in a week.
You donât feel guilty about it.
Thatâs new.
You still check the shared note sometimes. Still hover over the keyboard like maybe your hands will remember how to speak for your heart. But nothing comes. Nothing forces its way out.
And maybe that means somethingâs healing.
â
Your friends have stopped asking if youâve heard from him.
You havenât told them he replied.
Not because itâs a secret.
But because it doesnât need to be shared to be real.
Some things live better in quiet places.
â
You open a new note.
It isnât addressed to Jun.
It isnât even about him.
Itâs a to-do list:
wash the dishes
call mom
delete old voicemails
book a solo trip
buy new pens
maybe start writing for yourself again
You laugh when you get to the last one.
You add one more item.
remember that even burned eggs can be soft in the middle
â
Later, you walk to the bookstore.
Itâs the one Jun never liked. Said it was too trendy. You loved it for the windows, the sun-soaked reading chairs, the paper smell so thick it felt like being hugged by a poem.
You wander the shelves. Something tugs at youâhalf instinct, half nostalgia.
Itâs a book youâd told him about once. One he said heâd read someday.
You pick it up. Flip through the pages.
And then you see it.
Tucked between chapter eight and nine.
A paper. Folded twice. Familiar handwriting.
You freeze.
Itâs him.
You donât know how it got there. Maybe someone mailed it. Maybe someone helped. Maybe fate got impatient.
But itâs him.
You unfold it with hands that donât shake.
You read every word.
You sit there, breath held in your chest like itâs not sure it belongs to you anymore.
When you finish, you smile. You cry.
Not because youâre sad.
Because youâre seen.
Because maybe he never stopped loving you.
Or maybe he just finally learned how to say it.
â
You leave the letter in the book.
You donât need to keep it.
You already remember it by heart.
And for the first time in months, you open your drafts folder and delete every message.
Every single one.
Except one.
You rename it:
for me, not him.txt
And you start typing again.
â
2025-04-02 12:22AM â for me, not him.txt
i donât know where this ends.
maybe thatâs the point.
love doesnât always need a destination.
sometimes, it just needs to be felt.
and i felt you.
iâll always be glad i did.
INTERNET CONNECTION // jongseob x gn!reader ââ
â Info: This is pure, cheesy, corny fluff. The most triggering thing mentioned here is an fps game. Reader is implied to be of similar age to seob.
â Wordcount: 5.4k
You remember it quite clearly, the first time you two have met. It was a late, early summer evening you were sure you'd be spending in solitude, surrounded only by empty cups of tea and candy wrappings.
You were playing, with quite some shame, probably the worst type of game invented by mankind â a first person shooter. You knew very well how an all nighter with this devil ended most of the time, with your brain completely fried from the exhausting dopamine rush and frustration. This evening, at that point, seemed to have been going in that very direction as well.
Your team was horrible â two guys constantly yelling at everyone (and each other) and one player who quit after the first round just to come back three loses later and bottom frag. Not like your own aim was any better, you were tired after a long day of work after all. That match looked like a perfect recipe for a disaster, and you were already mentally preparing for the kitchen to explode.
But then something unexpected happened. That last guy, who hasn't said a single word yet, started whispering to you in the text chat. You ignored it at first, thinking it were just cheeky comments about your lack of skill, and you tried to focus on clutching the round.
Of course, as it always ends on nights like these, you died pathetically. Screams of two angry russian teenagers immediately invaded your headset and you covered your face with your hands with a sigh to cool down. You should've muted the two brats, but unfortunately for you besides the banshee-like screeching they actually provided some useful comments as well.
You stared at your screen in thought â you needed a way to save your sanity during this match. After all, you opened the game to relax for fucks sake, not to have your mood tampered with by prepubescent angry boys.
With a little bit of hesitation, you opened the chat and started reading the messages that the quiet player has sent you, contemplating whether you should indulge him or not. To your surprise, he was actually digging at the others, not you. It seemed like you weren't the only one here having your fun ruined.
Reaching that conclusion, you decided to engage with the guy. Frankly, you didn't have anything to lose. In the worst case scenario you'll get called a slur. In the best case scenario? He'll turn out to be quite funny.
As you quickly learned, luckily the latter was the truth. Not only that, he was really engaging to talk to, in general. You two joked about the angry mob screaming in your ears, about both of your pathetic kill counts and flawed tactics. Your team was losing hard, but you didn't even care anymore. You were smiling and enjoying yourself instead of pulling your hair out, that's what mattered to you most.
And after you inevitably lost that match you decided to hop on another one together. Then another one. And another one. It all eventually blended into one as both of your brains turned into mush throughout the night.
You ended up falling asleep with the game still open at around four in the morning. About an hour later you woke up, feeling so dizzy that you might as well have been drunk. You wanted to get up and go to the bathroom, but two messages in the game chat stopped you in your tracks. One was a simple "someone's sleepy huh?" and the other one was his discord username, you assumed. Without thinking much of it, you added him and turned off your computer, going back to your original plan of going to the bathroom and getting those sweet three hours of sleep.
That's basically how your relationship started, or at least that's all you can remember. From this night onwards you've officially found yourself not only a gaming buddy (although, admittedly a very busy one), but also, unfortunately, your crush. And boy were you angry at yourself when you've realised this.
At first you didn't even understand why you caught any kind of feelings for him. Despite talking for months you knew next to nothing about him â he never used voice chat, he refused to reveal his name, he barely talked about his job (at least you knew he had one) and he never wanted to share any other socials of his. This guy was so frustratingly secretive.
Despite all of that though, he had this... way about him. All cheeky and kind of mischievous, never missing a chance to take a small jab at you. You said that you hated it and always responded with a comment of your own. But behind the screen? Oh you were blushing.
There was this one time when, while trying to enjoy a peaceful morning, you spilled freshly made coffee all over your keyboard. Not only was it rendered broken, but also a half of your left hand suffered first degree burns.Â
For some reason, he was the first person you thought to message about it after you cleaned up your mess, and he made sure to tease you good before offering you any comfort.
"Shaky hands huh?"
"You were sitting there with your hand in cold water for 20 whole minutes? Oh I bet you looked silly"
"Haha, in all seriousness though, does it hurt bad?"
This little shit. You wanted to get mad at him for making jokes at your expense, you really did. However, you couldn't help but notice that most of the time it took him half an hour at least, sometimes a whole day to read your messages. This time though? He responded almost immediately. Didn't even give you a chance to finish the story. It made your stomach flip in a way that almost made you forget the pain in your hand entirely. It also made you fight the desire to giggle and kick your feet like a highschool girl.
What you didn't know, though, is the fact that he was no better himself. He loved this little thing you two had going on, the banter, the game nights and evening talks. It was such a normal way to unwind after a hard day. He wouldn't admit it for a long time, but in a way he found it addictive.
And he felt so guilty because of it. So guilty that he preferred talking to you over getting solid sleep. So guilty that he caught himself spending more and more time coming up with his teasing remarks, making sure he's not going too far and hurting your feelings. So guilty that he was totally, undeniably, indubitably falling for you.
But he just couldn't help it. His life, from such an early age, was following such a wild and unpredictable path. Being an idol was amazing, but it was also all-consuming. Growing up in the spotlight, he felt uprooted from normal people's experiences almost completely, and while that made his life way more exciting and fun, it also made him crave normalcy. He had friends in his group, yes, but he also wanted something more... Down to earth, sometimes. Something unrelated to his successful career. Something anyone else could experience.
He hated it, but you were that exact something, or someone, he needed. Your relationship was like a window to a perfectly average life of a normal, regular person. He adored playing games with you and listening to your stories from work. It gave him an ideal opportunity to be just a guy in someone's life for once, not an idol to put on a pedestal.
And it would've been so perfect, just having a friend he could turn to when he needed to cool off from the life of fame. But you just had to have this... way about you. Somewhat clumsy and always up for fun. Always laughing at his jokes and having the cutest reactions to his jabs. After some time he noticed that your voice alone was enough to make him calm down. You even sent a picture of yourself, once. He told you you were "quite pretty", but he definitely did not tell you about how many times he went back to look at that photo. Frankly, he stopped counting himself. That's also how he came to the conclusion that yes, he was, in fact, crushing on you hard.
And however self-indulgent it may have been, he decided to keep these little fluttery feelings in his chest alive. He knew he shouldn't do as such, but, fuck, didn't he deserve that after all of this hard work he's done?
He often caught his own thoughts fighting each other â of course he deserved to have a little crush! What harm could it bring? But, oh, it had no future at all! You didn't even live close to each other! He's probably forbidden to date anyone! You probably don't even like him that way, ultimately you were just gaming buddies, right? But the way you'd react to his words... It honestly only made him want to flirt with you more and more, just to see how you'd react.
He'd unconsciously always side with the thoughts that were telling him to pursue you. After all, you weren't even into k-pop! All he had to do was, regrettably, be secretive and careful not to overshare. It was hard, he really wanted to tell you everything, but he could bite his tongue if it meant your relationship could exist in its current form for longer.
And so, after partially overcoming the feelings of guilt and frustration, he felt safe. So safe in fact that he wanted to start talking with you in voice chat, albeit with a slightly altered tone. It didn't come to that though.
One day, while checking to see if you messaged him throughout the night, he noticed something really worrying, at least in his eyes. You were listening to music, as usual, typical for you in the morning hours. What you were listening to was what made him freeze, however.
He reread it over and over again as if it could make it disappear, but, obviously, it didn't work.
You were listening to P1harmony, more specifically Killinâ it. And it made his brain go haywire with panic.
He didn't have much time to think, but he needed to question you. Were you a stan all along? Did Spotify just randomly recommend you the song? If that was the case, he hoped you didn't like it one bit. But, also, kind of hoped you were smitten by his lines.
He took a deep breath, trying to keep his cool, but it clearly wasn't working. His palms were sweaty, he was nervously pacing around the room and tapping his fingers on the side of the phone.
Finally, about thirty seconds before the song ended, he wrote "listening to kpop? kind of cringe dude". And he was very, very proud of that message.
You, though, immediately felt slightly embarrassed after you've read it. Not too much though, you honestly expected him to make fun of it.
You explained that youtube recommended some of the group's music videos to you, and although you didn't care much for k-pop, you decided to check it out. You told him to give them a shot as well, because the music was actually really good. As if he didn't already know that.
He has, in fact, never felt more stressed than in the upcoming months of your relationship. It didn't help that you became quite a big fan of P1harmony, buying albums and showing him photocards. He didn't even know that he had such a great level of self restraint up until this point. He wanted to scream at you that this guy on your little pieces of cardboard was actually him so badly. Stopping himself was harder than any workout he has ever done.
When you declared that Jongseob was your bias with your reasoning being âHaha, he reminds me of you!â his mind was filled with static. Not only because of sheer terror, but because it made him blush like crazy. The way you talked about him without having a clue about who you're sending the messages to? His stomach was exploding with butterflies.
You were having the time of your life, and he was desperately trying to stop himself from developing his feelings for you even more. He shouldâve bullied you out of it, or shouldâve shared a different k-pop group for your attention to switch to someone, anyone else. But truthfully, he didn't want to. It was wrong, but it felt so goddamn good. He couldn't deny, he liked the fact you were swooning all over him.
You completely missed the real reason behind his very specific attitude towards your newest obsession. You thought you just convinced him to give the music a chance, and that he ended up liking it just as much as you did. He knew almost all of the lyrics! He shared some fun facts about the members you never came across on social media! You were so happy to share this interest with him. It was great!
Eventually, P1harmony went on tour. For some reason your friend was also ten times busier than usual. It wasnât that big of a deal to you, you texted almost just as much as before, only the game nights have suffered.
And yet you were kind of scared of drifting apart. It was gnawing at you no matter how hard you tried to push these thoughts out. So you decided to do something bold. Perhaps to test how much he was willing to do for your friendship, or perhaps just because you really wanted to finally break the barrier of secrecy between you.
When tour dates appeared for near your city you asked him if he would, by any chance, want to come visit and go to the concert with you. A day has passed before you received an answer and you were ready for impending rejection. But to your surprise, he agreed. Not only that, he said he has already planned to do so as a surprise. You couldn't recall the last time you've smiled as widely as in that moment.
On the day of the concert you made sure to look your very best. You tried to lie to yourself that it was because you didn't want to stand out in the overdressed crowd, but honestly, you knew that you just wanted to impress him.Â
You showed up to the place early, constantly checking your phone, asking him all kinds of questions. You learnt that he was blonde, about average height, with dark eyes. And also what his phone model was. You also learnt that he wasn't at the stadium yet. And that he still refused to share his name.
As more time passed, you grew increasingly worried. Everyone has gathered and the concert has already started, but he was nowhere to be seen. What was even worse, he completely stopped reading your messages.
Worry eventually turned into frustration and anger as you came to the conclusion that he had to have been just joking again. You thought you'd been stood up, and you decided to have the best night of your life to spite him.
And boy was that going great. You knew it was the right decision to buy those tier one tickets! You felt like Jongseob's eyes were constantly on you, during his solo stage he even crouched right in front of you and winked. You were having a ball.
Eventually, you couldn't help but notice that it was... Strange, the way he paid so much attention to you. You thought it was just luck, but... Really? He was always waving in your direction, running a hand through his hair and making cool poses. You failed to miss how he squinted his eyes while looking at you, almost as if he tried to take a better look at your features. Did you remind him of someone?
It just couldn't leave your head, even after the group stepped off the stage for the final time. The rest of the audience started leaving, but you lingered, looking at the confetti covered stage in thought. It was getting late.
You received a message on your phone, you noticed as you checked the hour.
It read "Please, stay".
You really wanted to ignore it and just go home. Unfortunately, even if it frustrated you, you liked this guy. You liked him a lot and really wanted to see him face to face. Have a talk. Granted, you didn't think this talk would be giving him a piece of your mind, but you didn't care anymore.
After what felt like forever, you remained the only person in the stadium. The hollow building fell so quiet that you felt like at any moment security could appear to escort you out, deeming your prolonged presence suspicious.
When you started hearing footsteps while sitting under the stage, you were sure it was them, prepared for scolding.
Curiously, though, the sound came from behind you. With the way you were sitting, above you as well. You looked up, and to your surprise you met the two most anxiety ridden, deep, beautiful dark eyes you've ever seen in your life. Attached to none other than Kim Jongseob himself, leaning down, standing above you with his arms behind his back.
"Hey," he said simply, in a voice so quiet you barely heard it.
You didn't respond, words getting stuck in your throat, so many thoughts rushing through your head that it felt clogged. You just couldn't wrap your head around your current situation. It didn't make any sense. It really didn't, so for a couple of agonizingly long minutes, you sat there on the ground in silence and confusion, without a response in sight. Until it all clicked.
Blonde, about average height, with dark eyes.
Oh.
You stood up, feeling like you've just regained control over paralyzed muscles.
"I'm... Sorry." He eventually continued with a shaky breath. "I really am. About keeping all of this a secret from you. I couldn't bring myself to tell you. I... Honestly, I should've ended our relationship after I noticed what you were listening to that one morning..."
He broke eye contact to bashfully stare at the ground. He inhaled deeply to calm himself down and crouched, wanting so desperately to close the distance between you.
"But you understand, right? I couldn't. I didn't want to, either. I didn't mean to lie and play with your feelings, I just... I'm sorry. I guess I was just being selfish." He said, his gaze again meeting yours.
He truly did seem apologetic. All that cockiness and confidence he had during the performance, gone.
You were still processing that, for the last couple of months, possibly more than a year at this point, you were talking to an actual, real k-pop star. One you adored so much, too.
You were friends with him, you shared embarrassing moments, and he allowed the relationship to get laced with lovey-dovey tension despite knowing he probably wouldn't be allowed to officially pursue you.
You should've been mad at him, probably. After discovering his secret identity, you should've felt the distance between you two increase tenfold.
But strangely, it was the opposite. You've never felt closer to him, no other talk you two have had has felt as intimate as this one â your first one face-to-face.
"Hey, Jongseob?" You started hesitantly, earning an expecting look from him. "You are being serious, right? It actually was you? This isn't a joke?" You asked.
This seemed to have offended him, just a little bit. He furrowed his brow with a slight pout.
"Of course not! Do you really think I could joke about something like this?" He asked with disbelief. You decided to dig deeper. You had to be sure.
"You didn't have much problem joking around after I just burned my hand," You remarked.
He scoffed, as if he was mad that your first instinct was to question his identity. Or maybe the stress was just getting to him.
"Come on, it's not like they were third degree burns!" He rolled his eyes, unknowingly confirming his status as your anonymous internet sweetheart. "Besides, I did ask you about your well-being like a second later. I even recommended you a new keyboard model and you said it's the best keyboard you've ever had!" He unconsciously shifted his position while talking, sitting down with his knees on the ground, lessening the distance between you two even more.
He fell silent and you two exchanged peeved looks. And then both of you started giggling as you felt the tension between you fade. Your laugh echoed through the empty, dimly lit stadium and you felt like you were the only people existing in the world.
"So uh... Are you like, mad at me? You know, for doing all⊠that?" Jongseob asked, that apologetic tone still lingering on his tongue.
You hummed in thought. That was a good question, were you mad at him?
"You know... I think I probably should be," You started with a click of your tongue. "But this is just... It's too insane. I'm just happy I can really see you. I'm glad you don't have to hide anything anymore."
He smiled softly at that, his eyes regaining the spark from before, when he was basking in the spotlight. Your heart couldn't help but skip a beat, and you mentally cringed at the effect he had on you.
"So⊠Remember all those things you were saying about your precious, beautiful idol?" He said suddenly in a teasing, melodic way, immediately making your face red at the very memory.
"Fuck, oh, oh no I kind of completely forgot about that? Haha," You looked to the side, nervously chuckling and shifting in your spot. "But, you know, you could've stopped me at any time! I know you liked reading it too, don't play coy!" You alleged in your defence.
It only earned a mischievous snicker from him. "Yeah, you know, that'd be about right," You were doing a really poor job at hiding your enjoyment in his attitude shift. "So, hey, how about making your dreams come true, huh? You donât have to limit yourself to just telling me about them anymore. Come and kiss your pretty boy!" He said cheekily, calling himself a pretty boy in a way that felt like he was mocking your own words from the past.
And while the question looked like a planned move to get you flustered, in reality it was just a sign of him losing his composure. It was stuck at the back of his tongue ever since he saw you sitting under the stage. He wanted that stupid kiss so badly it was embarrassing, but there was no way in hell that heâd simply show that. However, there also was no way heâd miss out on an occasion to ask you for it, not when after all this time you were standing right in front of him.
"Haha, reeal funny, Seobie," You replied sarcastically, giving him a nasty glare. It made his smirk drop into a displeased, impatient grimace.
"I wasn't kidding, you know." He said with a deadpan expression.
You stared at him in confusion, cocking your head to the side.
You looked around as if trying to spot someone, worried about anyone who might've been watching.
"You're, um, serious?" You asked with disbelief, heat returning to your cheeks. "I thought you weren't allowed to date? I don't really want to get you into trouble. And we're also, like... You know. If anyone sees us you'll get caught in a scandal for sure."
You scratched the back of your neck. Did you want to kiss him? God, you wanted nothing else honestly. But you weren't willing to risk his entire career for it. You felt like that would be incredibly selfish of you.
You soon learned that he didn't quite share the same sentiment, though.
He looked at you for a moment, his eyes clouding with thought. He was carefully considering your words. After all, you were kind of right. Kissing right there in public with a random fan has the label of an idol scandal plastered all over it. If someone recorded you twoâŠ
You could practically hear the gears turning in his head as he tried to decide what to do. It made your shoulders fall a little and you unconsciously stepped back slightly. He twitched at that, a look of deep frustration ghosting through his soft features. He sighed and grabbed you by the collar of your shirt, pulling you closer to him with a vexed, piercing glint in his eyes. He made his choice.
"You know what? I just don't think I give a fuck."
And with those words serving as a final warning, he crashed his lips into yours.
The kiss started out soft and sort of awkward. Clearly neither of you have ever kissed before, but that didnât matter to either of you at the moment. After so much time spent in secrecy, so far away too, you could finally share a moment of blissful, sweet affection. No more hiding Jongseob's identity or both of your feelings for each other. It all could finally be freely expressed.
And all of that relief was poured into the amateur kiss. You tensed up at first, stunned by the sudden action. But eventually you relaxed, stiffness disappearing as Jongseob let go of your shirt, gently resting his hands on the back of your neck instead. In turn you held onto his arms, elevating the closure between you even further.
After a while he pulled away, and both of you locked eyes in silence. The kiss was sweet and beautiful, and yet you both looked⊠unsatisfied. It was very apparent on both of your faces.
âThat, uh. It was okay, right?â He broke the silence hesitantly. It seems that he didnât realise his own dissatisfaction was clear as day.
âI mean⊠Yeah. Yeah, it was perfect!â You tried to assure him hastily, the tone of your voice hinting at the fact that he wasnât the only one you tried to convince.
You stared at each other quietly even longer. Jongseob exhaled after a while, a small smile creeping onto his face.
âYeah I think we both know that was a little too... soft? I mean, when will we get the chance to do this again?â He said, his words laced with amusement. It made you chuckle in return, you couldnât help but laugh at how well you read each other.
âOh youâre so right. Letâs just, I dunno, do a second take, okay?â You placed your hands on his shoulders and he gave you a reassured and determined look.
âMan I thought youâd never ask.â And with those words he smashed your lips together yet again, way less awkwardly than before.
This time was a lot more passionate than the previous kiss. In a way it felt even more authentic because of it. When the first kiss was an expression of relief, this one presented another side of your relationship - the hunger. The uncontrollable desire to be near each other stirring in both of you, the desperate need for closure that couldnât be satisfied previously. Both of you were still here, under and on the stage, and yet you felt like the world was already pulling you apart again.
Jongseob leaned even closer to you, nearly slipping off the edge. He still had no idea what he was doing, and neither did you, but nevertheless the experience felt wonderful. You cherished and engraved every tiny detail in your memory â the way his lips felt, the way he was playing with your hair absentmindedly, the sheer determination emanating from him. And he did the same. He poured his whole heart into trying to make this kiss an unforgettable memory for the both of you. You could hardly call what you were doing a âmaking out sessionâ, but it was pretty damn close.
Youâd probably stay like this for way longer than normally expected if a sudden shout hadnât caused Jongseob to nearly slip off the stage straight onto you.
âAre you done, Jongseob?! I donât think I can buy you even more time!â Keehoâs voice resonated throughout the empty space. He sounded mildly impatient, but there was a hint of amusement in his tone as well.
Jongseobâs eyes went wide and he twitched so hard he felt his entire weight shift to his upper body, effectively forcing you to act quickly and push him back onto the stage. He stood up and faced his leader with impressive speed. You fell silent and instantly put your hands up as a show of innocence and surrender.
âY-yeah Iâm all done, Iâm going!â Jongseob laughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck. Keeho rolled his eyes, but there were no indicators of malice in his demeanor. In fact, he seemed to have found this situation quite funny. Without any further remarks he nodded at the maknae and walked off again, giving him one last piercing glance, signaling him to hurry up.
Jongseob let out the air he was unaware of holding and turned to face you again. He gave you a warm, bittersweet and apologetic smile. You were still kind of paralyzed from Keehoâs sudden intrusion, but that sight alone was enough to make you lower your arms and relax again. After that spike of emotions you started to feel the exhaustion from the concert and kisses catching up to you. You grinned from ear to ear tired, but peaceful.
âYou heard him Jongseob, scurry!â You snickered, crossing your arms and staring at the boy. He let out a disbelieved gasp at your words. âOh so you donât want to see me suddenly? Alright dude,â he started, faking offence. âHardly a proper way to treat your favourite idol, but okay,â He closed his eyes and started walking away.
For a second you were actually worried that you hurt his feelings. You were ready to promptly apologise, but before you got the chance to do that he half turned towards you again and winked with a smirk.
âActually, make that âyour boyfriendâ instead. Iâll text you as soon as I have some time to talk!â He gave you a small, playful bow and ran off, afraid of Keeho appearing again.
You stared at the spot he used to be in just a second ago, stunned and wide-eyed. You raised a hand to feel your cheeks and, as you suspected, they were very much warm. You werenât really shocked at his behavior, you sort of expected him to mess with you a little before leaving, but his shameless bluntness left you lightheaded. You looked around, spotting a really annoyed older lady, busy cleaning confetti. She was sending you death glares every other second and you immediately understood that you have far overstayed your welcome in the stadium. You shot her an awkward smile and finger guns and skipped towards the exit, cringing internally.
Cold wind blew in your face the second you stepped out of the building. You didnât know exactly how late it got, but it wasnât as important to you as the promised text from Jongseob. The night was quiet and peaceful, a surprisingly little number of cars still present on the roads. You were just standing there, processing your emotions, taking in the sight of the city and basking in the moment. It felt nice to finally breathe in fresh air again. Well, as fresh as the city fumes allowed it to be, anyway.
You took out your phone ready to check the hour and froze as soon as the screen turned on. With terror you realised that you missed your last bus home. You cursed loudly, completely breaking the calm atmosphere. You were now forced to somehow find either a different way back or a cheap, decent place to stay until morning. Both incredibly hard tasks to do, given the hour. Not only that, as if that wasnât enough your battery was almost dead too. Shit, did you really have to make so many Jongseob fancams today? If only you knew earlier!
You sighed, exhaustion finally taking hold of you. It was going to be a long night. But hey, at least you had something to wait for â a joyful text from your pretty boy. And honestly, that was enough to cheer you up at least a little.
They called Joshua âAngelâ sometimes, and you understood why.
It wasnât just his looks, though they were certainly ethereal. It was his demeanor. A constant, unshakable calm. A gentle patience that seemed to have no bottom. A smile that could disarm any tension. He was good, genuinely and consistently good, in a way that felt effortless.
And you⊠you were not an angel.
You were all sharp edges and messy emotions. Your patience had a very short fuse. You cried when you were frustrated, yelled when you were scared, and had a habit of building walls when you felt vulnerable. You loved Joshua with a ferocity that scared you sometimes, but alongside that love lived a constant, gnawing fear: that you were too much. And simultaneously, not enough.
The fear had a name: Imposter Syndrome. It whispered to you at night when you watched him sleep, his face peaceful and perfect. What is he doing with you? It hissed at you when you snapped at him over something trivial, and he just took it, his expression soft and understanding. He deserves better than this. Than you.
The breaking point was stupid. It always is.
Youâd had a catastrophically bad day. Everything that could go wrong, did. You came home to the beautiful, serene apartment you shared with him, a storm cloud in human form. He was in the kitchen, humming softly, cooking dinner. The apartment smelled of garlic and herbs. He was the picture of domestic peace.
âHey, you,â he said, his smile warm and welcoming. âRough day? I made your favorite.â
And something in you just⊠broke. His perfection was a spotlight on your failure. His calm felt like a criticism of your chaos.
âI donât want my favorite,â you muttered, your voice thick with unshed tears of frustration. You threw your bag on the floor, a little harder than necessary.
Joshuaâs smile didnât falter, but it became careful. âOkay. What do you need? Do you want to talk about it?â
âI donât know, Joshua! I donât have a perfect little checklist for how to handle my emotions like you do!â you snapped, the words coming out harsher than you intended. You saw the slightest flinch in his shoulders, and the guilt immediately curdled in your stomach. But you couldnât stop. The monster of your insecurity was loose. âYouâre just⊠youâre always so fine. Itâs infuriating! Nothing ever gets to you! Do you even feel things?!â
The moment the words left your mouth, you wanted to claw them back. His smile vanished completely, replaced by a quiet, stunned hurt. He turned off the stove and faced you fully, his movements slow.
âIs that what you think?â he asked, his voice dangerously quiet.
âI think Iâm a mess,â you sobbed, the fight draining out of you, leaving only the raw, aching shame. âAnd youâre⊠you. Youâre strong and good and patient and Iâm just⊠Iâm not strong enough for this. For you. Youâre going to realize it one day and youâre going to leave, and I donât know how to be anything other than this⊠this burden.â
You slid down the wall onto the floor, burying your face in your hands. Youâd done it. Youâd put your deepest, darkest fear into the universe and now he would see you for the fragile, broken thing you were.
You expected him to sigh. To walk away. To finally be done.
Instead, you heard him sink to the floor across from you. He didnât touch you. He just sat there, in the silence youâd shattered.
âYou think Iâm strong?â he finally said, his voice low. âYou think nothing gets to me?â
You peeked through your fingers. He wasnât looking at you; he was staring at his hands.
âI spent two hours this afternoon practicing what I would say to you when you got home. I was so nervous. I wanted it to be perfect for you because I knew youâd had a hard day.â He let out a shaky breath that was nothing like his usual calm composure. âMy hands were sweating. I feel things, Y/N. I feel them so deeply it terrifies me.â
Your tears slowed. You listened.
âI am not strong,â he insisted, his voice gaining a rare, emotional intensity. âI am trying. Every single day, I am trying to be calm for you, to be patient for you, because I love you. And it is the hardest thing I have ever done. Because when you hurt, I hurt. When you pull away, it feels like my world is ending. When you yell, I want to yell back, but Iâm so scared of saying the wrong thing and breaking this⊠breaking us.â
He finally looked at you, and his eyes were glistening. Joshua was crying. The angel was crying. Because of you.
âYou think youâre not strong enough?â he whispered, a single tear tracing a path down his cheek. âYou are the strongest person I know. You feel everything out loud. You fight your battles head-on, even when theyâre with yourself. You have no idea how much I admire that. How much I need that. Youâre not a burden. Youâre my balance.â
You were crying again, but silently now, utterly dismantled by his confession.
âIâm not perfect,â he said, scooting closer until his knees touched yours. He reached out and took your hands, his grip firm. âIâm just a man who is desperately in love with a woman who doesnât see her own worth. And I will spend every day of my life trying to show it to you, if youâll let me.â
The weight youâd been carrying, the fear that you weren't enough, didnât vanish. But it shifted. It was no longer a boulder you carried alone; it was a weight you now shared.
âIâm so sorry,â you choked out. âIâm sorry I said those things. I donât think youâre perfect. I think youâre⊠you. And Iâm so scared of losing you.â
He pulled you into his arms, holding you tightly against his chest. You could feel his heart hammering against your earâfast and anxious and real. Proof that he wasnât unshakable. Proof that he felt everything, too.
âYouâre not losing me,â he murmured into your hair, his voice firm. âWeâre not strong enough on our own. Nobody is. But we are strong enough together. Thatâs the whole point.â
You held onto him, breathing in the scent of garlic and herbs and his cologne and the salty evidence of his tears. The angel had fallen, and in his fall, he had caught you. You weren't strong enough alone. But you didn't have to be. And that, finally, felt like more than enough.
pairings: idol!Seungkwan x creative director!reader, second chance romance, documentary, inspired by our beloved summer, fluff!! little bonus at the end âĄïž
âFrom first love to forever â they found their way back, and built a life worth remembering."
word count: 3.8k
They were each otherâs first love â inseparable in high school until the pressures of chasing a dream tore them apart. Years later, a reunion documentary brings them face-to-face again, stirring up old wounds, lingering feelings, and the truth behind why she walked away. Through anger, regret, and unspoken love, they find their way back to each other â proving that some loves donât fade with time; they simply wait to be found again.
You were halfway through a mind-numbing meeting when your phone buzzed.
The clientâs voice droned on about font hierarchies and "branding synergy," but the unknown number on your screen was far more intriguing â and slightly alarming. You never answered calls from unknown numbers. Still, something about this one made your thumb hesitate.
You excused yourself quietly, slipping into the hallway of your office building, sleek and cold under the late afternoon light.
âHello?â
âY/N-ssi?â A womanâs voice, polite and practiced. âThis is Kim Hyejin from KBC Productions. Iâm calling about a new documentary project weâre producingââ
You cut her off automatically. âIâm not interested.â
She hesitated. âI havenât explained what it is yet.â
âIâm still not interested,â you said, softer this time but firm. âI donât do interviews. I donâtââ
âItâs a follow-up to Youth in Bloom,â she interjected quickly, as if ripping off a bandage.
You froze.
The title hit like a physical blow. Youth in Bloom.
A ten-part documentary filmed during your senior year of high school. What was supposed to be a small, local project about "ordinary students" had gone unexpectedly viral, thanks to its central, unplanned focus: the bickering, undeniable chemistry between you and Boo Seungkwan.
The world had loved you two. "High school sweethearts," theyâd called you. "Opposites attract." You had been everywhere â memes, fan edits, late-night variety shows reminiscing about your dynamic.
And then, just months after filming ended, you broke up. Publicly? No. Brutally? Absolutely.
You drew in a shaky breath. âI⊠donât think thatâs a good idea.â
âWe want to revisit the original cast, see how everyoneâs lives have changed in the last ten years,â Hyejin pressed gently. âThe audience still remembers you. Theyâd love to see where you and Boo Seungkwan are now.â
You almost laughed at that. Where we are now?
You were a creative director at a mid-sized design firm, working long hours in a windowless office. He was one of the most recognizable idols in the country, adored by millions.
Worlds apart. Exactly as youâd intended when you ended things.
âIâm sorry,â you said finally, voice clipped. âBut I have no interest in reopening that part of my life.â
She didnât argue further.
Across the city, Seungkwan stared at his reflection in the practise room mirror, frustrated with himself for not being able to get this one dance move right.
But nothing could prepare him for what his manager casually said while scrolling on his tablet, "KBC wants you for a Youth in Bloom reunion, nostalgia, first love... the fans will eat it up,"
"No," Seungkwan replied without hesitation.
His manager blinked, "It could be good PR--"
"I said no," Seungkwan repeated, voice like steel.
When the manager left, Seungkwan slumped against the mirror onto the floor, eyes closed and face buried in his hands. The frustration from both the dancing and having to think of all the things he's been through with you was too much. He told himself he didn't care. Told himself he'd forgotten you.
But later when he's all alone on his bed, scrolling through old clips and photos, tears rolled down without him even realising.
"Yah, can I borrow your notes? Seungkwan asked, leaning over your desk with a cheeky smile.
"No," you replied flatly.
"Why not?"
"Because they're mine,"
He pouted dramatically, and you rolled your eyes. He's always been a loud one, while you were quiet, focused on grades and determined to stay out of trouble. You didn't like him at first, but somehow he grew onto you.
Later that day, Seungkwan found a neatly photocopied set of notes in his locker and he grinned like he'd won a battle.
Daily life with him slowly became routine. He'd walk you to class, steal your snacks and chase you around the library, which ends up with detention for the both of you. He was like a ray of sunshine in your life and you didn't know exactly when it stopped being annoying but when he held an umbrella over you even when he was soaked one rainy afternoon. You swore you felt your heart skip a beat.
And that's how you started, for 1321 days.
The studio felt suffocating when he walked in.
Time had done something to him â broadened his shoulders, sharpened his features, wrapped him in the effortless confidence of a man who had the worldâs applause at his feet. But when his eyes found yours, for just a heartbeat, you saw the boy you used to love.
"Y/n-ssi," he greeted you with a small nod, voice polite.
"Seungkwan-ssi," you replied, matching his tone.
The director grinned. âGreat! Letâs start with some catch-up shots. How longâs it been since youâve seen each other?â
âTen years,â you said.
âNine,â Seungkwan corrected without looking at you.
Your chest tightened. He remembered.
"I don't love you anymore, Seungkwan"
Despite the countless times you practised these five words in front of the mirror, they still felt like acid in your mouth but you said them anyway.
He stood on his porch, stunned, rain pouring on both of you, "What are you talking about?"
"I just don't", you kept your arms wrapped around yourself, nails digging into your palms to keep yourself from breaking and showing any sign of hesitation.
His breath caught, like you'd struck him, "That's not true."
"It is," You forced the words out, "You're debuting soon and I-- I just can't do this anymore,"
He stepped closer, desperate. "But you're the only thing that's kept me going--"
"Stop," you cut him off, voice cracking, "Please, just...stop. I'm done,"
For a moment, he just stared at you, rain sliding down his face, unsure if it was water or tears. Then, quietly:
"If you walk away right now...I won't come after you."
Your heart shattered and you looked up to meet his eyes one last time before turning away.
You didn't look back.
That was the last reason out of five for why he hates you.
Seungkwan keeps a little note of the list on his phone. It made him feel better to pretend there were reasons to hate you instead of love youâthough, more often than not, he caught himself erasing the hate and replacing it with things that only made him love you more.
When other classmates asked for your notes you would refuse every time, even to him. But you would always stuff a brand new copy into his locker and explain it slowly to him if he didn't understand.
2. She picks fights too easily.
âYah! Donât think Iâm scared of you just because youâre older!â you shouted at the three seniors, your voice sharp enough to make the entire hallway go silent.
One of them sneered. âAnd donât think I wonât hit you just because youâre a girl.â
Your blood boiled. You took a step forwardâonly for a firm arm to stop you.
âY/N,â Seungkwan said, sliding in front of you, shielding you with his body. His tone was calm but urgent. âHey, baby, itâs okay. Look at me. Letâs not do this here, alright?â
He kept his eyes on you, not the seniors, as if reminding you that they werenât worth it.
Only later did he learn that you were defending him from their trash talk.
His thumb paused on the line, and despite the ache in his chest, he let out a quiet, bittersweet laugh, remembering how fiercely youâd defended him that day.
3. No sense of romance.
âBut the cherry blossoms are the prettiest this time of year," Seungkwan whined.
"We can go next year. Iâm busy today," you said apologetically.
He sighed quietly. It was always next year.
But that night, as you walked home together, you suddenly pulled out a handful of pink paper confetti youâd cut yourself and tossed it over his head.
âTheyâre not as pretty as the real thing,â you said shyly, âbut I didnât want you to miss them.â
Seungkwan looked at you then, eyes wide, heart light. He didnât think heâd ever been happier.
4. She only shows her soft side to me.
"You're dating who?"
"Y/N," Seungkwan repeated calmly to his friend, who still looked unconvinced.
"But why her? I mean, sheâs cute, sure, but sheâs rude. I donât get it."
Seungkwanâs expression softened, a small, almost private smile tugging at his lips. âYou donât know her like I do,â he said quietly. âYouâve never seen how kind she can be when no oneâs looking.â
He'd lost count of how many times he'd defended you, but it only made him fall harder -- because only he ever got to see that soft, unguarded side of you.
And finally, reason five.
He hated that you made him fall so deeply in love⊠only to leave when he loved you the most.
He locked his phone and dragged a hand over his face, exhaustion and longing weighing him down. No matter how many reasons he wrote, he could never make himself stop loving you.
Filming continued the next day at the old town library where you used to have late night study sessions, it hasn't changed one bit. Same creaky floors, same sunlight slanting through the tall windows.
Heâs already seated when you walk in. For a moment, itâs like being seventeen again â him slouched over textbooks, you scolding him for doodling in the margins.
âY/N-ssi,â he greets coolly.
You take the chair beside him because the director tells you to. His cologne is subtle but warm, and it unsettles you more than you want to admit.
âThis is ridiculous,â you mutter as you open a random book for the camera.
He smirks faintly. âYou still hate being told what to do.â
Your eyes flick to his. âYou remember that?â
âI remember everything,â he says simply, not looking up.
Your pulse stutters and you excused yourself to step out for air.
The next location was the school rooftop. You couldnt help but smile as a fond memory of stolen kisses and secret hugs between classes flickered through your mind. The same rusted fence, the same peeling paint, and the same endless sky stretched above you, untouched by time.
You stand side by side for the cameras, pretending not to feel the weight of his presence.
âThis place hasnât changed,â you murmur.
âExcept us,â he replies.
The director prompts for âmemories of this spot.â
Seungkwanâs voice is even. âI remember that she never believed in me.â
Itâs like a punch to the gut.
The crew chuckles awkwardly, thinking itâs a joke. You know it isnât.
Later, when you find him by the stairwell, you whisper, âYou didnât have to say that.â
âIsnât it true?â he asks, eyes cold. âYou left when I needed you most. Told me I wasnât worth waiting for.â
âI never said thatââ
âYou didnât have to,â he cuts in, voice low. âYou walked away like I didnât matter.â
And then heâs gone, leaving you trembling in the echo of his anger⊠and your own regret.
That night, Seungkwan opens his phone and adds to his list:
6. I hate that no matter how much I try to resent her...I still want her to look at me the way she used to.
He turned off the screen, but sleep never came.
The next dayâs filming brought you to your curated art exhibition â a space that felt nothing like the high school memories theyâd been dredging up. Here, everything was deliberate: the soft wash of warm light against white walls, the quiet hum of strings playing in the background, the polished wood floors that clicked softly beneath every step.
Seungkwan entered with the crew, his hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the room without expression. He wasnât sure what he expected â minimalistic modern pieces, maybe. Something detached, like how youâd seemed when you first met again.
Then he saw it.
Tucked in the center of the gallery, given its own spotlight, was a painting that stopped him in his tracks.
A couple under an umbrella in the rain.
The strokes were soft yet heavy, textured with layers of gray and muted blues. The boyâs face was angled toward the girl, not fully detailed but unmistakably tender â eyes warm, lips parted as if he were about to say something. The girlâs face was hidden beneath the curve of the umbrella, but her hand â small, pale â clutched the sleeve of his jacket desperately, like letting go might break her.
Seungkwanâs heart slammed against his ribs. He didnât have to guess what night this was. He knew it. That night. The night you told him you didnât love him and walked away in the rain while he stood there, feeling like the world had ended.
He stepped closer, and thatâs when he noticed the small placard beside the frame.
âUntitled â Selected by curator Y/N.â
His breath caught.
You hadnât just painted this â youâd chosen to display it. Out of all the pieces in this gallery, youâd given this one the centerpiece, the light, the space.
He stared at it for a long time, the buzz of the crew fading into nothing.
Maybe she did love me, a thought whispered, unbidden. Maybe she always did.
He turned away when a camera operator called for him, but the image of the painting stayed burned behind his eyes. Even at night, he kept replaying the painting in his mind, almost reaching for his phone to ask what you meant. Almost.
7. I hate that she still finds a way to hold me even when sheâs not here.
Morning came and so with the noise.
Filming moved to a music show, crowded with artists and staff. Among the lineup was Haeri, the rookie idol who had recently been vocal about admiring Seungkwan.
He greeted her politely, gave her the same warm professionalism he gave any junior. But she lingered near him often, beaming when cameras swung her way. He didnât think anything of itâuntil the articles dropped that evening:
âHaeri and Boo Seungkwan: Secretly Close?â
ââHeâs My Ideal Type,â Haeri Gushes â Sparks Fly on Set!â
The next day on set, you avoided him completely. No small talk. No accidental glances. Just distance, thick and cold.
Seungkwan noticed but he remained silent, maybe heâs just overthinking or maybe you were just in a bad mood today. He didnât want to overstep and embarrass himself, so he only stared longingly in your direction when you avoided for the third time that day.
The shoot ran long. As Seungkwan left the set, heading toward the back corridor, he caught voices up ahead â two staff members speaking in low tones near the stairwell.
ââŠI felt so bad for her back then,â one was saying. âShe broke up with him right before his debut. Everyone thought she was heartless, but⊠you know why she did it, right?â
The other sighed. âYeah. She came to us crying, said she didnât want to hold him back. Said he deserved to chase his dream without feeling guilty for leaving her behind. She asked us not to tell him because⊠she wanted him to go without hesitation.â
âGod,â the first murmured. âHe never knew. Mustâve hated her all this time, thinking she just dumped him. Poor guy.â
Seungkwan froze.
The words sank deep, each one cutting and healing all at once. His throat tightened, vision blurring as realization hit him like a tidal wave:
She loved me. She always loved me.
All the anger, the resentment, the âreasonsâ heâd kept as armor crumbled in an instant. And all that remained was longing â raw, overwhelming, undeniable.
He walked out of the building without a word, his feet carrying him on instinct through familiar streets until he reached a tiny Japanese sukiyaki restaurant.
The spot that belonged to the both of you.
It smelled of simmering broth and soy, of comfort and familiarity. The low hum of conversation filled the small space, but Seungkwan heard none of it. He sat in your old booth, shoulders hunched, staring at the condensation running down his glass of soju.
The staffâs voices still echoed in his head.
She didnât want to hold him back.
She asked us not to tell him.
She loved him enough to let him go.
His chest ached so fiercely he almost laughed. All those years heâd convinced himself he hated you â when the truth was, youâd loved him harder than heâd ever understood.
The bell above the door jingled softly.
âFound you,â came your voice, soft, almost uncertain.
He looked up, cheeks flushed from the alcohol and his eyes glistening with tears, almost like he's silently asking how did you find me? why did you come find me?.
You stood in the doorway, hair slightly damp from the night air, breathing hard like youâd been searching everywhere. The moment your eyes met, the room seemed to shrink down to just the two of you â no crew, no cameras, no years between.
âWhy are you here?â you asked gently, stepping closer.
He swallowed hard, fingers curling against the table. âBecause⊠this was ours,â he said, voice rough. âAnd I didnât know where else to go.â
You slid into the seat across from him. For a moment, neither of you spoke. The air was heavy â thick with years of silence, hurt, and unspoken words pressing down on both of you.
He didnât look at you right away, just stared at the small bottle of soju on the table like it held the answers to everything he couldnât say. His fingers tapped once against the glass, a nervous habit you remembered all too well.
To break the suffocating quiet, you reached for the bottle and poured yourself a shot. The liquid shimmered under the warm light as you lifted it with both hands, more for courage than thirst, and took a slow sip. It burned all the way down, but steadied you enough to speak.
âYou missed filming,â you said finally, voice soft, careful. âThey were worried.â
He didnât look at you right away. Just reached for the soju, poured himself a shot, and downed it in one go. Then he poured another, setting the bottle down with a quiet clink. âI couldnât do it,â he admitted finally. His voice was low, rough. âNot after what I heard.â
Your brows furrowed. âWhat⊠what do you mean?â
He exhaled shakily and finally looked at you â really looked at you. âI know why you left.â His words were barely above a whisper, but they cut through you like thunder. âI heard the staff talking. You didnât want to hold me back. You⊠you loved me enough to walk away so I could chase my dream.â
Your breath caught. The glass in your hand trembled.
âAnd I hated you for it,â he went on, his voice beginning to crack despite his effort to hold it steady. âI told myself you were selfish, cold. I made lists on my phone â stupid lists of reasons to hate you because it was easier than admitting I was still in love with you. All this time, Y/N⊠Iâve been angry at you for loving me in a way I was too blind to see.â
You blinked rapidly as tears welled and spilled over. âI thought youâd hate me if I told you the truth,â you whispered, your voice breaking. âI thought⊠if you stayed because of me, youâd resent me one day. I couldnât be the reason you gave up everything.â
He let out a shaky, incredulous laugh, shaking his head. âEverything?â His gaze locked on you, unwavering, raw. âY/N, you were everything. I wouldâve given up the world for you, and I still would.â
The words hung there, trembling in the space between you, and for a long moment neither of you moved.
Then he reached across the table, his hand finding yours â warm, steady, trembling just slightly as though he was afraid youâd pull away. âDonât leave again,â he murmured, almost like a prayer. âIf you still love me⊠donât you dare leave me again. Keep loving me. Please.â
You gripped his hand tightly, tears slipping freely down your cheeks now. âI never stopped,â you whispered, voice fierce through the softness. âNot for a single day.â
Something in him shattered â the walls heâd built, the bitterness heâd clung to, all of it crumbling as he leaned forward and captured your lips in a kiss.
It was tentative at first, almost unsure, but quickly deepened, desperate and aching, carrying every word youâd both left unsaid for years. The taste of soju lingered between you, warm and bittersweet, but it didnât matter.
Outside, the world kept moving â rain tapping gently against the windows, strangers laughing over their meals â but here, in this small booth, time stilled.
When he finally broke the kiss, his forehead rested against yours, his breath mingling with yours. âThis was always home,â he whispered, voice raw. âYou. Itâs always been you.â
And for the first time in years, you didnât walk away.
Final Interview â For the Documentary
The cameras were smaller this time, the crew quieter â just a simple one-on-one wrap-up interview for Youth in Bloom. The room was softly lit, decorated with small props from the shoot: a stack of worn textbooks, a tiny potted cherry blossom, and a photo of the old school rooftop.
Seungkwan sat across from the interviewer, wearing a cream knit sweater, his hair styled simply. He looked comfortable â but there was a light in his eyes that hadnât been there at the start of filming.
âLooking back,â the interviewer began, âwhatâs the biggest thing youâve taken from this experience?â
He hesitated for a moment, then smiled â a small, genuine smile. âThat some things⊠never really leave you,â he said softly. âPeople, memories⊠sometimes they stay with you, even when you think youâve let them go.â
The interviewer tilted her head. âDo you mean Y/N?â
He chuckled lightly, not flustered like he mightâve been weeks ago. âMaybe. Maybe not. But I think⊠I learned that when something matters that much to you, itâs worth holding onto. Even if it takes time to find it again.â
âDo you have any regrets?â
He shook his head, gaze dropping briefly to his hands before meeting the camera. âOnly that I didnât say what I felt sooner. But⊠Iâve said it now. And thatâs enough.â
The interviewer smiled knowingly but didnât press further. âAny last words for the viewers whoâve followed this story since the beginning?â
Seungkwanâs smile softened even more, the kind that crinkled his eyes. âThank you for remembering who we were back then,â he said. âAnd for letting us be who we are now.â
They wrapped filming soon after. As the crew packed up, he glanced to the side of the room where you stood just out of frame, leaning casually against the wall, watching him.
When your eyes met, he gave you a tiny, almost imperceptible nod â we did it.
You smiled back, your heart so full you could hardly breathe.
Epilogue â Some Time After
The documentary had been out for three weeks.
Three weeks of online buzz, nostalgic edits, and comments about âhow much theyâve both grown.â Some fans guessed; others just called it âthe ending they deserved.â
But here, in your apartment on a lazy Sunday morning, none of that mattered.
You sat cross-legged on the couch in one of his old T-shirts, flipping idly through your phone while Seungkwan knelt by the coffee table, trying to assemble the shelf youâd been meaning to put together for months.
âDidnât know world-famous idols did their own furniture assembly,â you teased.
He glanced up, smirking. âDidnât know my girlfriend would just sit there and make fun of me instead of helping.â
You laughed, warmth blooming in your chest as you watched him. After a while, you joined him on the floor, handing him his coffee exactly how he liked it.
âSeungkwan,â you said quietly.
âHm?â
âWhy did you say yes to filming the documentary?â
He paused, gaze lingering on you, soft and unguarded. âHonestly? Because I wanted to see if I could find you again. And I did. Not just in the filming, but⊠here.â He gestured around â to the apartment, to you, to everything youâd built back together.
You smiled, leaning your head on his shoulder. âIâm glad I found you too. I always do.â
He pressed a kiss to the crown of your head, his voice low but certain. âAnd Iâll always be right here to find.â
Outside, the world moved on. Inside, with crooked shelves and shared mornings, you had what mattered most.
Little Bonus : Ten years later ~
The camera opened on a bright, sunlit living room. Toys scattered across the floor, little sneakers by the door, and a faint melody of childrenâs laughter coming from somewhere down the hall.
âMr. and Mrs. Boo, thank you for letting us film this,â the producer said warmly from behind the camera.
Seungkwan appeared first, holding one of the twins â a sleepy little boy with his same dark eyes. He was dressed simply in a soft gray sweater and sweatpants, hair slightly tousled, but the way he looked down at the child in his arms made it impossible to mistake him for anyone other than a man deeply, happily in love with his life.
âItâs strange,â he admitted, glancing at the camera with a smile. âTen years ago, we did something like this. Back then, it was⊠complicated. Painful, even. Now?â He glanced toward the hallway. âNow itâs just⊠home.â
As if on cue, you entered carrying the other twin â a little girl with your nose and his cheeks. She babbled happily as you adjusted her on your hip and came to sit beside him on the couch.
âDo you ever think about that first documentary?â the producer asked.
You and Seungkwan shared a look â one of those silent exchanges only long-time partners can have. He chuckled.
âAll the time,â he said. âItâs funny⊠that was supposed to be a story about two kids who grew up together and drifted apart. But really? It ended up being about finding each other again. And everything that came after.â
The little boy in his arms stirred, and Seungkwan kissed the top of his head gently.
âWhat do you hope people see in this one?â the producer asked.
âThat we made it,â you answered softly. âThrough everything. And that⊠love can change shape, but it doesnât have to end. Not if you take care of it.â
Seungkwanâs hand found yours, squeezing gently.
The camera lingered as the twins wriggled in your laps, giggling when Seungkwan made a silly face. You leaned against his shoulder, and he kissed your temple without thinking, completely unposed.
The screen faded to black as his voice â recorded later in the interview â played over the final shot:
âPeople used to ask me what home felt like. Itâs not a place. Itâs not even a moment. Itâs them. Itâs us. Always us.â
discoholicmusic
jbbartram-illu
origamiaround
turnnoffyourmind
baratheonpilled
kaledo-art
ellievsbear
blakekathryn
titsay
areudirty
romaincrisis
