riki has a new hobby— being your personal lipstick tester.
no, this isn’t him.
you swat his arm, brows furrowed. “focus,” and he can only abide by your words.
this is anything but him.
he is the hockey team’s captain, he is the campus crush, he is the certified heartthrob who spends his mornings in the field and evenings at the gym.
cue one fated meeting at a flower shop— he would never go there willingly. it was for his sister’s birthday. and well, riki was never the same again.
because right now, he is skipping practice to help you shop for makeup and skincare. his toned, veiny hand is covered in tints and shades of an entire palette range, and he’s wearing a sanrio bracelet that matches the one dangling around your wrist.
the sight itself makes his heart flutter in his chest.
riki has never been happier.
he looks at you with heart eyes when you grab another gloss from the rack and put another swab on the back of his palm. “what about this?”
and god, he might just spend his entire savings on every shade you have tried in the past fifteen minutes.
“it would suit you,” he clears his throat, brushing a stray hair off your pretty face to get a better look. “and, that brown one too,”
honey caramel, you correct with a fond smile. he thinks he is going to make more mistakes to be corrected by you. boy, he might just screw a few of his tests, only to be tutored by you.
his eyes follow his reflection in the mirror— your boyfriend almost forgot about the matching panda head bands on both of your heads.
the tint on his cheeks could be darker than the lip tint you’re wearing. he can picture his entire team pointing fingers and making fun of him. the riki from two months ago would have scoffed, but the riki now couldn’t care less.
the riki now is in love, he can thump his chest and shout it to the world.
he hears wedding bells when he sees you putting the lip gloss on your lips, meticulously so. riki, nineteen, is certain he wants to wake up to the sight of you dolling up every morning.
the colour pops off your plump lips with such perfection that he finds himself falling for you again. your eyes find his nervous ones— he gulps at your smile.
“how do i look?”
“good,” he says slow— dazed. “great,” i’m one more smile away from kissing you on the mouth, he wants to add, but he manages to find a semblance of control.
you wipe off the extra from the edges, so blissfully unaware of the butterflies in his chest. “really? or should i try something else—”
“it doesn’t matter,” your boyfriend intervenes, grabbing a tissue to help you. “you look pretty in everything, baby,”
he doesn’t even know where these words are coming from.
just the shy smile on your face does the magic— he is a goner, fallen far too deep to find a way out. he wants to stay in that pit forever, actually.
he finds it the cutest when you tip toe to kiss his cheek, like right now, before storming off to the perfume section.
he looks in the mirror, there’s your lip mark on his cheek.
hockey can wait, this is his favourite thing ever.
ㅤ◞ ⩊ ◟ㅤ — sporty bf riki who turns into a loverboy for his gf is my roman empire. happy reading >< for riki oomf @sourkiki
wherein: being the best friend of his sister didn't seem like there was much distance between niki and you, however, his terrible social skills and your utter fear of him kept a steady obstacle from your relationship ever blossoming – or has it?
genre – nishimura riki x fem!reader, yearner!niki, best friend's brother! niki x fem! reader, mutual pining, pre-relationship texts, fluff, crack , warnings – cursing, mentions of burning sunghoon's house down , masterlist
ps. ignore time stamps! this is meant to happen over a course of a few months
so sorry for taking ages for those who were waiting, i've been really busy with exams :///
this is lowkey rushed but i tried my best !!
as per usual, reblogs and comments are loved and appreciated !
you're no good for me, but baby i want you - n. riki ✶⋆.˚
summary: after growing tired of his constant teasing you made up your mind not to give Niki anymore of your attention, but you should've known that he wouldn't let you go that easily - and is willing to go to desperate measures to get you just to look at him
──── delinquent Niki x class president reader || sfw but a little suggestive, kissing/making out, so much tension like so much, enemies to lovers sorta? || w/c: 2.7k
a/n: okay i'm trying to get better at writing longer fics/ones that actually have closure bc looking back i realise i kinda always leave u guys on cliffhangers LOLL - also i rlly tried to avoid making this too cliche given the trope i hope it worked !!! actually really like this one so i hope it doesn't flop rip
‘Bad boy’ felt too cliche - at least for your liking. You preferred to refer to Niki as what he was, a delinquent, a troublemaker, someone who skipped most of his classes and spent the rest dosing off or arguing with the teacher. But no matter what you called him you were sure of one thing, he pissed you off.
To be honest, you had absolutely no interest in the sorts of things a student like him got up to in his own time, but it was the fact that he insisted on dragging you into his business that irritated you the most. You weren’t sure why exactly he kept targeting you, maybe it was because he just wanted to mess with the class president or because you seemed like an easy target to him - whatever reason he had didn’t make it any less tiring though.
Skipping classes was one thing, but his constant breaches of uniform code meant that you were running out of warning slips - and patience. It didn’t help that whenever you did, he would only look you up and down with an amused smirk, brows raised as if daring you to continue telling him off - which only worked to make you stumble over your words.
That’s why you had made the decision to stop giving him anymore of your attention, and the most recent time you had seen him sporting his signature look - no blazer, dress shirt half unbuttoned and several silver earrings, you chose to ignore him. You simply walked past him in the hallway without so much as a passing glance, hoping it would tell him to stop wasting your time and causing trouble.
Little did you know, he would misinterpret your signs to mean the exact opposite.
The next morning when you were waiting at your desk you heard a wave of hushed murmurs coming from down the hall, and couldn’t help but feel partly responsible. A loud thud sent the classroom door flying open and a couple of his friends filed in with amused grins - and it was only when Niki followed them in did you see why. Not only had he gone and messily bleached parts of his jet black hair, but he now donned a piercing straight through his right eyebrow which, judging from the pink tinge surrounding it, was both brand new and self-made.
You were unable to stop your neck from craning as your eyes followed his figure, watching as he sauntered over to his desk in the back corner of the classroom, threw his books onto it and sat down. The expression on his face showed that he couldn’t care less about being there, but his eyes trained on you as if waiting for you to make a move.
You hated that he knew you so well, because before you knew it you were out of your seat and at the head of his desk, arms folded with a stern expression on your face. You can’t remember exactly what you said but it must’ve been harsh, and loud enough to summon the attention of almost the entire class, and your teacher who stormed into the classroom shortly after to tell the two of you off. It must’ve also been harsh enough to earn the two of you an after-school detention, which was your very first - though it clearly wasn’t Niki’s.
So that’s how the two of you had ended up alone, in an empty, hot classroom - waiting as the minutes of your detention ticked by agonisingly slowly. Irritated was an understatement. It was taking every ounce of self-control you had not to turn around and punch Niki right there and then. You kept your fuming to yourself, at least for now though, while you worked silently on an assignment, determined to at least make good use of being stuck here for the next hour or so - even if it meant spending it in a tense silence.
Niki didn’t seem to share the same sentiment, having sat himself in the chair right beside yours and kicked his feet up on the desk, twirling a pen in one hand as he hummed softly to himself. You were trying your best to ignore him, and he was trying his best to make that very difficult.
“What are you working on?” he asked curiously as he leaned in over your shoulder.
“Just an assignment,” you shot back curtly.
“Ah of course, what a goody-two shoes,” he scoffed as he sat back.
“Rather a goody-two shoes than a good-for-nothing delinquent,” you mumbled under your breath, though not quiet enough to escape his ears.
“A delinquent? Is that really what you think of me?” he asked in faux-offence, “I’m hurt.” You turned slightly, just enough to see the dramatic pout he had formed across his lips, his brows curving upwards and his piercing going with it.
“Whatever,” you huff, feeling both irritation and exhaustion rise in you, “it’s your fault we’re here in the first place anyways.”
“Oh yeah, my fault that you started a petty argument.”
“Your fault for dyeing your hair that stupid colour and getting that piece of metal jammed in your face!” You cry out, fully facing him now as you felt your face burning hot, “I mean seriously, all I did was ignore you once, and you go ahead and did something ridiculous like that?” Gesturing to his piercing and new hair, you can’t help but feel even more infuriated at the sight of his smirk which only grew as he watched you from half-lidded eyes.
“What makes you think I did it for you?” He asks teasingly, and you suddenly feel your bravado begin to crumble - he’s right, who are you to assume that?
“Well, I-” you stutter, but he interrupts you.
“Well maybe I did,” he laughs softly, “that depends on whether you like it or not.”
“That is so besides the point, Niki,” you whine, “it’s against uniform policy.”
“Oh c’mon, you think it’s a little cool,” he taunts, and you turn back around in your seat, chewing your bottom lip as you’re determined not to give him a response which you’re sure will only fuel his ego.
You sit in silence for a bit, and you can tell he’s watching you carefully in the way he leans in, keen eyes trained on your expression - almost as if he’s trying to figure out what you’re thinking. But that’s a challenge even you’re struggling with right now.
He’s the one to break the silence again. “I am sorry about getting you a detention though, that wasn’t what I meant to do.” You blink in disbelief because for the very first time, he sounds almost as if he really means what he’s saying.
“Is that an apology?” you say, gasping to show your surprise, though this quickly dissolved into a soft laugh.
“Yeah, yeah, don’t let it get to your head,” he sighs, “I just couldn’t sit here and watch you sulk for the next hour.”
You can’t help but smile to yourself, feeling the tension between the two of you melt away at his apology, just enough for you to want to keep talking to him - even if it means neglecting your homework, for now. Your eyes move over his face, his sharp jaw, his eyebrow piercing glinting under the warm classroom light.
“Did it hurt?”
It’s a stupid question, you know, but it’s the only thing you can think to ask as you fiddle nervously in your seat. If you’re being completely honest, you do think it’s cool, you’ve always thought his piercing were cool - and right now you want nothing more than to reach out and feel them for yourself. But your common sense stops you.
“Well, duh,” he scoffs, sitting back in his seat as his eyes fix on yours, “figured a smart-ass like you would’ve been able to guess that.”
“Just asking,” you grumble defensively, though your curiosity urges you to keep talking. “If it hurt, why’d you do it?”
“Well, you like it, don’t you?” He asks, “that’s all the reason I need.”
You’re tempted to tell him off again, but something about his tone catches you off guard - it’s oddly earnest, and he says it with such a simplicity that makes you really believe that maybe he’s telling the truth and you’re unable to find the resolve to spoil this moment
“Can I feel it?”
He’s almost as shocked by your request as you are, and even as it leaves your mouth you’re unsure entirely why you’re asking it. His eyes widen in a way that you can’t help but find a little cute, even as you’re struggling to process your own thoughts.
“Sure,” he replies, a little too quickly, almost as if he had been waiting for you to ask him that, but can’t believe you actually did. You turn in your chair to face him, your arms coming up awkwardly to bridge the distance between you both but it’s clear you’re still too far.
You’re about to lean forward more in your seat to reach him, until you notice his hand coming down to grip the leg of your chair and it isn’t until you feel yourself moving and hear the faint screech of the legs against the floor that you realise that he’s pulling it - pulling you closer to him.
Once you’re close enough he stops, though his hand doesn’t leave the back of your chair, instead resting there as if trapping you in with him as he leans down as that his face is level with yours. You try not to overthink the way your knees are touching, or how this is your first time seeing him this close and how he’s even better looking up close. Carefully, you bring your hand and pray that he doesn’t notice the way it trembles, as your thumb grazes his thick brow gently. Even though you wish he didn’t, he keeps his eyes open and you can feel the weight of his gaze on you as your fingers close around the small metal ball.
“It’s cold,” you mumble, not sure what else to say to fill the air between you two.
“It’s metal,” he says matter-of-factly, letting out a small laugh at your fascination with it.
“You didn’t need to to do this just to get my attention, you know,” your eyes focus on the piercing as you speak, unable to look him in the eyes when admitting something that feels like a confession.
“I had to get you to look at me somehow.” You’re again amazed at how he can say such earnest things with such a serious face, and even as you look away you know his eyes are on you.
“Most people would’ve just said hi or something, not put a brand new hole in their face,” you sigh, fingers moving to tuck a stray strand of bleached hair behind his ear.
“Well most people wouldn’t be here now with you touching their face, so by my standards my plan worked better.”
“Did that plan have to include getting me my first-ever detention?” You ask in annoyance, though you can’t help but laugh softly at his simplicity.
“Well, not at first,” he admits, “but at least we’re alone, hm?”
“Because you need me alone to talk to me?”
“No, because I need you alone to do this.”
You’re pretty sure if you weren’t already leaning towards him you would’ve fallen backwards from the forceful way his lips crash into yours - and if not from that then the sheer shock of just that. Luckily for you though, he already has an arm snaked around your waist, keeping a hold of you and pulling you closer.
It shocks you though that, despite the initial force, Niki’s kiss is gentle, almost as if he’s easing you into something he knows you’re struggling to accept. He’s experienced, that’s for sure, but you can tell in his movements that he’s holding back from pushing you any further.
You don’t even realise it but your hands are cupping his face, caressing his strong jawline and pulling him closer to you. You open your mouth to talk but the only noise that comes out is a breathy gasp and if you weren’t so caught up in the feeling of his hands in your hair you might’ve stopped to feel embarrassed about how desperate you sound for him right now.
“Niki,” you mumble against his lips, unsure of what to do as you feel your mind struggle to comprehend what’s happening.
“Want me to stop?” he says in between heavy breaths, and even though it sounds like a taunt you know him well enough to know he’s being serious.
You shake your head in response, but decide to have a little fun of your own while you can. “When have you ever cared what I want?”
“Oh, you have no clue,” he hums in a low whisper as he leans back in.
“And when have you ever listened to what I’ve told you to do?”
“You’re right about that,” he smirks, pressing his lips to yours again, this time with the reckless abandon you’ve come to expect from him - almost as if he was waiting for your permission to let go. You thought you would’ve felt a little predictable, pathetic even, for having fallen so easily into his trap and giving him much more than just your attention at this point. But from the way his hands roam your body, grasping for more of you as he whines against your lips you smile to yourself at the realisation that really, he’s the one who’s fallen into your trap.
This sense of control is what finally calms your mind, even if it still struggles with just how ‘wrong’ all of this sounds against how right his lips on yours feel. The sound of footsteps echoing down the hallway however forces you to tear yourself away from him, though his hands don’t leave your body as you strain to figure out who it might be.
“Shit, it’s the teacher,” you say under your breath, pulling away from him to smooth down your skirt. Niki clearly doesn’t care, but still lets out a soft sigh as he hangs his head, leaning back in his chair.
“Tomorrow,” you continue suddenly, “I want the eyebrow piercing and the bleached hair gone.” You know you’re being harsh, but you also know that, given what just happened, you can’t afford to be nice.
“Wh-” he says suddenly, looking at you in disbelief, “I thought you liked them though.”
“Doesn’t matter,” you say firmly, “they’re still breaking like ten different uniform rules.”
“Just when I thought I’d finally broken your guard down,” he groans.
“Well, they’ve served their purpose already, haven’t they?” you taunt lightly, bringing a hand up to swipe at your bottom lip which you can feel is a little plump from him biting it. His eyes watch attentively as you do, and he lets out a soft laugh followed by a nod in agreement.
“You’re right,” he exhales, “but now I’m thinking if I keep them in I might keep getting lucky.”
“Niki,” you sigh.
“I mean, maybe if I had a reward for following rules I might feel more motivated,” he hums, looking away as he feigns innocence.
You pause, thinking to yourself for just long enough. “I’ll be studying in the library after school, maybe if you do as I say I’ll let you join me.”
“Studying? That’s what we’re calling it now?”
“Take it or leave it.”
“I’ll be there,” he laughs, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smile - one that you can’t help but share even as the same teacher who gave you both this detention comes in to tell you you’re free to go.
You watch as he swings his bag over one shoulder coolly, tossing you his signature smirk - only this time, it doesn’t just annoy you, it lingers, sticking to your thoughts in a way you don’t want to admit. Because you know you should be mad, you should roll your eyes and remind yourself that he’s still the same infuriating troublemaker. But as he walks away the only thing you find yourself wondering is if he’ll actually show up tomorrow, and worse, if a part of you wants him to.
SYNOPSIS ⟢ after suffering a gruelling break-up, y/n vowed to start doing all the things her ex-boyfriend had never let her do before; partying, having fun, and making reckless decisions. during a usual night out, y/n spontaneously decides to try to get inked – which ultimately led her to meet lee heeseung, an independent tattoo artist. meeting heeseung was an embarrassing memory that y/n would like to forget (which she had forgotten by the next morning anyways considering she was completely hammered), however, after encountering each other again by chance – or luck if you call it that – heeseung decides he’s found the perfect canvas for his art; his next muse.
pairing ⟢ tattoo artist! heeseung x party girl! reader
genre ⟢ social media au (smau) + written, strangers to lovers, university au
contains ⟢ profanity, suggestive [sexual] discourse, humour/crack, friendly bullying, highly suggestive scenes, smut (18+), story mainly occurs in NYC, luck as a symbolism like everywhere, alcohol and marijuana consumption, family issues, mentions of mental illness, flawed character(s), gets angsty later on.
featuring ⟢ all of enhypen, yeonjun, beomgyu, and soobin of txt, giselle of aespa, yunjin and chaewon of le sserafim + some cameos of other idols
status: ongoing!
author's note: hii, this is my first smau + fic and i'm also rlly new to tumblr so pls lmk if there are any areas where i can improve on! i've always wanted to write but never had the platform to until i found this community on tumblr!! ANYWAYS enough yappin, i hope you enjoy this smau + fic, this took A LOT of detailed planning to come to life!!! <3
TAGLIST [OPEN]
reblogs appreciated ♡
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PROFILES
husband beaters | mama a tattoo artis t behind u
CHAPTERS
00 PROLOGUE
01 can i please get uhhh
02 lucky me + written (1.1k words, 7 screenshots)
03 BULLSHIT THATS PRETTY PRIVILEGE
04 no bitch DUCK
05 who are you? + written (1.1k words, 6 screenshots)
06 let me make it up to you
07 agent rik and j-won
08 hee’s behind me isnt he.
09 oh shit, WORLDSTAR! + written (2k words, 7 screenshots)
10 we need to talk.
11 you have a visitor! + written (1k words, 6 screenshots)
12 this is WORSE than a situationship. + written (2.1k words, 9 screenshots)
13 bodega cat except you’re in a tattoo shop instead
14 like NYPD type shit
15 the trolley dilemma (ft. riki)
16 can’t miss my chance + written (1k words)
17 unexpected guest + written (1.3k words, 3 screenshots)
18 computer science with a side of beer and family trauma
19 playing house
20 happy birthday 2x
21 lucky you + written (2.1k words)
22 “what are we?”
23 spring break in albany + written (2.5k words)
24 four-leaf clover + written (2k words)
25 some things are better left unsaid
26 we need to talk, again.
27 ran out of luck + written (1.3k words, 3 screenshots)
28 waiting for you in west village + written (2k words, 3 screenshots)
29 new person, same old mistakes
30 winter in boston + written
more to be added...
SPIN-OFFS
gen z luv! <3 (sunghoon), part 2
we found love on… hinge? (jake)
PLAYLISTS ⊹˚♬₊⋆
black heart ink’s store playlist (heeseung’s pick)
heeseung is extra giggly tonight, his cheeks red, tie askew— settling on top of a few loosened buttons and his hair a complete mess.
“baby, come here—” he stumbles through his own hallway, chasing you to the washroom, reeking of alcohol, “where’s my goodnight kiss?”
he finds you by the washroom, grinning so wide his eyes turn into little crescents. arms outstretched, he wraps them around your waist from the back, pulling you flush against his chest.
you turn around in his arms and he immediately buries his face in your neck, pressing a kiss there. it’s wet and clumsy, but full of affection.
“you didn’t kiss me goodnight,” he whines, brows furrowed like it’s a real tragedy, and if eyes could get anything they want, heeseung would be a winner. “fine,” you chuckle, cupping his face and bringing it down to press a chaste kiss on his lips— the fine taste of whiskey and love lingering on him.
he stumbles forward as you pull away for a breather, the tipsy weight of him leaning entirely on you. “more,” heeseung mumbles, eyes fluttering shut as he chases your lips again. “just one more. maybe five.”
you laugh softly, brushing his messy bangs back. “you’re hopeless.” “hopelessly yours,” he grins.
PARK JONGSEONG
“who k-kissed you?” jay sounds furious, cupping your face in his hands as he inspects your lipstick smudged face.
the alcohol in his system really is kicking, and you can confirm it by how oblivious he is to the fact that your red gloss is smudged by his lips. jay’s face is red— both from the wine and your lipstick.
his brows are furrowed like he’s solving a crime scene, thumbs swiping gently under your bottom lip with all the seriousness in the world. “baby, i’m not mad, i’m just… i just need names.”
you burst into laughter, clutching onto his shoulders. “you kissed me, you idiot.”
he blinks, stunned. “me?”
you nod, giggling. “twice. aggressively.”
jay’s mouth parts slightly, as if he just cracked the case, and then his expression melts into a sheepish smile. his hands slide down to rest on your shoulders as he leans forward, lips brushing your forehead. “good,” he murmurs, “i’d beat him up if it was someone else.”
his cologne is warm and familiar, mixing with the sharp tang of wine. his tie is crooked, as he pulls you in, gathering you in a drunk bear hug, pressing his lips on the crook of your neck.
SIM JAEYUN
“jake, put me down!” you gasp, grabbing onto your boyfriend’s shoulders as he picks you up with an uneven equilibrium.
jake is the most drunk person in the party, you could tell by his impulsive decisions and reddened face.
“jake, seriously—put me down!” you squeal, laughing breathlessly as your boyfriend lifts you into his arms like a groom on his wedding night. excep, he’s swaying. a lot.
“but you’re so pretty,” he slurs with a dopey grin, forehead resting against yours. “had to steal you away. just for a sec.”
his cheeks are flushed, hair damp with sweat and the glow of fairy lights dancing in his glassy eyes. his steps are clumsy, zigzagging across the lawn as you cling tighter.
“okay, romeo, we’re going to die—”
your words are cut short by a splash.
cold water engulfs you both as jake stumbles straight into the pool, dragging you with him in a chaotic, soaking plunge.
you surface, gasping and blinking water from your lashes, only to see jake float up next to you, completely drenched but still smiling.
“worth it,” he breathes, reaching over to tuck your hair behind your ear. “’cause now we’re both cool.”
you smack his chest, laughing as he pulls you into a soggy hug, lips brushing your temple. “you idiot.”
“your idiot forever.”
PARK SUNGHOON
sunghoon stumbles into your shared apartment at midnight, kicking off his shoes with a clumsy thud. his blazer is half off, white shirt wrinkled and slightly untucked, and his cheeks are flushed a warm pink.
“baby?” he calls out, voice soft and unsure as he peeks around the hallway. “i missed you so much.”
you’re already there, arms crossed, trying not to smile at the sight of your usually composed boyfriend looking like a sleepy mess.
“how much did you drink?” you ask, guiding him by the wrist to the couch.
“not enough to forget how pretty you are,” he mumbles, collapsing beside you and pulling you into his lap.
he buries his face in your neck, arms draped loosely around your waist. “your perfume’s better than any drink.”
you laugh softly, running your fingers through his hair as he melts against you like a sleepy puppy.
“hoon, you’re really clingy when you’re drunk.”
“only with you,” he whispers, lifting his head to look at you, eyes glassy but sincere. “i love you, can we stay like this forever?”
your heart squeezes as you kiss his forehead. “forever sounds nice”
KIM SUNOO
sunoo clings to your arm like a sleepily, cheek pressed against your shoulder as he lets out a dramatic sigh. “you smell like flowers,” he mumbles, voice soft and syrupy with alcohol. “did you always smell this good, or is the wine making me fall in love again?”
you chuckle, tucking a strand of his hair behind his ear. “you’re already in love with me, remember?”
he blinks up at you, eyes glossy under the fairy lights of the backyard, lips pouting just slightly. “but it feels new tonight. like, i wanna write you poems or name a star after you.”
you cover your smile, heart fluttering at his drunken sincerity. “you’re such a flirt when you’re tipsy.”
sunoo sits up with a sudden burst of energy, wobbling slightly. “wait here!” he stumbles toward the garden, plucks a random daisy, then returns and offers it to you with a wide grin. “for you, my moon and stars.”
you take it, giggling as he snuggles back into your side. “you’re going to regret all this cheesy stuff tomorrow.”
“nope,” he yawns, eyes fluttering shut. “if it’s about you, i’ll mean it even when i’m sober.”
YANG JUNGWON
jungwon’s never drunk. like, ever. but tonight? he’s had three fruity cocktails and half a glass of someone’s mysterious punch, and now he’s standing in the kitchen wearing a colander on his head like a helmet.
“babe,” you start, biting back laughter, “what exactly are you doing?”
he turns to you dramatically, wobbling slightly on his socked feet. “protecting my brain,” he says seriously, poking the colander. “you never know who’s out here trying to read your thoughts.”
you snort. “you’ve been watching conspiracy videos again, haven’t you?”
“they make sense!” he insists, pointing at you with a spoon. “also—” he suddenly softens, spoon clattering to the counter, “you’re so pretty it’s unfair. i’m trying to have deep thoughts but all i think is: wow. she’s mine.”
you step closer, sliding the colander off his head. “you’re ridiculous.”
“ridiculously in love,” he sighs, pulling you into a loose hug, resting his cheek on your chest. “do you think aliens would be jealous of us?”
“probably,” you laugh, carding your fingers through his hair.
“good,” he mumbles sleepily. “they should be.”
you glance down at your drunk genius of a boyfriend and grin. yep. definitely keeping him.
NISHIMURA RIKI
“don’t act like you’re drunk,” you roll your eyes, witnessing the tall boy intentionally falter in his steps in front of you, his skateboard pushed to the side.
he grins up at you, eyes gleaming with mischief. “but what if i was drunk,” he says, voice slurred for effect, “and i still skated better than everyone here?”
you cross your arms. “you’re going to break your neck.”
he gasps, clutching his heart. “have a little faith in your man.”
“my man is an idiot.”
“an adorable idiot,” he adds with a wink, already hopping back on the board, swaying ridiculously. “c’mon, it’ll be fun. pretend i’m wasted and you’re my responsible girlfriend guiding me home.”
“riki,” you groan, trying not to laugh as he rolls in a lazy zigzag down the sidewalk.
“catch me if i crash!” he yells.
you sprint after him, already knowing how this ends—with riki tripping over a curb, both of you in a heap on the grass, and him laughing with that stupidly cute grin, arms around you like it was all part of the plan.
“see?” he pants. “told you it’d be fun.”
and yeah—you kind of can’t argue with that.
스루 ܃ i kinda wrote this fast, so i don't think it's my best work TT nonetheless, i hope you enjoy ! 🎀
➜ summary: you just moved into a new building, right across from three loud guys. two said sorry and the third couldn’t care less.
pairing: pshx f!reader,wc: 14k words , genre: enemies to lovers ish, neighbor!au, fluff, romcom w: rude jokes, cussing, kissing
The elevator doors swung open, and soon you stepped out into the third floor hallway. You looked like you were moving in, which in your defense…you were. The oversized hoodie slipping off one shoulder, arms hugging a stack of takeout containers and a cactus you had that had pricked you far too many times, but that didn’t matter. You were finally on your own.
Unit 3B. That was you now.
Your keys jingled in your palm as you found the door, nudged it open with one knee, and stepped into the apartment you’d stared at for months on rental listings. It wasn’t huge, but it had a little kitchen with enough space for your mum’s rice cooker, and a balcony that caught the sun in the morning. You spun around in the centre of the room, grinning, almost knocking the cactus you had just placed on the counter in the process.
And by nightfall, the place felt like yours. Your fairy lights were strung up across your living room. Your fridge held exactly a bottle of soda, some tuna you had eaten an hour ago and a bag of unwashed grapes. You lit a vanilla candle, the one your best friend, Jungwon, made you promise to use so you'd remember him… even while being so far apart. But Jungwon hated travelling, so in his mind, you'd basically moved to another continent.
Jungwon dramatically declared, “You’re practically moving to another country.”
“Jungwon, I’m literally a two-hour train ride away.”
“That’s basically Europe.”
You rolled your eyes at the memory, smiling to yourself.
Still, you were glad you’d made the decision to move. Three years ahead of you… of being on your own, of learning to be independent, part-time jobs, and what you hoped…a future incoming relationship. It should be easy. It should be peaceful. It should be—
“DUDE!!!”
A scream ripped through your wall.
It came from the wall to your right, a thin wall nudged between you and your neighbours. You could hear celebrations. A voice shouted, “THAT WAS INSANE!” followed by a loud thump like someone had jumped off the sofa.
You tried ignoring it at first, burying yourself under the blanket like it could block out noise. But 20 minutes in, another screamed “HE’S OFFSIDE, YOU DUMB—” loud enough to rattle the walls, you snapped.
You threw on your hoodie, jammed your feet into slippers, and marched out the front door like you were storming a battlefield. The hallway was dim and quiet, except for the muffled party behind door 3C. You knocked, hard, but polite.
The door creaked open mid-laughter, revealing three guys mid-snack, mid-game.
“Hi,” you said, tight smile. “Sorry to bother you, but… would you mind keeping it down a little? I’ve got a test tomorrow and it’s kinda hard to focus with all the screaming.”
The one with fluffy hair, cute little eyes, nodded immediately. “Shit. Sorry, sorry. Totally our bad.”
Another one, long lashes and a goofy smile, actually winced. “Didn’t realise it was that loud. We’ll keep it down, promise.”
“Are you new here?” the first one asked.
You nodded. “I just moved in today, actually.”
“Oh shit. Mrs Kim moved out?”
“Damn, we’re not getting her kimchi anymore, that’s for sure.”
“We gotta eat those store-bought ones that taste like ass.”
The second boy looked at you again, more focused this time. “Oh right! I’m Jake! It’s great to meet you! I’m sorry it happened under… unfortunate circumstances. But we’ll be quieter!”
“I’m Jay, by the way,” the first one added with a small grin, pushing his hair back.
You nodded, smiling slightly. At least they were nice about it. Well, two out of three, anyway.
You glanced past both of them, eyes landing on the third boy slouched on the couch, still holding the controller, gaze fixed on the paused screen like you weren’t even there. His jaw clenched once. No name. No hello. Just a subtle, annoyed glance in your direction before he looked away again.
Cool. So he hates you. That’s cool with you.
The third guy didn’t say anything. Just glanced at you once, then turned back toward the TV.
“Uh, thanks,” you said, lips tight, already backing away.
You returned to your apartment and for a blessed thirty minutes, it was quiet.
Then someone scored a goal and the wall shook again.
You blinked slowly at your ceiling, arms folded under your head like the weight of your patience was finally starting to crush your ribs. Okay. So that’s how it was going to be. You frowned.
And that was literally… how war started.
The next morning, fuelled by petty vengeance and two hours of sleep, you grabbed your pastel pink sticky notes and wrote:
“Dear 3C, I’ve played FIFA before. It is not that damn fun for you to be out here screaming. Please tone it down. Regards, the zombie in 3B.”
You slapped it on their door. Nothing changed.
And the next day:
“Dear 3C, I can’t sleep. Kindly shut up <3 With love, the girl one more sleepless night away from writing to the landlord. 3B.”
You half expected them to ignore it. Instead, you found your note missing by mid-afternoon. Gone.
For a moment, you felt powerful. Maybe they’d actually listened.
Then 8:43 p.m. hit and someone in 3C scored a goal so loud you swore the bass from their TV made your candle flicker.
Alright. So it was personal now.
You stormed over to their door again, hands on your hips.. It wasn’t that late. You weren’t unreasonable. You believed in joy. In freedom. But right now? Rage was the only thing pumping through your system.
You shuffled down the hall with your bunny slippers slapping against the floor, hair in a claw clip that was giving up. You looked deranged. And for the first time, you were fine with that. You banged on their door.
The door cracked open a second later, revealing Jake blinking like a deer in headlights. His hair was messy. He looked mildly afraid.
“Were… we being loud again?”
You stared at him, deadpan. “Ya think?”
Jake rubbed the back of his neck. “Okay, okay. I’m so sorry. It’s Sunghoon. He keeps saying it’s not that loud and we were mid-tournament and—”
“Tell Sunghoon that his ego’s not the only thing echoing through these walls,” you snapped, arms crossed. “Some of us are trying to study.”
Behind Jake, you heard a familiar scoff followed by a smug voice yelling, “God, she’s so annoying. We were literally whispering.”
You leaned to the side, locking eyes with the third boy slouched on the couch, controller in hand, feet on the coffee table like the world owed him something. He didn’t even pause the game this time.
You didn’t know what it was about his stupidly symmetrical face but your blood boiled.
“Tell this Sunghoon guy…his whispering sounds like a screeching cat,” you said flatly, before spinning on your heel and marching back toward your door when you heard his aggravating voice.
“Tell her she’s overreacting over a couple of friends simply trying to have fun,” Sunghoon fired back from the couch, not even raising his voice.
You turned your head just enough to glare over your shoulder. “Well, tell him, his shirt doesn’t match his fucking pants.”
Jake looked helpless, standing between you both like a middle child caught in a divorce.
And then, with that same bored tone, Sunghoon called out again, “Well, tell her… those slippers are the best thing she’s worn all week.”
You stopped.
Jake sucked in a breath.
You slowly turned, eyes narrowing. “Tell him he wouldn’t know good fashion if it came with a user manual and punched him in his freaking face.”
Sunghoon finally glanced away from the TV, meeting your eyes for the first time that night. His lips curved into the most irritating half-smile you’d ever seen.
“Tell her–”
Jake stepped in between again, hands raised. “Okay! Okay. We’re gonna turn the volume down. Like, way down. Like you can’t even hear us tiptoe. Right, Sunghoon?”
Sunghoon leaned back against the couch and shrugged. “Whatever. I’m not the one annoying my neighbors at 9pm on a Friday night. Get some friends.”
You slammed your door shut.
War was back on.
-
The next morning, your plan was simple. A little petty, sure, but necessary.
You stood outside their door in your pyjamas, holding a fresh pack of neon yellow Post-its since your previous ones were used up by the ongoing Post-It war.The hallway was empty. Your bunny slippers made no sound as you padded up to 3C and stuck the first one of the week dead-centre on the door.
“Dear 3C, just a gentle reminder that FIFA will not feed you, clothe you, or give you money. Kindly shut up. PLEASE. Warmest regards, 3B.”
You smiled to yourself and floated back to your apartment.
That night? For the first time…? Silence. Beautiful, blissful silence. You actually managed to revise two chapters and fall asleep before midnight. You woke up in the morning feeling like a changed woman.
But then you opened your front door.
There, taped neatly to your door, was a blue sticky note with surprisingly neat handwriting.
“Dear 3B, you sound like you narrate your life out loud. – 3C.”
Your jaw dropped.
“Narrate your life out loud?” you muttered. “That’s literally called thinking.”
You marched back into your apartment, flung open your stationery drawer.
“Dear 3C, apologies if my internal monologue disrupted your daily FIFA championship. I only talk to myself because your volume settings make it impossible to hear my own thoughts. With all due respect (and ear damage), 3B."
That afternoon, Jay knocked on your door. You hesitated, then opened it a crack. He was holding a bag of convenience store pancakes in one hand.
“Peace offering,” he said. “Also, I think your notes are hilarious. Jake’s been collecting them. I think he’s making a scrapbook.”
You blinked. “Is this a joke or something?”
Jay shrugged, leaning casually against the doorframe. “No! Honestly, it’s kinda refreshing.”
Jake popped his head in from behind, grinning. “Also, your handwriting’s really neat.”
You opened the door a little wider, cautious then shrugged. “You want some… uh… spaghetti? I made it this morning.”
“Spaghetti?” Jay tilted his head.
You nodded. “Yeah. I usually experiment with food. I’m…uh…in culinary school.”
Jake’s eyes widened. “Wait, so you’re like… a chef?”
“Trying to be.,” you said with a shrug, suddenly a little self-conscious.
They exchanged a quick look before barging in like you'd personally handed them invites at the door.
“That’s so cool,” Jake said, practically bouncing as he flopped onto your beanbag. “I burnt instant noodles last week. Twice.”
Jay wandered deeper into your living room, his gaze landing on the dusty old guitar leaning against your bookshelf. “Dude, check it out! She plays the guitar.”
You rubbed the back of your neck, awkward. “It’s just for fun. I’m not that good.”
“I’m sure you’re great,” Jake said, already chewing through a mouthful of spaghetti he’d somehow found, and served himself in a bowl you didn’t remember offering.
You blinked at him. “Did you just—?”
“Plate was right there,” he said through a mouthful. “I took it as a sign.”
Jay nodded solemnly. “She feeds us and plays guitar. She’s better than Mrs. Kim already.”
You sighed and closed the door behind them. “I’m starting to think Mrs. Kim left because of the three of you.”
In between bites, Jake nodded without hesitation. “I think so too.”
“We can be loud,” Jay added, helping himself to another serving.
“Have you thought of… not being loud?”
“We do,” Jay said. “But then we get loud again.”
You rolled your eyes. “Guys, some of us have school and—”
“We have school too,” Jake chimed in, mouth full.
“Okay… some of us care about sleep.”
Jay perked up. “That’s why we got you this.”
He dug into his hoodie pocket and pulled out a tiny box, dropping it into your hands.
You squinted at it. “What’s this?”
“They’re sleep buds,” he said proudly. “They go in your ears and play white noise and, like… ocean sounds or something. Blocks everything out. Even us.”
You stared at the box, then at them.
“Instead of compromising, you got me gear?”
Jake grinned. “Yeah. We like you. We want you to be able to sleep… through us.”
Jay gave you a thumbs-up. “It’s called adaptation.”
You looked down at the sleep buds in your hands and then back up at the two of them absolutely inhaling your spaghetti like they hadn’t eaten in weeks.
You didn’t know whether to kick them out or thank them.
So you just sighed, defeated. “You guys are the weirdest neighbours I’ve ever had.”
Jake beamed. “Aww. You’re the weirdest too.”
And somehow… the next day… they were back.
You opened the door mid-knock, confused, only to find Jay grinning at you.
“What’s for lunch today, boss?” he asked, already halfway through the doorway.
You blinked. “How’d you know I made something?”
“We could smell it,” Jake said, stepping in right behind him, holding up a comically large spoon. “Smells so good. Brought my big spoon today. Came prepared.”
“Uh… I made chowder?”
Jake’s eyes lit up. “Oh my god, I love chowder.”
Jay had already plopped onto the floor cushion, flipping through your Spotify like he owned your iPad. “What kind? Clam? Corn? Pumpkin? Wait… do people put pumpkin in chowder?”
You stared at them, ladle in hand.
“Corn,” you muttered, shuffling back into the kitchen.
Then the day after that… they came again. At this point, it felt less like a surprise and more like a recurring appointment.
“No fucking way. Kimchi stew? This shit is so good!. Jay, you need to try the beef. It’s so soft. How— how’d you get it so soft? Is this like one of those expensive beef? Wakoo?”
“It’s Wagyu, Jake.” You corrected.
“Wagyu~” He sang.
Jay, already mid-bite, nodded with a full mouth. “Can I havefth thefth reshepee?”
You wiped your hands on a dish towel, leaning against the counter with one brow raised. “Do you guys ever eat in your own apartment?”
Jake didn’t miss a beat. “Not when you cook like this.”
Jay pointed his chopsticks at you like he was making a closing argument in court. “This is technically your fault. You fed us once. That’s basically a binding contract. We’re best friends now. Aren’t we, Jake?”
Jake nodded, mouth full. “Mhmff. Whatever he said.”
You sighed, setting your elbow on the table and dropping your chin into your hand. “If you’re gonna keep doing this, at least wash the dishes after.”
Jake saluted you with his spoon like you were the captain of a very tiny, soup-based army. “Yes, chef.”
You looked at the two of them, one already on his third helping, the other stealing more beef straight from the pot, and shook your head.
This wasn’t how your independent, put-together, college life was supposed to go. You were meant to be focused. The mysterious girl on the third floor who only ever came out for groceries and exams.
But maybe… with the two of them barging in uninvited, eating like they hadn’t seen food in years, and treating your living room like it was theirs…
Maybe you wouldn’t feel so lonely after all.
-
It was 9 p.m. Strangely quiet.
Usually, by now, there’d be at least one goal celebration shaking the walls or someone shouting about a missed penalty. But tonight? Nothing. You didn’t let it bother you. You took it as a win.
The balcony door slid open with a soft scrape. You stepped out into the cool night, cradling your little scissors and spray bottle like sacred tools. Your succulents were arranged in a neat line. A few leaves had started to curl. You knelt down, snipping the dead ends carefully.
You should’ve felt peaceful.
But tonight, something tugged at your chest.
You missed Jungwon. You missed your mom’s mismatched cutlery and the way your dad always forgot he’d already asked about your grades. Maybe even your pet fish, the one that never did much except float around looking confused.
Jay and Jake were friendly, sure. But they weren’t yours. They weren’t part of your before. They didn’t know the town you came from or the versions of you that existed before now.
And even though you thought you’d settled in... even though you were coping...you were lonely.
Without meaning to, you started speaking out loud — just like you always did.
“It’s fine. You’ll do better tomorrow. Tomorrow you won’t feel as lonely,” you said softly as you misted the leaves. “You’ll be stronger. You’re gonna get used to this. You can do it.”
But the lie caught in your throat.
Because you were crying already.
You wiped your cheek with the sleeve of your hoodie, frustrated, betrayed by your own body. You reached for your phone without thinking and hit the contact you swore you wouldn’t keep calling every time you got overwhelmed.
Jungwon answered on the first ring.
“What’s up?” he asked, casual as ever.
“Won…” you breathed out.
There was a pause. Then: “Are you crying?”
“No?”
“I can hear you sniffling, you shit.”
“It’s just—” your voice cracked. “It’s hard. I’m alone all the time. I’ve got no friends. I’ve got no one to talk to. I’m alone, Won.”
“I know,” he said gently. “I know…”
There was a pause. You could hear him shifting in bed, his voice soft and serious now. “But think about it this way, okay? You’re barely in your first month. You’re gonna get used to it. You’re gonna find people. You’re gonna build something here. It just takes time.”
You bit your lip. “You’ll visit if you can, right?”
“I’ll visit,” he promised. “Even if it takes two bloody hours.”
“But you hate traveling.”
“For you, I’d suffer.”
You sniffled. “You’re just saying that so I’ll hang up.”
“You’re right because I’m exhausted from basketball. But also… I love you.”
“Fine,” you mumbled. “I love you too.”
“Chin up. You’re talented and you deserve to be there. You can do this. We’re all counting on you.”
“I know.” You exhaled slowly. “Goodnight, Wonnie.”
“Night.”
You ended the call and sat in silence for a moment, letting the cool night air settle on your skin. The tears had stopped. Your hands still smelled like mint and basil and the faint sweetness of the spray bottle. You stared at your succulents, wondering if they ever got lonely too.
Unbeknownst to you, just a few feet away, out on the connected balcony, hidden by the divider, someone had heard everything.
He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop. He’d stepped out earlier, just needing air, needing quiet, needing to be somewhere still for once. And then he’d heard your voice. The words that were not meant for anyone else.
And for the first time, Sunghoon didn’t roll his eyes or make a sarcastic comment.
He just stood there in the dark, one hand gripping the railing, heart a little heavier than before.
He understood more than you thought.
And somewhere between your tears and Jungwon’s voice, he changed his mind about you.
-
The next few days, there was absolute silence. Maybe the food had finally worked some psychological warfare on Jay and Jake. Maybe it was their way of returning the favour. Either way, you weren’t about to question it.
You were grateful, to say the least.
Because for the past week, you’d been moping around your apartment. Living alone and striking out as an “independent bachelorette” sounded empowering in theory, but in practice? Maybe you weren’t one of those girlies after all…y’know the ones on Instagram who made solitude look like a season of self-discovery instead of a series of breakdowns.
It was Saturday. You’d spent the entire morning in bed watching a Netflix documentary about some guy swindling people on Tinder, surrounded by crumpled tissue and scented candle smoke that had long turned suffocating. You were still in yesterday’s hoodie, blanket tangled around your legs.
Three knocks echoed at the door.
You lifted your head from the pillow with a groan, barely alive. The sound came again.
Dragging yourself across the living room, you cracked the door open just a sliver, just wide enough to peek through but not enough to reveal the disaster that was your face, your hair, or your pride.
“Uh.” The voice was hesitant. Familiar.
You squinted.
Sunghoon.
You blinked. “What are you doing here?” you asked, your voice hoarse from crying and a full night of narrating your own spiral.
“There was a mix-up with the mail,” he said, holding up a small stack of envelopes.
“Oh.” You extended your arm awkwardly through the tiny gap in the door and grabbed the letters. “Thanks.”
There was a pause, “I can see your puffy eyes through the gap.”
You scoffed, immediately pulling the door closer. “You just have to be a smartass about everything, don’t you?”
He shrugged, completely unbothered, hands in the pockets of his hoodie. Still standing there.
“…Are Jake and Jay home?” you asked, trying to sound casual.
His expression twitched, almost amused. “Why? Trying to steal my best friends again or—”
“No,” you deadpanned. “I was just wondering. It’s been… quiet this whole week.”
“They went home to visit their families.”
Oh. Right. Come to think of it, maybe that explained why everything felt extra heavy lately. It was the time of year people usually went home. People surrounded themselves with comfort and familiarity. And here you were, stuck in the city because the train ticket home was just slightly out of budget.
“You didn’t go?” you asked softly.
“Can’t,” he shrugged.
“Oh.”
There was a beat of silence. Then he tilted his head.
“Well,” Sunghoon said slowly, “if you ever need someone to emotionally rejuvenate you by pointing out your hair looks like a rat’s nest, you know where to find me.”
The words came with the usual venom but the message behind them landed differently.
You stared at him through the gap in the door. You couldn’t tell if he was trying to be funny, or… sincere, in his own weird, backhanded way. It was strange. You’d only had three full conversations with the guy. And every single one ended in a WWE tournament.
You narrowed your eyes slightly. “Are you… being nice to me?”
He clicked his tongue. “Don’t ruin it.”
And with that, he turned and walked back.
-
You finally got up.
There was no movie-worthy breakthrough moment. Just the dull ache in your head from crying too much and the feeling that if you shed one more tear, your eyeballs might actually eject themselves from their sockets. So you moved. You stripped your bed, tossed the mountain of tissues into a trash bag, sprayed half a bottle of disinfectant in the air, and opened every window.
Your apartment looked like it had survived an apocalypse, which, to be fair, was accurate. But you scrubbed it back to life.
By the time you were in the kitchen, your eyes were still a little swollen, but you’d pressed them with cool spoons and a sad little compress until you could see straight again. Kind of.
You pulled out ingredients from your fridge one by one, lining them up like you were preparing for war. Slicing, boiling, julienning, stir-frying. The sound of the pan crackling beneath the glass noodles filled the silence of your apartment. It smelled exactly like it did when your mom used to make it.
You plated it in a wide, shallow bowl. It was delicious. Of course it was. You took pride in it. You always had. Jungwon used to tease you, calling your hands “blessed by Gordon Ramsay” like everything you touched turned into comfort food. You’d swat his arm, trying not to smile as he reached for second helpings before you’d even sat down.
You missed him. You missed your family. You missed not having to eat alone on a day like this.
Your eyes drifted to the door.
Would it be stupid? To bring food to Sunghoon? You’d never really done anything kind for him. Most of your interactions were lined with sarcasm and insults. And yet… that one line of his kept replaying in your head, “If you ever need someone to emotionally rejuvenate you by pointing out your hair looks like a rat’s nest, you know where to find me.”
So maybe…maybe he meant it. Or maybe you were just desperate for company and your noodles were starting to get cold.
Before you could talk yourself out of it, you packed the noodles into a clean container, wrapped a rubber band around it, and found yourself standing in front of 3C. Your feet had walked you here without permission. Your hand hovered in the air, ready to knock, but now… you hesitated. You weren’t here to complain. You weren’t here to yell. And that made it harder.
And just before your knuckles could land on the door, it swung open.
Sunghoon stood in front of you, coat already on, scarf looped lazily around his neck. There was a little shine to his hair like he’d styled it, and he looked surprised, mildly confused to find you on his doorstep without any anger evident in your eyes.
“What?” he said, voice dry.
You blinked, staring at him. You’d never really looked at him properly before. Not when he was this put-together. The gel in his hair, the sharp line of his jaw, the way his scarf sat slightly off-center like he’d thrown it on in a rush. You knew he was attractive. You weren’t blind. But seeing him now?
Sunghoon was actually… pretty handsome.
“I—uh—” you stammered.
His eyes narrowed slightly. “Spit it out.”
“I—uh—I made some… stir-fried glass noodles,” you said, stumbling over every syllable. “And I know how much it sucks being alone on a day like this, so I thought… maybe it’d bring you some kind of familiarity. From home, or something.”
You didn’t let yourself overthink it. You shoved the container into his hands, heart pounding.
“Bye,” you mumbled, before immediately turning around and marching back to your apartment like you’d just robbed a bank. The door clicked shut behind you.
You pressed your back to it, eyes wide.
Shit.
Was Sunghoon actually hot?
-
Sunghoon stood in the hallway, unmoving. The container in his hands was warm and he stared down at it for a couple of seconds longer than he probably should’ve.
Jake and Jay had been raving about your cooking for weeks. At first, he thought they were exaggerating. How good could someone’s food be that it made two of the loudest people he knew voluntarily whisper through a FIFA match?
But he’d seen it with his own eyes, Jake silently fist-pumping the air, mouthing “LET’S FUCKING GO” after a goal, and Jay barely reacting as he scored. They even created a rule: first one to speak puts a dollar in the Silence Jar. A literal jar. With money.
Sunghoon didn’t get it.
And he didn’t particularly care to. Not then.
But now, standing in the hallway in his coat and scarf, staring at the gift you shoved into his hands with flushed cheeks, something felt different.
He had been on his way out, actually. There was a bar nearby, nothing special, just a dim-lit spot with quiet music and decent food where no one bothered him. He usually went there whenever Jay and Jake went back home, like they did this time every year. It wasn’t that he didn’t have family—he did. It just wasn’t… warm. They were always busy. Always somewhere else, even when they were in the same room.
He peeled off his scarf, feet dragging a little as he headed back into the apartment, the door clicking shut behind him. He set the container on the kitchen counter, grabbed a pair of chopsticks from the drawer, and opened the lid.
Steam wafted up instantly, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, something subtly sweet he couldn’t name. The noodles glistened. They looked homemade. No, they felt homemade.
He picked up a strand and gave it a tentative taste.
His eyes widened before he could even help it.
It was good. Like stupid good. Like how the hell is this girl not running her own restaurant kind of good. Better than anything he would’ve paid for at that bar tonight.
He stood there in silence, chopsticks hovering mid-air, thinking back.
He wasn’t proud of how he’d treated you. Three encounters, three arguments. He remembered each one too clearly. The snark in his voice. The way your expression hardened. The notes on the door.
But it wasn’t really about you.
He hated being called out. Hated being the problem. Maybe it was ego, or maybe it was the way he’d always felt like he had to be put-together or to say the least…controlled. Your presence threw him off. You were loud in a way that was sincere. You didn’t filter your emotions. You wore your annoyance on your sleeve and your feelings on your face.
It irritated him. It also… made him feel something.
And then there was that night on the balcony.
He hadn’t meant to listen. But when he heard your voice cracking through the divider, talking to someone…maybe it was your boyfriend? Your best friend? Whoever it was about how lonely you were, it hit him harder than it should’ve.
Because he got it.
He felt it too.
Being alone in a crowd. Having people around but never really with you. That weight in your chest that didn’t come from sadness exactly…just the absence of warmth.
Sunghoon felt it more often than he cared to admit. He loved Jake and Jay, loved them to pieces. They were the kind of people who filled a room with noise and an energy he couldn’t really place and who made him laugh even when he didn’t want to.
He wanted something more. Something real.
Someone who just… saw him.
He sat at his kitchen counter, staring at the container of glass noodles still warm with steam curling from the lid. He wasn’t usually impulsive. He didn’t do gestures. But maybe tonight called for something a little uncharacteristic.
He stood and reached up, opening the top cupboard where Jake and Jay kept what they called their “emergency date plates.”. The kind of plates you used to impress someone. They only ever brought them out when trying to convince girls they were not, in fact, living in a borderline condemned apartment flat.
He grabbed two.
And then, before he could second guess it, he walked out into the hallway and knocked.
Your door creaked open a few seconds later.
You blinked at him, confused. “What?”
It almost felt like deja vu. Except now, he was you…awkward at the door.
And then it hit him.
He looked at you…like, really looked at you, and for the first time, he realised he’d never actually seen you before.
You were wearing a soft pink sleeveless dress, the fabric loose and falling just above your knees, cinched slightly at the waist. Your hair was tied into a side braid, fringe swept slightly to the side, with a few delicate strands left loose to frame your face. You looked like you belonged in a pastel painting.
Shit.
Were you actually—pretty?
Nope. Nope. Stop that. Sunghoon blinked hard, trying to erase the thought.
Damn it.
You probably had a boyfriend. Someone smart and warm and emotionally available who FaceTimed you every night and wrote you good morning texts. Someone who missed you from back home.
And besides…someone who could cook like you? You could probably bag Jake and Jay at the same time in under a minute if you wanted. Not that you would. But still.
He cleared his throat.
“I, uh…” He held up the plates slightly. “I thought maybe… you could join me?”
He wasn’t good at this. But his voice was steady.
“Only if you want to,” he added, quickly. “I just figured. Y’know. Glass noodles taste better on… plates that aren’t plastic.”
His eyes met yours.
He was trying.
And this time, it was your turn to blink in disbelief.
-
Sunghoon had returned with the container of glass noodles, now a little colder, a little stickier, but still giving off the faint aroma of sesame oil and soy sauce. You’d reheated it and plated it up, slightly embarrassed that the presentation wasn’t what it had been fresh off the stove, but he didn’t seem to care. Or maybe he did, but you couldn’t tell, because for the first five minutes, you didn’t look at each other.
The clink of chopsticks, the occasional scrape of ceramic, and your ceiling fan. It was awkward. You wondered why he even came. Why he asked in the first place, if he was just going to eat in silence.
“So,” you said.
“So,” he said.
You paused.
“You first.”
“No, you—”
“Okay, I’ll go first,” he said, cutting himself off. He cleared his throat and set his chopsticks down. “I—uh—I just wanted to say thanks. For the meal.”
You blinked. “Okay.” You nodded slowly. “You’re… shockingly formal when you’re not pissed.”
“I—” Sunghoon let out a breath and leaned back a little in the chair. “I was never pissed.”
“Mhm,” you hummed, nodding, eyes narrowed. “Sure.”
“I was annoyed, sure. Who likes being called out?”
“I wasn’t trying to call you out,” you said, tilting your head. “But put yourself in my shoes. I have to wake up at stupid o’clock to learn how to make a soufflé or whatever, and meanwhile, I’m treated to surround sound yelling and the occasional ceiling vibration.”
He gave a small shrug. “Well, we haven’t done it in a while.”
“And I’m grateful,” you replied, lips twitching. “Truly.”
“We got a silence jar and everything,” he muttered, almost like he didn’t want to admit it.
Your eyebrows shot up. “A silence jar?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Jay implemented it. He said if we keep it up, we’ll have enough for extra toppings on our next pizza night.”
You burst into laughter, the sound surprising even yourself. It came out light and real, and you covered your mouth halfway through. “That’s… honestly? A decent plan.”
“It can be,” he said with a grin starting to pull at the corner of his mouth. “Until everyone starts trying to play FIFA like it’s an ASMR video.”
“You guys actually whisper?” you asked, incredulous.
“Well, yeah. You told us to.”
“I didn’t think you would listen,” you said, pointing your chopsticks at him.
Sunghoon shrugged again, his eyes dropping to the plate in front of him. “Well… they changed my mind, so.”
He didn’t say what he was really thinking.
That it wasn’t Jake or Jay who changed his mind. It was that night. The way your voice had carried through the gap in the balcony, fragile and cracking. The way you’d said I’m alone, Won like it was something that had been sitting inside you for too long, waiting to spill. He’d realised then maybe he wasn’t just an annoying neighbour to you. Maybe he was part of the problem. Maybe he’d been making things harder for someone who was already trying to hold it all together.
“So…” he said quietly, eyes on his plate, “why are you alone during the holidays anyway?”
“Couldn’t afford a train ticket,” you said eventually. “I mean—I could have, technically. But that’d mean I wouldn’t have enough money left to buy ingredients for my assignments the next few weeks.”
Sunghoon winced. “Oof. That’s rough. Must suck.”
You gave a little shrug. “Yeah. It’s fine though.”
He knew it wasn’t.
There was a pause. He glanced sideways at you.
“If you ever… feel like you need someone to talk to,” he started, voice casual, “you could just knock. I have FIFA.”
You snorted. “Oh, like I’d willingly join that mess.”
“It’s actually really fun.”
“How fun can flinging a ball across a screen with your thumbs be?”
“It is!” he defended, turning fully toward you.
You raised a brow. “I tried once with my friend and it was so boring.”
“That’s ‘cause you weren’t playing it right,” he insisted, already standing up. “Come on. I’ll show you.”
“I’m not playing FIFA with you.”
“Come onnn,” he whined, grabbing your wrist and tugging you lightly toward his door.
“God, this is gonna be so stupid,” you muttered, dragging your feet even as you followed him out.
Inside his apartment, the lights were warm, the couch sunken in like it had been through a war. You sat reluctantly, tucking your knees up as he handed you the controller.
“Alright,” he said, sliding in beside you. “This is you—Team Two. All you have to do is use the left joystick to move, the right one to look around. This button to pass, this one to shoot.”
You blinked. “So many buttons.”
“It’s easy! Just follow what I say.”
“Okay… so now I just—?” You pressed a button and immediately kicked the ball out of bounds.
“No, no—move left. Left.”
“I am moving left!”
He glanced over. Your tongue was sticking out slightly in concentration, eyes squinted, brows furrowed. He chuckled before he could stop himself, quickly looking away.
Then you screamed, “I DID IT! DID I DO IT?!”
He turned back just in time to see you score.
Sunghoon yelled, jumping up. “Yeah! That was it!”
You stared at the screen, jaw dropping. “Holy shit. I’m amazing.”
He looked at you again, this time longer. Your eyes were glowing, still locked on the TV. Your fingers tapped at the buttons like you already got it down. You bit your lip when you were focused, tongue sticking out just slightly when you were thinking.
And you were cute. So fucking cute.
The match picked up pace. Suddenly it was 2–2, and both of you were leaning in like your lives depended on it. You were yelling at the controller. He was shouting advice. At one point, your knees knocked, but neither of you noticed. The room was loud, just your voices and the music from the game and the way your laughter filled every corner of his flat.
Then it happened.
You scored.
You screamed, controller tossed onto the couch, and before Sunghoon could register what was happening, your arms were around his neck, squeezing him tight as you jumped slightly in place.
“I WON! DID YOU SEE THAT?!”
He froze. Your cheek brushed his jaw, your warmth right up against him. His hands hovered midair like he didn’t know whether to hold you back or not.
And then you let go, plopped back onto the couch, and grabbed the controller again like nothing had happened.
Sunghoon didn’t move.
For the first time in what felt like forever, his heartbeat stuttered. Sped up like it had been woken from a long, indifferent sleep.
He sat there, silent, staring at you as you shouted at your pixelated team.
And all he could think was well that…he hadn’t planned on crushing on the new girl based on one single positive interaction.
God, he was so screwed.
-
The next few days passed in a blur of almost-conversations.
You and Sunghoon didn’t talk much. Not like that night. Just a few polite waves across the hallway, a quiet “hey” if you caught the elevator at the same time. Respectful nods. The occasional awkward glance if your eyes met for too long.
And then Jake and Jay came back.
And of course, Jake being Jake, invited himself into your apartment before you could even say no.
“I missed your cooking while I was gone,” he sighed dramatically, sinking into the dining chair like he’d returned from war.
“Well, today’s your lucky day,” you said, flipping through your assignment folder and squinting at the week’s task. “Because for today’s assignment, I’m supposed to…” you paused. “Make a really mean chicken pot pie.”
Jake’s eyes lit up. He clapped his hands, nearly tipping his chair over. “CHICKEN POT PIE?!”
Before you could even blink, he leapt up, yanked your door open, and sprinted into the hallway.
“JAY! IT’S CHICKEN POT PIE!” he yelled like it was a fire drill.
From across the hall, Jay’s voice rang out. “WHAT?! NO WAY!”
And then—another voice joined them.
A quieter one.
“Chicken pot pie?”
You didn’t even have time to react before you were suddenly hosting three grown men in your kitchen, all leaning over your counter.
“Guys,” you said, elbow-deep in flour. “I can’t focus if you’re all staring at me like that.”
“We’re just excited,” Jake grinned, chin in his hands.
“Well don’t be. I’ve never made this before. It might taste like ass.”
“Your hands are basically blessed by Gordon Ramsay,” Jay declared, grabbing a slice of carrot from the cutting board. “It’s impossible for it to taste like ass.”
You laughed, the sound soft and unexpected even to yourself. “Jungwon used to tell me that all the time.”
“Oh he did?” Jay echoed, voice teasing.
Sunghoon stood a few steps back from the others, arms crossed loosely, leaning against your fridge. He hadn’t said much since stepping into your place, but now he watched the three of you.
The way you smiled when Jay made a joke. The way Jake knew where you kept your mixing bowls. The way your eyes sparkled, just slightly, when you laughed about something from home. The way they got it. The way they knew you.
And the way he didn’t.
Sunghoon couldn’t explain it but it made his stomach twist. Tight and strange and uncomfortable.
And then he heard it again.
Jungwon.
Who the hell was Jungwon?
His name sounded too casual. Too affectionate. The kind of name you didn’t just drop without meaning.
Sunghoon didn’t say anything. He just looked down at your countertop, at the flour dusting your hands and the delicate way your fingers shaped the crust, and all he could think was—
Why the fuck did he care so much?
You moved around your kitchen with the kind of ease that made it impossible not to watch. Sunghoon’s eyes were locked on you, the way your hair swayed behind your back as you leaned forward to stir something in the pot, the way your sleeves were pushed up.
His heart pounded harder than it should’ve. He tried to brush it off. Maybe he was just hungry. Maybe it was just the smell of garlic and butter making him lightheaded. That had to be it, right?
Except no.
He hadn’t planned on feeling like this today. Not when he woke up. Not when he brushed his teeth and went on his phone and told himself he’d stay in his apartment. He hadn’t even planned on coming over. And that night the two of you shared noodles? He’d chalked it up to vulnerability. Nighttime feelings. Nothing serious.
But now it was noon. He was awake. Sober. And you were still somehow making his chest tighten just by existing within ten feet of him.
God. He hated having a crush.
He didn’t even realise how lost he looked until Jake spoke up from the side, breaking the spell.
“So, is Jungwon finally coming?”
This guy again.
Sunghoon’s head whipped toward Jake so fast it might’ve snapped his neck.
You perked up at the mention, a smile blooming across your face without even trying. “Yeah! He’s coming in two weeks! I actually told him about you guys. He’s kinda excited to meet you.”
That smile. It wasn’t fake. It wasn’t forced. You looked like someone who meant it. Someone who missed this guy. Someone who talked to him often.
Sunghoon clenched his jaw and looked away, grabbing a water bottle off your counter just to do something with his hands. He twisted the cap a little too hard.
He didn’t know who the hell Jungwon was.
But he already didn’t like him.
“He’s coming over?” Jay asked, his mouth still half-full of pie filling.
“Yeah,” you said casually, brushing a stray hair behind your ear as you peeked into the oven. “He’s staying at my place for the week he’s here.”
Staying at your place?
Sunghoon blinked.
He looked around your apartment, eyes scanning every corner like they were going to magically reveal a hidden guest room. But there wasn’t one. You lived in a studio. Everything was in one space. Your bed, your desk, your kitchen, your couch. Except… there wasn’t even a real couch. Just a throw-covered loveseat that barely seated two.
No air mattress in sight. No hidden folding cot. No suspicious lumpy bags that might hold a spare futon.
Just one bed.
His chest tightened.
Where the hell was Jungwon gonna sleep? With you?
He picked at the label on his water bottle, teeth grinding quietly as he stared down at the floor, like it held answers. It didn’t.
He wasn’t even involved with you. This shouldn’t matter. It shouldn’t bother him.
But it did. In the most uncomfortable, teeth-clenching, mind-racing kind of way.
-
You stood in front of the three boys, arms crossed, heart racing slightly under your apron. The chicken pot pie sat on the table…golden brown crust, just the right amount of bubbling over on the sides, the smell of thyme and butter and garlic filling your apartment.
Jake, Jay, and Sunghoon each took a spoonful at the same time like they’d rehearsed it. You watched them, nervous, scanning their faces.
One by one, their expressions lit up. Jake’s eyes widened, Jay let out a satisfied groan. Well… except Sunghoon. Of course.
He stayed still. Always unreadable. But you caught it. The tiny pause, the way his brows lifted just a fraction. He liked it. He just didn’t show it like the others.
“So—” Jake started.
“Good,” Jay finished, already reaching for more.
Your eyes flicked to Sunghoon. Somehow, his opinion was the one you were waiting on. The one you needed.
“So?” you asked, staring at him.
He blinked. “What?”
“How is it?”
“It’s good,” he said, nodding once, tone flat as ever.
Your smile dropped. You frowned. “Doesn’t seem like it.”
“What? I just said it’s good.”
“No, you said ‘good’ and then frowned and put your spoon down. Usually it’s ‘It’s good,’ then a second bite. Right, boys?”
Jake nodded enthusiastically, chicken still in his mouth. “She’s right.”
“Totally right,” Jay added, already helping himself to more.
Sunghoon rolled his eyes, leaning back slightly. “You’re all being dramatic.”
You scoffed, insulted. “I guess you don’t want seconds then. Tch.”
You clicked your tongue and turned on your heel, storming off toward the kitchen, grumbling under your breath. Your apron fluttered behind you as you moved, and you didn’t look back.
Sunghoon watched your little pout, the way your shoulders stiffened, how you exaggerated every step. He didn’t know why, but he liked your reaction. No, he loved it. He found it ridiculously cute. Too cute, actually. That slight wrinkle in your forehead. The way your voice got higher when you were mad. The tiny stomp in your step.
The moment your back turned, his lips twitched upward.
When lunch ended and the three of them stood by your front door, Jake and Jay turned to hug you dramatically.
“Never move out,” Jake said into your shoulder.
You rolled your eyes. “You’re just saying that because you get free food.”
“And precisely why we don’t want you to move out,” Jay replied, squeezing you once more before the two of them shuffled out, bickering as they made their way into their apartment across the hall.
Sunghoon lingered. Just behind you.
You turned, raising a brow. “Aren’t you leaving?”
He nodded. “Yeah.” He stepped back slowly, hands in his pockets, gaze flicking to the floor before settling back on you. Then he paused. Like he wasn’t sure if he should say what he was about to say.
“The chicken pot pie was good. I think…” he exhaled, voice quieter, “I think it was one of the best things I’ve ever had.”
You blinked, caught off guard.
“It reminded me of home,” he added, eyes still on you now, a little softer than usual. “Not in the way where it’s about the taste or anything… it’s just… you cook like home. If that makes any sense.”
You hadn’t expected that.
Your cheeks flushed immediately. You turned away before he could see it, pretending to fiddle with a dish on the counter, fingers uselessly adjusting an already-clean plate.
“Thank you,” you murmured, voice low, almost shy.
He lingered for a second longer like he wanted to say more. Then he gave a quiet nod and walked out the door.
-
It was raining.
It was only 4 p.m., but the sky had turned an eerie charcoal grey, clouds rolling thick above the city. Thunder cracked so loud you felt it in your chest, and the wind howled between the buildings, slamming against your windows.
You hated this.
You hated how much you still feared storms even at your age. How useless independence felt when you were stuffing tissues in your ears and jamming earmuffs over your head like you were five again. You turned on every single light in your apartment, lamps, fairy lights, even your microwave light and cocooned yourself under your thickest blanket, barely breathing, eyes wide.
Then the whole building shuddered.
The lights flickered.
And then everything went dark.
You screamed.
Your apartment disappeared into a blanket of pitch black, shadows curling up the walls like ink. Your heart pounded. You scrambled up from the couch, tearing off your earmuffs and patting the walls with shaky hands, trying to find a light switch like that would fix anything.
“Shit,” you whispered, voice trembling. “Shit shit shit.”
You fumbled for your phone. A message popped up from your landlord.
“The building is experiencing a temporary blackout due to the storm. Electricity should resume in an hour. Thank you for your patience.”
An hour? Alone? In this? In the dark? Absolutely fucking not.
You jumped at another violent crack of thunder and instantly rushed out into the hallway. Your blanket trailed behind you like a cape. You beelined for the only door you knew.
You knocked. The door swung open almost immediately.
“No time to explain but I’m shitting bricks here,” you said all at once.
It wasn’t Jake or Jay.
It was Sunghoon.
His brows raised. “The thunderstorm?”
You nodded frantically. “Are Jake or Jay here?”
“They’re asleep.” He glanced behind him, then back at you. “But I could… stay with you. If you want. Until it passes.”
You hesitated.
Then thunder cracked again, louder this time, right above your building.
You flinched. “Okay,” you breathed, defeated.
The two of you sat cross-legged on your couch, sharing a single candle as your only source of light. It flickered between you, casting long, warm shadows on the walls.
“Seems like you’re scared of the thunder,” he said gently.
“Well,” you sighed, voice tight. “I’ve been scared of it since I was younger. It just… gets to me.”
He nodded. “It’s okay.”
You noticed it then…the subtle tremble in his shoulders. He was shivering. From the cold, probably. Your heater wasn’t working without electricity, and the apartment was steadily turning into a fridge. You were wrapped up like a burrito, but he’d come in without anything but a hoodie.
Feeling guilty, you shifted toward him and lifted one side of your blanket.
“Uh…” he looked at you like he wasn’t sure if he was being pranked.
“Relax. I can see you shivering like a dog,” you muttered.
“Oh.” He blinked, then grabbed the other end of the blanket and scooted in beside you.
Now under the same blanket, his body heat pressed faintly against yours. You sat side by side, knees pulled to your chests.
And then, in a whisper, he said, “You know…”
You looked over at him, startled by the sudden softness in his voice.
“I know I’m not as close to you as Jay and Jake are,” he said, eyes trained on the candle, “but… you don’t always have to find them for help.”
You blinked. “Huh?”
“I’m saying…” he sighed, eyes flicking up toward you, and then away again. “Never mind.”
“No, what? Just spit it out.”
He exhaled through his nose like it physically hurt to get the words out. “I’m just saying… you could ask me for help too.”
You stared at him, your eyes adjusting to the candlelight flickering between you.
“Oh,” you said softly.
There was a beat of silence. You weren’t really sure what to do with that. But you didn’t want to leave it hanging either.
“I’ll be sure to think of you the next time,” you mumbled, barely louder than the rain still pelting the windows outside.
You felt him nod beside you.
You turned your head slowly, resting your cheek against your knees, eyes drifting toward him. His face was tilted down, lashes long and dark as they blinked now and then, just slow enough for you to notice. His jaw had softened a little. He looked calm, in a way you weren’t used to seeing him.
“Would you rather have a million dollars,” you said suddenly, “or have no problems in the world?”
He blinked, confused for a second, then turned his head toward you. His chin was on his knees now too, and with the two of you curled up in the same blanket, inches apart, it felt almost like whispering under covers at a sleepover.
“What kind of question is that?”
“A good one,” you replied, lips twitching. “So answer it.”
He scoffed a little under his breath. “Uh… maybe no problems in the world?”
“Smart answer. Why?”
He paused, “I think people ruin themselves trying to solve problems that shouldn’t be theirs. If I had no problems, maybe I wouldn’t waste time worrying about all the stuff that doesn’t matter.”
You blinked at him. That was… not the answer you were expecting. It was a good one. Way too good, actually.
“Right,” you said softly, giving him a small nod.
He looked at you for a second longer before his eyes flicked down. “Your turn. Would you rather go back in time or go into the future?”
You puffed your cheeks out, thinking. “Hmm… that’s a toughie.”
Then your eyes widened, the way they always did when you had a lightbulb moment. “Go back in time!”
“Why’s that?”
“So maybe I’d really weigh the pros and cons of moving to a city where I know no one,” you said with a grin, but it faded slightly at the end.
Sunghoon stayed quiet.
“You must really feel alone,” he said.
You blinked, startled. “What?”
“I hear you talking about it sometimes. On your balcony. When you think no one’s listening. You talk about how moving here feels like a mistake.”
You looked away, embarrassed. “It’s not a mistake. I just… miss everything back home.”
“I get it,” he said after a second. “I was like you. Back when I was home, I wanted to leave so badly. Thought being somewhere else would fix everything. But now that I’m here… yeah, I have Jay and Jake, and they’re great, but sometimes I come back to the apartment and everything’s fine and normal and still—I just feel… empty. And I don’t even know why.”
You didn’t say anything for a long time.
You just watched him. His face had turned thoughtful, distant. His eyes unfocused, drifting somewhere past the flickering candle, past your walls, like he was staring right through the quiet that lived in his chest.
You mumbled, “Well, yeah. But… I also don’t regret it. Not one bit.”
“Really?”
You nodded. “Yeah. I mean—I’m here doing what I love. Not many people get to do that. And I made friends with three incredibly annoying people in this building.”
He turned toward you again, eyes narrowing playfully. “So we’re friends now?”
Your cheeks heated up instantly. You glanced away, pretending to roll your eyes. “Are we not?”
He let out a low chuckle, the kind that rumbled softly at the back of his throat. “I’m glad you think we are.”
“So,” you said, tilting your head, “does this mean you’ll finally be nice to me now? Or is that too much character development for one night?”
Sunghoon smirked, eyes flicking to you with a teasing glint. “You want nice? From me?”
“Yeah. Like a full sentence without sarcasm. I feel like that’s a reward I’ve earned by now.”
“You earned a participation medal at best.”
You laughed, nudging him with your knee. “Unbelievable.”
He was already looking at you again—closer this time.
“Hold on,” he said softly, “you have an eyelash on your cheek.”
You blinked, caught off guard. “What?”
Before you could move, he leaned in.
His face hovered inches from yours as his thumb brushed gently against your cheek, his touch soft but sure. The pads of his fingers were warm. His eyes, now impossibly close, scanned your face with a kind of quiet focus you hadn’t felt from him before. You swallowed.
Neither of you moved.
Your gaze locked, and the space between you slowly disappeared…inch by inch, breath by breath. It wasn’t planned. It just… happened.
Then suddenly, his lips were on yours.
Then it deepened. His other hand pushed the blanket off his head, dropping behind your neck to pull you in, and your hands found their way to his thighs, then to the curve of his jaw. His lips parted just enough, and your pulse jumped as he moved against you.
His hands slid to your waist. He lifted you slightly and shifted you into his lap in one smooth motion. You were now straddling him, knees on either side of his thighs, and he didn’t stop kissing you, not even for a second.
The kiss grew stronger. He tilted his head, hand moving to your chin to pull you even closer, his mouth parting yours with a low inhale as his tongue brushed against yours.
Your hands moved back down, gripping at the soft cotton of his hoodie, when—
Click.
The lights flickered on.
You both froze.
Your faces were still inches apart.
You slowly pulled back, still on his lap. He blinked, eyes searching yours like he wasn’t sure what just happened. Like part of him wanted to keep going, and the other part… couldn’t believe you just kissed him like that.
You stared at each other, the silence heavy now.
His hands were still resting lightly on your waist. Yours were still fisted in the fabric of his hoodie. Both of you breathless.
“I need to go back home,” Sunghoon said suddenly, voice low but rushed. His eyes darted everywhere except at you.
You blinked. “Right. Of course!” you said quickly, nodding way too fast. “Yeah. No—totally.”
He shifted awkwardly underneath you, face flushing as he cleared his throat and muttered, “Probably… need a pillow or something.”
It took you a second.
Then you saw the way he was subtly covering his lap with the edge of the blanket.
“Oh.” Your voice came out small. You quickly scrambled off his lap, cheeks burning so hot they could’ve powered your apartment during the blackout.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, already halfway to your door.
And then, Sunghoon stormed out of your apartment.
-
It had been a couple of days since you last properly spoke to Sunghoon. Not for lack of trying. You had…more than once. But each time, he’d give you a quick nod, maybe a polite smile if you were lucky, before promptly power-walking away.
Maybe he just wasn’t feeling what you were feeling. Maybe that kiss was a fluke, something in the heat of the moment. Maybe your little new crush was painfully one-sided.
But you pushed it aside. You had bigger things to focus on.
Jungwon was coming today.
You’d spent the entire morning rearranging your apartment, cleaning it from top to bottom, fluffing cushions and spraying perfume not just on yourself but into the air like it could somehow mask how nervous you were. You even did your hair the way he liked it, soft curls and a side part.
And then, there he was.
The door swung open and your best friend stood in the hallway, suitcase in hand and a grin already on his face.
“WON!” you squealed, running up to him and leaping into his arms.
“Hello, idiot,” he said, his voice fond as he hugged you back, lifting you off the ground with ease.
The shout must’ve startled the boys in 3C, because right on cue, the door across the hall creaked open and out came Jake and Jay, both peeking out.
They spotted you clinging to Jungwon like a koala.
You beamed. “Guys! It’s him!”
“The famous Jungwon,” Jay said, nodding in approval as he stepped out.
“And you must be Jake and Jay,” Jungwon said smoothly, setting you down.
Then came the third.
Sunghoon.
He didn’t move from the doorway. Just stood there, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Jungwon turned to him, a friendly smile still on his lips, chuckling. “You must be Sunghoon, then.”
Sunghoon’s gaze narrowed slightly. “What’s so funny?”
Jungwon blinked, caught off guard. “Nothing,” he said, clearing his throat. “She just… told me you were like this.”
“Like what?” Sunghoon asked sharply, the scoff nearly audible in his tone.
Jungwon scratched the back of his neck. “Nothing. She just said you were cool,” he said with a shrug, throwing you a teasing look.
Sunghoon rolled his eyes.
You stood there, suddenly awkward, unsure what the hell had crawled up Sunghoon’s ass. The hostility was as thick as the tension in the air and you hadn’t done anything. Not really.
At least you didn’t think you had.
Just stood there, arms crossed, a stiff expression on his face while Jake and Jay welcomed Jungwon like he was already part of the group. Jungwon, ever the social butterfly, fit in easily, throwing a few jokes around, complimenting the apartment despite its questionable decor, and even teasing Jake about the ugly dinosaur pyjamas he was wearing in broad daylight.
But Sunghoon?
He was frowning the entire time.
You couldn’t figure it out. His jaw was tight, his responses were clipped, and every time Jungwon so much as glanced your way, you saw Sunghoon’s eye twitch.
You walked back to your apartment with Jungwon beside you, chatting excitedly about dinner plans and all the places he wanted to visit during his stay. But when you turned back, just for a second, you caught Sunghoon still watching. Still standing in the hallway.
His arms were still crossed.
And he didn’t look away.
-
Sunghoon stood there, arms folded across his chest like they were the only things keeping him together. He stared ahead blankly, jaw tight, doing everything in his power not to glare a hole through the wall. He wasn’t sure what he was feeling.
Sure, he knew he had a crush on you. He’d known since the chicken pot pie, probably. Or maybe since you wrapped that blanket around his shoulders. Or maybe long before that. But what he didn’t know was who the fuck Jungwon was, and why he was walking into your apartment.
“Dude,” Jake muttered, throwing him a sideways look. “You could’ve at least smiled.”
“I did,” Sunghoon growled, not bothering to hide his scowl.
Jay snorted. “That was barely a smile. You looked like you were in the middle of passing a kidney stone.”
“Why do I even have to be nice?” Sunghoon snapped. “I don’t know him.”
“Because your crush’s boyfriend just came into town,” Jake replied, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Sunghoon's head snapped to him so fast you’d think he got whiplash. “Boyfriend?”
Jay raised a brow. “Not denying the crush though.”
Sunghoon ignored him. “Let me ask you again. Boyfriend?”
Jake shrugged. “I mean… yeah, I guess?”
“What the fuck do you mean you guess?” Sunghoon hissed, dragging a hand down his face. “He can’t be her boyfriend.”
“But he is,” Jay said with a shrug and an infuriatingly smug smile.
“No, he’s not. He can’t be. Because she and I…” he paused, realising too late what was about to fall out of his mouth. “…kissed. Three nights ago.”
Jake’s mouth dropped open. Jay blinked.
“I’m sorry, what?” Jake finally blurted.
“Nothing,” Sunghoon muttered quickly, suddenly desperate to eat his words.
“You can’t say nothing when you just said everything!” Jake shouted, grabbing Sunghoon’s shoulders and shaking him.
“Tell us right now!” Jay begged dramatically, gripping his own hair.
Sunghoon rolled his eyes, flustered. “I—we—kissed. That’s it.”
Jay blinked. “You know we were kidding about the boyfriend thing, right?”
Jake grinned. “Jungwon’s just her best friend.”
“We just wanted to see if you’d admit you liked her,” Jay added, eyes sparkling with way too much joy. “Which you did.”
“No, I didn’t,” Sunghoon argued weakly. “I just said we kissed.”
“Okay, Mr Visceral Reaction every time we mention Jungwon,” Jake teased.
Jay smirked. “Say it. Say you like her.”
Sunghoon groaned, eyes shut tight as if the ceiling could swallow him whole. Then, finally—quietly, begrudgingly—
“Okay. So what if I like her?”
Jay and Jake immediately turned to each other with identical gasps, smacking each other’s arms excitedly.
“Oh my god, he admitted it,” Jay whispered dramatically.
Jake clutched his chest. “It’s happening.”
“You guys are disgusting,” Sunghoon groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “And if you keep acting like this, I’m never telling you anything again.”
“Okay, okay.” Jake raised both hands, trying to suppress a grin. “We’ll behave.”
“BUT I’M SO EXCITED,” Jay squealed.
Jake smacked him on the shoulder. “Starting now.”
Jay nodded solemnly, rubbing his arm. “Sorry. That one slipped.”
Sunghoon sighed and leaned against the counter, arms crossed again. “I started liking her last month… when you guys went back home for the week. She cooked me stir-fried noodles, and we ate together. Played FIFA. I don’t know. I just… developed a crush on her.”
“That’s so cute,” Jay and Jake said in unison, stars in their eyes.
“Seriously, can the two of you act normal for like three minutes?”
Jake shrugged, still smiling. “I just didn’t expect you to have a girlfriend before me.”
Jay patted his shoulder. “You’ll get there, buddy.”
Jake tilted his head. “You think?”
“Yeah, you have nice eyes. Great personality.”
Jake beamed. “That’s so kind.”
“Can we please get back to my problem for like a minute?” Sunghoon cut in, glaring at both of them.
“Oh. Right.”
Jay cleared his throat and finally looked serious. “Look. We like her. She’s hilarious, and she makes good fucking food. And let’s be real, you’ve never liked anyone. We’ve been trying to get you to double date with us for years and you just stare at your phone all the time. But with her? You’re like... a guy with actual feelings.”
“But now I’m losing to Jung… whatever his name is.” Sunghoon sighed.
“Jungwon,” Jake said. “And no, you’re not.”
“How do you know she doesn’t like him?” Sunghoon muttered, staring down at the floor.
“Because,” Jay said, “if she did, she wouldn’t have kissed you.”
“Unless she’s indecisive or confused or something. I don’t know.” Sunghoon exhaled hard, running a hand through his hair. “Maybe I was just… a moment. And he’s her person.”
Jake shook his head. “I’m telling you—just talk to her.”
“Yeah,” Jay added. “Before you spiral even harder and start writing love songs about her. But if you do, I haved like a couple of guitars you could borrow.”
Sunghoon rolled his eyes. But somewhere, deep down… a part of him hoped they were right.
-
You were pacing back and forth on your cheap IKEA rug, while Jungwon was laid out dramatically on your bed, arms folded behind his head, thoroughly enjoying the show.
“I’m telling you, he’s avoiding me,” you snapped, pointing an accusatory finger at no one in particular. “We kissed—KISSED, Jungwon—and now he won’t even look at me! I wave, he nods. I say hi, he nods. I breathe in his direction, he—guess what—nods!”
Jungwon hummed, annoyingly calm. “Maybe he’s nervous. Or maybe he wants you to go to him.”
“I do go to him! And then he speed-walks away like I’m the plague!” You groaned, pressing your fingers to your temples. “I’m gonna lose it.”
“Maybe…” he tapped his chin thoughtfully, “you’re just a shit kisser.”
You whipped around and chucked a throw pillow directly at his smug face.
“Asshole.”
He caught it with a grin, clutching it to his chest dramatically. “I’m just saying. Maybe you scared him off.”
“You’re lucky I haven’t strangled you with this blanket,” you muttered, grabbing another pillow just in case.
Jungwon sat up, brushing imaginary dust off his shirt. “You know, sometimes I forget we grew up together because you’re so unpredictable now.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He snorted. “You used to be fearless. Remember that Heeseung guy you had a crush on in middle school?”
You blinked. “What about him?”
“You were six, and you walked up to him at recess, said ‘I like your lunchbox,’ then kissed his cheek and ran off.”
“Ah,” you said flatly, “the good old days. That girl’s dead now.”
“She’s not dead,” Jungwon argued, grabbing your wrists and tugging you to sit beside him on the bed. “She’s just… overthinking everything. Look, if Sunghoon doesn’t like you—whatever. But if he does? You’re missing out just because you’re too chicken to tell him.”
You glared. “I hate it when you make sense.”
“I know.” He grinned. “It’s my worst trait.”
“I just—” you exhaled, flopping back beside him. “What if it ruins everything? We literally just got closer. What if I say something and it all goes to shit?”
“Okay, counter-offer.” He sat up straighter. “You tell him, or I will. I will walk down the hallway, knock on his door, and go ‘Hi, my best friend has feelings for you, she also has performance anxiety but can cook a great bowl of chicken noodle soup.’”
“You wouldn’t,” you hissed, swatting at his arm.
“Then do it yourself!” he laughed, dodging your attacks. “Before I start printing flyers and pasting them in the apartment lobby.”
God. Why did he always have to be right?
“Fine.”
Your hand was already on the doorknob, breath caught in your throat, just about to leave when the door across from yours had swung open at the exact same time.
And there he was.
Sunghoon.
You both froze, hands still gripping the doorknobs, blinking.
You cleared your throat first. “Sunghoon.”
He blinked like he hadn’t already been staring. “What?”
You squinted. “Is that the only word you know how to say when I call your name?”
He paused. “Sorry.”
You opened your mouth to say something else but were rudely interrupted by muffled snorts from behind Sunghoon. Jay and Jake’s heads popped out from their doorway like nosy meerkats.
“Hoon,” Jay said in a loud, exaggerated voice, “we need more eggs.”
“Desperately,” Jake added, nodding like this was a national emergency. “Go to the store.”
Then Jungwon peeked out from behind you with an equally suspicious grin. “Oh, and while you’re there, can you grab some ice cream too?”
You and Sunghoon looked at each other.
“What is happening right now,” you said flatly.
Before either of you could respond, four hands shoved the both of you toward the elevator. You stumbled in, the doors sliding shut just as Jay yelled out, “Don’t come back without snacks!”
The elevator stopped at your floor.
Your shoulders brushed as you stood side by side, awkwardly watching the floor numbers light up.
Then, finally, you broke it. “About that day—”
Sunghoon shook his head quickly. “Don’t worry about it. I won’t tell Jungwon.”
You blinked. “What do you mean you won’t tell Jungwon?”
He looked away. “Well, aren’t you like… crushing on him? I wouldn’t want what we did to, you know… ruin your chances or something.”
Your entire face scrunched up. “Won and I? What? Ew. God, no. We’re friends. We grew up together. Thinking about him that way would be like incest or something.”
And just like that, Sunghoon felt like he’d been hit by a shooting star and given a second chance at life. His heart did a full backflip. You were single. You were available.
He couldn’t help it. He smiled.
“Why do you suddenly look so happy?” you asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
“I’m not.”
“You’re literally smiling.”
“I’m not.”
“We’ve hung out a couple of times and if I’m being honest, I’ve never seen you smile this—”
“Cut it out.” He tried to brush it off, biting back the grin. “I’m just glad.”
“Glad about?”
“Glad that I didn’t ruin your chances,” he said nonchalantly, looking up like he hadn’t just panicked thirty seconds ago.
“Mhm.” You narrowed your eyes at him, the golden-orange glow of the sunset casting warmth across his cheekbones. He was handsome. Frustratingly so. “Well… because I actually like this other guy.”
Sunghoon’s smile faltered.
“I haven’t known him that long,” you continued casually, “but he seems cool. I don’t really know much about him yet.”
“That’s… nice.” Sunghoon turned away quickly, jaw tight. He was definitely grimacing. Please don’t let her see that I’m grimacing, he begged internally.
“Yeah, he’s really tall. Really handsome, too.”
“That’s just…” he exhaled. “Great.”
“He doesn’t seem super friendly but he has a big heart. Even if he tries really hard not to show it.”
“Seems like a swell fuckin’ guy,” he muttered bitterly.
“It’s a pity though,” you sighed dramatically, still watching him. “I wish I could get to know him better.”
“Well… anyone’s lucky to get to know you.” He tried to smile. It didn’t reach his eyes. “I know I am.”
You tilted your head. “Not to mention… he lives really close to me.”
Sunghoon’s eyes darted to you. “He does?”
“Mhm.” You nodded, heartbeat accelerating.
“Like how close?”
You took a slow step toward him. “Like… just across the hall close.”
“Oh.” He blinked. “That close.”
Silence settled in the small elevator. You both just stood there, not looking at each other, tension hanging in the air like humidity.
Then, out of nowhere—
“I’m just saying,” Sunghoon said, dead serious, “but Jake sleeps with the lights on and Jay doesn’t wash his hair as often as you think he does.”
You blinked. “Huh?”
“I sleep normal,” he added quickly. “I wash my hair. I do proper haircare—shampoo, conditioner, mask, mist. I could do your routine too. For you. If you want.”
You stared.
“I can’t cook, but I’ll try. I can figure skate. I can spin twice in the air. Jay and Jake? Not even one spin. Jay can play guitar, Jake can sing but I can spin, okay? Without getting dizzy too.”
“Sunghoon.”
“And those idiots never clean up after eating your food. Jay doesn’t use coasters. Jake never makes his bed.”
“SUNGHOON!”
He looked at you, breathless. “What?”
You stepped forward. Slowly. Then, you mumbled, “It’s you.”
He blinked. “What?”
“I like you.”
And for once, Park Sunghoon had absolutely nothing to say.
“Okay,” he said. “Cool. Okay. I—wow. Okay.”
You raised a brow. “That’s it?”
He nodded dumbly. “No. Yes. I don’t know. I just—holy shit. You like me.”
You smirked, the smile slowly stretching across your face. “Yes. I like you.”
The elevator dinged. Neither of you moved.
He looked at you again, still dazed. “Hold on, I kinda need a minute.”
You both stepped out into the empty lobby. The sun outside had just dipped below the skyline, casting a pinkish-orange glow through the glass doors. The streetlights flickered on. But you waited.
“It’s been a minute,” you said.
“I know,” he exhaled, hand raking through his hair. “But you like me back, so I kinda need, like… a long minute.”
“Back?” You grinned, the corners of your mouth lifting all the way to your eyes. “So you like me too?”
He nodded slowly. “Yeah. I thought it was obvious from the, uh… word vomit.”
“Well yeah,” you shrugged. “But I didn’t want to assume. Didn’t wanna be narcissistic.”
“I think even if you were,” he muttered, “I’d still think you were pretty cute.”
You blinked. “Did you just—”
“Gross, I know,” he said quickly, face flushing. “I just said that out loud, didn’t I?”
You laughed. “Yeah. But you kinda can’t take it back now.”
“Fine,” he said, pretending to groan. “You’re cute. Ugh. I said it again.”
-
A MONTH LATER
Jay and Jake found it fundamentally unfair. They were the ones who got close to you first. They were the ones who complimented you, made you laugh, showed up when you needed help. They loved you first or at least, that’s what they told themselves. But here you were, doors locked for the first time in three months, cooking a full-course meal for Sunghoon to celebrate your one-month anniversary.
“You’re not allowed to come,” Sunghoon told them flatly before slamming the door shut.
“But—!” they shouted in unison, already mourning the steak they wouldn’t get to taste.
Word on the hallway was that you were cooking the perfect medium-rare T-bone steak, paired with your signature brown sauce and a vegetable medley so crunchy and flavourful. Meanwhile, Jay and Jake sat hunched on the couch, scrolling through a food delivery app.
“Isn’t it funny,” Jake said, arms folded, “how we were the ones who befriended her first, and now we’re stuck with Burger King?”
“Life’s unfair, bud.”
Back in your apartment, things were a little more romantic. You’d decorated with fairy lights and candles, the room dimly lit. You were still being frugal, splitting every cost you could. But you’d managed to steal two T-bone steaks from the diner you part-timed at.
Sunghoon showed up in a black and white tuxedo, looking like he’d taken the prom theme you had placed as a joke a little too seriously.
“You look absolutely gorgeous,” he said, leaning down to press a kiss to your cheek.
“And you look absolutely handsome,” you grinned.
He walked over to the table and took in the spread. “Okay, what do we have?”
“I made the steaks, obviously, and then there’s the vegetable medley… and your favourite—mashed potatoes,” you giggled.
Sunghoon exhaled, shaking his head with a disbelieving smile. “How did I get so lucky?”
You shrugged. “I don’t know either.”
He laughed. “The guys are pissed, by the way. You made me all this, and they’re over there with cold fries.”
“What?” you said, surprised. “I made them something too! Don’t worry.”
“You did?” he raised a brow.
“I had a feeling they’d be hungry if you were over here.”
“Babe, you didn’t have to do that. They’re grown men.”
“Yeah, but technically my assignment this week was pasta and I have too many leftovers.”
“They’re spoiled by you.”
“And so are you.”
“True, but I’m your boyfriend. They’re just two annoying shitheads constantly trying to butt in.”
“I’ll be quick. I’ll just drop the dish off and come back.”
“No,” he said, standing. “I’ll do it. You stay here.”
He kissed your forehead, grabbing the lasagna you’d tucked into the fridge. “You’re too sweet, you know that?”
“He walked across the hall and opened the door to Unit 3C.
Inside, Jay was mid-rant. “I just don’t get it. Sunghoon isn’t even that hot.”
“I mean, he is,” Jake added, “but she deserves better, you know?”
Sunghoon cleared his throat. “I can hear you two idiots.”
They both froze, turning around sheepishly. “We were just joking. We love you, man.”
He held up the dish. “And to think I came here bearing gifts from my girlfriend.”
Jake’s eyes widened. “Wait—is that lasagna?”
“She felt bad we were eating good without you, so she made you dinner.”
“Oh my god,” Jay gasped. “Sunghoon, I don’t mean to be pushy, but please marry her.”
“I can’t,” Sunghoon muttered. “Not when you two are constantly inserting yourselves into my relationship.”
“Okay, okay, we’ll back off. Just—can we have the lasagna?”
“And can you tell her we love her?”
“I am not telling my girlfriend you love her,” Sunghoon snapped. “I’ve barely worked up the nerve to tell her that myself.”
“Wait,” Jake said suddenly, “you haven’t told her you love her yet?”
“It’s only been a month.”
“So… you don’t love her?”
“I do,” Sunghoon replied, almost too quickly. “I just don’t want to come on too strong if she’s not ready.”
Jay and Jake shared a glance before shrugging.
“What?” Sunghoon asked, frowning. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Jake cleared his throat. “It’s just… she already said it.”
Sunghoon looked up. “What?”
“Yeah,” Jake replied casually. “You texted her about picking up those heat packs for her cramps, and she went all soft and whispered, ‘God, I love him so much.’ Her words. Not mine.”
Sunghoon stood frozen in the doorway, the dish in his hands suddenly weightless.
You loved him.
“So… you’re saying I should tell her?” he asked, voice quiet, almost unsure.
Jay and Jake both nodded enthusiastically. “Definitely. Especially if it makes her our sister-in-law,” Jay added, grinning.
Sunghoon rolled his eyes. “God, the two of you can be so annoying.”
“But you still love us,” Jay shrugged. “So what’s the point of complaining?”
He hated that Jay was right.
Back in your apartment, Sunghoon sat across from you, completely transfixed. You were dressed in a soft pink satin dress that shimmered every time you moved. It hugged your shoulders delicately, the neckline simple, elegant. Your hair was curled softly, pinned loosely on one side with a vintage clip, and your lips were glossed just enough to make him stare longer than he should’ve.
And God, you looked so beautiful.
He tried to pay attention. He really did. But his heart was too loud, his thoughts too full. How was he supposed to say it?
Sunghoon had never told anyone he loved them before. Not seriously. Maybe to his mom years ago, right before he left for the city. But this? This felt entirely new.
Because sitting in front of him was someone who made every quiet part of his life feel loud again. You filled in the spaces he didn’t even know were missing. You made his apartment feel less cold, his world a little less grey. And the way he loved you—God, it wasn’t something small. It wasn’t a flicker or a passing crush. It was all-consuming and terrifying and the best damn thing he’d ever felt.
He loved you like it was muscle memory. Like even if he forgot everything else, his hands would still reach for yours and only yours.
“Hoonie,” you interrupted gently, frowning. “You’re not listening.”
He blinked back into focus. “Sorry,” he murmured, smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I was just thinking about something.”
“What?” you looked up at him, ur big eyes shining.
Sunghoon unknowingly smiled, his eyes dripping with honey, god he loved you. He wanted to say that. So badly.
“I…I just–uh–feel…that,” His voice trailed off. “You look really beautiful tonight. I mean, you always do. But especially tonight.” He hesitated, the words stuck behind his teeth.
You smiled. “Thank you. You look very handsome too.”
-
Later that night, the two of you were in Sunghoon’s apartment along with Jay and Jake for the usual game night.
You were sitting cross-legged on the floor, your prom-night dress bunched awkwardly around your knees, mascara slightly smudged from earlier laughter, hair pinned half-up. Sunghoon sat slouched in the beanbag beside you, tie loosened, sleeves rolled up, brow furrowed in concentration. Jake was lying on his stomach, legs swinging in the air, and Jay had somehow made himself horizontal on the couch.
You and Jake were a team. Sunghoon and Jay were not handling that well.
“Revive me!” Sunghoon yelled.
Jay shouted back, “I’m busy trying not to die, dumbass!”
Button mashing intensified. Trash talk flew across the room.
“VICTORY!” Jake screamed, leaping up like a madman.
You followed suit, springing to your feet and clambering up onto the coffee table in your dress. “GET WRECKED, LOSERS!” you yelled, pointing dramatically at Sunghoon. “THAT’S RIGHT, LOSERS!”
Jake joined you on the table, doing a badly timed robot dance. The two of you jumped in sync, yelling in triumph, while Jay groaned into a throw pillow and Sunghoon watched with a hand covering his mouth, half to hide his smile, half to suppress a laugh.
“You’re all bark, no bite!” you called, face flushed, hair falling loose. “Your character died fourteen times, Hoonie.”
“I let you win!” he shot back, grinning as he sat up straighter. “I was being a gentleman.”
“Sure,” you scoffed, sticking your tongue out at him. “Real chivalrous of you, sir died-14-fucking-times.”
He chuckled under his breath, eyes lingering on you for a second longer than usual. Then, without a word, he stood and walked out of the room.
You blinked. That was...odd.
You gave Jake a gentle shove off the table and followed Sunghoon into the hallway. He was pacing outside, one hand in his hair, the other fiddling with the watch on his wrist.
“Hoon?” you asked, stepping out and gently closing the door behind you.
He jumped slightly, turning toward you. “You scared me.”
“You okay? You just left so sudden…”
“I—uh—yeah. I was just trying to figure out how to say something.”
You tilted your head, arms crossing over your chest. “Say what?”
“Nothing,” he mumbled with a shrug.
Your expression softened. “Are you mad at me?” You sighed. Maybe your little victory dance had been a bit much. “Hoonie?”
“No, baby, I could never be mad at you,” he said quickly, leaning down to press a kiss to your forehead.
“Then what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I just…”
You stepped closer, teasing lightly, “Do you want me to redo my victory dance? I could. You just have to beatbox, and I’ll take it from there.”
That made him laugh.
“Come on,” you grinned, starting to move your body in the most ridiculous way. “I’m pretty sure I should’ve been a dancer instead of a chef.”
He laughed again, this time louder and then, before he could stop himself, the words slipped out.
“Oh my god, I love you.”
You blinked. Your smile faded. Your brain, for one impossible second, completely short-circuited.
“Did you just say you love me?” you asked, heart hammering.
His eyes widened in sheer panic. “No?”
“I heard it.”
“You misheard.”
“Oh my god,” you gasped, practically vibrating. “You love me. You love me!”
“Fine!” he burst out, throwing his hands up like he was under arrest. “I do! I love you, okay?”
You smiled, “You do?”
“Of course! I love the way you talk too fast when you’re excited. I love how you make my idiot friends feel like they matter. I love that you make me feel whole. That when I’m with you, I don’t feel hollow anymore. You… you make me feel like I’m not empty.”
You grinned so wide it hurt. “That’s because you’re not.”
“I used to be,” he said helplessly, gesturing vaguely like he was mourning his past self. “I was mysterious. Brooding. Sexy, even. And now? Now I smile at cat videos you send me on TikTok. Look what you’ve done to me. This is all your fault.”
You scoffed, “My fault?”
“Yes! Who else could it be?” he said, breathless, like the truth had been waiting at the edge of his tongue for too long. “You walk into my life with that stupidly perfect smile, that laugh that makes everything feel lighter, those eyes that somehow hold the whole damn sky and now I’ve got feelings. Big ones.”
He took a shaky breath, pausing for a minute.
“I used to think I was fine on my own. But now? I get out of bed just because I know I might see you. I hear your knock and my whole day lights up. For the first time, I feel like I know what living really means. It’s you. Loving you. That’s it.”
You leaned in and kissed him right in the middle of his rant.
He blinked, dazed.
“You sure talk a lot for someone who usually says nothing,” you murmured, forehead resting against his.
“I do it when I’m nervous,” Sunghoon whispered, and then kissed you again.
“I find it cute,” you mumbled between kisses.
Sunghoon grinned into the next kiss, backing you up step by step toward your apartment door, his hands finding your waist. “God,” kiss “I love you,” another kiss “so much.”
You let out a breathless laugh. “You’re very handsy for someone who claimed to be brooding and mysteriou.”
“I told you,” he whispered, lips brushing your jaw as he reached behind you, fumbling for the door handle, “you ruined me.”
Your back hit the door with a thud. He fumbled with the knob like he was drunk on you, eventually pushing it open and guiding you inside.
He kicked the door shut with the back of his foot.
You were still laughing into his kiss. He walked you backward until your knees hit the bed and you dropped onto it with a squeak.
He climbed over you, hands on either side of your waist, face flushed, heart in his throat.
“I fucking love you,” he said again, like it wasn’t real until he repeated it.
You wrapped your arms around his neck, eyes sparkling. “I love you too.”
• you weren't even supposed to be in rehearsal. but then you kissed jay on stage ⎯ just for the scene. and suddenly, neither of you can stop thinking about it.
you're not even supposed to be here.
you were just dropping off your roommate's water bottle when the theater director turned, pointer at you, and said,
"you. you can read for her."
you don't know much about him. you've seen him around, maybe. heard whispers of how good he is⎯at acting, memorizing lines, making people blush when he holds eye contact a second too long.
you? you've never done anything like this.
and right now, the words in your hand might as well be written in another language.
"start at page thirty-two," the director calls. "go from the balcony scene."
you glance up. jay's already looking at you.
not with judgement, surprisingly.
just curiosity. calm, quiet curiosity.
like he's wondering what you'll do next.
you clear your throat.
and begin.
somehow, you get through it. awkward line readings, shaky breath and all.
jay doesn't laugh. doesn't flinch. he just follows your lead, speaking his lines in a way that makes the whole script sound different⎯gentler, heavier. more like something real.
you're almost at the end when you freeze.
"uh..."
you lower the script. "is this the scene where they⎯"
"kiss?" he says.
you nod.
the director doesn't even look up.
"go ahead. we're blocking it today."
your heart starts hammering.
"i⎯i'm not even in this class."
jay steps closer. his voice drops, soft and steady.
"it's just a scene. we don't have to if you're uncomfortable."
but he's not backing away.
and somehow, you don't want to.
you nod. once.
and then⎯he kisses you.
it's short.
gentle. barely there.
but the second it happens, the air shifts.
your breath catches.
jay pulls away just enough to look at you⎯eyes searching, like he felt it too.
like he's not sure what just happened.
like he forgot there were other people in the room.
the director claps once, snapping the spell.
"great. we'll run it again tomorrow."
you're out of the auditorium before you realize you're still holding your script.
you think that'll be the end of it.
but the next day, your roommate drags you back to return the costume piece she borrowed.
"oh thank god," the director groans. "you're here. she dropped the class. can you fill in full-time?"
you blink. "me??"
jay, from across the room, raises an eyebrow.
then smiles.
"looks like we're scene partners now."
rehearsals blur together after that.
you memorize your lines. jay learns your pacing.
you fall into step beside each other, naturally, like gravity pulling two things closer every time they pass.
he's good. too good.
sometimes he says a line in a way that makes your chest ache.
sometimes you forget it's a script.
sometimes you forget he's acting at all.
one night, you fumble a cue and groan.
"sorry⎯again. i'm making this awful."
jay shakes his head.
"you're not. you make it honest."
you blink. "that a compliment?"
his mouth lifts slightly.
"maybe."
you don't sleep much that night.
week by week, the kiss scene inches closer.
and for some reason, it starts to feel scarier now than it did the first time.
the tension's changed.
it's not about stage directions anymore.
it's about how jay's eyes linger.
how he laughs more when it's just the two of you, how he walks you home after late rehearsals, even when it's out of his way.
how you've caught yourself staring at his hands.
how he always notices when you do.
two days before the show, you're running through the final balcony scene.
but your voice cracks on your line, and the director groans.
"cut. again. from the kiss."
your pulse stutters.
jay turns to you.
his gaze is careful now.
"ready?" he asks, low enough that only you can hear it.
you nod.
he leans in, slower this time.
you can feel his breath.
you swear the whole room stops breathing with you.
and then⎯
"wait."
you step back. heart pounding.
jay's eyes wide. "did i⎯?"
"no⎯sorry. no. i just⎯"
you can't even explain it. the way your hands are shaking.
the way the kiss is starting to feel less like acting and more like something you're not supposed to want this badly.
he watches you carefully.
then, softer than you expect,
"say the line again."
you blink. "what?"
"before the kiss. your line."
you fumble through your script. find it.
say it again, out loud.
he nods. "now look at me when you say it."
you do.
and everything shifts again.
his expression changes⎯melts, almost. like something inside him just.. clicks.
he moves forward. one step. then another.
"can i try something?" he asks.
you nod. you don't trust your voice.
he tilts your chin up. leans in.
but this time, it's not part of the script.
there's no audience. no spotlight.
just him.
and you.
and the silence between heartbeats before something happens that neither of you can undo.
his lips brush yours⎯soft, careful, almost afraid.
and when he pulls back, he's breathless.
"not acting." he whispers.
"i just⎯ needed you to know that."
you look at him. really look.
and whisper,
"say the line again."
he does.
and this time, you kiss him first.
the show goes great.
everyone claps.
no one knows you'd already kissed him offstage the night before.
no one knows the way his hand found yours during curtain call and squeezed, once, like a promise.
later that night, he finds you outside the theater.
pulls his hoodie over your head without asking.
SYNOPSIS — Nishimura Riki has gone through many things, for example, having his ex-girlfriend find out about his bad past with his ex-crush. With Jang Wonyoung now graduated, he is left alone with the girl he hasn’t spoken to in forever, you. However, that’s ruined once your council’s begin to hate each other. To make it worse, your oblivious classmate creates a math group chat and adds you two into it, leaving no other option aside from the two of you being forced to get along again, but surprisingly, that isn’t the case. Instead, it becomes a battlefield.
PAIRING — rival!riki x ex-crush-rival-fem!reader (ft. enhypen, woonhak and taesan from bnd, rei from ive, minju and moka from illit, haerin and danielle from njz, gyuvin and gunwook from zb1, yoonchae from katseye, asa from bm, yeojin from loossemble, intak and keeho from p1h, sakura from le sserafim, kyungmin from tws, wonbin and sohee from riize, seongmin from cravity, and yungyu from 8turn).
GENRE(S) — smau + written, crushes to strangers to rivals to lovers (omg that’s a lot), club rivalry, nonidol au, highschool au, slowburn, sports au, arts au, fluff, crack, and angst.
WARNING(S) — swearing, random timestamps, bantering, insults, kys/kms jokes, joking threats, references to good graces, more will be added.
STATUS — ongoing (updates every monday and thursday)
TAGLIST IS CLOSED!
MAKE SURE TO READ GOOD GRACES FIRST!
PROFILES › ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR | FIVE | SIX
CHAPTER ONE — oh phew!
CHAPTER TWO — DANI MARSH
CHAPTER THREE — i have a bad feeling abt this
CHAPTER FOUR — U LITTLE SHIT
CHAPTER FIVE — hater alert (0.5k words)
CHAPTER SIX — what the FUCK
CHAPTER SEVEN — a pail of paint
CHAPTER EIGHT — 7 musketeers
CHAPTER NINE — club beef is real
CHAPTER TEN — a wild ride (0.5k words)
CHAPTER ELEVEN — #FeelingLeftOut
CHAPTER TWELVE — ON MY SOUL
CHAPTER THIRTEEN — …. there’s no fucking way
CHAPTER FOURTEEN — don’t cross this line (0.5k words)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN — i believe the shoe fits
CHAPTER SIXTEEN — Wtf have i done
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN — KEYWORD PREVIOUSLY .
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN — Oh it’s ON .
CHAPTER NINETEEN — what the hell (1.1k words)
CHAPTER TWENTY — BOMBAAA
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE — shimmer and shine (0.9k words)
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO — Out of reflex
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE — she’s your perfect girl
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR — JUST MY LUCK
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE — the boy you don’t like (0.4k words)
• Don’t you know I’m down bad? - 西村 力
↳ ┊: love in my heart - babymonster
꒰ 𝔖𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘴 ꒱┆ni-ki has been your biggest fan since forever, and he wasn’t gonna let his company stop him from showing it ⨾
۶ৎ idol!ni-ki x fem idol!reader┆fluff┆petnames, kisses, reader is in babymonster, two swear words┆wc 753
⤷ 𝐲𝐞𝐣𝐢’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: this is for the anon who requested anything with babymonster member and ni-ki >_< i hope it’s okay! <3
꒰ঌ ℬℴℴ𝓀𝓈𝒽ℯ𝓁𝒻 ໒꒱
it’s a known fact that babymonster took their time training, prepping for years for their debut.
everyday was tiring and hard to continue on, but you had your own little cheerleader. you and ni-ki had been dating ever since you two became trainees, and even while he went through i-land and debuted as a member of enhypen.
now, you and him were all around the world, performing for your fans, holding fansigns everywhere, and attending award shows.
due to your lack of free time, you both rarely got to see each other, only during late nights after practice, or behind the scenes of award shows and music bank.
“nini? what are you doing here?” you gasp, quickly looking around to see if anyone was filming.
you and the girls were getting ready to perform at the golden disc awards, warming up, finishing makeup and hair, and adjusting outfits.
“i came to see you, silly,” he chuckles, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “are you ready?”
“duh! i’ve been born ready,” you tease, striking a silly pose.
“she really was,” ruka chimes in, fixing the position of her mic and swatting your butt. you shoot her a glare before turning your attention back to your boyfriend who's failing miserably to hold back his laugh.
"anyway, i came to also say good luck and fighting on your performance! i know you'll do amazing, little love," he clears his throat, giving you two thumbs up.
"thanks nini," you giggle, rolling your eyes at your boyfriend's silliness. "i just hope i don't mess up any pronunciations in hot sauce." you sigh, anxious about your hot sauce, award show, debut.
"like i said, you'll do amazing! and if you ever mess up, you can join me in my english lessons with jay and jake hyung! it's mainly just them bickering on pronounciations but still," ni-ki shrugs.
"i'll think about it...." you grimace, knowing how heated jay and jake's debates get. "come find me after the show's over?"
"can i come to you on stage?" ni-ki raises his eyesbrows.
"you know that can't happen! your company and fans would kill me and you," you pointed out, letting your stylist eonnie touch up your lips.
"fine, i'll come say goodbye backstage then," your 6'1 baby of a boyfriend pouts.
"yeah yeah, don't give me that pout. i'll see you after the show nini," you grinned.
after the show was over, all the groups gathered onto the main stage, waving goodbye to their fans, greeting other groups, and just soaking up the final moments of the show.
however, your sneaky little boyfriend decided "fuck the company rules, i'm gonna go say hi to my girlfriend in front of thousands of people" and ran up to you, tapping your waist (which fans went crazy over) and greeted you with the biggest smile.
"nini?! what if fans speculate?" you exclaim, internally panicking.
"let them, i want them to finally know that you're mine," he smirked, his gaze looking around at the thousands of fans in the crowd.
"i'm sure wonnie's already planning the damage control," you laugh, sympathizing for the poor leader.
ni-ki hums, resisting the urge to scoop you into his arms and kiss you breathless. despite his boldness of coming to talk to you, he knew that even that would be too much and his career would surely be over.
he was sure that some fans would just think of it as a friendly gesture as the two of you trained together for a short period, before you moved to yg. you two were also similarly aged, with ni-ki just being two years older than you.
"go now! before your engenes tear me to shreds," you half joke. "i'll come find you and the boys to congratulate them and give you a kiss." you promise.
"sheesh! way to treat your boyfriend," he huffed. you just stood there, judging him for his little pun. "what didn't like it? what if i give you all of the love in my heart? will you forgive me then?" he joked.
"you're lucky i have an idol image to keep or i would beat you to a pulp right now," you threaten, making him laugh.
"now go! for real this time! i'll come find you later," you shake your head, shooing him away playfully.
he reluctantly agreed, but not before saying "fuck the company" one last time and sending you a wink.
the next morning, there were 4 different members of enhypen posting the damage control.
Blink. Blink. Blink. And before you knew it, you were already dozing off.
Your body was heavy with sleep, eyes fluttered shut, your speech slurred as your body ached for some rest.
Your boyfriend was laying right beside you, back leaned against a bunch of fluffy pillows while he scrolled on his phone.
He took notice of your sleeping figure, gently pushing back a loose strand of hair out of your face. He chuckled to himself—adoring the sight of your plush cheek squished against the pillow, mouth parted as your chest rises and falls with every breath. He didn’t realize just how much he loved seeing you sleep.
He resumed his scrolling, swiping his thumb across his phone while you peacefully rested next to him, on the verge of knocking out completely.
He shifts in the bed, about to get up until your groggy voice caught his attention.
“Hoon, don’t go...” you whisper, loud enough for him to hear. Your eyes open just slightly, seeing him turn back at you.
He nearly melts at the sight of you—voice spilling like honey, eyes heavy-lidded but glistening with need, and hair just slightly messy. How could he say no to that?
“I won’t,” his tone softens, shifting back in bed and laying with his back flat against the mattress, gently pulling your head onto his chest.
He kisses your temple, making your eyes flutter closed as you nuzzle your face into his neck. “You okay?”
“Mhmm, just sleepy...” you mumble, your warm breath fanning against his skin while he hums in response. “Keep kissing.”
A small smile tugs at his lips when he hears your request, but he wastes no time doing exactly so. He presses a few more kisses to your temple while running his fingers through your soft hair, savouring the sweet scent of your shampoo and how warm your body feels pressed against his.
He stops for just a moment—caressing your cheek with his thumb, before you speak again.
“Don’t stop,” you muffle against his neck. Both of his hands wrap around your waist, keeping you close while he tilts your chin up so he has better access to kiss you.
He plants warm, gentle, and comforting kisses all across your face. He starts at your cheeks, pressing his lips against the rosy skin before trailing down to your pillowy lips, and then to your nose and forehead.
He lost count of how many times he’s kissed you already—but he could care less. All he wants is for you to sleep serenely under his touch, even if it means that he must peck you a thousand times against his will.
His scrolling was long forgotten, phone discarded beside him as he was too focused on kissing your pretty face.
The minute his lips part from you to take a breather, he takes a moment to admire you once again. Your lashes lowered, mouth opened just a bit as drool threatened to spill out, your soft breaths finding a calm rhythm.
It was obvious you were put to sleep now—all thanks to Sunghoon and his kisses.
• SYNOPSIS: Sunghoon thought nothing could make his life worse than the flood of anonymous love letters cramming his locker thanks to Jay and his girlfriend's legendary campus romance, until a rumor sparks that he's dating you, the campus's sharp-tongued, designer-draped cautionary tale he can't stand. The feelings? Entirely mutual. You're not sure why Park Sunghoon, the painfully breathtaking keyboardist of HYPHENIX, seems to have personal vendetta against you. Especially when you've never even had a proper conversation, you didn’t even know he had such an expressive talent for glaring. But if he wants to act cold, you aren't about to play nice either.
Now, in a twist neither of you saw coming, the rumor you were supposed to deny has turned into a full-blown fake relationship and it's spiraling way more than it should have.
• PAIRING: Park Sunghoon x afab!reader
• WORD COUNT: approx 30k
• TEASER WORD COUNT: 0.8k
• RELEASE DATE: 27th of August, 2025
• Park Sunghoon's spin off from: I DON'T LIKE YOUR GIRLFRIEND
• AUTHOR'S NOTE: Surprise, Surprise! How do we feel about this guys? I'm so excited to share this with you! Let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!
“You know what's crazy?” Jake started after finishing up his coffee and tossing it in the dustbin nearby, “how we have become the next target of crazy confessions after Ava was exposed and we prevented her from going batshit crazy, it's been going on for what? 3 months? 4 months? I still get love letters in my locker after that.” Heeseung sighed, keeping the phone inside his pocket, “seriously man, it gets irritating at one point. It's cute when one person writes a few letters to you, not multiple people.”
Ever since Jay's girlfriend, Mia, sent those anonymous letters to him and somehow managed to get into a real relationship with him, the whole campus had collectively lost its mind. It was romantic, sure, almost like a fairytale where the popular boy fell in love with a shy nobody girl who sent him love letters but it also sadly triggered something else. Now every girl who fantasized about getting together with the band members started to feel they could be next. Since Jay was officially taken, the focus shifted on Jake, Heeseung and especially Sunghoon because tragically, all three of them were single.
The girls would rarely approach, but they hovered near them, all the time, they would brush past their music room like they just happened to be there, and would wait until later to have a talk with them. And for Sunghoon, it was irritating. Because he made it worse for himself, without even meaning to do so. At Ava's birthday party, where everything went down with her, Jay and Mia. It was Sunghoon who stepped in to protect his best friend, and also the one who pushed Jay to follow Mia out.
So when the real writer behind those anonymous letters was revealed to be Mia, Jay's and her love story became iconic, and Sunghoon somehow became the romantic, would-defend-his-girl type of man in everyone's eyes which made girls fall for him even more, for some time he couldn't even breathe without it being romanticized. Everyone whispered about his every move, analyzed his social media, and speculated everything about the girls he merely glanced at. He just wanted them off his back.
Jay groaned, dragging his hand down his face, “I'm happy they are off my back since I've got my girl, but I will never forget the dramatic turn my life did during that phase of my life.” Jake nodded in understanding, “yeah man good for you, it's crazy how a rumor can have the ability to alter one's life.” Jake then looked at Sunghoon and nudged him with his foot, “don't act all clueless, like you aren't going to follow Jay's legacy.” Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, “what are you talking about?” Jake opened his mouth to shift the topic towards Sunghoon, but before he could do so, a voice chimed in.
“Are the rumors true?” The four boys looked towards the voice in unison, a girl none of them recognized stood a few feet away, arms crossed as her eyes were locked on Sunghoon, she didn't wait for a response. “Everyone's been talking about it since the weekend, and you know what?” She flipped her ponytail, “I get it. The two of you just make sense together, like seriously. You're tall, cold, and rich, finally getting involved with someone equally terrifying? Power couple.”
Sunghoon blinked, confusion taking over his features, “wait- what?” She shook her head, chuckling but clearly disappointed at the news, “ugh, you could've at least told us about it, some of us were waiting for you to give us a chance you know? You really hid this well,” she pointed a finger at him playfully, “but I'm still mad, you got the most amount of love letters this semester and now I hear that you're dating someone already? I feel cheated.” And with that, she put on her headphones back and walked away from them.
Sunghoon sat frozen in his place, mouth slightly open, “what the hell just happened?” Jay just laughed as Jake clapped his hands. “You're dating someone?” Heeseung's eyes were wide with mock betrayal but the grin of his face gave it away, “without telling us?” Sunghoon frowned, “I'm not? I don't even- what rumor? Who- I have a girlfriend?” Jake laughed, “please, don't tell me you weren't aware of your own dating rumor.” Sunghoon rolled his eyes in annoyance, “I am not, sue me. And what did she mean by someone equally terrifying?”
Heeseung smirked, pointing towards the main gate, “by that equally terrifying someone she meant her.” Sunghoon's eyes followed the direction Heeseung was pointing at just to see your familiar car pulled past the main gate and into the parking lot, the kind that turned heads even when people pretended their best not to care, it wasn't hard to know who it belonged to. “Rumor or not, you're doomed Sunghoon,” Jake teased.
ʜᴇᴀᴅᴄᴀɴᴏɴs 𓂃 your boyfriends reaction to finding out you’re going to see another idol
۶ৎ ) boyfriend enha ──── ot7 x fem! fluff established relationship, - ͙۪۪̥˚┊❛ nais library ❜┊˚͙۪۪̥◌
nais notes: day two of writing silly little drabbles until my motivation to write big fics returns to me
LHS
“Baby I need your help.” you call out to your boyfriend as you view your backside from your bathroom mirror. you had laced up your corset as far as it could go but tight was simply not tight enough, especially knowing it would loosen the moment you tried to tie it on your own.
heeseung eventually appears in your shared bathroom, a headset around his neck, as per usual he’d been playing games with his free time away from work. “baby did you call?”
“I did I need your help, can you tighten this please.” heeseung takes a moment to eye you and your outfit as if finally realizing you were all dressed up like you are meant to be going somewhere— somewhere without him. his brows furrowed together as he slips behind you, tightening the laces until you yourself had no room to breathe before tying into two perfect loops.
“you look pretty, where are you going?” he complements, placing a loving kiss on the exposed skin of your back before taking in your appearance in the mirror.
“txt fansign event.” at the mention of his sunbaes his face immediately turns sour, like he’d just heard something that made his stomach turn.
“hold on.” you stare at him a confused look on your face as he pulls off his headphones and dials a number on his phone before bringing it to his ear.
“heeseung who are you calling-” before you could further question you heard the other line click then you heard a facial voice on the other line.
“Yeah soobin, can you have your staff let me through your event today?” your eyes widen at your boyfriends request, this was meant to be your away time and your moment to finally have your pocas and albums signed and he’d decided to impose.
“Yeah, yeah I’ll owe you one. alright thanks.” you stood there blinking as he hang up the phone before shooting you a cheeky smile.
“Looks like we’re going together princess.” he places a cheek on your kiss before heading for the closet for what you assumed was to get changed.
“lee heeseung! did you just invite yourself to my fansign!?” you yell at him from your place in the bathroom, still in complete shock that that had happened.
“our fansign, ill be damned if i let choi soobin and choi yeonjun hold your hand without my supervision.” you let out a laugh in disbelief before staring at yourself in the mirror trying to come to grasp with the fact that your boyfriend’s jealously caused him call his sunbae just so you weren’t going to this event alone.
PJS
you had been in the bathroom putting on your makeup when you felt two arms snake around your waist from behind followed by a string of kisses on your neck.
“you look beautiful baby, are you going out today?” he asks, nuzzling his face into the crook of your neck and inhaling your scent— a scent he’d grown to love on you because it always made you smell so irresistible.
“mhm! i got tickets to see andteam tonight so im getting ready early.” you could feel him stiffen at the mention of his brother group.
“I’m sorry you’re going where?”
“andteam concert?” your brows furrow in confusion, it slightly irritates him the way you look at him so innocently, as if you didn’t just tell him you were going to see another group that wasn’t him and his members.
“no.” he responds in short, his arms tightening around you and his face burrying deeper into your neck. “Huh? What did you mean no.”
“I don’t want you to go, can’t you just stay home with me? I’ll play for you, you always like when i play guitar and I’ve been working on some new songs stay with me and listen?”
“Park jongseong are you jealous?” you can’t hide the smile on your face as you turn to look at him, his expression giving away his feelings the moment your eyes are set upon his.
“and if i am? will you stay home?” he asks, fingers tracing circles on your waist as he held you close to him.
“hm let me think about it…” you gave a mock thinking expression before a smile curls into your lips. “nope still going, you’ll just have to go without me for the day.” you tease before turning back towards the mirror to do the finishing touches on your makeup.
“you enjoy watching me lose my mind a little too much” he comments, not missing the laugh that spills from your lips.
“I think you’ll survive me going to a concert that isn’t yours just this once.” he groans in response, his expression having gone from annoyed to sulky in mere seconds but you can’t help but laugh at how cute it was.
SJY
“baby did you want to watch a movie tonight? we can order some takeout like always or go out and get snacks if you’d prefer that.” jake storms into your shared bedroom with the energy of a golden retriever, tearing your attention away from your phone and a gallery full of pre concert photos. as he spots you sat on the bed all dolled up as if you had been preparing to leave his brows scrunch together.
“wait are we going out? did i forget about a date or something. Fuck i didn’t forget about an anniversary or anything right?” he panics, not giving you much time to respond before he’d already been coming up with forgotten dates he’d only made up in his head.
“jakey relax, you didn’t forget any dates or anniversaries you can breathe. I’m getting ready for a p1 concert.” the words fell from your ears to jakes like a confession of sin.
“Oh- i didn’t ever think my girlfriend would turn out like this.” he responds, making your brows furrow in confusion.
“jake what are you talking about?”
“my girlfriends a cheater.” he responds, making you shake your head at his dramatics.
“jake I’m just going to enjoy the concert with some friends, its not like I’m going there expecting to makeout with Keeho or Jiung.” his eyes widen and he falls face first onto the bed as if he had just been struck in the heart.
“She wants to makeout with other men.” he mumbles, his words muffled by his face having been smooshed against the covers. shaking your head at him you give his butt a playful smack making him jump up.
“sim jaeyun, can you please pull it together I’m just going to enjoy the music not find an entire new boyfriend.”
“what if you go and you like their performance better than ours.” he questions, a pout on his lips at the mere thought of losing you to another idol.
“you’ll always be my number one, since iland i knew you’d be mine and no one else, you’ve always had my heart even before your debut so stop sulking and stop making up all these fake scenarios in your head. I’m not going to get stolen.” your words seemed to do the trick, wiping the pout from his face and putting a smile on it as he looks up at you while resting his face against your stomach.
“alright i believe you, but dont scream too loud for them, dont want them to get a big head and think that you like them better.” you can’t help but laugh, nor could you hide the amused expression on your face at his words
“right right.” you giggle as he pulls you down onto the bed engulfing you in a hug.
PSH
when sunghoon heard the words “ateez fansign” spill from your lips he immediately laughs assuming it had to be some sort of joke or prank you’d been pulling on him. you blink at him, figuring your boyfriend had officially lost his marbles and when he sees that you aren’t laughing along with him it clicks that you weren’t just telling some joke you were being serious. the smile is wiped from his face within seconds.
“You’re telling me you paid to go look into the eyes of another man when you have me at home? yeah hell no, I’m coming with.”
“i don’t- sunghoon what am I gonna do carry you in my bag? What do you mean you’re coming with me? I already paid to go alone.” you respond, stuffing your phone in your purse. every word just fell upon deaf ears, the idea of you traveling just to do high touch and talk to other idols made annoyance flare up within him.
“I don’t care I’m going. i need to make sure they aren’t looking at you too deeply or being too touchy. matter of fact I’ll sit next to you if i have to.” a breathy laugh of disbelief comes spilling from your lips at your boyfriends active jealousy.
“hoon you know you can’t just invite yourself to a fansign, you know how they work.” you tell him, but he immediately counters your words with his own
“I’m familiar with a few of the members, ill make sure i get in.” he responds, not an ounce of playfulness in his tone which meant your fate had already been sealed and he was most definitely coming with.
“Don’t you think you’re being just a little dramatic?” you ask, a question which he ignores as he heads straight from the closet. “park sunghoon are you ignoring me?”
“call it what you want, my girlfriend wants to go out and be perceived by other men that aren’t me, I’m not allowing it to fly on my watch.”
KSN
“I’m prettier, why would you want to ever look at anyone else?” those are the first words that leave his mouth when he finds out you’re attending another idols fansign event.
“But you’re my boyfriend i get to go to every concert, i want to experience them at least once.” sunoo immediately side eyes you before returning his attention to his phone.
“you’re really going to watch someone else? who else could you possibly be happy looking at when you have me at home?” he questions, mindlessly scrolling through weverse and answering every few questions.
“but their concerts look fun-“
“So what you’re saying is youre being swayed by them ? You have a handsome boyfriend that can sing, dance, dress nice, give you everything you want and you’re being swayed? Yeah hate it, don’t like it at all.” he responds, shaking his head and tossing his phone off to the side, you roll your eyes in response. The two of you were often like this, petty banter between the two of you over the smallest things or exchanging dirty looks with one another when it came to little petty discussions, but it made your relationship all the more entertaining.
“too bad I’m going, yujin calls to me.” you respond teasingly, knowing you’d be met with an mean eyeroll in response.
“whatever, yujin isn’t the one that takes you shopping, and buys you food or sings to only you in a crowd full of people.”
“you don’t know that he might.” you respond annoyingly, scrunching up your nose at him.
“doesnt matter, i know either way you’re coming home to me.” he shrugs it off, making your lips firm into a defeated pout.
YJW
“so how do I look, i have two hours until the souncheck and I’ve already changed my makeup three times?” you ask, stepping in front of your boyfriend and giving him a spin so that he could see your outfit in its entirety. his gaze shifts down to the poca holder on your waist that now housed a photocard that surely wasn’t his. His face immediately scrunches up in distaste and his lips press into a thin line. you watch as he pulls out his phone assuming he’s preparing to take photos of you like always when you showed off your concert outfits, but instead he brings the phone to his ear.
“won?” your lips poke out and your brows frown in confusion
“hold on I’m calling the members.” he says sitting up in his spot on the couch but it doesn’t make you any less confused.
“why are you calling the members?” you ask, confusion evident in your voice.
“they need to know you’re betraying us, and cheating on me all in one night.” he responds, and you shake your head making your way over to him to hang up the phone.
“yang jungwon can you stop being dramatic for five seconds to tell your girlfriend she looks pretty.” you scold him, watching as his face screws in distaste.
“You’re going to see another man in concert when your man is in enhypen? tell jaehyun to call you pretty since you have him on your hip instead of me.” he responds making you roll your eyes at the petty response.
“jungwon you’re acting like I’m actually cheating.” you respond shaking your head at him and his face immediately scrunches up.
“you may as well you’re going to see his souncheck, concert, and he’s on your hip.” jungwon responds with a huff, puffing his bangs from in front of his face out of frustration, he was obviously jealous.
“you’re such an idiot.” you respond, plopping down into his lap and wrapping your arms around his neck. “I still love enhypen, i still love the members and i certainly still love you and let’s not forget YOURE my boyfriend not myungjae.”
he eventually sighs and gives in wrapping his arm around your waist and holding you closer as you shower him with kisses “if you come home with any fancams, don’t be shocked they’re gone from your phone tomorrow.” he warns, earning a giggle from you.
NMR
niki knew you well enough to now that whenever he walked into your bedroom and found an outfit laid out all pretty on the bed that it was concert day. the only problem with that today was that it was his day off and they had no concerts scheduled any time soon. his eyes shift to the poca resting at the side of your outfit. the poca holder he got for you now holding the photocard of an andteam member.
you just been stepping out of the shower by the time he left your room, only to find that your entire outfit and your poca was gone, not at all where you left it. your face contorts in confusion as you searched everywhere for it, thinking maybe you thought you put it out when in reality it had still been in the closet but no luck.
“niki?” you trudged down the hall with padded footsteps, towel wrapped snug around your body as you made your way into the living room where niki sat on the couch scrolling through his phone as if he hadn’t heard you call him.
“niki did you take my concert fit?” you question him, watching the way he shifts in his seat while scrolling through his phone.
“you mean the one that was on the bed? i put it somewhere you can’t find it.” he responds, a satisfied grin on his face as he finally looks up from his phone.
“what? why? niki i have to leave in three hours, i really don’t have time to play around right now and theres probably people already lining up.” you complain making him shrug his shoulders. “guess you can’t go then.”
“niki, are you seriously doing this right now?” you huff crossing your arms over your chest.
“no outfit, no concert. guess you’re staying home with me.” he crosses his arms over his chest and sits back in his seat, the annoyed look on your face giving him all the satisfaction he needed.
“nishimura riki if you don’t give me my outfit back i will walk out that door with this towel on.” you threaten, your hand on your showing you meant business. you and niki both knew that it was a threat you’d go through with. the smile was immediately wiped from his face upon hearing your threat.
“not funny yn.”
“oh but it’ll be real funny seeing you trying to stop me from getting out that door with nothing but this towel.” you retort, making him scoff and finally get up from the couch.
“you piss me off.” he responds, making his way over to the hallway closet and grabbing your concert outfit from a box sitting on the top shelf. he hands it off to you with a distasteful look on his face.
“thank you.” you respond with a cheeky grin, placing a kiss on his cheek before disappearing into your shared bedroom to finally make use of the time you had left
• in which . . . you don’t understand why your childhood best friend is acting like a madman in love towards you.
@ ℒou : now playing — confused by aoa
• ⋆. 𐙚 ˚ authors note — decided to post something heh after like a few weeks… but anyways i love aoa come back my queens arghh (╥﹏╥) also tried to b aesthetic wit this post but yaurrr
boyfriend jungwon who can’t stop calling you pretty.
you were lying on his bed, scrolling aimlessly through your phone when jungwon crawled in beside you and immediately wrapped himself around you like he wasn’t letting you go anytime soon. his hair was still damp from his shower.
“pretty” he mumbled into your neck, lips brushing over your skin as he kissed you lazily over and over.
you blinked down at him. “what?”
he looked up, soft brown eyes half lidded, like he just woken up and decided loving you was his full time job now. “you’re so pretty it’s actually unfair.” he kissed your cheek, then your nose. “like.. so so pretty.”
you laughed. “you already said that three times today.”
“and i’ll said it three more times right now” he said grinning as he leaned in again. “pretty.” a kiss to your forehead. “pretty.” a kiss to your jaw. “prettiest.” a kiss to your lips that lingered just a second too long.
“your obsessed with me” you teased, but your voice went soft at the end, because your chest was already aching in that annoying, sweet way.
jungwon didn’t even pretend to argue. “obviously” he said, settling his head against your chest, his favorite pillow. “i don’t even like being away from you for longer than, like.. a hour.”
“your clingy.”
he shrugged looking at you. “you love it.”
and you did, you loved the way he held you like you might float away. the way he kissed every part of your face just because he wanted too. the way he looked at you like you were the only person in the world.
“say it again.” you whispered, without meaning too.
he looked up. “that your pretty?”
you nodded, cheeks warm.
jungwon smiles and kissed your lips one more time, slower now like a promise. “you’re so so pretty” he said softly. “like heart hurting pretty.. makes me want to protect you forever and never let you go.”
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