Honey honey OH MY GOD you don't undertones the excited scream i let out when I saw this new love is blind series!! I'm so excited, it's so good (not surprising at this point all your writing is amazing) please tell me this will become a series like the too hot to handle one with all the members?
Well, let's see the feedback on this one and if you guys enjoy it that much, then yes, I'd make it into a full series with all members but if not, then I'd just stop at Felix. Or maybe I'd continue but only post them on Patreon. So, yeah, let me know😊
Synopsis: You and Felix are contestants in a social experiment where singles meet and date in private pods, allowing them to communicate without seeing each other. (14,1k words)
Author's note: This is it. I'm finally doing another dating show series and I figure that the timing is just perfect cause it's summer of love, baby. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this one too ❣️
HOST: Welcome to Love Is Blind. For the next few weeks, singles will date one another without ever meeting face-to-face. Their only chance at connection lies within the pods — where walls separate them, and all they have are their voices. If they fall in love, they’ll get engaged without ever laying eyes on each other. Only then will they meet, move in together, and ultimately decide, at the altar, if love… truly is blind.
-
You fix the strap of your dress for the umpteenth time as a production assistant leads you down a sleek hallway. Your heels click softly against the polished floor, your reflection catching in the walls of tinted glass. Every step brings you closer to a lounge filled with women you’ve never met — women who, in the next few weeks, might be your competition, your confidants, or both.
The door swings open, and you’re greeted by a burst of laughter and the clinking of champagne flutes. The lounge is plush and vibrant, couches arranged in a circle, throw pillows scattered like a showroom catalogue. A bar cart gleams in the corner, already stocked with bottles of prosecco.
“Hi!” someone calls out cheerfully the moment you step inside. A brunette in a coral dress waves you over, her smile wide and welcoming.
You exhale, pushing away the nerves, and make your way into the group. Names and details fly quickly as everyone introduces themselves.
“I’m Laura. A marketing manager.”
“Daria. Yoga instructor. I’m here for a real connection, you know?”
“Sierra and I’m here because I’m tired. I just want to find my husband. ASAP!”
The three women laugh at that, one of them nodding in agreement. When it’s your turn, you clear your throat, forcing a polite smile as you introduce yourself. “I’m a jeweller. And I guess I’m here for the same reason you all are — to see if this works.”
The other women nod, accepting your answer before the conversation shifts again and more contestants coming. Some of them already sound like best friends, giggling over shared interests, while others sit quietly, scanning the room with thin smiles.
You sink into one of the couches, fingers tapping against your glass. Everyone else seems to carry a kind of bold hope with them — bright-eyed, ready to fall in love with a stranger. You, on the other hand, can’t quite shake the voice in your head reminding you that you’ve been fine on your own for a long time.
-
YOU: I’m not really the kind of person who believes in fairy tales, [sheepish smiles] I’ve always been independent. I’ve built my life on my own, and I’m happy with that. I don’t need someone to complete me. But… [pauses] [glances away] [looks back to the camera] I also don’t want to shut myself off forever. I joined this because— [softly sighs] —I want to give myself one more chance to believe in love. And if this doesn’t work too… oh, well [shrugs] [lightly chuckles]
-
The men’s lounge has darker tones, leather couches, a wall stacked with liquor, beers and wines. A pool table takes space in oner corner of the room.
Felix steps inside, his loafers squeaking faintly against the floor. His long, blond hair is styled neatly, but his hands are shoved deep in his pockets as he takes in the room. A few men are already gathered near the bar, laughing loudly, slapping each other on the shoulders like old friends even though they only just met.
“Yo! New guy!” one of them calls, grinning. “Come join us!”
Felix laughs, a soft sound that rumbles from his chest, and makes his way over. Introductions happen quickly, names flying around with easy camaraderie.
“I’m Rob.”
“Shane. I’m a personal trainer.”
“Musician. Jim.”
When it’s his turn, Felix scratches the back of his neck, suddenly shy under their expectant gazes. “Uh, I’m Felix,” he says with a nervous chuckle. “I’m a chef. But… I like cooking just about everything.”
The group hums in approval, one of the guys elbowing him with a grin. “So you’re the one we’ll all be begging to make breakfast for us, huh?”
Felix just shakes his head with a sheepish smile, his accent lacing his words. “We’ll see.”
-
FELIX: People tell me I have this… voice [laughs] [shakes head] like it makes me sound confident. But honestly? I’m not. Not really. I still get nervous around new people. I just hide it well [chuckles] I became a chef because cooking… it’s a way to take care of people. To show love without saying it out loud. And I think that’s what I want here too — someone I can take care of, and who’ll see me for me. Not just my voice, or… whatever people think when they first meet me. [Look at the camera] [exhales nervously] I don’t know if love is blind. But… I want to believe it can be.
-
All the fifteen female contestants have gathered in the lounge and sit comfortably on the curved velvet sofa when the two hosts steps into frame, stopping just on the marked spot, smiling warmly at the contestants before turning slightly toward the camera.
“Welcome to Love Is Blind,” the female host greets, her voice steady with the practiced cadence of someone who’s said these words dozens of times before. She goes on to introduce herself and the male co-host does the same after.
“You’re here because you’ve all been searching for something real. Something deeper than appearances, deeper than the surface-level dating we all know too well,” she begins. Then briefly looks at everyone, letting the words settle before continuing. “Here’s how it works: Over the next ten days, you’ll have the chance to date one another inside our custom-designed pods. You’ll be able to talk, laugh, and share your lives with a stream of potential love interests.”
The male co-host seamlessly takes it over like they rehearsed it beforehand. Maybe the did. “Here’s the catch. Look won’t play a factor here. The only time you’re going to interact is in one of those private pods. You’re going to be separated by one thin wall.”
The girl sitting next to you lowly gasp like it’s only dawn on her now what she’s getting herself into.
“You won’t ever get to see each other. Not until you’ve made a connection so strong… that one of you decides to propose,” he continues.
Everyone instinctively leaning forward with intrigue, including you. The concept seems absurd to you and that people would do this. That you are doing this.
“If they accept,” the female host takes it over again. “Only then will you meet face-to-face for the very first time.”
Your heart dips like you can vividly imagine how it would pan out. Except that your partner is still one big, blurry figure.
“From there, you’ll go on a romantic getaway, live together, meet each other’s families, and plan your wedding. And in just a few weeks’ time, you’ll stand at the altar and decide… whether love truly is blind.”
Just like that? You wonder if it’s that easy. You wonder if it is even achievable at all.You look around and see the other contestants are just as skeptical. But mostly, you notice a mixture of excitement and nerves flickering across their expressions.
The host smiles again, hands clasped in front of her as she brightly smiles. “So get ready. Because the pods… are now open.”
-
YOU: [nervously laughs] I’m terrified. Like, what am I even doing here? I’m supposed to walk into this little room and talk to strangers about, I don’t know, my life, my dreams, my… heart? [shakily exhales]
-
“Because the pods… are now open.”
As soon as the male host announces it, a chorus of reactions fills the men’s lounge immediately — groans, cheers, anxious laughter. Someone downs the rest of his drink dramatically while another mutters, “Oh, we’re really doing this.”
Felix laughs under his breath, though his stomach twists nervously at the announcement.
The group slowly makes their way down the glowing hallway together, footsteps echoing in the glowing hallway. Ahead of them, rows of illuminated pod doors stand waiting.
For the first time since arriving, the reality of this experiment settles heavily in Felix’s chest.
Somewhere behind one of those walls could be someone he might fall in love with. Someone he could potentially marry in a matter of weeks. It sounds insane and yet—
“Good luck, boys,” one of the contestants says, clapping his hands together.
“Go get that wife. Go get that wife. Go get that wife,” the man on his right chants with a fist pumping the air.
Another guy points toward Felix immediately. “He’s definitely leaving with a wife with that voice.”
Felix groans, face heating instantly as the others cackle. “Guys, please.”
“Yeah, bro sounds like he narrates documentaries,” another comments with a teasing chuckle.
Felix doubles over laughing despite himself, shoulders shaking as he hides his face in embarrassment.
“Alright, alright,” someone says between laughs. “Seriously though. Good luck, everyone.”
The group erupts into laughter and soon, it dies down as a soft chime rings through the hallway. One by one, the pod doors begin lighting up.
Felix exhales slowly, adjusting the lapels of his suit jacket before stepping toward his assigned pod. His hand pauses briefly over the handle. Then he opens the door and disappears inside.
-
FELIX: This whole thing is crazy when you really think about it. [smiles] But I don’t know. There’s also something exciting about it too. The idea that maybe—behind one of those walls—is someone I could genuinely connect with. I’m not expecting perfection. I just… [pauses] I hope I meet someone who makes me feel comfortable enough to fully be myself. Someone I can laugh with. Someone I can build something real with. [shyly grins] And hopefully someone who likes food. Because that would help a lot.
-
The pod is nothing like you imagined. Maybe because you focused on the word ‘pod’ and automatically thought of all-white small, enclosed space with a desk and a chair. But it’s not that at all. Thankfully so.
The pod is spacious. The wall is soundproofed with one wall is made of glowing, glass-like panel which you assume is where you’re facing when you’re talking. There’s a couch positioned in the middle of it all with cushions, a blanket and a matching ottoman. There’s a cart parked on the side, filled with snacks and selection of drinks from water to soda, even the hard liquor. You go straight for the bowl of candies, hoping that sugar can help you with the nerves.
“Hello?”
The sound is heavy and curious, coming from the other side of the room. You stand, freezing for a second with your hand full of candies. This is it. This is your first date. Blind date.
“Hello,” you reply, hoping to sound casual but also, welcoming as you sit on the couch.
There’s a beat of silence and then—
“So, who’s there?” he asks, there’s an ease to his voice, probably making himself comfortable in his pod.
You pop a jelly bean into your mouth and think for a second. “Hopefully your future wife,” you playfully answer, grinning to yourself.
You’re kind of glad that you can’t see each other or else you wouldn’t even be this relax on the first date.
“Oh, hello, future wife!” He greets, lightly chuckling.
And just like that, the search for the one begins.
The whole day, you’re going in and out of pods, talking with different contestants and taking notes on qualities you sought in their personalities as something to ponder on later. It’s not always a smooth sailing. One guy talks endlessly about his workout routine, another brags about his investments, another tries way too hard to be funny. You laugh politely, asking questions, but your eyes flicker to the clock on the wall more often than not.
On another date, you’re curled into the couch, listening patiently as someone recites his “five-year plan” like he’s reading off a checklist. You nod, offer a thoughtful response, but there’s no spark — just surface-level chatter.
By the time you head back to the living quarter, you’re tired because honestly, you never went on so many dates in one day. Also, because, you feel like you’re giving too much already but the results are far from what you expected.
It’s hard to see that this experiment will be a great success but then again, it’s only the first day.
-
YOU: First day is done and I can honestly say… [subtly shakes head] I haven’t felt a connection with anyone yet. But I don’t think love is something you can force, and I definitely don’t want to rush it. If I’m going to connect with someone, I want it to be real. So yeah. I’m gonna take things slowly. And hopefully… someone here will surprise me. [softly smiles]
-
Felix steps into the pod, his nervous grin so wide it nearly splits his face. He doesn’t even explore the pod but plops onto the ouch, staring at the hypnotic glowing wall like if he will himself enough, he could see the person on the other side of the pod.
“Is someone there?” he hesitantly asks after a while.
“Oh?!” A surprised gasp comes, and then, the warm, slightly high-pitched voice comes again. “Is that you, God?”
Felix’s Australian accent slipping out stronger when he laughs and he must admit that the boys are right, it’s his voice. But he tries not to rely on it as he goes through one date after another.
On one date, he’s listening intently as a girl lists all her favorite dishes, and he leans forward, excitement lighting up his eyes. “Ohh, I’m actually a chef— I could make that for you.”
The girl giggles, but it feels light and playful, but there’s no sparks whatsoever.
On another date, he’s asked about his dream date. He rubs his nape, laughing softly. “Honestly? Nothing fancy. Just cooking together in the kitchen. I guess, that would be nice.”
Later, he’s caught in a long-winded conversation with someone who keeps circling back to her ex. He offers polite hums, but his smile is strained, fingers drumming restlessly on his notebook.
-
FELIX: Day one [pauses] I feel like I talked to so many amazing people, but I didn’t really… click yet. Not in the way I was hoping for. I think I just want something genuine, you know? Someone I can open up to. Not just about cooking or hobbies or—whatever. But really open up. I know it’s still early, but… I just hope I can find that here. [smiles]
-
The next morning, you shuffle into the kitchen still sleepy, dressed in an oversized sweater and lounge pants, only to immediately hear your name being called.
“Finally,” Daria says dramatically from beside the island counter. “Sleeping Beauty lives.”
You laugh softly as she walks over and hooks her arm through yours, guiding you toward the group gathered around the dining table.
“Come sit. Yesterday was emotionally traumatic. We need breakfast support,” she playfully says.
Someone nearby snorts loudly while another contestant, Tabitha, is already pouring orange juice into champagne flutes. Her dark hair is styled in beautiful waves, lips glossy and curled into a smile. If this is a regular dating show, she would have been the first to go home with a man because she’s that beautiful.
“Mimosas at nine in the morning is crazy,” you comment as you sit down.
“It’s self-care,” Tabitha replies solemnly before topping the drink off with champagne anyway.
The atmosphere feels lighter today. More relaxed. Less tense than everyone had been during the first day. Maybe because now all of you understand the rhythm of the experiment a little better. Or maybe because several girls already look suspiciously glowing after yesterday’s pod dates.
You’re halfway through your mimosa when a producer calls your name, signaling your next pod date.
“Good luck!” one of the girls teases as you stand. “Maybe this one’s your future husband.”
You snort softly, having one last sip of mimosa. “That’s a terrifying sentence.”
The girls laugh as you head toward the glowing hallway of pods, your nerves twisting tighter with every step. You push open the door to your assigned pod and settle onto the couch with a quiet exhale. The room is quiet, softly lit, the wall in front of you glowing blue. Then—
“Hello?”
The voice is deep. Ridiculously deep. Warm too, like melted chocolate poured straight through the speakers.
“Oh,” you blurt before you can stop yourself. “That voice is unfair.”
There’s a beat of silence before a startled laugh bursts from the other side of the wall. “Unfair?” he repeats, amusement curling through the word.
“You sound like a movie trailer narrator,” you say, leaning back into the couch. “Like you should be saying ‘coming this summer.’”
His laughter grows louder, bright and genuine. “Oh my god. That’s the first thing you say to me?”
“You started it by sounding like that.”
“I can’t control my voice!” he protests between laughs.
“Mm. Convenient excuse.”
Another laugh. Softer this time. Closer somehow. “Well, for what it’s worth, your voice is nice too,” he says.
You narrow your eyes at the wall instinctively. “You don’t have to lie to flirt with me.”
“I’m serious!” His accent slips out more clearly now, warm vowels wrapping around his words.
Cute. You glance down at your notebook, realizing you haven’t even written his name yet.
“Wait,” you say, laughing lightly. “I’ve been bullying your voice this whole time and I don’t even know your name.”
“Oh, right.” He chuckles sheepishly. “I’m Felix.”
Felix. The name suits him immediately. You introduce yourself back immediately.
“It’s nice to meet you,” he warmly says.
The sincerity in his tone catches you off guard. You’ve had plenty of pod dates already. Conversations that felt rehearsed, awkward, overly polished. But this feels strangely easy like talking to someone you’ve known longer than five minutes.
“So,” Felix says after a moment, “what’s your very important opinion on pineapple on pizza?”
You gasp dramatically. “Absolutely not.”
“What?!”
“That’s a dessert pretending to be dinner.”
“You’re breaking my heart already.”
“You asked.”
“I’m a chef,” he says, mock wounded. “This is devastating for me professionally.”
Your head snaps up. “Wait, you’re a chef?”
“Yeah.”
“Like… a real chef?”
He laughs again. “I think so?”
“Oh, that’s actually really attractive,” you admit before you can stop yourself.
“Oh,” his surprise sounds small and flustered.
You grin immediately, realizing you caught him off guard.
“How many points do I earn from that?”
“Uhm… five,” you playfully answer, still grinning.
“Just five?” he asks, offended.
“You’ll earn more if you tell me what kind of chef are you,” you say, curling your legs beneath you on the couch.
“Mostly pastry,” Felix confidently answers. “But I cook everything. I just really like feeding people.”
The answer comes so naturally that it makes something soften in your chest.
“Feeding people?” you repeat with a laugh. “That sounds very grandmother-coded of you.”
He gasps dramatically. “Excuse you. I’ll have you know I make excellent tiramisu.”
“Oh, okay,” you say, suddenly serious. “Now we’re talking.”
“You like tiramisu?”
“I would genuinely risk my life for good tiramisu.”
Felix bursts into laughter again, loud and delighted. “That’s such a dramatic statement.”
“It’s true.”
“And how many points do I earn from that?” he curiously asks. “It’s gotta be more than five.”
You don’t even hesitate. “Solid ten!”
“Oh, yeah,” Felix cheers, more like a growl than anything.
“I wouldn’t celebrate yet. You only earned fifteen points so far,” you remind him, a chuckle spilled out at the end of the sentence.
“Alright then,” he says playfully. “What’s your ultimate comfort food?”
You hum thoughtfully. “Instant ramen.”
“No way.”
“Yes way.”
“You had all the food in the world and picked instant ramen?”
“Okay, first of all, don’t judge me,” you defend immediately. “Second, specifically the spicy kind at two in the morning when life feels terrible.”
Felix laughs softly. “That’s… actually very real.”
“And yours?”
There’s a tiny pause before he answers. “My mom’s brownies.”
The softness in his voice changes the atmosphere instantly. You can almost picture his smile through the wall. “She used to make them whenever me or my sisters had a bad day. So now I make them for other people too.”
“That’s really sweet,” you murmur before you can stop yourself.
A shy laugh comes from the other side. “Thanks.”
The conversation drifts after that — favorite cafés, failed recipes, childhood snacks you both still secretly buy as adults. Felix tells you about accidentally pouring vinegar instead of wine once during culinary school. Then you confess that you once nearly started a fire trying to make pasta after coming home exhausted from work at two in the morning.
“You almost burned your kitchen down making pasta?” Felix asks through his laughter.
“In my defense, I was tired.”
“You forgot the pasta, didn’t you?”
“Maybe.”
“Amateur moves.”
His laughter fills the pod completely now, warm and infectious enough that you find yourself laughing with him, shoulders loosening for what feels like the first time since entering the experiment.
And when the chime signaling the end of the date finally rings, disappointment flickers through you before you can hide it.
“Oh,” Felix says softly. “Time’s up already?”
You hate that the little note of disappointment in his voice makes your stomach flip. “Guess so.”
A pause settles between you and then—
“I hope I get to talk to you again,” Felix says quietly.
Something warm unfurls in your chest. “Yeah,” you answer before you can overthink it. “Me too.”
The line disconnects and somehow, the pod suddenly feels quieter than before.
-
YOU: Felix is funny. Like—actually funny, not trying-too-hard funny. [softly laughs] And his voice is… [groans] See? Now I’m sitting here thinking about some guy’s voice. [laughs] Anyway, that was the first conversation that didn’t feel forced. I didn’t feel like I had to perform or impress him. It just felt… easy. And the way Felix talks… I don’t know. It feels warm.
-
Felix practically floats out of the pod.
The hallway feels warmer somehow, lighter, his grin impossible to hold back no matter how hard he tries to bite it down. He ducks his head as he walks back toward the men’s living quarters, the notebook tucked beneath his arm.
He can still hear your laugh in his head. Still picture the way your voice had softened when he talked about his mom’s brownies. Still feel that weird little flutter in his chest every time you said his name.
It’s ridiculous. He’s smiling over someone he’s never even seen before.
The second he walks back into the lounge, a few of the guys immediately notice the expression on his face.
“Ohhh, look at him!” one of them calls from the dining table. “That’s not the face of a man who had a bad date.”
Another contestant points at him accusingly. “Bro’s glowing.”
Felix groans immediately, laughing as he drops onto one of the dining chairs. “Please leave me alone.”
“Nope,” someone says, sliding a glass of wine toward him across the table. “Sit down and tell us everything.”
Felix accepts the glass with an embarrassed grin while the guys gather around, all loose limbs and curious energy after a long day of pod dates.
“So?” one of them presses. “What happened?”
Felix shakes his head once, still smiling to himself before finally admitting quietly, “I think…” He laughs softly in disbelief. “I think I might’ve found my main person here.”
The table immediately erupts in loud, chaotic cheers.
Felix hides his face briefly behind his wine glass, shoulders shaking with shy laughter.
“It’s just—” he starts, trying to explain himself. “Talking to her felt easy. Like… really easy. I wasn’t trying to impress her or think about what to say next. We just clicked.”
“What’s she like?” another guy asks.
Felix leans back in his chair slightly, thinking about it.
“She’s funny,” he says first, almost immediately. “Like, genuinely funny. And she’s really smart too. But not in an intimidating way.” He pauses, smiling softly to himself. “She just feels very… grounded.”
“And hot,” one of the guys teases. “You’re imagining she’s hot, aren’t you?”
Felix groans loudly while the table bursts into laughter again. “That’s literally the opposite point of this experiment!”
“But are you?”
He tries to fight his smile and fails miserably. “I mean… Maybe a little,” he admits with a sheepish shrug.
The guys howl immediately.
“Nah, he’s gone.”
“First casualty of the season.”
Felix shakes his head, laughing helplessly while someone raises their wine glass dramatically. “To mysterious pod girl!”
The others quickly lift their glasses too. “To Felix’s future wife!”
“Oh my god, stop,” Felix whines through laughter, though his cheeks are bright red now.
Still, he lifts his own glass with a shy smile, clinking it gently against theirs. And somewhere beneath all the teasing and laughter, something floods his chest.
Hope.
-
FELIX: I know it sounds crazy because it was literally just one conversation [laughs] but… there was something different about her. She teased me immediately, by the way [laughs] Like instantly [laughs] But I liked that. I liked that she didn’t sound overly polished or fake. She just sounded… real. [grins] I really hope I get to talk to her again.
-
It’s been an eventful day for you and it seems like for a few other people too.
You and Morgan are sitting in the dining table, sharing a plate of sliced fruits with a glass of wine. Both in comfortable clothes, no makeup on, just two girls conversing after a day packed with pod dates.
“Jim really is my type,” Morgan shares, picking up a grape from the plate. “First of all, he’s a musician.”
You chuckle at that because you clearly remember the way Jim cracked a dad joke as an opening on a pod date with you. “Yeah, that’s a plus point,” you nicely comment.
“And he said he’s got tattoos,” Morgan continues, her heart-shaped lips curve into a smile. “And that he left spaces on his body for tattoos of his future children.”
“Oh?” you genuinely intrigued by that, not expecting that a person like Jim would have such heartwarming thinking. Then, you playfully add, “Okay, but… on which part of his body?”
Morgan laughs at that, it’s sonorous and filled with cute little snort in between. And it goes on for a minute that she almost spit the grape she’s chewing.
Another girl joins you in the dining table, holding a steaming mug of tea in her hand. You can’t quite recall her name but she’s the only one with a beautiful strawberry blonde hair. “Do you know this one guy with, like, the deepest voice ever?”
Your hand slightly tightens around the stem of your wine glass. “Yeah,” you manage to casually answer.
“Oh my god, wait,” Morgan cuts in after sipping her wine. “Was it the Australian guy?”
“Yes!”
Your stomach twists unexpectedly.
“He sounds unreal,” she continues, smiling dreamily. “And we had such a good conversation earlier.”
You stare down into your wine, suddenly far too aware of how many women are in this room. Of how all of you are dating the same group of men. Of course Felix is talking to other girls. That’s the entire point of the experiment. Still, hearing someone else gush about him leaves an uncomfortable tightness curling low in your chest.
But you’re not losing hope yet. Maybe beside Felix, there really is someone else here worth opening up to.
-
YOU: See, this is why I didn’t want to get attached to anyone right away. [lightly shrugs] But that’s okay. There’s still time. I feel like I’m finally settling into the experiment now. And hopefully… Hopefully I’ll meet more people I genuinely connect with.
-
Felix is smiling before he even enters the pod. It’s embarrassing, honestly.
One conversation with you and suddenly he’s fixing his hoodie twice in the reflection of the hallway glass and wondering if his hair looks stupid despite the fact that you can’t even see him.
The pod door slides shut behind him with a soft hiss. He settles onto the couch, heart already thumping a little faster in anticipation. Then he hears a soft sigh from the other side of the wall and his smile appears instantly.
“Hey,” he greets warmly. “How’re you feeling today?”
A tiny laugh leaves you. “Still a little surreal, honestly.”
Felix leans back against the couch, smiling to himself at your soft, almost sleepy voice. “Yeah, I get that.”
There’s a small pause before he suddenly grins wider. “Guess what.”
“What?” you ask cautiously.
“I’ve been thinking about you.”
Your laughter bursts through the speakers immediately, bright and disbelieving, and Felix physically feels his chest loosen at the sound.
God. He likes your laugh so much.
“Are you this cheesy in the morning?” you ask between laughs.
“No, I’m serious!” Felix insists, grinning helplessly now. “I was literally thinking about our conversation all night.”
“Well,” you say playfully, “I’d love to say I’ve been thinking about you too, but another girl already did the job for me.”
Felix drops his head to the side. “Wait, what?”
“There’s apparently a guy with a really deep voice that all the girls are obsessed with.”
Felix groans loudly, dropping his head into his hand while you laugh softly on the other side of the wall. “Oh, no.”
“So,” you continue innocently, “sounds like you’re popular.”
A grin spreads across Felix’s face. “Are you jealous?” he asks teasingly.
Your scoff comes immediately. “No.”
“Mm.”
“I’m just wondering when will it be my turn.”
“You turn for what?”
“To think about you.”
Felix bursts into laughter at that, warm and genuine. Okay. Yeah. He really likes you.
“That’s fair,” he says once his laughter settles. “This is our second date now.”
“It is.”
“And I kind of want to pick up where we left off yesterday.”
Your voice softens immediately. “Yeah. Sure.”
The warmth in your tone lingers with him for a second before Felix shifts slightly on the couch.
“So,” he says curiously, “I know you can cook.”
You laugh. “That’s a very confident assumption.”
“You almost burned your kitchen down making pasta. That means you at least attempted cooking.”
“That’s true.”
Felix grins. “Do you actually enjoy cooking though? Or is it just… a skill you picked up?”
The silence that follows feels different. Felix hears you inhale softly on the other side of the wall before you finally answer.
“I think it became necessary more than anything.”
His expression softens immediately, ears intently listening in on every noise you make on the other side of the pod.
“My mom worked a lot growing up,” you explain quietly. “Like… a lot. So she didn’t really have time to cook when she came home.”
You pause for a second before continuing. “I kind of just learned because I had to. I started cooking for myself when I was around ten.”
Something twists painfully in Felix’s chest. He can almost picture it too clearly — a younger version of you standing alone in a kitchen trying to figure things out yourself. And judging by the slight tightness in your voice, he knows there’s probably much more to that story. But he also knows better than to push.
So instead, Felix smiles softly to himself and asks gently, “Okay, then what’s the first dish you successfully made?”
Your laugh returns, lighter this time. “An omelet.”
“That’s impressive for a ten-year-old.”
“I had it literally every morning before school because it was fast and easy.”
Felix chuckles softly. “Honestly? That’s kind of nice though.”
“Yeah,” you admit quietly. “It wasn’t bad.”
A comfortable silence settles briefly between you before Felix asks, “What is the one dish that you think is your best?”
You hum thoughtfully. “Probably pasta alla vodka.”
Felix laughs instantly. “You really are a pasta girl, huh?”
“Proudly.”
“Well,” he says confidently, leaning back against the couch, “good thing I’m good at Italian food.”
“Oh, don’t say that.”
“Why?”
“Because then I’ll make you cook for me every day.”
Felix doesn’t even hesitate. “I’d gladly do it.”
The silence returns but it’s not awkward at all. And when you finally answer, your voice comes softer than before.
“Okay,” you warmly say, “No takebacks.”
Felix laughs that at that and warmth spreads through his chest so suddenly it almost catches him off guard. Because for one stupid second, he can picture you sitting on the counter while he cooks. Your voice filling the apartment. Late-night pasta dinners and warmth that feels achingly domestic. And the craziest part is, he still has no idea what you look like.
The chime signaling the end of the date rings far too soon.
Felix actually frowns at it this time. “Nooo,” he groans dramatically.
Your laughter spills through the speakers again. “You sound genuinely upset.”
“I am genuinely upset.”
“Poor thing.”
“You’ll miss me too.”
“Maybe.”
Felix grins helplessly at the wall until the line finally disconnects and somehow, he leaves the pod feeling even more certain than yesterday.
-
FELIX: I really, really enjoyed talking to her again. I think what I like most is that our conversations don’t feel shallow. Like yeah, we joke around a lot and tease each other, but I also feel like she lets her guard down with me sometimes. Even if it’s just little moments. That’s great. That means that she trusts me, she’s comfortable with me. Do I think we’re building something? [slowly nods] Yeah. I really do. And I just hope she feels the same way about me too.
-
By the time the day’s pod dates are over, the women’s living quarters have settled into a quieter, softer atmosphere. The lights are dimmed low, the girls wander around in oversized sweaters and fuzzy socks, emotionally drained from another day of intense conversations.
You’re curled up on one end of the couch beneath a shared blanket with Daria tucked beside you, both of you nursing half-finished glasses of wine. There’s not to do since they have taken all kind of devices from all contestants.
Daria nudges your foot lightly beneath the blanket. “You seem happier today.”
You glance sideways at her suspiciously. “You say that like you caught me doing something illegal.”
“I caught you smiling at absolutely nothing earlier.”
You snort quietly into your wine glass. “it’s nothing.”
Daria grins smugly before settling deeper into the couch cushions. For a moment, the two of you simply sit there listening to the low buzz of conversation around the room. Then you lower your voice slightly, just enough for only her to hear.
“You know what’s weird?”
“What?”
You stare ahead thoughtfully, fingers playing absentmindedly with the edge of the blanket. “I’m actually glad we can’t see them.”
Daria’s expression softens immediately, understanding flickering across her face. “Yeah?”
You nod slowly.
“I think…” You hesitate briefly, trying to explain the feeling properly. “If I could see them, I’d probably be distracted by stupid things. Whether they’re attractive or how they react to me physically or whatever.”
Daria hums in agreement.
“But like this…” Your voice grows quieter. “It’s weirdly relaxing. Easier to talk about deeper things.”
You laugh softly under your breath. “I don’t usually open up this quickly.”
Daria pulls the blanket tighter around herself as she nods thoughtfully. “Honestly, same.”
She leans her head back against the couch, staring up at the ceiling. “I think that’s why this experiment works for some people. Out there, everyone’s too distracted. Looks, jobs, status, chemistry.”
You glance toward her as she continues.
“But in here?” Daria shrugs lightly. “People actually have to see you. Your personality. The essential part of you.”
Maybe Daria is right and maybe that’s why talking to Felix feels different. Not because he’s charming or because of his stupidly attractive voice, but because when you talk to him, it genuinely feels like he’s listening. Like he’s trying to know you in ways most people don’t bother to.
Daria nudges you again, pulling you from your thoughts. “So,” she says casually, though her grin gives her away completely, “have you actually found a connection with someone?”
You huff softly, already knowing there’s no point pretending otherwise.
“There’s this guy,” you admit carefully. “His name’s Felix.”
The second you say his name out loud, warmth spreads embarrassingly fast through your chest again.
“He’s…” You pause, searching for the right word. “Easy.”
Daria raises an eyebrow.
“Not easy easy,” you clarify immediately, making her burst into laughter. “I mean talking to him feels easy.”
“Mhm.”
You roll your eyes at her expression but continue anyway. “He actually listens when I talk. And I don’t feel like I have to filter myself around him.”
Your fingers tighten slightly around your wine glass as you think about your conversation earlier. About how gently Felix handled the parts of your childhood you almost accidentally revealed.
“He sees me without actually seeing me,” you murmur quietly.
Heat creeps into your face immediately. “Don’t make it weird.”
“I mean it.”
You groan softly, hiding part of your face beneath the blanket while Daria laughs beside you.
Still, after a moment, you sigh quietly. “The only problem is…”
“What?”
You stare down into your glass. “I know at least one other girl likes him too.”
Daria hums thoughtfully at that, though she doesn’t look particularly surprised. “Well,” she says simply, “it’s Love Is Blind. Everyone’s dating everyone.”
“I know.”
“And?”
You shrug lightly. “I don’t know. I’m not really worried about it though.”
Which is surprisingly true. Because despite the weird flicker of jealousy from earlier, you don’t actually want to compete for someone’s attention. Not here. Not ever.
If Felix chooses someone else, then that’s that. But if what the two of you have is genuinely real, then maybe it’ll naturally find its way back to each other.
-
YOU: I talked to Felix again today. [shyly laughs] Okay, wow. The fact that his name comes out that easily now is probably a bad sign. I know other girls like him. I mean… obviously. He’s kind, funny, emotionally available, and sounds like that. [laughs] But I don’t really believe in fighting over people. If someone’s meant for you, they’ll naturally come your way. And if Felix and I are actually building something real… [smiles] Then I trust that.
-
By the third day, Felix realizes he can tell when it’s you before you even speak.
It’s something small and subtle. It’s the quiet little sigh you always let out after settling onto the couch. So the second he enters the pod and hears that familiar exhale from the other side of the wall, his lips immediately curve upward.
“Hey,” he greets softly.
Your response comes almost instantly this time, equally gentle. “Hi.”
And there it is again—
That stupid warmth spreading through his chest at nothing more than your voice.
“How’re you doing today?” you ask.
Felix leans back against the couch, smiling to himself. “Honestly?”
“Mhm?”
“I think about you a lot.”
A soft laugh leaves you immediately. “That’s good. Because I’ve been thinking about you too,” you so casually say.
Felix grins wider and teases, “But it’s not your turn yet.”
You groan dramatically. “I get impatient.”
His laughter escapes before he can stop it, low and entirely helpless. And god, the butterflies are worse today. Every time you flirt back, every time you say something that sounds remotely fond, it feels like his heart physically stumbles inside his chest.
A comfortable silence settles between you for a moment before Felix speaks again. “This is our third date now.”
You coo teasingly. “Oh? And what do you usually do on third dates?”
Felix doesn’t even hesitate. “I usually ask how many kids do we want.”
Your snort echoes loudly through the pod. “Wow. You’re really forward.”
Felix shrugs even though you can’t see it, grinning shamelessly. “I mean, it’s up to you of course.”
“Oh, how generous.”
“But,” he continues casually, “I do want a big family.”
There’s a suspicious pause from your side of the wall. “How big are we talking?”
Felix hums thoughtfully. “Maybe… seven?”
Your gasp is immediate. Horrified. “SEVEN?!”
Felix bursts into laughter while you continue sputtering dramatically.
“That’s not a family anymore, Felix. That’s a small village.”
“They’d be cute though.”
“Are you planning to make them your little minions in the kitchen?”
“Yeah,” Felix says easily.
You groan loudly while he laughs harder.
“Okay, okay,” he relents eventually. “We can negotiate.”
“Three,” you say firmly. “Three sounds perfect.”
Felix smiles softly to himself. “Yeah. Three sounds nice actually.”
The conversation quiets after that, softer now beneath the joking and then your voice changes slightly.
“No matter how many kids I have one day…” You pause briefly. “I just want to make sure they always well-taken care of.”
Felix’s smile slowly fades into something gentler.
“I want to always be there for them,” you continue quietly. “I want them to always feel like they’re loved unconditionally.”
Something in his chest aches immediately. Because he hears the unspoken part beneath your words. The child version of you still lingering somewhere behind them.
And suddenly Felix understands a little more about why you learned to be so independent. Why you hold yourself together so tightly. His voice softens instinctively. “You’d be a really good mom.”
Silence.
“And we’d be good parents. I know we would,” he adds quietly.
The words slip out more naturally than they probably should. But the terrifying thing is he means them. And for a brief second, he actually imagines it. You and him living in a house while tiny footsteps run around the space, children who always know they’re loved. The image etches in the back of his mind without him intending to.
Neither of you speak for a while after that. But it doesn’t feel awkward at all. It’s content. Like something is slowly growing between the two of you in the quiet.
Felix swallows softly before finally speaking again. “You know…” He pauses, searching carefully for the right words. “I came here because I’m not just looking for a wife. Or a partner, exclusively.”
Your breathing quiets on the other side of the wall, intently listening.
“I came here ready for love,” he admits honestly. “Real love.”
His fingers tighten slightly around the sleeve of his hoodie. “And I have so much love in me that I want to share with someone.”
A quiet breath leaves him.
“I like you a lot.”
The confession lands gently between you.
“And I really hope you’re that someone.”
For one terrifying second, Felix thinks maybe he said too much. Maybe too soon. Then he hears the sniffles. His entire expression softens instantly.
And finally, your shaky voice reaches him through the speakers. “I like you too,” you whisper.
Another sniffle. “A lot.”
Something blooms so painfully warm inside Felix’s chest that it almost hurts. Hope. Joy. Relief. They’re all mixed together. His grin spreads helplessly across his face as he leans forward, elbows on his knees.
“I really wish I could hug you right now,” he says softly.
Your answer comes almost embarrassingly tiny, almost like a whisper. “Me too.”
Felix smiles so hard his cheeks ache. “You can hug the cushion for me. Pretend it’s me,” he playfully suggests.
Your laugh breaks through immediately, watery and soft from crying. “That’s so lame.”
“But are you doing it?”
Silence hangs for a good minute and then, you finally answer, “Maybe.”
Felix laughs quietly to himself, warmth practically overflowing from his chest now and for the first time since entering this experiment, he thinks he understands why people fall in love in these pods.
-
FELIX: It feels really good knowing she feels the same way. I think before today, there was always this tiny fear in the back of my mind that maybe I was falling harder than she was. [Softly laughs] But hearing her say she likes me too… [lightly shakes head] God. I don’t even know what she looks like yet and somehow, I already care about her this much. [grins]
-
The pod feels unbearably quiet after the date ends. You stay there for a moment even after the line disconnects, curled around the cushion you absolutely did hug despite making fun of Felix for suggesting it. Your chest still feels tight, aching in a way you don’t quite know how to explain. Because no one’s ever spoken to you like that before. Like he’s already imagining a future with you in it.
You press your palms briefly against your cheeks, exhaling shakily before finally forcing yourself to stand. The moment the pod door slides open and the glowing hallway greets you, only then do you realize your hands are actually trembling.
You take exactly three steps into the hallway before another pod door opens nearby.
Tabitha steps out at almost the same time, smiling when her eyes eventually land on you.
“Hey.”
You laugh weakly. “Hi.”
Without even hesitating, Tabitha walks over and loops an arm around your shoulders as the two of you begin slowly making your way down the glowing hallway together.
“Girl, you’re shaking. Are you okay?” she asks immediately, voice tinted with concern.
You glance down at your hands like you’re only now noticing it yourself. “I…” You exhale softly through a nervous laugh. “Opening up is so scary.”
Tabitha giggles immediately, squeezing your shoulder tighter against her side. “Oh no,” she teases dramatically. “You look like you’re about to faint.”
You laugh despite yourself, leaning into her slightly as the two of you continue walking.
“I genuinely might.”
You laugh helplessly while she continues grinning beside you. Not everyone here understands. The emotional whiplash of these pods. The terrifying intimacy of being known by someone you’ve never even seen. And maybe that’s why your chest still feels so fragile right now.
Because somewhere between talking about childhood breakfasts and future children and unconditional love, you accidentally let Felix see parts of you that almost nobody gets to touch and most importantly, he didn’t run from them.
-
YOU: I’m very used to keeping my emotions together. Like… even when I really like someone, I usually hold back for a long time. I don’t put too much emotion into things right away because I think part of me is always trying to protect myself first. [Softly exhales] But with Felix… I don’t know [sheepishly laughs] Talking to him makes me feel safe enough to say things I normally wouldn’t. That conversation today was probably the most vulnerable I’ve ever been with someone.
-
By the next few days, talking to you becomes the easiest part of Felix’s routine.
He wakes up. Think about you. Eat breakfast while wondering if you’re awake yet. Wait impatiently for the pod schedule and then finally, hear your voice again. At this point, he’s pretty sure the guys have noticed too. Mostly because every time your name appears on his schedule, he gets up so fast it’s embarrassing.
Today is no different. Felix enters the pod already smiling to himself, settling comfortably onto the couch with far less nervousness than he had during the first few dates. Because somehow, these conversations stopped feeling like dates. Now they just feel like… you. And him.
“Hi,” you greet softly the second the line connects.
Felix’s chest warms instantly. “Hey.”
“How was your day?”
“Better now.”
You groan immediately from the other side of the wall. “You’re getting smoother.”
Felix laughs proudly. “Thank you.”
“No, that was criticism.”
“Mhm. Sure.”
Your laughter spills through the speakers again, and Felix sinks deeper into the couch cushions, smiling helplessly at the sound.
God. He really likes making you laugh.
“So,” you say after a moment, your tone softer now. “Tell me something about you I don’t know yet.”
Felix hums thoughtfully, tapping his fingers lightly against his knee. “There’s honestly a lot.”
“Okay, mysterious man.”
“It’s true,” he protests through a laugh. “I feel like we always end up talking about you.”
“That’s because you interrogate me emotionally.”
“I do not.”
“You made me talk about my sad omelets.”
Felix laughs so hard he nearly folds into himself. “That’s not emotional interrogation.”
“It kinda was.”
Still grinning, he shakes his head before answering more quietly this time. “I grew up really close to my family. Like… really close.”
Your voice softens immediately. “Yeah?”
“Mhm.”
A warmth spreads through his chest just talking about them, fondness dripping from his voice. “My mom’s basically the heart of our family. And I’ve always been really close with my sisters too. Our house was loud all the time.”
You laugh softly. “That explains the seven kids.”
Felix grins instantly. “Exactly.”
“But honestly…” He leans his head back against the couch, thinking. “I didn’t always know I wanted to become a chef.”
“Oh?”
“Nah. I wanted to be like ten different things growing up.”
“Please tell me at least one was ridiculous.”
Felix laughs. “Okay, when I was really young, I wanted to be Spider-Man.”
Your laughter erupts immediately. “That’s not a career, Felix.”
“It was to me,” he weakly defends and laughs along with you before continuing. “Then I wanted to be a singer for a while. Then a gamer. Then a taekwondo instructor.”
“Wow,” you say solemnly. “You contain multitudes.”
“Thank you.”
“But how’d you end up becoming a chef?”
The question settles between you and somehow, answering you feels strangely intimate now. Like he’s not speaking through a wall at all. Like you’re sitting beside him on the couch instead.
Felix closes his eyes briefly as he speaks. “I think food was just… always there for me,” he admits quietly. “Cooking made me feel calm. And happy.”
A small smile pulls at his lips as he continues, “And I liked seeing people smile after eating something I made.”
Your voice softens almost immediately. “That’s very you.”
Felix’s eyes open slowly. “What does that mean?”
“You love through taking care of people.”
The words hit him embarrassingly hard. Because somehow, you understand him already. More than some people who’ve physically known him for years.
“Yeah, I think I do,” he agrees, laughing softly, suddenly shy again.
The silence returns but it feels warm instead of empty and Felix realizes something terrifying halfway through your conversation. He doesn’t even notice the cameras anymore when he talks to you. Only your voice. Only you.
-
FELIX: I always look forward to talking to her. [Brightly smiles] But it’s true. I think what surprises me most is how comfortable she makes me feel. With some people, opening up feels scary because you’re worried they’ll misunderstand you or judge you or… [slightly shrugs] Not really get you. But when I talk to her, I don’t feel that way. [Shakes his head] [smiles] That’s becoming really dangerous for me emotionally.
-
The conversation continues easily after that like it always does with Felix now. At some point, you stop noticing the cameras entirely. Stop noticing the walls, the strange artificial glow of the pod around you.
There’s only his voice. Comforting in a way that sneaks up on you slowly. You curl deeper into the couch, knees tucked against your chest while Felix tells stories from his childhood, about his sisters and parents. And listening to the way he talks about his family, with such fondness and warmth, you can tell why he is who he is — kind and gentle. Loving.
“You’re lucky your voice is pretty.”
Felix gasps dramatically. “You objectify me constantly.”
You laugh softly, shaking your head even though he can’t see it and then somehow, the conversation shifts again. “I actually don’t remember a lot about my childhood,” you admit quietly after a pause.
It’s always like this. One moment you’re joking, the next you’re sitting with something fragile between the two of you.
“I think…” You frown slightly, thinking out loud more than anything. “Talking to you lately made me realize something weird.”
“Hmm?” Felix hums gently.
You stare at the glowing wall ahead of you. “I can’t remember ever playing with my parents as a kid.”
Your chest tightens almost instantly afterward, vulnerability creeping up your spine too quickly. So you laugh softly under your breath and shake your head.
“Sorry, I feel like I always come to you with sad stories,” you mumble.
“No,” Felix says immediately. The firmness in his voice makes you pause. “They’re not sad.”
A quiet silence follows before he continues more gently. “They’re part of why you’re strong.”
You quietly swallow down the lump forming in your throat.
“And different,” he adds softly. “In a good way.”
You press your lips together, containing your sadness.
“They made you who you are today.”
Something warm blooms painfully in your chest at the way he says it. Like he genuinely means it. Like he sees every complicated piece of you and still sounds fond. You smile helplessly to yourself, trying to lighten the feeling before it overwhelms you again.
“Jeez, Felix,” you mutter softly, playfully. “Stop flirting with me.”
Felix chuckles warmly through the speakers. “I’m serious though.”
“Yeah, yeah,” you say, subtly rolling your eyes.
A comfortable silence settles briefly before Felix suddenly says, “I wish I knew you when we were little.”
Your expression softens instantly. “Yeah?”
“Mhm.”
You can practically hear his smile through the wall.
“I think we would’ve played together.”
You snort softly. “Played what?”
“I don’t know. Restaurant probably.”
You laugh immediately. “Let me guess. You’d force me to be your employee?”
“No,” Felix says easily. “You’d be my wife already.”
Your jaw drops open in disbelief while he laughs proudly at your reaction.
“We’d be high school sweethearts,” he continues shamelessly. “Already married by now.”
“With seven children?”
“Exactly.”
You bury your face briefly into the couch cushion as his laughter grows louder.
“And all our kids would help at the family restaurant,” he continues, fully committed now. “Tiny aprons. Tiny chef hats.”
“That sounds like child labor.”
“That sounds like teamwork.”
You laugh so hard your stomach hurts. “You’ve actually thought this through.”
Felix hums smugly. “I have a vivid imagination.”
“Clearly.”
Still smiling, you shake your head fondly before teasing lightly, “Anyway, that’s impossible. We couldn’t have been childhood friends.”
“Why not?”
“You grew up with kangaroos in Australia.”
Felix bursts into helpless laughter immediately. “Not the kangaroo allegations again.”
“I’m just saying. Your best friend was probably a koala.”
“That’s not how Australia works!”
The two of you dissolve into laughter again until your cheeks hurt and your chest feels lighter than it has in days. And when the laughter finally fades away, silence settles softly between you once more.
You stare quietly at the glowing wall ahead of you before speaking without really thinking first. “I think we met at the right time.”
“Yeah,” Felix agrees. “I think so too.”
A beat passes in silence again and he decides to playfully add, “Now all we have left to do is get married and have seven kids.”
You burst into laughter again immediately. “You are unbelievably persistent.”
“No,” Felix corrects casually. “I’m just goal-oriented.”
Your smile grows helplessly wider. “I haven’t agreed to any of this, by the way.”
“True,” he says easily. “But you also haven’t said no.”
Your mouth opens instinctively and then closes again. Because annoyingly enough, he’s right and you’re not even sure you want to say no.
-
YOU: I’m starting to picture him in my future. [Shyly laughs] Which sounds insane because I still haven’t seen him. When Felix talks about the future, it doesn’t scare me as usually it does. I’ve spent most of my life feeling like I had to handle everything on my own. Like depending on people was dangerous because eventually they leave or disappoint you or… You just learn not to expect too much. But when he talks about taking care of people, or building a family, or cooking for me every day… [smiles] It feels really easy to imagine.
-
The men’s living quarter is never silent but somehow, it’s quieter tonight.
Felix sits on the leather sofa with a drink resting loosely in his hand and across from him, Jim leans back in the single sofa with a tired sigh, rubbing both hands over his face.
“You okay?” Felix asks gently.
Jim laughs weakly. “Man, I don’t know.”
Felix does know. This experiment has a way of pulling emotions out of people so quickly it almost feels violent sometimes.
Jim stares down into his drink for a second before finally admitting quietly, “I’m torn between two people.”
Felix remembers Jim ever mentioned a girl he had a pod date with the other day and nods slowly. “Morgan?”
“Yeah.”
“Who’s the other one?” Felix curiously asks.
“Laura.”
Felix nods and sips his drink.
A frustrated breath leaves Jim as he leans forward, elbows resting against his knees.
“They’re both incredible in completely different ways.” He shakes his head. “And I hate that I’m hurting someone no matter what choice I make.”
Felix listens quietly, thumb brushing absentmindedly against the condensation on his glass.
“What if I choose wrong?” Jim asks after a moment.
The vulnerability in his voice makes Felix’s chest ache a little. Because everyone here is terrified of that. Terrified that the person they’re falling for might not actually be their person.
Felix stays quiet for a beat before answering softly, “I think you just gotta listen to what speaks to your heart the most.”
Jim glances up at him.
“Not what makes the most sense on paper,” Felix continues thoughtfully. “Or who you think you should choose.”
He shrugs lightly.
“When you picture your future, whose voice naturally shows up first?”
Jim goes quiet after that, solemnly thinking. Then slowly, he nods. “Yeah,” he murmurs, the real answer remains a mystery.
A small smile tugs at Felix’s lips before Jim suddenly points at him accusingly. “Okay, enough about me though.”
Felix laughs softly. “What?”
“How are things going with you and mystery wife?”
Heat instantly creeps into Felix’s face despite himself. He ducks his head with a quiet laugh before answering honestly. “We’ve just been talking a lot,” he says softly.
His expression grows gentler without him realizing it. “The more I get to know her, the surer I feel about her, about it.”
Jim watches him quietly, no teasing in his face this time. Just genuine warmth.
Felix exhales softly, staring down at his drink. “I think she’s the person I’ve been looking for.”
The words are simple, but they’re honest and real.
Jim smiles immediately afterward, small but sincere. “I’m happy for you, man.”
Something about the simplicity of it makes Felix’s chest tightens. Because the craziest part is, he is happy. Terrified, overwhelmed, emotionally confused half the time, but happy.
“So… are you gonna propose soon?” Jim casually asks.
Felix stills. Not because he doesn’t know the answer. But because hearing the question out loud suddenly makes him wonder why he’s hesitating at all.
What exactly is he waiting for?
He already knows how he feels. Every conversation with you only pulls him closer. Every laugh, every vulnerable confession, every quiet little moment through that wall.
When he imagines leaving this experiment, you’re there automatically now.
So why does the word soon suddenly make his heartbeat spike?
Felix lifts his gaze toward Jim again and this time, when he answers, there’s no uncertainty left in him.
“Yeah,” he says confidently.
A slow smile spreads across his face afterward. “Yeah. I am.”
Jim immediately breaks into a grin before leaning over and giving Felix a gentle slap against the shoulder. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
Felix softly laughs, nerves and excitement tangling together inside his chest now.
“Good luck, brother,” Jim says sincerely.
And for the first time since entering this experiment, Felix realizes he’s not scared of the answer anymore.
-
FELIX: I feel like I’ve spent the last few days trying to understand whether what I’m feeling is real or if I’m just caught up in the experiment. But every time I talk to her, things get clearer instead of more confusing. And I think that says a lot. I know what my heart wants. [Smiles] and I’m really sure about her. So yeah [Awkwardly laughs] I think I’m ready.
-
The moment production pulls you aside after breakfast and tells you to get ‘a little more dressed up’ for the pod date, your heart starts pounding. Because there’s only one reason for that. Right?
The thought follows you all the way back to the women’s living quarters. You barely even register Daria asking what’s wrong as you stand frozen in front of your closet, fingers hovering over dresses you packed half-jokingly for a proposal you never genuinely thought would happen to you. Not this fast. Not ever, maybe.
Your pulse thuds loudly in your ears while you finally pick one. You sit in front of the vanity afterward doing your makeup with slightly shaky hands, trying not to spiral while the girls around you immediately catch onto your nervousness.
“Oh my god,” Tabitha gasps dramatically from across the room. “You look terrified.”
“I am terrified.”
Daria narrows her eyes knowingly. “Do you think he’s proposing?”
Your stomach flips so violently you nearly stab yourself in the eye with mascara. “I don’t know,” you say too quickly.
But the truth is—
You do know. Or at least, you feel it. The energy’s been building toward this for days now. Every conversation with Felix growing deeper and more certain. Still, you force yourself not to get your hopes up. Because hope feels dangerous. Hope is the first step toward disappointment.
So by the time you walk down the glowing hallway toward the pods, your chest feels painfully tight with nerves you’re trying desperately not to name. The pod door slides open and somehow, before you even sit down, you know he’s already there. Waiting.
You settle slowly onto the couch, smoothing nervous hands over your dress before speaking softly into the quiet. “Hi.”
The response comes immediately. “Hi.”
Something about Felix’s voice sounds different today. Tighter, a little nervous.
Your lips twitch slightly despite yourself and decide to tease, “You sound cheerful today. What’s going on?”
Felix laughs softly, breathless around the edges. “Sorry, I’m just…” His voice trails off.
And suddenly your heart is beating so hard it almost hurts.
Silence settles briefly between you before Felix speaks again, a little careful this time. “The last few days with you…”
You hold your breath unconsciously.
“Talking to you and getting to know you…” He exhales shakily. “I don’t even know how to explain it properly.”
His honesty wraps around your chest immediately. “I’m so attracted to your personality. Just… who you are. As a person.”
Your eyes sting unexpectedly.
“The way you think. The way you care about people. The way you try so hard to be strong all the time even when I know you’re scared.”
You tightly press your lips together.
“And every time I talk to you, I feel more certain instead of less,” he continues, voice trembles slightly now.
“Like I don’t need to keep searching anymore because…” he pauses to let out a shaky breath. “I found you.”
Your chest physically aches hearing it, at how Felix sounds so open right now. So sincere it almost hurts to listen to. And suddenly, beneath all the warmth blooming inside you, the fear creeps in too. Because if he’s being this honest with you, then keeping parts of yourself hidden suddenly feels unbearably unfair.
You clear your throat before softly call his name. “Felix…”
He goes quiet immediately, listening.
You stare down at your trembling hands. “I was only six when my dad walked out on me. And my mom and I… I remember feeling so confused. Not understanding what it means until later in my life.”
The memory instantly flashes violently through your mind. You inhale shakily, tears already pooling in your eyes. “Ever since then,” your voice crack in between sentences. “I never really learned how to fully attach myself to people emotionally.”
You press the back of your hand to your eyes, embarrassed by how vulnerable you suddenly feel. “I know it’s not fair to quickly assume that you’d do the same. When you’ve been nothing but warm and kind. And good to me.”
A tear slips down your cheek anyway and you quickly wipe it. “I just want you to know that… I’ll always have this fear that people are going to leave eventually.”
The confession trembles out of you helplessly. Your voice grows smaller. More fragile. “And I’m really scared right now.”
Because you are. Terrified, actually. Of trusting someone this much. Of needing them. Of believing in something beautiful only to watch it disappear one day.
You close your eyes briefly, tears slipping free now despite your efforts to stop them. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”
The vulnerability hangs exposed between you afterward, raw enough that your chest physically hurts beneath it.
And for the first time since meeting Felix, you genuinely fear what he might say next.
-
YOU: Whenever things start becoming too real emotionally… my instinct is always to pull away. [Shakily exhales] To protect myself. Because if you don’t fully let yourself need someone, then losing them hurts less. And when I get this scared… I close myself off again.
-
Felix’s chest hurts hearing you cry. Not metaphorically. It actually hurts.
Every soft sniffle from the other side of the wall feels like something splintering painfully inside him because all he can picture is you sitting there alone as fear claws at you from the inside out.
And suddenly, everything becomes so painfully clear to him.
This is exactly why he’s here. Not for the experiment. Not for television. Not for some perfect fairytale romance.
He’s here because when he hears your voice crack like that, every part of him wants to protect you from ever feeling abandoned again. To love you so thoroughly that one day, maybe, you’ll stop waiting for people to leave.
But first, he needs you to believe him. He exhales slowly, grounding himself before speaking softly into the quiet. “I know you’re hurt.”
The crying on the other side quiets slightly.
“And I know those fears probably don’t just disappear overnight,” he says, voice grows gentle yet firmer. “But I’m not here to hurt you.”
Your breathing trembles softly through the speakers.
“I want to be with you. I want to love you the way you deserve to be loved.” His throat tightens unexpectedly around the words because god, he means them so much it almost scares him. “I want to build a family together. With you.”
A breathless laugh leaves his mouth then. “And hopefully raise seven kids with you eventually.”
A shaky sound escapes you immediately afterward — half laugh, half watery breath.
And relief floods through Felix instantly knowing you’re not crying as hard anymore. He smiles helplessly to himself before standing abruptly from the couch.
“Can you please come up to the wall for me?” he softly asks.
“Okay.”
Felix walks toward the glowing wall separating you, heartbeat thundering violently inside his chest now. He places one palm flat against it and somehow, it almost feels like touching you.
“I’m here,” you whisper from the other side.
His eyes close briefly at the sound of your voice so close now. He clears his throat softly, suddenly overwhelmed by the enormity of this moment. Then he speaks openly, honestly.
“If you and I get married…”
His fingers press more firmly against the wall.
“Then that’s it for me.”
Emotion climbs into his voice despite his attempts to steady it.
“It’ll be my first and last marriage.”
The silence on the other side turns painfully still.
“I promise I’ll take care of you.”
Felix swallows hard.
“I promise I’ll always be there for you.”
His chest aches with how deeply he means it.
“And I’ll love you unconditionally for the rest of my life.”
The words settle between you, quivering in the air, heavy with emotions. Felix lets the silence hold them for a moment before finally doing the thing he’s been emotionally building toward since the first time he heard you laugh through this wall.
His knees hit the floor softly and even though you can’t see him, he still wants to do this properly. His heart pounds so hard he’s sure the microphones pick up the sounds. Then softly, breathlessly—
“Will you marry me?”
The question leaves Felix trembling with hope.
-
FELIX: Everything led me to this moment. Every conversation we had. Every joke. Every vulnerable thing she shared with me. I fell in love with her little by little without even realizing it was happening. And now I genuinely can’t imagine leaving this experiment without her. [Nervously laughs] I just really hope she says yes.
-
The glowing wall in front of you blurs through your tears while Felix’s question hangs between the two of you, suspended so delicately in the quiet that your heart physically aches beneath it.
Will you marry me?
Your body feels weightless and unbearably heavy all at once. Fear twists through you first. Then happiness crashes right into it. Excitement. Nerves. Disbelief. They’re laced around the edges.
This is real. Felix is real. The man behind this wall who listens to you, who remembers every little thing you say, who talks about loving you like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Your hands tremble at your sides while tears continue slipping down your cheeks uncontrollably. And for one terrifying second, your fear almost wins. The instinct to protect yourself. To hesitate. To retreat before something beautiful can hurt you. But then—
You remember why you came here in the first place. You came not because you needed someone to complete you or because you were lonely. But because despite everything that happened to you, despite all the fear stitched into your chest, a part of you still wanted to believe in love. Still wanted to give it one real chance.
And now it’s standing right in front of you. Or rather— Kneeling behind a wall asking for your heart with shaking hands and seven imaginary children waiting in the future.
A watery laugh escapes you through your tears. Then you inhale deeply, trying to steady your breathing enough to speak.
Felix stays completely quiet on the other side, waiting and giving you space.
You press your palm softly against the glowing wall between you before finally whispering shakily. “Yes.”
A few seconds pass in silence and then Felix breaks into laughter of pure relief. A shaky exhale follows immediately after like he’s been holding his breath this entire time.
“Oh, God, I need a second,” he says, sounding like he’s running out of breath.
Your own laughter breaks through your tears instantly at the sound of him sounding so overwhelmed. “Yes, Felix,” you repeat more firmly this time, smiling helplessly now despite the tears still falling. “I’ll marry you.”
Another soft, disbelieving laugh leaves Felix from the other side of the wall.
Warmth blooms so fiercely in your chest that it almost hurts. Because for the first time in a very long time, you don’t feel afraid of love. You feel chosen by it.
Then, sniffling softly, you add through a broken laugh, “I’m still not fully convinced about the seven kids though.”
Felix bursts into laughter immediately. “That’s okay. I still have time to convince you.”
“Unbelievably persistent,” you mutter with a disbelieving laugh.
And suddenly you’re crying harder again, except this time it feels completely different. Like something inside you finally unclenched.
Your forehead presses briefly against the glowing wall while Felix stays close on the other side, neither of you speaking for a moment because words almost feel too small for what’s happening between you now.
Engaged. You and Felix are engaged. And to your surprise… That thought doesn’t scare you nearly as much as it should.
-
YOU: I said yes [sniffles] I’m engaged now [Laughs] And to be honest, I’m still scared. I think part of me will always be scared of trusting someone this much. But saying yes to Felix… [fondly smiles] It felt less like jumping off a cliff and more like finally letting someone catch me.
-
Felix feels like he’s floating. His feet carry him automatically down the glowing hallway away from the pods, but his mind is still stuck behind that wall with your voice trembling through tears as you told him yes.
Yes, Felix. I’ll marry you.
The word keeps replaying in his head over and over again until he thinks he might explode from happiness alone.
You said yes. You’re his fiancée. His fiancée.
Felix presses both hands briefly over his face as he walks, laughing breathlessly to himself because nothing about this feels real yet. His chest feels too much for his small body, joy practically spilling out of him in waves. And somehow, despite never seeing your face, he already misses you.
By the time he reaches the men’s lounge, he realizes he’s smiling way too hard. So instinctively, he tries to school his expression back into something normal before pushing open the door.
The second he steps inside, the room goes quiet. Every single guy turns toward him immediately. Ryan pauses mid-sip of his drink. Shane lowers the pool cue in his hand. Jim outright sits forward on the couch like he’s been waiting for the past hour. And judging by the worried anticipation written all over their faces—
Yeah. They were absolutely waiting for him.
Felix stares at them for one long second before letting out an exaggerated heavy sigh. Just to make them panic. He bites back his grin for another second before finally saying:
“She said yes.”
Everyone erupts in cheers, loud and chaotic cheers. Ryan nearly launches his drink across the room while Shane shouts loud enough to wake the dead. Jim jumps up from the couch immediately with both arms raised triumphantly.
“I KNEW IT!” he yells.
Felix bursts into helpless laughter as all the guys rush toward him at once, nearly tackling him backward. And then suddenly, his feet leave the floor.
“WAIT—”
The boys lift him into the air anyway while chanting loudly over each other.
“FELIX! FELIX! FELIX!”
Felix laughs so hard his stomach hurts as they toss him upward again, the entire room dissolving into complete chaos around him. But underneath all the noise and laughter, one thought remains crystal clear in Felix’s mind.
You said yes to him.
Out of everyone in this experiment—
You chose him and he’s never felt happier in his entire life.
-
FELIX: She said yes. [Grins] She said yes to marrying me. I genuinely feel like I’m walking on air right now. [laughs] Like… ridiculously happy. I can’t wait to meet her soon. [smiles]
-
By the time you walk back toward the women’s lounge, your face hurts from crying. The kind that leaves you overwhelmed and shaky and unbearably full all at once. Your fingers still tremble slightly at your sides as the memory keeps replaying in your head over and over again.
Will you marry me?
Yes.
You press your lips together tightly, trying not to cry all over again before pushing open the lounge doors.
The second you step inside, several girls immediately look up from the couches and dining table, their expressions changing almost instantly the moment they notice your tear-stained face.
Daria is already standing before you fully make it into the room. Her expression softens with immediate concern as she walks over carefully. “What happened?” she asks gently.
Your mouth opens and then closes again. Because somehow saying it out loud feels even crazier than agreeing to it. Instead of answering, you just step forward into her space.
Daria wraps both arms tightly around you without hesitation while you bury your face briefly against her shoulder, laughing shakily through fresh tears threatening to spill again.
“Oh my god,” she whispers instantly. “Oh my god, what happened?”
You inhale deeply, trying to calm yourself enough to speak coherently while more girls slowly start gathering around the two of you. Then finally, muffled against Daria’s shoulder, you share, “Felix proposed.”
You pull back slightly, cheeks burning hot as emotions swell all over again. “And I said yes.”
The silence lasts exactly one second before the entire room erupts. Hands flying to mouths. Someone nearly drops their wine glass onto the floor while Tabitha lets out the loudest gasp you’ve ever heard in your life.
“OH MY GOD. YOU’RE ENGAGED?!”
You burst into helpless laughter through your tears as the girls rush toward you all at once. One by one, the girls pull you into hugs, congratulating you while your emotions continue spiraling wildly in every direction possible.
“You look in love,” someone says between the waves of congratulations.
That one makes your chest aches immediately. Because maybe you do. Maybe somewhere between pod conversations and childhood confessions and imaginary seven children—
You really did fall in love with him.
You sink onto the couch eventually while the girls crowd around you excitedly demanding details, your engagement suddenly becoming everyone’s favorite topic of the day. Still, every now and then, your mind drifts quietly back to Felix. Somewhere on the other side of this building, he’s probably smiling right now too.
Your fiancé.
The word sends another wave of disbelief crashing through you all over again.
-
YOU: I came into this experiment so skeptical [softly laughs] Like… extremely skeptical. [shakes head] I genuinely thought there was no way people could actually fall in love without seeing each other. And five days later… I’m engaged. [disbelieving laughs] And somehow… it feels right. [smiles]
-
The waiting room suddenly feels too small for Felix’s nervous energy.
He’s been pacing for the last ten minutes straight. Maybe longer. At one point, a producer gently told him to sit down because he looked like he was preparing for battle instead of meeting his fiancée.
His fiancée. Even now, the thought makes his stomach flip violently.
Felix exhales shakily before turning toward the mirror again, immediately fixing absolutely nothing about his suit for the fifteenth time. Smooth the sleeves. Adjust the collar. Push his hair back. No, wait—
Maybe the hair looked better before. “Oh my god,” he mutters under his breath. “Relax.”
He absolutely does not relax. Instead, he starts pacing again. The ring box in his hands opens with a soft click before he closes it again almost instantly. Then opens it again. Then shuts it.
Over and over.
Because somehow, after all the emotional conversations and vulnerability and certainty he felt in the pods, this suddenly feels terrifying in an entirely different way. Not because he’s scared of you. Never that.
He’s scared of the moment itself. Of finally seeing the person whose voice has become the best part of his day. The woman he accidentally fell in love with through a wall.
Felix exhales hard, trying to shake some of the adrenaline out of his system. Then suddenly, the reality of it hits him again. You’re here. Right now. In the waiting room across from his. Probably getting ready too. Probably nervous too.
For days now, you’ve only existed as laughter through speakers. Quiet breathing through walls. A voice he’s memorized so completely he thinks he’d recognize it anywhere in the world.
But now, he finally gets to put a face to all of it. Finally gets to look at you while you laugh instead of imagining it. Finally gets to hold you for real instead of pressing his hand against a glowing wall pretending it was enough.
Felix presses the ring box carefully against his palm, heartbeat pounding harder the more he thinks about it. He wonders if you’re smiling right now. If you’re pacing too. If you’re as overwhelmed as he is.
A shaky laugh escapes him again before he glances toward the doors leading to the reveal hallway.
And suddenly, all he wants is to get to you already.
-
FELIX: I can’t wait to finally see her [nervously laughs] Like genuinely, I feel like I’m about to explode. I’ve spent days talking to this person, falling for this person, imagining her reactions and expressions and smiles in my head… And now I actually get to put a face to all of that. I’m not that worried about physical attraction. Even if she looks completely different from what I imagined, she’s still her. [nervously laughs] I’m just excited.
-
The waiting room feels unbearably warm. Or maybe it’s just you.
You’ve been sitting in front of the mirror for the past several minutes pretending to fix your makeup when really, you’ve just been staring at yourself trying not to spiral. Your palms are damp. Your heartbeat is so loud you’re convinced the microphones are picking it up. And no matter how many times you smooth your dress down over your legs, the nervous energy in your body refuses to settle.
“Oh my god,” you whisper under your breath before restlessly fanning yourself with your hands.
It does absolutely nothing. If anything, you’re sweating more now. You stand abruptly from the chair and pace once across the room before immediately returning to the mirror again. You lean closer, lightly dabbing beneath your eyes to make sure your mascara hasn’t smudged from all the crying you’ve done today.
The thought hits you again so suddenly your stomach feels queasy. Felix is about to become real in a completely different way. Not just a voice anymore. Not just soft laughter through speakers or warmth through a wall. In a few minutes, you’re actually going to see him, touch him, hold him.
The realization makes your chest tightens. Because despite everything, despite all your fears and emotional walls and skepticism coming into this experiment—
You want this. You want him.
You catch yourself smiling helplessly in the mirror just thinking about his laugh before nerves crash right back into you again. Your smile slowly fades. Because suddenly, a terrifying thought pushes its way into your chest.
You’ve only been thinking about Felix as Felix. His kindness. His patience. His voice. The way he intently listens to you. You never cared about what he looked like. Not really.
But now?
Now physical appearance suddenly becomes real again and with it comes every insecurity you’ve spent years trying not to think about too hard.
What if he sees you and feels disappointed? What if the version of you he built in his head looks nothing like reality? What if he changes his mind the second he sees your face?
The dress suddenly feels too tight. You tug lightly at the neckline instinctively, trying to inhale properly again.
Okay.
Okay. Calm down.
Your chest only tightens harder because this suddenly feels so much scarier than talking through a wall. Behind the pods, he loved you for you. But now he gets to decide whether the outside of you fits the version he already fell for. And the possibility that it might not — that maybe he’ll look at you and not feel the same anymore — Terrifies you more than you expected.
You press both hands flat against the vanity table, forcing yourself to breathe slowly while your pulse races uncontrollably beneath your skin.
Inhale.
Exhale.
You’re about to meet the man you said yes to and that feels both beautiful and absolutely horrifying at the same time.
-
YOU: I feel like I might throw up [nervously smiles] Because this whole time, I only focused on who Felix is as a person. I fell in love with the way he talks to me. The way he makes me feel safe. The way he listens. And honestly, I never really cared what he looked like. [sighs] But now that I’m about to meet him… I’m scared he won’t like how I look. [cries] There’s this possibility that after seeing me, he may not feel the same and that’s— [cries] [dabs eyes with the back of your hand] That’s terrifying. [sadly smiles]
-
✨ LOVE IS BLIND: PART TWO is available on Patreon ✨
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Synopsis: You and Felix are contestants in a social experiment where singles meet and date in private pods, allowing them to communicate without seeing each other. (14,1k words)
Author's note: This is it. I'm finally doing another dating show series and I figure that the timing is just perfect cause it's summer of love, baby. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this one too ❣️
HOST: Welcome to Love Is Blind. For the next few weeks, singles will date one another without ever meeting face-to-face. Their only chance at connection lies within the pods — where walls separate them, and all they have are their voices. If they fall in love, they’ll get engaged without ever laying eyes on each other. Only then will they meet, move in together, and ultimately decide, at the altar, if love… truly is blind.
-
You fix the strap of your dress for the umpteenth time as a production assistant leads you down a sleek hallway. Your heels click softly against the polished floor, your reflection catching in the walls of tinted glass. Every step brings you closer to a lounge filled with women you’ve never met — women who, in the next few weeks, might be your competition, your confidants, or both.
The door swings open, and you’re greeted by a burst of laughter and the clinking of champagne flutes. The lounge is plush and vibrant, couches arranged in a circle, throw pillows scattered like a showroom catalogue. A bar cart gleams in the corner, already stocked with bottles of prosecco.
“Hi!” someone calls out cheerfully the moment you step inside. A brunette in a coral dress waves you over, her smile wide and welcoming.
You exhale, pushing away the nerves, and make your way into the group. Names and details fly quickly as everyone introduces themselves.
“I’m Laura. A marketing manager.”
“Daria. Yoga instructor. I’m here for a real connection, you know?”
“Sierra and I’m here because I’m tired. I just want to find my husband. ASAP!”
The three women laugh at that, one of them nodding in agreement. When it’s your turn, you clear your throat, forcing a polite smile as you introduce yourself. “I’m a jeweller. And I guess I’m here for the same reason you all are — to see if this works.”
The other women nod, accepting your answer before the conversation shifts again and more contestants coming. Some of them already sound like best friends, giggling over shared interests, while others sit quietly, scanning the room with thin smiles.
You sink into one of the couches, fingers tapping against your glass. Everyone else seems to carry a kind of bold hope with them — bright-eyed, ready to fall in love with a stranger. You, on the other hand, can’t quite shake the voice in your head reminding you that you’ve been fine on your own for a long time.
-
YOU: I’m not really the kind of person who believes in fairy tales, [sheepish smiles] I’ve always been independent. I’ve built my life on my own, and I’m happy with that. I don’t need someone to complete me. But… [pauses] [glances away] [looks back to the camera] I also don’t want to shut myself off forever. I joined this because— [softly sighs] —I want to give myself one more chance to believe in love. And if this doesn’t work too… oh, well [shrugs] [lightly chuckles]
-
The men’s lounge has darker tones, leather couches, a wall stacked with liquor, beers and wines. A pool table takes space in oner corner of the room.
Felix steps inside, his loafers squeaking faintly against the floor. His long, blond hair is styled neatly, but his hands are shoved deep in his pockets as he takes in the room. A few men are already gathered near the bar, laughing loudly, slapping each other on the shoulders like old friends even though they only just met.
“Yo! New guy!” one of them calls, grinning. “Come join us!”
Felix laughs, a soft sound that rumbles from his chest, and makes his way over. Introductions happen quickly, names flying around with easy camaraderie.
“I’m Rob.”
“Shane. I’m a personal trainer.”
“Musician. Jim.”
When it’s his turn, Felix scratches the back of his neck, suddenly shy under their expectant gazes. “Uh, I’m Felix,” he says with a nervous chuckle. “I’m a chef. But… I like cooking just about everything.”
The group hums in approval, one of the guys elbowing him with a grin. “So you’re the one we’ll all be begging to make breakfast for us, huh?”
Felix just shakes his head with a sheepish smile, his accent lacing his words. “We’ll see.”
-
FELIX: People tell me I have this… voice [laughs] [shakes head] like it makes me sound confident. But honestly? I’m not. Not really. I still get nervous around new people. I just hide it well [chuckles] I became a chef because cooking… it’s a way to take care of people. To show love without saying it out loud. And I think that’s what I want here too — someone I can take care of, and who’ll see me for me. Not just my voice, or… whatever people think when they first meet me. [Look at the camera] [exhales nervously] I don’t know if love is blind. But… I want to believe it can be.
-
All the fifteen female contestants have gathered in the lounge and sit comfortably on the curved velvet sofa when the two hosts steps into frame, stopping just on the marked spot, smiling warmly at the contestants before turning slightly toward the camera.
“Welcome to Love Is Blind,” the female host greets, her voice steady with the practiced cadence of someone who’s said these words dozens of times before. She goes on to introduce herself and the male co-host does the same after.
“You’re here because you’ve all been searching for something real. Something deeper than appearances, deeper than the surface-level dating we all know too well,” she begins. Then briefly looks at everyone, letting the words settle before continuing. “Here’s how it works: Over the next ten days, you’ll have the chance to date one another inside our custom-designed pods. You’ll be able to talk, laugh, and share your lives with a stream of potential love interests.”
The male co-host seamlessly takes it over like they rehearsed it beforehand. Maybe the did. “Here’s the catch. Look won’t play a factor here. The only time you’re going to interact is in one of those private pods. You’re going to be separated by one thin wall.”
The girl sitting next to you lowly gasp like it’s only dawn on her now what she’s getting herself into.
“You won’t ever get to see each other. Not until you’ve made a connection so strong… that one of you decides to propose,” he continues.
Everyone instinctively leaning forward with intrigue, including you. The concept seems absurd to you and that people would do this. That you are doing this.
“If they accept,” the female host takes it over again. “Only then will you meet face-to-face for the very first time.”
Your heart dips like you can vividly imagine how it would pan out. Except that your partner is still one big, blurry figure.
“From there, you’ll go on a romantic getaway, live together, meet each other’s families, and plan your wedding. And in just a few weeks’ time, you’ll stand at the altar and decide… whether love truly is blind.”
Just like that? You wonder if it’s that easy. You wonder if it is even achievable at all.You look around and see the other contestants are just as skeptical. But mostly, you notice a mixture of excitement and nerves flickering across their expressions.
The host smiles again, hands clasped in front of her as she brightly smiles. “So get ready. Because the pods… are now open.”
-
YOU: [nervously laughs] I’m terrified. Like, what am I even doing here? I’m supposed to walk into this little room and talk to strangers about, I don’t know, my life, my dreams, my… heart? [shakily exhales]
-
“Because the pods… are now open.”
As soon as the male host announces it, a chorus of reactions fills the men’s lounge immediately — groans, cheers, anxious laughter. Someone downs the rest of his drink dramatically while another mutters, “Oh, we’re really doing this.”
Felix laughs under his breath, though his stomach twists nervously at the announcement.
The group slowly makes their way down the glowing hallway together, footsteps echoing in the glowing hallway. Ahead of them, rows of illuminated pod doors stand waiting.
For the first time since arriving, the reality of this experiment settles heavily in Felix’s chest.
Somewhere behind one of those walls could be someone he might fall in love with. Someone he could potentially marry in a matter of weeks. It sounds insane and yet—
“Good luck, boys,” one of the contestants says, clapping his hands together.
“Go get that wife. Go get that wife. Go get that wife,” the man on his right chants with a fist pumping the air.
Another guy points toward Felix immediately. “He’s definitely leaving with a wife with that voice.”
Felix groans, face heating instantly as the others cackle. “Guys, please.”
“Yeah, bro sounds like he narrates documentaries,” another comments with a teasing chuckle.
Felix doubles over laughing despite himself, shoulders shaking as he hides his face in embarrassment.
“Alright, alright,” someone says between laughs. “Seriously though. Good luck, everyone.”
The group erupts into laughter and soon, it dies down as a soft chime rings through the hallway. One by one, the pod doors begin lighting up.
Felix exhales slowly, adjusting the lapels of his suit jacket before stepping toward his assigned pod. His hand pauses briefly over the handle. Then he opens the door and disappears inside.
-
FELIX: This whole thing is crazy when you really think about it. [smiles] But I don’t know. There’s also something exciting about it too. The idea that maybe—behind one of those walls—is someone I could genuinely connect with. I’m not expecting perfection. I just… [pauses] I hope I meet someone who makes me feel comfortable enough to fully be myself. Someone I can laugh with. Someone I can build something real with. [shyly grins] And hopefully someone who likes food. Because that would help a lot.
-
The pod is nothing like you imagined. Maybe because you focused on the word ‘pod’ and automatically thought of all-white small, enclosed space with a desk and a chair. But it’s not that at all. Thankfully so.
The pod is spacious. The wall is soundproofed with one wall is made of glowing, glass-like panel which you assume is where you’re facing when you’re talking. There’s a couch positioned in the middle of it all with cushions, a blanket and a matching ottoman. There’s a cart parked on the side, filled with snacks and selection of drinks from water to soda, even the hard liquor. You go straight for the bowl of candies, hoping that sugar can help you with the nerves.
“Hello?”
The sound is heavy and curious, coming from the other side of the room. You stand, freezing for a second with your hand full of candies. This is it. This is your first date. Blind date.
“Hello,” you reply, hoping to sound casual but also, welcoming as you sit on the couch.
There’s a beat of silence and then—
“So, who’s there?” he asks, there’s an ease to his voice, probably making himself comfortable in his pod.
You pop a jelly bean into your mouth and think for a second. “Hopefully your future wife,” you playfully answer, grinning to yourself.
You’re kind of glad that you can’t see each other or else you wouldn’t even be this relax on the first date.
“Oh, hello, future wife!” He greets, lightly chuckling.
And just like that, the search for the one begins.
The whole day, you’re going in and out of pods, talking with different contestants and taking notes on qualities you sought in their personalities as something to ponder on later. It’s not always a smooth sailing. One guy talks endlessly about his workout routine, another brags about his investments, another tries way too hard to be funny. You laugh politely, asking questions, but your eyes flicker to the clock on the wall more often than not.
On another date, you’re curled into the couch, listening patiently as someone recites his “five-year plan” like he’s reading off a checklist. You nod, offer a thoughtful response, but there’s no spark — just surface-level chatter.
By the time you head back to the living quarter, you’re tired because honestly, you never went on so many dates in one day. Also, because, you feel like you’re giving too much already but the results are far from what you expected.
It’s hard to see that this experiment will be a great success but then again, it’s only the first day.
-
YOU: First day is done and I can honestly say… [subtly shakes head] I haven’t felt a connection with anyone yet. But I don’t think love is something you can force, and I definitely don’t want to rush it. If I’m going to connect with someone, I want it to be real. So yeah. I’m gonna take things slowly. And hopefully… someone here will surprise me. [softly smiles]
-
Felix steps into the pod, his nervous grin so wide it nearly splits his face. He doesn’t even explore the pod but plops onto the ouch, staring at the hypnotic glowing wall like if he will himself enough, he could see the person on the other side of the pod.
“Is someone there?” he hesitantly asks after a while.
“Oh?!” A surprised gasp comes, and then, the warm, slightly high-pitched voice comes again. “Is that you, God?”
Felix’s Australian accent slipping out stronger when he laughs and he must admit that the boys are right, it’s his voice. But he tries not to rely on it as he goes through one date after another.
On one date, he’s listening intently as a girl lists all her favorite dishes, and he leans forward, excitement lighting up his eyes. “Ohh, I’m actually a chef— I could make that for you.”
The girl giggles, but it feels light and playful, but there’s no sparks whatsoever.
On another date, he’s asked about his dream date. He rubs his nape, laughing softly. “Honestly? Nothing fancy. Just cooking together in the kitchen. I guess, that would be nice.”
Later, he’s caught in a long-winded conversation with someone who keeps circling back to her ex. He offers polite hums, but his smile is strained, fingers drumming restlessly on his notebook.
-
FELIX: Day one [pauses] I feel like I talked to so many amazing people, but I didn’t really… click yet. Not in the way I was hoping for. I think I just want something genuine, you know? Someone I can open up to. Not just about cooking or hobbies or—whatever. But really open up. I know it’s still early, but… I just hope I can find that here. [smiles]
-
The next morning, you shuffle into the kitchen still sleepy, dressed in an oversized sweater and lounge pants, only to immediately hear your name being called.
“Finally,” Daria says dramatically from beside the island counter. “Sleeping Beauty lives.”
You laugh softly as she walks over and hooks her arm through yours, guiding you toward the group gathered around the dining table.
“Come sit. Yesterday was emotionally traumatic. We need breakfast support,” she playfully says.
Someone nearby snorts loudly while another contestant, Tabitha, is already pouring orange juice into champagne flutes. Her dark hair is styled in beautiful waves, lips glossy and curled into a smile. If this is a regular dating show, she would have been the first to go home with a man because she’s that beautiful.
“Mimosas at nine in the morning is crazy,” you comment as you sit down.
“It’s self-care,” Tabitha replies solemnly before topping the drink off with champagne anyway.
The atmosphere feels lighter today. More relaxed. Less tense than everyone had been during the first day. Maybe because now all of you understand the rhythm of the experiment a little better. Or maybe because several girls already look suspiciously glowing after yesterday’s pod dates.
You’re halfway through your mimosa when a producer calls your name, signaling your next pod date.
“Good luck!” one of the girls teases as you stand. “Maybe this one’s your future husband.”
You snort softly, having one last sip of mimosa. “That’s a terrifying sentence.”
The girls laugh as you head toward the glowing hallway of pods, your nerves twisting tighter with every step. You push open the door to your assigned pod and settle onto the couch with a quiet exhale. The room is quiet, softly lit, the wall in front of you glowing blue. Then—
“Hello?”
The voice is deep. Ridiculously deep. Warm too, like melted chocolate poured straight through the speakers.
“Oh,” you blurt before you can stop yourself. “That voice is unfair.”
There’s a beat of silence before a startled laugh bursts from the other side of the wall. “Unfair?” he repeats, amusement curling through the word.
“You sound like a movie trailer narrator,” you say, leaning back into the couch. “Like you should be saying ‘coming this summer.’”
His laughter grows louder, bright and genuine. “Oh my god. That’s the first thing you say to me?”
“You started it by sounding like that.”
“I can’t control my voice!” he protests between laughs.
“Mm. Convenient excuse.”
Another laugh. Softer this time. Closer somehow. “Well, for what it’s worth, your voice is nice too,” he says.
You narrow your eyes at the wall instinctively. “You don’t have to lie to flirt with me.”
“I’m serious!” His accent slips out more clearly now, warm vowels wrapping around his words.
Cute. You glance down at your notebook, realizing you haven’t even written his name yet.
“Wait,” you say, laughing lightly. “I’ve been bullying your voice this whole time and I don’t even know your name.”
“Oh, right.” He chuckles sheepishly. “I’m Felix.”
Felix. The name suits him immediately. You introduce yourself back immediately.
“It’s nice to meet you,” he warmly says.
The sincerity in his tone catches you off guard. You’ve had plenty of pod dates already. Conversations that felt rehearsed, awkward, overly polished. But this feels strangely easy like talking to someone you’ve known longer than five minutes.
“So,” Felix says after a moment, “what’s your very important opinion on pineapple on pizza?”
You gasp dramatically. “Absolutely not.”
“What?!”
“That’s a dessert pretending to be dinner.”
“You’re breaking my heart already.”
“You asked.”
“I’m a chef,” he says, mock wounded. “This is devastating for me professionally.”
Your head snaps up. “Wait, you’re a chef?”
“Yeah.”
“Like… a real chef?”
He laughs again. “I think so?”
“Oh, that’s actually really attractive,” you admit before you can stop yourself.
“Oh,” his surprise sounds small and flustered.
You grin immediately, realizing you caught him off guard.
“How many points do I earn from that?”
“Uhm… five,” you playfully answer, still grinning.
“Just five?” he asks, offended.
“You’ll earn more if you tell me what kind of chef are you,” you say, curling your legs beneath you on the couch.
“Mostly pastry,” Felix confidently answers. “But I cook everything. I just really like feeding people.”
The answer comes so naturally that it makes something soften in your chest.
“Feeding people?” you repeat with a laugh. “That sounds very grandmother-coded of you.”
He gasps dramatically. “Excuse you. I’ll have you know I make excellent tiramisu.”
“Oh, okay,” you say, suddenly serious. “Now we’re talking.”
“You like tiramisu?”
“I would genuinely risk my life for good tiramisu.”
Felix bursts into laughter again, loud and delighted. “That’s such a dramatic statement.”
“It’s true.”
“And how many points do I earn from that?” he curiously asks. “It’s gotta be more than five.”
You don’t even hesitate. “Solid ten!”
“Oh, yeah,” Felix cheers, more like a growl than anything.
“I wouldn’t celebrate yet. You only earned fifteen points so far,” you remind him, a chuckle spilled out at the end of the sentence.
“Alright then,” he says playfully. “What’s your ultimate comfort food?”
You hum thoughtfully. “Instant ramen.”
“No way.”
“Yes way.”
“You had all the food in the world and picked instant ramen?”
“Okay, first of all, don’t judge me,” you defend immediately. “Second, specifically the spicy kind at two in the morning when life feels terrible.”
Felix laughs softly. “That’s… actually very real.”
“And yours?”
There’s a tiny pause before he answers. “My mom’s brownies.”
The softness in his voice changes the atmosphere instantly. You can almost picture his smile through the wall. “She used to make them whenever me or my sisters had a bad day. So now I make them for other people too.”
“That’s really sweet,” you murmur before you can stop yourself.
A shy laugh comes from the other side. “Thanks.”
The conversation drifts after that — favorite cafés, failed recipes, childhood snacks you both still secretly buy as adults. Felix tells you about accidentally pouring vinegar instead of wine once during culinary school. Then you confess that you once nearly started a fire trying to make pasta after coming home exhausted from work at two in the morning.
“You almost burned your kitchen down making pasta?” Felix asks through his laughter.
“In my defense, I was tired.”
“You forgot the pasta, didn’t you?”
“Maybe.”
“Amateur moves.”
His laughter fills the pod completely now, warm and infectious enough that you find yourself laughing with him, shoulders loosening for what feels like the first time since entering the experiment.
And when the chime signaling the end of the date finally rings, disappointment flickers through you before you can hide it.
“Oh,” Felix says softly. “Time’s up already?”
You hate that the little note of disappointment in his voice makes your stomach flip. “Guess so.”
A pause settles between you and then—
“I hope I get to talk to you again,” Felix says quietly.
Something warm unfurls in your chest. “Yeah,” you answer before you can overthink it. “Me too.”
The line disconnects and somehow, the pod suddenly feels quieter than before.
-
YOU: Felix is funny. Like—actually funny, not trying-too-hard funny. [softly laughs] And his voice is… [groans] See? Now I’m sitting here thinking about some guy’s voice. [laughs] Anyway, that was the first conversation that didn’t feel forced. I didn’t feel like I had to perform or impress him. It just felt… easy. And the way Felix talks… I don’t know. It feels warm.
-
Felix practically floats out of the pod.
The hallway feels warmer somehow, lighter, his grin impossible to hold back no matter how hard he tries to bite it down. He ducks his head as he walks back toward the men’s living quarters, the notebook tucked beneath his arm.
He can still hear your laugh in his head. Still picture the way your voice had softened when he talked about his mom’s brownies. Still feel that weird little flutter in his chest every time you said his name.
It’s ridiculous. He’s smiling over someone he’s never even seen before.
The second he walks back into the lounge, a few of the guys immediately notice the expression on his face.
“Ohhh, look at him!” one of them calls from the dining table. “That’s not the face of a man who had a bad date.”
Another contestant points at him accusingly. “Bro’s glowing.”
Felix groans immediately, laughing as he drops onto one of the dining chairs. “Please leave me alone.”
“Nope,” someone says, sliding a glass of wine toward him across the table. “Sit down and tell us everything.”
Felix accepts the glass with an embarrassed grin while the guys gather around, all loose limbs and curious energy after a long day of pod dates.
“So?” one of them presses. “What happened?”
Felix shakes his head once, still smiling to himself before finally admitting quietly, “I think…” He laughs softly in disbelief. “I think I might’ve found my main person here.”
The table immediately erupts in loud, chaotic cheers.
Felix hides his face briefly behind his wine glass, shoulders shaking with shy laughter.
“It’s just—” he starts, trying to explain himself. “Talking to her felt easy. Like… really easy. I wasn’t trying to impress her or think about what to say next. We just clicked.”
“What’s she like?” another guy asks.
Felix leans back in his chair slightly, thinking about it.
“She’s funny,” he says first, almost immediately. “Like, genuinely funny. And she’s really smart too. But not in an intimidating way.” He pauses, smiling softly to himself. “She just feels very… grounded.”
“And hot,” one of the guys teases. “You’re imagining she’s hot, aren’t you?”
Felix groans loudly while the table bursts into laughter again. “That’s literally the opposite point of this experiment!”
“But are you?”
He tries to fight his smile and fails miserably. “I mean… Maybe a little,” he admits with a sheepish shrug.
The guys howl immediately.
“Nah, he’s gone.”
“First casualty of the season.”
Felix shakes his head, laughing helplessly while someone raises their wine glass dramatically. “To mysterious pod girl!”
The others quickly lift their glasses too. “To Felix’s future wife!”
“Oh my god, stop,” Felix whines through laughter, though his cheeks are bright red now.
Still, he lifts his own glass with a shy smile, clinking it gently against theirs. And somewhere beneath all the teasing and laughter, something floods his chest.
Hope.
-
FELIX: I know it sounds crazy because it was literally just one conversation [laughs] but… there was something different about her. She teased me immediately, by the way [laughs] Like instantly [laughs] But I liked that. I liked that she didn’t sound overly polished or fake. She just sounded… real. [grins] I really hope I get to talk to her again.
-
It’s been an eventful day for you and it seems like for a few other people too.
You and Morgan are sitting in the dining table, sharing a plate of sliced fruits with a glass of wine. Both in comfortable clothes, no makeup on, just two girls conversing after a day packed with pod dates.
“Jim really is my type,” Morgan shares, picking up a grape from the plate. “First of all, he’s a musician.”
You chuckle at that because you clearly remember the way Jim cracked a dad joke as an opening on a pod date with you. “Yeah, that’s a plus point,” you nicely comment.
“And he said he’s got tattoos,” Morgan continues, her heart-shaped lips curve into a smile. “And that he left spaces on his body for tattoos of his future children.”
“Oh?” you genuinely intrigued by that, not expecting that a person like Jim would have such heartwarming thinking. Then, you playfully add, “Okay, but… on which part of his body?”
Morgan laughs at that, it’s sonorous and filled with cute little snort in between. And it goes on for a minute that she almost spit the grape she’s chewing.
Another girl joins you in the dining table, holding a steaming mug of tea in her hand. You can’t quite recall her name but she’s the only one with a beautiful strawberry blonde hair. “Do you know this one guy with, like, the deepest voice ever?”
Your hand slightly tightens around the stem of your wine glass. “Yeah,” you manage to casually answer.
“Oh my god, wait,” Morgan cuts in after sipping her wine. “Was it the Australian guy?”
“Yes!”
Your stomach twists unexpectedly.
“He sounds unreal,” she continues, smiling dreamily. “And we had such a good conversation earlier.”
You stare down into your wine, suddenly far too aware of how many women are in this room. Of how all of you are dating the same group of men. Of course Felix is talking to other girls. That’s the entire point of the experiment. Still, hearing someone else gush about him leaves an uncomfortable tightness curling low in your chest.
But you’re not losing hope yet. Maybe beside Felix, there really is someone else here worth opening up to.
-
YOU: See, this is why I didn’t want to get attached to anyone right away. [lightly shrugs] But that’s okay. There’s still time. I feel like I’m finally settling into the experiment now. And hopefully… Hopefully I’ll meet more people I genuinely connect with.
-
Felix is smiling before he even enters the pod. It’s embarrassing, honestly.
One conversation with you and suddenly he’s fixing his hoodie twice in the reflection of the hallway glass and wondering if his hair looks stupid despite the fact that you can’t even see him.
The pod door slides shut behind him with a soft hiss. He settles onto the couch, heart already thumping a little faster in anticipation. Then he hears a soft sigh from the other side of the wall and his smile appears instantly.
“Hey,” he greets warmly. “How’re you feeling today?”
A tiny laugh leaves you. “Still a little surreal, honestly.”
Felix leans back against the couch, smiling to himself at your soft, almost sleepy voice. “Yeah, I get that.”
There’s a small pause before he suddenly grins wider. “Guess what.”
“What?” you ask cautiously.
“I’ve been thinking about you.”
Your laughter bursts through the speakers immediately, bright and disbelieving, and Felix physically feels his chest loosen at the sound.
God. He likes your laugh so much.
“Are you this cheesy in the morning?” you ask between laughs.
“No, I’m serious!” Felix insists, grinning helplessly now. “I was literally thinking about our conversation all night.”
“Well,” you say playfully, “I’d love to say I’ve been thinking about you too, but another girl already did the job for me.”
Felix drops his head to the side. “Wait, what?”
“There’s apparently a guy with a really deep voice that all the girls are obsessed with.”
Felix groans loudly, dropping his head into his hand while you laugh softly on the other side of the wall. “Oh, no.”
“So,” you continue innocently, “sounds like you’re popular.”
A grin spreads across Felix’s face. “Are you jealous?” he asks teasingly.
Your scoff comes immediately. “No.”
“Mm.”
“I’m just wondering when will it be my turn.”
“You turn for what?”
“To think about you.”
Felix bursts into laughter at that, warm and genuine. Okay. Yeah. He really likes you.
“That’s fair,” he says once his laughter settles. “This is our second date now.”
“It is.”
“And I kind of want to pick up where we left off yesterday.”
Your voice softens immediately. “Yeah. Sure.”
The warmth in your tone lingers with him for a second before Felix shifts slightly on the couch.
“So,” he says curiously, “I know you can cook.”
You laugh. “That’s a very confident assumption.”
“You almost burned your kitchen down making pasta. That means you at least attempted cooking.”
“That’s true.”
Felix grins. “Do you actually enjoy cooking though? Or is it just… a skill you picked up?”
The silence that follows feels different. Felix hears you inhale softly on the other side of the wall before you finally answer.
“I think it became necessary more than anything.”
His expression softens immediately, ears intently listening in on every noise you make on the other side of the pod.
“My mom worked a lot growing up,” you explain quietly. “Like… a lot. So she didn’t really have time to cook when she came home.”
You pause for a second before continuing. “I kind of just learned because I had to. I started cooking for myself when I was around ten.”
Something twists painfully in Felix’s chest. He can almost picture it too clearly — a younger version of you standing alone in a kitchen trying to figure things out yourself. And judging by the slight tightness in your voice, he knows there’s probably much more to that story. But he also knows better than to push.
So instead, Felix smiles softly to himself and asks gently, “Okay, then what’s the first dish you successfully made?”
Your laugh returns, lighter this time. “An omelet.”
“That’s impressive for a ten-year-old.”
“I had it literally every morning before school because it was fast and easy.”
Felix chuckles softly. “Honestly? That’s kind of nice though.”
“Yeah,” you admit quietly. “It wasn’t bad.”
A comfortable silence settles briefly between you before Felix asks, “What is the one dish that you think is your best?”
You hum thoughtfully. “Probably pasta alla vodka.”
Felix laughs instantly. “You really are a pasta girl, huh?”
“Proudly.”
“Well,” he says confidently, leaning back against the couch, “good thing I’m good at Italian food.”
“Oh, don’t say that.”
“Why?”
“Because then I’ll make you cook for me every day.”
Felix doesn’t even hesitate. “I’d gladly do it.”
The silence returns but it’s not awkward at all. And when you finally answer, your voice comes softer than before.
“Okay,” you warmly say, “No takebacks.”
Felix laughs that at that and warmth spreads through his chest so suddenly it almost catches him off guard. Because for one stupid second, he can picture you sitting on the counter while he cooks. Your voice filling the apartment. Late-night pasta dinners and warmth that feels achingly domestic. And the craziest part is, he still has no idea what you look like.
The chime signaling the end of the date rings far too soon.
Felix actually frowns at it this time. “Nooo,” he groans dramatically.
Your laughter spills through the speakers again. “You sound genuinely upset.”
“I am genuinely upset.”
“Poor thing.”
“You’ll miss me too.”
“Maybe.”
Felix grins helplessly at the wall until the line finally disconnects and somehow, he leaves the pod feeling even more certain than yesterday.
-
FELIX: I really, really enjoyed talking to her again. I think what I like most is that our conversations don’t feel shallow. Like yeah, we joke around a lot and tease each other, but I also feel like she lets her guard down with me sometimes. Even if it’s just little moments. That’s great. That means that she trusts me, she’s comfortable with me. Do I think we’re building something? [slowly nods] Yeah. I really do. And I just hope she feels the same way about me too.
-
By the time the day’s pod dates are over, the women’s living quarters have settled into a quieter, softer atmosphere. The lights are dimmed low, the girls wander around in oversized sweaters and fuzzy socks, emotionally drained from another day of intense conversations.
You’re curled up on one end of the couch beneath a shared blanket with Daria tucked beside you, both of you nursing half-finished glasses of wine. There’s not to do since they have taken all kind of devices from all contestants.
Daria nudges your foot lightly beneath the blanket. “You seem happier today.”
You glance sideways at her suspiciously. “You say that like you caught me doing something illegal.”
“I caught you smiling at absolutely nothing earlier.”
You snort quietly into your wine glass. “it’s nothing.”
Daria grins smugly before settling deeper into the couch cushions. For a moment, the two of you simply sit there listening to the low buzz of conversation around the room. Then you lower your voice slightly, just enough for only her to hear.
“You know what’s weird?”
“What?”
You stare ahead thoughtfully, fingers playing absentmindedly with the edge of the blanket. “I’m actually glad we can’t see them.”
Daria’s expression softens immediately, understanding flickering across her face. “Yeah?”
You nod slowly.
“I think…” You hesitate briefly, trying to explain the feeling properly. “If I could see them, I’d probably be distracted by stupid things. Whether they’re attractive or how they react to me physically or whatever.”
Daria hums in agreement.
“But like this…” Your voice grows quieter. “It’s weirdly relaxing. Easier to talk about deeper things.”
You laugh softly under your breath. “I don’t usually open up this quickly.”
Daria pulls the blanket tighter around herself as she nods thoughtfully. “Honestly, same.”
She leans her head back against the couch, staring up at the ceiling. “I think that’s why this experiment works for some people. Out there, everyone’s too distracted. Looks, jobs, status, chemistry.”
You glance toward her as she continues.
“But in here?” Daria shrugs lightly. “People actually have to see you. Your personality. The essential part of you.”
Maybe Daria is right and maybe that’s why talking to Felix feels different. Not because he’s charming or because of his stupidly attractive voice, but because when you talk to him, it genuinely feels like he’s listening. Like he’s trying to know you in ways most people don’t bother to.
Daria nudges you again, pulling you from your thoughts. “So,” she says casually, though her grin gives her away completely, “have you actually found a connection with someone?”
You huff softly, already knowing there’s no point pretending otherwise.
“There’s this guy,” you admit carefully. “His name’s Felix.”
The second you say his name out loud, warmth spreads embarrassingly fast through your chest again.
“He’s…” You pause, searching for the right word. “Easy.”
Daria raises an eyebrow.
“Not easy easy,” you clarify immediately, making her burst into laughter. “I mean talking to him feels easy.”
“Mhm.”
You roll your eyes at her expression but continue anyway. “He actually listens when I talk. And I don’t feel like I have to filter myself around him.”
Your fingers tighten slightly around your wine glass as you think about your conversation earlier. About how gently Felix handled the parts of your childhood you almost accidentally revealed.
“He sees me without actually seeing me,” you murmur quietly.
Heat creeps into your face immediately. “Don’t make it weird.”
“I mean it.”
You groan softly, hiding part of your face beneath the blanket while Daria laughs beside you.
Still, after a moment, you sigh quietly. “The only problem is…”
“What?”
You stare down into your glass. “I know at least one other girl likes him too.”
Daria hums thoughtfully at that, though she doesn’t look particularly surprised. “Well,” she says simply, “it’s Love Is Blind. Everyone’s dating everyone.”
“I know.”
“And?”
You shrug lightly. “I don’t know. I’m not really worried about it though.”
Which is surprisingly true. Because despite the weird flicker of jealousy from earlier, you don’t actually want to compete for someone’s attention. Not here. Not ever.
If Felix chooses someone else, then that’s that. But if what the two of you have is genuinely real, then maybe it’ll naturally find its way back to each other.
-
YOU: I talked to Felix again today. [shyly laughs] Okay, wow. The fact that his name comes out that easily now is probably a bad sign. I know other girls like him. I mean… obviously. He’s kind, funny, emotionally available, and sounds like that. [laughs] But I don’t really believe in fighting over people. If someone’s meant for you, they’ll naturally come your way. And if Felix and I are actually building something real… [smiles] Then I trust that.
-
By the third day, Felix realizes he can tell when it’s you before you even speak.
It’s something small and subtle. It’s the quiet little sigh you always let out after settling onto the couch. So the second he enters the pod and hears that familiar exhale from the other side of the wall, his lips immediately curve upward.
“Hey,” he greets softly.
Your response comes almost instantly this time, equally gentle. “Hi.”
And there it is again—
That stupid warmth spreading through his chest at nothing more than your voice.
“How’re you doing today?” you ask.
Felix leans back against the couch, smiling to himself. “Honestly?”
“Mhm?”
“I think about you a lot.”
A soft laugh leaves you immediately. “That’s good. Because I’ve been thinking about you too,” you so casually say.
Felix grins wider and teases, “But it’s not your turn yet.”
You groan dramatically. “I get impatient.”
His laughter escapes before he can stop it, low and entirely helpless. And god, the butterflies are worse today. Every time you flirt back, every time you say something that sounds remotely fond, it feels like his heart physically stumbles inside his chest.
A comfortable silence settles between you for a moment before Felix speaks again. “This is our third date now.”
You coo teasingly. “Oh? And what do you usually do on third dates?”
Felix doesn’t even hesitate. “I usually ask how many kids do we want.”
Your snort echoes loudly through the pod. “Wow. You’re really forward.”
Felix shrugs even though you can’t see it, grinning shamelessly. “I mean, it’s up to you of course.”
“Oh, how generous.”
“But,” he continues casually, “I do want a big family.”
There’s a suspicious pause from your side of the wall. “How big are we talking?”
Felix hums thoughtfully. “Maybe… seven?”
Your gasp is immediate. Horrified. “SEVEN?!”
Felix bursts into laughter while you continue sputtering dramatically.
“That’s not a family anymore, Felix. That’s a small village.”
“They’d be cute though.”
“Are you planning to make them your little minions in the kitchen?”
“Yeah,” Felix says easily.
You groan loudly while he laughs harder.
“Okay, okay,” he relents eventually. “We can negotiate.”
“Three,” you say firmly. “Three sounds perfect.”
Felix smiles softly to himself. “Yeah. Three sounds nice actually.”
The conversation quiets after that, softer now beneath the joking and then your voice changes slightly.
“No matter how many kids I have one day…” You pause briefly. “I just want to make sure they always well-taken care of.”
Felix’s smile slowly fades into something gentler.
“I want to always be there for them,” you continue quietly. “I want them to always feel like they’re loved unconditionally.”
Something in his chest aches immediately. Because he hears the unspoken part beneath your words. The child version of you still lingering somewhere behind them.
And suddenly Felix understands a little more about why you learned to be so independent. Why you hold yourself together so tightly. His voice softens instinctively. “You’d be a really good mom.”
Silence.
“And we’d be good parents. I know we would,” he adds quietly.
The words slip out more naturally than they probably should. But the terrifying thing is he means them. And for a brief second, he actually imagines it. You and him living in a house while tiny footsteps run around the space, children who always know they’re loved. The image etches in the back of his mind without him intending to.
Neither of you speak for a while after that. But it doesn’t feel awkward at all. It’s content. Like something is slowly growing between the two of you in the quiet.
Felix swallows softly before finally speaking again. “You know…” He pauses, searching carefully for the right words. “I came here because I’m not just looking for a wife. Or a partner, exclusively.”
Your breathing quiets on the other side of the wall, intently listening.
“I came here ready for love,” he admits honestly. “Real love.”
His fingers tighten slightly around the sleeve of his hoodie. “And I have so much love in me that I want to share with someone.”
A quiet breath leaves him.
“I like you a lot.”
The confession lands gently between you.
“And I really hope you’re that someone.”
For one terrifying second, Felix thinks maybe he said too much. Maybe too soon. Then he hears the sniffles. His entire expression softens instantly.
And finally, your shaky voice reaches him through the speakers. “I like you too,” you whisper.
Another sniffle. “A lot.”
Something blooms so painfully warm inside Felix’s chest that it almost hurts. Hope. Joy. Relief. They’re all mixed together. His grin spreads helplessly across his face as he leans forward, elbows on his knees.
“I really wish I could hug you right now,” he says softly.
Your answer comes almost embarrassingly tiny, almost like a whisper. “Me too.”
Felix smiles so hard his cheeks ache. “You can hug the cushion for me. Pretend it’s me,” he playfully suggests.
Your laugh breaks through immediately, watery and soft from crying. “That’s so lame.”
“But are you doing it?”
Silence hangs for a good minute and then, you finally answer, “Maybe.”
Felix laughs quietly to himself, warmth practically overflowing from his chest now and for the first time since entering this experiment, he thinks he understands why people fall in love in these pods.
-
FELIX: It feels really good knowing she feels the same way. I think before today, there was always this tiny fear in the back of my mind that maybe I was falling harder than she was. [Softly laughs] But hearing her say she likes me too… [lightly shakes head] God. I don’t even know what she looks like yet and somehow, I already care about her this much. [grins]
-
The pod feels unbearably quiet after the date ends. You stay there for a moment even after the line disconnects, curled around the cushion you absolutely did hug despite making fun of Felix for suggesting it. Your chest still feels tight, aching in a way you don’t quite know how to explain. Because no one’s ever spoken to you like that before. Like he’s already imagining a future with you in it.
You press your palms briefly against your cheeks, exhaling shakily before finally forcing yourself to stand. The moment the pod door slides open and the glowing hallway greets you, only then do you realize your hands are actually trembling.
You take exactly three steps into the hallway before another pod door opens nearby.
Tabitha steps out at almost the same time, smiling when her eyes eventually land on you.
“Hey.”
You laugh weakly. “Hi.”
Without even hesitating, Tabitha walks over and loops an arm around your shoulders as the two of you begin slowly making your way down the glowing hallway together.
“Girl, you’re shaking. Are you okay?” she asks immediately, voice tinted with concern.
You glance down at your hands like you’re only now noticing it yourself. “I…” You exhale softly through a nervous laugh. “Opening up is so scary.”
Tabitha giggles immediately, squeezing your shoulder tighter against her side. “Oh no,” she teases dramatically. “You look like you’re about to faint.”
You laugh despite yourself, leaning into her slightly as the two of you continue walking.
“I genuinely might.”
You laugh helplessly while she continues grinning beside you. Not everyone here understands. The emotional whiplash of these pods. The terrifying intimacy of being known by someone you’ve never even seen. And maybe that’s why your chest still feels so fragile right now.
Because somewhere between talking about childhood breakfasts and future children and unconditional love, you accidentally let Felix see parts of you that almost nobody gets to touch and most importantly, he didn’t run from them.
-
YOU: I’m very used to keeping my emotions together. Like… even when I really like someone, I usually hold back for a long time. I don’t put too much emotion into things right away because I think part of me is always trying to protect myself first. [Softly exhales] But with Felix… I don’t know [sheepishly laughs] Talking to him makes me feel safe enough to say things I normally wouldn’t. That conversation today was probably the most vulnerable I’ve ever been with someone.
-
By the next few days, talking to you becomes the easiest part of Felix’s routine.
He wakes up. Think about you. Eat breakfast while wondering if you’re awake yet. Wait impatiently for the pod schedule and then finally, hear your voice again. At this point, he’s pretty sure the guys have noticed too. Mostly because every time your name appears on his schedule, he gets up so fast it’s embarrassing.
Today is no different. Felix enters the pod already smiling to himself, settling comfortably onto the couch with far less nervousness than he had during the first few dates. Because somehow, these conversations stopped feeling like dates. Now they just feel like… you. And him.
“Hi,” you greet softly the second the line connects.
Felix’s chest warms instantly. “Hey.”
“How was your day?”
“Better now.”
You groan immediately from the other side of the wall. “You’re getting smoother.”
Felix laughs proudly. “Thank you.”
“No, that was criticism.”
“Mhm. Sure.”
Your laughter spills through the speakers again, and Felix sinks deeper into the couch cushions, smiling helplessly at the sound.
God. He really likes making you laugh.
“So,” you say after a moment, your tone softer now. “Tell me something about you I don’t know yet.”
Felix hums thoughtfully, tapping his fingers lightly against his knee. “There’s honestly a lot.”
“Okay, mysterious man.”
“It’s true,” he protests through a laugh. “I feel like we always end up talking about you.”
“That’s because you interrogate me emotionally.”
“I do not.”
“You made me talk about my sad omelets.”
Felix laughs so hard he nearly folds into himself. “That’s not emotional interrogation.”
“It kinda was.”
Still grinning, he shakes his head before answering more quietly this time. “I grew up really close to my family. Like… really close.”
Your voice softens immediately. “Yeah?”
“Mhm.”
A warmth spreads through his chest just talking about them, fondness dripping from his voice. “My mom’s basically the heart of our family. And I’ve always been really close with my sisters too. Our house was loud all the time.”
You laugh softly. “That explains the seven kids.”
Felix grins instantly. “Exactly.”
“But honestly…” He leans his head back against the couch, thinking. “I didn’t always know I wanted to become a chef.”
“Oh?”
“Nah. I wanted to be like ten different things growing up.”
“Please tell me at least one was ridiculous.”
Felix laughs. “Okay, when I was really young, I wanted to be Spider-Man.”
Your laughter erupts immediately. “That’s not a career, Felix.”
“It was to me,” he weakly defends and laughs along with you before continuing. “Then I wanted to be a singer for a while. Then a gamer. Then a taekwondo instructor.”
“Wow,” you say solemnly. “You contain multitudes.”
“Thank you.”
“But how’d you end up becoming a chef?”
The question settles between you and somehow, answering you feels strangely intimate now. Like he’s not speaking through a wall at all. Like you’re sitting beside him on the couch instead.
Felix closes his eyes briefly as he speaks. “I think food was just… always there for me,” he admits quietly. “Cooking made me feel calm. And happy.”
A small smile pulls at his lips as he continues, “And I liked seeing people smile after eating something I made.”
Your voice softens almost immediately. “That’s very you.”
Felix’s eyes open slowly. “What does that mean?”
“You love through taking care of people.”
The words hit him embarrassingly hard. Because somehow, you understand him already. More than some people who’ve physically known him for years.
“Yeah, I think I do,” he agrees, laughing softly, suddenly shy again.
The silence returns but it feels warm instead of empty and Felix realizes something terrifying halfway through your conversation. He doesn’t even notice the cameras anymore when he talks to you. Only your voice. Only you.
-
FELIX: I always look forward to talking to her. [Brightly smiles] But it’s true. I think what surprises me most is how comfortable she makes me feel. With some people, opening up feels scary because you’re worried they’ll misunderstand you or judge you or… [slightly shrugs] Not really get you. But when I talk to her, I don’t feel that way. [Shakes his head] [smiles] That’s becoming really dangerous for me emotionally.
-
The conversation continues easily after that like it always does with Felix now. At some point, you stop noticing the cameras entirely. Stop noticing the walls, the strange artificial glow of the pod around you.
There’s only his voice. Comforting in a way that sneaks up on you slowly. You curl deeper into the couch, knees tucked against your chest while Felix tells stories from his childhood, about his sisters and parents. And listening to the way he talks about his family, with such fondness and warmth, you can tell why he is who he is — kind and gentle. Loving.
“You’re lucky your voice is pretty.”
Felix gasps dramatically. “You objectify me constantly.”
You laugh softly, shaking your head even though he can’t see it and then somehow, the conversation shifts again. “I actually don’t remember a lot about my childhood,” you admit quietly after a pause.
It’s always like this. One moment you’re joking, the next you’re sitting with something fragile between the two of you.
“I think…” You frown slightly, thinking out loud more than anything. “Talking to you lately made me realize something weird.”
“Hmm?” Felix hums gently.
You stare at the glowing wall ahead of you. “I can’t remember ever playing with my parents as a kid.”
Your chest tightens almost instantly afterward, vulnerability creeping up your spine too quickly. So you laugh softly under your breath and shake your head.
“Sorry, I feel like I always come to you with sad stories,” you mumble.
“No,” Felix says immediately. The firmness in his voice makes you pause. “They’re not sad.”
A quiet silence follows before he continues more gently. “They’re part of why you’re strong.”
You quietly swallow down the lump forming in your throat.
“And different,” he adds softly. “In a good way.”
You press your lips together, containing your sadness.
“They made you who you are today.”
Something warm blooms painfully in your chest at the way he says it. Like he genuinely means it. Like he sees every complicated piece of you and still sounds fond. You smile helplessly to yourself, trying to lighten the feeling before it overwhelms you again.
“Jeez, Felix,” you mutter softly, playfully. “Stop flirting with me.”
Felix chuckles warmly through the speakers. “I’m serious though.”
“Yeah, yeah,” you say, subtly rolling your eyes.
A comfortable silence settles briefly before Felix suddenly says, “I wish I knew you when we were little.”
Your expression softens instantly. “Yeah?”
“Mhm.”
You can practically hear his smile through the wall.
“I think we would’ve played together.”
You snort softly. “Played what?”
“I don’t know. Restaurant probably.”
You laugh immediately. “Let me guess. You’d force me to be your employee?”
“No,” Felix says easily. “You’d be my wife already.”
Your jaw drops open in disbelief while he laughs proudly at your reaction.
“We’d be high school sweethearts,” he continues shamelessly. “Already married by now.”
“With seven children?”
“Exactly.”
You bury your face briefly into the couch cushion as his laughter grows louder.
“And all our kids would help at the family restaurant,” he continues, fully committed now. “Tiny aprons. Tiny chef hats.”
“That sounds like child labor.”
“That sounds like teamwork.”
You laugh so hard your stomach hurts. “You’ve actually thought this through.”
Felix hums smugly. “I have a vivid imagination.”
“Clearly.”
Still smiling, you shake your head fondly before teasing lightly, “Anyway, that’s impossible. We couldn’t have been childhood friends.”
“Why not?”
“You grew up with kangaroos in Australia.”
Felix bursts into helpless laughter immediately. “Not the kangaroo allegations again.”
“I’m just saying. Your best friend was probably a koala.”
“That’s not how Australia works!”
The two of you dissolve into laughter again until your cheeks hurt and your chest feels lighter than it has in days. And when the laughter finally fades away, silence settles softly between you once more.
You stare quietly at the glowing wall ahead of you before speaking without really thinking first. “I think we met at the right time.”
“Yeah,” Felix agrees. “I think so too.”
A beat passes in silence again and he decides to playfully add, “Now all we have left to do is get married and have seven kids.”
You burst into laughter again immediately. “You are unbelievably persistent.”
“No,” Felix corrects casually. “I’m just goal-oriented.”
Your smile grows helplessly wider. “I haven’t agreed to any of this, by the way.”
“True,” he says easily. “But you also haven’t said no.”
Your mouth opens instinctively and then closes again. Because annoyingly enough, he’s right and you’re not even sure you want to say no.
-
YOU: I’m starting to picture him in my future. [Shyly laughs] Which sounds insane because I still haven’t seen him. When Felix talks about the future, it doesn’t scare me as usually it does. I’ve spent most of my life feeling like I had to handle everything on my own. Like depending on people was dangerous because eventually they leave or disappoint you or… You just learn not to expect too much. But when he talks about taking care of people, or building a family, or cooking for me every day… [smiles] It feels really easy to imagine.
-
The men’s living quarter is never silent but somehow, it’s quieter tonight.
Felix sits on the leather sofa with a drink resting loosely in his hand and across from him, Jim leans back in the single sofa with a tired sigh, rubbing both hands over his face.
“You okay?” Felix asks gently.
Jim laughs weakly. “Man, I don’t know.”
Felix does know. This experiment has a way of pulling emotions out of people so quickly it almost feels violent sometimes.
Jim stares down into his drink for a second before finally admitting quietly, “I’m torn between two people.”
Felix remembers Jim ever mentioned a girl he had a pod date with the other day and nods slowly. “Morgan?”
“Yeah.”
“Who’s the other one?” Felix curiously asks.
“Laura.”
Felix nods and sips his drink.
A frustrated breath leaves Jim as he leans forward, elbows resting against his knees.
“They’re both incredible in completely different ways.” He shakes his head. “And I hate that I’m hurting someone no matter what choice I make.”
Felix listens quietly, thumb brushing absentmindedly against the condensation on his glass.
“What if I choose wrong?” Jim asks after a moment.
The vulnerability in his voice makes Felix’s chest ache a little. Because everyone here is terrified of that. Terrified that the person they’re falling for might not actually be their person.
Felix stays quiet for a beat before answering softly, “I think you just gotta listen to what speaks to your heart the most.”
Jim glances up at him.
“Not what makes the most sense on paper,” Felix continues thoughtfully. “Or who you think you should choose.”
He shrugs lightly.
“When you picture your future, whose voice naturally shows up first?”
Jim goes quiet after that, solemnly thinking. Then slowly, he nods. “Yeah,” he murmurs, the real answer remains a mystery.
A small smile tugs at Felix’s lips before Jim suddenly points at him accusingly. “Okay, enough about me though.”
Felix laughs softly. “What?”
“How are things going with you and mystery wife?”
Heat instantly creeps into Felix’s face despite himself. He ducks his head with a quiet laugh before answering honestly. “We’ve just been talking a lot,” he says softly.
His expression grows gentler without him realizing it. “The more I get to know her, the surer I feel about her, about it.”
Jim watches him quietly, no teasing in his face this time. Just genuine warmth.
Felix exhales softly, staring down at his drink. “I think she’s the person I’ve been looking for.”
The words are simple, but they’re honest and real.
Jim smiles immediately afterward, small but sincere. “I’m happy for you, man.”
Something about the simplicity of it makes Felix’s chest tightens. Because the craziest part is, he is happy. Terrified, overwhelmed, emotionally confused half the time, but happy.
“So… are you gonna propose soon?” Jim casually asks.
Felix stills. Not because he doesn’t know the answer. But because hearing the question out loud suddenly makes him wonder why he’s hesitating at all.
What exactly is he waiting for?
He already knows how he feels. Every conversation with you only pulls him closer. Every laugh, every vulnerable confession, every quiet little moment through that wall.
When he imagines leaving this experiment, you’re there automatically now.
So why does the word soon suddenly make his heartbeat spike?
Felix lifts his gaze toward Jim again and this time, when he answers, there’s no uncertainty left in him.
“Yeah,” he says confidently.
A slow smile spreads across his face afterward. “Yeah. I am.”
Jim immediately breaks into a grin before leaning over and giving Felix a gentle slap against the shoulder. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
Felix softly laughs, nerves and excitement tangling together inside his chest now.
“Good luck, brother,” Jim says sincerely.
And for the first time since entering this experiment, Felix realizes he’s not scared of the answer anymore.
-
FELIX: I feel like I’ve spent the last few days trying to understand whether what I’m feeling is real or if I’m just caught up in the experiment. But every time I talk to her, things get clearer instead of more confusing. And I think that says a lot. I know what my heart wants. [Smiles] and I’m really sure about her. So yeah [Awkwardly laughs] I think I’m ready.
-
The moment production pulls you aside after breakfast and tells you to get ‘a little more dressed up’ for the pod date, your heart starts pounding. Because there’s only one reason for that. Right?
The thought follows you all the way back to the women’s living quarters. You barely even register Daria asking what’s wrong as you stand frozen in front of your closet, fingers hovering over dresses you packed half-jokingly for a proposal you never genuinely thought would happen to you. Not this fast. Not ever, maybe.
Your pulse thuds loudly in your ears while you finally pick one. You sit in front of the vanity afterward doing your makeup with slightly shaky hands, trying not to spiral while the girls around you immediately catch onto your nervousness.
“Oh my god,” Tabitha gasps dramatically from across the room. “You look terrified.”
“I am terrified.”
Daria narrows her eyes knowingly. “Do you think he’s proposing?”
Your stomach flips so violently you nearly stab yourself in the eye with mascara. “I don’t know,” you say too quickly.
But the truth is—
You do know. Or at least, you feel it. The energy’s been building toward this for days now. Every conversation with Felix growing deeper and more certain. Still, you force yourself not to get your hopes up. Because hope feels dangerous. Hope is the first step toward disappointment.
So by the time you walk down the glowing hallway toward the pods, your chest feels painfully tight with nerves you’re trying desperately not to name. The pod door slides open and somehow, before you even sit down, you know he’s already there. Waiting.
You settle slowly onto the couch, smoothing nervous hands over your dress before speaking softly into the quiet. “Hi.”
The response comes immediately. “Hi.”
Something about Felix’s voice sounds different today. Tighter, a little nervous.
Your lips twitch slightly despite yourself and decide to tease, “You sound cheerful today. What’s going on?”
Felix laughs softly, breathless around the edges. “Sorry, I’m just…” His voice trails off.
And suddenly your heart is beating so hard it almost hurts.
Silence settles briefly between you before Felix speaks again, a little careful this time. “The last few days with you…”
You hold your breath unconsciously.
“Talking to you and getting to know you…” He exhales shakily. “I don’t even know how to explain it properly.”
His honesty wraps around your chest immediately. “I’m so attracted to your personality. Just… who you are. As a person.”
Your eyes sting unexpectedly.
“The way you think. The way you care about people. The way you try so hard to be strong all the time even when I know you’re scared.”
You tightly press your lips together.
“And every time I talk to you, I feel more certain instead of less,” he continues, voice trembles slightly now.
“Like I don’t need to keep searching anymore because…” he pauses to let out a shaky breath. “I found you.”
Your chest physically aches hearing it, at how Felix sounds so open right now. So sincere it almost hurts to listen to. And suddenly, beneath all the warmth blooming inside you, the fear creeps in too. Because if he’s being this honest with you, then keeping parts of yourself hidden suddenly feels unbearably unfair.
You clear your throat before softly call his name. “Felix…”
He goes quiet immediately, listening.
You stare down at your trembling hands. “I was only six when my dad walked out on me. And my mom and I… I remember feeling so confused. Not understanding what it means until later in my life.”
The memory instantly flashes violently through your mind. You inhale shakily, tears already pooling in your eyes. “Ever since then,” your voice crack in between sentences. “I never really learned how to fully attach myself to people emotionally.”
You press the back of your hand to your eyes, embarrassed by how vulnerable you suddenly feel. “I know it’s not fair to quickly assume that you’d do the same. When you’ve been nothing but warm and kind. And good to me.”
A tear slips down your cheek anyway and you quickly wipe it. “I just want you to know that… I’ll always have this fear that people are going to leave eventually.”
The confession trembles out of you helplessly. Your voice grows smaller. More fragile. “And I’m really scared right now.”
Because you are. Terrified, actually. Of trusting someone this much. Of needing them. Of believing in something beautiful only to watch it disappear one day.
You close your eyes briefly, tears slipping free now despite your efforts to stop them. “I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”
The vulnerability hangs exposed between you afterward, raw enough that your chest physically hurts beneath it.
And for the first time since meeting Felix, you genuinely fear what he might say next.
-
YOU: Whenever things start becoming too real emotionally… my instinct is always to pull away. [Shakily exhales] To protect myself. Because if you don’t fully let yourself need someone, then losing them hurts less. And when I get this scared… I close myself off again.
-
Felix’s chest hurts hearing you cry. Not metaphorically. It actually hurts.
Every soft sniffle from the other side of the wall feels like something splintering painfully inside him because all he can picture is you sitting there alone as fear claws at you from the inside out.
And suddenly, everything becomes so painfully clear to him.
This is exactly why he’s here. Not for the experiment. Not for television. Not for some perfect fairytale romance.
He’s here because when he hears your voice crack like that, every part of him wants to protect you from ever feeling abandoned again. To love you so thoroughly that one day, maybe, you’ll stop waiting for people to leave.
But first, he needs you to believe him. He exhales slowly, grounding himself before speaking softly into the quiet. “I know you’re hurt.”
The crying on the other side quiets slightly.
“And I know those fears probably don’t just disappear overnight,” he says, voice grows gentle yet firmer. “But I’m not here to hurt you.”
Your breathing trembles softly through the speakers.
“I want to be with you. I want to love you the way you deserve to be loved.” His throat tightens unexpectedly around the words because god, he means them so much it almost scares him. “I want to build a family together. With you.”
A breathless laugh leaves his mouth then. “And hopefully raise seven kids with you eventually.”
A shaky sound escapes you immediately afterward — half laugh, half watery breath.
And relief floods through Felix instantly knowing you’re not crying as hard anymore. He smiles helplessly to himself before standing abruptly from the couch.
“Can you please come up to the wall for me?” he softly asks.
“Okay.”
Felix walks toward the glowing wall separating you, heartbeat thundering violently inside his chest now. He places one palm flat against it and somehow, it almost feels like touching you.
“I’m here,” you whisper from the other side.
His eyes close briefly at the sound of your voice so close now. He clears his throat softly, suddenly overwhelmed by the enormity of this moment. Then he speaks openly, honestly.
“If you and I get married…”
His fingers press more firmly against the wall.
“Then that’s it for me.”
Emotion climbs into his voice despite his attempts to steady it.
“It’ll be my first and last marriage.”
The silence on the other side turns painfully still.
“I promise I’ll take care of you.”
Felix swallows hard.
“I promise I’ll always be there for you.”
His chest aches with how deeply he means it.
“And I’ll love you unconditionally for the rest of my life.”
The words settle between you, quivering in the air, heavy with emotions. Felix lets the silence hold them for a moment before finally doing the thing he’s been emotionally building toward since the first time he heard you laugh through this wall.
His knees hit the floor softly and even though you can’t see him, he still wants to do this properly. His heart pounds so hard he’s sure the microphones pick up the sounds. Then softly, breathlessly—
“Will you marry me?”
The question leaves Felix trembling with hope.
-
FELIX: Everything led me to this moment. Every conversation we had. Every joke. Every vulnerable thing she shared with me. I fell in love with her little by little without even realizing it was happening. And now I genuinely can’t imagine leaving this experiment without her. [Nervously laughs] I just really hope she says yes.
-
The glowing wall in front of you blurs through your tears while Felix’s question hangs between the two of you, suspended so delicately in the quiet that your heart physically aches beneath it.
Will you marry me?
Your body feels weightless and unbearably heavy all at once. Fear twists through you first. Then happiness crashes right into it. Excitement. Nerves. Disbelief. They’re laced around the edges.
This is real. Felix is real. The man behind this wall who listens to you, who remembers every little thing you say, who talks about loving you like it’s the most natural thing in the world.
Your hands tremble at your sides while tears continue slipping down your cheeks uncontrollably. And for one terrifying second, your fear almost wins. The instinct to protect yourself. To hesitate. To retreat before something beautiful can hurt you. But then—
You remember why you came here in the first place. You came not because you needed someone to complete you or because you were lonely. But because despite everything that happened to you, despite all the fear stitched into your chest, a part of you still wanted to believe in love. Still wanted to give it one real chance.
And now it’s standing right in front of you. Or rather— Kneeling behind a wall asking for your heart with shaking hands and seven imaginary children waiting in the future.
A watery laugh escapes you through your tears. Then you inhale deeply, trying to steady your breathing enough to speak.
Felix stays completely quiet on the other side, waiting and giving you space.
You press your palm softly against the glowing wall between you before finally whispering shakily. “Yes.”
A few seconds pass in silence and then Felix breaks into laughter of pure relief. A shaky exhale follows immediately after like he’s been holding his breath this entire time.
“Oh, God, I need a second,” he says, sounding like he’s running out of breath.
Your own laughter breaks through your tears instantly at the sound of him sounding so overwhelmed. “Yes, Felix,” you repeat more firmly this time, smiling helplessly now despite the tears still falling. “I’ll marry you.”
Another soft, disbelieving laugh leaves Felix from the other side of the wall.
Warmth blooms so fiercely in your chest that it almost hurts. Because for the first time in a very long time, you don’t feel afraid of love. You feel chosen by it.
Then, sniffling softly, you add through a broken laugh, “I’m still not fully convinced about the seven kids though.”
Felix bursts into laughter immediately. “That’s okay. I still have time to convince you.”
“Unbelievably persistent,” you mutter with a disbelieving laugh.
And suddenly you’re crying harder again, except this time it feels completely different. Like something inside you finally unclenched.
Your forehead presses briefly against the glowing wall while Felix stays close on the other side, neither of you speaking for a moment because words almost feel too small for what’s happening between you now.
Engaged. You and Felix are engaged. And to your surprise… That thought doesn’t scare you nearly as much as it should.
-
YOU: I said yes [sniffles] I’m engaged now [Laughs] And to be honest, I’m still scared. I think part of me will always be scared of trusting someone this much. But saying yes to Felix… [fondly smiles] It felt less like jumping off a cliff and more like finally letting someone catch me.
-
Felix feels like he’s floating. His feet carry him automatically down the glowing hallway away from the pods, but his mind is still stuck behind that wall with your voice trembling through tears as you told him yes.
Yes, Felix. I’ll marry you.
The word keeps replaying in his head over and over again until he thinks he might explode from happiness alone.
You said yes. You’re his fiancée. His fiancée.
Felix presses both hands briefly over his face as he walks, laughing breathlessly to himself because nothing about this feels real yet. His chest feels too much for his small body, joy practically spilling out of him in waves. And somehow, despite never seeing your face, he already misses you.
By the time he reaches the men’s lounge, he realizes he’s smiling way too hard. So instinctively, he tries to school his expression back into something normal before pushing open the door.
The second he steps inside, the room goes quiet. Every single guy turns toward him immediately. Ryan pauses mid-sip of his drink. Shane lowers the pool cue in his hand. Jim outright sits forward on the couch like he’s been waiting for the past hour. And judging by the worried anticipation written all over their faces—
Yeah. They were absolutely waiting for him.
Felix stares at them for one long second before letting out an exaggerated heavy sigh. Just to make them panic. He bites back his grin for another second before finally saying:
“She said yes.”
Everyone erupts in cheers, loud and chaotic cheers. Ryan nearly launches his drink across the room while Shane shouts loud enough to wake the dead. Jim jumps up from the couch immediately with both arms raised triumphantly.
“I KNEW IT!” he yells.
Felix bursts into helpless laughter as all the guys rush toward him at once, nearly tackling him backward. And then suddenly, his feet leave the floor.
“WAIT—”
The boys lift him into the air anyway while chanting loudly over each other.
“FELIX! FELIX! FELIX!”
Felix laughs so hard his stomach hurts as they toss him upward again, the entire room dissolving into complete chaos around him. But underneath all the noise and laughter, one thought remains crystal clear in Felix’s mind.
You said yes to him.
Out of everyone in this experiment—
You chose him and he’s never felt happier in his entire life.
-
FELIX: She said yes. [Grins] She said yes to marrying me. I genuinely feel like I’m walking on air right now. [laughs] Like… ridiculously happy. I can’t wait to meet her soon. [smiles]
-
By the time you walk back toward the women’s lounge, your face hurts from crying. The kind that leaves you overwhelmed and shaky and unbearably full all at once. Your fingers still tremble slightly at your sides as the memory keeps replaying in your head over and over again.
Will you marry me?
Yes.
You press your lips together tightly, trying not to cry all over again before pushing open the lounge doors.
The second you step inside, several girls immediately look up from the couches and dining table, their expressions changing almost instantly the moment they notice your tear-stained face.
Daria is already standing before you fully make it into the room. Her expression softens with immediate concern as she walks over carefully. “What happened?” she asks gently.
Your mouth opens and then closes again. Because somehow saying it out loud feels even crazier than agreeing to it. Instead of answering, you just step forward into her space.
Daria wraps both arms tightly around you without hesitation while you bury your face briefly against her shoulder, laughing shakily through fresh tears threatening to spill again.
“Oh my god,” she whispers instantly. “Oh my god, what happened?”
You inhale deeply, trying to calm yourself enough to speak coherently while more girls slowly start gathering around the two of you. Then finally, muffled against Daria’s shoulder, you share, “Felix proposed.”
You pull back slightly, cheeks burning hot as emotions swell all over again. “And I said yes.”
The silence lasts exactly one second before the entire room erupts. Hands flying to mouths. Someone nearly drops their wine glass onto the floor while Tabitha lets out the loudest gasp you’ve ever heard in your life.
“OH MY GOD. YOU’RE ENGAGED?!”
You burst into helpless laughter through your tears as the girls rush toward you all at once. One by one, the girls pull you into hugs, congratulating you while your emotions continue spiraling wildly in every direction possible.
“You look in love,” someone says between the waves of congratulations.
That one makes your chest aches immediately. Because maybe you do. Maybe somewhere between pod conversations and childhood confessions and imaginary seven children—
You really did fall in love with him.
You sink onto the couch eventually while the girls crowd around you excitedly demanding details, your engagement suddenly becoming everyone’s favorite topic of the day. Still, every now and then, your mind drifts quietly back to Felix. Somewhere on the other side of this building, he’s probably smiling right now too.
Your fiancé.
The word sends another wave of disbelief crashing through you all over again.
-
YOU: I came into this experiment so skeptical [softly laughs] Like… extremely skeptical. [shakes head] I genuinely thought there was no way people could actually fall in love without seeing each other. And five days later… I’m engaged. [disbelieving laughs] And somehow… it feels right. [smiles]
-
The waiting room suddenly feels too small for Felix’s nervous energy.
He’s been pacing for the last ten minutes straight. Maybe longer. At one point, a producer gently told him to sit down because he looked like he was preparing for battle instead of meeting his fiancée.
His fiancée. Even now, the thought makes his stomach flip violently.
Felix exhales shakily before turning toward the mirror again, immediately fixing absolutely nothing about his suit for the fifteenth time. Smooth the sleeves. Adjust the collar. Push his hair back. No, wait—
Maybe the hair looked better before. “Oh my god,” he mutters under his breath. “Relax.”
He absolutely does not relax. Instead, he starts pacing again. The ring box in his hands opens with a soft click before he closes it again almost instantly. Then opens it again. Then shuts it.
Over and over.
Because somehow, after all the emotional conversations and vulnerability and certainty he felt in the pods, this suddenly feels terrifying in an entirely different way. Not because he’s scared of you. Never that.
He’s scared of the moment itself. Of finally seeing the person whose voice has become the best part of his day. The woman he accidentally fell in love with through a wall.
Felix exhales hard, trying to shake some of the adrenaline out of his system. Then suddenly, the reality of it hits him again. You’re here. Right now. In the waiting room across from his. Probably getting ready too. Probably nervous too.
For days now, you’ve only existed as laughter through speakers. Quiet breathing through walls. A voice he’s memorized so completely he thinks he’d recognize it anywhere in the world.
But now, he finally gets to put a face to all of it. Finally gets to look at you while you laugh instead of imagining it. Finally gets to hold you for real instead of pressing his hand against a glowing wall pretending it was enough.
Felix presses the ring box carefully against his palm, heartbeat pounding harder the more he thinks about it. He wonders if you’re smiling right now. If you’re pacing too. If you’re as overwhelmed as he is.
A shaky laugh escapes him again before he glances toward the doors leading to the reveal hallway.
And suddenly, all he wants is to get to you already.
-
FELIX: I can’t wait to finally see her [nervously laughs] Like genuinely, I feel like I’m about to explode. I’ve spent days talking to this person, falling for this person, imagining her reactions and expressions and smiles in my head… And now I actually get to put a face to all of that. I’m not that worried about physical attraction. Even if she looks completely different from what I imagined, she’s still her. [nervously laughs] I’m just excited.
-
The waiting room feels unbearably warm. Or maybe it’s just you.
You’ve been sitting in front of the mirror for the past several minutes pretending to fix your makeup when really, you’ve just been staring at yourself trying not to spiral. Your palms are damp. Your heartbeat is so loud you’re convinced the microphones are picking it up. And no matter how many times you smooth your dress down over your legs, the nervous energy in your body refuses to settle.
“Oh my god,” you whisper under your breath before restlessly fanning yourself with your hands.
It does absolutely nothing. If anything, you’re sweating more now. You stand abruptly from the chair and pace once across the room before immediately returning to the mirror again. You lean closer, lightly dabbing beneath your eyes to make sure your mascara hasn’t smudged from all the crying you’ve done today.
The thought hits you again so suddenly your stomach feels queasy. Felix is about to become real in a completely different way. Not just a voice anymore. Not just soft laughter through speakers or warmth through a wall. In a few minutes, you’re actually going to see him, touch him, hold him.
The realization makes your chest tightens. Because despite everything, despite all your fears and emotional walls and skepticism coming into this experiment—
You want this. You want him.
You catch yourself smiling helplessly in the mirror just thinking about his laugh before nerves crash right back into you again. Your smile slowly fades. Because suddenly, a terrifying thought pushes its way into your chest.
You’ve only been thinking about Felix as Felix. His kindness. His patience. His voice. The way he intently listens to you. You never cared about what he looked like. Not really.
But now?
Now physical appearance suddenly becomes real again and with it comes every insecurity you’ve spent years trying not to think about too hard.
What if he sees you and feels disappointed? What if the version of you he built in his head looks nothing like reality? What if he changes his mind the second he sees your face?
The dress suddenly feels too tight. You tug lightly at the neckline instinctively, trying to inhale properly again.
Okay.
Okay. Calm down.
Your chest only tightens harder because this suddenly feels so much scarier than talking through a wall. Behind the pods, he loved you for you. But now he gets to decide whether the outside of you fits the version he already fell for. And the possibility that it might not — that maybe he’ll look at you and not feel the same anymore — Terrifies you more than you expected.
You press both hands flat against the vanity table, forcing yourself to breathe slowly while your pulse races uncontrollably beneath your skin.
Inhale.
Exhale.
You’re about to meet the man you said yes to and that feels both beautiful and absolutely horrifying at the same time.
-
YOU: I feel like I might throw up [nervously smiles] Because this whole time, I only focused on who Felix is as a person. I fell in love with the way he talks to me. The way he makes me feel safe. The way he listens. And honestly, I never really cared what he looked like. [sighs] But now that I’m about to meet him… I’m scared he won’t like how I look. [cries] There’s this possibility that after seeing me, he may not feel the same and that’s— [cries] [dabs eyes with the back of your hand] That’s terrifying. [sadly smiles]
-
✨ LOVE IS BLIND: PART TWO is available on Patreon ✨
Please support my writings by kindly reblog, comment or tip me on my ko-fi!
Synopsis: When you signed up for a paid product testing program, you expected free samples and money. What you didn’t expect was to be paired with Hwang Hyunjin and assigned to test a series of increasingly questionable sexual wellness products together. (5,2K words)
Author's note: I hope you're not sick of Cocky yet cause I got one more for you and I swear it's the last one. Hope you enjoy it ❣️
Hyunjin wakes slowly, unwillingly, still caught somewhere between sleep and consciousness. His first instinct is you. Without even opening his eyes, he drags a hand across the bed, fingers lazily searching through the sheets for warmth, for skin, for the familiar shape curled beside him. But all he finds is cold fabric and wrinkled sheets that tell him you’ve been gone long enough for your warmth to disappear.
His brows pinch slightly. Then, finally, he forces one eye open. The space next to him is empty. For a brief second, his still-sleepy brain panics in the dumbest way possible before he hears the faint rush of water coming through the bathroom that is left slightly ajar.
Hyunjin lets out a slow breath and drops back onto the pillow, considering his options. He could wait for his turn to shower and get a few more minutes of sleep before work. Or losing sleep and…
He doesn’t even think twice as he drags himself upright and pushes himself up, lazily rubbing at his face before making his way toward the bathroom, feet dragging against the floor.
The second he pushes the door open wider, warm steam wraps around him. He steps further into the bathroom, leaning against the sink counter while watching you with heavy-lidded eyes. Your figure shifts behind the fogged surface, soft and blurred and unfairly beautiful. Your back arches slightly as your fingers work shampoo through your hair, white foam gathering at the crown of your head while water streams down the curve of your shoulders.
There’s something strangely domestic about it. Something that still catches him off guard. You, in his mornings. You, in his space. You, existing so naturally in his life now that he’s starting to forget there was a time you weren’t there.
Quietly, he starts peeling his clothes off, dropping them one by one onto the bathroom floor without taking his eyes off you for long. The air is warm enough that goosebumps never have the chance to settle on his skin before he slides the shower door open and steps inside.
You still don’t notice him. Not until his shadow stretches across the tiled wall. The second you spot it, you whirl around so quickly your foot slips against the wet floor.
“Whoa—”
Hyunjin catches you instantly, hands gripping your elbows before you can lose balance completely. You let out a startled shriek, eyes wide in horror, and he bursts into laughter immediately at the expression on your face.
“It’s just me,” he says between laughs.
Your hand flies to your chest. “Hyunjin!”
He laughs harder at that.
“You scared me!” you scold, glaring at him while trying to steady yourself. “Don’t sneak in like that!”
“I’m sorry,” he says, still very obviously not sorry at all. “Your face was just—”
You smack his shoulder lightly, and he only laughs more. Eventually, he manages to calm himself enough to reach for the showerhead. “Come here. I’ll wash your hair for you.”
Your expression softens just slightly at that. Then, with a dramatic sigh, you turn around and present your back to him.
Hyunjin grins to himself before adjusting the water temperature and gently rinsing the shampoo from your hair. His fingers work carefully through the strands, scratching lightly against your scalp, slow and soothing. He notices from the way your shoulders loosen, melting into it almost immediately.
He takes his time, thoroughly rinsing every last trace of foam from your hair before running his fingers through the damp strands one last time. “There. Done.”
You turn back toward him, taking the showerhead from his hand. “Thanks.”
He hums, pleased with himself already, before tilting his head slightly and saying, “Your turn now.”
“You can shower yourself,” you simply
“I could,” he agrees immediately. Then he looks at you with sleepy eyes and says, “But I’m too sleepy for it.”
You narrow your eyes because both of you know exactly what he’s doing. And still, you cave.
Hyunjin watches the resignation spread across your face before you hook the showerhead back into place and take his hands instead.
“Stay here,” you mumble.
He obeys instantly and mostly because he likes when you fuss over him. Warm water cascades down over both of you as your hands slide over his skin, wetting his shoulders, his chest, smoothing water across him slowly while your eyes stay fixed on him. And his stay fixed on you. Always on you.
Your expression is still a little sleepy too, softer around the edges this early in the morning, and Hyunjin suddenly thinks this might be his favorite version of you. Not the composed you at work. Not the playful you. Not even the seductive you.
Just this. Barefaced. Warm. Sleepy. Standing close enough for him to feel your breath over the sound of running water.
Your hands move across his shoulders again, gentle and absentminded now, and Hyunjin’s own hands instinctively settle on your waist.
As if you sense his eyes on you, you glance up at him. “What?”
He shakes his head once. “Nothing.”
But his thumbs brush lightly against your skin anyway. Because sometimes he still can’t believe this is real, that he gets mornings like this now, gets you looking at him like he belongs here.
Hyunjin continues watching the way your hands move over him. Your palm glides across his damp skin in slow, attentive rubs, spreading water over his chest with such gentleness, such quiet admiration, that it sends a shiver racing down his spine.
The warmth of the shower should be enough to ground him, but every touch from you only makes him feel more sensitive, more aware. Especially when your eyes follow your own hands. Lower. And lower. Then your gaze lifts, your eyes meet his immediately, through the steam and tension, like you’re letting him see all the wild thoughts flashing through your eyes.
You turn away for a second, reaching for the bottle of body wash, squeezing an unfair amount into your palm before suddenly placing your other hand flat against his chest. And then you push. Hard.
His back hits the cold tiled wall with a soft thud, the contrast between the freezing surface and your warm body making a low gasp slip out of him.
A small smile pulls at your lips, pleased with yourself, while Hyunjin can only stare at you in surprise.
You give it a moment, letting the anticipation builds and then, slowly spread the soap across his chest, working your hands downward with maddening patience. Foam slips over his skin beneath your palms while water cascades down your shoulders and wrists, dripping from your fingertips onto him.
Hyunjin thinks he might actually lose his mind before breakfast. His hands instinctively settle on your waist, thumbs brushing over the damp skin there while he watches you continue your careful work downward.
When your hand finally wraps around his semi-hard length and lingers there, he lets out a quiet hiss through his teeth before smirking down at you.
“You’re putting too much focus on that area,” he teases.
Without breaking eye contact, you simply say, calm and smooth, “Because it’s the one that needs the most attention.”
The answer hits him embarrassingly hard. He laughs under his breath, head falling back lightly against the tile for a second before he looks at you again with something darker settling behind his eyes. “Is that so?”
You only hum, fingers moving slowly around his cock, thumb circling the little slit on the tip, light but full of intention. But it’s the way you maintain an eye-contact with him that snaps the last thread of restraint in him.
His hand slides up the back of your neck, fingers threading into your damp hair as he pulls you closer. Then he leans down and kisses you.
The kiss lands with all the heat that’s been simmering between you since he stepped into the shower—mouths parting instantly, your breath mingling with his beneath the spray of water. He feels your body press into his, slick skin against slick skin, and the sound you make into his mouth nearly wrecks him.
Steam curls around the two of you, warm and thick enough to blur the edges of everything except you. Except the way your hand continuously stroking his cock, the touch is light around the head and tightening around the base. The cold tile against his back makes every touch feel sharper, hotter.
His hand tightens slightly at the nape of your neck before he kisses you again, deeper and hungrier this time. Your lips part beneath his instantly, like you’ve been waiting for it too, and he feels your breath stutters when he pulls you closer until your wet body presses flush against his.
The shower runs over yours, trickling down between your bodies in warm rivulets. You kiss him back with the same slow intensity, fingers still pumping his cock lazily, and he lets out a quiet groan into your mouth at the feeling. He’s barely awake and yet somehow completely overwhelmed already.
“You said you were sleepy,” you whisper when you finally pull back just enough to breathe.
“I am,” he says immediately, voice rough.
You raise an eyebrow at that.
“But suddenly,” he continues, brushing his nose against yours, “I feel much better.”
You laugh softly at that, the sound swallowed by the spray of water and the closeness between you. He thinks he could live inside this moment forever—your smile inches away from his, your hands on him, the quiet intimacy of an ordinary morning turned into something unbearably tender. And at the same time, highly arousing.
Then you press another kiss to the corner of his mouth and murmur, “Good. Because I’m not done washing you yet.”
Hyunjin groans quietly when you tug him under the spray of water again, rinsing the remaining suds from his skin before they dry there. This time you use both hands, gliding them over his shoulders and chest, fingertips trailing lower just enough to tease him before dragging back upward again.
He watches you the entire time. The concentration on your face. The way droplets cling to your lashes. The warmth in your eyes when you look at him. Then your hands gather at the nape of his neck and you rise onto your toes to kiss him again.
Hyunjin kisses you back instantly as water continues running down both of your bodies while your mouths move together slowly, deeply, like neither of you is in any hurry to stop. He could stay like this for hours. But then your hand slips down his arm, take his hand gently and tug at it.
He follows without question, watching you turn around until your back faces him. One of your palms presses against the fogged glass wall for balance while you pull him closer behind you.
And when you glance over your shoulder at him, your gaze is a little dazed and full of heat.
“Come,” you quietly murmur, almost like a whine. “Put it in.”
God. This sight of you, the shape of your body under the warm light with your ass slightly lifted higher, exposing how wet you are for him. Oh, he’s done for.
You move your hips to the back, the back of your thigh nudging his already swollen member. “Hurry,” you whine, almost like a plead.
Hyunjin doesn’t need to be told twice. He strokes himself once, twice, trying to steady the sudden rush of want flooding through his cock before guiding it toward your entrance. he places his hands on each ass cheeks, parting them open so he can easily slip way into you. The second he pushes into you in one smooth motion, both of you gasp at the feeling all over again.
It’s warm. It’s tight. It’s fucking perfect.
He shuts his eyes for a brief second, forehead dropping against your shoulder while he lets himself adjust to the overwhelming sensation of being inside you again. His hands settle on your hips first, grounding himself there, before one drifts upward to your chest, kneading slowly, greedily on your breasts. The other slips lower between your thighs, fingers teasing at your sensitive, pulsating clit that always makes your breath shake. And the sound you let out, low and breathless, a sexy mewl that nearly ruins him.
Your breath fogs the glass in front of you as you moan softly, body arching back into him while Hyunjin buries his face in the crook of your neck. He kisses the damp skin there again and again, tongue collecting the beads of water before he sucks on the skin and begins moving. His thrusts are slow at first. Then deeper. Harder.
The sound of water hitting tile mixes with your breathing, your quiet moans, the wet slide of skin against skin. His hand never stops touching you, relentlessly drawing more reactions from you while his hips snap into yours from behind. And every time you clench around him, Hyunjin feels his control slipping further.
“Fuck,” he groans against your neck, gripping your hips tighter.
You’re holding onto the glass now, head tipped back against his shoulder as he drives into you harder, faster, pushing you flush against the glass wall. Your noises grow louder, more helpless, and he swears it’s the hottest thing he’s ever heard.
He can feel how close you are. And honestly, he’s tethering right on the edge with you.
The moment your body finally gives in, tightening hard around him as pleasure crashes through you, he follows almost immediately after. He holds you tightly through it, arms wrapping around your waist to keep you steady when your body slumps against his.
For a second neither of you says anything. You’re both just breathing, recovering, existing together beneath the hot spray of water. Then you turn your head slightly and he catches your lips in a hurried kiss, still dizzy from everything, still unable to stop kissing you whenever you’re this close.
Eventually he straightens, hands gripping your hips again, gentle now. Then he pulls back carefully, easing out of you with a quiet groan. His eyes widen at the sight of his cock dripping from your mixed essence but what gets him dizzy is the way his seed dripping out of you — white and thick fluid, gushing out of your little hole.
He can’t believe that he came that much inside you but what surprises him more is how well you take it all. He pulls you close until your back hitting his chest, wrapping his arms around you as he captures your lips for a passionate, rewarding kiss.
You abruptly break the kiss and mutter against his lips, “It’s still coming out.”
Without looking, he reaches between your legs, feeling the warm fluid flooding his hand and you’re right, more of his seed coming out of you.
He smiles lazily against your lips. “I’ll clean it up for you.”
He grabs the showerhead gently, rinsing you off with surprising care despite the lingering haze in his own head. Hand moving with such gentleness, fingers rubbing between the folds and then circling around the entrance. Once he’s done, he hangs it back up and pulls you beneath the water with him again, immediately stealing another kiss because apparently, he’s incapable of not doing that now.
When he finally pulls away, he grins at you. “Stimulation rating? Ten out of ten.”
You snort softly, not expecting that.
“But,” he continues with exaggerated seriousness, “cleanliness rating? Five out of ten.”
That finally breaks you into full laughter, bright and warm and echoing against the tiled walls.
Hyunjin laughs too, wrapping his arms around you tightly and tugging you against his chest before pressing a kiss to your wet cheek. And he thinks he couldn’t find a better way to start his morning.
-
Hyunjin finishes buttoning his shirt while watching you through the mirror.
You’re seated in front of the vanity, carefully applying the last touches of your makeup with the kind of concentration he’s grown weirdly fond of. The morning sunlight spills through the bedroom windows, catching on the side of your face and the damp ends of your hair, and for a moment he just quietly admires you. You look so effortlessly like home now.
Meanwhile, he’s already dressed for work while you’re still sitting there in your bathrobe, one leg crossed over the other as you lean closer to the mirror to fix something near your eye. And yes, it’s his fault. The shower definitely delayed things. Not that he regrets it. He’s not sorry. At all.
You finally cap your lipstick and rise from the chair with a soft sigh before heading toward your closet, already scanning through hangers with that faint crease between your brows. And sooner or later, you’re probably going to blame him for making the two of you late because he “insisted on showering together,” even though you were very much involved in it too.
So before you can start stressing about schedules and timing, he decides to be useful for once. He walks up behind you quietly just as you’re reaching for a blouse. He slips an arm loosely around your waist and leans down to place a quick kiss against the bare skin of your neck.
“I’ll get breakfast ready,” he murmurs against your skin.
You glance back over your shoulder at him, expression instantly softening. “Okay.”
There’s something dangerously domestic about that single word. Something that makes his chest feel warm in a way he still hasn’t gotten used to. He smiles before leaning in one more time to kiss your cheek. “Do me a favor and wear that sexy, lace bra underneath.”
You narrow your eyes at him instantly. “Do me a favor and don’t burn my kitchen.”
He gasps dramatically. “Wow. No faith in me at all.”
“Last time you almost smoked the pan making eggs.”
“That happened once.”
“It happened twice.”
Hyunjin clicks his tongue in fake annoyance while you laugh softly under your breath, already turning back toward your closet again. He lingers for another second anyway, eyes trailing over you in your bathrobe, your still slightly damp hair, the quiet comfort of this routine forming between the two of you. Then he finally forces himself away before he gets distracted again.
As he heads downstairs toward the kitchen, he catches himself smiling for absolutely no reason. Or maybe for every reason.
-
Hyunjin is halfway through getting breakfast ready when he realizes he has absolutely no idea where you keep the good bowls. He stands in the middle of the kitchen for a moment, cabinet door hanging open while he squints inside and eventually, he settles for the plain white ones.
He pours cereal into both bowls with the kind of concentration that would make anyone think he’s preparing a five-star meal instead of breakfast that requires approximately zero cooking skills. He’s about to grab the milk from the fridge when he notices that you just stepped out of the bedroom, already dressed for work now.
His eyes trail over you automatically as you descend the stairs—the neat blouse tucked into your skirt, your work bag hanging from your shoulder, the soft shine of your hair tied into a neat bun.
God. You always look unfairly pretty in the mornings.
Hyunjin grabs the carton of milk and walks it over to the dining table just as you reach the bottom of the stairs.
“Morning again,” he says with a grin.
You glance at him and smile softly. “Morning.”
You place your bag and blazer on the sofa before walking to the dining table, your eyes immediately land on the two bowls of cereal. On the milk carton proudly sitting between them like he’s accomplished something groundbreaking. Your expression slowly twists into a pure befuddlement.
When you look at him, Hyunjin only shrugs as he sets your cup of coffee down. “You told me not to burn the kitchen, so…”
You only shake your head like you expected this, still smiling as you take your seat and reach for your coffee first. He catches the way you close your eyes slightly after the first sip, like your soul is finally returning to your body.
Cute. Everything you do is annoyingly cute now.He sits across from you and starts eating while the two of you fall into easy conversation. Work schedules. The weather. Whether traffic is going to be horrible today. Random little comments in between bites and sips of coffee.
It feels so normal, so natural and maybe that’s what gets him the most. Because this is something Hyunjin used to think only happened to other people. Not him.
But here you are, sitting across from him, heartily eating a bowl of his favorite cereal, stifling your yawns by pressing your lips together, occasionally nudging his foot under the table without even realizing it. And somehow you chose him. Every day, you keep choosing him.
Hyunjin catches himself staring again, spoon paused halfway to his mouth while the dumbest grin slowly spreads across his face.
You notice immediately, eyes narrow slightly before you chuckle. “Stop grinning like that. You look stupid.”
That only makes his grin widen. “Can’t help it.”
“You’re being weird.”
“I’m in love. That’s different.”
You groan softly while trying and failing not to smile into your coffee cup.
Hyunjin leans back in his chair, completely pleased with himself before gesturing dramatically toward your bowl. “Enjoy your cereal, by the way. This is the last time I’m sharing my cereal with you.”
You give him a look of disbelief. “You’re still upset about that?”
“You almost finished the entire box.”
“It’s just cereal.”
“But it’s my cereal.”
“What’s yours is mine,” you casually conclude with a smile,
Hyunjin has no come back for that and laughs under his breath. And yeah, what’s his is yours. But you— you are his only.
-
Hyunjin drums his fingers lightly against the steering wheel as the car glides through the morning traffic, sunlight slipping through the windshield in warm streaks that land across your thighs, your hands, the side of your face. You’re beside him with your tablet balanced on your lap, already halfway mentally at work even though the office building is still twenty minutes away.
He glances at you briefly before asking, “Will you be working late?”
You hum absentmindedly. “Depends.”
“That’s not an answer.” He nudges your knee with the back of his hand at a red light. “We have to strategically plan our night. If we should get takeout or have dinner out. I’m trying to be a thoughtful boyfriend here.”
That gets a small smile out of you. “I’ll probably come home late. There’s a meeting after lunch and I still need to revise—”
Hyunjin already knows the tone of your voice when you start slipping into work mode. Your posture straightens a little. Your brows knit together. Your fingers start moving faster over the screen as you launch into talking about his designs, about the presentation draft, about whether the color palette would work better if—
But when he pulls the car into the company parking basement and parks between the familiar concrete lines, he finally turns the engine off and gives you a look.
“We’re not at work yet,” he says, slightly irritated.
“So?” you innocently ask.
“So,” he repeats slowly, then unbuckles his seatbelt with a click before leaning back against his seat. “You’re not allowed to talk about work.”
You stare at him for a second before letting out a soft scoff. “Then what do you want to talk about?”
Hyunjin looks at you and then his eyes flick down to your mouth. At the way your lipstick is slightly faded from the coffee you drank earlier. At the way you’re sitting there in your perfectly pressed outfit while still somehow looking like someone he’d happily spend entire mornings tangled up with in bed.
Then he says simply, “I don’t want to talk.”
Your eyebrows lift just slightly in confusion and before you can ask, Hyunjin reaches over, cups the side of your face firmly in his hand, and pulls you into him. The kiss lands rough and sudden. Warm lips crashing against yours with enough force to make you laugh into it at first, surprised by him, by how dramatic he is before nine in the morning. Your laugh vibrates against his mouth, soft and breathy, and he swears it only makes him kiss you harder.
“Hyunjin—”
He kisses you again before you can finish, slowly yet greedily. Like he’s been waiting the entire drive to do this.
Your hand finally comes up to grip the front of his jacket as you start kissing him back properly, and he immediately melts into it with a pleased hum. His thumb brushes along your jaw while your lips move against his, soft and addictive in a way he still hasn’t recovered from.
-
The engine is off, but the heat inside the car hasn’t caught up yet. It lingers between you, around you, in the way Hyunjin’s lips keep finding yours like he’s trying to memorize something he already knows too well.
You don’t even remember who leaned in first. All you know is that his hand is warm against your jaw, thumb brushing just under your ear as he kisses you like time is something he can bargain with if he just holds on a little longer and God, you let him. Your fingers curl into the front of his shirt, pulling him closer, breathing him in like you won’t see him in… what, an hour? Less?
His mouth drags against yours again and it’s only when you notice the watch on your that you catch a glimpse of the time. The windows are fogging faintly by the time you pull back just enough to breathe, your lips still brushing his as you speak.
“We’re going to be late.”
He hums like he didn’t hear you. Or worse—like he doesn’t care. His hand tilts your face right back toward him and he kisses you again, stealing whatever protest you had left.
You almost give in. Almost. But then your hands press against his chest, gentle pushing him away.
“Time for work,” you firmly say, leaving no chance for argument.
He groans like you’ve personally betrayed him, head tipping back against the seat as he runs his hand through his dark hair.
You reach into your bag, pulling out your lipstick and compact mirror, flipping it open only to catch the way your lips are wet and a little swollen. You take your time to fix your makeup, applying a fresh coat of lipstick like it would hide the fact that you and Hyunjin made out in the car before work.
When you’re done, you press your lips together, then glance at him.
He’s already looking at you. Of course he is. “That looks good on you,” he says, voice still a little rough around the edges.
“Thank you.”
“Makes me want to kiss you again.”
You snap the compact shut before he can act on it. “Don’t even think about it.”
But you soften anyway, leaning in to press a quick kiss to his lips. When you pull away, there’s the faintest trace of your lipstick left behind. A mark. A claim.
You inhale air to steady yourself and sweetly murmur, “Have a good day at work.”
He smiles back and says it back, “You too.”
Thankfully, the elevator is empty when it arrives which gives you extra time to slip yourself back into work mode. But Hyunjin insists on standing next to you. You elbow his side, sending him staggering dramatically to the corner and yet, he scoots back to your side, even closer now.
This time, you shove his arm a little harder and groan, “Go away.”
And Hyunjin once again back to your side in a second, a grin tugging at his lips.
The elevator dings when it arrives in the lobby and the doors slide open. You almost jolt out of your skin when Gabe steps in. Her eyes flick from you—to Hyunjin—to the space between you that suddenly feels very, very small.
“Morning,” she says with a bright smile that you’re sure is aimed solely at Hyunjin.
“Morning,” you echo, far too quickly.
She moves to the other side of the elevator, but the silence that follows is anything but empty.
You can feel her looking, feel the questions stacking up and then, of course, Hyunjin casually slips an arm around your shoulders. You turn your head so fast it almost hurts, shooting him a glare sharp enough to cut.
He looks at Gabe and grins as he casually says, “I decided to keep the stray cat.”
Gabe looks confused for a second and then cracks a laugh, surprised and amused all at once. “Good to know.”
You shove his arm off your shoulder, muttering under your breath, but it only makes him smile wider.
The elevator finally stops at your floor. You don’t wait to step out of it and Gabe follows you, and just before the doors slide shut, Hyunjin calls out—
“Have a great day, ladies!”
You try to remain calm but you catch the way he’s winking at you just a second before the doors completely shut.
By the time you reach your desk, everything looks exactly the same as it always has.
Same files. Same chair. Same routine waiting for you to slip back into work.
Gabe hovers for a second before sitting, then looks at you. “Do you notice how Hyunjin looks happy lately?”
You don’t even look up from your desk. “Isn’t that a good thing?” you casually answer.
She leans back in her chair, still thinking. “Well, yeah. But like— he’s happier than usual.”
You hum, noncommittal. “You think so?”
A moment passes in silence. Then Gabe suddenly gasps, dramatic as ever, leaning forward with wide eyes. “Wait—do you think he’s dating someone?”
Your heart dips but you school your face to remain neutral. A part of you can’t help but entertain the idea. So you say, lightly, “Yeah. He looks like he is.”
Gabe lights up instantly, hands clasping together like she’s just uncovered a mystery. “Oh my god. Who is she?”
You finally let yourself smile like you’re intrigued by the juicy office gossip. “I have no idea,” you say, voice steady but edged with playfulness.
You decide that’s how much you only want to share with everyone because what you and Hyunjin have is not something you want to hand over to the world just yet. So you let Gabe wonder and let the office buzz with guesses and theories and names that don’t belong to you.
And instead, you turn back to your work, but your focus shatters when your phone chimes with a new text message. Catching his contact name in bold, you open it right away.
“On my way to Seungmin’s office now.”
You press your phone to your chest, lean back on your chair and laugh quietly to yourself. You know now that some things are changing. Some things are staying the same.
But this quiet and hidden, yours kind of love—
is exactly where it’s meant to be.
-
Please support my writings by kindly reblog, comment or tip me on my ko-fi!
im the anon who suggested the jester hyunjin hi hello! 😝🙋🏻♀️
i suggested the jester as hyunjin bc in the trend that’s going around the jester is cocky like all smirky and stuff so it immediately made me think of hyunjin bc i feel like he’d be the one who would try to temp the princess and get under her skin 🫢 BUT i’ll eat the fic up either way whoever you want to (or decide to) write it with 🤭🤭
Yeah, that's what I mean. If we're leaning toward the cocky all smirky side then yes, Hyunjin is the no-brainer choice but idk, I'm not sure I can write it but who knows? Just hoping I still have some creative juice in me 🫣💗
Synopsis: You and Felix are contestants in a social experiment where singles meet and date in private pods, allowing them to communicate without seeing each other.
Based on Netflix's Love is Blind.
...
The atmosphere feels lighter today. More relaxed. Less tense than everyone had been during the first day. Maybe because now all of you understand the rhythm of the experiment a little better. Or maybe because several girls already look suspiciously glowing after yesterday’s pod dates.
You’re halfway through your mimosa when a producer calls your name, signaling your next pod date.
“Good luck!” one of the girls teases as you stand. “Maybe this one’s your future husband.”
You snort softly, having one last sip of mimosa. “That’s a terrifying sentence.”
The girls laugh as you head toward the glowing hallway of pods, your nerves twisting tighter with every step. You push open the door to your assigned pod and settle onto the couch with a quiet exhale. The room is quiet, softly lit, the wall in front of you glowing blue. Then—
“Hello?”
The voice is deep. Ridiculously deep. Warm too, like melted chocolate poured straight through the speakers.
“Oh,” you blurt before you can stop yourself. “That voice is unfair.”
There’s a beat of silence before a startled laugh bursts from the other side of the wall. “Unfair?” he repeats, amusement curling through the word.
“You sound like a movie trailer narrator,” you say, leaning back into the couch. “Like you should be saying ‘coming this summer.’”
His laughter grows louder, bright and genuine. “Oh my god. That’s the first thing you say to me?”
“You started it by sounding like that.”
“I can’t control my voice!” he protests between laughs.
“Mm. Convenient excuse.”
Another laugh. Softer this time. Closer somehow. “Well, for what it’s worth, your voice is nice too,” he says.
You narrow your eyes at the wall instinctively. “You don’t have to lie to flirt with me.”
“I’m serious!” His accent slips out more clearly now, warm vowels wrapping around his words.
Cute. You glance down at your notebook, realizing you haven’t even written his name yet.
“Wait,” you say, laughing lightly. “I’ve been bullying your voice this whole time and I don’t even know your name.”
“Oh, right.” He chuckles sheepishly. “I’m Felix.”
Felix. The name suits him immediately. You introduce yourself back immediately.
“It’s nice to meet you,” he warmly says.
The sincerity in his tone catches you off guard. You’ve had plenty of pod dates already. Conversations that felt rehearsed, awkward, overly polished. But this feels strangely easy like talking to someone you’ve known longer than five minutes.
“So,” Felix says after a moment, “what’s your very important opinion on pineapple on pizza?”
You gasp dramatically. “Absolutely not.”
“What?!”
“That’s a dessert pretending to be dinner.”
“You’re breaking my heart already.”
“You asked.”
“I’m a chef,” he says, mock wounded. “This is devastating for me professionally.”
Your head snaps up. “Wait, you’re a chef?”
“Yeah.”
“Like… a real chef?”
He laughs again. “I think so?”
“Oh, that’s actually really attractive,” you admit before you can stop yourself.
“Oh,” his surprise sounds small and flustered.
You grin immediately, realizing you caught him off guard.
“How many points do I earn from that?”
“Uhm… five,” you playfully answer, still grinning.
“Just five?” he asks, offended.
“You’ll earn more if you tell me what kind of chef are you,” you say, curling your legs beneath you on the couch.
“Mostly pastry,” Felix confidently answers. “But I cook everything. I just really like feeding people.”
The answer comes so naturally that it makes something soften in your chest.
“Feeding people?” you repeat with a laugh. “That sounds very grandmother-coded of you.”
He gasps dramatically. “Excuse you. I’ll have you know I make excellent tiramisu.”
“Oh, okay,” you say, suddenly serious. “Now we’re talking.”
“You like tiramisu?”
“I would genuinely risk my life for good tiramisu.”
Felix bursts into laughter again, loud and delighted. “That’s such a dramatic statement.”
“It’s true.”
“And how many points do I earn from that?” he curiously asks. “It’s gotta be more than five.”
You don’t even hesitate. “Solid ten!”
“Oh, yeah,” Felix cheers, more like a growl than anything.
“I wouldn’t celebrate yet. You only earned fifteen points so far,” you remind him, a chuckle spilled out at the end of the sentence.
“Alright then,” he says playfully. “What’s your ultimate comfort food?”
You hum thoughtfully. “Instant ramen.”
“No way.”
“Yes way.”
“You had all the food in the world and picked instant ramen?”
“Okay, first of all, don’t judge me,” you defend immediately. “Second, specifically the spicy kind at two in the morning when life feels terrible.”
Felix laughs softly. “That’s… actually very real.”
“And yours?”
There’s a tiny pause before he answers. “My mom’s brownies.”
The softness in his voice changes the atmosphere instantly. You can almost picture his smile through the wall. “She used to make them whenever me or my sisters had a bad day. So now I make them for other people too.”
“That’s really sweet,” you murmur before you can stop yourself.
A shy laugh comes from the other side. “Thanks.”
The conversation drifts after that — favorite cafés, failed recipes, childhood snacks you both still secretly buy as adults. Felix tells you about accidentally pouring vinegar instead of wine once during culinary school. Then you confess that you once nearly started a fire trying to make pasta after coming home exhausted from work at two in the morning.
“You almost burned your kitchen down making pasta?” Felix asks through his laughter.
“In my defense, I was tired.”
“You forgot the pasta, didn’t you?”
“Maybe.”
“Amateur moves.”
His laughter fills the pod completely now, warm and infectious enough that you find yourself laughing with him, shoulders loosening for what feels like the first time since entering the experiment.
And when the chime signaling the end of the date finally rings, disappointment flickers through you before you can hide it.
“Oh,” Felix says softly. “Time’s up already?”
You hate that the little note of disappointment in his voice makes your stomach flip. “Guess so.”
A pause settles between you and then—
“I hope I get to talk to you again,” Felix says quietly.
Something warm unfurls in your chest. “Yeah,” you answer before you can overthink it. “Me too.”
The line disconnects and somehow, the pod suddenly feels quieter than before.
-
YOU: Felix is funny. Like—actually funny, not trying-too-hard funny. [softly laughs] And his voice is… [groans] See? Now I’m sitting here thinking about some guy’s voice. [laughs] Anyway, that was the first conversation that didn’t feel forced. I didn’t feel like I had to perform or impress him. It just felt… easy. And the way Felix talks… I don’t know. It feels warm.
...
✨ LOVE IS BLIND: FELIX will be released every Friday starting June 29th. ✨
PART ONE Coming soon!
Or you can read it early on Patreon:
LOVE IS BLIND: PART ONE. by seospicybin on Patreon. Join seospicybin's community for exclusive content and updates.
PART TWO Coming soon!
Or you can read it early on Patreon:
LOVE IS BLIND: PART TWO by seospicybin on Patreon. Join seospicybin's community for exclusive content and updates.
Hii, idk if you're aware of it but I was reading the On tour series on ao3 and the third chapter is almost empty. I was soo confused when I was reading the fourth one haha. If it's done with a purpose ignore this!
Omg. No one informed me of this before, so I thought everything is a-ok. It's fixed now. Sorry for the inconvenient and no, it's definitely not on purpose 😣
YES!! so idk if you saw the jester x princess thing on tiktok but HEAR ME OUT!!
kinda something like love triangle but arranged marriage between king (or soon to be, so heir?) chan x princess reader. so that the two kingdoms can unite their powers. ofc there’s going to be a jester 😋 and that’s going to be hyunjin 😋 so the princess (reader) is going to fall for the jester but chan is also going to start falling for the princess. conflict, angst, love, smut (maybe some threesome 😛)
Girl, you're so messy and idk, hearing the word jester makes me think of either Han or Seungmin but if we're leaning toward the cocky thing, then yeah, Hyunjin would work. And I think I have written a lot of Hyunchan already (Like that would stop me though 🫣)
I looked the animations up on tt and I think they’re like the princess is cold and unbothered and her jester is like cocky and sarcastic but she’s written to be in an arranged marriage
I can see that the trope is very trending right now hehehe thank you for the piece of information. I appreciate it. 😊
Jester x princess meme is basically jester character is silly goofy pathetic simp who wants to entertain or get the tiniest bit of princess's attention, but the princess character is nonchalant or oblivious (sometimes even an evil villainess 😈). Jester usually is very embarrassing but the audience likes them for how devoted they are. As for the princess, I've read mostly reader isekai-ing into a magic world where they're the ruler of a realm and trying to adjust the new life and ignoring the jester's affections until they don't. There are no rules or limits to this trope though, you can absolutely create an entirely unique dynamic with your own stuff.
Oh, thank you so much for the explanation. 😊
I think yeah, I get the gist of it from watching k-dramas. I kind of see why this trope is trending at the moment. I'm not sure I'd be good at writing royal au though, but who knows? I might get the calling soon 😣
Hear me out… jester jisung x princess reader.. or anyone for the jester tbh but those jester animations on TikTok have me in a chokehold lately
Sad to inform that I'm not on tiktok.😣
I think I get the gist of it but please do enlighten me on this jester x princess thing cause someone else just asked for the same thing in my inbox but for chan 🤓
Synopsis: You and Felix are contestants in a social experiment where singles meet and date in private pods, allowing them to communicate without seeing each other.
Based on Netflix's Love is Blind.
...
The atmosphere feels lighter today. More relaxed. Less tense than everyone had been during the first day. Maybe because now all of you understand the rhythm of the experiment a little better. Or maybe because several girls already look suspiciously glowing after yesterday’s pod dates.
You’re halfway through your mimosa when a producer calls your name, signaling your next pod date.
“Good luck!” one of the girls teases as you stand. “Maybe this one’s your future husband.”
You snort softly, having one last sip of mimosa. “That’s a terrifying sentence.”
The girls laugh as you head toward the glowing hallway of pods, your nerves twisting tighter with every step. You push open the door to your assigned pod and settle onto the couch with a quiet exhale. The room is quiet, softly lit, the wall in front of you glowing blue. Then—
“Hello?”
The voice is deep. Ridiculously deep. Warm too, like melted chocolate poured straight through the speakers.
“Oh,” you blurt before you can stop yourself. “That voice is unfair.”
There’s a beat of silence before a startled laugh bursts from the other side of the wall. “Unfair?” he repeats, amusement curling through the word.
“You sound like a movie trailer narrator,” you say, leaning back into the couch. “Like you should be saying ‘coming this summer.’”
His laughter grows louder, bright and genuine. “Oh my god. That’s the first thing you say to me?”
“You started it by sounding like that.”
“I can’t control my voice!” he protests between laughs.
“Mm. Convenient excuse.”
Another laugh. Softer this time. Closer somehow. “Well, for what it’s worth, your voice is nice too,” he says.
You narrow your eyes at the wall instinctively. “You don’t have to lie to flirt with me.”
“I’m serious!” His accent slips out more clearly now, warm vowels wrapping around his words.
Cute. You glance down at your notebook, realizing you haven’t even written his name yet.
“Wait,” you say, laughing lightly. “I’ve been bullying your voice this whole time and I don’t even know your name.”
“Oh, right.” He chuckles sheepishly. “I’m Felix.”
Felix. The name suits him immediately. You introduce yourself back immediately.
“It’s nice to meet you,” he warmly says.
The sincerity in his tone catches you off guard. You’ve had plenty of pod dates already. Conversations that felt rehearsed, awkward, overly polished. But this feels strangely easy like talking to someone you’ve known longer than five minutes.
“So,” Felix says after a moment, “what’s your very important opinion on pineapple on pizza?”
You gasp dramatically. “Absolutely not.”
“What?!”
“That’s a dessert pretending to be dinner.”
“You’re breaking my heart already.”
“You asked.”
“I’m a chef,” he says, mock wounded. “This is devastating for me professionally.”
Your head snaps up. “Wait, you’re a chef?”
“Yeah.”
“Like… a real chef?”
He laughs again. “I think so?”
“Oh, that’s actually really attractive,” you admit before you can stop yourself.
“Oh,” his surprise sounds small and flustered.
You grin immediately, realizing you caught him off guard.
“How many points do I earn from that?”
“Uhm… five,” you playfully answer, still grinning.
“Just five?” he asks, offended.
“You’ll earn more if you tell me what kind of chef are you,” you say, curling your legs beneath you on the couch.
“Mostly pastry,” Felix confidently answers. “But I cook everything. I just really like feeding people.”
The answer comes so naturally that it makes something soften in your chest.
“Feeding people?” you repeat with a laugh. “That sounds very grandmother-coded of you.”
He gasps dramatically. “Excuse you. I’ll have you know I make excellent tiramisu.”
“Oh, okay,” you say, suddenly serious. “Now we’re talking.”
“You like tiramisu?”
“I would genuinely risk my life for good tiramisu.”
Felix bursts into laughter again, loud and delighted. “That’s such a dramatic statement.”
“It’s true.”
“And how many points do I earn from that?” he curiously asks. “It’s gotta be more than five.”
You don’t even hesitate. “Solid ten!”
“Oh, yeah,” Felix cheers, more like a growl than anything.
“I wouldn’t celebrate yet. You only earned fifteen points so far,” you remind him, a chuckle spilled out at the end of the sentence.
“Alright then,” he says playfully. “What’s your ultimate comfort food?”
You hum thoughtfully. “Instant ramen.”
“No way.”
“Yes way.”
“You had all the food in the world and picked instant ramen?”
“Okay, first of all, don’t judge me,” you defend immediately. “Second, specifically the spicy kind at two in the morning when life feels terrible.”
Felix laughs softly. “That’s… actually very real.”
“And yours?”
There’s a tiny pause before he answers. “My mom’s brownies.”
The softness in his voice changes the atmosphere instantly. You can almost picture his smile through the wall. “She used to make them whenever me or my sisters had a bad day. So now I make them for other people too.”
“That’s really sweet,” you murmur before you can stop yourself.
A shy laugh comes from the other side. “Thanks.”
The conversation drifts after that — favorite cafés, failed recipes, childhood snacks you both still secretly buy as adults. Felix tells you about accidentally pouring vinegar instead of wine once during culinary school. Then you confess that you once nearly started a fire trying to make pasta after coming home exhausted from work at two in the morning.
“You almost burned your kitchen down making pasta?” Felix asks through his laughter.
“In my defense, I was tired.”
“You forgot the pasta, didn’t you?”
“Maybe.”
“Amateur moves.”
His laughter fills the pod completely now, warm and infectious enough that you find yourself laughing with him, shoulders loosening for what feels like the first time since entering the experiment.
And when the chime signaling the end of the date finally rings, disappointment flickers through you before you can hide it.
“Oh,” Felix says softly. “Time’s up already?”
You hate that the little note of disappointment in his voice makes your stomach flip. “Guess so.”
A pause settles between you and then—
“I hope I get to talk to you again,” Felix says quietly.
Something warm unfurls in your chest. “Yeah,” you answer before you can overthink it. “Me too.”
The line disconnects and somehow, the pod suddenly feels quieter than before.
-
YOU: Felix is funny. Like—actually funny, not trying-too-hard funny. [softly laughs] And his voice is… [groans] See? Now I’m sitting here thinking about some guy’s voice. [laughs] Anyway, that was the first conversation that didn’t feel forced. I didn’t feel like I had to perform or impress him. It just felt… easy. And the way Felix talks… I don’t know. It feels warm.
...
MASTERLIST:
PART ONE
Or you can read it on Patreon:
LOVE IS BLIND: PART ONE. by seospicybin on Patreon. Join seospicybin's community for exclusive content and updates.
PART TWO Coming soon!
Or you can read it early on Patreon:
LOVE IS BLIND: PART TWO by seospicybin on Patreon. Join seospicybin's community for exclusive content and updates.
heyyyy i’m not sure if you take requests but if you do i was just wondering if you could write a chan smut that kinda has to do with reader loving his hands ..? if that makes any sense 😭😭
Synopsis: It starts as joke and have been running between you and Minho for a while — until it isn’t anymore. (2,4k words)
It starts as a joke.
The first time you say it is when he cooks dinner.
You’re sitting at the kitchen counter, chin in your hands, watching him move around and looking annoyingly good doing something as mundane as stirring a pan. His focused, dark brown eyes. The strands of hair falling over his forehead. The sharpness of his jaws. The slope of his nose.
He wipes his hands on a cloth when he’s done. Then slides a plate toward you.
“Eat before it gets cold,” he says without the slightest of zest.
“Thank you, my beautiful, private chef,” you teasingly say.
You pick up the fork, taking a piece of the pan seared salmon and shove it into your mouth. It tastes exactly as it looks. As you expected.
“Oh my god,” you gasp, eyes widen dramatically.
He rolls his eyes immediately. “What.”
“This is amazing,” you gasp, clutching your chest like you’ve just been emotionally wounded by good food.
The compliment doesn’t seem to faze him much as he continues eating his own dinner. Yet he looks just as attractive when he’s eating.
You put your hands under your chin, tilting your head slightly to the side as you dreamily sigh, “You’re hot and good at cooking…”
He only looks at you, unimpressed. And yet, his indifference is the biggest part of his charm.
You lean forward and sweetly say, “Please, marry me.”
He doesn’t even look up from his own plate of dinner. “No.”
Your lips curl into a pout. “No?”
“I already cooked for you. That’s more than enough commitment,” he simply answers and ever so casually, taking a sip of water.
The answer comes out so smoothly, so unexpectedly but at the same time, it’s so Minho. You burst out laughing, completely amused. And ever since, you can’t help but teasing him with the same joke, anticipating what his answer will be.
-
A week later he comes home with a fresh haircut.
You’re on the couch scrolling through your phone when he walks in, casually kicking off his shoes like he didn’t just drastically increase the apartment’s attractiveness level.
It amazes you how Minho losing a few inches of hair makes you stare and feel warm all over.
He notices as he walks to the kitchen to grab a glass of water. “What?”
“You look hot,” you say, biting your lower lip like it would help supress the dirty thoughts forming in your head. “Like… illegally hot.”
“It’s just a haircut,” he says, matter-of-factly.
You wait until he’s sitting on the sofa with you, scooting closer until you’re right there next to him and stare at him all over again with heart in your eyes.
“Gosh, I have the hottest man in the world as my boyfriend,” you sigh, a finger playfully tracing the prominent vein on his arm.
As usual, Minho is unfazed. He’s on his phone, typing on the screen with so much focus. You lean in closer, close enough to place light, little kisses along the side of his jaw and then a final one on the skin behind his ear, catching the hint of his perfume there.
“I’d destroy the world if you married someone else,” you feign seriousness as you whisper into his ear. “So please… marry me.”
That gets him turning his head toward you and stares at you for a long second. Then he shrugs and says, “Sounds like a you problem.”
With that, he turns his focus back on his phone, ignoring the way you pout and glare at him from the side.
But after a while, you smile as you soften around him again. You wrap your arms and legs around him, clinging to him despite him rejecting your playful proposal for the second time.
-
One evening you’re both sprawled on the couch. Minho is lying on his back with a cushion propped under his head and you — you lay on top of him with his muscular chest as your pillow, your legs are tangled with his. His arm wrapped around your back, fingers absentmindedly playing with the end of your hair.
Even doing something mundane like this — just watching a movie, cuddling on the sofa in a contented silence — feels special with him. It really is not about what you’re doing but who you’re doing it with.
You glance up at him and find him so focused on the TV, looking comfortable and warm and frustratingly boyfriend-shaped.
You sigh contentedly and softly call his name, “Minho.”
“Hm.”
“Please marry me.”
He doesn’t even look away from the screen. His tone flat and uninterested as he asks, “Why should I?”
You subtly shrug and say, “So we can do what married people do.”
One hand glides down to the base of your spine, threading his fingers there. He turns his head slightly. “Like what?”
You think about it seriously for a moment, humming in solemn. “We can open joint bank accounts.”
“Terrible idea.”
“Getting a mortgage.”
“Even worse.”
“Buying matching coffins.”
He finally turns fully toward you. “What?”
“So when we die we can be buried next to each other,” you explain matter-of-factly.
He stares at you like he’s reconsidering every life choice that led him here. “You skipped a lot of steps.”
You coyly shrug and grin.
“I’d prefer to be cremated though,” he says, putting both hands on your back now.
“Oh?” You softly gasp, slightly surprised. Then, a second later—
“Oh!” you gasp again, the kind that comes with an idea. A strange, weird idea. “We can have our ashes pressed into diamonds and inherit it to our future children.”
Minho’s lips quirk into a half smirk. “That’s actually a good idea,” he agrees.
You beam and snuggle closer, feeling proud of yourself. You burrow your head into the crook of his neck and softly whisper, “So let’s get married, yeah?”
He pats your head like you’re an overly affectionate cat. “No.”
The proposal isn’t that serious but your head lifts anyway when he rejects you for the third time. “No?”
This time, he looks at you when he says it again. “No.”
“Why not?”
He holds your face with both hands like you’re a fragile object but the answer he gives you is nothing like it. “Cause you’re getting harder to tolerate,” he flatly replies.
Instead of feeling offended, you crack a laugh and bump your nose with his. “I hate you,” you say, affectionately.
“See? Hard to tolerate,” he says, smirking.
But with each rejection, you find yourself falling harder for him. And a tiniest bit of hope that he’ll marry you. For real.
-
The joke continues.
Every time he does something nice.
When he brings you coffee.
“Please marry me.”
When he fixes the loose cabinet door you’ve been ignoring for months.
“Please marry me.”
When he wordlessly hands you a blanket because he noticed you were cold.
“Please marry me.”
His responses are always the same level of unimpressed.
“Unlikely.”
“No thanks.”
“Absolutely not.”
Or his personal favorite:
“I’m not in the mood.”
Even when you’re already tucked in bed, drowsy and tired, ready to sleep. You look at Minho who’s peacefully lying beside you with eyes closed. You lean in to his ear, whisper while half asleep.
“Please marry me, Minho.”
Minho’s eyes snap open and slowly, he turns his head toward you. He gives you a look of disbelief. Then he runs his fingers down your face to force you to close your eyes.
“Go to sleep.”
“But—”
This time, he cuts you off with by pressing a sudden, hard kiss on your lips. When he pulls away, he mutters, “Your proposal has been postponed.”
And you can’t really complaint when he shut you up like that. So instead, you snug closer to him and try to sleep. At the same, you’re already planning on proposing again tomorrow.
-
Weeks pass.
The joke never really stops. It just becomes part of your routine now.
As Minho is busy preparing dinner in the kitchen, you hug him from behind. You wrap your arms around him, resting your head on his shoulder and feeling comforted already by the mere feel of his body against you.
Minho continues cutting ingredients like this is just another Sunday afternoon. The sounds of his knife hitting the cutting board are the only thing filling the silence. Until—
“Please marry me,” you say, voice a little muffled as your mouth pressed to his neck.
Minho sighs but continues cutting the carrot now. “You’ve proposed to me twelve times today.”
You grin and teasingly say, “So?”
He turns his head, looking at you like he’s both impressed and bewildered that you haven’t given up already.
You don’t waver. Instead, you feel encouraged. “Statistically one of them will work eventually,” you confidently say.
He smirks and simply says, “Good luck with that.”
-
One night you come home exhausted. Work had been long and irritating and your brain feels like it’s running on fumes. When you open the apartment door, the smell of food greets you immediately.
Minho stands in the kitchen, the sleeves of his dark sweater rolled up to his elbows, putting too much focus on plating dinner.
Just the sight of him is enough to make the weight of the day vanishes into thin air. “I’m home,” you weakly announce.
“You’re late,” he says without looking up.
You walk up to him, giving him a quick hug while letting out a sigh. Like you’re trying to exhale all the heavy, worried minds out of your head. When you pull away, you offer him a small smile.
“I’m just going to put my bag away and wash up,” you say.
He seems to notice that you’re more exhausted than usual. He gives you a quick kiss on the lips before letting you go.
When you return, he’s already set everything on the dining table and now, filling your glass with red wine. You take your seat, stomach grumbling at the mouth-watering smell of the food in front of you.
It’s when Minho takes his seat, you finally allow yourself to start eating. It feels good to come home to the man you love and eat the food he cooked. You couldn’t be luckier than this.
“Good?” he asks.
You have to stop yourself from shoving more food to properly answer him. “So good,” you say with stuffed cheeks.
He smiles at that, warm and affectionate, before getting back to his own plate of dinner.
At the end of the dinner, you feel so content. Literally. Figuratively. You have a small sip of wine before leaning in to the side until your shoulder meets his and stay there.
You tilt your head, meeting his eyes. “Thank you for dinner,” you genuinely mutter.
Minho puts an arm around your shoulder. “Glad you enjoyed it,” he says, followed with a quick kiss to the top of your head.
You have another sip of wine and feeling playful when you look at him again. Then you hesitantly ask, “Marry me?”
For once, he doesn’t respond immediately. Instead, he looks back at you. He studies your face for a moment. Then, finally answers, “Okay.”
Wow! That’s a first.
But you know him too well to know that he’s only saying that as a joke, to boost your ego. Or lighten up your mood after a long, tiring day.
“You’re not supposed to say yes. You’re supposed to reject me,” you tell him, half-laughing.
He tilts his head slightly and blinks his eyes a few times. “Well, I changed my mind.”
You can’t tell if he’s being serious now or just messing with you. You nervously laugh and decide to entertain the idea. “Okay, let’s go to the city hall tomorrow and get a marriage certificate.”
“Okay,” he repeats.
Your heart starts beating faster. “You’re joking, right?” you carefully ask.
“I’m not,” his voice is calm. Serious.
Your stomach flips. “Minho…”
The arm around your shoulder feels warm and steady. He looks you in the eyes as he says, “I though you always wanted me to say yes.”
Your brain struggles to catch up. “Wait, are you actually—”
“Yes.”
You sigh, a part of you still struggling to believe this. “Minho, I need to know if you’re serious.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Why would I joke about that.”
You stare at him, completely stunned. “But I thought—”
“That it was just a joke?” he finishes.
You nod weakly.
He nonchalantly shrugs. “It started that way. But I thought about it.”
“And?” you whisper.
He looks at you like the answer is obvious. “And I decided I wouldn’t mind doing those things with you.”
Your voice comes out small. “Even the cremated part?”
He sighs like he’s fed up of you doubting his proposal. “If that’s what you want.”
A shaky laugh escapes you, half disbelief and half overwhelming emotion. “You’re really proposing right now?”
“You’re the one who proposed first.”
“That was a joke!”
“And this isn’t.”
The room feels very quiet suddenly. Despite the confusion, the suddenness of this moment, and the fact that it hasn’t sunk into you… your eyes start to sting.
“You’re serious…” you mutter to yourself while laughing in disbelief.
He gently squeezes your shoulder. “Do you want me to ask properly?”
You nod quickly.
He takes a small breath. Then, in the most Minho way possible, he says, “Do you want to marry me so we can open a joint bank account, get a mortgage and have our cremated ashes turn into diamonds?”
You burst into tearful laughter. “Yes. A thousand time yes,” you say immediately.
He nods once, satisfied. “Okay.”
With that, he pulls you into his arms like this was the most normal conversation in the world. That this is not him finally asking you to marry him and said yes to marrying you.
You cling to him, still laughing in disbelief. “Told you, one of them will work eventually,” you mumble into his shoulder.
“I know.”
You tilt your head up, looking at him in love and disbelief that you’ll have your forever with him. “Marry me, Minho,” you softly murmur it’s almost a whisper.
He leans in and places a chaste kiss on your lips. when he pulls away just enough to look at you, he smiles and says, “Already working on it.”
-
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Synopsis: When you signed up for a paid product testing program, you expected free samples and money. What you didn’t expect was to be paired with Hwang Hyunjin and assigned to test a series of increasingly questionable sexual wellness products together. (26,1k words)
Author's note: It's here. The final chapter is here. Thank you to each and every one of you who have been following this series. I hope you enjoy this one last one ❣️
You wake slowly. Your lashes flutter, the world still soft around the edges as you shift slightly against the bed, the sheets tangled somewhere around your legs. For a second, you don’t move, just lying there, letting sleep cling to you before you put your hand reaches and fumbles blindly across the bedside table, grabbing your phone, bringing it close enough to squint at the screen.
You slightly jolt at the realization that half of the day went by. “What—?” Your voice comes out hoarse, disbelieving.
You push yourself up slightly, brushing your hair away from your face and just sit there, back leaning against the headboard to give your brain time to catch up. You turn your head to the side and find Hyunjin still asleep. He’s sprawled across the bed with arms stretched, one leg half hanging off the mattress, the duvet completely kicked aside. It’s like he’s making snow angel in his dream.
You shake your head as a soft laugh slips out of you. You move his arm, setting it beside him as you shift closer. Your body naturally finding its place against his, and you nuzzle your face into the warm curve of his neck.
“Hey, wake up,” your voice comes out low and a little hoarse.
He’s too deep in his slumber to even respond. You try again by gently poking his cheek with your finger, followed by small, ticklish kisses along his jaw. Still, nothing. Not even a twitch.
You pull back slightly, narrowing your eyes at him as you sigh in annoyance, “Unbelievable…”
Well, if he won’t wake up, you will make him. You slide off the bed and walk over to the window, fingers gripping the curtain before pulling it open in one swift motion. Daylight instantly floods in, filling every corner of the room with bright, unforgiving late afternoon sun.
You turn to look at him, waiting if it does something to him and to your surprise, nothing. You exhale sharply through your nostrils and march back to the bed. You don’t even hesitate to jump and the mattress sinks as you land beside him, bouncing slightly as you lean over him.
“Come on! Wake up!” You say, pulling at his arm.
Finally, he stirs just slightly and groans. Then his arms moves as it reaches for you, wrapping around your waist and pulling you down with him. You let out a small sound of surprise as you collapse onto his chest.
Hyunjin is already settling again, eyes remain closed, breathing slow and even. Like he’s already halfway back to sleep again.
You huff softly and stack your hands together on his chest, resting your chin on it. Then you just watch him, all his beautiful features that complement each other perfectly. At the sight of his lips, an intrusive thought pops in your head and almost without thinking, your fingers lift, tracing lightly over his soft, plump lips.
Another intrusive thought pops and you cave in immediately — you lean down to press your lips against his, placing a gentle, lingering kiss on him.
You pull away just enough to put an inch between your lips. “Wake up. I’m hungry…” you mumble with coaxing tone.
He doesn’t answer, but his arms tighten around you, holding you closer. A bit later, he shifts and lifts his head to close the inch between your lips for a soft, sleepy kiss. Then he drops back onto the pillow.
He takes a moment to gather his senses and then his eyes fluttering open. When they meet yours, he breaks into a lazy grin. A gentle hand lands on the top of your head, thumb tucking away a strand of hair on your temple.
“Room service?” he murmurs.
You shake your head. “No. Let’s go out.”
He stares at the ceiling, like he’s thoughtfully considering it. Then he nods. “Okay.”
You smile and place a quick kiss on his lips. “I’m going to get ready,” you say.
You press your hands into the mattress, about to push yourself up when all of a sudden, his arms tighten again and holding you in place.
“Hey—”
“Five more minutes,” he mumbles, voice thick with sleep.
You glare down at him. “Just five?”
“Mmm-hm.”
“Just five more minutes,” you warn as you let yourself sink back down, melting into him.
However, five minutes turn into… more than five. By the time the two of you step out of the hotel for a late lunch and it turns into an early dinner. Despite it, the food tastes better and maybe because you skipped an entire half of the day with sleep. Or maybe it’s just him. Either way, you both finish the meals rather too quickly.
On the bright side, it gives you and him time to walk down to the beach, just in time to enjoy the sunset.
By the time you’re sitting on the sand, side by side, the sky is already starting to shift, the blue deepening, warm colors slowly bleeding into the horizon as the sun lowers itself toward the water.
You pull your knees up slightly, arms wrapped loosely around them as you watch. “Can’t believe we just wasted another day like that…” you sigh with a pout.
Hyunjin leans back, hands propping against the sanding behind him. “We didn’t just waste it,” he mutters in disagreement.
You turn your head and narrow your eyes at him. “If only you weren’t scowling and upset with me all the time,” you say, teasing him.
He scoffs at that and without looking at you, he says, “Pfft… I told you I wasn’t upset.”
“Yeah, but you were scowling.”
“I wasn’t.”
You softly laugh and then playfully bump his shoulder with yours. “Yet you’re the one who says why I’m the girl with the adorable scowl,” you casually say, glancing sideway to see his reaction.
It takes him seconds to process your words and realizes where they came from. Yet, he decides to act oblivious and coyly says, “What are you talking about?”
You glare at him, giving him another shoulder bump. “Oh, don’t act like you don’t know.”
He just looks at you, feigning innocence like he never heard it before. Or that those exact words firstly came out of his own mouth.
“I know you recommended me to Jane. For the test program,” you tell him.
Hyunjin pauses for a second and then smirks. Like you figuring it out just now is entertaining.
Offended, you elbow his side, but he barely reacts. “You acted so convincingly at the seminar. Like you didn’t know we were paired.”
That gets him bursting into laughter, his head tilting back slightly, shoulders shaking as the sound escapes him freely.
It annoys you even more so you elbow him again, a little harder. “Stop laughing.”
“Sorry,” he says, not sounding sorry at all.
You cross your arms slightly, turning more serious now. “Why did you choose me anyway?”
That question lingers a little longer than the others. Hyunjin simply shrugs and says, “Because I wanted to annoy you.”
You elbow him again. “Be serious!”
He laughs again, dodging slightly this time. “Okay, okay—”
He thinks for a second and then tries again. “Because it’d be fun. Doing it with you.”
The answer is more honest than before but you elbow him anyway. Harder. “Try again.”
“Hey—” he winces, hand coming up to his side. “That one hurt.”
“Good.”
He exhales, rubbing his ribcage. This time, he looks at you as he seriously answers. “Because I always wanted to get close to you and I just didn’t know how.”
You go quiet. Your gaze softens without you meaning it to. A smile starts to form anyway and you look away before he can see too much of it, looking back to the horizon where the sky is now painted in orange and pink, the sun dipping lower, reflecting across the water.
“You should’ve chosen Gabe,” you say, almost absentmindedly.
“What’s the fun in doing it with someone who already likes me?” he says without a beat.
You let out a scoff of disbelief. “Yeah, sure, the girls go crazy for a cocky guy like you,” you sneer.
He turns to you and beams as he lightly says, “See? Who needs affection when I have blind hatred?”
You try not to fall in easily but a soft laugh slips out before you can stop it. And when he puts his arm around you, you instantly lean into him, fitting there easily.
Hyunjin leans in to press a kiss on the top of your head and then brings his mouth close to the side of your head. “I know you like this cock,” he whispers with a teasing edge.
You tilt your head up, meeting his eyes and letting him see the way yours widen in surprise. You elbow him again, but this time is more like a nudge.
He laughs in satisfaction and draws you closer to his side. “I mean, I know you like this cocky guy,” he corrects, still laughing.
A beat later, he corrects again, “A charming, cocky guy.”
You shake your head at that but at the same time, can’t help the way your lips curve into a smile.
He looks at you, still with that grin on his face and then he presses a gentle kiss on your lips, long enough for the warmth of it to spread all over you.
When the kiss breaks, the two of you turn your head back to the way the sun sinking deeper into the horizon, the sky darkens and the air cooling. The way everything else feels like it’s slowing down around you.
Aside from the fact that everything happened before this is not as accidental as you think.
But this, here, right now — you’re both here because you chose to be with each other.
In this moment.
-
The elevator is empty when you step in. Hyunjin hurriedly presses the number to your hotel floor without letting go of your hand and soon, the doors slide shut. Before the elevator even starts moving, you reach for him. Your fingers gripping the front of his shirt, pulling him forward until he’s standing right in front of you, your back pressing lightly against the wall.
He doesn’t resist. Instead, his hands come to your waist, holding you steady as his eyes drop to meet yours. “So, what’s our plan for the night?” he casually asks, but there’s something underneath it.
You glide your hands up his arms, hands resting on the nape of his neck, playing softly with the strands of hair there. You don’t answer. You just keep looking at him and that alone is enough to create tension between you and him.
His grip tightens just slightly at your waist. “Are you hungry already? Should we get room service later?” he asks, a smirk threatening to show.
With the hand rested on the back of his head, you pull him closer and without the slightest bit of hesitation, you kiss him.
It catches him off guard for a fraction before he melts into it, kissing you back like he’s been waiting for it with one hand stays on one side of your waist, the other trailing up your spine.
You open your mouth wider just to let him have as much taste as he can, letting him deepens the kiss and then slowly, you pull away. But he follows, chasing for your lips, for another kiss.
Before he can execute it, the elevator dings and the doors slide open. Then a group of people steps inside. And just like that, Hyunjin stops and straightens, but he stays where he is, close to you.
You can’t help but chuckle seeing his exasperated expression and the way he tries to compose himself. But his eyes— His eyes are still on you.
Feeling mischievous, you tilt your head just slightly, gaze dropping to his lips before flicking your eyes up and stare deeply into his eyes. You pull him close, close enough that only he can hear you when you speak.
“I have a plan for us tonight.”
This time, he stops himself from hiding his smirk. “Yeah?”
You rise onto your tiptoes, allowing you to speak right into his ear. Your lips lightly grazing the shell of his ear as you whisper, “Trust me. It’ll be fun.”
You linger there for a few more seconds before pulling back and look at him. The smile you give him is flirtatious and knowing. Like you didn’t just leave him there, caught between curiosity, intrigue… And something else entirely.
The elevator continues to climb, floor by floor and you can tell that Hyunjin is wondering what you have planned for tonight.
-
The second Hyunjin closes the door behind him and then turns, you run to him. Your hands grabbing onto him, your body colliding into his hard enough that it pushes him back a step and at the same time, your lips crash into his.
Hyunjin lets out a soft, surprised sound against your mouth, caught off guard by the force of it, but it only takes him a heartbeat before he’s kissing you back. Eagerly, like this is the only thing he thinks about since the elevator.
Your bodies tangle immediately, moving clumsily that your feet stepping over each other, as you push him backward, guiding him toward the bed without breaking the kiss. The kiss is messy and breathless, desperate in places. Yet you don’t stop, you keep steering until the back of his knees hit the edge of the bed. And then, you pull away, gasping for air when your mouths finally detached.
You flash him a smirk as you put both hands on his chest and then push him, hard and he falls back onto the mattress. A soft exhale escaped his parted as he lands, eyes already on you with excitement flickering in them. His smirk returns like a tell that he’s already enjoying this. Like he wants to see what you’ll do next.
You don’t make him wait for it. You climb onto him, straddling him easily, your knees settling on either side of his hips as you lean down and put your lips on him again. This time, you kiss him harder and deeper, teeth gently biting at his lower lip, tongue twirling around his.
Hyunjin’s hands coming up to your waist, gripping, pulling you closer like there’s even space left between you. You let him yourself get drawn to the temptation, feeding in on his hunger for you.
When your lungs start to burn and your breath turns uneven, only then do you pull away. Reluctantly. Your hand comes up beside his head, bracing yourself as you hover over him, looking down.
He’s already looking back at you with dark, lustful eyes and solely focused on you. His hand lifts, brushing your hair away from your face, tucking it back gently like he doesn’t want anything in the way of seeing you.
“Is this the fun plan?” he asks, voice a little rough.
You seductively smile and then lean down to press a quick, innocent kiss to his lips. “No.”
That throws him and you immediately see the confusion on his face. You pull back with a small smirk and cup his jaw. “Give me a few minutes as I get things ready,” you say.
His eyebrow lifts and you can almost see every thought running through his head, every possibility stacking on top of each other. It almost makes you laugh at how much you enjoy this. Instead, you lean in again, stealing one more kiss before pulling away completely.
“Now, wait here and don’t come out until I call you.”
With that, you slide off him, off the bed, leaving him there watching you as you step back. You walk toward the sliding doors, each hand reaching to pull them closed. Before you shut them completely, you pop your head in between and warn him one last time.
“Stay and wait here.”
You doubt that he hears you right or that he’d listen to your warn anyway. You lift a finger and pointing it at him. “Don’t come out until I call you,” you warn again, firmer but with a playful smile decorated your face.
Hyunjin doesn’t answer or confirm, he only grins at you. You choose to trust him that he’ll be a good boy and does as you instructed. Then you take one last step back and close the doors
-
Hyunjin stays where you left him. He’s lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling and patitently waiting for your call. It’s only been a minute, he’s sure he needs to wait longer so he lets out a quiet sigh, a disbelieving huff slipping past his lips as one hand brushes his dark locks to the back.
What just happened?
Hyunjin slowly backtracked everything he did together with you. Waking up to your soft, loving call of his name. Ate late lunch/early dinner together. Enjoyed the beautiful sunset together. You found out that he recommended you to Jane and wasn’t upset about it as he thought you would. You whispered that you have a fun plan prepared for tonight. You kissed him, pushed him hard onto the bed. You kissed him more, straddling him and pining him under. And now, you’re making him wait as you’re preparing something behind those doors.
He lets his arms stretch out before tucking them behind his head and stares up as his mind slowly catching up with everything.
It’s a lot to process all at once, but strangely, he doesn’t feel overwhelmed. If anything… He feels good that everything is out and that it doesn’t make things awkward or complicated. He feels really, really good.
And while he waits, his thoughts drift back to you, to whatever you’re doing behind those doors. There’s only so many directions his brain wants to go and none of them are exactly innocent. He exhales through his nose, a smirk forming as he shifts slightly on the bed as he lets himself indulges in the imaginations.
Maybe you’re changing into something… nice. Something you know would surprise him in so many ways, except innocently. Or maybe, you’re going around the room, setting a few things to be more ‘in the mood’. Or maybe—
Oh, man. The longer he waits, the more his imagination fills in the blanks and the more impatient he gets.
With a small groan, he rolls onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow, eyes fixed on the doors like he can somehow will them open faster. But nope, they’re still closed, still quiet.
“Few minutes are up,” he calls out, voice just loud enough to carry through.
A while later, he can hear the faint sound of your laughter. “Just a little bit more,” you reply.
He smiles just from hearing your voice and laugh — Which honestly is kind of insane. He shakes his head slightly, amused at himself before deciding to push it further.
“I’m getting sleepy,” he says, dragging out the words.
“Then go to sleep,” you answer without a beat.
Hyunjin breaks into laughter as he’s dropping his head back onto the bed again, one arm falling over his eyes. God. Love is so silly and embarrassing.
A moment later, you finally call for him. “Okay, you can come out now.”
Hyunjin scrambles to get up, swings his legs off the bed and stands. He pauses for a brief moment by the doors, hands on the handles like he’s bracing himself for whatever’s on the other side.
After a deep inhale of air, Hyunjin parts the doors open and his eyes automatically sweep over the room, looking for the ‘fun plan’ you’ve been talking about. He notices that the lights aren’t dimmed, no candles surrounded the space or the sofa has not been cozied up for a certain activity. And when his eyes land on you, you’re still wearing the same dress, more covered than what he imagined earlier. He only sees you there, sitting on the carpeted floor right in front of the low table.
Your arms thrown wide in the air, beaming at him like you’ve just revealed something spectacular. “TADA!”
He gives it another look-around, scanning the room like maybe he’s missing something, but no. But when his gaze return to you, he finally notices something on the table. Some kind of board game.
He takes a slow step forward, still processing. “This is your fun plan?”
You grin as you nod in confirmation.
He steps closer, like proximity might somehow change what he’s seeing. “Board game?”
You nod again. “Yes.”
Hyunjin just stands there for a second, staring at you and at the board. And then back at you. A breath escapes him. Half disbelief. Half laughter threatening to break through. “You made me wait for this?”
There’s no real complaint in his voice. He’s just… slightly baffled yet amused. But also, he knows this is just so you.
You smile as you pat the space on the carpeted floor beside you. “Come. Sit.”
He obeys, lowering himself onto the carpet, crossing his legs as he settles in, his gaze flicking from your bright, expectant grin to the board in front of him. Still confused.
“What kind of board game is this?” he asks, brows slightly drawn together.
Before you can answer, there’s knocking on the door. You’re moving, quick on your feet as you hurry to the door, leaving him sitting there, blinking after you like this whole thing just keeps getting stranger.
When you return, you have a bottle of champagne cradled in one arm and carrying a tray with both hands. His eyes follow every step as you lower it onto the table, two champagne flutes with a wine opener and then, something mysterious hidden under a metal lid.
As if you know he’s curious with what’s inside, you lift the lid to reveal a bowl of strawberries and melted chocolate in the other smaller bowl. The memory of that one movie night hits him instantly.
You hand him the bottle of champagne, along with the wine opener. “Will you please open it?”
“Certainly,” he says as he takes them. His hands skilfully working with the cork until it loosens and pops open. A soft fizz follows, bubbling at the neck as he quickly pours into both glasses, careful not to spill a drop. He quickly clinks his glass gently against yours and takes a big sip to not let it spill over. The wine is slightly fruity and smooth, instantly refreshing him.
He exhales quietly, setting the glass aside before leaning forward again, eyes back on the board. It looks like a game of monopoly but he knows for sure that it’s not it.
“What kind of game is this?” he asks again.
“It’s a fun game,” you simply answer with a grin.
He lets out a small sigh, already half-exasperated. “I mean, how do you play it?”
You softly giggle and then patiently explain that it’s just like any other board game. He only needs to roll dice and then moves the pieces according to the number he gets, but even that feels vague, like you’re intentionally leaving things open.
“Let’s just learn as we go,” you finish, waving it off.
He doubts that that’s all it is. But he chooses to trust you, for now. “Okay.”
You take another sip of wine, then glance at him. “Ready to play?”
He mirrors you, lifting his glass for a quick sip before setting it down. “Yeah.”
He straightens a little, focus settling in and gets his head in the game. But then, you look at him again.
“To start, we have to look lovingly into each other’s eyes,” you carefully instruct, setting the two pieces on the starting square. “And whoever blinks last gets the first turn.”
He scoffs lightly, a competitive spark lighting up immediately. “Just so you know, I’m good at staring games.”
You smile like you already know something he doesn’t. “Let’s begin by close our eyes first and open them at the count of three.”
Hyunjin closes his eyes right away and across from him, he hears the subtle shift of you turning to face him fully.
Your voice slower and softer now as you start to count down. “One… two…”
He breathes in and as soon as the word “three” is out of your mouth, he opens his eyes. and it startles him just a little to find you leaning in so close. Your face right there, merely an inches away from his with a sly smile playing on your lips as you look straight into his eyes.
Suddenly, this isn’t a game anymore. Something about the way you’re just looking at him and the unspoken words flickering in them — It does something to him. Because all he can think about is how easy it would be to close the gap between your lips. It’s a test on his restraint.
“We’re supposed to lovingly look into each other’s eyes,” he mutters, trying to hold onto some control.
You giggle and when you stop, your teeth fainty biting at your lower lip. Then, you lean in even closer. “What do you think I’m doing?” you murmur.
He knows you’re baiting him, knows you’re pushing him right to that edge on purpose.
And still, he holds onto his restraint just a little longer, a little stronger. But god, the way you’re looking at him. The way your eyes don’t waver, almost daring him. The way your lips are right there. He feels his restraint slipping and eventually, he gives in.
He lifts his hand, cupping your face as he closes the distance and finally, kisses you. Like that’s what this was always leading to. The kiss is gentle yet deep
“I won,” you triumphantly declare as soon as he pulls away.
He exhales, dropping his head back slightly as he rolls his eyes. “Yeah, okay. Take the first turn. Whatever.”
But as he turns toward the board, there’s a smile tugging at his lips anyway. Because honestly? He doesn’t feel like he lost at all.
-
Hyunjin leans forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees as he watches you take the dice.
You shake it in your hand in confidence and then toss it onto the table. It rolls and then stops on a five.
His eyes follow your hand as you move your piece across the board, counting softly under your breath until it lands on a square marked with a small cherry. He tilts his head, curious. “What does that mean?”
“It means I get a sweet treat,” you answer, reaching for the tray. You pick up a strawberry and dip it slowly into the melted chocolate. Then take a bite.
His eyes stay on you, watching the way your lips wrap around it, the chocolate catching slightly at the corner of your mouth.
You chew and smile a little to yourself. Then glance at him. “It’s your turn.”
He quickly snaps himself out of it. He grabs the dice, rolling it between his fingers before tossing it onto the table. Three. He moves his piece and it lands on a square marked with a pair of lips.
His brow lifts slightly in confusion. “And what this one means?”
“You get to kiss.”
His mouth twitch but before it can form into a smile, you place a different dice into his hand. This one is red and eight-sided, there are words written on each side of it.
“Now, roll this one,” you instruct.
He barely has time to read what’s written on each side of the dice. He rolls and then tosses it onto the table. It lands on… Hand.
“Hand?”
You nod, like this is completely normal. “That means you get to kiss me on the hand.”
He scoffs lightly. Not because he doesn’t want to, but because he wants to kiss you somewhere else. But still, a kiss is a kiss, it counts when it’s with you. He takes your hand and brings it up. Then gently presses a kiss on the back of it and another on your wrist. He doesn’t stop there as his lips trail upward, making a trail of ferocious, little kisses up your arm.
You giggle in reaction, trying to pull back. “You only have to kiss my hand!”
“I am,” he says, half-laughing, not stopping. “I’m kissing your whole hand.”
You laugh harder, finally tugging your arm away, but he’s already smiling to himself, satisfied.
He picks up the red dice again, this time actually reading it. Lips, cheek, forehead, neck. His eyebrow lifts when he reads, ‘Free’.
“Free?”
“That means you can kiss wherever you want,” you casually answer.
His lips curve into a seductive smirk. “Wherever?”
“Wherever,” you repeat.
You roll again before he can say anything else and this time, your piece steps on a square with a question mark on it. You reach for the stack of card with identical mark, picking up a card and flipping it over to read what’s written on it.
“What’s the sexiest part of your partner’s body?”
His gaze slightly intensifies. A slow smirk forming as he leans back slightly, waiting in anticipation for your answer.
He suddenly aware of the way your eyes travel down his body. Not just looking, but scanning, taking him in. He notices the way your eyes linger around the lower half of his body before flicking back up to meet his eyes.
You flash him a cryptic, naughty smile before finally say your answer. “Your eyes.”
He lets out a quiet chuckle, doubting your answer. “My eyes? Really?”
You nod, certain.
Hyunjin leans in, leaning in too close that his breath ghosts your lips. “I thought you’d say something else.”
Your head tilts slightly, eyes daringly stare back at him. “Huh? What did you think it is?”
His gaze dips for a second and instead of answering, he chooses to show you. He takes your hand again, bringing it up, brushing your fingers lightly against his lips. His voice is dropping lower now. “Are you sure it’s not my lips?”
You smile as he continues to use your fingertips to feel the softness of his lips. “Your lips are sexy too. But…”
“But…?”
You catch his chin in your hand and then turn his face back toward the board game. “But it’s your turn now.”
He huffs out a laugh and then takes the dice again, rolling it with a small shake of his head.
It lands on a martini glass.
“You get to drink,” you quicky explains.
“That’s boring,” he grumbles. Yet, his hand reaching for his glass, taking a sip of the bubbly wine, feeling refreshed once again.
You’re already rolling again. Six. You waste no time to move your piece forward, landing on a square marked with a chili pepper. You take a card from another stack with the same drawing on the, and read it out loud.
“Give your partner a passionate kiss for 15 seconds.”
Oh. That’s how this game works. Each square is a command but the cards are specified commands depend on their signs. So far, the question mark is for questions. The chili pepper one is for spicy commands. Then, there’s another stack with a heart on it and that one is still unknown.
But wow! Finally! Something exciting.
You dramatically sigh as you prop a hand under your chin. “Why does this feel like a punishment?”
He doesn’t even try to hide his smile, turning his body slightly facing you and patiently wait for you to come to him.
You let out another sigh before crawling your way toward him and then, you climb onto his lap like you’ve already accepted your fate. His heart starts beating faster as your hands come up, cupping his face as you look down at him.
For a second, you just look, letting the anticipation builds and builds. When you close your eyes, he does the same. The first touch of your lips is light, testing and you pull back just slightly, just enough to tilt your head to the side. You part your mouth open before leaning in once more, kissing him deeper yet slower, letting him feeling every brush of your lips on his, the way you suck on his lower lip and coaxing him to open his mouth by gently biting at it. Of course, he caves in eventually and the kiss grows more certain, more consuming.
The tension keeps building with every second as you lean more into him, your tongue brushes his and twirling it with his, enough to pull a quiet breath from him before you latch on him again, kissing him with everything you’ve got.
Fifteen seconds suddenly feels way too short. Because just when he’s getting lost in it, you pull away.
You’re smiling as you mutter, “Time’s up.”
He chases after your lips, wanting more, needing more. “Just a bit more…” he breathlessly whine, almost pathetically.
You only give him a quick peck on the lips and then slide off his lap, settling back to your spot like nothing happened. He almost shakes his head at the way you mercilessly tease him and act like you didn’t just do that.
You grab the dice again and he stops you by wrapping his hand around yours. “Hey, it’s my turn.”
“I got six,” you say, opening his grip on your hand. “So I get to roll again.”
Hyunjin reluctantly lets go and you toss the dice onto the table. Five. Your piece lands on the cherry. He sighs because it’s the boring one, but he quickly reaches for the bowl of strawberries.
“I’ll do it for you,” he says.
You let him and watch as he takes one, dipping the strawberry into the chocolate, holding it up to your lips. Once you take a bite of it, he shoves the rest into his mouth and licks the chocolate off his fingers.
When you look at the board, you grin and clap your hands together. “I finished one lap.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“First to finish three laps wins.”
Okay, now that he understands how the game works, —well, most of it— he realizes that winning the game is not really the point.
Hyunjin takes his turn, still feeling the warmth of you lingering in his arms as he rolls the dice. Four. His piece stops on a square with the heart on it.
You point at the stack of card. “Pick a card.”
He eyes you suspiciously before reaching for the stack, picking one from the top and flipping it over. He reads the command loud enough for the two of you to hear.
“Hug your partner for 30 seconds.”
He puts the card down and mumbles, “Only 30 seconds? That’s cruel.”
You softly laugh at that but don’t seem to mind as he’s already moving. He stands on his knees and offers you his hands, helping you up with him until you’re facing each other. First, he puts his hands on your waist and then slowly, he pulls you in until there’s no space left between you. And just like that, you’re in his arms.
Your arms loop around his shoulders, one hand drifting up to the back of his head, fingers lightly scratching there. It makes him relax and leans in further, burying his face into the crook of your neck like he’s just found the most comfortable, safest place for him to be.
Time flew by and when you murmur softly that time’s up, he only tightens his hold.
“Give me like…” his voice is muffled by your skin. “…thirty more hours of it.”
You chuckle at that and let him, your hand sliding to his back, landing comforting rubs there. And for a moment, he forgets everything else, including the fact that this is a part of a game.
You pull back just enough to look at him and say, “We have to continue.”
Reluctantly and with a dramatic pout, he lets you go and the two of you settle back onto the carpeted floor.
You take your turn and you land on the chili pepper. Again. His interest peaked as you grab a card and read it. “Sit on your partner’s lap until your next turn.”
The grin on his face is so wide that his cheeks hurt. He folds his legs together and pats his lap. “Come, girl. Come on!” he calls for you like he’s summoning his pet puppy.
The annoyed sigh makes a return as you move and sit on his lap. His arm wraps around your waist immediately, holding you close like you’d float away if he didn’t. He leans in without thinking, sneaking a kiss on your neck. You sharply glare at him for it, but he ignores it as puts his focus on the game.
His piece lands on the question mark and he confidently picks up a card from the stack. “When do you find your partner the most beautiful?”
Hearing the question, you turn your head, looking at him over your shoulder, putting all of your attention on him.
He tosses the card aside, both arms wrapping around you now as he thoughtfully thinking like this is a question that will alter his life. “You’re the most beautiful when… you’re working.”
Your expression is pure confusion for one second and turns a little surprised in the next one.
“When you’re focused… serious… you have that faint little scowl on your face,” He can see the way you’re holding yourself back from smiling as he continues. “You’re too busy taking care of… everything else you don’t even realize how beautiful you look.”
You let your smile shows and then narrow your eyes at him. “Correction! It’s an adorable scowl,” you playfully say with a grin.
He nods at that and before your smile disappears, he kisses the corner of your mouth.
“It’s my turn now,” you say, sliding off his lap. You give a dice a good shake and roll it onto the table. Five. The piece lands on the kiss square.
His eyebrow perks up in excitement as you take the red dice and roll it across the table. It stops just on the edge and on the word, ‘Neck’. Before he can even tease you for it, you lean in to place a quick, fleeting kiss press of your lips against his neck. Barely there.
“Hey, that doesn’t count,” he instantly protests.
“But it was a kiss. On the neck,” you say, matter-of-factly with a faint grin.
“That was nothing.”
You crack a laugh and this time, when you lean in, you lean in slower and more deliberate. Your lips press to his neck, warm and soft, and then, your tongue brushes over the skin in a light, teasing lick. It’s quick but enough to make his eyes fluttering and sending a shiver down his spine. A quiet inhale slipping from between his parted lips before you pull away, smiling like you know exactly what you just did.
You place the dice in his hand. “Your turn.”
Hyunjin is still reeling from the kiss and he inhales air to recover from it, shaking the dice in his palm, eyes already locked on a specific square. The chili pepper square. Three steps away. He brings his fist to his mouth, blowing on it like it’ll bring him luck and then tosses it.
Three. He lets out a quiet, satisfied hum. He keeps his calm as he picks up the card from the stack and reads it silent.
“This is fun,” he mutters with a slow, dangerous smirk stretches across his face.
You lean in, trying to read what’s written on the card. “What does it say?”
He reads it aloud for you. “Take one piece of your partner’s clothing off.”
You groan immediately as you look down and realize there’s not much to undress as you’re in a dress. “Great. I should’ve worn layers.”
He leans back slightly, considering his options and watching your cute, annoyed face. It seems obvious to you that he’d go for the dress and he lets you think that by reaching for the hem of your dress, lifting it slowly.
Your eyes lock with his as your thighs are now exposed and you slightly lift your hips off the floor as he lifts the hem higher and higher and then—
He changes direction, letting go of the hem and slips his hand under, and then higher until his fingers meeting the waistband of your underwear. Your eyes widening in reaction, a low gasp contained behind your pressed lips and that alone is enough to push him further.
He takes his time as he hooks his fingers in the fabric and then pulls it down, slowly and deliberately. He lets out a sigh when the silky fabric comes into sight and keeps his eyes on it as he continues to pull it down your legs until it’s off of you. He shamelessly takes a quick sniff and shoves it into the pocket of his shirt after. Then leans back with a satisfied look, like he just won something.
You shake your head at him, taking a sip of your drink like you’re suddenly thirsty from the little stunt he pulled. You breathe in air before taking the dice in your hand again and roll it. Your piece stands on the square with the heart on it.
You pick up a card from the stack and read it. “Whisper three compliments to your partner.”
You put the card away with a sigh. “Oh, man, I wish I have something nice to say to you,” you jokingly mutter, giving him a side glance.
Hyunjin only smiles at you and calmly says, “You can say I’m charming. I’m fun to be with. Or that I’m good at annoying you.”
“The last one sounds about right,” you say with a smile. You scoot closer, bringing your mouth close to his side and get quiet as you think.
When you’re ready, you lean in closer and he tilts his head to meet you halfway. Your lips brushing near his ear as you whisper, “I think you’re a talented artist.”
He smiles and nods. “A hundred percent agree!”
You hum as you pause and think again. “You’re very good at annoying me,” you whisper.
He opens his mouth to protest but you quickly add, “… As good as making me smile and laugh.”
And he can’t help but smile at that. He doesn’t expect that one to make his heart fluttering inside his chest.
“And…” you whisper as you continue.
He softly gazes into your eyes and echoes, “And…?”
“You’re good at…” your words trail off as your finger playing with the button on his shirt, intentionally making him wait for it. When your eyes meet his again, you finally finish the sentence. “You’re good at making me feel good.”
That compliment has double entendre and he knows you did that on purpose. Because now he can’t decide whether he should be touched or aroused, or both. But one thing for sure, the compliment gives him a boost of confidence.
You hold his gaze for second longer, letting him read the intention behind your compliments before taking the dice and put it in his hand. “Okay, time to roll.”
With a sigh, Hyunjin takes the dice in his hand and gets four. The piece lands on the kiss square and he knows his way around the game now. He grabs the red dice. His eyes darken slightly as the dice stops on the word, ‘Free’.
“Kiss wherever I want…” he mutters with a look of mischief.
You only shake your head in defeat, a smile supressed to hide your amusement.
He crawls to you, taking your legs and turning you to face him. He uses his hand to part them open, the hem of your dress covering what’s in between but not the fact that you’re bare underneath.
You stay where you are, calmly leaning back with your hands propped against the floor, legs parted open. A faint smirk lingering on your lips.
Hyunjin flashes you a seductive smile before lowering his mouth, lower and lower until his head buried between your legs. He presses his nose against your inner thigh, drinking in the scent that clings to your skin.
You remain still as he trails up your thigh and not stopping until his mouth meeting your bare sex, warm and wet. He hums as he inhales the arousing smell and then leans in to kiss your clit. Your body jerks for a fraction as he uses his tongue next, just the tip, circling on your bundle of nerves and then taking it into his mouth again. He got you. He got you good. But the truth is he’s just as affected. Maybe more.
A breathless gasp falls out of your mouth as he continues kissing at your clit. Like he’s making out with it. A hand comes to tangle it in his dark locks, gently tugging at it. “It says a kiss,” you tell him.
Hyunjin smiles against your heating cunt and drags his lips to the side, kissing on the skin around your arousal. “It is a kiss.”
Then he pulls back just enough to put his tongue out. “It’s one—” he pauses to land a lick between your folds. “…long—” a lick. “…continuous—” another lick. “…kiss.”
A soft, amused chuckle escaped your lips as one knee bends higher than the other, toes curling against the carpet. But you manage to stay calm despite the way his tongue and lips hungrily eating your cunt.
“I’m going to take my turn anyway,” you casually say.
A hand stay tangled in his hair while the other reaches for the dice, shaking it in your palm and toss it onto the table. He can hear the way you shift and move your piece on the board. Then—
“I won.”
With his head buried between your legs and the hem of your dress cloaked over it, Hyunjin couldn’t care less about anything else, whether he wins or loses. He’s got everything he wants and needs right here, on his mouth.
You tug harder at his hair, forcing him to pull away and he reluctantly detaches his mouth, looking up at you with his mouth glistening wet with your essence. “Didn’t you hear me? I won,” you tell him.
Hyunjin innocently shrugs and says, “So?
“That means I get to do whatever I want,” you say with a triumphant grin.
His brows knitted into a questioning look. “You didn’t mention it earlier,” he grumbles.
You cup the side of his face and coyly smile. “It’s not like you care about the rules and all that.”
Hyunjin kind of expected that you kept something from him and that whoever wins get to have that privilege. But then again, he doesn’t really care about it. He has you and therefore, he won. Without thinking, he throws himself at you and taking you with him, collapsing onto the carpeted floor. Then wastes not another second to plant his mouth on yours.
The game completely forgotten now as you kiss him back, legs wrapping around his waist as you draw him close until there’s not even an inch left between your bodies. You let him put his weight on you, arms wrapped around his back as he deepens the kiss, kissing you without restraint now.
When he deems you need a second to breathe, he lets go. His big hand frames the side of your face, keeping you still so he can stare at your face as he pleases.
“I won,” you say again, a hand braced against his chest.
“Yeah, I heard the first time,” he waves you off while continuously gazing into your eyes.
You glide your hand up to his neck, feeling his pulse there and smiles. “It’s time for the real fun plan,” you declare.
His brows lift in curiosity. “What is it?”
Your hand reaches under the table and pulls out the box. He immediately recognizes it as a welcome gift from the pharmaceutical company. You lift the lid, put your hand inside to look for something without looking. Once you found it, you lift it up.
Furry handcuffs. His eyes slightly widen at it while you tilt your head slightly, a teasing smile tugging at your lips. “The fun plan.”
-
The bed makes a soft creak as you get on top of him again, straddling his hips, your weight grounding him into the mattress as your lips crash into his. The kiss is unlike ones you’ve given him before. It’s heat and urgency and something reckless threaded through it. His breath catches against your mouth as he tries to keep up, hands feeling you through your clothes.
You’re just as impatient, clumsy fingers working on his shirt, tugging at buttons like you don’t have the patience to do it properly.
He huffs a quiet laugh into the kiss, half breathless, half wrecked by it. The sound dissolves when your mouth presses harder, stealing whatever thought he had left. So he gives in, pushing himself up just enough to shrug the shirt off his shoulders, tossing it somewhere behind him without looking.
You don’t even pause. Your lips are back on his instantly, coming at him like you’ve been waiting for it and he lets himself fall back again, fully pinned beneath you as you take what you want, and he gives it just as eagerly. His hands tighten on you, pulling you closer, like there’s still space left between your bodies when there isn’t.
When you finally pull away, his chest rises and falls a little faster, eyes already searching yours.
“It’s fun time,” you breathlessly murmur with a wicked smile.
“Is that necessary?” he asks, head tipping back slightly as you bring the handcuffs back into view.
“Yes,” you answer without a beat.
“I swear I’ll keep my hands off. All the time,” he assures though his eyes hinting at mischief.
You drop your head to the side, eyes staring into his. “Why? You don’t trust me?”
He scoffs lightly, a playful edge to it. “Yeah. I don’t.”
“Exactly.”
Despite his reluctance, he doesn’t move, doesn’t stop you when you reach for his hand. Instead, he watches the way your fingers wrap around his wrist, the way you put too much focus as you secure one cuff and guide his arm up, looping it around the headboard until there’s a soft click and then another. His other hand follows and just like that, his movement is limited. His arms stretched, restrained and the faint clink of metal echoing in the room.
Hyunjin tests it once, just enough to feel the resistance. Then he sees you, catching that look on your face — of satisfaction and amusement.
He tilts his head, voice softening, tone coaxing. “You could at least let one of my hands free.”
You shake your head immediately. “No. Can’t do.”
The answer sounds final and non-negotiable. Your hand comes up to cup his jaw, thumb brushing along his cheek as you look down at him like you’ve already decided everything.
“It’d be fun to blindfold you too,” you add, almost thoughtfully. “But… I want you to see everything.”
Oh, you really do know how to drive him crazy. How to get him aroused and excited and waiting for you in anticipation. Before he can guess what you’re going to do next, you lean down and kiss him again before pulling back with a grin that feels like a secret.
“First things first,” you say as you shift back, your gaze dropping, and his follows without thinking. “I kind of made a mess.”
Hyunjin glances down, bending his leg slightly and yeah, there it is. A darkened, wet patch on his jeans. He guesses you’ve been rubbing yourself against his thigh. He lets out a breath through his nose, half amused, half… fucking aroused.
You don’t look sorry at all, if anything, you’re pleased by it. “So let’s take these off first,” you say, reaching for the waistband of his jeans.
His chest caves as he holds his breath, watching as your fingers work the button open, then the zipper in such calmness that somehow arouses him. He lifts his hips instinctively to help you get it off, watching the way you don’t hesitate or falter.
Once the jeans are out of the way, your eyes automatically land on the evident proof of how aroused he is. To his hardening member, flushed and pulsating with so much desire. A small lift of your brow is enough to say that you’re impressed by what you’re seeing. And you just have no idea what it does to him, do you?
You sit back then, taking in the sight of his naked body against the white sheets with hands chained up and all of him, restrained and aroused under you. Just for you. “I’ll make it fair,” you say.
It gets him clueless for a second until you reach for the zipper at the back of your dress. He doesn’t realize how still he’s gone until the sound of it sliding down fills the room and the fabric slips away. Your hands reaching to the back again, unclasping your bra and then toss it away.
And just like that, there’s nothing left between his gaze and you now.
The cuffs clink softly as his hands shift, instinct pulling against restraint, a quiet frustration threading through the want that hits him all at once. He wants to touch you, kiss you, feel you whole. He wants to be all over you. He didn’t even realize how much he missed this. You and your heavenly body. His eyes darkening as he looks you, eyes trailing every line, every curve of you.
You notice. He knows you do from that little smirk flickers across your lips before you brush it off like it’s nothing, already moving on. “Now for the fun part.”
Your voice turns low and sultry, enough to make his stomach tighten. You reach toward the nightstand, dragging the box onto the bed, pushing the lid aside that it falls onto the floor.
Hyunjin watches with curiosity as your hand disappears inside for a second and then comes back holding a small bottle.
You lift it, tilting it just enough for him to see it. “I’m sure you remember this.”
From the familiar package, he recognizes it right away. Edible lubricant. He huffs a quiet laugh, head tipping back for a second before he looks at you again with double the intensity in his gaze. “Of course I do.”
The way you smile after that tells him he’s in trouble. You open the bottle and tilt it over the back of your hand. The small, clear drop glistens against your skin, you lean in and taste it.
“It tastes just like watermelon,” you say, almost surprised.
That pulls a low chuckle out of him, amused. “What were you expecting?” he asks, voice warm, a little rough.
You shrug, entirely unfazed. “It’s not as good as the cherry one, but… not bad.”
The casual way you say it does nothing to ease the tension curling tight in his chest. If anything, it makes it worse. He notices the way your gaze shifts lower, to the noticeable erection and his breath dips when you bring the bottle closer, positioning it over him without hesitation.
“Oops…” you lowly gasp as you squeeze lubricant onto his cock. But the way you say it doesn’t sound like you’re sorry at all.
Hyunjin grips at the chain on his handcuffs, bracing himself for what’s coming for him. Yet a shiver running through him as the cool sensation hits him as you add a little more and watch it drips down his length.
Your lips curve as you toss the bottle away like it’s already served its purpose. You look at him and keep your eyes on him as you’re using your hand next, lathering the lubricant down his shaft. Your fingers lightly tickling the crest and tighten when it goes down. By the time your hand wrapped around the base, he sharply exhales through his nose.
Your hand trailing over him once more before settling into steady movements, slowly and deliberately, like you’re learning the reaction, memorizing it.
Hyunjin swallows, eyes locked on yours, the tension in his body pulling tighter with every second you take your time. The way you hold his gaze while pumping him, the way you don’t look away, not even for a second—says everything. And it’s the eye contact that gets to him more than anything.
His fingers curl uselessly against the restraint, metal knocking softly against wood as his body reacts, every instinct telling him to reach for you, to pull you closer, but he can’t. The fact that you notice his struggle and do nothing about it is cruel, but it only sends another wave of heat through him.
When you lean down, he stops breathing for a second, half-lidded eyes watching you as you smearing some more lubricant around the head and then lick your fingers after.
“Are you going to put it into your mouth?” he asks, voice heavy with lust.
You put your index finger into your mouth and slowly pulls it away. “Should I?”
Hyunjin forces himself to stay calm after watching that and manages to put on a smirk. “Not sure you can take it though,” he says with a challenging tone.
You only reply with low, flirty giggles and you drop your body lower until your chest hovering above his thighs. You put a hand over him, resting your head on it as your hand mindlessly playing with his cock, taking your time with it. Finger lightly tracing the shape, thumb pressing on the little slit on the tip as you watch it with almost bored eyes.
He scoffs a laugh, watching you treat his cock like a mere toy but fuck, that is just so fucking hot. He doesn’t know you have this wild side of you and wishes he’d see it often in the future.
“You’re making a mess of it,” he protests, voice rough around the edges. “You should clean it up.”
You lift your head and then nonchalantly shrug. “Maybe I should.”
And with that, you lean in and start licking the tip. Your tongue swirls around it repeatedly, licking the lubricant clean before dragging it down his shaft. You tilt your head to the other side, doing the same thing on the other side. The hold around him tighten just slightly as you lift his length, keeping it up as you head for the base, teasing his knob by lightly sucking on it.
“Fuck, baby,” he blurts out. He’s pretty sure you feel him twitching in your hand just now, clearly not expecting that.
You pull back with a sly smile on your face and you give him no time to recover as you put him into your mouth. You don’t go easy on him, you hollowed out your cheeks and suck him hard. A hand compensates the rest that you can’t take.
“Oh, fuck, look at that mouth…” he hisses through his gritted teeth. There’s a hint of a smile in his voice. A surrender he didn’t mean to give. Hands straining against the handcuffs like he could break away from the sheer will alone.
Just as he starts to sink into it, to the feel of your mouth around him and the way you please, just as he’s about to give in completely, you stop and pull back. He almost sighs out of frustration. Almost.
“Wait,” you say lightly, like you’ve just thought of something. “I need to get on a better position.”
You don’t wait for him to ask or say anything, you crawl over him and turn, straddling him again, knees bracing each side of his waist, but this time, your back is facing him. You glance over your shoulder, eyes glinting with something playful, something a little wicked.
“Enjoy the view.”
Hyunjin’s fingers curl again, instinct taking over as he strains against the restraint only to be met with the sharp, unyielding reminder of metal against wood. “Fuck…” he exhales under his breath, half a groan, half a laugh, because you’re right there and he can’t even touch you.
A soft, almost mocking laugh slipped out of you as you turn your head back and then, you lean down. Again, not giving him time to brace himself as you take him into your mouth.
The feeling of your mouth alone is enough to drive him mad but god, you know how to take it further by intentionally jutting your ass higher, exposing your cunt, soaking wet with arousal, giving him a view you know he can’t do anything about.
Instinctively, he lifts his head, leaning forward as much as he can, just enough to put his mouth on you, but failed. He swears under his breath, strained laugh following right after.
His head falling back for a second before lifting again, strained his neck forward, trying to reach you, even just a little. He barely gets anywhere before gravity wins, dropping him back onto the pillow with a frustrated groan. And it frustrates him so much because you’re so close, yet out of his reach.
“You’re so wet, baby. You’re dripping for me,” he sighs, voice rough, edged with something dangerously close to desperation.
The chain rattles again when his hands flex, a sharp inhale catching in his chest as he fights the urge to just grab you, pull you down, close the distance himself.
You seem to have finally noticed his struggle as you pause for a second and glance over your shoulder. “You okay back there?” you ask too casually.
He lets out a breathless laugh, eyes narrowing slightly. “You think?” he shoots back, but there’s no harshness to it. Just heat, just frustration tangled up with want.
You only smile and then you’re right back to it, like nothing happened. Mouth sucking hard, tongue tickling the tip, hand wrapped tightly around the base, endlessly pleasing him.
Hyunjin’s head falls back again, a deeper groan slipping out now as his control starts slipping through his fingers. He shifts under you, restless, unable to stay still anymore, the tension in him coiling tighter and tighter.
When he opens his eyes, the sight of your dripping cunt tantalizes him once more. “Let me have you on my mouth. Let me taste you,” he says in a rush, voice rough and barely held together like he needs it. Urgently needs it.
You pause again, letting go of him with a loud pop and looking at him with your lips glistening wet. “What was that?” you ask, like you didn’t hear him.
He lets out a disbelieving huff, almost laughing despite himself. “Want you on my mouth,” he says without stuttering.
That gets you smirking and swiftly, you turn anyway, shifting until you’re facing him again, straddling him like before—except now, his view is filled with you, your face, your eyes, that expression that tells him you’re enjoying every second of this. Your hand comes up, thumb brushing lightly over his lips, tracing the shape of them in a way that makes his breath quivers.
“You want me on your mouth, you say?” you murmur softly.
He nods immediately, no hesitation, lips parting slightly beneath your touch. “Yeah, I do.”
You lean closer, hovering just above him, close enough that he can feel your breath. “Say it properly,” you whisper.
Hyunjin’s patience has run thin and he breaks whatever composure he had left. “I want your wet pussy on my mouth and ride it endlessly,” both his voice and his gaze don’t waver as he says it.
You smile, satisfied with what you heard but you take your time after that, making him wait, to let it sink in, to let the anticipation stretch until it almost hurts.
“Okay,” you finally answer and a beat later, you add, “But only for a bit.”
He nods immediately, almost too quickly, like he’s afraid you’ll take it back if he hesitates. And when you move closer, when his world narrows down to just you, his eyes darkening and completely focused on you.
You slowly lower yourself on him and his head tilts up instinctively, meeting you halfway, taking whatever you give without question, without restraint. There’s no hesitation in him now—only want, only the need to feel you, to be this close.
His hands pull again against the cuffs, useless, but he doesn’t even care anymore. Not when he finally gets what he wants. Not when he finally has you like this. Not when your wet pussy presses on his mouth.
A hand gripped the headboard to steady yourself and the other grabs at the crown of his hair, tugging at it as you’re moving your hips, riding his mouth as you please. When he darts his tongue out, you switch into pulsating your hips against him, letting his tongue fucking your little hole.
“Oh, god…” you breathlessly moan with your head tilted back, overwhelmed.
He smirks against your flesh and opens his mouth wider, taking more of you, letting your essence flooding his mouth. Breathing become second in his priorities and what comes first is you, you and you. And just as quickly as it builds, you pull away.
Hyunjin exhales sharply, a quiet protest slipping out before he can stop it, his head falling back again, chest rising and falling unevenly. “Just a little bit more,” he breathlessly mutters, licking at his lower lip after.
You don’t submit to his wish but instead, you get off of him and lay down beside him. Half of your body overlaps him, hand reaching for his chin and turn his head your way, leaning in to press your lips against him. Then you’re kissing him, slowly yet passionately, like you’re making up for it.
He responds immediately, kissing you back and deepening it, tasting himself on you as you’re tasting yourself on him, and it does something to him that’s almost overwhelming. His hands flex again, frustrated, wanting to hold you properly.
As your lips continue locked with his in a heated kiss, your hand moving down south, finding his stiff member and begin slowly stroking on it
When the kiss breaks, he exhales against your lips, still close, still hovering. “Are you going to let me out of these now?” he asks, hopeful, but still edged with that same heat.
You softly smile at him and for a second, he thinks you might. But then you pull away and say, “Not yet.”
He lets out a soft groan, head dropping back again. But you completely ignore that, already reaching for the box again, pulling something else out this time. A pack of condom.
“Let’s put this one first,” you say, holding it up. “Just to be safe.”
Hyunjin watches every second of it. The careful way you tear the foil, slower than necessary like you’re aware he’s looking. His head rests back against the pillow but his eyes continue tracking your hands as you put it on him next.
You put so much focus on it, a crease formed between your brows like you can’t mess this up. Using your finger, you roll the rubber down his length.
“You’re getting good at that,” he mutters, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
You don’t even look up. Just finish what you’re doing with that same quiet concentration before answering, almost casually, “Well, I’ve had a lot of practice.”
That earns a low chuckle from him, something amused and disbelieving, but it fades the moment you crawl back over him and your lips meet his again. There’s something about the kiss now, it’s not rushed, not frantic, just… warm and deep and consuming in a different way.
He melts into it despite himself, tilting his head, chasing it when you shift, trying to pull you closer even when he can’t.
When you pull away, he chases after your lips. “Are you going to let me out of these now?” he asks, softer now.
You press a quick kiss to his lips only to say, “No.”
And just like that, he drops his head back with a helpless groan. But he doesn’t fight it anymore. Not when you settle over him again and grab the bottle of edible lubricant, squeezing the content onto your palm. Then you rub it all over his cock.
He shudders, hips jerking for a fraction and every reaction only seems to amuse you more, and he can see it now. The way your lips curve, the way your eyes flick up to check on him like you’re studying him. And yeah, he’s done for.
He exhales sharply when you begin stroking him again, hands tightening uselessly against the cuffs, the soft clink of metal punctuating the moment as he sinks back into the pillow.
There’s no winning here. Not when you’re like this.
“When are you going to let me go?” he asks, almost like a whine, like he knows it might get to you.
You lean in, close enough that he thinks you’re going to kiss him, but you stop with your lips hovering just a breath away from his. “Until I’m done,” you murmur.
Something about that certainty, the confidence undoes him. His gaze stays locked on yours, unwavering, even as you scoot closer, allowing you to rub his length against your wetness, pressing the tip on your clit.
Then, you slightly lift yourself as you positioning his cock into your entrance. Without the slightest of hesitation, you ease yourself down on him, pausing after an inch or two, letting out a breathless moan of pain and pleasure.
Hyunjin can’t look away. His eyes stuck to the way you’re taking more and more of him into you. The tension coiled inside him now, jaw tightening briefly before relaxing again, eyes focused on the way he’s disappearing into you. He lets himself fall into the feel of you, the warmth and tightness, into the way you easily take all of him like you were made for him.
To calm himself down, Hyunjin deeply inhales air before letting it out in one long, shaky exhale. “Look at you now… you take me so damn well,” he sweetly praises.
Instead of answering, you’re putting your hands on his chest, lowly giggling and moaning like something tickles you. A foolish, satisfied grin filled your face.
“Have you always been this tight,” he sighs, subtly rolling his hips to feel you around him. “Or it’s because I haven’t fucked you in so long?”
You don’t deny nor confirm, but you suddenly clench around him, earning a raw groan from him. A smirk tugging at you lips as you begin rolling your hips in slow, circular motions, making his groans grow louder and unrestrained now. A moment later, you move by pulsating your hips against him.
Hyunjin keeps his eyes on you, the way his cock slips in and out of you, the way your breasts bouncing along to your movements, making him once again, uselessly trying to break away from the cuffs that restrained him.
The sound of your breathless, sultry moans that’s echoing in the room doesn’t help, he’s completely into this intimacy that feels less physical, more emotional. And because it’s not just the feeling—it’s you. The way your expression shifts, the way your confidence flickers into something more vulnerable for just a moment, the way you stay right there with him, holding his gaze like this is something shared, not one-sided.
He stays where he is, telling himself to be present in this moment with eyes looking at you in admiration and want. He puts aside his needs, letting you have him, letting you take what you want from him. And he can see the way you tirelessly moving, chasing for it.
When the tension finally peaks and you come around him, he watches you through it, doesn’t look away, doesn’t miss a second of it. Because that’s what he wanted, just you, like this, with him.
When you melt against him, your body warm and pliant on top of his, your breathing uneven, matching his in soft, staggered rhythm. He lets his head fall back for a second, eyes closing, trying to steady himself but it doesn’t last long. Not when you’re right there. Not when he can feel you like this, close and real and his.
He needs to touch you, holds you so he nudges his forehead lightly against yours. “Can you let me go now?” he murmurs, voice turning breathless at the end of the sentence.
You lift your head just enough to look at him, eyes heavy-lidded, lips curved in that slow, knowing smile and he already knows you’re going to say yes before you do. “Okay.”
You grab the keys from the nightstand, eyes half-focused as you unlock it until there’s the soft click of the cuffs.
The second they fall away, his hands are on you. He wraps his arms around you and pulls you down against him, holding you tight like he’s been waiting for this, like he’s been patient for far too long. His lips find yours again, kissing you deeper, claiming.
As he keeps your mouth busy with kisses, his hand reaches down between your bodies, taking his cock and slips it between your legs, rubbing it against your heating wetness. He feels the little, breathless gasps you make against his mouth. It drives him further, impatient to be inside you again and he does, slipping his stiff member back into you in one smooth slide until he’s completely buried in you again.
He softly groans into your mouth, feeling you still quivering from your previous orgasm. His hands slide along your back and move sideways, taking your hands in him and then folds them together. He keeps them there, grounding you against him as his lips trail the column of your throat and jaw, and only to return to your lips, hastily kissing you.
You laugh softly against his mouth and mutters, “Been waiting for that, huh?”
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he begins moving his hips, bucking into you from under. Soon, the sound of your shared breaths mixing with the squelching sounds of his cock ramming into you, slow but purposeful.
“Missed you. Missed the way you feel,” he sighs into the curve of your neck, breath hot and tickling. “And the way you cling to my cock.”
From those words alone, you clench around him tighter, moaning his name in incoherent, breathless pleads for more —of this, of him. And of course, he’ll give it to you. Anything for you.
Everything that follows feels less like a game and more like something inevitable. Like all that tension, all those moments before, have finally found somewhere to go. His movements are no longer restrained, no longer careful in the same way—they’re certain, driven by the way you respond to him, the way you cling to him, the way your breath turns ragged.
And honestly, Hyunjin can’t hold himself back anymore so he finally, finally lets himself go with your name caught somewhere between a breath and a whisper.
Afterward, he brings your hands and lets them fall round his shoulders as he puts his around you, holding you close like you’re not already pressed onto him.
You lift your head, mouth instinctively finding his and taking it for an earned, slow kiss, a kiss that guides him to gradually come down from his high. When you pull away, you pull away with a soft smile. “Have you always come this fast or is it because we haven’t fucked for so long?”
This is your way to get back at him and he lets out a breathless laugh in response, a little tired and still undone. “Both,” he shamelessly answers.
You laugh at that, sending his body shaking along with your laughter. It feels warm and nice as his arm stays wrapped around you, hand resting at your back, thumb tracing slow, absentminded patterns against your skin. You fit there too easily. Like you’ve always known the shape of him.
Hyunjin tilts his head slightly, cheek brushing against your hair, eyes half-lidded as he stares at the ceiling. “You’re a lot to handle, you know that?” he says with a smile still lingering on his lip. A lazy, satisfied smug.
He feels your quiet laugh against his chest before he hears it. “You’re just saying that because you lost.”
His scoff is more breath than anything. His fingers pause for a second before resuming their slow drawing on your skin. “Lost?” he echoes, like the word doesn’t quite sit right with him.
You shift just enough to look at him, chin propped lightly against his chest, eyes curious but already amused—like you’re waiting for whatever nonsense he’s about to say next. “Yes. You lost, sir,” you playfully say.
Hyunjin looks at you, the way your hair is a little messy, lips still soft and flushed, eyes warm and bright in a way that makes him take a second to imprint this into the back of his head. He exhales through his nose, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Still unfair though,” he says after a moment, tone light and teasing. “You set me up from the start.”
You scoff softly, nudging his chest. “You agreed to play.”
“Didn’t know the stakes were this high.”
“That’s because you don’t read the rules.”
He chuckles at that, the sound rumbling beneath your ear. “Wouldn’t have changed my answer anyway.”
“Since when do you care about the rules anyway,” you conclude, easily resting your head on his chest like you’ve decided that it’s your safe place.
For once, Hyunjin doesn’t feel the need to fill the silence. He just stays with you. His hand drifts lazily along your arm, then back again, grounding himself in the simple fact that you’re here, still close, still warm against him.
“Next time, I’m picking the game,” he suddenly declares.
You tilt your head slightly, smiling against his chest. “Sure you are.”
He smiles too, eyes closing for a second as he rests his cheek against your hair again.
But his arm doesn’t loosen. If anything, it tightens just a little like he’s not quite ready to let you go yet. And maybe he won’t be. Not anytime soon.
-
The next morning, you wake up to the warmth seeping from behind you, the weight of an arm draped securely around your waist and then the faint brush of lips against your shoulder… your neck… light and almost lazy, like whoever’s behind you has nowhere else to be.
You hum softly, still half-asleep, shifting just enough to tuck yourself closer.
Noticing it, Hyunjin exhales against your skin, amused. “So you’re awake,” he murmurs, voice still thick with sleep, lips ghosting along your shoulder again.
You don’t answer right away. Just tilt your head slightly, giving him more space without even thinking about it. “Mm… depends. Are you going to keep doing that?”
His low chuckles vibrating through you. “Probably.”
That’s enough of an answer. You turn slowly in his arms, eyes still heavy with sleep, and find him already looking at you with messy hair, eyes soft, lips curved into that small, sleepy smile that feels too attractive for how early it is. Or late. You don’t even know what time it is anymore.
His hand comes up, brushing your hair away from your face, thumb lingering along your cheek. “Morning,” he says.
You huff a quiet laugh. “Pretty sure it’s not morning.”
“Still counts.”
You don’t argue because he leans in and softly kisses you like he’s easing into it instead of chasing anything. It lingers just long enough to make your chest feel warm before he pulls back, forehead resting lightly against yours.
And just like that… the day starts.
-
The rest of the vacation turns into a blur after that.
You’re in the passenger seat with the windows down, wind tugging at your hair while Hyunjin drives with one hand on the wheel and the other lazily resting on your thigh. Music plays low in the background and every now and then, he glances over at you like he’s checking you’re still there. Like you might disappear if he doesn’t.
But here you are, choosing to stay. In this. With him.
You wander through little streets you’ve never seen before, duck into random shops just because something in the window catches your eye. You try things on, hold things up to him, laugh when he gives you opinions you didn’t ask for.
“You’re unhelpful,” you tell him at one point.
“I like everything on you,” he easily replies.
You roll your eyes, but you don’t put the item back.
-
In every place you visit, Hyunjin makes sure to take photos, documenting everything, every moment. Of the sea, of the sky, of random corners that feel oddly beautiful and of each other. He catches you mid-laugh more than once, camera lifted before you can hide it, and you groan every time.
“Delete that.”
“No.”
“Hyunjin—”
“It’s good.”
“Because you like my annoyed face more than anything, huh?”
“Yep.”
When it gets too hot and the sea looks too tempting, you both end up in the water. The ocean water somehow feels cool against your skin but not biting. You splash him first this time, unprovoked, and he stares at you like he’s offended. Then immediately retaliates.
It turns into a mess of laughter and water and hands grabbing at each other to stay upright, neither of you really trying to win anything.
Just trying to stay close.
-
By the time night falls, you’re both exhausted in the good kind. Yet, you always get each other in the best way. In the best, most seductive way.
Some nights, he has you bent over the edge of the bed, lips making a trail of kisses down your spine before he enters you from behind, one hand pressed onto your shoulder, pining you down as he thrusts into you, and not stopping until you fall apart around him.
Some other nights, you barely make it back to the bed. Once, you settled onto the sofa, clothes littering the hotel floor, limbs tangled, a cushion propped under you, giving him that delicious angle to thrust into you deeper. Though it doesn’t stop you from asking him to get deeper inside you.
The second him, your hands braced against the floor-to-ceiling window, your breath fogging the glass as you moan from the way Hyunjin hungrily eating you from behind, tongue jamming into your hole as one hand curve around, fingers skilfully circling on your clit. Your legs shake as you come into his mouth and he doesn’t wait, he turns you around, an arm lifts you and keeps you off the floor, one hand impatiently lining his cock with your entrance and once he’s fully sheathed in your warm, tight walls, he fucks you tirelessly, making you loudly moaning that you sure whoever stays in the next room could hear it.
And in each time, the room eventually fades into background noise and you end up in each other’s arms. You learn that the only thing that matters is the way he holds you, the way he stays close and most importantly, choosing to stay.
And each time, before sleep gets to you, you think about how easy this feels. How right.How you wish, just for a second, maybe longer… That life could stay like this.
-
You don’t realize how quickly it’s ending until you start gathering your things. It hits you somewhere between folding a shirt and setting aside the small souvenirs you’ve picked up over the past few days. You move slowly, almost reluctantly because something in you resists finishing it.
“Already packing?” Hyunjin’s voice drifts from behind you.
You glance over your shoulder, offering a small shrug. “Just… putting things together. I’ll pack later.”
He leans against the wall, watching you in silence like he understands exactly what you’re doing and why. After a moment, he offers you a comforting smile and asks, “Want to go out and watch the sunset?”
You keep your suitcase open, half-packed and ditch it entirely. “Sure,” you answer without thinking, already getting on your feet.
The beach greets you again like it always has. The sand is cool beneath you as you sit, shoulders brushing, hands naturally lacing together like it’s something you’ve always done. The sky is painted in warm hues, the sun slowly dipping lower, stretching the moment as if it’s giving you time.
You lean slightly into him and softly sigh. “Can’t believe this is the last day,” you say, a little incredulous, a little reluctant.
Hyunjin lets out a quiet breath beside you. “Yeah.”
You turn your head just enough to look at him. “We spent it well though, right?” There’s a hint of something in your voice like you need to hear it.
“Yeah,” he says again, softer this time. Then he leans in, pressing a quick kiss to your lips, offering comfort as best as he can.
You smile into it and when you pull back, you rest your head on his shoulder, watching as the sun sinks lower and lower until it finally disappears beneath the horizon, marking that another day has gone.
-
The two of you decide to have dinner out, probably something special to commemorate the moment. You walk side by side, fingers loosely lacing together until they eventually intertwine without either of you making a big deal out of it.
After browsing through some restaurants and their menus, you settle on one that seems exactly like what you’ve been craving.
“I’d love the chicken pesto pasta for dinner,” you mutter, getting hungry just from the picture of it.
Hyunjin’s eyes are still scanning the menu as he comments, “Yeah, that looks nice.”
“We could share the steak,” you add as he flips into a new page.
“Good plan,” he says with a smile.
After a mutual agreement and strategically planned dinner meals, the two of you walk up to the waiter. “Table for two, please!” Hyunjin politely says.
The waiter offers an apologetic smile as she says, “Sorry, we’re fully booked tonight.”
The excitement inside you deflates and turns into a frown, turning to Hyunjin like he somehow could fix it. “I really wanted that…”
He patiently and softly smiles at you. “I’m sure we’ll find somewhere else to have dinner.”
You let out a short, heavy sigh before accepting it. “Okay.”
He doesn’t miss the way you’re still frowning so he leans in and kisses you without warning.
You lowly gasp in surprise and crack a laugh, feeling lifted up already.
“Let’s go,” he says, taking your hand, fingers threading through yours again. “We’ll find something better.”
You let him pull you along but three steps later, you hear a voice calling for you. “Hey!”
You and Hyunjin turn almost in sync and the second you recognize them, your face lights up.
“Jules—Diane!”
They look just as delighted, already moving toward you, arms open for quick hugs that feel oddly familiar despite how little time you’ve actually spent together. “Well, look at this! Our favorite couple,” Jules beams.
You and Hyunjin laugh at the same time, instinctively. “It’s so nice to see you again,” you say with a bright smile.
“Aren’t you guys getting dinner?” Diane asks, hand vaguely gesturing toward the restaurant.
“Well, yeah. But it’s fully booked,” you answer.
“We have a reservation. We can share the table,” Diane immediately offers.
This time, Hyunjin cuts in by kindly refusing the offer. “Oh, no. It’s okay. You guys should enjoy your dinner.
“Oh, nonsense,” Diane waves it off immediately. “I’m sure they can arrange something and make it dinner for four.”
You kindly refuse again, smiling as you do. “Oh—you should enjoy that then, we can—”
“Also, because we’re sick of each other. We really need to talk to other people,” Jules playfully says with a serious face.
“No, it’s okay,” you insist gently, shaking your head. “Really, we don’t want to—”
“It’s settled,” Diane says, already turning back toward the restaurant like the conversation is over. “We’ll just tell them.”
“Diane—” Jules laughs, but she’s already hooking her arm through yours, tugging you along anyway. “Come on, it’ll be fun.”
You glance back at Hyunjin, caught between protest and amusement. He just shakes his head lightly, lips curved into a small smile like he saw this coming and then follows without a word.
-
Dinner settles into something easy and comfortable in a way that feels almost surprising, considering how all of this started.
The four of you sit around the table, laughter woven in between bites of food and sips of wine, stories overlapping, little interruptions that don’t feel rude—just… lived-in. You find yourself leaning in more than you usually would, listening, talking, laughing without overthinking it.
Jules dabs the corner of her lips with her napkin before smiling at the two of you. “So, what have you two been up to all week?” she asks, eyes bright with curiosity.
You glance at Hyunjin instinctively before answering, like the memories are shared between you. “A bit of everything. Beach, shopping, exploring… eating way too much.”
Hyunjin hums in agreement beside you. “She’s not exaggerating.”
You nudge him lightly under the table. “This is actually our last day. We’re flying home tomorrow,” you share with a melancholic smile.
Jules’ expression drops into something genuinely sympathetic. “Already?”
Diane sighs, shaking her head. “That’s just rude. Time shouldn’t move that fast on vacation.”
You laugh softly, but there’s a quiet truth in it. “I think it’s because we enjoyed it too much,” you admit.
There’s a brief pause and then Diane leans forward slightly, eyes flicking between you and Hyunjin, a playful glint returning. “So…” she says, dragging the word just a little, “are you two still co-workers?”
You choke slightly on your drink. Heat rushes to your face instantly, your mind flashing back to earlier where Hyunjin kissed you and they must have seen everything. You glance at him, letting him answer this one.
“Yeah,” he says casually, reaching for his glass. “Still co-workers.”
Then, without missing a beat, he adds, “Sadly, I still need the paycheck.”
The table bursts into laughter. Diane shakes her head, smiling knowingly. “Oh, please. There’s definitely something going on here.”
You skip on answering again. You just smile a small, shy smile, a little caught.
“There is,” he says lightly like it’s no big deal. “I’ve liked her for a while but she didn’t know it.”
You keep your calm, eyes on the glass of wine you’re holding as you’re listening to his side of story.
“But once she did,” he continues, like he’s telling a harmless story. “She’s playing hard to get.”
Your head automatically turn toward him and stare at him in disbelief. “Excuse me?”
Jules and Diane laugh again, clearly enjoying every second of this. Diane looks at you then, softer this time, her smile warm as she says, “You’re doing the right thing.”
You smile at that before looking at Hyunjin again and give his knee a gentle slap under the table, a playful warning. But you can see that it doesn’t affect him whatsoever as he only grins in reaction.
By the time dessert comes, you’re comfortably full, but you still take another bite anyway. It’s too good not to.
Hyunjin excuses himself to the restroom and you’re watching him go for a second before turning back to your plate.
Jules notices your expression immediately. “Glad you’re enjoying the food,” she says with a soft smile.
You quickly wipe your mouth with your napkin, a little embarrassed. “Everything is just… really good.”
Diane nods approvingly. “Worth the trouble earlier.”
Jules looks at you, there’s hesitation in her eyes but she eventually leans in anyway. “I hope you don’t mind me asking. But … what took you this long?”
You put down your dessert spoon. “Pardon me?”
“I mean, I don’t know him that well but I can see that Hyunjin is great. And that boy is in love with you,” Jules explains, rather too seriously.
You’re a little taken aback by the mention of that word. Love. “I wouldn’t say—”
“He’s got these twinkles in his eyes every time he looks at you,” Diane cuts in before sipping her wine.
“So why do you hesitate much?” Jules asks again.
Your fingers curl lightly around your glass as you take a sip of water, buying yourself a second to think. You look at Diane and Jules and realize that you’ve only known them in matter of hours, but you feel comfortable to share openly.
“I think…” you start slowly, eyes dropping to the table for a moment, “I had this idea in my head that I’m… hard to love.”
The words come out lighter than you expect despite the fact that you’ve never shared this with anyone before. “And like… easy to leave.”
The table quiets like your openness, your honestly dazzle them. Jules reaches over without hesitation, her hand resting over yours, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I know it can feel that way. But that’s not the truth,” she says, voice as soft as her gaze. “There’s no such thing as someone being hard to love. Sometimes people just don’t try hard enough. Or they’re not patient enough to learn how.”
Something in your chest loosens at that. You hadn’t realized how tightly you were holding onto it and how you let it held you back from getting what you want, what you deserve.
“You’re not hard to love,” Jules assures you once again, her other hand tapping gently at the back of your hand now.
“You know, I believe Hyunjin would give you the world,” Diane suddenly says, slightly off topic. But then she adds, “All you have to do is ask for it.”
You take a second to process their words and let them sink into you. Then you nod. “Thank you,” you genuinely say in gratitude.
You let out a short laugh of disbelief because you didn’t think that you would hear these words from two strangers and yet, they seem to know what you needed to hear. Like it’s meant to be.
“Were you talking about me?” Hyunjin says when he returns, sliding back into his seat and looking the three of you, suspiciously amused.
Diane doesn’t even hesitate. “Yes.”
You and Jules burst out laughing. Diane follows after sipping her wine.
Hyunjin blinks, caught off guard for half a second before he laughs too. “Wow.”
“We also talked if we should do a round of drinks since this is your last day,” Jules adds, already opening the cocktails menu.
“That might be a problem,” Hyunjin says with a faint grimace.
You glance at him, sensing that he’s doing something. Something that is most likely mischievous. “What did you do?”
He shrugs and then digs into his dessert. “I already paid for everything.”
Jules and Diane immediately soften at that.
“That’s very kind of you,” Jules says.
Diane turns to you dramatically. “Marry him already.”
You laugh, shaking your head.
Jules flags down a waiter anyway. “Well, the drinks are on us,” she insists.
Hyunjin doesn’t even argue and instead, he playfully says, “Let’s make it three rounds then.”
“Deal,” Jules says in agreement, holding her hand out at him.
Hyunjin takes it and shakes it. “No takeback,” he says.
The table fills with laughter again and you realize that this is exactly how you wanted the night to end.
-
There’s another couple in the elevator, standing near the panel and rapidly talking to each other in a language you don’t understand, and you can’t tell if they’re just talking or arguing. You decide not to mind someone else’s business and focus on how content you feel tonight, how the night couldn’t have ended better than this.
Then you feel the way Hyunjin’s hand finds yours and laces it together with yours. You turn to meet his eyes only for him to begin steering you toward the corner until your back meets the wall.
He steps in close and your breath catches just a little as he stops right in front of you, leaving only inches between your bodies. You look up at him and he’s already looking at you. A smile etched on his face, knowing and a little dangerous.
You swallow, trying to keep your composure. “That was…” you start, forcing your voice to stay light, “a really nice way to end the last day.”
He nods once, eyes never leaving yours. “Yeah.”
You try again, grasping for something normal, less intense. “It’s a shame we still have to pack after this.”
He slowly shakes his head and then, leans in until his mouth hovers near your ear, close enough that you feel it before you even process the words. “There’s a better way to end the night,” he murmurs, voice is low and warm, sending a quiet shiver down your spine.
You try not to react, try not to give in so easily. But then he leans in again, just a fraction closer, and this time, his breath brushes your ear as he whispers, “Way better.”
When he pulls back, just enough for you to see his face again, that grin is still there with mischief written all over it, like he already knows exactly what he’s doing to you. And worse,
like he knows it’s working.
-
After everything that’s already happened between you. After the way his eyes have seen and admired your body, hands have learned the shape of it. You don’t expect to the nerves, they’re subtle yet slowly creeping in as you stand in the bathroom, fingers fixing the ties of your bikini. You exhale slowly to calm yourself down and reach for the bathrobe, wrapping yourself in it before stepping out.
The balcony doors are open and the night air greets you first, cool and salted, brushing against your skin. You linger there on the doorway, one hand braced against the glass door as you find Hyunjin is already in the tub. His arms are stretched along the edge, posture relaxed. Water glows softly around him under dim lights, tracing the line of his back muscles, the broad shoulder, the slope of his back. His hair is tied up, messy, a few damp strands clinging to the nape of his neck.
You stay there and take a moment to take him in, the way he looks like a Greek God with the sea stretches against him, dark and endless, catching the half-moon in broken reflections.
It’s like he senses your eyes on him, he slowly turns his head and lights up when he sees you. “You made me wait,” he says, turning to the side, one hand draping over the edge of the tub.
You suddenly get flustered, like you’ve been caught doing something you shouldn’t. You recover quickly, stepping toward him, lifting a brow. “Well, you seem to be enjoying yourself.”
His grin answers that for him, running his wet hand through his hair.
You untie the robe, letting it fall open before slipping it off, and his eyes slightly widen at the reveal — the white bikini you’re wearing underneath.
He hurriedly holds his hand out, guiding you into the tub and you take it, kicking your slippers off your feet before finally putting a foot into the tub and then another. The water welcomes you instantly, a soft sigh leaving your lips as you lower yourself into it, heat curling around your body until you’re submerged, weightless in a way that feels almost unreal.
You barely settle before he pulls you onto his lap, your back meets his solid chest and you melt into it without thinking like your body already knows the shape of him, the way you fit.
His arms wrap around you, one draped low across your abdomen, the other circling you fully, holding you in place. Holding you with him.
All of a sudden, the nerves vanish and fade into the water.
His lips brush your shoulder first and then higher, along your neck, each touch lingering just enough to make you feel it twice. You lowly giggle as he places ticklish kisses on that sensitive skin behind your ear. Instead of stopping, he gently grabs your chin to turn your head to the side, allowing him to capture your lips in his.
The kiss is deep and unrushed in a way that steals the air from your lungs more effectively than anything hurried ever could. His tongue tirelessly coaxing you to part your lips open, the second you don, he sucks on your tongue before twirling it with his. He deepens the kiss once more and it gradually softens from there. By the time he pulls back, you’re gasping for air, chest rising and falling against his.
He lets you settle again, arms tightening, keeping you close to him.
You sink into him, head tipping back against his shoulder, eyes half-lidded. “This feels nice,” you murmur.
He hums, low and pleased, lips brushing your neck again like punctuation.
Your hand lifts, finding his jaw blindly, fingers grazing his skin. “We should’ve done this every day.”
Another hum. Agreement. Or maybe just contentment. He shifts slightly, turning his head to the other side of your neck, burying his face there like he’s claiming the space and you let him.
For a long moment, the two of you stay like that. The water laps quietly. The ocean beyond mirrors the sky. The world narrows to warmth, to the steady rhythm of two people not needing to say anything.
Until Hyunjin opens his mouth and curiously asks, “What makes you think you’re hard to love?”
You stiffen just a little, realizing that Hyunjin probably listened in on the deep talk you shared with Jules and Diane earlier. Your head turns sharply, eyes narrowing in a playful glare. “You’re not supposed to eavesdrop on our talk. Our girls’ talk.”
He grins, unapologetic. He probably didn’t mean to and just happened to be there when you shared.
You click your tongue at him. You’re not actually mad, just surprised that he heard it, that he heard it this soon. But he’s not a stranger and eventually, he’d know and you want him to understand.
So you sigh softly, gaze drifting out toward the sea. “I used to think… that love is something you have to earn. That you have to give… more. Do more. Be more. That you have to greatly sacrifice yourself for it.”
You rest your hand on his forearm, fingers tighten slightly over it. “Otherwise… they leave.”
He lets go of your hand only to catch it in his, intertwining them together and rests it over your chest. And to your surprise, he says, “Yeah, you weren’t easy.”
You huff a quiet laugh, slightly offended. “Huh?”
“You know… with your plans,” he adds, brushing his nose lightly against your temple, “your schedules… your rules.”
You smile despite yourself, feeling called out and slightly embarrassed.
When he speaks again, he waits until your eyes looking at him. “But you you’re not hard to love,” he says, voice is as soft as his gaze.
You nod, slowly. Because you’re starting to believe that. Because maybe it was never about being hard to love. Just being loved the wrong way.
His lips press gently to your temple. “All you have to do is let it happen.”
You turn your head slightly, looking at him. “Okay,” you say, and really mean it.
“And yes, I’d give you the world if you ask for it,” he adds with a playful grin.
You softly smile at that and before it can fade, he captures it with a kiss, so soft it almost feels like a promise rather than a kiss. It lingers long enough to make your chest tighten. Long enough to make something inside you shift.
When he pulls away, your hand comes up to cup his cheek, thumb brushing lightly over his skin.
“This vacation changed you,” you tease.
He scoffs softly, dramatically correcting you. “Free vacation.”
“Right,” you say, kissing him again.
This time, you turn on his lap, shifting until you’re facing him, straddling him now, water rippling around you both. You put your hands on his shoulders, staring into the brown of his eyes and Diane was right, you can see the twinkles in them as he looks at you.
A hand comes up to his jaw and tenderly holds the side of his face. Then slowly, you lean in, kissing him with your heart open and letting the content pours into the kiss, into him.
His hands sliding along your sides, over your waist, mapping you out like he’s allowed to now. Like he knows he is. He’s pulling you closer, holding you tighter.
You let yourself fall into it easily. Because it’s him. Because it feels right. Because you don’t want to stop.
When he breaks the kiss, it’s only to drag his mouth lower, lips trailing along your neck. He trails lower still, opening his mouth slightly wider as he places searing little kisses down your chest until he’s buried between your soft mounds.
Instinctively, your hands trail along his shoulders and gather in the back of his neck, fingers tangled in his damp hair. Your breath stutters as he plants his soft lips on the skin before his mouth opens slightly wider to take a mouthful of your flesh and lightly sucking on it.
A low, breathless gasp falls out of your mouth as he yanks down the cup of your bikini, wasting no time to take your hardening nipple into his mouth, tongue circling on it. your hands tangled deeper in his hair, mouth buried in his dark locks as you cradle his head close to your chest.
You’re humming from the feel of his mouth devouring your breast and yet, it doesn’t quite satisfy his hunger. So impatiently, a hand trails up your spine, finding the knot of your bikini straps there, tied on the nape of your neck and clumsily pulling at it until it snaps open. In the end, he takes the whole thing off of you, tossing your wet bikini top aside.
Hyunjin pulls back just enough to look at you, at your bare chest and the way your breasts hung beautifully on your chest, inviting him to touch, to feel. He doesn’t stop himself for using both hands, each one kneading, fingers pinching at the sensitive buds.
You shake your head, looking down at his wide eyes, dark with lust. Half-amused, half-aroused. “Are you trying to put on a show?”
He presses a warm kiss on your sternum and then pulls away with a dazed smile, eyes glinting. “Maybe.”
The answer sends a small, unexpected thrill through you. So you lean in and kiss him, but it only lasts for a few seconds as he breaks the kiss. He shifts his focus back to your chest. Hands pushing them to the middle so he can greedily take both nipples at once.
“Hyunjin…” you breathlessly call, uselessly trying to stop him.
But of course, he pretends not to hear or decides to ignore you completely, his mouth too busy sucking on your breasts, teeth lightly tugging at your nipples just to tease you, making you whimper in reaction.
You gently cup his jaw, tilting his head up just enough for his eyes to meet yours. You run your hand through his hair as you look at him and say, “What don’t we go inside… and I’ll put on a good show for you?”
That works to make him pause, eyebrow raised in curiosity. He slowly detaches his mouth, leaving your nipples wet with his saliva and raw from all of his sucking. He looks at you, lips curving into a smirk.
“Then what are we waiting for?”
-
You barely make it out of the shower without touching him again. It’s ridiculous how quickly the tension comes back, how the heat clings even after the water washes everything clean. Your robe sticks lightly to your skin and Hyunjin’s the same, hair still wet and brushed to the back.
The second you step into the room, your hand finds his, guiding—no, steering—him straight to the bed. He drops onto the edge of the mattress, looking up at you like he already knows he’s about to lose whatever control he thought he had.
You climb onto his lap, knees settling on either side of his hips, and the moment your bodies meet—he exhales, like he’s been holding that breath since the hot tub. Your hands find his face first and then your lips. The kiss lands deep, immediate, like you’re trying to pick up where you left it.
He responds just as quickly, hands coming up to your waist, pulling you closer like he needs to feel all of you at once. The kiss goes on, long enough to blur the line between breath and touch. Until he breaks it and then rests his forehead against yours.
“So… when does the actual show start?” he asks, voice low and a little hoarse.
You click your tongue softly, pulling back just enough to look at him. “You’re not even ready for it.”
His plush lips curve into a sly smirk. “I’m always ready.”
“Yeah?” you murmur, fingers slipping to the edges of his robe. “Let’s see.”
Your hands work slowly as you untie it and then pull it open just until it drapes around his shoulders. You place a hand on his chest, still warm and damp from the shower. Yet, you lean in without hesitation, placing kisses along his neck, down to his collarbone, letting each touch of your lips on his skin linger just long enough to make him react.
He does. He reacts in sharp inhales and quiet hisses, his grip on your waist tightening.
You pull back and slip the robe off your shoulders until it’s falling away completely, and for a second, his hands just stay on your waist. Like he’s still deciding where to start.
Once he’s decided, his hands move without hesitation. They’re on you, all at once, warm and little greedy. You’re joining him as he once again fondling on your breasts, feeling the way he touches you, feeling yourself. Your head tilting side to side as you humming in delight.
You let go as he leans in, burying his head between your soft mounds and let him stay there, shivering just slightly as he inhales your skin like he couldn’t get enough of your scent.
When he tilts his head up, looking at you again, you catch him off guard with a haste, messy kiss. As you keep his mouth busy, your hand slips between you, finding his cock strained and hot to the touch. His breath stutters against your mouth as you stroke him slowly, thumb circling around the head, feeling him pulsating for you.
A small hum escapes you. Your half-lidded eyes locked with his as you mutter, “Yeah… you’re ready.”
He lets out a soft laugh that doesn’t quite sound like a laugh anymore.
Your hands move to his shoulders, gripping at them firmly as you lift yourself just slightly, positioning his cock to your entrance and then, slowly taking him into you.
Hyunjin stills, his grip tightening on you, mouth dropping open like he’s about to say something but the pleasure overwhelms him, knocking the thoughts out of his head. His eyes flick down, widening at the way you easily ease down yourself on his cock. And then, it hits him.
“Wait,” he says in a rushed tone, his grip is impossibly hard now. “The condom.”
You hush him softly, while continue taking more of him into you. “It’s okay,” you murmur.
There’s a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, like he’s not convinced yet. “But—"
You press a kiss to his lips. A gentle, reassuring kiss. “I’m on the pills. It’s okay,” you calmly say.
Slowly, his grip loosens as he decides to trust you and you do the same, wrapping your arms around his shoulders, leaning in closer as you take the remaining of his length. You let the distance disappear in a way that feels less like urgency and more like choice. Like you’re both stepping into it together.
Hyunjin’s mouth stays open the whole time, eyes dazed and dark, continuously locked in a heated gaze with yours. A low sound caught somewhere between surprise and something deeper.
The second he’s fully sheathed in your warm, velvety walls. You wrap your arms tighter around his shoulder, drawing yourself closer to him until there’s no gap left between your bodies. You press your forehead against his, letting out breathe that more like a soft laugh of relief.
“My god, you feel so good inside me,” you mutter in a hint of disbelief, lips grazing his as you speak.
Hyunjin, still overwhelmed, swallows air and forces himself to say something, do something. A beat later, he glides his hands up, holding you by the ribcage now, thumbs absentmindedly rubbing over the skin. “Is it really okay?” he asks again, voice barely audible, like he’s still processing this.
You laugh softly and then place a soft kiss on his lips. “More than okay,” you answer with a smile.
That seems to be all what he needs to hear. His hands slide up your back, holding you closer. A hand gently curves around the nape of your neck, angling your head slightly to the side as he leans in and kisses you, slower this time, like he’s trying to give himself a chance to catch up.
When you pull away, you put on the softest smile and ask, “So, how does it feel?”
He lets out a quiet exhale, almost a laugh. “You feel… so fucking perfect. So perfect for me.”
That makes you smile and you tilt your head, eyes softly gaze into his eyes. “How much would you rate it?” you ask, playful but edged with curiosity.
He captures your lips in a slow, heated kiss. “Infinite out of ten,” he finally answers after pulling away, a faint grin tugging at his lips.
That also makes you smile and you hastily kiss him, conveying that words couldn’t. You shift slightly on his lap and the slightest movement is enough to remind you of his whole size inside you, filling you, stretching you deliciously.
“I’m going to move, mmh?” you say.
“No, wait,” he says, gripping at you like he wouldn’t let go. “If you move now, I think I’m done for.”
You chuckle at that and kiss him again instead of answering, slow and reassuring, giving him a moment to adjust, to compose himself. And when you finally move, you move just a little, just enough but it draws a reaction out of him that he can’t hide, his head tipping back slightly, grip tightening again.
“You’re driving me crazy,” he sighs, half scolding, half in pleasure.
You keep your rhythm slow and steady, moving your hips in rolling motions and somehow, without the layer of protection, you feel even more sensitive around him. And oh, he just feels so good. Hot and hard, penetrating you deeper and deeper in each passing second.
“You feel so good,” you say again and again, not caring how much you’ve said it before.
It’s so easy to fall into it, into the feeling of him and the way his eyes stay on you, heavy and focused, like he doesn’t want to miss a single second of it. The way your name almost slips from his lips but doesn’t quite make it out.
It’s clear that it’s getting overwhelming for both of you so you pause. You kiss his mouth, deep and messy, lips and tongues crashing together. Once you pulled away, you lean back with one hand still gripping his shoulder as support and then continue moving.
Seeing your breasts bouncing merely inches away from him, he doesn’t skip the chance but cling to it, mouth sucking hard on your nipple like he’s one thirsty man.
You gasp when he sucks too hard, but the added stimulation keeps you going, keeps you moving and tirelessly chasing your high. Your hand slides up to his neck, grounding yourself there as you lean in again, pressing your lips against the top of his head, on his temple and then forehead. Then pull away just slightly, just enough to look down at him.
“I want this to last,” you whisper, voice small and quivering on the edges.
He pulls away with a gasp before lifting his head, looking back into your eyes. A soft smile pulling at his mouth despite everything. “Then let’s stay like this,” he murmurs back, pressing a kiss to your lips. “Forever.”
There’s something in the way he says it. Playful? Yes. But not entirely. You feel that thread of something real, woven into all the heat and closeness. You let yourself believe it that maybe this could last longer than just tonight.
-
You stay there with him, moving slowly, letting the rhythm build instead of chasing it, letting yourself feel every shift, every reaction he gives you. And he gives you plenty.
His hands tighten around you, fingers digging into your skin like he’s trying to keep you right where you are—like he already knows you’re getting close.
You are.
It creeps up on you in waves, soft at first, then stronger, until your breath starts to falter and your grip on him changes without you meaning to.
His arms wrap tighter around you, pulling you flush against him, his face dipping into the curve of your neck as if he wants to hide there, breathe you in, anchor himself to you while everything starts to tip over.
“You’re close, mmh?” he lowly asks, almost swallowed against your skin.
But you’re already there, already slipping.
When you hit your high, it pulls a soft, unfiltered sound from you and he holds you through it, closer than before, like he’s not letting you drift too far from him even for a second.
His lips find yours again almost immediately, kissing you deeper. Like he’s chasing you through it. Like he wants to stay right there with you, even as you’re still catching your breath.
“You look so beautiful…” he pauses, brushing his thumb across your cheek, gaze heavy and soft all at once. “Coming around me like this.”
You can only manage a small, breathless smile as you cling to him and trying to steady yourself again.
But his grip shifts, and before you can fully process it, he’s guiding you back until your back meets the bed. He moves with utmost care, almost protective, like he’s making sure you land softly, like nothing about this moment is meant to be rushed.
He hovers over you, eyes searching yours and then he kisses you again. His mouth drifts from yours, trailing down your jaw, your neck and each kiss lighter than before, but somehow just as intense. It’s not about urgency anymore. It’s about staying.
Your fingers find his hair, brushing it back, holding him there when he dips lower, making a long trail of kisses down your front and only stopping when his mouth lands on your still sensitive, still pulsating clit.
He burrows onto the mattress, arms curve under your thighs and makes himself comfortable there, on the space between your legs. Like this is where he lives now.
He takes his time to please you with his mouth, tongue landing small, featherlight licks, lips capturing your clit in soft kisses while his mouth occasionally sucking on it. Just enough to make you restless. Just enough to make your legs tremble and your toes curl.
He lets go only to place kisses on your inner thighs before crawling over you, hovering above you once more. He takes a moment to just admire, one hand gliding down your torso and then settles on the curve of your waist.
“So beautiful, so perfect…” he murmurs in a mix of disbelief and awe. Then he crashes his mouth onto yours, taking your breath away in every brush of his lips against yours.
When he finally settles between your legs again, the tension is thicker and heavier now. He doesn’t rush back into you. Not yet. Just rubbing his length between your slick folds, letting your essence lubricating it. He lets the moment stretch, lets you feel him how hard he is, lets you want it until you can’t help but touch him, guiding his cock to your clit and circling the tip around it. You keep your eyes locked with his as you do and there’s something in the way he looks at you now — he’s almost gone. In the best way.
You push the tip down, aiming it toward your entrance and push it just an inch. And yet, it’s enough to elicit a quiet, low sound he doesn’t even try to hide. You arch your body, letting him feel the way you wrapped around him once more.
Hyunjin sighs, like he’s trying to calm himself down before finally does the rest, pushing forward and penetrating you again. His eyes don’t stray, they focused on the way his length sliding into you little by little. By the time he’s fully bottomed out, he stills. Like he needs to adjust, to steady himself, to not lose it right then and there.
You feel it the way he trembles slightly, the way his hands flex at your sides, the way his breathing changes. And then—
“You take me so easily now,” he murmurs, rough around the edges. His thumb presses on your clit, gently circling and applying just the right pressure on it
You slyly smile in return, lifting your knees higher and cupping your breasts in your hands, giving yourself the extra stimulation your body seeks.
The sight arouses Hyunjin so much that for a brief moment, he just stays there, watching you touching yourself. His hips begin moving then, ever so slowly but the motions only allow him to feel you more. More intense than before.
Hyunjin’s eyes screwed shut for a second like he’s struggling to keep up with what he’s feeling and seeing. When he opens them, they meet you right away. “I fucked you so many times that you’ve taken the shape of me, yeah?” he murmurs, followed by a shaky exhale.
Instead of answering, you put your legs down and around his waists, hands reaching for his shoulders to bring him close until he’s settled on top of you. You kiss him and he kisses you back in the same eagerness, almost sloppy.
And at the same time, Hyunjin keeps moving his hips in rolling motions and it always impresses you how he moves like his body made of fluid, flowing and unrestrained. Each motion measured, like he’s trying to hold onto control while still giving into it.
Praises slipping between kisses—soft murmurs that make you flutter in a way that has nothing to do with the physical anymore. You’re too deep in it now. Not just the feeling.
Him.
The way he’s looking at you. The way he’s holding you. The way this doesn’t feel like just a shared intimate moment—it feels like something more.
Your hands find his, and he laces your fingers together, pressing them into the bed as he quickens the pace, enough to pull another breath from you, enough to bring you right back to that edge again.
“Hyunjin…” you whisper his name.
He hums against your lips, barely pulling away. “Yeah?”
“I’m close…”
The words come out softer, more vulnerable than you expect.
He exhales, pressing his forehead to yours for a brief second before kissing you again. “Just—stay with me a little longer.”
You nod, even if you’re not sure you can. And when he deepens his thrusting, it becomes harder to think about anything else. Harder to hold back.
“I can’t—” you mutter breathlessly, body squirming and quivering. “I can’t hold it back anymore.”
When you finally let go, it takes him with you. There’s no holding it this time, no stopping it. He breaks with a rough, guttural groan that spills out of his mouth as he pulls you closer, burying himself against you, the moment crashing over him just as hard.
The soft, quiet stillness comes after. His forehead rests against yours, breath still uneven, a small, disbelieving smile tugging at his lips. He looks at you like he’s seeing something new. Something important.
He waits until your eyes are focused and meeting him. And the he says it.
“I love you.”
The words hang between you for a moment, you let them sink in, let them seep into somewhere deep in your chest. you have the answer but the words feel strange, feel heavy on your tongue. You try anyway, opening your mouth, but he stops with a kiss.
“You don’t have to say it back,” he murmurs, thumb swiping across your lips.
You smile lazily at that. “Well, I don’t want to,” you playfully say.
He huffs a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “Then don’t.”
But your hand comes up to his cheek, thumb brushing lightly across his skin, your gaze steady on his. And this time, you don’t hesitate.
“But I love you.”
He stills for a second. Like he didn’t expect it. Like he’s not sure he heard it right. And then he breaks into laughter as if he’s trying to release the nerves, the worries and concerns.
And with that, he leans in and kisses you again, body lowering until he’s settled on top of you. Until your bodies fit together. Until your hearts are lying close to each other with mere bones and flesh in between. The hearts that have chosen each other.
Hopefully—
Forever.
-
Hyunjin doesn’t think he’s ever been this aware of silence before. The kind that hums softly, wrapped around the steady drone of the plane, tucked between the quiet breaths you take beside him. The kind that feels comfortable, content.
He shifts slightly in his seat, shoulder brushing yours, just to make sure you’re still there, still real. Because a part of him keeps whispering that this was all too good to be true. Like something his mind would make up just to torture him later.
He exhales slowly, running a hand through his long hair before turning his head and there you are, sitting beside him with legs tucked in just a little, scrolling through your phone with that faint crease between your brows—the one he’s grown ridiculously fond of. The one he used to call annoying. The one he now thinks about at the most inconvenient times.
As if you feel him looking, you glance up and softly smile at him. And just like that, the noise in his head quiets.
You lean closer, talking so low that it feels like it’s just for him. “The pharmaceutical company emailed. They want a review for the couple’s test program.”
“Really?” he asks, one brow lifted.
You nod, already shrugging it off and shoving your phone into your bag. “Let’s just do it later.”
Later. He lingers on that word for a second.Later means this continues.Later means you’re not… done.
You nudge him lightly, already leaning close to his. “Wanna watch something?”
He nods, clearing his throat a little. “Yeah. Let’s finish that movie we didn’t get to watch.”
You hum, already leaning forward to scroll through the in-flight screen, mumbling under your breath. “I don’t even know if they have it…”
A moment later, you look at him and shake your head, lips slightly curled into a pout. “They don’t have it.”
And god, that face. He smiles without meaning to, something soft and helpless slipping through before he can stop it. “Just pick anything.”
You drop your hand to your lap. “No. You pick this time.”
He huffs out a quiet laugh, like he’s been handed something far more serious than choosing a movie. “Alright.”
He scrolls through the options, squinting like he’s studying for an exam. Then, he jokingly mutters, “I don’t think they have porn on this thing.”
Your hand flies to his mouth, muffling him as you half-laugh, half-scold, “Are you insane? There are kids around.”
His eyes widen in mock innocence as he glances around, deliberately dramatic. “I don’t see any.”
“Just pick a movie,” you tell him while gently patting his cheek. “A normal, flight-friendly movie.”
Another moment passed with him scrolling through the movie selection and ends up with something light, a teen comedy movie. You both slip on the headsets, and before the opening scene even finishes, you link your arm through his, head settling comfortably against his shoulder. Like you’ve done it a hundred times. Like you’re going to do it a hundred more.
Hyunjin presses play and for the first half of the movie, the two of you share quiet commentary, soft chuckles, the occasional glance at each other when something particularly dumb happens on screen.
He lets himself sink into it this time, lets himself believe that just because the vacation is over, doesn’t mean it’s over. It’s still happening. You and him.
Somewhere in the middle of the movie, you get quiet and he notices it a little too late. He tilts his head, looking down and as expected, you’re fast asleep. Your face slightly smushed against his arm, lips parted in the softest pout, brows relaxed now, all that focus and awareness melted into something unbearably soft.
He exhales a quiet laugh. “Again?” he murmurs under his breath. But his voice is fond. So, so fond.
Carefully, he leans in and presses a gentle kiss to your pout. The kiss lingers there for half a second longer than he intended to before pulling back, eyes soft as he stares at your face. Then he reaches up, slipping your headset off, then his.
The movie keeps playing silently for a moment before he pauses it altogether. He straightens on his seat, wrapping an arm around you, pulling you closer until you’re properly tucked against his side, your head resting more comfortably now against his chest.
You instinctively curl into him, like even in your sleep, you know he’s safe. Like you trust him. Completely. And that means more than anything.
The restlessness fades. Not completely. Because maybe things will change when you land. Maybe work will get in the way. Maybe reality will creep back in. But this isn’t something that disappears the moment the plane touches the ground. He knows that now. He presses his cheek lightly against the top of your head, eyes drifting shut for just a second.
Some things stay the same.
And some things change.
And for once, he’s not afraid of either.
-
Hyunjin doesn’t realize how tightly he’s been holding onto that quiet, fragile feeling until the door clicks open. You step in first and he follows, wheeling both suitcases in with a soft thud against the floor. He turns back to close the door, hand lingering on the handle a second too long like he’s sealing something in, or maybe trying to keep something from slipping away.
When he turns around, you’re already looking at him. Your smile is soft and content, a little tired too, but that’s understandable.
“It’s so nice to be home,” you sigh.
Yeah. It is.
You don’t give him time to sit in it, though. You walk right up to him, slipping a hand to his waist, tugging him closer. The kiss you give him is a quick brush of your lips against him, but his heart flips anyway.
Then you look at him, casual as anything. “Are you hungry?”
He huffs a small laugh, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Yeah.”
You grin, reaching up to pat his cheek lightly like he’s done something right. “Can you please order something delicious for us?”
How can he say no when you look at him with a soft gaze and a soft smile?
“Of course,” he answers without argument. He pulls his phone out immediately, scrolling through options while you disappear briefly to set your things down.
By the time the food arrives, you’re both settled at the dining table, still in your travel clothes, too comfortable to care. In between bites of food, the two you talk about the vacation — the rocky beginning, the fun bits, the unexpected things you encountered and discovered.
You talk with such zest and Hyunjin finds himself watching you more than listening sometimes. The way your eyes crinkle, the way your hand gestures mid-story, the way you lean back in your chair when you laugh like you’ve forgotten everything else exists.
He wants to stay here, right in this version of things. Where it’s just you and him, a table between you, shared food, shared stories, no expectations pressing in from the outside. A small, selfish part of him wonders if it’s possible to stretch this moment, make it last just a little longer before reality starts knocking again.
But eventually, the plates are empty and you push your chair back with a quiet sigh, stretching slightly as you stand.
He gets ahead of you, collecting plates and stacking them together. “I’ll do it,” he offers.
“Thanks,” you murmur before walking up to him, pressing a quick kiss to his lips.
And when you pull away, you look at him like you know exactly what that did to him. “I’ll be waiting for you upstairs.”
You say it so casually and don’t say anything else after, but let him figure it out himself.
Hyunjin just stands there with dirty dishes in hand. Brain lagging behind. He watches you cross the living room, grab your bag from the sofa, then head upstairs without a second glance back. Your footsteps fade, followed by the soft sound of a door opening and then closing.
Upstairs? Does that mean you want him in your bedroom?His eyes flick briefly toward the staircase, then back down at the dishes in his hands.
“You’re definitely inviting me,” he says to no one, shaking his head in disbelief.
There’s no point pretending otherwise. Still, he forces himself to finish cleaning, faster and a little rushed, his thoughts already halfway upstairs with you. Because all he can think about is you, up there, waiting for him.
-
Hyunjin pushes the door open with his shoulder, backpack hanging loosely from his hand. He steps into your room, slower than he needs to, like he’s taking it in properly this time.
You’re not there, but he hears the sound of water running from the bathroom.
He lets out a quiet breath, something between relief and anticipation, and walks further in, setting his backpack down by the nightstand before lowering himself onto the edge of the bed.
The room already feels familiar. It’s still in the same layout. The same sheets. The same faint scent that lingers in the air, something that’s just… you. But it feels different.
Last time he was here, he wasn’t supposed to be. He remembers moving around quietly, careful not to leave a trace, like he was borrowing something that didn’t belong to him.
Now? Now he’s sitting here because you told him to come. Because you want him here. Because this is no longer something hidden between moments.
He leans back slightly on his hands, eyes drifting around the room, a small smile tugging at his lips before he even realizes it.
The bathroom door creaks open and he turns his head instantly to find you standing in the doorway with your hair down, dressed down in a simple night dress that somehow does more to him than anything else you’ve worn all day.
“Hey!” you call out with an edge to it. Like you’re seeing something that doesn’t belong in your room.
Did he—? Did he get it wrong? Did he read too much into everything?
But before the thought can even settle, you walk toward him, stopping just close enough to look down at where he’s sitting. “That’s my side of the bed.”
God. He overthinks it again. He shakes his head at himself, dragging a hand through his hair. “Right. Of course it is.”
You cross your arms, still holding onto that mock glare, but there’s a grin threatening at the corner of your lips.
He plays along, letting out an exaggerated sigh as he grabs his things. “I come all the way here and I don’t even get a good spot.”
You roll your eyes, but you’re smiling now.
He walks around the bed, dropping onto the other side, tossing his things down like he’s been doing this forever.
You watch him for a second before nodding toward the bathroom. “Go wash up. Hurry.”
He groans softly, dragging himself up again. “Bossy.”
“Go. Now!”
“Okay, okay,” he mutters with hands lifted in defeat, already heading toward the bathroom.
Soon enough, Hyunjin comes out of the bathroom with a towel slung over his shoulder, hair still slightly damp, the warmth from the shower clinging to his skin.
The first thing he sees is you, sitting comfortably against the headboard, legs stretched out under the blanket, phone in your hands as your thumbs move quickly across the screen. The warm glow of the bedside lamp lights up your face, softening your features.
You glance up the second he steps into view and smile. It hits him instantly that he should get used to it now.
“Well,” you say, a teasing edge in your voice, “thank you for not taking forever in there.”
He huffs out a quiet laugh, shaking his head as he walks over. “You’re welcome. I tried my best not to inconvenience you.”
You narrow your eyes playfully, but the smile stays.
He sets his things down on your nightstand while you lock your phone and put it aside without a second thought. Then you shift, sliding further down into the bed, patting the space next to you. “Hurry. Get in.”
He rolls his eyes, dragging out a dramatic sigh like he’s being forced into it. “So demanding.”
He takes his time anyway, pulling the covers back, settling in beside you, but the second he’s there, you snuggle up to him. Like it’s where you’re meant to be.
He doesn’t even think about it but offers his arm, letting you rest your head on it, adjusting slightly so you’re comfortable. Your body melts into his side, and he feels the soft hum you let out against him.
His fingers drift to your hair, brushing through it gently, slow and absent-minded. His other hand finds yours, threading your fingers together before softly kissing the your knuckle and resting your laced hands over his chest.
The room is quiet except for the sound of your breathing, the faint rustle of sheets shifting with every small movement. This is nice and he is relaxes, and yet, one thing sitting in the back of his mind, refusing to stay quiet.
He swallows, then nudges you slightly. “Hey.”
You hum in response, eyes already half-closed. “Mmh?”
“You’re not gonna get weird tomorrow, right?”
You let out a small scoff of laughter against him. “Get weird how?”
He keeps his voice steady and the tone casual. “Like… you’re not gonna go back to how you used to be with me.”
You tilt your head up to look at him, brows lifting. “And how did I used to be with you?”
He grins, a little sheepish now. “You know. Like you’re always annoyed by me. Like… I’m just your test partner.”
A quiet chuckle leaves you and your eyes flutter, forcing them open to look at him. “First thing first, I’ll always be annoyed by you,” you murmur with a playful smile.
Hyunjin rolls his eyes and sighs, but he knows that part is true. He doesn’t think he’ll stop annoying you sometime soon.
“Secondly,” you continue, looking and sounding a little serious now. “Congratulations, you just got promoted as my long-term booty call.”
He lets out a breath that should turn into a laugh. But your answer is not quite the one he wants to hear, not the kind of assurance he seeks. Before he can say anything else, you suddenly burst into laughter, shifting over him until you’re half on top of him, looking down at him like he’s the most ridiculous person alive.
“We’ve been—” you cut yourself off with another laugh, shaking your head, “—we’ve been fucking each other for days, said ‘I love you,’ and now you’re here, in my bed… and you’re still asking what we are?”
He presses his lips together, trying to hold it in and fails. A laugh escapes him out of embarrassment. “Just making sure,” he mutters while nodding to himself.
You roll your eyes and then drop your head to the side, quietly chuckling.
He looks at you and carefully asks, “Can I tell people about it?”
“I’d rather keep it low-key,” you eloquently answer like you expected that question from him.
His brows knit slightly. “Why?”
You reach up, brushing a strand of his hair back. “I don’t want to mix work and personal stuff. And I definitely don’t want to give the office something to gossip about.”
He gets it. He fully understands it. But still, he pouts because a part of him wants to the tell the world that you’re his. “So… I can’t tell anyone?”
You smile, amused. “You can.”
His eyes light up slightly at that, but then you quickly add, “Only if someone asks.”
The pout comes back immediately and you barely have time to laugh before he suddenly rolls over, flipping you onto your back beneath him. You let out a small sound of surprise, but you’re smiling.
He hovers over you, looking down with that familiar mix of mischief and something softer underneath. “Do you really love me?” he asks.
You grin instantly. “Do you really love me?”
He leans down, nudging his nose against yours. “I asked first.”
You hold his gaze and just to make this difficult, you answer, “Sometimes, I do.”
He narrows his eyes, leans in and gently bites your nose.
You shriek, laughing, hands flying to his face as you cup his jaw, pressing a quick kiss there.
“I want to take things slow. I want to keep this between us for a bit longer.”
He nods in understanding. But then—
“Can I at least tell our CMO?”
You laugh immediately, knowing that Seungmin will be likely the first person Hyunjin would declare this relationship to. “Yes.”
He nods, satisfied. “That’s enough.”
And just like that, he leans down, giving you a long, lingering kiss. A kiss that says more than he bothers putting into words.
“No more questions. I’m tired,” you half mumble with eyes closed.
“Okay,” he says, tangling his hand in your hair and gently brushing it. But not even a second later, he asks, “How about one more kiss?”
You sharply exhale air through your nostrils before tilting your head up. “Just one more kiss,” you murmur.
Hyunjin makes the best of it, capturing your soft lips in his and kissing you. Less heat, more intent. With his whole heart. When he pulls away, he smiles and lowly murmurs against your lips, “Goodnight.”
You smile with your eyes closed. “Goodnight,” you say back, just as softly.
Then he rolls back onto his side, pulling you with him, tucking you close like before. You fit there perfectly. His arm wraps around you, hand resting at your back, holding you close as your breathing slowly evens out.
And this time, his mind is quiet because when morning comes, he knows you’ll still be right here.
-
The moment you open your eyes, you see him.
Hyunjin, right beside you. So close that you can feel his breath, soft and even against your skin. His face is slightly smushed into the pillow, lips parted in the faintest pout, hair a mess in the way that makes him look softer and unguarded. And somehow, a lot more attractive.
There’s something about seeing him like this that makes your chest feel a little too full and your lips curve into a smile
Carefully, you shift closer. Your fingers hover for a moment before brushing lightly along his jaw, tracing the line of it. Then you lean in, pressing small, lingering kisses there—one, two, three—slow and gentle, just enough to feel the warmth of his skin under your lips.
He doesn’t stir. Not even a little as you smile against him. So you press one more kiss and this time to his lips and to no one surprise, still nothing.
It’s only when you start adjusting the blanket and shifting your leg, he finally reacts. A low groan slips out of him as he burrows deeper into the pillow, voice rough with sleep. “What time is it?”
You reach for your phone, squinting slightly at the brightness before answering, “Six seventeen.”
He groans louder like he has issues with those numbers, and immediately turns his face further into the pillow. “Wake me up in an hour,” he mumbles.
He sounds so serious about it. Like it’s a real plan. You can’t help the smile that spreads across your face.
Then, after a beat, his voice comes again, slurred and drifting. “Actually… don’t wake me up at all.”
You let out a soft chuckle, shaking your head a little as you hum in response. “Noted.”
You lean down again, pressing another gentle kiss to his lips. And this time, he reacts, just barely. As you pull away, his lips follow yours, chasing for a second before he catches you in a lazy, lingering peck. It’s clumsy, half-asleep, but warm in a way that settles in your chest. Then just as quickly, he’s burrowing back into the pillow, arm loosely draped where you were moments ago and go back to sleep.
You watch him for a brief moment before willing yourself to start moving. You stretch slightly, easing yourself out of bed, careful not to disturb him again. Morning is here and for once, you don’t feel like you have to brace yourself for anything.
You fall into your routine almost instinctively—shower, clothes, skincare and by the time you’re in the kitchen, the sun is already filtering in through the windows, warm and bright. You set breakfast together from whatever you have left in your fridge. Oatmeal, a few extras on the side and pour yourself a cup of coffee.
You’re halfway through your first sip when you hear his slow, dragging footsteps. You glance up just as Hyunjin appears at the bottom of the stairs with messy hair and eyes barely open, one hand rubbing at his face like he’s still negotiating with the idea of being awake. Yet, his expression changes instantly the second he sees you. He smiles as he walks into the kitchen.
“Morning,” he murmurs, voice still heavy with sleep.
“Morning,” you softly say back.
He passes by you, leaning in to press a quick kiss to the top of your head before reaching up to the cabinet. It’s so natural, like it’s always been part of the routine. You don’t even hesitate to grab his mug as he takes it down, pouring coffee into it for him.
He glances at you, grin tugging at his lips. “Thanks.”
You nod toward the counter. “Want some oatmeal?”
He pauses mid-sip and grimaces. “I’m pretty sure I still have cereal left,” he says, already turning to rummage through your cabinet where he last put it.
Not long after, he finds the cereal box and pulls it out, opening the lid to peek inside. His brow furrows and slowly, he turns his head toward you. “Why is there barely anything left in my cereal?”
You lean against the counter, keeping your expression neutral, lifting your cup for another sip like you have no idea what he’s talking about.
His eyes narrow as he takes a step closer. And you can feel the way he’s looking at you, like he’s waiting for the crack to show.
You tell yourself to stay calm but it only lasts for two seconds and then your lips twitch. “I might’ve eaten it. Occasionally,” you admit, rather casually.
He scoffs, shaking his head as he closes the distance. “You’re still bad at lying.”
You grin, completely unbothered. “Oatmeal?” you offer again, just to annoy him.
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he cups your face with both hands and then leans in, kissing you. The kiss is quick, but it lingers just enough to make a low gasp escaping you when he pulls aways.
He looks at you like he’s already decided something and says, “No, thank you. I’ll stick to my cereal.”
A few minutes later, you sit across from Hyunjin, one leg tucked under you, spoon lazily circling your oatmeal while he crunches through his cereal. But every now and then, he glances at you like he’s checking you’re still there.
You pretend not to notice. Instead, you reach for your phone resting beside your bowl, unlocking it and sliding it across the table toward him.
“Hey, we should probably do this now before we forget,” you begin.
He pauses mid-bite, spoon hovering in the air. “Do what?”
You tap the screen lightly, where the form is pulled up. “The couple test program review. They asked for it.”
He leans forward, squinting a little as he reads, then lets out a quiet ah of realization before leaning back in his chair. “Right. That thing.”
He shoves a spoonful of cereal into his mouth, chews on it and then, he asks, “We’re filling it together?”
You raise a brow at him like it’s obvious. “We were in it together, weren’t we?”
That earns you a soft huff of a laugh. He nods, scooting his chair a little closer, elbow coming to rest on the table as he angles your phone toward both of you. “Okay, let’s see,” he says, suddenly a little more awake.
You take your mug, sipping your coffee as your eyes scan the first question. “How would you rate your overall experience?” you read aloud, then glance at him. “Be honest.”
He tilts his head, considering it for a brief moment like he’s weighing something heavier than the question itself. “Good. Not excellent.”
You narrow your eyes slightly. “Not excellent?”
His gaze flicks to you, slow, deliberate, the corner of his mouth tugging. “Well, we had… complications.”
You scoff under your breath, already tapping “Good” anyway. “You mean you couldn’t stay professional.”
“I stayed professional,” he counters, completely unbothered. “You’re the one who—”
You kick his foot lightly under the table. “Next.”
He laughs and lets you move on.
You go through the aspects together, taking your time with it. You read them out, and he answers, sometimes immediately, sometimes after a pause, sometimes after a quiet debate between the two of you that ends in a compromise and a shared glance that lingers just a second too long.
“Partner coordination,” you murmur, tapping the screen. “Four?”
“Four,” he agrees. Then, after a beat— “Could’ve been a five.”
You hum, pretending to think about it. “You complained a lot.”
“You liked it.”
You don’t answer that. Just press the rating and move on. And each time, your lips curl into a smile.
“Did the program have a positive impact on your relationship?” you ask, voice softer now. You don’t look at him right away like you did before. Your thumb hovers over the screen.
“Yeah,” he says before you can ask.
You glance up then, and he’s already looking at you. You nod once, almost to yourself, before tapping “Yes.”
Neither of you says anything for a second after that. Then you clear your throat, nudging the moment forward. “Favorite part?”
He leans back in his chair again, dragging his spoon lazily through the empty bowl now. “Working together,” he says, like it’s obvious. Then, after a beat, quieter— “Getting to see you like that.”
“Like what?”
“Focused and bossy,” he answers without a beat. A grin blooms on his small face as he adds, “A little scary.”
You roll your eyes, but your fingers hesitate over the screen before typing it in. The rest comes easier from there until you reach the last new question.
You tilt the phone slightly toward him. “Would you be interested in joining another couple test program in the future?”
He doesn’t even pretend to think about it. “Yes.”
You smile a little at how fast that was. “That was quick.”
He shrugs, but his eyes don’t leave you. “Depends on the condition.”
You raise a brow. “Oh?”
He leans in, raising his eyebrow as a flirty gesture. “For an instance, same partner.”
Your fingers still for a second over the screen and you try to fight it, but the smile tugging at your lips anyway. You nod as you tap the answer in, exactly like that. Then you set your phone down and reach for your coffee again.
He watches you over the rim of his mug, quiet for a moment. Then—
“So… we’re doing another one?”
You meet his eyes over the table, sunlight catching in them, in yours, in everything that’s changed without either of you saying it out loud. You tilt your head, a small smile pulling at your lips.
“Looks like it,” you say.
And maybe this time, it won’t feel like a test at all.
-
COUPLE TEST PROGRAM
PARTICIPANT REVIEW FORM
Participant 1 ID: P-260319
Participant 2 ID: P-260320
Program Duration: 30 Days
1. Overall Experience
How would you rate your overall experience?
☐ Excellent ☑ Good ☐ Average ☐ Poor
2. Program Aspects (Rate 1–10)
Product Quality & Variety: 9
Clarity of Testing Instructions: 9
Ease of Use (Products): 8
Reporting & Documentation Process: 8
Partner Coordination & Task Balance: 8
3. Relationship Impact
Did the program have a positive impact on your relationship?
☑ Yes ☐ No ☐ Unsure
If yes, how? (optional)
It encouraged consistent communication, cooperation, and adaptability. We became more aware of each other’s preferences, working styles, and boundaries through repeated interactions.
4. Highlights & Challenges
Favorite part of the program:
Testing products in a shared setting and comparing perspectives. The process felt interactive and allowed for genuine reactions and discussions.
Any challenges or concerns:
Maintaining objectivity while working closely as partners could be challenging at times. Differences in opinions occasionally affected the evaluation process.
5. Recommendation
Would you recommend this program to other couples?
☑ Yes ☐ No ☐ Maybe
6. Future Participation
Would you be interested in joining another couple test program in the future?
☑ Yes ☐ No ☐ Maybe
If yes, under what conditions? (optional)
Preferably with the same partner to maintain consistency in evaluation and communication.
7. Additional Feedback
The program is well-structured and effective for observing real-time partner dynamics. Slight improvements in reporting flexibility and clearer expectations for subjective evaluations would enhance the experience.
8. Final Comment
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the Couple Test Program. The experience was insightful, engaging, and unexpectedly meaningful for both of us. Beyond product evaluation, the program encouraged stronger communication, teamwork, and understanding between partners in everyday situations.
We appreciate the effort put into creating realistic testing environments and activities that allowed authentic interactions and feedback. Overall, it was a valuable experience that we would gladly participate in again.
Submission Status: ✔ Successfully Submitted
-
✨ COCKY: BONUS CHAPTER is available exclusively on Patreon ✨
Please support my writings by kindly reblog, comment or tip me on my ko-fi!
Synopsis: When you signed up for a paid product testing program, you expected free samples and money. What you didn’t expect was to be paired with Hwang Hyunjin and assigned to test a series of increasingly questionable sexual wellness products together.
Preview under cut!
...
You sit beside Hyunjin in the row of chairs arranged in neat lines across the hall, your ID badge hanging stiffly around your neck like a badge of shame. Around you, a dozen or so couples settle into their seats, some leaning comfortably into each other, some whispering and laughing like they’re on some bizarre date night.
You, on the other hand, sit ramrod straight with arms crossed. You back rigid against the chair. As if posture alone can save you from the humiliating reality of the situation.
At the front of the hall, a man in a white coat adjusts the microphone and opens the seminar. “Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for participating in our thirty-day couple product testing program.”
Thirty days. Thirty days of this. Oh, god…
The man gestures to the large screen behind him where images of the products appear one by one.
“Our goal is to gather honest feedback about usability, comfort, and partner experience. Each of you will receive a full testing kit at the end of this seminar.”
A ripple of excitement moves through the room. You, however, feel your stomach sink lower with every slide that appears.
The speaker continues explaining the first product—what it is, what it does, how it’s supposed to be used. “… And don’t worry, there will also be detailed instruction sheets included in the package.”
From somewhere in the back, a male participant calls out jokingly. “Don’t worry, I think we’ll figure it out!”
Laughter erupts across the hall.
God. This is a nightmare. You wince so hard your eyes nearly close.
Strangely, the person sitting beside you doesn’t join the laughter. You glance sideways and finds Hyunjin sitting relaxed in his chair, long legs stretched slightly forward, a few strands of hair escaped the messy bun on the back of his head. He looks calm, almost focused.
When the next slide appears, the presenter gestures toward it. “And this model is designed specifically for couples—”
The screen displays a sleek product image and below it, the name of the product typed in bold: Hands-free couple vibrator.
You feel heat creep up your neck immediately but before you can look away, Hyunjin leans closer. His shoulder brushes yours, warm through the thin fabric of your sleeve. “That looks fun,” he teasingly murmurs.
Your entire body shivers from sheer, mortifying disbelief that you and Hyunjin will be testing that product together. You stare straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge him.
The seminar continues, each explanation somehow making the situation worse in your mind. Eventually, the presentation shifts and different speaker steps forward.
“Now let’s discuss the structure of the program itself.”
Finally. Something practical. Something that you can pay attention to without feeling queasy.
“You will receive your testing kits today after the seminar. You may test the products in any order and at any time during the thirty-day program period.”
Thirty days. The number echoes again in your skull.
“For each product, both participants must submit evaluation forms describing your experience, including comfort level, ease of use, and partner response.”
That part, at least, you understand.
“As long as all evaluations are completed within the thirty-day period, participants will receive the full compensation package at the end of the program.”
The room erupts in whistles and clapping. Someone actually cheers.
You stare at the floor, wondering how the atmosphere became so festive.
And just when it seems like the excitement has peaked, the speaker raises a hand. “Oh, and we’ve prepared one more special thing.”
The room quiets instantly, anticipating.
“We will also be selecting one couple who provides the most genuine and insightful product feedback.”
The screen behind him changes again to an image of a tropical beach, palm trees and vast blue ocean.
“Those participants will receive a complimentary couples vacation package.”
The hall explodes. The whistles and clapping are louder now. A few couples lean into each other laughing, already excited.
Beside you, Hyunjin turns his head. His elbow nudges yours. “Did you hear that?”
You glance at him with pure exhaustion. “Yes. We’re hearing the same thing.”
He grins like a man who just won the lottery. “We’ll get a free vacation.”
You stare at him. “It goes to one couple.”
“And?”
“And I highly doubt that couple will be us.”
Hyunjin shrugs easily, completely unbothered. “I feel like we could win this.”
The reality of the situation settles heavier and heavier on your shoulders. You close your eyes for a moment, massaging your temple as dizziness creeps in from the sheer absurdity of it all.
Beside you, Hyunjin joins the excitement buzzes around you as if there was no complication in this situation. Which, somehow, makes it even worse.
...
MASTERLIST:
CHAPTER ONE
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CHAPTER TWO
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CHAPTER THREE
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CHAPTER FOUR
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CHAPTER FIVE
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CHAPTER SIX
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FINAL CHAPTER Coming soon!
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BONUS CHAPTER ✨
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I don't even know where to start with this. This fic....OMGG!!! THE EMOTIONS, THE FEELS, THE SMUT, THE WRITING????!!! No words. It was just mind-blowing. Your writing in this fic made me get indulged and engrossed in it. Your writing made me feel like I was with those characters and also made me feel the emotions the characters were feeling cause that's how good you were able to convey them through words. Hopeless romantic, longing, jealous, sweet Hyunjin all in one fic is just ughhh 😭😭🤌🤌. Thank you so much for bringing this kind of fic to life 💝
Oh, stop it! You're too kind! There's nothing that makes me happier than knowing you enjoyed my writing and carried away by it. Thank you for the warm feedback and hope you look forward to my upcoming works 🥰🫶🏻
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