1. My Milano - (fluff,suggestive) your boyfriend jake finally came home from their fashion week in milan with full of surprises…
2. Really, Layla over Me? - (fluff) jake finally takes a day off to visit his family, but the trip gets chaotic when his beloved, cream-colored border collie showed up—and crashes your plans with your dear boyfriend. you quickly realize you have to compete with a furry, four-legged rival for jake's undivided attention.
3. Undressed - (angst) you were about to start your night by finishing your parts of the research paper, but something important came up that needs to be finished tonight...
4. Forget The Hoodies - (fluff,smut) jake came looking for his hoodies to keep him warm on tour, but his girlfriend has a much better way to heat things up…
⋆˚✿˖° 박정성 - Park Jongseong Fics!
1. Midnight Rain - (fluff,angst) jay was pure sunshine. zero dark days. zero regrets. being with him felt like having your own golden star orbiting around you, lighting up every corner of your life. so why did you leave the most beautiful relationship you’ve ever known? because staying meant hiding from the future, and right now, you're busy chasing your own dreams…
જ⁀➴♡NOTE
⋆˚✿˖° — My account is dedicated to Sim Jaeyun. I will mainly focus on writing Jake fanfictions. However, I am also open to writing for the rest of the ENHYPEN members. Since I am new to writing on Tumblr, I feel a bit overwhelmed by all my ideas. I would love to focus on one member for now.
⋆˚✿˖° — I am not a literature major, so please bear with my grammatical errors.
⋆˚✿˖° — I am open to criticism and corrections regarding my work. Please approach me respectfully if a situation arises.
⋆˚✿˖° — All of my works are purely fictional and based on my imagination. The behaviors, events, and incidents in my stories do not reflect the actual members of ENHYPEN.
— That is all. Thank you so much for supporting me! I would love to hear your feedback on my work.
synopsis: jake came looking for his hoodies to keep him warm on tour, but his girlfriend has a much better way to heat things up…
now playing: “need to know” by doja cat
Jake had always been a massive fan of collecting hoodies. He wasn't the type to wear short sleeves, he preferred long-sleeve tops made of comfortable materials. This was exactly why you always borrowed his hoodies—well, just borrowed. Your boyfriend loved seeing you in his clothes every time you met, low-key showing off to the world that you belonged to him. He didn’t mind sharing his things with you at all. In fact, he was completely addicted to the way your scent lingered on the fabric after you wore them.
As Jake was packing for his upcoming tour, he started to notice that most of his clothes—specifically his favorite hoodies—were missing. The only person who came to mind immediately was you. He loved you to pieces, but the thought of not having his favorite hoodies for a month-long tour terrified him.
Your lovely boyfriend quickly messaged you to say he was coming over to your apartment tonight. The text made you happy, knowing you would get to spend some quality time with him before he left for a whole month. You were already going to miss him so much.
After reading his message, you went to the bathroom to freshen up and put on his favorite white hoodie—which happened to be one of the missing pieces he was looking for. You had borrowed it right after he finished his Weverse Live that day. He had looked so hot with that matching green cap and those sexy specs resting on his big, pointy nose. Ahem. As a sweet and generous boyfriend, he had willingly let you borrow it.
Hearing a soft knock, you immediately ran to the doorway. You opened it to find your boyfriend smiling warmly, holding a box of pepperoni pizza and buffalo wings—your absolute favorite couple food. You didn't even have to tell him what you wanted. Jake always brought your favorites without being asked. You loved him so much.
“Hello, babe! I brought some snacks for tonight, our favorite,” he said, pouting cutely.
You desperately wanted to kiss those pouty lips of his. He was just so kissable.
“Thank you for this, babe! I miss you so much already, and I’m going to miss you even more,” you said as you took the food from his hands, inviting him inside.
Jake immediately handed the food over and pressed a sweet kiss to your forehead, making your heart flutter. He followed you into the apartment, but his eyes instantly wandered to you wearing the white hoodie he had been searching for. Thinking about the dozen other hoodies you had borrowed, he began to re-think his life decisions, wondering how he could ask for them back for his tour without offending you.
Poor Jakey.
Soon, the two of you were eating in the living room while watching their Sleep En Dive in Melbourne episode. Both of you were laughing so hard your stomachs hurt because of the members' humor. Your boyfriend was particularly mischievous in this episode. He looked adorable with his bare face, fluffy hair, and dazed eyes.
While you were laughing, Jake gently tapped your shoulder, causing you to turn to him with a confused expression.
“What is it?” you asked.
“U-uh, about my hoodies?” Jake asked nervously.
“What about your hoodies, babe?” you questioned, more curious this time.
“I'm packing my clothes for next week, and I just wanted to ask nicely if I could get a few of my hoodies back?” Jake asked, flashing his best puppy eyes and pouting at the very end of his sentence.
“Of course! You can have them back, babe. Besides, they're your hoodies anyway, not mine,” you assured him with a warm smile.
“Aren't you mad?” Jake asked, blinking.
“No? Why would I be mad? It's your clothing,” you answered softly.
“I love you, babe!” he said, leaning in for a quick, sudden kiss that took you completely by surprise.
“Come on! Let's go to my room and get them for you.” you said.
The two of you cleaned up the food boxes and turned off the television before heading to your bedroom. As you entered, Jake sat down on your bed, patiently waiting as you opened your closet to retrieve his clothes.
Jake couldn't help but admire you quietly. He watched how his favorite hoodie rode up your torso whenever you reached for the upper shelves where the rest of his clothes were stored. His eyes trailed down to your tiny lace shorts every time you bent over to check the lower shelves.
Jake bit his lower lip, shamelessly checking you out. His mind was no longer on his missing hoodies.
He just wanted you right now.
Standing up, he walked over and stepped up right behind you. He gently wrapped his arms around your waist, startling you slightly. He began caressing your hips, slowly moving his hands up and down your sides.
“Hi, babe,” he murmured. His voice was low, deep, and completely intoxicating.
“Hello to you, too. What do you need?” you asked flirtatiously, leaning back against him.
“You, right now.” He gently kissed the nape of your neck, slowly pressing wet, warm kisses along the left side of your throat, making you giggle from the tingling sensation.
“Jake ahh–… I want you, too,” you whispered, closing your eyes to focus entirely on his touch.
“As you wish, babe.” Jake smiled against your skin, feeling like he had just won the lottery.
He stopped kissing your neck and slowly spun you around to face him. He gripped the hem of the hoodie and gently began pulling it upward.
“Hands up for me,” Jake ordered softly, and you quickly raised your arms.
“What a beautiful sight. Is this all for me?” he breathed out, his eyes darkening with hunger.
He couldn't take his gaze off your figure. No bra, your boobs were flushed and bounced sexily after he removed his hoodie off from you and just those tiny, black lace shorts. Jake hates to admit that he was painfully hard right now. It was as if some ancient Greek artist had crafted and sculpted every single inch of your curves. He loved every part of your body, from head to toe.
“This is all for you, Jake. Only for you,” you said, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him down into a bold kiss.
Jake returned the kiss with the exact same hunger. He slid his tongue into your mouth, tasting you deeply as the lewd, breathless sounds of your make-out session echoed in the quiet bedroom. He cupped your right breast and gently caressed it as if it was some stress ball.
After a few intense moments, Jake finally pulled back just a fraction, resting his forehead against yours.
“You know, babe, you don't even need my hoodies anymore,” Jake whispered, a smirk playing on his lips. “Because I can warm you up much better than any fabric can.”
Damn, he was right. Jake definitely warms you up better than any hoodie ever could. You feel yourself growing wetter at the thought of it.
Before you could even formulate a spoken reply, Jake’s smirk widened. He hooked his fingers into the waistband of your tiny lace shorts, slowly guiding them down your thighs. You stepped out of them effortlessly, leaving nothing between the two of you but the electric heat radiating from his body.
He didn’t waste another second, pulling you into a warm, tight embrace that made your heart race. Jake held you close, his chin resting on the top of your head as you stood together in the quiet room.
"Jake,” you whispered, resting your hands against his chest.
"I'm going to miss this so much while I'm away," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. He pulled back just enough to look at you, his eyes tracing every detail of your face, memorizing the moment for the long month ahead. "I'm going to miss being right here with you." He added.
"Then let's make the most of the time we have left," you replied softly, as you gently pushed him to tugged his hoodie off too. Showing his toned chiseled abs that he always shows off to Engene’s in their concerts.
You were drooling. Also down there.
He crashed his lips against yours, exploring each other's mouth once again. As the night deepened, the missing hoodies scattered across the room were forgotten. The both of you tangled nakedly on your bed after the intense sex you had. Jake kept his promise to make the goodbye special, leaving you with happy memories to last until he finally returned home.
note: my first ever smut! im lowkey not satisfied with it huhuhu. forgive this noob author :(( btw, thanks for reading!! mwahh <333
genre: fluff, smut, domestic married life, established relationship, suggestive, nsfw
word count: 0.0k
warnings & content: mdni! 18+ explicit language, suggestive themes, unprotected sex, breeding kink, p in v, oral sex, semi public sex, and more.
summary: this series is based by sabrina carpenter songs wherein jake and female reader married life will revolve in these four songs, (tears, juno, busy woman, & house tour)
now playing: “tears” “juno” “busy woman” & “house tour” by sabrina carpenter
note: hiii guys! i am absolutely obsessed with sabrina carpenter!! her music is literally everything to me, so i just had to make a whole series inspired by her tracks. also, fun fact: i really love ikeuuu <33. hope you guys love reading this series as much as i loved writing it! don't forget to drop a comment or ask to join the taglist! mwamwah!!
taglist is open!
01. Tears
lyrics: “assemble a chair from ikea. i'm like, uh~ i get wet at the thought of you~”
synopsis: you and jake were newlyweds who decided to shop around ikea for your new house. but once you get home and jake starts assembling the chair, watching him be such a responsible husband turns you on so bad. that's exactly why you decide to ride him right then and there on that specific chair…
02. Juno
lyrics: “have you ever tried this one~?”
synopsis: your sex life with jake is amazing, but you're still inexperienced and too timid to initiate. feeling anxious about not being good enough, you secretly look through the kama sutra to learn some new positions visually—finally building up the courage to ask him, “have you ever tried this one?”...
03. Busy Woman
lyrics: “but if you need my love, my clothes are off i'm coming over to your place~”
synopsis: both of you have been completely drowned in work these past few weeks, leaving zero time for romance. that's why you decide to take matters into your own hands, driving over to surprise him at his office late at night despite being a busy woman yourself…
04. House Tour
lyrics: “the couch is really comfy comfy~ got some chips ahoy if you're hungry hungry~”
synopsis: jake is always so busy with his job that he rarely gets to come home. so when he walks through the door early one night, he’s completely stunned to find you baking cookies, the floors waxed nicely just the way he likes them, and a very comfy couch waiting for him…
synopsis: jake came looking for his hoodies to keep him warm on tour, but his girlfriend has a much better way to heat things up…
now playing: “need to know” by doja cat
Jake had always been a massive fan of collecting hoodies. He wasn't the type to wear short sleeves, he preferred long-sleeve tops made of comfortable materials. This was exactly why you always borrowed his hoodies—well, just borrowed. Your boyfriend loved seeing you in his clothes every time you met, low-key showing off to the world that you belonged to him. He didn’t mind sharing his things with you at all. In fact, he was completely addicted to the way your scent lingered on the fabric after you wore them.
As Jake was packing for his upcoming tour, he started to notice that most of his clothes—specifically his favorite hoodies—were missing. The only person who came to mind immediately was you. He loved you to pieces, but the thought of not having his favorite hoodies for a month-long tour terrified him.
Your lovely boyfriend quickly messaged you to say he was coming over to your apartment tonight. The text made you happy, knowing you would get to spend some quality time with him before he left for a whole month. You were already going to miss him so much.
After reading his message, you went to the bathroom to freshen up and put on his favorite white hoodie—which happened to be one of the missing pieces he was looking for. You had borrowed it right after he finished his Weverse Live that day. He had looked so hot with that matching green cap and those sexy specs resting on his big, pointy nose. Ahem. As a sweet and generous boyfriend, he had willingly let you borrow it.
Hearing a soft knock, you immediately ran to the doorway. You opened it to find your boyfriend smiling warmly, holding a box of pepperoni pizza and buffalo wings—your absolute favorite couple food. You didn't even have to tell him what you wanted. Jake always brought your favorites without being asked. You loved him so much.
“Hello, babe! I brought some snacks for tonight, our favorite,” he said, pouting cutely.
You desperately wanted to kiss those pouty lips of his. He was just so kissable.
“Thank you for this, babe! I miss you so much already, and I’m going to miss you even more,” you said as you took the food from his hands, inviting him inside.
Jake immediately handed the food over and pressed a sweet kiss to your forehead, making your heart flutter. He followed you into the apartment, but his eyes instantly wandered to you wearing the white hoodie he had been searching for. Thinking about the dozen other hoodies you had borrowed, he began to re-think his life decisions, wondering how he could ask for them back for his tour without offending you.
Poor Jakey.
Soon, the two of you were eating in the living room while watching their Sleep En Dive in Melbourne episode. Both of you were laughing so hard your stomachs hurt because of the members' humor. Your boyfriend was particularly mischievous in this episode. He looked adorable with his bare face, fluffy hair, and dazed eyes.
While you were laughing, Jake gently tapped your shoulder, causing you to turn to him with a confused expression.
“What is it?” you asked.
“U-uh, about my hoodies?” Jake asked nervously.
“What about your hoodies, babe?” you questioned, more curious this time.
“I'm packing my clothes for next week, and I just wanted to ask nicely if I could get a few of my hoodies back?” Jake asked, flashing his best puppy eyes and pouting at the very end of his sentence.
“Of course! You can have them back, babe. Besides, they're your hoodies anyway, not mine,” you assured him with a warm smile.
“Aren't you mad?” Jake asked, blinking.
“No? Why would I be mad? It's your clothing,” you answered softly.
“I love you, babe!” he said, leaning in for a quick, sudden kiss that took you completely by surprise.
“Come on! Let's go to my room and get them for you.” you said.
The two of you cleaned up the food boxes and turned off the television before heading to your bedroom. As you entered, Jake sat down on your bed, patiently waiting as you opened your closet to retrieve his clothes.
Jake couldn't help but admire you quietly. He watched how his favorite hoodie rode up your torso whenever you reached for the upper shelves where the rest of his clothes were stored. His eyes trailed down to your tiny lace shorts every time you bent over to check the lower shelves.
Jake bit his lower lip, shamelessly checking you out. His mind was no longer on his missing hoodies.
He just wanted you right now.
Standing up, he walked over and stepped up right behind you. He gently wrapped his arms around your waist, startling you slightly. He began caressing your hips, slowly moving his hands up and down your sides.
“Hi, babe,” he murmured. His voice was low, deep, and completely intoxicating.
“Hello to you, too. What do you need?” you asked flirtatiously, leaning back against him.
“You, right now.” He gently kissed the nape of your neck, slowly pressing wet, warm kisses along the left side of your throat, making you giggle from the tingling sensation.
“Jake ahh–… I want you, too,” you whispered, closing your eyes to focus entirely on his touch.
“As you wish, babe.” Jake smiled against your skin, feeling like he had just won the lottery.
He stopped kissing your neck and slowly spun you around to face him. He gripped the hem of the hoodie and gently began pulling it upward.
“Hands up for me,” Jake ordered softly, and you quickly raised your arms.
“What a beautiful sight. Is this all for me?” he breathed out, his eyes darkening with hunger.
He couldn't take his gaze off your figure. No bra, your boobs were flushed and bounced sexily after he removed his hoodie off from you and just those tiny, black lace shorts. Jake hates to admit that he was painfully hard right now. It was as if some ancient Greek artist had crafted and sculpted every single inch of your curves. He loved every part of your body, from head to toe.
“This is all for you, Jake. Only for you,” you said, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him down into a bold kiss.
Jake returned the kiss with the exact same hunger. He slid his tongue into your mouth, tasting you deeply as the lewd, breathless sounds of your make-out session echoed in the quiet bedroom. He cupped your right breast and gently caressed it as if it was some stress ball.
After a few intense moments, Jake finally pulled back just a fraction, resting his forehead against yours.
“You know, babe, you don't even need my hoodies anymore,” Jake whispered, a smirk playing on his lips. “Because I can warm you up much better than any fabric can.”
Damn, he was right. Jake definitely warms you up better than any hoodie ever could. You feel yourself growing wetter at the thought of it.
Before you could even formulate a spoken reply, Jake’s smirk widened. He hooked his fingers into the waistband of your tiny lace shorts, slowly guiding them down your thighs. You stepped out of them effortlessly, leaving nothing between the two of you but the electric heat radiating from his body.
He didn’t waste another second, pulling you into a warm, tight embrace that made your heart race. Jake held you close, his chin resting on the top of your head as you stood together in the quiet room.
"Jake,” you whispered, resting your hands against his chest.
"I'm going to miss this so much while I'm away," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. He pulled back just enough to look at you, his eyes tracing every detail of your face, memorizing the moment for the long month ahead. "I'm going to miss being right here with you." He added.
"Then let's make the most of the time we have left," you replied softly, as you gently pushed him to tugged his hoodie off too. Showing his toned chiseled abs that he always shows off to Engene’s in their concerts.
You were drooling. Also down there.
He crashed his lips against yours, exploring each other's mouth once again. As the night deepened, the missing hoodies scattered across the room were forgotten. The both of you tangled nakedly on your bed after the intense sex you had. Jake kept his promise to make the goodbye special, leaving you with happy memories to last until he finally returned home.
note: my first ever smut! im lowkey not satisfied with it huhuhu. forgive this noob author :(( btw, thanks for reading!! mwahh <333
warnings & content: green flag jay, red flag reader, problematic reader, swearing, the reader chooses her career over jay
synopsis: jay was pure sunshine. zero dark days. zero regrets. being with him felt like having your own golden star orbiting around you, lighting up every corner of your life. so why did you leave the most beautiful relationship you’ve ever known? because staying meant hiding from the future, and right now, you're busy chasing your own dreams…
now playing: “midnight rain” by taylor swift
My town was a wasteland
Full of cages, full of fences
Pageant queens and big pretenders
But for some, it was paradise…
The teenage love story began on a summer afternoon on Jeju Island. The sun shone brightly, and a cool breeze swept across the coast. You sat on a nearby rock, enjoying the ocean-blue view. You had always been passionate about art; every time you saw a perfect landscape, you would immediately grab your supplies to capture the scene on canvas.
Jay, on the other hand, was peeking silently behind you as your brush moved across the canvas, adding lively details. He was a classmate and one of your closest friends. The boy was a total menace, teasing you every chance he got. His antics usually ended with you pinching his ear in annoyance. Yet, despite the endless jokes, Jay was remarkably thoughtful. Because you often forgot to eat while focused on your work, he always made you a packed lunch, scolding you gently for skipping meals. You might have pretended to be annoyed by his nagging, but you loved his cooking. Jay had already shared his dream of becoming a successful chef, and you had promised to be his very first customer when he opened a restaurant. You even made a pinky promise to seal the deal. You, meanwhile, dreamed of a future in the fashion industry. People were often struck by your presence and the artistic way you carried yourself.
“How much is your painting, miss?” he jokingly asked, startling you.
“Oh my god, Jay! Can you please stop sneaking up on me? You're going to give me a heart attack,” you said dramatically, looking up at him.
Jay sat down on a large stone beside you.
“What do you need?” you frowned, assuming he was about to start another round of teasing.
“You?” he countered, framing it like a question to himself.
“Jay, I'm not in the mood for your pranks,” you replied, turning back to your painting.
“I'm serious. I need your opinion on a dish I made earlier,” he pleaded, his expression softening.
Hearing him mention food made you whip your head around, instantly all ears.
“You know, sometimes I wonder if you're only friends with me for my cooking,” Jay sulked.
“Maybe you're right. Come on, just tell me, Jay,” you teased, flashing your signature smile.
He let out a defeated sigh. “So, about the dish. I made my own version of crispy pork belly. I want you to taste it because I trust your honesty.”
“Jay, you know I'm always down for food. Let's go right now,” you said quickly, packing up your art materials in a flash.
Your sudden eagerness left Jay stunned, jokingly wondering if the food was more important than the company.
As you stepped onto the damp rocks, your foot slipped. Losing your balance, you tumbled forward. You braced yourself for a fall, but before you could, Jay caught you. Thanks to his quick reflexes, you were safe.
Held in his steady grip, a part of you didn't want to step away. In truth, you had been secretly fond of Jay since the first day he looked after you. Your heart always fluttered at his acts of service. It was the first time anyone had treated you with such genuine care. Jay was unique, and it made you appreciate him even more despite his mischievous attitude.
You looked at him closely, noting how the sunlight caught his features. His expression was gentle as he stared directly into your eyes. The tension between you grew as the moment stretched on. Finally, Jay softly asked for your permission to share a closer moment.
“Can I kiss you?” he nervously whispered. You felt the weight of the moment as the silence between you deepened.
Instead of answering, you leaned in, closing your eyes as you pressed your lips against his. A swarm of butterflies erupted in your stomach. Though caught off guard by your sudden boldness, Jay quickly recovered. He helped you stand up straight without breaking the connection, moving with a rhythm that felt natural. It was a moment of pure happiness for both of you.
When you finally parted, the air felt different. Jay kept a steady hand on your arm as you looked at one another. He waited a moment before asking the question on his mind.
“Can I take you out on a date?”
“No,” you replied. The sudden rejection caught him completely off guard.
“No?” he stammered, his heart sinking.
“Because I would love to go on a date with you!” you exclaimed, laughing at his panicked expression.
Jay grinned and pulled you into a tight hug, feeling like the luckiest person in the world that day.
My boy was a montage
A slow-motion, love potion
Jumping off things in the ocean
I broke his heart 'cause he was nice…
Jay always brightened up your mood. You felt like you had your own personal sunshine orbiting around you whenever you needed him. You never had dark days when you were with Jay. He provided you with positive energy just like real sunshine. You never regretted saying yes to him that day at the seashore.
The two of you were now seniors in college, and in just a few months, you would graduate together. Jay had pursued his dream of becoming a chef, which was the reason he took up the Culinary program. Meanwhile, you have also followed your dreams by taking Arts and Design as your degree.
You were currently sitting in one of the chairs at the dining table, quietly admiring your boyfriend's back as he stood facing away from you, stirring the chicken risotto he was cooking.
“Love, you look hot just by cooking,” you said out of nowhere, making Jay flustered by your words.
“I am always hot. You just realized it now? I feel bad that you're so late to notice,” Jay quickly responded, turning around a little to show his signature Roblox smile.
Nothing had changed; Jay was still as annoying as hell. Sometimes you just wanted to choke him for being such a menace, but you secretly loved this side of him.
“Risotto a la Ottosir is finally done,” he announced. Even his dish's name was corny, just like him. He called out to you as he gently scooped the risotto onto one of your favorite plates.
“Yeyyyy! Thank you, chef Jjongsaeng, for this wonderful dish,” you thanked him while taking a picture of the food he had made for you.
Naturally, you always captured the dishes with the chef in the frame, too.
“Say cheese for the camera, love,” you told him. Jay made a weird, funny face for the photo.
“Let's dig in now!” Jay said, taking a spoonful of risotto to feed you.
You opened your mouth as he fed you.
Once again, Jay’s dishes never disappointed. It was always delicious. Sometimes, a hint of sadness hits you at the thought of ever being unable to eat his signature dishes someday.
“I love you, Jay,” you blurted out, making him blush at your sudden words.
“I love you too, Y/N,” he said, leaning forward to kiss your temple softly, full of love and care.
…
You were at the mall with Jay. The two of you had agreed to go out on a date since there were no classes today. As you window-shopped, you stopped by a jewelry store. Jay's mother was celebrating her birthday next week, so he was looking for the perfect gift.
You sat on one of the chairs inside the store to wait for him. While waiting, a lady in her late 30s approached you. She greeted you politely and extended her hand for a handshake. Being respectful, you stood up and shook her hand with a warm smile.
“Hi, Miss! Nice to meet you. I hope I am not disturbing you, but I would like to introduce myself. I am Mina, and I work for Cosmo Company. We're currently casting new models for our upcoming project to be launched in the U.S.A. next year. This is a great opportunity for you if you're interested. You're so beautiful, and you're exactly the type of model we are looking for,” the lady encouraged, smiling sweetly.
You were still processing the information, but you knew for a fact that you would grab this opportunity. You had dreamed about this since you were a kid. This might be your fate, and you mentally thanked your boyfriend for asking you out today.
“Oh my god! I would love to join. I've always dreamt of being a model someday,” you exclaimed excitedly.
“That's good to hear, Miss. By the way, may I know your name?” she asked.
“I am Y/N. I am still in college, a graduating student,” you said, your smile never fading.
“Wow! Advanced congratulations, Y/N! Here's my business card. The address of our company, as well as my contact details, are on it. You can call me whenever you have decided,” she smiled, handing you the card.
“Thank you, Miss Mina! It's my pleasure to meet you. I'll probably think about it first, but I am definitely considering this,” you reassured her, earning another smile.
“Alright, thank you again! I hope to see you at our company office in the next few months!” she said as she bid you goodbye.
You were reading the business card when Jay suddenly appeared in front of you.
“Who was the lady you were talking to earlier, love?” he asked curiously.
“Oh, the lady approached me and asked if I could be one of their models for a project launching next year in the U.S.A.,” you answered Jay happily, waiting for his response.
“Really?! Are you for real?! I'm so proud of you, love!” Jay hugged you tightly as he spoke.
“But I’m still considering it,” you said.
“No more considering. Grab the opportunity right in front of you,” he quickly assured you, making you feel at ease.
“Thank you, love,” you said softly, holding his hands.
“Don’t thank me. You always support me with my passion, so I'm just doing the same for you. I know how much you love this, and I don't want to be the reason you don't reach your dreams,” he said, placing a gentle kiss on your knuckles.
...
You had now graduated with Latin honors, and so had Jay. The happiness you felt was overflowing, but in an overwhelmingly good way. The two of you decided to celebrate your post-graduation success at Jay's apartment.
“Wow, love! So many dishes! Is this all for the two of us?” You were shocked by how much food was served on the table. Most of them were your favorite dishes, lovingly cooked by Jay.
“Yes, my love. This is for the two of us to dig into until morning, or until we get a stomach ache,” Jay joked. He gently wrapped his strong arms around your waist, pulling you into a tight hug from behind.
“I have a surprise for you, Jay,” you softly whispered, tilting your head back as he pressed gentle kisses against your neck.
“Where is it?” Jay asked.
“Let me go first, chef,” you chuckled, successfully escaping his embrace.
You ran to the living room and quickly came back with your laptop in your hands. You handed it to Jay, letting him read the email you had received that morning.
“No freaking way!? You're a model! My baby is a model now!” Jay shouted excitedly. He quickly set the laptop down on the dinner table just so he could lift you up and spin you around the kitchen.
“When did you audition, love?” he asked as he gently set your feet back on the ground.
“Just last week. I am sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I just wanted to surprise you, Jay,” you pouted.
“No, don't say sorry. I'm so glad you're achieving your dreams. I'm your number one fan, always remember that,” he said, pulling you into another warm hug.
You loved this man so much.
...
You were now starting your life as a trainee model at Cosmo Agency here in Seoul. Being a part of this felt too good to be true. You had once dreamed of being one of them, and now you were. You used to fantasize about walking on the runway, posing for the camera, and seeing yourself on billboards and in magazines. You were happier than ever.
Unfortunately, your dream, once a sweet fantasy, was actually a nightmare. There were advantages, but the disadvantages were cruel. The working hours were toxic. You spent more than eight hours a day practicing at the company. You had to follow a strict diet plan to maintain good shape for the public. Your feet burned with pain every day from wearing high heels. Managers would scold you if you disobeyed a rule, whether accidentally or intentionally. You were completely exhausted. You barely had any time for Jay, but you tried your best to adapt your schedule and fit him in whenever you were available.
On the other hand, Jay was finally an assistant chef. His hard work had borne fruit quickly in a short period of time. He had always been a good cook, so it was no wonder they promoted him so fast. He might have been busy, but he was doing well compared to you. Sometimes you envied your boyfriend for how lucky he was—as if the universe were aligning with his fate while you were left feeling miserable in your chosen career.
You were now taking a day off at Jay's apartment, spending some time with him since it had been a week since you last saw each other. Now, your boyfriend was trying to force you to eat a dish he had cooked just for you.
“Love, eat this. I know you miss this Risotto a la Ottosir,” he pleaded with his doe eyes, but you had no time for this.
“Sorry, Jay. I can't eat that. I'm on a strict diet, and besides, I'm cutting carbs. So I can't at the moment,” you said seriously.
This was the first time you had ever declined Jay's food. You usually loved his cooking, but you just weren't feeling it right now. You felt overwhelmed and pressured by the upcoming evaluation next week, so you were making sure you would pass this time.
“Just a bite, please? Say ah~” Jay cutely opened his mouth to demonstrate.
“Jay… I already told you that I can't eat it, for God's sake,” you raised your voice, irritated that Jay was being stubborn.
“A single bite won't hurt you, babe!” Jay kept pushing your buttons.
“Jay, I told you I'm not eating that shit—” As you said those painful words, you accidentally smacked the plate out of frustration, knocking it from Jay's hand. It shattered across the floor, and some of the food spilled onto Jay's shirt. His mind went blank at the scene.
Jay dropped down to his knees on the floor, picking up the broken pieces of the plate you had accidentally shattered. He stared at them silently, remembering how he had made this in a pottery workshop as a gift for your 18th birthday. Jay always used this plate whenever he cooked for you. He was now wondering how he could ever bring back the pieces that were completely broken.
As he picked up the shards, your hands shook. You reached out toward Jay's shoulder to apologize, still processing what had just happened. You didn't mean to break it. You knew how memorable that plate was for the both of you.
“L-love… Jay? I am so sorry. I-I didn't mean to break it,” you apologized, but Jay wouldn't face you.
Yeah, you didn't mean to break it.
“It's okay, love. It was an accident, and besides, some things are meant to be broken. Let's just buy a new one,” Jay quickly assured you, but his tone said otherwise. A heavy hint of sadness lingered in his voice. Jay still hadn't faced you; he simply stood up and went to the storage room to grab some cleaning supplies.
Some things are meant to be broken, right?
You sat there as guilt crashed through your entire system. Breaking your favorite plate made you sad, but being ignored by Jay was another level of pain. This was the first time he had ever ignored you, and you weren't used to it.
Later that night, the two of you reconciled, since you never went to sleep without resolving a fight. You apologized again and told him the reason why you couldn't eat the food he had served. Jay also apologized for his behavior earlier. He said he was just sad that his favorite plate for you had been broken. You told him that you would replace it with something new and beautiful, but Jay's mind wasn't truly on the plate. He just kept his thoughts to himself as the two of you cuddled that night.
He was sunshine, I was midnight rain
He wanted it comfortable
I wanted that pain…
You passed the evaluation, which finally removed the heavy weight that had been pressing down on your chest. You thought you would be completely fine after that, but you were wrong. Your schedule became extremely out of control, leaving you with barely any time to relax.
Jay remained exactly the same. He always updated you about his day and even sent food to your company for you to eat, carefully following your strict diet plan. He wanted to make sure you were still eating and not starving yourself. He left sweet voice messages to cheer you up. He was always so patient with you, and a part of you hated him for being so good to you. He never complained. Jay adapted perfectly to your busy lifestyle, always finding time for you—even if it was just a brief fifteen-minute window to see each other. He would consistently come by your company just to drop off the food he had made and to give you a quick hug. Jay never stopped loving you.
But what about you? Do you still love him?
It was a question you asked yourself, but the answer was one you never wanted to admit.
Your first official appearance was a massive success. You were finally featured in a famous magazine, your pictures spread across different social media platforms, and people started noticing you on the street, occasionally asking for photos.
You were happy. But did you feel contentment? Not yet. Satisfaction? You still had a long way to go.
You were a rising model now, but you were eager for more, constantly chasing the level of fame you had always wanted.
Somewhere along the way, something inside you changed.
He wanted a bride
I was making my own name
Chasing that fame
He stayed the same
All of me changed like midnight…
You were at the mall with Jay for a date, since you had finally freed up your schedule for this single day. You were walking happily with him when a fan approached you, asking for a selfie. Jay stepped back to give you the space you needed.
“Oh my god! You look unreal, Miss Y/N. Can I take a selfie with you?” she asked excitedly. You happily agreed to her request.
After she took three selfies with you, her eyes wandered over to Jay.
Being a rising model—a so-called celebrity—you had forgotten that the public knowledge of your relationship could affect the career you were trying to build. Naturally curious, the fan asked about your connection to Jay.
“Uhm, Miss Y/N? Who's that guy?” She pointed to Jay, who was standing by your side.
You panicked. The career you were building flashed before your eyes like a sudden thunderstorm.
Jay was already smiling, ready to introduce himself as your boyfriend, but you were faster than him. You cut him off before he could speak a single word that might jeopardize your future.
“He’s my bodyguard. He is just accompanying me to keep me safe. You know, since accidents can happen at any time,” you said with a smile.
You glanced over at Jay after dropping those words like a nuclear bomb on his entire system.
Jay’s jaw dropped at how you had just introduced him. He had heard that right, didn't he? A bodyguard. Were you for real? Were you ashamed of him? His head swirled with questions he desperately wanted to ask you. He felt small. Did you think so lowly of him now? A wave of numbness washed over him.
“Aww, that's a shame. He looks handsome! the two of you would look perfect together. I was hoping he was your boyfriend,” she giggled, playfully shipping the two of you.
If you only knew, little girl, Jay thought to himself.
You chuckled nervously, able to feel the tension radiating from Jay's body. He was good at masking his emotions, but you could easily sense his deep disappointment.
“Thank you for the pictures, Miss Y/N! Goodbye to you too, sir!” she said happily, waving goodbye to both of you. Jay managed a polite smile back at her.
“J-Jay…” you called out to him, suddenly scared to even touch him.
“Yes?” he replied. You could feel the coldness in his stare, signaling just how much he disliked your attitude right now.
“I am so sorry. I had to lie for my career…” you admitted, waiting anxiously for his response.
“Don't worry, Miss Y/N. I am your bodyguard, right? It's part of my job to protect you—even if that means hiding our relationship,” he replied sarcastically, a sharp edge of annoyance cutting through his voice.
You reached out to grab his hand, trying to interlock your fingers with his, but he immediately yanked his hand away from you.
“Bodyguards and their bosses don't do this, Miss Y/N,” he reminded you coldly, emphasizing your self-proclaimed dynamic.
He was no longer acting like your lover, but a literal bodyguard.
...
The entire car ride was so silent that the only sound to be heard was Jay's heavy breathing as he tried to calm himself down. His face was flushed, fuming with disappointment and shame.
When you finally arrived at your house, you called out his name once more, desperate to apologize for what had happened.
“Jay, are you still mad at me? Please don't be like this…” You stared at him, but his face showed only one emotion.
Pure coldness. It was a coldness you knew you could never endure, especially coming from him.
“Why did you deny our relationship?” his voice dropped lower as he fought to control his emotions.
“I told you, I'm just protecting my career!” you raised your voice this time, frustration rushing through your veins.
“Really? Is that all you've got? That was completely disrespectful to me, Y/N. We've been together for almost five years, and you just introduced me as if I'm absolutely nothing in your life,” he said calmly, but his calmness felt dangerous.
“You're really stubborn, aren't you, Jay? I've been working my ass off twenty-four hours a day just to build my dream. I was only saving my career!”
“And I am trying to save our relationship!” Jay yelled back.
This was the first time he had ever raised his voice at you. He was absolutely furious.
“You're so sensitive, Jay!” you snapped, keeping your eyes locked onto his.
“And you're completely insensitive!”
Jay’s voice thundered through the car, startling you. Your once-gentle sunshine had officially become a raging storm.
“I’m the insensitive one now? Wow, how funny.” You scoffed sarcastically, deeply taken aback. How dare he call you insensitive.
“You've become so blinded by your career that you've forgotten about our relationship entirely…” he added quietly.
“Are you blaming my career now?” you asked defensively.
“I didn't say that, you did. I've always supported your career and you know it. Everyone knows it,” he countered.
“No, Jay. It seems like you're implying that my career is destroying our relationship. Is this just because I don't have time for you anymore? Have you ever heard a single complaint from me about your shit cooking career? And now you're shifting the blame onto my job? When you're the one who always shows up at my agency like a clingy puppy? You're ridiculous, Jay,” you spat out, no longer holding anything back.
Jay fell entirely silent after you labeled his passion a "shit career." His life's work, reduced to nothing but shit to you. Himself, compared to a clingy puppy. He let out a bitter, quiet chuckle. He had no idea you viewed him that way this whole time. He just sat there, listening to your painful words slice deeply into his already wounded heart. He felt utterly terrible and hopeless, secretly wishing you would take those words back just to ease his bleeding chest. He had only wanted to save your relationship—to save the woman of his life.
But you weren't trying to be saved.
And if you wouldn't let him save the relationship, who was left to save?
Maybe just himself.
“L-love, don’t say that. I love you. Let’s stop fighting, please?” Jay pleaded.
Even though you had deeply bruised his soul and left a permanent scar, he stopped himself from fighting back. He let his guard down once again, terrified that your sharp tongue might utter even worse words to break him all over again.
Deep down, you knew it wasn't true. You were just projecting your own insecurities onto him, ruining his peace because yours was gone. He loved you so much, but you were causing him nothing but pain. Jay recalled the memories you once shared, the dreams you had meticulously planned together, and he didn't want it to end. He was terrified you were about to ask for a breakup. He had never complained once before today. It felt so unfair. He just wanted you to listen to how your actions hurt him, but you were too busy surviving in your own world. He loved you truly, which was why he kept fighting for whatever fragments you had left him, even if he didn't know how he would ever heal.
You didn't answer him. A part of you wanted to let him go, even though you still loved him. You finally realized how vicious your tongue had been. Hurting Jay had never been your intention, yet here you were, watching the man of your life break down right in front of you. You wanted to apologize, but your pride wasn't the roadblock anymore—it was simply who you had become. You were too stubborn. You hadn't even realized how much you had changed. Your past self wouldn't even recognize this miserable, pathetic version of you, especially when all Jay had ever done was love you. Always.
But maybe love just wasn't your priority right now. In reality, your career had taken first place long ago.
Never Jay.
You had supported him once, and you just wanted him to support you the same way. Was that really too much to ask? Or were you asking for too much while completely overlooking every single effort and sacrifice Jay had already made for you?
You were just so tired. Tired of everything. Tired of him? You still weren't entirely sure.
Reconciling felt pointless now, especially after how deeply you had wounded each other. Jay loved you above anything else. And you? You loved everything else above Jay. It was finally clear that you wanted to escape this exhausting relationship. You didn't need him anymore, right? Not now that you have achieved everything you ever wanted. He had just become a roadblock. Maybe you had fallen out of love. You tried to gaslight yourself into believing you didn't love him anymore, but the truth was, he was still knocking on your heart, waiting to be let back in like before.
“Jay, let’s end this now,” you blurted out.
Ice-cold blood ran through Jay's veins the exact moment those words left your mouth. It was the one sentence he had been terrified to hear.
“P-please tell me you didn’t mean that.” Jay grabbed your hands, begging you to take it back.
“I mean it. I’m going to the States next month to fully commit to my duties as a new model. Because my debut appearance was so successful, they immediately offered me a slot on the team. This is a massive opportunity for me, Jay,” you confessed.
Jay sat there, trying to process everything. His chest tightened until he felt completely suffocated.
“Are you happy with that?” he asked, staring at you with glossy, unshed tears.
The sight of him was agonizing.
You hummed in response.
“If you’re happy with it, who am I to stop you from reaching your dreams?” Jay finally said, a painful smile stretching across his face.
Though he smiled, the storm of emotions behind his eyes was too tragic to explain.
“I’m letting you go, love…” he added, leaning across the console to press one final kiss against your temple.
He didn't beg anymore. He knew you had wanted this since the day he met you, and he refused to be the anchor holding you back. He could have been selfish and demanded you stay, but he knew his love would never satisfy your hunger for fame. Even if he cooked a hundred meals for you, a part of you would never crave them again.
You burst into tears, completely overwhelmed. Jay was finally letting you go, giving you the exact freedom you had asked for. But why did it hurt so badly? He was just respecting your choice. A part of you suddenly wanted to stay, to tear up the contract, and start a new life with him without any burdens. Unfortunately, it was too late. This was what you wanted, wasn't it?
Jay wrapped his arms around you, gently holding you as you cried. He wasn't crying, but you could feel how shattered he was just by the way his hands held you. He was pouring the absolute last drops of his love into you before letting you walk away forever.
A loud crack of thunder boomed outside, rain pouring heavily against the windshield as you sobbed into Jay's embrace. You didn't want to let go—not yet—but you knew you had to.
Before leaving the car, you cupped Jay's face and kissed him passionately, pouring every ounce of your tangled emotions into him. His lips felt incredibly warm against yours, a sensation you knew you would desperately miss. Jay kissed you back with equal intensity, his lips moving with a desperate hunger that proved he didn't want to let you go either. Finally, you pulled away, wiped your tears, and slowly clicked off your seatbelt.
“I love you, Y/N,” he muttered one last time, a tiny piece of him still hoping you wouldn't open that door.
“I love you too, Jay. I’m so sorry.” You cupped his right cheek, gently rubbing his soft skin with your thumb as you whispered it for the very last time.
You opened the car door. You didn't even bother grabbing the umbrella from your bag; you just needed to leave as quickly as possible to stop the bleeding. You gently closed the door and turned back one last time.
Jay waved at you through the rain-streaked glass, a painful smile on his face as he bid you goodbye. Through the window, you saw his lips move to form those final words once more…
“I love you.”
So I peered through a window
A deep portal, time travel
All the love we unravel
And the life I gave away…
Ten years after.
You're now back in Seoul. You just came back last week since you have to attend this one fashion event wherein you will be a judge for the upcoming launch of their designer clothes. You feel honored to be invited.
People know you, you are everywhere. You became successful in the past 10 years. All your hard work paid off. You now have your own magazines full of your pictures, posing for the camera, walking on the runway with multiple flashes as you walk by, and a giant billboard where your gorgeous face is displayed.
You already chased the fame you had ever wanted.
However, no matter how successful you are in your career, always in the spotlight where people can see you everywhere, wearing the best designer clothes, and having expensive beauty treatments, it feels empty. You have a bank account full of millions of dollars, and you purchased luxurious things and a penthouse. You have already tried different types of cuisines, being in 5-star hotels and fine-dining restaurants. Regardless of how expensive and decent their food was, your gut says otherwise. You missed eating the food that Jay always served you—meals that were always deeply comforting and felt entirely like home. No amount of money can buy and feed you food that tastes the same as how Jay makes his food.
But as you sat alone in the quiet luxury of your success, you knew it wasn’t just the food you were missing—and you knew that all too well.
It was midnight. As you peered through your window, heavy rain poured outside endlessly, and the loud cracks of thunder made you remember things you shouldn't. Staring at the glass in front of you felt like looking into a deep portal, making you want to time travel. Flashbacks of beautiful memories and the painful ending of your relationship crashed into your mind. You thought of all the love you both unraveled during that beautiful summertime on Jeju Island, where the two of you had shared your first kiss, confessing your love to one another. Then, suddenly, the memory shifted to that fateful night of midnight rain where the two of you tore each other apart.
The scene of Jay muttering his last, desperate “I love you” kept repeating in your mind—the painful night where the two of you finally drifted apart, leaving behind the life you gave away.
All the sunshine of your past changed you like midnight.
I guess sometimes we all get
Just what we wanted, just what we wanted
And he never thinks of me
Except when I'm on TV…
After breaking up with Jay, you completely lost touch with him. The only update you had received was five years ago, when you heard he had become a successful chef. That was until a close friend, a massive foodie, showed you a video of Jay. He was being featured as one of the top chefs in Asia today, proudly representing Korean cuisine on the global stage. You felt a wave of genuine happiness for him, silently offering your congratulations. He was finally achieving his ultimate dream: becoming a renowned chef who cooks not for fortune, but to give people a taste of true comfort—food that feels like home and is filled with love.
Watching the interview, you couldn't help but notice how handsome he had become. He was attractive back then, but now, he carried himself with something more. His aura radiated confidence, security, success, and a profound sense of self-love—the exact things he needed from you, but you failed to give. It was a painful truth to admit, but he looked completely happy without you.
You were instantly reminded of how you had ruined him in every possible way—mentally, physically, and emotionally. Your stomach dropped as the memory of that fateful night flashed back, specifically the moment you cruelly labeled his culinary profession as shit. A sharp pang of guilt shot through you, bringing a deep regret for every hurtful word hurled inside his car.
A piece of you desperately wanted to catch a flight back to Seoul to witness his success firsthand. You longed to taste his cooking again, especially your favorite, the Risotto a la Ottosir. You hadn't tasted it since the day you accidentally shattered your favorite couple’s plate—the same day you told him you were cutting carbs, prompting him to stop making it for you altogether. You wished you could experience that taste just one more time, but deep down, you knew it was too late. You couldn't help but wonder, would Jay even speak to you after everything? Would he look at you without disgust?
Maybe he never thinks about you, except when you're on TV.
Eager to find Jay, it was hard knowing there were barely any friends left to ask in Seoul. Most past friends never even knew about the relationship back then, and close friends were no longer in touch. But fate listened. While scrolling through Instagram for the best risotto in town, his restaurant account popped up on the screen. A nervous tap opened the page, too scary to actually hit the follow button. It was safer to just view the profile.
"The House of Rizz’Otto"
A smile appeared immediately upon seeing the restaurant's name. He was still so corny.
The restaurant was not yet open, but the grand opening was happening tomorrow exactly at 12 o’clock in the afternoon, during lunchtime. It was closed to the public for now, and only a few people would be accepted. A registration link in the bio allowed guests to book a reservation and secure a slot for tomorrow. It seemed like an intimate soft opening. But right before clicking the link, a new notification caught your eye.
To: Ms. Y/N Y/L/N
From: The House of Rizz’Otto
Good day!
Dear Ms. Y/N,
We are happy to invite you to the soft opening launch of our restaurant, “The House of Rizz’Otto,” which will take place tomorrow at 12 o'clock in the afternoon. You have been chosen as one of our special guests to try our best risotto dishes.
Please confirm attendance for tomorrow by replying to this email.
Thank you for your time! We look forward to your presence at our restaurant.
Respectfully,
The House of Rizz'Otto
Staring blankly at the screen, it took a moment to process the email. Having a public email address on social media made it easy for brands to reach out for promotions, collaborations, or guest invitations. No wonder the staff had sent a message.
Did Jay remember?
Questions kept spinning about why an invitation would arrive after all the pain caused, and after all these years of total silence. The reason remained a complete mystery.
Despite the curiosity, there was true happiness about finally seeing him again. It felt shameless to show up in front of an ex-boyfriend whose heart had been shattered. But this opportunity was perfect to apologize for the past. The pain caused was the exact reason he became a better person now. He was broken, but he rebuilt and healed himself. The only goal was to congratulate him, and nothing more.
He finally moved on from you, but your heart still longed for the heart you once broke. Pathetic, right?
You dressed up nicely as always, wearing an off-shoulder black fitted dress that hugged your body tightly, showing off beautiful curves. Paired with classic high heels, your hair was curled softly with light makeup on, since you are already effortlessly beautiful. Finally picking up your classic Chanel flap bag in caviar leather, the look was elegant—pretty without too much sparkle. Standing out came naturally.
Before leaving the penthouse, the question surfaced once again. Were you ready to meet him? It felt scary to look him in the eyes, fearing that you might hurt him again. A light slap to the cheeks served as a wake-up call to stop worrying.
Jay wouldn't invite an ex if he were still mad, right?
Finally standing in front of the restaurant, your eyes grew glossy while staring at the building. Memories flooded back of how Jay always talked about his dream of having his own place someday. He worked so hard, showing extraordinary cooking skills and making food for everyone to enjoy. Now, he had finally made it, and you were genuinely happy for him.
Both chased big dreams, but the difference was that Jay was building his career with you, while you became selfish and greedy.
Arriving 30 minutes early was intentional, not wanting to be late for one of the most important moments in life. A past promise echoed in your mind—the promise to be you, his first-ever customer once the restaurant was built.
The goal was reached, but you as an actual customer, not a lover anymore.
The lady at the front desk guided the way into one of the VIP rooms. Observing the space, it felt simple yet like a home, not a restaurant. It was a place where love could be felt. The aroma from the food cooking inside the kitchen drifted out, and the chairs and tables seemed comfortable and eye-catching. The ambiance felt comforting, just like Jay.
Sitting down on one of the chairs, you waited patiently.
Pulling your phone inside your bag, scrolling for a little bit helped ease the nervousness running through your system.
Suddenly, a glance toward the door caught a creaking sound, revealing Jay entering the room. His eyes found yours, making everything stop for a moment. Your heart dropped at the sight in front of you.
He looked more manly now compared to before. His face had become more structured, but the softness in his eyes never changed. Still as handsome as ever, the view made your heart flutter, bringing back memories of falling for him the first time.
The belief that moving on was complete turned out to be wrong, here you were, falling all over again.
His eyes were now lively and full of life, with no trace of sadness left inside. He seemed happy and content with life right now. He never changed—he stayed the same.
Jay welcomed you with his adorable smile—the smile you've been missing for the past ten years.
“Hi, Y/N. It's nice to see you again!” he said softly, his eyes never leaving yours, as if observing your actions.
Trying to avoid his gaze was difficult, but showing strength was important, acting as if leaving him was never a matter of regret.
“Hello to you, Jay! It's my pleasure to meet you as well,” you managed to say, trying hard not to fall for those eyes again—the pair of eyes you made once cried.
“Thanks for coming though, I hope you're not busy. Congratulations on your career, too! I hope it made you happy.” Jay congratulated you, but the words made your heart ache.
Did it make me happy?
“O-oh yeah, I am very happy!” you exclaimed, swallowing dryly down the lump in your throat.
“By the way, I love the ambiance of your restaurant, it's really you. Thank you for inviting me, Jay,” you added, trying your best to smile.
“Of course, we made a promise before, right? That you would be my first customer once I built my restaurant. I'm just fulfilling my promises to you. I'm sorry if it took so long.” Jay spoke as if the painful memories together had never happened.
Seeing him so composed was frustrating, while a complete breakdown felt moments away. A wave of bitterness hits you, seeing how happy he was despite the painful past. Leaving Jay meant real happiness had never returned. It was painful to admit that your life was miserable without him, creating a feeling of resentment for making this seem like it's the worst decision you have ever made. But honestly? The blame belonged entirely to one person, which was you.
Admitting to yourself that you still love him was terrifying…
“Look, Jay, I-I am really sorry for what happened to the both of us. I know I deeply hurt you with my ruthless actions before, and I don't deserve your forgiveness. But here I am apologizing, e-even if you refuse my apologies,” you said nervously, hands trembling while trying not to break down in tears in front of the man who used to love you.
“I already forgave you, Y/N. A long time ago. Don't be harsh on yourself, hmm? Besides, I am finally happy now, and you're finally happy now, too. Stop holding onto our past. We're just hurting ourselves more if we let it dictate our present,” Jay comforted you, just like he always used to do.
He was right, and the truth was hard to swallow—holding onto the past had to stop.
Before an answer could form, the door opened once more, and a pretty lady entered the room. She looked soft and very feminine. Her presence seemed light, radiating positive energy just like Jay. She seemed kind, fragile, full of love, confident, and like someone who would never hurt people.
She shyly interrupted the conversation.
The moment she opened her mouth to call him broke your heart once more, feeling as if millions of needles were torturing it repeatedly.
“Hubby?” she called Jay quietly.
That endearing name was supposed to be used for someone married, right?
Oh…
Trying your best to maintain composure during the sudden interruption, a look around the room helped divert attention to ease the tension. But stubborn eyes caught the tiny baby bump poking through the lady's baby pink fitted dress. Your gaze darted to Jay's ring finger, noticing how the both of them were wearing matching wedding rings.
Yeah, a wedding ring. The man and woman in front of you were married.
Jay was a married man now. Not with you.
A sharp inhalation occurred as all the dots connected. The urge to leave immediately took over. Your chest tightened, suffocated by the tension. The realization that Jay was a married man was the final straw.
It was too late now…
“Oh Y/N, this is my wife, Jane. She's 5 months pregnant,” Jay introduced his wife, gently calling her to stand beside him. He caressed her belly like a fragile, rare diamond that no one could ever steal.
“Hello Y/N! Oh my God! You look even prettier in person. It's an honor to have you here in our restaurant. The best model in our country!” she said excitedly, offering her hand to shake.
Our restaurant? Yeah, it was their restaurant. It was supposed to be you, not her.
“No worries, thank you for the invitation. It's my pleasure!” The greeting was accepted with a warm smile, but your heart screamed with bitterness at how kind this woman was. She seemed to have no idea about the past.
“By the way, please excuse me. I have to leave early since I have other errands after this,” you lied to excuse yourself, wanting to escape the drama as soon as possible. It was impossible to handle anymore, seeing Jay finally happy with someone else while you felt miserable.
“You haven't tried our dishes yet,” Jay added, looking confused.
“I'm fine. Thanks for inviting me again, Jay. And it was nice seeing you, Jane,” you said to the both of them.
Leaving the VIP room immediately, your walk turned into a fast pace. Everything felt so overwhelming.
But before you could finally leave the restaurant, Jay called your name once again. Turning around to face him, your eyes darted to the black paper bag he was holding.
“Y/N, wait! Here's some food for you. We just packed it up. I felt bad letting you leave without eating anything from my restaurant,” Jay said, looking concerned.
He never changed. He was still looking after you by giving you a packed lunch.
“You don't have to, Jay. I just wanted to see you again. That's all.” A smile was forced despite wanting to cry right in front of him.
“Thanks for coming, Y/N,” Jay thanked you once again.
“I'm glad to see you happy, Jay. Again, I'm sorry for the things and words I said before,” you apologized, fully admitting past mistakes.
“You don't have to apologize for chasing your dreams. Likewise, I'm glad to see you happy with the life you wanted,” Jay smiled genuinely, full of pure happiness, with no hint of sadness or regret about letting you go.
“I've gotta go now, Jay,” you said, turning your back on him without waiting for an answer.
Nothing would change anymore. He was happily married, waiting for his unborn baby, while you were left still longing for the relationship once shared.
I guess sometimes we all get
Some kind of haunted, some kind of haunted
And I never think of him
Except on midnights like this…
After the meeting with Jay, a trip to the agency company was necessary to finish up some work. Arrival at the penthouse finally came around midnight.Sinking immediately onto the living room couch, the paper bag Jay had given earlier was opened with a wave of excitement.
Reaching inside, your hands grabbed the container holding the food—the Risotto a la Ottosir. A smile surfaced at the memory of how Jay used to cook this dish so often. But as the container was placed on the table, another glance inside the bag revealed a box that quickly caught your eye. You immediately pulled out the box.
Eyes grew glossy at the sight inside, tears tempting to spill at any moment.
The box contained your favorite plate broken that fateful night—the very one Jay had picked up off the floor, his hands trembling and sadness filling his eyes. A scene in your mind that you'll never forget.
The tears began to fall heavily now, remembering how his heart had been shattered just like this ceramic. It was now fixed, but the lines and scars connecting the pieces were completely visible. It was a harsh reminder that while healing may have taken place, the scars from the past would always remain. No matter how much effort went into fixing it, the pain and trauma caused by that night were permanently etched there.
A letter resting inside the box caught your attention:
Hi, Y/N!
Remember this plate? The one I made for you at the pottery workshop for your 18th birthday. I couldn't bring myself to throw it away back then. Instead, I spent years searching for artisans who could fix it, but every expert told me the same thing, it could never regain its original form.
They told me to just replace it, but I refused because every memory of us was bound to this ceramic. I know you didn't mean to break it. Back then, I tried so hard to find ways to fix this plate—to fix us. But you wouldn't let me.
When I finally found a way to mend the pieces, the truth hit me that no matter how much effort goes into repairing something broken, the fracture lines will always be there. I have to let it go now, along with every lingering feeling attached to it.
I don't need to hold onto broken things anymore, now that I have found a love that isn't fragile, and a woman who protects my heart instead of breaking it. Thank you for everything.
This plate, and you, will no longer be a part of my life…
Sincerely,
Jay
Tears flowed like a river as his words cut deeply into your heart a million times over. But the saddest part was the numbness that followed. Emotional exhaustion took over, leaving a feeling of emptiness. Silence filled the room, broken only by loud, heavy sobs. The posture looked fragile at this moment, mirroring the scarred plate sitting on the table.
A painful smile broke through the tears. There was a finality in knowing that Jay would never be a part of your life again.
And you'll never think of him, except on midnights like this…
note: yeyyy! i've finally finished my first ever long fic huhuhu. it took me so long to write this kkk. i cannot help but to cry as well while i'm writing this 'cuz i felt bad for jay :(( please don't hurt this man. thank you for reading this long ass fic lol. if you're wondering why is it jay and not jake was bcs my of mine requested this. i'm so so happy writing this although my brain is not functioning anymore kkkk. sorry for the corny names :0 and i remembered jay has a guitar named jane that's why i used it lmao. thank you once again <333
pairings: college bf!jake, college gf!fem reader, waitress!ex
genre: pure angst
word count: 1.0k
warnings & content: story was inspired by sombr "undressed" angsty, jake hasn't moved on from his ex, red flag jake, reader was in deeply pain, the ex has no idea
synopsis: you were about to start your night by finishing your parts of the research paper, but something important came up that needs to be finished tonight...
now playing: "undressed" by sombr
It was 10:00 PM when you arrived at the restaurant. You sat alone, waiting for your friend to arrive so you could finally map out the remaining sections of your research paper.
A waitress approached your table, offering to fill your empty glass with water. You gladly accepted, offering her a polite smile as you placed your order. As she wrote it down, you couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was. She had soft doe eyes, long lashes, a delicate nose, and plump, naturally pink lips. She wore no makeup, yet she possessed an effortless, striking beauty.
You were kinda jealous of her.
You briefly wondered why a girl who looked like she belonged on a modeling runway was working late shifts in a restaurant like this.
“One order of buffalo wings and one can of Diet Coke. Is that all for tonight, ma'am?” Her voice was just as lovely as her face.
“Yes, that’s all. Thank you,” you replied softly.
“Alright, ma'am! Your food will be out in about ten to fifteen minutes. Thank you!” She smiled warmly, revealing a faint, deep dimple on her cheek before turning away.
You nodded and returned to your laptop, trying to summarize the articles for your thesis. Frustration was visible on your face right now, as you ran a hand through your hair, stressed because your other groupmates still hadn't submitted their assigned sections.
But before you could dive back into the text, a familiar voice cut through the low chatter of the restaurant.
Your eyes instantly darted toward the mini-stage in the center of the room. There he stood, gripping the microphone stand, singing with an agonizing amount of emotion, his eyes heavy with a profound sense of longing. For someone.
It was Sim Jaeyun. Your boyfriend.
You watched him silently, your heart swelling at the sound of his honey-sweet voice. But as the lyrics spilled from his lips, the words began to cut into your chest, slicing you deeply every time he opened his mouth. Your eyes grew glossy, tears threatening to spill at any moment.
I don't wanna get undressed
For a new person all over again
I don't wanna kiss someone else's neck
And have to pretend it's yours instead…
The raw desperation in his voice made you ache. You closed your eyes, desperately wishing, just for a second, that the song was meant for you.
But you were his girlfriend, not an ex yet…
Following his gaze, you tracked exactly where his eyes were locked. Your heart stopped. He wasn't looking at you. He was staring directly at the waitress who had served you earlier. She stood frozen in the middle of the aisle, holding the tray with your food, completely paralyzed by his voice.
You noticed how hard her knuckles turned white against the plastic tray, her hands trembling as she looked up at him.
Jake kept his eyes glued to her, singing his soul out as the most painful lines left his mouth.
And I don't wanna learn another scent
I don't want the children of another man
To have the eyes of the girl that I won't forget…
A sudden, suffocating memory flashed through your mind. Just last week, you were happily flipping through his childhood photo albums in his apartment. Hidden at the bottom of the drawer, a small pink scrapbook covered in cute stickers had caught your eye. You had opened it eagerly, expecting more baby pictures of Jake.
Instead, your hands had started to shake. The first page read, “My Girl,” with an infinity symbol drawn underneath. Curiosity is a dangerous thing, but you haven't been able to stop yourself from unraveling the truth.
On the next page was a photobooth strip of Jake and a girl wearing matching clothes, laughing and making silly faces. In the last frame, she was kissing his cheek, and Jake looked completely flustered, his eyes full of pure adoration. The girl in those photos was his unforgettable ex. You had slammed the album shut back then, fighting the violent urge to sob right there on his bedroom floor.
Now, looking back and forth between the stage and the aisle, your chest tightened until it was hard to breathe.
The waitress was her, his ex.
Suddenly, everything made sense. No wonder Jake had been coming to this specific restaurant almost every day for the past three months. He would always text you that he was here eating, meeting up with friends, or running quick errands. But he hadn't been running errands at all. He was here for her.
You stared at the girl again, letting out a bitter, breathless chuckle. Comparing yourself to her felt like a losing battle. No wonder Jake couldn't move on, even though the two of you had been dating for an entire year.
You were just a placeholder.
“She has everything I don't,” you whispered to yourself, a single, heavy tear finally breaking free and slowly sliding on your left cheek. “Even my man's heart.”
As the final notes of the song faded into applause from the audience, the waitress snapped out of her trance and rushed to your table, hurriedly setting down your dishes.
“I am so sorry for keeping you waiting, ma'am. Please accept my apologies for the inconvenience,” she murmured, her voice trembling as she looked you in the eye. You could see the profound sadness in her eyes.
“No. Don't apologize, miss,” you replied, keeping your composure perfectly relaxed, forcing a small smile past, agonizing the pain in your chest.
“I wasn't inconvenienced by the wait. I was inconvenienced by your love story. Please... take good care of him.”
His ex froze, completely stunned into silence. Before she could utter a single word, you stood up, packed your laptop, and walked away.
Across the room, Jake’s face drained of color as his eyes locked onto you standing beside her. The sudden realization on his face looked like he had just witnessed a horror scene.
You caught his panicked eyes from across the crowd, offering him one last, hollow smile.
Maybe you can finally sing that song for me now, you thought bitterly.
Now that I am finally your ex, too.
note: this shit hurts me so much :') btw i love this song that's why i made a story about it. hope you like it, everyone!! thanks for reading 🫂
warnings & content: red flag jake, jake still longing from his past lover, reader has a pure heart with naive personality, rina has moved on already, sunghoon was secretly in love to the reader, angsty, please prepare your tissue paper
synopsis: jake and y/n were finally engaged after five years of being together. excited for the next chapter of their lives, the couple happily discussed every detail of their dream wedding. however, knowing they needed someone more experienced to bring their vision to life, they decided to hire a professional wedding planner. unfortunately, y/n unknowingly hired jake's ex-girlfriend from college. everything was going well—until jake saw her...
now playing: “her” by jvke
note: this is inspired by jvke song called "her" which the lyrics will somewhere appear in the story. i will post the story next week 😉 this will be having three parts, one for the main story, one for jake and his past lover pov, and lastly, sunghoon's pov about the reader.
pairings: idol bf!sim jaeyun x non-idol fem!reader
genre: fluff, comedy
word count: 1.8k
warnings & content: fluffy beginning until the end, slight angst, reader is very sensitive due to some hormonal changes, poor layla and jake
synopsis: jake finally takes a day off to visit his family, but the trip gets chaotic when his beloved, cream-colored border collie showed up—and crashes your plans with your dear boyfriend. you quickly realize you have to compete with a furry, four-legged rival for jake's undivided attention.
now playing: “loose” by enhypen
It had been a while since Jake last visited his hometown. The moment he finally got a day off, he pulled out his phone to text you his plans. As your boyfriend, he had brought you to his family home countless times. The two of you always showed up for family occasions—birthdays, weddings, holidays, and everything in between.
Jake’s parents loved you dearly, treating you like their own daughter, and his mom even routinely warned Jake not to be a pain in your neck. That was why, right after receiving his message, you assured him you would be going along. You deeply missed Jake; it had been a whole month since you last saw him due to his constant traveling abroad. You smiled, imagining how wonderful it would be to finally spend some quality time together.
At 9:00 AM sharp, Jake was already standing on your doorstep. When you opened the door, he greeted you with a bright smile, holding out your favorite hot chocolate. He opened his arms wide for a hug.
"Good morning, babe! You look as pretty as ever," Jake complimented, gently rubbing your back with his free hand.
“Good morning to you too, handsome. I missed you so much," you pouted, resting your head against his chest for a moment.
“I missed you too, babe. Always," he murmured, stealing a quick kiss from your pouted lips.
“Come on, your parents are probably waiting for us," you said, stealing one more kiss before heading to the car.
…
You arrived at Jake's house before lunchtime. The long travel time had left both of you hungry. Jake's mother greeted the two of you with a warm hug, flashing the beautiful smile that Jake had inherited from her. She invited you inside and went straight to the kitchen so everyone could eat.
But before you could sit down, Layla came running from the backyard, playfully wiggling her tail with excitement. Jake quickly rushed to Layla and scooped her up into his arms.
Jake had loved Layla long before you entered his life. Let's just say that Layla was Jake's first love. He kissed her like there was no tomorrow, and Layla clung to him, enthusiastically licking his face. She clearly missed her "father" so much. You had missed him too during the trip, of course, but you weren't quite this clingy. You mentally slapped yourself and brushed the thought away.
Were you seriously being jealous over a dog? Chill, you thought, they're just having a fun father-daughter moment. Nothing more, nothing less.
His mom called the both of you to sit down and dig into your meal before it cooled down.
"I'm glad you were able to visit, son. It's been a month since we last caught up properly like this," his mom said as she gently chewed her food.
"Yeah, I've been so busy with work. Don't worry, I'll make it up to you, Mom," Jake reassured her, gently caressing her hand on the table.
"How about you, dear? Is Jake treating you well?" his mom asked you. She playfully raised her left eyebrow, staring at Jake as if he had committed a crime.
Jake stopped chewing his food, a cute, disbelief-filled look on his face. He couldn't believe what his mom had just implied.
"Yes, Mrs. Sim. Jake has always been good to me," you quickly responded with a smile.
"By the way, Mom, where's Dad?" Jake asked suddenly.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you! He's in Brisbane right now. He just flew back last week to run some errands for our business," his mother informed him.
"That's good to hear. I miss Dad too," Jake said softly.
"I'm going out to see my friends now, son. They invited me for a quick catch-up. Please enjoy your stay here," she said. She stood up, walked over to you and Jake, and kissed you both goodbye.
…
After Jake’s mother bid her goodbyes, he told you that he was going to play with Layla first and that you could go up to his room if you wanted to get some rest. Before you could even utter a word, Jake rushed out of your sight, heading straight for the backyard where Layla was waiting. Her face lit up and she stood up immediately the moment she saw Jake coming her way.
You watched them silently through the huge glass window. You felt a little hurt by the sudden abandonment from your boyfriend. He hadn’t even invited you to play with Layla, which stunned you. The two of you were supposed to be spending time together, but instead, he was entirely focused on his beloved dog.
You felt incredibly immature at that moment for getting jealous over a pet. She was just an animal, yet here you were, pouting like a puppy impatiently waiting for its owner to pay attention to them. You understood how much he missed Layla, given the fact that he hadn't seen her for months. Still, a stubborn part of you refused to let it go. It should be you feeling Jake’s touch. It should be you kissing him, not Layla—a thought that irritated you deeply as you listened to his soft voice drifting from outside.
"I love you, Layla!" You heard him say those three words sweetly to his dog. It made your chest tighten, remembering that he hadn't said those words to you once since you arrived.
Your expression completely darkened. On the verge of tears, you headed upstairs to his room to get some sleep. You tried to convince yourself that you were just exhausted from work and hadn't been sleeping well lately
Downstairs, Jake noticed that you were no longer in the kitchen, so he decided to follow you upstairs to check if you were doing okay.
"Layla, come here!" he called out.
"Let's go check on your mommy. Would that be okay with you?" Jake asked his dog, talking to her as if she understood every word.
Layla wagged her tail fiercely, panting heavily with pure excitement.
…
Jake ran upstairs with Layla, excited to visit you. He stopped at his bedroom door and opened it carefully, peeking inside to see if you were actually there. He found you cuddled up with his En-Chin Jakey pillow, which his mother had bought right after the launch. The sight made him smile.
He sat down on the bed quietly, afraid to wake you with any sudden movements. Jake gestured to Layla to stay quiet. However, as a light sleeper, you could already feel his presence beside you. Layla was panting heavily, exhausted after playing with Jake for over an hour.
Happy for her though, you thought.
Jake lay down beside you and snuggled into your neck, carefully slipping his hands around your tiny waist and pulling you closer to him.
“I know you're awake. Tell me, what's wrong? Are you sick? We can go to the hospital if you're not feeling well," Jake asked repeatedly, wondering why you had left so abruptly earlier. He still had no idea about your beef with his beloved creamed-colored border collie.
"I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about, Jake. I'm just sleepy," you said quietly, lacking the energy to argue or tease him like you usually did.
But Jake was observant. He could sense that something was off, even if you wouldn't admit it. As a boyfriend, he highly valued communication and always encouraged honesty to avoid misunderstandings. That was the main reason the two of you rarely argued. Because of this, Jake didn't buy your excuse and kept pressing for answers.
“Why did you leave so early then?" Jake asked.
“I told you, I was sleepy. That's all," you responded, still refusing to face him.
"W-wait... are you jealous of Layla?" His eyes widened as the realization hit him hard. You were actually jealous.
"No! Why would I be jealous of an animal?" You sat up straight, surprised by how easily Jake had guessed your problem.
Your eyes glanced at Layla, who was sitting up quietly, watching the drama unfold in front of her.
"You were jealous, I knew it!" Jake laughed so hard his stomach hurt. As he tried to reach for your shoulder, you quickly slapped his hand away, earning a whine from him.
"Don't touch me, I'm still annoyed with you," you glared at him.
"I'm sorry, babe. I just missed Layla so much. You know I rarely get to visit her, compared to you, whom I see every chance I get," Jake softly admitted, pouting. He sat up straight, staring at you like a lost puppy.
"So now you're comparing me to a dog? Seriously, Jake?" Your gaze was burning so hot that Jake swore he could turn to ashes right then and there.
“Oh my God! No, babe! Listen! I didn't mean it that way!" He quickly grabbed your hands to explain himself.
“Just tell me if you choose Layla over me. Because it really seems like you prefer her..." you sulked.
You were feeling incredibly sensitive and emotional, on the verge of breaking down at any moment. It felt so embarrassing to be jealous of your boyfriend's dog.
Sigh.
"Babe... listen to me, please? I love you so much. No words can explain how much you mean to me. Even Layla knows how much I simp over you. Don't be jealous, alright?" He hugged you tightly, uttering those comforting words.
"I'm sorry, babe. I didn't mean to be jealous of Layla. I just wanted your attention since you've been away for a month. I missed you so much—everything about you," you confessed softly.
“Shhh, don't worry about it. I'm all yours now," Jake assured you, tightening his embrace.
He was about to lean in for a kiss when Layla barked loudly. She ran over and jumped on him, licking Jake's face with sloppy kisses.
"Someone else is jealous too!" he joked, trying to calm Layla down.
Jake tried to pull you in for a kiss again, but you turned away, covering your face with the Jakey pillow.
“D-don't kiss me! You smell like Layla. She just licked your face a few seconds ago. I don't want to share saliva with her!" you shouted playfully, keeping the Jakey pillow over your face.
This made Jake laugh out loud. Being the menace that he is, a mischievous idea popped into his head to annoy you to the fullest.
“Layla, come here! Let's kiss mommy!" he called out. The two of them jumped on you, pulling away the pillow and the duvet just to steal a kiss. After a moment of resisting, you let them into your space and gladly accepted their affection.
Suddenly, your phone beeped.
A notification popped up on your screen:
"You are in your luteal phase today—be aware of any sudden mood swings you might experience. Thank you."
Poor Sim Layla.
note: yeyyy! i hope guys love itt. it’s so addicting to write :’))
warnings & content: mdni! fluffy beginning, emotional bond, suggestive joke, make out session
sypnosis: your boyfriend jake finally came home from their fashion week in milan with full of surprises…
now playing: "kiss me more" by doja cat
Your Jake finally came home after Fashion Week in Milan. After landing, he immediately went to your apartment so the two of you could spend some time together. Jake had been missing you so much lately. He barely got to see you because of his undeniably stressful schedule. This puppy just wanted to cuddle and stay in bed with you all day whenever you had the chance to be together. Jake is a simple man. He just wants you by his side—and, of course, Layla too.
You're currently watching Prada's Fashion Week Milan 2027 on your laptop in the living room since you weren't able to catch it live due to your workload. When ENHYPEN appeared at the event, you screamed so loudly, especially when the screen focused on your boyfriend. Sim Jaeyun was looking so fine with his new hairstyle, featuring soft gray highlights on the sides. Jake had actually sent you a selfie of his new hair before the day he appeared at the airport, asking for your opinion on whether it looked good on him. Of course, you complimented your lovely boyfriend—because who wouldn't?
You couldn't help but tease him, saying he looked more like a wolf than a vampire. The Prada Boy suit matched his vibe that day perfectly. He looked absolutely stunning in the red top, which complemented his gray suit so well. Everything about him was beautiful. The other boys looked handsome too, but your attention was entirely on your gorgeous boyfriend.
You were about to grab some ice cream when you suddenly heard soft knocks on your door. You immediately slipped on your slippers and hurried to the entrance to see who was visiting at this hour. Little did you know that your boyfriend was already standing impatiently outside your door. Jake hadn't informed you that he would be visiting tonight because he wanted to surprise you.
"Hi, babe!" he greeted excitedly, flashing his adorable smile.
You were shocked by the sight in front of you since you weren't expecting him to visit.
"I'm sorry for not telling you. I just wanted to surprise my beautiful girlfriend," he said softly while rapidly blinking his eyes like a puppy.
"You don't have to apologize, babe. I really appreciate the effort you made to visit me at this hour despite being tired," you assured him while gently cupping his face and kissing the tip of his nose. You love his nose.
The two of you entered your apartment and went straight to the living room. Once you settled down, Jake immediately handed you the paper bag he had been carrying.
It was a gift from Milan that he had bought while visiting the Prada store. As he wandered around the shop, observing the different pieces on display, his eyes landed on a minimalist black shoulder bag. He quickly picked it up and checked its condition carefully. While examining it, Jake smiled at the thought of you wearing it on one of your future dates together. The bag suited you perfectly—just like how he believed the two of you were perfect for each other.
You were taken aback when Jake excitedly handed you the paper bag. Just seeing the logo made you nervous because you knew it could be very expensive. Although you lived comfortably, you weren't the type of person who purchased extravagant things beyond your budget. You knew your limits.
Unfortunately, your boyfriend was the complete opposite. He loved spoiling you. To the point that you often begged him to stop buying expensive gifts that you felt you didn't need. But Jake was stubborn, and you both knew that.
"Thank you for the gift, baby! I really appreciate it, but you know this is super expensive..." you said quietly while unconsciously biting your lip.
"No refusing this time. My girlfriend deserves it—you deserve it. Besides, Layla can't wear that. You have no choice but to keep it, babe," he joked while pulling you into a warm hug.
"I miss you so, so, so much, Y/N. I miss being this close to you," Jake mumbled as he rested his head against your neck.
While hugging, Jake glanced at your laptop and noticed that the screen paused on a moment where he was waving at the camera.
"You miss me that much? You have to watch me on a screen?" he teased while wiggling his eyebrows.
"Chill, man! Can't you see I'm just supporting you?" you shot back, raising your hands as if the police had caught you stealing from a grocery store.
"Are you obsessed with me? Just admit it and I won't be mad at you. I promise!" he laughed, covering his mouth—a habit he had whenever something was too funny for him to handle.
"Shut up, Jake! I'll just watch Sunghoon's fancams since he looks pretty good with his new brown hair." you teased him back making him jealous from the sudden mentioned of his best friend’s name.
"Ouch! Brown-haired Sunghoon over your lovely boyfriend, Wolf Jake? Really, babe? I feel betrayed." he dramatically placed a hand over his chest and stared at you with exaggerated disappointment.
You simply sighed at the sight in front of you and turned away, smiling softly as you headed toward the kitchen.
…
Little did you know Jake quietly followed you. Before you grabbed the refrigerator handle, you felt a strong pair of arms hugging your waist from the back. He rests his chin on your shoulder while pulling you closely to his chest. He's so close that you can feel his heart beating right now at your back. Feeling his hot breath on the side of your neck. This lead you from receiving a hot sensation in your stomach. You blushed with the sudden skinship. It's been a while since the both of you have this kind of moment. It really feels good to have your boyfriend at your home, your home.
"We were just apart a few seconds ago, and now you're clinging to me like a koala. Guess who's obsessed now?" you tease Jake while you softly trace the veins on his left forearm. Damn.
"Alright, you won. May I kiss you right now, miss?" he quietly admitted, but Jake's voice was noticeably lower at this point. Your goofy boyfriend is no longer to be found.
You turned around to face him but before you cupped his cheeks, he gently slammed your back on the refrigerator behind you while his plump lips landed on your lips before you realized. Jake kisses you like a mad man who's been unable to eat his meal for decades. His hands wander on your body while you keep pulling his hair, savouring the heat that you are currently sharing at the moment. Both lips, tongue, and teeth were fighting together like you are in a world war. The two of you stayed like that for at least 5 minutes without pulling away to each other.
You're the one who pulled away as you were out of breath after the moment you shared. Putting your head on Jake's chest while panting hardly. He kissed your forehead and while patting your back gently. You can also feel how fast his heartbeat compared earlier. This made you pull Jake's waist to feel him more and the both of you rested for a moment.
"I love you, Y/N. You mean the world to me" Jake said to you as he kissed your temple.
"I love you too, my Jakey." you look up to him staring with your doe eyes as you quickly steal a peck from his lips.
Jake chuckled at your sudden actions. He ruffles your hair while grinning from ear to ear.
"I haven't taken a shower yet, would you mind joining me?" he shyly asked you while patiently waiting for your answer.
"Sure, I would love to take a shower with you Mr. Sim" you winked at him while shamelessly staring at him up and down.
Before he could grab you, you slipped out from his arm and quickly ran off and went to your bedroom. He can feel the sudden hotness going up from his cheeks taken aback with your flirtiness. Jake hurriedly walked to your bedroom while blushing.
note: this my first ever fic i wrote down here in tumblr. i was just bored lol. thank you saur saur much for reading! please bear with me for the grammatical errors! sending hugsssss <333 i’ll only write whenever i feel it hihihi. thank you again!! 🫂🫂🫂
pairings: idol bf!sim jaeyun x non-idol fem!reader
genre: fluff, suggestive
word count: 1.3k
warnings & content: mdni! fluffy beginning, emotional bond, suggestive joke, make out session
sypnosis: your boyfriend jake finally came home from their fashion week in milan with full of surprises…
now playing: "kiss me more" by doja cat
Your Jake finally came home after Fashion Week in Milan. After landing, he immediately went to your apartment so the two of you could spend some time together. Jake had been missing you so much lately. He barely got to see you because of his undeniably stressful schedule. This puppy just wanted to cuddle and stay in bed with you all day whenever you had the chance to be together. Jake is a simple man. He just wants you by his side—and, of course, Layla too.
You're currently watching Prada's Fashion Week Milan 2027 on your laptop in the living room since you weren't able to catch it live due to your workload. When ENHYPEN appeared at the event, you screamed so loudly, especially when the screen focused on your boyfriend. Sim Jaeyun was looking so fine with his new hairstyle, featuring soft gray highlights on the sides. Jake had actually sent you a selfie of his new hair before the day he appeared at the airport, asking for your opinion on whether it looked good on him. Of course, you complimented your lovely boyfriend—because who wouldn't?
You couldn't help but tease him, saying he looked more like a wolf than a vampire. The Prada Boy suit matched his vibe that day perfectly. He looked absolutely stunning in the red top, which complemented his gray suit so well. Everything about him was beautiful. The other boys looked handsome too, but your attention was entirely on your gorgeous boyfriend.
You were about to grab some ice cream when you suddenly heard soft knocks on your door. You immediately slipped on your slippers and hurried to the entrance to see who was visiting at this hour. Little did you know that your boyfriend was already standing impatiently outside your door. Jake hadn't informed you that he would be visiting tonight because he wanted to surprise you.
"Hi, babe!" he greeted excitedly, flashing his adorable smile.
You were shocked by the sight in front of you since you weren't expecting him to visit.
"I'm sorry for not telling you. I just wanted to surprise my beautiful girlfriend," he said softly while rapidly blinking his eyes like a puppy.
"You don't have to apologize, babe. I really appreciate the effort you made to visit me at this hour despite being tired," you assured him while gently cupping his face and kissing the tip of his nose. You love his nose.
The two of you entered your apartment and went straight to the living room. Once you settled down, Jake immediately handed you the paper bag he had been carrying.
It was a gift from Milan that he had bought while visiting the Prada store. As he wandered around the shop, observing the different pieces on display, his eyes landed on a minimalist black shoulder bag. He quickly picked it up and checked its condition carefully. While examining it, Jake smiled at the thought of you wearing it on one of your future dates together. The bag suited you perfectly—just like how he believed the two of you were perfect for each other.
You were taken aback when Jake excitedly handed you the paper bag. Just seeing the logo made you nervous because you knew it could be very expensive. Although you lived comfortably, you weren't the type of person who purchased extravagant things beyond your budget. You knew your limits.
Unfortunately, your boyfriend was the complete opposite. He loved spoiling you. To the point that you often begged him to stop buying expensive gifts that you felt you didn't need. But Jake was stubborn, and you both knew that.
"Thank you for the gift, baby! I really appreciate it, but you know this is super expensive..." you said quietly while unconsciously biting your lip.
"No refusing this time. My girlfriend deserves it—you deserve it. Besides, Layla can't wear that. You have no choice but to keep it, babe," he joked while pulling you into a warm hug.
"I miss you so, so, so much, Y/N. I miss being this close to you," Jake mumbled as he rested his head against your neck.
While hugging, Jake glanced at your laptop and noticed that the screen paused on a moment where he was waving at the camera.
"You miss me that much? You have to watch me on a screen?" he teased while wiggling his eyebrows.
"Chill, man! Can't you see I'm just supporting you?" you shot back, raising your hands as if the police had caught you stealing from a grocery store.
"Are you obsessed with me? Just admit it and I won't be mad at you. I promise!" he laughed, covering his mouth—a habit he had whenever something was too funny for him to handle.
"Shut up, Jake! I'll just watch Sunghoon's fancams since he looks pretty good with his new brown hair." you teased him back making him jealous from the sudden mentioned of his best friend’s name.
"Ouch! Brown-haired Sunghoon over your lovely boyfriend, Wolf Jake? Really, babe? I feel betrayed." he dramatically placed a hand over his chest and stared at you with exaggerated disappointment.
You simply sighed at the sight in front of you and turned away, smiling softly as you headed toward the kitchen.
…
Little did you know Jake quietly followed you. Before you grabbed the refrigerator handle, you felt a strong pair of arms hugging your waist from the back. He rests his chin on your shoulder while pulling you closely to his chest. He's so close that you can feel his heart beating right now at your back. Feeling his hot breath on the side of your neck. This lead you from receiving a hot sensation in your stomach. You blushed with the sudden skinship. It's been a while since the both of you have this kind of moment. It really feels good to have your boyfriend at your home, your home.
"We were just apart a few seconds ago, and now you're clinging to me like a koala. Guess who's obsessed now?" you tease Jake while you softly trace the veins on his left forearm.
Damn.
"Alright, you won. May I kiss you right now, miss?" he quietly admitted, but Jake's voice was noticeably lower at this point.
Your goofy boyfriend is no longer to be found.
You turned around to face him but before you cupped his cheeks, he gently slammed your back on the refrigerator behind you while his plump lips landed on your lips before you realized. Jake kisses you like a mad man who's been unable to eat his meal for decades. His hands wander on your body while you keep pulling his hair, savouring the heat that you are currently sharing at the moment. Both lips, tongue, and teeth were fighting together like you are in a world war. The two of you stayed like that for at least 5 minutes without pulling away to each other.
You're the one who pulled away as you were out of breath after the moment you shared. Putting your head on Jake's chest while panting hardly. He kissed your forehead and while patting your back gently. You can also feel how fast his heartbeat compared earlier. This made you pull Jake's waist to feel him more and the both of you rested for a moment.
"I love you, Y/N. You mean the world to me" Jake said to you as he kissed your temple.
"I love you too, my Jakey." you look up to him staring with your doe eyes as you quickly steal a peck from his lips.
Jake chuckled at your sudden actions. He ruffles your hair while grinning from ear to ear.
"I haven't taken a shower yet, would you mind joining me?" he shyly asked you while patiently waiting for your answer.
"Sure, I would love to take a shower with you Mr. Sim" you winked at him while shamelessly staring at him up and down.
Before he could grab you, you slipped out from his arm and quickly ran off and went to your bedroom. He can feel the sudden hotness going up from his cheeks taken aback with your flirtiness. Jake hurriedly walked to your bedroom while blushing.
note: this my first ever fic i wrote down here in tumblr. i was just bored lol. thank you saur saur much for reading! please bear with me for the grammatical errors! sending hugsssss <333 i’ll only write whenever i feel it hihihi. thank you again!! 🫂🫂🫂
Summary: You love him loudly. Always have. Maybe too much. Jay never made you feel like it was a problem until the day he didn’t know you were standing outside the door. One overheard joke. One crack in everything you thought was safe. And now you’re loving him in silence, wondering if you were ever wanted the way you loved. He doesn’t know what changed. But you do.
Tags: ENHYPEN Jay x reader, established relationship, angst, emotional hurt/comfort, clingy gf, communication, romantic angst, angst with a happy ending, reassuring bf Jay
Word count: 4.2k
Note: Hi! I am so happy that my previous fic got over a 100 notes. I am so so thankful! 🥺🫶 This response kinda gave me the confidence to actually post a work that was completed and in my drafts. While the story is of a very cliche trope, this is my take on it. I hope you all like and enjoy it. Please do let me know if you’d like to see more of this. Thank you once again.
You weren’t sure when you became this clingy. Maybe it was just the way you loved— loudly, fully, with your whole heart. Or maybe it was because Jay made you feel like it was okay to be that way. He never once pushed you away. In fact, he’d pull you in closer.
You were his girlfriend. The clingy one. And he was yours— the patient, calm, quietly affectionate one. The one who always seemed to enjoy your affection, who welcomed your hugs even when he was sweaty from practice or half-asleep after a schedule.
So, when your work trip came up, you didn’t think twice about surprising him before your flight. You were only going to be gone a few days, but it felt like forever. You had texted him that morning, pretending you were already heading to the airport.
Instead, you’d asked the cab to wait outside HYBE for just ten minutes, just enough time to run upstairs, find him, hug him once and whisper a proper goodbye.
The hallways of HYBE felt oddly quiet for late afternoon. You took the elevator to the practice floor and tiptoed toward the familiar training room. You peeked through the glass to find Jay inside with the rest of Enhypen. They were laughing, all sprawled across the floor, drenched in sweat, clearly taking a break.
You reached for the door handle but paused.
Jay was speaking.
“My girlfriend is so clingy,” he said, laughing, voice light and teasing. “I swear, she’d probably come here just to say bye before her flight or something.”
Your heart stilled.
Another voice, probably Sunghoon’s, chimed in, “She would, wouldn’t she?”
Jay laughed again. “She would. It’s so annoying sometimes. I don’t get a moment of peace, man.”
The others laughed, but you couldn’t hear them anymore.
Your fingers trembled on the door handle. You let go.
You stumbled back, trying not to draw attention, your eyes already stinging. A sob pressed against your chest, but you bit it back. Not here. Not now.
You turned and rushed toward the washroom down the hall. Inside, you locked the door and leaned over the sink, gripping the edges like they were the only thing holding you up. Your reflection in the mirror was pale, eyes wide, lips trembling.
Annoying.
He said I’m annoying.
The word echoed again and again, ringing louder than his laughter.
You had always known you were clingy. You texted him too much, hugged him too tight, asked to see him even during his busiest days. But Jay never once made you feel like it was too much. He let you love him the way you did. He said he liked it.
Maybe he lied.
Maybe he never wanted to hurt you, so he smiled through it but deep down, it was suffocating him.
You covered your mouth to stop the sob that finally escaped. Your cab was still waiting.
You didn’t even check your face before leaving the bathroom. You just walked straight out of the building, got into the cab, and texted Jay once you were seated.
[Y/N 🐰]: on the way to the airport now. have a good day at practice 💛
The reply came quickly.
[Jay 🐯]: thanks babe!! have a safe flight. text me when you land 😘
That was it.
He didn’t know you were just a few feet away moments ago, standing outside the room, hearing the words that sliced right through you.
The flight passed in a haze.
You barely remembered getting on board or the hotel you checked into when you arrived. But your brain kept looping those words. So annoying. Don’t get a moment of peace.
It wasn’t just what he said, it was the laughter. The way he brushed you off like a joke. The way no one disagreed.
Was that really how he saw you?
The first few days of the trip, you made yourself hold back.
You texted him daily, like always but your messages were short. Polite. Emotionless.
No cute photos, no voice notes, no “I miss you so much I could die”s. Just:
[Y/N 🐰]: morning. hope you slept well. [Y/N 🐰]: heading to my meeting now. ttyl. [Y/N 🐰]: landed back in the hotel. was a long day.
Jay didn’t seem to notice at first. He replied sweetly, called you whenever he could, and even sent food delivery to your hotel once. You picked up his calls when he rang but didn’t initiate any yourself.
When he teased you gently one night over FaceTime with a “Where’s my clingy girlfriend gone?” you just smiled and said, “Maybe I’m just tired.”
He didn’t press it.
And you were thankful.
Because if he knew the truth that you had been spiraling ever since overhearing him he might have just reassured you out of guilt.
You didn’t want pity. You just wanted to understand.
Were you too much?
Maybe distance was good. For both of you.
When you landed back home, HYBE had given Jay the day off. You didn’t even have to ask. He was already at your apartment, waiting with open arms and a stupidly excited smile on his face.
Normally, you would’ve jumped into his arms, wrapped yourself around him like a koala, kissed him breathless.
This time, you stepped into his hug and held him tightly… but quietly.
“I missed you,” you murmured into his chest, feeling tears threaten again.
“I missed you more,” he whispered, kissing your hair.
“I’m really tired. I think I’ll shower and lie down for a bit.”
You felt him hesitate, but he nodded. “Okay, babe. Want me to order in dinner?”
“Yeah,” you said softly, already walking away.
You didn’t see the confused crease forming between his brows.
In the days that followed, you pulled away even more.
You still kissed him good morning. Still cuddled on the couch. Still replied to his texts.
But your affection had changed.
It was measured. Careful. Held back. Almost as if you were scared to overdo it.
And Jay noticed.
Jay had been trying to convince himself that nothing was wrong.
At first, he chalked it up to jet lag. Then maybe work stress. You had just come back from a full-on business trip, after all. And still, you were warm, affectionate, kind. Still you.
Just… less.
You didn’t linger with your hugs. You didn’t sneak into his lap when he was watching TV or ask to hold hands while walking down the street. You still responded to his “I love you”s but always with a soft smile or a quiet “You too.”
And what unsettled Jay most was that you didn’t seem upset.
You weren’t cold or angry or ignoring him. You were… normal. Just a little too quiet. A little too reserved. Like someone walking across thin ice, afraid that one wrong move would make it crack.
And Jay didn’t know why.
“Everything okay with you two?”
Heeseung’s voice pulled Jay out of his thoughts one afternoon as they cooled off outside the dance studio.
Jay blinked. “Huh?”
“You’ve been spacing out for the past hour, man.”
Sunghoon looked up from his water bottle. “Did you two fight?”
“No,” Jay said automatically.
Because you didn’t fight. You never fought. You were the clingiest person he knew—but never demanding or dramatic. Just soft and sweet and maybe too gentle for someone like him.
He ran a hand through his damp hair.
“No fight. She’s just… different lately.”
“Different how?” Heeseung asked.
Jay hesitated. “I don’t know. She’s quiet. She doesn’t… I don’t know. Cling.”
Sunghoon laughed. “You miss her being stuck to you like Velcro?”
Jay smiled faintly. “Yeah. I do.”
It got worse in the next few days.
Not by much but enough that he noticed.
Your hugs lasted only a few seconds. You stopped cuddling into him at night unless he pulled you in himself. You smiled a lot but it didn’t always reach your eyes.
Jay caught himself staring at you more often than not. Trying to read your face. Trying to understand what changed.
You were always good at hiding when you were hurting. But he knew you well enough to sense something was off.
So, one night, when you were brushing your hair after a shower, he finally asked.
“Are we okay?”
Your hand paused mid-stroke. “Yeah. Of course.”
“You sure?”
You turned slightly to look at him. “Why are you asking that?”
Jay moved to sit on the edge of the bed. “I don’t know. Just feels like… something’s different.”
You smiled. And it hurt him how convincing it was.
“We’re both busy lately,” you said. “Maybe it’s just that.”
Jay nodded slowly. “Okay.”
But his gut told him that wasn’t it.
A few days later, Jay’s manager stopped by the practice room to drop off some documents. They exchanged a few casual words, laughing about scheduling and performance outfits.
Then, as the manager turned to leave, he paused.
“Oh! By the way, I think I saw your girlfriend here last week.”
Jay blinked. “Wait, what?”
“Yeah, sometime last week? You guys were on break. I was heading up to a meeting and thought I saw her in the hallway. Looked like she was crying, actually. But I figured I must’ve been wrong. Thought she was out of the country, wasn’t she?”
Jay’s blood ran cold.
“What day?”
The manager scratched his head. “Uh… maybe Tuesday? Or Wednesday? Not sure. Why?”
Jay’s chest tightened.
Tuesday.
That was the day of your flight.
That was the day he had been joking around with the guys in the practice room. The day he’d laughed about how clingy you were. The day he’d said—
“She’d probably come here just to say bye before her flight or something.”
“It’s so annoying sometimes. I don’t get a moment of peace, man.”
His breath caught.
You had come.
You heard him.
Oh God.
Jay stood up so suddenly his water bottle toppled over. The other members looked at him in surprise.
“I have to go,” he muttered, already grabbing his phone.
You were curled up on the couch when the door opened.
Jay didn’t knock. He never did. But this time, the energy he brought into your apartment was different.
Urgent. Heavy.
You turned around, confused. “Jay?”
He looked like he’d just sprinted through a storm. His hair messy, shirt slightly damp from sweat, chest rising and falling like he hadn’t stopped moving since the studio.
He didn’t speak at first.
Just stared at you like his heart was breaking right there at the door.
“What’s wrong?” you asked, standing up slowly.
“You came to HYBE before your flight.”
The air thickened. You didn’t respond.
“You were outside the practice room,” he said, voice low. “You heard me, didn’t you?”
Still, you didn’t speak.
Jay crossed the room in three long steps and stopped in front of you. “Y/N… why didn’t you tell me?”
You looked away. Your throat burned.
“I wasn’t supposed to hear it,” you said quietly. “You didn’t mean for me to.”
“But I still said it,” Jay whispered. “And I’m so sorry.”
You clenched your jaw, blinking fast. “Did you mean it?”
“No.” His voice cracked. “I mean—I said it. And maybe there was some truth in the joke. But not the way you think.”
You finally looked up at him, eyes shimmering.
“Then explain.”
Jay exhaled slowly.
“I was tired that day. We were joking around. And yeah, I said you were clingy. But it was dumb. Stupid. I didn’t mean it to sound like a complaint. I didn’t mean it like you were a burden.”
You didn’t say anything.
Jay stepped closer. “Do you know how empty it feels without you clinging to me all the time?”
That surprised you.
He continued, “I miss you barging into my day with twenty texts. I miss you hanging off my arm. I miss you falling asleep on my shoulder even when I told you I was too sweaty.”
A shaky laugh escaped you.
“I’ve been walking around like an idiot wondering why my own girlfriend suddenly feels… distant,” he said. “And it’s because I hurt you. Without even knowing it.”
You swallowed hard.
“I didn’t want to be too much,” you whispered. “I thought maybe you were just too nice to tell me to back off. And then I heard that, and I… I couldn’t un-hear it.”
Jay pulled you into his arms.
“Y/N,” he said softly, “you are not too much. And if I ever feel overwhelmed, I swear I’ll talk to you about it like an adult. Not laugh about it behind your back like a coward.”
You buried your face into his shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Please don’t stop loving me the way you do. I like it. I love it. It’s one of my favorite things about you.”
You were crying now. Silently, but openly. Your fists clutched the back of his shirt.
“I missed you,” you mumbled.
“I missed you,” he whispered. “The real you.”
Jay stayed the night. He held you until you fell asleep. And when you woke up, he was still there, watching you with a look so full of guilt and affection, it made your chest ache.
But even after his apology, something still lingered.
You tried. You smiled more. Hugged him longer.
But you were hesitant. Still afraid of slipping into being “too much” again.
Jay noticed.
So he did the only thing he could.
He doubled down.
Jay hadn’t stopped trying since that night.
You could feel it in every small gesture, every extra text, every meal he cooked for you (even if it was just ramen), every time he pulled you closer in bed when he thought you were asleep.
He never outright said, “Please go back to being clingy,” but it was in the way he lingered after hugs, the way he sent little updates about his day hoping you’d reply with your usual excited rambles. It was in the way he’d pause before hanging up a call, waiting, just waiting, for you to say “Wait, don’t hang up yet.”
But you didn’t.
Not yet.
You couldn’t help it. Even though you believed him, believed the apology, believed that he loved your affection, it was hard to silence that voice in the back of your head.
What if he just said that to make you feel better?
What if he only missed it because it was gone?
You didn’t want to return to being your old self if it meant smothering him. And you didn’t want to ask for reassurance constantly either. That would make you even more clingy, wouldn’t it?
So you stayed somewhere in the middle.
You loved him quietly. Carefully.
And Jay, slowly but surely, began to unravel that quiet.
It started with the small things.
He sent you selfies, not just the polished, fan-facing ones, but blurry shots of him mid-bite at lunch, or with half of his face smushed into a couch pillow.
[Jay 🐯]: rate this hair from 1 to “should I just shave my head”
Or—
[Jay 🐯]: me thinking about you. also about cake. mostly you tho
Sometimes you replied. Sometimes you left him on read. But he didn’t stop.
Then he brought home your favorite pastries one evening.
You smiled, a little surprised. “What’s the occasion?”
“Just missed your smile when you see these.”
You felt your heart crack a little. You hadn’t lit up the way you used to. Not since that day.
Then came the soft ambushes.
You were brushing your teeth when he wrapped his arms around you from behind and rested his chin on your shoulder.
“Miss this,” he mumbled through his reflection.
You tried to laugh, mouth full of foam.
When you rinsed and turned to face him, he was still there, looking at you like you hung the moon.
“You don’t have to hold back,” he said softly.
You looked down. “I’m trying not to… smother you again.”
Jay sighed. He lifted your chin gently with one finger so you’d meet his gaze.
“You never smothered me,” he said. “You just… made my days brighter. And warmer.”
A long silence passed.
You looked at him, then reached forward and poked his cheek. “You’re really not mad I used to cling to you all the time?”
Jay smiled. “I loved it. I was just being an idiot around the guys. Trying to sound funny and cool.”
“You’re terrible at that.”
He laughed. “I know.”
And then you hugged him.
Properly. Tightly.
Like the old you would’ve.
He melted into it immediately, arms wrapped around you like he never wanted to let go.
“I missed this,” he whispered into your hair.
You pressed your face into his neck. “Me too.”
But it wasn’t all better overnight.
There were still moments when you’d pause before reaching for his hand. Still moments where your fingers hovered over the “call” button on your phone, wondering if you were doing too much again.
Jay never stopped noticing.
So he made it his mission to rebuild what had cracked.
One evening, you were curled up on the couch reading, and Jay sat beside you holding his phone. A few minutes later, your phone buzzed.
[Jay 🐯]: miss you.
You glanced at him. He was right beside you.
He grinned and sent another.
[Jay 🐯]: miss my clingy koala too
You blinked at the screen, heart stuttering.
Then he reached out and pulled your legs onto his lap.
“I’m giving you a chance to cling again,” he said casually, flipping through Netflix.
You stared at him.
“You’re ridiculous,” you muttered but your voice was warm, your chest lighter than it had been in weeks.
He looked over and smiled. “But you love me.”
You rolled your eyes.
And climbed into his lap.
A week later, Jay had a short out-of-town schedule. You went to drop him off at HYBE.
You hesitated outside the building, remembering that day. Your chest tightened a little.
But Jay was waiting at the entrance this time. As soon as he saw you, he ran over and threw his arms around you.
“I knew you’d come say bye.”
You smiled against his shirt. “Do you want me to?”
Jay leaned back just enough to meet your eyes. “Yes. Every time.”
You pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“I’ll be waiting when you get back.”
He kissed your forehead. “And I’ll be starving for affection.”
Later that night, Jay sent you a voice note from his hotel bed.
“Babe. You left a hoodie here. It smells like you and now I’m lying in bed like a loser sniffing your sleeves. Hope you’re happy. Also, I miss you. And I hope when I get back, you’ll jump on me like the clingy little koala you are. I need that. Seriously.”
You laughed to yourself, cheeks heating.
You recorded a reply:
“That’s what you get for saying I’m annoying behind my back. 😤 But yes. Prepare to be clung to.”
He replied in a heartbeat.
[Jay 🐯]: that’s my girl 🥹
Jay’s trip only lasted three days, but you found yourself counting the hours until he returned.
Maybe it was the way he kept checking in, texting you the dumbest memes, or updating you about every little thing he ate. Or maybe it was because, for the first time since everything happened, you felt like your old selves again, playful, chaotic, and full of love.
You'd been cautious for so long, trying not to step over some invisible line.
But Jay had erased it completely.
When you picked him up from HYBE that evening, Jay didn't even wait for you to unbuckle your seatbelt before dragging you out of the car and into a tight embrace.
You squeaked in surprise. “Jay!”
“I told you I’d be starving for affection,” he mumbled, lips brushing your ear. “And I meant it.”
You laughed, heart warm and full. “Did you miss me that much?”
He pulled back and cupped your face in both hands. “I missed you so much that I used your voice notes as lullabies and told Jake I was suffering from cuddling withdrawals.”
“Poor Jake.”
Jay smirked. “Poor me.”
Then you kissed him.
And maybe it was just a kiss to the world, but to you, it felt like a reset. Like everything between you had settled again. No more walking on eggshells. No more holding back.
You were home again. In him.
In the days that followed, the shift between you two was impossible to miss.
The subtle distance you had placed between your hearts was gone. You clung again, softly, playfully, and sometimes even more than before.
Jay didn’t just welcome it. He mirrored it.
He reached for your hand more often. Held you longer in the mornings before you got out of bed. He surprised you with coffee deliveries, forehead kisses, and random “I love you” texts at 3AM.
One afternoon, while he was cooking, you wrapped your arms around his waist from behind and rested your cheek on his back.
“Koala mode again?” he teased.
“Mm-hmm,” you hummed. “You said I’m allowed.”
“You’re encouraged,” he corrected.
You peeked up at him. “So I’m not annoying?”
He turned off the stove, dried his hands, and spun around to face you.
“No,” he said seriously. “But even if you were, you’d be my annoying.”
You grinned.
Then, just to mess with him, you whispered, “I might text you thirty times tomorrow while you’re at practice.”
“I’ll reply to all thirty.”
“And I might kiss you in front of your members next time.”
“Good. Then they’ll stop calling you fake for being ‘less clingy.’” He gave you a look. “Yeah, they noticed too.”
You gasped. “No way.”
Jay nodded solemnly. “Jake said he almost cried when you left a room without hugging me once.”
You laughed, burying your face in his chest.
Jay held you closer.
“I’m sorry again,” he murmured. “For hurting you.”
“I know,” you whispered. “And thank you. For making me feel safe again.”
He kissed the top of your head. “You never lost that place. You just forgot where it was for a while.”
A few weeks later, you surprised him at HYBE again. This time with coffee for the whole group and a massive bear hug for Jay the moment he stepped out of the practice room.
Sunghoon whooped dramatically. “She’s BACK!”
Heeseung pumped his fist. “Balance has been restored!”
Jay just wrapped both arms around you like it was the most natural thing in the world and said, “My girlfriend came to say hi. Be jealous.”
Jake fake gagged. “Gross. But also… finally.”
You smiled into Jay’s shoulder.
It felt good to be back.
That night, after dinner, Jay curled up beside you on the couch and tapped your nose.
“I never told you this,” he said softly, “but when I first met you, I knew you were going to love hard. I could feel it.”
You looked at him. “Is that a good thing?”
Jay nodded. “The best.”
He ran a finger along your jaw gently.
“You make me feel loved all the time. Even when you're annoying.”
You glared. “Jay.”
He laughed. “I mean in a good way.”
You crossed your arms. “There’s no such thing as good annoying.”
He leaned in, kissing the side of your neck. “Sure there is. It’s the kind that keeps me warm. Keeps me grounded. Reminds me that someone wants to be around me, even when I’m tired or grumpy.”
You softened.
“I used to think I’d need a lot of space to feel okay in a relationship,” he continued. “But then you happened. And I realized I don’t want space. I want you. Every weird, clingy, dramatic bit of you.”
Your eyes shimmered.
“You’re going to make me cry again,” you murmured.
He smirked. “Then cry on me. I like when you do that too.”
You shoved him playfully, and he dragged you into his lap, tickling you until you were breathless and smiling through tears.
And later, when the apartment was quiet and you were lying tangled in each other under the sheets, Jay whispered, “Thanks for not giving up on us.”
You kissed his chest where your head rested.
“I never could.”
One rainy morning, Jay was rushing around getting ready for another early schedule when he noticed you sleepily padding after him, wrapped in his oversized hoodie.
He turned just as you flopped face-first onto the couch.
“Do you want me to cancel and stay home?” he joked.
You made a noise that sounded suspiciously like yes.
He chuckled and walked over, crouching down in front of you.
“Clingy again?” he asked, brushing your hair out of your face.
You yawned. “Always.”
Jay leaned in and kissed your nose.
“Good.”
Then, with a grin, he added, “You’re lucky I love it.”
You pulled him down into one more hug.
And when he left, he did so with your warmth still clinging to his clothes and your love still blooming quietly in his heart.
having heeseung just sit on the edge of the bed and stare at you through the reflection of the vanity mirror is honestly the most distracting thing in the world because you’re just trying to get your makeup done without messing up your eyeliner, but his gaze is so incredibly heavy and full of adoration that you can actually feel it burning into your skin. he’s not even saying anything, just resting his chin on his hands and watching you with this soft, dopey smile that makes your heart race despite being married to him for years... but your little boy totally catches onto what’s happening and takes his job as your personal bodyguard very seriously, immediately marching over to the bed to stand directly in front of his dad’s face with his tiny arms crossed over his chest, firmly telling heeseung that mommy is top secret right now and he needs to stop looking. heeseung just bursts out laughing and tries to peek around his son's tiny shoulders, which only makes your little one completely tackle him backwards onto the mattress to protect your privacy at all costs.
PARK JONGSEONG
it’s actually ridiculous how jay refuses to blink while watching you get dressed for your anniversary dinner because he’s leaning against the doorframe looking like an absolute model himself, but he’s completely hyper-fixated on the way you’re styling your hair. he has this knowing smirk on his face like he’s already thinking about how he’s going to show you off later, and no matter how many times you tell him to go wait in the living room, he just hums and says he’d rather stay right where he is... until your daughter waddles into the room and notices her dad staring a little too hard. she immediately gasps dramatically and runs over to push against his legs with all her might, telling him that staring isn't polite and that mommy needs space to get pretty, effectively pushing a very amused jay out into the hallway before she literally slams the bedroom door shut in his face to keep you safe from his staring.
SIM JAEYUN
the way jake looks at you when you’re getting ready is enough to make anyone melt because he has those big puppy dog eyes that just track your every movement like you hung the stars in the sky, and he keeps whispering little compliments under his breath about how beautiful you are even when you’re just wearing a bathrobe. it’s super sweet but totally flustering because you can’t even put on your lipstick properly with him sighing dreamily every five seconds, which prompts your little boy to intervene on your behalf. he literally climbs up onto the bed behind jake and wraps his tiny hands over his dad's eyes like a blindfold, loudly declaring that dad is banned from looking until mommy gives the final reveal. jake starts whining playfully and tries to pry the little hands off his face saying he just wants to see his beautiful wife, but your son acts like a strict security guard and refuses to budge an inch.
PARK SUNGHOON
sunghoon always tries to act so cool and collected but the second you put on that dress he’s completely paralyzed, just sitting on the armchair in the corner of the room and tracking your every movement through the mirror with this intense, dark gaze that makes you feel so entirely loved but also super self-conscious. he’s totally captivated by you and doesn't even bother hiding it, which immediately triggers the protective instincts of your little girl who happens to be playing with her blocks on the floor. she notices his intense staring and instantly drops her toys, marching over to grab a giant throw blanket from the bed and holding it up as high as she possibly can right in front of sunghoon's face. she sternly tells him that mommy is off-limits and he has to pay the toll to look, making sunghoon let out this rare, loud laugh as he pulls her into his lap, though she still aggressively covers his eyes with her hands to make sure he doesn't sneak a peek.
KIM SUNOO
you literally can’t even brush your hair without sunoo practically whining from the doorway because he thinks you look way too pretty to be going out tonight and he keeps dramatically sighing about how he just wants to keep you all to himself in the house. he’s resting his head against the door and pouting while watching you apply your lip gloss, his eyes completely glued to you in this extremely endearing way... but your son is having absolutely none of it. taking his role as your tiny protector very seriously, he grabs his plastic toy sword and stands right in the doorway between you and sunoo, pointing it at his dad and warning him that he needs to back away from mommy immediately. sunoo immediately gasps and puts his hands up in mock surrender, dramatically whispering to you that your bodyguard is too scary and he guesses he'll just have to wait patiently in the living room like a good boy.
YANG JUNGWON
jungwon has this habit of just quietly existing in your space while you get ready, sitting cross-legged on the floor playing with the cat but totally stealing these lingering, dimpled smiles at you through the mirror whenever he thinks you aren't looking, though you can totally see him. his gaze is so warm and fond that it makes butterflies erupt in your stomach all over again, but your daughter is quick to interrupt the romantic tension because she runs into the room and immediately identifies her dad as a threat to your getting-ready routine. she practically throws herself over jungwon's eyes, burying his face into her chest and telling him no looking at mommy until she's done being a princess. jungwon just chuckles that sweet laugh of his and wraps his arms around her, trying to bribe his tiny security guard with the promise of ice cream if she just lets him look at you for one more minute, but she firmly shakes her head and demands he close his eyes tightly.
NISHIMURA RIKI
ni-ki being so annoying keeps poking you while you’re trying to do your makeup, and he refuses to look away even when you swat at his chest and tell him to stop staring at you so intensely. he just wraps his arms around your waist from behind and rests his chin on your head, watching your reflection with this incredibly focused look that makes you completely forget how to use your mascara ... until your little boy comes storming in to save the day. your son grabs onto ni-ki's pant leg and starts tugging with all his tiny strength, scolding his dad for being a creep and bothering mommy while she's busy. ni-ki pretends to be shocked by the accusation and tries to argue that he's just admiring his beautiful wife, but your tiny bodyguard physically wedges himself between ni-ki's legs and pushes him backward until ni-ki finally yields with a laugh, leaving you to finish your makeup in peace while your son stands guard at the door with his arms crossed.
isabella: yes omg i NEED to write more parent!enha content cause im literally obsessed with them being all soft and domestic with kids >_<
One second, you were telling a little lie to impress the cheerleaders, and the next, the whole school thought you were dating Park Jongseong—the cold, untouchable, and ridiculously hot guitarist. What started as a desperate move to boost your reputation took a wild turn when Jay decided to go along with it. Now, you’re caught up in nonstop gossip, awkward moments, and a fake relationship that feels a little too real—especially with Jay showing a surprisingly sweet side that no one, including you, saw coming.
content tags: fake dating, lots of fluffs, comedy, slight angst, strangers to lovers, reader is in 11th grade while jay is in 12th, (but both of them are over the age of 18) reader is short, jay smokes vape in the middle of the story, jay hates everyone lol. warning: profanities, mentions of sex, mild smut. WC: 14.7k
song used: same ground by kitchie nadal
note: thank you for the 95 followers!
You were a simple girl.
Simple, average, ordinary. Not the type to snag straight A's in every class, but not failing either. You were the kind of girl teachers barely noticed—just another name on the roll call, another face in the crowd.
You liked pink—just enough to keep it cute, but not the over-the-top glittery kind.
You didn't obsess over fandoms or have bags covered in pins and but you have figurines. Your style wasn't edgy or pastel chic or anything that made you stand out. You were... balanced. Plain. Normal.
Your high school life reflected that. Simple. Average. No exciting detours.
You weren't a sports star who got their name chanted in the bleachers. You weren't a science geek impressing everyone with your brainpower. You weren't a mean girl, a party kid, or a cheerleader.
Oh, but you wanted to be a cheerleader.
You wanted to wear that uniform, flip through the air, feel the rush of the crowd. You wanted the applause, the way everyone's eyes followed them when they walked the halls.
But no one cared about a normal girl trying out.
Reputation was everything in high school, and yours? Too simple. Too... forgettable.
You could cheer. You could dance. You could pull off a backflip, a split, the whole routine. You had the skills. What you didn't have was the image.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" one of the cheerleaders asked, her voice dismissive as you landed your final jump during tryouts. You stood there, panting, sweat dripping down your face after nailing the routine.
"A boyfriend?" you repeated, blinking, stunned. What did that have to do with anything?
"From football? Hockey? Maybe Math Olympiad?" she continued, her smirk curling like she already knew the answer.
You froze. Of course you didn't have a boyfriend. You were an NBSB—No Boyfriend Since Birth kind of girl. But how was that even relevant? You were here to cheer, not audition for a dating show.
"We'll let you know if you're accepted... or not," another cheerleader chimed in, her voice dripping with boredom. She wasn't even pretending to care about your performance.
You stood there for a moment, trying to steady your breathing, gripping your bag so tight your knuckles turned white. The sting of their indifference burned in your chest as you turned and walked out of the gym, sweaty and defeated.
Reputation doesn't matter, they always said. What a joke. High school was all about reputation—who you dated, who you were seen with, who you weren't.
And being a simple, average, normal girl? That just wasn't good enough.
It was a warm afternoon when you found yourself face-to-face with them again—the cheerleader tryouts.
So, before you could stop yourself, the words slipped out:
"My boyfriend is Park Jongseong."
The world seemed to stop for a second. All the cheerleaders froze, wide-eyed, jaws dropping like a scene from a poorly-scripted teen drama.
"Wait—Park Jongseong?!" one of them shrieked, her voice climbing several octaves. "The hot guitarist in the band?"
You nodded, keeping your expression sweet and innocent, careful not to let your fabricated lie crumble.
"Oh my god!" Another cheerleader nearly jumped out of her skin. "He's, like, the hottest guy in school! And so... mysterious."
"He's so cold, though," another chimed in, tilting her head suspiciously. "How did you even—"
You cut her off, spinning your web of lies before she could unravel it. "Oh, it just... happened," you said with a casual shrug, as if it were no big deal.
"We met at this café off campus. He asked me about my drink order, and, well..." You let out a dreamy sigh, painting a picture so vivid you could almost convince yourself it was real.
"He's so sweet. He cares about me so much. Like, he cooks for me when I'm tired, aftercare after sex, kisses me goodbye every morning, and—" You leaned in conspiratorially, lowering your voice to a whisper. "He even lets me touch his guitar."
The gasps that followed were almost deafening.
"No way!" one of them shrieked, clutching her chest in disbelief. "Park Jongseong doesn't let anyone touch his guitar!"
You nodded solemnly, as if sharing a sacred truth. "Well, he lets me."
For a moment, you thought you'd pulled it off. You were a star in their eyes, a girl who'd managed to capture the unattainable Park Jongseong's heart.
But deep down, you knew the truth.
Park Jongseong hate everyone, especially you. And honestly? You didn't blame him.
The first time you'd crossed paths, it had been a disaster.
You'd been drinking water at your locker when he appeared out of nowhere, walking right past you. Startled by his sudden presence, you'd choked, spraying water directly into his face.
His jaw had clenched, his eyes shutting as he took a deep breath, clearly fighting the urge to lose his temper.
"Sorry!" you'd squeaked, your face burning with humiliation.
And then, like the socially awkward creature you were, you'd bolted down the hallway, leaving him dripping and furious.
Then there was the incident in the music room.
You'd been poking around the instruments out of boredom, your fingers grazing the strings of a random guitar when—CRASH. Your foot caught on something, and the stand holding his prized guitar tipped over, sending it sprawling to the floor.
Right at that moment, the door swung open, and in walked Park Jongseong.
You froze like a deer in headlights, your heart dropping to your stomach as his gaze landed on his guitar, then on you. His face was unreadable, but the tightness in his jaw told you everything you needed to know.
"Uh... sorry?" you muttered, holding up your hands in a weak peace sign. Before he could say anything, you darted out of the room. You ran away, again.
And who could forget the volleyball incident?
You'd been practicing serves in the gym when he and his friends walked in. Your focus wavered for a split second, and the ball sailed in the wrong direction—straight into his face.
You gasped as blood began dripping from his nose. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry!" you stammered, panicking as he grabbed his face, clearly in pain.
Without thinking (or, honestly, with too much thinking), you did what you always did. You ran, again.
And now, standing here, spinning lies about a romance that didn't exist, you had to fight to keep your composure.
"Wow," one of the cheerleaders gushed. "I can't believe you and Jongseong are, like... a thing!"
"Yeah," you said with a forced laugh, clutching your bag tightly to hide how sweaty your palms were. "He's... amazing."
But in the back of your mind, all you could think about was how Park Jongseong would react if he ever found out about this.
And...The story spread faster than you could have ever imagined.
One second, you were fabricating a harmless little lie to impress the cheerleaders, and the next, the entire school seemed to think you and Park Jongseong were soulmates—or worse, a thing.
And not just any kind of "thing." No. The rumors had grown legs, arms, and a whole personality.
"Is it true that Park Jongseong is... like, huge in bed?" one girl whispered as you passed her in the hallway, her eyes wide with curiosity.
You choked on absolutely nothing, gripping your bag as if it might save you from spontaneously combusting.
Another girl caught up to you, practically skipping alongside you. "Oh my God, how was it? You know, with him? Is he all intense and broody like he looks, or does he have a soft side?"
You stared at her, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.
"He's... uh... great?" you stammered, mentally slapping yourself for sounding so unconvincing.
Her jaw dropped, and before you knew it, a crowd of girls—yes, the famous girls—was swarming you, each one louder and more persistent than the last.
"I can't believe you got him to date you!"
"Wait, wait, wait—did he really let you touch his guitar? Because I heard he doesn't even let his bandmates touch it."
"What's his favorite food? Does he let you steal his hoodies? Is he ticklish?"
"Is he actually the silent-in-public, wild-in-private type? Tell us everything!"
Your head was spinning. They were everywhere, and you couldn't escape. You tried smiling naturally, nodding here and there, but the panic bubbling inside you was threatening to explode.
"Oh my God, you're not even in the cheerleading pep squad yet? How dare they still not accept you!" one girl exclaimed dramatically. She flipped her hair with a loud scoff. "I mean, I saw your audition, and it was fucking amazing."
You blinked. She definitely had not seen your audition.
"Y-yeah, um... thanks," you muttered, clutching your bag tighter and taking a deep breath to steady yourself.
It was still early, but the hallway was packed. The questions kept coming, the voices growing louder, and you were just about ready to melt into the floor.
And then it happened.
You let out a tiny squeak as someone grabbed your arm, yanking you out of the circle of girls. You stumbled, blinking in shock, and turned to see who your savior—or captor—was.
Your heart nearly stopped.
It was him.
Park Jongseong!
Jaw sharp enough to cut glass, eyes darker than your worst nightmares, and hair falling messily across his forehead like he just stepped out of a photoshoot.
Except he didn't look like a model. No. He looked angry.
Like, furious.
Oh, you were so, so dead.
"S-see you later, girls!" you called out, your voice cracking as you tried to sound cheerful. You gripped his arm like your life depended on it, forcing a smile as he dragged you through the hallway.
The crowd erupted behind you.
"Oh my God, they're really together!"
"I knew it!"
"They're so cute! Look at how she holds onto him!"
Your face felt like it was on fire. You could feel every pair of eyes in the hallway locked on you as Jongseong stormed forward, his grip firm but not painful. You tried to match his pace, but his legs were longer, and you were practically jogging to keep up.
You tried to focus on breathing, but the more they talked, the more you wanted to just curl up and disappear.
Meanwhile, Jongseong hadn't said a single word. His jaw clenched, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
"Uh, Jongseong—"
Before you could finish, he yanked open the door to a small storage room, pulling you inside and shutting the door behind you with a loud click.
"Hey—what are you—"
"Shut up," he muttered, his voice low and sharp.
You blinked, startled. The room was small, cramped, and dimly lit by a single flickering bulb. Shelves stacked with cleaning supplies and dusty boxes surrounded you, and the air smelled faintly of bleach.
Jongseong leaned against the door, running a hand through his messy hair and letting out a frustrated sigh.
"What the hell?" he said finally, his voice laced with irritation.
You swallowed hard, gripping your bag like a shield. "I... I can explain?"
"Yeah, you'd better," he snapped, crossing his arms over his chest. His eyes locked onto yours, and the intensity of his gaze made your knees feel like jelly.
"Why is everyone in this school convinced we're dating? And why," his voice dropped lower, "did I just hear someone asking if I'm good in bed?"
You winced. "Okay, so... it might've gotten a little out of hand."
He let out a bitter laugh, raising an eyebrow. "A little?"
You hesitated, trying to find the right words. "Look, I was just trying to impress the cheerleaders! They don't think I'm cool enough to make the squad, so I might've... um... made up a story."
His jaw tightened. "A story? About me?"
You gave him a weak, apologetic smile. "I didn't think it would blow up like this! I thought they'd just forget about it after tryouts!"
"Oh, yeah, because rumors about me always disappear quietly," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
You bit your lip, your embarrassment growing by the second. "I'm really sorry. I'll fix it. I promise."
He scoffed, shaking his head. "How exactly do you plan to fix this? Everyone already thinks we're a couple. You should've thought about that before you opened your mouth."
"I know, I know!" you said, your voice rising slightly. "But I didn't think people would actually believe me! I mean, look at you! You're, like... you, and I'm just... me."
He stared at you, one eyebrow twitching. "What does that even mean?"
"It means no one would ever think you would date someone like me!" you blurted out.
There was a brief silence, Jongseong blinked, his expression unreadable.
"Wow," he said finally, his tone flat. "That's... depressing."
You buried your face in your hands, groaning. "I'm making this worse, aren't I?"
"Yeah," he said bluntly.
You peeked at him through your fingers, your voice small. "Can you... just not kill me, though?"
He rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath. For a moment, he looked like he was considering throwing you out the door, but instead, he leaned back against it, running a hand down his face.
"Here's what's going to happen," he said finally. "You're going to go out there, tell everyone you lied, and make sure my name is out of their mouths by the end of the day."
Your eyes widened. "I can't do that! If I tell them the truth, I'll look like a total loser! They'll never let me on the squad!"
"Not my problem," he shot back.
"Please!" you pleaded, grabbing his arm in desperation. "Just... let me ride this out a little longer. I'll figure out a way to fix it without dragging your name through the mud, I promise!"
He stared at you for a long moment. He let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Do whatever you want," he said finally.
Your eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Don't make me regret this," he added,
"I'll do anything!" you said quickly, your relief overwhelming your sense of pride.
His eyes flicked back to yours, and you swore you saw a flicker of amusement in his expression. "Anything?"
You hesitated. "Uh... within reason?"
He smirked, shaking his head. "Unbelievable," he muttered, pushing off the door and opening it.
"Wait, where are you going?" you asked, panicked.
"Class," he said simply, walking out and leaving you standing there, still clutching your bag like it might protect you from the fallout.
"Oh my God, they just came out of the storage room together!" someone squealed.
Your blood froze as a wave of gasps and murmurs rippled down the hallway.
"No way! They're so freaky!"
"They couldn't even wait until after school? A quickie in the storage room?!"
"That's so wild!"
You bolted out of the storage room, your face burning so hot it was probably visible from space. "It's not what you think!" you stammered, waving your hands frantically. "Nothing happened! I swear!"
But your protests only seemed to make things worse.
"Did you see her face? She's totally guilty!"
"God, no wonder he's so obsessed with her. She's probably insane in bed."
"Wait, so does this mean she's, like, not lying about them being a couple?"
The crowd erupted into a chorus of giggles, whispers, and scandalized gasps, and you felt your soul leave your body.
At the end of the day, you got the news: you were officially part of the cheerleading pep squad.
This wasn't exactly how you pictured it, but hey, you'd finally made it. You thought practice would be all about jumps, flips, and cheers, but instead, it was questions. Endless questions.
All about your "boyfriend."
By the time practice ended, you were convinced the squad cared more about Park Jongseong than they cared about cheerleading. It was exhausting. They made him your whole personality.
Now, you stood outside the music room, foot tapping nervously as you psyched yourself up. You needed to talk to him. Jongseong—Jay—walked out with his guitar slung over his back, his expression colder than a freezer. His eyes landed on you, sharp and annoyed.
"Why are you here?" he asked, as blunt as ever.
You forced an awkward smile. "Hi! Because... you're my boyfriend?"
Jay scoffed, walking past you like you didn't exist. Panicked, you scrambled to catch up, nearly tripping over your own feet.
"H-hey! Wait!" you called, gripping the edge of his jacket. "I'm Y/N! Please, for the second time, just hear me out!"
He stopped, turned, and stared at you with the kind of look that could burn holes in concrete. "What do you want now?"
You fumbled with your bag, your cheeks burning. "I just... I wanted to talk about—"
"Fuck off," he snapped, making you flinch and throw your hands up like you were bracing for impact.
"I'm sorry!" you squeaked, your voice small.
Jay sighed, running a hand through his hair as he shifted his weight. For a second, his eyes softened—but not enough to let you relax.
"I already let you use my name. What else do you want from me?" he asked, voice low and sharp.
You bit your lip, tapping your foot nervously. You'd practiced this speech in your head a hundred times, but the words suddenly felt scrambled.
"I just... I got into the cheerleading squad, but they keep asking me questions about you, and—"
His glare deepened. "After you spilled water on me, crashed my guitar, and hit me in the face with a volleyball, what more do you want?"
You gasped, offended. "E-excuse me?! Those were accidents!" you said, emphasizing the word with dramatic hand gestures.
"I didn't spill water on you on purpose! And I didn't crash your guitar—it fell! And your nose? Total accident!"
He turned to leave, but you panicked again, grabbing his arm and walking beside him as fast as your shorter legs could go.
"Please, just help me for a little while longer!" you pleaded.
He glanced at your hand on his arm, then at you, looking like he wanted to throw himself into the nearest trash can. "You got what you wanted. Tell them we broke up or something."
You shook your head frantically. "No, no, no! I know I'm a loser for using your name, but I need to keep this up for a few more months!"
Jay's jaw tightened. "What now?"
"I just... need some information about you," you said, your voice small. "Like, your favorite color, or your hobbies, or—"
He cut you off with a groan. "Just make something up. You're good at that."
"But it sounds fake!" you whined, stomping a little like a frustrated child.
Jay stopped walking and turned to glare at you again. "And the story about the café and me being good in bed doesn't sound fake?"
Your cheeks turned crimson. "I-I didn't say anything about you being good in bed!" you squeaked, waving your hands defensively. "I just said you were good at, uh, aftercare! They're the ones who assumed the rest!"
Jay stared at you, his face unreadable, but the way his lips twitched told you he was this close to laughing.
"So, you want more information about me so you can answer their next stupid questions?" he asked.
You nodded eagerly. "Yes! Exactly!"
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Like if I'm huge?"
Your brain short-circuited. "N-no!" you squealed, stepping back as your cheeks burned even hotter. "It's not like that!"
Jay smirked, adjusting the strap of his guitar as he stood up straight again. "Right," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Good luck with your cheerleading squad, girlfriend."
And with that, he totally walked away, leaving you standing there, red-faced and humiliated. But you weren't about to give up.
No way. You'd come too far and sacrificed too much pride to back down now. If groveling got you this far, then maybe going lower would get you what you needed.
So, you became... everywhere.
After his chemistry class, there you were, waiting outside the door with a bright smile and an awkward wave. "Hi! How was class? Did you learn anything interesting?"
He barely looked at you as he walked past, muttering, "I don't know, did you?"
At his band practice, you somehow sweet-talked your way in. His bandmates, thinking you were his girlfriend, welcomed you with open arms.
"Jay never told us you were so supportive," one of them said, grinning.
"Y-yeah! That's me! Super supportive!" you laughed nervously, while Jay sat in the corner, tuning his guitar, looking like he was plotting your demise.
But you stayed anyway, sitting cross-legged on the floor, watching him play with stars in your eyes. He was good—like, really good—and for a second, you almost forgot how much he hated you.
After practice, you walked out with him, chatting non-stop about your cheerleading routine. "So then Karina said I should try a - "
Jay, walking ahead of you, sighed heavily. "Do you ever stop talking?"
You froze for half a second before jogging to catch up. "Not really!" you said cheerfully, ignoring the withering glare he shot you.
During break time, you plopped down beside him in the cafeteria, chatting away about your practice. You didn't even realize you were rambling until he looked at you, his expression blank.
"Do you ever run out of words?" he asked, deadpan.
You blinked. "Uh... no?"
He groaned, rubbing his temples.
It wasn't long before your cheer squad started noticing things, too.
During one break, Yunjin leaned over, lazily plucking at her nails. "Your relationship seems so... one-sided," she said casually, enough to make your stomach drop.
"Eh?" you squeaked, your chest tightening with nerves. "W-what do you mean?"
Yunjin shrugged. "We never see you guys together. And when we do, he looks like he's about murdering someone."
You forced a laugh, your hands sweaty. "W-well, he's just... had a lot of bad days lately!"
"Jay's always having bad days when he's with you?" she shot back, raising an eyebrow.
"And you two don't even kiss in public," Karina added, leaning her chin on her hand.
Your throat went dry. "Uh, well, he doesn't like PDA," you said quickly.
The two of them exchanged looks but eventually shrugged, letting it go. You let out a quiet breath of relief, only to freeze when Karina clapped her hands.
"Y/N, you said you can do back handsprings, right?"
You nodded eagerly. "Yes! Do you need me to—"
"Great!" Karina stood, surveying the gym with a critical eye. "We need you to cover the entire formation during lifting. Can you do five in a row?"
Your eyes widened. "F-five?"
"Yeah, starting from over there." Karina gestured to the far side of the gym.
You forced a smile and walked to the starting position, nerves rattling in your chest. Everyone's eyes were on you.
You took a deep breath and started your back handsprings, nailing five in a row. When you landed, slightly dizzy, you raised your arms triumphantly.
"Hmm... it doesn't cover the right side," Karina said, tapping her chin. "Y/N, try seven this time."
Your smile faltered. "S-seven?"
They nodded.
You did as they asked, pushing through the dizziness, only to hear them call for more.
By the fourth round, you were practically collapsing mid-air. Ten was far too much, and by the end, your knees hit the floor hard, sending pain shooting up your legs.
"Oh, perfect!" Karina said, clapping her hands. "That covered the whole area. Great job, Y/N! But you need to work on your posture."
You winced, clutching your bruised knee as you shuffled to sit beside the others. The pain was sharp, and tears pricked at the corners of your eyes, but you forced a smile, trying to keep it together.
"I'm kind of craving boba tea," Karina said suddenly, standing up. "Who wants some?"
"Oh, me too!" Giselle chimed in, followed by the rest of the squad eagerly raising their hands.
"Perfect!" Karina said, pulling out a notepad. "Let's make a list."
A moment later, she shoved the list into your hands. "Here. And here's the money. You can go get it for us."
You stared at the list, dumbfounded. "Wait... me?"
"Yeah! Thanks, Y/N!" she said brightly, already turning to talk to Giselle about something else.
You blinked, standing stiffly as pain radiated from your knees. You didn't even have the energy to argue. Instead, you hobbled to the restroom first, tears spilling over as you washed your knees.
Violet bruises were already forming, and the cold water stung as it ran over the tender skin.
This wasn't what you'd imagined when you dreamed of joining the cheer squad.
You thought it would be glamorous—flipping in the air, cheering under bright lights, and finally belonging to something cool.
Instead, here you were, limping to a nearby boba shop with bruised knees and teary eyes.
Still, you told yourself it was okay. You were part of them now. You weren't just a simple girl anymore—you were a cheerleader. Their friend. It was normal to run errands and do things for your friends, right?
So why did it feel so awful?
As you stood in line, you checked the money Karina had handed you earlier, only to realize it was short. Way short.
You panicked for a moment, but what could you do? You had no choice but to pay for the rest out of your own pocket, all while swallowing the lump in your throat.
By the time you were walking back to school, holding a bunch of boba cups in flimsy plastic bags, you were crying. Pathetically.
Tears streaked your face, and your lips wobbled as you sniffled, trying not to let the world see how pitiful you looked.
But it wasn't their fault, you told yourself. They weren't bullying you. You were just having a sensitive day. Your knees hurt from all that back handspring practice, and the money situation had just been bad luck.
That's all.
You furiously wiped at your cheeks, determined to look normal before you made it back to the gym. But then, a voice startled you out of your thoughts.
"What happened to you?"
You nearly dropped the boba.
"Jay!" you yelped, turning to see him standing there with his guitar case slung over his back, his sharp gaze flicking from your tear-streaked face to the plastic bags in your hands—and then to your bruised, purple knees.
"I—uh—hi!" you stammered, forcing an awkward smile.
He didn't return it. "You didn't visit the music room today."
"Oh!" you exclaimed, caught off guard. "I was busy with practice. I completely forgot! I'm sorry!"
He didn't respond, just reached over and took the plastic boba bags from your hands.
You blinked at him, muttering a quiet "thank you" as he carried them down the hallway beside you.
"What happened to you?" he asked again, his tone firmer this time.
You scratched the back of your head, feigning cluelessness. "Uh, what do you mean?"
He gave you a look, and his voice dropped. "Why were you crying? And why do you have bruises all over your knees?"
Your lips parted, but no sound came out. He was staring at you like he could see right through every lie you'd prepared.
"Oh, that?" You waved a hand as if it were nothing. "They made me practice back handsprings today. I just, uh, had a bad landing. But I'm totally fine! See?" You gave him a shaky thumbs-up, forcing another smile.
Jay didn't look convinced. His gaze flickered back to your knees, then to your face.
"Why? Do you care about me?" you teased, lightly bumping his shoulder with yours.
He rolled his eyes, but you swore you saw the corner of his mouth twitch. Without a word, he gestured toward the gym door.
"You first."
You laughed nervously, pushing the door open and walking inside.
"Oh, Y/N," Karina called out from across the gym. "Coach said we're not allowed to have boba anymore since she's strict about our diet. Did you already buy it?"
Your face fell. "Yes..."
"Oh crap!" Giselle smacked her forehead. "I texted you, but I guess it didn't go through!"
"But the boba? The money?" one of the girls asked, holding out her hand expectantly.
You hesitated, your voice caught in your throat. "I already bought it," you said quietly, glancing nervously at Jay.
Before you could say anything else, he walked past you, heading toward the bleachers. Without a word, he dropped the bags of boba onto the bench—hard. The cups jostled, some of the liquid spilling over the edges.
"J-Jongseong?!" Karina stammered, her confident tone faltering as she gulped nervously.
Jay stood there, his sharp glare slicing through the room. "Are you serious right now?" he said, his voice calm but dangerous.
Karina shifted uncomfortably, swallowing a lump in her throat. "W-we didn't mean for her to actually buy them—"
"Yeah?" he cut her off. "Because it looks like you had her running errands like your personal delivery service."
"Jay, it's not like that!" you blurted, defending them instinctively, though your voice wavered.
The room went silent. None of the girls dared to speak as Jay's gaze swept over them, so sharp.
"Is your practice over or something?" he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because none of you look like you're doing any cheers anymore."
Giselle quickly nodded, her voice high and nervous. "W-we're on a break!"
Jay's eyes narrowed slightly, making Giselle shrink under his gaze.
Finally, he turned to you, and his expression softened just enough to make your chest feel weird—like relief, or maybe something you couldn't quite place.
"Come on," he said, nodding toward the door.
"H-huh?" you stammered, blinking up at him.
"Let's go," he repeated, already turning away.
Before you could argue, he noticed the way you hesitated, the way you winced with every step. His eyes flicked down to your knees, bruised and swollen, and without a word, he leaned down and effortlessly scooped you up into his arms.
"W-what are you doing?!" you gasped, your face burning red as you scrambled to hold onto him.
The squad collectively let out a series of audible gasps behind you.
"Oh my God, she's not like, totally lying," Karina whispered, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Jay didn't acknowledge them. His jaw was tight, his gaze fixed ahead as he carried you out of the gym.
"Jay, I can walk!" you protested weakly, even though your knees were very much not in walking condition.
"Yeah, you're doing a great job of that," he muttered, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he adjusted his grip on you.
You clung to him in stunned silence, trying to ignore the burning stares from the squad still watching as the door swung shut behind you.
Your heart raced, and whether it was from embarrassment or something else entirely, you didn't want to think about it.
"You're going to stop running around like this," Jay said firmly as he walked. "If they want boba, they can get it themselves."
"But I'm part of the team now," you mumbled, your voice small.
"You're not their errand girl," he shot back, his eyes flicking down to you.
You shut your mouth, letting him carry you to the clinic as the nurse tended to your bruised knees.
He leaned casually against the wall, watching the whole process like he was supervising. Every time you dared to glance his way, he raised an eyebrow, silently daring you to say something stupid. You wisely kept quiet.
The next day at practice, things hadn't gotten much better.
The girls were still bombarding you with questions—except now, Jay had inadvertently raised your popularity to new heights.
"He's sweet but terrifying," one of them whispered, watching you stretch. "Maybe you should get him to smile for once. He's always glaring."
"Yeah, but it's kind of hot," another one added, fanning herself dramatically. "It's like he hates everyone except her."
You snorted at that, almost choking on your own air. If only they knew the truth. But you couldn't even laugh properly because someone tapped your shoulder, pointing toward the gym doors.
"Y/N, look!"
You turned and nearly choked on your own spit. There he was—Jay—walking toward you.
The girls squealed, whispering loudly as they quickly backed away to give you "privacy."
Your stomach flipped as he approached, his dark eyes scanning the gym before locking on you. "What are you doing here?" you whispered, gripping the edge of the bleachers.
He ignored your question, dropping his bag and kneeling in front of you.
"How's your knee?" he asked, his tone softer this time as his eyes flicked to your legs.
"I'm fine! What are you doing here?" you repeated, feeling heat crawl up your neck as the gym filled with the sound of squeals and whispers.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he rummaged through his bag and pulled out something.
"I bought you knee pads," he said simply, holding them up.
Your jaw dropped. "What—why?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he gently took your leg, his hands warm as he began securing the knee pad in place.
"He's so sweet!" one of the girls whispered loudly.
You tried to ignore the growing crowd of gossipers, your face burning as you stared down at him. "You really didn't have to—"
"Stop moving," he interrupted, his focus entirely on your knee as he adjusted the strap.
You sighed, crossing your arms. "Jay, seriously, what are you doing here?"
"I'll watch your routine," he said casually, moving to your other knee.
"What? No!" you exclaimed, flailing slightly. "What do you mean, you'll watch?"
He glanced up at you, a small, almost mischievous smile tugging at his lips. "You watch me practice at the music room. It's only fair I watch yours."
"That's different!" you sputtered, your face heating further.
"How is it different?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Because—because I'm not good at this yet!" you said, flustered. "What's your deal?"
"What do you mean?" he said, his voice light with amusement. "I just want to support my girlfriend."
You froze. Your brain short-circuited. Did he just—
"W-what did you just say?" you stammered, your voice cracking.
"Girlfriend," he repeated smoothly, standing up and slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Isn't that what you keep telling everyone I am?"
You wanted to crawl into a hole and die. The giggles and gasps around you didn't help, either.
"You can't just—" you started, but he cut you off.
"Relax," he said, smirking as he turned to walk away. "Good luck with practice, babe. I'll be watching."
You watched him head toward the bleachers, still reeling from the fact that Park Jongseong, the untouchable cold Jay, just called you his girlfriend in front of everyone.
If you hadn't been blushing before, you were definitely on fire now.
The routine begins with a burst of synchronized cheers, the squad moving in perfect unison. You jump, spin, and dance, throwing in a split and a clean back handspring. When the lifting section comes, you step onto their hands with, you stick the landing, holding your pose as they lower you carefully.
You finish the routine without letting your bruised knees slow you down, your chest heaving as sweat drips down your temples.
The coach claps, giving feedback to the squad, but all you can think about is sitting down and catching your breath.
Unconsciously, you find yourself collapsing onto the bleachers—right next to Jay. He doesn't say anything, just pulls a water bottle and towel out of his bag, as if he'd been expecting you to need them.
"Here," he mutters, handing them over.
"Thanks," you say, too exhausted to overthink it. You take a long sip of water before draping the towel over your shoulders.
"How's the performance?" you ask him, still catching your breath.
"You're good," he replies simply.
You pause, blinking at him. "No, like... us. The cheering squad. How did we look?"
Jay shrugs, leaning back slightly on the bleachers, his gaze fixed ahead. "I don't know," he says, his tone casual. "I only had my eyes on you."
The water bottle in your hand almost slips from your grasp.
"W-what?" you stammer, turning to look at him.
He doesn't meet your gaze, his expression cool and indifferent, but there's a small twitch at the corner of his lips. "You heard me," he says, his voice even.
Your face heats up, and you're not sure if it's from the workout or his words. Before you can respond, one of your squadmates calls your name, pulling you back to reality.
"I—uh, thanks," you mumble, scrambling to stand.
"Don't fall," Jay says, glancing at your knees briefly before leaning back and pulling out his phone, as if he hadn't just dropped a bomb on you.
Your heart races as you jog back to the squad, Jay's words replaying in your mind. "I only had my eyes on you."
What was that supposed to mean?
Over the following weeks, something shifted. Jay did seem to like you—no, that would be too strong—but he definitely didn't hate you anymore. If anything, it felt like he had resigned himself to your presence.
Your schedules matched perfectly: you'd stop by the music room before your cheer practice, watching him play with quiet awe. After his practice ended, you'd walk together to the gym, where he'd drop you off with a gruff nod.
And during those walks, you talked. A lot.
Jay didn't interrupt or roll his eyes at your endless stream of words, but he didn't say much either. He'd let you ramble about random things—your favorite stories, songs, foods, or some obscure fact you'd read online.
One day, while rifling through your bag in frustration, you whined, "Crap, I always forget to bring an extra shirt!"
Jay didn't respond, just kept walking. You assumed he wasn't even listening.
But the next day, when you showed up for your routine walk to the gym, he handed you a neatly folded shirt.
"Here," he said, his tone flat, as though it wasn't a big deal.
You blinked, staring at it. "Wait, is this for me?"
"No, it's for the bench," he replied dryly. Then, seeing your expression, added, "You said you forget yours. Just take it."
Your heart skipped as you took the shirt, muttering a soft "thank you."
On another day, after practice, you grinned at him. "I really want a spicy ramen—like, with crab sticks and shrimp! Let's go get some!"
He raised an eyebrow. "That's a one-way ticket to high blood pressure," he deadpanned.
You pouted, whining dramatically. "Come on, Jay!"
Yet not long after, you found yourselves seated at a small ramen shop. You happily slurped your noodles, your feet swinging slightly under the table. Jay glanced down at your feet before looking up at you, finding you smiling as you focused on your bowl.
"What?" you asked, catching his gaze.
"Nothing," he muttered, shaking his head as he went back to his own noodles.
Spending time with Jay made you lose your guard in the best way.
You weren't as self-conscious anymore, and little things just felt... natural. Like the time you were walking together, mid-laugh, and he suddenly pulled your arm to stop you.
"Look both ways," he mumbled, his hand lingering on your arm as you gripped it instinctively.
You giggled, wrapping your hand around his. "Okay, Dad."
He didn't respond, but his lips twitched ever so slightly.
Another habit of his? Waiting for you after practice, leaning against his motorcycle with his usual nonchalant expression. He'd nod for you to hop on, offering you his spare helmet.
It felt normal now—holding onto him as he drove, the wind whipping around you as the city lights blurred by.
Sometimes, Jay and you didn't even talk. Like when you'd share a cup of ice cream on a bench after practice, the two of you just staring at nothing. He'd sit beside you, watching as you bit down on your spoon absentmindedly.
"You look dumb," he'd say eventually, breaking the silence.
You'd laugh and stick your tongue out at him. "Thanks, Jay. Love the confidence boost."
Jay's attention to small things surprised you most when it came to your ketchup obsession.
It started when you were both sitting at your usual fast-food joint—a chain with a bright red logo and the smell of fries and fried chicken wafting through the air.
You'd always order the same thing: chicken nuggets and fries. But what made you stand out (to Jay, at least) was how you hoarded ketchup packets.
You never even used them at the restaurant. Instead, you'd stuff them into your bag, mumbling something about "saving them for later." Jay didn't ask at first, but the mystery was solved when he saw you in their practice one day, pulling out one of those packets.
You ripped it open quietly, then tipped the packet to your mouth and slurped the ketchup straight out of it.
A week later, during a break, Jay casually handed you a small stack of ketchup packets.
"Where did you get these?" you squealed, your eyes sparkling as you grabbed them from his hand.
"My bandmates ordered fries," he said with a shrug. "They don't like ketchup, so I took them."
You stared at him, your heart doing an annoying little flip. "Jay, you get me," you said dramatically, clutching the packets to your chest like they were a bouquet of roses.
"Don't make this weird," he muttered, already turning away.
You ripped one open immediately, slurping the sweet and tangy ketchup with a grin. "Thanks, Jay!"
He rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth twitched again—his almost-smile.
Then there was the time in the cafeteria when he handed you a tissue.
You stared at him, confused. "What's this for?"
"Your lip gloss," he said simply, his tone so casual it made your brain short-circuit.
You blinked, dumbfounded, as heat rose to your cheeks. How did he even notice that you always wiped off your lip gloss before eating?
You muttered a shy "thanks," taking the tissue as your heart thumped in your chest.
And then there were even smaller things.
Like how he bent down to tie your shoelaces without a word when they came undone during your walk.
Or how he fixed your hair once, brushing a stray strand behind your ear with a quick, almost annoyed motion.
Or how he straightened your uniform when it got wrinkled after a particularly rough practice, muttering something about how you looked like "a mess."
They weren't grand gestures. Jay wasn't the type for big declarations or sweeping acts of romance. But it was always the small things that left you breathless—the way he noticed you, the way he cared without saying much.
And maybe, just maybe, the cold, untouchable guitarist didn't hate you as much as he let on.
"That's Park Jongseong's girlfriend!"
"Park Jongseong's girl is so pretty!"
"I didn't know Park Jongseong's girlfriend is so good at dancing!"
But honestly? You weren't sure how to feel about it anymore.
People didn't want to know you. They wanted to know him. Even when someone started a conversation with you, it always led back to Jay.
"How did you two meet?"
"What does he do when he's bored?"
"Does he even smile around you?"
You started noticing how Jay wasn't immune, either. People would corner him in the halls, asking invasive questions about your "relationship," and he'd glare at them in that trademark way of his until they got the hint and left. He never complained, never said anything about it to you, but you could see it in the way his jaw clenched tighter these days.
You weren't cool. You weren't special.
You were just someone who had made a stupid, selfish decision to drag his name into your mess. And now? You weren't sure if you could keep it up any longer.
It was a quiet afternoon in the music room. Jay sat across from you, strumming his guitar in the golden light of sunset. Normally, this was when you'd ramble on about whatever random topic popped into your head, but today, the words felt too heavy to come out.
Instead, you pulled your knees to your chest, hugging them as you stared at the floor.
"I'm sorry if I always bother you," you said suddenly, your voice barely audible.
Jay's fingers stilled on the strings, his head tilting slightly as he glanced at you.
"I... I really don't have any friends," you admitted, resting your chin on your knees. "I think I'm too crazy for the good girls in my class, too dumb for the nerds, and way too soft for the mean girls."
He didn't say anything, but you felt his eyes on you.
"But, you know," you continued, your voice shaky, "you're the first person who's ever... tolerated me. And I really appreciate that."
You laughed weakly, even though it wasn't funny. "Thank you, Park Jongseong, for listening to me go on and on about dystopian movies. For putting up with me when I get loud and excited. For not judging my weird ketchup obsession."
Jay leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable, as you let out a long sigh.
"I thought dragging your name into the cheer squad thing would make me feel like I belonged somewhere," you said, your voice breaking. "But it hasn't. If anything, it's just made me feel worse. Like I'm not enough for them. Like I'll never be enough."
Your chest tightened as you fiddled with the hem of your shirt, unable to meet his gaze. "And... I feel like I've dumped all these responsibilities on you because of one stupid little lie I told. It's not fair to you."
Jay stayed silent, but you could feel his presence, heavy and quiet.
You swallowed hard, forcing the words out. "I think... I think it's time we break up."
Jay's hands froze on the guitar, his entire body going still. His gaze sharpened.
"Break up?" he repeated, his tone even but taut, like he was holding something back.
You nodded, your throat closing up. "Yeah. I've caused you enough trouble already. I think... I think it's better if we just end it. It'll be easier for you."
Jay's jaw tightened, his fingers gripping the edge of the guitar as he stared at you. "Is that what you want?" he asked, his tone calm but laced with something you couldn't place.
Your chest felt like it was caving in. You couldn't look at him, couldn't bring yourself to say what you really wanted to say. So instead, you nodded.
"Yes," you whispered, barely audible.
The silence that followed was unbearable. You expected him to agree, to maybe sigh in relief or tell you that you were right. But instead, he just stared at you, his gaze unreadable.
Finally, he exhaled through his nose, his voice low. "Alright."
Your heart sank at the word, even though it was what you'd asked for. You forced yourself to stand, forcing a shaky "thank you" past your lips as you made your way toward the door.
But just as you reached it, his voice stopped you in your tracks.
"But you should know," he said, "that if you think you're not enough, you're wrong."
You froze, your breath hitching. Slowly, you turned to face him.
He wasn't looking at you anymore. His gaze was fixed on his guitar, his fingers idly plucking at the strings, but there was a softness in his voice that you weren't used to.
"You don't have to try so hard to fit into their world," he said quietly. "You already stand out. You don't see it, but you do."
Your throat tightened as tears pricked at your eyes. "Jay..."
He looked up at you then, his dark eyes piercing but calm. "If you want to end it, I'll let you go," he said, his voice steady. "But don't do it because you think you're causing me trouble. That's just you overthinking, as usual."
The ache in your chest grew unbearable, and for a moment, you thought about staying.
But the weight of your emotions felt too heavy, and you bolted, muttering a weak "thanks" as you ran out of the room, tears already spilling down your cheeks.
You didn't look back, but as you closed the door behind you, you swore you heard the faint sound of his guitar strings—soft, steady, and full of something you didn't quite understand.
By the time you reached the bathroom, you were a mess.
You locked yourself in a stall and let it all out, tears streaming down your cheeks as you tried—and failed—to convince yourself this was what you wanted.
"It's not even real," you muttered, your voice cracking. "We're not a thing. We were never a thing. Why am I crying like an idiot?"
But no amount of reasoning stopped the ugly sobs from wracking your chest. You clutched some toilet paper, blowing your nose dramatically and telling yourself to get it together.
When you showed up to practice later, your eyes were swollen and red, your nose a little too pink to hide what had happened.
"Y/N, are you okay?" Karina asked, looking concerned.
You forced a shaky smile. "I'm fine! Totally fine! Oh, by the way..." You paused, sniffling slightly. "Jay and I broke up."
The words felt like ripping off a Band-Aid, but you didn't have time to process them before the room erupted.
"What?!" Giselle gasped, clutching her water bottle.
"No way!" Yunjin exclaimed, already pulling out her phone.
Within hours, the news spread across the school faster than you thought possible. Everywhere you went, you could hear whispers and murmurs about the "breakup."
And Park Jongseong?
He was still Park Jongseong.
You spotted him in the hallway, his face set in stone, his jaw tight, his eyes sharp as ever.
He walked like he was on his way to commit murder, every step filled with tension. People gave him a wide berth, whispering things like, "He's even scarier than usual," and, "God, she must've really broken his heart."
But when your eyes met his for a split second, he looked away, his expression you can't read.
Your chest ached painfully every time you passed him. And when you were finally alone at night, you curled up in bed and cried yourself to sleep, the pain in your chest refusing to fade.
By the time your classmates dragged you to karaoke, you were on emotional autopilot. You didn't want to be there, but they'd insisted.
"It'll help you get over him!" Sunoo had said, practically shoving you into the room.
It wasn't helping. At all.
Sunoo grabbed the mic, singing passionately as the lyrics flashed across the screen. "That's why I don't understand... why I'm feeling so bad now, when I know it was my idea."
You froze, staring at the lyrics like they'd personally attacked you. Your lips twitched, but you refused to let the tears fall.
Ni-ki leaned forward, grabbing the mic dramatically. "I could've just denied the truth and lied... why am I the only one, standing, stranded on the same ground?!"
You let out a choked laugh, trying to brush off your growing emotions, but then Sunoo turned to you with wide, knowing eyes. "Oh my God, what happened to you?!"
"Shut up," you muttered, pulling your cardigan over your face to hide the tears forming in your eyes.
The room erupted as Ni-ki wrestled the mic away from Sunoo. "My love, it's been a long time since I cried and left you out of the blue." Ni-ki sang into the microphone.
You couldn't help it—the tears started spilling as you wiped them furiously with your sleeve, hoping no one would notice.
"It's hard leaving you that way... when I never wanted to!"
Your classmates were belting out the lyrics, screaming into the mic with way too much passion. And somehow, the chaos made it worse.
"Self-denial is a game!" Ni-ki shouted, practically falling to his knees. "It's strange, I never would've wanted it until there was you!"
You sniffled, wiping your cheeks again, but the tears wouldn't stop.
"Y/N, are you crying?!" Sunoo gasped dramatically, leaning closer, his voice high-pitched enough to rival a whistle.
"No!" you wailed, burying your face deeper into your cardigan. "It's just—the lyrics are so stupid!"
Jungwon, ever the responsible one, grabbed the remote and immediately switched the song. "Okay, we need a vibe shift. No more heartbreak songs."
The opening beat of Apple Bottom Jeans blasted through the room, and everyone burst into cheers and laughter.
You couldn't help but laugh, sniffing back the last of your tears as Ni-ki grabbed the mic and jumped onto the couch.
You felt a little lighter. Sure, your heart was still aching, but at least now, you now had friends who made it a little easier to breathe.
The next day, you were required to attend the university baseball game. Every student was, but as part of the cheerleading pep squad, you had absolutely no excuse to skip.
The stadium was packed with thousands of students from your university and the rival school, the energy buzzing in the air. You tugged at the hem of your uniform skirt, your face burning with embarrassment. "Is it really this short?!" you whined, glaring at Giselle.
She shushed you with a wave of her pom-poms. "Relax. It's normal!"
"You don't have to be awkward about it," Karina added, flipping her hair. "Your legs look great!"
Your coach, however, was far less delicate. "We're making it look longer because your legs are short," she said bluntly, not even looking up from her clipboard.
You gasped, utterly dumbfounded. "I—should I be offended, or...?"
The coach just shrugged, moving on with her notes.
Before the game officially began, your squad performed a short routine to hype up the crowd. The music blared through the speakers as you stepped forward, executing a clean front handspring. The crowd roared with approval, but your face burned as your skirt rode up mid-flip.
When the routine ended, you cringed, tugging your skirt back down as you returned to your seat at the front. You waved your pom-poms enthusiastically, shouting the university yell every time your team scored, even if you were still mortified from earlier.
When the game finally ended and the crowd began to thin out, you found yourself standing near the bleachers, clutching your pom-poms and phone. The cheer squad was preparing to take pictures, but you hung back for a moment, trying to catch your breath.
That's when someone approached you.
"Hi," a voice said, warm and slightly out of breath.
You turned to see a guy standing in front of you, wearing his baseball uniform. His dark hair was damp with sweat, his cheeks flushed from the game, and his smile was boyish and shy.
"I'm Heeseung," he introduced himself, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I just wanted to say your routine was really cool. And, uh... I was wondering if I could get your number?"
You blinked, your brain stalling. Wait, what?
You opened your mouth to respond, but before you could say anything, a loud voice called out from across the field.
"Y/N! Hurry up!" Sunoo waved his arms dramatically, yelling over the crowd. "We're taking pictures!"
Your face turned even redder as you looked between Heeseung and Sunoo. Panicking, you muttered a quick, "Sorry, I've gotta go!" before rushing off toward your squad, clutching your pom-poms.
By the time you reached your squad, you were out of breath and flustered, feeling like the world's biggest idiot.
You grabbed your bag, rummaging through it in search of a shirt to change into. The crowd had mostly cleared out, and the stadium lights were dimming, but you were too busy muttering to yourself to notice.
Of course, you didn't have a spare shirt. Why would you?
You sighed heavily, dropping your pom-poms into the bag and staring at the empty space inside. Without thinking, you mumbled, "I miss Jay."
The words hung in the air, surprising even you. You froze for a second, realizing what you'd just said out loud.
It had been months since you'd ended things—or whatever it was you'd had—with Jay. And somehow, instead of feeling lighter, you felt worse.
The more you saw him in passing, the more you missed him. The more you craved him. The ache in your chest refused to fade, no matter how much time passed.
Sometimes, you still cried yourself to sleep, clutching your pillow as memories of him flooded your mind.
You hated how much you missed him.
And then there were moments when your body moved on its own, as if drawn to him.
You'd find yourself standing outside the music room, staring at the door like you were waiting for something—or someone—to pull you inside.
But you never went in. You just stood there, your heart heavy, before walking away again.
Or you'd sit at your favorite bench, the one where you used to share ice cream with him after practice. You'd sit there alone, biting the spoon absentmindedly and staring at nothing, replaying old conversations in your head.
It was during one of those quiet moments, as you sat with a half-melted scoop of vanilla in your hand, that the truth finally hit you.
You liked Jay.
No, you more than liked him. You missed him so much it hurt. And the worst part? You had no idea if he missed you, too.
You bit down harder on your spoon, frustration bubbling in your chest.
Why had you been so stupid? Why had you pushed him away when, deep down, he'd been the only one who ever made you feel seen?
Maybe you were too late. Maybe you'd ruined whatever connection you had with him.
But one thought kept circling in your mind, no matter how much you tried to shake it off.
What if you weren't too late?
"Do you party?" Sunoo asked casually, flopping onto your bed like it was his own.
You raised an eyebrow, not bothering to hide your skepticism. "Not really. I mean, I've been to a few, but it's not my thing. Why?"
"Let's go to a party this weekend! You know Sunghoon, right? The baseball player? He's hosting!"
You laughed, waving him off. "I'll think about it, but probably not."
Sunoo narrowed his eyes suspiciously, but you brushed him off, fully intending to stay home.
But when the weekend came, your plans to stay curled up in bed went out the window.
Sunoo, Jungwon, and Ni-ki just barged into your house.
"Why aren't you dressed?!" Sunoo exclaimed, throwing open your closet as Jungwon inspected your makeup drawer.
"What are you doing?!" you shrieked, clutching a pillow like it was a weapon.
"You are going to this party," Ni-ki said, arms crossed like he was your older brother instead of one year younger. "Get ready. Now."
With no way out, you reluctantly threw on a simple crop top and shorts, tying your hair into a ponytail and doing clean, light makeup.
When you arrived at the party, the atmosphere immediately overwhelmed you. The music was loud enough to shake the walls, the smell of sweat, alcohol, and something smoky lingering in the air.
You stuck close to Sunoo as he handed you a red cup with some drink you didn't recognize.
"Just take a sip!" he shouted over the music.
"Excuse me for a second," you said, escaping to the balcony.
The moment you stepped outside, you exhaled deeply, the fresh air calming your nerves. The cool night breeze felt like a blessing after the suffocating heat inside.
But then, you stiffened.
Sitting in one of the chairs was someone you hadn't expected to see—someone you hadn't seen up close in months.
Jay.
He sat with one foot tapping rhythmically against the ground, a vape in his hand. The dim light from the balcony highlighted his sharp jawline, his pointed nose, and the effortless way his hair slicked back. He wore a simple white shirt under a blue Nike jacket, but somehow, he looked stunning.
Your chest tightened painfully as his head turned, his dark eyes meeting yours.
"Oh," you said awkwardly, frozen in place.
He stared at you for a moment, then leaned back in his chair, taking a long drag from his vape.
Without knowing why, you found yourself walking over to him and sitting quietly beside him, your gaze fixed on the stars above.
"I didn't know you actually smoked," you said softly, breaking the silence.
He hummed, his head tilting slightly as he exhaled the smoke in the opposite direction, making a point to avoid letting any of it near you.
"I don't. Not usually. I don't smoke at school."
He shifted in his seat, sliding the vape into his pocket and straightening his posture.
"Why'd you stop just now?" you asked, glancing at him.
He didn't hesitate. "Your nose is sensitive to strong smells."
Your breath caught, his simple answer hitting you harder than you expected. That was Jay—always quiet, always watching, always knowing without making a big deal of it.
The ache in your chest grew unbearable.
"I'm sorry," the words came out from your mouth.
Jay's gaze snapped to yours, his expression neutral.
"For what?" he asked evenly.
"For just leaving," you said, your voice shaky. "For everything you've done for me, and then me just... walking away. I didn't know what I was feeling back then. I was hurt and scared because... you're you, and I'm just me. I'm not good enough for you—"
Jay didn't respond immediately. His gaze softened, though his expression remained guarded. "And what are you feeling now?"
You hesitated, your heart pounding in your chest.
"I... I miss you, Jay," you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. "I miss everything about you. The small things, the way you cared, even if you acted like you didn't. I'm sorry for leaving you. I'm sorry for being stupid."
Jay looked at you for a long moment, his dark eyes searching yours.
"You're really stupid, aren't you?" he said, his voice calm but laced with a faint humor that made your heart ache.
You managed a weak laugh, wiping at the corner of your eye. "Yeah, I am."
Jay exhaled slowly, his lips curving into the faintest hint of a smile.
"I thought you'd like me and never break it off because that's what happens in those books you always talk about, right?" he said, his voice softening. "But somehow, I fell harder than I ever expected."
Your breath hitched as he let out a quiet laugh—so rare, so warm, it made your chest ache. He finally looked at you, his eyes glinting with something vulnerable.
"I've always waited for you," he admitted, his voice low. "Waited for you to stop standing outside the music room and just walk in. But you never did."
Your eyes widened, surprise flickering across your face.
"I saw you," he continued. "Every time you sat on that bench, on our place... I saw you at a distance, sitting there, staring at nothing. And I waited. I always waited for your eyes to look at me the way I was looking at you."
Tears began to swell in your eyes as you took in his words.
Jay leaned closer, his movements gentle.
"I'm sorry," he said softly. "For being such a coward. For not walking up to you when I wanted to. I told myself I'd wait, but waiting just hurt more because all I could do was think about you. About us."
He reached out hesitantly, brushing his fingers against your cheek, his hand warm and grounding. "I'm hurting. I've been hurting since you left. Do you feel the same way?"
The tears spilled over, warm and slow, streaking down your cheeks. You placed your hand over his, leaning into his touch as you nodded. "I do, Jay. I've been hurting, too."
He watched you closely, his eyes softening as you smiled at him through your tears.
"You're crying," he murmured, brushing a stray tear away with his thumb.
"Yeah, well, that's your fault," you whispered, laughing through the tears.
Jay shook his head, his lips tugging into the faintest smile. "You're impossible," he muttered, his voice affectionate.
"And you're annoying," you shot back, your voice trembling with emotion.
But neither of you moved away.
The balcony felt smaller, quieter, as Jay's hand lingered on your cheek. His gaze flickered to your lips for a brief second, and your heart jumped, but he didn't move, waiting instead for you to close the gap.
So you did.
You leaned forward, pressing your lips softly to his, your heart pounding so loud you were sure he could hear it. His lips were warm and hesitant at first, but then he shifted, tilting his head slightly as he kissed you back.
His hand slid into your hair, his fingers brushing lightly against your scalp as he pulled you closer. The kiss deepened, your lips moving in perfect sync.
When you pulled back just slightly to catch your breath, his forehead rested against yours, and his lips hovered mere inches away.
His voice was low, and soft as he whispered against your lips, "Don't ever think of yourself like that. You're more than enough."
His words struck you deep, and your eyes fluttered open to meet his. "But... you're you, and I'm just me," you murmured, your voice barely audible.
Jay didn't let you finish. His lips captured yours again, silencing your insecurities. When he pulled back, he looked at you with a gaze so intense it made your breath hitch.
"I like you for being you," he said simply.
You swallowed hard, your chest tightening with emotion. "But you're like a big star," you said, holding up your fingers to make the shape of a small star, "and I'm just... a little star."
Jay's lips curved into the softest smile before he leaned forward again, kissing you gently.
His voice was tender when he murmured against your lips, "A little star that shines brightest in my eyes."
Your cheeks burned, and you couldn't help but let out a flustered laugh, lightly hitting his chest. "How come you always know how to get my heart?!"
Jay chuckled, kissing your forehead as he hugs you.
Jay just wanted to play guitar. That was all. He didn't ask for the reputation, the attention, or the corny nickname the school had slapped on him—the "cold, untouchable hot guitarist." God, how he hated that.
Every day felt the same: girls cornering him in the halls, asking for his number or accidentally brushing their hands against his arms or guitar case. His eyes would glare like knives as he gritted out, "Don't touch me."
He hated it—the fake admiration, the empty attention. Everyone seemed to care about him for all the wrong reasons. And when they annoyed him too much?
"Fuck off," he'd mutter, his tone so cold it practically froze people in their tracks.
But you? You were different.
Jay remembered the school festival three years ago. He'd been sitting in Jake's booth, tuning his guitar lazily while Jake served spicy noodles to an occasional brave (or dumb) soul willing to risk their stomach for the thrill.
It was supposed to be a chill afternoon, but then you showed up.
You were the only person who kept coming back to Jake's booth. Every hour.
"I swear, you're going to burn a hole in your stomach," Jake had told you, half-laughing as he handed you yet another bowl of his stupidly spicy noodles.
"Totally worth it," you'd chirped, your voice high-pitched and cheerful. "Do you have a permanent shop? I'd eat there every day!"
Jay had glanced up from his guitar, staring at you through the slits of the tent. You were completely oblivious to his presence, happily slurping noodles as Jake made small talk with you.
Later, Jake stormed into the tent, tossing his apron onto the chair. "We're sold out," he'd announced. "And it's her fault."
Jay had raised an eyebrow. "Her?"
Jake pointed outside. "The spicy noodle girl. She's been coming back all day. We sold out because of her."
Jay hadn't said anything, but his lips had twitched, the smallest hint of a smile forming before he went back to tuning his guitar.
Jay hated everyone. He hated how they tugged at him, how they fawned over him for no reason. But somehow, he couldn't bring himself to hate you.
He remembered the little things—moments that no one else seemed to notice.
Like the time you walked down the hallway with that cute little bag, the kind of bag that didn't really suit a high schooler but looked perfect on you.
It had a figurine hanging from it, neatly wrapped in a plastic pouch, and you carried it like it was your most prized possession.
Then, just days later, he'd found you outside the lost and found office, whining and crying. You'd lost the figurine, and you'd spent an entire lunch period pacing back and forth in front of the office, waiting for someone to turn it in.
Or the time he saw you clapping and cheering during a cheerleading pep squad performance, smiling so brightly that it felt contagious. You weren't even part of the squad back then, just a spectator, but you looked so genuinely happy that even he couldn't look away.
Then there was your PathFit (PE) class. Jay hadn't meant to stop by, but he'd found himself standing near the open door, his guitar case slung over his shoulder, as his eyes drifted toward you. You were on the floor, legs stretched into a perfect split, your forehead pressed to the ground as you stretched.
Jay once again noticed you searching frantically for a notebook you'd dropped in the hallway. You were crouched on the floor, mumbling to yourself, "This is why I can't have nice things."
He'd spotted the notebook a few feet away, picked it up, and placed it on the bench beside him.
When you found it moments later, you gasped, "Oh my God, it's a miracle!"
You always said you were just a simple girl. That no one really noticed you or cared about someone like you.
But in Jay's eyes, you were the opposite of invisible.
And every time he thought about you, he realized the same thing.
You stood out more than anyone else ever could.
When you'd spilled water all over his face.
His first reaction wasn't anger or annoyance, but something that surprised even him—he noticed how beautiful you looked up close.
Your wide eyes stared at him in shock, your pouty lips forming a small gasp as you muttered incoherent apologies. The faint, sweet floral scent of your perfume hit him, and for a second, he forgot the cold water dripping down his face.
Jay closed his eyes, his jaw clenching as he tried to take in more of that intoxicating scent, grounding himself. But before he could say anything, you bolted, muttering a quick "Sorry!" as you sprinted down the hallway.
He almost laughed when you tripped on your knees, scrambling awkwardly to escape. He stood there for a moment, wiping the water off his face with his sleeve.
The second interaction was you crashing out his guitar. He almost didn't notice his guitar on the floor because his eyes were locked on you.
Slowly, you raised two fingers in a peace sign, your expression a mix of guilt and panic.
"Uh... sorry?" you muttered before immediately backing out of the room.
Jay stood there, staring at the empty doorway, blinking in disbelief. He opened his mouth to say something, maybe even laugh, but the sound never left his throat. You were gone before he could even start a conversation.
And then there was the volleyball incident.
Jay didn't even see the ball coming. One second he was walking into the gym with his friends, and the next, a sharp pain hit him square on the nose.
"Shit," he hissed, dropping to the ground and clutching his face.
When he opened his eyes, you were hovering over him, your face inches from his. Your hair framed your face like a curtain, and there it was again—that scent. Sweet, light, floral.
He blinked up at you, stunned into silence. For a split second, he forgot about the pain, about the blood dripping from his nose. He was too focused on you—your soft features, your panicked expression, the way your lips trembled as you tried to form words.
Before he could open his mouth to tell you he was fine, the blood started pouring out of his nose.
"Crap!" you yelped, standing up quickly, flailing in panic. "I—I'll get help! I'm so sorry!"
And then you ran. Again.
Jay lay there, groaning as Jake handed him a tissue, snickering the entire time.
"Shut up," Jay muttered, even though Jake don't even say anything.
The breaking point came when Jay heard about the rumor that he was in a relationship.
He was furious. Annoyed didn't even begin to describe it. He hated how his name was constantly dragged into things, but this? A fake relationship? With some girl he didn't even know?
Storming through the hallways, he cornered one of the guys he'd overheard spreading the rumor. Grabbing the boy by the collar, he slammed him against the lockers.
"Tell me who started it," Jay demanded, his voice low and sharp. His jaw was clenched, his dark eyes boring into the boy's.
"I-I don't know! I swear!" the boy stammered, flinching under Jay's glare. "They said it was some girl—Y/N! Y/N told the cheerleaders about it!"
At the mention of your name, Jay froze. His grip loosened slightly.
For a moment, he couldn't believe it. Of all people, it was you.
Releasing the boy with a shove, Jay stepped back, his emotions in a whirlwind. He should've been angrier—should've been ready to confront you and demand answers. But instead, he found himself... curious.
He should've been irritated. He should've hated you for dragging his name into a mess.
But somehow, he didn't.
Instead, he felt something he couldn't quite place. And he wasn't sure what annoyed him more—the rumor itself or the fact that the thought of being tied to you didn't bother him as much as it should have.
“Oh my God, are you seeing what I’m seeing?”
“Did they just come back together?!”
Whispers followed the two of you as you walked hand in hand down the hallway.
Jay’s tall frame dressed in his usual all-black outfit. His guitar case was slung over his back, the strap resting effortlessly against his shoulder, and his hand held yours with an ease that made your heart race.
Every head turned to look at you. It wasn’t just the sight of Jay—cold, untouchable, and intimidating—but the sight of him with you, a cheerful and bubbly cheerleader.
You leaned closer to him, lowering your voice as you whispered, “Do you think a guitarist and a cheerleader is a weird combination?”
Jay glanced down at you, one eyebrow raised, his expression softening. “No,” he said without hesitation, his voice steady. “You and me? We’re a perfect combination.”
You let out a laugh, lightly bumping your shoulder against his arm. “God, you’re so cheesy.”
He smirked faintly but didn’t respond, the corners of his lips tugging upward in amusement.
Park Jongseong as a fake boyfriend was good.
But Park Jongseong as a real boyfriend? He was so much better.
You used to think of him as just the guy with the sharp jawline, the deadpan expression, and those sharp, eagle-like eyes that seemed to shoot lasers at anyone who got too close. He was the “fuck off” and “shut up” guy, the untouchable guitarist who kept everyone at arm’s length.
But now, as you walked hand in hand with him, you realized how wrong you’d been.
Jay wasn’t just sweet—he was unbelievably sweet.
You remembered all the little lies you’d told about him when you were trying to fit in with the cheer squad.
“He’s so sweet,” you’d said back then, fabricating stories about how he’d treat you like a princess.
But now? Those stories felt laughable because the reality of being with Jay was so much better.
When you were tired, he’d carry your bag without a word.
“Let me take it,” he’d say simply, slipping the strap off your shoulder.
He opened doors for you—every single time. If you walked through a doorway together, you didn’t even have to reach for the handle because Jay would already be holding it open, waiting patiently for you to step through.
Once, when you were getting into a car, you’d bumped your head against the roof. From that moment on, Jay always, always put a hand over your head to make sure it didn’t happen again.
“Careful,” he’d murmur, voice low but gentle.
You’d joked about him cooking for you once, completely unaware of how true it would become.
One evening, after a particularly long practice, Jay had brought you to his house. “You’re tired,” he’d said. “Let me make you something.”
You hadn’t expected much—maybe instant ramen or a sandwich at most. But then you’d watched, wide-eyed, as he moved around the kitchen with surprising ease, chopping vegetables, seasoning meat, and sautéing everything.
“Do you cook often?” you’d asked, leaning against the counter as the delicious aroma filled the room.
“Sometimes,” he replied, glancing at you briefly. “Jake says my food is too good for him, though.”
You laughed, resting your chin on your hand as you watched him. Jay, the sharp-tongued guitarist, was making you a home-cooked meal. And it wasn’t just good—it was amazing.
Then there were the kisses.
You’d made up a story once, saying, “He kisses me goodbye every morning.” You thought it was the perfect romantic lie to impress the cheerleaders.
But now? Jay had made it a reality.
Every morning before he left for his own class, he’d touch your cheek lightly, his fingers brushing against your skin.
Then, he’d lean in, his lips meeting yours in the gentlest, softest kiss.
“See you later,” he’d say, before turning and walking away.
Each time, your heart would flutter uncontrollably, your fingers brushing against your lips as you watched him go.
"Aftercare after sex"
Except now, the real thing had turned out to be even better.
“Jay!” you whined, your hand gripping his hair as your hips moved uncontrollably against his mouth.
His tongue worked magic against your clit, circling and sucking gently while his long fingers moved inside you. His fingers curled just right, hitting your sweet spot effortlessly, and you gasped, your jaw going slack from the overwhelming sensation.
Your stomach tightened as the heat pooled low in your belly, and you felt yourself getting closer with each passing second.
Jay let out a low hum, the vibrations sending shockwaves through your body. His free hand moved up to intertwine with yours, grounding you even as you felt like you might fall apart.
“Feel so good,” you sobbed, your eyebrows furrowing together in pleasure. “Don’t want to stop.”
Jay pulled back just slightly, his lips glistening as he murmured, “Are you close, baby?”
You nodded frantically, your breathing erratic.
He leaned up, capturing your lips in a deep kiss. You tasted yourself on him, your tongue meeting his as the kiss grew messy and desperate. His fingers didn’t slow for a second, pumping relentlessly inside you as you gasped against his mouth.
When you broke the kiss, your eyes were teary, your chest heaving. Jay looked at you like you were the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen, his own breathing labored as he took in your flushed cheeks and swollen lips.
“Fuck,” he muttered, biting his lip as he moved back down between your legs. Without hesitation, he latched onto your clit again, sucking hard.
Your body jolted, your hands clutching at the sheets as you screamed his name. “Gonna cum, gonna cum, gonna cum—”
Jay hummed in approval, his tongue working in perfect sync with his fingers, coaxing you to the edge. His free hand squeezed yours gently, the small gesture making your heart flutter even as your hips bucked uncontrollably against his face.
“I love you,” you gasped, your voice breaking. “I love you, I love you—”
Your back arched as the tension inside you snapped, and your vision blurred with stars. You cried out, your body shaking as you came, the overwhelming pleasure leaving you breathless.
Jay stayed with you through it all, his tongue and fingers slowing to help you ride out the waves. When you finally slumped back against the bed, exhausted and trembling, he moved up beside you, brushing the hair from your face.
He kissed you softly, murmuring sweet nothings against your lips as he fixed your shirt and wiped you down with gentle care.
“You’re okay,” he whispered, soothing. “You did so good.”
Jay was definitely good at aftercare.
“Is it true that Park Jongseong is… like, huge in bed?”
You flushed instantly, your thoughts flashing to the one time you’d seen him fully exposed, when he’d let you take him in your hand.
Yeah, he was definitely huge.
"Did he really let you touch his guitar?"
You stared down at the sleek Stratocaster electric guitar now resting gently in your lap. Jay handed you a white marker, his eyes soft as he watched your expression shift from confusion to awe.
Your fingers lightly brushed over the strings and the smooth, glossy surface of the guitar’s body. “What’s this for?” you asked, holding up the white marker he had placed in your hand.
“I need you to sign your name on my guitar,” he said casually.
Your eyes widened as you looked between the guitar and Jay, who was now sitting beside you. “W-wait,” you stammered, your voice rising slightly. “Are you sure? I don’t want to ruin it—”
“Baby,” he interrupted, “you’re not ruining it.” He leaned closer, gently pointing at a spot near the edge of the guitar’s body. “Right there. That’s where I want it. Sign it for me, hmm?”
You swallowed hard, this wasn’t just any guitar—it was his guitar. The one he cherished.
“Okay,” you whispered, nodding as you carefully uncapped the marker.
You hovered the pen above the guitar for a moment, practicing your signature in the air as your nerves fluttered.
Jay chuckled softly beside you, his voice warm. “You’re acting like you’re signing a million-dollar contract.”
“This is more serious than that,” you shot back, your lips curving into a nervous smile.
Finally, with a deep breath, you pressed the tip of the marker to the glossy surface, your hand moving carefully as you signed your name. The white ink glided smoothly across the black body, and when you pulled the marker away, you stared at the result with wide eyes.
“Perfect,” Jay murmured.
You turned to look at him, your heart skipping a beat at the way his gaze lingered on the guitar. His usual sharp, stoic expression was replaced with something softer, his eyes shining as he traced your signature with his finger.
He looked up at you, his lips curving into a rare, genuine smile. “Thank you,” he said, his voice full of warmth. Then, leaning in, he pressed a soft kiss to your forehead, his hand resting lightly on your shoulder.
Your cheeks burned as you gripped the marker tightly, unsure of what to say.
Jay pulled back slightly, his smile still in place. “Now it’s perfect,” he said simply, taking the guitar from your lap and standing up.
You watched as he adjusted the strap and slung it over his shoulder. His fingers moved instinctively to the strings, testing a few chords, and you couldn’t help but notice the way his eyes kept flickering to your signature.
“Looks good, doesn’t it?” he asked, his voice casual, but you could hear the pride beneath it.
“It does,” you said softly, your chest feeling warm and full.
It was the school festival again, and you couldn’t contain your excitement. Still wearing your cheerleading uniform from your earlier routine, you tugged at your cousin’s arm, practically dragging her through the bustling crowd. The stadium was alive with energy—students cheering, music blasting from nearby booths, and the smell of snacks wafting through the air.
“Come on, we’re going to miss it!” you squealed, your ponytail bouncing as you hurried forward, your pom-poms tucked under your arm.
Your cousin groaned dramatically, trailing behind you. “You’ve been talking about this all day. Who are we even going to see?”
“My boyfriend!” you said, grinning from ear to ear. “My boyfriend's in a band!”
“Boyfriend?” she repeated, narrowing her eyes. “Since when do you have a boyfriend?”
You turned to her with a mock gasp, clutching your chest like she’d insulted you. “Excuse you. I’ve had one for months now.”
Your cousin raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Alright, then. Let’s see this mysterious boyfriend of yours.”
The two of you found seats near the front, and you craned your neck, scanning the stage as the band members set up. The noise of the crowd grew louder, students and visitors alike cheering as the festival program officially began.
And then he appeared.
Jay stepped onto the stage, standing out against the bright festival decorations. The strap of his guitar rested comfortably on his shoulder, the instrument gleaming under the stage lights—and there it was, your signature on its glossy surface.
Your heart thudded wildly in your chest, a giddy smile tugging at your lips as you clapped your hands together in excitement.
“Okay, but which one is your boyfriend?” your cousin asked, squinting at the stage as if trying to piece it together.
You didn’t even hesitate. Pointing toward Jay, you said proudly, “The guitarist. His name is Park Jongseong. That’s my boyfriend.”
Your attention was locked on Jay as he adjusted his guitar strap and tested a few chords. His sharp, eagle-like eyes scanned the crowd, his usual stoic expression giving him an air of effortless cool. But then, something changed.
His gaze stopped on you.
Jay’s piercing eyes softened, his lips curving into the faintest smile, the kind of smile he rarely let anyone see. It was small, barely noticeable to most, but you knew it was for you.
Your hand flew to your mouth, trying to hide the giddy grin that threatened to take over your face. Your cheeks burned, and your heart raced as he looked at you.
After a brief moment, Jay’s gaze dropped to his guitar. He adjusted the tuning, his fingers moving skillfully over the strings, but you could tell his mind wasn’t entirely on the music. He stole one last glance at you before focusing on his task, a quiet confidence radiating from him as he prepared to play.
Your cousin, still in shock, nudged you. “Okay, he’s hot. How did you—like, how did you—end up with him?”
You laughed, brushing her off as you continued to watch Jay. “It’s a long story,” you said, your voice dreamy.
As the band began their set, the crowd’s cheers grew louder, and Jay’s fingers danced effortlessly over the strings. The sound was mesmerizing, and your chest swelled with pride as you watched him command the stage.
And as you sat there, smiling like an idiot, you realized once again how lucky you were to call him yours.
synopsis: jungwon loves you so much it physically hurts. that’s why he knows it has to be over.
wc: 3k
warnings: yang jungwon x fem!reader, ANGST, break up sex, multiple orgasms, fingering, p in v sex, this is my attempt at angst hello, pet names (baby, honey), sad sex oops, crying during sex, lots of kissing, unprotected sex (don’t do it), creampie
roses thoughts: i wanted to do something with this song as soon as i heard it, so here is the result of that. i also wanted to step out of my comfort zone and try angst, so here we are haha. reblogs and asks are always appreciated <3
playlist: less - olivia rodrigo
Yang Jungwon is certain of two things.
The first being that he wants to perform. He wants to tour the world and bring a sliver of joy into people's lives. If he can be the difference in a person's life, even if he doesn’t really know them and they don’t know him, why wouldn’t he want that?
The second, though he knows it’s selfish, is you. The girl he met when he was fifteen in that ratty old music store, your hair thrown up and that mysterious stain on your pants.
You’d been embarrassed, of course, but Jungwon didn’t care. You could’ve been wearing a trash bag and he still would’ve known right there and then that he needed to know you. Needed to have you in his life in any capacity.
Because you were everything. You are everything.
The only person who makes him feel like a person after long days and even longer practices. The only person who really listens to his dreams and never questions whether or not he can achieve them.
To Jungwon, there is no one in this world that he thinks he could ever love more. No person that could make him question what he feels for you. The thought of hurting you–of being the reason you go to bed with swollen eyes and tear-stained cheeks–makes him want to throw up.
That’s why he knows it has to be over.
You’d both thought you could do it. Plenty of relationships go through long distance and still come out stronger. And for a while, he really believed it was possible. That the distance wouldn’t hurt what you had. He’d thought there was no obstacle too big, as long as it meant he got to keep you when he came out over the other side.
For the most part, you kept a brave face for him. Never complained when he called you late into the night, even though it was morning for him. Never said a word about the time differences or the way you’d sometimes go weeks at a time without a single text back from him.
And he hadn’t meant for it to happen, he really hadn’t. He wanted to be there for you more than anything. But there were some nights after long concerts when the thought of waking you up just so he could talk to you made his stomach twist into knots. You didn’t deserve that. You deserved someone who could be there for you no matter what–who wasn’t constantly across the world bringing joy to everyone except for the one person who mattered the most.
He knew what he needed to do as soon as he stepped on that plane for the first time. Watching the way the light slowly dimmed from your eyes every time a new tour was announced–every time a phone call interrupted the limited time you had together.
But you never said anything.
And Jungwon knew it was selfish, to keep you just a little bit longer. To insist to his members that he’d do it when they came home, that he’d let you go for real this time. He tried to convince himself he could.
But he’s always been a weak man.
It wasn’t until he saw the first crack in you, the first indication that his schedule was hurting you–that the distance was too much–did he finally build up the courage.
There was no blowout fight. There was no indication from him that he’d wanted it to end.
It was a Thursday. The first one you’d finally been able to spend with him in months. The first day you’d finally had uninterrupted in who knows how long.
And you were happy. You were so, so happy. Jungwon could see it in the way you smiled at him. In the way your hands moved so animatedly when you talked to him or asked him questions about the tour. He could see it in the little things, like the way there seemed to be a little bounce in your step and how your hand constantly searched for his.
And he almost cowered out. How could he ruin that? He loves you, he knows he does, and is it so wrong to want to keep that? To keep the only thing he has that’s really, truly his?
And then he thinks back to the way you always looked a little sad every time he’d call you. The way the light seemed to slowly seep from your features, like he was a parasite selfishly feeding off of you because he thought he deserved it.
And he doesn’t deserve you, not really.
He thinks that’s why you knew as soon as he said it.
His hands are shaking–he can feel it without even having to see them. His chest feels so hollow he has half the mind to think there’s nothing truly in there. That his heart couldn’t take the pain and shriveled up and died somewhere. He wouldn’t blame it if it had.
You’re washing dishes, lips curved up into a small smile. You look so beautiful, so domestic. And if he was anyone else, if he had a different, more practical job, he wouldn’t even be thinking about this. Those four words wouldn’t be sitting on the tip of his tongue, begging him to swallow them down and forget he ever even thought of them.
But he loves you. He loves you so much it hurts.
He doesn’t let himself think about it anymore. He knows he’ll chicken out.
He stands, and his feet somehow feel heavy, like they’re trying to force him to stay sitting.
Your eyes flicker to him, and he thinks you know. He sees the way your smile falters the tiniest bit, the way your eyebrows scrunch together.
His voice doesn’t sound like his own when he says, “we need to talk.”
You pause, your movements halting. Water runs over the plate in your hand, washing away the leftover sauce from the pasta dinner you’d made. His favorite.
You swallow, and then, without even blinking, you say, “no.”
God, he wishes you wouldn’t make this harder. Because he knows if he listens to your arguments, if you tell him that you can make it work, he’ll listen. He’ll forget why he ever wanted to do this in the first place.
“[Y/N]–”
The plate clatters into the sink, the sound nearly making him flinch. “Jungwon, I said no. You’re not–no. I won’t let you.”
He takes another step closer, and the blood rushing in his ears nearly makes him dizzy. “We have to,” he insists, “It’s–I’m hurting you. Can’t you see that?”
You shake your head, and at some point, he doesn't even think you realize you’re doing it. Just repeating the motion over and over like you can’t wrap your head around what he’s doing. In all honesty, neither can he.
“Did I say that?” You ask. “Did I tell you that I was hurting?”
His hands ball into fists at his sides. You don’t have to tell him; he can see it. He can see the tears you try to hide. The disappointment that lingers in your voice every time he has to leave. “I know you, [Y/N]. More than I know myself. You don’t have to tell me for me to know it’s happening.”
You don’t seem to have a reply for that. Instead, your hands grip the counter like it’s grounding you. Like you’re trying to convince yourself that this is real–though he imagines you’re hoping it isn’t.
“Jungwon,” you plead. “Please. Please don’t.”
The sound of your voice is enough to bring tears to his eyes. His vision is blurry, but he still reaches for you blindly just like he always does when you’re hurting. You don’t protest when he wraps his arms around you from behind, his nose digging into the flesh at the base of your neck.
“I love you,” he mumbles against your skin, “I love you so fucking much.”
A sob wracks through your body. You turn around in his hold, your eyes finding his, and he almost wishes he could take it all back. “Then why?” You croak, bringing your own hands up to cup his jaw. “Why are you throwing it all away?”
Because I’m hurting you. Because I love you so much it hurts. Because I can never be who you deserve.
“You deserve more–”
You immediately cut him off. “No. No, I just want you. It’s only ever been you.”
He licks his lips, and he doesn’t miss the way your eyes dart to them. God, the thought of never kissing you again, of never tasting how sweet you taste–of someone else having doing it–it’s a thought so unbearable he immediately pushes it out of his mind.
He parts his lips to reply, but you immediately surge up and kiss him. It’s a heavy press of your lips; one filled with so much need it nearly knocks him off his feet. If he focuses, he could lose himself in this feeling. In the feeling of you, consuming his very soul. He thinks it’s his favorite feeling in the entire world.
Better than any concert. Better than any choreography. Better than all of it combined.
His hand finds your cheek, cupping it and pulling you impossibly closer. He can taste the salt on your lips from a mix of your tears; can taste everything you’re trying so hard to remind him of. But he doesn’t need a reminder of how much you love each other–he already knows it.
You whimper against his lips when his tongue slips into your mouth, licking you open like it’s the last time. Probably because he knows that it is.
He brings his hands down your body, tracing every curve. He doesn’t need to memorize how your body feels against his fingertips, he did that a long time ago.
His hands dig gently into the plush skin of your ass, and then he’s picking you up and walking you to your bedroom. You never break apart the whole time, kissing each other like you’re starving for it. Like the only way you’ll ever be satisfied is when you’ve consumed each other whole.
He thinks he’d be okay with that. Spending an eternity with you, being so close he can’t tell where you end and where he starts. He thinks, if he were anyone else, if this were any other lifetime, that that’s how his life would've ended up. And he would’ve been perfectly content with that.
He places you onto the mattress softly, treating you with care. He’s always gentle when you’re intimate but tonight is different. Tonight, he wants to tell you everything he isn’t able to say through his touch. Tonight, he wants to love you properly, even if it’s the last time.
You gasp when he pulls away from your lips, head reaching up to chase him again. He wonders if it’s because you want more or if you’re scared of what happens when it’s over.
His lips find the skin of your neck, sucking and biting and then licking the wounds. He marks himself into your skin, branding you with his mouth. It’s selfish, he thinks, to plant reminders of himself into you.
But he needs it. Needs to know that at one point and time, he loved you and you loved him. He needs to see it completely, with his own two eyes. Otherwise, he isn’t sure he’ll ever leave.
Your hands fly to his back, his hair, the nape of his neck. Anywhere you can reach, fingertips trailing over his body, like you’re also branding him in your own way. Like you’re reminding him how your fingertips feel against his burning skin. Making sure he knows there’s no one that can make him feel the way you do.
He knows that. He’s known that ever since he met you in that fucking music store.
Clothes come off in a blur, and then his hand is cupping your cunt, and his fingers are spreading you open. You suck him in, welcoming him like he’s an old friend.
Your lips part in a moan when he crooks his wrist just right, and he can’t help but smile at the noise.
“Right there?” He questions, as if he hadn’t memorized it years ago. “It’s good?”
You nod, lashes fluttering as your vision goes hazy. “Yes, fuckfuckfuck–Won!”
He lets himself bask in the way his name sounds falling from your lips like a prayer. Let’s himself pretend this is a different day, that he lives a different life. That instead of losing each other, you’re celebrating something.
An engagement, maybe? A family?
All things he wants with you. Not wanted–wants. Because there’s no one else he can imagine bearing his children, no child he can imagine in his mind that doesn’t have your eyes. Even when years have passed, when you’ve moved on and forgotten there was ever a boy with big dreams in your life, he knows there will never be anyone else.
Your eyes squeeze shut when he massages that spot inside you, your back arching against him and your tits pushing against his chest.
“Cum for me, baby.” He practically begs, working you harder. “Please? Need–Need to see it. Need to see you fall apart for me.”
You cry out, and then your thighs shake and he feels as you release against his fingers, your walls spasming against his fingers like you can’t decide whether or not you want to push him out or pull him closer.
He kisses you as you cum, swallowing every whine and whimper that escapes from you. He needs to feel it, he thinks. Needs to kiss you as much as he can until he’s not allowed to anymore. Until he loses that, too.
He takes his time pushing into you. Noting the way your brows crease at the stretch, the way your lip's part and how your eyes never leave his. He can see tears in them, but he doesn’t think they’re from pleasure.
You kiss him when he bottoms out, your legs wrapping around his waist. You moan against each other's mouths, the sound mingling like a harmony he never knew he needed.
The first few thrusts are gentle, just a small roll of his hips, but it still makes him see stars. The feeling of you wrapped around him, of your velvety walls pulsing and pulling him in, like you can’t stand the thought of him leaving, forces a sob from his chest.
“Fuck, you feel so good,” he babbles, burying his face into the crook of your neck. “Always feel so good. Like you were fucking made for me.”
Your only reply is a soft cry of his name, your nails digging into the skin of his back. He doesn't care that he’ll have marks tomorrow, he’ll wear them with pride until they disappear. A final reminder of you–of the love you had and lost.
“I love you,” he says, and it’s raw. Honest. His hips pick up speed slightly, and you gasp like all the air has been knocked from your lungs. “I love you so much. So much, baby. I’m so sorry.”
You’re sobbing now, but if it’s from overstimulation or from the meaning behind his words, he’s not entirely sure. Probably both, he imagines.
“J-Jungwon,” you hiccup. “Please.”
“I got you, honey.” He reassures, hips slamming against yours now. The wet sounds fill the quiet room, echoing off the walls like it’s mocking you. “I got you.”
When he finishes, it’s real and raw and a declaration of everything he’s ever felt for you. It crawls up his entire body, from the tips of his ears to the soles of his feet, and his body shudders from the feeling.
You release shortly after him with a cry of his name, your hips stuttering and nails digging into his skin.
For a moment, you both just sit there catching your breath, staring at each other like you’re trying to convince yourself that it’s not the last time.
He kisses your forehead, and he knows he should leave. Knows he should collect his clothes and walk out of your life forever, but he can’t. Not yet.
You don’t say anything when he crawls besides you, when his hands wrap against your waist and pull you against his chest. Don’t say anything when he places gentle kisses on your shoulders and the top of your spine.
It’s not until both of your breathing has evened out do you speak.
“Jungwon,” you murmur, fear lingering in your voice. “Please don’t leave me.”
He breaks. Completely. It takes everything in him to not let himself sob into your shoulder, to not fall apart with you in his arms.
Instead, he just places one final kiss on your skin and says, “sleep.”
When you awake, it’s not to a full bed and the man you love.
It’s to an empty house, and the ghost of a man who you once met at a music store.
The memory of a man who once loved you so much, he let you go.
And as you sob on the floor, hands covering your face and clenching the fabric above your heart, you wish for the first time in your life, that he loved you less.
