Prompt: The care package was nothing more than a half-eaten muffin, a cracked Beyonce CD case with no CD, and a note that read, “I tried, then I realized I was hungry, bored, and didn’t really care that much.”
Really, you shouldn’t have expected much from Byeongkwan. It was a miracle you’d even gotten anything from him in the first place. Without disturbing the contents, you snapped photos of the supposed “care package” and note then added them to the group chat without a comment. They spoke volumes.
It took mere minutes for the chat to explode with messages, and a quick glance confirmed the brotherhood had turned on one of their own. To be fair, you regularly fed them and hosted their parties from time to time. You’d earned the right to a little pettiness.
About an hour later, there was a knock at the door. You knew who it was just by the force of the pounding. When you opened the door, Byeongkwan was there holding a bag of your favorite takeout, drinks, and flowers. “Well, look at you.”
“I’ve been instructed to kiss butt and enslave myself for the evening.” He said dryly. You cackled and stepped aside, welcoming him in.
“Serves you right. Can’t believe you had the balls to do that.” You closed and locked the door behind him, then led the way to the kitchen. “Where’d you even find the CD case?”
“Leftover from my high school step team days. I swore the CD was in it.” He set his apology goodies on the counter and began to unpack. “Alrighty, Miss Snitch. You eat,” he glanced at the kitchen sink, “while I get started on chores, I guess.”
“That’s very kind of you.” You batted your eyelashes at him before unwrapping a straw to attack your drink. “I also forgot to unload the dishwasher.”
All it takes is one masquerade, one dance and one lost high heel, and Kim Byeongkwan already finds himself chasing after you, but life always seems to get in the way.
➳ Characters: choreographer!Byeongkwan x contemporary dancer!reader/you
➳ Genre: fluff, comedy, modern cinderella au (yeah, has the ‘another cinderella story’ movie vibes, too)
➳ Words: 8.2k
➳ A/N: Dedicated to @dat-town 💖 I can’t believe you guessed the song based on just one hint, but I hope that the story itself will have some surprises for you nevertheless. *-* Wishing you the best birthday ever, and here’s to many more fun roleplay games, kdrama nights, intellectual (or not so intellectual) conversations, dissing and cooking sessions! Hope you can achieve everything you wish to achieve in this year! Love you so much that my love wouldn’t fit into potato boy’s pocket! 💖💖💖
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“Dude, we HAVE to go!”
Kang Yuchan’s excitement can be heard in his voice, seen on his face and read from his body language. He is the human embodiment of joy, but his best friend... Not so much. He doesn’t really appreciate his words, instead, he raises an eyebrow.
“There are so many places I would rather be than a masquerade, thank you so much,” says Kim Byeongkwan, also known as Jason, a bit edgy. His friend either doesn’t notice or doesn’t want to acknowledge Byeongkwan’s frustration.
“But you can meet cute girls, and you can also dance! How fun is that?”
“Do I have to remind you that I’m at the arts academy in the first place because I don’t have the inspiration to dance anymore? Why would I go to a party of all places?” Byeongkwan asks, very much annoyed, reminding his best friend why he’s actually studying at the same arts academy as him.
Here’s the thing: Kim Byeongkwan is a famous dancer and choreographer known by his stage name Jason. He started at 5, made it big at 15, barely finished high school afterwards, but still, he worked with and worked for big names, and he thought that his life was all set. He was doing well, he was good at what he was doing, and he was known for his talent. He didn’t get stuck at the underappreciated level, he made it big as he was making choreographies for kpop bands and soloists, and he was dancing in CFs and other promotional films for big companies like Samsung, Hyundai and Lotte.
Yet, ever since his mother died, he didn’t find his great escape in dancing. It was as if even the one thing that always provided solace for him seemed distant, almost uncomfortable. Thus, since his whole life revolved around dancing and dancing only, he really didn’t know what else to do. He felt lost and helpless, he even contemplated giving up altogether. That was until Yuchan suggested checking out the arts academy he also attended as an acting major. Byeongkwan’s agency gave in, telling him to try and find inspiration from other students and the classes he would attend there and in exchange for attending any class of his choice and not having any special application to enter, his agency would hold a talent show at the end of the semester for the students of the academy, granting two winners (one in singing and one in dancing) a place at the company and a deal for two years.
So far, the only thing that came out of this whole thing was the ruckus with him being a student with others and girls swooning over him and trying to get his number. Sure, it was cool that he made choreographies for BTS and EXO as well, but he didn’t think that so many girls would be following his every step as if he was the celebrity himself. It was surreal, he didn’t know what to do with this sudden attention.
So nope, he definitely doesn’t feel like going to a party where he can meet those so-called cute girls even though the arts academy is huge, so he’s sure that there are nice girls out there. He merely wasn’t so lucky so far.
“But dude, you might find your muse there,” Yuchan keeps on going with his prompting agenda, a grin on full display, and Byeongkwan is sure that his friend would make a great salesman. Not that acting doesn’t suit him, but he’s sure someone who can be fully convincing if he wants to. “Besides, you can wear a costume and a mask, chances are people won’t even recognize you. I can also help you dye your hair if you want to,” he suggests casually, shrugging his shoulders as if it would mean nothing to him, and it would be an everyday thing to dye his bro’s hair (hint: it’s not).
Byeongkwan rolls his eyes, not very fond of the idea of attending a party organised by the arts academy even though his friend is right; it would be a masquerade, so less chances for having crazy fangirls around.
But still, is this really where his life is going?
“Girl, we HAVE to go!”
Your best friend’s - Jinhee’s - whining doesn’t help the state of your heart, not when your hopes of going to the masquerade have been crushed. Her all too enthusiastic self only makes things worse.
“But I’ve told you, my aunt gave me so many chores, it’s impossible that I’ll finish in time. Plus, since my cousins are going to the party, it would be suspicious if I also left the house,” you point out, your reasoning shaking her a bit. You know your cousins will go and your aunt will attend a wedding, but she will be back by midnight because she needs her “8 hours of beauty sleep”, and you have to be ready with all the chores by that time. So basically, it’s a mission impossible to finish in time and to go to the masquerade tomorrow at the same time which leaves you with no choice but to leave your best friend hanging.
“But I’ve already made our clothes, and you’ve wanted to go so bad!”
This is what hurts the most; that the few things you would want to have in life are things that you can’t have because you’re still stuck with your aunt - the one who became your legal guardian when your mother died - and your evil cousins. Always having to run errands for them and taking care of all the household chores instead of them doesn’t leave you with too much time to earn money to be able to afford moving. So you’re stuck with them even though you’re already an adult, and the only reason you can attend the arts academy is because your cousins are there, so they can monitor you any time.
Needless to say, they got in because your aunt bribed the head of the academy, and you got in fair and square through an audition. You don’t know why your aunt thinks that they would make great singers because their voices are terrible, and their performance tests are always rather poor, but maybe it’s for the prestige; so that they can say they attend the famous Bang Arts Academy, previously a home to some pretty big names in the entertainment industry.
“Maybe next time.” You just shrug your shoulders, not wanting to break down in front of your best friend because it’s really not the end of the world that you can’t go. It’s just disappointing; having to say no to something you would really want to experience for yourself.
So you just sit in silence for some excruciatingly long moments, your best friend mopping over the missed opportunity to see you in the dress she made (because she’s a fashion designer, and a really good one on top of that), and to get to know that you can’t make it only a day before the big event. That’s life though, it’s really not sunshine and rainbows for you, but you’re over the point of crying over every single thing that goes wrong.
Jinhee then clicks her fingers and turns to you with her whole body. You can already tell that she has something in mind because that determined look on her face is there whenever she gets hit by inspiration for a new design or she connects the dots while reading some stories.
“Wait a minute! I might know someone who can help,” she remarks rather confidently, and violently starts typing on her phone. If it weren’t for the circumstances, you would think that she’s angry, and that’s why she’s typing so aggressively, but it warms your heart that she tries so hard to make it work.
A few seconds pass by, and you can only hear her typing before she looks up at you, all smiley.
“It’s settled. You’re coming. We’ll be back by midnight, and your aunt wouldn’t know a single thing!”
“How?” You can’t help but furrow your eyebrows in question. You’re eternally grateful for your best friend’s help, but how can she make this work? Does she know a cleaning company?
“I have my connections,” she reassures you, adding a cheeky wink to her words, and you know better than to question her. Once Jinhee puts her mind to something, she pushes through with it, so whatever that connection is, you know you can be there at the party tomorrow.
It turns out that Jinhee’s brother’s girlfriend’s cousin has a cleaning company, and they were persuaded to help you out on the day of the masquerade, and since Jinhee says they are very efficient, you believe her that they will finish in time while you can still attend the masquerade. Which is just great! You were so ready to give up on this party, but now you have every reason to be happy because the dress your best friend made is beautiful and elegant, yet it’s comfortable enough not to feel like a fish out of water, and you can spend this time with your best friend. Finally, a night you can enjoy without having to worry about having more to-dos with each passing hour, and without having to run away from your evil cousins because it’s a masquerade, so you have your pretty dress, a mask that covers your whole face and a very nice hairstyle, and your cousins probably won’t be able to recognize you.
Jinhee is bubbly, too, chatting away her excitement, and telling you about the special technique she used for the skirt part of her own dress while you two are standing by the food stall, sipping on your fruit punches. Maybe some people need alcohol to feel good, but you two are the complete opposite: you feel better without alcohol because you’re both lightweights, not to mention that Jinhee’s stomach can’t handle alcohol, so basically, she never drinks it.
You listen to her chattering with a fond smile, so thankful that you can be here because of her assistance, and it seems like such a perfect moment that you wish to capture it and store it in your heart.
That is until someone spills his drink on your best friend’s dress.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so, so, so very sorry! Are you okay?” The stranger dressed as Cupid asks your best friend who’s fuming, but it’s nowhere near as bad as it could be.
“Yeah, sure. Just be sure to be more careful next time!” She reprimands the guy whose eyes widen in fear, and even though you can’t see his face because of the mask, you’re sure his facial expressions would be equally as scared as his eyes. “I’ll go and try to clean it,” Jinhee adds as she looks at you, and you give a brief nod.
So she leaves for the bathroom, and you would think that the Cupid guy would evaporate, but he actually starts following her, asking if she’s really okay, and if he can do anything to help her. No matter how much Jinhee tries to wave him off, he keeps trailing behind her, and you shake your head with a smile, amused at the sight.
As you look back, you realise that just like your best friend left you, the Cupid guy left his (probably) friend too by the food stall, awkwardly standing there with his glass of (probably) fruit juice.
“I’m actually not surprised he did that. He’s just so clumsy,” he speaks up unashamedly, and his words seem more like a friendly call-out than anything else, but still, you let out a little giggle.
“And he seems adamant, too.”
“He is. God, he is!” The guy who’s dressed as a goblin agrees, and he joins you in laughter. His laughter is a soft and carefree one, and you find it a nice sound, especially in the hustle-bustle of the party and the all too loud background music. “He really wanted me to come, and even offered to dye my hair.”
“Maybe he just wanted to spend time with you. My best friend was the same. She even made this dress for me, so that I would have one more reason to come,” you tell him with a smile, and maybe it’s because of the masks and the fact that you can’t tell fully how he’s reacting, but you find it easy to talk to him, and to tell him such things.
“It’s cool that you have a tailor-made costume. We basically got ours at a second-hand shop because my best friend isn’t the man of deadlines, and I’ve given in to come only yesterday,” he lets you know, and you can feel his warmth despite the edge to his words, and you can tell that he’s not really angry at his friend. He seems used to that so-called best friend’s antics, too.
So you smile at him because you can imagine his friend being all over the place after witnessing for yourself how he could spill that drink over your best friend’s dress. You can’t tell how the goblin guy is feeling, but you don’t think it’s that awkward when silence falls over you. Or well, to be precise, momentary silence in your conversation, not complete silence because the DJ puts on another song, and it’s being played all too loud for your ears. But at least it’s a slower song, not one that you can imagine people twerking to.
Though you’re not too sure about that awkwardness when you’re literally pushed towards each other by a group of friends who come to the food stall to grab something to eat, and your face is inches away from his face. Despite not seeing his face, you can tell from the abyss in his eyes that he’s a warm-hearted person, and the way he takes a step back almost immediately makes you assume that he’s a considerate one, too.
“Do you want to dance?”
You find yourself saying, and you can see how his eyes widen. Sure, it might not be an everyday thing that a girl asks a guy to dance, but you’re a dance major (contemporary dance), and one of the reasons you wanted to come today was for the dance. Dancing without a routine or a fixed set of moves. Just dancing.
“We don’t have to if you don’t want to,” you clarify before he could think that you’re pushy, but he just shakes his head.
“It’s okay. Let’s dance!”
There’s something uncertain in his voice that makes you question whether he’s actually comfortable with the idea of dancing, but you would never make fun of him even if he was a terrible dancer. So you make your way to the dancefloor, stepping closer to him (this time on purpose), and putting your hands on his shoulders while he’s placing his hands on your hips. His touch is gentle yet firm, and once you start moving, you can tell he’s not anyone new to dancing.
The way your moves follow each other without even discussing anything seems like a well-structured routine though. It’s as if your bodies are connected, and you can feel how the other will move, and you react to it almost immediately. It’s pleasant this way, and once you’re confident enough about his skills, you dare to lean on him more, and use his strength to keep you steady. He sure is a dancer, you notice quite quickly, but you can’t tell what kind of a dancer. His moves are not ones of a ballerino or a contemporary dancer like yourself, but they aren’t entirely loose either.
No matter what the case might be, it’s nice dancing with him, you feel almost weightless, and while trust is a big thing when you dance with someone else, it’s not even a question that you trust him and he trusts you back. You both dance to the soft and slow melody of the song as if it was something you actually practiced, and you don’t even notice that you’ve been dancing for some time when a more upbeat song comes on, and you’re brought back to reality.
Your steps become uncertain, and soon enough, he halts his steps as well, so you look at each other and head back to the food stall without a word where your friends are already talking, and once you arrive, they can’t stop gushing about how you two were such perfect dance partners. Your friends continue to chat most of the time, but you also get to speak up sometimes, and you get to know that the guy is taking mostly hip-hop classes while the Cupid guy is an acting major. The latter can’t stop telling funny stories, and you laugh and smile a lot beside them, enjoying yourself in their company until the clock strikes midnight.
“Oh my gosh, I need to go!” You exclaim frantically as you grab your best friend’s arm.
“Oh my gosh, we need to go!” Jinhee repeats after you, and without further ado, you two leave the two boys behind as if your life depended on it (maybe it did), and you’re already in your best friend’s car, heading towards your aunt’s house when you realise that you didn’t even ask for the Goblin guy’s name, and in that big hurry of yours, you accidentally leave one of your high heels behind.
Thankfully, that’s the worst thing that happens that night since you just manage to arrive before your aunt does, and you hop into bed, pretending to sleep while your aunt is going around the (hopefully) clean house. Seeing the way she doesn’t start yelling at you to clean up again, Jinhee’s brother’s girlfriend’s cousin’s cleaning company probably did a very good job, so you’re relieved, falling into a dreamy dream about that goblin guy and the way he held you in his arms so securely.
Byeongkwan is confused. Big time. Yuchan is confused, too. Big time.
All they know is that they danced and had fun with two lovely girls, and all they have is the picture of their costumes in their heads and Byeongkwan’s mysterious girl’s high heel. That’s it. No name or department or whatsoever because even though they shared the same about themselves, the girls didn’t mention such things. In short: they are doomed. In more detail: they are very hopeless, very clueless and very much doomed.
Even though Byeongkwan would be ready to give up because what are the chances of meeting you again, Yuchan isn’t the same. He keeps on talking about his mysterious girl from the night, and how much he felt the vibe, and how much he wishes he said or asked anything that would help find her, but they didn’t get into small talks about who they were or what they did at the academy, they talked about more fun stuff, and well, now that’s a big problem. How are you just supposed to search for someone who lost their shoe? Sure, they could print out leaflets or maybe even use the speakers from the administration office, but wouldn’t that be weird?
“Dude, just ask girls to dance with you! Who cares if they get to know that they danced with Jason? I’m pretty sure they would be happy,” Yuchan suggests one afternoon after all their brancells were fixated on finding a way to find their mysterious girls from the night. Not that the girls could find them either. They didn’t even have a lost shoe to begin with, and they didn’t even seem to search for one.
“I don’t want the unwanted attention. I might make her uncomfortable, and she might feel scared showing up to me if she knows that the whole academy would know that we were the ones dancing together,” Byeongkwan reasons, letting out a heavy sigh afterwards.
Gosh, he knew he shouldn’t have signed up for that masquerade, but the truth is… He doesn’t mind the fact that night happened because you awakened something in him. You made him remember why he started dancing, and with you, he didn’t worry about messing up, and he didn’t feel like he couldn’t dance either. He just did, and concentrated on you and you only, and it was just something truly magical. For that reason, he definitely doesn’t mind going, but now for not knowing how to meet up with you again, he sure does.
Yuchan shakes his head, then aggressively starts sipping from his banana milk. He nearly chokes on it in the next second, and even though his best friend is ready to pat his back, Yuchan holds his hands up high, stopping him.
“I’ve got an idea!”
“That made you choke already, starts good,” Byeongkwan hums, not too impressed, but as pumped up as his friend is whenever he’s hit by something, he doesn’t care about his slightly savage response.
“Attend different classes to find her! I mean, you can do so, you have the right because you’re here to find inspiration, and we could both see that she’s no ordinary girl, she’s actually a dancer. Also, you’ve said that if your hunch is right, she’s probably more on the elegant side, so maybe try visiting ballet lessons first? Then, you can go onto others. I mean, you’re the dancer, you know this better than me,” he runs his mouth excitedly, his eyes wide in enthusiasm. He keeps on his hopeful smile, and this time, Byeongkwan doesn’t tell him to shut up. Instead, he bites down on his lower lip.
“You do have a point, but that might take a while.”
“Well, worst things worse, maybe she will show up at the talent show, but that’s at the end of the semester, so still two months from now on,” Yuchan points out, shrugging his shoulders a bit sulkily because he doesn’t want to admit that Byeongkwan is right, and his plan might take some time to actually work out, but who knows? It still might bring her mysterious girl back to him.
“Oh, and wait! Your mysterious girl made the costume for my mysterious girl, so she might do something like that at uni, too!” Byeongkwan mentions as he tries to remember the details from that night, but instead of a content grin, he only gets a nudge in his side.
“Why are you telling me this only now? Are you really my best friend?” The other boy huffs, clearly hurt. “I could have already started looking for that girl! Gosh, I gotta go and use all my connections to find her now that I know she might be… uhm… maybe in the design department?” Yuchan already starts standing up from the desk, but falters when he tries to connect the dots. He’s like that meme in which one guy tells the other that he didn’t connect shit. Maybe she just likes making dresses in her free time.
Anyways, both Yuchan and Byeongkwan start looking for their mysterious girls afterwards, and as much as it’s tiring, it actually gives Byeongkwan a sense of adrenaline. He was so hopeless, just wandering in the big world of his dreams and crushed hopes after his mother died, but now he has a reason to look forward to each and every day, and no matter how silly that reason is, he’s actually curious who you are, what kind of dance you do, why you like dancing… And he could go on and on, but one thing is for sure: no matter with whom he dances in the next weeks, it wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t you.
He’s not ready to give up, but he loses more and more hope as time goes by, and Yuchan’s search doesn’t seem fruitful either even though he tries to contact everyone on SNS who might be under the design department. As for Byeongkwan, after ballet classes, he goes onto jazz and ballroom dance classes, and he tries his best not to look weird trying to fit in yet still trying to check out how girls around him dance, but it’s a bit ridiculous still.
So next up, a contemporary class it is, and even though it’s another one that’s very different from his hip-hop background and sexier choreographies, he sees the beauty in it, and he sees the beauty and familiarity in your movements which makes him feel like a fire has ignited inside of him. He knows that it’s you, it has to be you, but he doesn’t want to jump at you in the middle of the class or stare at you inappropriately, so he waits until the end of the class to go up to you.
While you’re taking sips from your water bottle, he gathers the courage to actually turn to you and speak up:
“Can I dance with you?”
At the sight of your widened eyes, he realises how stupid and ridiculous it sounds coming from him - Jason -, a mere intruder at your usual contemporary dance class, but the words have already slipped from his mouth, so what can he do?
“Why?” You furrow your eyebrow in question, putting the lid back on your water bottle and putting it back into your bag. You seem nonchalant, almost neutral, but there’s no judgement in your eyes that would keep him back from asking the question.
Though when it comes to the actual execution, he finds himself stumbling upon his words and blurting out something along the lines:
“Well, why not?”
Now, you definitely narrow your eyes, alarmed, checking him out - probably to test his intentions -, and he swears there’s no inappropriate intention behind his question, he’s just not very experienced talking to girls who have bewitched him with their dance. Read: it has never happened before, so he has no clue what to do, and the way you’re ready to leave, not impressed by his question, he knows he has messed it up.
In sheer panic, the right words finally come out:
“It’s you, isn’t it? The girl from the masquerade,” he says a bit tentatively, but his question is enough for you to turn on your heels and face him. Luckily, the others have already left the practice room, so there are no witnesses to his attempt to get the truth out of you, but it doesn’t mean that there’s no burden on his shoulders.
You let out a sigh, confused, but you stay in one place, not intending to leave again.
“There were a lot of girls at the masquerade,” you point out very much reasonably, and even though you don’t seem like you would run away like that night, Byeongkwan has this immense urge in him to drop his confession onto you, so he does exactly the same.
“But not everyone danced like you; as if they didn’t have anything more to lose, and they were so passionate that it was eye-catching. I was speechless, and dancing with you to that slow song made me realise yet again why dancing is something I enjoy doing,” he says in one-go, but seeing how you’re still not convinced, he adds that he was dressed as a goblin and his friend was dressed as Cupid, and now, he can see the twinkles in your eyes.
There are so many emotions going through his body at the sight of your realisation, and the way you’re speechless for a moment that it makes him wonder whether you have good memories of that night, or you’re just not sure how to reject him. Because dancing and talking one night doesn’t mean that you should feel obligated to continue getting to know you, and if you didn’t want to do so, he would respect your decision for sure.
The seconds that pass by seem excruciating, and it doesn’t help either that your facial expression is literally frozen, so he begins preparing himself for the worst. Thankfully, your features soften as you speak up.
“Dance is the great escape from my life ever since my mom died,” you confess bitterly, and when he catches your eyes, he can see the same kind of burning passion as he used to have. You’re desperate to hold onto something, you want something to keep you grounded and sane, and it’s dancing for you. He should have known since there are great dancers who use their bodies to dance, but there are exceptional dancers who use their heart and soul to dance. You, without a doubt, belong to the latter category.
Maybe it’s the mutual understanding or the bittersweet atmosphere covering both of you, but he finds himself opening up, something that was never easy for him, especially since he lost a loved one.
“I thought the same until my mom died. Then, I didn’t know how to dance anymore. I didn’t feel like dancing. I was lost…” Byeongkwan breathes the words out, melancholic. You give him a weak smile, one that prompts him to go on, and he’s eternally grateful for your trust; that you trust him even after just one encounter. Or maybe it’s the way your bodies and hearts connected that night that you feel so at ease beside each other.
“I was so afraid of losing everything so suddenly that’s precious to me that I couldn’t do what I loved the most. It was as if my fears had become reality, and I proved my own point, but it was a vicious cycle. I made myself believe that I was no longer able to dance well, and so I wasn’t.”
The words that were so difficult to say out loud seem almost weightless now, and as he tells you more and more, he realises how much this confession shouldn’t have been weighing down on him. Instead, he should have just said them out loud, screamed into the void. Yuchan was understanding, of course, but it wasn’t the same with him as it is with you; talking about dancing with someone who cherishes dancing as much as he does.
You, on the other hand, seem to understand him even without more details, and the empathy in your eyes makes his heart flutter. Is it really possible to feel this way when it’s the first time he met you personally? To be precise, he met you face-to-face. Sure, he doesn’t have anything against being behind a mask because dancing with you and talking with you in your costumes was enough for him to be interested in you, but now that he sees every twitch of your lips, every freckle dotting your pale skin, every shade in your dark orbs, every emotion being mirrored in your body language, it’s different. More personal. Better.
“That must have been hard. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t been able to dance,” you admit after a few seconds of silence, and your sincerity tugs on his heartstrings. He might not have thought how similar you two are on the dancefloor, but he feels strangely understood by an almost stranger.
“I didn’t either. Not until I met you.”
The words are out before Byeongkwan could think twice about them, and as much as he’s honest, he also thinks that he’s a fool because he may seem pushy or cringey or outright rude, and he would never want to make you feel this way. Instead of panic or doubt though, all he can see is that you’re clearly touched, but the moment just has to be interrupted by the sound of your phone ringing. Even Byeongkwan can hear how the woman on the other side of the phone yells at you:
“Where the hell are you? I’ve told you we have an important guest coming over. I can’t blow my chances with him, or else, I might go down the drain of underappreciated models even at the age of 45!”
The boy is confused big time (Who’s that woman? Is she really a model? Why is she using such a language towards you?), but you don’t even flinch, and that surprises and saddens him at the same time. When you hung up and put your phone back into your pocket, he’s not taken aback that you announce:
“I gotta go.”
“But...” He wants to hold you up, saying that he doesn’t even know your name or any other contact information of yours, but before the words could roll off his tongue, you’re already out of sight.
Dear gosh, it really feels like chasing after you, but now, he has one more clue, and he can come back to this class next week, no need to worry about attending any other class to run into you. Or well, to purposely run into you again.
You definitely don’t expect the goblin guy to reveal himself as Jason, the famous dancer and choreographer, who caused quite a ruckus when it turned out that he would come here to attend some classes. People were wondering about the intention behind his sudden presence at an arts academy when he already made it big, and girls were swooning over how cool and handsome he was from up-close. Which isn’t far from the truth, you have to admit, but you just can’t believe it.
Sure, you know who he is even if you two don’t do the same kind of dance, and you’ve also heard about him attending Bang Arts Academy, even more so because you are planning to take part in that competition his agency holds at the end of the semester in hopes of getting away from your evil cousins and your evil aunt. If you manage to win in the dance category, you’ll be given a two-year deal and also a dormitory, so no need to wipe floors for the rest of your life and worry about the nonexistent time you could have to yourself to actually make money.
But still… what were the chances of meeting Kim Byeongkwan through the masquerade and having him confess to you that you made him feel something that he has thought he has lost? You feel sorry for him, of course you do, you can’t even imagine how devastating it must have been for him to lose his mother recently because you were fairly young when you lost yours. On the other hand, you can’t imagine that you, a mere dancer, can make him want to dance again. That’s both fluttering and scary at the same time. You don’t want to disappoint him again if you manage to dance together in the future.
Though it seems like life is just not on your side because the class he attended with you wasn’t a weekly one, it was just a workshop, so a one-time thing, and even if he would come back to the same practice room at the same time, he wouldn’t find you there because you have your usual class at a different practice room. So again, no way of contacting each other, and despite the fact that at least you know who he is (unlike him), you can’t just DM him on social media, saying that you wouldn’t mind getting to know him better, and go around searching for Kim Byeongkwan when he’s known for not attending regular classes.
So you would be doomed yet again if it weren’t for your friends who actually manage to connect the dots and make things work. Yuchan - the Cupid guy - finds your best friend on social media thanks to Byeongkwan telling him that Jinhee must be under the design department, and Jinhee responds all too enthusiastically that they should meet. When they meet, they realise that you and Byeongkwan still haven't contacted each other, so they set up a meeting, and that’s how the four of you end up around a bench on campus.
“I’m telling you, Byeongkwan is seriously the worst at these kinds of things, so don’t worry if he’s not the man of words. He tries to say what’s on his mind, but his words come out pretty savage, so it feels like being reprimanded by your mother whenever he tries to compliment you,” Yuchan blabbers as if you were lifelong friends, and while Jinhee lets out a laughter, you only smile to yourself, exchanging a glance with the said boy who feels just a tiny bit uncomfortable.
“He didn’t seem to struggle with his words around me,” you mention casually, and even if it’s meant to save him from further embarrassment, Yuchan doesn’t want to change the topic. Instead, he becomes a full-on touched, surprised and proud best friend.
“Oh my gosh, dude! That’s great! You can finally open up to people! Even though I could feel hurt by it since you don’t like to open up to me, I’m just so proud of you for overcoming-”
“Okay, okay, that’s enough,” Byeongkwan shuts him up by covering his friend’s mouth with his hands, and even though Yuchan keeps on talking, he doesn’t let go of him until he decides to be quiet for a moment.
You giggle at the sight, finding the two friends’ bickering funny, and the atmosphere is light and cosy, so you really feel as if you’ve known each other for years. Maybe that’s why Jinhee is prompted to let her mouth loose.
“Y/n was the same. She’s usually not one to talk about boys, but she kept wondering who this goblin guy might be, and it was just sooooo cute,” your best friend coos, and never have you felt so attacked in your life. Jinhee really did decide to throw you under the bus in front of Kim Byeongkwan, huh?
“Cuuuute,” Yuchan remarks all too enthusiastically, and you don’t dare to turn your head towards Byeongkwan for a few seconds, but instead of surprise or shame, he’s actually more amused by what he has heard. Which is fine, if you think about it, since you already know that he felt the same way about your dance from the masquerade.
“Well then, don’t get me started on Jinhee…”
“Oh, no, no! I know something better! Cookies anyone?” Jinhee tries to save herself the moment you try to tell the guys the truth about how she has been thinking of setting up a search to find her mysterious Cupid guy. A literal, physical search with leaflets and all that.
“Come on! I want to hear it!”
“Eat your cookies instead!” Your best friend retorts when Yuchan gets whiny, and shoves a piece of chocolate chip cookie into the boy’s mouth whose mood is immediately lifted. You exchange a glance with Byeongkwan, breaking into a smile when you meet each others’ eyes, and it’s so easy to forget about the fact that you have duties and classes and Byeongkwan also has a meeting with his agency that you feel weightless, happy and carefree, something that you haven’t felt for a long time.
All thanks to him.
The thing is, Kim Byeongkwan is a great guy, which makes it hard not to fall for him.
You have never really let yourself develop feelings for boys before because you know how complicated your life is, and you don’t want someone else to worry about your cousins or aunt. It’s enough that Jinhee is usually worried sick when you don’t reach out to her out of the blue while it’s really just you having to fulfill yet another long list of household chores, or when you get humiliated by your cousins for no absolute reason. It’s like she’s upset for the two of you because you’ve already gotten too used to how things are. Not to mention that you barely have time to yourself, so how could you go on dates with guys?
However, even though things are the same, Byeongkwan makes it work. Since he doesn’t have a fixed schedule at the academy and his career has been put on hold due to his lack of inspiration, he can work around your classes (because he doesn’t want to be a creep and attend every class of yours) and duties at home which just makes it easy and comfortable to spend time with him, and to look forward to each and every day, wondering what you might get to know about him that day.
He’s funny, and sometimes he doesn’t even try to, it’s just in the way he reacts so expressively. He’s considerate, always making sure that you feel comfortable beside him, and he’s looking for ways to make things easier for you even if it’s just by buying you your favourite brand of iced coffee or sending you an encouraging song when he knows you most need it. He’s playful, adamant in the smallest of things and teasing you when you least expect him to, but you enjoy it, the way he’s a bit unpredictable. And he’s a great dancer, so you find it difficult to believe that he has actually lost all inspiration some time ago (though you can understand him) because now, when’s dancing with you… He’s a piece of art. His moves are fluid, his body is a continuation of a story he tries to convey, and his heartbeat is the same as the rhythm of the song played in the background, the two matching each other like ad-libs to the main vocal line in a ballad.
Coming from two very different backgrounds when it comes to dance, you learn a lot from him and vice versa. You learn how to loosen up a bit more and find beauty in the quicker, more complex moves while you teach him how to appear a bit more stiff and make longer movements seem smoother and more natural. While hip-hop and contemporary dance aren’t complete opposites, it’s still a lot of fun and quite a challenge to dive yourself into even just the basics of the other’s dance style. You laugh a lot nevertheless, and slowly but surely, you can feel yourself falling for him: for his windshield laughter, for his gentle actions, for his mahogany orbs, for his little teasing remarks and for the way he holds you so securely when you are dancing together. Sure, it helps that your best friends become a couple in the meantime, but you also feel yourself getting closer and closer to him, you just don’t want to make a move, at least not until the day of the competition because you don’t want others to think that you were favoured. Even though Byeongkwan isn’t a part of the judges’ panel, you know how people are: always quick to jump to conclusions, to see more into things than they are.
So you prepare diligently, working on adjusting your choreography for the big day, and even though you get some tips from Byeongkwan himself, he doesn’t put the routine together for you, you do it for yourself. He’s more like a hype man, and it’s heartwarming how supportive he is, even on the day of the performance when he wishes you good luck before he gets lost in the mass of people including the contestants, the audience and the organisers. Jinhee and Yuchan cheer for you in the audience, and despite knowing that your aunt will be there because your cousins will compete, you’re not afraid to be up on the stage.
“Let us begin the big competition! Today, the judges will choose two winners: one in the dancing and one in the singing category. The two lucky contestants will have the chance to join Jason’s agency, sign a contract for two years and receive specialised training to make their hot debut happen. Lessons from professionals and a dorm room will be guaranteed. What more could you want? So let’s begin, shall we?”
The presenter’s, Park Junhee’s, voice is light and excited, but it can’t be compared to the excitement of the audience. Everyone is literally buzzing, and the more contestants show what they have, the more hyped up they are. Of course, there are some rather poor performances (yes, you mean your cousins’ performances), but overall, it turns out to be a fun night, and since you’re by the end, you have the time to get used to the atmosphere by the time you are called onto the stage.
“And now, competing in the dance category with a contemporary dance performance mixed with some hip-hop elements… please, welcome Y/N!” Park Junhee shouts into the mic beamingly, and he gives you an encouraging nod of his head when you run up to the stage and he goes back into the waiting area while you perform.
Truth to be told, your mind shuts off the outside noises when the performance begins, and you concentrate only on the beats of the song you have chosen. You become one with it, let it whisper to you, let it lead you, and you lose track of time and space while you’re presenting the well-practiced moves. Maybe you’re not perfect, but you don’t mind because you forget about who’s watching and what has led up to this moment as you stand there, and it’s such a deliberating feeling that it can’t be compared to anything else.
No wonder your performance comes to an end in no time, and the competition is reaching the final stages by the time you can wrap your head around the fact that you have just performed in front of thousands of people, and based on Jinhee’s and Byeongkwan’s excited messages, you did really well.
“And now, the time everyone has been waiting for…” Park Junhee riles up the audience as he jogs onto the stage with two envelopes in his hand. “The judges have made their decision, and even though everyone did well, there can be only one winner in each category, so let me announce them!”
They start with the singing category, announcing Sohn Jeonghyuck (also known by his stage name Demian) as the winner, and even though you have never heard of him before, his voice was so good, you were literally speechless while you were watching his performance, so you clap genuinely when he shyly gets the trophy from the grinning Junhee.
“Now, onto the winner of the dance category,” the young man continues as he opens the second envelope, and you can feel your heart beating twice as fast when you wait out those seconds that pass by. Even though the world wouldn’t end if you didn’t win, you wish that you could have a new chance in life, and this would be a good start. A really good one. It’s just that nothing has really worked out in your life before as you wanted, so you don’t dare to hope.
“Congratulations, Y/N! You’re the winner in the dance category!”
You are so dumbfounded by the news that you don’t even know what’s going on until Park Junhee comes to grab you by the arm and drags you onto the stage, giving you the trophy and asking you to give a speech. You just jumble out a few words that seem right, but you have no idea how collected they are because you’re just so happy, bathing in the newfound hope and joy, receiving congratulatory words and hugs from your best friend afterwards. It all feels too good, too much like a miracle.
“Aww, I’m so happy for you! You deserved it so much!” Jinhee says, half crying, and Yuchan has to give her a few tissues to dry her tears, but he also gives you his congratulations in the meantime.
Byeongkwan comes up to you a bit later, but you don’t mind because the moment he crushes you into a hug, nothing else matters. He has seen how hard you have worked to prepare for your performance, and he has listened to all your ramblings about how you wish your life could change for the better, and now… Maybe you can finally dare to hope for it to happen.
“Now you can’t run away from me because we’ll be at the same agency,” he remarks cheekily as you pull away from each other, and even though he’s just being playful, you know there’s truth to his words. You kept missing each other in the beginning, and it took you three encounters to actually get each other’s contacts, so you practically chased each other until you could start getting to know each other. But not anymore. Gosh, you’ll work under the same agency as Kim Byeongkwan himself!
“I don’t intend to run away,” you let him know with a smile, and he reciprocates it with his own proud, touched one.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
And you’re glad, too, for your life really takes a turn for the better afterwards. You move out of your aunt’s house to move into the dorms of the agency, and you can cut all ties with your aunt and your cousins (something that you should have done so a long time ago), pursuing your dream and going on all those dates you have missed out on with the boy who makes your heart flutter. So no matter how thorny the road was, you have your own happy ending with Kim Byeongkwan, and it’s really the best you could have wished for.
summary ➣ Y/N and their boyfriend, Byeongkwan, find themselves lost in the thralls of a misunderstanding. Biting it back and shoving it down like brandy bubbles isn’t working anymore.
genre ➣ angst (+ fluff)
requested - 👍
.・゜-: ✧ :- .・゜-: ✧ :- -: ✧ :-゜・. -: ✧ :-゜・．
Whispers between the moon and the stars grew faint as the midnight bustle under the city lights began to bloom. There Y/N and his boyfriend, Byeongkwan, stood, within the thralls of it all, the chatter of the city block fading from their focus as the one thing Byeongkwan could think about was how the moonlight stained the clouds of their breath. They swayed slowly to the rhythm of the honking of car horns, arms draped around waists and the ivories between their lips running down their necks. Y/N’s hands snuck under Byeongkwan’s cropped jacket, the supple crushed velvet between his fingers setting triggering sparks to sear his skin.
They stood in line to a nightclub they’ve been talking about for ages, but never managed to push past the haze of the amber porchlight that still held the memories of their first kiss. Their lazy nights kept them bound to an ocean of sheets, silver tides shimmering against the violets etched into their skin - tapestries woven between their teeth and set alight as midnight struck. Even in the mornings, with the coffee stained air dancing around their good-morning kisses, their stars always seemed to align, their midnight sonnets were eternal.
Byeongkwan hummed into Y/N’s shoulder as Y/N traced his spine, his hands still buried under his jacket, hands kneading into his skin. It was thanks to Y/N that he could scrounge up his courage like spare change to throw it on. Y/N’s endearing smile and sweet nothings that sent him spiraling always seemed to make him more confident. Like the world that used to bend him into a shape only it wanted was nothing but his own placeholder, something that he could finally control and put in its place. Y/N makes all the ambitions that tremble on the edge of Byeongkwan’s lips take their leap of faith into the arms that would always keep him safe, that would hold him and sketch his shape into their moonlight - a shape he finally accepted.
They shuffled further up the line, but their eyes never left each other. Y/N traced his hands against Byeongkwan’s bare waist, taking in his skin and soaking himself in the waves of adoration that seized his neck. Byeongkwan let a little shriek stick between their teeth as Y/N teased at the waistband of his jeans, the music played on their lips sweet like candy. Something dragged Y/N out of his trance, though. Ripped him from it. He tried to focus on what Byeongkwan began to murmur into his ear, but something let the groans of the cars speeding down the roadway beside them take him over instead.
It wasn’t something he liked.
He snapped his head over to something that stuck out from the shadow of the city like the glint of a sniper scope, their sights on Byeongkwan’s skin hitting him like a bullet through his chest. A lustful look from across the way was laid upon Byeongkwan’s skin, it made the velvet that ran under Y/N’s hands run coarse like sandpaper, made the moonlight against his shoulders slither down his spine like a burning shiver. He knew Byeongkwan was beautiful, and he wanted the whole world to know, hell, the whole world from Y/N constant gushing probably did. This one, though, was different, and it made the sweetness between their tongues run bitter like ash.
Looks like that were only ones that he could give Byeongkwan under the sapphire spotlights of their searing desire, ones only shared between their heaving chests and evenings where the sunset let them loose. They weren’t given from creepy people from across the street, given haphazardly like a common hello. He didn’t like how they hid either, the brim of their cap keeping their hunger clandestine, or so they thought.
“...I saw it in my closet, and I was like: ‘oh, that exists…’” Byeongkwan’s words fell upon deaf ears, his fingers wrapped around vacant hands. “It’s not that bad, right?” Byeongkwan nearly choked on his lingering words and dimming smile as Y/N coiled a protective arm around his wait and nudged him inside. “D’you like it-”
“Yeah, yeah, let’s get in.”
Byeongkwan could barely let a silent stammer roll off his tongue, his words in a tangle, lodged in the back of his throat as he saw Y/N cover him up until they entered the ultraviolet of the club. And Y/N, he kept his glare searing into the person across the street until they scampered off and swallowed their guilt.
“How about a drink, hmm?” Y/N’s words were as vacant as the crushed cans scattered across empty tables as he tried not to let the speakers blasting by the entrance completely blow his ears out. Byeongkwan drowned everything out with the blaring music that swallowed him up and dragged him closer to the dance floor, the nudge towards the waist, though, was left in disregard. “Kwan?” Y/N’s voice struggled to bring itself to tread above the noise, tides of a heavy bass and the ambers of liquor stained breaths on the floor lit ablaze by strobe lights making the mere feet between them seem like a county line.
Byeongkwan finally turned around, a thick, stifled feeling bringing an enraged blush to his cheeks as Y/N’s hands softly took his waist. He just nodded, following Y/N to the bar; hopefully the sting of some vodka could wash away these feelings, and maybe the questions that surfaced in his mind as well.
Why did he shove him inside like that? Byeongkwan kept thinking even when he leaned against the bar, the coolness against his skin allowing him to ease a breath through his lips. If Y/N was talking about something - a swansong that he would die to listen to with every sunrise that blessed their tangled bodies - he surely missed it, and he didn’t know why he didn’t care. It was just the way he was so hastily shoved into a darker room - somewhere the blurs of dancing light and swathes inebriated people could keep them hidden. They were so lost in each other in line, he knew it couldn’t be him, was it? Was Y/N starting to grow weary of their presence in the line, even after everything he’s said? By the time he even finished those questions in his head, his gaze already fell upon three empty shot glasses. Nothing, even the burn of the konjac that was surprisingly good, could quell the shadows that loomed over him like the streetlights that held his and Y/N’s prances down the boulevard.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, slowly moving up to tuck a lock of his silver hair behind his ear. That smile that always took Byeongkwan’s breath away… How long was his light shining over him? And why didn’t he notice it like he just did only moments ago. He could feel it from a mile away, like a beacon that would always lead him home - the arms and hands he would bury himself in with every chance he had. Those arms, though, those blessed arms that are his safe haven just covered him up and pushed him in here like Y/N was ashamed. Y/N would always be the first to tell him how beautiful he looked no matter what he was wearing, even if it was just their sheets and the remnants of the moonlight against their bodies.
“Kwannie. Is everything okay? You’ve been uncomfortably quiet…” Y/N trailed off with a giggle to try and ease the tension that grasped at his every word. The air was thick with the bubbles of Y/N’s barely-touched beer that was perched between nervous hands. As Byeongkwan licked his lips to answer, a shot of the liquid guilt staining his lips in the shades of their afterglow kisses seared his tongue. “I know clubs aren’t really our thing. Maybe we could just hitch an Uber and head home?” With nothing but a sigh from Byeongkwan to satisfy Y/N’s questions, he leaned against the bar and looked longingly towards the exit. Why wasn’t Byeongkwan talking to him? Every second trudged through the night like an hour and Byeongkwan’s silence was killing him.
“It’s nothing. It’s fine- I’m fine…” Byeongkwan shook his head and looked towards the dance floor instead, if shots couldn’t do it, then maybe the blaring music and the burn of the purple lights igniting against this skin could distract him from the way his jacket started to suffocate him no matter how much he tugged at the collar. It just didn’t fit right if he knew how much Y/N was embarrassed to see him in it. Was he really that disgusted? He couldn’t help but stretch it down, hopefully covering enough to make Y/N feel comfortable enough to step out with him into the flurry of purple lights just like he said they would. “Let’s go dance, it looks like fun.”
“Oh, okay… Sounds good.” Y/N hesitated, but he let his fingers weave between Byeongkwan's as they stepped towards the dance floor. He could sense this trepidation in his boyfriend too, the same one that let his words lag before his tongue. Usually that would only happen on their breathless nights, where they would be too caught up taking each other in to notice that words didn’t come out as they spoke. However, the darkness of the bar that loomed over them and preened at the silence shoved its way between them in a way nothing ever has before. Y/N was glad for the change in tone, though, that small smile on Byeongkwan’s face being the first one he saw since they came in here, the rest was this silence that riddled him with this uneasiness, something that he felt slithering down his back in a cool shiver that left him rigid. Did he do something? He wondered with every tap of his finger against the lacquered surface of the bar.
He usually couldn’t stop Byeongkwan from talking even if he tried. Even when tongues pushed past teeth under the violets of the fading horizon, he would still sing songs of their affection that would send them spiraling, chasing after them as Y/N kissed along the curves of Byeongkwan’s silhouette. On their study nights tucked between Byeongkwan’s legs, whispers of sweet nothings would soak into his shoulder and run up his neck in a scarlet blush as lips ghosted his ears.
The music was pounding in their heads now, they had no choice but to bend to its will. They swayed to its beat, bouncing on their feet as they mimicked the crowd around them, nothing but a mass of faceless shadows surrounding them and billows of liquor laced screams separating their stares. They inched closer together, letting the music blind them and the purple lights that gleamed behind massive waves of flailing arms deafen them of their thoughts. Nothing but them and a ceaseless black ocean taking in the pulses of the music like a change in the tide.
Byeongkwan almost felt comfortable in his own skin, his jacket rising with every movement he made. He looked over to Y/N, and he could tell he was doing the same thing, biting back his thoughts with whatever remnants of beer he downed, and plastering a smile on his face as they inched closer together. He could see the strain on his face, like it was holding back something that wanted to burst out. Was it a question? Was it an apology? He wanted Y/N to say something, anything that had to do with what he did. However, something like this has ever happened to them - a conflict this severe. Usually it was simply arguments over whose turn it was for their movie nights or what to order for dinner. They would quip at each other until the sun went down, and then paint each other in the coral light of their adoration as they murmured vows between parted smiles.
Byeongkwan was snapped out of his trance as Y/N’s hands smoothed against his skin and wrapped around his waist, bringing them so close together to the point where even the lights that danced with them couldn’t make out their shape.
Byeongkwan shoved himself away with nothing but a yelp, a flash of shock and a little bit of anger rising in his heart as the step he took sent him careering into another person.
He couldn’t believe it. This is when Y/N decided to embrace him, when they were half-drunk and drowning on the dance floor? When there was only darkness and the shadows of anonymity in their wake? Not when they were under the city lights for everyone to see, at least not until they entered...
A wildfire rose in his chest and something felt like it was tugging hard on him, a devilish grasp pounding at his ribs that tore at the unravelling threads of the frustration he held back since they were first bathed in the lilac haze of the club. He couldn’t breathe, he needed a way out.
He was too flustered to apologize to the people he nearly fell onto and tried his best to weave out of the crowd, leaving Y/N deserted. Byeongkwan looked for any crack in the mob of people to make an exit, slipping between people , tripping over shoes as the air grew warm and unrelenting. Y/N instantly followed, trying not to lose the shimmer of Byeongkwan’s jacket in the swathes of careless drunkards that jostled him left, right, up, down. Y/N just decided to keep moving forward.
Byeongkwan made it out on the other side, gasping for air as he squeezed past the last pair of gyrating bodies whose flailing arms nearly took out his eye. He was making his way towards the exit until he heard the pound of staggering footsteps over the base hammering into the floors, shaking the walls. Whipping his head back and nearly pushing a sigh of relief past his lips, he observed Y/N’s heaving form as he emerged out of the crowd as well, there was a garnet stain of something on his shirt that wasn’t there before. He could feel it was seeping into his conscience. His lips were contorted into a distraught frown, as all Y/N could think about was how horrified Byeongkwan looked when he touched him. What did he do?
“Kwan, what’s wrong?!” Y/N said between pants and raked Byeongkwan back with a handful of his jacket. Byeongkwan nearly shook at the desperation and the sadness that deepened the cracks in his boyfriend’s voice. His composure was breaking, and he felt like the walls around them were burning up in flames. Violet flares seared against their skin, strobe lights igniting the shimmers in their stares as they looked each other in the eye for the first time since Y/N nudged Byeongkwan through those same doors they were going to stumble out of. “Talk to me!” Y/N was tired of Byeongkwan’s silence. He needed something, anything to help him figure out what to do, how to make Byeongkwan stop looking at him like he wiped away the glow of Byeongkwan’s cheeks on those nights where only Y/N’s words ever meant something to him.
“I’m fine! I don’t want to!” Byeongkwan started towards the door again, only to be stopped again by Y/N, a pleading hand on his shoulder begging him to turn around.
“Obviously not! I know when you’re not fine!” Y/N tilted his head and tried to meet Byeongkwan’s gaze, but all Byeongkwan could do was keep his eyes on the ground, the sheen of the tiles below warping under him. “Did I do something…? Please tell me!”
“I thought you were proud of me…” Byeongkwan finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. Something seemed to cut all the noise surrounding them, and everything paused and distorted as Byeongkwan looked up again, tears threatening to trip over his lashes. Eyes like glass piercing into Y/N’s. “I thought you were proud of the real me, and loved the real me…”
Byeongkwan’s tears burned through Y/N’s chest like a whirlwind and tore him apart. He never thought he would ever see tears that weren’t from making him laugh too hard. Ones that seared into even his own skin and bore into him. “What?!” Y/N was taken aback by what Byeongkwan said, words trickling from the corners of his lips. “Of course I am!” Y/N took Byeongkwan by the shoulders again, almost shaking him. That was one thing he always wanted to make clear, that Byeongkwan was the most special human being to ever exist, one so deserving of all the love he would ever get. What did he do to put that into question? “Kwan, what’re you talking about? Of course I love you, for everything you are…”
“I just need some space, Y/N…” Byeongkwan didn’t even care to hear what Y/N said. He stepped towards the exit, keeping his clenched fists in the shallow pockets of his jacket.
“Please just tell me what I did-”
“I’ll call an Uber for you… I just don’t feel like talking to you right now…” He couldn’t even look at Y/N, seeing his tears shimmer like the first snow they shared under the same roof.
“Byeongkwan… I’m so confused-”
“You covered me up, Y/N!!! That’s the problem! All of this talk about loving me no matter what I am or where we are, and as soon as our spotlight gets too bright, you turn your back on your word - our word. I wanted to express myself, the ‘me’ that’s always been bottled up, and you’re the only person who ever accepted me. You taught me what confidence and fearlessness really was, but then you do that, and I felt like those words weren’t for me...” Y/N stopped in his tracks as Byengkwan finally let his words burst through his pressed lips and ripped his arm from Y/N’s grasp. Tears streamed down his face in ripples and seared into his skin, carving rivers in his cheeks as he scrambled to wipe them away. Y/N’s mouth was just left parted by shock, everything - all of the silence, the tension that strangled their conversations and the whiskey bubbles stuck in their throat. “I thought it was a risk to wear this, but I knew it was fine because you would love it and tell me how beautiful I looked in it. We would be okay, just you and me in our little world. Maybe with you I could’ve loved myself in it too… But I guess the pressure of everybody around us - people you don’t even know the names of - matters more than what we built.”
Y/N didn’t try to step forward, but Byeongkwan already took another step back, his voice crumbling as they let each other soak in the anguish the leached from each other their breaths. Their breaths, what were once moments of peace for them, windows in time where the air would still. Their comfort that was once let loose to roam along their bodies like wandering moonlight slipped away like a bottle of good wine.
Y/N was dumbfounded, he thought he was protecting his boyfriend, but he forgot that Byeongkwan didn’t see it, the way that person looked at him from across the street. It made Y/N want to lurch. Byeongkwan, with all of his demons buried in Y/N’s hands, never turned around to see what he saw. Y/N needed to make this right.
He stepped up only to be matched with a small step back, a shutter in Byeongkwan’s exhale leaving Y/N to wince as if something twisted a knife in his back.
“Kwan- I’m sorry but you don’t understand-” Y/N sighed when he was cut off, now that he knew the issue, it was sent to orbit in his head, but now he was trapped in that vacuum too. Unable to breathe or speak; unable to move or scream for help. If only Byeongkwan could let him in, even after what he thought he did.
“Yeah I do, Y/N… I just need some time alone, but I’ll call you when I’m ready to sort things out.”
“Kwannie, wait…” He couldn’t imagine what Byeongkwan was going through, all of the doubts in his mind Y/N thought they buried in the ivory sands of the coast downtown and the leather studded kisses that graced their strawberry skies. Some dormant part of Y/N knew that Byeongkwan’s insecurities would creep back up on him, but that’s what he was there for, to tell him he was beautiful. But he failed, lost context leading Byeongkwan to unravel like a loose tapestry.
Byeongkwan, with one final look at his boyfriend he thought believed in him, turned around and started toward the exit. This time, there was nobody to stop them, not the rumble of the base nearly knocking them off their feet as soon as they parted, and not Y/N, who just whispered into nothing, his voice swallowed up and caught in his chest.
*
It’s been three days since their altercation at the club and Y/N had his head in his hands ever since. Every half of a second he was flicking his gaze over to his phone, hoping that Byeongkwan would call with a thread and needle to mend their bond. He still didn’t change Byeongkwan’s name in his phone, and he just wanted those yellow hearts to cast a golden glow from the corner of the countertop he always left it by. He can still remember when Byeongkwan swiped his phone from him and straddled Y/N’s hips, leaning on his shoulder as he typed in as many emojis as he could fit.
Waking up without Byeongkwan next to him and tucking himself back in the sheets that still nursed their moonlit songs rendered him sleepless, the only thing keeping him awake being his wandering thoughts of Byeongkwan at his parents’ house. His chest felt hollow without Byeongkwan to fill it with laughter and their blissful sighs.
He found it too easy to get out of bed this morning, Byeongkwan’s arms wrapped around his waist always made it so difficult. And he loved that so much. He missed it.
Y/N’s spent the last few hours draped along the couch, his eyes stuck on the doorway to the kitchen where his phone still sits on that precipice of granite and his fingers taking in handfuls of the rough grey fabric below him. It was still scorched with their fires that were forged under flights of fluttering lights and silent movies. They stung like fond dreams and gathered like old friends.
He snapped his head up when he heard a knock on his door. The croak it made throughout the house was somber and cynical; it sounded like it just wanted to be left alone, but it was here anyway. He eyed his phone, gaze piercing harder as if his eyes haven’t been stuck on it all day. He was sure he left the ringer on, but it might just be the mail person who carries an odd but pleasantly surprising passion for doing their job. Y/N threw his legs over and nearly leapt off the couch. If Byeongkwan was really taking a chance on him and coming back, Y/N knew that he had a lot of explaining to do.
Byeongkwan needed something too, maybe some type of closure - a good reason - for why Y/N presumably turned his back on them and everything they said they cherished about each other.
Y/N opened the door to see Byeongkwan, his baby standing in front of him, anxiously rocking on his heels as he looked sheepishly past the doorway. It was all coming back to him, everything he missed despite the pain that those radiant glimmers in Y/N’s eyes brought him. Like the stars, they still persisted even with the shadows of the night that left them on their lonesome, leaving them separated from the only tether that kept them sane. Y/N can still remember when they first moved in together, already pressing each other up on the new fridge, and bathing in rose-tinted lights that’ve still stained their cheeks and fed the velvet between their lips. Byeongkwan’s whining about their old bowls not matching their counters still left a chuckle to resonate in Y/N’s chest.
“Hey.” Byeongkwan decided to fall into their tense, immoveable silence face-first, as graceful as the nights they burst through the front door and barely made it past the kitchen. The city lights sullying Y/N’s jacket that was tightly bound around Byeongkwan’s shoulders. Y/N eased a sigh of relief, glad the Byeongkwan took the first step, it didn’t know if Byeognkwan wanted to hear him speak just yet.
“Hey…” Y/N stepped back and pulled the door back further, gesturing in carefully as if the air was fragile like glass. “You wanna come in?”
“Sure.” Byeongkwan took bunches of his sweater in his hands, and it took both of them a moment that it was Y/N’s, the one he gave to Byeongkwan on his birthday when he confessed that it eased his anxiety when they slept. Even now, despite who the Y/N was that stood in front of him now, the Y/N that took him by the hands taught him how to fly - their laughter still resonates as Byeongkwan kneads the fabric. Little did he know, he’s still there, in front of him, eying him up and down and keeping a smile to himself, safe under pursed lips.
“I’m really glad you came back-”
“You understand why I was upset, right?” Byeongkwan shook his head and threaded his frustrations delicately into the air between them, nursing his breath as he could see Y/N flinch like he was going to hit him.
“I…” Y/N just wanted to tell him, tell him everything that happened and that he got it all wrong. He sat back down on the couch, watching Byeongkwan pace back and forth in front of their television.
“You always said I was beautiful no matter what, you never cared about what anybody else ever said about us. We were the kings of our own kingdom and of our happy little world…” Byeongkwan trailed off and stopped pacing, looking deep into Y/N’s eyes and hoping that he really understood. He did understand, he always has.
“Byeongkwan…” Y/N tried to take the leap, attempted to unveil the truth, but his mouth snapped shut as Byeongkwan drew a breath to speak again. Tears already welled up in his eyes and it made Y/N want to cry too. His tongue felt dry as he swallowed back his words, the smoldering ache in his heart coming back to rear its ugly head as he could hear Byeongkwan trip over his words, gathering his thoughts like flyaway papers. He just wanted to grab and shake him again, get these thoughts out of his head. He could tell that Byeongkwan wasn’t even mad at Y/N anymore, he looked over his own skin like he was the problem. That hurt more than anything.
“Like, seriously. I know the club scene is a lot of pressure but I thought that there of all places, we could let loose and really be fine. We were all good in line, what happened?” Byeongkwan folded his arms and looked over Y/N, his eyes boring a hole in Y/N’s skull.
“I just… Come sit with me.” Y/N patted the couch cushion beside him, heaving a deep breath and looking back up.
Byeongkwan had a hesitance in his step, but he remembered that this was what he wanted, for Y/N to explain himself. To get the demons to finally leave and stop clawing themselves under his skin. He scooted over on their living room couch, listening attentively to even the random creaks in the floorboards they’ve pretty much memorized by now. They’ve had way too many slow dances in the kitchen.
Y/N staggered in his words for a second. “When we were in line, across the street there was this guy looking at you weird.” He looked over to Byeongkwan, fighting the urge to thread their fingers together. Byeongkwan couldn't look at him, though. “It wasn’t just weird though, that I wouldn’t care about. But it was hungry, almost sinister in a way, and I didn’t like it. I wasn’t gonna reward that kind of behaviour…” Y/N tried to shove his heart back down from his throat, its pulse a hurricane in his head as he tried to fight back a sob that trembled on the tip of his tongue.
“Y/N…”
Byeongkwan tried to shuffle closer, but Y/N just leaned down and closed in on himself. This entire half of the story, Byeongkwan left it to fester for three whole days. Two sleepless nights and three agonizing mornings that drew along Y/N’s conscience like nails on a chalkboard. He smoothed a hand across Y/N’s back anyway, wincing as Y/N let a quiet so leak through his teeth.
“I know that look, Byeongkwan, I know it very well, okay?” Y/N leaned back and looked into Byeongkwan’s eyes, glimmers in his gaze pleading like the night they parted under the indigo night. “I never, ever want you to ever experience that, so I got you inside as fast as possible, but I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. It led to all this mess…” Byeongkwan wound his arms around Y/N’s shoulders, burning his face in the curve of Y/N’s neck. “I’m so, so, so, so sorry…” Y/N’s voice, torn and distressed echoed throughout the room and rendered Byeongkwan speechless, questions to himself in his head rummaging through his thoughts for a way to speak.
“Please don’t be sorry, baby. I should’ve known better that you had to have done it for a reason. I can’t believe I read that situation wrong. I’m the one who should be sorry… i just left you hanging that entire night, and then I had the nerve to yell at you…” Byeongkwan held back his tears weathering the burn of Y/N’s cries that filled the room in a swathe of ravaging waves. All Byeongkwan could do was hold on tighter and look back at himself, the Byeongkwan who thought that his boyfriend, the love sworn under the stars would have actually done that to him for a good reason. He could only imagine how Y/N could’ve been doing.
“I thought you were gonna end it…” Byeongkwan froze as Y/N cried into his shoulder, his hands bunching up Byeongkwna’s sweater. The thoughts that plagues the waning hours of the evening resurfacing, a mark that marred his conscience and blurred all the images of Byeongkwan smiling under their claimed sunsets. “I thought you were going to leave me right there, and it would’ve been all my fault because I just didn’t tell you what was going on… I don’t know what I’d do without you-”
“No no… Baby… Y/N… I’m not leaving you, Y/N, ever…” Byeongkwan cut Y/N off then and there. “Yes, I needed time to gather my thoughts about that night. But not once - not a single time - did leaving your side ever cross my mind. I left you alone with that kind of weight on your shoulders… How could I’ve assumed the worst of you…? You’re the most genuine and precious human being…” Byeongkwan cradled Y/N’s cheeks in his hands, easing a smile as he felt a kiss to his palm. Y/N burning his doubts in the touch that kept him from wanting their sheets to swallow him up in an endless night. “I put you in this position, I yelled at you, I pushed you, I’m the one who threatened everything we had all because I misunderstood you. I love you so much, okay? And I’ll make it up to you, please, I will.” Byeongkwna’s chest felt heavy, his breath crumbling like the silvers of the overcast evening leaking into the living room.
“You don’t need to do that, Kwan…” Y/N tried to steady himself in Byeongkwan’s embrace, the tremors in his sighs easing a little bit as a kiss was planted to his forehead and down to the corner of his mouth. They were small and tentative, but Byeongkwan could see them bloom, their flutter a glow under Y/N’s tear-stained cheeks. “I’ve just never seen you that hurt before, and to think I’d caused that…? I didn’t know what to do with myself, I wouldn’t know…” Byeongkwan shook his head and pushed a few locks of his hair away to look closer into his eyes. “Just know that I’ll never hurt you, never again…”
“I know, I know… There’s no way you could ever hurt me, there’s not a mean or malicious bone in your body… I’m so sorry…” Byeongkwan let those thoughts roam again, what he said all a drunken haze, but he remembered Y/N’s face, the way it contorted with his sadness and the confusion that followed, he never wants to see that kind of anguish to befall his smile ever again. He caressed Y/N’s cheek, a touch starved from the warmth of Y/N’s cheeks and the sparks that would ignite under his fingertips. Y/N wrapped his arms around Byeongkwan’s waist and brought him closer, his tears a faint feeling as he entwined his lips with Byeongkwan’s. His head hit the seat of the couch and hands kneaded into his hips, Byeongkwan’s prayer at Y/N’s altar.
Byeongkwan let out a breath and let it seep into Y/N’s chest as they parted, kissing Y/N’s fingertips as he leaned up. “I’m really glad we made up, and that I was filled in on the actual situation… Thank you for that. I appreciate you so much”
“Of course.” Y/N cracked a smile as Byeongkwan stood up from off the couch and walked towards the kitchen with a parting kiss, tongue pressing between Y/N’s teeth.
“You wanna pick the movie for tonight? It’s the least I owe you…” Y/N perched himself by the arm of the couch, tilting his head as he met Byeongkwan’s gaze from across the room.
“What privilege…” Y/N’s giggles always knew how to part Byeongkwan’s skies, “but like I said-”
“At least let me cook.” Byeongkwan smiled as he turned the corner, but popped back out when he heard nothing but the deafening, shrill cry of silence.
“You? Cooking? I don’t want you to bring an early apocalypse!” Y/N scurried off the couch and grabbed Byoengkwan’s hands, pulling him in for a peck to his lips. Byeongkwan let a grin flourish with a chuckle and tangled it between their tongues. “Let’s do it together.”
Together… That word set a flutter alight in Byeongkwan’s stomach and made his heart skip a beat like stones on their favourite riverside. He still will never forget the look on Y/N’s face when he almost shoved him in. He could still see the aurora blue of the early dawn rise like a mist on their late mornings to come and their laughter settling high above the tree lines on the mornings where they just wanted to be alone. Them and a nameless sky to call their own.
“You and me…?” Byeongkwan rocked on his toes, taking in the way the comets in Y/N’s eyes still managed to capture him even under their kitchen lights.
The thought of walking through those doors was intimidating. I’d put it off ever since I’d broken up with my ex, but it’s time I move on. I breathe in then out and walk through the gym doors.
“Hi, welcome. How can I help you?” Hearing the employee at the front desk.
“Hello, just coming back after a break.” I say, scanning my card to allow me access. They thank me for coming back and I head to the locker room to put my stuff away.
Looking down as I come out, I run into someone, “Oops, I’m so sorry.” Looking up, I notice it’s a guy with blonde hair and light brown eyes.
“It’s alright. No big deal.” He says, chuckling.
“I’m glad, some would be completely rude and it’s my first time back in about 6 months. I don’t want to ruin it.” I ramble. I realize and take a deep breath, making myself chill.
“You’re alright, promise. And that’s awesome that you got back into it, most would give up and just stay away.” He smiles. His smile is adorable.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” I smile back.
“I’m Byeongkwan. Nice to meet you.” He says, holding out his hand. I tell him my name and shake his hand, smiling bigger, “It’s nice to meet you, too.”
Saying goodbye, that was the end of our conversation that day. I went back a few more times over the next few weeks and we talked for a bit those days that we were both there. Exchanging numbers, we even went for coffee once...or twice. The next gym day came and I lay in bed, still sore from the last one, and debate on whether or not I should go or stay in bed. I decide to get up and put on my gym clothes.
I walk into the gym an hour later and I see Byeongkwan was lifting weights in the front of the gym. I head to the locker room after scanning in and decide to go to the treadmills at the back. I rotate walking and running for a while, then head to the leg machines.
Sitting down on one, I put the appropriate weights on and start. Halfway through my reps, I hear a laugh that I loathe, “Hey, I see you’re back again.”
“Great, I see you’re here.” I say, rolling my eyes.
“Is that anyway to treat the best thing you ever had?” He smirks.
“Believe me, if I thought you would be the best thing I would ever have, I’d lock myself in a tower and throw away the key.” I retort.
“Oh, still touchy about it, I see.”
“If I recall, I broke up with you, Daniel.”
The unhappy memories flood back and my anger dissipates, trying to turn into anxiety.
“You can think that babe, but we know you’ll try to come back.” Daniel chuckles. My breathing increases, but one would think it’s from the leg exercises.
“Hey, baby. I thought I saw you.” I hear, butterflies forming in my stomach at the voice. Byeongkwan bends down and kisses my cheek, “Play along.” he whispers, as a blush crosses my face.
“Hey, yeah. Sorry. I was just about to come find you.” I say, smiling up at him.
“Hey man, I’m Byeongkwan.” He says, holding out his hand to the idiot on the other side of me.
“Daniel.” He smiles, shaking Byeongkwan’s hand.
“Nice to meet ya, man,” He replies then looks down at me, “Are you about ready? We have dinner reservations with my parents in a few hours.”
I smile and nod, “Yeah, I was about done. This was the last thing I had to do.”
“Alright,” he looks back up at Daniel, as do I and his face is full of frustration.
“Nice to meet you, again, but I gotta get my girl home so we can get ready. Maybe we’ll see you around sometime.” He smiles at Daniel, who still looks just as frustrated.
“Yeah, maybe.” He says, then looks down and glares slightly at me.
I stand up, “Ready when you are. Just let me grab my bag from the locker room.”
Heading towards the locker room, Byeongkwan follows me to the door, “I’ll meet you right here.”
I nod, not arguing with the look on his face.
Grabbing my bag, I walk back out and see Byeongkwan standing there with his arms crossed, waiting for me. Daniel is standing there too, talking to him again.
“Hey, hon. Are you ready?” I smile, putting my arm through his to loosen the tension, hopefully.
“Yeah, I’m ready.” He smiles down at me, “See ya around.” he nods to Daniel.
“For sure.” Daniel says. Byeongkwan walks me out and steers me away from my car, only to go to his.
“You don’t need to take your car yet. I bet he watched us the whole way out.” He said, unlocking his car doors.
“What? How do you know?” I say, looking back and not seeing anything.
“Just a feeling.Does he know where you live?” He asks.
I nod at him.
“Who is he?” He says, getting in and opening the door for me from the inside. I get in and sigh.
“First, thank you for saving me in there, I’d have lost a lot of hard work if you hadn’t come over. Second, he’s my ex. When I left he started stalking me. I was terrified to do anything.” I state.
“So that’s why it took you so long to come back?” He asks.
“Mostly, I wanted to be stronger mentally before I knew I would end up facing him again.”
“You say that like he hurt you in some way.”
“He did. But, I’m better now, or so I thought.” I say.
“Well, I’d call us friends, wouldn’t you?” He asks.
“Yeah, for sure.” I say, “Why?”
“Because, he doesn’t sit right with me and I don’t want you going back there by yourself. So either I’m going with you or you're going to my place. But if I go to yours, I’ll have to go get clothes.”
“Um, well.. I guess you can come to my place. You’d have to bring me back to my car later anyway.”
“Alright. Then to my house it is.” He starts the car and we take off.
It wasn’t very far to his place, we walked in and 4 guys were sitting on their couch, watching tv.
“Hey Bk, what’s up?” One with platinum hair asks.
“Nothing Donghun, just came to grab some clothes. I’ll fill you in later.” He says.
“Okay? Who’s this?” Another asks, smiling.
“A friend, Jun. Don’t worry about it.” Byeongkwan smiles at the black, curly haired one.
I smile and tell them my name anyway, being polite and Byeongkwan sarcastically glares at me. I giggle and wave him off. He heads to a bedroom and closes the door behind him.
“So, you go to the gym we go to?” Donghun asks.
“Mhmm. I started going back last week.” I smile at him.
“That’s cool. Do you enjoy it? I’m Chan, by the way.” He smiles.
“I do. I took a break for a while to figure some things out and finally decided it was time to go back.” I say.
“Ah, that’s cool. We all try to go to the gym when we have time. Bk is the only one that makes time. He loves working out. You’d think it was relaxing for him...” Chan explains, chuckling. I laugh and Byeongkwan walks out into the living area.
“Alright, I’m ready.” He says, eyeing them as I laugh, “What did you say?”
“Just that you and the gym have a close relationship.” The one I don’t know their name, says.
“Sehyoon. Oh my gosh guys, come on. Don’t be weird.” He says groaning and rolling his eyes.
“We aren’t… Chan is.” Jun says, pointing to Chan.
“I am not.” The man laughs.
“They’re not. I know you like working out. It shows.” I say, my face turning red as the words came out of my mouth. Byeongkwan smiles, turning slightly pink and chuckles.
“Come on, it should be okay to take you back to get your car now.” He says, shaking his head.
“Alright. It was nice to meet you guys.” I smile and wave at them.
“Yeah you too. Maybe we can hang out sometime.” Jun smiles as the rest wave back. Walking out the door, I hear Jun get hit with something a few times and playfully scream. I peek my head back in the door and the others are all cackling, while Jun is crouched in the floor gasping for air from laughing so hard.
“I’m coming.” Byeongkwan laughs, noticing me in the doorway. He closes the door once we both get out.
“Sorry about them. They’re weird.” He smiles, seeming kind of embarrassed.
“No, it was fun, They were adorable.” I laugh.
We get back in his car and go back the way we came. Getting to my car, I hop in and he follows me back to my apartment.
“You sure you’re okay with this?” He asks.
“Honestly, with how he made me feel today. I’m more than okay with it.”
I unlock my door and go in, taking my shoes off and showing him where he can sit his stuff.
“Do you want something to eat or drink?” I offer.
“Nope, I actually do have dinner with my parents tonight though. But, you’re coming with me.”
“Byeongkwan! No. No. I can’t. I can stay here, lock myself in and you can text or call me every so often.” I say, startled at the news.
“No way. I don’t know what he did when you were with him, but I just don’t want to leave you alone tonight. Plus, I kind of already told them you’d be coming” He says looking down.
“When? How?” I laugh.
“While we were back at my place.”
“Byeongkwan!” I groan, “Ugh. What should I wear?”
He smiles, “Just casual clothes are fine.”
I show him to the bathroom and he takes a shower. I look for clothes to wear before I shower next and get stuck between a white one and a black one. A few minutes later, I hear him walking out and I go to ask him what shirt would be better.
Hey, Byeongk- Oh! My bad.” I say, looking down, realizing he’s without a shirt and blush. My eyes stay there and take note of his amazing body. Muscular, but not overdoing it like some do… and his abs. I clear my throat and bring my eyes back to his face, his eyes are gorgeous and his lighter skin makes him adorable... He has nice lips that would be great to kiss, too. I finally notice he’s smirking and look away.
“Sorry, I left my shirt on top of my bag.” He says.
“It’s alright.” I chuckle. I let him pass and he goes to grab his shirt.
“Did you need something?”
“Huh? Oh! Which shirt?”
“Hmm… Well, I don’t know the dinner menu tonight, so I’d go with black.
“Well suggested…” I laugh and he smiles.
After I get ready, we head to his parent’s house. I was deep in thought most of the way there. I wondered why he was being this protective to be honest. Did he actually like me? Did Daniel say something to trigger him at the gym? Does he feel responsible for me? All these questions running through my head and I have no answer to any of them.
“You alright?” I hear Byeongkwan ask.
“Yeah, just thinking about some things.”
“Anything you want to talk about?”
“Not really? I mean there’s things I want to talk to you about, but it’s not necessarily a conversation to have on the way to your parent’s house.”
“Go ahead. We have time.” He smiles.
“O- Okay… Well first, I wanted to ask if Daniel had said anything to hint that he might cause trouble with me?”
“No, I tried to keep him away from the subject of you.”
“Okay.”
“What’s the next thing?”
“Huh?” I ask.
“You said the first thing was the Daniel question. Is there more?”
“Well, yes. Kind of…”
“Shoot.”
“I’m not sure if I want to ask or not.”
“Come on now. I’ll be 100% honest.”
“Okay…. Do you feel responsible for me because you were there and you saw what was happening? Or. Or do you like me?” I ask, hesitating on the last question.
His hands tighten on the steering wheel a little, while he looks like he’s thinking super hard.
“That’s honestly a harder question than I’d thought it would be.”
“How so?”
“Okay, so it’s not a hard question to answer, it’s just- you know what. Yes.”
“Yes what?” I ask, confused.
“The truth is, I do like you.. I have for a bit now, but never could get up the courage to do something about it. And yes, I did feel a little responsible, only because I felt like if I hadn't been there, you would have had a panic attack and I don’t want that to happen.”
I have no words to say to him. I was in shock more or less…
“You can say something, you know?” He frowns.
“I would, if I could think of the right thing to say.”
“Great.”
“No. no. no, I don’t mean in a mean way. I just mean, well I like you too and I’m really honored that you helped me today, not knowing how I'd react.” I say.
“Really?”
“Yes, really.” I smile and he smiles back, continuing on our drive. Looking over at him, I feel like he seems more relaxed.
“We’re almost there. Another 5 minutes or so…” He says, smiling.
“Okay.” I say, as my nerves start to pick up slightly.
“You don’t have to be nervous. They’re great, I promise.” He chuckles.
“I don’t doubt that one bit… They seemed to have raised you well.” I smile and notice a blush appear on his face.
Pulling up to a cute little white house, I feel my stomach drop.
“We’re here.” Byeongkwan states.
“It’s cute.” I smile at him.
“It is. And don’t worry, I think you’ll do fine, no pressure. It’s not like we’re dating.” He states, looking away.
“Yeah, but still. Meeting someone’s parents is important either way.”
“True. But they’ll like you,”
We get out of the car and walk up to the house. He knocks a few times before a woman with dark hair and Byeongkwan’s eyes answers, “Hello, my boy.” She says smiling and looking behind him at me.
“And hello to you too.” She says, smiling widely.
I smile and bow, “Hello. Nice to meet you.”
We go inside and his father is just as welcoming. We greet each other and sit down to talk for a bit before dinner is done.
When his mom calls us to the table, I notice several dishes I loved. I’d never told Byeongkwan, so he wouldn’t have known… so maybe these are his favorites too?
“It all looks so amazing.” I say, looking up at her as she places rice in the middle of the table.
“Thank you, dear.” She says, happily and takes her seat at the table, next to her husband. They were on one side and we were on the other.
“I’m glad you came today. It’s nice to meet you. Especially after Byeongkwan told us a lot about you.” His dad said. I blush and look down at my plate.
“Ah, come on dad!” Byeongkwan says, putting his face in his hand.
“Well! Ah, okay.” He grumbles. We eat and speak in light conversation, laughing as they embarrass their son for the rest of the night and finally say our goodbyes.
Heading to my house, the car is quiet. Neither of us saying a word, so I decide to break the silence…
“Your parents seem really great.” I smile, looking towards him.
“Thanks, I think they are.” He says, smiling back at me.
“Eyes on the road, sir.” I laugh, pushing on his cheek to turn his head so his eyes are back on the road. He chuckles, but does it.
Ten minutes lanter, we arrive back at my place. As I walk down my hall, I notice my door is open..
“Byeongkwan.” I whisper, stopping.
“I see it. Stay out here.” He whispers back.
“No, let’s just call the cops. They can come check it out.” I say, grabbing his hand to keep him beside me.
“It could take them forever. What if the person is still in there?” He asks.
“Exactly… what if it’s Daniel and you get hurt?” I ask. He sighs, pulling out his phone and calling the police.
“If they come out, I’m taking whoever it is out.” He says, as he hangs up the phone.
“Deal.” I agree.
Within 10 minutes, there were 2 cops at the side of my door, about to charge in with their guns ready. One pushes open the door and they charge in. :Police! Stop where you are.” One says. Then, I hear pans crashing, a lamp break and a gun goes off. I start to panic and Byeongkwan wraps me in his arms and I bury my face in his chest, waiting for the noise to end.
“Shhhh, it’s going to be alright. I’m right here.” He says, covering my ears.
“Ma’am?” The officer says. Byeongkwan uncovers my ears and I look up at the cop.
“Yes?” I ask, nervous.
“You two did the right thing. There was a man in there. He seemed to be waiting on you. Do you know him?” He asks. The other cop marches exactly who I’d expected out of my door… “Daniel Green.” I say, squeezing Byeongkwan’s hand. He goes to radio the incident in and I turn and wrap my arms around the man who I felt safe with.
“Hey, he’s coming back, come on. I’m not going anywhere.” He reassures me.
“I understand you’d had an order of protection against him, did that just expire?” He says walking back up us and I nod.
“Well, you got lucky then. It seemed he knew when it would expire too.” He says, frowning, “grab what you need to and I’d suggest staying somewhere else tonight.”
I nod, tears streaking my face.
“You can stay at my place. Wait here with the officer and I’ll get our stuff.” Byeongkwan says.
“Okay…. Thank you.” I say, trying to stop the tears.
An hour later, we finish up at the police station as my place is being searched for more evidence. We leave and head to Byeongkwan’s place. His roommates immediately open the door and engulf me in a group hug. I smile and hug them as best as I can.
“Okay, let her through. She’s exhausted.” Byeongkwan says, grabbing my hand and taking me to his bedroom.
“You can sleep here, I don’t mind.”
“Will you lay with me? I don’t want to be alone right now.” I admit.
“I can, but I didn’t plan on letting you out of my sight anytime soon.” He smiles, wrapping me in a hug and laying his forehead against mine.
“Forever?” I smile.
“Forever is a long time. Are you sure you can handle me for that long?”
Looking up at him, I smile and kiss his perfect lips, “Forever it is then.”
Summary: What A.C.E would do when they encounter a scary movie.
*****
Donghun- Donghun and I rested on the bed. The tv played a thriller, the sound engulfing the room. Donghun laid on his back, his chest bare as he laid with his shirt off. His skin was warm as I laid on top of his chest, my hand rested on his peck as my head laid against his collarbone to view the tv better. His heartbeat was calm as we watched, but I could feel mine beating out of my chest. My hand rubbed his chest gently, but when a jump scare appeared on screen my menstruations would stop, causing Donghun to let out a deep chuckle.
"You may want to close your eyes, princess." Donghun tells me as his lips rest against the top of my head, his voice a deep whisper.
As his sentence finishes, a scream comes from the tv as the murder appears on the screen. I gasp as I turn my head, my face against Donghun's chest as I breathe heavily from my rapid heart. Donghun pulls me closer to his body with his arm, his squeeze comforting.
"It's over now." He tells me as I lift my head back up to watch the movie.
Jun- We had built a blanket fort, one that filled the living room, giving us plenty of room to roll around in as we watched the movie. It was my idea to watch the scary movie. Jun protested severely, but when I promised him a pillow fort and lots of kisses to distract him he, reluctantly, agreed. When the music became suspenseful, Jun would scooch over to my side of the fort. He would cuddle me quickly, burying my face into his neck to shield me from the scariness. He wanted to hide himself too, but his care was more concerned for me. I lift my head to look at him, grabbing his face in my hands. I pull his lips to mine, our eyes closing as the music increases in intensity. I could feel Jun's heartbeat through his neck, it pulsing in fear. I keep his lips on mine until the music calms.
"There is no point of even watching the movie." Jun states with fear still in his eyes.
"I promise you wont see anything scary." I tell him with my forehead touching his, leaning back in when the music came back in.
Byeongkwan- It was his idea, mostly because he admitted to wanting me to cower into him. He picked the scariest movie he could think of just to have me on top of him.
When the antagonist appears on the screen, I scream hiding my face in my pillow.
I hear Byeongkwan chuckle. "Baby, you can come over here, I'll protect you."
I contemplate his offer, wanting to stubbornly stay away from him cause I knew that's what he wanted. But my heart was was palpitating making his offer seem desirable.
Suddenly, a screech came from the tv, making Byeongkwan jump. I laugh as I continue to hide my face.
"Baby, let's protect each other." Byeongkwan whines as he crawls over to me.
"I think you're the baby now, baby." I giggle as he lays his head on my lap.
He bites my thigh, making me screech.
"it distracted you from the movie." He winked.
I pull his hair, making him groan out in pain.
"It distracted you from the movie." I mimic back.
Byeongkwan smirks as he lifts up to continue distracting me from the movie.
Seyoon- It wasn't a movie we realized was scary, but as it kept playing the scarier it got. we had started on opposite sides of the couch, but as it progressed I continued to scoot closer to Seyoon, crawling onto his lap.
"We can turn it off, Honeybee." Seyoon whispers as he goes tp grab the remote.
"No." I tell him grabbing his arm, looking up at him. "It's fine."
Suddenly, the tv screen flashes, illuminating the whole room. I gasp and bury my face into Seyoon's neck. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me fully into his body to where my head could rest in his neck for the remainder of the movie.
Chan- The rest of the boys had been watching the movie when Chan and I returned from our date. We sat down next to Donghun, cuddling into each other. I hear Donghun snigger, making me look at him. His eyes trained on the tv, but his lips were in an amused smile.
I shrug it off, going back to Chan. I look over to Jun, seeing his worried expression as he looked at the screen. Fear ran through my body as I worried about what movie was being played.
“What movie is this?” I ask Donghun in a whisper.
Suddenly, a man comes at the screen, making Jun, Chan, Byeongkwan and I let out screams. Chan and I screaming louder, because we didn’t realize we had walked into a scary movie.
“Why didn’t you warn us?” Chan screeches as he covers him and I with a blanket to hide us from the screen.
Donghun bursts into laughter. “You two are peas in a pod.”
“Pods being protection from scary things.” I shoot back quietly as I cuddle further into Chan as the scary movie floods our ears but not our eyes.
Summary: You’re the only one who knows of his curse, but that doesn’t mean you’ll help him break it.
Warnings: Kind of witch themes? I don’t quite know how else to describe it, curse themes, waking up in another body, cursing.
Word Count: 376
Byeongkwan woke with a start, sitting suddenly glancing down at his hands only to realize they were once again different than the day before, yet still not his own. Cursing under his breath and causing you to chuckle from your spot across the room. You seemed to be his only constant anymore as if to taunt him by always being there and always being yourself.
“Sucks doesn’t it?” You muse, hints of a smirk tugging at your lips noting how irritated he had become of the situation yet again this morning.
“If you’re not able to help, then why do you even bother with being here all the time?” He huffs, already done with your antics today, “ Can’t you see I’m fucking tired of this? Like you aren’t making it any better with your remarks.”
“I can help you, just not in the way you want. I’m here as a guide Byeongkwan, not as a solution. You’re going to figure out that part yourself.” You shrug following behind him as he searches for the kitchen in this new unfamiliar house.
“Well, it’s hard to think of a solution when you don’t even know what the fucking problem is.” Byeongkwan huffs, moving around to get a cup of coffee only to recoil at the taste. The new taste buds not appreciating his regular coffee preferences, “How am I supposed to fix the problem when I don’t even know the cause of where it all started?”
“Well, maybe that’s where you should start...at the beginning. Find out the reason you’ve been cursed and perhaps just perhaps you’ll figure out how to reverse the curse.” You suggest watching him whip up a new cup of coffee with a different concoction of ingredients hoping it’ll be palatable to this set of taste buds.
“I guess that would make sense, maybe I should retrace my steps from that day and see if I can think of anything...you know if we are even in Korea today.” Byeongkwan lifts the cup to drink only to spit the coffee out almost immediately.
“We are, that’s a good idea...you might want to try three creams and two sugars for that...oh and they’re allergic to peanuts so you might just want to avoid those today.”
I hear the soft creaking sounds, alerting me to the door being opened. I smile lightly, knowing it was Byeongkwan coming home from practice. He closes the door quietly, probably thinking I was already asleep. I hear his feet shuffle across the floors, making their way into the living room where I laid out on the couch.
The small lamp to the side illuminated the room slightly, making Byeongkwan notice me right away.
“Hey.” I greet him softly, putting my phone behind me on the side table that sat next to the couch.
“Hey.” He whispers back tiredly, shuffling over to the couch.
When he reaches me, he crawls onto the couch and over me. I open my arms wide with my smile widening. He flops himself onto my body, earning a small ‘oof’ from my mouth from his full weight being applied to me. The small ‘oof’ quickly turns into a quiet giggle as Byeongkwan rests his head on my chest, his hands resting on my ribcage loosely.
“Long day?” I ask him as I begin to run my fingers through his hair gently, causing him to sigh out deeply.
He nods his head against my chest, making me look down to his relaxed form. I slowly raise my leg to barricade him from falling off the couch and to give me some leverage to adjust my body slightly.
“Am I too heavy?” He mumbles against my shirt, his breath tickling my skin.
“No.” I assure him quickly. “Let’s just stay like this.”
He hums in agreement as I continue to play with his hair, twirling it around my fingers.
“Sleep well.” I tell him before kissing his head gently.
The only thing I get from him in response is heavy breathing, indicating he had fallen asleep.
I sigh contently as I slowly begin to drift to sleep also, enjoying the small moment that we got to share together, filling my stomach with butterflies and my heart with happiness.
A fic for those cold and lonely days when all you want is a hot cocoa cup and a hug from your boy Byeongkwan <3
“ I swear every moment I spend with you feels like the best moment ever “
«We are reaching temperatures of 3°C in some parts of the country, expect strong wind and cloudy skies. Our advice is to stay inside and drink warm soup, if you have to go out, please wear warm clothes. Now it is time for some traffic news: in the A69, an accident...»
You looked out of your window and pulled the blanket that was already around your shoulders a little bit closer. It was so cold, you were thinking about putting some gloves on. “This must be the coldest November ever” you thought, “even the birds that are usually outside of my window are already gone, probably flying to the south looking for some warmth”.
Your parents were visiting your uncles in another village, so you and your brother were alone for the whole weekend, and he spent almost the whole day at his girlfriend’s house. Therefore, you were alone, cold and really bored.
In addition to all of that, there was something bugging you since you had woken up that day. Almost two weeks before, you had had one of the best days of your life: Your friends were all in a great mood, and the classes went by so quickly that you didn’t have time to get bored. After that, you went together to the movies, and your father gave you some money instead of telling you to pay for everything yourself, which was what usually happened. The movie you went to see had been playing already for a few weeks, so almost everyone had seen it already and you and your friends were the only ones in the room. Moreover, since you were also friends with the boys who worked there, you could sneak some burgers in and enjoy them while watching one of the greatest movies you’d ever watched.
One of the boys who worked at the cinema, Byeongkwan, and you had gotten pretty close since you had met each other almost a month and a half before. You knew you’d kind of started feeling things for this boy, but you could have never imagined that, that same day, he would walk you home after the movie had ended, look you in the eyes and ask you if you would go out with him.
Of course you had said yes, and after that you both had smiled all the way to your house, holding hands without even noticing.
However, something didn’t feel right... Two weeks in, and even though you had been chatting as usual, it felt like nothing had changed from when you weren’t a couple yet. He treated you the same way he treated any of his friends. He almost showed more affection to his colleague, Sehyoon, than to you!
You were starting to think that it had all been a dream... you were someone who usually spaced out, and maybe that’s what had happened after all. Maybe he walked you home in silence and your mind just made up everything so you wouldn’t have to deal with the awkwardness of just walking by his side without saying anything at all. “Yes, that’s probably what has happened” you told yourself, “we are not dating. It was just an illusion”. But, what if...?
Letting out a squeal of exasperation, you took your phone and texted one of your closest friends asking for reassurance.
(y/n): hey boo
(xxx): don’t you dare ask me for my geography notes again I told you to stop drawing instead of paying attention to the teacher and you didn’t listen so it’s only your fault.
(y/n): I WAS NOT GOING TO ASK YOU FOR THAT KSNFVPKNSD
(xxx): okay then what? Byeongkwan?
(y/n): ...
you know what, I’ll just text Chengze
(xxx): nooooo sorry sorry
this weather is bringing my grumpiness out *sigh*
tell me p l e a s e
(y/n): well...
am I dating Byeongkwan?
(xxx): WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT???
(y/n): SORRY it’s just... I just may think- I mean I am mostly sure- but I don’t know... I think I just made it up, you know? because it’s been almost two weeks now and we haven’t gone anywhere together, and we speak to each other like... like nothing has happened... I DON’T KNOW I’M JUST A MESS
(xxx): okay okay, chill girl, you haven’t made anything up, you guys are dating for sure. BUT honestly I think you should text him? it’s better if you tell him what you expect from him as your boyfriend and prevent any misunderstandings.
(y/n): :((
You shaked your head and let your whole body collapse onto your bed. Why did everything have to be so complicated?? Did you even know what you wanted Byeongkwan to act like? Wasn’t that a bit egotistic, making your boyfriend change his usual behaviour? But still... shouldn’t he treat you in a different way? you were his date, after all.
You still hadn’t texted him that day, so you decided to start a regular conversation and see how it went from there.
(y/n): hey Byeongkwan :) how is your day going? are you busy with work?
BK: hey! yes, we are a bit busy but our boss told us we could go home a bit earlier today so that’s great ;)
(y/n): awesome!! it’s so cold... be careful when you go out!
BK: yes don’t worry about me haha
“What does he mean -don’t worry about me??- of course I worry about him, he is my boyfriend! oh my this is so exhausting. I don’t understand anym-” a new message cut you off mid-sentence.
BK: should we meet today?
Your phone almost fell off your hands, as surprised as you were.
(y/n): sure!
BK: awesome! do you want to meet here at the cinema at 7? we can go somewhere from here
(y/n): okay :)
BK: great :) can’t wait to see you! I really wanted to go on a date with you soon 🙈
You could feel your cheeks turning pink and your lips turning upwards into a smile. You couldn’t believe you had been so worried about it, ugh, your smile slowly turned into cringe. But, enough of thinking about what had happened, it was time for putting on some nice warm clothes and heading out to the cinema.
A strong wind made the cold slip trough your clothes into your skin. You could amost feel it in your bones. You had only crossed the street, but your nose was already red and numb, and you couldn’t feel your toes. Gripping the edges of your jacket, you tried to hide your face under your scarf and walked as fast as your could. On your way to the cinema, you passed by a stall where an old woman was selling roasted chestnuts, one of your favourite autumn snacks. Your stomach roared, but you knew it wasn’t a good idea to stop, even if it was for a warm, just-out-of-the-oven cone of chestnuts.
Finally, you arrived at the venue and warmed yourself up by a heater while waiting for Byeongkwan to finish his shift.
“I’m done! (y/n)! you are shivering!! is it so cold outside?”
Byeongkwan pulled you into his arms and hugged you for a minute
“I think there are some stalls at the park where they sell hot cocoa and coffee! should we take a look?”
Drinking something warm sounded great, even if it was outside, so you agreed and both of you started walking in the park’s direction.
You started shivering again as soon as you went out of the door, so Byeongkwan let his arm rest on your shoulders and stroked your arm so it would warm up a little.
“Hey Byeong... Byeongkwan?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you”
He smiled at you, but his eyes showed concern, “are you okay? I think if we stay outside you are going to get sick”
“No! don’t worry! I’m fine!” going out with Byeongkwan had made you so happy that you thought it was worth bearing the cold... you really didn’t want to go back home and miss this opportunity, so you tried to seem cheerful and not bothered by the weather.
“You know what? I think we should stay inside today”
You were almost going to tell him again that everything was alright, but he continued, “why don’t we go to my apartment? Donghun is there, but he will be minding his own thing, and he’s a great cook! If you don’t mind him joining for dinner we can cook something together and then he will leave to work, so we can play some videogames in the living room or watch a movie! whatever you want” He smiled warmly, waiting for you to answer.
You had already been to his house with some of your friends, so even though it was the first time you would go as his partner, it didn’t feel so out of your comfort zone. You really liked Donghun too, he was always really chill and a great person to hang out with, so you liked the idea of having a warm dinner with them and then spending some alone time with Byeongkwan.
“Yes! that’s such a good idea I feel like crying!! this cold is killing me!!”
Byeongkwan laughed at your excitement and punched your arm softly, “you should have told me the truth! you are freezing!”
“I thought you were going to tell me to go back home!”
“Of course not, silly, I wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing I missed the opportunity of having a date with you. I know this past two weeks I have been acting kind of distant... and I wanted to say sorry. I was so worried yesterday, because I thought you were going to leave me for sure! but so many things were happening at the same time, and Jun has had it pretty rough lately, so I was really worried about him... but everything is back to normal and he’s doing well now! and I will treat you as you deserve from now on, I promise!”
“Oh my, and I thought I was the dramatic one! of course I won’t leave you just because of a stupid reason like that! you should have told me about Jun!!”
“Wait, were you also worried about us? I mean... as a couple”
“What? me? no? who? why?”
“Ooooh, so that’s why XXX told me that you were being in a bad mood today”
“XXX did what??!!?? I’m so going to kill her”
You both walked to his apartment, laughing and speaking about your nosy friend and how she and you were always jockingly arguing with each other.
When you finally were inside, Byeongkwan told you to leave your jacket and purse wherever you wanted to and said he had to pick something up, so he left you chitchatting with Donghun and went down the stairs again.
Ten minutes later, your boyfriend had brought you a cone of roasted chestnuts and a hot cocoa cup, and you were all chilling in the living room, you two sitting close to each other on a sofa, almost cuddling. You let your head rest on his shoulder and took a sip of your drink, “thank you Byeongkwan, I swear every moment I spend with you feels like the best moment ever”.
He giggled and caressed your hair, “(y/n), let’s have fun like this many times from now on, okay?”
