'choose me, PLEASE' | simp Haechan
summary: Haechan’s entire brain rewired after that single sentence sweet, shy, innocent Jisung oh-so nonchalantly said while eating a burger, and now? He’s on a mission.
this story is the sequel of:
╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ ‘choose me’ (wc: 0.8k) ʕ •ᴥ• ʔ ♡
pairings: haechan x afab!reader┊genre: fluff (with a sprinkle of comedy), hc is a hard simp who values consent & is patient┊wc: 2.8k┊cw: minimal cursing/swearing
a/n: thank u to the anon who motivated me to write this sequel 🫶
Lee Donghyuck, also known to the general public as Haechan, menace, chaotic but charming pos, vocal king, and professional yapper, was many things.
But above all?
He was head-over-heels, irrevocably, unapologetically, pathetically in love with you.
And damn, did everyone know it.
“You’ve literally been smiling at your phone for the past ten minutes,” Mark muttered, balancing a chopstick between his upper lip and nose for some unknown reason.
Haechan didn’t even look up.
“Can you blame me? She asked me out. ME! I was the chosen one.”
Renjun rolled his eyes. “You act like you didn’t spend months soft-launching her in every Instagram story and thirsting in her DMs.”
“Exactly! And all that hard work paid off,” Haechan declared, holding his heart like a Disney Princess who just found true love.
“This isn’t just a win for me. This is a win for all persistent, chaotic men out there.”
“You’re so dramatic,” Chenle snorted.
“Let him be,” Jaemin grinned. “He’s fucking in love.”
And yeah, he really fucking was.
After months of him yapping at you in hallways, showing up with your favorite drinks unannounced, and turning every conversation into a chance to make you laugh, you had reached out first for a date.
Haechan had been spinning since.
But he wasn’t blind. He knew your reputation very well.
People liked to talk. “Tinder girl” or “serial swiper”, as many people call you. And while it bugged him sometimes, he never said anything.
He liked you for you. Every unbothered, clever, sarcastic, onion-loving bit of you.
But then Jisung—sweet, shy, innocent Park Jisung who had zero idea what kind of bomb he was dropping—uttered a single sentence that rewired Haechan’s entire brain.
“Did you know she deleted Tinder.”
Haechan stared at Jisung like he had just grown a second head like the mythical creatures you two often talked about.
“What?”
“She deleted Tinder,” Jisung repeated, mid-bite of his burger.
“Said she’s not interested in dating around anymore, just seeing where it goes now with you.” he added, nonchalantly.
A hush fell over the lunch table.
Mark choked on his rice.
Chenle gasped so loudly, an old lady at the next table turned to look.
Jaemin screamed into a napkin.
Renjun and Jeno stared at Haechan like he was about to spontaneously combust.
And he kind of did.
“She deleted Tinder…” Haechan repeated, eyes wide. “For me???”
Jisung shrugged as he took another bite of his burger.
“I guess so.”
It was at that moment that Haechan knew he needed to step up his game. Again.
Not to win you over, though. You were already on your way to being his.
But to show you that he noticed.
That he cared about every little thing.
Your likes, your dislikes. Your stress levels, your bad back, your caffeine dependency, your hatred of soggy onions.
ALL of it.
So when he heard you were skipping lunch to prep for the university festival?
He rallied the squad.
You were sweating, covered in paint, and very close to committing minor arson when you heard it.
“Y/N!”
You turned around mid-rant after some freshman had dropped a whole box of flyers and froze.
Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Jaemin, Chenle, and Jisung were all standing in the middle of the hallway, looking way too clean and composed to be real.
“What the hell?”
“We’re here to help,” Mark said casually, already rolling up his sleeves.
“Are you serious? Why?”
“Because we like you,” Jaemin said with a wink.
“Because you clearly need it,” Renjun added, stepping over a paintbrush.
“Also because Haechan threatened us,” Jeno deadpanned.
“Where is Haechan?” you asked, suspicious.
“He’ll be here,” Chenle grinned. “Had to pick something up.”
You narrowed your eyes but didn’t argue. You were too tired, and honestly, you needed the help.
But of course, nothing was ever simple when the boys were around.
Because within five minutes, a group of university girls (probably from the next booth over) had started coming over where you were. Smiling, twirling their hair, leaning in to 'ask for help'.
“Hey, can you help me lift this? You look so strong,” one of them purred at Jeno.
“Uh… I have a girlfriend.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Chenle whispered. Jeno elbowed him in the ribs.
“Renjun, by any chance, are you single?” another girl asked, practically batting her eyelashes. Renjun didn’t even look up.
“Emotionally unavailable.”
“Hi, what’s your name?” someone tried with Jaemin.
“Sorry, I’m in love with someone else,” he said brightly, then muttered, “Who I haven’t even met yet, but I’m manifesting.”
But then the worst one turned to Haechan, who had just arrived—sweaty, breathless, arms holding a large paper bag.
“Hey, Haechan. I was wondering if we can go on a date after the festival?”
He didn’t miss a beat.
“No, I'm taken. Very taken. Stupidly, pathetically taken.”
The girl scoffed. “Oh, you serious?”
“Yeah. Serious enough that I’d reject you in this life, the next one, and every damn lifetime I get after that,” Haechan said, not even sparing her a glance as he pushed past.
He made a beeline for you.
“Did you think I’d let you starve again?”
You turned, surprised, as he dropped a paper bag in front of you.
Inside was your favorite food—with extra onions, just the way you liked it. Your go-to dessert and coffee from that café a good thirty-minute walk away. Energy drinks, and pain relief patches.
“For your back,” he added, holding them up proudly.
“Because I know it acts up when you’re stressed.”
You stared at him, the noise around you fading in the background.
“What the fuck,” you whispered. “How do you remember all this?”
He just grinned, boyish and cocky and painfully attractive.
“I just do.”
Hours later, when the festival prep was done and the guys had retreated to their dorms, Haechan found himself on your couch, legs tucked up, phone discarded somewhere.
“You wanna eat dinner?” he asked casually.
“I’m too tired to chew,” you groaned from where you were face-down in a pillow.
He clicked his tongue. “You can’t sleep on an empty stomach.”
“You gonna force-feed me?”
“I’m gonna cook for you, actually.”
“You can cook???”
“I can cook ramen,” he said, rummaging through your empty fridge and pathetic excuse of a pantry.
“You need to go grocery shopping.”
“No time.”
“We’ll go together this weekend.”
You didn’t argue.
Eventually, he found ramen and made it exactly the way you liked it. You took one bite and stared at him like he had just performed a miracle.
“What the—how the fuck did you make it perfect?”
With a smug smile, he slid his phone across the table.
“Notes app. Took notes during our FaceTime calls. Every time you made ramen, I watched, listened, and learned.”
You stared at him in disbelief.
“You have a Notes app entry dedicated to my ramen?” you said as you read the very detailed notes he took.
1. Add only half of the seasoning packet after 2 minutes of boiling 2. Add sesame oil; 1 and a half teaspoons only 3. Boil noodles for EXACTLY 3 min & 30 seconds; no more, no less!!!!!! 4. Turn stove off, add egg immediately, cover and leave to cook for 1 minute using residual heat 5. MOST IMPORTANT❗❗❗ Serve my 🤞future wife 👩❤️💋👨👰🏻🤵🏻🤞 with love 💖 affection 🥰 adoration 💕😍💘
“Don’t act surprised. You know I’m a hard simp for you.”
You laughed, loud and real. God, he loved that sound.
The two of you talked for hours. About nonsense, about dreams, about nothing and everything. And as you spoke, Haechan couldn’t stop staring.
The way your eyes lit up when you talked about something you loved. All your hand gestures. The way you tilted your head when you were about to say something smart-ass-y.
He was so screwed. So fucking screwed.
When it was time for him to leave, you walked him to the door, your voice softer than usual.
“Thanks for today, seriously… you were amazing.”
He shrugged, trying to seem cool despite the way his heart was screaming.
“Anything for you.”
You stepped in and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
His brain shut down.
“That’s for being sweet,” you murmured, visibly blushing.
He opened his mouth to say something. Maybe a joke, maybe a plea for another kiss.
But before he could even get the words out, you leaned in again and kissed him on the lips.
It was so sweet, so soft, so warm that Haechan felt all fuzzy inside.
Then you pulled back with a shy smile.
“You deserved that. Good night, Lee Donghyuck.”
Haechan walked home that night giggling like a damn schoolgirl, skipping down the sidewalk.
He didn’t sleep that night. He just couldn’t.
Too busy replaying the kiss. Too busy falling in love all over again.
Haechan was dead serious about grocery shopping with you that weekend. He never forgot the image of your empty fridge and pantry.
From the moment the shopping cart hit the tile floor of the supermarket, however, he knew he had made a mistake.
Not about coming here with you. Never about that.
But bringing along the rest of NCT DREAM? That was asking for chaos.
And they delivered.
Renjun and Chenle were three seconds away from a fistfight over which brand of dumplings “tasted like home".
Mark was trying to prevent Jisung from dumping eight family-size frozen pizzas into the cart.
Jaemin had disappeared somewhere near the meat section.
And Jeno… well, Jeno was quietly loading protein bars.
In the middle of it all was you, trying so hard not to lose your mind. Eyes sharp, sleeves rolled, your phone out with a list, and your tolerance hanging by a thread.
Haechan couldn’t stop staring at you in awe though.
You were tired, stressed, beautiful. His (even if you hadn’t officially said it yet; he just believed in manifestation). And he had never wanted to take care of someone more in his life.
He drifted toward you, grinning. “You good, baby?”
You let out a sigh.
“I just saw Jisung try to eat a dried squid like a snack.”
“Protein,” Haechan nodded seriously.
“You all have one brain cell and it’s constantly overheating.”
“And yet,” he said, bumping your shoulder playfully, “you keep showing up.”
You shook your head, but your smile tugged at the corners. He caught it, always did.
And then, he started his little mission.
While the guys fought over snacks and Jisung questioned the difference between ‘plain yogurt' and ‘Greek yogurt’, Haechan was pulling things from your cart and swapping them.
He snuck in quality produce, whole grains, probiotic drinks. Things he knew you never bought for yourself because they were too expensive or felt unnecessary.
“You’re not sneaky,” you whispered, catching him replacing your soda with vitamin water.
“I’m caring,” he replied. “There’s a difference.”
“You’re annoying.”
“You’re unhealthy. Let me love you properly.”
He meant it.
At checkout, you tried to pay. And Haechan—full-time menace, part-time boyfriend hopeful—snatched your wallet with reflexes born from years of being nosy.
“I got it.”
“Haechan—”
“Nope, I’m paying. You deserve nice things. Like salmon and A5 Wagyu.”
“It’s a grocery run, not a honeymoon—”
“Too late. I’m already emotionally invested in your fridge, your health, and your life.”
He said it so confidently, so shamelessly, the cashier actually giggled.
Haechan didn’t care. He tapped his card like it was nothing and slung the bags over his shoulders like a knight delivering offerings to his queen.
Back at your apartment, you both unpacked in comfortable silence. The rest of the guys had gone back to their dorms, and now it was just you and him.
Haechan placed your drinks in the fridge in rainbow order while you arranged the dry goods.
He felt good here, like he always belonged.
He snuck glances at you as you folded and stacked, moving around the space he now knew better than his own dorm kitchen. You looked peaceful, your brows slightly furrowed in concentration.
God, he was down bad.
Once everything was away, he leaned on the counter and gave you a look.
That look.
“What?” you asked, cautious.
“Can I kiss you?”
Your shoulders relaxed just a little.
“You’re asking?”
“I just want to make sure,” he said.
“Because this one’s not just for being cute... or for making Mark gag. This one’s because I’m into you. Deep. I want this to be meaningful.”
You smiled softly at him and nodded, “Yeah, I’d like that.”
Haechan didn’t think the moment could get any better after you said yes to the kiss.
He had asked because, of course, he would. He should.
That was just who he was with you: careful, patient, a little hopeless. Always waiting for the green light. And when you gave it with that soft smile on your face, he swore the earth tilted under his feet.
The kiss had been slow, sweet, and tender. And now, you sat next to him on your couch, your fingers still tangled with his, your heart steady but loud in the quiet of the apartment.
Then you looked at him, and he saw something shift in your eyes. Something big.
“Haechan…” you called softly.
“Can I be your girlfriend?”
His heart slammed in his chest.
He froze, blinking as if he hadn’t heard you right. But before he could say anything, you kept going.
“I think you’re the one I’ve been looking for all along. And I don’t know if it’s too late, but I really regret not making the effort to get to know you better earlier... I wasted so much time dating shitty men who couldn’t even treat me like a person… or see me the way you've always seen me.”
His chest ached, but you weren’t done.
“You were always there. Holding space for me... never asking for anything. And now, looking at you, I just—I can’t believe I didn’t see it before. You’re the best plot twist of my life.”
He swore time stood still.
“I’m sorry I made you wait this long. I’m sorry I was out there swiping left and right while you were just… quietly being everything I ever needed. Thank you for sticking with me, Lee Donghyuck.”
And then—
“I love you,” Haechan blurted.
The words slipped out so fast, so soft, he barely noticed he said them aloud until your eyes widened.
He didn’t even mean to blurt it—he was just overflowing with so much love for you. Shocked. Elated. Completely gone.
You finally chose him.
He took a shaky breath, calming his racing heart.
“I didn’t say it because I wanted anything back,” he murmured.
“I just… I’ve loved you for so long without needing you to love me too. But now you’re here saying all this… it feels like I finally got to wake up in the dream I’ve been stuck in for a long time.”
You stared at him, visibly flustered now, lips parted like you couldn’t figure out what to do with yourself. Your eyes flicked everywhere, anywhere but his, like his confession shut your brain off.
He chuckled softly. “You’re shy now? After all that?” he teased, leaning in just enough to nudge your nose with his.
“Do you know how long I’ve waited to hear you say anything like that?”
You couldn’t hide the obvious blush creeping up your face anymore, and with a small noise, you grabbed him and hugged him tightly, arms around his waist like you needed to hide in him.
Haechan melted immediately, arms coming around you, a huge smile tugging at his lips it almost hurt.
“God, you’re so cute,” he whispered into your hair.
“You’re done for, you know that? I’m gonna spoil you so bad, you’ll forget Tinder ever existed.”
You let out a muffled laugh against his chest.
And that’s when it finally hit him, the absurdity of it all.
“Oh my god, the guys owe me so much money.”
You pulled back slightly to look at him, confused.
“They all said I was delusional,” he said, dramatically rolling his eyes.
“That I’d stay your unofficial simp until I died. Jeno even bet me an entire month’s allowance that I’d never get past friend zone.”
You burst out laughing, and he grinned, leaning in like he was letting you in on a secret.
“But look at me now,” he whispered.
“Right here, with the girl who chose me.”
He kissed your cheek once, then twice for good luck, then smiled into your skin.
“I can’t wait to tell Jeno. I’m asking for payment in both hard cash and public humiliation.”
You giggled and leaned into him again, cheeks warm, heart full of happiness.
He was still Haechan. Dramatic, ridiculous, absolutely in love.
But now, he's officially yours.
accepting requests atm ₍ᐢ._.ᐢ₎♡
also—PRE-SIMP HAECHAN IS OUT!!!
╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ ‘simping 101: get roasted & love will follow’
