❝ We can always change this little particular ❞
Plot: When you and Jaebum are childhood friends but secretly love each other, until the day you two stuck into the elevator and confess your feelings.
Pairing: JaebumxReader
Words count: 3,3k+
Genre: RealLife!Au / Fluff
For anon, I hope you like it cutie! - M.
Gif isn’t mine, credits to the owner! ♥
"JAEBUM-AH!!"
You hated that kid. Now it was clear, but the more you were forced to spend time together and the more hatred towards him grew.
"Take Me Y/N" Jaebum yelled by continuing to wave your book, what you were quietly reading, threatening to throw it in your pool.
"How old are you? Five?? "
"Ten for accuracy! You're boring Y/N; Stop reading and come play with me. " He threatened you, pretending to drop the book into the water. At that sight you began to run towards him and threw you on him, dropping both in the pool.
You had never been a quiet little girl and Jaebum should have learned it at his expense after all those years. Returning to the surface, you would take your breath, rest your hands on his shoulders and push him down as you could. You had three copies of that book, he simply had to pay for his behavior.
"Now I'm going to drown you so I'll stay at peace for my entire life!" You screamed by continuing to keep him underwater, while he clasped his arms around your legs starting to pull you down.
"JAEBUM-SSI, Y/N-SSI"
Your father's personal assistant voice made you almost scared, so you left the grip on Jaebum's shoulders and he was finally able to go back to the surface. He coughed spitting water and you threw him a deadly glance, swimming then to the ladder and coming out of the pool shuddering a little.
"Never joke with me, Im Jaebum." You murmured, turning to look at him, still in the middle of the pool that stared at you upset.
~ ~
"So the perimeter of a triangle is the sum of its sides?"
"Jaebum is the twentieth time I tell you...."
"I don't like Algebra." He objected, flapping his head on his algebra book, letting himself escape a whipped groan.
You shook your head and tried to focus on your Shakespeare poem, even though his presence didn't help you at all. Feeling his scent, his voice repeating mathematical concepts, his biting the pen cap, everything made you lose the concentration.
You didn't know when you started having feelings for him, but until that moment it was the worst thing in your life. Im Jaebum was the most unpleasant guy ever and you liked him to go crazy.
"How do you study if you keep your face hidden against the book?" You asked in a low voice, looking him with the tail of the eye and preventing you from passing your fingers through his hair, looking too soft and delicate to be able to resist.
"Direct acquisition, informations pass into my brain through the book."
"Jerk."
"Moderate your language," he snorted by giving you a pinch on your forearm, and you immediately gave him a slap on his neck, causing him to turn up.
You looked at him with that expression of challenge you knew he hated, biting your soft lower lip while waiting for his move. His eyes almost burned with anger but he said nothing and returned to focus on his book, turning with his body to the side so as to give you his back.
"Theatrical as always."
"Listen Y/N, I don't want to be here listening to your ass tricks. I need to pass this algebra test or my father locks me at home to life and destroys my credit cards. "
His surge of anger didn't surprise you, he was always a hot head, but you started to feel a slight sense of guilt pinching the bottom of your soul. At the end you grew together, you could give him a few minutes of peace.
"Do you care about credit cards?"
"No, I don't like being in the house with my parents and my brothers, you know."
He had already calmed down, but his gaze was about to show how much he hated his family situation. Being the youngest child of one of the most influential chaebol family in all of Korea wasn't easy. It wasn't easy for you either, in your own situation, but you had much less concern than him.
Gently you took his algebra book, starting to write notes on the sides of the pages in a clear and precise way. He watched you quietly, just protruding his head to understand what you were doing and the smile that he gave to you shortly after was worth the effort to be polite.
"You're saving me."
"You'll return the favor, okay?" You said right away, bowing your head to hide the redness on your cheeks.
"It will be done, shorty."
~ ~
"They send you to America to study..?"
"If I want to work in the family company, yes.."
"But you hate that company, Y/N."
You shrugged your shoulders, driving away the sense of nausea that assailed you for days. It was a constant, sickening pain and had brought you to quarrel several times with your parents. But you couldn't disobey, that was your future, and as much as you hated him, you could only accept it.
Jaebum held his hands in his pockets, looking at you and for a short while he seemed almost sorry for your departure. But his expression immediately returned that of ever, sulky and bored.
"You try not to piss your father too much, Jae.."
"Otherwise it sends me to China, I know." Like you, he shrugged his shoulders and looked around swaying on his feet.
He seemed uncomfortable, but with Jaebum you could never decipher what was going into his head. You would have liked to hug him, tell him how much you cared for him and what you were feeling, but it wouldn't bring anything good.
"If you tell someone what I'm about to do I'll kill you," He whispered and suddenly you found himself engulfed in his arms, with his chin resting on your head and his hands intertwined against your back.
Despite the initial shock, you immediately went to surround your arms around his hips and tightened you against him.
It was the last chance to feel his scent and the beating of his heart, slow and cadence, almost a lullaby for you at that moment. The tears pinched your eyes and a little sob escaped from your lips, to which he pushed you away and took your face in his hands, giving you a small and shy smile.
"Yah, don't cry I know you'll feel my absence but try to contain you. You'll be back soon. " He said trying to cheer you up; "Then maybe you'll meet the Prince Charming who dreams since forever and you'll be happy."
"I'm 19, you idiot.."
"More than the age you have to worry about your character." He guffawed and you immediately stomped his foot, making him jump backward and start to inveigh against you, with a thousand of curses.
"Go to Hell, Im Jaebum."
~ ~
"These are the statistics of last month, Y/N-SSI"
"Thank you Yugyeom, you can go." You would leave him with a smile, starting to check the documents he had just brought you.
Five months in Korea and you had already taken your place in the family society, as you had been predicted years earlier. You would have wanted to stay in America for escaping to that, but it had been practically impossible.
Your duty wasn't the only thing you were trying to escape from. The other was high a meter and seventy, had dark and deep eyes, a body to envy and a horrible personality.
You had seen him a few weeks earlier as he entered the headquarters of his family's society and almost didn't recognize him. He wore a black suit and was incredibly nice, maybe even too.
"Miss, there is the Im company representative. I let him in?? "
Hidden among your thoughts, you made a nod with your hand, continuing to keep your eyes on the documents in front of you as if your appointment wasn't really important.
"Y/N.."
A distraught whisper made you raise your face and in front of you, in his meter and seventy and a gray suit, hair perfectly hairstyles and penetrating gaze, there was your crush from the times of high school.
Im Jaebum stared at you like you was a ghost and stood still in the middle of the room, his hands into the pocket as always, and you couldn't decipher whether he was happy or not to see you.
Your six years in America didn't help you forget about him, but it even made things worse. Even if you had a boyfriend, you didn't feel practically anything for him except the obligation to your parents who were trying to find you a husband.
"Hey..."
"When did you come back?"
"Five months ago.." Your delicate voice came out almost guilty, while you got up and doing the lap of the desk you approached him; "I didn't have much time to greet everyone.. Father sent me right here. " You added, holding to him your hand that he squeezed in his own, big double of yours.
"Your father doesn't like to waste time, it's nice to see you again."
"You're lying."
"Yes, you've always been a pain in the ass but at least I know who I have to do business with," He laughed mildly and you felt hurt by that phrase, you forgot his "delicate" manners and immediately left the grip and walked away.
You had to be professional, despite the turmoil of emotions that unleashed within you.
~ ~
"You grew up."
You just nodded as you walked at his side, in the direction of the elevators, hoping that the torture would end quickly. The last forty-five minutes had been a torture for you, having to talk to him as if he was a stranger, his avoiding your gaze but focus on the papers. It had been all at your disadvantage but now the freedom seemed incredibly close.
"I go with you" You murmured by crushing the call button of the elevator, starting to tap with the shoe on the floor, trying to hide your increasing nervousness. "So you finally took your place in the company? Forced or..? "
"Volunteer, my grandfather made me do an internship while I was at university and I discovered that oddly I liked it."
"I'm glad" You were lying, but you wouldn't have told him for sure. You would have liked at least him to be free from that commitment that your name has always imposed on both of you.
Finally, the doors of the elevator opened and both entered, you left him the task of crushing the lobby button and you leaned on the wall behind you. You closed your eyes, without seeing Jaebum your day had been a heavy day and that had only worsened it; trying to relax for those few minutes of break that you were indulging.
"Are you alright, Y/N?"
"Mh? Yes, it's just tired--"
The phrase died on your lips because a violent jolt made you almost fall if it wasn't for him that immediately supported you. You thanked him with a little smile and immediately walked away from him; the contact was forbidden for you; realizing at that time that the elevator wasn't moving.
"We are stuck Y/N"
"You're a genius, Jaebum!"
"Calm, don't dump your stress on me." He placed himself on the defensive, approaching the panel and pressing the emergency button with ease. You watched him upset, you couldn't figure out how he could be so calm, while he sat on the ground and extracted his phone from his jacket pocket.
"There is no signal either."
"Yes, it happens in the elevators!"
He snorted and left his phone on the floor next to him, crossing his arms over his knees and starting to whistle a song you didn't know.
"Do you even dare to whistle?!?! I wonder when they pull us out! "
"What should I do? Going crazy like you do? No Thanks, you're enough for both."
"Fuck you, Jae."
You were furious with him for his calm, so despite the narrow space you sat on the other side of the elevator and you squeezed your knees into your chest. You hated the elevators for that reason, you were never sure if such a thing could have happened to you or not.
"Y/N calm down.. They'll come fast. "
"I said fuck you, don't talk to me."
He didn't answer you, and you hid your face against your knees, trying to control the anxiety that was beginning to dwell in you.
Suddenly his arm rested around your shoulders and he gently drew you to himself, starting to caress your shoulder in a reassuring manner. It was strange a similar gesture on his part, but you wouldn't say anything and you kept your face hidden against your knees after you took off your heels to stay more comfortable.
"Are you still afraid of enclosed spaces..?"
"Yup.."
"It will be all right, Y/N" He reassured, continuing to caress your shoulder gently and clinging you more to himself; "Then how was America?"
"So so.. It wasn't home.. "
"But still it was interesting no? "
"Of course. Parties, study, study, study, having to satisfy my parents' wishes. "
Jaebum just laughed at your sarcasm while you concentrated on that sound. His laughter was one of the things that you missed most and at that moment you started to feel the impulse to tell him everything. You didn't understand if it was the anxiety of being locked up with him in the elevator, but you needed to tell him at least once what you felt.
"I marry in a few months" It was the only thing you said and immediately the gentle pat on your shoulder stopped, forcing to raise your face. "Jae..?"
"Congratulations." He hissed between his teeth, fixing a point specified in front of him and that reaction left you surprised so that you put your hand on his cheek and turned his face towards you.
"You know you don't seem very sincere..?"
"I can't be blamed." He said without looking into your eyes, freeing himself from your grip with a rude gesture and standing up. The space remained little but he moved away from you, resting his forehead against the wall of the elevator.
After a few seconds, he began to punch the cold metal on which he was resting, slightly scaring but above all worrying. You immediately got up and without making any noise you approached him, without knowing if you could touch his shoulder or not.
"Jae...."
"Are you getting married? seriously? Are you getting married???? "
Your hand blocked in mid-air in hearing him utter those words angrily, stepping back while he turned and faced you.
"Are you really getting married Y/N? And who is the lucky one? MH? "
"The son of.. An American partner of my father... " You could say, breathless due to the fear that his gaze provoked you; "Why are you doing so..?"
"Because I've been waiting years for your damn return Y/N"
"It's a joke, right??"
A flash of anger unleashed from his eyes and he looked at you upset, while you still didn't believe what was going on. Yet another punch shattered against the metal, his scream filled the cockpit and you closed your eyes, feeling blocked by fear. He had never been so grumpy, at least he didn't do with you in spite of the many bickering between you two.
"Jae.. JAEBUM! "
"WHAT? YOU CAME BACK FIVE MONTHS AGO! DO YOU KNOW WHAT I FELT WHEN I SAW YOU IN FRONT OF ME? I FELT LIKE AN IDIOT!"
You felt his hands on your arms, which clasped them but strangely not forcefully. It was delicate, almost as if he was afraid to break you. You opened your eyes and he was so close, so close as to let you perfectly distinguish the two moles into his left eyelid and feel his quickened breath collide with your lips. He was so close that you would want to fill that distance.
"You're scaring me.."
"I'm afraid of the fact that I love you since we were fifteen and I never told you." He whispered without any force to fight, letting his hands slide and dropping them along his hips while lowering his face and you could see something glistening onto his cheeks. "I'm afraid of the fact that you just told me you're about to marry.. And I lost you. "
"Jaebum.."
"Funny, isn't it? The day you told me you were leaving I came to you to tell you I had feelings, but you gave me that news and.. I didn't make it. When I saw you before.. " He took his breath, keeping his face bowed while you felt your heart ready to get out of your chest and explode; "When I saw you before I thought maybe I could tell you everything.. And you advance me by telling me you're going to marry. It's all so bloody funny. "
"Im Jaebum."
"Forget it."
Without answering, just like many years before, you tied your arms around his hips and leaned your face against his chest. You heard him jump due to your hug but immediately his arms wrapped you, squeezing you and you could almost sense his desire to stay in that position perhaps forever.
Your sigh was mild while you just tilted your head backward, so as to meet his gaze, feeling his arms squeezing with even more strength upon you.
"I make you so sorry that you have to hug me..?"
"You make me so sorry Jaebum. So badly that as soon as we leave this damn elevator, I'll go to my parents to tell them that I cancel the wedding. "
Your answer seemed to catch him by surprise because his expression changed completely, even though he was still disoriented.
"First: I never loved William, it was my parents' will. Second, if you had accepted my invitation to that party, when we were sixteen, you would have heard from a drunk me how much I liked you. "
"You what..?"
"You're an idiot Im Jaebum, shit." You muttered exhausted and shaking his tie you attracted him to you, enclosing his lips into a kiss. From before you were incredibly hesitant but when he began to reciprocate that kiss, perhaps with much more passion than due, you let yourself go and it was the jolt of the elevator to interrupt you two.
"It's started up again!!!" You screamed excited, looking at the display that marked the number of plans change quickly to every plane that he reached.
"My heart no, do you think you can do something Y/N?" He whispered into your ear, making you blush violently on your cheeks, "and anyway I'm regretting that no, know it."
"Yeah, you must regret it, at this hour maybe we'd be married and happy."
"We can always change this little particular."
