Summary: Ateez left to Japan for overseas activities. Jongho calls you as soon as they land.
Fandom: ATEEZ
Pairing: Jongho x (f)Reader
Genre: Established relationship, Fluff, Romance
Warnings: none
Word Count: 380
A/N: I am back with another Jongho fluff. Hope you enjoy it💕
"Ugh we just had lunch but I am ready to call it a day" - you tell your coworker on the way back to your office. "So tired" - you fight a yawn.
"Late night last night?" she asks following you.
"More like early morning. Had to send my boyfriend to the airport like really early and couldn't catch sleep after. Honestly I could use some nap now. Or coffee"
You walk into the coffee shop when your phone rings showing Jongho's name on the screen. You excuse yourself and step out to answer the call.
"Hey honey!" - you say trying to not sound tired.
"Babe! we arrived in Japan. Heading to the hotel now" - Jongho's voice a little tired but cheerful.
You smile at his words:
"you could have called me later. You must be tired". You say so but still happy he called.
"I know. But I really wanted to tell you something so i had to call you right now. And I wanted to hear your voice" Jongho chuckles making you blush in delight.
"I miss you" you say softly.
"Actually... I miss you too" - Jong says, "that's why I called you to confess a crime" he giggles a little and you hum in response. "I took your perfume with me"
"Oh?" you try to remember if anything was missing on your shelf this morning. "Which one?" you ask in curiosity.
"The one you always spray on me when I stay at your place... and the one you pair it with when you use it on yourself. This way I can pretend you are with me".
The warmth spreads in your heart and you giggle in response:
"Ah... I was looking for the second one today. I see where it went now. You little stealer... Stealing my heart with your cuteness".
"That's all I wanted to tell you. Hope you have a nice day at work. I love you" Jongho tells you quickly.
So you bid your goodbyes, but you can hear Jong's cute giggle before he hangs up the phone.
Maybe you don't need a nap anymore feeling all energized and happy after the call. So you go back to the coffee shop planning in your head your next date with Jong when he comes back to Korea.
time seems to freeze as you read the little bubble of text from jongho on the screen in front of you.
'hey. i don't want to do this because i don't want to hurt you. but i don't think i'm where i need to be to be in a relationship right now. i want to end it now before i end up hurting you'
hurt you???
hurt you?????
it was too late for that.
those kisses and giggles shared between the both of you.
the things you had shared with him and not anyone else.
the vulnerability and time you shared with him.
the promises he made...
how dare he think that by ending it now he would not hurt you.
how dare he think that he hadn't already become someone you cared about deeply.
how dare he break your heart like it was nothing to him.
how dare he love you so dearly for a moment just to let you go as if it were nothing to him.
“Here’s the company, I really think you should check it out.” Jongho’s mom says her eyes full of despair and sorrow as she handed you the small piece of paper. Life had been hard for you but you could only imagine how hard it was for Jongho’s mom, she had just lost her son after all. You on the other hand, you had not only lost Jongho the love of your life, but you had also lost your best friend, Nam ra.
Saying goodbye to Jongho’s mother, you walk to your car. Climbing inside, all the emotions built up within your body released instantly. Sobs escaped your soft lips as you placed your head against the steering wheel. Body shaking as the scent of Jongho filled your nostrils. It hadn’t even been a week but you missed him so much.
Giving your parents a brief greeting, you make your way into your room. Staring at the ceiling the silence seems to suffocate you. It leaves too much room for thought which leaves too much room for Jongho. Sniffling, you slip the small piece of paper out of your pocket, reading it carefully. “Angel company?” Your eyebrows furrowed. Why had she given you that? Slipping off the bed, you make your way to your desk, photos of you and Nam ra scattered everywhere. Wincing at the sight, you quickly opened the laptop, typing in the company name.
“No one has to die...” their tagline escaped your lips in a confused fashion as you clicked through the website. “Create your own...what’s this?” clicking on the tab opened a new page asking for the name of your loved one. You bite your lip, loved one? Had Jongho created this for when he passed and that’s why his mother had given you this? Typing in Jongho’s information you felt skeptical as you started to read through more of the websites information. Would this website really help you? Would it help you cope?
You wake the next morning with your head placed against the desk, laptop open beside you with the words “Transaction Complete!” on the screen. Rubbing your eyes, you shrug it off, getting up to get ready for school.
Jongho: Good morning Y/N!
You almost choked on your toast as you read the text notification from Jongho. To say you were confused was an understatement but you were also angry, who would do something as sick as a pose as a dead person let alone the love of your life?!
Y/N: This isn't funny, who is this?
The response comes back almost instantly.
Jongho: It’s Jongho of course!
Scoffing, you go to Jongho’s contact, calling the number. You were going to put an end to this once and for all. To your surprise, the phone picks up and you’re greeted by none other than Jongho who in his usual cheery voice says,
imainge curling into jongho’s side while he’s wearing a warm hoodie and he just puts his arm around your shoulder and let’s you sleep on him while he traces shapes on your arm lightly and when you wake up he just smiles down at you with a soft and caring smile and gives you a soft kiss on the forehead muttering a soft, “good morning baby”.
description: Jongho has an interesting run-in with a Karen during his shift at Starbucks.
word count: 2k
warnings: mild swearing
author’s note: jongho as a coffee barista was swimming in my mind for quite some time, so here he is.
masterlist here!
There was something about that coffee stain on Jongho's employee shirt that made it impossible to get rid of. It was likely the mix of the ingredients that had stacked the receipt when it was printed, but Jongho couldn't help but feel she had somehow planned this as he scrubbed harder with bleach.
Jongho wouldn't have guessed the day to turn out as it did, but maybe he should have. Working with the public was always a gamble, but Jongho's optimism blinded him. Most customers were nice enough. Most customers gave a smile when he handed them their overpriced coffee. There weren't too many comments about his red and black hair, and he could shrug off all of them. The compliments were what he remembered.
The day started off normally - with Jongho's coworkers nudging him towards the mound of bagged coffee beans. "I could do it myself, but you just do it quicker, you know?" One of his coworkers had whined, twirling a piece of curly hair around her finger. "It" was picking up the bags of coffee beans to put into the grinder, and Jongho didn't mind it. As he slung a bag over his shoulder with ease and glanced at her, he could swear her face flushed. Perhaps it was just the sun. The sun hit her face like that when he broke apples in half with his bare hands too. It was strange how the universe liked her like that.
After his bean tasks, Jongho took to the drive-thru of the coffee shop. He was told he had a nice voice, but he doubted he sounded that heavenly through a cheap speaker that hadn't been changed for five years. Nonetheless, Jongho enjoyed doing the drive-thru and taking orders. When there were multiple drive-thru lanes open, he would challenge his coworkers to see who could get through orders the fastest. This caused him and his coworkers to resent vans - vans almost always meant there was a large order - a sure loss, unless Jongho's fingers could learn to dance very quickly on the ordering screen.
Taking orders via the drive thru took up his morning, and then he was released for his lunch break. His coworkers had become accustomed to bringing him apples for the sole purpose of him to break them. He didn't mind, and it allowed him to be more comfortable with his coworkers because he could sometimes be shy. "Is that why part of your hair is red?" A coworker had asked him one day after he had broken multiple apples in a row. Jongho shook his head.
"No. Just red," he shrugged, ignoring his coworker's eyebrow raise. "I just like the color red." He thought he looked good with it.
But not everyone agreed - there were some customers that liked to point it out, like he had never seen himself in a reflection before. "You missed the roots," an older woman had told him at the register and gestured to his hair. Jongho added fifty cents to her order.
But for this day in particular, his hair was the reason for his downfall. For the latter half of the day, Jongho would be at the register. He yearned to be in the bar making drinks because it could become so mindless at points, but he was placed in front of the register before he could say anything. He assumed it was because he was the longest working employee out of the staff today, and Jongho vaguely remembered a newbie was working with him. He guessed the manager didn't want them at the register. The register wasn't much different than the drive thru, but there was something about actually seeing the customer or touching their cash or credit card that made it not enjoyable for Jongho.
About an hour into working at the register, Karen walked in. Jongho saw her and his stomach dropped. She looked exactly like a Karen should look: bobbed blonde hair with caramel highlights that were too dark, opaque and round sunglasses, an obnoxiously pink phone case, and a tacky red American flag shirt that said something about how America was blessed. Jongho knew he shouldn't judge people so quickly, but he had dealt with this breed of women before. He had to brace himself for the worst and the unexpected.
"Hello, ma'am," he said cheerfully when Karen got to the front of the line. Her dark sunglasses obscured her eyes, but she was clearly paying attention to her phone instead of him. She suddenly realized she was in Starbucks and lifted up her glasses. She took one look at Jongho's name tag.
"Hello, John," she said, and Jongho had to bite his tongue to keep from making a noise.
"Jongho," he said.
"John," she continued, and listed off her order, Jongho begrudgingly typing it in as she spoke. It's not that hard of a name, he thought to himself as he kept typing. Why was Karen's order so long? Jongho kept translating her vegan, dairy-free, blood-of-firstborn, extra-expresso venti iced coffee into the system until she stopped talking, and even then she wasn't done.
"So is everyone your age just dying their hair like that?" Karen said without prologue. "I'd never let my kid dye their hair like that. It's so unprofessional."
"Thank you," Jongho said, dodging the question and not wanting to provoke her. He hoped his cheeks weren't also red. "Here's your total. Cash or credit?"
Karen pulled out her purse, but not without clicking her tongue in annoyance. "You all really should lower the prices. It's too damn expensive."
Then make your own, Jongho wanted to reply, but he held his tongue. "I wish I could," he said with a smile. Karen frowned in return, and, without warning, dumped her entire coin bag onto the counter. Jongho yelped and scrambled to keep flying pennies and quarters from rolling off of the counter. In the corner of his eye, a coworker ogled Karen.
"I used the bills to buy my groceries, so I'll pay in coins," Karen yawned while Jongho threw himself onto the floor to make sure no coins had reached there. He got up, plastering on a fake smile. He hadn't had a customer like this in a long time, but if he could just get through her, everything would be okay. He reached for her quarters first and began counting dollars. He knew for a fact that his manager wouldn't have tolerated this kind of behavior from a customer, but Jongho knew he could be too soft at times. Besides, her jangling keys on her wrist glimmered and showed off their sharpness. He swore he saw her teeth glimmer as well.
"Hurry up," Karen said after a few seconds. "Count faster."
Jongho considered shoving pennies into her eyes. "Certainly," he said, and tried to pick up his pace. He could feel her eyes burning on his neck as he shoved the change into the cash register. He pushed her receipt over to her and eagerly began with the customer behind her, glad to be ridden of her.
But his escape was short lived. He heard a whine from the corner of the store and knew it was the Karen immediately. He was currently helping out a different customer, but there was no one else in line behind them. He'd deal with it after the customer if things escalated with Karen.
"Are you sure you made this correctly?" Karen snarled at Jongho's coworker, her nostrils flailing. The coworker looked like she wanted to sink into the floor. "This doesn't taste like how it usually does. Make it again."
Jongho wouldn't have done anything - customers asked for drinks to be remade frequently. But this was Karen, and upon further inspection, this was the new employee that his manager had talked about. He couldn't leave her hanging, it would be rude as an older and more experienced employee. Jongho finished ringing up the final customer and went over to Karen and the other coworker.
"Cherry head," Karen growled, and Jongho only raised his eyebrows. That was a new one.
"I'll make a new one, ma'am, sorry," he said, taking the drink from her. "I'm sure you were fine," he muttered to the worried coworker and was pleased to see her smile.
Iced coffee wasn't difficult, and with the lack of new customers Jongho took the time to make sure the drink was entirely accurate. It's not that she deserved a drink, it's that he wanted her out of the store as soon as possible. He even had the temperature right, and gave it a perfect dairy-free whipped cream swirl at the top before handing it back to her.
Karen ogled the drink for a moment, looking back and forth at the cup and Jongho. Then she threw the drink at him.
The whipped cream top hit Jongho square in the face and he could taste it. Then came the slow and cold trickle of the coffee down his apron and shirt underneath, and at that moment, he was so glad she hadn't ordered anything hot.
"I said I didn't want whipped cream!" Karen bellowed, but Jongho's choir practice had made him desensitized to loud vocals. He wiped the whipped cream from his face and looked at Karen straight in the eyes.
"Get out," he said coldly. "There's a Dunkin across the parking lot. They can have your coins." He paused for a moment, and then his mouth twitched upward. "My name is John, you can write me up if you want. I don't care."
"I will be," Karen growled, red-faced and clutching her purse at her side like Jongho was going to reach out and nab it. he couldn't believe Karen thought that she was the victim here when Jongho had a new fluffy white beard adorning his face.
"John's right," a third coworker said, coming from behind. He could vaguely hear his laugh under his voice. "We don't tolerate harassment on our employees. You're the one that could end up in trouble."
Karen stared daggers at this new employee, and Jongho was surprised she didn't jump over the counter to tackle him. "Good riddance, I knew Starbucks was going downhill anyway." She gave one last snarl at Jongho, who fluffed up his hair at her glance, before walking out of the Starbucks.
The three employees were silent, and then Jongho felt a towel touch his arm. "Oh my God, Jongho, I'm sorry," the third coworker said.
"I don't think I've ever been drenched quite as much as I am now," he said, accepting the towel. He began to dry himself off as best he could, but he knew his face and clothes were going to be sticky for the remainder of the shift.
"I think there's another apron in the back," the new coworker said, and then scurried off to get it before Jongho could say anything.
"I'm just glad it wasn't her that got absolutely wrecked by coffee," the other coworker murmured. "I think she might have cried."
Jongho nodded, still drying himself off. It was a terrible feeling, the coffee all over his skin and clothes, but now that she was gone, he couldn't help but smile. It was comical, how insane the public could be. "I hope John gets hell for what he did," he smiled.
"Absolutely," the coworker agreed, laughing. The new coworker arrived back with the apron, which Jongho gratefully took.
"Give me a minute to clean up," he told the both of them before going to the back to inspect the wreckage on his clothes and face. It could have been better, but it also could have been worse. He licked a part of the whipped cream that was near his lips and grimaced at the flavor. Despite it all, Jongho was amused at the situation. It kept him on his toes. It would be a funny story to share at a party. Jongho wrote a note in his phone to re-dye his red tips when he got home. Then, smiling, he returned to work.
jongho wakes up pretty early because of sunlight coming through the window and when he opens his eyes he realize he’s not in his room. it’s the first time you two spend the whole night together even tho you’ve been together for a while now. jongho rubs his eyes and can’t help but smile looking at your sleeping form. he hears you mumbling in your sleep and a breathy laugh escapes his lips because you are just too cute. he then rolls over on his side to spoon you but as soon as his hands touch your body you freeze and smack him on the chest as a reflex. jongho yelps in pain as he’s caught off guard and you immediately sits to look at him. “oh my god, i’m so sorry jongho!” you say when you see your boyfriend looking back at you with a small pout on his face. you burst out laughing because his face is too cute and that makes his pout grow even more. you kiss him on the forehead “i’m sorry for that! i’m so used to sleep alone that you scared me” you say finally getting back to bed laying beside him. he chuckles embracing you “we should this more often then” he says lulling you back to sleep.
so i think jongho would actually be the one getting you the puppy for your birthday because you talked about it a lot and always said how much you would’ve liked to have a yorkie. you actually were going to get it but still had to wait a few months so jongho just decided to surprise you with it.
luckily he had some days off and you decided to spend the night before your birthday together so that you would start your special day together, you didn’t necessarily have something already planned but just wanted to spend the day with him! so when you actually wake up and jongho is not beside you, you are confused. you wander around your house looking for him but he’s nowhere to be seen and when you are about to text him he comes in all smiley with the puppy in his arms “good morning love! happy birthday!” he greets you with a kiss on your forehead “...and she also wants to say it” he lets the puppy go who immediately runs up to you wagging her tail.
you, jongho and your new puppy go out for a picnic, jongho (with his mom’s help) prepared for you and just pass the happiest day together. considering how much he loves taking photos i think he’d do a whole photoshoot of you and the puppy, he loves seeing you so happy and HAS to take pics whenever you smile. he would also play a lot with the dog and i bet you would fondly stare at them thinking how simple but perfect your birthday is thanks to them.
other than that i think jongho would be pretty busy during the week but he would always always make time to go for a walk with you and the puppy. he loves taking a walk with you two wandering around the park (bonus point if the cherry blossom are blooming and everything is so pretty and springish) it’s like is favorite time of the day.
one time you went to a pet store and almost bought the entire thing because jongho kept running around with the puppy in his arm showing her every little thing on the shelves but you didn’t mind because you were just so happy and filled with love these two brought in your life!
also the three of you would have a lot of fun at home too, you and jongho sitting on the floor all giggly playing with the dog. whenever you two have a movie night the puppy jumps on the couch and snuggle between you two getting all the cuddles.