LINGER [01]
pairings : shinyu x fem!reader
genre : romance, fluff, domestic, slowburn, hurt/comfort, mutual pining, cohabitation, mutual longing, suggestive (in later chapter), might be rated as well?
warning : -
status : ongoing
disclaimer: the story is pure fiction. other characters will show up as the story goes on. the female lead is an original character—her name might be addressed later as “Yoon Harin,” but the POV will stay second-person (“you” / Y/N) throughout.
author’s note : english isn’t my first language, so feel free to point out any grammar stuff—I’d really appreciate it! I’m still new to writing on Tumblr, so your reblogs, comments, or even a little inbox message would honestly mean the world to me <3
chapter list :
01 | 02 | 03 | tba
synopsis:
They weren’t supposed to fall.
Not in that apartment.
Not after midnight.
Not with so many things left unsaid.
But some feelings don’t ask for permission—
they just linger.
➖ 01.
You slowly unbuttoned the top of your shirt as you let yourself fall sitting onto the edge of the couch, feeling so exhausted.
“Ugh, I don’t get why they always blaming usーthe content creator. Like, weren’t there a bunch of people working on it too?” you muttered bitterly.
Shinyu came over quietly and sat beside you, offering a cup of warm tea without a word.
You took it with a tired sigh and took a sip “Thanks… But seriously, do they just see us as punching bags?” you said, your voice rising slightly with frustration.
The warmth of the tea didn’t stop the cold spiral of your complaints from pouring out.
“Yuya?” you called again, still restless.
“Yeah?” he finally answered, calm as ever. “Still not enough?”
You exhaled softly, your body relaxing just a little. “I think I’m a bit calmer now than before…”
As if on cue, his arms opened wide—silent, but welcoming. You didn’t hesitate. You leaned in and let yourself be held.
There it was again—his scent. Clean laundry with a quiet softness that was just… him. It wrapped around you like a gentle blanket, soothing your nerves, slowing your thoughts.
“Sometimes I wonder…” you whispered, “how are you seem maturer than me?”
“Is that… a problem?” he asked, his voice low near your ear.
You shook your head quickly. “No. It’s not. It just makes me feel… a little self-conscious.”
There were moments like this, when guilt crept in—uninvited and quiet. But comfort always followed close behind. Because the truth was, Shinyu wasn’t supposed to be in your life like this. He was just your closest friend’s little brother. That’s all he was. At least, that’s how it started.
But to anyone who saw the way he looked at you or the way you leaned into him now it was clear your relationship had gone far beyond just “a friend’s lil brother.”
Back when overtime was your second home, you often crashed at Sooa’s apartment—just for a nap or overnight.
Shin Sooa, after all, was your old college classmate. The two of you had joined the same MT program straight out of university.
Sooa lived with her younger brother, Shin Jeonghwan—known more casually as Shinyu. A final-year university student whose his campus is not far from the apartment.
“Sooa’s not home yet?” you murmured, your face still buried in his shoulder.
He gently shook his head, wordless.
“Why?”
“She went to Busan. Training. I thought it was the same project as yours.”
Your head snapped up, eyes narrowing at him, “Busan? Until when? Why am I only hearing about this now?”
Shinyu shifted his gaze forward, deliberately avoiding your eyes.
“Three days,” he said quietly.
You paused for a moment, thoughts still tangled in your head, before nodding slowly.
So that meant tonight, once again, you’d be sleeping in Sooa’s room—without its real owner in it.
“Yu… You don’t mind me being here again, do you?” you asked gently, almost cautiously.
Shinyu answered without turning to you.
“You’re sleeping in Sooa’s room. Why are you asking me?”
“Well, still… I might be disturbing your peace,” you murmured, lips pouting slightly in playful protest.
He gave no reply. Not even a glance.
Eventually, you stood up, brushing off the weight of your emotions with a small sigh.
“Okay then. I’m gonna shower. Thanks, Yuya for listening to my endless rants. I hope you never get tired of me.”
He didn’t stop you.
Didn’t reach out.
Didn’t pull you back into the warmth of his embrace like before.
He just let you go. Quietly.
As if your absence didn’t echo in the room he stayed in.
tbc.