Synopsis: Felix, your sweet golden retriever boyfriend, has always been gentle with you, slow-paced, patient. But once he's certain you're ready, he finally loosens the reins on his restraint.
-or: Felix eats you out until your brain is nothing but mush and you've made a mess of his face.
Details: Felix x fem!reader, fluff, smut- cunnilingus, overstimulation, face sitting, forced orgasm (sort of), squirting, thigh kink (?), love bites, hickeys, Felix cums in his pants. wc: 5.1k
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The room went quiet as soon as the question had left Jisung's lips.
"What's the kinkiest thing you and Felix have done in bed?"
In all truth, the four of you - Felix, Jisung, Seungmin and yourself - had gotten a bit drunk, just hanging out after their dance practice ended. You'd just been waiting for Felix, really, but somehow it ended up being the four of you and a couple of beers. Even Felix indulged in one, which surprised you, as that was usually not his thing. But it was all in good fun.
However, even with the light buzz of the alcohol in your system, the question left you flustered. Even though it wasn't completely out of the blue, as Seungmin and Jisung were just having a discussion about the best sex position, you still hadn't expected the question directed at you.
In one smooth motion, Felix squeezed your thigh where his hand already rested, catching your attention. He gave you a look, you don't have to answer, not wording it out loud as he knew you could make up your mind for yourself. You didn't need his input, but he still let you know he was there.
You eyed the table for a moment, cheeks hot whether from the beer or the question or both, you weren't sure. You and Felix hadn't exactly been intimate yet. Your relationship was still new, and you both agreed you'd take it slow, build up your connection more, even if you were already completely infatuated with each other.
What you hadn't let him know yet was how desperate you were to take that step further. And what you didn't know was how he felt the exact same way, but didn't tell you in case it put unnecessary pressure on you to do something you weren't ready for.
Oh, he had no idea.
You chose not to feel awkward about the question, didn't feel embarrassed about the lack of sex you'd been having. It was a choice and one you were completely fine with. "You'd have to ask Felix."
You decided to give the ball to Felix, to let him decide how much he wanted to tell his band members about your nonexistent sex lives. You took another sip of your beer, glancing over at him.
The corner of his mouth twitched up as he ran his thumb across your inner thigh. You almost spat out your beer at that, tingles spreading all throughout your body. Sometimes you weren't sure he knew what kind of effect he had on you.
Felix put his hands up in defence, his eyes dark under the dim light. "A man... doesn't kiss and tell."
He laughed at the groan Jisung let out, while Seungmin only smiled, taking another sip of his beer in quiet amusement.
Later on, when the dorm was quiet, Jisung having left and Seungmin gone to bed, you were brushing your teeth with Felix after changing into your pyjamas.
You couldn't help but eye him, still a little tipsy from the beers and admiring his features more than usual. From every day that went by, you just seemed to fall more and more in love with him.
When you both got under the covers and Felix kissed you goodnight, expecting to fall asleep, you grabbed his wrist gently to catch his attention. "Lix," you whispered, biting your lip, hesitating.
He raised an eyebrow in the darkness, his features calm and relaxed. He could sense your hesitation and turned his face fully towards you, urging you to continue by making sure you knew you had his attention.
"Yes?"
You pursed your lips, looking into his eyes while your heart raced in your chest. God, why were you even freaking out about this? It was just Felix. But still, you felt vulnerable having to say the words out loud. The couple of beers you had consumed gave you that extra confidence to speak.
"You know, I've been thinking... maybe we should take our relationship a little further..." You bit the inside of your cheek, waiting for his reaction. He looked a little confused. Even though he tried to understand you, he needed you to be a bit more specific. So you let out a small breath, somehow speaking even lower than before. "You know... more than making out."
He stilled a little, you could feel it, and it immediately made you overthink, silly as you were.
"Not because I don't enjoy just making out! I know we said we'd take it slow but... I'm just... really... horny."
He was quiet for a moment before he let out a soft, genuine laugh, leaning in to kiss your forehead affectionately. You had no idea how much your confession had made his heart clench with adoration. He didn't even know how you could say something like that and still be so cute.
He grabbed your hand, pulling you closer to him. "Hmm, are you a little drunk, baby? If so, I'd rather have this talk tomorrow. Not that I'm not listening; I certainly am." He brushed a loose strand of hair behind your ear.
Your face warmed at his response. I mean, you were a little tipsy, but this had been something that had been on your mind for a while. But even through your stubbornness you could see his point; it'd be better to bring something like this up when you were completely sober and sure.
You pursed your lips. "Yes, I'm a little tipsy... but this has been something that's been on my mind for a while, seriously! I mean, of course only if you're ready, too. To take things further." You made your voice clearer this time, making sure he understood this was more than just the beer talking.
And he did look a little more thoughtful this time, a small glint flashing in his eyes. Thinking about finally taking things further with you made his own desperation rise up and his cock twitch in his sweatpants. But he remained calm, brushing his thumb along your cheekbone.
"Alright... If you're sure you're ready, then so am I. I just don't want to pressure you," he said honestly, and before you had the chance to speak again, he continued, "But we'll still talk about this tomorrow, okay? Get some rest, angel."
He pulled you to his chest, and you definitely didn't protest. He was nice and warm and, well, the beers were making you quite sleepy. You hummed, sinking into his embrace and slowly drifted off to sleep.
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You woke up to the familiar feeling of a nose nudging against your neck and hair tickling your skin. The faint sound of Felix's soft breathing filled your ears along with the chirping of birds outside. You had the window slightly ajar these days, seeing as it was getting hotter outside. It was a peaceful atmosphere to wake up in.
You felt surprisingly refreshed, but was less surprised by it when you checked the time on your phone and saw that it was already afternoon. You'd slept for so long... but it had felt so good. And it was Felix's day off, so for once it was allowed.
You looked down at him when he moved and realised then that he was already awake, greeting you with a smile on his face, his hair showcasing how well he'd slept. At least half as well as you.
"Good morning, angel," he said, his voice a delicious raspiness that somehow made it even deeper. You'd never not enjoy waking up to that.
You smiled back, forgetting all about your phone and instead nuzzling into his warmth, counting the freckles on his face. "You're the angel here... Why didn't you wake me? It's so late now, and it's your day off!"
You didn't want to spend all day in bed with him when it was his only day off in a while... Though maybe that's what he preferred, seeing as he worked so hard these days.
He stretched out, the action making it hard for you to hold back your cuteness aggression towards him. He rubbed his eyes, rolling over to lay on his back.
"I only just woke up, right before you," he explained, reaching over to cup your hand in his as he checked his phone. He'd probably only just mustered up the energy to do so.
You lay there, just basking in the afternoon light while Felix answered some messages, quietly holding hands. After a while, he put his phone away and focused his attention on you again, resting on his side.
"Do you remember what you told me last night? Before we went to bed," he asked, waiting for you to meet his eyes.
You didn't for a moment, feeling a little sheepish now that it was morning, and you weren't as confident as you had been last night. But he somehow always found a way to make you immune to embarrassment when it came to expressing yourself.
"...Yes."
"Do you still mean it?"
You met his eyes then, still soft, still gentle as they always were. There was nothing in them that told you not to be sure of your answer, and so you were. You were sure of what you wanted.
"Yes, I still mean it."
He nodded, rubbing his chin as if lost in his own thoughts for a moment, "You're sure?"
You let out a small chuckle, your lips curling upwards at his questioning. Oh, you were definitely sure. "Yes, I'm sure, Felix. The only thing stopping me would be if you didn't want to take things further."
He nodded again, still rubbing his chin, before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to your lips. Gentle, not rushed, not letting you in on what was going on in his head. Just the same sweet Felix as always.
Then he pulled away, meeting your eyes. "Then... can I go down on you?"
He looked almost relieved to utter the words, his eyes big and boba-like, and he was nearly pouting. What you hadn't known all this time was how much he'd been thinking about it; finally eating you out. Sure, having sex with you was on his mind a lot, too, but there was nothing quite as arousing as the thought of finally tasting you. He already knew you'd taste exquisite, no doubt there.
Your mouth formed an 'o', a little taken aback by his question. Or rather, his face when he asked it. He looked so innocent, and he was, in your head, innocent. But then the memory of him beneath you while you were making out with him on his lap flashed before your eyes, the small whimpers and touchy hands despite how much he tried to hold them back. Then him having to use the bathroom ten minutes after you'd decided to stop, because he was still so hard in his pants, but would never vocalise it - wouldn't want to rush you.
Truly, you did not understand how much of a pervert he actually was. Not yet, anyway. He was good at hiding it.
He let you process his question because he knew he was being forward, but he didn't take it back either, didn't rush you to answer. He let it hang in the air for as long as you needed.
You swallowed the lump in your throat that had kept you from speaking, all shy eyes and lip-biting.
"Yeah, that's- I mean, if you want to..."
"But do you want me to?"
You glanced at his lips, thought of his tongue and how it'd feel on your cunt. Fuck, you wanted it. So much. "Yes. Definitely."
Felix smiled, his hand snaking down to your thigh to pull you closer and move himself between your legs. You couldn't see it from this angle, but he was already embarrassingly hard at the thought of eating you out. He'd been thinking of it all morning.
He squeezed your thigh. "Then can I taste you now, baby?"
His voice was deeper, clouded by the arousal he felt already, infecting you as it sent a thrill between your legs, where he was posed up. You nodded, watching him as he shuffled backwards on his knees until he had both of his arms hooked under your knees, face so close to your clothed core already. It was a little intrusive, but you just about held back the urge to hide behind your hands.
His thumbs rubbed over the part of your thighs that wasn't covered by your night shorts. "Say it out loud. I need to hear you say the words. Tell me I can have a taste."
His coaxing, almost pleading words made your core throb with need. Just the way he looked up at you from between your legs had you aching for more.
"Please, Lix. Put your mouth on me," you breathed out, almost unable to fully get the words out.
His smile would've been almost reassuring had it not been for the obvious excitement on his face, his fingers slowly tracing upwards until they reached the hem of your shorts.
Slowly, he slid them down your legs, keeping his eyes on yours the whole time, making sure you felt safe. But once your panties were on display for him, he moved his gaze there, almost moaning at the sight of the soft cotton material.
"God, you're so beautiful. I can't wait to make you feel good, angel. I've been waiting for so long."
His mouth latched onto the sensitive skin of your inner thigh, subconsciously pulling you closer to his mouth where his hands held you in place. Your legs tensed up when his tongue darted out, rolling along your soft skin, followed by the gentle nibble of his teeth, marking you.
Feeling his mouth so close to your core and nibbling on the sensitive skin of your thighs made your cunt sob for more. But it was even worse when his face got close enough that his nose nudged against the fabric of your panties while he pressed kisses to your thighs, until he at last pressed a kiss over your sopping cunt. You let out a small whine, laying your head back against the pillow, because watching him do that was making you lose your mind.
He mouthed at your panties, wetting them more than they already were from your arousal, letting out small moans against you. The vibrations made pleasure bloom where you needed it most, your legs closing together around his head on instinct.
"Lix... mm- feels good," you hummed, trying to keep your voice down. You felt a little embarrassed when you made any noises, already overwhelmed by the feeling of his mouth on you, even if you had been wanting it so badly.
He continued to mouth at you through your panties, his tongue peeking out to tease you through the material, imagining the real deal beneath it. His grip on your thighs tightened only when you were about to squeeze his head completely, gently pulling them apart again.
"Then keep your legs apart, okay? I want to take my time with you," he hummed, meeting your eyes for just a second before putting all of his focus on your cunt again. He looked almost mesmerised, hungry. And when you saw that look in his eyes, you chose to shut up and lay back down. You wanted to see him get carried away, like he seemed to have been wanting for as long as you.
He hooked his fingers under the waistband of your panties, peeling them down your legs and exposing you to him fully. He hummed, gently placing your slick underwear beside you on the bed before lying down on his stomach, face lined up with your cunt.
He licked his lips as he took you in, slowly sliding his hands up your thighs before using his fingers to spread your pussy lips apart. You felt shy under his hungry gaze, but you stayed still, wanting to see what he would do.
After looking at you for a long moment, he finally put his mouth on you, his lips softly pressing against your wet cunt, almost like he was making out with you. You hummed, shutting your eyes for a second as you took in the feeling of his soft lips on such a sensitive part of your body.
He moved slowly at first, just kissing you there at his own pace before licking a stripe through your walls. You squealed then, hand reaching down to hold onto something. His hand came up, meeting yours without taking his mouth off of you, gradually gaining a pace with his tongue shoving into your cunt.
You bit your lip to try and silence the sounds that threatened to escape you, squeezing his hand while your hips bucked up for more. He let out a low moan against you, slurping up everything you gave to him, getting lost in the taste of you.
"You taste so good... so sweet..." he mumbled against you, his hair brushing against your thighs as his head bobbed slightly. You whined at his words, only to be broken off by a moan when his free hand reached up and his thumb pressed tight circles over your clit.
You cried out then, not even aware of your whimpers and moans as pleasure overtook you. You were so close to coming, it was embarrassing. It had just been so long since you'd been touched, even by yourself, and all this built-up tension with Felix left you so sensitive and desperate.
"A-ah, Felix..! I'm so close-" You interrupted yourself with a shuddering moan, squeezing his hand tighter as he continued to thrust his tongue into you, and his finger kept moving so flawlessly against your clit.
He groaned at your reaction, grinding his hips against the mattress as he had been doing since he got comfortable there. His cock ached in his sweatpants, leaking pre-cum that would surely stain them. But he didn't care. He needed more of you.
"Cum for me... Please cum... Let me taste it, please baby." His words were muffled against your cunt, but it didn't matter once you finally felt your orgasm wash over you.
You let out a broken whimper, eyes rolling back as your hips twitched against his face. Your hand moved from his to grip his hair tightly instead, tugging lightly at the strands. He kept licking over you, using his mouth to its best ability while he felt your walls gush around his tongue. He sucked up the arousal and cum you gave to him, licked you clean until your legs twitched around his head from overstimulation.
He pulled back, completely out of breath, your slick lining his lips as he looked up at you. You met his eyes almost deliriously, still coming down from the high he just gave you. A smile spread across his face at the sight of you, unable to help himself as he let out a small chuckle. He moved to rest on his knees between your legs again, kissing you with your slick still on his lips.
"I'd ask if you felt good but... given your sounds, I'll assume the answer is yes," he spoke lowly against your lips, teasing you a little. You whined, but didn't really care all that much - not when he'd just made you feel that good.
"Was I that loud?"
He thought it over, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Let's just hope Seungmin isn't home."
Before you could think on that too much, like he knew you would, he lay down on the bed, looking over at you with an almost expectant smile.
"Come here, baby."
You looked at him for a moment, aware of your half-nakedness now that the orgasm had washed away, before scooting over to him. He placed his hands on your hips, settling you over his lap while he got comfortable against the pillows, like he hadn't just eaten you out so obsessively seconds ago.
You could feel how hard he was beneath you, his cock poking up through his sweatpants right against your bare cunt. You whimpered at the feeling, instinctively grinding down against him, to which he stilled your hips with a pained groan. Your brows furrowed slightly.
"No, baby... I just want to focus on you right now. Sit on my face," he practically moaned, hands already trying to manoeuvre your body upwards.
You were almost a little disappointed that you wouldn't be able to feel his cock after waiting for so long, but you decided to let him run the show. After that orgasm, you'd just about give him whatever he wanted.
He could sense your slight disappointment even as you crawled up towards his face, chuckling at your reaction. "Come on. Be patient, hm?"
You nodded despite your heart's desires, moving to straddle his face instead. It felt vulnerable being in this position above him, but you didn't really mind - that was until he started pulling you impossibly closer to his face.
Your hips twitched, unfamiliar with the change of position, how he tried to make you sit down on him fully. "Lix, this is fine. I don't want to, like... crush you."
Your face heated up when he chuckled, his hot breath fanning your cunt, enough to make you squirm. "You won't crush me. Just sit down. Trust me," he urged you, placing a kiss over one of the marks he'd left on your inner thigh.
He held a firm, comfortable grip on your hips, before moving his hands down to your thighs as soon as you found the courage to sit on his face. He wanted to keep you there, in case you lost confidence, too desperate to have you like this to risk you pulling away for even a second.
Your hips stuttered the second his mouth was on you again, already managing to be as wet as before and even more sensitive after coming once already. His tongue started licking you again, rolling against you first and then letting his lips envelop your pussy lips.
You were already moaning again, closing your eyes in pleasure and then taking in the sight of him eating you out from this position. Your fingers found his hair once more, tugging on the blonde strands when the pleasure became too overwhelming.
He kept you there, held still against his face as he got lost in the taste of you. He was sure he was seeing heaven at times, his hips grinding against the air uselessly while his nose nudged against your clit.
Your moans turned into cries of pleasure, unable to help how your hips seemed to chase his mouth, grinding against his face and throwing your head back.
You could hardly understand Felix when he spoke against you again, only focused on how the vibrations of his deep voice affected you, "So good... just like that... ride my face..."
And you did, whether on purpose or not, it didnt matter, because the pleasure had consumed you now. You weren't in control of your own body anymore, chasing the second orgasm that threatened to blow over you.
"G-gonna... gonna cum again- Felix!" you sobbed. The shred of dignity you had left tried to move off of him, but his hands kept you locked in place, mouth moving to suckle on your clit, letting you smother his face.
You almost fell over, riding his face as you came all over it. He caught your cum with his mouth, slurping it up just like before, like he had been parched for weeks.
You were a panting mess above him, eyes shut and head thrown back, still overwhelmed with pleasure even when his mouth pulled back for air.
Truthfully, Felix had been almost suffocated by your thighs and your sopping cunt. But he'd done it to himself. He didn't care about the lack of air as long as he had your cunt on his face. He panted beneath you, gauging your face from where he lay as he caught his breath.
But once he'd gotten enough air, and you still weren't over the orgasm, he went back in. I mean, your warm pussy was still right in his face - so tempting, almost begging for his attention. He just had to.
You practically flinched when his mouth met your cunt again, the only thing holding you steady being his hands that kept you in place. You tugged on his hair, like that would make him stop, but he only moaned against you at the feeling, the vibrations almost making you cry.
"F-Felix..! Felix, s-stop-. I-it's too much!" you choked out, body heaving as your knees gave out beneath you. You lost your balance and had to settle for holding yourself up against the mattress as Felix continued his assault on your cunt.
"Just one more... one more, baby... you can do it..." Again, his words came out muffled against you. But even if his mouth wasn't buried against your cunt, you weren't sure you'd be able to comprehend his words anyway with the waves of pleasure currently crashing down on you.
High-pitched sounds of agony or pleasure or both left your mouth, out of your control, and you weren't even fully aware of it, too far gone. Your hips twitched and thighs ached from the position he had you in, but all you felt was your next orgasm closing in on you, swirling around in the pit of your stomach.
The corners of your eyes stung with tears, barely able to catch your breath as the intensity of your orgasm washed over you. But it was much more intense than before, your body tensing up as you came.
"L-Lix! Lix-! C-coming..!"
Felix groaned beneath you as you came, followed by even more of your juices when you squirted, soaking his face. Just then his own hips thrusted into the air, and at the feeling of your cum hitting his face, he came too, moaning against your cunt before pulling away to catch his breath.
It had been all he needed - he should be embarrassed, really, to have cum in his pants like this. But he wasn't - far from it. He didn't need anything other than being stuck between your thighs like this to get him off.
You hadn't even noticed him coming, gasping for air yourself, unsure of your surroundings as you crashed onto the mattress. Felix released your legs then, looking over at you to check if you were okay. He brushed a strand of hair out of your face as he rolled you onto your back, rubbing your sides affectionately.
Even with his face still dripping with your cum and his sweatpants soiled, he needed to check on you first.
"Hey, baby. Are you good?" he asked softly, watching as you still tried to catch your breath.
Your eyes fluttered open, and you could just about manage a nod and a quick look at his wet face. You groaned. "Did... did I seriously squirt on you?" You would've been more embarrassed if he hadn't just completely wrecked you.
He chuckled, gently brushing your cheek with his thumb. "Yeah, you did. It was amazing."
You groaned again, but he didn't pay it much mind, leaving for the bathroom instead. He came back with two glasses of water and a new pair of sweats for himself, his face dry now. And you were a little more conscious, to say the least.
"Thank you," you said when he handed you the glass, sitting up a little to drink from it. He kissed your cheek in response, taking a sip of his own glass before standing up to change into the sweatpants.
Your eyes widened, having just noticed the dark patch on the crotch part of them, making it obvious what had happened while he was busy pleasuring you. He noticed your staring and felt his face heat up despite himself. "I couldn't help it when you were moaning like that and... well, I think I'm gonna have to make you squirt like that every time. It was too good."
Somehow you were the one with a hot face now, and chose to drink from your glass to spare yourself the embarrassment. Even then, you found it hot how Felix had gotten off to pleasuring you. You surely didn't mind it.
He changed into the new sweatpants with his back turned to you, and you couldn't help but check him out from behind, enjoying the view for the few seconds it was there.
He sat down on the edge of the bed once fully changed, grabbing a wet cloth off the nightstand you hadn't even noticed before. You still felt a little delirious, that much was certain. He carefully spread your legs, wiping down your inner thighs and then your sensitive cunt, making sure you were fully clean. Once done, he set the cloth aside again.
You were both silent for a moment before he spoke up quietly, "It wasn't too much for you at the end, was it? I'm sorry if I got a little carried away..." He cleared his throat, his eyes not meeting yours for a second as he rested a hand on your waist, a silent comfort.
You managed a small smile, placing your hand over his before leaning in to kiss him. He hummed, kissing you back instantly, cupping your cheek. When you pulled back your eyes met his, still glistening from the aftermath of your intimacy.
"It was perfect. A little overwhelming, but I really enjoyed it, Lix. Did you?" You felt like you already had the answer to that but you were just making sure. You had to ask.
"Are you serious? That was the best thing I've ever done." His eyes widened enthusiastically, his hand clasping yours. You both just smiled at each other for a while, giddy about the new step in your relationship.
His phone dinged then, where it lay on the nightstand, and seeing who it was from, he grabbed the phone off the table. A small wince escaped him, scratching the back of his head before showing the text to you.
"Somebody isn't as happy as us, that's for sure..."
You looked at the text from Seungmin, grimacing at the screen;
Thanks for waking me up, totally won't be an awkward breakfast. Assholes -_-
Synopsis: When your sister tries to steal Seungmin, he makes one thing painfully clear: he only has eyes for you.
A/n: omgg this took so long to edit ive been putting this off for ages but i finally did it! I also couldn’t help but sprinkle in some poly skz x reader lmaooa
Wc: 20.1k
Part 2
The first warning came when your sister texted you three times that morning to ask exactly when you and Seungmin would be arriving. The second came when she opened the front door wearing a dress you distinctly remembered her describing as far too nice for family things.
You looked at her. She looked at you.
Neither of you said anything for a moment. Then Seungmin appeared behind you, one hand holding a neatly wrapped cake box and the other resting comfortably against the small of your back. “Hi,” he said brightly. Your sister’s entire expression changed.
“Seungmin.” She smiled as though she had been expecting him personally. “Finally.” You glanced over your shoulder at him. He glanced down at you. His eyebrows lifted slightly.
Finally? You bit the inside of your cheek. Your sister stepped aside to let you both in, although she somehow managed to position herself so Seungmin had to pass close to her. He murmured a polite thank you and guided you ahead of him with a gentle hand at your waist. You had been dating long enough that the gesture barely registered anymore. Seungmin was always touching you in small, absent-minded ways—his fingers brushing yours as you walked, his palm settling on your knee beneath tables, his hand finding the back of your coat when you crossed a road.
It was rarely dramatic. It was simply constant. Your sister noticed. Her gaze dropped to his hand before moving back to his face.
“You look different in person,” she told him. Seungmin paused while removing his shoes. “Do I?” “Better.”
You turned away before either of them could see your smile. Seungmin placed his shoes neatly beside yours, then leaned closer to whisper, “Am I supposed to say she does too?” “No.” “Good.”
You elbowed him lightly. He caught your arm and squeezed it against his side, looking pleased with himself. Your sister was still watching. “You brought something?” she asked, nodding towards the box in his hand.
“Cake,” Seungmin said. “Your mum said she liked the one from that bakery near our flat.” “That was thoughtful.” “She sent him a photograph of it with the address circled,” you said. Seungmin looked offended.
“She provided helpful guidance.” “She threatened to disown me if we arrived without it.” “Still thoughtful.” “You didn’t even pay for it.”
“I carried it.” “You made me carry it on the train.” “For part of the journey.” “You said your arm hurt.”
“It did.” “Because you spent the entire morning playing games.” Seungmin smiled at your sister. “She has no sympathy for my suffering.” “None,” you confirmed.
Your sister laughed a little too enthusiastically. Not because the conversation had been particularly funny, but because Seungmin was smiling while he said it. You noticed. You also noticed the way she tucked her hair behind her ear before asking, “Do you want me to take that for you?”
She reached for the cake. Seungmin shifted it away automatically. “No, it’s all right. I’ve been entrusted with it.” “He’ll cry if anything happens to it,” you said.
“I’ll tell your mum it was your fault.” “You see what I live with?” Seungmin bumped his shoulder against yours. “You love it.” You opened your mouth to disagree.
He looked down at you expectantly, the beginnings of a grin already pulling at his lips. You hated how well he knew you. “Whatever,” you said. “There it is.”
He bent and pressed a quick kiss to your temple before following the sound of your mother calling from the kitchen. Your sister remained by the door with you. She watched him leave. Then she looked at you.
“You never said he was that handsome.” You blinked. “You’ve seen photographs.” “Photographs are different.” “I suppose.”
“He’s taller than I thought.” You stared at her. She stared back, seemingly unaware that there was anything strange about the intensity of her assessment. “Do you need his measurements?” you asked. “I can check the label in his coat.”
She rolled her eyes. “I was only saying.” “Right.” “You don’t have to be weird about it.”
“I’m not being weird.” “You’re doing that face.” “What face?” “The face you do when you think you’re funny.”
“I am funny.” “Seungmin clearly thinks so.” There was something strange beneath the words. Something slightly too pointed. Before you could decide whether you had imagined it, she smiled and linked her arm through yours.
“Come on. Mum’s been panicking over lunch for an hour.” She pulled you towards the kitchen as though nothing had happened. You let her. At that point, it was easier.
౨ৎ
Your mum adored Seungmin. That was hardly news. She adored him because he arrived on time, complimented her cooking, remembered details from conversations they had months ago and always insisted on helping clear the table. Your dad liked him because Seungmin could discuss football with convincing enthusiasm and had once spent nearly forty minutes helping him fix a temperamental television.
Even your relatives who had only met Seungmin briefly tended to approve of him. He was polite without seeming rehearsed, funny without demanding attention and attentive in a way that made people feel remembered. Your sister had apparently taken all of these qualities as an invitation. At first, you didn’t think much of it.
She asked him about work. Normal. She asked about the other members. Also normal. She asked whether he enjoyed travelling, what food he liked and whether he preferred going out or staying at home. A little interview-like, perhaps, but not particularly suspicious.
Then she moved from the chair opposite him to the empty one beside him when your mother asked her to fetch another plate. You looked at the abandoned chair. Then at her. She smiled innocently and crossed one leg over the other.
Seungmin glanced towards you. You were sitting on his other side, close enough that your knees touched beneath the table. He nudged your foot. You nudged him back.
His mouth twitched. Your sister leaned towards him. “So,” she said, “what did you think when you first met her?” You nearly inhaled your drink.
Seungmin turned towards you slowly. “Oh, no,” you said. His eyes brightened. “Oh, yes.”
“Don’t.” “I thought she was very strange.” Your mother laughed from the other end of the table. You stared at him. “That isn’t what you said before.”
“You told me not to embarrass you in front of your family.” “And this is you behaving?” “This is me being generous.” Your sister laughed, resting her hand against Seungmin’s arm.
It was light. Brief enough that she could claim it meant nothing. Still, you saw it. Seungmin looked down at her fingers. Your sister removed them a moment later, smiling as though the contact had been accidental.
“What did you actually think?” she asked. Seungmin looked back at you. The teasing softened around the edges. “I thought she was pretty.”
The answer was simple enough to make warmth spread through your chest. Then his smile returned. “Until she spoke.” You kicked his shin beneath the table.
He flinched dramatically. “See?” he told your family. “Violence.” “You deserved that.” “I complimented you.”
“You immediately ruined it.” “I said you were pretty.” “You said I was strange.” “You are strange.”
Your sister tilted her head. “I suppose you must usually date girls who are quite different from her.” The sentence slipped into the conversation so smoothly that it took you a second to understand it. Seungmin frowned slightly. “Different how?”
Your sister shrugged. “You know. More… elegant.” Your father suddenly became very interested in cutting his food. Your mother looked up.
You glanced down at yourself. You were wearing a jumper and trousers. Nothing particularly inelegant, unless your sister was counting the tiny mark on your sleeve from where Seungmin had flicked sauce at you in the kitchen. Seungmin followed your gaze. Then he looked at your sister.
“No,” he said. “I like this one.” You pressed your lips together. “This one?” you repeated. He patted your knee beneath the table.
“My favourite.” “I’m so flattered.” “You should be.” Your sister laughed, but there was something strained about it.
“I only meant that you seem very put together.” “I’m not,” Seungmin said cheerfully. “She found me looking for my phone this morning while I was talking to someone on it.” He looked towards your mother. “You raised a very critical daughter.” Your mum smiled. “She gets it from me.”
“Good to know.” The conversation moved on, but your sister did not return to her original chair. Every few minutes, she found another reason to address Seungmin directly. Did he like the food?
Had he visited the restaurant she mentioned? Did he think her hair looked better dark or light? That one made you turn. She lifted a section of her hair between her fingers.
“I’ve been thinking of changing it,” she explained. “What do you think?” Seungmin blinked. “I don’t know.” “You must have a preference.”
“For your hair?” She laughed as though he had made a joke. “Generally.” He looked at you. You had stopped pretending not to listen.
A hint of mischief appeared in his expression. “I like hers.” You narrowed your eyes. “You said I’d look good bald.” “You would.”
“That doesn’t count.” “It shows versatility.” Your sister’s hand fell from her hair. “You’re lucky,” she told you.
The words sounded pleasant. The way she looked at Seungmin did not. You raised an eyebrow. “I know.” “I mean, you’ve never really cared about things like that.”
“Things like what?” “Your appearance.” Silence settled over the table. It wasn’t complete silence. Your father’s fork scraped faintly against his plate, and the clock in the hallway continued ticking.
But the conversation stopped. Your sister smiled as though she had offered you a compliment. “You’ve always been confident enough not to bother,” she added. You knew this routine.
It had existed long before Seungmin. Your sister would say something cruel with a pleasant expression, and if you reacted, she would insist you had misunderstood. That she admired your confidence. That she wished she could leave the house without making an effort. That you were lucky not to care what people thought. Normally, you could ignore it. Today, the comment felt particularly childish.
You opened your mouth, but Seungmin spoke first. “She spent forty minutes choosing that jumper.” You turned towards him in disbelief. Your sister laughed.
Seungmin continued, “Then she asked me which trousers looked better and ignored my answer.” You nudged his side with your elbow. He caught your hand before you could pull it away and linked your fingers beneath the table. The gesture was concealed from everyone else.
His thumb brushed once over your knuckles. You understood what he was doing. He hadn’t ignored your sister’s comment. He had simply refused to let it settle over you.
“She looks lovely,” your mother said firmly. “She does,” Seungmin agreed. Your sister’s smile tightened. “I never said she didn’t.”
“No one said you did,” you replied. Her gaze met yours. For a moment, something sharp passed between you. Then Seungmin squeezed your hand and leaned close enough that his shoulder pressed against yours.
“You have something on your face,” he whispered. You immediately touched your cheek. “Where?” “The other side.” You touched the other cheek.
“No, lower.” “Seungmin.” “A little lower.” You glared at him. “There’s nothing there, is there?”
He smiled. “You’re so easy.” You tried to pull your hand from his. He tightened his grip.
“Don’t be sulky.” “I hate you.” Your sister watched the exchange with an unreadable expression. You barely noticed.
౨ৎ
After lunch, your mother attempted to stop Seungmin from helping with the dishes. Seungmin ignored her. He rolled his sleeves to his elbows, collected the empty plates and followed you into the kitchen. Your sister followed him.
Naturally. “You don’t have to do that,” she told him, taking a plate from his hands. “It’s fine.” “You’re a guest.”
“So is she.” Seungmin nodded towards you. You were leaning against the counter eating a piece of cake. Your sister looked at you.
“She’s family.” “She isn’t helping.” “I’m supervising,” you said. “You’re eating the dessert we haven’t served yet.”
“I’m checking it for poison.” Seungmin set the plates beside the sink. “And?” You took another bite.
“Still collecting evidence.” He reached towards your plate. You moved it out of reach. “Get your own.”
“I bought it.” “I paid for it.” “With our money.” “We don’t have shared finances.”
Your sister laughed again. “You two are funny.” You glanced at her. The compliment sounded genuine enough, but her eyes remained fixed on Seungmin.
He turned on the tap. Your sister stepped beside him. “I’ll wash,” she offered. “I can do it.”
“You dry, then.” You watched her pick up a sponge. Your mother called your name from the living room, asking whether you could help her find something. You pushed yourself away from the counter.
“Don’t eat my cake,” you warned Seungmin. “I would never.” “You absolutely would.” He placed one hand over his heart.
“Your lack of trust is upsetting.” You pointed the fork at him. “I’ll know.” “Go away.” You reluctantly carried the plate with you.
As you left the kitchen, you glanced back. Your sister had moved slightly closer to Seungmin. He was focused on rinsing a plate. You nearly stayed.
Then you caught yourself. It was your sister. Seungmin was your boyfriend. Nothing was going to happen because the two of them spent ninety seconds alone beside a sink.
You found your mother’s glasses on top of her head, endured several minutes of her insisting she had already checked there and returned to the kitchen. Your sister was speaking. “…must get tiring.” Seungmin passed her another plate. “What does?”
“Dating someone so different from you.” You stopped just outside the doorway. Seungmin didn’t appear to notice you. He frowned. “You’ve said that a few times.”
“I don’t mean it badly.” “What do you mean?” Your sister dried the plate slowly. “You’re very disciplined. Ambitious. You take care of yourself.”
He waited. “And she isn’t?” “She’s just more relaxed.” Seungmin looked down at the soapy water.
You knew that expression. He was choosing his words. Your sister mistook his silence for agreement. “I’ve always been more like you,” she continued. “Even when we were younger. People used to say I was the more responsible one.”
“Did they?” “And the more confident one.” Seungmin made a small sound that could have meant anything. Your sister smiled.
“It’s funny, really. Most people usually notice me first.” He glanced at her. “Okay.” You pressed your lips together.
She appeared thrown by the response. “I don’t mean to sound arrogant.” “Then don’t.” The answer was delivered so lightly that for a second, you wondered whether you had heard him correctly.
Your sister laughed uncertainly. “I’m only being honest.” Seungmin rinsed another plate. “About people noticing you?”
“Yes.” “Congratulations.” You had to cover your mouth. Your sister’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“You must have noticed that we’re quite different.” “I’ve noticed.” “I’m probably more like your usual type.” Seungmin finally turned off the tap.
He looked at her properly. “What’s my usual type?” Your sister leaned one hip against the counter. “Confident. Sophisticated.”
“Are you asking me or telling me?” “I’m guessing.” “You’ve guessed wrong.” She smiled as though he were teasing her.
“Have I?” “Yes.” Something about his tone should have ended the conversation. It didn’t.
Your sister lowered her voice. “She’s always been the sweeter one, I suppose. Men tend to like that.” Seungmin stared at her. Then his gaze moved past her shoulder and found you standing in the doorway.
His expression changed immediately. The irritation disappeared behind a slow, knowing smile. “How long have you been there?” he asked. Your sister turned sharply.
You lifted your plate. “Long enough to know you’ve been having a very interesting discussion about your type.” Seungmin dried his hands. “Apparently, I have one.”
“Do you?” “I’m learning a lot today.” Your sister straightened. “We were only talking.” “I heard.”
“There’s no need to make it strange.” You stepped into the kitchen and placed your half-finished cake on the counter. “I didn’t.” “No, but you’re doing that thing where you act territorial.”
Seungmin’s eyebrows rose. You laughed. “Territorial?” “You don’t need to hover every time another woman speaks to your boyfriend.” “I was helping Mum.”
“And then you came straight back.” “Because this is where my cake is.” Seungmin immediately reached for your plate. You slapped his hand away.
“See?” He looked wounded. “You care more about that cake than you care about me.” “The cake has never stolen my crisps.”
“It would if it could.” Your sister sighed. “You’re both impossible.” “Thank you,” Seungmin said.
You picked up your fork again. Your sister gave you a long look before placing the tea towel on the counter. “I’m going to see if Mum needs anything.” “She doesn’t,” you said. “Her glasses were on her head.”
Your sister ignored you and left. You waited until her footsteps had faded down the hall. Then you turned towards Seungmin. He was already looking at you.
A smile pulled at your mouth. “Your usual type?” He groaned and leaned back against the sink. “Please don’t.”
“So much like her.” Seungmin reached for you. You dodged around the kitchen island, laughing when he followed. “I’m only being honest,” you said, mimicking your sister’s voice.
“You’re enjoying this far too much.” “Apparently she’s the woman of your dreams.” “My dreams have better conversational skills.” You gasped. “That was mean.”
“It was accurate.” He moved to one side of the island. You moved in the opposite direction. “I thought you liked confident women.”
“I like you.” “That wasn’t the question.” “It’s my answer.” “You’re only saying that because I caught you.”
“Caught me doing dishes?” “Seductively.” “I was wearing rubber gloves.” “Exactly. Very provocative.”
Seungmin stopped. You stopped too, watching him suspiciously from across the island. His expression softened. “Did that bother you?”
The question was quiet enough to dissolve some of your amusement. You considered it. “Not really.” “Not really?”
“I don’t think you’re secretly going to run away with my sister.” “That’s reassuring.” “I’d give you at least a week before you begged me to take you back.” “A week?”
“Maybe four days.” Seungmin looked offended. “I wouldn’t make it through the first evening.” You smiled. He continued to watch you.
“But?” he prompted. You looked down at your cake. “She does that sometimes.” “Does what?”
“Compares us.” You scraped your fork lightly through the icing. “She always has. She thinks she’s being subtle.” “She isn’t.” “I know.” “She also thinks I’m an idiot.”
You laughed. “Why?” “Because I’ve said I like you at least twelve times today, and she’s decided that means I’m interested in her.” “Maybe you’re sending mixed signals.” “I asked her to move because she was standing on my foot.”
“Very flirtatious.” “She apologised and touched my arm.” “Scandalous.” “She’s touched my arm six times.”
“You counted?” “I started counting when she asked whether I thought she looked better with dark hair.” You laughed again, and Seungmin smiled. Then he walked around the island.
This time, you let him reach you. His hands settled on your waist, drawing you between his knees as he leaned back against the counter. “For the record,” he said, “I don’t think you’re lucky.” “No?”
“No. I think I’m incredibly brave.” You flicked his shoulder. He caught your wrist and kissed your palm. “And lucky,” he added.
“That was nearly sweet.” “Don’t tell anyone.” You rolled your eyes, but your arms slipped around his shoulders. He tilted his head.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” “I’m fine.” “Your sister’s being strange.” “She thinks she can steal you.”
“Can she?” You pretended to consider it. Seungmin pinched your side. You squealed and tried to twist away, but he trapped you against him.
“Answer carefully,” he warned. “I don’t know. She is very sophisticated.” Another pinch. “And confident!”
He attacked your other side. You dissolved into helpless laughter, nearly dropping your fork as you attempted to escape. “Seungmin!” “Wrong answer.”
“She’s your type!” “Take it back.” “Never!” He caught both your wrists in one hand and used the other to tickle your waist.
You kicked uselessly at his legs. “You’re horrible!” “Take it back.” “Fine!” you gasped. “She isn’t your type.”
“And?” “And you don’t want her.” “And?” You stared at him, breathless.
His hair had fallen over his forehead during the struggle, and his smile was bright and boyish and entirely too pleased. “And you’re obsessed with me.” “There we go.” He released your wrists.
You immediately smacked his chest. Seungmin laughed and caught you against him again, pressing a noisy kiss to your cheek before you could complain. “You’re very annoying,” you told him. “You were laughing.”
“Against my will.” He kissed your other cheek. “Still counts.” Footsteps sounded in the hallway.
You both separated just before your mother entered the kitchen. She looked at Seungmin’s messy hair, your flushed face and the abandoned washing-up. Neither of you spoke. Your mother sighed.
“The dishes, Seungmin.” “I was doing them.” “He attacked me,” you said. “You provoked me.”
Your mother pointed at the sink. “Both of you.” “Yes, Mum,” you said. “Yes, Mum,” Seungmin echoed.
You turned to glare at him. He smiled innocently. Your mother left the room shaking her head. Seungmin bumped his hip against yours as he turned the tap back on.
“Pass me the sponge.” “You pass me the sponge.” “It’s closer to you.” “You’re closer to the sink.”
He looked towards the doorway, then lowered his voice. “Do you think your sister would do it for me?” You stared at him. He managed to hold a serious expression for approximately two seconds.
Then you shoved the sponge directly into his chest.
౨ৎ
When you finally prepared to leave, your mother packed enough food for several days into a bag and made Seungmin promise to visit again soon. Your sister stood in the hallway while you put on your coat. “You’re leaving already?” she asked. “We’ve been here for five hours,” you said.
“It doesn’t feel that long.” Seungmin bent to tie his shoelace. Your sister’s gaze lingered on him. “You should come over more often.”
“We will,” you replied. “I meant Seungmin.” He looked up. Your sister smiled. “You don’t need to wait for her. You’re practically part of the family now.”
There it was. Not quite enough to confront. More than enough to notice. Seungmin straightened.
“I think she’d be upset if I visited without her.” “I wouldn’t,” you said. “I’d enjoy the peace.” He placed one hand on top of your head and pushed down lightly. Your sister laughed.
“You’re very patient with her.” Seungmin looked at you. “No,” he said. “She’s patient with me.” For once, there was no joke attached.
His hand slid from the top of your head to the back of your neck, thumb brushing softly beneath your hair. Your sister’s smile faded for half a second. Then it returned. “Well,” she said, opening the door, “it was lovely seeing you.”
“You too,” Seungmin replied politely. She hugged you first. It was brief. Then she turned towards Seungmin.
You expected her to offer a wave. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him. Seungmin froze. His hands hovered uncertainly beside her shoulders.
Your eyes widened. Over your sister’s head, his gaze found yours. His expression was so openly alarmed that a laugh burst out of you. Your sister released him.
“What’s funny?” “Nothing.” Seungmin stepped immediately towards you. You were still laughing as he took the bag of food from your hand and placed his other arm securely around your shoulders.
Your sister glanced between you. “Text me when you’re home.” “I will.” She looked at Seungmin. “You have my number, don’t you?”
“No,” he said. “Oh.” She paused. “I thought you did.” “Why would he?” you asked. “In case of an emergency.”
Seungmin nodded. “I’ll call emergency services.” You choked on another laugh. Your sister’s mouth tightened. “I only meant if something happened with you.”
“He has Mum’s number.” “And her Dad’s,” Seungmin added. “And Chan’s,” you said. “And Minho’s.”
“He doesn’t need your number.” Your sister folded her arms. “You make everything sound strange.” “You asked my boyfriend whether he had your number.”
“For emergencies.” “Right.” Seungmin gently steered you through the doorway before either of you could continue. “Thank you for lunch,” he called politely.
Your mother called goodbye from somewhere inside the house. Your sister remained at the door while the two of you walked down the path. You could feel her watching. Seungmin’s arm stayed around you until you reached the pavement.
Then he leaned close. “Don’t look now.” You immediately looked back. Your sister was still standing in the doorway.
She lifted her hand when she saw you turn. You waved. Seungmin sighed. “I specifically said not to.”
“I don’t take instructions well.” “I know.” The door finally closed. You walked several more steps in silence.
Then Seungmin said, “Your sister wants me.” You stopped. He stopped beside you. The solemn expression on his face lasted less than a second before you both started laughing.
“Your confidence is disgusting,” you told him.
౨ৎ
Your sister arrived at your flat on Saturday afternoon wearing heeled boots, a fitted coat and enough perfume to announce her presence before you had even opened the door. You looked at her. Then at the small handbag hanging from her shoulder. Then back at her.
“You said you were coming to borrow my straighteners.” “I am.” “Are you planning to straighten your hair here?” “No.”
“Then why do you look like you’re going somewhere?” She frowned. “I’m meeting someone later.” “You didn’t mention that.” “I didn’t realise I needed to submit an itinerary.”
“You don’t.” “Then why are you interrogating me?” “I asked one question.” “You asked three.”
You stepped aside to let her enter. She walked past you, removing her coat as she went. The outfit beneath it was somehow even more carefully chosen. You watched her smooth the fabric over her waist before checking her reflection in the hallway mirror.
Interesting. Very interesting. “You could have texted,” you said, closing the door. “I would’ve brought the straighteners to Mum’s tomorrow.” “I was nearby.”
She wasn’t. Your sister lived nearly forty minutes in the opposite direction. You decided not to point that out. From the living room, Seungmin called, “Who is it?”
Your sister’s posture changed almost imperceptibly. Her shoulders pulled back. Her expression softened. You stared at her.
She ignored you. “Your favourite person,” you called. There was a pause. Then Seungmin replied, “Felix?”
You gasped. Your sister laughed. You marched into the living room, already preparing several punishments. Seungmin was sitting cross-legged on the floor beside the coffee table.
A pale blue fabric headband held his hair away from his face, and there was a thin layer of clay mask drying across his cheeks because you had told him his skin looked tired. He had complained for eleven minutes. Then he had asked whether there was enough left for his forehead. Your left hand rested carefully on top of an old magazine while Seungmin held your right between both of his.
Three of your fingernails were painted. One was half-painted. The fifth had somehow acquired a streak of polish across your skin. Seungmin looked up as you entered.
The smile on his face widened. “There’s my second-favourite person.” You stopped in front of him. “Second?”
“Felix bakes for me.” “I cook for you.” “You once burned instant noodles.” “The packet was confusing.”
“You forgot the water.” “It didn’t say when to add it.” You placed one foot against his thigh and pushed lightly. Seungmin caught your ankle.
“No kicking near the nail polish.” “You deserve worse.” “You asked me to do this.” “And you’re doing a terrible job.”
He looked down at your nails. “They’re beautiful.” “There’s polish on my knuckle.” Your sister appeared behind you.
Seungmin glanced towards her. His expression flickered with surprise before settling into a pleasant smile. “Oh. Hi.” “Hi.”
Your sister looked him over. Her gaze paused at the headband. Then the face mask. Then your hand resting in his.
Her smile faltered, only slightly. “I didn’t know you were here.” You turned your head towards her. She knew.
You had mentioned it the previous evening when she asked what you were doing this weekend. Seungmin did not appear to remember that. “I live here sometimes,” he said. “You don’t,” you replied.
Your sister moved further into the room. “You look comfortable,” she said. Seungmin touched the edge of the headband. “This was forced on me.”
“You asked whether the bow should go in the middle,” you said. Your sister laughed, lowering herself onto the sofa behind him. “It suits you.” Seungmin looked up at her.
“The face mask?” “The headband.” He touched it again. “Thanks.”
Her smile brightened. You watched her tuck one leg elegantly over the other. Seungmin returned his attention to your hand. “Stop moving.”
“I’m not moving.” “You’re moving now.” “Because you told me not to.” He tightened his fingers around yours.
“If you smudge this one, I’m starting again.” “You’ve already smudged it.” “That was intentional.” “Was the polish on my skin intentional too?”
“Yes.” “What was the artistic vision?” “Annoying you.” You tried to pull your hand away.
Seungmin held on. “Stay still.” “You’re enjoying the authority.” “I rarely have any in this relationship.”
“Because you can’t be trusted.” Your sister leaned forwards. “You let him paint your nails?” You looked at her.
“He volunteered.” “I was coerced,” Seungmin said. “You said you could do it better than me.” “I can.”
You lifted your hand. He immediately lowered it again before the wet polish could run. “That remains to be seen.” Your sister tilted her head.
“I’d never ask my boyfriend to do something like that.” You glanced at Seungmin. He glanced at you. There it was again.
That tiny shared pause when both of you noticed something and decided, without speaking, whether it was worth reacting to. You smiled. “Good thing he isn’t your boyfriend, then.” Your sister’s expression tightened.
Only for a second. Then she laughed. “I only mean I’d feel bad making him do something so feminine.” Seungmin inspected your thumbnail.
“You think painting nails is feminine?” “Usually.” “Then I’m doing a very poor job of it.” You snorted.
He blew gently across your nail. Your sister watched his lips purse. “It’s sweet,” she said. “I just wouldn’t have expected it from you.” “What did you expect?” Seungmin asked.
“I don’t know.” She did know. You could tell by the way she leaned towards him. “Something more masculine, I suppose.”
Seungmin looked down at himself. He was wearing grey jogging bottoms, an old sweatshirt and your fluffy skincare headband. “I’m devastated.” “You know what I mean.”
“I really don’t.” She smiled as though he were deliberately teasing her. “You seem like someone who’d usually want a very feminine girlfriend.” Seungmin’s brush paused.
You looked at your sister. She was looking at him. Not you. He lifted his eyes slowly.
“I do.” Your sister’s smile widened. Then Seungmin returned his attention to your hand. “That’s why I’m dating her.”
You pressed your lips together. Your sister glanced at you. You smiled pleasantly. Seungmin dipped the brush into the polish.
“She isn’t exactly what most people would call feminine,” your sister said. You raised your eyebrows. Seungmin’s hand stopped again. Your sister gestured towards you.
You were wearing one of Seungmin’s old shirts, a pair of shorts and fluffy socks. Your hair was twisted into a loose knot that had begun collapsing an hour ago. There was a faint smudge of clay mask beside your jaw where you had attempted to kiss Seungmin before it dried. You looked extremely comfortable. That had apparently become a flaw.
“I’m not?” you asked. “I didn’t mean it badly.” “Of course not.” “You’ve never cared about being girly.”
“I’m getting my nails painted.” “By your boyfriend.” “Yes.” “So?”
“So that feels relevant.” Your sister rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean. You’re not someone who gets dressed up around the house or worries about always looking attractive.” You looked down at yourself.
Then at Seungmin. His gaze had settled on your face. You recognised the slight narrowing of his eyes. Not anger.
Not yet. Attention. Your sister continued, “I just think it’s brave.” “Brave?” you repeated.
“To be that comfortable so early in a relationship.” You and Seungmin had been together for nearly two years. Apparently that remained early enough to maintain a constant state of glamour. “How does she normally dress at home?” Seungmin asked.
Your sister seemed pleased to have his attention again. “Like this.” “Right.” “She’s always been a little careless.”
“With clothes?” “With everything.” You laughed quietly. Your sister looked at you.
“What?” “Nothing.” Seungmin placed the nail brush carefully inside the bottle. Then he lifted your hand and examined his work.
“Perfect.” “It’s uneven.” “So are your fingers.” “My fingers aren’t uneven.”
“One’s shorter.” “They’re supposed to be different lengths.” “Convenient excuse.” He brought your hand towards his mouth.
You frowned. “What are you doing?” “Checking whether it’s dry.” “With your lips?”
“Yes.” “That makes no sense.” Seungmin pressed a delicate kiss to the side of your index finger, avoiding the wet nail. Then he kissed your knuckle.
Then your wrist. A smile pulled at your mouth despite yourself. “Dry,” he announced. “You didn’t touch the polish.”
“I’m an expert.” “You’re an idiot.” He kissed your wrist again. Your sister shifted on the sofa.
“You two are very…” She paused. “Affectionate.” “That sounded judgemental,” you said. “It wasn’t.” “It sounded a little judgemental,” Seungmin agreed.
“I only mean you don’t seem like the clingy type.” She was speaking to him again. Seungmin leaned back against your legs. “I’m not.”
You looked down at him. He looked up at you. “You’re currently using me as a chair.” “You’re comfortable.”
Seungmin smiled lazily, reaching behind himself until his hand found your knee. You threaded your fingers through his hair, careful not to disturb the headband. He immediately tilted his head into your touch. Your sister watched him do it.
Something in her expression hardened. “You always liked being fussed over,” she said to you. You looked at her. “What?”
“When we were younger. You always needed everyone’s attention.” The comment was casual. Almost playful. You knew better.
“I don’t remember that.” “You used to follow Mum around constantly.” “I was six.” “You cried whenever she left the room.”
“I was still six.” “You’ve never liked being alone.” Seungmin’s thumb stroked once over your knee. You shrugged.
“Good thing I don’t have to be.” Your sister’s eyes flicked towards his hand. “That’s what I mean. You need a lot from people.” There was a quietness beneath the words.
An implication she wanted Seungmin to catch. You were needy. Difficult. Exhausting.
The kind of girlfriend who demanded face masks and painted nails and constant affection. Your sister, naturally, would never require so much effort. Seungmin looked up at you. “Do you?”
“Do I what?” “Need a lot from me?” You pretended to consider it. “Well, you could make more tea.”
“I made the last one.” “You drank half of it.” “It became ours when you let me taste it.” “That’s not how sharing works.”
Your sister exhaled through her nose. “You make everything into a joke.” “You make everything very serious,” you replied. “I’m trying to have a conversation.”
“With my boyfriend?” “With both of you.” “You’ve mostly been looking at him.” The room went still.
Your sister blinked. Seungmin’s eyebrows lifted. You hadn’t intended to say it quite so plainly. You weren’t upset.
Not yet. You were mostly curious to see what she would do when someone acknowledged the obvious. She recovered quickly. “I’m looking at whoever’s speaking.”
“He hasn’t been speaking.” “He literally just was.” You smiled. “All right.”
Your sister folded her arms. “You’re being strange again.” “I didn’t say anything.” “You implied something.”
“What did I imply?” “You know exactly what.” Seungmin’s hand slid around the back of your knee. His fingertips squeezed gently.
You looked down at him. He gave you a small, private smile. There was no concern in it. He knew you weren’t jealous.
Mostly, he appeared entertained. “You came for straighteners,” you reminded your sister. “I know.” “They’re in the bedroom.”
“Can you get them?” “You know where they are.” She hesitated. Her gaze moved towards the hallway, then back to Seungmin.
“I haven’t been in your bedroom since you moved things around.” “You’ll survive.” “I don’t want to go through your things.” “You’ve never had an issue before.”
Her mouth tightened. You smiled sweetly. “I’ll show you.” You gently extracted your hand from Seungmin’s grasp, holding your fingers carefully apart.
He immediately caught your wrist. “Where are you going?” “To get the straighteners.” “You’ll ruin your nails.”
“I’m walking, not digging a tunnel.” “You’re very clumsy.” “You painted them five minutes ago. They’re dry.” Seungmin tightened his grip.
“Wait.” “What?” He reached for the bottle of top coat on the table. “You need this.”
“You didn’t mention top coat before.” “I forgot.” “You just don’t want me to leave.” “That’s ridiculous.”
“You’re holding my wrist.” “To protect my work.” “Say you’ll miss me.” “You’ll be gone for thirty seconds.”
“Then it shouldn’t be difficult.” Seungmin narrowed his eyes. Your sister watched the exchange. You waited.
He looked away first. “I’ll miss you,” he muttered. You grinned. “What was that?”
“You heard me.” “I don’t think I did.” “I’m not repeating it.” “Then I suppose I’ll have to stay.”
Seungmin looked back at you suspiciously. You lowered yourself onto the floor in front of him. His expression brightened. Then you reached for the top coat.
He held it out of reach. “You said you were staying.” “To do my own nails.” “No.”
“Give it to me.” “You’ll ruin them.” “They’re already ruined.” Seungmin gasped.
You grabbed for the bottle. He leaned away. You lunged across him, careful to keep your painted hand lifted. Seungmin caught you around the waist with his free arm.
“Behave.” “Give it.” “No.” “Seungmin.”
You tried to reach behind him. He shifted again, pulling you further into his lap. Your sister cleared her throat. You both looked towards her.
She was still sitting on the sofa. Watching. You had briefly forgotten she was there. “Sorry,” you said, although you weren’t particularly sorry.
Seungmin rested his chin on your shoulder. He still had one arm wrapped firmly around your waist. Your sister’s gaze dropped to it. “Could you get the straighteners?” she asked.
“You know where they are,” you repeated. “I already told you I don’t.” Seungmin lifted his head. “I can get them.”
Your sister’s face brightened. You turned towards him. He was already beginning to stand, carefully guiding you off his lap. Your sister rose too.
Seungmin paused. He looked at her. Then at you. You pressed your lips together to keep from laughing.
There was no reason for both of them to go. Your sister apparently believed your bedroom contained an unusually complicated straightener-storage system that required Seungmin’s personal guidance. “I know where they are,” he said. “I’ll come with you.”
“You can stay here.” Her smile faltered. “I don’t mind.” “I do.”
The answer was so immediate that you made a small choking sound. Your sister’s patience finally snapped. “Can someone please get them?” You and Seungmin both looked at her.
She smiled tightly. “The straighteners.” “Right,” you said. Seungmin pointed at you.
“Don’t touch anything.” “It’s my flat.” “My nail polish.” He disappeared down the hallway.
Your sister waited until he was out of earshot. Then she looked at you. “You don’t have to perform every time I’m here.” You stared at her.
“Perform?” “The constant touching. The little jokes.” “You think that’s for you?” “I think you’re trying very hard to prove something.”
You looked towards the hallway. Seungmin was rummaging through the bathroom cabinet, apparently having forgotten that you kept the straighteners inside your wardrobe. You turned back to her. “I’m sitting in my own living room wearing his shirt while he paints my nails.”
“Exactly.” “What am I proving?” “That you’re comfortable with him.” “I am comfortable with him.”
“You don’t need to make it so obvious.” A laugh escaped you. Your sister’s expression darkened. “What?”
“I genuinely don’t understand what you’re accusing me of.” “You’re acting territorial.” “I haven’t stopped you speaking to him.” “You don’t have to. You just keep interrupting.”
“This is my flat.” “So?” “He’s my boyfriend.” “I know that.”
“Do you?” Her eyes narrowed. You smiled. Still amused.
Mostly. But something sharper had begun pressing beneath your ribs. Your sister had always competed with you. Clothes. Friends. Attention. Compliments.
Anything you possessed became evidence that she deserved something better. You had simply never expected her to become this obvious. “You’re imagining things,” she said. “Am I?”
“Yes.” “Then why did you come dressed like that to borrow straighteners?” Her face changed. Only for an instant.
Then she scoffed. “I told you I’m going out.” “Where?” “Why do you care?”
“I don’t.” “You clearly do.” “You’ve travelled forty minutes to borrow something you could buy for twenty pounds.” “I was nearby.”
“No, you weren’t.” She folded her arms. “Seungmin doesn’t seem to mind me being here.” There it was.
You looked at her. She looked pleased with herself. “Why would he mind?” “He’s been friendly.”
“He’s usually friendly.” “Not with everyone.” You nearly smiled. Your sister had known Seungmin for one afternoon.
Apparently she had already developed an extensive understanding of his social habits. “He complimented me last time,” she continued. “When?” “He said my dress was nice.”
“Mum told him to.” “That doesn’t mean he didn’t think it.” “No, I’m sure he has very strong feelings about the dress.” “You don’t have to be jealous.”
You stared at her. Then you laughed. You couldn’t help it. The idea was so completely detached from reality that amusement overwhelmed everything else.
Your sister’s face hardened. “I’m serious.” “So am I.” “Then why are you laughing?”
“Because you think Seungmin complimenting your dress means I should be worried.” “I didn’t say you should be worried.” “You said I was jealous.” “You’re acting like it.”
“Trust me.” You leaned back against the sofa. “I’m not.” Your sister opened her mouth. Seungmin returned before she could answer. He was holding the straighteners in one hand
He handed the straighteners to your sister. She accepted them. “Thank you.” “No problem.”
Her fingers lingered against his for a moment. Seungmin looked down at their hands. Then politely extracted his own. “I should probably go,” your sister said.
You looked at the clock. She had been there for less than twenty minutes. “Your plans?” you asked. “Yes.”
She picked up her coat. Seungmin returned to the floor beside you, already reaching for your hand. Your sister watched him pull you down beside him. Your sister opened the front door.
“I’ll text you,” she said to you. “Okay.” She looked towards Seungmin. “It was nice seeing you.”
“You too.” “You look good, by the way.” Seungmin glanced down at his sweatshirt. “Thanks.”
“The headband especially.” His hand rose to the blue bow. “Right.” She laughed softly.
Then she left. You waited until the door closed. Silence settled over the flat. Seungmin stared at it.
You stared at him. He turned slowly. “What?” You broke first.
Laughter burst out of you so suddenly that you nearly knocked over the nail polish. Seungmin caught the bottle. “Careful!” “The headband especially,” you repeated.
“Stop.” “You look good, by the way.” “I said stop.” You twisted in his arms until you were facing him.
Seungmin was kneeling over you, one hand planted beside your shoulder and the other wrapped securely around your waist. You looked up at him. “I like your headband.” “Thank you. I already have a beautiful girlfriend.”
You nodded. “Very natural.” “You’re ridiculous.” “And you’re obsessed with me.”
“There it is.” “There what is?” “You’ve been waiting to say that all afternoon.” “I haven’t.”
“You have.” “No.” “Yes.” You tried to push him away with your forearm.
Seungmin remained exactly where he was. “Admit it,” he said. “Admit what?” “That you’re jealous.”
“I’m not.” “Just a little?” “No.” “Not even when she touched my hand?”
“I thought about breaking her fingers.” Seungmin’s eyes widened. You hooked one leg around his hips and attempted to roll him onto his back. He anticipated it, shifting his weight before you could gain any leverage.
“You’re cheating,” you complained. “How?” “You’re stronger.” “That isn’t cheating.”
“It is when I’m losing.” He laughed. You used the distraction to push at his shoulder again. Seungmin caught both your wrists.
Your breath hitched, more from surprise than anything else. He pinned them lightly above your head, careful not to let your nails touch the carpet. His hair had begun slipping free from the headband. The clay mask had cracked faintly near the corners of his smile.
He looked completely ridiculous. And unfairly lovely. “Still think I enjoyed it?” he asked. You pretended to consider your answer.
His eyes narrowed. “Choose carefully.” You bit back a smile. “She is very feminine.”
Seungmin lowered his face closer to yours. “Wrong direction.” “And confident.” His grip tightened slightly around your wrists.
You laughed. “And sophisticated.” “Do you want to keep your newly painted nails?” “That sounds like a threat.”
“It is.” “You worked so hard on them.” “I can start again.” “You wouldn’t.”
“I have nowhere to be.” You squirmed beneath him. He shifted, trapping you more securely without putting his weight on you. “You’re impossible,” you said.
“You started this.” “She’s your type.” Seungmin stared at you. Then he released one of your wrists.
You immediately tried to escape. His free hand found your side. You squealed. “No!”
“Take it back.” “You can’t keep doing this!” “I can until you learn.” His fingers dug gently into your waist.
You dissolved into laughter, twisting helplessly beneath him. “The mask!” you gasped. “You’ll crack the mask!” “I don’t care.” “You were worried about it two minutes ago!”
“You’ve pushed me too far.” You kicked at the rug. Seungmin caught your leg beneath his knee. “You’re evil!”
“And?” “Controlling!” “And?” “Obsessed with me!”
His fingers stopped. “There we go.” You glared up at him, breathless. “That isn’t fair.”
“It’s completely fair.” “I was supposed to say you don’t want her.” “I know I don’t want her.” “You’re supposed to reassure me.”
“Are you worried?” “No.” “Then why do you need reassurance?” “Because I enjoy compliments.”
Seungmin smiled. The teasing faded gently from his expression. He released your other wrist and settled his hand beside your head instead. “You’re very pretty.”
“That was basic.” “You’re especially pretty when you’re wearing my clothes.” “Better.” “You’re funny.”
“I know.” “And irritating.” “That wasn’t a compliment.” “It’s one of my favourite things about you.”
You looked up at him. His thumb brushed lightly over your cheek. “You’re my favourite person to come home to,” he continued. “My favourite person to annoy. My favourite person to do absolutely nothing with.” Your smile softened.
Seungmin’s did too. “And,” he added, “I’m so obsessed with you that I let you put this stupid thing on my head.” You touched the bow. “You love the headband.”
“I tolerate it.” “You’re avoiding the important part.” “What important part?” “The part where you admit I’m obsessed with you.”
You laughed. “You just admitted it yourself.” “I want to hear you say it.” “You’re obsessed with me.”
“And?” You stared at him. He waited expectantly. “And you don’t want my sister.”
“Obviously.” “And?” A slow grin spread across his face. You realised what he wanted.
“No.” “Say it.” “I’m not saying it.” “You know you want to.”
“I don’t.” Seungmin’s fingers hovered threateningly near your waist. You recoiled. “Don’t.”
“Then say it.” “You’re abusing your power.” “I’m waiting.” You glared at him.
He looked delighted. “And I’m obsessed with you too,” you muttered. “What was that?” “You heard me.”
“The face mask is restricting my hearing.” “That isn’t how masks work.” “Speak clearly.” You tried not to smile.
“I’m obsessed with you too.” “There we go.” He bent and kissed you. It began soft.
A pleased little press of his lips against yours. Then you reached for the back of his neck and accidentally brushed one wet nail against his cheek. Seungmin pulled away. You froze.
A bright streak of polish now cut through the dried clay mask. For one second, neither of you moved. Then you burst out laughing. Seungmin stared at you.
“You ruined it.” “I’m sorry!” “You did that on purpose.” “I didn’t!”
“You attacked me.” “You were on top of me!” “Because you accused me of wanting your sister.” Seungmin touched his cheek.
His fingers came away with polish on them. His mouth dropped open. You laughed even harder. “You look beautiful.”
“You’re sleeping on the sofa.” “It’s my flat.” “Then I’m sleeping in your bed alone.” “You wouldn’t last ten minutes.”
“I’d sleep perfectly.” You grinned. Seungmin tried to maintain his glare. He failed.
A laugh escaped him. Then another. He lowered his head until his forehead rested against your shoulder, both of you shaking with laughter on the living-room floor. You wrapped your arms around him.
“Your mask really is ruined.” “I know.” “And the polish is definitely smudged.” “I know.”
౨ৎ
Your sister invited herself shopping with you three days later. Technically, she asked whether you had bought your mum’s birthday present yet. When you told her that you and Seungmin were going into town on Sunday to find something, she replied that she had been planning to go that day too. You had stared at the message for several seconds. Seungmin, lying beside you with his head on your stomach, had tilted his phone away from his face and asked, “Why are you making that expression?”
“My sister wants to come shopping with us.” He had gone silent. You lowered your phone to look at him. “That was a very long pause.” “I was trying to think of something polite.”
“And?” “I couldn’t.” You laughed and ran your fingers through his hair. “We are shopping for her mum too.” “Unfortunately.”
“She’s my mum.” “That’s why I said unfortunately. I like your mum.” “You’re horrible.” Seungmin had turned his head and pressed a kiss to your stomach through your shirt. “Tell her she can come.”
“You don’t sound very enthusiastic.” “I’m thrilled. Maybe she can tell me more about what kind of woman I usually prefer.” You had flicked his forehead. He had bitten your finger.
The matter was settled.
౨ৎ
Your sister arrived twenty minutes late. You and Seungmin had already been standing outside the shopping centre long enough for him to complain about the cold four times, steal one of your gloves and attempt to warm his other hand by shoving it beneath the back of your jumper. You had slapped him away. He had waited thirty seconds before trying again.
“Your hand is freezing,” you complained, twisting out of his reach. “That’s why I need your body heat.” “You have pockets.” “They’re not as warm as you.”
“They don’t want you touching them either.” Seungmin smiled and caught the belt loop of your jeans when you tried to step away. “Come back.” “No.” “You’re abandoning me.”
“I’m moving half a metre.” “That’s still too far.” You rolled your eyes, but you let him pull you backwards until your shoulder rested against his chest. He wrapped both arms around your waist and tucked his chin over your shoulder, immediately pleased with himself. “You’re very clingy today,” you said.
“It’s cold.” “You were clingy yesterday too.” “I was tired.” “You fell asleep on top of me. I couldn’t breathe.”
“And yet you let me stay.” His laugh warmed the side of your neck. Your sister found you like that. She slowed as she approached, taking in Seungmin’s arms around your middle and the way your hands rested over his. Then she smiled.
“Sorry,” she said, although she did not sound particularly sorry. “The train was delayed.” “You said you were driving,” you replied. She paused. Seungmin’s face disappeared briefly against your shoulder. You felt the silent shake of his laughter.
“I changed my mind,” your sister said. “Clearly.” She looked at Seungmin. “Have you been waiting long?” “Long enough for her to attack me.”
“I moved your freezing hand away,” you said. Seungmin tightened his arms around your waist. “Exactly.” Your sister laughed, her gaze lingering on him a little too long. “You poor thing.” Your sister looked at you with a small, knowing smile. “You’ve always been like that.”
“Like what?” “Rough.” Seungmin’s eyebrows rose. You looked down at your outfit as though you might find evidence of roughness on your coat. “I pushed his hand away.”
“I’m only joking.” “Right.” “She’s very frightening,” Seungmin said solemnly. “I live in constant fear.” Then he kissed your cheek and released you, taking your hand instead. “Can we go inside before I lose feeling in my fingers?”
“You stole my glove.” “It wasn’t enough.” Your sister walked beside him as you entered the shopping centre. You ended up on his other side.
It was not immediately strange. The pavement narrowed near the doors, people moved around you, and your sister had always been skilled at placing herself exactly where she wanted to be without appearing deliberate. But once you were inside, she remained there. She asked Seungmin what he thought you should buy. She asked whether he enjoyed shopping. She asked which shops he liked, whether he cared about clothes and whether he usually chose his own outfits. He answered politely.
Mostly. When she asked whether he had a favourite designer, he said, “Whoever makes comfortable trousers.” When she asked what colours he liked on women, he said, “Normal ones.” Your sister frowned. “I was asking a normal question.”
“I know,” you said. “His answer was stupid.” Seungmin swung your joined hands between you. Your sister glanced down. “I think you’d suit darker colours,” she told him.
“I wear dark colours.” “I know. They make you look more mature.” You looked across him. “What does he look like now?” She ignored you. “You have a very classic face.”
Seungmin turned towards you. “Do I?” “No.” He looked offended. “You didn’t even think about it.” “I look at your face every day.”
“And you’ve never thought it was classic?” “I’ve thought it was annoying.” “That isn’t a facial structure.” “It should be.”
Your sister sighed softly. “You never take compliments seriously.” “She rarely gives them,” Seungmin said. “I complimented you this morning.” “You said my hair looked less strange than usual.”
“That was generous.” “You also said I looked tired.” “You did.” “You make me feel very cherished.”
You stopped in the middle of the walkway and placed both hands around his face. “You are beautiful.” Seungmin’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “You’re mocking me.” “Never.” “You’re smiling.”
“Because you’re beautiful.” He stared at you for another second before his mouth betrayed him. A reluctant smile appeared. “There,” you said, squeezing his cheeks. “Pretty.”
Seungmin caught both your wrists and pulled your hands away. “Don’t touch my face in public.” “You love it.” Your sister had gone quiet. You released Seungmin’s face and started walking again. He slipped his hand into yours as though the interruption had never happened.
The first shop was useless. The second was worse. Your mum had said she wanted something for the house, which sounded simple until you were faced with fifteen aisles of objects she might already own. Your sister suggested a decorative vase.
You reminded her that your mum had six. Seungmin picked up a tiny ceramic dog wearing a crown. You told him to put it down. “She’d love him,” he said.
“She’d ask why we bought her rubbish.” “He’s cute.” “He’s ugly.” “He can hear you.”
Your sister smiled at Seungmin. “I think he’s cute.” You looked at her. She was not looking at the ceramic dog. Seungmin, apparently unaware or pretending to be, placed the ornament carefully in your hands. “Hold him.”
“No.” “He likes you.” “You like him.” “He reminds me of you.”
You stared at the dog. The dog stared back with badly painted eyes. “You’re sleeping alone tonight.” Seungmin smiled. “You say that every week.”
“One day I’ll mean it.” “No, you won’t.” Your sister picked up a sleek glass vase and held it towards Seungmin. “What about this?” He glanced at it. “It’s nice.”
“She already has something similar,” you said. Your sister’s smile tightened. “Not exactly like this.” “It’s almost identical.” “It’s more modern.”
“Mum doesn’t care about modern.” “She might.” Your sister looked at Seungmin. “What do you think?” He looked between you both.
Then at the vase. Then at the ceramic dog still in your hands. “I think we should buy the dog.” You laughed.
Your sister did not. “You’re both impossible,” she said, returning the vase to the shelf. “That keeps coming up,” Seungmin replied. You carried the dog for another two aisles before secretly placing it on a display of cushions.
Seungmin noticed immediately. “Where is he?” “Who?” “The dog.”
“I don’t know.” “You abandoned him.” “He wasn’t ours.” “He could have been.”
“Not everything you like has to come home with us.” “You came home with me.” Your sister laughed. You turned towards Seungmin slowly. “Was that meant to be sweet?”
“Yes.” “It sounded like you found me beside a road.” “I rescued you.” “From what?”
“Yourself.” You shoved him lightly towards a stack of towels. He caught your elbow and pulled you with him, making you stumble against his chest. His free arm wrapped around your waist before you could fall. You tried not to smile.
You failed. Your sister walked ahead.
౨ৎ
After nearly an hour, you found a set of handmade serving bowls that your mum would genuinely like. Your sister thought they were plain. Seungmin thought one of them looked like a hat. You thought both of them needed to stop talking.
You were waiting at the till when your sister announced that she wanted coffee. “There’s a place downstairs,” she said. “I’ll go.” “I’ll come,” you replied. “I need the toilet anyway.” Her expression flickered.
Only slightly. Then she smiled. “You can stay with the bags. Seungmin and I can get them.” Seungmin looked up from the receipt in his hand. You looked at her.
She looked at him. There was a small silence. Then Seungmin said, “She knows my order.” Your sister recovered quickly. “You can tell me.”
“I’ll forget something.” “It’s coffee.” “He’s very demanding,” you said. Seungmin nodded.
Your sister laughed, although her eyes stayed on him. “I think I can manage.” You could have refused. Part of you wanted to, not because you thought anything would happen, but because your sister’s intentions had become so transparent that allowing her to proceed felt almost embarrassing. Then curiosity won.
You handed the shopping bag to Seungmin. “Fine. Get me something sweet.” “What?” “Surprise me.” “That always ends badly.”
“Only because you make poor choices.” Seungmin stared at you. You smiled. He sighed. “Fine.”
Your sister looked pleased. Far too pleased. You kissed Seungmin’s cheek before stepping away. “Don’t let her buy me anything with coconut.”
౨ৎ
Seungmin watched you disappear into the crowd. He knew exactly what you were doing. You had kissed him in front of your sister on purpose. Not because you were worried.
Because you were a menace. A message appeared on his phone before he and your sister had reached the escalator. Don’t fall in love while I’m gone x He smiled despite himself.
Your sister noticed. “What?” “Nothing.” “Was that her?”
“Yes.” “What did she say?” Seungmin put his phone away. “Nothing important.” Your sister stepped onto the escalator beside him.
For several seconds, she was silent. Then she said, “She checks on you a lot.” Seungmin looked at her. “Does she?” “She’s always texting you.”
“We text each other.” “I know. I just mean she likes knowing where you are.” He considered the comment. “She sent me a joke.”
“What joke?” “One you wouldn’t find funny.” Your sister’s mouth tightened. “You don’t know that.” “I know her sense of humour.”
“And mine?” “Not really.” The escalator carried them down another floor. Your sister rested one hand on the rail. “You and her are very different.”
Seungmin looked ahead. “You’ve mentioned that.” “I don’t mean it as an insult.” “You keep saying that too.” She laughed softly. “You remember.”
“I have a good memory.” “You do seem observant.” “Sometimes.” “That’s why I’m surprised.”
He turned his head. “By what?” She looked briefly uncertain, as if she had expected him to understand without making her say it aloud. “Nothing.”
Seungmin faced forwards again. The coffee shop was busy. A line curled away from the counter, giving your sister more time than she probably needed. She moved closer to him as they joined it. “I’ve always wondered how she ended up with someone like you.”
Seungmin’s expression did not change. “Someone like me?” “Successful. Disciplined. Mature.” “You think she isn’t those things?”
“I didn’t say that.” “You implied it.” Your sister sighed. “You’re very defensive of her.” “She’s my girlfriend.”
“I know.” “Then why are you surprised?” “I’m not surprised. I just think you misunderstand me.” Seungmin shoved one hand into his coat pocket. “Then explain.”
Your sister glanced towards the counter. The line had barely moved. “She’s always been the sweet one,” she said. “The one people feel protective over. I’ve always been more independent.” “Okay.” “She needs more reassurance.”
“Does she?” “You’ve seen how she is.” “I have.” “And that doesn’t get tiring?”
Seungmin looked at her properly. His tone stayed light, but his eyes sharpened. “No.” Your sister held his gaze. “You don’t have to pretend with me.” “I’m not.”
“She can be a lot.” “So can I.” “You’re different.” “You don’t know me.”
The words landed more firmly than anything he had said before. Your sister blinked. Seungmin looked back towards the counter. The line moved forward.
For a few seconds, she said nothing. Then she tried again. “She doesn’t tell people this, but she used to get overlooked a lot when we were younger.” Seungmin’s jaw tightened.
“Overlooked by who?” “People.” Your sister exhaled, clearly frustrated by his refusal to fill in the gaps for her. “Boys usually noticed me first.”
Seungmin waited. She smiled faintly. “She never minded. At least, she pretended not to.” He looked at her. “And?”
“And nothing. I’m only saying it’s probably nice for her to be the one someone chose for once.” Seungmin stared at her for a long moment. Your sister interpreted the silence as an opening. “You’re kind,” she continued. “You probably don’t even realise how much that means to her.”
“I noticed her.” The sentence was quiet. Immediate. Your sister’s smile faltered.
“I didn’t say you didn’t.” “You said people didn’t.” “I said they usually noticed me first.” “I didn’t.”
Something sharp passed across her face. Then she laughed. “You hadn’t met me.” Seungmin looked at her.
The confidence in her smile returned. It was not difficult to understand what she meant. If he had seen her first, things might have been different. If he knew her better, he might recognise what he had missed.
If you had not reached him before she did, perhaps he would have made the correct choice. Seungmin almost laughed. Instead, he said, “I’ve met you now.” Your sister’s smile remained fixed.
The line moved again. She stepped closer. “I think we have more in common than you realise.” “Do we?”
“We’re both ambitious.” “So is she.” “We care about how we present ourselves.” “She does too.”
“She doesn’t care what anyone thinks.” “That’s one of the things I like about her.” Your sister’s eyes narrowed. “You turn everything into a compliment about her.” “Yes.”
The answer was so simple that it left nowhere for the conversation to go. Your sister looked away. Seungmin’s phone buzzed again. He checked it.
Is she seducing you yet? A second message appeared. Blink twice if you need rescue Then:
Actually don’t. I can’t see you He laughed under his breath. Your sister glanced towards the phone. “She’s checking again?”
“She’s entertaining herself.” “She doesn’t trust me.” Seungmin looked up. “Should she?” Your sister went still.
He raised his eyebrows slightly. For the first time, she seemed uncertain whether he was joking. Then he smiled. Not warmly.
Not cruelly either. Just enough to make the question impossible to challenge. Your sister looked towards the menu. “What did she want?”
“Something sweet.” “That isn’t very specific.” “She likes trying new things.” “I know.”
“Do you?” Your sister frowned. “She’s my sister.” Seungmin slipped his phone into his pocket. “Then choose.” She looked at the display board.
After a moment, she suggested a coconut latte. Seungmin stared at her. “What?” “She hates coconut.”
Your sister hesitated. “Does she?” “She told you five minutes ago.” “I forgot.” “I didn’t.”
He ordered your favourite instead.
౨ৎ
You returned to find them sitting at a small table near the window. Your sister was speaking. Seungmin was looking at his phone. That alone told you almost everything you needed to know.
He was never rude enough to ignore someone without a reason. When he spotted you, his entire expression changed. His shoulders relaxed. His mouth curved into a smile. He put his phone down and lifted one hand towards you. “There you are.”
You slid into the seat beside him. Seungmin immediately hooked his fingers through the belt loop at the back of your jeans and tugged you closer. “I was gone for fifteen minutes.” “It was difficult.”
“You seemed fine.” Your sister looked between you. You picked up the drink in front of your seat and inspected it. “What did you get me?” “Try it.”
“What is it?” “I’m not telling you.” “Why?” “You said to surprise you.”
“I don’t trust you.” Seungmin pushed the cup closer. “Drink.” You took a cautious sip. It was sweet, creamy and familiar.
Your favourite. You looked at him. He smiled smugly. “You didn’t choose something new.”
“I chose something you’d like.” “That isn’t a surprise.” “You were surprised.” “I was surprised you made a good decision.”
Seungmin leaned towards you. “Say thank you.” “No.” “Say it.” “You’re very demanding.”
“I carried the bowls.” “They’re in one bag.” “A heavy bag.” “They’re ceramic, not concrete.”
Your sister interrupted. “He remembered your order.” You looked at her. There was something brittle in her voice. Seungmin rested his chin briefly on your shoulder and stole a sip of your drink.
You pushed his face away. “Of course he did,” you said. “He orders it more than I do.” “For you,” he corrected. “You steal half.”
“It tastes better when it’s yours.” “That’s because you’re a thief.” He smiled against your cheek. Your sister looked away.
You could practically feel the conversation you had interrupted sitting between them. You waited until Seungmin sat back. Then you asked, “Did you have a nice chat?” Your sister reached for her coffee.
Seungmin looked at you. His eyes were bright with the effort of not laughing. “Very informative.” “Oh?”
“I learned that I’m successful, disciplined and mature.” You nodded solemnly. “One out of three isn’t bad.” Seungmin kicked your foot beneath the table. You kicked him back.
Your sister sighed. “I was complimenting him.” “I know.” “She thinks I’m mature,” Seungmin said. “She doesn’t live with you.”
“I don’t live with you.” Under the table, Seungmin’s knee pressed against yours. You tapped it once with your own. He tapped back.
Your sister watched the movement. “I was only saying that you’re lucky,” she said. You looked at her. “Again?” “You are.”
“I know.” “She thinks you’re lucky someone finally noticed you,” Seungmin added. The words were delivered with deceptive casualness. Your sister’s head snapped towards him.
Your hand stilled around the cup. Seungmin lifted his drink. You looked at your sister. She looked suddenly furious.
“I didn’t say it like that.” “How did you say it?” “I said people usually noticed me first when we were younger.” You raised your eyebrows.
Your sister leaned back. “It was relevant to the conversation.” “What conversation?” “We were talking about relationships.” “You were talking about mine?”
“She asked whether dating you was tiring,” Seungmin said. You stared at him. He took a calm sip. Your sister’s face reddened. “That isn’t what I asked.”
“It was very close.” “You’re twisting my words.” “I remember them quite clearly.” You looked between them.
The ridiculousness of it arrived before the hurt could. Your sister had finally managed to get Seungmin alone, and she had apparently used the opportunity to explain why being with you must be exhausting. A laugh slipped out. Your sister’s mouth tightened. “Why are you laughing?”
“Because you had fifteen minutes.” “What?” “You finally got him alone and that was your strategy?” Seungmin choked on his drink.
Your sister stared at you. You turned towards him. “Are you all right?” He held up one hand and coughed into the other. “You’re horrible,” he managed.
“You were thinking it too.” “I was trying to be polite.” Your sister placed her cup on the table more firmly than necessary. “Nothing happened.” You looked at her. “I know.”
“Then stop acting like you caught me doing something.” “I didn’t catch you. He told me.” Your sister stood. The legs of her chair scraped against the floor.
“I’m going to look at another shop.” You glanced at the untouched coffee. “We just sat down.” “I remembered something I need.” She grabbed her handbag.
Seungmin watched her. Your sister looked at him, waiting for something. An offer to come with her, perhaps. An apology.
A private look that confirmed all the things she had decided existed between them. Seungmin lifted his hand. For one hopeful second, she smiled. Then he pointed towards her cup. “Are you taking that?”
Her smile disappeared. “No.” “Can I have it?” You elbowed him.
“What?” he asked. “She isn’t drinking it.” Your sister walked away without answering. You watched her disappear into the crowd. Then you turned slowly towards Seungmin.
He was already reaching for her abandoned coffee. You slapped his hand. “No.” “She said she didn’t want it.”
“You don’t know what’s in it.” “Coffee.” “She might have poisoned it.” “Why would she poison her own drink?”
“She sensed rejection.” Seungmin laughed. You folded your arms. “What did she actually say?” He gave up on the coffee and leaned back in his chair.
“Exactly what I told you.” “She asked whether I was tiring?” “She implied that you need constant reassurance, said you’re a lot and suggested I probably chose you because I’m kind.” Your amusement faded a little.
Seungmin noticed immediately. His foot slid beside yours under the table. “She also told me men usually noticed her first,” he added. You looked at the crowd beyond the window. “She loves saying that.”
“I asked which men.” That made you smile. Seungmin’s knee pressed more firmly against yours. “She couldn’t name them.”
“You interrogated her?” “I asked good questions.” “You never ask good questions.” “That’s unfair.”
You looked back at him. He was watching you closely. Not pushing. Just waiting.
“What else?” you asked. Seungmin hesitated. “She implied I might have chosen differently if I’d met her first.” A strange little ache settled beneath your ribs. Not because you believed it.
The idea of Seungmin choosing your sister felt almost comical. But because she believed your entire relationship could be reduced to timing. That you had simply arrived first and seized something that should have belonged to her. You looked down at your cup. “And what did you say?”
“That I’ve met her now.” Your mouth twitched. “That’s all?” “I thought it was enough.”
“It is.” “She didn’t like it.” “I’m devastated for her.” “I also told her I noticed you.”
Your fingers tightened slightly around the cup. Seungmin’s expression softened. “What?” “Nothing.”
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “I noticed you.” You fought a smile. You covered his mouth with your hand. Seungmin kissed your palm.
You pulled it away immediately. “That’s disgusting.” “You liked that too.” “You’re so pleased with yourself.”
“I handled a difficult social situation and bought you the correct drink.” “You want a medal?” “A kiss would be appropriate.” “You’re asking for payment?”
“I did hard labour.” “You stood in a coffee queue.” “With your sister.” You considered that.
Seungmin lifted his eyebrows. You leaned over and kissed his cheek. He turned his head at the last second, catching the corner of your mouth instead. You pulled back.
“That was cheating.” “You’re slow.” “You tricked me.” “You still kissed me.”
“Barely.” “You can try again.” “I’m not rewarding bad behaviour.” Seungmin rested one elbow on the table. “Then I’ll have to live with the memory.”
“You’re dramatic.” “I suffered for fifteen minutes.” “You were texting me.” “That was my lifeline.”
You laughed and nudged his foot beneath the table. Seungmin caught your ankle between his. “You know she’s going to tell herself you only rejected her because you knew I was coming back.” Seungmin’s expression became thoughtful. “Do you want me to say it more directly?”
You looked towards the direction your sister had disappeared. Part of you wanted him to. Part of you knew she would turn even that into evidence of something else. “She hasn’t actually admitted she wants you,” you said.
“She invited herself on our date.” “We’re buying Mum bowls.” “A highly romantic date.” Seungmin reached for your hand across the table.
His thumb brushed slowly over your knuckles. “If she says something properly,” he said, “I’ll answer properly.” “You have answered.” “I mean without being polite.”
“That sounds frightening.” Seungmin squeezed your hand. “Tell her that when she tries again.” You looked at him. “When?”
He smiled. “You think she’s stopping?” You glanced once more towards the crowd. “No.”
“Neither do I.” There was a pause. Then Seungmin brightened. “Can we go back for the dog?” “No.”
“He could be part of your mum’s present.” “She would hate him.” “She’d learn to love him.” “You only knew him for ten minutes.”
“That was enough.” Seungmin smiled and lifted your hand to his mouth. This time, he kissed your knuckles slowly. You let him.
Your sister returned ten minutes later carrying nothing. Neither of you mentioned it. Seungmin did, however, remain close to you for the rest of the afternoon. His hand at your waist when people passed too close. His fingers laced through yours on the escalator. His chin briefly resting on your shoulder while you examined candles. His mouth near your ear when he whispered that one of them smelled like “an expensive wardrobe”.
Your sister tried to walk beside him. Seungmin kept drifting back towards you. She asked his opinion. He asked yours.
She suggested shops. He followed wherever you went. By the time you left the shopping centre, your sister had stopped speaking unless someone addressed her directly. The three of you stood near the station while she checked the time.
“My train’s in five minutes,” she said. Your sister adjusted her handbag and looked at Seungmin. “It was nice spending time with you.” “You too.” “We should do it again.”
You looked at him. He looked at you. Your sister noticed. “Without making it into a whole family thing,” she added.
You raised your eyebrows. Seungmin slipped his arm around your shoulders. “I think she comes with me.” Your sister laughed. “You’re allowed separate friends.” “I have friends.”
“She means her,” you said. “I know.” Your sister’s cheeks coloured. “That isn’t what I meant.”
“What did you mean?” Seungmin asked. She looked at him. He waited. His expression was pleasant.
Curious. Entirely unwilling to rescue her. Your sister’s train arrived with a rush of noise behind her. She glanced towards the platform.
“I have to go.” “You should hurry,” you said. She hugged you briefly. When she turned towards Seungmin, he lifted the shopping bag between them.
Your sister stopped. He smiled politely. “Bye.” For a moment, she looked as though she might push around the bag and hug him anyway.
Then she stepped back. “Bye.” You watched her hurry towards the train. As soon as she was out of earshot, Seungmin lowered the bag.
“You used Mum’s bowls as a shield,” you said. “I panicked.” “You’re very brave.” “She hugged me last time.”
“Terrifying.” “I didn’t know what else to do.” “You could have hugged her.” Seungmin looked horrified. “Why would I do that?”
“She’s confident and sophisticated.” “Stop.” “More your type.” He pointed at you. “We discussed this.”
“She only needs an opportunity.” “You’re becoming annoying.” “Becoming?” “More annoying.”
You smiled. Seungmin stared at you for a second. Then he hooked one arm around your waist and lifted you just enough that your shoes left the ground. You yelped.
“Put me down!” “Take it back.” “We’re in public!” “I don’t care.”
You grabbed his shoulders, laughing as he carried you several steps away from the platform. Seungmin lowered you carefully to the ground. His smile softened. Seungmin took your hand again, swinging it once between you before pulling you towards the station exit.
“Come on,” he said. “We have to go back.” “For what?” “The dog.” “We are not buying the dog.”
“He’s waiting for us.” “He’s ceramic.” “He’ll think we abandoned him.” “You said I was the abandoned animal.”
“I can rescue both of you.” “You already complain that I take up too much space.” “He’s small.” “I hate you.”
Seungmin kissed the side of your head. He smiled and kept walking. You followed, because the station exit was in the same direction as the shop. Not because you had agreed to buy the dog.
Definitely not. When your mum opened her birthday present a week later, she found a beautiful set of handmade serving bowls. And, tucked between them, a tiny ceramic dog wearing a crown. She stared at it.
You stared at Seungmin. Seungmin looked unbearably pleased.
౨ৎ
By the time you finished getting ready, Seungmin had changed his shirt twice, complained about both options and somehow blamed you for the fact that neither looked right. “You said the black one was nice,” he reminded you from the bedroom doorway. “It was nice.” “And then you told me to wear the blue one.”
“Because the blue one is nicer.” “So the black one was ugly.” “That isn’t what I said.” “It’s what you implied.”
You turned away from the mirror and looked at him. He stood with both shirts hanging from one hand, his hair still slightly damp from the shower and an expression of genuine betrayal on his face. “You’re having a crisis over two nearly identical shirts.” “They aren’t nearly identical.” “One is black and one is very dark blue.”
“Exactly.” You stared at him. Seungmin stared back. Then his gaze drifted slowly down your body.
The offence disappeared from his expression. You had chosen an outfit that made you feel good. You suspected you would regret that decision later, but Seungmin’s reaction made it worth it. He looked at you for long enough that you lifted an eyebrow. “What?” “Nothing.”
You tried not to smile. “Have you not seen me before?” “Not in that.” “You watched me put it on.” “I was distracted.”
“By what?” “The shirt crisis.” You laughed and turned back towards the mirror. Seungmin abandoned both shirts on the bed and crossed the room, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind. “You look pretty,” he murmured, resting his chin on your shoulder.
“Only pretty?” His eyes narrowed at your reflection. “Don’t become demanding.” “You stared at me for thirty seconds. I expected something better.” “You look very pretty.”
“That’s the same thing with an extra word.” “You look so pretty that I’m reconsidering letting you leave the flat.” You smiled. “Better.” “I knew you were fishing.”
“I enjoy compliments.” “I know.” Seungmin kissed the side of your neck, then another spot slightly lower. You tilted your head instinctively before remembering you had spent far too long getting ready. “Don’t ruin my makeup.”
“I’m nowhere near your makeup.” “You’ll work your way up.” “That sounds like encouragement.” You caught his wrists and pulled his arms away. Seungmin resisted just enough to make it difficult, then released you with an exaggerated sigh.
“You don’t love me anymore.” “I’m trying to get us to the party.” “Chan said eight.” “It’s quarter past.”
“Exactly. We’re early.” You looked at him through the mirror. “For what?” “A party.” “That started fifteen minutes ago.”
“Social events have a grace period.” “You invented that because you’re never ready on time.” “I was ready.” “You aren’t wearing a shirt.”
Seungmin looked down at his bare chest, then at the two shirts abandoned on the bed. Your phone buzzed on the dressing table. You picked it up. Your sister had messaged.
Are you there yet? A second message followed before you could reply. Is Seungmin going straight from yours? You turned the screen towards him.
Seungmin read both messages. His face remained blank for one beat, then he placed his chin back on your shoulder. “She misses me.” “She saw you last week.” “A long separation.”
“She didn’t ask whether I was going straight from mine.” “She knows you’ll be there.” “She also knows you’ll be there.” “That must be why she asked to come.”
You laughed and nudged him backwards with your hip. “Put the blue shirt on.” “The black one makes my shoulders look better.” “Then wear the black one.” “You said the blue was nicer.”
“Seungmin.” He smiled and kissed your cheek before finally retrieving the blue shirt. You replied to your sister while he dressed. We’re leaving soon. Bring the drinks you promised Chan.
Her response came almost immediately. What’s Seungmin wearing? You looked up. He was buttoning the blue shirt.
You considered sending her a photograph of the black one lying empty on the bed. Instead, you typed: Clothes x Seungmin glanced over. “What did you say?”
“Nothing important.” “You’re smiling.” “I’m entertaining myself.” “Is she seducing me remotely now?”
“Apparently she needs to prepare.” “For what?” “To be more your type.” Seungmin finished the final button and walked towards you. “You’re enjoying this far too much.”
“It’s funny.” “Until she touches my arm fifteen times.” “Maybe she thinks that’s where your romantic feelings are stored.” “That would explain why I keep trying to get away.”
You laughed, and Seungmin’s smile softened. He reached out to fix the chain of your necklace where it had twisted, his fingers careful against the back of your neck. “Tell me if it stops being funny,” he said. The words were quiet enough to change the air between you. You turned.
Seungmin let his hands settle at your waist. “I will.” “Promise?” “You already made me promise.”
“I’m making you do it again.” “Very controlling.” “Very caring.” “Debatable.”
He squeezed your waist. “Promise.” You rested both hands against his chest. “I promise.” Satisfied, Seungmin kissed your forehead. Then he leant back and examined his shirt in the mirror. “Do my shoulders look strange?”
You pushed him towards the door.
౨ৎ
The party remained civilised for approximately forty minutes. Then Changbin brought out the shot glasses. Chan saw them from across the room and immediately shook his head. “Take it easy” “You bought the alcohol,” Changbin reminded him.
Jisung appeared beside the kitchen counter as though summoned by the word drinking. “Shots are normal.” “You said that last time and threw up in my shoes.” “That was unrelated.” “It was directly related.”
Felix slid into the space beside Jisung and began examining the bottles. You followed closely behind him, your own drink already mostly gone. Seungmin caught your wrist before you could reach for anything. “You’re not doing shots.” You looked at his hand around your wrist, then at him. “Excuse me?”
“You’ve already had three drinks.” “So have you.” “I can still walk in a straight line.” “I can walk in a straight line.”
Seungmin released you and pointed towards the hallway. You stared at him. He lifted his eyebrows. “You want me to demonstrate?”
“Yes.” You placed your empty glass on the counter and turned towards the hallway with as much dignity as you could manage. Felix and Jisung watched in complete silence. You took three perfectly respectable steps.
Then your hip struck the edge of the sofa. You stopped. Seungmin smiled. “The sofa moved.”
“It’s been there all night.” “It knew I was trying to prove something.” Jisung nodded seriously. “Furniture can sense weakness.” Minho, sitting nearby with his ankle resting over one knee, looked at him. “That explains why you keep walking into doors.”
Jisung placed a hand over his chest. “Why are you attacking me?” “Because you make it easy.” Jisung abandoned the counter and dropped onto the sofa beside him. Within seconds, his legs were stretched across Minho’s lap. Minho glanced down but made no effort to move them.
You pointed towards them. “He can’t walk straight either.” “He’s sitting,” Seungmin said. “He was walking badly earlier.” Changbin began pouring.
Hyunjin took the bottle from Changbin before he could overfill the glasses. “At least make them even. You’re pouring like you’ve never seen liquid before.” “I’m being generous.” “You’re trying to kill Jisung.” Jisung lifted his head from Minho’s shoulder. “Yes please.”
Minho pressed one hand against his forehead and pushed him back down. “You accept nothing.” You managed to claim a glass before Seungmin could stop you. Felix took one. Jisung reached for another, but Minho lifted it out of reach.
Jisung stared at him. “Give it.” “No.” “You aren’t my father.” “Thank fuck for that.”
“You can’t control me.” Minho looked at the legs still resting across his lap. “Stand up, then.” Jisung considered it. “No.”
“Thought so.” Felix passed Jisung his own glass beneath the edge of the table. Minho saw. He allowed it.
You caught his eye. Minho shrugged and took another drink. “Traitor,” Seungmin told him. “I’m off duty.”
“You were never on duty,” Chan said. “Exactly.” Changbin raised his glass. “To Chan finally letting us have fun.” “This is my party.”
“Then act like it.” Chan swore at him, but lifted his drink anyway. Everyone crowded closer. Your friend remained beside your sister near the end of the counter, amused but still slightly removed from the intimacy of the group. You caught her eye and held up your glass.
She lifted hers back. Your sister barely noticed. She was watching Seungmin. He stood behind you with one hand resting against your hip, his thumb moving absently beneath the hem of your top.
You leaned back into him. “To being hot,” Hyunjin said. Jeongin nodded. “Finally, something relevant.” Chan looked around the group. “Can we toast to something normal?”
“No,” everyone replied. The shot burned on the way down. Felix coughed. You squeezed your eyes shut and grabbed the first solid thing you found.
It was Changbin’s arm. “Fuck.” Changbin laughed. “You agreed to it.” “That tasted like paint stripper.”
“You’ve never tasted paint stripper.” “Maybe I have.” Seungmin pulled you backwards against his chest. “And this is why you weren’t doing shots.” You turned in his arms. “I did one.”
“You nearly died.” “I recovered.” “You’re still holding Changbin.You could have held me.” You looked down to find your hand still wrapped around Changbin’s bicep and slowly released him. “Come back when you’ve got biceps, bud.”
Seungmin stared at you for a beat before catching you around the waist and pulling you firmly against his chest. “You seemed perfectly happy with mine earlier.” You placed a hand against his arm as though inspecting it. “They’re all right.” His grip tightened. “All right?” You smiled. “Maybe a little better than that.”
౨ৎ
Someone suggested a drinking game. Nobody later remembered who. You all ended up sitting in a loose circle around the living room with bottles, half-empty glasses and bowls of food scattered between you. Your friend sat beside your sister on the sofa. You were on the floor between Felix and Seungmin, with your back against Seungmin’s legs. His hand rested loosely at the base of your throat, occasionally brushing your hair aside.
Jisung had begun the game beside Minho. By the third round, he was mostly sitting on him. “Never have I ever,” Jeongin began, smiling in a way that immediately made Chan suspicious, “lied to get out of plans with someone in this room.” Nearly everyone drank.
Chan stared at the group. “Are you serious?” “You make too many plans,” Seungmin said. “I ask whether you want dinner.” “That’s still a plan.”
You lifted your glass. Seungmin looked down at you. “When did you lie to me?” You took a long sip. His fingers tightened gently at the back of your neck.
“When?” You smiled into your drink. “Next question.” “No. We’re staying here.” Felix laughed. “She said she was ill once because she wanted to watch a film with us.”
Seungmin stared at you. “You exposed me,” you told Felix. “I forgot it was a secret.” “You chose them over me?” Seungmin asked.
“You were working.” “You still lied.” “You would’ve sulked.” “I am sulking now.”
You twisted around to look at him. “Do you need a kiss?” Seungmin considered the offer. “Yes.” You kissed him quickly.
He kept one hand against your jaw and prevented you from moving away. “That was inadequate.” Everyone groaned. You laughed against his mouth before kissing him again, slower this time.
When you finally pulled away, Changbin threw a crisp at Seungmin’s head. “Some of us are single.” “You don’t have to watch,” Seungmin said. “You’re in the middle of the room.”
“Look somewhere else.” Hyunjin placed one hand against Changbin’s cheek and turned his face away. “There. Problem solved.” Changbin bit his palm. Hyunjin screamed.
The game continued. “Never have I ever had a crush on someone in this room,” Felix said. Silence fell. Then Jeongin drank.
Hyunjin drank. Changbin drank. Jisung lifted his glass, looked around and drank twice. Minho looked at him. “Twice?”
Jisung rested his chin on Minho’s shoulder. “I contain multitudes.” Minho took Jisung’s glass and drank from it. The room erupted. Jisung stared at him, eyes widening. “Was that your answer?”
“It was your drink.” “You have your own.” “I wanted yours.” “That is not an answer.”
Minho smiled into the rim of the glass. You turned towards Felix. He was already looking at you. Both of you burst out laughing.
“Don’t,” Minho warned. You covered your mouth with both hands. Seungmin’s chest shook behind you. Your sister remained completely still.
You could feel her watching. Felix nudged your knee. “You didn’t drink.” “I’m dating someone in the room.” “That doesn’t mean you never had a crush.”
Seungmin’s fingers slid beneath your chin and turned your face towards him. “You had better drink.” You stared at him. “Why?” “Because you had a crush on me.”
“That was never confirmed.” “You asked Chan for my number.” The group laughed. Your sister’s glass stopped halfway to her mouth.
Seungmin’s eyes flicked towards her, then back to you. Your smile softened despite the alcohol. Felix made an emotional noise. Minho pointed at him. “Don’t fucking start.”
Felix’s eyes had already begun shining. “I’m fine.” “You’re about to cry.” “I just think they’re cute.”
Seungmin felt you sniff. “No.” “I’m not doing anything.” “You’re crying.”
“Felix started it.” Felix wiped beneath one eye. “I’m happy.” “That makes it worse,” Seungmin said. You twisted and threw your arms around him.
He caught you automatically. “I love you.” Seungmin sighed, but his arms tightened around your waist. “I love you too.”
౨ৎ
The music became louder after that. So did everyone. Chan lost control of the playlist when you, Felix and Jisung began shouting over every song until he played something you liked. By then, the coffee table had disappeared beneath bottles, crushed cans and bowls of snacks nobody remembered opening. Somebody had spilt something sticky beside the sofa. Changbin had taken his shirt off for reasons nobody understood, and Hyunjin kept threatening to throw it out of the nearest window. You, Felix and Jisung dragged one another into the middle of the room.
At first, you actually danced. Felix knew what he was doing even while drunk. Jisung knew what he was doing until something distracted him, which happened every ten seconds. You possessed confidence far beyond your ability and therefore believed you looked incredible. Changbin encouraged that delusion by cheering whenever you moved. Hyunjin attempted to correct your posture once.
You told him to fuck off. He looked deeply wounded. “I’m trying to save you.” “I don’t need saving.” “You’re dancing like your limbs have separate plans.”
“They’re expressing themselves.” Felix laughed and caught your waist before you could stumble into the coffee table. Jisung pressed against your back, shouting the lyrics directly beside your ear while the three of you moved with very little coordination and enormous enthusiasm. From the sofa, Seungmin watched you. His blue shirt had come unbuttoned slightly at the throat, his hair had fallen across his forehead and his cheeks were warm from the alcohol. One hand rested around his glass while his eyes remained fixed on you.
Your sister sat only a few feet away. She attempted to speak to him twice. He answered politely, but barely looked in her direction. When you caught his gaze, you smiled and crooked one finger towards him.
Seungmin shook his head. You did it again. He lifted his drink as though that explained why he could not move. You pouted.
That worked. Seungmin put the glass down and crossed the room. Felix released your waist with a grin. Jisung remained attached to you until Minho appeared behind him, hooked an arm around his middle and pulled him backwards. Jisung laughed and twisted in his hold. “Jealous?”
Minho murmured something into his ear. Whatever it was made Jisung’s face turn bright red. Felix screamed. You screamed because Felix did.
Seungmin caught your face between both hands. “Why are you shouting?” You pointed vaguely towards Minho and Jisung. “Something happened.” “Nothing happened,” Minho said without looking at you. Jisung buried his face against his shoulder.
You grinned. “Something definitely happened.” Minho gave you a warning look. You immediately turned back to Seungmin and began adjusting his collar as though that had always been your intention. “Coward,” Seungmin murmured.
“You’re supposed to protect me.” “From the consequences of your own behaviour?” “You’re my boyfriend.” “That isn’t what that means.”
His hands slid to your waist as the song changed. You pulled him closer, and although he continued pretending not to dance, his body fell easily into the rhythm of yours. “There,” you said. “You’re dancing.” “I’m standing near you.” “You’re moving.”
“You keep dragging me around.” “You love it.” Seungmin lowered his mouth beside your ear. “I love you.” The softness of it caught beneath your ribs.
You turned and kissed him. He kissed you back without hesitation, one hand spreading across the small of your back while the party surged around you. Someone wolf-whistled. Someone else shouted at them to shut the fuck up. You suspected one of them had been Changbin. When you pulled away, Seungmin followed far enough to steal another brief kiss.
“You’re clingy,” you murmured. “You called me over.” “And you came.” “You pouted.”
“That’s all it takes?” “Unfortunately.” You smiled and kissed the edge of his jaw. His eyes closed.
“Again.” “You’re demanding.” You kissed his jaw again, and Seungmin’s grip tightened around your waist. Across the room, your sister emptied the rest of her glass.
You barely noticed. Seungmin’s attention had already wandered from dancing to pressing lazy kisses against whatever part of you happened to be closest—your temple, your cheek, the corner of your mouth. When his lips brushed beneath your ear, you laughed and pushed lightly at his chest. “You’ve completely stopped dancing.” “I never started.”
“You came over.” “You summoned me.” “I moved one finger.” “Very controlling.”
His hand settled lower against your back, holding you close when somebody squeezed past. You reached up and fixed his collar again. “You look messy.” “You made me messy.” “That sounds suggestive.”
“It was meant to.” His smile turned slow and pleased. Before he could say anything worse, Felix collided gently with your side and caught your hand. “I need her.” Seungmin kept one arm around you. “You’ve had her for three songs.”
“The next one’s important.” “They’ve all been important,” you said. Seungmin looked at Felix. “You sound like her.” “That’s why she loves me.”
Felix pulled. Seungmin held on. You found yourself stretched between them. “Don’t make me choose.” Felix smiled. “You’ll choose me.”
Seungmin’s eyebrows lifted. “Choose carefully.” You pretended to consider it before twisting out of Seungmin’s arm, kissing him quickly and letting Felix drag you away. “Coward,” Seungmin called after you. “You still got a kiss!”
“Barely.” You laughed as Felix pulled you back into the crowd. The next hour dissolved into heat, noise and flashes of movement. Hyunjin danced as though someone might be filming him. Changbin attempted to copy him with enough force to make the floor shake.
Nearby, Minho took the glass out of Jisung’s hand and drank from it himself. Jisung watched him. “You said I couldn’t have that.” “You can’t.” “But you can?”
“Yes.” “That’s hot.” Minho looked away, but not before you saw him smile. Someone produced two microphones.
The karaoke began badly and deteriorated almost immediately. You, Felix and Jisung chose a song all three of you knew, which would have helped if any of you had agreed on when to start. Jisung came in too early. You missed half the first line. Felix attempted to hold the performance together and ended up laughing so hard that he could no longer sing. Changbin provided backing vocals without a microphone. Hyunjin acted out the lyrics from the sofa.
Chan kept trying to lower the volume and being shouted at whenever the music became even slightly quieter. By the second song, you had abandoned any pretence of performing well. You and Felix shared one microphone while Jisung used the other for increasingly dramatic ad-libs that had nothing to do with the actual song. Halfway through the chorus, you passed close enough to the sofa for Seungmin to hook his fingers around your wrist. He pulled.
You landed sideways across his lap, and the microphone struck his shoulder. “Shit. Sorry.” Seungmin took it from you before you could hit him again. “Ouch.” “I’m performing.”
“You’re screaming into expensive equipment.” He placed the microphone safely on the table. Felix shouted your name. You tried to stand, but Seungmin held your waist.
“I have responsibilities,” you told him. “You have absolutely no responsibilities.” “Felix needs me.” Felix and Jisung had abandoned the song and were arguing with Chan about whether the lyrics on the screen were wrong.
Seungmin looked towards them. “They seem busy.” “Then I need to help.” “You need to stay here for thirty seconds.” “Why?”
“I missed you.” Your expression softened before you could stop it. Seungmin smiled, knowing he had won. “You’re manipulative.”
You settled more comfortably across his thighs, one arm circling his shoulders. Seungmin rested his face against your chest and closed his eyes while your fingers moved through his hair. Across from you, your sister’s gaze remained fixed on his hand resting against your thigh. Your friend was speaking to her. Your sister nodded without listening.
By one in the morning, the party had split between the living room, the kitchen and the balcony. The music remained loud enough to vibrate through the floor. People drifted between conversations with drinks they had not poured and jackets that did not belong to them. Someone had opened a window, but the room was still hot with too many bodies and the sharp mixture of alcohol, perfume and whatever Changbin had sprayed after insisting he smelled fine. Your friend remained mostly with your sister. She laughed whenever the group became loud enough to include everyone, but she never tried to force herself into the easy physical closeness surrounding the boys.
You checked on her whenever you remembered. Each time, she assured you she was fine. Your sister always said the same. The fourth time you approached, your friend caught your wrist. “You are incredibly drunk.”
You looked down at yourself. “I’m standing.” “Barely.” Your friend laughed. Your sister did not. “She’s been throwing herself around for hours. She always gets like this when she drinks.”
There was something dismissive beneath the words. You recognised it even through the alcohol. Your friend did too. “She looks like she’s having fun,” she replied.
“I’m having an incredible time,” you announced. “I can tell.” Your sister glanced across the room towards Seungmin. “He must be exhausted.” You followed her gaze.
Seungmin was beside Chan, listening to Changbin explain something with far too much hand movement. He caught you looking almost immediately and lifted one eyebrow in silent question. You smiled. He smiled back. “Does he look exhausted?” you asked.
“He’s spent the whole night following you around.” “He likes me.” “I’m aware.” Before the conversation could sharpen, Felix appeared behind you and looped an arm around your shoulders. “There you are.”
“I’ve been here.” “You disappeared.” “I was checking on them.” Felix glanced towards your friend and sister. “Everything good?”
Your friend nodded. “We’re fine.” Your sister smiled at him. “We were talking.” “Great. I’m stealing her.” “You always steal her,” your sister said.
Felix laughed as though she had made a joke. “Everyone does.” He pulled you towards the kitchen. You looked back once. Your friend gave you a small, reassuring smile.
Your sister was already watching Seungmin again. In the kitchen, Jisung was sitting on the counter while Minho stood between his knees, holding a glass out of reach. “That’s mine,” Jisung complained. “It was yours.”
“I’m not finished.” “You said the room was spinning.” “It stopped.” “When?”
“When I closed one eye.” Felix immediately took Jisung’s side. “Give it back.” Minho looked at him. “You’re a terrible influence.” “You’re drinking too,” you pointed out.
“I can handle it.” “So can I.” Minho gave up and handed the drink to you instead. Jisung gasped. “That’s mine.”
“You’re too drunk.” “So are you.” “I’m handling it better.” Felix took the glass from you and drank before either of you could protest.
Minho laughed. It was becoming obvious that he was far drunker than he appeared. His movements were still controlled and his words remained clear, but his eyes had softened and he was smiling much too often. You stepped into the space beside him and wrapped both arms around his waist. Minho looked down. “What’s this?”
“I’m appreciating you.” “You’re crushing my shirt.” You rested your cheek against his chest. “You smell nice.” “None of you are getting another drink.”
“You ruined it,” you complained. “He ruins everything,” Jisung agreed. Minho caught Jisung’s chin and tilted his face upwards. “You can barely keep both eyes open.” “I only need one.”
“For what?” “To look at you.” Minho stared at him. You buried your face against Minho’s shoulder to hide your laughter.
Jisung looked unbearably pleased with himself. Minho’s ears turned pink. “You’re a fucking menace.” “You love me.” Seungmin entered the kitchen before anyone could comment.
He looked at Minho’s arm around you and Jisung hanging over his shoulders Then he looked at Minho. “You’ve collected them.” “I didn’t.” Seungmin approached and slid both hands onto your hips. “You keep disappearing.”
“You were talking.” “I can talk while holding you.” “That sounds inconvenient.” “I’m talented.”
Minho nodded towards you. “Take her before she asks for another shot.” You turned in Seungmin’s arms. “He’s trying to get rid of me.” “You’re attached to his shirt.” “I like him.”
“You like everyone tonight.” “I like everyone every night.” Seungmin’s expression softened. The next drinking game began in the kitchen because nobody could be bothered to move.
It was meant to be truth or drink. Within minutes, it became an excuse to ask invasive questions and shout whenever somebody refused to answer. Changbin joined first, followed by Hyunjin and Jeongin. Chan arrived last, realised what was happening and attempted to leave. You caught his wrist. “No.”
“I’m hosting.” “You’re hiding.” “I need to check the living room.” Jeongin looked towards the doorway. “It’s still there.”
Chan appealed silently to Minho for help. Minho poured him a drink. “Traitor.” “You chose to host.”
Everyone crowded around the counter and floor. You ended up sitting between Minho’s legs with your back against his chest because the chairs had disappeared beneath coats and bags. Seungmin sat in front of you, one hand wrapped loosely around your ankle. Jisung remained tucked against Minho’s side, his head on his shoulder and one leg draped over yours. Changbin pointed at you first. “Truth or drink?” “Truth.”
“What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve done because you were jealous?” Seungmin looked interested. You looked at Changbin. “I’m not jealous.” The entire room laughed.
“That wasn’t the question,” Hyunjin said. You raised your glass. “Then I’m drinking.” Seungmin’s hand tightened around your ankle. “Answer.” “You don’t get to interfere.”
Everyone shouted. “Coward,” Changbin said. “That’s the point of the game.” “The point is to expose yourself.”
“That sounds like a different game,” Jeongin said. You chucked at that The questions became worse from there. Felix refused to reveal who had received a flirtatious message he sent to the wrong person.
Changbin demanded to know whether anybody had ever hooked up somewhere they could have been caught. Half the room drank. Chan stared at everyone with a raised eyebrow. “In my home?” “Not necessarily,” Jeongin said.
“That did not reassure me.” Jisung claimed he had never done anything humiliating because he was horny. The entire group drank on his behalf. “Fuck all of you.”
Minho leant close enough to murmur something beside his ear. Jisung’s face turned red again. You twisted around. “What did he say?” “Nothing.”
Minho looked unbearably pleased. Your sister stood at the edge of the kitchen beside your friend. She watched Seungmin’s hand move slowly over your ankle. Then she watched Minho’s arm settle across your middle when you leant back against him. Perhaps she expected Seungmin to object.
Instead, he reached forward, caught your chin and tilted your face towards his. “My turn,” he said. You kissed him. The kiss was brief, but intimate enough to inspire several dramatic complaints.
When you pulled away, Seungmin’s thumb brushed once beneath your lip. Your sister looked away. The game ended when Chan realised the music in the living room was loud enough to make the glasses vibrate. Everyone returned to dancing.
By then, nobody pretended it was organised. You, Felix and Jisung shouted lyrics you barely knew with your arms around one another. Sometimes you danced. Sometimes you merely jumped during the chorus and trusted somebody to catch you. Changbin joined whenever the song was good. Hyunjin joined whenever he considered the song worthy.
Jeongin joined only to make everyone else look worse. At one point, Minho caught your hand as you passed and spun you beneath his arm. You nearly completed the movement gracefully. Then you lost your balance.
Minho caught you against his chest. Jisung caught you from the other side. The three of you laughed, tangled together. Seungmin appeared behind you and closed both hands around your waist. “You’re stealing my girlfriend,” he told Minho.
Minho shrugged. “She came willingly.” “He spun me.” “You asked,” Minho reminded you. Seungmin looked down at you. “You ask everyone for things.”
“And they give them to me.” “That’s because you’re spoilt.” “By you.” “Mostly.”
He kissed your forehead. You leant into him, suddenly overwhelmed by the warmth of the room and how much you loved everyone in it. Across the room, your friend smiled at the sight. Your sister finished another drink.
By the time you needed the bathroom, you were far beyond pleasantly drunk. You were still awake, still talking and technically capable of walking, but the room tilted whenever you turned too quickly. Seungmin noticed you heading towards the hallway and followed. You looked over your shoulder. “Where are you going?”
“With you.” “I can piss alone.” “I’m making sure you reach the bathroom.” “That’s insulting.”
Seungmin caught your waist before you walked into the wall. “Exactly.” You allowed him to guide you down the hallway, although you complained the entire way. At the bathroom door, you planted both hands against his chest. “You can’t come in.” “I wasn’t planning to.”
“You looked like you were.” “I was opening the door.” Seungmin smiled and kissed your forehead. “I’ll be here.” “Why?”
“Because you’ll forget where the living room is.” “It’s one hallway.” “And yet.” You narrowed your eyes and disappeared into the bathroom.
When you came back out, your sister was standing in front of him. One hand rested against the wall beside his shoulder. Seungmin was leaning away. “You could come upstairs with me,” she said.
He blinked at her. “Why?” You stopped in the doorway. Even through the alcohol, laughter rose immediately in your chest. Your sister looked at him as though he were deliberately being stupid. “You know why.”
“I genuinely don’t.” She moved closer, forcing Seungmin’s back against the wall. “We could have sex.” For one long second, Seungmin simply stared at her.
Then his gaze found yours over her shoulder. You covered your mouth. The expression on his face made it impossible not to laugh. His eyes widened slightly, one corner of his mouth twitching as though he could not decide whether to be horrified or offended. Your sister followed his gaze and found you standing there.
Her face hardened. “Oh, please. Don’t act like it’s ridiculous.” That made you laugh harder. “I’m sorry. His face.” “You’re not helping,” Seungmin said.
“You asked why.” “It was a reasonable question.” “She invited you upstairs.” “She could’ve needed something.”
“At one in the morning?” “I didn’t know what she meant.” “You did,” your sister snapped. Seungmin looked back at her. “Apparently not.”
She folded her arms. “You haven’t even considered it.” “No.” “Why?” He stared at her.
Then he gave one short, humourless laugh. “Because I don’t want to.” “You don’t know that.” “I do.” “You’ve never given me a chance.”
“I’m not required to.” Your laughter faded. Your sister stepped closer and reached for his chest. Seungmin caught her wrist before she could touch him.
“Stop.” The word was calm. Firm. He moved her hand away and released it.
Humiliation sharpened your sister’s expression as she turned towards you. “You think this is funny because you assume he’d never choose me.” “I don’t assume it.” “You should stop speaking for him.” “I’m standing right here,” Seungmin said.
She ignored him. “You’ve always done this. You get something and act smug because you know somebody else deserves it more.” The alcohol inside you turned suddenly heavy. You steadied yourself against the bathroom door. “Somebody else?” “You know what I mean.”
“No. Say it properly.” Her eyes travelled over you. Your clothes had shifted from dancing. Your lipstick was smudged. Your hair was a mess and your balance remained questionable. You had never felt happier.
“Look at you,” she said. “You’re completely wasted. He’s spent all night following you around while you throw yourself over every man in the room.” Seungmin’s expression hardened. You laughed softly. “Is that what this is about?” “I’m saying he could do better.”
“With you?” “Yes.” The certainty would have been impressive if it were not so pathetic. Your smile disappeared.
Your sister noticed and pushed harder. “I’m prettier. I know how to behave. I don’t need eight men constantly touching me and telling me how special I am.” “Nobody is taking care of me.” “You can barely stand.”
“I’m drunk at a party.” “You’ve been climbing into their laps and letting them put their hands all over you. It’s embarrassing.” Seungmin stepped away from the wall and moved to your side. His hand settled securely at the back of your waist.
Your sister watched it. “She hasn’t embarrassed me once,” he said. “She’s been all over Minho. Felix practically had his hands under her clothes earlier.” “So?”
Your sister blinked. Seungmin’s thumb moved slowly against your side. “She loves them,” he said. “They love her. I know exactly where I stand.” “You should have more self-respect.”
His eyebrows rose. “You asked me to cheat on her beside a bathroom.” “You’ve spent the whole night trying to fuck my boyfriend,” you said, “and somehow I’m the slut?” Your sister glared at you. Seungmin continued before she could answer. “Don’t talk to either of us about self-respect.”
“You only say that because she’s standing here.” “I rejected you when she wasn’t.” “You knew she’d find out.” “I knew because I was going to tell her.”
“Why?” “Because she’s my girlfriend.” Your sister shook her head. “You don’t have to keep settling because she got to you first.” Seungmin went still.
There it was. The belief beneath every comparison and every attempt. You had simply reached him first. Had she met him earlier, dressed better, tried harder or pushed for long enough, he would eventually recognise that he had chosen the wrong sister.
Seungmin’s arm tightened around you. “I noticed her,” he said. Your sister scoffed. “You hadn’t met me.” “I’ve met you now.”
The hallway became very quiet. Music still thudded beyond it. Someone laughed in the living room. Your friend called your sister’s name once, distant and uncertain. Seungmin looked directly at her. “And I still choose her.”
Your sister’s face changed. For a moment, she appeared almost sober. Then the anger returned. “She isn’t better than me.”
“This isn’t about who’s better.” “It always is.” “No,” you said quietly. “It’s always been that way to you.” She looked at you.
You could feel Seungmin watching your face. At first, it had been funny. Her unnecessary outfits. Her fake excuses. The way she interpreted Seungmin’s basic manners as secret attraction. Even now, the idea that he might accept remained ridiculous.
But the joke had always required you to ignore the part where your sister could not want something without explaining why you deserved it less. “You can want him,” you said. “I don’t care. It’s humiliating for you, but it doesn’t threaten me.” Her mouth twisted. “What pisses me off is that you can’t admit you want him without telling him I’m ugly, exhausting, childish or not good enough. You don’t flirt with him. You campaign against me.”
“I’ve never called you ugly.” “You keep telling everyone you’re prettier.” “I am.” Seungmin made a disbelieving sound.
You glanced at him. “What?” “Nothing. I’m trying very hard to remain polite.” Your sister folded her arms. “See? You’ve turned him against me.”
“I didn’t have to. You did that by ignoring him every time he said no.” The words landed. Your sister looked at Seungmin. His expression did not soften.
“I thought you were being loyal,” she said. “I was being clear.” “You were trying not to hurt her.” “I was trying not to humiliate you.”
Her cheeks flushed. Seungmin’s voice lowered. “You’ve made that impossible.” Your friend appeared at the far end of the hallway. She looked between the three of you, taking in your sister’s expression and Seungmin’s arm around your waist. “What happened?”
“Nothing,” your sister said immediately. You laughed tiredly. “She asked Seungmin to have sex with her.” Your friend’s eyes widened. “You didn’t have to say it like that,” your sister snapped.
“How should I say it?” “She’s drunk,” your friend said carefully. “So am I.” “I know.”
Your friend approached and touched your sister’s arm. “Come and sit down.” Your sister pulled away. “Everyone’s acting like I’ve done something terrible.” “You propositioned my boyfriend after he repeatedly told you he wasn’t interested.” “You don’t own him.”
“No,” you said. “I don’t.” That stopped her. You rested more heavily against Seungmin’s side but kept your eyes on her. “He’s a person. He said no. That should have mattered even if I didn’t exist.”
Your friend looked at your sister. “She’s right.” Betrayal flashed across your sister’s face. “You’re supposed to be here with me.” “I’m here because she invited me.” The answer was gentle but firm.
Your sister looked between you. Then she laughed bitterly. “Fine. Everyone thinks I’m pathetic.” Nobody answered. That seemed to hurt more than any denial would have.
Your friend held out her hand. “Come on.” After a moment, your sister accepted it. She allowed herself to be led back towards the living room without looking at either of you again. You remained in the hallway.
Seungmin rubbed one hand slowly over your back. You watched them disappear. Then you looked at him. “You really asked why.” His mouth dropped open.
The laughter returned before you could stop it. Seungmin stared at you. “You’re impossible.” “Your face was so confused.” “She was vague.”
“She had you against a wall.” “She said upstairs.” “At one in the morning.” “That could mean anything.”
“Name one other thing.” Seungmin opened his mouth. Nothing came out. You waited.
His expression grew increasingly offended. “Exactly.” He caught your waist in both hands and pulled you closer. “You’re very annoying.” “You love me.”
“I’m reconsidering.” “No, you aren’t.” “No,” he admitted. Your smile softened.
The alcohol made it difficult to hold on to one emotion for long. Amusement blurred into exhaustion, which blurred into the ache your sister’s words had left behind. Seungmin noticed. He always did. “Hey.”
You looked at him. His expression had gentled, eyes warm despite the alcohol. “Are you okay?” “I’m extremely drunk.” “I know.”
“She’s a bitch.” “She is.” “I can’t believe she said I throw myself over everyone.” “You do,” Seungmin said, completely unbothered. “Luckily, everyone seems very happy to catch you.”
“With all of you.” “I know.” His hand settled more firmly at your waist. “I’ve never complained.” “And you don’t care?” Seungmin looked genuinely confused. “Why would I?”
You shrugged. “Because she said—” “I don’t care what she said.” The answer came quickly enough to interrupt you. Seungmin lifted your hand and kissed your knuckles.
“I know you,” he said. “I know them. I know what all of this is.” His free hand gestured towards the living room, where Felix was shouting the chorus to another song while Minho told somebody to turn the music down without making any effort to do it himself. “You’re my girlfriend,” Seungmin continued. “That doesn’t mean you stop belonging with them too.” Something warm tightened in your chest.
“That was disgustingly sweet.” You kissed him. His hand slid to the back of your neck, keeping you close as the kiss deepened. Nothing frantic. Nothing performed for anybody else. Just familiar affection in a dim hallway while the party continued metres away.
When you pulled back, Seungmin followed for one more kiss. Then another. “You’re doing too many,” you murmured. “I’ve lost count.”
“You always say that.” You laughed and rested your forehead against his. “There she is,” he murmured. Footsteps sounded behind you.
Felix appeared first, followed by Jisung and Minho. Felix’s expression changed when he saw your face. “Are you okay?” You nodded. Jisung looked unusually serious. “Your friend said something happened.”
“My sister asked Seungmin to sleep with her.” Jisung stared at Seungmin. Then at you. Then back at Seungmin.
“Why?” You burst out laughing. Seungmin pointed at him. “See? Reasonable question.” “That isn’t what I meant,” Jisung said quickly. “Why would she think you’d say yes?”
“That sounded better after clarification.” Minho stepped closer and touched the side of your face. “Are you actually all right?” You leant into his palm. “Mostly.” “Mostly isn’t yes.”
“She was being a bitch.” “I gathered.” From the living room, Changbin shouted, “If you lot are done fondling each other, we’re doing another round.” Chan shouted back that nobody was doing another fucking shot.
Jeongin appeared in the hallway holding four. The party carried on around you.
synopsis: y/n basically drooling (AGAIN) after seeing chans latest performance at the gda's. MDNI but y'all knew that already.
a/n: y'know what....christopher you got it. that's it that's all.
stray kids members not realizing they are being mean
content: established relationships, angst, emotional hurt/comfort, relationship conflict, harsh words, insecurity, body image themes, emotional neglect, miscommunication, toxic communication
part 1: hyung line
maknae line here!
₊˚⊹☆
bangchan
with chris always on the go and never usually at home, you tried your best to have his place well maintained and cleaned. yeah you occasionally slept at his place while he was away but you always made sure to clean up after yourself. all you wanted to do was keep his place alive and vibrant.
when he was finally home, you made his favorites an decorated to welcome chris home. you thought he would appreciate your efforts, or be happy you took the time to make this for him.
"why did you do this?" he questioned, kind of harshly. your lip quivered in hurt but tried to push it down. "because i wanted to, i havent seen you in months." you said softly.
he looked around, seeing new sets of plants and flowers, candles hes never bought, and a pink blanket folded nicely on the couch, giving the couch a hint of feminine look.
"why did you get plants for my apartment?" sounding more annoyed by each new observation he did.
"i thought it would liven up the area... have fresh oxygen flow... through here..." you said softly, almost like you wish to leave and avoid where this was going.
"why cant you butt out of my things, y/n" he said with a harsh tone, looking at you with sharp eyes.
"i was just trying to make it more.. home-y here, i didnt mean to cause you trouble because of it..."
"yeah well it's MY house, my place, i dont need you making these decisions for me, especially when im away." his voice rude and cold, like as if you did something beyond repair.
chris didn't realize how rude he was being, all you were trying to do was bring a sense of peace when he gets home from stressful work. you weren't trying to ruin his place, you weren't doing this out of malice.
before you realized, the tight ache in your throat, and the tears welling up in your eyes. you quickly wiped your eyes, and simply nodded.
"right... i shouldn't have. ill be sure to get rid of them."
lee know
you cat sit quite often. He’s always on the go and he can’t take his beloved cats to his parents so obviously he counts on you to take care of his cats while he’s gone.
You love cats, always have. This was a dream come true to have three furballs purr and meow all day. you didn’t mind it one bit.
that’s until one day you were cat sitting, and it seemed minho was in a bad mood from his dance practice. you didn’t bother him too much since you always let him calm down before speaking to him.
that’s until
you see him want to feed his cats. you quickly got up and smiled at him. speaking to him in a nice manner.
“oh no sweetie, i already feed them”
this set him off.
“oh so you think i’m incapable of taking care of MY cats??" he spoke loudly.
you looked at him confused, quirking a brow gently.
“uh.. what are you talking about?” “you think i can’t take care of my MY OWN cats huh?” “well! they are my cats and i don’t need you to tell me what to do with them. i know them better then you, i don’t need you to bug me off the with your annoying voice” “stay out of my cat’s business!”
you gave fell completely, feeling so hurt by his words. you didn’t think he’d be this upset with you. nonetheless, say all these hurtful words to you.
you didn’t argue back. “oh.. okay.. sorry” and you quietly backed away. and making your way out of his apartment.
you didn’t bother telling him you were leaving.
changbin
changbin loves working out. he finds all sorts of physical activity to do whenever he can. he was passionate about health and a healthy lifestyle.
you loved that about changbin. how he was so real about his passion for fitness and nutrition.
but it bothered you sometimes how he’d make small comments about your lifestyle and eating habits.
yes you could work on them, but it’s not as easy as they say. it’s not easy to drop 10 pounds and stay consistent.
you didn’t have to think about your looks till changbin would say something about it. he never meant it to be mean or dense. he thought he was helping
“you know, it’d probably give it a pre flattering look if you came with me to the gym.” he said innocently.
you thought the dress fit fine. you felt good in it, so you thought you looked good in it.
“you’re so pretty baby, mm maybe if we can hit the gym together..?”
he said while hugging you from behind.
slowly his comments made you lose an appetite in front of him.
but alone in your apartment, you ate a tub of ice cream. if not ice cream, you door dashed food. you haven’t eaten in front him, and you deny you’re hungry when it’s just the both of you.
he didn’t realize he was as bringing down your self esteem.
hyunjin
hyunjin always had a stable job since after college. he was successful, in many ways. he had lots of money, a good networking ability, and known by many people around the world.
you both came from the same town. a humble area.
but money changed him when he moved to a new city.
his love for you didn’t change, but his mindset on success did.
you stayed back in town to pursue a higher education. working with people and children was your passion and you wanted to help them. you were humble in your upbringing.
one night when you finally were able to spend the night with hyunjin. both of you on the couch watching a movie, mindlessly watching it, just in the moment of holding each other after weeks of being apart.
there was small talk here and there as you guys caught up.
“yeah, i had three clients today that took 2 hours each for their session” you smiled with a small tired, humble smile. hyunjin couldn’t help but make a small face
“how do you like working with people with problems?” he said.
you furrowed your brows with a slight confused smile.
“what do you mean? i’ve told you about this before?”
“well yeah but i’m just not understanding why you would want to help people with problems that they can solve on their own”
you pulled away from him slightly to look at him.
“like cmon babe, is your “job” really a career? like is it really sustainable?” he said job with air quotes.
he was diminishing your career, a passion you’ve had since the beginning of college. you were astonished by the way he was treating you, essentially.
“that’s not even a real job you know? like you’d be better as a… i don’t know… management or finance”
you furrow your brows.
“how could you say that hyunjin?? you know this has been a dream of mine since… forever. you told me it was a perfect job for me”
he winces, “yeah but i realized now you could do better” “like me.. you could make as much money as me.”
“but i don’t want to work in a stupid office job” you spat back.
he got angry slightly at you bashing his career. “my job is not stupid! if anything what you do is worse, and it pays little. it’s a pointless job!”
you froze at the way he spoke to you. never in your years has he spoken to you like this. you shook your head slightly before getting up.
“im done” you said quietly before getting up and moving to leave his house.
he didn’t bother getting up to follow you out. his neighborhood was safe enough for you to walk out, he thought.
Chan had been in his studio all day. You'd texted him a few times to check on him, but you got no response. During stressful comebacks and other busy schedules, he sometimes neglected his own health.
You decide to pick up both of your favorite meals from a local restaurant. Once you grab the food, you drive over to the studio and make your way inside, approaching him with a soft smile.
"Hi, Channie."
Walking over beside him, you place the takeout bag on his desk.
"Hey," Chan replies flatly, not even bothering to look up from his laptop as he continues typing away.
"I brought you some japchae. I figured you probably haven't eaten yet."
"No thanks. I'm still working on something."
You pull a chair over and sit beside him.
"You've been working all day..." You pause, a little hesitant. "I know you haven't been eating properly lately, Chan."
He sighs, rubbing his temples before finally looking over at you.
"Look, the last thing I need is you pestering me while I'm trying to get things done, okay?" he says, a hint of sternness in his voice before turning his attention back to the screen.
It was a tone you'd never heard directed at you before.
A few moments of silence pass before the quietest little sniffle escapes you.
Chan immediately tenses, his head snapping toward you.
The moment he sees the tears welling up in your eyes, a deep feeling of regret washes over him.
"Oh, no... baby."
His work is instantly forgotten as all of his attention shifts to you.
"I'm so sorry, love... I didn't mean to upset you."
His arms quickly wrap around you, pulling you gently against his chest while one hand rubs slow circles over your back.
"I just got so caught up in work... I don't know what came over me," he says softly, holding you a little tighter.
After a moment, you finally lift your head to look at him. Your eyes are red and puffy, leaving a small damp spot on his shirt.
"I just want you to be healthy, Chan," you mumble through a shaky voice.
His heart sinks.
"I know... I know you do."
He gently wipes away your tears before pressing a soft kiss to your forehead.
Then he reaches for the takeout bag.
"How about we eat now, hm, love?"
You nod quietly.
Chan takes your bowl out first, handing it to you along with your chopsticks before grabbing his own.
As the two of you eat together, he can't help but glance over at you every few moments, making sure you're okay.
Without even realizing it, he keeps one hand resting on you the entire time—as if he's afraid that letting go, even for a second, might somehow hurt you all over again.
Minho₊˚⊹ᰔ
It had always been a common thing for Minho to tease you. In fact, you liked it. The two of you were constantly joking around with each other, but this time, he accidentally took it a little too far and ended up hurting your feelings.
You were currently sitting on the couch in the living room of his apartment, waiting for him to come home. He had been at the studio with the other members of Danceracha, going over choreography for the past few hours. Whenever he had long practices like this, he always came home exhausted and woke up sore the next day.
You had been watching TV to pass the time when you heard the doorknob turn.
Excited, you quickly looked toward the door, watching him step inside with a bag slung over his shoulder. He looked worn out, just like you expected.
"Hi, Mimo. How'd it go?" you asked, standing up and walking over to him.
"Fine. I'm tired, so I'm going to go shower now," he replied, setting his bag down before making his way toward the bathroom.
"Already? I just got to see you, though," you pouted, stepping in front of him to block his path.
He sighed, closing his eyes for a brief moment.
"I'm tired, okay? I need to wash up."
"You don't stink that bad~," you teased.
A quiet laugh escaped him before he answered.
"You're annoying, you know that?"
He gave your shoulder a gentle pat as he walked past you, disappearing into the bathroom.
You knew he was only teasing, just like he always did.
...But this time, his words lingered in your mind.
While he showered, you changed into your pajamas before climbing into his bed, absentmindedly scrolling through your phone.
You tried to brush off what he'd said.
It was just a joke.
You knew that.
...Didn't you?
The more you thought about it, the tighter your throat became—that familiar sting that came right before tears.
Eventually, you couldn't hold them back anymore.
Quiet sobs escaped into your hands as tears streamed down your cheeks.
Minho finished his shower, dried himself off, and changed into his pajamas.
Just as he reached for the bathroom door, he paused.
...
Was that... crying?
He slowly opened the door, immediately finding you curled up on the bed.
His expression softened instantly.
"Hey..."
He walked over and sat down in front of you.
"What's wrong?"
You looked up at him through watery eyes.
"Do you really think I'm annoying...?"
His eyebrows knitted together.
For a second, he looked confused, then it clicked.
"Oh..."
His heart sank.
"Oh, jagi..."
"I was just teasing you. I promise that's all it was."
Without another word, he leaned forward and gently pulled you into his arms, one hand softly scratching your head the way he knew you loved—like he would with one of his cats.
"I know..." you sniffled.
"But it still kinda hurt, Mimo..."
His grip around you tightened.
"I'm sorry."
His voice was much quieter now. "I never wanted to make you cry."
He stayed there for a while, simply holding you until your breathing finally steadied.
When you had calmed down, he guided you farther onto the bed before lying down beside you, gently pulling you against his chest.
One hand slowly rubbed comforting circles over your back while the other continued to lightly scratch your head.
Before long, the hurt you'd been carrying melted away, replaced by the quiet comfort of being wrapped safely in his arms.
Changbin₊˚⊹ᰔ
It's definitely an understatement to say that your boyfriend is strong. You could literally stare at his biceps all day... and, well, other parts of him too.
Which is exactly what you're doing now.
You're sitting at the kitchen table, watching as Changbin scrambles eggs and fries bacon. Your eyes wander over him, quietly admiring how hard he works to stay in such good shape.
At some point, Changbin turns around and catches you staring.
"Caught red-handed, bunny," he laughs, walking over and setting your plate in front of you before sitting down across from you with his own.
"What? I can't help it!" you laugh, taking a bite of bacon as warmth creeps onto your cheeks.
"You're blushing~," he teases, clearly trying to get a reaction out of you.
"No, I'm not!" you protest with a laugh, immediately covering your face with both hands.
While your face is hidden, Changbin quietly pulls out his phone and starts recording you, wanting to tease you even more.
When you finally lower your hands...
...he's pointing his phone right at you.
"Yah! Give that to me!" you exclaim between laughs.
You quickly snatch his phone before taking off toward the living room, Changbin close behind.
"Give it back!" he laughs, chasing after you as the two of you run circles around the coffee table.
After a few laps, he realizes he's never going to catch you that way.
So, with another laugh, he reaches across the table and grabs your wrist, trying to stop you long enough to get his phone back.
He doesn't realize how much force he used.
You lose your balance.
Before either of you can react—
Thud.
Your shoulder collides with the edge of the coffee table.
A sharp gasp escapes your lips as you instinctively clutch the sore spot.
Changbin freezes.
His playful smile disappears in an instant.
"Oh my God... baby!"
He's beside you within seconds, carefully placing one hand on your uninjured shoulder while trying to meet your eyes.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm so sorry! I swear I didn't mean to—"
You slowly lift your head.
Tears have already begun to well in your eyes.
The sight makes Changbin's heart sink.
"Oh, no..."
His voice becomes much softer.
"No, no, no..."
He gently cups your face in both hands.
"Please look at me."
Once your eyes finally meet his, he feels even worse.
"Are you alright?" he asks, his voice full of guilt.
"I'm so, so sorry, bunny... I never meant to make you fall."
He looks like he might cry himself, but he's trying so hard to stay calm for your sake.
"I'm okay..." you sniffle, carefully rubbing your shoulder.
"It was just the initial pain that really hurt."
He lets out a shaky breath.
"Let me help you up."
Before you can protest, he effortlessly scoops you up bridal style.
"Binnie!" you laugh through your lingering tears.
"It's just my shoulder. I didn't hurt my ankle or anything."
"Doesn't matter."
His answer comes without hesitation.
"I made you fall and hurt yourself."
His expression softens.
"So now I'm going to take care of you."
He carries you all the way to the bedroom before gently setting you down on the bed as though you might break.
Instead of pulling away, he wraps his arms around your waist and carefully pulls you against his chest.
"I'm really sorry," he whispers again.
Already feeling better simply from being in his arms, you melt into the embrace.
Somewhere back in the kitchen, your breakfast slowly grows cold...
...but neither of you seems to care.
Right now, the only thing Changbin wants is to make sure you're okay.
Hyunjin₊˚⊹ᰔ
Hyunjin had been working on a painting for hours.
His headphones were on, his phone sat untouched beside him, and brushes of every size were scattered across his desk. You knew how important this piece was to him—it was one he'd been working on for days.
Not wanting to interrupt him, you quietly knocked on the studio door.
No answer.
You cracked the door open just enough to peek inside.
"Hyune?"
Still nothing.
You smile to yourself.
He must be really focused.
You walk over, planning to surprise him with the coffee you picked up on your way over.
Just as you reach him...
Your foot catches on the leg of a chair.
You stumble.
Trying to catch yourself, your hand bumps against his arm.
The paintbrush jerks across the canvas.
A long streak of dark paint cuts through the nearly finished painting.
Silence.
Hyunjin stares at the canvas.
His shoulders tense.
"...Seriously?"
Your heart drops.
"I'm so sorry—"
"I've been working on this all day."
His voice isn't loud...
But it's enough.
"I just needed five more minutes."
The words hang in the air.
You swallow hard.
"I... I didn't mean to."
"I know, but—"
He cuts himself off with an exhausted sigh.
You quietly set the coffee on his desk.
"...I'll just leave you alone."
The door clicks shut behind you.
Only then does Hyunjin really look at the painting again.
Then...
He notices the untouched coffee.
Your favorite bakery's logo on the cup.
You hadn't come to bother him.
You'd come because you were thinking about him.
His stomach twists.
"Oh..."
He finds you curled up on the couch a few minutes later.
You're wiping your eyes before he can see.
Except...
He already has.
He kneels in front of you.
"I'm so sorry."
You don't answer.
"I wasn't frustrated with you."
"I was frustrated with myself."
He gently takes your hands.
"I shouldn't have let you feel like you did something unforgivable."
"...But I ruined it."
"You didn't."
He smiles sadly.
"It's just paint."
"You..."
He brushes a tear from your cheek.
"...are much more important than a painting."
a/n: ahhhh this is my longest fic yet, and my favorite!! this was so fun but also kinda sad to write lol, but a poll is a poll and you guys just love to be sad loll🥹 I hope you guys enjoyed this and I will work on the maknae line the next opportunity I get! 🫶🏻
━━━━ եwo boyfriends are better than one , h.j x b.c x reader
ʚ masterlist ɞ : 1.1k words .’ smut .’ piv .’ threesome .’ dom hyunjin and chan .’ sub reader .’ oral (m! receiving) .’ jealously sex .’ ruined orgasms .’ squirting .’
a/n : messed up the dates and now i’m only working a four hour shift LMAOOO
“such a slut,” hyunjin grumbled under his breath, looking down at you with your tongue sticking out, waiting for him to push his heavy cock down your throat, “you’ll give it up to anyone huh?”
you couldn’t form words, chans cock plunging deep inside your pussy was taking all your breath away, melting all your thoughts.
chan just growled from behind you and gripped harshly at your ass, “trying to make us jealous by flaunting yourself in front of every guy you see? were two cocks at home already not enough?”
broken moans escaped your lips, something vaguely resembling words but neither men could make it out.
hyunjin tapped his tip on your tongue, dragging some of his precum across it, “answer us baby, tell us why you did it.”
your needy lust blown eyes just stared up at him, too cock dumb to process what he said and spit out any words. a light slap hit your cheek and snapped you out of your daze.
“answer me.” hyunjin demanded.
another moan broke free but you could actually speak now, “attention! i wanted attention!”
the two men had dragged you along to some boring event you didn’t want to go to with the promise of if you were good they would make sweet love to you all night long. but there were so many pretty girls there that seemed to be always catching their eyes, can’t really blame them, they were surrounded. but you couldn’t deny how jealous it made you feel, so to get back at them you decided to openly flirt with every male idol you saw. you even went as far as to bend over in front of them, showing some cleavage or pushing your ass into them. chan and hyunjin had noticed quickly but decided to let you keep playing your little game to see how far you’d take it. they snapped when you “accidentally” stumbled into an idols lap in a straddling position, your chest pressed against his.
they weren’t willing to watch you slut yourself out like that for any longer, so the boys dragged you home, mumbling to each other about how they were gonna punish you later tonight. and that’s how you ended up here; on your hands and knees between the two, chan railing into your pour swollen cunt while hyunjin was teasing you with his cock on your tongue. you had come close to coming three times so far and each time chan was quick to pull out and remove all forms of stimulation. he told you it was “to keep you in your place” for the way that you were acting.
“open wide for me, pretty.” hyunjin grumbled, more so a demand this time than a suggestion.
you let your mouth open wider, holding back your gags as he was quick to shove his whole length in. he didn’t give you time to adjust, you didn’t deserve it after the way you acted. his pretty moans filled the room, blocking out your wet gags around his cock as you struggled to take him.
chan clicked his tongue, fake sympathy dripping from his tongue, “come on honey, you can take him can’t you? if you let him cum in your throat maybe i’ll let you cum.”
you hummed around hyunjins cock in response, the vibrations sending the man wild, his hands went to the side of your head, holding you in place as he fucked your throat faster, “fuck she feels good chan! so much prettier when her mouth is filled with cock.”
“can’t be a slut if you can’t talk huh?” chan laughed lowly, his thrusts never slowing. you could feel him deep in your tummy, he was so fucking deep it felt like he was trying to shape your pussy to his cock.
hyunjins moans we’re getting more pathetic and loud as he got closer, “s-shit chan..i’m close.”
“fill her.” chan ordered, he needed you to be ruined.
hyunjin listened to his boyfriend, ever so obedient, shooting his load down your throat, coating you with his seed. he held your head down on his cock as he spurted the last of his load in your mouth, whimpering a little as your gags overstimulated him. when he finally pulled out, strings of his cum and your spit dripped from his tip, coating your chin and the bed beneath you in your guys’s mess.
chan was quick to pull out right after his boyfriend came down your throat, manhandling you so you were flipped on your back. hyunjin seemed to have read his mind, sitting on the edge of the bed and pulling you into his lap. your body was so tired from being edged all nighty long, chan and hyunjin having no mercy on you or your pussy, you just let them drag you wherever. you didn’t even realize the position you were in until your back was flush with hyunjins chest and his tip was poking at your ruined hole.
he slipped in with ease, you were already soaked from chans previous thrusts. your moans were tired and weak as your head rolled back to lay on hyunjins shoulder, pathetically crying in his ear as he bounced you on his cock. his hands snaked under your knees, holding you up and folding you against yourself so he could hit even deeper in your pussy.
chan was quick to bend right in front of you, enjoying the show of hyunjin fucking you on himself, cock still hard and leaking as he watched with a stern face. his hand reached out, planting the pads of his fingers right against your clit.
he cooed, “such a dumb baby for us now aren’t you? got that brattiness out of you, just had to fuck it out of you, huh?” his fingers rubbed back in forth, the extra stimulation making your breath catch in your throat.
his fingers picked up speed, your hips bucked up to rub harder against his hand, slamming yourself back down on hyunjins dick.
“g-gonna cum!” you cried out, your voice hoarse and strained as your neck stretched out against hyunjins shoulder.
“cum for us baby, be good, show us that your ours.” hyunjin mumbled against your cheek, pressing wet sloppy kisses to the skin.
you screamed out, slight cracks in your voice as you held yourself up off of hyunjins dick, letting your arousal squirt out, spraying all over hyunjins lap and chans hand as his rubbing never stopped. your orgasm was strong from being edged all night and it took everything out of you, your chest heaved as you cried, still dripping from your core.
chan slapped your soaked, puffy pussy, “there’s our good girl, just had to teach you how to behave again.”
synop: felix feeling insecure that he's 'too feminine' for you
now playing: what makes you beautiful - one direction
pairing: lee yongbok felix x fem!reader
warnings: kind of angsty, insecurities, toxic masculinity, crying, fluff, petnames
stray kids masterlist
a/n: havent written for lixie in a while so i came up with this <3
it started off as a normal trip to the supermarket. your hand in felix's, shifting between cereal boxes.
"is this any good?" you asked, holding up a colourful box.
felix thought for a second. "mm, it's too sweet."
"look who's talking" you smirked, drawing out a light pink flush from his cheeks. you put the box back, now looking at 'organic' cereal. gross. suddenly, a deep voice you hadn't heard in a while called out from the end of the aisle. "y/n!"
you and felix's heads snapped up at the same time, looking for the source of the voice. a tall man, walking towards you with a huge grin and arms open wide. "i haven't seen you in so long!" he exclaimed.
you forced an awkward smile, hugging him stiffly from the side. "yeah, it's been a while, malcolm."
felix frowned. malcolm? you'd never brought up a malc- oh. your ex.
"how've things been going for you?" malcolm asked, leaning his elbow on the shelf, clearly not sensing the tension in the air. his voice was platonic enough that felix decided not to intervene yet.
"um, pretty good. you?" you kept the conversation going politely. felix's eyes drifted down to the black compression shirt the guy was wearing, showing off the taut, plump muscles stretching underneath the material. 63 taekwondo medals, and he still wouldnt stand a chance in a fight with this guy. wait, why's he even considering that? it's not like he'd ever have to fight for you or something. right?
"not bad. and this is..?" malcolm finally looked at felix, eyes raking over him.
"oh, this is felix, my boyfriend." you said proudly, making felix smile.
"your boyfriend?" malcolm choked out. he quickly regained his polite smile, extending his hand out to shake felix's.
felix took it, shaking it slowly. it dwarfed his. most definitely dwarfed yours too at one point.
"well, i'll get going. nice seeing you guys." your ex smiled and walked off politely.
as soon as he was gone, you exhaled. "sorry about that. wasn't expecting to see him here." you apologised softly to felix.
he only nodded back. "yeah, all good."
later, you guys headed back to your car in the parking lot, you holding one shopping bag while he held the other. in the distance, felix's eyes found malcolm, hauling his own stuffed bags into the trunk of his car like they weighed nothing, then sliding into the drivers seat.
when felix zoned back in, you were holding open the car's trunk, hand extended expectantly for the shopping bag in his hand. "oh, sorry." he mumbled, handing it to you then finding his way to the passengers seat. you opened the door to your side and buckled up, revving up the car.
he sat there looking down, fumbling with the waist of his seatbelt.
"you good?" you glanced over, reversing out of the parking spot.
he nodded quickly. " 'm fine."
you could tell he was lying, but decided to let it go for now.
meanwhile, he sat there in contemplation. was that your type? tall? strong? why did you go from such a manly man like malcolm to....him?
maybe he should've offered to carry all the bags. maybe he should've learned to drive instead of being driven around by you. maybe he should start working out. maybe he should change his style.
he looked at his wrists. slim, the bone sticking out where arm met hand. no muscle.
maybe you deserved better.
a man you could rely on. a man who could take care of you, protect you. a real man.
and suddenly, as you pulled into your home's driveway, his eyes were full of tears.
you looked over, pausing when you saw the wetness on his cheeks. "oh, lixie, what happened?" you turned to face him.
and now he's crying. what kind of man cries?
"n-nothing! nothing, i'm okay." he said quickly, the crack in his voice betraying his emotion.
"did i do something?" you asked, eyes wide. one hand went up to cradle his face, wiping away tears.
"no, you didn't. it's just.." he trailed off. you nodded, urging him to go on.
"am i not.. man enough for you?"
you frowned. "man enough? what are you talking about?"
"i mean..malcolm, your ex.. why would you go from a man like him to a man like me?" he sobbed, nuzzling into your hand.
"oh, baby, that's why you're upset?" your heart broke at the realisation. "i never though about how manly you are, lix."
"but h-he's so strong and big, and i'm-"
"perfect." you cut him off. "you're perfect. there's a reason he's my ex and you're my boyfriend. he may be buff, but he's never made me as happy as you do."
"really?" he looked up at you with big, wet eyes, glimmering with hope.
"100%. you always take care of me, felix."
"b-but, do you ever feel like.. i can't protect you?"
"never. that's not how a relationship works, baby." you said softly. "i dont need a boyfriend just to protect me with his big muscles. i need a boyfriend like you who makes me forget that there's any harm in this world in the first place."
his lips quirked up, lighting up your world again.
you leaned over and pressed a light kiss to his nose. "there's my favourite smile."
Synopsis: Your sex lives have never been boring, that much could be said. But when Hyunjin finds something new for you to play out in the bedroom after a much inspiring movie he had watched, it certainly takes it to another level.
-or: Hyunjin wants to see you dressed up as his little student while he ruins you <3
Details: Hyunjin x fem!reader, smut- teacher/student roleplay, spanking, bondage, light pet play, biting, degradation, praise, unprotected sex, choking, slapping, slight foot fetish, dacryphilia, very filthy. wc: 5k
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You'd barely even gotten through the front door to his apartment before he was in front of you. He greeted you with the usual kiss and hug, but there was an obvious excitement inside of him, waiting to be let out. You noticed it immediately, like there was a spurt of creativity he was holding in.
You set your bag down and plopped down on the couch, tired after work, whereas Hyunjin grabbed your foot and started massaging it attentively, a toothy smile on his face. It was clear he was thinking about something. You tilted your head at him.
"What have you been doing today? You seem... happy about something," you said, putting it out there for him to express his thoughts without directly asking. He looked up from his focus on your foot with a calmer smile, his nimble fingers still kneading your soft skin.
"Mm, not much. You know I had that shoot earlier - that went well. Chan wanted me to do some recordings in the studio, so I did that, too. How about you, baby?" he responded casually, listing off all the things he'd done today more or less.
You nodded, letting out a small, pleased hum at the feeling of him massaging your foot. "Work, mostly. It was a bit tiring, but I managed with enough coffee in my system." You let out a chuckle, adjusting yourself against the couch to lay down more comfortably. Hyunjin took this as his chance to switch over to massage your other foot.
He nodded, still smiling calmly to himself like he was thinking about something. You squinted your eyes at him. Your curiosity could only be held back for so long.
"Okay, what's with that giddy smile on your face? What are you thinking about?" you asked, pressing your foot against his hand a little to gain his attention.
He shrugged, like he was trying to brush it off. "Nothing."
You wouldn't have that. "Tell me," you whined.
"It's nothing. Just this movie I watched. It was... inspiring."
"Well, what was it about?"
That made him pause his ministrations on your foot for a moment, biting his lip as he tried to hold back a smile, holding back his excitement even now. He shot you a look, smiling that almost sheepish smile that showed off his front teeth. It made you smile too, chuckling a bit at his reaction.
"Come on, tell me!"
He sat up then, releasing your foot and began to ramble on. "It was this movie about a secretary, and the man she worked for began treating her... well, as a secretary. But whenever she would do something incorrect, he'd make sure to punish her. And she loved it, explored herself in that way. They were both matching each other so well, and it kind of reminded me of us. And just the whole aesthetic of the movie was pleasing to the eye. It made me excited to try something new."
You tilted your head intuitively as you listened to him explain the movie, slowly catching onto what sort of movie it was. How was it that Hyunjin could make something that was supposedly a kinky movie into something that sounded romantic?
Once you'd thought it over, you found it in you to respond to him, slightly teasing, "So what you're telling me is that you watched some kinky movie and thought of us? That's cute." You laughed a little at his enthusiasm about this movie, but you also wanted it to be known that you were listening. After all, you did find it a little flattering that he was this giddy over the thought of doing something with you. "...So what did you have in mind? Since you want to try something new."
It made your face a little hot to ask, but Hyunjin was just excited to talk about it. "One day, I'd like us to roleplay. You're a student and I'm your teacher. I want you to wear an outfit and everything - so will I."
You were a little taken aback, only because Hyunjin had never brought up an interest in roleplay before, but to you the idea was definitely appealing. Still, you let out a small laugh, feeling a little shy when you thought of it for too long, slowly nodding. "Alright..."
Hyunjin smiled, seemingly not feeling shy at all about the topic. He leaned over and kissed your cheek, tangling his fingers with yours as he started talking about something entirely different.
─────────────────
It had been more than a week since you'd talked about Hyunjin's new fantasy. He hadn't even hinted at it, even though you'd been intimate since then. After a few days, you'd forgotten about it, too focused on life to consider when it might happen.
But then, when Hyunjin came to your place from what you thought had just been dance practice, he plopped a package onto the table. You looked up from your book, raising an eyebrow at him and eyeing the package suspiciously. "What's this?"
He smiled, taking off his sunglasses he'd been wearing and began opening the package. "It's for you."
Your ears perked up a the sound of that, setting your book aside and excitedly making your way towards him. You kissed his cheek in a silent greeting before tearing into the package. Meanwhile, Hyunjin placed his duffel bag on the table and began to look through it, glancing over at you while you opened the package.
Your lips parted in surprise when the contents of it revealed itself and you found yourself holding up a plaid mini skirt, a white, revealing dress shirt, knee-high socks and a matching hairband. You looked the clothing over for a second before turning to Hyunjin, raising an eyebrow.
He was already holding an outfit for himself that he'd packed in the duffel bag, a dark suit and striped tie, a pair of glasses on the table. Finally he seemed to be feeling a little flustered, shuffling on his feet. "I thought we could try the roleplaying thing today... bought us some outfits," he mumbled, almost nervously. Like you might reject the idea now.
His sudden nerves only brought an adoring smile on your face, your fingers holding onto the clothes a little tighter. You nodded. "You want me to change into it now?"
He nodded, his eyes big and clearly trying to hold back the excitement that was hidden under his shyness. You brushed your thumb across his cheek with affection at his expression, finding it cute, before turning on your heels to go change in your bedroom.
Hyunjin cleared his throat, calling out behind you. "Sit by your desk once you've changed. I'll bring in your assignment for correction."
You stilled by the doorway to your bedroom, looking at him over your shoulder when those words left him. It was surprising to hear from him, already sort of getting into character. It sent an excited thrill through you. You nodded once, shutting the door behind you as you walked into your room.
As you got undressed, you could feel your nerves heightening more and more, the anticipation of what was about to happen leaving your stomach in knots. It made you more excited than you'd been in a while.
You decided to keep your underwear on beneath the clothing, since he'd made no comment on what to do with that .There hadn't been any included in the outfit he gave you. You looked yourself in the mirror, taking in the way you looked. You definitely wouldn't have been allowed to wear this at an actual school - skirt so short that your ass was peeking out, cleavage on display... clearly Hyunjin had thought this out.
"Okay..." you whispered to yourself, running a hand through your hair, careful of the headband, before taking a seat by your desk. You weren't sure why you felt so nervous. Maybe it was just the anticipation of it all, or the thought of Hyunjin dressed up in a suit and tie, ready to correct you.
You ran a hand over the skirt, feeling a little skittish, but paused when you heard the sound of the door opening. Your heart lurched to your throat, hands falling to your lap when you heard the sound of leather shoes against the floorboard. The urge to turn around got the best of you, glancing him over your shoulder.
He looked immaculate. His sleek pants were just a little loose, white dress shirt revealing some of his chest under the blazer he wore. And then the tie and glasses - God, did he look good. The tie was loose, adding to his usual characteristics. If he liked the looks of you, too, he didn't make it clear on his face, though he could definitely feel his pants getting a little tighter.
In his hand was a pen and paper, but they were the last thing you were looking at. He raised an eyebrow at you, clearing his throat and adjusting his tie, painfully aware of how you looked at him. His nerves were tickling his skin, but he wanted so badly not to seem awkward. That wasn't what this was about. He slowly made his way towards you, sliding the paper in front of you.
"Miss y/n," he started in greeting, keeping his voice firm. "You're a good student. You aways show up on time, answer in class when I call on you, get good grades - you know how to work hard." He stood behind you now, leaning over you so you could feel the heat of him against your back. He tapped the paper twice with the pen, expecting your gaze to follow. "So explain to me how such a progressive student finds it acceptable to hand in something so mediocre."
You sat there for a moment, just thinking to yourself this is really happening, this is really happening, your eyes locked on how the veins popped out of his hand where he held the pen. Then your eyes drifted to the paper, to a text you hadn't read before, some letters or words circled in red. You weren't sure what to say, still trying to ease into the whole roleplay antic of it all.
"...I'm sorry, Mr. Hwang. I did my best-"
"-You can't even spell basic words right." He interrupted you, still stood behind you, his presence all-consuming.
You swallowed thickly, teeth digging into your bottom lip. His words shouldn't have brought as much heat through your body as they did. You could get used to hearing such authority in his voice.
He leaned over you even more then, placing both hands on the table with his palms pressing against the surface, caging you in from behind.
"It's unacceptable."
You could feel his breath fanning the back of your head, your body tensing up and breathing getting heavier, excitement causing through every part of your being.
"Mr. Hwang-"
"-You will address me as Sir."
You fisted your hands in your skirt, your thighs pressing together as you loosened the smallest of breaths. Maybe you wouldn't even make it to the main event before you lost your mind.
"Get up," he said then, stepping far enough away from you that you couldn't feel his heat anymore. The lack of warmth was slightly disappointing, but the unknown of what he had planned got you over the loss fast.
You stood, ass surely on display from that action alone, your hand shaking a little when you placed it on the chair for support. You met his eyes then, and you had to stop every fibre of your being from not just jumping him right then and there. You were aware of his eyes on you, how they took you in, and even then the tent in his pants made it obvious how much he enjoyed this, too.
"Bend over the desk."
He moved the chair out of the way, giving you room to follow through with his command. And though you did as he said, your movements were slow, making sure to feel remember every moment of this experience. You placed your hands on the table, on either side of the paper, bending over it enough to expose your entire backside to him. You heard the small release of a breath through his nose, felt his eyes on you the whole time.
"Now read the paper. Out loud," came his next command, something you hadn't exactly expected him to say. You knew it was all part of the roleplay, but you had no idea what the paper would even say. From the looks of it, it was just some random excerpt from a text.
"The importance of avoiding smoking," you started with the title of the page, your ears sharp as you heard him shift behind you, only building up the anticipation. You cleared your throat and continued, "Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable health worldwide. It can increase the risk of serious diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease and res-"
You paused your reading when his hand came down on your ass hard, instead letting out a choked sound at the sudden sting. Your hands pressed harder against the desk, slightly shaky as you loosened a breath. You turned your head to glance at him over your shoulder, but he stood at an angle where you couldn't see his beautiful face.
"Keep reading," was all he said, the tone of his voice lower. He waited for you to continue, expected you to. You had to stop yourself from pressing your thighs together again.
You looked down at the paper, trying to focus on the text, on where you'd left off instead of when the next hit was going to come. "-and respiratory illness. In addition to affecting the smoker-" you read over a couple of words or letters that had been circled, spelled wrong, correcting them as you read out loud, "-secondhand smoke can also harm people nearby-" another smack landed on your ass, then another, halting your reading for a moment.
"Don't stop," he ordered.
"-Including children-" smack! "-a-and non-smokers. Choosing not to smoke can-" smack! "c-can lead to improved physical health, better lung function, and-" smack! "a-and increased energy levels..."
You trailed off, shutting your eyes and breathing out. He was not going easy on you, that was for sure, your ass already stinging, skin raw and only getting redder. There was only a little bit of the text left, but you doubted it would end there.
In one swift movement, he gathered your hair into his hand, yanking it back enough to strain your neck and sting your scalp. "I. Said. Read." He let go of your hair, using the same hand to land numerous sharp spanks against your already sore backside, not stopping until you started reading again.
A broken whimper escaped you before you spoke again, "It can also reduce healthcare costs and improve-" smack! "overall qual-" smack! "q-quality of l-life-" smack! smack! smack!
His hand came cracking down mercilessly, and your legs wobbled beneath you, a pained mewl escaping you. Your nails dug into the wood of the desk, your eyes stinging but your sopping cunt throbbing for more.
He let out an impatient sigh when you stopped reading again, clearly affected by the harsh delivery of each hit. He stopped for a moment, pulling something out from his pants pocket before pressing down on your lower back.
"Start over," he said, to the masochist inside you's great pleasure, but your greedy cunt's distaste. You lowered your head again, your arms already tiring, starting from the beginning of the page again.
You felt a graze of something cold, metallic on your sore behind, causing you to twitch. His hand on your lower back kept you in place, and you wisely continued to read as he raised his hand.
Down came the surface of the cool ruler on your ass, achieving a more sharp and clean hit, but also more painful and punishing. It took everything in you to not just stop reading altogether, instead keeping your focus and continuing to read once the sting of every hit blended in with the rest.
He continued using the ruler, until the once cool metal of it turned warm from the contact with your skin, your ass numb and sensitive, burning hot. Somehow you made it through to the end of the page, tears streaking your cheeks and arousal soaking your panties. He let out a breath from the exertion of abusing your poor behind, setting the ruler down on the desk next to your hand.
"Good. That was good. You have some mind left in there, after all," Hyunjin muttered, his hand brushing over your bruising skin. You whimpered at the pain you felt, though there was something soothing about his gentle massaging of your skin, even if it made you cry more. "Can you say 'thank you', baby? My hand is a little sore after having to correct you. That's your fault, isn't it?"
Hyunjin was clearly into the roleplay thing completely now, you would've even considered giving him an Oscar for his performance. But so were you, forced into it, anyway, with how he'd just smacked the life out of your ass. You sniffled and his cock hardened at the sound. "Th-thank you, Sir."
He hummed, pleased by the sound of you thanking him for his cruelty. He stroked himself over his pants, finding it hard to control himself when you called him by such a title. He'd never heard you say it before but it had almost just made him cum in his pants, despite the composure he held in front of you.
"That's right. You're a good pup, aren't you?"
You nodded vigorously, eager for the praise. His hand moved down to where you were soaking through your panties, arousal coating the lacy material and your inner thighs from having your legs pressed together. You whimpered at the feeling, sensitive but your cunt oh so greedy for more. He let out a groan once discovering the effect he'd had on you. "Oh, puppy, look at you. You liked that, didn't you? Fuck, you're so sick..."
You whimpered at those otherwise offensive words, but when he said it they sounded so right, like he wouldn't have it any other way. And he wouldn't - he was as sick as you, maybe even more so for doing this to you in the first place.
He used his long fingers to push your panties to the side, running them through your slick, feeling how filthy you were. He groaned again, giving you a little reward by curling two of his fingers inside of you, feeling how your walls clenched around them, hungry for more.
"Fuck... Why'd you even bother wearing these anyway, hm? We both know your indecency wouldn't make you any less of a slut."
You moaned, legs leaning against the desk now, trying to keep yourself upright instead of just collapsing to the ground like your body desired. The small relief of his fingers pushing into you after not having been touched brought you a greater pleasure than it usually would've, your hips grinding against them with need.
"S-sir, please- please-" you moaned in desperation, craning your neck as you squeezed your eyes shut. He let you grind against his fingers, too busy watching you unravel at his touch to think of punishing you for doing so. The sound of your begging was just so beautiful.
"Please what, pretty? Come on, you can say it," he muttered, distracted by the beauty of you to make his words any sort of firm. His clothed bulge pressed against your sore ass, the imprint clear through his pants. You whimpered, grinding against him.
"P-please- please fuck me- please, I need it so bad- please, Sir!"
Hyunjin had to stop himself for cumming already once more, his fingers trembling as they exited your sopping cunt. He spun you around, finally letting you face him, enabling you to see the darkness of his eyes behind his glasses and him the tearful look on your face. Just how he liked it.
"Alright, my love."
He leaned in and pressed his lips to yours, the soft plumpness of them bringing you a sort of calm. You'd been unaware of how much you'd needed his affection after such a roughhousing, and now that you had it you felt reenergised.
He hummed into your mouth, parting his lips against yours in a slow, but hungry kiss. Even after all that had gone down, he couldn't help but bring the usual soft, hopeless romantic in him out; it was just in his nature.
His hand came up to loosen his tie even more as his tongue rolled languidly over yours, sucking gently on the vessel. Your hands moved to his chest, feeling him over the blazer. He'd even put on some sort of cologne, the scent clinging to the suit, and it filled your nostrils with its pleasant smell. It only made him all the more sexy.
He pulled away to tug the tie off of his head, his lips red and swollen from the kiss, making him all the more hypnotising to look at. He took the tie and put it over your head, wrapping the material around your neck and began to tighten it. The light restriction around your throat made you moan, eyes intensely looking into his to let him know just how much you enjoyed the friction.
He let out a growl, lips twitching at the corners of his mouth, tightening the tie a little more before tugging on the end of it. Your head moved closer to his then, the action sending a shiver down your spine and heat rushing to your core.
You glanced a look at his hard cock where it was begging for release beneath his pants, before his lips were on yours again, a little more desperate and no less hungry. You kissed him back with as much fervour, matching his pace, before lifting your leg up and letting your foot rub the outline of his cock over the smooth clothing.
He groaned loudly at the sudden contact, breaking away from your lips to look down at your foot rubbing over him, the image before him so lewd he could hardly take his eyes off of it. But he managed to gather himself, glaring at you while you blinked innocently, even with your foot over his cock. He grabbed you by the ankle.
He shook his head. "Bad. Bad pup."
He let your leg fall down before tugging on the tie hard enough to pull you forward and make your breath catch in your throat, his teeth finding your neck and biting down hard. You mewled, your hips grinding against his thigh in desperation, the mix of pain and pleasure driving you wild.
"Please..! Please I can't take it anymore-!" You whined, hands trembling as you clung to his blazer, longing for contact.
Even through his own desperation to feel your warmth wrapped around him he chuckled at your neediness, finding your whining adorable.
He let go of the tie for a moment to lift you onto the desk, his heart clenching slightly when you hissed at the soreness of your ass pressing against the wood. But he'd tend to that later. He pushed your skirt up and pulled down your panties all the way, shoving them into the pocket of his pants.
In one swift motion he had said pants pushed down to his ankles, revealing how he hadn't been wearing anything underneath this entire time. His admirable length stood tall and lean just like the rest of him, ready to be buried inside of your cunt. He stroked himself, pulling you towards the edge of the desk, towards him, crashing his lips to yours again. His desperation made it hard to remember to stay in character.
"Fuck, baby- I can't wait to feel you wrapped around me- God, you're so wet," he practically whimpered against your lips as he rubbed his length through your slick, wetting himself in you.
You couldn't stop yourself from looking down at the sight of it, watching as he slowly pushed into you with a groan. You moaned, finally feeling full as he pushed all the way in, your arms wrapping around his neck to support yourself. His hands trembled, wrapping his arms around you in a loving embrace before beginning to move his hips.
He moved with ease, sliding in and out of your soaked cunt like you were made for him, walls shaped to fit around him. He grunted with each thrust, his tip hitting the back of you due to the angle he had you in. Your eyes rolled to the back of your head at the feeling, your head tilting back, body moving out of your control. You'd already cum just from this.
Hyunjin gathered enough senses to move his face away from where he'd buried it against your neck, hair falling in front of the glasses he wore, watching you fall apart.
"Ah- I can feel you squeezing me, baby. Ngh- cum for me, pretty. Cum for me..!"
His hand moved down, thumb rolling over your clit to bring you over the edge, and he was left in astonishment as pleasure washed over you, your body twitching under his. His lips parted in awe watching your body fall apart, seeing how your face scrunched up and hearing those sweet sounds leave your lips.
Your walls squeezing him tightly made it harder to hold back, but he managed, wrapping the tie around his hand to bring you closer to him again as he kept fucking into you, jaw clenched tight. You could barely open your eyes at first, but the strain against your throat forced you to focus on the present.
Your eyes met his again, taking in the sight of sweat beading down his face, his lips red and parted so beautifully you wished you could eat up every part of him. Just then you gained enough energy back to reach up, wrapping your hand around his throat as much as you were capable of doing, restricting his breathing just slightly.
He let out an almost pained whimper, unable to hold back the sound, hips stuttering. He glared at you even when pleasure threatened to make him spill inside of you, his hand leaving the tie to smack you across the face before tugging you close again.
"You little devil," he grunted, his hot breath fanning your face before he kissed you again, your moans mixing together. You could only manage a small smile against his lips before you were overwhelmed with pleasure again, feeling your second orgasm closing in as he kept fucking you against the desk.
You were both reduced to stuttering moans and heated, sloppy kisses, your highs closing in, bodies moving in sync like a perfect symphony.
"C-cum with me, Hyunjin..!" you choked out, your fingers tugging at the ends of his hair, knowing it would bring him closer. And it did. With a high-pitched moan his hips stuttered, the hot spurts of his cum filling you up as he came. You rubbed your middle finger over your clit desperately while watching him cum, the sight pushing you over the edge for a second time as you arched up against him.
The room was reduced to the sound of your heavy breathing, your sweaty bodies clinging to each other as you both came down from your intense highs.
Eventually you felt Hyunjin move, his hand coming up to stroke the back of your head, lips pressing against your hair. You hummed in pleasure, not wanting to move just yet. You could finally feel the overexertion on your body, the soreness that settled over your limbs.
He pulled back after a moment, taking in the ruined state of you. He looked like he might be amused at the sight, but a mild concern was clear on his face. "You okay? I wasn't... I wasn't too rough, right? You liked it?"
He wanted to make sure you had enjoyed the experience. That you had liked it as much as he had, because he most certainly had liked it. You shook your head and gave him a soft smile in reassurance, leaning into his touch when he brushed his thumb over your cheek affectionately.
"No, I definitely liked it," you said, nudging your nose against his. You couldn't help feeling a little clingy after such a rough session.
He let himself smile then, nodding his head and removing the glasses on his face to rub some of the sweat away. "Good... So we can do it again?"
The look on his face was almost comical, just as excited as he'd been when he had mentioned the idea of roleplaying in the first place. You laughed, resting your head against his shoulder.
"Yeah, we can do it again... although maybe not right now. I don't think I can even stand right now."
He looked down at you then, remembering the abuse he'd caused on your ass, and various other places... Well, he felt a little proud of himself. But he knew to care for you, too.
"Right... Come here."
He pulled out of you slowly before helping you stand, assessing the damage on your backside. He grimaced slightly, the skin already starting to bruise. But he didn't mention that just yet, instead loosening the tie around your throat and pulling it over your head. He almost aww-ed at the tired look on your face, kissing your forehead.
