#yugyeom soft

[jeonberryy]

s u n r i s e

like or reblog if you save! ♡

[sxfterhearts]

53. [4:07 pm]

➳ pairing: yugyeom x reader

➳ genre/warnings: fluff fluff fluff, baker!au, baker!yugyeom, exchange student!y/n

➳ word count: 2,040 words

➳ summary: “Sit down, I’ll get it.”

➳ author's note: rach-stop-mentioning-food-in-every-single-timestamp-challenge: failed. just the thought of baker!yugs and bread has me feeling all soft and gooey inside. which is why i whipped this one up! it has been a phat minut since i last wrote so yea :”) (also i should mention italicised are korean!!) regardless i hope this will help brighten up your day a little!! sending many warm hugs xx

//

Your phone screeched from its resting place on the other side of your room, signalling the start of your day. It was strategically placed atop your wooden, old-fashioned dresser, with the sole purpose of motivating you to get out of bed and turn the damn thing off.

With a groan, you stretched all four of your limbs, releasing a satisfied yawn as your joints popped after a good nights’ rest.

It was late afternoon. The rays of sunshine splattered deep orange and gold as it sneaked past the cracks the half-open blinds, painting your tiny studio apartment with lazy signs of life.

You dragged your sleep-ridden body to the dresser, still reluctant to start the day after what was an immensely taxing Friday night. Having just arrived in this bustling Korean city a mere two weeks ago, you were somewhat proud of yourself for landing a part-time job to support yourself when you started your semester of exchange. The only problem was, it happened to be a bartending job in a rowdier part of Seoul, commonly patronised by sleazy middle-aged men and their younger lady companions.

It wasn’t like you had much of a choice, anyways. Your Korean was still very much at an elementary level, which didn’t prove to be a hindrance in the bar you worked at. Most of the drinks were named in English, and the owner of the bar, a surprisingly kind, motherly lady in her sixties, paid you well above the minimum wage.

Still, it was your second Friday shift ever, and it clearly took its toll on you. Staring at your reflection in the bathroom mirror, you cringed. The eyebags under your eyes were so dark it could’ve easily been mistaken as a smoky-eye look gone wrong; your lips were awfully chapped and an alarming shade of red, while a few nasty pimples threatened to break through the surface of your skin.

In other words, you looked like a wreck.

Grabbing your phone, you checked the time. Ten minutes past four. Oh no, you winced internally. You were going to be very late if you didn’t leave your house in the next fifteen minutes. As though an internal switch flipped on, you turned the shower to full blast and stepped inside, sucking in your teeth as the cold water splashed against your skin.

In eight minutes flat, you were tugging on your beat-up sneakers and dashing for the elevator in your only pair of clean, non-alcohol-stained jeans and a plain white t-shirt that you conveniently picked off the pile of dry clothes on your sofa. You jammed the down button a couple of times, all while checking the time on your phone.

“Shit,” You cursed under your breath. 4:19. You couldn’t wait any longer.

Throwing all caution to the wind, you sprinted down the fire escape and did not stop for a single breath until you reached the final destination: a charming little bakery across the road from your apartment.

Rushing to the bakery just before closing time had become a habit for you. Amidst the chaos of moving and finding your feet in this new city, the bakery and its never-ending stream of patrons were your source of stability. Not only was it less busy and crowded during the evening, but it was also much easier for you to snag a couple of good bargains in the form of randomly-packaged, discounted breads.

The fact that the cute baker was the last one in store and in charge of closing up was just an added bonus.

//

A high-pitched, annoying chime broke him out of his daze. With a groan, Yugyeom straightened his slumped figure and stretched his arms above his head, releasing a satisfied sigh as his backbone cracked.

It was late afternoon. The rays of sunshine splattered deep orange and gold as it flooded through the drawn, white lacey curtains, painting his grandfather’s bakery with calm and relief; a peaceful conclusion. The end of daylight was drawing near.

He wiped a stray trail of saliva off the corner of his mouth before sucking on a mint. Checking the clock that hang above rack upon empty rack which usually contained baked goods, his palms inexplicably grew clammy.

4:27, Yugyeom mused. He shook his head to clear his spiralling thoughts. Keep it together, dummy. Just because she came the past few days doesn’t mean that she’ll come today too. She has her own life, her own friends, maybe even a boyfri-

Oh?

Just as his mind was about to veer off course and crash into the thorny garden of unrequited love, Yugyeom caught sight of a blurry figure at the corner of his eyes. Intrigued, he stood up straight and watched as you appeared in front of the bakery’s double doors. For a few seconds, you simply clutched your knees and huffed and puffed. Yugyeom could barely stop the shit-eating grin that split across his face and had to bite down hard on his bottom lip to avoid looking like a fool.

Then, you did the unexpected. From the back pocket of your jeans, you pulled out your lip balm and applied it on your lips, using the bakery’s glass window as a mirror. At that, Yugyeom threw his head back in a hysterical fit of laughter.

It was hard for him to explain the feeling in his chest, really. The first time you walked through the doors of the bakery, eyes twinkling with pure wonder and amazement as you browsed the array of baked goods like how a girl would admire a display of diamond rings, he was screwed. You captivated his interest as you fumbled for the right number of coins to pay for your discounted breads, tongue stuck out and head tilted adorably while doing so. He gave you, the damsel in distress, a helping hand, by laying all your coins out on the counter and ordering them from lowest to highest value. Probably not the most helpful of gestures, but Yugyeom liked to tell himself that he was performing his civic duty by welcoming a visitor of Korea through non-verbal currency explanations and an introduction to the locals’ favourite breads, pastries and drinks. That evening, the two of you sat on the high table by the window, slowly savouring melon breads, injeolmi toasts, ang butter or red bean butter breads and an assortment of cream cheese breads. While the breads were wonderfully fluffy and the sweetness was at an acceptable level, Yugyeom instructed you to wash it down with an iced Americano.

Since then, the mere thought of the bakery, going to the bakery, its breads and pastries, its drinks and Yugyeom coated your insides with sweetness. Admittedly, the reason why you kept visiting the bakery was to create more memories with Yugyeom and ride the amazing sugar rush you felt whenever you were around him.

After rearranging your hair for the nth time, you bravely pushed open the doors and walked in at 4:29pm.

“Hello!” You called out in Korean as you waved at him, a wide smile plastered on your lips. There was an obvious language barrier (you with your kindergarten-level Korean and him with his Game of Thrones-standard of English), but it wasn’t obvious. The two of you came up with creative ways to break it down.

“Hi Y/N! Sit down. I’ll get it.” Yugyeom answered in English, emerging from behind the counter with his trusty English-Korean dictionary and a matcha latte he prepared in anticipation of your arrival. He walked towards you with an air of confidence, reminding you of a model in a fashion show despite wearing his typical slacks and white button-up, with sleeves rolled up and cross drop-earrings adorning his ears. Yugyeom quickly set the items down before pulling out a chair, nodding towards it to encourage you to sit.

You muffled a giggle at his gentlemanly actions, but complied, nonetheless. You glanced over to the boy, sipping on the creamy drink as he retrieved two large plates from the cake fridge. Sure, the assortment of cakes should have been the main attraction, but your eyes drifted and settled on the stern look of concentration on his face and his prominent collarbones peeking out of his shirt. Unbuttoned, you assumed, as he was going to be off work soon.

You were halfway through the drink when Yugyeom returned to the table. He noticed this and didn’t pass up the opportunity to tease you about it. “Is it really good?”

“Thirsty. I just woke up.” You admitted, cheeks heating up in slight embarrassment.

Yugyeom’s wholehearted laughter filled the entire bakery.

“H-hey! Bad boy… Mean…”

“No, I…” Yugyeom stifled another round of laughter as he tried to pull himself together. “Cute. You wake up, come to see me in bread house.”

“Not ‘bread house’, ‘bakery’.”

“Ah, thank you. Bakery.” He tested the word on his lips, getting used to the pronunciation. “Bakery…”

“What are these?”

Yugyeom handed you a small cake fork while taking a seat. “Here. This plate is for tarts, and this one is for cakes. The tarts have the same filling – custard. But we use different fruits, like strawberries, berries, grapes and peaches. Whatever’s in season, really. Strawberries and cherry tarts are really popular in winter. Try some!” He reverted back in Korean whenever he was explaining, which was a great opportunity for you to pick up new vocabulary.

It was also a fantastic opportunity to try delicious pastries. You rotated through the entire plate painted in shades of pinks and green, taking a bite of each tart. Yugyeom just sat there, head in his palms, and admired the slight changes in your expression whenever you tried a new flavour. As creepy as it sounds, watching you eat the food he prepared was gradually becoming his favourite pastime.

“Cherry! That one is the best! It’s…” You quickly reached for the dictionary, softly muttering to yourself as you thumbed through the pages. “Here, acid. Acid, not too sweet. The strawberry one too.” Your eyes crinkled at their edges as they met his intrigued orbs, proudly smiling at yourself for learning a new word today.

“The word you’re looking for is ‘acidity’. ‘Acid’ is for chemistry.”

“Acidity?”

“Yes, that’s right.” Yugyeom reached over, his huge palm caressing the top of your head before ruffling your hair. You pouted and feigned annoyance, all while your heart squeezed and pounded away in your chest.

“Hey…” You protested weakly.

Yugyeom’s hand retreated. He placed it on the table, right next to your smaller ones. The distance between your hands taunted him; tempted him to close the gap and intertwine your fingers with his. Honestly, Yugyeom wasn’t used to this; wasn’t used to feeling like his insides were going to explode. His mouth opened and closed several times as he pondered his next move, wondering whether it would overstep your boundaries.

But then you stared at him in anticipation with your beautiful brown orbs, innocent and confused, as your lips wrapped around the straw of your matcha latte. Your gaze asked him an unspoken question, urging him on.

Yugyeom dragged your chair closer his, eliciting a high-pitched squeal from you. He rested both of his palms on top of your knees, gaining your full attention. “I like…” Yugyeom paused, catching his bottom lip between his pearly whites as the corners of his mouth tugged upwards. “I like this time with you.”

The soft giggle was purely involuntary, you swore to him afterwards. Yet, as you watched his expression flicker into one of panic, you were quick to cast out his worries. “No, no! Don’t get me wrong. Did you mean, you like spending time with me?”

“Ah, I was trying to be romantic. Stupid English…” Yugyeom cursed under his breath in Korean, unaware that you were familiar with the word ‘romantic’ due to the hours you spent (wasted) binging Korean dramas. “Yes, I do.” He said while squeezing your kneecaps in affirmation.

You had to remind yourself time and time again to keep calm in the presence of this charming man and his magical hands. “Me too, Yugyeom. You’re my favourite time of the day.”

Needless to say, your afternoon ritual continued for weeks and months to come.

[leshuce]

Yugbam icons goals 🧡

[jj-ktae]

Millennials - Part 6 -

Title: Millennials Genre: Fluff, romance Pairing: Kim Yugyeom x You Summary: Life is made of stages and each of them is a hard push on the back, forcing you to forge ahead. You’re facing your biggest crisis, and then there’s him, who lives from day to day. Of course he does, he is just a kid. Words: 3535 Warning: Small age difference. Yugyeom x Noona Reader.

Please check my masterlist and reblog for previous chapters!

- Part 6 - 

There’s no such thing as sadness, Yugyeom thinks. Everything is good in life. The weather is perfect, everyone is beautiful, the food tastes better than usual and wow, when did his skin become so perfect?

He communicates with you via messages because you’re busy and honestly, he doesn’t mind. You never wait for too long before answering, you agree to whatever he proposes and most importantly, you’ll be seeing each other at work tonight.

Yugyeom had no idea he would ever be excited about going to work.

“Look, it’s our Don Juan.” Jackson is the first one to tease Yugyeom when he joins his friends the day after. They’re supposed to do some shopping and Bambam is currently trying to walk around, his arms full of extravagant clothing and jewellery.

“Bam! Can you hurry the fuck up! I can’t find anything interesting in that shop!” Jackson yells before turning around to find a cutely blinking Yugyeom. “Also, don’t leave me with the lovesick guy!” he finishes, his body leaning against a huge rack of belts.

“Do I look lovesick? Because I am. God, I’m so in love.” Yugyeom sighs dramatically but his face shows nothing but pure bliss.

He cannot believe what is happening in his life. Nothing seems real, it’s like a dream dangerously close to end until he pinches his hand. Yugyeom has no idea how to function anymore but does he even care? What is reality even? He doesn’t mind staring at the wall for hours if it means reminiscing the awesome kisses he gave you.

He certainly has no problem grinning to himself and feeling full just thinking about how your hands grabbed his with tenderness.

“You look stupid.” Jackson concludes with a shrug as Bambam comes back with huge shopping bags and greets a dreamy Yugyeom.

“It’s okay.” Yugyeom doesn’t mind being teased. He isn’t even sure he is aware of his surroundings anymore. His feet are floating, taking his body wherever the hell it has to go and following his friends.

It’s been one day and he is still not over the fact that he is dating his precious noona.

He will never have enough of your cute tone over the phone. He loves your shy reactions and embarrassment whenever he becomes cheesy and sweet.

Goodnight, Gyeomie.

He starts laughing whenever he thinks about the way you call him.

“Here he goes again…” Bambam sighs as he puts the heavy bags into Jackson’s car. His friend merely pats him on the back before whispering about weird kids.

Bambam observes him one last time and laughs when Yugyeom whines cutely in front of his phone.
 “She’s so cute. She’s too cute I don’t think I’ll survive. She’ll be the end of me!” Yugyeom wails again, his long body colliding with the car seat.

“STOP IT!” Both his friends warn him but he barely listens.

He is on cloud nine.

--

The grocery shop is empty tonight. A huge storm is threatening the whole city, worrying its people and resulting in them staying in for the whole day. You had no trouble coming to work, which is fine but as you’re staring at the wall, you’re wondering if time is going to pass as slowly as it does, now.

The door opens, turning your attention from your book and the reminder of your sentimental status enters, smiley and careful.

You don’t know how to act. Yugyeom is blooming, teeth showing because his smile is huge. He walks toward you and stops himself before he can lean for a kiss. He knows too much about you to act carelessly. Knowing you, you will probably tell him to be discreet. 
How can he? He wants to talk to everyone and tell them he is dating the perfect girl waiting behind the cash-register and who looks like she wants to murder everyone.

Yugyeom takes his jacket off and waves at you, his cheeks turning pink. “Hi, noona.”

You nod, looking around the shop to make sure that the customer who just came in behind Yugyeom won’t see it. “Hey, Yugyeom.”

Yugyeom stills, his smiles dying at the mention of his full name. You seem distant, cold even, but maybe you’re just shy? He lets it go for now, not eager to feel depressed when he should enjoy your presence.

“Excuse me?” The customer asks as he peeks from behind the aisle. You simply raise your head at Yugyeom when you don’t see him move.

Is he going to stare at you all day? Gosh, it’s so embarrassing.

“Can you please go and see what he needs?” You ask, your tone harsher than intended and if you didn’t go back to reading your book, you wouldn’t have missed the pure look of hurt painting Yugyeom’s face.

He walks away, silent.

You hear him speak but he sounds dejected. It’s not like you can do anything about it. You don’t want to be this way but it’s out of your reach. Yugyeom makes you go soft and if you don’t mind being mushy on the phone, reality is harder and turns you into that bitch Yugyeom doesn’t deserve.

When the customer arrives, Yugyeom strolls to the storage room and decides to ignore you. You don’t know what to do so you let him be. It’s a pity, you both should enjoy the feeling of being together but because of you everything is ruined.


After two hours of ignoring each other and him doing his best to hide into the storage room to apparently sort it out, you start freaking out. What if Yugyeom breaks up with you? What if he understands that you’re a bitch and will probably hurt him even more if he stays around you?

He was so sweet the day before with his flower and oh god, the way he kissed you back, how gentle he was.

You want to slap yourself so hard when you come back to your sense. You thank the last customer before she goes away and decide to go and see him.

Knowing Yugyeom, he must feel so sad about the situation.

You enter the storage you and he stops as soon as he sees you, arms full of tiny boxes. “Do you need something?” He asks, expectant and worried for what might probably come.


What if you break up with him? What if you realised he will never be good enough for you and change your mind? He should have known; it was too good to be-

“I’m sorry.” You say calmly. “I’m sorry for acting weird and being cold. I just…it’s new to me, you know? I don’t know how to act; I feel like I don’t know how to be a good girlfriend so I push you away before I can embarrass myself some more.” You rub your face tiredly, mad at yourself for being the reason behind Yugyeom’s pouty face.

The latter says nothing and simply puts the boxes down on the floor, sighing.

He gets up and stares at you, his arms crossed over his chest and you understand he is mad at you.

But he isn’t and it takes a second for him to reach for you and wrap his arms around your frustrated form.

“Don’t think about it too much, Noona. If anything bothers you, just tell me.” He leans and hides in the crook of your neck, his breath tickling the sensitive skin. “I can understand. I’m young but I’m not stupid.” He jokes because he feels relieved and doesn’t want you to feel too bad about the situation.

“I don’t think you’re stupid, Gyeomie.” You sigh, as guilty as ever. He is still beating himself when you’re the one at fault.

Yugyeom squeals and parts from you just enough to see your face. “God, it’s even better when you say it to my face.” He leans before you can even answer and kisses you.

It feels good. Yugyeom is the same gentle person, careful and caring as his long fingers cup you chin to deepen the kiss. You let him, your own hands grabbing his shirt to keep your balance as your knees go weak. He even hums into the kiss when his tongue shyly meets yours, not afraid to let you know how much he enjoys it.

His lips leave yours when he finds himself too overwhelmed and his fingers end in your hair, threading the locks in adoration. His eyes look at you with all the love they can hold and he smiles. “I have to practice later; do you want to come and watch me dance?”

You nod, eyes still closed but fluttering open when you hear him chuckle cutely.

The grocery shop’s door opens before he can kiss you again so he merely brushes his nose against yours affectionately before walking back into the shop.

You take a deep breath and try to focus on your breathing because your heart is melting.

--

You ignore Naya’s messages when you sit into the dance studio. She is teasing you non-stop, sending numerous times “you’re so whipped” along with a ton of emojis and you’re sure you’ll kill her next time you’ll see her annoying smiley face. Yugyeom went to change and you’re not sure you’re ready to see him dance but the place is empty and the atmosphere is so cosy. It feels like some really professional studio where talented crews come up with great choreographies.

Yugyeom arrives rapidly, his clothes drastically different and skin out in the open. He looks rather embarrassed for his face has never been so red and goes to the speaker to connect his phone, starting the upbeat music.

“Just tell me if you get bored, okay?” He says from where he stands in the middle of the room and you nod, legs crossed and eyes wide open.

What you see goes beyond your expectations. It takes a while but as soon as he starts moving, you see it, peeking from behind the floating top he is wearing.

Yugyeom has tattoos?

They seem to be everywhere, on his ribs, on his shoulders, they come and go with every move but aren’t enough to make you forget about the way Yugyeom dances. He seems to be a totally different person, from the way his jaw clenches to how passionate his eyes are. His legs look even longer with every step he takes, his pace following the beat perfectly and matching the music heavenly.


Suddenly, he looks like a man.

This duality amazes you. Earlier he looked like a lost boy in the middle of a crowd and now he seems in control of everything and uncaring of his surroundings. He doesn’t even mind thrusting his hips in the air and even looks at you from time to time, smirking and looking more sensual than cute.

When the music stops, he makes it start all over again and does a whole different choreography, as amazing as the first one yet even more perfect.

You don’t move, captivated and patient, like you’re in front of a mysterious movie. You could watch him for hours you decide, it’s so controlled and perfect.

He is breathless when he is done, but still glances at you to wait for your reaction. You can only clap, your hands now the only sound in the room and Yugyeom blushes again, his dark mode now off and baby boy side back.

“You’re a great dancer. I didn’t know you were…this good.” You muse, eyes shining and looking impressed.

Yugyeom merely shrugs. “Something’s off with that music. I’m supposed to do an improvisation but I’m struggling.” He smiles, grabbing the towel next to you and sitting.

You hum, nodding slowly. You don’t know much about dancing but it doesn’t look like he is struggling at all. “You’re doing amazing, in my opinion. I don’t know much about it but I loved it.” You lean to rest your head over his shoulder but he moves away, whining.

“I’m too sweaty, noona.”

You sigh. “It’s fine, Gyeomie.”

The later smiles sweetly at you. “You’re saying this to get more kisses, aren’t you? You’ve said it around twenty times already. I’m too weak for this, noona.” He leans and stops before his lips can touch yours.

“But you like it, right?” you mumble, looking at him. “Also, you said you wanted to keep on calling me noona.”

“I like calling you noona. You’re my noona, noona.” Yugyeom teases, biting his lip.

“It does sound like a kink.”

He hums. “For who? You or me? You look like you enjoy it, though.”

You smile, reaching up to get a kiss. “I do, I really do.”

The atmosphere is different. It went from being icy to being warm and you have to admit you prefer it that way. You don’t know what the future will be, but you do know that you want him to keep smiling for you.

You sit properly when you’re done kissing him and you finally remember something you’ve been waiting to ask. “So, you have tattoos?”

Yugyeom’s face instantly change, his features turning a soft shade of pink and his hand aiming for his cheek, grabbing the burning skin. “Yes, I-” he looks down, suddenly too self-conscious about his revealing tank top. “I always wear these when I practice, I forget I have those-” He stammers, obviously disturbed, “I hope you don’t mind…?”

You chuckle when you find his expectant gaze. He is too cute to be true. He must probably be thinking that you’re about to break up with him, again. “It’s fine, I like them. How many do you have? I can just see some parts peeking.” You look down and tilt your head, not daring enough to pull on the fabric to reveal what seems to be a flower on his ribcage.

Yugyeom gulps, not expecting to be showing his body after barely a day of relationship. “Ah, well, if you want to see…” He raises on both knees and starts showing you the said flower. “This one is a dandelion.” He pulls on the other side of his tank top to reveal a single sentence. “I also have this one.” He offers his shoulders and then stop, blinking cutely at you.

His hesitation surprises you. “What’s wrong?”

He smiles, the tip of his ears turning as red as tomatoes. “Well, the last one is on my back, I don’t think I should…remove...” his arms fly in the air, mimicking weird moves.

You understand right away and opt for a bit of teasing to relax Yugyeom. “You looked less embarrassed earlier with your hip moves.”

He laughs, head jerking back and acknowledging your remark. “Anyways! These are all I have. Do you have tattoos, noona?”

You shake your head, body now resting against the wall as Yugyeom goes back to a sitting position. He scares you when he claps his hands.

“Let’s take a selfie!” He takes his phone out of his pocket and raises an arm toward you. “I want to have a picture with you, noona.”

“I’m not photogenic.” You make a face but approach him nonetheless.

Yugyeom hushes you and proceeds to take a thousand pictures.

--

The rest of the night goes by as fast as it started. You grab something to eat on your way out – Yugyeom doesn’t seem to let you go back home – and walk around for a while. It’s peaceful yet stressing, because you have to get used to the overly touchy Yugyeom and his constant need to show you how close he wants to be. He always has a hand around your shoulder and oh god does he have to keep on touching your nape with his way too long fingers?

You like it, you like it to the point of hating it. Nothing about Yugyeom makes you find a reason to refuse his kindness. Not even the cute smiles he offers, not even his gentleman side. You accept everything and it makes your brain cells battle for dominance over which one is going to win the fight of resistance. 
One side is obviously drowning into his kindness while the other one freaks out, frightened by the idea of committing to such a great human being.

Naturally, it makes you act like you have two personalities, one giggling when Yugyeom steals a kiss between two trees and another one not reacting when he does cute gesture to make you laugh.

Yugyeom looks puzzled but doesn’t ask. You notice he fears your reactions every time he does something.

And it’s true. Yugyeom is freaking out.

He doesn’t know if it must do with the fact that your relationship is new, or if you’re going to go back on full cold mood any second.

He leaves it at that when he finds himself in front of your doorstep. You barely kiss him before going inside. It’s the end of a roller coaster he isn’t sure he can keep on riding and despite his incredibly great mood earlier that day, he isn’t sure he feels as delighted as he used to.

--

“She’s scared.”

Jinyoung doesn’t know why he has to deal with a sulky Yugyeom in the middle of his bookstore. The young boy arrived earlier than expected with a sad face and won’t stop whining right onto his face.

“I don’t think she wants to be with me. Sometimes she does look truly happy, but then something happens in her head and she turns cold.” Yugyeom’s body is limp on his friend’s counter, who is currently typing stuff on his computer, focused.

Jinyoung sighs after a while, crossing his arms over his chest. “Tell her. I don’t know what else to say and you will probably never believe anything I try to explain to you.”

Yugyeom scoffs, barely raising his head. “So what do I do? I lost ten years of my life to confess only, what more do I need to do? Can’t we just be happy and romantic and cute?”

“You’re not 10 anymore. If you want your noona you’ll have to fight for it.” Jinyoung laughs, “Kim Yugyeom is discovering life, how interesting.”

“Please, I wanted to see her tonight because it’s her day off and she told me she was busy. What kind of busy? I’m her boyfriend. Well, it doesn’t even feel like I’m her boyfriend. Every time I feel like she is back on normal mode she does that shit again and it’s only been two days.” Yugyeom is frustrated. If he had to explain the situation, he would say it’s way too complicated. He knows nothing about dealing with his own feelings, especially this strong. If on top of that he must deal with a conflicted significant other, he might as well give up.

“I’m telling you,” Jinyoung points a finger to his friend’s forehead and pushes Yugyeom’s head away from his expensive wooden counter. “Talk to her.”

The latter nods, fingers tapping the furniture one last time before getting up. “Are you done yet? I need a drink.”

Jinyoung rolls his eyes. “You’re so dramatic.”

Yugyeom feels burdened. He has no experience when it comes to complex relationships and has no clue about how to deal with such weird dynamics. He only knows about living without worrying about the future so of course he can’t deal with you.


He can’t understand what more he can do, but he also doesn’t know why you agreed on dating him.

Maybe you pitied him. Maybe you didn’t want to hurt him?

The bar is crowded but Yugyeom barely pays attention. He sits and avoids Jinyoung’s remarks like his friend isn’t even there. His mind is clouded by doubt; from the very first thing he should say to you next time he sees you to the possible outcome.

He looks around, barely thanking Jackson when he offers him a fresh beer.

“I don’t think she doesn’t want to be with you. She probably has a hard time accepting? I agree with Jinyoung, get that talk. It’s the only way to know and reassure her if needed.” Jackson announces when Yugyeom stays quiet. He looks back at his friends and agrees, grabbing his beer and drinking softly.

“It hurts to say this but,” Jinyoung leans on the table, “Jackson is right.”

Jackson rolls his eyes dramatically, puffing. “I, too, can be a smart-ass.”

Yugyeom smiles at the two, turning around when a group of people start singing way too loudly.

“Just enjoy for tonight, you’ll think about it-” Jackson pats his friend but slows his pace when he sees the way Yugyeom’s face turns shocked.

Jinyoung glances at the two, “What’s wrong?”

Yugyeom tilts his head, brows furrowed as he scoffs, bitter.

“She’s here.”

“What?” Jinyoung raises from his chair to get a better view and Jackson starts looking around the room, clapping his hands.

“Great, finish your drink and go talk to her!”

Yugyeom softly shakes his head, his eyes turning too dark to be considering any sort of normal discussion.

He doesn’t get it.

Why the hell are you sitting and laughing with another guy?

“I don’t think she wants to see me, right now.”

[bbyunc]

yugyeom soft hours || a thread.

[sprinklesofktrash]

[8:12 pm] You we’re walking through the street when you spot someone familiar, they were getting beaten up. You squint your eyes to see clearer and it hit you.

You ran up to the group of big people and stop them. You were scared to hit so you close your eyes. “Stop!” You yelled, holding the male behind you.

“Y/n what are you doing?!” Yugyeom asks. You turn around to face him, his lips were torn open and blood was running down. His eyebrow were also bleeding and his cheeks had bruises on it.

“Saving your ass!” You told him.

“Wow! This small girl is saving you? Wow so cute!” The guy tank your hair and push you to the side. You scream in pain.

“DON’T TOUCH HER!” Yugyeom yelled as he stood up and throw couple of punches. There’s three of them while there’s only one of them. Eventually, all of them beat him up, leaving him on the ground.

“Yugyeom!” You cry out. You ran next to him and clutch him in your arms.

“Are you okay?” He asks, cupping your face with his bloody hands. You nodded. He wipe the tears of your face.

“I told you not to steal anything or borrow any money!” You told him as tears stream down your face” Yugyeom cry out in pain. You pick him up and took him to your apartment.

“I love you so much, I can’t lose you too!” You told him as you struggle to get up the stairs.

“I love you more” He said, clutching his ribs.

[sxfterhearts]

healed

31. [12:19 pm]

➳ pairing: yugyeom x reader

➳ genre/warnings: slow burn, fluff, slight bad boy!yugyeom, triggers; mentions of past violence, injuries, physical abuse

➳ word count: 2,725 words

➳ summary: 31. “Don’t worry about me,”

➳ author's note: this is it, the final part of this series! i hope it doesn’t let you down 😭😭 i’d love to hear your thoughts on this series, what you liked/didn’t like, and whether you’d like future drabbles in this universe!! (i’m tempted, tbh) that’s all from me, please please enjoy, lovely readers 🥰 (credits to @jinyoungot7​ for this wonderful gif that kills me everytime)

wounded // scarred // healed

A deep inhale made you giddy with joy. The familiar, sweet scent of this morning’s light drizzle lingered in the air. Although the weather was a bit too humid for your liking, you gratefully savoured the smell that filled your lungs. For some reason, being outside in the aftermath of a downpour always brought you back to that wooden counter of your parents’ restaurant. You used to watch the rain blanket the outside world from the inside as you soaked and drowned yourself in your daydreams. You were a foolish teenager back then, uncertain of the paths you would take and anxious of the future. Getting your heart broken by the one and only Kim Yugyeom was just the icing on the cake.

It was fair to say that a lot had changed since then. In the span of three years, you graduated high school, moved out of that tiny neighbourhood in Namyangju, rented a small studio apartment in Seoul and became a proud Veterinary Science student of Seoul National University.

Yet, you couldn’t help but to admit that while you had progressed into the next chapter of your life, some things will always remain the same. Like how your best friend, Yeeun, never missed out on an opportunity to lecture you over the phone from the comforts of her Busan home. You lifted the device away from your ears to save them from further damage, just as the leash of the cream Pomeranian in your care, Daisy, tugged you forwards, towards a passing bicycle. You urged the dog away from the edge of the sidewalk with a solid ‘No’, which she thankfully obeyed.

“I can’t believe that you’re not doing anything special the week before uni reopens! I mean, hello, we’re going to be spending the next twelve weeks slaving away at our desks, don’t you want to do something fun?” Yeeun shrieked in disbelief. You could imagine her shaking her head at you with that resigned look on her face, the one that signalled she had already given up trying to change your mind.

“Here, girl.” You whispered as softly as you could, trying to grab Daisy’s attention and guide her back to the adoption centre-cum-café, her temporary home. “This is fun and special, Eun. You of all people should know just how special it is to help out these cute furry little babies!”

“More like furry little rascals.” She muttered under her breath. “Come on, Y/N. I get that you’re really passionate about animals and all but just think about it – you’ll be facing these creatures for the rest of your life. You should really try something new once in a while. You know, go drinking or clubbing like a normal uni student. Besides, didn’t you just visit the centre last month for your birthday?”

She was right. You did make the one-hour trip to the adoption café on the morning of your birthday. Ever since that birthday three years ago, you always made it a point to celebrate by being in the presence of a furry companion. Taking care of another living creature, going on walks with them and picking up after them helped you to take your mind off that painful sixteenth birthday when you found out he was leaving. It became your annual ritual.

You cleared your throat, trying to get rid of the small lump triggered by those memories. “Yeah, yeah I did. I… Did I tell you about the dog that I took care of that day?”

Yeeun took a large bite of her favourite takeaway noodles before letting out a muffled “No, what about it?”

“He was… Well, he was a tiny black Pomeranian puppy, not more than four months old. He was cheerful and energetic, couldn’t wait to go on his walk.” You smiled sadly at the thought.

“Yeah…? And?”

“He reminded me so much of Charcoal. You know, the black puppy from your mum’s shelter? I walked Charcoal with him three years ago.”

“Oh, him.” Yeeun grumbled at the mention of Yugyeom.

You ignored the obvious disapproval in her tone. “Yeah, the thing is I really, really, really liked this puppy, and I was even thinking about adopting him for good. I got everything set up in my place, got the pee mats, the dog food, everything, but I came in this morning and he was gone.”

Yeeun hummed over the phone. “I’m sorry, honey. Maybe you and the puppy just weren’t meant to be.” She said, trying her best to comfort you about the adoption that fell through. “Do you still think of him? Kim Yugyeom?” Yeeun asked gently.

You sighed, catching a brief glimpse of your reflection on the windows of a cold noodle restaurant a few doors down from the adoption centre. To this day, you couldn’t enjoy a bowl of naengmyeon without your mind wandering to the boy. “Not often. Honestly, Eun, every time I think I’ve forgotten him, I’ll see something that reminds me of him and he’ll just creep back into my head.”

“You know what they always say, darling. You never really forget your first love.”

You mulled over her words as you rounded the corner towards the adoption centre, Daisy trotting a few paces in front of you. “I wouldn’t call it love, per se, it’s just-”

“Wait, hold that thought,” She interrupted. “I’m sorry honey, the boyfriend is at the door. Do you mind if we continue this later?”

“Yeah, sure, I need to go too.” You stood at the entrance of the centre, reluctant to go in and part ways with Daisy. The dog came to a rest by your feet, huddling close. “Thanks for calling and reminding me of my poor life choices!” You said, full of sarcasm.

“Hey, that’s my duty as your best friend, don’t mention it.” She chuckled. “Oh, and Y/N?”

“Yeah?”

“Remember what I said. Go live a little, okay? You’ve already wasted too much time on Kim Yugyeom.”

“Yeah, I will.” You mumbled, agreeing with her words. “Go enjoy yourself with the boyfriend. Not too much though, and spare me the details. Talk next time!”

The two of you bid each other farewell and ended the call. Miraculously, talking to Yeeun made your chest a little lighter. Amongst countless other things, she had been there for you during Yugyeom’s abrupt departure and the initial stages of denial. She helped you draft, edit, and re-edit the numerous emails you sent to the boy, the only form of communication between you two for the first six months. She hugged you close and let you sulk on her shoulder when the emails suddenly stopped seven months after he left for Incheon. You were beyond grateful to have her as a voice of reason amongst your irrational thoughts; someone to walk with you hand in hand through the storms of life.

You made a mental note to ask your mother to send Yeeun a parcel of her prized kimchi as part of next month’s delivery. The girl never failed to mention how much she missed your parent’s cooking whenever the two of you talked on the phone.

All of a sudden, a high-pitched bark travelled across the street. You instinctively tightened your hold on Daisy’s leash, wary of the arrival of another canine. Cautiously, you watched as a four-legged, black ball of fur whizzed past the empty street, arriving before you and Daisy in a matter of seconds. As the dog grew closer and closer, recognition flashed across your mind as you noticed the dog’s distinctive white collar, a stark contrast to his coal black fur. The dog you intended to adopt this morning was wagging his tail and panting by your feet, letting out occasional playful barks at Daisy, his former neighbour. You bent down, arm reaching out to get a feel for his oh-so-soft fur–

“Dal!” A male voice, bright and awfully familiar, exclaimed between heavy breaths. “Dal, slow down, big boy! Daddy can’t…” The voice died down a notch, reducing to a whisper as its owner’s feet entered your line of sight. His entire body shaded your crouched figure from the afternoon sunshine that peeked through the clouds. “Catch up.”

A moment of silence ensued as your eyes panned upwards, scanning a pair of long legs covered in ripped jeans, then a yellow plaid shirt that was haphazardly tucked in, right up to the owner’s face. You couldn’t help the sharp gasp leaving your lips. 

Standing before you was none other than Kim Yugyeom himself. His features were more defined than ever, his wavy hair a silvery shade of platinum blonde and his ears adorned with a pair of silver hoop earrings. A single stainless-steel drop earring dangled from his earlobe, its bottom decorated with a half-crescent moon and a star. You stood there and stared at the boy you once knew, now a fine young man, just taking him in. You noticed the lack of cuts and scars on his unblemished, fully healed face. You spotted the beauty mark right under his right eye, standing out against his fair skin. You watched, mesmerised, as his lips twitched to form a slightly sheepish grin, while the tips of his ears burned and glowed into a striking shade of cherry red. Yugyeom’s eyes widened in mild surprise, his gaze lingering on your face for a few stretched out seconds before wandering away, then returning back.          

Him… It’s him… He’s here, in Seoul? But I thought he was supposed to be in Incheon, with Mark. What is he doing here? And how did he…? Your never-ending stream of thoughts swirled inside your head at an alarming rate, and you felt the onset of a splitting headache crawl up your temples.

“There you are, Y/N.” Yugyeom said finally, releasing a satisfied sigh and an airy laugh. He didn’t seem nearly half as surprised as you felt under these unlikely circumstances. In fact, you thought that the expression he wore on his face morphed into one of relief instead. “After so long, I finally found you.” He bent down to scoop the black puppy into his arms, leaving you utterly stunned. Before your mind could process the meaning behind his words, however, he suggested, “Let’s talk inside,”, gesturing towards the entrance of the adoption café. 

You gave him a meek nod, not daring to let out a sound on the off chance that you would stumble over your words and make a fool out of yourself. With the manners of a gentleman, Yugyeom held the door open for you and waited patiently as you ushered an excited Daisy into the café filled with her furry friends. He took confident, quick strides towards the barista standing behind the counter, much like the first time he had walked into your parents’ restaurant. The way he carried himself, with an air of calm coolness, had not changed at all. You followed closely behind, struggling to keep up with his bigger steps.

“Hello, noona.” He greeted the lady, friendly and warm. “Can I please get an Iced Choco and…?” Yugyeom turned to you expectantly.

“Uh…” You started, soft and uncertain. “A peach iced tea, please.”

“No longer a coffee addict, huh?” He teased, unable to contain his toothy smile. Yugyeom retrieved his wallet from his back pocket and held out his card to pay. It was then that you noticed, quite belatedly, the yellow Rilakuma plaster wrapped tightly around his left index finger.

Your mind began to race. You were unbelievably happy that even after three years, he still stuck to the same brand of bandages, but at the same time, fear and anxiety gnawed and scratched against your chest. All this time, was it still happening? You wondered silently. Surely… “What’s… What’s with your,” You gestured vaguely towards his appendages. “Your finger?” You squeaked.

“Ah,” Yugyeom glanced briefly towards the yellow plaster, paying it little to no mind. “Come, sit down first, okay?”

“No,” You replied with a firm tone that you rarely used. You were a little taken aback yourself. “I’ve spent the past three years worried sick about you. Don’t you at least owe me an explanation about your most recent injury?”

Yugyeom sensed your insistence and determination, knowing that there really was no use trying to convince you otherwise. “It’s nothing to worry about, Y/N, trust me, I’ll show-”

“I’ll be the judge of that. Let me see.”

“Look, it’s just a small cut, okay?” You raised an eyebrow at his description. From memory, his definition of a small cut was miles apart from yours. He took a step closer, hoping to persuade you. “Here,” Yugyeom peeled away the sticky fabric with little difficulty, revealing a thin slit that already closed up. “See? It’s tiny. I was cooking the other day and the knife just sort of slipped and nicked my finger. I told you, don’t worry about me.”

Still, you were unwilling to let him off the hook so easily. “Kim Yugyeom? Cooking? Are you sure that’s safe?”

“Perhaps not the safest…” He admitted with an embarrassed rub of his neck, leading you towards an empty table by the windows. “I just really, really missed your mother’s food. Her naengmyeon especially. I’ve tasted every single naengmyeon in Incheon and Seoul and honestly, nothing comes close. I even tried to cook it myself but, well… You can guess how that turned out.”

“What made you think that your naengmyeon could be better than a restaurant’s?” You questioned jokingly, earning yourself a faked wince of pain from Yugyeom as he clutched the right side of his chest, the wrong side.

After that, it was like the words couldn’t stop flowing out of your mouths. He told you about how he caught a glimpse of your adoption papers during his interview for Dalkyum, the black puppy, and recognised your photo. He confessed that he was initially drawn to Dalkyum due to his sheer resemblance to Charcoal, to which you agreed wholeheartedly. He moved to Seoul late last year to study Fine Arts at the Korea National University of Arts, and you revealed that you were studying to become a vet. He explained how half a year after moving to Incheon, Mark had accidentally downloaded a virus onto their shared laptop while gaming, rendering it broken beyond repair. He didn’t write down your email address and thanks to his goldfish memory, he forgot the entire string of letters once Mark found a replacement.

It seemed like the more you talked to Yugyeom, the more you felt the icy shards of pain and sorrow around your heart melt away. Although, that could probably be because he was looking at you with the brightest of expressions, his mouth permanently fixed into a wide, million-watt smile.

“What do you think? Shall we start over?” You asked after a lull in the conversation, taking a sip of the soothing, saccharine liquid.

“No, I’d rather we pick up where we left off, but with a proper introduction.” He extended his arm for you to shake, which you did with a light scoff and an upturn of your lips. “Hello, my name is Kim, Yu, Gyeom. Kim for gold, Yu, which means to have, and Gyeom, as in humble or modest. It’s nice to meet you again, Y/N. You look beautiful today, as always. Did you know that? I can’t stop myself from being drawn to you, but I guess some things never change.”

“I… What…?” You sputtered hopelessly, reigniting the butterflies in your stomach. “Yugyeom, I’m literally in an old t-shirt and baggy shorts.”

“Doesn’t matter to me, Y/N.”

//

“There’s another thing that never changed, which unfortunately was also out of my control.”

“Oh no, what else, Kim?”

“I’m sorry to tell you this so late, Y/N, but sadly, you were and are my first love. And you see, the thing about first loves is that no matter how hard you try, you simply can’t-”

“Forget them.”

“Exactly. Trust me, I tried.”

“Yeah, I tried too, so hard. I guess you weren’t meant to be forgotten. Or I guess we weren’t meant to forget each other.”

“First loves stick with you like a scar that can never be fully healed.”

“Wow, look at you, Kim! I’m impressed, you’ve become so poetic.”

“From now on, I’ll only write poems for you.”

[sxfterhearts]

26. [9:10 pm]

➳ pairing: yugyeom x reader

➳ genre/warnings: fluff, established relationship!au

➳ word count: 1,224 words

➳ summary: 26. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

➳ author's note: written for the lovely @wonhony ​( ＾◡＾)っ ♡ i hope this meets your expectations omg >//< also everyone please feel free to leave me any feedback, comments or requests!! my inbox and pms are always open! (i am forever grateful to those of you who gave me feedback, brb while i drown in happy tears)

//

Surrounded by a cascade of hot water and its accompanying mist, Yugyeom's signature strawberry body wash formed a lather against your wet skin. You inhaled deeply, basking in the sugary sweet scent. You finally understood why this was your boyfriend's favourite. The body wash took you right back to the winters you spent strawberry-picking as a child.

Reaching towards the shower caddy, you picked up the golden tub that Yugyeom mentioned earlier when he handed you a fluffy towel and a clean change of clothes – his clothes. It was a hair mask, one that you saw in review or haul videos of beauty YouTubers. He said he bought it on a whim when he witnessed Jackson purchasing three tubs for his girlfriend at the famous discount store, Don Quijote.

It was a little over twenty-four hours since your boyfriend returned from his business trip in Japan. His entertainment agency had sent their composers and lyricists, Yugyeom and Jackson included, to a week-long songwriting workshop in Tokyo. It was the longest you had gone without seeing Yugyeom. The trip made you realise just how lucky the two of you were – you worked in the exact same company as a vocal instructor, with your classroom just two floors above his studio. Even if you didn’t bump into each other in the elevator or the cafeteria, you would at least greet each other every morning on the bus on the way to work. After being within arm’s reach for the entirety of your three-month long relationship, one week; seven days; one hundred and sixty-eight hours; ten thousand and eighty minutes, felt like an entire lifetime.

Which is exactly why Yugyeom planned a comprehensive date night after he debriefed and caught up on some sleep. He arrived at your doorstep at six o’clock sharp, looking devastatingly handsome in his favourite red plaid shirt and black skinny jeans, a bright, vibrant bouquet of white and yellow flowers in his hands. You allowed an excited Yugyeom to lead you to the pavilion at the peak of Eungbongsan. It was a breezy thirty-minute walk that rewarded you with magnificent views of the Han River, Seoul Forest, and the entire Seoul skyline. As the two of you sat side by side, shoulder to shoulder, you watched the sky transition from light to dark with mesmerised eyes. Munching on the bacon and egg sandwiches Yugyeom prepared, the two of you rejoiced in each other’s company while soaking in the glittery golden shine of the setting sun.

It was perfect, really. Neither of you wanted the night to end.

Hence why you were currently applying the hair mask onto your hair in the bathroom of Yugyeom’s studio apartment. On the train home, he suggested that, if you felt comfortable with it, you could stay at his place for the night.

You were never a spontaneous person. In fact, you leaned more towards the category of a control freak, always preferring to plan your day out to a tee. Being with Yugyeom, however, meant that you had to break your strategist tendencies and adapt to his carefree, go-with-the-flow personality.

You never spent a night together before. Months ago, you would flat out refuse his offer. But right now, you were way too eager to spend every waking hour with the man you missed so much. Despite a tingling nervousness blossoming in your chest, you agreed.

Humming to yourself, you rinsed away the remnants of the silky liquid from your hair. You felt the earlier nervousness give way to anticipation and excitement as you dried yourself with the soft towel. You were stuck with Yugyeom for another twelve whole hours, until you had to leave to teach a morning class. You giggled at the thought of sharing a bed with him as you pulled on a pair of his old, smaller boxers. His t-shirt ended right above your knees, making it look as though you weren’t wearing anything underneath. Would he snore? Or steal the blanket away from your shivering body? Perhaps you would end up spooning, with him as the big spoon. Maybe he would move around so much in his sleep that you would get pushed-

“Baby!" Yugyeom’s voice rang out just as you stepped out of the bathroom, catching you off guard. “Let’s watch To All the Boys I’ve Loved before. The first one though, not the sequel. According to Bambam the sequel is absolute sh-”

He paused midway, his fingers frozen atop the keyboard of his laptop and his mouth agape. Your hands stopped the furious blotting and squeezing of your hair.

“W-why…” Yugyeom gestured vaguely at your outfit, his eyes raking up and down your figure repeatedly. “You… You’re not wearing any pants?” His sentence ended in a squeak, his cheeks flushing and ears heating up at the sight of your exposed legs.

You hastily waved your arms in disagreement. “No! No, I am, it’s just… Well, your shirt is really long. I’m wearing your boxers, the shirt is just covering it.”

“Oh.” Yugyeom released a short sigh of relief. “I thought you were like naked, wait no, that sounds wrong.” He ran a hand through his light grey locks, embarrassed. “Shit, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I was just, uh, never mind. I’ll be outside if you need me, um, need, anything. Yeah.” He promptly closed the door, leaving you standing there, stunned.

You tried to remain calm once you cleared the bathroom of your dirty clothes and made your way towards the living room. “Babe, can I borrow a-”

“A sanitary pad? Moisturiser? Body lotion?” Yugyeom sprang to his feet at the sound of your voice, anticipating your needs before they even left your mouth.

“You bought sanitary pads?” You wondered, cocking an eyebrow towards your boyfriend. “You planned this, didn’t you? You anticipated, no, you wanted me to sleepover.”

He grinned sheepishly while rubbing the back of his neck. “Guilty as charged, I guess.”

“Right…” Unable to hold yourself back, you closed the distance between the two of you and pinched his cheeks affectionately. “You’re so sneaky, Kim Yugyeom.” Yet, his thoughtfulness got you feeling all kinds of happy, prompting you to meet his lips in a soft peck. “But no, I was just wondering whether I could borrow your hairdryer.”

Soothing was the only word to describe how you felt as the two of you sat on his bed, his fingers detangling the damp strands of your hair while blowing hot air all over. The gentle grazes of his skin on yours, the steady whir of the hairdryer and the accidental blasts of hot air to your face gifted you with a sense of belonging, as though spending nights like this with Yugyeom was just right.

//

You barely stirred when he switched off his laptop as the ending credits of the movie rolled, having already fallen into a slumber halfway through. Amidst your sleepy haze, your mind registered him repositioning you into the little spoon, your back resting against his chest while his strong arms held you close. 

Yugyeom pressed his warm lips against your exposed neck to wish you good night. You mumbled incoherently in return, snuggling closer to the warmth and comfort of his body. Just like that, resting securely in Yugyeom's embrace, you drifted away to Dreamland.