◇ Leo ( she/her )
◇ 23
◇ INFJ-T ( "Advocates are quiet visionaries, often serving as inspiring and tireless idealists." )
◇ Dongheon biased...
◇ Verivery stan since 2022 and counting
◇ Can also be found on twt ( @.palatial_mind ) :]
◇ Certified yapper !! Would love to chat about anything vrvr related ♡
Summary || Set in the VRVR universe, where you have been kidnapped by a man who looks eerily similar to your boyfriend...
Warnings || 16+ for kidnapping, minor language
Word Count || 1.8k
The dream you were having was wonderful and simple. You were with Dongheon, arms wrapped around each other as the two of you quietly swayed, enjoying a moment of peace. Alas, it was only a dream, and when you opened your eyes, you were met with the complete opposite.
The warmth of your blankets were gone, instead replaced with the chill of an unknown room. You slowly sat up from the red velvet couch - you don’t remember Dongheon or any of his friends owning such a piece of furniture. Looking around, none of this seemed familiar. It appeared to be some sort of garage or warehouse. There was a long dining table in the middle; the food and decor in disarray. Behind it was a wall of screens. Most of them were turned off or only displaying static, but one showed a brown room with 7 beds, and another monitored a circular table with 7 chairs.
Caught up in all the details, you nearly failed to observe the most crucial one – you were handcuffed. A chain was attached to the cuffs and bound to the leg of the chair. You shook your head as the adrenaline was finally kicking in. You were more so panicking because you couldn’t remember how you got here. Last thing you remember was falling asleep texting Dongheon!
Your head whipped around at the sound of metal screeching. A door opening and closing. You squinted to try and spot the figure in the darkness. The clacking of their heels echoed throughout the room, momentarily breaking through the ringing in your ears. They finally step into the light, and it was–
“Dongheon?” you furrowed your brows. But he looked… different. Dressed up. He wore a dark striped suit jacket with a small brooch pinned to his chest. Silver chains draped along his neck, contrasting from the black turtleneck underneath. Your eyes momentarily fell to the thin belt that snaked around his waist. It proved difficult for you to pull away, but you forced yourself to meet his gaze. Your breath caught in your throat upon realizing how close he had gotten to you, and you could spot the glitter subtly shimmering across his eyes. In conclusion… he looked good.
However, there was a voice in the back of your head, a gut feeling, telling you something was off. This… isn’t Dongheon. It was unlike him to be quiet for so long. But you couldn’t just stare at him all day (well, you could, but-), so you eventually found your voice. “Um… is this like, a new thing we’re trying out, or-?”
He finally chuckled. Yet, it wasn’t a friendly one. “He was right, you are amusing.” The first words to come out of his mouth, and it was rather backhanded. He dragged out a chair from the dining table nearby and took a seat in front of you. One leg rested over the other, and he leaned back as he crossed his arms. You shifted in your seat as his eyes bore into you; you could see the gears turning in his head as he simply observed you. Curiosity twinkled within.
“I don’t like to waste time,” he tilted his head up almost haughtily, “so, let’s get this done before your honey bear realizes you’re missing.”
You blinked feverishly. “Wait, hold on, so you’re not–?”
“Your Dongheon? Ha!” He laughed behind his hand, “No. Absolutely not… Well,” he removed his hand to reveal a chilling grin, “not yet, anyway. Almost there.” He sighed dramatically. “Only need a few more finishing touches. Although…” He rested a hand on his chest, “I’m a bit hurt to know he has never brought me up. After we’ve been through so much together…”
He paused in his rambling upon spotting your expression. “You look confused.” he hummed then leaned towards you from his chair. “Can’t fathom the thought of him withholding secrets from you?” He giggled.
“Wh-What?” You shook your head. “N… No, he wouldn’t! We… We tell each other everything. No matter how weird.” You huffed at him, “Like him having some evil twin. He’d… He’d tell me…” You trailed off, gaze falling as realization sinked in. Why would he hide something like this…? Unless it was for your safety, but even then–
“Oh,” he clicked his tongue, “you have such a pathetic look on your face. It’s almost cute.” He leaned back again. “Let’s make this quick, shall we? Just answer some questions for me, and you’ll be back in your bed full of plushies in no time.”
Heat burst onto your cheeks at his comment. Again, it felt backhanded. You swallowed hard then turned your head away. You felt a sudden shift in the air. “Ohh, he did say you’d be a stubborn one.” You had no chance to react as he swiftly grabbed your face and forced you to look at him. Your heart pounded against your chest. His eyes were nearly identical to Dongheon’s, but this man held a cold gaze, it sent shivers down your spine. “Let’s not play this game, (y/n)... But,” his lips curled into a smile, “I think I like this spark of defiance in you. You have such loyalty to your man…” His smile quickly dropped, “It almost makes me jealous.”
His grip loosened. “Fine. Answer one question for me, and I’ll leave you with a nice parting gift.”
“Taking your kidnapped person home doesn’t count.” You scowled at him. His smile returned. He even let out a short laugh, “No, no, I’ll leave an actual gift. A token of my appreciation for your cooperation.”
“I don’t care about your gifts–”
You were silenced as he waved around your phone. “You care an awful lot about him, don’t you? And you’re toying with forces way outside your control. One phone call to him, and he’ll come running to your rescue.” He then shrugged, “As for him making it out with you, well, that’s up to you.” He finally pulled back to sit on his chair. “I know you’re smarter than you’d like people to believe.”
You rubbed your sore cheeks from where he grabbed you. Damn, he really backed you into a corner. But he was right; you care too much about Dongheon to risk his life, let alone him risking it for your sake. You closed your eyes to take a deep breath and sigh. “Okay. Fine. Whatever.” You opened your eyes to glare at him. “What’s this one question?”
His smile briefly resurfaced at your compliance, only for it to be replaced with an unamused frown, “... Why do you trust him?” He asked. Your brow furrowed. It… honestly was not the type of question you were expecting. Then again, you weren’t sure why he was asking. He seemed to understand your confusion, so he elaborated, “Your Dongheon is so… him. Why in the world would you trust someone like him? Why would anyone?”
You almost felt offended by the question. You couldn’t help but laugh a little. “Really?? The real question is how could you not!” The imposter’s confused look almost made you burst into a fit of giggles, but you held back. You sighed. “I know he might not look like it, but he’s a good person. On the outside, people may see him as totally awkward or a goofball, but he’s hard working and wants the best for everyone.” You shook your head. “He wants to see everyone succeed, and he’s always willing to work around to find solutions.”
You fiddled with your hands. “He understands when to be goofy Dongheon and when to be serious, and it’s hard to hate him, in my opinion. Watching him work, you just can’t help but view him as trustworthy.” You ended your ramble and locked eyes with the imposter again. You… struggled to understand the emotion he was conveying. He was fighting back a scowl; his lips held together tightly in a thin line. Eventually, he parted them to quietly answer, “I see.”
He raised his head to deliver a smile. “Thank you, that was incredibly insightful.” He stood from his chair to walk behind you. “I enjoyed our little chat, if I’m being honest. I suppose I’ll keep you around…”
“Huh?” You whip your head to him, “I thought you said you’d leave us alone!”
His smile remained. “That wasn’t a part of our deal. What, you don’t want to see me again? How hurtful.” A sigh, “And after I went through all this effort for you.” He held his head up smugly, and for a brief second, you were reminded of your Dongheon. This whole ordeal was something you were still struggling to understand, but it appeared as if he wasn’t going to bring harm to you.
At least, not tonight, you hoped.
You were pulled out of your thoughts when he reached to grab your face and gently bring you closer to his own. You shuddered at his cold touch, and you could smell the cologne he wore- Dongheon’s cologne. “You’ll see me soon enough.” He hummed, “Doesn’t matter if it’s in your dreams or your nightmares…” He then chuckled softly, “Just watch, you’ll miss me, and then begin to wonder when you’ll see me again,” His voice lowered, “Just as I will with you.”
You were hardly given a chance to respond, for you suddenly felt your eyes grow heavy, and the world went dark.
Your phone buzzed violently from the nightstand. Your head shot up from the pillows as you squinted in the morning light. All you could do was groan as you groggily reached for your phone. You answered without even checking, “Hello?” you mumbled.
“(y/n)!” Dongheon sighed in relief. “I figured you passed out last night, but then you didn’t answer this morning. I was starting to get worried–”
“Hm?” You slowly sat up. “What time is it…?”
“Definitely not morning… It’s 2 pm.”
“Huh??” You checked the time on your phone. “Damn…” you whispered to yourself then brought the phone back to your ear. “Yeah, sorry, I didn’t realize how tired I was. And then like, I had the weirdest dream–” You paused in your words. Was it a dream?? It certainly felt… real.
“A weird dream, huh? Was I in it?” Dongheon joked.
“... Actually, yeah…” You slowly answered. He became quiet for a moment before letting out an awkward laugh. “Well, if you got enough rest, you okay with me bringing you brunch? We can talk about that weird dream.”
You felt your nerves begin to melt away. “Yeah,” you sighed, “yeah, I’d love that, actually.”
“Well, good, because I’m outside your door. Like, right now. Please open up, it’s hot outside…”
You couldn’t help but laugh at his antics. You quickly hung up and crawled out of bed to go greet him. But you couldn’t get rid of that strange feeling. The dream felt like it was fading away already; the image of Dongheon blurring in your mind. When you stood up, you spotted something glimmering from out of the corner of your eye. You curiously approached it, but your stomach sank as it came into view. With a trembling hand, you raised the exact same broach you saw on the imposter Dongheon in your “dream”.
His voice suddenly replayed in your head, like a ghostly whisper, “You’ll see me soon enough…”
Summary || Set in the VRVR universe, where you have been kidnapped by a man who looks eerily similar to your boyfriend...
Warnings || 16+ for kidnapping, minor language
Word Count || 1.5k
You fought against your heavy eyelids. But there was a voice in your head, murmuring at you to wake up. Actually… the voice was fading in - is it getting louder? Is that even your voice?
“Finally. Took you long enough.”
You attempt to blink the grogginess away, only to be met with a figure crouching in front of you. Your brow furrowed as his features became clearer. “Yeonho…?” You mumbled. It earned you a tiny, amused smile from him. “Am I that convincing?” he asked.
You shake your head. “What’re you talking about…?” You tried to move and found restraints on your arms. Alarms finally rang through your head as you jolted awake. You tugged at the straps. “H…Hey, if this is your idea of a joke, it’s not very funny,“ you frowned at him. Yet that smile hardly swayed. Although there was minimum light, you caught an unfamiliar look in his eyes. Something was off.
The color was not quite right.
“Did you get new contacts or something?” A nervous laugh burst out of you as you asked. You still weren’t sure of what was going on, and cracking jokes was your way of keeping yourself from totally flipping out. You sincerely hoped this was all some elaborate joke, but the voice of reason argued back - Yeonho, nor any of your friends, would go to such lengths. So, what the actual hell was going on??
“Yeonho” continued to silently observe you; his head tilted to the side. “I’m kind of hurt that your Yeonho never mentioned me.” He eventually stood to circle around the chair. You attempted to keep your eyes on him, and you noticed the messy rows of wires littered on the floor. They seemed to be connected to your chair…
Does this lunatic have you hooked up to an electric chair?!
Your heart began to beat against your chest. Once again, you tugged against the restraints, but he strapped you in tightly. “Oh, good,” his voice came from behind, “you finally caught on.” You looked up to spot him resting his arms against the top of the chair.
“Caught on to what?” You spat. “Look, don’t play any mind games with me, you… whatever you are! What do you want?”
He suddenly removed his arms in stunned silence. But he cleared his throat in an attempt to recover himself. “Well, straight to the point, aren’t we?” He circled back around to the front; his smirk was wide as he leaned forward. “I see what he likes about you.”
Your stomach twisted in knots. This felt incredibly wrong; whoever this insane guy was, he captured Yeonho’s face but it’s not… him. And, as far as you know, your Yeonho never mentioned some evil identical twin.
He eventually pulled back then tugged down on his gloves. “Okay, I’ll get straight to the point. Just answer some questions for me, and I’ll let you go. If you refuse…” He pulled out a remote from his pocket, “well, I think you can figure out the rest, right?”
You clenched your fists together so tight, your nails began to prick the skin. It was taking everything within you to not show any form of fear or weaknesses to this guy. “If I answer a question,” you slowly answered, “you have to answer one of mine.”
He raised an amused brow then placed a hand on his hip. “Hmm… deal. Only because I’m liking your spirit.” You fought back rolling your eyes at him.
He grabbed a chair from the darkness then took a seat. “First question!” He started off with seemingly random questions - where does Yeonho frequent, what is his go-to coffee order, and other little details that you didn’t see the importance of. In return, you asked who the hell he was and what his plan was, but he purposefully kept his answers vague. “Ohh, your pompom and I go waaay back,” he eventually added. “Let’s just say, he can never outrun his shadow.”
Your brow furrowed in confusion. “Why the hell are you speaking in riddles?” You thought aloud. Once again, your bluntness caught him off guard. He awkwardly shuffled in his chair. “Moving on,” he rested his arms against his knees as he leaned forward, “I have one more question.” His eerie smile returned, “You have done so well, so far..”
“Oh, we’re almost done? Good, a new episode drops of this drama I watch and-” You were silenced as he rose the remote. Right. You shouldn’t test your luck.
He gave a pleased hum. “Tell me, how would you describe his eyes?”
It was your turn to be confused. These questions seem to hold no pattern. All this questioning, and you still were unable to figure out what this guy’s goal was. He… wanted to learn about Yeonho, but for what? And then they’ve actually known each other for a while?? Nothing’s adding up.
Yet something about this question tipped you off. It created an uneasy pit to grow in your stomach. The voice of reason screamed at you to not answer this particular question, but as you gazed into the imposter’s eyes, you felt some odd obligation to correct it.
How does the saying go?
When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes into you.
Slowly, words began to slip out of your mouth, “Dark… but warm.” He raised his head slightly, silently beckoning you to continue, “It’s… like a pot of melted chocolate.” Your face grew warm out of embarrassment - a weird feeling to have at this moment. “Dark chocolate,” You added. “Known for its bitter taste, and not everyone likes it, but those who do are… are obsessed with it.” You blinked then quickly turned your gaze away. The heat became worse; you can’t believe such words came out of your mouth. You’re… not typically the type to say such things.
The imposter let out a low chuckle then stood from his chair. “Thank you very much, (y/n),” Your head shot up; how does he know your–? Your breath caught in your throat.
His eyes changed. Warped to the exact shade that’s melted into your brain. You found yourself leaning back as he pushed forward once more. You shut your eyes as he got closer, only for them to shoot open as you felt a cold wind brush against your ear, “Your information is incredibly valuable to our efforts.” You shuddered at the feeling. How is his breath cold…?
He pulled back then paused, leaving some mere inches between the two of you. This was uncanny. Now that he’s matched Yeonho’s eyes, it brought confusion. For a split second, you thought you caught his gaze softening, as if regretting putting you in this predicament. You felt lulled into a false sense of security.
Then, you felt the grip on your wrists loosen. He recoiled and readjusted his gloves. You looked down to see that he had undone the restraints. You slowly raised your arms then rubbed your sore wrists. “Does… this mean I’m free to go?”
“For now,” he shrugged. “Humans are so… complex. There’s many layers to them, some that only you can peel back to see.” His smile returned, “So I’ll have use for you in the future- lucky you!”
“Yay, lucky me…” you grumbled. However, you weren’t given much time to think about what he meant, for he flicked a switch on a different remote, and a mist began to quickly cloud the room. Your initial thought was poison, but you felt your eyelids growing heavy once more. Your head bobbed up and down as the mystery smoke made you drowsy.
But you felt something gently raise your head, and you caught the gaze of the imposter one final time. “You have been such a good help tonight. I hope we’ll see each other soon~”
You were 90% sure it was the gas that made you giggle and respond, “You know what’s funny? I didn’t know a damn thing.”
His brow immediately furrowed. “What-? What do you mean by–”
“Like, I can’t remember his go-to coffee order. He has it saved in the app so I don’t have to remember it.” Your head rolled to the side, “Everything I said was just made up! Everything but…” Your mind held a moment of clarity. Yeonho’s eyes… No, you could never lie about that.
Except the imposter didn’t seem to be as amused as you. “You-!!” He grabbed your face to force your head back to him, but your eyes had closed. You were knocked the hell out. His smile had twisted into a scowl as he let you go. A frustrated hand ran through his hair. So all the information you gave was pointless! He crossed his arms and impatiently tapped his foot against the floor. Well… not everything was pointless.
He sighed deeply as a hand dragged down his face. He could pick up on his mannerisms some other time. Looking the part was more important.
He had to admit, though, he really does understand what Yeonho saw in you. He shook his head as a selfish thought bolted across his mind. He had to get you home, before the others began to question him. He carefully scooped you up into his arms and carried you out.
He glanced down at you. He knew he wouldn’t be done with you, and as far as you’d know, this will feel like an incredibly strange nightmare.
Summary || Set in the VRVR universe, where you have been kidnapped by a man who looks eerily similar to your boyfriend...
Warnings || 16+ for kidnapping, minor language
bewitched || dongheon x reader
??? || hoyoung x reader
??? || minchan x reader
??? || gyehyeon x reader
red moon || yeonho x reader
??? || yongseung x reader
??? || kangmin x reader
Summary || Your boyfriend tries to execute the perfect date... But awkwardness threatens to ruin his hard work.
Word count || 2k
Warnings || Brief alcohol mentions & consumption
Dongheon wrung his hands together anxiously. He had been planning this date out for weeks; he wanted it to go exactly to plan. You and him have been together for several months now, and to commemorate the upcoming three-month anniversary, he decided to try and take you somewhere nice to eat.
It was rather pricy, and he was put on a waiting list, so while he waited, he tried to study up on what would make for a romantic dinner. For the most romantic dinner. You have done so much for him - offered never-ending support and love... He felt that he needed to do something to return that tenfold.
He texted you earlier that day to tell you of where you'd be dining tonight. You had to look it up to make sure it was the same place you were thinking of. And then he asked for you to dress formally; a rare ask, but one you obliged to anyway.
The man even hired a limo service to escort you to the restaurant! As nice as the treatment was, you couldn't help but worry about the money he spent... You looked down as the phone buzzed in your hand. It was your anxious boyfriend.
🍯 did you get picked up??
🐝yep ! right on time !
🍯 ahh good! i'll be waiting outside :)
A smile lingered upon your face as you exited the messages. Your phone lit up again, showing the lockscreen - a picture of him completing a hand heart with you. You began to feel a light flutter in your chest. The past few months have went by so fast, yet it felt as if you had known Dongheon for forever. He was a bit awkward at first, but you learned it was a part of his charm. He did whatever he could to ensure you were comfortable first. Not to mention the endless affection was a wonderful plus.
You turned your phone over and let your head lean against the leather headrest. It didn't take long for you to arrive to your destination, though. As the restaurant rolled into view, you definitely took notice of its expensive appearance. You would've stared in continued amazement, but then you spotted Dongheon's giddy self smiling and waving to you.
He hurried over to open the door for you -
Except it was locked.
A few awkward seconds later, and it unlocked, allowing him to finally help you out the limo. "Hi!" he eagerly greeted you then stole a quick glance at your outfit. "Oh, wow, you... hah," he swallowed heavily. His reaction swiftly brought warmth to your cheeks.
"Oh, please-" you turned away awkwardly, "it's the most formal clothes I had, nothing that special-"
"Anything you wear is special."
His rebuttal caught you off guard. You whipped your head back around and stared at him with wide eyes. He held a warm smile and an even warmer blush of his own. You couldn't keep eye contact for long, so you instead focused on his attire - big mistake.
"Even when going out somewhere nice, you just can't cover up-!" You scorned playfully and poked at his slightly exposed chest. Him and low cut shirts can never break up, unfortunately. You felt his body heat up as his arms crossed over his chest. "Aw, you're so mean to me!" he whined. "But you can't help but to stare, right?" You didn't even need to look up to know he was giving a stupid grin.
"Okay, y'know what, let's get inside before I-"
"Before you what?" He chuckled then held out his arm for you to take. You glared up at him before sighing in defeat. "Let's just get inside, dummy..." He could only giggle quietly as he led you in.
When you entered, you gazed in awe as you took in the new scene - dazzling chandeliers, hearty laughter, crystal clear glasses clinking, and soft jazz accompanying to top it all off. It was everything to be expected of a higher-end restaurant. You felt your arm fall as Dongheon moved away to pull out your chair.
However, it made a horrendously loud scraping noise. The two of you stiffened as eyes were suddenly directed towards you. Dongheon tried to offer some of the grumbling patrons an awkward smile. You quickly took your seat and shuffled forward the best you could to avoid bringing any more attention. One hand on your face told you everything; you were burning hot with embarrassment, but you glanced up to notice your boyfriend's ears were practically steaming.
"You're like some kind of awkwardness magnet," you tried to joke. He winced at himself before replying, "I thought the guys were joking, but they might've been onto something."
"Hey," you softly call his attention, "our dinner's barely started. No one's gonna remember us anyway."
He shuffled in his seat as the words mulled over inside his head. "... Yeah. Yeah, you're right," he regained his smile. Only for his gaze to soften as he quietly added, "You're always good at that - calming me down."
The heat rushed back. "It's... It's nothing!" You quickly retorted. "I just... learned over time that you shouldn't make a big deal outta little things. There's enough on our plates as it is." You fiddled with the ring on your finger. "Anyway-!" You tried to pull the attention away from you, "how do we even order here?"
"Oh, it's preordered." He answered. "I picked out our dishes before we came here. Appetizers should be coming soon..." There was a pause as a distant rumble emanated from your stomach. You wrapped your arms around it. Dongheon could only laugh. You couldn't even be mad; it brought out that dopey smile you fell in love with.
And maybe he caught you staring too hard, for that sweet smile shifted into a dangerous smirk in the blink of an eye. "It's too soon to be giving me those kinds of looks, (y/n)."
"Huh?" You snapped out of it. "What kind of looks? All I was doing was appreciating that cute smile of yours," You huffed.
"Yeah?" He rested his cheek against his fist. Oh no, he was gearing up to say something awful. He's gained a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Well, I was appreciating you too - you look so cute when you're admiring me."
"Admiring you??" You sputtered out. Good thing you weren't drinking water, otherwise you would've choked on it a little. "You're talking like I'm obsessed with you!"
"Are you not?"
There it is; he rendered you speechless once again. You dared not rebuttal, for you knew you'd only make a fool out of yourself by stuttering and stumbling. Instead, you turned away in defeat - your silence spoke volumes and he knew it. He merely chuckled and removed his arm as the waiter brought the first course.
You couldn't even lie - this was also a part of his charm. Somehow, he can switch from awkward loser to a flirty prince in a second. It kept things interesting; you never knew when he would strike. You also were aware that he does it to get a reaction out of you, and it never failed.
Not that you were complaining...
"Oh, I didn't know what wine to get, so I just asked for whatever goes well with the food," Dongheon explained casually, as if he hadn't set your heart aflame two seconds ago. You stole a quick glance at the poured glass. With how this night was going, you may need it, so you took a few sips.
Slowly, you two steered away from the previous conversation and began to make small talk. Catching up on how you've been, how's the family, that sort of thing.
"Ah, Kangmin took his partner to the aquarium last week," He bore a proud smile, "I gave him the idea."
You rose a brow of disbelief at him. He crumbled immediately. "Okay, maybe not directly, but I was explaining how you should go on dates that involve your partner's interests! Like us with the movies."
"Oh! Speaking of," you pointed your fork at him, "that movie I was yapping about finally made it on streaming. We should plan out an at-home movie night to watch it!" You tilted your head as you blabbed on, "Actually, maybe we should do a little marathon. I've been on a kick of the franchise lately-" Your attention returned to him, "Oh, only if you're fine with that--"
"(y/n)," he shook his head with a smile, "of course I'm fine with it." He set his finished plate to the side before resting his arms on the table and leaning in slightly. "You look so happy every time you brought it up, so why wouldn't I want to share in that?" You spotted his cheeks turning red. "And... you practically light up when talking about the things you love anyway. I want to see that expression every-day, if I can..."
He stunned you for the third time. The earnest look in his eyes, the sweet and honest words, it was too much for you - your throat suddenly felt clogged, and tears blurred your vision. You barely saw how quickly his expression changed to one of concern. "Ah! H... Hey, why're you--?" You saw him jump up out of his seat before you quickly grabbed a napkin to carefully wipe the tears away. Except then, you felt a cold sensation on your leg. You immediately pushed yourself away from the table to spot the wine spilling.
Dongheon swore under his breath as he rushed to your aid. As he attempted to clean up the mess on the floor, his eyes caught the stain on your clothes. "Gah-" And he started back his angry muttering.
"Dongheon," you placed a hand on his fuming head, "it's fine. Really. I can just take it to a dry cleaners or something,"
"I'll cover the cost-"
"Dongheon..." He doesn't turn his head to you, so your fingers gently run through his hair. He paused in his fretting and sighed deeply with drooping shoulders. "Sorry..." he mumbled then slowly got up to return to his seat.
You gazed at him in slight concern, but he avoided eye contact as the waiter returned with the entrees and some help to clean up the mess. Although readjusted, he picked at his food. You knew speaking gently to him wouldn't work, so you sighed and called out to him. "Hey." He briefly glanced to you, "What's the matter, Heoni? Something is clearly bothering you..."
He crumpled almost immediately at the nickname. You knew it wouldn't fail - it never does. He slowly exhaled through his nose and peeked up at you. "It's just... I wanted this date to go perfect. You've been so good to me and plan out such wonderful dates, so I wanted to return the favor." He glared at his untouched food. "But it's like you said, I'm just an awkward magnet..."
"No!" You startled him with your response. He jerked his head up, staring with wide eyes. "Sorry," you shake your head, "I mean, don't take that seriously." You reach over to grab his hand. "You don't have to beat yourself up so much over this. Even though this is really nice, I would've appreciated anything," You run your thumb across his knuckles. "I don't care what kind of date we do, as long as I'm spending time with you."
You watched as his eyes widened slightly. You continued, "No date goes perfect. Hell, don't you remember me burning the popcorn for our first movie marathon?" A small smile began to appear on his face. "But that didn't stop us from enjoying the date, right?" He slowly nodded. "And as for the awkward magnet, well..." You felt your face warm up, "I really really like that about you. I think it's cute." You shook your head. "But please, don't feel like you owe me anything..."
"... And I love you just the way you are."
The words spilled out before you could even process the thought. Your hand tried to jerk away, but he refused to let it leave his grip. The madman even snatched up your other hand. He gently squeezed both of them before whispering, just loud enough for only you to hear, "I really want to kiss you right now."
Heat erupted onto your face. Once again, you could feel eyes boring into you, but at this point? You couldn't care less. You swallowed the fear down to retaliate, "And what's stopping you?"
His mouth opened to form a reply, and you knew it would've been something wild, but he seemed to remember that they were out in public. Like a balloon, he deflated. "Well, this table... and dessert... and the bill..."
You stared at him in amazement. How can one man have such duality? You released a breathless laugh then brought one of his hands to your face. You gently uncurled his fingers and used your hand to hold his against your cheek. "You're so cute," you murmured, sighing in content. His dopey smile returned--
"Of course I am, and you love me for it."
You couldn't help but roll your eyes. Back to our regularly scheduled Dongheon. "Okay, okay, your ego's big enough as it is. Settle down."
He giggled quietly then lowered his voice, "Should we just take dessert to go? These chairs are kinda uncomfortable..." You quickly nodded in agreement. You wanted nothing more than to leave this stuffy place. While nice, the patrons were... not so nice.
Within minutes, you had dessert packed up and the bill paid. It had gotten a bit chilly, so he wrapped his blazer around your shoulders. Another bad idea, for you noticed the wardrobe underneath. You practically ran to his car. "Where are your clothes??" You shouted in the parking lot. He burst into laughter. "I am wearing clothes!" he argued.
"A tank top barely covers anything! Got your... flippin' arms out n' shit..." You angrily muttered under your breath. You tugged on the door handle of the passenger side door, only to feel your greatest weakness wrap around you from behind. "What? Is it a bad look?" he quietly laughed into your ear.
"Ooh, that wine's getting to you," you felt like you could pass out from being flustered.
"Really? I didn't even take a single sip. I am driving us home, after all. I have to be the responsible adult sometimes." You shuddered from the brief kiss to your ear. "Like I said, you do a lot of the planning... so let me take care of you tonight."
If he wasn't the one holding you up, you probably would've collapsed. Well, you did feel your legs wobble slightly in response. He hummed in content and finally let you go to open the door for you. You didn't mean to stumble inside - who could even function properly after enduring all that?
Even worse, he decided to take it upon himself to wrap the seatbelt around you. He paused, and you caught his eyes glancing down at your lips. He barely gave you a chance to breathe before stealing a kiss from you. Or two.. or three...
"Dongheon..." You pressed a hand against his chest, gently pushing him back after the fourth kiss. "We're never gonna make it home at this rate."
And he had the audacity to smile shyly. "You're right. We should be in the privacy of our own home." Yet, he still managed to swipe one more kiss before closing the door and hurrying to the driver's seat.
Summary || Your boyfriend takes you on a date to a place you've always wanted to go.
Word count || 2k
Kangmin only wanted the best for you. Being his first partner, he didn't want to mess up. However, he had no clue on what couples do. They make it look so easy on TV. And he must've looked especially pitiful, for Dongheon noticed his sulking and nudged his shoulder. "Something on your mind?" he asked.
"Mm?" Kangmin absentmindedly ran his finger along the rim of his glass. "Oh, well, it's (y/n)."
"Troubles already?" Dongheon laughed. "You've only been dating for, what, a month?"
The young man's shoulders sank, "Yeah... and I don't even know if I'm doing it right." He honestly wasn't sure if his worrying was a good or bad thing. Is it normal to worry this much?
His friend's words pulled him back, "Do they seem happy?"
Kangmin lifted his head up, brow furrowed. "Huh? Oh, I... I think so? I hope so," he answered. Dongheon shook his head in return. "Have you even taken them out on a date?"
The other was taken aback by his sudden question. "Wh... What? Of course I have!" He then awkwardly scratched his cheek, "We went out to eat like... last week-?" His voice rose a pitch.
"Kangmin!" his friend exclaimed. "I meant an actual date. Not just taking them out to lunches or dinners--" Except Kangmin quickly interrupted him, "Didn't you take your partner out to lunch yesterday?"
"This isn't about me!" He protested. Then, he sighed, "It doesn't have to be somewhere real fancy. Something simple, even better if it matches their interests." Kangmin tilted his head to indicate he wanted to hear more. Dongheon couldn't hide that little smile from growing; he loved knowing his advice will actually be heard. "For example," he continued, "my partner loves movies, so we often go to the theater, then we find somewhere to wind down and talk about it." Almost too quickly, the man lost the plot and began to gush over his partner. Luckily, Kangmin tuned him out so he could think.
Somewhere that matches (y/n)'s interests, huh... He suddenly recalled a past conversation with you, one where you were sitting on the floor and endlessly scrolling on your phone--
Kangmin was laying on the couch behind you as he caught up on something he was reading. Except he started to feel his eyelids become heavy. In the middle of a yawn, you gasped then mumbled, "I want to go," He forced an eye back open to see what you were talking about. "Mm? Oh, there? I heard they just opened a new exhibit." he spoke softly.
"Mhm," you responded, "I've been wanting to go there for a while though. Just once."
Another yawn from him. "Maybe we'll go someday..." His eyes closed again; he heard shuffling as you quickly replied, "Really? You mean it?" Except he heard nothing more as he quickly fell asleep.
He held his head with a hand. How long ago was this conversation? Oh man, he felt like a complete jerk for stringing you along like this! It's decided, then. He whipped out his phone to swiftly search up the name of the place and buy tickets.
Dongheon seemed to finally notice and paused in his rambling. "Figured it out?"
Kangmin nodded and gave him a smile. "Yep! Thanks, Dongheon!"
"Of course!" the other beamed, "What kind of big brother figure would I be if I didn't have good advice?"
"So, is the big brother going to pay for the drinks?"
The two of them turned their heads to Yeonho behind the bar, who held a mildly annoyed expression. "You two been sitting here, taking up space for the past 2 hours. And all you ordered was lemonade. At least leave a good tip." he huffed.
Kangmin was quick to point at his "big brother," "He invited me here."
Dongheon couldn't even argue. He sighed in defeat. "Fine..."
***
Within hours, you found yourself outside with an excited Kangmin hovering his hands over your eyes. "What?" You couldn't help but laugh lightly at his giggling. He blew up your phone to ask if you were home, and when you said you were, he arrived at such speed. He told you that you were going out; the sudden news almost overwhelmed you, but he looked so eager to go; you had no choice but to entertain him.
"Can I look now?" You asked with a playful huff.
"Mhm!" He finally pulled his hands away. You squinted from the light of the setting sun hitting you, but once adjusted, you noticed the most important word - aquarium.
You stared at the building with your mouth slightly agape. There's no way he... Did he actually...? You felt a small lump forming in your throat, but you shoved it down, for everyone's sake. "We're really going?" You questioned in a soft voice.
His brow furrowed. "Of course we're going! See?" He pulled out his phone to show the e-tickets. "Sorry for it being last minute, but..."
"No! No, it's okay." You took a deep breath. "Let's go." He smiled at you in return and offered his hand, which you slowly took. You had always wanted to go to an aquarium. You've seen so many videos online and heard people's stories, but for one reason or another, you never had the chance to go through one yourself. And, honestly, you had not expected Kangmin to have paid so much attention. You mentioned it mostly in passing... Was he really that attentive?
You tried not to think about it too much. For if you do, well... you frankly really don't want to cry in front of people, let alone him.
You could only stare in amazement as he happily pulled you along. There were smaller exhibits that contained a variety of fish and pond creatures. It was hard to suppress the wide smile from spreading across your face. Although, Kangmin did have to quickly usher you away from the frogs at one point. You're not the biggest fan of them -
The further you traveled through the aquarium, the darker the colors became. It was a bit unnerving, honestly, so you stayed close to Kangmin. Meanwhile, he was reading off the information on his phone. "Ohh, so it's getting darker because we're going deeper into the ocean. Cool! We-" he paused upon noticing your behavior. "Hey," he stopped his walking to turn to you. He tilted his head to try and meet your gaze. "You okay?"
"Yeah, I just... got nervous, is all." You begin to chew on your nail. "Also, is this a bad time to say I have, like, a deadly fear of sharks?" The words rolled out rapidly, so you were unsure if he even understood. Silence lingered for a few moments until he let out a quick chuckle. "No, it's not a bad time at all! Although..." he awkwardly scratched his cheek, "having a fear of sharks is kinda ironic..."
"Right?" You laughed anxiously. "But yeah. We haven't seen sharks yet, so I'm kinda getting-"
"Scared?" He answered for you. All you could do was nod.
"Aw, don't be scared," he kept his smile. "Look, the sharks can't hurt you. They're behind a glass, and you can always use my hand to cover your eyes if it's too much, okay?" He raised a hand and silently asked for permission to touch your face. You gave him a nod, allowing him to rest it against your cheek. "This is supposed to be fun," he muttered to you, "but if it gets too overwhelming, don't be afraid to let me know. I want your comfort to come first."
It took everything within you not to cry right then and there. Despite only being together for less than a month, he's acting as if the two of you have been together for years. He's too sweet... You shake your head to stop even a single tear from escaping. "Okay, I'm ready." You told him.
He retained his warm smile and kept a gentle hold on your hand as he tugged you into the next exhibit. The area was not as dark as you had expected it to be. You had kept your eyes forward, footsteps echoing as you walked. However, out of the corner of your eyes, you spotted a wide tank that took up most of the current area. Your blood suddenly ran cold, and you sharply turned your body away.
"Ah, there're the sharks," Kangmin sighed. "Come on, I can guide you thro-"
"N...No, I want to see them." You surprised yourself at the words spilling out of your mouth. You continued, "It's like you said, they're just behind a glass. They can't... They can't hurt me." You silently curse to yourself at your voice trembling. Kangmin squeezed your hand. "If you're sure, then... we can just stand right here, okay? We don't have to get any closer."
"Look," You stiffened slightly at his hand covering your eyes, "I'll turn you around," he explained, "And you can peek through my fingers. I'm right here with you,"
You took a deep breath then sighed. Your eyes were glued shut as he slowly shifted the two of you into position. You rubbed sweaty palms against your clothes as you kept repeating to yourself - they can't hurt you, they're behind a glass, they can't hurt you-
Kangmin is right here.
You almost jumped as the thought shot through your mind. But it's true; he's being incredibly patient with you and trying to sort things out. The least you can do is try...
"Okay," you slowly peek an eye open. The shark swam into view. At first, you shut your eyes again, but you repeated your little mantra as you regained the bravery to peek once more. The second time wasn't as bad - you managed to keep your eyes open for more than 10 seconds before shutting them again.
As you prepared to do it a third time, you felt Kangmin's hand shift. You panicked for a second, thinking he was removing your shield, but then you shuddered feeling his whispers tickle your ear, "You're doing great, (y/n)."
If you weren't in such a precarious situation, you would've pulled away at lightning speed. You were stuck between feeling flustered and absolutely scared shitless. You weren't sure now if you were trembling from the sharks, or from feeling the warmth of his body barely pressing against your back. Hah, you even had the thought to not open your eyes ever again, if only just to stay in this exact moment a bit longer.
Eventually, your eyes open again for a third time. Through the gaps between his fingers, you watched the shark peacefully wade through the water. Other, smaller fishes tailed under it, going in endless circles. The longer you stared, the more your heart began to relax.
Just as you were adjusting, Kangmin started to pull his hands away. Instinctively, you grabbed hold of them to keep them over your eyes. He chuckled softly. "Okay, the fear's not totally gone, but hey, it's a start!" He turned you around so you had your back to the tank before removing his hands. "I'm really proud of you," he squeezed your hands. "And I think we've had enough for today-"
You silently nodded, starting to feel exhaustion wash over you. He could only laugh quietly to himself as he guided you back out. But not before making a stop at the gift shop. You furrow your brow as he told you to wait outside, but you obliged.
It didn't take him that long to return with a brown bag. A bag that he selfishly kept to himself until you both made it back to your place. "What's in the bag?" You asked for the 10th time.
"Geez, we barely made it in!" He laughed at your slight glare. "Okay, okay, here-" He finally handed it to you. "A reward for today."
"Reward?" You echoed curiously but otherwise took it. From within, you pull out something soft - an adorable plush of an orca. You gasped softly and wrapped your arms around it, hugging it tight. "This is so cute...! Thank you..." Your smile grew wider as he pressed a quick kiss against your head.
Honestly, what did you do to deserve someone like him?
Summary || At the very last minute, you were called to fill in for a bridesmaid that fell sick. You're not sure why you took on the task, but something in your gut told you to go. After seeing who your partner is for the dance routine, though, things finally began to click.
Word count || 1.9k
Hoyoung hid a long yawn behind his hand. When he agreed to participate in this wedding, he hadn't expected to be this involved. He was doing this as a favor to his friend, who was close to the groom. The guy needed another groomsman at the last minute, so what did his friend do? Offer him up without consulting. "It'll be fun," his friend said.
But standing here at 8 in the morning with barely a crumb of breakfast just to conduct a dance rehearsal? It's absolutely not what he signed up for. Unfortunately, he was in too deep to find a way out. He already put forth the effort to learn the damn dance.
He patiently waited with hands neatly folded behind his back. The groom and his friend were frantically whispering to each other. He could catch a few pieces... "What do you mean she's sick?"
"Don't worry! I pulled another favor. They should get here any second now."
His head turned to the line of tired bridesmaids. Oh, now that he was paying attention, there was an empty spot where his dance partner usually stood. Sounds like she fell sick... this close to the wedding date? Then she might be out completely. And if his friend called in someone else, will they even be able to catch up in time?
And why does his friend know everybody??
His thoughts were interrupted by a new voice. "Sorry!" the newcomer rushed in. "Got caught in traffic. Where do I go?" Hoyoung blinked in mild surprise at them. They're pretty. He found his eyes traveling with them as the groom came over to explain the situation to them.
"... So, your partner is this guy over here: Hoyoung." He straightened up as he heard his name. "For the first couple of times, you'll just watch. Then, whenever you're ready, you can jump right in on the next round. Oh, and thank you, (y/n). You're saving me from a panic attack." The groom then came towards him. "Since you don't have a partner, um... you can sit with them," he jabbed a thumb over his shoulder, "Try and catch them up, if you can, please." And he scurried off without another word.
Hoyoung gave a small nod then quietly took the seat next to (y/n). He awkwardly rubbed his palms against his knees. "So... you know him too?" He nodded towards their mutual friend.
(y/n) sighed and nodded. "From school. The guy called me and begged for me to do this." They then crossed their arms, "Hmph. He's lucky I was in town. And I don't really like dresses, so he's extra lucky I like him enough to do this."
His ears perked up. "Like him?" he quickly repeated.
"Huh?" They looked up at him. "Oh!" Their ears turned red, "No, no, not like that. Never like that. He's practically like a brother to me."
"Oh," he hummed. "Was just curious."
The music interrupted their conversation. The participants snapped awake as muscle memory took over, and they began the routine. He wanted to turn and ask more questions, but they were completely engrossed with it. Their eyes flickered between everyone's movements, and they started mumbling to themselves.
"You're pretty dedicated, huh?" He lightly teased. "Especially for someone last minute."
"Well, that's exactly why I should be dedicated," they answered without sparing him a look. "This is for a wedding. I would hate to be the person who messes it up for the couple. I'm sure they're stressed enough as it is."
Hoyoung couldn't argue with their reasoning. "Lucky for you, it's not too hard. I think the timing of the hand switching might take you a bit to nail down."
"True... good thing you're my partner then. You're gonna catch me up. Hope you're a good teacher."
He rose a brow at their frank response. The ends of his mouth stretched into an amused smile. He didn't want to disrupt their concentration, so he let them focus for the first round. Afterwards, the groom finally announced breakfast arriving, and everyone eagerly made a beeline to the table where the food was laid out.
Hearing his stomach growl, he got up to join as well. (y/n) silently followed. In line, he half turned his body to talk to them, "So, how's that dedication working out?"
They huffed at his teasing. "Fine, actually. There's... some steps that were hard to see, but like I said, you're going to teach me anyway."
He softly snorted. "You're really counting on a stranger you just met."
"What, should I not? I'm sure a quick word with the groom, and I can switch you out for another cute partner."
Their quick wit constantly surprised him, and their little slip of a compliment did not go unnoticed. He tilted his head in shock, brows raised. "You're telling me there's others cuter than me?"
They open their mouth for a rebuttal, but they take a quick glance at the other groomsmen, then return to him. "Okay, fine. I'll stay. But don't stress me out like that." They grumbled. Soon, it was their turn to grab a plate and take a seat at a table. He politely pulled the chair out for them, and Hoyoung took this as a chance to silently bend down and whisper in their ear, "I'm glad you're staying. I don't see any other cute bridesmaids either."
He bit down a laugh as their face burned red. He calmly took a seat and ate his breakfast like nothing happened. All they could do was try to hide and finish their plate. With that seemingly tough exterior, he wanted to find a way to crack them open. Looks like he found it.
As the days rolled by, he patiently helped teach them the routine. The two of them even found themselves exchanging numbers to video call and give pointers. He found it to be quite fun, actually... "Have you tried on the dress yet?" he asked through the call.
On the other side of the screen, (y/n) nodded their head. "Yeah. Snug as a bug."
When Hoyoung tried to reply, they interrupted him, "Ah-ah. Nope, you can't see until the wedding." Their response made him laugh, "That's a rule for the bride and groom. Why are you acting like we're the ones getting married?"
His comment flustered them again. They turn their head away and grumbled something under their breath. "What's that?" Hoyoung continued. "I didn't quite catch that-"
"Y'know, you do big talk towards someone you just met." They quickly retaliated, "Did you fall for me that quickly?"
Once again, he was stunned. He felt warmth coat his ears, and he briefly ducked his head as a wide smile appeared. Is this what people meant about feeling a flutter in their chest? What an odd sensation. "Aha! See?" Their voice brought his head back up. "Look at that guilty face."
He chuckled quietly. "You know, you're pretty funny, (y/n). But we should get some sleep. We got a busy day ahead of us." His voice softened. They became silent, and he caught their shoulders slumping in disappointment. "Yeah, you're right..." they huffed. "Fine. Fine. Good night, Hoyoung. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Night..." He hung up the call then turned over in his hotel bed. This was new, kicking it off with a stranger so quickly. He honestly didn't know where this would lead to, but for now, he was enjoying the journey. The thoughts lingered and soon lulled him to sleep.
The big day finally arrived. Most of it was a blur for him, being dragged this way and that as they finished the final touches of the ceremony. He was barely given a chance to even catch a glimpse of (y/n), not until the actual ceremony began. When the bridesmaids took their turns walking down the aisle, he craned his neck to find them. Finally, he spotted them and found himself holding his breath. Compared to everyone else, in his opinion, they looked stunning. Unfortunately, they caught him staring and gave them a playful huff as their face turned red. He could only smile sheepishly at them in return.
Eventually, the time for the dance routine came. Him, along with everyone else, anxiously waited for the music to begin. But, just as before, as soon as it started, their muscle memory kicked in. He quietly approached (y/n) and took their hand, as choreographed. Barely any words were shared throughout the entire routine. Their eyes focused on each other, their movements fluid.
The final part of the dance was for the groomsman to hold their partner's hand and bow before them. But he didn't know what came over him. Before the final note echoed, he shifted his head and pressed a gentle kiss against their knuckles. He blinked as the sound of applause brought him back to reality. He slowly straightened himself up, noting the stunned, wide-eyed look they held.
Not letting go of their hand, he led them back to an empty table and took his seat. There, he finally released the breath he was holding. "Finally got you quiet." He laughed softly then boldly reached over to tip their chin up. "It's a cute look on you."
They shyly move their head away and swat at his hand. "You... you're unbelievable." They muttered. Hearing whispers caused their head to turn, only for them to whip back around. The red on their face became worse. "Now they're talking about us," they groaned.
"Is that bad?" He inquired.
"W... Well, no. Just a bit embarrassing. I'm... not used to this kind of attention." They anxiously wrung their hands together. He sighed silently then leaned forward, arms resting on his knees. "I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable-"
They quickly shake their head. "No! No, you're fine. Honest." They take a deep breath then sighed. "Y'know... originally, I was gonna say no to all this. It was so last minute, but... something told me to just suck it up and do it. Help a friend out." He watched carefully as their gaze softened. "I... didn't expect to bump into someone like you." A smile slowly appeared. "You didn't let things get awkward or boring. So, I appreciate that."
Hoyoung wasn't expecting this short, heartfelt speech, but it touched him either way. He nodded in agreement. "I feel the same. It's rare to find someone so honest. And funny. And who can pull off this color," He nodded towards the dress. It earned him a soft laugh from them. "Well, thank you," they hummed.
"But... what about after this?"
He tilted his head. "Hm? What about it?"
"Like... you won't just ghost me, right? I noticed you were in a hotel, so you're not from around here, are you?" Their voice is quiet and laced with concern. The realization hit him. He silently shook his head in response. "No," he answered, "but I'm not that far. I drove here, actually."
His words seemed to return some fire into their eyes. "So... there's a chance we could see each other again?"
He's not sure why, but their words caused his heart to melt. There was genuine worry and weight to it. He could almost laugh at how pathetically cute it was. "Of course," he grabbed their hands, "a little distance won't kill us." A teasing smile appeared. "And look at you, so worried about us. Did you fall for me that quickly?" He echoed their words in a whisper.
They squeezed his hands as a blush sprung across their face. They refused to give an answer, but the silence told him everything. He finally let out the laugh he's been holding in. He then stood up, pulling them up with him. "Let's not worry about tomorrow, okay?" He smiled at them.
Their eyes flickered between their hands and his eyes, until their own smile slowly revealed itself, and they nodded. "Fine, I suppose we can share a dance or two..."
Summary || You frequently visit the Privacy Cafe near your college campus. You love the coffee and the atmosphere, but there's one problem... The guy at the register is breathtakingly beautiful and your legs turn to jelly when you see him. You've done your best to avoid him, but perhaps fate has other plans.
Word count || 1.9k
Oddly enough, he remembered when they first came in. It was shortly after the new semester began; it tended to get quite busy during that time. Yongseung had came to pay him a visit and briefly talked about his classes and professors. As he rambled, though, that's when he spotted them.
To everyone else, they were simply another customer of the cafe. They took a silent look around the place; the ends of their lips curled into a comforted smile. They then turned to chat with their friend as they got in line. Their eyes scanned the menu above before the two of them eventually made eye contact. He tried to give them a polite smile, but they were quick to pull away and awkwardly shuffled behind their friend.
It actually became a sort of routine for them. The stranger would arrive then anxiously scan for him. If he was at the register, they would wait until someone else took over before scurrying over to place their order. Or sometimes they'd place their order online to avoid him altogether. He always found this behavior confusing. They had never shared a word, not even a syllable, to each other, so why the fear?
He initially tried not to let it bother him. After all, why should he care so much? It's not like he was curious about them or whatever... It's certainly also not because he found them to be awfully cute, especially when they turn red and duck their head.
No, absolutely not.
A bit over a month had passed since their initial arrival. By this point, he had began to give up on learning the reason behind it all. His coworkers theorized that they may simply find him intimidating. "I mean, look at you," Hoyoung explained once, "you're a ridiculously handsome guy who keeps a neutral expression most of the time." Gyehyeon saw some truth behind his words, but surely that can't be it?
He let out a long exhale through his nose as he recalled the conversation. Hoyoung was currently out of town for a wedding, making him work at the register. It was a slow day and they were approaching the last hour of the night. He heard the bell jingle and tiredly muttered out his greeting without glancing up. All he was thinking about was the nice platter of fruit and cheese waiting for him back at the apartment.
Gyehyeon hid a yawn behind a hand and tiredly rubbed his eye. "How may I help y-" He paused mid-rub when the familiar stranger stood in front of him. "Oh," he offered a polite smile, "you're here later than usual. I was starting to wonder where you went..."
The stranger rubbed their hands down their jacket before shoving them into their pockets. "Ha, that's... wait, you were wondering?" Their voice became quiet. Their ears began to burn red. It only made Gyehyeon's smile grow. "Mhm." he answered, "You usually come by in the afternoon. I'm assuming after your classes?"
"Oh! Okay, yeah, that's right." Their eyes kept averting their gaze. "I... was finishing up a project. I just turned it in, actually, so I came to get a little treat, y'know?"
He was mildly surprised at their slightly talkative nature. Or maybe it was stemming from their anxiety. He kept his smile. "That's a good idea. You deserve to treat yourself every once in a while." Fingers gently pressed on the screen in front of him as he placed their usual order. "Here, does everything look correct on your screen?"
They glanced down to theirs and blinked, eyes growing slightly in surprise. "Y...Yeah! Actually, that's... exactly what I was gonna order." They finally peer up at him, eyes locked. "How did you know?"
It was his ears' turn to burn red. He shyly turned his head away and rubbed his neck. "Well, you come here a lot, and it's part of my job... Is there... anything else?"
He thought he caught a brief smile from them. "Can you add one chocolate donut and one strawberry?" They add. He silently nodded and included the treats in the order. "Okay, you're all set. Um... what's your name?"
"(y/n). It's (y/n)." They lock eyes once again, but it only lasted for a few seconds before the two of them broke away and hid their blush. "I'll call you when your order's ready," Gyehyeon muttered. (y/n) gave them a shy smile then grabbed a seat nearby. He took the chance to turn away and take some deep breaths. It was hard to suppress the big grin that wanted to spread. Calm yourself, Gyehyeon...
He decided to focus on preparing their order. But even then, his mind kept wandering. He stole a few glances towards (y/n); they were scrolling on their phone, but there was a subtle smile and blush on their face. It's so cute...
He felt relieved that they didn't seem to hate him. And they seemed so sweet. He still wondered why they never came to talk to him before. He hummed to himself then finished the order. "(y/n)?" he called out to them and placed it on the counter for pick up.
They came up to grab it, muttering a quiet "thank you". They began to return to their seat, and Gyehyeon noticed the time. "Oh, we're closing in about 10 minutes, just so you know." He quickly informed them. They paused in their steps and he watched them take a deep breath before turning on their heel.
"Are you doing anything after this? I...I know it's late, but..." Their gaze slowly lowered to the ground. They shook their head frantically. "Y...Y'know what, never-mind. Forget I asked--"
"No, I'm not doing anything." Gyehyeon softly chuckled. "I will need a ride home though." He took a look around. "Although, I'm not sure about where we can go this late at night."
"I... was thinking the roof of the parking garage?" They anxiously tapped their foot. "Enjoy some late-night coffee and donuts."
He raised a curious brow. "Huh, I never would've thought of that. Yeah... that sounds just fine," his warm smile returned. "Don't let your coffee get too cold though." He nodded to their drink.
"Oh! Right, thank you, I'll just... wait here then," They awkwardly returned to their seat and took a few sips of their drink.
Gyehyeon let out another chuckle and turned their focus to their closing duties. Luckily, it didn't take long. He finally shut off a light and stepped out from behind the bar. (y/n) rose from their seat. "Ready?" they asked.
"Mhm, and..." he shook a small bag, "I grabbed us more donuts."
That shy smile returned and they led the way outside. It was a bit awkward being in their car. After all, this is the first conversation they've shared, but he felt like he's learned so much about them from simply observing. He leaned his head back against the headrest, fighting back another yawn. It didn't help that (y/n) was playing gentle music on the radio.
"Oh, sorry, is my music putting you to sleep?" They turn it down some but stopped when he shook his head. "A little, but don't apologize. I like it. It's soothing." He had so many questions he wanted to ask them, but his exhaustion was starting to get the better of him.
He hadn't realized he fell asleep until he felt the car slow to a stop. He blinked then slowly sat up, rubbing at his eyes. "Did I fall asleep...?" he mumbled.
"Yeah," they giggled softly. "Come on, some fresh air might wake you up." They exit the car and moved to open the trunk door, then climbing inside. He quietly followed suit and the two of them pulled out their donuts to now eat their late night snack. He... hadn't experienced this before. He's the type to stay at home once it got late. But he had to admit, this was serene in its own right.
And he was fully comfortable in this silence. On the other hand, it looked as if (y/n) had something to say. He smiled gently at them, "Something on your mind?"
They nervously swallowed a piece of donut. "Well..." A sigh, "I just wanted to say I'm sorry if I ever acted weird around you. You're just so..." They began to lose their voice and ducked their head. His heart softened at the sight. "I'm so... what?" Yet, he felt the urge to tease. The heat slowly crawled up their neck.
"... Pretty..." they whispered. "Like, ridiculously pretty. Ugh, I hope that didn't sound weird!" They take a nervous bite of the donut. He retained his smile and shook his head. "No, not weird at all. But thank you." He stared down at his own donut as he collected his thoughts. "... Actually, I thought you hated me for whatever reason."
They groaned in response. "See, that's the exact opposite of what I wanted. So, I'm really sorry-"
"It's okay," he tilted his head at them. "Really. I'm just glad we got it cleared up." He shifted closer to them, and he felt their fingers twitch as they made contact. "Does this mean you'll stop running away from me?" he asked softly.
The red reached their ears. "I'll... try."
"Hmph," he laughed lightly, "that's better than nothing." A yawn suddenly came out. "Ooh, sorry."
(y/n) seemed to want to use this as a chance to escape. "It is getting late." They quickly comment, "You looked like you had a long shift."
He couldn't even argue and only gave a nod. He silently made his way back to the passenger seat, gave them his address, and promptly lulled himself to sleep.
When he awoke for the second time, they made it outside his apartment. He rubbed his eyes then grabbed his bag. "Mmm, thanks for driving me, (y/n). I'll... see you at the usual time on Monday?"
(y/n) gave a sheepish nod. "Yeah. Usual time. Good night, Gyehyeon."
The walk to his bed was a bit of a blur, honestly. All he remembered was unlocking the door then beelining it to the soft mattress. Not even a whisper of a dream occurred as he quickly fell asleep.
When he awoke the next morning, he'll be honest, it felt like he was in a haze. As if last night was the dream. He shook his messy hair and groggily got up to get ready for the day. It didn't take him long to enter the kitchen, where he was pleasantly surprised to see Hoyoung.
"Good morning," his friend chirped. "Well, afternoon, actually."
"Afternoon??" Gyehyeon furrowed his brow. His head whipped around to check the time. "I slept in until 2??"
"Yeah. I know you don't work weekends, so I let you sleep." He was finishing cooking up some lunch. "Oh, I was cleaning up a bit and was gonna throw this bag away, but there was a phone number on it. Dunno if it was important to you."
"A phone number??" Gyehyeon eyed the small bag on the counter. The same one he used for his donuts. He quietly picked it up and, sure enough, there was a number scribbled onto it. So, last night wasn't a dream after all...
"What, finally found out about that one strange customer of yours?" Hoyoung softly snorted.
"Mhm," the other nodded. "They drove me home last night. Really nice..."
"Well?" Hoyoung rose a brow. "What're you waiting for? Give them a call, lover boy."
His face flushed at his comment. "It... It's not like that--"
"Okay... whatever you say!" He brushed past him to set up the table. Gyehyeon glanced down at the number again. For someone so shy, this was quite the bold move -
Summary || You were dragged by your friends to some guy's birthday party. Bored, you made the choice to walk around the overly grand ballroom, only to bump into a flustered young man who dropped his wallet.
Word count || 2.4k
"Aw, sorry, Kangmin, but I'm with my boyfriend,"
"Haha, you're so cute! Maybe next time, 'kay?"
"You're a bit on the younger side for me..."
Kangmin rested his face between his fists and huffed as the conversations replayed in his head. What's wrong with trying to pursue a relationship? He simply wanted to go on cute little dates, hold someone's hand, pepper them with kisses! But everyone around him still viewed him as some dumb little kid!
Sure, he's only 21, but that shouldn't hinder his potential so much. Or maybe it's because some believe he's not mature enough for a serious relationship. Minchan even told him others might see him as some kind of heart breaker or player.
But Kangmin's intentions were pure! Honest...
The young man eyes wandered around the ball room. It was Dongheon's birthday, and he believed there may be a person or two that could catch Kangmin's eye. At least someone was holding out hope for him. He quietly watched as couples around him formed. Hell, he even helped the birthday boy find his special someone just a moment ago, so why couldn't he be given some grace?
Another defeated pout left him and his head sank into his arms. All of these people, and not a single person tried to approach him.
"Hey, did you drop this?"
He slowly rose his head to meet the gaze of a stranger. A well-dressed stranger. A... really cute stranger... His eyes glanced down at the wallet they held out. "Oh! Wow, I didn't even notice," he smiled brightly at them and took it. "Thanks."
A gentle smile spread across their lips in response. "Yeah, no problem." In no time, they turned around and walked off. He wasn't sure why it took him so long to react; he jumped out of his seat. "Wait!" he tried to call out to them, but by the time he reached where he last saw them, they had disappeared into the crowd.
He scowled to himself. Agh, how could he be so...? Oh, he hoped they hadn't went too far. He couldn't help it now; he had to find them.
Kangmin walked around the crowd and stood on his tip-toes to try and spot them. He thought he noticed the familiar outfit, so he chased after it. He had to give a few pardons and excuses as he pushed through. He would call out, but he didn't want to embarrass himself any further.
Just as he freed himself from the crowd, who else but Minchan stepped in front of him. "Minchan! Come on, I'm a little busy right now-"
"Whoaaa, busy with what?" Minchan showed that stupid grin. The one that says he was well aware of what's going on. "Never seen you in such a rush." He laughed. But Kangmin tsked and tried to push past him, only for Minchan to hold an arm out and pull him right back.
"Hey!" Kangmin's smaller self barely managed to nudge the other. "I don't have time to play right now. They could be leaving-!"
"They?" The other rose a brow. "Aww, did our baby Kangmin finally find someone?" He tapped his chin, "A mysterious figure who caught your eye that you are now trying to chase." He sighed and shook his head, "Acting like a lovesick puppy."
Kangmin glared up at him. "I am not! I'm old enough now!"
"Ah," Minchan held a finger up, "actions speak louder than words. And you know better than to yell at your elders."
"Then let me go." Kangmin frowned. "... Please."
Minchan examined him carefully then slowly lowered his arm. "Huh. Guess you are growing up." His annoyingly cheerful smile returned. "Okaaay, I'll help the little man out. You talking about the one who just walked past?" He then briefly described the stranger.
Kangmin's eyes lit up. "Yes!"
"I think they went to talk to their friends. I was about to bring them drinks." He nonchalantly explained.
The little man's brow furrowed. "You? Bringing people drinks?"
"Well," Minchan's smile turned sheepish; a first for him, "I kinda talked with one of their friends. And, funnily enough, Dongheon was dancing with the other. Odd how connected we are, like a perfectly written plot of a novel..."
Kangmin stared unamused at them. "Anyway, thanks for telling me." He quickly brushed past him, except Minchan continued to call out to him. "Hey! What're you even gonna say to 'em? You're not exactly an expert..."
The other huffed and answered over his shoulder, "I'll... think of something..." Oh, great. That didn't exactly scream confident. When he spotted the same stranger at the table with their friends, his feet suddenly froze. Damn, Minchan was right... He doesn't have any experience in this field like he does. And he can't exactly go up there and potentially embarrass himself in front of their friends! Even worse, in front of Minchan.
He clenched his fists together and began to take some steps forward. Unfortunately, Dongheon arrived at the table with the remaining friend. Kangmin quickly stepped aside and hid behind a pillar. Nope. No way. Publicly embarrassing himself is bad enough, but if he did it in front of Dongheon?? Having the most awkward one out of their group tease him is a death sentence.
He'll... just have to find a way to get that stranger by themselves. Somehow.
He sighed heavily and rested his head against the marble. His brain was trying to come up with solid ideas, but all of them sounded either pathetic or stupid. Man, maybe he is a little hopeless.
"Oh yeah, where did you go?"
"Huh? Oh, I just walked around. This guy dropped his wallet, so I gave it back. That's about it."
"... Was the guy cute?"
"I mean-"
"Drinks are here!"
Kangmin peered around the pillar as Minchan announced himself before he took a seat. The stranger, they mentioned him! But they only referred to him as "this guy". He pouted silently to himself. Maybe he should listen in a little and see if he can find a way to insert himself naturally.
"Guy dropped his wallet? Sounds like something Kangmin would do," Minchan snorted. The guy who dropped his wallet immediately frowned.
"It... might've been him," the stranger pointed out. "He was a bit taller than me. Dark hair, long-ish bangs."
"Hm, did he have this lost look in his eyes?" Dongheon asked. "Like a lost puppy?"
He felt himself warm up at the sound of giggling. He doesn't look like some lost puppy...
"Y'know what, yeah," the stranger laughed lightly, "but I thought it was cute."
Kangmin's ears perked up. He readjusted himself to take a better look at them. They held that same gentle smile. His posture relaxed. At least the giggling didn't hold any malice behind it. And, well, if they think it's cute, then... maybe there's nothing wrong with it.
"Ohh, be careful," Dongheon chuckled. "That's how he gets you."
"Yeah," Minchan interjected, "he wants to be a little man now. The guy's been getting rejected left and right all night though. Honestly, I thought that'd be happening to Dongheon-"
"Hey!" Dongheon frowned.
"What?" Minchan laughed behind his glass. "You were the one with this super specific fantasy in your head."
"And it worked out, didn't it?" The other grabbed his partner's hand. "Maybe it was like a prophecy and not some fantasy."
Minchan snorted. "Okay, That's So Raven, settle down." His partner sitting beside him had to put her drink down, shaking her head and attempting to swallow before she started choking from laughter. Dongheon's ears burned red, but his partner gave him a few sympathetic pats against his hand as she bit back her own laughs.
Kangmin continued to watch and listen for a while. It... sounded like they were having a lot of fun. But what would happen if he were to join it? Wouldn't it become awkward?
"... In all seriousness though," Dongheon's voice softened, "Kangmin's a good ki- guy. Good guy."
Minchan nodded then pointed at the stranger, "Aren't you single? Looking for somebody- ow!" He frowned as Dongheon reached over to lightly bop his head. "I didn't even hit you that hard. And you can't just ask people that!"
"Whaaat? I was curious! And trying to set Kangmin up. Poor kid can't do it all by himself."
The stranger awkwardly shifted in their seat. "Y...Yeah, technically speaking. I dunno if I'm ready for a relationship though."
Minchan waved his hand in dismissal. "It doesn't have to turn serious. For real, he's really nice. A little confused but got the spirit. He... should be around here somewhere, actually-"
Kangmin ducked once more as the other started to scan the area. His heart rate picked up. This is all too soon! He's nowhere near ready. God, his worst fear right now is one of them finding him and dragging him out. It's too many expectations set for him!
Since he was caught up in his own head, he hadn't realized his stranger had gotten up and left the table. Something told him to open his frustrated eyes. He tensed up as he caught them walking past. He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. Curious eyes watched as they turned and walked out to one of the large balconies.
His feet moved for him as he silently followed behind.
Once again, he found himself peeking around the corner. They stood alone, arms resting on the railing of the balcony as they took some deep breaths. The opportunity basically presented itself. And... if they needed some space, he was understanding enough to know when to bow out. Okay. You can do this, Kangmin. Just... talk to them as a normal person would.
He took in a big breath then sighed. Quietly, he approached from behind.
"I was wondering when you'd show your face again,"
He stiffened at their voice. After taking a peek behind him, he realized that there was no one else they could possibly be referring to. He turned back from hearing them laugh, and they moved to face him. "Yeah, I'm talking to you. Who else?" There was that smile again.
A nervous laugh blurted out of him. "Right! Yeah. Who else but me?" He cleared his throat then joined them in leaning against the railing.
"You're Kangmin, right?" they asked. He silently nodded.
"(y/n)." They introduced themselves. "... Don't talk much, do you?"
The realization hit him. "Oh! Sorry, I was just... yes! I talk a lot - wait no, that's a bad thing-" His ears began to burn red when they started giggling. "Sorry... I don't... do this often." he sighed, "Most people turn me away the second they see me."
"Why?" They rose a brow. "You're pretty cute. And funny."
The heat spread to the rest of his face. He awkwardly rubbed his neck. "I guess my age? I'm 21, but everyone treats me like a kid." His gaze shifted to the scenery in front of him. "I just wanna know what it's like. To have someone."
"Huh. Didn't peg you as the romantic type." They follow his gaze. "But yeah, I see it. Kinda scary though, isn't it? I mean, if you get into a relationship, it's either gonna work out and you'll get married, or it'll end in heart break and you start back at square one."
"Maybe..." Kangmin answered, "But I wanna experience that kind of love, even at the risk of heartbreak. High risk, high reward, right?"
They become silent for a moment. He worried he may have said something wrong. "You make a good point," they finally responded. "I guess I'm a bit... scared of going through that heartbreak. Just sounds like too much."
He quietly observed them. He could spot the twinkle of eagerness in their eyes. He found himself shuffling a bit closer. "Won't know until you try." His voice came out in a murmur. His attention was briefly drawn to the dancing crowd inside. He returned to (y/n) and leaned down in an attempt to get a look of their face. "Hey... have you been asked to dance yet?"
He spotted their eyes flickering to him then back to the scenery. "...No."
"Would you..."
"Yes."
He blinked feverishly at their sudden response, otherwise, a soft smile emerged. A hand was held out to them, one they stared at for a second before cautiously taking. He made sure to be gentle in pulling them towards the center of the wide balcony floor. Luckily, the music was loud enough to reach the outside, so he quietly followed along.
Although there was silence between them, he didn't mind it. He could tell this was their first dance, and he patiently fixed the positioning of their hands. His fingers found themselves interlacing with theirs at some point. His smile turned into a gently amused one at their refusal to make eye contact.
He's not sure what came over him, but he leaned in to whisper in their ear, "Why hide your beautiful face?" As he pulled back, it was hard to suppress a laugh at their flustered expression, but it allowed him a chance to see them. It felt like his heart melted at the sight. Perfectly illuminated by the moonlight.
He found himself leaning in again, but their voice stopped him. "What are you doing?" they whispered frantically. He pulled back some, earnestly replying, "Sorry, am I making you uncomfortable?"
"Well, n... no..." They stumbled through an answer. "No, you're not. I... also don't do this often." He exhaled softly but gave a nod of understanding. "Okay, I won't do anything else without your permission." His heart beat picked up as a sudden thought came through. "(y/n)...?" They anxiously focused on him.
"Is it okay if I kiss you?"
Their grip on his hand and shoulder tightened. They stopped their swaying, but their eyes refused to leave his gaze. He swallowed a small lump forming, fearing he may have pushed his luck. But, to his amazement, they gave a few nods. "Yeah... Yeah, it's okay."
A wide smile quickly spread, but he doesn't let his excitement take over completely. Their comfort was his number one priority. He tilted his head and slowly leaned in until he felt soft lips brush against his own. The contact sent butterflies through his stomach. He pressed forward slightly; his hands silently moving to link their fingers together.
Honestly, he thought it'd only be a quick little kiss. They surprised him by returning the favor, tilting their head up to continue. He wasn't sure how long they stood there, all he knew was that they eventually had to pull back for air.
Kangmin let out a small, breathless laugh. He even hopped a little in glee. Just like a dumb little kid. (y/n)'s blush hardly faded. If anything, it may have gotten worse. They squeeze his hands. "How am I supposed to go back and face my friends like this?" They mumbled.
"If it helps," he chuckled, "my friends are there too. I'll get teased regardless."
They hummed in response, took a deep breath, then sighed. "Okay. Then... let's go face them together."
Summary || You never thought you'd end up in a class with him. Frankly, you find him a bit intimidating but always wanted to get to know him. Fate grants your wish when your professor assigns him as your presentation partner.
Word count || 3.4k
Yongseung nudged his glasses back up. His eyes flicked between the professor's notes on the whiteboard and his own notebook. He had only been in college for a few semesters, but he found it equally challenging and rewarding. Only thing is, he tended to isolate himself. Not entirely his fault; whenever he entered a classroom for the first time, he tried to find a spot near the front. Others were not as bold as him, instead opting to sit near the back or leave a few seats between them.
It grew a bit lonely; he won't lie. But he tried to focus on his studies. Most of his classes hadn't asked for partner work. However, this was a much smaller class size, and he remembered spotting the words "group project" on the syllabus. Thinking about it made his leg bounce.
"Okaaay, I know we're still pretty fresh into the semester, but keen eyes probably saw a mention of a group project in the syllabus," the professor beamed at them, despite the students' uneasy squirming. "I wanted to use the project as a way for everyone to get to know each other! Don't worry, there's no more after this." Some sighed in relief, others in quiet annoyance.
The professor pulled out a box from their desk. "In here are names of countries we'll be studying throughout the semester. This'll be a duo project, meaning two of you will get the same country and have to create a short presentation overviewing basic details." They rattled the box and began to walk around, stopping at Yongseung's desk first. "Go on, don't be shy!"
He gave them a tight-lipped smile then reached into the box. His hand dug through the papers for a minute before he pulled a piece out. The professor kept walking, so he undid the folds to reveal his country: Mexico. He hummed and nodded- not a bad choice. He has been studying the language for a while and has been wanting to learn more about its culture for a while now.
But he looked past his shoulder at everyone else. As some were reading their countries, a few looked around expectedly and showed their country. There were some murmurs of disappointment, as well as quiet cheers. He scanned the room to see if he could make eye contact with his partner, but no one came forward.
"Alright," the professor spoke up, "I'll be ending my lecture a bit early, so you all can find your partners and start planning. The details are already posted on your portal, but I'll be here for another 10 minutes if you have any questions."
The room sparked with conversations and awkward hello's. Once again, he looked around, but... his leg began to bounce-
"Um, hi."
He whipped around to look up at a classmate. He gave them a relieved smile. "I was starting to think I'd be doing a solo project." He laughed lightly. They smile awkwardly at him. "Can I sit here?" They point to the chair and his backpack that was occupying it. "Oh!" he hurriedly pulled it off. "Yes, yes, of course. Sorry." He cleared his throat and readjusted his chair. "What's your name? I don't think I've met you," he asked.
"(y/n)," they answered. "And that's probably because I tend to hang out in the back..." They fiddled with their pencil. "And you? I don't think I've seen you around either."
"Yongseung." He replied.
"Y...Yongsung? Sorry, I wanna make sure I get it right-"
He shook his head, smiling kindly. "Yongseung, as in sing."
"Oh! Okay, okay. Yongseung. Just gimme a few tries and I'll get it down next time we meet." They share some light laughter, causing his nose to scrunch up. It's true; he hasn't seen this person before, but they're making a good impression on him. A bit awkward, but he's dealt with awkward before. If anything, it only made them cuter.
"So... Mexico. Dunno if this is gonna be easy or tricky." They looked down at the paper. "We shouldn't overthink it," Yongseung pointed out. "But..." he peeked back at the emptying classroom, "I honestly don't want to be the last ones here. Are you okay with heading to a little cafe spot nearby?"
"R...Right now?" They stared at him with wide eyes. He nodded. "Oh! Yes, that's... that's totally fine." Although he wore a smile, his brow furrowed in slight confusion at their blush. He gathered his things and led (y/n) out of the room. They made pleasant conversation as they walked, finding out each other's majors and other classes they're taking. It... was nice to be able to talk to someone, just as he's watched others do. He only hoped he wasn't coming across as overeager.
He wasn't exactly sure why people avoid him. He did his best to smile politely and sometimes ask questions, but he'd always be met with weird or awkward looks. And his other friends were all occupied with different things. He wanted to make friends on campus. A study buddy, even.
He may be getting his hopes up too soon, but he hoped something will come out of him and (y/n).
A short bus ride later, and they arrived at the Privacy Cafe. He held the door open for them then asked, "Do you want anything?"
They scanned the menu hanging overhead and hummed. "What do you usually get?"
"Iced matcha or something with caramel."
"Ooh, I'll go with the caramel option. Don't disappoint me," they chuckled. His eager smile returned. "Okay, you can find a spot. I'll get us the drinks-"
"Wh- are you sure?" Their blush returned, "You don't have to..."
"Really." Yongseung nodded. "Don't worry about it." They stared at him for a minute before a small, warm smile appeared. "Alright... thanks, Yongseung." And they turned to find a comfortable booth to sit at.
He watched as they took a seat. "God, you're hopeless." His friend's voice made him turn back to face the barista. He huffed slightly. "I am not! I'm just being nice. Nothing more than that, Gyehyeon."
"Mhm," Gyehyeon tiredly rubbed an eye, "so, two of your usual caramel?" He rung up his friend's order and gave him the ticket number. "They seem nice," he continued. "Surprised you haven't scared them off."
"They wouldn't run..." Yongseung mumbled. "I hope not, anyway. And I'm not scary-"
"Start talking about space and see how they react," Gyehyeon softly snorted. "Or soccer. Or your collection of Rubiks cubes. Or-"
"Okay!" The other raised his hands to silence him. "Okay, I get it. Well, they don't really have a choice. We're partnered up for a presentation."
"Ohh, that explains it." Gyehyeon soon passed his drinks over. "Hm. Good luck. Keep me posted," he gave him a thumbs up. Yongseung said a quiet thank you and walked back to the booth, handing a cup to (y/n). Even though he wanted to know more about them, he spotted their open laptop. Right, the assignment is more important. He took some sips of his drink and pulled out his to look at the project details.
They began to layout a plan for their presentation - finding good sources and dividing the work between the two of them. He also found some enjoyment in this. He could tell they were a hard worker and wasn't about to let him shoulder all the work. It was actually starting to become a little fun.
As they studied the words on their screen, Yongseung found himself staring. They chewed down on their pencil and held furrowed brows in concentration. Their fingers delicately swiped the mousepad up as they scrolled. He... wasn't sure why he was staring. But even when he tried to break away and focus on his own screen, it was as if his gaze was magnetically pulled towards them.
Eventually, he was caught. "You... okay?" They asked. He blinked then rapidly shook his head, forcing himself back to his screen. "Y...Yeah, sorry. Spacing off."
"Oh..." Was that disappointment in their voice? "Well, it is getting late. I don't wanna miss the last bus to the parking lot." They started to pack up their things. "Thanks for the drink. I actually really liked it," They smiled softly at him. His shoulders relaxed at the sight. "Oh, we should exchange numbers. Y'know, to schedule more meet ups." He nearly shot up at the suggestion. He was all too quick in breaking out his phone to receive their number.
"You okay with heading back by yourself?" He quietly asked.
They chuckled softly. "It's cute that you're worried for me, but I'll be fine. Look, I'll um... I'll text you when I make it to my car safely, yeah?" He could only nod pathetically. But their smile remained as they gave their goodbyes.
Yongseung slumped in his spot. That... wasn't so bad, right? He got their number, after all! He leaned his head back, staring up at the ceiling. God, they're really cute... And it wasn't just in the physical sense. A little awkward at first, sure, but he was already admiring their work ethic and willingness to try new things. This interaction only made him more eager to learn about them. Their likes and dislikes, sources of fear and joy.
Is this normal...?
"Hey." His head rolled over to Gyehyeon, who was standing over him. "Congrats on a successful first date. Can you take me home? I forgot Hoyoung was out of town for a wedding."
Straight to the point with that one. Yongseung sighed but otherwise nodded and grabbed his things. Not many words were shared, but that's how it normally is. Besides, his thoughts were on his new partner. He barely remembered dropping Gyehyeon off and making it back to his apartment. He practically collapsed on the couch. Too much energy spent from social interaction. Mindlessly, he turned the tv on to a rerun of a soccer game.
The pillow was pulled closer to him. The exhaustion washed over him like a soothing wave. That is, until he felt buzzing from his pocket. He groggily rose his head and pulled out his phone. Oh, right! (y/n)! He tried to rub some sleep out of his eyes to read the message:
sorry for the late text! was driving. but made it home safely :]
hope ur getting some sleep too
i'll see u in class tomorrow!
A smile stretched across his face. He snuggled back into the pillow and allowed himself to drift off to sleep.
The project served as a good excuse to hang out throughout the past few weeks. As predicted, though, it didn't take much effort to finish, and their presentation went off without a hitch, so he came up with the idea on holding a minor celebration at his place.
"God, now I can close all these damn tabs." (y/n) groaned as they leaned back from their laptop, earning a chuckle from Yongseung. He took a sip of his water then readjusted himself on his spot on the floor.
"Oh yeah, I was always curious about something." He tilted his head at their question. "And what is this something?" he asked them.
They point towards the bottle in his hand. "I only ever see you drink water or some juice. I've never seen you drink soda. Hell, not even sparkling water! I get staying hydrated but man."
Yongseung let out a few nervous laughs as he rubbed the back of his neck. "It's a bit hard to explain... I basically can't drink anything carbonated." He winced at the memory. "Last time I had a soda, I passed out."
"No way!" They gasped. "Seriously?"
He meekly nodded. "My body just can't handle it, I suppose. One of my friends, Dongheon, he tried to make me drink something carbonated to see if I was still the same. I spat it back out and just laid there on the floor..." Even if it was embarrassing, he found himself laughing all the same. He quieted himself to hear their laughter more, though. "Um... please don't ask me to do that, though. Yeonho would kill me if I got stains on his rug."
They shake their head, smiling up at them. "Nah, I won't. But that is a funny story to tell." They shifted a bit closer to him as they became quiet. He nervously stiffened for a second. Since they've been hanging out, he had found out so much about them. He was shocked at how many interests they shared, and even more so when he realized how attentive they were when he would ramble about his favorite topics.
It only made his crush worse.
It's gotten so bad that his friends were beginning to notice. Gyehyeon was already teasing him, but Yeonho couldn't, considering he had also started seeing someone he met at his job. The others were just like Gyehyeon - teasing him until Yongseung scolded them like a mother. Also didn't help that this was his first crush in a while...
"Yongseung..."
Their voice pulled him out of his thoughts. "Mhm?"
"There's something else I've also been curious about."
He tilted his head again. "Yeah? Ask away."
"I... kinda lied when we first met. About not knowing who you were."
His brow furrowed as he sat up a little. He waited for them to continue, "Truth is," they sighed, "I've seen you in a lot of my classes. The entry-level ones. Y'know, with the big halls. You always sat in the front, but you were never with anyone. You... don't have to answer, but why? Why do you sit by yourself?"
He took in a deep breath then sighed. Honestly not a question he was expecting, but he wasn't offended by it. They were merely being observant. "It's not exactly my choice," he began. "My main group of friends are all doing their own thing, so it's just been me on campus. And..." he stared at the ground, "I've tried talking to people. I don't know what it is about me. I asked my friends once. Yeonho told me that I look kind of intimidating. He figured people were just too nervous to talk to me," He shook his head. "But I've done my best to come across as nice. So, I don't know what I'm doing wrong..."
They quietly sat, eyes staring off as they listened attentively. They finally take a soft breath, "I... don't think it's on you, then. You're not doing anything wrong." They shuffled even closer. He felt their weight rest against him. "Okay, yeah, I'll admit, I was a bit intimidated by you. I mean, super pretty boy who's also insanely smart? I was also kinda worried you'd be some kind of jerk."
He paused, mouth slightly agape. Did they just-?
"But," they continued, "talking to you, hanging out with you, working with you..." They rest their head against his shoulder. "You surprised me. You're genuinely such a sweet person." His heart began to race, but not from their closeness. He felt a lump forming in his throat and had to swallow it down and cover it up with a quiet laugh. A hand wiped away the few tears that managed to leak from his eyes.
"That's... That's really nice to hear, (y/n). Thank you. I could say the same of you... Being a sweet person, I mean. Not the intimidating part." He smiled warmly, "I actually find you quite pretty yourself."
He felt them flinch and their arm warm up against his. "Jeez, don't play like that, Yongseung..."
"I'm serious." he gazed down at them, silently waiting for them to raise their head up. When they did, he chuckled quietly at their red face. "Not only are you pretty, you're also intelligent, observant, and attentive." His voice quieted to a soft murmur as he leaned in. "I've never met someone quite like you."
He heard their breath get caught in their throat. A tiny smile couldn't help but appear on his face as a result. His forehead delicately rested on theirs; he could smell the perfume that was beginning to fade. "(y/n)..." He mumbled against their lips.
But he quickly pulled back as he heard keys jangling and the door creaking open. He bit down on his tongue and straightened out his lips as Yeonho entered. His friend paused, staring at the two of them. "...Did I interrupt something?" he snorted.
"It's fine!" (y/n) blurted out. "It...It's getting late, anyway. I have a paper to finish." Yongseung could only sadly watch as they grabbed their things in a haste and rush to the door. "I'll um... I'll text you when I get home, okay? ... Bye." They hurried out, closing the door behind them.
Yongseung jumped as Yeonho clapped his hands. "You were about to kiss them!" His friend laughed. But his smile dropped at Yongseung's glare. "What? Oh, c'mon! You know what time I come home!"
"I lost track of time," Yongseung grumbled. He started to clean up the area around him. "Damn, now it's just gonna be awkward," he hissed to himself.
"Might've been awkward if you did kiss them too-"
"Not helping."
Yeonho raised his hands up in defeat, "Okay... Okay. Relax. Look, I'm sorry for ruining your little date." He hung his jacket up. "But if they really like you, then you'll get another chance soon enough." His eyes shifted to his phone. "Besides, it really is getting late. Have you ate?"
Yongseung sighed deeply. "No..."
"Then it's decided. I'll cook us up a quick meal; it'll help us sleep easier, 'kay?"
He couldn't help but nod. He could never be genuinely upset at his friend. It wasn't his fault. He just hoped he was right...
After the brief dinner, he washed up and crawled into bed, phone in hand. He stared at the messages shared between himself and (y/n). Should he text them...? No, that might come off as too strong-
He jumped at the vibration.
made it home
see u in class
:]
Despite them sending their little emoticon, he still felt like shit. He buried his face into his pillow as it began to burn hot. Why? Why did he do that? Now he might've ruined his only potential friendship - all because he got too greedy...
He took a deep breath then sighed. No use crying over it. He plugged in his phone then turned over. He'll deal with this tomorrow.
And tomorrow came all too fast. He honestly slept walked through the day. Everything his professors said went in one ear and out the other. He thought he could sleep it off, but no, it continued to haunt him. And (y/n) hasn't texted him since. His heart ached as a sudden thought came through: they hate him...
It was finally time for their class together. His footsteps felt heavy as he made his way to the building. He kept his head down, earbuds in. They can't hate him; they texted him last night! But what if that's just them being nice? His hands clenched together in his pockets. Man, he needed to apologize and soon -
His steps slowed as he took out his phone to check a notification. His eyes went wide, and he had to rub them to make sure it wasn't a mistake. His head shot up; he suddenly gained the energy to bolt the rest of the way. He knew the spot where (y/n) usually waited. And sure enough, he found them right there.
No fear weighed him down as he rushed up and called out their name. They turned towards him, only to jump as he grabbed their shoulders and spun them around. "Did you see it??" he asked excitedly.
"Wh...What? See what?"
"Our grade! A perfect score!"
"What?!" They whip out their phone to check. "I...I mean, I knew we'd get a good grade, but a perfect score?" They looked up to him, "Shouldn't you be used to this? I'm sure you get perfect grades all the time-" They froze when he quickly kissed their cheek. Wide eyes stared at him as he was beaming. "No! Okay, sometimes, but I... I don't know! I guess since we worked so hard together on it... I guess I'm just... really proud?" He questioned himself. He finally noticed their expression and pulled their hands back.
"Oh, I'm... I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"
Yongseung softly grunted as his arm was yanked down. A blink later, and he felt soft lips against his own. His heart swelled with joy, but the feeling disappeared as quickly as it happened as they pulled back. He had to blink a few times to get out of his daze.
"Tell your friend if you have me over next time." They huffed with burning red cheeks. "Also..." their eyes darted around nervously, "people are staring. Let's get inside before we're late for class."
He couldn't help but burst into laughter. His nose scrunched up as his wide smile returned. "Okay, I'll let him know." He offered a hand. "Come on. Be a real bad look if we were late after getting a perfect grade."
Summary || After having your heart broken, you decide to try and drink your sorrows away. However, the bartender seems to be rather insistent on checking up on you.
Word count || 2.3k
Warnings || 16+ for minor language & alcohol mentions
His job as a bartender wasn't much, but it was honest work. Honestly, he didn't picture himself in this line of work. He had tried a few gigs like playing the piano or singing in a club, but it was hard to break out as a performer. His best friend recommended that he should at least get a stable job while he waited. Unfortunately, he couldn't argue with him; Yongseung tended to be right about those kind of things.
He doesn't hate his job. He doesn't hate anything, really. It was a bit overwhelming at first, to learn all the different mixtures and handle an unique array of customers. But once he settled in, it became second nature to him. Plus, there were nights where the boss would let him play a piece or two, and it would help him hone his craft. There's not a more honest crowd than a bunch of drunk people.
It was a slow night, and he kept himself busy by wiping the glasses with a cloth. His bar was empty; most of the patrons were in their own dark corners ranting or mumbling. He turned around and used a hand to cover his mouth as he yawned. When he turned back, he nearly jumped out of his skin at the newly seated customer. How did he not hear them-?
He observed them silently; they kept their head down and mumbled under their breath. He could already detect the faint smell of alcohol. Yeonho looked around. They're here on their own? A bit unusual but not rare.
"Are you going to serve me or not?" They grumbled at him. The young bartender furrowed his brow in annoyance. "You didn't tell me your order."
"Just gimme a shot... pineapple vodka."
"That's all you want?"
"You asked for my order, didn't you?" They finally rose their head. He became still for a moment, voice caught in his throat at the sight of them. Even looking a mess, they were... The thought was shook out of his head. Right. They're still a customer, and this was a part of his job. He silently passed the shot glass to them then was pulled to talk to another.
But as the new patron rambled, his eyes kept flicking back towards the stranger. Judging by the looks of things, they may be experiencing a breakup. First one, maybe? Or one they got really attached to. He only went through one himself. It didn't get too messy, but it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows either. Maybe an angry tear or two was shed.
Anyway, in this line of work, he's learned how to talk to people. Plus, getting people to open up means them buying more drinks or even giving out tips for being a good listener. Besides, with the bit of attitude they gave earlier, they seemed like they need a lending ear. It's not... completely cold-hearted; he had bills to pay!
He excused himself from the rambling customer and returned to the other. "Need anything else?" he casually asked. They avoid his gaze and stare off into the distance. "No," they answer, "unless you have a time machine, so I can go back and smack my past self around."
Yeonho bit back a laugh. Instead, it came out as a sudden puff from his nose. "Breakup that bad?"
"Yes!" they finally admit. "I mean, stringing me along for months? What kind of partner does that?! Made me think we were actually going somewhere, just to be told the feelings aren't mutual like... what the actual hell??" He spotted the tears beginning to well in their eyes. He passed a napkin over to them, which they took. His smile began to fade; it sounded all too similar to his own situation.
"Sounds like a real jerk..." He mumbled. "I knew someone like that, too. But you can't waste tears on someone who clearly doesn't care."
"Yeah, well," they sniffled, "if you dealt with the same thing, how can you give advice?"
"Wh... hey!" He frowned. "I'm just trying to help. I could've left you here all by yourself instead."
"Well, maybe you should've." They pushed the glass away. "I know better now than to listen to a pretty man sweet talk."
His glare shifted to the ground. "I'm not even sweet talki-" He paused. Did they just call him pretty? And why does he suddenly feel warm? He let out a soft tsk and let the silence between them grow. They're being completely rude to him... so why can't he leave them alone? It's not like this was his first time dealing with a rude customer either.
Maybe... maybe he does want them to feel better. They're simply someone who's had their heart broken for the first time. He remembered when it happened to him; despite the warnings his friends gave, he still pursued. If it weren't for his friends, he might be right where this stranger is - alone and drinking their sorrows away.
A heavy sigh left him. "Okay... if you want me to leave you alone, I will. Just thought you needed some company, even if you were being rude." He started to walk off, only to be stopped by a soft "wait". He peered over his shoulder at them. Their shoulders dropped as they sighed and shook their head. "Wait," they repeated, "I... guess you can stay. I didn't mean to be rude... It's just been a rough 24 hours."
He raised a brow. "Ohh, this is fresh fresh, huh? No wonder." He returned to them and offered a glass of water. "Y'know, drinking your problems away won't do anything."
"Mmm, maybe not," they stared at the water, then at him, before cautious fingers wrapped around the glass, "but it helps me forget a little."
Yeonho shook his head then rested his arms on the table, leaning over slightly. "You'll forget for a second, then what'll you do when it all comes rushing back? This," he pointed to the shot glass, "is like taking pain medicine for a headache when it was caused by hunger or dehydration. It may work for a moment, but there's a bigger, underlying issue at play."
"Whoa," they laugh, "listen to the doctor over here." He shifted slightly; their laugh wasn't malicious, he could tell that much. But why was his first thought: "their laugh is cute..."?
He finally cracked a smile. "Not even my words. It's from my best friend. Don't know where I'd be without him."
"Must be nice," they mumbled.
"What?" he tilted his head, "don't have any friends?"
"Well, yeah, but..." Their cheeks flushed. "They'd just tell me 'I told you so,' and I don't need that right now."
Their blush is cute too... "Ohh, so that's why you're here." He nodded. "I get it, I suppose. But you look around my age, and since this is your first breakup," He shrugged his shoulders, "just know you shouldn't put too much fault on yourself." He looked off to the side as he continued, "You're too pretty to be wasting tears. I'm sure you'll find someone better soon enough."
"What, someone like you?" They brushed past his compliment, which stung him a little, but he quickly retorted, "Yeah, actually. Someone like me."
They scoffed, but he spotted that suppressed smile. "Like anyone would date someone as rude as you."
"Me? Rude? You started it!" he let out a surprised laugh. "I only matched your energy." He watched as their eyes scanned him up and down. A slight chill ran up his body when their gazes linked. "Hm," they hummed and took a sip of water, "I guess you're prettier. Is that all you are? A pretty face with a spunky attitude?"
"I'd ask the same of you." They quickly remarked. It landed its mark, and red blossomed across their face. They pointed a finger at him, "What's even your name?"
"Oh, asking for my name now? You must be getting attached." A smirk formed and only grew when he saw them pause at it. "Yeonho," he finally answered. "And yours?"
"(y/n)," they hummed. "And hey, don't expect a fat tip from me."
"I wasn't," they softly snorted, "you came in on a Tuesday." His attention turned to the beeping of his watch; it marked his shift ending. "Oh..." he muttered. He rose his head to (y/n), and he could've sworn he saw their shoulders drop in disappointment. "What? Gonna miss me?" he teased.
"You wish," they frowned, but it doesn't hold for long. But a new question arose in his head. "Hey... you got a way home? You should call up one of your friends-"
They shook their head. "For them to bully me? I think not."
"You live by yourself?"
"No. I live with my close friend, but she's probably asleep. I don't wanna bother her."
He chewed on his lip for a moment. A few options ran through his head, one more crazy than the other. So, he elected to go with the more sane choice. "Okay, I'll call up a friend of mine. He should be working tonight." he whipped out his phone to begin texting. He caught (y/n)'s confused gaze. "Why're you doing this for me?"
Honestly... Yeonho didn't know either. "Just the right thing to do," he mumbled. "Don't feel super special, now. I've done this before."
They visibly deflate and pout. "I'm not your special exception?"
He felt a heat rush to his ears and quickly turned away to answer his friend's call. He spoke to him for a moment, told (y/n) to wait there, and left to gather his things. He soon returned and sat on the stool next to them. "You okay?" he quietly asked. They nodded then raised their head to him. Without the bar separating them, he could see their features more clearly. His fingers twitched; he wanted to brush the hair out of their face...
"Would you break my hand if I move some hair away?" he leaned over to mutter to them. Their eyes screamed exhaustion, but they gave a silent shake of the head anyway. Carefully, he let his fingers brush past their cheek and tuck the strands behind their ear. He felt them shudder lightly. He wasn't sure why, but he let himself stay in that position. Fingers moved to gently tip their chin up. He found himself leaning in, until he smelled the alcohol again.
He pulled himself back. His phone then buzzed, announcing his driver friend's arrival. "He's here," he cleared his throat. "Can you stand?"
(y/n) huffed slightly, avoiding eye contact. "Of course I can," they pushed themselves off, only to stumble and latch onto his arm for support. He scoffed lightly in amusement but otherwise got up and helped them out the door. A car ran idle nearby; he opened the back door and helped them get in.
"They okay?" his friend asked. "Do you even know where they live?"
"Yeah, just going through a first breakup," Yeonho explained as he dug through their wallet and pulled out their I.D. to show to him. "Oh, that's not too far from here. I got it from here."
The other nodded. "Just make sure they get in, okay? Their friend should be home." He turned to (y/n) and clasped the seatbelt across them. He watched them for a second then slipped in a neatly folded piece of paper into their wallet.
He closed the door then stepped aside as his friend rolled the window down. "Thanks, Seo. I'll cover their fee. Text me when they make it in, okay?" he told him.
"Aw, who knew you were such a sweetheart." Seo smiled. Yeonho huffed then backed away from the car. He silently watched as his friend drove off. He knew they were in good hands. He looked down at his phone... a stupidly amateur move on his account. He'll never admit it aloud -
But he wanted to see them again.
He let out a deep sigh and walked to his car. Music softly played as he drove back to his apartment. His mind occasionally wandering. He cringed at himself; he didn't know what power came over him to almost kiss them! Or what could possibly explain the feelings and thoughts he had. That he felt that they were his responsibility. They're a complete stranger!
A stranger he wanted to know more about. His hand frustratingly ran through his hair. He just needed a good meal and some sleep. Maybe he'll think more straight afterwards.
He eventually made it home, tossing his keys into the small dish as he entered. Yongseung had fallen asleep watching soccer on the tv. He set his things down quietly to go do his nightly self-care routine.
Maybe an hour had passed before he was tucked in and ready for bed. He scrolled through some notifications, but it was nothing important. With a defeated sigh, he plugged his phone in then turned over to sleep. He could still smell the faint scent of pineapple...
His eyes shot open at the sound of buzzing. He usually ignored the noises as he slept, but something told him to check. He whipped back around, eyes squinting through the bright light. It was a text from an unknown number. He shot up in bed and quickly unlocked the phone to read the message:
it's (y/n)..... friend made me text you to say thanks.
A smile couldn't help but spread across his face. His fingers moved before he could form a thought:
no problem.
Ugh, c'mon Yeonho, you can write more than that! A finger anxiously tapped against his phone before he sent another message:
if you wake up feeling like shit, i know a little place that'll perk you right up
Okay... Okay, that's better. He gripped onto the phone, watching those text bubbles bounce in waves. It disappeared for a second before their reply appeared:
okay.
Okay? That's all? He looked down as more messages came through:
i'll hold you to it.
guess you're not as rude as i thought lol
talk to you tomorrow
Talk to you tomorrow... His grin grew so much, his cheeks began to hurt. He rubbed his face, groaning to himself. Now how is he supposed to get a good night's sleep?
Summary || You're with your friends at a birthday ball. One got swept away by the birthday boy, while the other wandered off, leaving you alone at the table. Unfortunately, someone spots you and takes it upon himself to keep you company.
Word count || 1.1k
"Hold that thought. Why don't you watch me at work? See how it's done." He hurried down the steps without hearing a response from the other. Minchan's reputation among the people was... not the greatest. Rich playboy was how he's primarily described. He goes back and forth on whether or not it bothered him. He couldn't help it... if there was something he wanted, he'd work to get it.
And was his devilishly good looks really his fault? Or having a voice as smooth as butter? He was simply utilizing his skills– no one can get mad at that. Despite seemingly having the world at his feet, he had to admit, it was a bit lonely. Like his friend, he had also been getting the "marriage" talk. That he needed to stop messing around and have a real goal. A real purpose.
That sort of talk only brought frustration. Perhaps because, deep down, he was aware he couldn't keep this persona up forever. Hearing Dongheon ramble about his dream marriage life used to annoy him, but lately, he was starting to see the appeal in it.
It would be nice to have someone to cook for every once in a while.
But, unlike Dongheon, he wasn't waiting for his dream person to fall into his lap. And he was not that eager to get married just yet. No, he can squeeze out a few more years of fun.
He hopped off the last pair of steps and directly waltzed his way to the lone stranger at the table. They were aimlessly scrolling on their phone, so he stood behind them and bent down. His chin barely brushed against their shoulder as he spoke, "Oh, that trailer was neat–" He would've laughed at their flinching, if it weren't for their shoulder jabbing against his chin.
"What the f–?!" the stranger whipped around, rubbing their shoulder. They blinked then glared up at him. "Back up maybe??"
"Ow..." Minchan rubbed his chin. "An apology would be nice."
"Apologize for what?" they snapped. "You were all up in my space!"
Ooh, this wasn't going like all the other times. He frowned briefly then sighed. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry... You got some sharp shoulders, though. My chin's really sore," He pouted. "If only there was someone who could kiss it bette–"
"Find someone else to do it."
He blinked feverishly. There have been rare times where people rejected him, but it was never to this extent. He was stunned and merely stared as they began to get up from their seat. For one reason or another, he didn't want them to leave.
"W...Wait, hold on," he jumped in front of them, "okay, fine, I really am sorry for scaring you. I thought it'd be funny," His eyes peeked behind his curly bangs as he observed them. There was annoyance in their eyes, but he spotted that tiny sliver of intrigue. He slowly turned his charm back on with a smile. "I'm Minchan. And you?"
They quickly averted their gaze when he smiled and slowly sat back down. "(y/n)... I think I've heard about you," they muttered.
"Oh?" Minchan grabbed a chair and spun it around to take a seat in front of them. An arm rested on the back. "What have you heard?"
"Well, that you're a player, for one." They respond with a raised brow. Coming from them, he did feel a slight jab to his heart. His smile strained. "I... can't deny that one."
"It honestly doesn't matter to me." They add. He looked up at them with perked ears. "You're grown and pretty. You can do what you want." Their continued comments brought about a slight smirk. "Oh?" He tilted his head, "You think I'm pretty?"
Checkmate.
They began to blush and turned their head away. "Wh...What kind of question is that!" They crossed their arms. "You already know my answer."
"Yeah," his smirk grew and his voice became softer, "but I liked hearing you say it..."
They shifted in their seat and turned their body back to the table. "Y...You really think those playboy tactics are gonna work on me?" They huffed.
"I'm starting to see the effects at work," he chuckled. He then wagged a finger, "I like you." He scooted his chair closer. "You're not afraid to speak your truth, huh? You here all by yourself?"
"Don't see the point in lying. And you look like you need some humbling." They fiddle with the charm on their phone. "And no, I came with my friends." They nodded towards the floor swarming with dancers, "One of them just got swept away." Minchan turned to follow their gaze and spotted said friend dancing with Dongheon. Huh, the guy worked fast. But his attention returned to his stranger as they spoke, "Bet you're used to always getting your way."
"Mmm... most of the time." He shrugged his shoulders. "I never force people to do what I want. I actually enjoy the chase more than anything."
"Toying with your food, you mean." They retort and make eye contact again. For whatever reason, he felt something odd happen in his chest. He cleared his throat to reply, "That's another way to put it, yeah." He raised a brow again, "... You don't get a lot of attention, do you?"
"What's that supposed to mean??" They frowned. Oof, he struck a nerve. He calmly continued, "As in, I think people find you intimidating. No one's been bold enough to approach you, and now that someone has, you don't know how to react. Like you're putting a shield up." Then, he leaned the chair forward to get in close. "Am I wrong?"
They stare at him, dumb-founded at his audacity. By now, his smirk had disappeared. His head was tilted to the side, eyes more revealed and shining with curiosity. Their silence spoke volumes, and he hadn't even noticed the warmth emanating from their face. Finally, they break the silence with a soft scoff. "You're... you're something else."
He chuckled again. "See? I'm not just some dumb playboy."
"Yet you're toying with me."
"Hm, a little. But your blush is so cute," he murmured, eyes softening. He had leaned in close enough to catch a whiff of their floral perfume. Now... now he could feel their warmth, and he couldn't help but smile at knowing this was his doing. This was the part he enjoyed the most; slowly chipping away at someone and watching them crumble before him, especially if his target made things a bit more interesting.
"Any closer, and you're going to fall over." Their voice briefly pulled him back to reality. He recoiled slightly. "Well, don't make me lean in so much," he retorted, "I'm putting in so much wor–"
He was quickly silenced when he felt their lips press against his. Although brief, it was electric. A surge rushed through his body. He would've actually fell over, if it weren't for them gently pushing his chair back onto the ground. He stared wide-eyed at them, a shocked hand covering his mouth.
"Your blush is cute too..." They laughed quietly. He didn't realize how warm he suddenly felt. Slowly, he swallowed a lump and took a breath to calm his pounding heart. "Ha..." he finally recollected himself–
Summary || Through a friend of a friend, you have been invited to some rich boy's birthday ball. Although large crowds aren't your thing, you've always wanted to go to a ball-themed event. However, you had not expected to soon be living out a modern fairy-tale.
Word count || 1.6k
He should've known it'd catch up to him. As soon as he entered his 20s, it's all everyone around him would talk about–
When are you getting married?
Are you talking to anyone?
You should meet this person!
And all he gave was an awkward smile. He didn't want to disappoint anyone, but how could he explain that he doesn't want to be with just anyone? Maybe it's all from all the stuff he's grown up watching, but the idea of having a romantic love had always enticed him. Not simply the cheesy romance, like talking in a cafe, but the hopeless type. The type only seen in, well, Disney movies.
There were times he'd often stare out the window and picture a grand ball. He'd stand idly by until his eyes caught a figure by themselves. As he mustered the courage to talk to them, the crowd between them would part, allowing him a direct passage to this dream person.
Divulging in this fantasy with others mainly resulted in eyes rolling or laughter. People told him to be realistic and use a dating app like everyone else. However, when his family proposed doing a grand celebration for his birthday, he jumped on the opportunity and blurted out that he wants it to be a modern ball. Of course, he won some odd looks, but the idea was accepted and promptly executed.
Although, now that he's standing here, scanning the crowd, reality started to kick in. How in the hell is he supposed to approach someone when he's... him? A handsome face, yes, but past date attempts have been all too truthful about his awkward personality. He was letting out a deep sigh, when he was interrupted by his friend's voice, "Staring's rude, you know." Minchan smiled teasingly at him.
"You scared me..." Dongheon muttered.
Minchan's smile dropped. "Ohh, no pouting or whining? Something's gotta be wrong." He nudged the other's shoulder. "What? Haven't had your Disney moment?"
"Hush." Dongheon frowned as he attempted to swallow down the embarrassment from rising. Then, he sighed again. "I don't know, I thought things would be different–"
"Well," Minchan patted his back, "you can't expect to find your dream person just standing here. I saw some potential people staring up at you..." He sighed and suddenly squished his friend's cheeks together with a hand, "Such a pretty face and it's wasting away up here!" He laughed as Dongheon swatted his hand away.
"Easy for you to say!" Dongheon huffed as he fixed himself back up. "You can just walk up to anyone and have them melt. With your dumb deep voice and stupid curly hair–" He began to grumble. Minchan hummed in agreement, but his gaze was directed elsewhere. "Hold that thought. Why don't you watch me at work? See how it's done." He hurried down the steps without hearing a response from the other. The birthday prince scoffed in disbelief, electing to ignore him instead.
He was getting tired of standing idly though...
Another sigh was about to leave him when his eyes caught something. Someone. They were by themselves, leaning against a pillar. Even from this distance, he noted the slight sparkle in their eyes, a secret eagerness to join the dancing. Before he knew it, his feet began to move. He weaved through the crowd, muttering quiet excuses. He was afraid of breaking his gaze. As if they'll disappear in a blink.
He barely heard his name being called.
Someone suddenly grabbed his arm. He turned his head to see it was a young woman. One he was actually trying to avoid throughout the night. Still, he smiled politely and asked, "Need something? I have somewhere to b–"
"You haven't touched the floor at all!" she pouted. "Come on, just one dance? I've been practicing this for weeks..."
He furrowed his brow, "How can you practice this–?" But was yanked back to the center of the floor. His head snapped back to the stranger; they were still there, now checking their phone. Oh no, they're getting bored. Dongheon bit back an irritated sigh as he returned to the woman dragging him. He forced a smile at her, even as she tried to pull them closer together as they danced.
Fortunately, he towered over her, and whenever he could, he would raise his head to check in on the stranger. Oh, this wasn't how he imagined it at all! He couldn't let this opportunity slip away so easily. That's when he noticed the other dancers. They were switching partners!
As soon as another duo came close, he passed the woman along. He... almost fell forward, though, considering her death grip on him, but he managed to break free from her. Okay, all he has to do is keep doing this and somehow... somehow get to them.
If this is who fate wants him to be with, then he'll fight tooth and nail!
The music began to swell in his ears, his moves energized by determination. It was a bit tricky at first, finding the timing, but nothing he couldn't handle. Within moments, he was weaving through the crowd and, bit by bit, was inching closer to his goal. As he was reaching them, though, he noticed how fast his heart was beating. He could see their features more clearly. His stomach twisted. No, there's no way he can talk to someone so–!
Their eyes met.
And the stranger smiled. It's a miracle Dongheon was holding onto someone, otherwise he would've fallen forward right then and there. He whipped his head back, eyes darting nervously. Reality was finally catching up to him. But he's so close! He can't be his own demise. Finally, he took in a deep breath and relaxed. Just a few more steps–
"Aw, just one dance, please?"
His head jerked up at the familiar voice. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted his other friend pulling the stranger to a dance. "Kangmin!" he hissed at him. Kangmin looked up and merely gave him that stupid, plotting smile. Oh, he's going to kill that boy one day.
But he kept his eyes on the pair as he danced and continued to switch partners. Compared to Kangmin's outgoing nature, the stranger appeared to be a bit shy and avoided eye contact. His heart melted pathetically at their blush and awkward smile.
But his feet were beginning to ache. How long have they been dancing? Is this really what fate has in store for him? To be this close and yet–?
"Oh! I'm... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bump into you like that..."
Being in his own head, he barely recognized that he's switched partners. He stared wide-eyed at the stranger. They're so much more lovely up close. His voice caught in his throat, but he quickly cleared it. "It's okay!" he winced at his own voice cracking. "It's fine. I, um..." Oh, come on, Dongheon! Get it together–
"It's my first time doing something like this," they muttered, avoiding his gaze. "I don't go out very often... but my friends insisted." He noticed they began to ramble quietly. But it gave him a chance to relax. A smile slowly appeared and he gently readjusted their hands. His head tilted to the side. He wanted to see their eyes so badly– to see that sparkle.
"... Your hands are sweaty." they softly add. It snapped him out of his thoughts and an embarrassed blush swiftly rose up. "Sorry, I–" he stumbled through an apology, but when he tried to pull his hands away, their grip tightened. It's when he noticed their subtle trembling. "And yours are shaking," he retorted.
Their head shot up, and his breath hitched in his throat. Such a beautiful color...
"W... Well, of course I'm shaking a little," they grumbled, "got me dancing with a pretty man–"
He raised an amused brow. "Pretty man?" He subtly pulled them closer. "What about the other guy you danced with?"
"What? Him?" They shrug their shoulders. "He's cute, but not really my type."
"So... what is your type?" Dongheon innocently asked. His thumb began to gently rub over their knuckle. He could see the red appearing on their face. They were avoiding eye contact again.
"M...My type?" they repeat. "Um, I... I don't know. Tall, dark hair, pretty face... I like someone awkward, though. I think it's cute," They look up at them as they speak. Now, it was his turn to feel the heat. "Haha," he swallowed a lump as a stupid, cheesy joke was thought up, "well, I think... I think I know someone who checks all the boxes."
"Do you?" They laugh softly. "Tell me, what's their name?"
"Dongheon..." He answered sheepishly and held a smile to match, "You know, it's his birthday today."
"Hm? Oh, I didn't know that. Think you can introduce me to the birthday boy?" Their smile grew wider. Ohh, they're toying with him badly. But he mustered up his own smile, "Y... Yeah, I think I can."
They hum in appreciation then look off to the side. "Dongheon..." they quietly repeat. He thought it was them calling him, so he responded, "Hm?"
"It's a pretty name. I like it." He squeezed their hand in response. He can't tell if he's getting better or worse as time goes on.
"I bet yours is prettier," he tilted his head. It earned him another laugh, which caused his heart to flutter. "It's (y/n)." they reply.
"(y/n)... Ha, I was right." He smiled warmly. "Well, (y/n), do you... want to talk somewhere quieter?"
"I thought you'd never ask," they sighed, "My feet are starting to kill me."
He burst out laughing and all too eagerly grasped their hand to pull them out of the dancing circle. As he tugged them along, he spotted people staring. Kangmin gave him a thumbs-up, Minchan did a little salute, and that one annoying girl stared daggers at (y/n). But he didn't care what anyone had to do or say.
It wasn't a picture perfect fairytale, but it was pretty damn close.
